196 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



had no need of bridges, unlefs where from the rapidity 

 of the current, or the weight of fome burden, they 

 could not fwim acrofs. 



The Mexican hiftorians tell us nothing of the mari- 

 time commerce of the Mexicans. It is probable that it 

 was very trifling, and that their veflfels, which were feen 

 coafting on both feas, were chiefly thofe of fifliermen. 

 Their greatefl trafRck by water was carried on in the 

 lake of Mexico. All the ftone and wood for building, 

 and for fire, the fifh, the greater part of the maize, the 

 pulfe, fruit, flowers, &c. was brought by water. The 

 commerce of the capital with Tezcuco, Xochimilco^ 

 Chalco, Cuitlahuac, and other cities fituated upon the 

 lake, was carried on by water, and occafioned that won- 

 derful number of veflfels to be employed which we have 

 already mentioned. 



Whatever was not tranfported by water was carried 

 upon men's backs, and on that account there were 

 numbers of men who carried burdens, called Tlamama 

 or Tlamcme. They were brought up from childhood to 

 this bufinefs, which they continued all their lives. A re- 

 gular load was about fixty pounds, and the length of 

 way they daily walked was fifteen miles ; but they made 

 alfo journies of two hundred and three hundred miles, 

 travelling frequently over rocky and fteep mountains. 

 They were fubjecT:ed to this intolerable fatigue from the 

 want of beafts of burden ; and even at prefent, although 

 thofe countries abound in animals of this fort, the Mex- 

 icans are ft ill often feen making long journeys with bur- 

 dens upon their backs. They carried cotton, maize, 

 and other things in petlacalli, which were balkets made 

 of a particular kind of cane, and covered with leather, 

 which were light and defended their goods fufficiently 



from 



