duct, but that it was necessary for him to send immediately for Qualpopoca and his associates, in order to discover the truth, and punish them, as my master, on receiving an account of these enormities would not only suspect the sincerity of his professions, but in revenge of the perfidy practised towards my companions, would order me to proceed to the utmost extremities against him. When I had finished speaking, Montezuma took from his arm a small stone in shape of a seal, and gave it to one of his attendants, with orders to proceed to Almeria, which is seventy leagues from Temixtitlan, to arrest Qualpopoca and all those who were concerned in the assassination of the Spaniards, and to bring them to the capital. The guards charged with this commission, immediately departed. I thanked him for the readiness he had shown in giving me satisfaction, and added, that nothing was wanting to render his exculpation complete in the eyes of my sovereign, to whom I was under an obligation to render an account of what measures I had taken, but to have him reside with me until the truth should be ascertained, and his innocence, of which I had no doubt, fully be established. At the same time I requested him not to think ill of my proposal, as he should enjoy full liberty with me, and that I would in no way obstruct or embarrass his proceedings or the orders which he wished to give.

I then requested him to make choice of that part of my habitation which suited him best, and live there in what manner he pleased, promising that no one should molest him in any respect, and that he should have not only his own servants but all my people under his direction who would be happy to anticipate his wishes.

He appeared to accept my proposals with readiness; and immediately gave orders to have the apartment which he made choice of, got ready. After this a number of caciques entered his apartment barefooted and undressed, with their clothes upon their arms, bearing a kind of hand-barrow like a sedanchair. They took up Montezuma without saying a word, and with tears in their eyes placed him in this vehicle; in this manner they carried him without the least tumult to my lodgings. In crossing the city I perceived some commotion, but it was appeased by a single word from Montezuma, and all became tranquil. This state of things continued the whole time he remained with me, as he always did whatever he wished, and was served in the same manner as at his own palace.

Fifteen days afterwards, Qualpopoca, one of his sons, and fifteen others, who were concerned in the murder of the Spaniards, were taken and brought to me. I had them securely confined, and ordered their process to be drawn up, after they had acknowledged that they were subjects of Montezuma and had killed the Spaniards. On being examined they denied having received orders from Montezuma, authorizing the commission of their crime;

but on the execution of the sentence, ordering them to be burnt, they changed their tone, and accused that monarch. They were all executed in the principal square without exciting the least commotion. During the time of their execution only, and in consequence of their confession, I had Montezuma put in irons. He was at first very much alarmed, but after having given him my reasons, and ordered his fetters to be taken off, he became tranquil. From that time I sought only to anticipate his wishes in every thing. I caused it to be proclaimed throughout the empire, that it was my sincere desire to preserve to Montezuma the full extent of his power, provided that he would acknowledge the authority of the king, my master; and that it was my intention that he should continue to be respected and obeyed in the same manner as before my arrival.

I treated him so well, and he was so much pleased with me, that though I frequently offered to set him at liberty, he always replied that he found his situation very agreeable, that he wanted for nothing, that the accommodations were the same as at his own palace, and that if he returned, his caciques and subjects might, by their importunities, induce him to adopt measures prejudicial to the interest of the emperor, whom he was sincerely disposed to serve to the utmost of his power, whilst by remaining where he was, his want of liberty would always furnish him with a sufficient excuse for rejecting their entreaties. He frequently applied to me for permission to visit the several houses which he had both within and without the city. This I never refused him; when, taking five or six Spaniards with him, he often went to the distance of one or two leagues, and always returned cheerful and contented to his lodgings.

On these occasions he made presents to those Spaniards who accompanied him, either of golden ornaments or pieces of cloth. He entertained them with feasts and repasts, as well as the caciques and nobles who attended him, frequently to the number of three thousand.

When I became well convinced of the favourable disposition and submission of Montezuma, I desired him to acquaint me with the situation of the gold mines of the country. He immediately sent for eight of his confidential servants, and dividing them into four parties, ordered two of them to each province from whence the gold is obtained; at the same time requesting me to send an equal number of Spaniards to accompany them, and witness their proceedings. Of these parties, one proceeded to the province of Cuzula, eighty leagues distant from Mexico, where they were showed three rivers which produced gold. They brought from thence three very fine specimens, although they were selected with little care, and procured only with such tools as the Indians usually employ. On their journey, this party crossed three large provinces, containing a great number of cities, towns, and villages, as well built as in any part of Spain; among others, they met with one fort

which was larger, stronger, and better built than the castle of Burgos. Of the different people whom they saw, the Indians of the province of Tamazalapa, appeared to them to possess the most intelligence, and were much better dressed than any they had seen.

The second division who went on this discovery, traversed the province of Malinaltebeque, which is on the sea coast, seventy leagues from Mexico; these likewise brought me some specimens of gold from a great river which waters that country.

The third division went into the province of Tenis, whose inhabitants speak a different language from those of Chulua. The cacique, or prince of this province, is called Coatelicamat; his territory is situated on a chain of high and steep mountains; his subjects are very warlike, and make use of lances of an immense length. As he is not dependant on Montezuma, the Mexicans who were with my men, dared not enter the country until they had obtained his leave. They in consequence requested him, in behalf of their master Montezuma, and myself, to permit the Spaniards to see the golden mines which were worked in his country. This permission he granted to the Spaniards, but refused to the subjects of Montezuma, whom he considered as enemies. The Spaniards were for some time undecided whether to enter the province alone, especially as their companions did all they could to dissuade them; they at length, however, ventured to proceed, and were received with much hospitality by the cacique and his people, who showed them seven or eight rivulets, from whence they saw them take the gold, specimens of which they brought to me.

