110 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



BOOK II. 



Of the Toltecas^ Chechemecas^ Acolhuas^ Olmecas^ and other 

 Nations that inhabited the Country of Anahuac before 

 the Mexicans, The Expedition of the Aztecas^ or Mex- 

 icans^ from their Native Country of Axtlan. The 

 Events of their Journey into the Country of Anahuac ; 

 and their Settlements in Chapoltepec and Colhuacan, 

 The Foundation of Mexico and Tlaltelolco, Inhuman 

 Sacrifice of a Colhuan GirL 



THE hiftory of the firft peopling of Anahuac is fo 

 involved in fable, like that of other nations, that 

 it is not merely difficult but altogether impolTible to difco- 

 ver the truth. It is certain, hovi^ever, both from the tef- 

 timony of the facred writings, and from the conftant and 

 univerfal tradition of thofe nations, that the inhabitants 

 of Anahuac are defcended of thofe few mortals whom 

 the Divine Providence faved from the waters of the de- 

 luge, in order to preferve the race of man upon earth. 

 At the fame time there cannot be a doubt, that the men 

 who firft peopled that country, came originally from the 

 more northern parts of America, where their ancefi:ors 

 had been fettled for many ages. All the hiftorians, 

 Toltecan, Chechemecan, Acolhuan, Mexican, and TIaf- 

 calan, are agreed upon thefe two points : but who thofe 

 firft inhabitants were, the time of their emigration, the 

 events of their journey, and their firft eftablifliments, 

 are entirely unknown. Several authors have endeavour- 

 ed to pierce that chaos; but trufting to flight conjeflures, 

 fanciful combinations, and certain pidures of very ambi- 

 guous 



