HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



35$ 



and populous, and refolved to conciliate the minds of the 

 nobles by good conduct, obfequious and kind manners, 

 and ordered his people to behave themfelves with fo 

 much guard and difcretion that the Mexicans might have 

 nothing to complain of: but while he appeared to watch 

 with diligence to keep peace, he was revolving in his 

 mind mo ft daring and rafli defigns, totally adverfe to 

 tranquillity; and in order to bring them to maturity, it 

 being neceffary to inform himfelf with his own eyes of 

 the fortifications of Mexico, and the forces of the Mexi- 

 cans, he demanded permhTion of the king to vifit the 

 royal palaces, the greater temple, and the fquare of the 

 market. The king chearfully granted his requeft, un- 

 fufpicious of the crafty general, nor forefaw the confe- 

 quences of his great indulgence. The Spaniards faw all 

 they wifhed to fee, and found every where new fubjecls 

 of admiration. 



The city of Mexico was then fituated, as we have al- 

 ready faid, upon a fmall ifland in the lake of Tezcuco, 

 fifteen miles to the weftward from that court, and four 

 to the eaftward from that of Tlacopan. For the conve- 

 nience of palling to the main land, there were three great 

 caufeways of earth and ftone, raifed in the lake. That 

 of Iztapalapan, towards the fouth, upwards of feven 

 miles; that of Tlacopan, towards the weft, about two 

 miles ; and that of Tepejacac, towards the north, of three 

 miles in length (jfr) ; and all three fo broad, that ten men 



on 



(p) Dr. Robertfon puts inftead of the road of Tepejacac, that of Tezcuco, 

 which, in the part where he defcribes Mexico, he places towards the north- 

 weft, and when he fpeaks of the pofts of the Spamfti forces at the fiege of that 

 capital, he places it towards the eaft : though he has already faid, that there was 

 no road upon the lake towards the eaft : but there never was, nor could be, any- 

 road on the lake from Mexico to Tezcuco, on account of the prodigious depth 

 of its bed in that part; and if there could have been any, it would not have 

 been only three miles as this author affirms, but fifteen miles in length, which is 

 the diftance between them. 



