ady noticed that the Mexican
gentes elected two such officers for their purpose. We are further told
that the Iroquois appointed two head war-chiefs to command the forces of
the confederacy.<20>

One of the chiefs so elected by the Mexicans bore the somewhat singular
title of "Snake-woman." He was properly the head-chief of the Mexicans.
He was chairman of the council and announced its decrees. He was
responsible to the council for the tribute received, as far as it was
applied to tribal requirements, and for a faithful distribution of the
remainder among the gentes. When the forces of the confederacy went out
to war, he commanded the tribal forces of Mexico; but on other occasions
this duty was fulfilled by his colleague, who was the real war-chief
of the Mexicans. His title was "Chief-of-men." This is the official who
appears in history as the "King of Mexico," sometimes, even, as "Emperor
of Anahuac." The fact is, he was one of two equal chiefs; he held an
elective office, and was subordinate to the council.

When the confederacy was formed, the command of its forces was given to
the war-chief of the Mexicans; thus he was something more than a tribal
officer. His residence was the official house of the tribe. "He was to
be present day and night at this abode, which was the center wherein
converged the threads of information brought by traders, gatherers of
tribute, scouts and spies, as well as all messages sent to, or received
from, neighboring friendly or hostile tribes. Every such message came
directly to the 'Chief-of-men,' whose duty it was, before acting, to
present its import to the 'Snake-woman,' and, through him, call together
the council." He might be present at the council, but his presence was
not required, nor did his vote weigh any more than any other member of
the council, only, of course, from the position he occupied, his opinion
would be much respected. He provided for the execution of the council's
conclusions. In case of warp he would call out the forces of the
confederacy for assistance. As the procurement of substance by means of
tribute was one of the great objects of the confederacy, the gathering
of it was placed under the control of the war-chief, who was therefore
the official head of the tribute-gatherers.

We have thus very imperfectly and hastily sketched the governmental
organization of the Mexican tribe. It is something very different from
an empire. It was a democratic organization.