SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



137 



Acolhuacan under the reign of Nezahual- 

 coyolt, by the rebellion of a man named Max- 

 atlon, who over-ruled that kingdom for the 

 space of thirteen years, after which time he 

 was overthrown and killed by the Mexicans 

 under the command of the Emperor Monte- 

 zuma the First, who also was a man of great 

 talents. Nezahualcoyolt made eighty laws, 

 which have been recorded, and exist in manu- 

 script; he ordered that lawsuits and trials 

 for crimes should only last eighty days, or 

 four of their months ; after which time, he 

 himself used to settle all differences, and tried 

 criminals, who were instantly punished ac- 

 cording to their crimes: robbery, murder, 

 adultery, drunkenness, and treason, were very 

 severely punished ; and, if we are to believe 

 historians, he ordered to be put to death four 

 of his sons, who were convicted of the horri- 

 ble crime of incest : at the same time his cle- 

 mency was great : he made it death to steal 



