^52 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



maize was fufficient to incur the penalty. In order to 

 provide, in fome meafure, for necelTitous travellers, with- 

 out breach of this Jaw, Nezahualcojotl commanded that 

 both fides of the principal highways fhould be fown with 

 maize and other feeds, with the fruits of which thofe who 

 were in want might fupply themfelves. A great part of 

 his revenue was fpent in relief of the poor, particularly 

 thofe who were aged, fick, and in widowhood. To pre- 

 vent the confumption of the woods, he prefcribed limits 

 to thofe who cut wood, and forbid trefpaffes on them, 

 under fevere penalties. Being defirous of knowing if 

 this prohibition was ftridly obferved, he went out one 

 day in difguife, with one of his brothers, and took the 

 way to the foot of the neighbouring mountains, where 

 the boundaries prefcribed commenced. There he found 

 a youth employed in gathering the fmall chips which 

 remained of fome wood that had been cut, and allced 

 him why he did not go into the woods to cut fuel. Be- 

 caufe the king, faid the lad, has forbid the trefpaffing on 

 thefe limits, and if we do not obey him he will punifh us 

 feverely. Neither importunity nor promifes which the 

 king made, were fufficient to make him willing to tranf- 

 grefs. The corapaiTion excited in him by this poor 

 youth, moved him to enlarge the former limits he had 

 fixed. 



He was particularly zealous in his attention to the 

 faithful adminiflration of juftice, and that none from their 

 necefiities might plead an excufe for being corrupted by 

 any of the contending parties, he ordered the fupport of 

 all his mJnifiers and judges, their clothing, and every ne- 

 celfary according to the rank and quality of the perfon, 

 to be fupplied out of the royal treafury. So much was 

 expended annually in his houftiold, in the fupport of his 



minifters 



