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ow you have the person, the image, the conversation and the communion of our lord god. He speaks inside of you and instructs you and lets himself be heard through your mouth--his tongue is your tongue, and your face is his face ... he has adorned you with his authority and has given you fangs and claws so that you should be feared and reverenced ..." (Sahagun, book VI, chap. 10). The foregoing figure of speech in which fangs and claws are alluded to as symbols of fear-inspiring power affords as valuable an insight into the native modes of thought and expression as do the similes employed in the following address to the newly-elected ruler by the spokesman of his vassals. "Oh lord! may you live many years to fill your office prosperously; submit your shoulders to the very heavy and troublesome load; extend your wings and breast as a shelter to your subjects whom you have to carry as a load. Oh, lord! let your town and vassals enter under your shadow, for you are [unto them] like the tree named puchotl or aueuetl, which casts a great circle or wheel of shade, under which many are gathered in shelter" (_op. cit._ book VI, chap. II). The admonition also addressed to the ruler, "Never to laugh and joke again as he had done previously to his election, and to assume the heart of an old, grave and severe man," explains the true significance of the name of Montezuma or Mo-tecuh-zoma; which was an honorific title literally meaning, "our angry or wrathy [looking] lord." Whilst the above data establish beyond a doubt that the Mexican Quetzalcoatl was regarded as the visible representative of the celestial ruler of the universe and that divine honors were voluntarily accorded to him, it is interesting to read Montezuma's explanation to Cortes concerning this question. The latter writes: "seated on a raised seat Montezuma discoursed as follows: ... 'I know that you have been told by my enemies that I am, or have made myself a god.'... Raising his robes he showed me his body saying: 'Here you see that I am made of flesh and bone, like yourself or like any one, and that I am mortal and tangible.' Grasping his arms and his body with his hands he continued: 'see how they have like to you.' "... (Historia, Hernan Cortes, ed. Lorenzana, p. 82). Better than all dissertations, the above words convey an idea of the naif simplicity of the man who uttered them. Referring the reader to Mr. Ad. Bandelier's study, "On the social organiza
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