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PART TWO
THE HISTORY OF AZTEC EXPANSION |
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The armor they use in warfare is certain shirts like jupons, of quilted cotton the thickness of a finger and a half and sometimes two fingers, which is very strong. Over these they wear suits all of one piece and of a heavy cloth, which they tie in back; these are covered with feathers of different colors and look very jaunty. One company of soldiers will wear them in red and white, another in blue and yellow, and others in various ways. |
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The lords wear certain smock-like coats which among us are of mail but theirs are of gold or gilt silver, and the strength of their feathered garments is proportionate to their weapons, so that they resist spears and arrows, and even the sword. To defend the head they wear things like heads of serpents, or tigers, or lions or wolves, and the man's head lies inside the animal's jaws as though it were devouring him. These heads are of wood covered on the outside with feathers or incrustations of gold and precious stones, and are something wonderful to see. They carry shields of various kinds made of strong solid cane woven with heavy double cotton, and decorated with feathers and round plaques of gold. The shields are so strong that only a good crossbow can shoot through them, but arrows do not damage them. Although some of these shields have been seen in Spain, I should say they are not the kind used in warfare but in their dances and ceremonies. |
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The offensive arms are bows and arrows, and spears which they throw with crossbows made of another pole. The spearheads are of hard stone, or a fishbone that is very strong and sharp, and some spears have three points. Their maces have three points inserted in the same manner, so that in one thrust they produce three wounds. They have swords that are like broadswords, but their hilts are not |
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