HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



125 



fit for marriage, refufed taking a wife were (haven, a 

 mark of the higheft difhonour with that nation. 



The fons in general learned the trades of their fa- 

 thers, and embraced their profeiTions. Thus they per- 

 petuated the arts in families to the advantage of the 

 fl:ate. The young men who were deftined to the ma- 

 giftracy, were conducted by their fathers to tribunals, 

 where they heard the laws of the kingdom explained, 

 and obferved the practice and forms of judicature. In 

 the fixtieth picture of Mendoza's , collection, are repre- 

 fented four judges examining a caufe, and behind them 

 four young Teteuffin, or Gentlemen, who are liftening 

 to their decifion. The fons of the king, and principal 

 Jords, were appointed tutors who attended to their con- 

 duel, and long before they could enter into poffeflion of 

 the crown, or their Hate, they were entrufled with the 

 government of fome city, or fmaller Mate, that they 

 might learn by degrees the arduous talk of governing 

 men. This was the cuftom as early as the time of the 

 firft Chechemecan kings ; for Nopal tzin, from the time 

 that he was crowned king of Acolhuacan, put his firft- 

 born fon Tlotzin in polTefTion of the city of Tezcuco. 

 Cuitlahuac, the laft king of Mexico, obtained the ftate 

 of Ixtapalapan, and the brother of Montezuma that of 

 Ehecatepec, before they afcended the throne of Mexico. 

 Upon this bafe of education the Mexicans fupported the 

 fabric of their political fyftem which we are now to un- 

 fold. 



From the time that the Mexicans, after the example 

 of other neighbouring ftates, placed Acamapitzin at the 

 s head of their nation, invefting him with the name, the 

 honours, and authority of royalty, the crown of their 

 kingdom was made elective ; for which purpofe they 



created 



f 



