HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



27 



many Spaniards and Tlafcalans (/). This aft of intre- 

 pidity fo intimidated thofe who defended the affault in 

 that quarter, that they immediately retreated, and \yent 

 to join the other citizens, who, at another part of the 

 city, were oppofmg the troops led by Cortes ; but while 

 moft employed in the defence, they found themfelves 

 unexpectedly attacked by thofe troops, who, following 

 that courageous Tlafcalan, were now entered by the un- 

 defended part into the city. Terror made the citizens 

 give up refinance, and ,put them to flight precipitately 

 through the mountains ; while the allies, without any 

 oppofition, burned a great part of the city. The lord 

 of it, who had fled with the reft, fearing to be overtaken 

 in the mountains by the Spaniards, took occaflon to fur- 

 render himfelf, declaring that he had not done it before 

 becaufe he waited till the rage of the Spaniards fliould 

 be exhaufted on the city, and by being fatisfied with 

 other hoftilities, might abftain from treating his perfon 

 cruelly. 



After fome repofe the army left Qiiauhnahuac, load- 

 ed with fpoils, directing their way towards the north, 

 through a large wood of pines, where they endured a 

 great thirft, and the day following found themfelves near 

 the city of Xochimilco. This beautiful city, the largeft 

 next to the three royal refidences of all thofe in the 

 Mexican vale, was founded upon the border of the lake 

 of Chalco, a little more than twelve miles diftant from 



the 



(z) Solis, without making mention of that Tlafcalan, attributes all the glo- 

 ry of that action to Bernal Diaz ; in which particular he contradicts Cortes, 

 and other hiftorians. Bernal Diaz himfelf, who, in the relation of this event, does 

 himfelf all the honour he can, boafts of having been one of thofe who did not 

 regard the rifle of their lives, and palfed the depth on the branches of the 

 trees ; but by no means takes the honour to himfelf of having been the firft 

 who palTed or fuggefted the attempt. 



