HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



333 



Mexicans, with the miferable huts of the Tartars, Sibe- 

 rians, Arabs, and other wretched nations, which live 

 between the Cape de Verd, and the Cape of Good 

 Hope ; or the buildings of Ethiopia, of a great part of 

 India, and the Afiatic and African hies, except thofe of 

 Japan ? 



M. de Paw fays, the boafted palace of Montezuma was 

 nothing elfe than a mere hut. But Cortes, Diaz, and 

 the anonymous conqueror, who faw this palace fo often, 

 affirm the direct contrary. " He had," fays Cortes, 

 talking of Montezuma, " in this city of Mexico, fuch 

 <c houfes for his habitation, fo deferving of admiration, 

 " that I cannot fufficiently exprefs their grandeur and 

 " excellence ; 1 (hall therefore only fay, that there are 

 cc none equal to them in Spain." Thus writes this con- 

 queror to his king, without fear of being contradicted by 

 his officers or foldiers, who had alfo themfelves viewed 

 the palaces of Mexico. The anonymous conqueror, in 

 his curious and faithful relation, fpeaking of the build- 

 ings of Mexico, writes thus : " There were beautiful 

 " houfes belonging to the nobles, fo grand and nume- 

 " rous in their apartments, with fuch admirable gardens 

 " to them, that the fight of them filled us with aftoniffi- 

 cc ment and delight. I entered from curiofity four times 

 " into a palace belonging to Montezuma, and having 

 " pervaded it until I was weary, I came away at laft 

 * c without having feen it all. Around a large court 

 " they ufed to build fumptuous halls and chambers ; but 

 " there was one above all fo large that it was capable of 

 " containing upwards of three thoufand perfons without 

 c< the lead inconvenience : it was fuch, that in the gal- 

 M lery of it alone a little fquare was formed, where thir- 

 " ty men on horfe-back might exercife." It is certain 



from 



