42 



HISTORY OF MEXICO, 



large and deep canal, by which they could eafily enter 

 the city. This was in future a circumftance of great ad- 

 vantage to the Spaniards. 



Alvarado, on his part, hemmed in the Mexicans as 

 much as poffible, by taking at different encounters fome 

 ditches and intrenchments on the road of Tlacopan ; but 

 fome of his men were killed, and many wounded. He 

 obferved, that by the road of Tepejacac, fituated towards 

 the north, provifions were continually introduced to the 

 city, and perceived alfo, that by that road the befieged 

 could eafily efcape, when they found they could no long- 

 er refift the befiegers. He communicated this obferva- 

 tion to Cortes, who commanded Sandoval to go with 

 one hundred and eighteen Spaniards and a very flrong 

 army of allies to occupy that place, and intercept the 

 fupplies which fhould come that way to the enemy. San- 

 doval obeyed, though (till unrecovered of the wound in 

 his leg, and took pofTeffion without oppofition of that 

 ftation, by which means every communication of the 

 Mexicans with other cities by land was cut oif (0). 



This being done, Cortes determined to make an entry 

 the next day into the city, with more than five hundred 

 Spaniards and more than eighty thoufand allies from 

 Tezcuco, Tlafcala, Chalco, and Huexotzinco, leaving 

 fome cavalry with ten thoufand allies to guard the camp ; 

 ordering Sandoval and Alvarado to enter there at the 



fame 



Doctor Robertfon fays, that Cortes defigned to attack the city at three 

 different places ; from Tezcuco, on the eaft fide of the lake ; from Tacuba, on 

 the weft; and from Cuzocan that is, Cojohuacan), in the fouth ; thofe cities, 

 he adds, commanded the principal caufeways which led to the capital, and were 

 built for its defence: but this is an error; becaufe to the eaft ward there was 

 not, nor could be, any road which led to the capital, on account of the depth 

 of the lake. Sandoval did not encamp in Tezcuco, from whence it was impof- 

 fible to attack Mexico, but in Tepejacac, towards the north. 



