SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



M 



on any business, without pulling off his shoes 

 and stockings at the gate. No person was 

 allowed to appear before the king in any pom- 

 pous dress, as it was deemed a want of respect 

 to majesty ; consequently the greatest lords, 

 excepting the nearest relations of the king, 

 stripped themselves of the rich dress which 

 they wore, or at least covered it with one 

 more ordinary, to show their humility before 

 him. All persons, on entering the hall of 

 audience, and before speaking to the king, 

 made three bows, saying at the first, lord ; at 

 the second, my lord ; and at the third, great 

 lord. They spoke low, and with the head in- 

 clined, and received the answer which the 

 king gave them, by means of his secretaries, 

 as attentively and humbly as if it had been 

 the voice of an oracle. In taking leave, no 

 person ever turned his back upon the throne. 



" The audience-hall served also for his 

 dining-room. The table was a large pillow, 



