HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



147 



formed a kind of ariftocracy for the general (late. This 

 diet or fenate was the umpire of war and peace. It pre- 

 fcribed the number of troops which were to be raifed, 

 and the generals who were to command them. In the 

 ftatc, although it was circumfcribed, there were many- 

 cities and large villages, in which, in 1520, there were 

 more than one hundred and fifty thoufand houfes, and 

 more than five hundred thoufand inhabitants. The dif- 

 trid: of the republic was fortified on the weftern quarter 

 with ditches and entrenchments, and on the eaft with a 

 wall fix miles in length ; towards the fouth it was, by 

 nature, defended by the mountain Matlalcueye, and by 

 other mountains, on the north. 



The Tlafcalans were warlike, courageous, and jealous 

 of their honour and their liberty. They preferved, for 

 a long time, the fplendor of their republic, in fpite of the 

 oppofition they fufFered from their enemies ; until at 

 length, being in confederacy with the Spaniards againfl: 

 their ancient rivals the Mexicans, they were involved ia 

 the common ruin. They were idolatrous, and as fuper- 

 ftitious and cruel in their form of worlhip as the Mexi- 

 cans. Their favourite deity was Camaxile^ the fame 

 which was worftiipped by the Mexicans, under the name 

 of Huitzilopochtli, Their arts were the fame as thofe of 

 other neighbouring nations. Their commerce confifted 

 principally in maize and cochineal. From the abundance 

 of maize the name of Tlafcallan was given to the capi- 

 tal, which means the place of bread. Their cochineal 

 was efteemed above any other, and, after the conqueft, 

 brought yearly to the capital a revenue of two hundred 

 thoufand crowns ; but they entirely abandoned this com- 

 merce, for reafons we fliall mention elfe where. 



The 



