432 PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 
the soldiers who advanced step by step to higher command, according 
to their military achievements. The chief criterion, indeed the only 
one mentioned for these steps and promotions, was the number of pris- 
oners severally taken by the soldiers in war. From the large number 
of degrees in rank and titles of valor expressed in the above-mentioned 
plates, a number have been selected and copies of them, exact in draw- 
ing, size, and coloration, are presented here in Pls. XXv11I and XXIx. 
The quaint text relating to them is in Kingsborough (p). 
Pl. XXVIII.—a represents a young man who if he took any prisoners 
was presented with a square mantle bearing a device of flowers as a 
sign of valor. He holds a prisoner by the hair. b: This brave man 
has been presented with a device of arms, which he wears, and with a 
square orange-colored mantle with a scarlet fringe besides, as a sign 
of valor, on account of his having taken prisoner two of the enemy, one 
of whom he holds by the hair. ¢: This brave man, whose title is that 
of Quachie, and device of arms such as he wears, bears proof that he 
has captured five prisoners in war, besides having taken many other 
prisoners from the enemy in other wars. He also is drawn holding a 
prisoner. d: This brave man, whose title is Tlacatecatl and device 
the robe which he wears, with his braided hair and the insignia of a 
rich plume, declares by his presence that he has obtained the title of a 
valiant and distinguished person, by merit surpassing that of the others 
who are represented behind him. 
In Pl. xx1x.—a: An Alfaqui or superior officer, who merits further 
promotion and to whom has been presented as a reward for his valor, 
on account of his having taken three prisoners in war, the device and 
arms which he wears. He grasps a prisoner by the hair. b: The same 
Alfaqui, who, as a sign of valor on account of his having captured four 
of the enemy, has been presented with the device of arms which he 
wears. He holds a prisoner as before. 
Each one of the remaining figures in the plate of Kingsborough de 
clares the titles which officers gained and acquired in the exercise of 
arms, by which they rose to higher rank, the kings of Mexico creating 
them captains and generals of their forces or as officers of dispatch 
[similar to aids-de-camp| to execute their orders, whether they related 
to the affairs of their own kingdom or to those of the other vassal 
states, who promptly obeyed without in any manner deviating from 
the commands which they had received. The two selected are shown 
in the present Pl. Xx1x, viz: ¢, Ezguaguacatl, an officer of dispatch, 
and d, Tocinltecatl, a man of distinguished courage in war and one of 
the officers who filled the post of generals of the Mexican armies. 
Wiener (b), p. 763, says: , 
Passing in review the numerous delineations of men on the different tissues in the 
Peruvian graves, it is to be remarked that a chief is always recognized by a panache, 
which for the decurion has two plumes, for the centurion four, for the chief of a thou- 
sand men six, and the colors of these plumes indicate civil or military functions. 
