136 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



courage them in this exercife, the priefts, under whofe 

 difcipline they were trained, frequently bellowed rewards 

 on thofe who were vigors in a race. 



With refpect to the nobility of Mexico and of the 

 whole empire, it was divided into feveral clafTes, which 

 were confounded together by the Spaniards under the 

 general name of caziques (q). Each clafs had its par- 

 ticular privileges and wore its own badges, by which 

 means, although their drefs was extremely fimple, the 

 character of every perfon was immediately underftood. 

 The nobles alone were allowed to wear ornaments of 

 gold and gems upon their clothes, and to them exclufive- 

 ly belonged, from the reign of Montezuma II. all the 

 high offices at court, in the magiftracy, and the moft 

 considerable in the army. 



The higheft rank of nobility in Tlafcala, in Huexotz- 

 inco, and in Cholula, was that of Teudli. To obtain 

 this rank it was neceffary to be of noble birth, to have 

 given proofs in feveral battles of the utmoft courage, to 

 be arrived at a certain age, and to command great riches 

 for the enormous expenfes which were necefTary to be 

 fupported by the polfeffor of fuch a dignity. The can- 

 didate was obliged befides to undergo a year of regular 

 penance, confiding in perpetual failing and frequent 

 effufions of blood, and an abllinence from all commerce 

 whatfoever with women, and patiently enduring the in- 

 fults, the reproaches, and ill-treatment, by which forti- 

 tude and conftancy are put to the ted. They bored the 

 cartilage of his nofe, in order to fufpend from it certain 

 grains of gold; which were the principal badge of this 

 dignity. On the day on which he came to the pof- 



feffion 



(q) The name cazi/jue, which fignifies lord or prince, is derived from the 

 Haitin tongue, which was fpoken in the iiland of Hifpaniola. The Mexicans 

 called a lord Tlatoani, and a noble Pitti and TeuSli. 



