30 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



to be fent by water ; which were fo fpeedily executed, 

 that the Spaniards had hardly repofed after the fatigues 

 of the preceding day, when Cortes was advifed by his 

 centinels of the march of the Mexicans towards that ci- 

 ty. This general divided his army into three divifions, 

 and gave his captains the neceflary orders ; he left fome 

 troops to garrifon the quarters, and commanded that 

 twenty horfe with five hundred Tlafcalans fhould pafs 

 acrofs the enemy's front, to occupy a neighbouring little 

 mountain, and wait there his final orders for the attack. 

 The Mexican commanders advanced full of pride, mak- 

 ing great oftentation of fome European fwords which 

 had been taken from the Spaniards on the night of the 

 firfb of July. The battle was begun without the city, 

 and when it appeared proper time, Cortes ordered the 

 troops pofted on the little mountain to attack the rear of 

 the Mexicans. They finding themfelves attacked on 

 every fide, went intodiforder and fled, leaving five hun- 

 dred dead on the field. The Spaniards, on their return 

 to their quarters, found that the body of men left there 

 had been in great danger from the great number of Xo- 

 chimilcas who had encountered them. Cortes, after 

 having been for three days in Xochimilco in frequent 

 ikirmifhes with the enemy, made the temples and houfes 

 be fet on fire, and went to the market-place, which was 

 without the city, to order his people for their march. 

 The Xochimilcas being perfuaded that his departure 

 was the effect of fear, fell upon the rear-guard with 

 great clamour ; but they were foon fo feverely repulfed 

 by the Spaniards, that they never dared again to attack 

 them. 



Cortes advanced with his army as far as Cojohuacan, 

 a large city fituated upon the bank of the lake, fix miles 



diftant 



