HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



159 



tice conformable to humanity. If the prince can vin- 

 dicate his rights, and repel force without killing his 

 enemies, humanity demands that life fliould be preferv- 

 ed. If we are to take utility into our conlideration, a 

 flain enemy cannot hurt, neither can he ferve us, but 

 from a prifoner we may derive much advantage without 

 receiving any harm. If we confider glory, it requires a 

 greater effort to deprive an enemy folely of his liberty, 

 than to wrefl his life from him in the heat of conteft. 

 The Mexicans were likewife called upon to make the 

 fliew of their prifoners ; but not having a llngle one to 

 prefent, as the only four which they had taken were 

 kept concealed for a particular purpofe ; they were re- 

 reproached as a cowardly race by the general and the 

 foldiers of the Colhuas. Then the Mexicans holding 

 out their balkets full of ears, faid, " Behold from the 

 " number of ears which we prefent, you may judge of 

 " the number of prifoners we might have brought if we 



had inclined ; but we were unwilling to lofe time in 

 " binding them that we might accelerate your victory." 

 The Colhuas remained awed and abafhed, and began 

 to conceive apprehenfions from the prudence as well as 

 from the courage of their flaves. 



The Mexicans having returned to the place of their 

 refidence which, as appears, was at that time Huitzo- 

 lopochco, they ere6led an altar to their tutelary god ; 

 but being defirous at the dedication of it to make an 

 offering of fomething precious they demanded fomething 

 of their lord for that purpofe. He fent them in difdain, 

 in a dirty rag of coarfe cloth, a vile dead bird, with 

 certain filth about it, which was carried by the priefls 

 of the Colhuas, who having laid it upon the altar with- 

 out any falutation, retired. Whatever indignation the 



Mexicans 



