HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



133 



took care that game was never wanting there ; and that 

 the royal palaces were never unprovided with every fort 

 of animal. Concerning the other royal minifters and 

 officers, we have mentioned enough when we treated of 

 the magnificence of Montezuma II. and of the govern- 

 ment of the kings of Acolhuacan, Techotlala, and Neza- 

 hualcojotl. 



For the office of ambaffadors, they always employed 

 perfons who were both noble and eloquent. Three, 

 four, or more perfons were ufually joined in this office, 

 and, to procure refpect, they wore certain badges by 



j which they were every where known, particularly a 

 green habit made like the fcapulary, or little cloak, 



' which fome religious people wear, from which hung fome 

 locks of cotton. Their hair was t willed with beautiful 

 feathers, from which alfo hung fimilar locks of different 

 colours. In their right hands they carried an arrow 

 with the point downwards ; in the left a fhield, and 

 hanging at the fame arm a net, in which they carried 

 their provifion. In all the places through which they 

 palTed, they were well received, and treated with that 

 diflinclion which their character demanded, provided 

 they did not leave the great road which led to the place 

 of their deftination ; but if they ever deviated from it, 

 they loft their rights and privileges as ambaffadors. 

 When they arrived at the place where they were to de- 

 liver their embafTy, they flopped before they made en- 

 trance, and waited until the nobility of the city came out 

 to meet them, and conduct them to the Houfe of the 

 Public, where they were lodged and well entertained. 

 The nobles burnt incenfe to them, and prefented nofe- 

 gays of flowers, and after they had repofed, led them to 

 the palace of the lord of that ftate, and introduced them 



into 



