that the Spaniards had returned, this was D. Hernando Cortés._
To the above mentioned (messengers) Montezuma spoke, and said, “Look,
it has been said that our Lord Quetzalcoatl has arrived; go and
receive him and listen to what he may say to you with great attention;
see to it that you do not forget anything of what he may say; see
here these jewels which you are to present to him in my behalf, and
which are all the priestly ornaments that belong to him.” First a
mask wrought in a _mosaic of turquois_; this mask had wrought in
the same stones a doubled and twisted snake, the fold of which was
the beak of the nose; then the tail was parted from the head, and
the head with part of the body came over one eye so that it formed
an eyebrow, and the tail with a part of the body went over the other
eye, to form the other eyebrow. This mask was inserted on a high and
big crown full of rich feathers, long and very beautiful, so that on
placing the crown on the head, the mask was placed over the face: it
had for a (central) jewel a medallion of gold, round and wide: it
was tied with nine strings of precious stones, which, placed around
the neck, covered the shoulders and the whole breast: they carried
also a large shield bordered with precious stones with bands of gold
which went from the top to the bottom of it, and other bands of pearls
crossing over the gold bands from the top to bottom of it, and in
the spaces left by these bands, which were like the meshes of a net,
were placed zapitos (little toads) of gold. This shield had edgings
in the lower part; there was attached on the same shield a banner
which came out from the handle of the shield, made of rich feathers:
it also had a big medallion made of _mosaic-work_ which was fastened
and girded around the loins: they carried also strings of precious
stones with gold bells placed in between the stones to be tied to
the ankles: they carried also a bishop’s staff all decorated with
_turquois mosaic-work_, and the crook of it was like the head of a
snake turned around or coiled. They also carried sandals (cotaras)
such as great lords were accustomed to wear. They also carried the
ornaments or finery with which Tezcatlipoca was adorned, which was a
head-piece made of rich feathers which hung down on the back almost to
the waist, and was strewn all over with stars of gold. They carried
also ear-ornaments of gold: they had hanging from them little gold
bells and strings of little white and beautiful sea-shells. From
these strings hung a piece of leather like a plastron (peto), and it
was carried tied in such a manner that it covered the breast down to
the waist: this plastron had strewn on it and hanging from it many
little shells. They carried also a corselet of painted white cloth;
the lower border of this corselet was edged with white feathers in
three strips all around the border: they also carried a rich mantle
the cloth of which was a light blue, and embroidered all over with
many designs of a very fine blue: this mantle was worn around the
waist, the (four) corners tied to the body: over this mantle was
worn a medallion of _turquois [work]_ attached to the body over the
loins: they also carried strings of gold bells to tie around the
ankles, and also white sandals (cotaras) like those the lords are
wont to wear. They also carried the ornaments and decorations of the
god Tlalocantecutli, which were, a mask with its feather-work, and
a banner like the one above mentioned: also wide ear-ornaments of
chalchivitl with snakes of chalchivites inside: and also a corselet
painted with green designs, and strings or collar of precious stones,
and also a medallion with which they girded the loins, like the one
above described, with a rich mantle, with which they girded themselves
like the one described above, and golden bells to place on the feet,
and the staff like the one above described. Other ornaments which they
carried were also of the same Quetzalcoatl, a miter of tiger-skin, and
hanging from the miter a hood of raven’s feathers: the miter also had
a large chalchivitl rounded at the end, and also round ear-ornaments
of _turquois mosaic_ with a hook of gold called ecacozcatl, and a
rich mantle with which he girded himself, and some gold bells for the
feet, and a shield which had in the center a round plate of gold,
which shield was bordered with rich feathers. From the lower part of
the shield came out a sash of rich feathers in the shape of the one
above described: it had a staff wrought in _turquois mosaic_, and
its crook was set with rich stones or conspicuous pearls. They also
had on top of it all some sandals (cotaras), such as the lords were
accustomed to wear. All these things were brought by the messengers
and presented, as they say, to D. Hernando Cortés. Many other things
they presented to him which are not written about, such as a miter of
gold made like a periwinkle with edging of rich feathers which hung
over the shoulders, and another plain miter of gold and other jewels
of gold which are not written about. All these things were placed in
hampers (petacas), and upon taking leave from Montezuma he said to
them, “Go and worship in my name the god who comes, and say to him we
have been sent here by your servant Montezuma: these things which we
bring have been sent by him, for you have come to your dwelling, which
is Mexico.” These messengers set out on the road at once, and arrived
at the seaside, and there took canoes [_cañas_, undoubtedly _canoas_
was written], and arrived at a place called Xicalanco: from there they
took other canoes with all their clothes, and reached the ships, and
then those of the ships asked them, “Who are you, and whence have you
come?” And those of the canoes answered, “We come from Mexico.” And
those of the ships said to them, “Perchance you are not from Mexico,
but falsely say you are from Mexico and deceive us.” And upon this
they took and gave (bartered?), until they were satisfied on both
sides, and they tied the canoe to the ship, and a ladder was let down,
by which they climbed up to the ship and came to where D. Hernando
Cortés was.