HISTORY OF MEXICO. 161 



In order to reward the fervices of warriors, and give 

 them every kind of encouragement, the Mexicans de- 

 vifed three military orders, called Achcauhf'm, £>uauhiin 9 

 and Oocelo, or Princes, Eagles, and Tygers. The per- 

 fons belonging to the order of princes, who were called 

 S^uachidin, were the mod honoured. They wore their 

 hair tied on the top of their heads with a red firing, 

 from which hung as many locks of cotton as they had 

 performed meritorious acHons. This honour was fo 

 much efleemed among them, that the kings themfelves, 

 as well as the generals, were proud of having it con- 

 ferred upon them. Montezuma II. belonged to this 

 order, as Acofta affirms, and alfo king Tizoc, as ap- 

 pears in the paintings of him. The Tygers were dif- 

 tinguiflied by a particular armour which they wore, it 

 being fpotted like the ikins of thefe wild animals ; but 

 fuch infignia were only made ufe of in war : at court 

 all the officers of the army wore a drefs of mixed co- 

 lours, which was called flacbquaubjo. No perfons on 

 the firft time of their going to war, were allowed to 

 wear any badge of diflinclion ; they were drefled in a 

 coarfe white habit, of cloth made from the aloe ; and 

 this rule was fo ftri&ly obferved, that it was even ne- 

 ceffary for the princes of the royal blood to give fome 

 proofs of their courage before they could be entitled to 

 change that plain drefs for another more coflly, called 

 Teucaliuhqui. The members of thofe military orders, 

 befides the exterior marks of diftindlion which they 

 wore, were allotted particular apartments in the royal 

 palace, whenever they waited upon the king as guards. 

 They were allowed to have furniture in their houfes 

 made of gold, to wear the flneft cotton drefs, and finer 

 flioes than thofe of the common people ; but no foldier 



Vol. IL X had 



