elaborate cloth

The mesh above each flag appears to represent cloth tribute. The red rectangle with the yellow animal (lion?) in this detail may be an indicator that the forty pieces or bundles of cloth had to have this particular design. Red cloth was expensive, as it had to be dyed (possibly with cochineal). The animal, may represent a pattern woven into the fabric or embroidered onto it. This animal is reminiscent of a lion that one might see on European flags and coats of arms. The large claws underline that it is meant to be a feline. [SW]