Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-14

Niit -4ALu4N anu aliiohiiA lhih fa'u S'hi"
Tribute symbols.
In the first place. We have as the start
Ing point of the first expedition under AKA
yacatl, not only his totem, but the picture
symbol of the Aztec capital, Aztlan, the
place of Water and Fire. so called from
its proximity to Lake Texcoco, and also
to the burning mountains, Popocatepetl and
Ixtarcihuatl Thus the totem shows body
of water incIosed. and with flames rising
above il, with other conventional symbols,
the meaning of which has been lost.
Number . is the arbitrary figure OF
cochineal cactus. by which We know that
the province of Zoconusco yielded that bril-
liant dye, or rather the insect producing
IT, long before the coming of the Spaniafdsy
and perhaps as far back as the period
when the Phoenicians OF Tyre were cele-
brated for their royal puppies
Number 3 represents pieces OF carved
wood and the feather atop signInes tha'
500 were contributed annually. THESE hu-
neral symbols were Interchangeable, the nag
signifying 40. the feather always twenty
times 40, or 500, etc. 49,,
Similarly, the leather sticking up lrol a
tho figure of shell, No. 4. Indicates thdI
500 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS were contributed from
tho west coast. In Spanish, conchas ao
nacar;" in Aztec, "ontzontli tepachtec.
No ) is the most interesting OF ar Lor
II is the figure of bar Of gold. Inc eN-
planatory Aztec tells US that there were
ten of these bars sent annually. In me
original "Teocuitlau coztc matlacth.
This gold is set down as having come from
the provinces OF Tlalpan and Macuitian-
gllts names which exist today in the Next
can state of 0axaca. The tribute book Is
sufficiently explicit and, having been kept
for Montezuma's especial use, Is not hkely
to err since frauds of the Tweed type were
in danger of losing their heads.
Cohuaxtaca or the modern OaXaca, is
also given as yielding gold and cochmeab
products of that state birthplace OF the
hNF hn
which are found there today. 1t was be-
cause of the reputed riches OF oaxaca that
Cortes chose the title of Marquis del
Vale.
the feather showing that 500 bales were
sent and from several provinces.
Rich green plumes of the QuetZal, TO the
number of 500 also, were sent by the prov
ince of Zoconusco, as shown by No. Z,
The quetzal-Aztec, "quetzalli'-is the royal
trogon yet to be found in the Isolated VAL
leys OF southern Mexico and Guatemala, in
deep forests. Its feathers were royal per-
quisites, and no mere mortal was allowed
to use them, only the king.
No. s tells us that 500 ''huypillis' were
sent from near province TO the city or
Mexico. This "huypilli," or ''upil." is an
aboriginal blanket, garment, still worn
by natives of Yucatan.
No. is a bin or measure Of maize or
Indian corn, which, as everybody knows,
is Indigenous to Mexico and Central Amer
lea.
No. 10 is self-explanatory, being the skin
Of the ocelotI, or Mexican tiger which IS
yet abundant in the forests of the TERRA
caliente." Forty of these skins were sent
as shown by the flag. 0celotl skins are
as highly valued at the present time as
when, four centuries ago, they were sent
royal tribute TO Montezuma.
Mines Are All Lost.
But their fantastic headdresses, quilted
coats and feather-ornamented shields
could not protect the Aztec fighting men
from Spanish bullets: hence the downfall
of their kingdom, and the subsequent ac-
QUESTION by Cortes of their treasure SYM
bols. 1t is narrated by him in his letters
that he sent a second expedition to find and
work the gold mines, which was destroyed
by the fierce warriors of the Oaxaca hills,
who also obliterated all signs of the gold
mines so that they have been kept from
being worked ever since.
Still, here are the symbols and their ac-
companying signs so that if one can I'M
raVel this ancient picture-puzZle he may
perhaps revel In untold wealth. l tried IL,
as already stated, and discovered-well, /
discovered that the Indians yet living in
the vicinity OF the traditional mines were
as valiant and seclusive as their most
ferocious ancestors, who, according to the
accounts of Cortes, welded spears so long
and so heavy that Spanish foot soldiers
could not prevail against them.
T. A ODER.