SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 115 



might well be imitated in our own country. 

 On our return to the Posada, I inquired 

 of our hostess the number of inhabitants 

 which the village contained ; — but my desig- 

 nation of the place, it seemed, was indignantly 

 repelled, and I was answered that it had 

 always ranked amongst the first of Mexican 

 cities : — that all the world knew it was the 

 warriors of Chollula ^who assisted the great 

 captain in subduing the pagan capital, 

 although at the present time the number of 

 its population did not exceed 6000. 



Chollula stands on an extensive space of 

 ground, and contains many regular and broad 

 streets, the houses being mostly of one story, 

 and flat-roofed. I think it probable that it 

 retains much of the original appearance it 

 presented at the time of the Conquest. It was 

 here that Cortez, on his first advance, was 

 welcomed as a liberator and brother ; but hav- 

 ing accidentally discovered that this deceptive 



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