43 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



much damage to the camp of Cortes, if their troops had 

 attacked it from one part of the road, while at the fame 

 time the Mexicans had attacked it from another ; but 

 they had not attempted any hoftilities againft the Spani- 

 ards, perhaps becaufe they rcferved themfelves for fome 

 very favouring occafion. The Chalchefe, and other al- 

 lies, who did not like the neighbourhood of fo many 

 enemies, endeavoured to draw them over to their party, 

 fometimes by promifes, fometimes by threats and vexa- 

 tions; and their importunity, and perhaps alfo the fear 

 of revenge from the Spaniards, had fo much influence, 

 that the nobles of Iztapalan, Mexicaltzinco, Colhuacan, 

 Huitzilopochco, Mizquiz, and Cuitlahuac, which cities 

 formed a confiderable part of the Mexican vale, came to 

 the camp to make a confederacy with the Spaniards. 

 Cortes was extremely glad of their alliance, and requeft- 

 ed of them that they would not only aflift him with their 

 troops and veflfels, but likewife tranfport materials for 

 the erection of huts along that road ; for it being now 

 the feafon of rain, his people fufFered much from the 

 want of habitations. 



His demand was fo readily complied with, that they 

 fent immediately a large body of troops, the number of 

 which is not known, to be under the command of Cor- 

 tes, and three thoufand vefTels to aflift the brigantines in 

 their operations. In thefe they tranfported the mate- 

 rials, with which they built fuch a number of barracks, 

 that all the Spaniards, and two thoufand Indians em- 

 ployed in their fervice, were conveniently accommodat- 

 ed ; for the majority of the allied troops were encamp- 

 ed in Cojohuacan, four miles diflant from Xoloc ; and, 

 not content with giving this alliflance, they brought ma- 



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