ans. Their strength lay more in
their defensive position than any thing else. As we have just stated,
the entire forces of the confederacy were unable to subject the
Tlascaltecans, the Tarasca of Michhuacan were fully their equal in
wealth and power. The most disastrous defeat that ever befell the
forces of the confederacy was on the occasion of their attack upon
this last-named people in 1479. They fled from the battle-field in
consternation, and never cared to renew the attempt. As to the actual
population of the Pueblo of Mexico, the accounts are very much at
variance. Mr. Morgan, after taking account of their barbarous condition
of life--without flocks and herds, and without field agriculture,
but also considering the amount of tribute received from other
tribes--considers that an estimate of two hundred and fifty thousand
inhabitants in the entire valley would be an excessive number. Of these
he would assign thirty thousand to the Pueblo of Mexico.<30>

This is but an estimate. In this connection we are informed, that,
when the forces of the confederacy marched against Michhuacan, as just
stated, they counted their forces, and found them to be twenty-four
thousand men. This includes the forces of the three confederate tribes,
and their allies in the valley, and would indicate a population below
Mr. Morgan's estimate. The Spanish writers have left statements as to
the population of Mexico which are, evidently, gross exaggerations. The
most moderate estimate is sixty thousand inhabitants; but the majority
of the writers increase this number to three hundred thousand.

The main occupation of the Aztecs, then, was to enforce the payment of
tribute. From the limited expanse of territory at the disposal of
the Mexicans, and the unusually large number of inhabitants for an
aboriginal settlement, as well as the natural inclination of the
Mexicans, they were obliged to draw their main supplies from tributary
tribes. It is human for the strong to compel the weak to serve them. The
inhabitants of North America were not behind in this respect.<31>
This is especially true of the civilized tribes of Mexico and Central
America. The confederacy of the three most powerful tribes of Mexico was
but a copartnership for the avowed purpose of compelling tribute from
the surrounding tribes, and they were cruel and merciless in exacting
the same.

Our information in regard to this tribute is derived almost entirely
from a collection o