344 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



Chalco (/J, where there was a harbour for the veffels of 

 merchants who trafficked with the countries to the fouth- 

 ward of Mexico. Curiofity to view the quarters of the 

 Spaniards coll: very dear to fome of the Mexicans, for 

 the Spanifh centinels imagining them to be fpies, from 

 the apprehenfions they were conftandy under of fome 

 treachery, mot about fifteen of them that night. The 

 following day, juft as they were ready to march, fome 

 Mexican nobles arrived with intelligence, that the king of 

 Tezcuco was come to vifit the Spanifh general in the 

 name of the king of Mexico his uncle. It was not long 

 before the king himfelf joined them, borne in a litter, 

 adorned with fine feathers, on the moulders of four of 

 his domeftics, and accompanied by a numerous and bril- 

 liant retinue of Mexican and Tezcucan nobility. As foon 

 as he came in fight of the Spanifh general, he alighted 

 from the litter and began walking on foot, preceded by 

 fome of his fervants, who induflrioufly removed out of 

 his way every thing which could either offend his feet or 

 his fight. The Spaniards were aftoniihed at this pomp, 

 and from thence began to form conjeclures of the pa- 

 rade and grandeur which mud attend the king of Mexi- 

 co. Cortes went to the door of his dwelling to meet 

 him, and faluted him with a profound bow, which was 

 returned by the king in touching the earth with his right 

 hand and then lifting it to his mouth. He entered with 

 an air of lordlinefs and majelly into one of the halls, fat 

 himfelf down, congratulated the general and his officers 

 on their happy arrival, and fignified the particular plea- 

 fure his uncle the king of Mexico had in forming a friend- 

 ship 



(/) Solis confounds Amaquemecan with Ajotzinco ; Amaquemecan was never 

 fituated, as he fays, on the border of the lake, but at twelve miles diftancc 

 from it, upon the fide of a mountain. 



