C 288 ) 



in ambufcade, which they fecured from the attacks of our veffcls by 

 paHifades under the water. This was the manner in which they oppo- 

 fed us every day. Thecavahy as I before obferved could do nothing; 

 the enemy had built parapets acrofs the caufeways which they defended 

 with long lances, and even had an attack been prad:icable, the foldiers 

 would not rilk their horfes, which at this time coft eight hundred crowns, 

 and fome more than one thoufand- nor indeed were they to be had at 

 any price. 



When we arrived at night, we were employed in curing our 

 wounds, and a foldier named Juan Catalan alfo healed them by charms 

 and prayers, which, with the mercy of our Lord Jefus, recovered us 

 very faft. But wounded or not, we were obliged to go againft the ene- 

 my every day, as otherwife our companies would not have been twenty 

 men ftrong. When our allies faw that the before mentioned foldier 

 cured us by charms and prayers, all their wounded came to him, fo 

 that he had more bufinefs on his hands than he knew what to do with. 

 Every day our enfign was difabled, not having it in his power to carry 

 the colours, and defend himfelf. Corn we had fufficiency of, but we 

 wanted refrefhments for the wounded. What preferved us was the plant 

 tailed^ " quilites," cherries while in feafon-, and "tunas " or Indian figs. 

 The fituation of our other parties round the lake was fimilar to what I 

 have here defcribed. 



The enemy in tlie city rufhed out on the fignal being made from 

 the top of the great temple of Taltelulco j and thefe attacks were made 

 every day, and repeated by frefh troops, who were formed and marched 

 out in fuccefTion. Finding that we gained fo little and loft fo much, we 

 refolved to change our plan -of operations. There was on our caufeway 

 a fmall open place, where were fome buildings for religious worlhip ; 

 here we eftablifhed a poft, and lodged ourfelves, though very badly, a» 

 every Ihower of rain came in upon us, leaving our cavalry and Indian 

 allies to fecure our rear in Tacuba, from which place we were fupplied 

 with bread. From this time, as we advanced, we filled the water cuts 



which 



