( ) 



dors of the great Montezuma, enquired of them the meaning of thefe 

 appearances. They repHcd, that we fhould take that road which led to 

 Chalco, where we fhould be well received, and that the other road was 

 longer and more difficult. Hereupon Cortes faid, that he would not- 

 withftanding prefer it, and our Indian allies clearing the way before u&, 

 we proceeded up the mountain, where the weather was exceedingly 

 cold, and prefently came a very heavy fall of fnow, fo that the whole 

 country was covered with it. After fome time we arrived at certain 

 houfes which are for the purpofe of lodging travellers, where we halted, 

 and found provifions in plenty. Having placed our guards, we refted 

 for that night, and continued our march in the morning, and at the 

 hour of high mafs arrived at the town of Talmanalco, where we had 

 an hofpitable reception. The people of the neighbouring diftrids, that 

 is to fay of Chalco, Mecameca, and Acingo where the canoes are kept, 

 waited on Cortes here with a prefent of gold worth about a hundred 

 and fifty crowns, fome mantles, and eight women. Cortes received 

 them kindly, promifing them his friendfliip, and a number of the na- 

 tives being now colledied, he defired the reverend father of the order of 

 mercy to explain to them the dodirines of our holy faith, and require 

 them to renounce their idolatrous worfhip ; he alfo informed them of 

 the great pow^r of our monarch, and that we came in his name to 

 redrefs wrongs i When the people heard this, they began to make fe- 

 cret complaints of the tyranny of Montezuma, who deprived them of 

 their wives and daughters if handfome, and took the men to work like 

 flaves, compelling them to convey for him, ftones, timber, and corn, 

 and feizing their lands for the fervice of his idols. Cortes condoled 

 with them in kind words, defiring them to have patience for the pre- 

 fent, and that they fhould foon be redrcffed. He then defired that fome 

 might go, and report to him the ftate of the road, but they told him 

 there was no occafion, as it was perfedly clear. 



Jufi: as we were fetting out attended by twenty Indians from this 

 place, four of the principal nobility of Mexico arrived, and having 

 paid their compliments, and delivered their prefents, thus addrelTed 



Cortes. 



