340 



HISTORY 



OF MEXICO. 



and in fpite of the Mexicans, made the obftacles in this 

 way be removed, under pretence that the difficulty was 

 rather an incitement to the courage and fpirits of the 

 Spaniards ; and continued his journey through that 

 great wood of pines and oaks, until he afcended to the 

 top of a high mountain, called Ithualco, between the 

 two volcanos Popocatepec and Iztaccihuatl, where they 

 found fome large houfes built for the accommodation of 

 the merchants of Mexico. There they were able to 

 judge of the bold undertaking of the captain Diego de 

 Ordaz, who a few days before, in order to difplay to 

 thofe people the courage of his nation, mounted, along 

 with nine other foldiers, to the higheft fummit of Popo- 

 catepec, although he could not fee its mouth, or the 

 vent of that great volcano, on account of the deep fnow 

 which lay there, and the clouds of fmoke and afhes 

 which it threw up from its bowels. (£) 



From the top of Ithualco the Spaniards got their firfl 

 view of the beautiful valley of Mexico, but with very 

 different impreffions from the profpecl ; fome of them 

 delighted in the fight of its lakes, its pleafant lying plains, 

 its verdant mountains, and numerous and fplendid cities, 

 which were fituated within and around thofe lakes ; 

 others revived their hopes of enriching themfelves with 

 the plunder of fo great an extent of country as they there 

 difcovered ; but the more prudent of thofe adventurers, 

 on beholding fo populous a territory, reflected on the te- 

 merity 



(h) Bernal Diaz, and almoft all hiftorians, fay that Ordaz afcended to the 

 top of Popocatepec, and obferved the mouth of that famous mountain; but 

 Cortes, who knew better, fays not. Notwithstanding Ordaz obtained from 

 the Catholic king a volcano to be put in his fhield of arms. This great un- 

 dertaking was referved for Montagno, and others Spaniards, who, after the 

 conqueft of Mexico, not only obferved the dreadful mouth of that volcano, but 

 entered there, at the utmoft rifk of their lives, and got out from it a large quan- 

 tity of fulphur to make powder for their fire-arms. 



