HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



261 



time the Mexicans advanced to the fteps of the temple, 

 afcended them, and came to the upper balcony where 

 Moquihuix was calling out to his people, and made a def- 

 perate defence of himfelf ; but a Mexican captain, named 

 Quetzalhua, with a thruft puflied him backwards down 

 the fteps (ni\ when fome foldiers took up his body in 

 their arms, and prefented it to Axayacatl, who opened 

 his breaft, and tore out his heart. An a£1: certainly 

 horrid, but done without the feelings of horror, from its 

 being fo frequent at their facrifices ! 



Thus fell the brave Moquihuix, and thus was the petty 

 monarchy of the Tlatelolcos, which had been governed 

 by four kings in the fpace of about one hundred and 

 eighteen years, diiTolved. The Tlatelolcos, after the 

 death of their king, foon fell into diforder, and attempted 

 to fave themfelves by flight, by palEng acrofs their ene- 

 mies ; but four hundred and fixty remained dead on the 

 market-place, among whom were fome officers of diftinc- 

 tion. After this defeat the city of Tlatelolco was united 

 with the city of Mexico, and was no longer confidered 

 as a diftin£l: city, but as a part, or rather as the fuburb§ 

 of Mexico, which it is at prefent. The king of Mexico 

 conftantly maintained a governor there, and the Tlate- 

 lolcos, befides the tribute which they annually paid of 

 maize, robes, arms, and armour, were obliged to repair 

 the temple of Huitznahuac as often as ii became necef- 

 fary. 



We are ignorant whether the Quauhpanchefe, the 

 Huexotzincas, and the Matiatzincas, who were the con- 

 federates 



(az) The interpreter of Mendoza's colledion fays, that after the lofs of the 

 battle, Moquihuix fled to the top of the temple, and threw himfelf head-long 

 from it, being unable to endure the reproaches of one of the priefts ; but tlie 

 account of other hiftorians appears to us more confiftent with the charader of 

 this kiijg. 



