Chap- V. *A M E%^IC A. H5 



or ftifled vvich the fulphurous Vapors rifing out of the Earth : Neverthelefs, they 

 gave not over the Work,though they began it quite another way,for a French*Man, 

 caliM Henry Martin, advis'd to deepen the River Quaiotitlan, which falls into the 

 Lagnm, and by that means make it a Bay, into which the Laguna might pour her; 

 over-charg'd Waters : Which deiign,though contradicted by the Jefuit/ofew Sancbe^, 

 was put in praftice 5 by which means the Water fell in a (hort time fo much, that 

 they could walk dry to the CMS El fonnel, lying a League from the City j where- 

 fore they continually labour'd on this Work, till fuch time zsConde de Getues came 

 over for Vice-Roy , who judg'd the Charge to be unneceflary , nay Commanded 

 the Ditches to be broken down, which ftopt the Water along the Silver Mines of 

 Tacbuca, that he might fee exactly how much it would over-flow Mexico : After *&****** 

 which the Flood rofe yearly higher and higher - till at laft, Anno 1629. a mighty 

 Rain falling, iwole the Laguna in fuch a manner, that it over-whelm'd all Mexico 

 waffi'd down the Houfes, all Merchandizes which could not endure the Water 

 were fpoil'd, and had not they had innumerable Boats to help them, thoufands of 

 People might have perifh'd in this Deluge: But at laft, Henry Martin reftor'd 

 again the fore-mention'd Channel to its former Perfection, and brought the Flood 

 which fell down out of the Mountains within the Banks of the River. 



Quantitlan digg'd alio a Channel of eight thoufand Fathom long, and made an 

 Arch'd Sewer under Ground of the fame length , which Sewer hath at every two 

 hundred Fathoms diftance, Vcnt-holes,and a hole of fixty Fathom deep, and by this 

 means, diverting abundance of Water, they dry'd Mexico in a fliort time : When the 

 Banks and Streets began no fooner to appear, but they fell to work to raife the 

 Ground, and to lay Bridges, and alfp to build more Boats. The Citizens like- 

 wife found it convenient to make another deep Sewer for the carrying away of 

 more Water, notwithstanding it requir'd twenty years labor. The River, which in 

 a manner runs through the middle of the City, is curb'd by a Wall- a crooked 

 Bridge, with many Arches, and of a long extent, leads to the City, in which ftand ■"■***• 

 many brave Palaces, with pleafant Walks of Trees about them ; the Cloyfters of 

 feveral Orders of Fryers, appear wit;h high Spires and Turrets, above all other 

 Buildings. 



The Franci/cans have here four very fumptuous Buildings : The firft,Confecrated And m$ 

 to St. Francis, ftands in the uppermoft part of Mexico, within a large fquare Court, 

 and on each a pleafant Walk of Trees : The Cloyfter it felf is very high, and treb- 



Vble Wall'd , with Towers and Galleries about it : In the middle of the City 

 ftands another Tower'd-Cloyfter, call'd St. Jago. The third lies a little diftancc 

 from it, which being built long, hath a ftatcly Turret, and is call'd Maria de <J{odon- 

 da± The fourth, not far from the firft, but much fmaller, is nam'd San Diego . thefe 

 belong to the Franci/cans. The Auguftin Monks are alio no way inferior to the Fran- 

 cifcans, for magnificent Structures, with fpacious Halls, high Towers, and rich 

 Balconies : The firft is denominated from St, Augujline, juft behind which appears 

 San <Pabla, lefs ftately than the reft. St. Sebaftian, near the Laguna, is built in manner 

 like a Church, whofe Tower ends like a Pyramid. The Cloyfter San Cru^, belong* 

 ing alfo to the Augujiines, built fquare, ftands near the Market, in the middle of 

 which ftands a ftately Fountain : The Court within inviron'd with thick Walls, 

 amazes the beholders by the pleafantnefs of its fituation. 



Moreover, the Dominicans inhabit two brave Cloyfters ; the chiefeft Dedicated to 

 St. Dominic, is eight fquare ; to which is adjoyning a pretty large Church, with a 

 Steeple: The fecond, which ftands on one fide of Sf. Jago, and confifts of three fe- 

 veral Structures, is call'd Colkgio de forta Cvli. Oppofice to St. Jago, near the great 



Market, 



