HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



361 



the conqueft of king Axajacatl to Tenochtitlan, and both 

 together formed Mexico. 



Around the city there were many dykes and refer- 

 voirs for collecting water when it was neceflary; and 

 within it fo many canals, that there was hardly a dif- 

 tricT: which could not be approached by boats; acircum- 

 ftance which did not lefs contribute to embeililh the ci- 

 ty, and to make the tranfportation of provifions, and all 

 other commodities of traffick eafy, than to give the citi- 

 zens fecurity from the attempts of their enemies. Al- 

 though the principal ftreets were broad and ftraight, of 

 many others, fome were mere canals, where there was 

 no paffing but in boats; others were paved and free of 

 water, and fome had a fmall channel between two ter- 

 raffes, which ferved for the convenience of paffengers, 

 and for the unloading of veffels, or were little gardens 

 planted with trees and flowers. 



Among the various buildings of the city, befides ma- 

 ny temples and magnificent royal palaces, of which we 

 have already fpoken, there were other palaces, or great 

 houfes, which the feudatory lords had conftru&ed for 

 their habitation during the time which they were occa- 

 fionally obliged to refide at court. Almoft all the 

 houfes, except thofeof the poor, had balconies with pa- 

 rapets, and fome of them even battlements and towers, 

 though much fmaller than thofe of the temples: fo that 

 upon the whole, the Mexicans provided for their defence 

 in their ftreets and houfes as well as their temples. 



Befides the large and famous fquare of Tlatelolco, 

 where the principal market was held, there were other 

 little market-places diflributed through the city, where 

 they fold ordinary provifions. There were alfo in dif- 

 ferent places fountains and fim-ponds, particularly near 

 Vol. II. Z z to 



