HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



235 



and fplendor of the nation by many new edifices. After 

 the conqueft of Cuitlahuac he built, among others, a tem- 

 ple to the goddefs Cihuacoatl^ and fome time afterwards 

 another to Huitzilopochtli. His fimeral was attended with 

 unufual pomp and the greateH: demonftrations of grief, 

 and his aflies repofed in the fame fepulchre with his an- 

 ceftors. 



The four ele^ors did not long deliberate on the choice 

 of a new king ; there being no furviving brother of the 

 late fovereign, the ele£i;ionconfequently fell on one of his 

 grandfons ; and no one appeared more deferving than 

 Montezuma llhuicamina, fon of Huitzilihuitl, not lefs on 

 account of his perfonal virtues than the important fer- 

 vices he had done the nation. He was ele£l:ed with ge- 

 neral applaufe, advice of which being given to the two 

 allied kings, they not only confirmed the ele^lion, but 

 palTed many praifes on the elefted, and fent him prefents 

 worthy of his rank and their efteem. After the ufual 

 ceremonies and the congratulary fpeeches of the prieds, 

 the nobles, and the military, much rejoicing took place, 

 with entertainments, balls, and illuminations. Before his 

 coronation, either from an eftablilhed law of the coun- 

 try, or his own particular defire, he went to war wiih 

 his enemies to make prifoners for a facrifice on the occa- 

 fion. He refolved that thefe fliould be of the Chalchefe 

 nation, to revenge the infults and the injurious treatment 

 he had received from them when returning from Tez- 

 cuco, in the character of ambafifador, he had been taken 

 and carried to the prifon of Chalco. He went againfi; 

 them therefore in perfon, defeated them, and made ma- 

 ny prifoners ; but did not then fubjedl: the whole of that 

 ftate to the crown of Mexico, that he might not retard 

 his coronation. On the day appointed for that folem- 



nity 



