16 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



The new image, however, being defaced by lightning, 

 and the priefts declaring it to be a punifhment from hea- 

 ven, the ancient flame was refiored, and there continued 

 to be preferved and worfhipped, until the promulgation 

 of the Gofpel, when it was thrown down and broken by 

 the order of the firfr. bifhop of Mexico. 



The ancients alfo believed that in all the high moun- 

 tains there refided other gods, fubaltern to Tlaloc. They 

 all went under the fame name, and were revered, not 

 only as gods of water, but alfo as the gods of mountains. 

 The image of Tlaloc was painted blue and green, to ex- 

 prefs the different colours that are obferved in water. 

 He held in his hand a rod of gold, of an undulated and 

 pointed form, by which they intended to denote the 

 lightning. He had a temple in Mexico, within the in- 

 clofure of the greater temple, and the Mexicans cele- 

 brated feveral feftivals in honour to him every year. 



Chalchiuhcueje, otherwife Chalchihuitlicue^ the god- 

 defs of water, and companion of Tlaloc. She was 

 known by fome other very expreflive names (rc), which 

 either fignify the effects which water produces, or the 

 different appearances and colours which it afTumes in 

 motion. The Tlafcalans called her Matlalcueje, that is, 

 clothed in a green robe ; and they gave the fame name 

 to the higheft mountain of Tlafcala, on whofe fummit 

 are formed thofe ftormy clouds which generally burft 

 over the city of Angelopoli. To that fummit the Tlaf- 

 calans afcended to perform their facrifices, and offer up 

 their prayers. This is the very fame goddefs of water, 



to 



(k) Apozoncillotl and Acuecuejotl exprefs the fwelling and fluctuation of water: 

 Atlacamani, ftorms excited on it: Ahuic and Amuh, its motions fometimes to one 

 fide and fometimes to another: Xixiqnipilihui y the alternate rifing and falling of 

 the waves, &c. 



