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THE MEXICANS 



The valleys of Mexico, the ancient Anahuac, have been compared, in their 

 political vicissitudes, to those of Italy. Beautiful and productive in a remarkable 

 degree, and possessing a delightful climate, Mexico has excited the cupidity of 

 many different nations, who have successfully established their dominion over it. 

 Let us for a moment enumerate these various people, and at the same time 

 inquire into their peculiar characteristics. 



1. Mexican tradition states that the country w^as originally inhabited by 

 barbarous hordes, who were no doubt analogous, in their physical appearance and 

 social institutions, to the present population of the more northern regions of the 

 continent. They have left no monuments ; but it is probable their descendants 

 yet exist among the uncultivated tribes which are still scattered over the country. 



2. Of the civilised nations of Anahuac, those which claim the greatest 

 antiquity are the Olmecas, who extended their migrations to Nicaragua and the 

 Gulf of Nicoya; — the Miztecas and the Zapotecas. These people are said to have 

 been as highly cultivated as any of the nations who succeeded them: and it seems 

 more than probable that some of the architectural monuments of Mexico, will yet 

 be traced to a period long antecedent to the arrival of the Toltecas.* Among the 

 nations who inhabited the country at this early epoch, are also to be mentioned 

 the Tarascas, and the Otomies, the latter being the least civilised of them all. 



3. The first recorded invasion of Mexico was that of the Toltecas, which is 

 dated by most historians about the year 600 of our era.f Their original seats are 



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stated in their traditions to have been to the northwest of Mexico, in a country 

 called Huehuetapallan. Their monarchy commenced in the year 607, and 

 terminated, as we have already stated, A. D. 1031; at which period a series of 

 calamities caused their partial destruction, and dispersion into other countries. 

 Of all the nations of Anahuac, the Toltecas were the most refined in their social 

 relations, and most skilful in the arts and sciences. They introduced the 

 cultivation of Indian corn and cotton : they made roads, lived in towns and cities, 

 and erected as we have seen,J the most surprising monuments of the new world. 



* Humboldt, Monuments, II, p. 249. 



t Boturini, with much plausibiHty, dates the Toltecan monarchy before the Christian era. It is 

 indeed difficult to imagine that the monuments of Pahieque are but 1200 years old, 

 J See page 84, and sequel. 

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