HISTORY Of MEXICO. 



21 



place about fix miles diftant, fituated on the top of a 

 mountain, almoft inacceffible to cavalry, and defended 

 by a competent garrifon of Mexicans ; but his propos- 

 als being rejected, he marched towards that city, deter- 

 mined to ftrike a blow there, which would humble their 

 pride, and for ever deliver the Chalchefe from the evils 

 which haraflfed them continually from that quarter. 

 The Tlafcalans, and other allies were intimidated by 

 the fight of fo much difficulty and danger ; but Sando- 

 val, animated by that great fpirit which difplayed it- 

 felf in all his actions, refolved to conquer or die. He 

 began to afcend with his infantry, having to furmount 

 at the fame time both the ruggednefs of the mountain, 

 and the multitude of the enemy, who defended it with 

 a fhower of darts and ftones, fome of which were of 

 immoderate fize, and although they broke in falling 

 on the rocks between, wounded the Spaniards with the 

 fragments; but nothing could reftrain them from enter- 

 ing the city bathed in fweat and blood, after which ex- 

 ample the allies did the fame. The fatigue and their 

 wounds inflamed their indignation fo much, that they 

 attacked the enemy with the utmoft fury ; who, to ef- 

 cape from their fwords, fled down the precipices of the 

 mountain. So much blood was fpilt, that it purpled a 

 little ftream which ran there, and changed its waters fo, 

 that for more than an hour the conquerors could not ufe it 

 to quench the thirft which diftreflfed them (/) ; * This, 55 



fays 



(/) Bernal Diaz ridicules Gomara for this account of the waters having 

 been fo difcoloured with blood : but Diaz was not prefent at this expedition, 

 and we ought therefore to give more faith to Cortes, who fays, the flaughter 

 which the Spaniards made of the enemy, and which the enemy made of them- 

 felves by precipitating themfelves from that eminence, was fo great, that all 

 who were prefent affirm, that a little river which furrounded almoft all that 

 place, remained for upwards of an hour fo tinged with blood that they could 

 not drink of it. 



