The only finished objects of mosaic-work in the Tribute Roll are
on plate XXXII. This is one of the leaves of the original codex in
Philadelphia, and we have traced fig. 4 from this original. They are
described by Purchas as “two pieces like platters decked or garnished
with rich Turkey stones.” Kingsborough mentions them as “two pieces
like salvers ornamented or set with rich turquoise stones.” Lorenzana
has correctly printed the legend which we find reproduced in the
Philadelphia publication of this leaf; it is “_Ontetl xiuhtetl_,”
followed by the Spanish, “turquesas o piedras finas.” _Ontetl_ is
Nahuatl for “two,” and _xiuhtetl_, or _xiuitl tetl_, “turquois stone.”
The mosaic character of these two pieces is graphically represented by
the ancient artist. The towns paying the tribute illustrated on this
sheet are as follows: (1) _Tochpan_, or _Tuchpan_, “over the rabbit;”
(2) _Tlaltizapan_, “place situated over chalk;” (3) _Cihuateopan_, “in
the temple of Cihuacoatl;” (4) _Papantla_, “place of the priests;” (5)
_Ocelotepec_, “place of the ocelot;” (6) _Mihuapan_, “river of the ears
of corn;” (7) _Mictlan_, “place of rest.”
In the _Crónica_ of Tezozomoc is an account of the campaign of the
Aztecan king Ahuitzotl into southern Mexico in 1497. The towns of
Xuchtlan, Amaxtlan, Izhuatlan, Miahuatla, Tecuantepec, and Xolotlan,
in the region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, had revolted against him.
After the complete rout of the rebellious Indians, it was related
by Tezozomoc that “the kind of arms carried by the coast people
was very rich, so much so that the undisciplined soldiers began to
strip the bodies of the dead of the very rich feather-work pieces
called _quetzalmanalli_, and from their military ornaments remove a
round emerald like a mirror which sparkled in its perfection, called
_xiuhtezcatl_. Others of the dead carried on the back of their arms
that which was called _yacazcuil_, outside of fine gold, and in the
nose they wore stones; others (wore) gold, and the shield which they
carried had a very rich greenstone in the center, and around it a
decoration of very fine stones set in (mosaic-work), said shield being
called _xiuhchimal_.” Those who remained after the slaughter came to
Ahuitzotl, saying: “Our Lords, let us speak. We will give our tribute
of all that is produced and yielded on these coasts, which will be
chalchihuitl of all kinds and colors, and other small stones called
_teoxihuitl_ (turquois) for setting in very rich objects [mosaic],
and feathers of the richest sort brought forth in the whole world,
very handsome birds, the feathers of which are called _xiuhtototl_,
_tlaquechol_, _tzinitzcan_, and _zacuan_; tanned skins of the tiger
(ocelot), lions (puma), and great wolves, and other stones veined with
many divers colors.”[24]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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