HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



303 



out clothing, periflied with cold, and others were beat 

 down by the trees which were rooted up by the wind. 

 Of the remainder of the army, which continued their 

 journey but feebly to Amatla, the greater part died in 

 battle. 



Thefe and other calamities together with the appear- 

 ance of a comet at that time, threw ajl the princes of 

 Anahuac into the utmoft confternation. Montezuma, 

 who was too fuperflitious to look with indifference on fo 

 uncommon a phenomenon, confulted his aftrologers upon 

 it ; but they being unable to divine its meaning, applied 

 to the king of Acolhuacan, who was reputed able in af- 

 trology, and in the art of divination. Thefe kings, al- 

 though they were related to, and perpetual allies of, 

 each other, did not live in much harmony together, the 

 king of Acolhuacan having put to death his fon Huexot- 

 zincatzin^ as we fliall fee prefently, paying no regard to 

 the prayers of Montezuma, who, as the uncle of that 

 prince, had interfered in his behalf. For a long time 

 paft they had neither met with their ufual frequency, 

 nor confidence; but on this occafion the rayfterious dread 

 which feized the mind of Montezuma incited him to pro- 

 fit by the knowledge of the king Nezahualpilli, for which 

 reafon he intreated him to come to Mexico to confult 

 with him upon an event which appeared equally to con- 

 cern them both. Nezahualpilli went, and after having 

 conferred, at length, with Montezuma, was of opinion, 

 according to the account of hiftorians, that the comet 

 predi£i:ed the future difaflers of rhofe kingdoms, by the 

 arrival of a new people. This interpretation, however, 

 being unfatisfaftory to Montezuma, Nezahualpilli chal- 

 lenged him at the game of foot-ball, which was frequently 

 played at even by thofe kings thcmfelves ; and it was 



X agreed 



