HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



379 



above thirty miles of extent. We have met with no 

 author who gives a greater latitude to this ftate except 

 Cortes, who fays, that the dominions of this republic 

 were ninety leagues in circumference ; but this is a ma- 

 nifeft error. 



With refpecl: to the kingdom of Michuacan, no one, 

 as far as we know, has mentioned all its ancient bound- 

 aries except Boturini. This author fays, that the ex- 

 tent of that kingdom, from the valley of Ixtlahuacan, 

 near Toloccan, to the Pacific Ocean, was five hundred 

 leagues ; and from Zacatollan to Xichu, one hundred 

 and fixty leagues ; and that in the dominions of Michu- 

 | acan, were comprehended the provinces of Zacatollan, 

 Coliman, and that province which the Spaniards called 

 Provencia d y Avalos, fituate to the north-weft of Coli- 

 man. But this author was wholly deceived in his ac- 

 count j for it is certainly known, that the kingdom of 

 Michuacan had not its boundaries in Ixtlahuacan, but 

 Tlaximalojan, where the Mexican dominions reached. 

 We know from the lift of tributes, that the maritime 

 provinces of Zacatollan and Coliman, belonged to Mex- 

 ico. Laftly, the Michuacanefe could not extend their 

 dominions as far as Xichu, without fubduing the bar- 

 barous Chechemecas, who occupied that quarter ; but 

 we know that the laft were not fubdued till many years 

 after the conqueft by the Spaniards. The kingdom of 

 Michuacan, therefore, was not fo large as Boturini be- 

 lieved it ; its extent did not comprehend more than three 

 degrees of longitude, and about two of latitude. 



What we have faid hitherto, tends to mew theexact- 

 nefs of our defcription, and of our geographical charts 

 with refpecl: to the boundaries of thofe kingdoms, found- 

 ed on the hiftory of them, the regifter of the tributes, 

 and the teftimony of the ancient writers. 



SECT, 



