240 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



pichtia, Totolapan, Tlalcozauhtitlan, Chilapan, which 

 were more than a hundred and fifty miles diflant from 

 the court, Coixco, Oztomantla, TIachmallac, and many- 

 others ; then turning to the weft, he conquered Tzom- 

 pahuacan, bringing under fubjeftion to the crown of 

 Mexico both the great country of the Cohuixcas, who 

 had been the authors of the deaths above-mentioned, 

 and many other neighbouring ftates which had provoked 

 his refentment probably by fimilar infults. Upon his re- 

 turn to his court he enlarged the temple of Huitzilo- 

 pochtli, and adorned it with the fpoils of thofe nations. 

 Thefe conquefts were made in the nine firft years of his 

 reign. 



In the tenth year, which was the 1446 of the vulgar 

 era, a great inundation happened in Mexico, occafioned 

 by exceffive rains, which fvvelled the waters of the lake 

 till they overflowed and laid the city fo much under water 

 as to deftroy many houfes ; and the ftreets becoming 

 impaflable, boats were made ufe of in every quarter, 

 Montezuma much diftreffed by the accident, had re- 

 courfe to the king of Tezcuco, hoping his penetration 

 might fuggeft fome remedy to this calamity. That dif- 

 cerning king advifed a great dyke to be made to keep out 

 the water, and laid down a plan of it, and pointed out 

 the place where it ihould be made. His counfel was ap- 

 proved by Montezuma, who commanded it to be fol- 

 lowed with inftant execution. He ordered the fubje6i:s 

 of Azcapozalco, Cojohuacan, and Xochimiico, to pro- 

 vide fo many thoufand large ftakes, and the people of 

 Other parts to furnifh the neceffary ftones. He fummoned 

 alfo to this work the inhabitants of Tacuba, Iztapalapan, 

 Colhuacan, and Tenajuca, and the lords and the kings 

 themfclves, engaged themfelves firft in the fatigue j from 



their 



