42 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



From what is faid it appears, that the high-priefts of 

 Mexico were the heads of their religion only among the 

 Mexicans, and not with refpecl: to the other conquered 

 nations ; thefe, even after being fubje&ed to the crown 

 of Mexico, ftill maintaining their priefthood independent* 



The high-priefthood was conferred by election ; but 

 we are ignorant whether the electors were of the prieftly 

 order, or the fame with thofe who chofe the political 

 head of the empire. The high-priefts of Mexico were 

 diftinguiftied by a tuft of cotton which hung from their 

 breaft ; and at the principal feafts they were drelfed in 

 fplendid habits, upon which were reprefented the infignia 

 of the god whofe feaft they celebrated. On folemn fef- 

 tivals, the high-prieft of the Mixtecas was clothed in a 

 fliort coat, on which the principal events of their rnytho* 

 logy was reprefented ; above that he had a furplice, and 

 over all a large capuchin ; on his head he wore plumes 

 of green feathers, eurioufly interwoven with fmall figures 

 of their gods ; at his fhoulder hung one taffel of cotton, 

 and another hung at his arm. 



Next to this fupreme dignity of the priefthood, the 

 moft refpe&able charge was that of the MexicoteohuaU 

 zin, which was conferred by the high-priefts. The em- 

 ployment of this officer was to attend to the due obferv- 

 ance of the rites and ceremonies, and to watch over the 

 conduct of thofe priefts who had the charge of femina- 

 ries, and to punifli them when guilty of a mifdemeanor. 

 In order to enable him to difcharge all the duties of fo 

 extenfive an appointment, he was allowed two curates or 

 deputies, the one named the Huitz,nahuateohuatzin, the 

 other the Tepaneohuatzin. The Mexicoteohuatzin was 

 the fuperior-general of all the feminaries ; his chief badge 

 of diftindion was a little bag of copal, which he always 

 carried along with him. 



The 



