HISTORY OF MEXICO. 377 



the tributary cities of that crown, Tochtlan, Michapan, 

 and other places of that province. We are, however 

 perfuaded, that the Mexicans poffefled all that was to 

 the weft of the river Coatzacualco, but not that which 

 was to the eaft of it ; and that this river was their 

 boundary in that quarter. Towards the north, their 

 poffeffions were bounded by the country of the Huax- 

 tecas, who were never fubdued by the Mexicans. To- 

 wards the north-weft, the empire did not extend beyond 

 the province of Tulba ; all that great tracl: of land 

 which was beyond this province, was occupied by the 

 barbarous Otomies and Chechemecas, who had no fo- 

 ciety, nor obeyed any fovereign. In the weft it is known" 

 that the empire terminated at TJaximalojan, the fron- 

 tier of the kingdom of Michuacan ; but on the fea-coaft 

 it extended as far as the weftern extremity of the pro- 

 vince of Coliman, and no farther. In the catalogue of 

 the tributary cities, Coliman, and other places of that 

 province appear, but none that are beyond it : nor are 

 they mentioned in the hiftory of Mexico. The Mexi- 

 cans had nothing to do with California, nor could they 

 expect any advantage from the conqueft of a country fo 

 diftant, fo unpeopled, and miferable. If that dry and 

 rocky peninfula had ever been a province of the Mexi- 

 can empire, fome population would have been found 

 there ; but it is certain, that there was not a fingle houfe 

 met with upon it, nor the leaft remains or traces of in- 

 habitants. Laftly, in the fouth, the Mexicans had made 

 themfelves mafters of all thofe great ftates, which were 

 between the Vale of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. The 

 greateft length of their dominions was on the fea coaft 

 from Xoconochco to Coliman. 



Vol. III. 3 C I Dr. 



