HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



167 



eagle with its wings fpread (F) ; but each of the four 

 Jordfhips which compofed the republic, had its proper 

 enfign. That of Ocotelolco, was a green bird upon a 

 rock ; that of Tizatlan, a heron upon a rock alfo ; that 

 of Tepeticpac, a fierce wolf, holding fome arrows in his 

 paws ; and that of Quiahuiztlan, a parafol of green fea- 

 thers. The ftandard which the conqueror Cortes took 

 in the famous battle of Otompan, was a net of gold, 

 which, in ail probability, was the ftandard of fome city 

 Ctuated on the Jake. Befides the common and principal 

 ftandard of the army, every company, confifting of two 

 or three hundred foldiers, carried its particular ftandard, 

 and was not only diftinguilhed from others by it, but 

 likewife by the colour of the feathers, which the officers 

 and nobles bore upon their armour. The ftandard-bearer 

 of the army, at leaft in the laft years of the empire, was 

 the general, and thofe of the companies, moft probably, 

 were borne by their commanding officers. Thofe ftand- 

 ards were fo firmly tied upon the backs of the officers, 

 that it was almoft impoffible to detach them without cut- 

 ting the ftandard-bearers to pieces. The Mexicans al- 

 ways placed their ftandard in the centre of their army. 

 The Tlafcalans, when they marched their troops in time 

 of peace placed it in the van, but in the time of war, in 

 the rear of their army. 



Their martial mufic in which there was more noife than 1 

 harmony, confided of drums, horns, and certain fea-ftiells \ 

 which made an extremely ftirill found. 



Previous to a declaration of war, the fupreme council 

 examined into the caufe which induced them to under- 

 take 



{h) Gomara fays, that the armorial enfign of the republic of Tlafcala was a 

 crane ; but other hiliorians, better informed than he was, affirm that it was an 

 eagle. 



