SUPPLY OF WATER TO MEXICO. 499 



he suffered hiraselfe to be led to the kinge, who presently LlB Tri - 

 caused him to be strangled, and then did he put his reso 

 lution in practise, forcing a chanell whereby the water 

 might passe to Mexico, whereby hee brought a great cur 

 rent of water into the lake, which they brought with great 

 ceremonies and superstitions, having priests casting incense 

 along the banks, others sacrificed quailes, and with the 

 bloud of them sprinckled the channel! bankes, others 

 sounding of cornets, accompanied the water with their 

 musicke. One of the chiefe went attired in a habite like to 

 their goddesse of the water, and all saluted her, saying, 

 that slice was welcome. All which things are painted in 

 the Annales of Mexico : which booko is now at Home in 

 the holy library, or Vaticane, where a father of our company, 

 that was come from Mexico, did see it, and other histories, 

 the which he did expound to the keeper of his Holinesse 

 library, taking great delight to vnderstand this booke, 

 which before hee could never comprehend. Finally, the 

 water was brought to Mexico, but it came in such abound- 

 aunco, that it had welneere drowned the cittie, as was fore 

 told : and in effect it did ruino a great parte thereof, but it 

 was presently prevented by the industry of Autzol, who 

 caused an issue to be made to draw foorth the water : by 

 meanes whereof hee repaired the buildings that were fallen, 

 with an exquisite worke, being before but poore cottages. 

 Thus ho left the citty inviroued with water, like another 

 Venice, and very well built : he raigned eleven yeares, 

 and ended with the last and greatest successor of all the 

 Mexicans. 



CHAP. xx. Of ilic election of great Montfiguma, the last 

 King of Mexico. 



When the Spaniards entered new Spaine, being in the 

 yearo of our Lorde one thousand five hundred and eighteen, 



K K 2 



