62 MEMOIRS OF THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM 
chiuitl; the best of these are of deep green, transparent, and without spot; those 
which are of inferior quality have veins and spots intermingled. The Mexicans 
work these stones into various shapes: some are round and pierced, others long, 
cylindrical, and pierced; others triangular, hexagonal, or square. ‘There are still 
other stones called chalchiuites, which are green (but not transparent), mixed with 
white; they are much used by the chiefs, who wear them fastened to their wrists 
by cords, as a sign of rank. The lower orders ‘maceguales) are not allowed to wear 
them. . . . There is yet another stone called t/i/aiotic, a kind of chalchuite, in color 
black and green mixed. And among the Jaspers is a variety in color white mixed 
with green, and for this reason called iztacchalchiwtl. Another variety has veins of 
clear green or blue, with other colors interspersed with the white. . . . And there 
is yet another kind of green stone which resembles the chalchiuites, and called 
coxouhquitecpatl. It is known to the lapidaries as tecelic, for this reason that it is 
very easy to work, and has spots of clear blue. The wrought and curious stones 
which the natives wear attached to their wrists, whether of crystal or other precious 
stones, they call chopilotl —a designation that is given to any stone curiously worked 
or very beautiful.’ The same author, describing the ornaments which the Mexican 
lords used in their festivals, speaks of ‘a head-dress called quetzalalpitoa, consisting 
of two tassels of rich plumes, set in gold, and worn suspended from the hair at the 
crown of the head, and hanging down on each side towards the shoulders. ‘They 
also wear rings of gold around the arms and in their ears, and round their wrists a 
broad band of black leather, and suspended to this a large bead of chalchiuitl or 
other precious stone. They also wear a chin ornament (barbote) of chalchiuitl set 
in gold, fixed in the beard. Some of these barbotes are large crystals, with blue 
feathers put in them, which gives them the appearance of sapphires. ‘There are 
many other varieties of precious stones which they use for barbotes. They have 
their lower lips slit, and wear these ornaments in the openings, where they appear 
as if coming out of the flesh; and they wear in the same way semilunes of gold. 
The noses of the great lords are also pierced, and in the openings they wear fine tur- 
quoises or other precious stones, one on each side. They wear strings of precious 
stones around their necks, sustaining a gold medal set around with pearls, and hay- 
ing in its center a smooth precious stone.’ ”’ 
In Porto Rico according to ancient writers, quoted by Dr. J. W. Fewkes in his 
interesting and instructive essays *: ‘“‘small sculptured stone images were worn about 
the forehead of the aborigines when they went to battle,” but, as Dr. Fewkes pre- 
sumes, ‘‘ they were probably worn also on other parts of the body.” 
'S Fewkes, J. W. ‘‘ Precolumbian West Indian Amulets.’’ American Anthropologist, N. S., 1903, Vol. 5, p. 679. 
