HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



269 



this famous folemnity drew fpe61:ators from the mod dif- 

 tant places. The feftival lafted four days, during which 

 they facrificed, in the upper porch of the temple, all the 

 prifoners which they had made in the four preceding 

 years. Hiflorians are not agreed concerning the number 

 of the vi6lims. Torquemada fays, that they amounted 

 to feventy-two thoufand three hundred and forty-four. 

 Others affirm they were fix ty -four thoufand and fixty in 

 number. To make thefe horrible facrifices with more 

 fliew and parade, they ranged the prifoners in two files, 

 each a mile and a half in length, which began in the roads 

 of Tacuba and Iztapalapan, and terminated at the tem- 

 ple (rj, where, as foon as the vi6i:ims arrived, they were 

 facrificed. After the feftival the king made prefents to 

 all whom he had invited, which muft certainly have been 

 attended with an enormous expenfe. This event hap- 

 pened in i486. 



In that fame year, Mozauhqui lord of Xalatlaucho, 

 in imitation of his king to whom he bore much afFe<5lion, 

 dedicated another temple, which had been built a little 

 before , and facrificed likewife a great number of pri- 

 foners. So much flaughter and blood did the cruel and 

 barbarous fuperftition of thefe nations occafion. 



The year 1487 was no way memorable, except on ac- 

 count of a violent earthquake, and the death of Chimal- 

 popoca king of Tacuba, who was fucceeded by Toto- 

 quihuatzin the Second. 



Ahuitzotl, whofe warlike genius did not permit him 

 to enjoy peace, went again to war againft Cozcaquauht- 



enanco, 



(r) Betancourt fays that the file of prifoners ranged on the road of Iztapala- 

 pan, began at the place which is now called La Candelaria Malcuitlapiko^ and 

 was given this name on that account, as the word Malcuitlapilco fignifies the 

 tail, point, or the extremity of the prifoners. This conje6lure is pretty proba- 

 ble; neither is it eafy to trace abetter origin of the name. 



