HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



351 



from which hung fome large cray-fifh of gold in imita- 

 tion of nature : he charged the prince Cuitlahuatzin to 

 conduct Cortes to his dwelling, and he himfelf retired 

 with the king of Tezcuco. 



The nobility as well as the populace, who, from the 

 tops, doors, and windows of the houfes, were obferv- 

 ing all that paffed, were equally furprized and aftonifh r 

 ed at the light of fo many extraordinary objects pre- 

 fented to their eyes, and the unheard of complaifance 

 of the king, which contributed much to raife the charac- 

 ter of the Spaniards. The latter, full of wonder at feeing 

 the grandeur of the city, the magnificence of the 

 buildings, and the multitude of inhabitants, marched 

 along that grand and fpacious way, which, without va- 

 rying the leafl from a right line, continued the road of 

 Iztapalapan, built upon the lake, to the fouthern gate 

 of the greater temple, admiration alternately giving 

 way to fear in their minds for their fate, feeing fo fmall 

 a number of them in the center of a flrange and popu- 

 lous kingdom. Thus they travelled on for near a mile 

 and a half within the city, unto the palace deftined for 

 their reception, which formerly belonged to king Axa- 

 jacatl, not far diftant from the weftern gate of the fame 

 temple. Here Montezuma, who had gone before, wait- 

 ed for them. When Cortes arrived at the gate of that 

 palace, Montezuma took him by the hand, led him into 

 a large hall, made him fit down upon a foot-ftool fimilar 

 in form to thofe of the altars of the moderns, and co- 

 vered with a fine tapeflry of cotton, and clofe to a wall 

 alfo covered with a tapeftry embroidered with gold and 

 gems; and, taking leave of him, faid to him " You and 

 your companions are now " in your own houfe, refrefh 

 " and repofe yourfelves ; I will return ihortly." 



The 



