132 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



until the time of Cacamatzin, who was fucceeded by 

 his brother Cuicuitzcatzin, through the intrigues of 

 Montezuma and the conqueror Cortes. 



The king of Mexico, as well as the king of Acolhua- 

 can, had three fupreme councils, compofed of perfons of 

 the fir ft nobility, in which they deliberated upon affairs 

 relating to the government of the provinces, the revenues 

 of the king, and to war, and in general the king refolved 

 upon no meafure of importance without having firft 

 heard the opinion of his counfellors. In the hiftory of 

 the conqueft we fball find Montezuma in frequent de- 

 liberation with his council on the pretenfions of the 

 Spaniards. We do not know the number of members of 

 each council, nor do hiftorians furnifh us with the lights 

 neceflary to illuftrate fuch a fubjedt. They have only 

 preferved to us the names of fome counfellors, particular- 

 ly thofe of Montezuma II. In the fixty-firft painting of 

 the collection of Mendoza, are reprefented the council- 

 halls, and fome of the lords who compofed them. 



Amongft the different minifters and officers of the 

 court there was a treafurer-general, whom they called 

 Hueicalpixqui, or great major-domo, who received all the 

 tributes which were collected by the officers of the re- 

 venue in the provinces, and kept an account of his re- 

 ceipts and difburfements in paintings, agreeably to the 

 teftimony of Bernal Diaz, who faw them. There was 

 another treafurer for the gems and articles of gold, who 

 was, at the fame time, director of the artifts who wrought 

 them ; and another for the works which were made of 

 feathers, the artifts of which laft employment had their 

 work-fhops in the royal palace of birds. There was 

 befides a provider-general of animals, whom they called 

 Huejaminqui \ he had the charge of the royal woods, and 



took 



