HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



175 



only from motives of fuperflition, but likewife for the 

 purpofe of defence. It is well known from their hifiory, 

 that they fortified themfelves in their temples when they 

 could not hinder the enemy from entering into the city, 

 and from thence harralTed them with arrows, darts, and 

 ftones. In the lafl book of this hiftory, will appear how 

 long the Spaniards were in taking the greater temple, 

 where five hundred Mexican nobles had fortified them- 

 felves. 



The high efteem in which the Mexicans held every 

 thing relating to war, did not divert their attention 

 from the arts of peace. Firfl, agriculture, which is 

 one of the chief occupacions of civil life, was, from time 

 immemorial, exercifed by the Mexicans, and almoft all 

 the people of Anahuac, The Toltecan nation employ- 

 ed themfelves diligently in it, and taught it to the Che- 

 chemecan hunters. With refpe& to the Mexicans, we 

 know that during the whole of their peregrination, 

 from their native country Aztlan, unto the lake where 

 they founded Mexico, they cultivated the earth in all 

 thofe places where they made any confiderable flop, and 

 lived upon the produce of their labour. When they 

 were brought under fubjeclion to the Colhuan and Te- 

 panecan nations, and confined to the miferable little 

 iflands on the lake, they ceafed for fome years to culti- 

 vate the land, becaufe they had none, until necefiity, 

 and induftry together, taught them to form moveable 

 fields and gardens, which floated on the waters of the 

 lake. The method which they purfued to make thofe, 

 and which they Hill pra&ife, is extremely fimple. 



They plait and twifl willows, and roots of marfli 

 plants, or other materials together, which are light, but 

 capable of fupporting the earth of the garden firmly 



united. 



