DESCRIPTION OF MEXICO BY CORTEZ. 2/3 



lord Muteczuma is situated, is circularly surrounded with 

 elevated mountains, and intersected with precipices The 

 plain contains near seventy leagues in circumference, and 

 in this plain are two lakes which fill nearly the whole 

 vallev ; for the inhabitants sail in canoes for more than 

 fifty leagues round. Of the two great lakes of the valley 

 of Mexico, the one is fresh and the other salt water. 

 They are separated by a small range of mountains. 

 These mountains rise in the middle of the plain, and the 

 waters of the lakes mingle together in a strait between 

 the hills and the high Cordillera. The numerous towns 

 and villaofes constructed in both of the two lakes carrv 

 on their commerce by canoes, without touching the con- 

 tinent. The great city of Temixtitan is situated in the 

 midst of the salt-water lake, which has its tides like the 

 sea : and from the citv to the continent there are two 

 leas^ues whichever wav we wish to enter. Four dikes 

 lead to the city ; they are made by the hand of man, 

 and are of the breadth of two lances. The city is as 

 large as Seville or Cordova. The streets, I merely speak 

 of the principal ones, are very narrow and very large ; 

 some are half dry and half occupied by navigable canals, 

 furnished- with very well constructed wooden bridges, 

 broad enough for ten men on horseback to pass at the 

 same time. The market-place, twice as large as that of 

 Seville, is surrounded with an immense portico, under 

 which are exposed for sale all sorts of merchandise, eat- 

 ables, ornaments made of gold, silver, lead, pewter, pre- 

 cious stones, bones, shells, and feathers, delf ware, lea- 

 ther, and spun cotton. We find hewn stone, tiles, and 

 timber fit for building. There are lanes for game, others 

 for roots and garden fruits ; there are houses where bar- 



12^ 



