HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



239 



life, the anticipation of death made proportionate ideas 

 of melancholy fpring in the mind. 



Montezuma having returned to his court, found himfelf 

 obliged to crufli an enemy, whofe neighbourhood and al- 

 moft domeflic lituation might make him prove the more 

 dangerous to the ftate. ^auhtlatoa, the third king of 

 TIateloIco, inftigated by ambition to extend his dominions, 

 or from envy of the happinefs of his neighbour and rival, 

 had formerly been delirous of taking away the life of 

 king Itzcoatl, and that he might prove fuccefsful, having 

 no fufEcient forces of his own, had entered into a con- 

 federacy with other neighbouring lords ; but all his at- 

 tempts were vain, as Itzcoatl was apprifed of his inten- 

 tions, prepared in time for defence, and damped his cou- 

 rage. From that time, fuch a diflruft and enmity fprung 

 up between the Mexicans and Tlatelolcos, that they con- 

 tinued for years without any intercourfe, except among 

 fome of the common people, who ftole olF occafionally to 

 the markets. Under the reign of Montezuma, Quauht- 

 latoa refumed his hoflile intentions ; but they were not 

 again left unpuniflied ; Montezuma having got advice of 

 them, prevented the blow by a vigorous attack on TIa- 

 teloIco, in which the petty king was killed, although the 

 city was not then made fubjeft to the government of 

 Mexico. The Tlatelolcos ele£i:ed the brave Moquihuix 

 king, in the choice of whom the king of Mexico himfelf 

 mud have had conliderable influence. 



Montezuma having rid himfelf of this dangerous neigh- 

 bour, fet out for the province of the Cohuixcas, which 

 lies to the fouthward of Mexico, in order to revenge the 

 lofs of fome Mexicans who had been put to death by that 

 people. This glorious expedition added to his crown 

 the ftates of Huaxtepec, Jauhtepec, Tepoztlan, Jaca- 



pichtla. 



