188 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



by the neck, which, as Hernandez afferts, was very- 

 common ; but this author does not explain the manner 

 in which they performed an aft fo daring againfl fo ter- 

 rible a creature. The other method, which is fliil ufed 

 by fome, was that which the Egyptians formerly praclif- 

 ed on the famous crocodiles of the Nile. The fuller pre- 

 fented himfelf before the crocodile, carrying in his hand 

 a flrong flick, well fharpened at both ends, and when the 

 animal opened its mouth to devour him, he thrufl his 

 armed hand into its jaws, and as the crocodile fliut its 

 mouth again, it was transfixed by the two points of the 

 flick. The Mier waited until it grew feeble from the 

 lofs of blood, and then he killed it. 



Fifliing, hunting, agriculture, and the arts, furniflied 

 the Mexicans feveral branches of commerce. Their 

 commerce in the country of Anahuac began as foon as 

 they were fettled upon the little iflands in the Tezcucan 

 lake. The fiflb which they caught, and the mats which 

 they wove of ruflies which the fame lake produces, was 

 exchanged for maize, cotton, flones, lime, and the wood, 

 which they required for their fupport, for their clothing, 

 and their buildings. In proportion to the power which 

 their arms acquired, their commerce increafed ; fo that 

 from having been at frrft confined to the environs of their 

 own city, it extended at laft to the mod diflant provinces. 

 There were innumerable Mexican merchants, who incef- 

 fantly travelled from one city to another to exchange their 

 goods to advantage. In every place of the Mexican 

 empire, and of all the extenfive country of Anahuac, a 

 market was opened every day ; but every five days they 

 held one which was more confiderable and general. 

 Cities which were near together had this market on dif- 

 ferent days, that they might not prejudice each other ; 



but 



