HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



243 



four heads of a lion, a tyger, an eagle, and an owl, re- 

 prefented alive with their hair and feathers. 



Several dreffed ikins of quadrupeds and birds with their 

 plumage and hair. 



Twenty-four curious and beautiful (hields of gold, of 

 feathers, and very fmall pearls, and other four of feathers 

 and filver only. 



Four fifties, two ducks, and fome other birds of caft 

 gold. 



Two fea-lhells of gold, and a large crocodile girt with 

 threads of gold. 



A large mirror adorned with gold, and many fmall 

 mirrors. Several mitres and crowns of feathers and gold, 

 ornamented with pearls and gems. 



Several large plumes of beautiful feathers of various 

 colours, fretted with gold and fmall pearls. 



Several fans of gold and feathers mixed together ; 

 others of feathers only, of different forms and fizes, but 

 all mod rich and elegant. 



A variety of cotton mantles, fome all white, others 

 chequered with white and black, or red, green, yellow, 

 and blue ; on the outfide rough like a fliaggy cloth, 

 and within without colour or nap. 



A number of under waiftcoats, handkerchiefs, counter- 

 panes, tapeftries, and carpets of cotton. 



All thofe articles were, according to Gomara, more 

 valuable for the workmanfhip than the materials. The 

 colours , he fays, of the cotton, were extremely fine, and thofe 

 of the feathers natural. Their works of cast metal, are not 

 to be comprehended by our goldfmiths. This prefent, which 

 was a part of that which Montezuma made to Cortes, a 

 few days after he had difembarked at Chalchiuhcuecan, 

 was fent by Cortes to Charles V. in July 1519, and 



this 



