Moctezuma had become a powerful and
rich lord. At this point he was determined to learn about the place that his
ancestors had come from (Chicomoztoc). He decided to send an expedition to the
place that Huitzilopochtli was born, and where his mother Coatlicue was said to
still live. (Duran 1967).
Moctezuma consulted his brother
Tlacaelel to tell him what he knew about Aztlan. He described it as a paradise
where everyone lived happily, no one grew old or tired and life necessities
were in abundance. Tlacaelel said that Moctezuma should not send soldiers
because this was a mission of knowledge, not conquest. He suggested that he
send Sorcerers and magicians instead. (Duran 1967).
Moctezuma then questioned an
elderly royal historian named Cuauhcoatl. He described the homeland to him. He
told him about a large hill in the middle of water where several caves and
caverns were, and where their ancestors had once lived. (Duran 1967).
Moctezuma assembled 60 elderly
sorcerers and magicians and provided them with gifts for Coatlicue. The
sorcerers traveled for 10 days until they reached a hill called Coatepec near
When they arrived at Aztlan they
saw a large lake. In the middle of the lake there was a large hill. The people
of Aztlan spoke their language, and gave them a ride in canoes to the hill in
the water. At the foot of the hill lived an old man who served as priest and
guardian to Coatlicue. He asked why they had come. The sorcerers told him that
they came on the orders of Moctezuma and Tlacaelel. They priests told them that
he only knew of the seven men and four priests of Huitzilopochtli that led the
people of Aztlan in their departure long ago. (Duran 1967).
The old man directed them to follow
him up the hill. The upper part of the hill was comprised of soft sand. The
sorcerers began to sink down to their wastes in it. The priest questioned then
about what they ate. They told him that they ate food grown in
At this time an old woman emerged.
She told them that since Huitzilopochtli had left she had not bathed, combed
her hair, or changed clothes and that she would not do so until he had
returned. The sorcerers presented her with their gifts and described to her the
Aztec conquests in accordance with Huitzilopochtli’s prophecy. She then
repeated what Huitzilopochtli had told her before he left: (Duran 1967).
“I won’t be long in returning, no longer than it takes to
carry the seven groups and lodge them in the land where they are to live and to
populate the earth which is promised them. And having placed them and settled
them and consolidated them in the land, then I will return. And this will be
completed the years of my journey and the time appointed to me. In this time I
must make war on all the provinces and cities and towns and places, taking them
and subjecting them to my service. But in the same manner that I have conquered
them, in this same manner they will be taken from me by conquering strangers
and I will be driven from that land. Then I will return to this place, for
those I have subjected with my sword and my shield, these same will turn
against me and seize me by my feet and throw me headlong, and I and my weapons
will go rolling on the ground. Then, mother, my time will be completed and I
will return fleeing to your lap. Until then do not sorrow. But I beg you to
give me two pairs of sandals, one for going and the other for returning, and
give me four pair, two for going and two for returning.” (Duran 1967).
“And I said to him, it is well my son. See that you do not
linger, but that when the time you tell of is completed, return soon. It seems
to me, my sons, that he is content there and does not remember the sadness of
his mother nor lovers her nor cares about her. Thus I command you to tell him
that this time is completed and that he is to return soon. And in order that he
remember that I want to see him and that I am his mother, give him this cloak
of maguey fiber and this loincloth or breechcloth of the same material so that
he can put them on.” (Duran 1967).
The sorcerers began to descend the
hill and Coatlicue stopped them to explain why the people of Aztlan never died.
The priest descended the hill and grew young; he ascended the hill and became
old again. After doing this several times Coatlicue explained that they were immortal,
and that they could choose their age. The food and cacao consumed by them in
The sorcerers returned to