imes can also be produced from [alpha]-benzil dioxime by
the "Beckmann" change. Most of the azoximes are very volatile substances,
sublime readily, and are easily soluble in water, alcohol and benzene.

For detailed descriptions, see F. Tiemann (_Ber._, 1885, 18, p. 1059), O.
Schulz (_Ber._, 1885, 18, pp. 1084, 2459), and G. Mueller (_Ber._, 1886,
19, p. 1492); also _Annual Reports_ of the Chemical Society).

AZTECS (from the Nahuatl word _aztlan_, "place of the Heron," or "Heron"
people), the native name of one of the tribes that occupied the tableland
of Mexico on the arrival of the Spaniards in America. It has been very
frequently employed as equivalent to the collective national title of
Nahuatlecas or Mexicans. The Aztecs came, according to native tradition,
from a country to which they gave the name of Aztlan, usually supposed to
lie towards the north-west, but the satisfactory localization of it is one
of the greatest difficulties in Mexican history. The date of the exodus
from Aztlan is equally undetermined, being fixed by various authorities in
the 11th and by others in the 12th century. One Mexican manuscript gives a
date equivalent to A.D. 1164. They gradually increased their influence
among other tribes, until, by union with the Toltecs, who occupied the
tableland before them, they extended their empire to an area of from 18,000
to 20,000 square leagues. The researches of Humboldt gave the first clear
insight into the early periods of their history. See MEXICO; NAHUATLAN
STOCK.

AZUAGA, a town of western Spain, in the province of Badajoz, on the
Belmez-Fuente del Arco railway. Pop. (1900) 14,192. Azuaga is the central
market for the live-stock of the broad upland pastures watered by the
Matachel, a left-hand tributary of the Guadiana, and by the Bembezar, a
right-hand tributary of the Guadalquivir. Coarse woollen goods and pottery
are manufactured in the town.

AZUAY (sometimes written ASSUAY), a province of Ecuador, bounded N. by the
province of Canar, E. by Oriente, S. by Loja, and W. by El Oro. It was
formerly called Cuenca, and formed part of the department of Azuay, which
also included the province of Loja. Azuay is an elevated mountainous
district with a great variety of climates and products; among the latter
are silver, quicksilver, wheat, Indian corn, barley, cattle, wool, cinchona
and straw hats. The capital is Cuenca.

AZUNI, DOMENICO ALBERTO (1749-1827), Italian jurist, was born at Sassar, in