| OCR Text |
Show 220 UOOK V. '--r--J H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. - overcome by the multitude of his enemies. Finding themfdvcs fo near, the capital, they conceived fuch a dread of the vengeance of the Tlafc:tlans, that they retreated precipitately to their own territories. Such was the commencement of the continual battles and the hofiilities which fu h- , fi!l:ed between the two fiates until the arrival of the Spaniards. W c arc uninformed by hifiory whether the other fiatcs in the neighb ourhood of Tlafcala were engaged in the war: perhaps, the Hucxotzincas and and Cholulans were unwilling to let any other have a {hare in their glory. The Tlafcahms were now fo enraged ag:tinfi the H ucxotzi ncas, that they did not confine themfelves any longer to the defence of their tl:ate, but-frequently fallied out upon the enemy. At one time they attacked them at the foot of the mountaii1s, which lie to the well: of Hnexotzinco, and reduced them to fuch difficulties, that finding themfel ves unable for refifiance, they demanded affifiance from Montezuma, who immediately ordered an army under the command of his fidl:born fon to their relief. This army marched acrofs the fouthern border of the mountain and volcano Popocatepec, where it was incre. 1fed with the troops of Chietlan and ltzocan, and from thence it entered by Q£auhquechollan into the valley of Atlixco. The Tlafcalans having intelligence of this route, pofi:cd themfdves in the way to fall upon the Mexicans before they could join the Huexotzincas. The attack was fo fudden and unexpected on the Mexicans that they were defeated, and the TlaJcalans taking advantage of their diforder, made a con~ iiderable havoc of them. Amongfi: others who were !lain, the prince the general was one, on whom fo important a pofi had been conferred probably more from an intention to add this honour to the noblenefs of his birth than fi·om ref peel: to his Jkill in the art of war. The refi of the army was put to flight, and the conquerors returned to Tlafcala loade~ with _fpoils. It is much to be wondered at that they did not pour Jmm~d1atdy upon the city of Huexotzinco, as they might have! expeCted 1t would have eafily furrendered; but, perhaps, the viCtory was not fo complete, but that many of their people fell in the battle, a~1d that they thought it more prudent to enjoy the immediate fruits of Vl~ory, and return afterwards with more forces to the war. They qtackly returned, but they were repulfed by the Huexotzincas, who were H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. were now fortifie~, fo that they retreated to Tlafcala without any other advantage than laymg wafte the fields of the Hucxotzincas and Cholulans ; by which thefe people were fo reduced as to be forced to feck pro~ vifion in Mexico and other places. Montezuma was deeply aifeCl:ed with the death of his firfi:-born fon, and the defeat of his army: upon which he commanded another army to be raifcd _in the provinces furrounding Tlafcala, to block up the who~e republic; but the Tlafcalans forefeeing the hoil:ility of the Mexicans_, had. made extraordinary fortifications, and il:r~ngth ·~ ned all theu· gawfons. The contefl: became vigorous on both ftdes; but at laft the royal troops were repulfed, leaving no [mall fhare of riches in the hands of their enemies. The Tlafcalans celebrated this viCtory with great rejoicin g~, and rewarded the Otomies, to whom it was chiefly owing, by advancing the moil: refpeCl:able among them to the dign~t~ of 'rexetli, which was in the greatefl: cfi:eem among them, and giVIng daughters of the mofi noble Tlafcalans in marriage to the heads of that nation. It is not to .. be d~ubted that if the king of Mexico had been feriouily bent on the reduCl:10n of the Tlafcalans, he would in the end have fubjeeted them to his crown; becaufe although the il:rength of the republic was confiderable, its troops warlike, and its places fi:rong, they were ftill inferior to the Mexicans in refources and power. From which it appears probable, as hifi:orians affirm, that the kings of Mexico, although they had conquered the moil: difi:ant provinces, defignedly let the republic of Tlafcala exift, which is fcarcely fixty miles difi:ant from that capital; n~t only th~t they might have an enemy at l~and againfi: whom they m1ght exerc1fe their troops; but likewife that they might always be able to procure with cafe viCtims for their facrifices. The frequent at·tacks which they made on the different places of Tlafcala, ferved for both thefe purpofes. BOOK V, ~ . Among the Tlafcalan viCtims in the hifi:ory of Mexico, a very famous general, named 'rlahuicol, is extremely worhy of memory (g). His courage, and the uncommon firength of his arms, were unequalled and wonderful. The maquabuitl, or Mexican fword, with which he SECT. VI. T l,Lhuicol, a celebrated general of the Tlafca• l:ms. (g) The ~vent rcfp:eting. this offi.:er happcnecl in the !aft year~ of Monte1.uma's reign ; but on account of 1ts conncCt1011 w1th the war of Tlaf..:al:l we ha1•e thought proper to introduce it he re. fought |
