HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



295 



lans.; by which thefe people were fo reduced as to be 

 forced to feek provilion in Mexico and other places. 



Montezuma was deeply afFe6i:ed with the death of his 

 firfl-born fon, and the defeat of his army : upon which 

 he commanded another army to be raifed in the provinces 

 furrounding Tlafcala, to block up the whole republic ; 

 but the Tlafcalans forefeeing the hoftility of the Mexi- 

 cans, had made extraordinary fortifications, and ftrength- 

 ened all their garrifons. The contefl became vigorous 

 on both fides ; but at laft the royal troops were repulfed, 

 leaving no fmall fhare of riches in the hands of their 

 enemies. The Tlafcalans celebrated this victory with 

 great rejoicings, and rev/arded the Oromies, to whom 

 it was chiefly owing, by advancing the moO: refpe^lable 

 among them to the dignity of Texetli^ which was in the 

 gi'eatefl efleem among them, and giving daughters of 

 the moll noble Tlafcalans in marriage to the heads of 

 that nation. 



It is not to be doubted that if the king of Mexico had 

 been ferioufly bent on the reduction of the Tlafcalans, 

 he would in the end have fubje^led them to his crown ; 

 becaufe although the ilrength of the republic was con- 

 fiderable, its troops warlike, and its places flrong, they 

 were ilill inferior to the Mexicans in refources and power. 

 From which it appears probable, as hiftorians affirm, 

 that the kings of Mexico, although they had conquered 

 the m^oft diftant provinces, defignedly let the republic of 

 Tlafcala exift, which is fcarcely fixty miles diflant from 

 that capital ; not only that they might have an enemy 

 at hand againfl whom they might exercife their troops j, 

 but likewife that they might always be able to procure 

 with eafe vidlims for their facrifices. The frequent at- 

 tacks which they made on the different places of Tlaf- 

 cala, ferved for both thefe purpofes. 



Among 



