HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



291 



well polifhed, made a bright reflexion of the fun, he 

 imagined it was filver, and returned full fpeed to ac- 

 quaint the general of it. This incident is fuiScient to 

 ftiew, how much the mind may be deceived and delud- 

 ed by the predominance of any particular paffion. The 

 Spaniards proceeded through the ftreets, not lefs de- 

 lighted than amazed at feeing fuch a city, the larger!: 

 which they had feen in the New World, fo full of inha- 

 bitants and beautiful gardens. Some, on account of its 

 largenefs, called it Seville^ and others Villavlciofa^ on ac- 

 count of its pleafantnefs (r). 



When they arrived at the greater temple, the lord 

 of that Mate came to receive them at the entrance ; 

 though inactive on account of his immoderate fatnefs, he 

 was a perfon of difcernment and fome genius. After 

 having faluted according to the cuftom of that country, 

 and offered incenfe to the general, he took leave, pro- 

 rnifing to return as foon as they had repofed after the 

 fatigues of their journey. The whole Spanifh troop 

 were lodged in large handfome buildings, within the 

 enclofure of the temple, which were either built on pur- 

 pofe for the accommodation of Grangers, or deftined 

 for the habitation of the minifters of the idols. Here 

 they were well entertained, and provided with every 

 thing they wanted at the expenfe of that lord, who re- 

 turned to them after dinner, in a portable chair or lit- 

 ter, 



(r) We cannot doubt of the ancient greatnefs of Chempoalla, confidering 

 the teftimony of authors who faw it, and the extent of its ruins. It is im- 

 poffible to conclude any thing about it, from the account given by Torquema- 

 da, as in one place he makes the inhabitants amount to twenty or thirty thou- 

 fand, in another place to fifty thoufand one hundred and eleven, and in the In- 

 dex to Vol. I. to an hundred and fifty thoufand. To Chempoalla the fame 

 thing occurred which happened to all the other cities of the New World, that 

 is, that with difeales, and the vexations of the fixteenth century, it gradually 

 dwindled until at laft it was entirely depopulated. 



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