HISTORY OF MEXICO. 177 



hut upon it. That part of the lake where thofe float- 

 ing gardens are, is a place of infinite recreation where 

 the fenfes receive the higheft poflible gratification. 



As foon as the Mexicans had fliaken off the Tepane- 

 can yoke, and had gained by their conquefts lands fit 

 for cultivation, they applied themfelves with great dili- 

 gence to agriculture. Having neither ploughs, nor 

 oxen, nor any other animals proper to be employed in 

 the culture of the earth, they fupplied the want of 

 them by labour, and other more fimple inftruments. To 

 hoe and dig the ground they made ufe of the Coatl (or 

 Coo), which is an inftrument made of copper, with a 

 wooden handle, but different from a fpade or mattock. 

 They made ufe of an axe to cut trees, which was alfo 

 made of copper, and was of the fame form with thofe 

 of modern times, except that we put the handle in the 

 eye of the axe, whereas they put the axe into an eye 

 of the handle. They had feveral other inftruments of 

 agriculture ; but the negligence of ancient writers on 

 this fubjecl has not left it in our power to attempt their 

 defcription. 



For the refrefliment of their fields they made ufe of 

 the water of rivers and fmall torrents which came from 

 the mountains, railing dams to collect them, and form- 

 ing canals to conduct them. Lands which were high, 

 or on the declivity of mountains, were not fown every 

 year, but allowed to lie fallow until they were over-run 

 with buflies, which they burned, to repair by their 

 aflies, the fait which rains had wafhed away. They 

 furrounded their fields with ftone inclofures, or hedges 

 made of the metl 9 or aloe, which make an excellent 

 fence ; and in the month Panquetzaliztli, which began, 

 Vol. II. Z as 



