HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



139 



plied conliderably, and fettled many cities and an infinite 

 number of villages. Their kings were rivals of the Mex- 

 icans, and had frequent wars with them. Their artifts 

 excelled, or vied with thofe of other nations ; at lead af- 

 ter the conqueft of Mexico : the bell Mofaic works were 

 made in Michuacan, and there only this valuable art was 

 preferved unto our time. The Tarafcas were idolatrous, 

 but not fo cruel as the Mexicans in their worfhip. Their 

 language is copious, fweet, and fonorous. They make 

 frequent ufe of the foft R ; their fyllables, for the mod 

 part, confid of a fmgle confonant, and a fmgle vowel. 

 Befides the natural advantage of their country, the Ta- 

 rafcas had the good fortune to have D. Vafca di Quiroga 

 for their firft bifhop, one of the moft diftinguifhed pre- 

 lates Spain has produced, worthy of being compared with 

 the ancient fathers of the church, and whofe memory was 

 preferved frefli unto our time, and will laft perpetually 

 among thefe people. The country of Michuacan, which 

 is one of the fined of the New World, was annexed to 

 the crown of Spain by the free and fpontaneous a6i: of its 

 lawful fovereign, without coding the Spaniards a drop 

 of blood, although it is probable that the recent example 

 of the ruin of the Mexican empire, intimidated and im- 

 pelled that monarch to fuch a concellion ( j). 



The 



(y) Boturini fays, that the Mexicans finding themfelves befieged by the Spa- 

 niards, fent an embalfy to the king of Alichnacan, to procure his alliance ; that 

 he alTembled an hundred thoufand Tarafcas, and as many Teochechemecas, in 

 the province of Avalos; but that, being intimidated by certain vifions which 

 his fifter had, who was once dead but returned to life again, he difcharged the 

 army, and abandoned the undertaking of fuccouring the Mexicans, as he had 

 intended. But all this account is a ftring of fables. As far as v/e know, no 

 author of that age makes mention of fuch an event. Whence came thefe hun- 

 dred thoufand Teochechemecas, who were fo quickly affembied ? Why was the 

 army colledled in the province moft diftant from Mexico? Who has ever feen 

 the king of France order his troops to be affembied in Flanders, to fuccour 



fome 



