HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



163 



and covered with feathers ; thofe of the nobles with 

 thin plates of gold ; others were made of large tortoife- 

 fliells, adorned with copper, filver, and gold, according 

 to the wealth of the owner, or his rank in the army. 

 Thefe were of a moderate fize ; but others were fo ex- 

 ceflively large, that they could occafionally cover the 

 whole body ; but when it was not neceffary to ufe 

 them, they could comprefs them, and carry them under 

 their arms like the parafols of the moderns ; it is proba- 

 ble, they were made of the ikins of animals, or cloth 

 waxed with ule 9 or el attic gum (<i). On the other 

 hand, many of their ftiields were very fmall, more beau- 

 tiful than ftrong, and adorned with fine feathers ; thefe 

 were not employed in war, but only at the entertain- 

 ments which they made in imitation of a battle. 



The defenfive arms peculiar to the officers were breaft- 

 plates of cotton, one and fometimes two fingers thick, 

 which were arrow-proof ; and on this account the Spa- 

 niards themfelves made ufe of them in the war againft 

 the Mexicans. The name Ichcahuepitti, which the Mex- 

 icans gave to this fort of breaft-plate, was changed by 

 the Spaniards into the word Efcaupil. Over this fort 

 of cuirafs, which only covered part of the breaft, they 

 put on another piece of armour, which, befides the 

 cheft, covered the thighs, and the half of the arms, 

 figures of which appear in the plate reprefenting the 

 Mexican armour. The lords were accuflomed to wear 

 a thick upper coat of feathers, over a cuirafs made of 

 feveral plates of gold, or filver gilt, which rendered 

 them invulnerable, not only by arrows, but even by 

 darts or fwords, as the anonymous conqueror affirms. 



Befides 



(d) Thefe large ftiields are mentioned by the anonymous conqueror, Didaco 

 Godoi, and Bernal Dias, who were all prefent at the conqueft. 