On their return they were accompanied by an embassador from Coatelicamat, who brought me several presents of pieces of cloth, the manufacture of his country, and some golden ornaments, and in his name made me a proffer of his lands and his person.

The fourth division crossed the province of Suchitebeque, situated near the sea, at twelve leagues distance from that of Malinaltebeque. They were showed two rivers, from whence gold was taken in their presence, specimens of which they likewise brought.

As from the report of the Spaniards I understood that there were a number of places in the province of Malinaltebeque, well situated for establishments for digging gold, I desired Montezuma to have one formed. He immediately issued orders for this purpose, which were so promptly executed, that within two months, seventy fanegas of wheat and ten of white beans for seed, with two thousand sets of cocoa plants were collected; this last article is held in such estimation, that it serves for exchange and purchase in all bargains instead of silver. Montezuma likewise established four other plantations or settlements, in one of which a pond was constructed capable of supporting five hundred ducks, whose feathers the Mexicans employ in their clothing. Another

contained more than fifteen hundred fowls, without reckoning many other things, which were estimated at the value of twenty thousand golden crowns.

I afterwards requested Montezuma to point out to me some river or harbour on the sea coast, where ships might anchor in safety. He accordingly sent me a cloth,* upon which was painted a chart of the whole coast belonging to his empire, and at the same time offered to send persons to examine such places as cor-. responded with my views. On this chart I observed the mouth of a river, much broader than any of the others, situated in a range of mountains formerly called Sanmyn, but at present St. Martin and St. Antony. I sent thither ten sailors, under an escort furnished by Montezuma. These took their departure from the harbour of St. John where I first landed, and proceeded along the coast upwards of sixty leagues, without finding a single harbour or river that would admit a ship. At length they came to the mouth of the river of Guacalca, the same that I had noticed on the chart, where they were well received by the cacique of the province, named Tuchintecla, who furnished them with canoes to examine the river. This they found to be not less than two fathoms and a half deep at its mouth. They ascended it for twelve leagues, and uniformly found in the channel from five to six fathoms of water, and from the best information they could obtain, it continues of the same depth for upwards of thirty leagues; its shores are reported to be thickly peopled, and the province through which it flows, level, fertile, and abounding with every production. The inhabitants are not subject to Montezuma, but on the contrary inimical to him; and the cacique while he permitted the entrance of the Spaniards, prohibited that of the Mexican escort which accompanied them. He sent me embassadors loaded with ornaments of gold, tiger skins, plumes, precious stones and cloth, with orders to tell me that their master, Tuchintecla, had long since heard me spoken of by his friends, the people of Putunchan, who, after having attempted to prevent my entering their country, had submitted and obtained my friendship. They said that Tuchintecla himself, as well as his subjects, would submit themselves wholly to me, if I would prevent the people of Chulua from entering his country; that all that it produced was at my disposal, and that he would pay me annually such tribute as I should think proper to impose.

* Bernal Diaz says, that "the Tlascalan chiefs then produced for our inspection large cloths of nequen, whereon were painted representations of their various battles."

A dispute happened to arise between two Mexican nobles, relative to the boundaries of some land. The affair was brought before the tribunal of the Licentiale Zuazo. The papers of the province, according to Oviedo, were nothing but a painting, on which were marks, a kind of cypher, characters and figures, which represented the fact as well as it could have been detailed by one of our best writers. Lettere Americane.

From the information I had received of the situation and population of this province, and more particularly the discovery of a good harbour which has been the principal object of my wishes since my landing, I sent back with the envoys of Tuchintecla several experienced men, to ascertain the soundings of the harbour and river, the population of the province, and the disposition of the inhabitants, and also to select places suitable for forming establishments. They took with them some presents for the cacique, by whom they were well received, and succeeded in the fullest manner in completing their object. From the confirmation I received by them of the former accounts, and of Tuchintecla's friendly disposition, I determined to send an officer with a hundred and fifty men into this province to erect a fort, in consequence of the offers of the cacique who expressed the strongest inclination to gratify all my wishes, and to have me form an establishment in his country.

I have already observed that before I arrived at Temixtitlan a great lord, nearly related to Montezuma, had come to meet me on the part of that prince; he was the owner of a province contiguous to that of Mexico, called Haculuacan.

Just within this province, six leagues distant by water from Temixtitlan and ten by land, near the shore of a salt lake, is a large city called Tezcuco,† containing thirty thousand inhabitants, with beautiful public buildings, elegant houses, oratories splendidly decorated, and large markets; there are also upon it two other cities, which contain three or four thousand inhabitants, one at three and the other at six leagues distance from the first. This province which borders on that of Tascaltecal, likewise comprizes a great number of towns and villages, with numerous farms and lands under high cultivation. The cacique, named

* Caxamatzin.

† Bernal Diaz says, that Tezcuco is the largest city in the empire next to Mexico.

Besides Tlascala, Cholula, Mexico, and the other cities on the lake, there appears from the accounts given by officers cotemporary with the conquest, who were sent on different expeditions, to have been in some of the remote provinces, cities little inferior to those in magnitude and splendour. Pedro St. Alvarado, in his account of his expedition to the South Sea, among other cities that he had seen, gives a description of that of Yapulan, which he declares to have been as large as that of Mexico. It contained large buildings solidly constructed of stone and lime, the tops of which were terminated by terraces. Nugnez de Guzman, who succeeded Cortez in 1528, in the account given by him to the emperor of the various countries which he traversed in his expedition into New Gallicia, describes the cities of Amec and of Tuliacan, the latter, a very strong place, where there are magnificent edifices, large palaces, and other houses similar to those of Mexico. The courts of the palaces were very spacious, and contained beautiful fountains of excellent water. Lettere Ameri

cane.