SCHELLHASi DRESS 601' 



Compare with this the head of the death god so often represented 

 in the manuscripts, for instance, on pages 15, 23, and elsewhere in the 

 Dresden codex (see c), in which the hiwer jaAvbone with the teeth is 

 likewise always seen, drawn very plainly ; also the glyphs given above 

 {a, c, and d, figure 114). 



This tattooed jawbone with teeth was apparently meant to impart 

 to the face a terrible aspect. A decided preference seems to have ex- 

 isted for tattooing the vicinity of the mouth. The accompanying 

 head {d, figure 116) occurs frequentlv in the manuscripts, for instance, 

 in the Dresden codex, page 14, below, and in Codex Cortesianus, page 

 33, above. Viewed from the front it would give the mouth tattooing 

 in e. We find quite similar faces in the Yucatan collection, where 

 tattooing also occurs most frequently about the mouth (see </, A, i, 

 and /.•). 



The peculiar object occurring upon two figures in the Yucatan col- 

 lection is also probably to be regarded as a kindred form of facial 

 decoration. It is the facial ornament shown in the accompanj'ing 

 cut, I. 



We can hardly explain this object otherwise than as a chin orna- 

 ment, possibly metallic, possibly connected with the ear ornaments. 

 It has, as a comparison shows, the closest resemblance to the drawings 

 of tattooed jawbones here reproduced from the manuscripts, and has 

 most probably the same meaning. There is much to be said against 

 the supposition that it is a beard, particularly the fact that the rep- 

 resentation of a beard on another figure in the collection, ah-eatly 

 mentioned, is Avholly different and much more natural. 



There is no tattooing to be seen in the relief representations. This, 

 however, is probably due to the rougher nature of those representa- 

 tions, in which less attention is paid to details. The rudely executed 

 Codex Troano-Cortesianus also has little of the sort. 



Dress 



general characteristics 



Landa makes a few statements in regard to the dress of the ancient 

 inhabitants of Yucatan which may sel■^■e as a basis for comjiai-ative 

 investigation. The bishop tells us in his Relacion (chapter 20) : 



Their dress consisted of a girdle, of the widtli of a man's hand, which served 

 them as hreeclies and liose (bragas y cal(;as), and whicli tliey bound about their 

 loins several times, in such fashion that one end hung down in front, tlie other 

 behind.a These ends were carefully wrought by the women and adorned 

 with embroidery and feather work. Over this they wore large square mantles,6 

 which they fastened on the shoulder, and on their feet sandals of hemp or 

 tanned deerskin. They used no other clothing. 



" This is the same article of dress which the Aztecs called maxtll. 

 >- Called znyen according to rogolhulo. Ilistoria do Viicalan. 



