AZTECS TOLTECS NAHUATLACS ACOLHUANS. 95 



The seat and centre of the Mexican empire was in the valley of 

 Mexico, in a temperate climate, whose genial mildness is gained 

 by its elevation of over seven thousand feet above the level of the 

 sea. The features of this region, — the same now as at the 

 conquest, — will be more fully described hereafter in those chapters 

 which treat of the geography and statistics of modern Mexico. 



On the eastern or western borders of the lake of Tezcoco, facing 

 each other, stood the ancient cities of Tenochtitlan or Mexico, 

 and of Tezcoco. These were the capitals of the two most famous, 

 flourishing and civilized states of Anahuac, the sources of whose 

 population and progress are veiled in the general mystery that 

 overhangs the early history of our continent. 



The general, and best received tradition that we possess upon 

 the subject, declares that the original inhabitants of this beautiful 

 valley came from the north ; and that perhaps the earliest as well 

 as the most conspicuous in the legends, were the Toltecs, who 

 moved to the south before the end of the seventh century, and 

 settled at Tollan or Tula, north of the Mexican valley, where ex- 

 tensive architectural remains were yet to be found at the period of 

 the conquest. This spot seems to have gradually become the 

 parent hive of civilization and advancement ; but, after four cen- 

 turies, during which they extended their sway over the whole of 

 Anahuac, the Toltecs are alleged to have wasted away by famine, 

 disease, and the slow desolation of unsuccessful wars. This 

 occurred about the year 1051, as the Indian tradition relates, — and 

 the few who escaped the ravages of death, departed for those 

 more southern regions now known as Yucatan and Guatemala, in 

 which we perhaps find the present remains of their civilization 

 displayed in the temples, edifices and tombs of Palenque and 

 Uxmal. During the next century these valleys and mountains 

 were nearly desolate and bare of population, until a rude and 

 altogether uncivilized tribe, known as the Chichimecas, came from 

 Amaquemecan, in the north, and settled in villages among the ruins 

 of their Toltec predecessors. After eight years, six other Indian 

 tribes called Nahuatlacs arrived, and announced the approach of 

 another band from the north, known as the Aztecs, who, soon 

 afterwards, entered Anahuac. About this period the Acolhuans, 

 who are said to have emigrated from Teoacolhucan, near the 

 original territories of the Chichimecas, advanced into the valley 

 and speedily allied themselves with their ancient neighbors. 

 These tribes appear to have been the founders of the Tezcocan 



