HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



291 



ledge him by tribute, after the example of other nations ; 

 but if they refufed fubje6lion, they mud perifli without 

 remedy, their city would be facked, and their country 

 given to be inhabited by another race of people. To 

 fo arrogant and weak an anfwer, the ambalTador return- 

 ed thofe fpirited words : " Mod powerful lords, Tlafcala 



owes you no fubmiffion, nor have the Tlafcalans ever 

 " acknowledged any prince with tributes fince their an- 



ceftors left the countries in the North, to inhabit this 

 " land. They have always preferved their liberty, and 

 " being unaccuflomed to the flavery to which you pre- 

 " tend to fubje^l them, rather than fubmit to your power, 



they will fhed more blood than their' fathers flied in 



the famous battle of Pojauhtlan.'* 



The Tlafcalans alarmed at the arrogant and ambitious 

 pretenfions of the Mexicans, and defpairing of being able 

 to bring them to any amicable agreement, refolved at lafl: 

 to fortify their frontiers to prevent an invafion. They 

 had already inclofed the lands of the republic with in- 

 trenchments, and eflablifhed good garrifons on their fron- 

 tiers : the threats of the Mexicans made them increafe 

 their fortifications, and flrengthen their garrifons, and 

 conflrudl that famous wall fix miles in length, which pre- 

 vented the enemy from entering in the quarter of the 

 weft, where danger was chiefly to be apprehended. 

 They were frequently attacked by the Huexotzincas, the 

 Cholulans, the Itzocanefe, the Tecamachalchefe, and 

 other ftates which were neighbouring, or but little dif- 

 tant from Mexico ; but they never could wreft a foot of 

 land from the republic, owing to the watchful attention 

 of the Tlafcalans, and the bravery xvkh which they re- 

 Cfted their invaders. 



A great 



