H5 



Nature of tbo 

 Countrey. 



Chief Towni 

 of MtxicdH*. 



Chap. V. <JL Ni E%^IC A. 



four Leagues : In which circumference lie to the North~Eaft, LateotUpa, Mexti. 

 tlati, Xilotepeque, and fanuco - Weft ward, Matal^ingo, and Cultepeque 5 Eaft ward, Tu.^ 

 coco- y South*Eaft, Qhalco ; Southward, Suchimilco, Tlaluc, Coyxca, and Acapulco. 



It is bounded on the Eaft, with the Gulf of Mexico ; on the Weft, with Mechoa- 32Sjf 

 can ; on the North, with fanuco, and fome parts of TS^ew-Gallicia • and on the South, 

 with Jlafcalla. 



This Countrey is both large and rich, containing not much lefs than one hun- 

 dred and thirty Leagues, both in length and breadth • and if it yields any thing to 

 <peru in the plenty of Gold and Silver, 'tis certain it much excels ic in many other 

 Commodities ; as namely, in all forts of Fruits, abundance of Cartel, plenty of 

 Corn and Grain ; in all which, the advantage this Countrey hath, not only of Te- 

 ru y but of all the other Provinces of America befide, is well known : Not to (peak 

 any thing of the great plenty and variety of good Fiflh, which both the Rivers and 

 Lakesof this Countrey afford, which is very great; infomuch, that the very Tri- 

 bute of the one Lake of Mexico is faid to yield an Income of above twenty thoufand 

 Crowns yearly, one with another. 



The People of the Countrey arc generally Induftrious and Active, efpecially 

 fince the Spaniards came among them ; rich Merchants, if they apply themfelves to 

 it; and they fay likewifegood Soldiers, when they are train'd and imploy'd that 

 way. 



The chief Towns and places of the Province are, i. Mexico, both anciently and 

 at prefent, the Metropolis and Capital City 3 being the Seat of an Archbifhop, and 

 the ordinary Relldence of the Vice-Roy, and chief Governors of 2s(ey>' Spain. 



This City, by the Indians was formerly call'd Te?mflatan, lies in nineteen Degrees £\ f £g°* 

 and a half to the Northward of the Equinofiial-Li?ie , rais'd out of a brackifh Lake, Mtxic§ - 

 full of muddy Water; whofe circumference along the Mountains is feventy 

 Leagues: This Lake fwarms continually with Boats, which carry the People to 

 and again from one inhabited Ifland to another ; four Stone-bridges, no lefs coft- 

 ly than artificial, with Arches and Gates in feveral places, lead from the City to 

 the Main Continent. 



The frefh Water which they have in the City Mexico, is led into the fame through 

 Pipes that lie in the bottom of the Lake 5 but none are to enjoy the benefit thereof, 

 before they have paid a certain Sum of Money to the King's Collectors. 



Moreover, the City divided into Ifiands, contains above fixty thoufand Houfes, 

 which being built on feveral Iflcs,have large Bridges, which reach from one to ano- 

 ther ; fome tha.t lie in the middle of the Lake, they approach in little Boats s round 

 about the Lake, efpecially where the way leads from the Continent into the City, 

 lie feveral Suburbs, all inclos'd with Walls . between which ftandftrongToWers, 

 cover'd on the top : To keep off the force of the Water, the Tenujlatans have with 

 great labor and chargc,made a Bank through the Lake,half way along the City. But 

 the Lake Laguna, from whofe bottom Mexico is rais'd, is divided in two parts , the 

 Sweet Lake, which is higher than the Salt, falls in to the fame through Siuces, with 

 Bridges built on the Bank that leads from the City to the main Land : The Salt- 

 Lake, which hath brackifh and bitter W r ater, ebbs and flows according as the Wind 

 blows ; no Fiflh is able to live in the fame, becaufe the Water which in the fight 

 of Mexico falls into the fame out of the Mountains, hath a fulphury Ground : All 

 along the fhore, much Salt is made, with which the Citizens drive a great Trade : 

 There are continually above a hundred thoufand Boats (by the Indians call'd Acales, 

 and by the Spaniards, Canoos) going off and on from one fhore to another : The frefh 

 Water Lake, which is bigger than the fair, and feeds fmall Fifhes , hath above fi£ 



