[137] ‘Y pusose nombre a aquel pueblo, Santa Maria de la Vitoria, è assi se llama agora la villa de Tabasco.’ _Bernal Diaz_, _Hist. Verdad._, 24. ‘Potanchanum dicitur ab accolis oppidum.... Victoriam nostri appellarunt.’ _Peter Martyr_, _De Insvlis_, 14; copied in _Gomara_, _Hist. Mex._, 36. Referring to the battle of Centla, Clavigero writes: ‘e per memoria vi fondarono poi una piccola città, col nome della _Madonna della Vittoria_, la quale fu per lungo tempo la capitale di quella Provincia.... Si spopolò del tutto verso la metà del secolo passato.’ A later foundation received the name of Villahermosa. _Storia Mess._, iii. 11. This is based on a statement by Bernal Diaz, _Hist. Verdad._, 22, and to reconcile this with the note above, it must be supposed that the Nonohualca capital was removed to the site of the battle-field when the Spaniards settled. Other authors either confound the points or avoid them by a vague reference. Victoria was founded by Cortés in 1519. _Alcedo_, _Dic._, v. 305. It is strange that the chief town is not referred to under its native name, for Potonchan is evidently a mistake by Peter Martyr. CHAPTER VII. WHAT MONTEZUMA THOUGHT OF IT. HOME OF MEXICAN CIVILIZATION—THE BORDER LAND OF SAVAGISM—CONFIGURATION OF THE COUNTRY—THE NAHUAS AND THE MAYAS—TOLTECS, CHICHIMECS, AND AZTECS—THE VALLEY OF MEXICO—CIVIL POLITY OF THE AZTECS—KING AHUITZOTL—MONTEZUMA MADE EMPEROR—CHARACTER OF THE MAN—HIS CAREER—THE FIRST APPEARING OF THE SPANIARDS NOT UNKNOWN TO MONTEZUMA—THE QUETZALCOATL MYTH—DEPARTURE OF THE FAIR GOD—SIGNS AND OMENS CONCERNING HIS RETURN—THE COMING OF THE SPANIARDS MISTAKEN FOR THE FULFILMENT OF THE PROPHECY—THE DOOR OPENED TO THE INVADER. Before entering upon the crusade which was so painfully to affect the destinies of this vast interior, let us cast a brief glance upon the country and its inhabitants, and particularly on that idiosyncrasy of the aboriginal mind which opened the door to the invaders. The first two subjects are fully treated in the first, second, and fifth volumes of my _Native Races of the Pacific States_ to which I would refer the reader, being able here to give only an outline of what in detail is an exceedingly interesting phase of indigenous development.