X 



PREFACE. 



which are preferved in different libraries of Mexico, and 

 required repeated confultation, are infuperable obftacles 

 to any one who undertakes fuch a hiflory, particularly 

 at a confiderable diftance from thefe countries. Never- 

 thelefs, I hope my work will be acceptable ; not on ac- 

 count of the elegance of the ftyle, the beauty of the de- 

 fcriptions, the magnitude of the events, or the weight 

 of the opinions delivered in it ; but from the diligence 

 of my refearches, the integrity of my relation, and the 

 fervice done to the learned, who are defirous of being 

 made acquainted with the hiftory of Mexico. 



At the perfuafion of fome perfons of learning, I wrote 

 the Eifay on the Natural Hiflory of Mexico, contained 

 in the firfl: book, which I had not before judged necef- 

 fary ; and it may, in the opinion of many, be confidered 

 as foreign to the purpofe : but not to deviate from my 

 fubje6l, I have connefted the account of natural produc- 

 tions with the general hiflory, by mentioning the ufe 

 which the Mexicans made of them. On the other hand, 

 to thofe who are attached to the fludy of Natural Hif- 

 tory, this elTay will appear, what in truth it is, too con- 

 fined and fuperficial ; but to fatisfy the curious on that 

 fubje£t, it would be neceffary to write a work very dif- 

 ferent from that which I have undertaken. At the fame 

 time, I fhould have fpared myfelf a great deal of trouble, 

 if I had not been obliged to comply with the folicitations 

 of my friends; as in writing that flcetch of Natural 

 Hiflory, 1 found it neceffary to ftudy the works of Pliny, 

 Diofcorides, Laet, Hernandez, Ulloa, BufFon, Bomare, 

 and other naturalifls ; not content with what I had feea 

 myfelf, or the information I had received from intelligent 

 people to whom thofe countries were well known. 



In 



