12 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



they had upon the little iflands in the lake; but there they 

 were purfued by their enemies, who fought alfo in the 

 water. The night was now well advanced, and the Spa- 

 niards, who were rejoicing at the victory which they 

 believed they had obtained, were bulled in facking the 

 city, and the Tlafcalans were fetting fire to the houfes; 

 but their gladnefs foon changed into terror, for by the 

 fame light of the burning of the city, they obferved 

 the water overflow the canals, and begin to lay the city 

 under water. As foon as the danger was difcovered, a 

 retreat was founded, and the city was in hafte abandoned, 

 in order to return to Tezcuco ; but in fpite of their dili- 

 gence they came to a place where there was fo much 

 water that the Spaniards pafled it with difficulty, and 

 fome of the Tlafcalans were drowned, and the greateft 

 part of the booty loft. Not one of them would have 

 efcaped with life, if, as Cortes affirms, they had conti- 

 nued three hours longer in the city ; for the citizens, in 

 order to drown all their enemies, broke the mole of the 

 lake, and entirely deluged the city. The next day they 

 continued their march along the lake, {till haraffed by 

 the enemy. This expedition did not prove very agree- 

 able to the Spaniards ; but although they loft their plun- 

 der, and many were wounded, only two Spaniards and 

 one horfe died. The lofs of the enemy was a great deal 

 more ; for, befides the ruin of their houfes, upwards of 

 fix thoufand of them, agreeably to the account made by 

 Cortes, were flain. 



The difguft, which this expedition gave to Cortes was 

 foon compenfated by the obedience which he received 

 by means of their ambafladors from the cities of Miz- 

 quic, Otompan, and others in that quarter, alleging, 

 in order to obtain his favour, that thofe ftates having 



been 



