334 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



der ; but having formed themfelves into feveral different 

 fquadrons, they made for fome time a vigorous refinance, 

 until at iaft, perceiving the havock which the artillery 

 made, and feeling the fuperiority of the European arms, 

 they went again into confufion. The greater part of 

 them fought their fafety in flight ; fome had recourfe to 

 the fuperftitious hope of razing the walls of the temple 

 to deluge the city : but, finding that expedient totally 

 fruitlefs, they endeavoured to fortify themfelves in then? 

 houfes and temples. But neither did this avail, for the 

 enemy fet inftant fire to every houfe where they met 

 with any refinance. The houfes and towers of the tem- 

 ples were in flames ; the ftreets difcovered nothing but 

 bloody or half-burnt carcafes, and nothing was heard 

 but the infulting menacing clamours of the confederates 4 , 

 the feeble groans of dying men, curfes, and impreca- 

 cations on the victors, and complaints to their gods why 

 they had abandoned them in fuch calamities. Amongfl: 

 the many who fled to the towers of the temples* there 

 was but one which furrendered to the victors ; all the 

 reft were either burned to ames, or met a death lefs pain- 

 ful, by precipitating themfelves from thofe heights. 



By means of this horrid flaughter, in which upwards 

 of fix thoufand Cholulans (/ ) perifhed, the city became 

 depopulated. The temples and houfes were plundered, 

 the Spaniards feizing all the gems, gold, and filver, and 

 the Tlafcalans all the apparel, feathers, and fait. This 

 tragedy was hardly finifhed, when there appeared near 

 Cholula an army of twenty thoufand men, fent by way 



of 



(/) Las Cafashas grofsly disfigured this event of Cholula. The revenge of . 

 the Spaniards was perhaps too rigorous, but their provocations were ftrong. 

 He relates it, as we find it, among the raoft faithful hiftorians who were pr£ 

 fent, or were informed by the ancient Spaniards and Indians. 



