HlSTOkY OF MEXICO. 



157 



We have now faid all that we know of the Mexican 

 Jegiflature. More complete information on this head, 

 and in particular concerning their civil contracts, their 

 tribunals, and fupreme councils, might have proved 

 extremely valuable ; but the unfortunate lofs of the 

 greater part of their paintings, and of fome manufcripts 

 of the firft Spaniards, has deprived us of the only lights 

 which could have illuftrated this fubjecl:. 



Although the laws of the capital were generally re- 

 ceived throughout the whole empire, yet in fome of the 

 provinces many variations from them took place ; for as 

 the Mexicans did not oblige the conquered nations to 

 fpeak the language of their court, neither did they com- 

 pel them to adopt all their laws. The legiflature of A- 

 colhuacan was the mod fimilar to that of Mexico ; but 

 dill they differed in many particulars, and the former 

 was far more fevere than the latter. 



The laws publiftied hy^the celebrated king Nezahual- 

 cojotl ordained, that a thief mould be dragged through 

 the ftreets, and afterwards hanged. Murderers were 

 beheaded. The agent in the crime of fodomy was fuf- 

 focated in a heap of afhes ; the patient had his bowels 

 torn out, after which his belly was filled wirh afhes, and 

 then he was burned. He who malicioufly contrived to 

 fow difcord between two dates, was tied to a tree and 

 burned alive. He who drank till he loft his fenfes, if a 

 nobleman, was immediately hanged, and his body was 

 thrown into the lake, or into fome river ; if a plebeian, 

 for the firft offence, he loft his liberty, and for the fe- 

 cond his life. And when the legidator was aiked, why 

 the law was more fevere upon nobles, he anfwered, 

 that the crime of drunkennefs was lefs pardonable in 



them, 



