146 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



It was at this place that Cortez fought and 

 defeated the innumerable army of Indians. 

 After the horrible night of desolation, he ex- 

 pressly says, he arrived on the plains near 

 Otumba ; — he ascended an eminence, and dis- 

 covered the whole district covered with armies: 

 — despair filled every breast, excepting that 

 of the intrepid leader. The unnumbered host 

 of Indians arrived, and closed round. the 

 small band of Spaniards, when the dauntless 

 Cortez, with a few horsemen only, charged 

 furiously that part of the enemy where the 

 royal banner was carried ; the bearer of it was 

 killed, the banner taken, and the whole of the 

 immense multitude fled in the utmost con- 

 sternation, offering no further interruption to 

 the retreat of the Spaniards through Otumba 

 to the territory of Tlascalla. 



I think there can be little doubt that these 

 immense structures, which vie with the pyra- 

 mids of Egypt, were, at the period we are 



