120 HISTORY OF MEXICO* 



chemecas, as is fliewn by their hiftory, was very fingular, 

 as a certain degree of civilization was blended with ma- 

 ny traits of barbarifm. They lived under the command 

 of a fovereign, and the chiefs and governors deputed 

 by him, with as much fubmiffion as is ufual among the 

 mod cultivated nations. There were diftin^lions between 

 the nobility and commonalty, and the plebeians were ac- 

 cuftomed to reverence thofe whofe birth, merit, or fa- 

 vour with the prince raifed them above the other ranks* 

 They dwelt in communities together, in places compofed, 

 as we may imagine, of poor huts (o) ; but they neither 

 pra£^:ifed agriculture, nor thofe arts which accompany 

 civil life. They lived only on game, and fruits, and 

 roots which the earth fpontaneoufly produced. Their 

 clothing was the rough ildns of the wild beafls they took 

 in prey, and their arms no other than the bow and ar- 

 row. Their religion was reduced to the limple worftiip 

 of the fun, to which pretended divinity they offered herbs 

 and flowers which they found fpringing in the fields. 

 With refpefl to their cuftoms, they were certainly lefs 

 difplcafing and lefs rude than thofe to which the genius 

 of a nation of hunters gives birth. 



Their motive for leaving their native country, is un- 

 certain ; as likewife the etymology of the word Cheche- 

 mecatl (/>). The lafl king whom they had in Amaque- 

 mecan, 



(o) Torquemada fays, that the Chechemecas had no houfes, but dwelt in the 

 caverns of mountains ; but in the fame chapter where he fays this, he affirms that 

 the capital city of their kingdom was called Amaquemecan. 



(p) Several authors have laboured to guefs at the etymology of the word 

 Chechemecatl. Torquemada fays, that this name is derived from Techichinant, 

 which lignifies fucking, becaufe the Chechemecas fucked the blood of the animals 

 which they hunted. But this is a forced etymology, particularly among thofe 

 nations, who did not alter derivative names in fuch a manner. Bctancourt be- 

 lieved it to be derived from Chichimi, that is, dogs beans. They were fo called 

 by other nations, in contempt ; but had this been the cafe, they would not have 

 boafted, as they did, of the name Chechemecatl. 



