156 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



There was among the Mexicans another kind of 11a- 

 very, which they called Huehuetatlacolli, which was, 

 where one or two families, on account of their poverty, 

 bound themfelves to furnifti fome lord perpetually with 

 a Have. They delivered up one of their fons for this 

 purpofe, and after he had ferved for fome years they 

 recalled him, in order to let him marry, or for fome 

 other motive, and fubflituted another in his place. The 

 change was made without giving any offence to the pa- 

 tron ; on the contrary, he generally gave fome confide- 

 ration for a new Have. In the year 1506, on account of 

 a great fcarcity which happened then, many families 

 were obliged to this kind of fervitude ; but they were 

 all freed from it by the king of Acolhuacan, Nezahual- 

 pilli, owing to the hardfhips they fuffered from it ; and, 

 after his example, the fame thing was done by Monte- 

 zuma II. in his dominions. 



The conquerors, who imagined they entered into all 

 the rights of the ancient Mexican lords, had, at firft, 

 many Haves of thofe nations ; but when the Catholic 

 kings were informed of it by perfons of credit who were 

 zealous for the public good, and well acquainted with 

 the manners and cuftoms of thofe people, they declared 

 all thofe flaves free, and forbid, under fevere penalties, 

 any attempt againft their liberty. A law infinitely juft, 

 and worthy the humanity of thofe monarchs ; for the 

 firfl religious muTionaries who were employed in the 

 converfion of the Mexicans, amongft: whom were men 

 of much learning, declared, after diligent examination, 

 that they had not been able to find one amongft the 

 flaves who had been juftly deprived of his natural li- 

 berty. 



We 



