130 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



crifice of them, fliall be explained when we come to 

 treat of the military eflablifhment of the Mexicans ; but 

 we are entirely ignorant of the particular ceremonies 

 which were ufed at his coronation. The king of Acol- 

 huacan was the perfon who put the crown upon his 

 head. The crown which was called by the Mexicans 

 copilti, was a fort of fmall mitre, the fore-part of which 

 was raifed up, and terminated in a point, and the part 

 behind was lowered down, and hung over the neck in 

 the fame*manner as is reprefented in the figures of the 

 kings given in this hillory. It was compofed of differ- 

 ent materials, according to the pleafure of the kings ; 

 fometimes made of thin plates of gold, fometimes woven 

 with golden thread, and figured with beautiful feathers. 

 The drefs which he ufually wore in the palace was the 

 xiuhtrlmatli, which was a mantle of a blue and white 

 mixture. When he went to the temple he put on a 

 white habit. That which he wore to afTifl: at councils, 

 and other public functions, varied according to the na- 

 ture and circumftances of the occafion ; one was appro- 

 priated for civil caufes, and another for criminal caufes ; 

 one for a&s of juftice, and another for times of rejoic- 

 ing : upon all thefe occafions he regularly wore his crown. 

 Every time he went abroad, he was attended by a great 

 retinue of nobility, and preceded by a noble, who held 

 up three rods made of gold and odorous wood, by which 

 he intimated to the people the prefence of their fove- 

 reign. 



The power and authority of the kings of Mexico was 

 different at different periods. In the beginning of the 

 monarchy their power was much circumfcribed, and 

 their authority truly paternal, their conduct more hu- 

 mane, and the prerogatives which they claimed from 



their 



