174 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



fo many other valuable remains of their antiquity to go 

 to ruin (/ > 



The capital of Mexico, though fufficiently fortified by 

 its natural fituation for thofe times, was rendered im- 

 pregnable to its enemies by the induftry of its inhabitants. 

 There was no accefs to the city but by the roads formed 

 upon the lake ; and to make it ftill more difficult in time 

 of war, they built many ramparts upon thefe roads, 

 which were interfered with feveral deep ditches, over 

 which they had drawbridges, and thofe ditches were de- 

 fended by good entrenchments. Thofe ditches were the 

 graves of many Spaniards and Tlafcalans, on the memora- 

 ble night of the firft of July, of which we fliall fpeak 

 hereafter ; and the caufe which retarded the taking of 

 that great city, by fo numerous and well equipped an 

 army, as that which Cortes employed to befiege it ; and 

 which, had he not been affifted by the brigantines, would 

 have delayed it much longer, and occafioned the lofs of 

 a great deal more blood. For the defence of the city by 

 water, they had many thoufand fmall veffels, and fre-. 

 quently exercifed themfelves in naval engagements. 



But the mod fmgular fortifications of Mexico were 

 the temples themfelves, and efpecially the greater temple, 

 which refembled a citadel. The wall which furrounded 

 the whole of the temple, the five arfenals there which 

 were filled with every fort of oifenfive and defenfive 

 arms, and the architecture of the temple itfelf which 

 rendered the afcent to it fo difficult, gives us clearly to 

 underfland, that in fuch buildings, policy, as well as re- 

 ligion, had a fliare ; and that they conftru&ed them, not 



only 



(/) Thefe imperfect accounts of thofe remains of Mexican antiquities, obtain- 

 ed from eye-witneffes worthy of the utmoft credit, perfuade us, that there are-ftill 

 many more of which we have no knowledge, owing to the indolence and neglect 

 of our countrymen. See what is faid in our differtations refpefting thofe anti- 

 quities againft Sig. de P. and Dr. P_obertfon. 



