146 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



tack was fo fudden, that the TIafcalans were forced to 

 retreat to the top of that great mountain : finding them- 

 felves there in the greateft perplexity, they fent ambaf- 

 fadors to implore the prote^lion of the Chechemecan 

 king, and obtained from him a large body of troops. 

 The Huexozincas not having forces mfficient to contend 

 with the royal army, applied for affiflance to the Tepa- 

 necas, who they believed would not let pafs fo fair an 

 opportunity of revenging themfelves ; but the tragic 

 event of Pofauhtlan was ftill in their memories, and al- 

 though they fent troops^ thefe were enjoined not to do 

 hurt to the TIafcalans ; and the TIafcalans themfelves 

 were advifed not to cfteem them as enemies, but to reft 

 confident that that nation was not fent for any other pur- 

 pofe than to deceive the Huexozincas, and not to dif- 

 turb the harmony which fubfifted between them and the 

 Tepanecas. By the aid of the Tezcucans, and the per- 

 fidious inaftion of the Tepanecas, the Huexozincas were 

 defeated, and obliged to return to their ftate in difgrace. 

 The TIafcalans being freed from fo great a danger, 

 and having made peace with their neighbours, returned 

 to their firft eftablifliment, to continue their fettlement 

 and population. 



Such was the origin of the famous city and republic 

 of TIafcala, the perpetual rival of the Mexicans, and oc- 

 cafion of their ruin. At firft they all obeyed one chief ; 

 but afterwards when their population was confiderably 

 advanced, the city was parted into four divifions, called 

 Tepeticpac^ Ocotelolco^ Suiahuiztlan^ and Tizatlan. Every 

 divifion had its lord, to whom all the places dependent 

 on fuch divifion were likewife fubje6l ; fo that the whole 

 ftate was compofed of four fmall monarchies ; but thefe 

 four lords, together with other nobles of the firft rank, 



formed 



