60 



XOCHIMILCO RETURN TO TACUBA. 



was the capital of the Tlahuicas, and an important and wealthy 

 tributary of the Aztecs. Here too he encountered hostile resist- 

 ance which he quickly overcame. His name as a successful 

 warrior had preceded him among these more effeminate races, and 

 the trembling lords of the territory soon submitted to his mercy. 

 Departing from Cuernavaca, Cortez turned again northwards, and 

 ascending the sierra in a new direction re-entered the valley of 

 Anahuac or Mexico, by the main route which now penetrates the 

 southern portion of its rim. From the summits of these moun- 

 tains, where the cool air of the temperate clime sings through the 

 limbs and tassels of hardy pines, Cortez swooped down upon 

 Xochimilco, or the " field of flowers," where he was again 

 encountered by guerillas and more formidable squadrons from 

 the Aztec capital which was but twelve miles distant. Here, 

 again, after several turns in the tide of fortune, the Spaniards were 

 triumphant and obtained a rich booty. From Xochimilco the little 

 band and the auxiliaries advanced, among continual dangers, 

 around the western margin of the lakes, and, skirting the feet of 

 the mountains, attained, once more, the town of Tacuba. 



The conqueror had thus circled the valley, and penetrated the 

 adjacent southern vale, in his two expeditions. Wherever he 

 went, the strange weapons of his Spaniards, the singular appear- 

 ance of his mounted men, and his uniform success, served to 

 inspire the natives with a salutary dread of his mysterious power. 

 He now knew perfectly the topography of the country, — for he 

 was forced to be his own engineer as well as general. He had 

 become acquainted with the state of the Aztec defences, as well as 

 with the slender hold the central power of the empire retained over 

 the tributary tribes, towns, and districts which had been so often 

 vexed by taxation to support a voluptuous sovereign and avaricious 

 aristocracy. He found the sentiment of patriotic union and loyalty 

 but feeble among the various populations he visited. The ties of 

 international league had every where been adroitly loosened by the 

 conqueror, either through his eloquence or his weapons ; and, from 

 all his careful investigations, both of character and country, he had 

 reason to believe that the realm of Mexico was at length almost 

 within his grasp. The capital was now encircled with a cordon 

 of disloyal cities. Every place of importance had been visited, 

 conquered, subdued, or destroyed in its moral courage or natural 

 allegiance. But Tacuba was too near the capital to justify him in 

 trusting his jaded band within so dangerous a neighborhood. 



