HISTORY OF MEXICO. 231 



difcoveries and inventions; and for each of thefe arts 

 and fciences, although little advanced, fchools were ap- 

 propriated. To accommodate the mechanic branches, 

 he divided the city of Tezcuco into thirty odd divifions, 

 and to every branch affigned a diftridl ; fo that the gold- 

 fmiths inhabited one divifion, the fculptors another, the 

 weavers another, &c. To cherifli religion he raifed new 

 temples, created minifters for the worihip of their gods, 

 gave them houfes, and appointed them revenues for their 

 fupport, and the expenfes which were neceiTary at fefti- 

 vals and facrifices. To augment the fplendor of his 

 court he conflrudled noble edifices both within and with- 

 out the city, and planted new gardens and woods, which 

 were in prefervation many years after the conqueft^ and 

 fliew flill fome traces of former magnificence. 



While the king of Acolhuacan v/as occupied in new 

 regulations of his court, the Xochimilcas, afraid left the 

 Mexicans in future might be defirous of making them- 

 felves alfo mafters of their ftatc, as well as of the Tepa- 

 necas, alTembled a council to deliberate on the meafures 

 they fliould take to prevent fuch a difgrace. Some were 

 of opinion they fliould voluntarily fubmit themfelves to 

 the dominion of the Mexicans, as at all events in time 

 they would be obliged to fuccumb to that power : the 

 judgment of others however prevailed, who thought it 

 would be better to declare war againft them before new 

 conquefls rendered them more formidable. The king 

 of Mexico no fooner heard of their refolution than 

 he fet out a large army, under command of the cele- 

 brated Montezuma, and fent advice to the king of Ta- 

 cuba to join with his troops. The battle was fought on 

 the confines of Xochimilco. Although the number of 

 the Xo'chimilcas was great, they did not however engage 



with 



