294 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



on the enemy. At one time they attacked them at the foot 

 of the mountains, which He to the weft of Huexotzinco, 

 and reduced them tofuch difficukies, that finding them- 

 felves unable for refiftance, they demanded afTiftance 

 from Montezuma, who immediately ordered an army 

 under the command of his firft-born fon to -their relief. 

 This army marched acrofs the fouthern border of the 

 mountain and volcano Popocatepec, where it was increafed 

 with the troops of Chietlan and Itzocan, and from thence 

 it entered by Quauhquechollan into the valley of Atlixco. 

 The Tlafcalans having intelligence of this route, ported 

 themfelves in the way to fail upon the Mexicans before 

 they could join the Huexotzincas. The attack was fo 

 fudden and unexpe£i:ed on the Mexicans that they were 

 defeated, and the Tlafcalans taking advantage of their 

 diforder, made a confiderable havoc of them. Amongfl: 

 others who were ilain, the prince the general was one, 

 on whom fo important a pod had been conferred proba- 

 bly more from an intention to add this honour to the no- 

 blenefs of his birth than from refpe£l to his fkill in the 

 art of war. The refl of the army v/as put to flight, and 

 the conquerors returned to Tlafcala loaded with fpoils. 

 It is much to be wondered at that they did not pour im- 

 mediately upon the city of Huexotzinco, as they might 

 have expelled it would have eafily furrendered ; but, 

 perhaps, the vi61ory was not fo complete, but that many 

 of their people fell in the battle, and that they thought 

 it more prudent to enjoy the immediate fruits of victory, 

 and return afterwards with more forces to the war. 

 They quickly returned, but they were repulfed by the 

 Huexotzincas, who were now fortified, fo that they re- 

 treated to Tlafcala without any other advantage than 

 laying Vv^aile the fields of the Huexotzincas and Cholu- 



lans; 



