In addition to the above terms drawn from the subject or character of the songs, there were others, of geographical origin, apparently indicating that the song, or its tune, or its treatment was borrowed from another locality or people.  These are:—­

Huexotzincayotl:  a song of Huexotzinco, a Nahuatl town, situated east of the Lake of Tezcuco.  This song was sung by the king and superior nobles at certain festivals, and, in the prescribed order of the chants, followed a melahuaccuicatl.[18]

Chalcayotl:  a song of Chalco, on the lake of the same name.  This followed the last mentioned in order of time at the festivals.

Otoncuicatl:  a song of the Otomis.  These were the immediate neighbors of the Nahuas, but spoke a language radically diverse.  The songs so-called were sung fourth on the list.

Cuextecayotl:  a song of the country of the Cuexteca, or Cuextlan, a northern province of Mexico.

Tlauancacuextecayotl:  a song of the country of the Tlauancacuexteca.

Anahuacayotl:  a song of Anahuac, that is, of a country near the water, either the valley of Mexico, or the shores of the ocean.

Some very ancient sacred songs were referred to by Tezozomoc as peculiar to the worship of Huitzilopochtli, and, indeed, introduced by this potent divinity.  From their names, cuitlaxoteyotl, and tecuilhuicuicatl,[19] I judge that they referred to some of those pederastic rites which still prevail extensively among the natives of the pueblos of New Mexico, and which have been described by Dr. William A. Hammond and other observers.[20] One of these songs began,

          Cuicoyan nohuan mitotia;

     In-the-place-of-song with-me they-dance.

But the old chronicler, who doubtless knew it all by heart, gives us no more of it.[21]

Sec. 4. PROSODY OF THE SONGS.

The assertion is advanced by Boturini that the genuine ancient Nahuatl poetry which has been preserved is in iambic metre, and he refers to a song of Nezahualcoyotl in his collection to prove his opinion.  What study I have given to the prosody of the Nahuatl tongue leads me to doubt the correctness of so sweeping a statement.  The vocalic elements of the language have certain peculiarities which prevent its poetry from entering unencumbered into the domain of classical prosody.

The quantity of Nahuatl syllables is a very important element in the pronunciation of the tongue, but their quantity is not confined, as in Latin, to long, short, and common.  The Nahuatl vowels are long, short, intermediate, and “with stress,” or as the Spanish grammarians say, “with a jump,” con saltillo.  The last mentioned is peculiar to this tongue.  The vowel so designated is pronounced with a momentary suspension or catching of the breath, rendering it emphatic.

These quantities are prominent features in the formal portions of the language, characterizing inflections and declinations.  No common means of designating them have been adopted by the grammarians, and for my present purpose, I shall make use of the following signs:—­