144 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



Chechemecan nation, eftabliflied themfelves, originally, 

 in Poyauhtlan^ a place fituated on the eaftern fliore of 

 the lake of Tezcuco, between the court and the village 

 of Chemalhuacan. There they lived for fome time in 

 great mifery, fupporting themfelves folely by the chace, 

 on account of the v/ant of arable foil ; but being multi- 

 plied in their numbers, and defirous of extending the 

 boundaries of their territory, they drew upon themfelves 

 the hatred of the furrounding nations. The Sochimil- 

 cas, the Colhuas, the Tepanecas, and probably alfo the 

 Chalchefe, who, by being borderers on them, were mofi: 

 expofed to injury, made a league together, and equipped 

 a confiderable array to drive fuch dangerous fettlers from 

 the vale of Mexico. The Tlafcalans, whom the confci- 

 oufnefs of their ufurpations, kept always vigilant, came 

 well arrayed for an encounter. The battle was one of 

 the moft bloody and memorable which appears in the hif- 

 tory of Mexico. The Tlafcalans, though inferior in 

 number, made fuch a flaughter of the enemy, that they 

 left the field covered with carcafes, and a part of the 



lake 



of the Spaniards, how is it credible that the Chechemecas fliould entirely change 

 their language, being matters of that country, and occupying the throne of 

 Acolhuacan from the time of Xolotl the founder of that kingdom, until the 

 conqueft of Mexico. I do not doubt, however, that the proper language of 

 the ancient Chechemecas was the fame with that of the Acoihuas and Nahuat- 

 lacas, that is, the Mexican. I am of the fame opinion refpeding the Toltecas, 

 whatever other authors may fay; nor can I, after the moft diligent ftudy of 

 hiftory, alter my fentiments. We know that the names of the places from 

 whence the Toltecas and Chechemecas came, and of thofe which they fettled in 

 Anahuac, of the perfons of both nations, and of the years which they ufed, 

 were Mexican. We know that the Toltecas and Chechemecas, the Checheme- 

 cas and Acoihuas, from the firlt had communication with each other, and un- 

 derftood each other reciprocally without an interpreter. The Mexican language 

 having fpread as far as Nicaragua, is not to be afcribed to any thing elfe than 

 the difperfion of the Toltecas who fpoke it; as it is not known that the Nahuat- 

 iacas ever went beyond Chlapan. In fiaort, we find nothing to fupport tlie cou- 

 trary opinion, although it is fo coaimon among our hiftorians. 



