50 



HISTORY 



OF MEXICO. 



fome ditches and intrenchments, and knowing that the 

 greateft force of the enemy was in Tlatelolco, where the 

 king Quauhtemotzin refided, and numbers of the inha- 

 bitants of Tenochtitlan had reforted, he directed his 

 operations towards that quarter; but although he fought 

 frequently with all his force both by land and water, he 

 could not advance where he wifhed, from the gallant 

 oppofition of the befieged. In thofe engagements many 

 perifhed on both fides. In one of the firfl contefts a 

 ftrong and courageous warrior of Tlatelolco, difguifed 

 like one of the Otomies, with an Ichcahupilli^ or breaft- 

 plate of cotton, and with no other arms than a fhield 

 and three ftones, made his appearance, and running moft 

 fwiftly towards the befiegers, he threw his three ftones 

 fucceflively with fuch dexterity and with fuch force, 

 that with each he knocked down a Spaniard, exciting 

 no lefs indignation among them than fear and wonder 

 in the allies. They endeavoured, by every means, to 

 get him into their hands, but could never take him, for 

 in every engagement he appeared differently dreffed, 

 and in each occafioned much lofs to the befiegers, hav- 

 ing as much fwiftnefs in his feet to make his efcape as 

 force in his arms to ftrike his blows. The name of this 

 celebrated hero of Tlatelolco was Tzilacatzin. 



Alvarado, elated with fome advantages obtained over 

 the Mexicans, ftrove one day to pufh forward as far as 

 the market-place: he had already taken feveral ditches 

 and intrenchments, and among others, one which was 

 fifty feet broad, and more than feven feet deep; but for- 

 getting, through his fuccefs, to make it be filled up, as 

 his general had enjoined, he advanced with forty or 

 fifty Spaniards, and fome allies. The Mexicans having 

 obferved this negleft, foon poured in numbers upon 



them, 



