HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



403 



in fome places, that the Spaniards were obliged to throw 

 down the wall, and defend the breach with the artillery, 

 and a number of foldiers whom they ftationed there, till 

 night, when the enemy gave them opportunity to re- 

 build the wall and take care of the wounded. 



The following day, the 26th of June, the affault was 

 more terrible, and the fury of the Mexicans ftill greater. 

 The Spaniards defended themfelves with twelve pieces 

 of artillery, which committed uncommon havock upon 

 their enemy; but as the number of them was infinite, 

 they covered the fight of the dead with frefih fubftitutes 

 in their place. Cortes perceiving their obftinacy, fallied 

 out with the greater part of his troops, and proceeded 

 fighting his way through one of the principal ftreets of 

 the city, took polfeflion of fome of the bridges, fet fire 

 to fome houfes, and after continuing in action almoft 

 the whole day, he returned to the quarters with more 

 than fifty Spaniards wounded, leaving innumerable 

 Mexicans dead in the ftreets. 



Experience had made Cortes fenfible, that the greateft 

 annoyance his troops met with was from the terraces of 

 the houfes ; to fliun which in future he ordered three 

 machines of war to be conftru&ed, called by the Spa- 

 niars Manias, fo large that each of them would carry 

 twenty armed foldiers, covered with a ftrong roof to de- 

 fend them from the flones thrown from the terraces, 

 furnifhed with wheels alfo to make them eafy to move, 

 and little windows or port-holes for the difcharge of their 

 guns. 



While thofe machines were conftru&ing, great changes 

 took place at court. Montezuma, having afcended one 

 of the towers of the palace, obferved from it one of the 

 above mentioned engagements, and amongft the multi- 

 tude 



