in their gay and fanciful costume. Some of them wore broad
mantles of delicate feather embroidery, and collars and bracelets of
turquoise mosaic with which fine plumage was curiously mingled, while
their ears, underlips, and sometimes even their noses, were adorned with
pendants of precious stones, or crescents of fine gold. After the usual
formal salutations, which caused some delay, the march was resumed, and
the army presently reached a wooden drawbridge which crossed an opening
in the dyke, meant to serve as an outlet for the water, should it for
any reason rise beyond its usual height. As they left this bridge
behind them the Spaniards felt that they were indeed committing
themselves to the mercy of Montezuma, who might, by means of it, cut
them off from communication with the country, and hold them prisoners in
his capital. They now beheld the glittering retinue of the emperor
emerging from the great street which led through the heart of the city.
Amidst a crowd of Indian nobles, preceded by three officers of state
bearing golden wands, they saw the royal palanquin, blazing with
burnished gold. It was borne on the shoulders of nobles, and over it a
canopy of gorgeous feather-work, powdered with jewels and fringed with
silver, was supported by four attendants, also of high rank, who were
barefooted and walked with a slow, measured pace, with their eyes bent
upon the ground. As soon as the procession had come within a short
distance of the Spaniards the emperor descended from his palanquin, and
advanced under the canopy, leaning upon the arms of his nephew and his
brother. The ground before him was strewn with cotton tapestry by his
attendants, and the natives who lined the sides of the causeway bent
forward with their eyes fixed upon the ground as he passed, whilst some
of the humbler class prostrated themselves before him. Montezuma wore
the usual broad girdle and square cloak of the finest cotton, on his
feet were sandals with soles of gold, and leathern thongs ornamented
with the same metal. Both cloak and sandals were sprinkled with pearls
and precious stones, principally emeralds, and the green 'chalchivitl,'
which was more highly esteemed by the Aztecs than any jewel. On his head
he wore only a plume of royal green feathers, a badge of his military
rank. He was at this time about forty years of age, and was tall and
thin, and of a lighter complexion than is usual among his countrymen; he
moved with dignity, and