THE AZTECS 221 



Michoacan after they had passed away in Central 

 Mexico, but we cannot be sure that the Tarascans were 



the ancient inhabitants. There is s(^nie evidence, how- 

 ever, of cult ure which can be associated with them. The 

 peculiar T-shaped mounds called yatacas, which rise 

 in terraces and are faced with stone slabs laid without 

 mortar, may have been built by this tribe. Sculptures 

 of rather fine quality are occasionally found, an example 

 being a reclining god of the type made famous by the 

 "Chacmool" of Chichen Itza. Many fine copper celts 

 ha ve been unearthed in this highly mineralized mountain 

 legion. When the Spaniards came the Tarascans were 

 skilled in weaving and were particularly famous for 

 feather mosaics and feather pictures made largely of the 

 brilliant plumage of humming birds. The use of the 

 a tlatl or spear-thrower survives among the present-day 

 Indians who also make gourd vessels covered with 

 colored clays in pleasing geometric and floral designs. 



The Otomis are a tribe of Central Mexico even less 

 cultured than the Tarascans and there is some evidence 

 that they entered this region from the south only a few 

 centuries before the Spaniards. Their relatives, the 

 Matlatzincas of the Valley of Toluca, had more inter- 

 esting arts. 



Southern Mexico. Somewhere about the middle of 

 the fifteenth century Moctezuma I planted an Aztecan 

 colony at Uaxyacac on the edge of the Zapotecan terri- 

 tory to protect the trade route to Tabasco. This name 

 gave rise to the modern Oaxaca. From this point expedi- 

 tions were sent out which harrassed the Zapotecs to the 

 south and the Mixtecs to the west. In the Tribute Roll 

 of Moctezuma II more than twenty Zapotecan towns 

 are listed as paying tribute that consisted of gold disks 

 and gold dust, jadeite beads, quetzal feathers, cochineal 



