HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



9 



that had children in the world ; and flie had always 

 twins. She was efteemed a great goddefs, and they faid 

 that ihe would frequently Ihew herfelf, carrying a child 

 in a cradle upon her back. 



Tonatricli and Meztli, names of the fun and moon, 

 both deified by thefe nations. They faid, that after the 

 recovery and multiplication of mankind, each of the 

 above mentioned heroes or demigods, had among the 

 men, his fervants and adherents : and that there being no 

 fun, the one that had been, having come to an end, the 

 heroes affembled in Teotihuacan around a great fire, 

 and faid to the men, that the firft of them that fliould 

 throw himfelf into the fire would have the glory to be- 

 come a fun. Forthwith one of the men, more intrepid - 

 than the reft, called Nanahuaztin, threw himfelf into the 

 flames, and defcended to hell. In the interval while 

 they all remained expecting the event, the heroes made 

 wagers with the quails, locufts, and other animals, about 

 the place of the iky where the fun would firft appear ; 

 and the animals being miftaken in their conjectures were 

 immediately facrificed. At length the fun arofe in that 

 quarter which from that time forward has been called 

 the Levant ; but he had fcarcely rifen above the horizon 

 when he flopped ; which the heroes perceiving, fent to 

 defire him to continue his courfe. The fun replied, that 

 he would not, until he fliould fee them all put to death. 

 The heroes were no lefs enraged than terrified by that 

 anfwer : upon which one of them named Citli 9 raking 

 his bow and three arrows, fliot one at the fun ; but the 

 funfaved himfelf by (looping. Citli aimed two other 

 arrows, but in vain. The fun enraged turned back the 

 laft arrow, and fixed it in the forehead of Citli, who in- 

 ftantly expired. The reft intimidated by the fate of 

 Vol. II. B their 



