180 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



bation of it. In the fequel of this hiftory we fliall fee 

 that the haughtinefs, the ambition, and the cruelty of 

 Maxtlaton rather encouraged than connived at by his in- 

 dulgent father, brought ruin upon himfelf and his king- 

 dom. Huitzilihuitl could ill brook fuch a barbarous in- 

 jury ; but he yet wanted fuiEcient power to take revenge. 



In the fame year with this tragical event (1399) died n 

 at Tlatelolco, the iirfl: king, Quaquauhpitzahuac, leav- 

 ing his fubje£ts much more civilized, and the city greatly 

 enlarged by handfome buildings and gardens. He was 

 fucceeded by Jlacatcotl^ of whofe origin hiftorians differ 

 widely in their relations ; fome imagining he was a Tepa- 

 necan as well as his predecelfor, while others take him 

 to have been an Acolhuan, appointed by the king of 

 Acolhuacan. The rivalftiip which fubfifted between the 

 Mexicans and Tlatelolcas contributed greatly to the ag- 

 grandizement of their refpe£i:ive cities. The Mexicans 

 had formed fo many alliances, by marriage, [with the 

 neighbouring nations ; had fo greatly improved their 

 agriculture, and increafed the number of their floating 

 gardens upon the lake ; and had built fo many more vef- 

 fels to fupply their extended commerce and fifliing, that 

 they were enabled to celebrate their fecular year i. 

 Tochtli^ which anfwers to the year 1402 of our era, with 

 greater magnificence than any of the four which had 

 elapfed fmce their firft leaving of the country of Aztlan. 



At this time Techotlala, far advanced in years, ftill 

 reigned in Acolhuacan; who perceiving his end ap- 

 proach, called to him his fon and fuccelTor Ixtlilxochitl, 

 and, among many inftruftions, particularly recommended 

 to him the conciliating of the minds of his feudatory lords; 

 left the crafty and ambitious Tezozomoc, who, till that 

 time, had only been reftrained by the uncertainty of fuc- 



cefs. 



