132 ' MEXICO. 
" The city is as large as Seville and Cordova. The streets (I mean the 
principal ones,) are very wide, and others very narrow; and some of the 
latter and all the others are one-half land and the other half water, along 
which the inhabitants go in their canoes ; and all the streets, at given 
distances, are open, so that the water passes from one to the other ; and 
in all their openings, some of which are very wide, there are very wide 
bridges, made of massive beams joined together and well wrought ; and 
so wide that ten horsemen may pass abreast over many of them." 
Bernal Diaz del Castillo gives the following accomit of the entry of 
the Spaniards into this city, on the 8th of November, 1519 ; the period 
of their first visit to Montezuma, and before they had treacherously ob- 
tained possession of the monarch's person. 
" We proceeded," says he, " by the great causeway, that runs in a 
straight line to the city. It was crowded with people, as were all the 
towers, temples, and causeways, in every part of the lake, attracted by 
curiosity to behold men and animals such as never before had been seen 
in these countries. When we arrived at a place where a small cause- 
way turns oft" to the city Cuyoacan, we were met by a great many of the 
lords of the court, sent, as they said, before the great Montezuma, to bid 
us welcome. 
" When we arrived near certain towers which were almost close to 
the city, Montezuma, who was then in the neighborhood, quitted his litter 
that was borne in the arms of the Princes of Tezcoco, Iztapalapa, Tacuba, 
and Cuyoacan, under a canopy of the richest materials, ornamented with 
green feathers, gold, and precious stones, that hung in the manner of fringe. 
He was most richly dressed and adorned, and wore buskins of pure gold 
ornamented with jeioels. The princes who supported him were dressed 
in rich habits, different from those in which they had come to meet us 
previously; and others, who preceded the monarch, spread mantles on 
the ground lest his feet should touch it. All who attended him, except 
the four princes, kept their eyes fixed on the earth, not daring to look him 
in the face." 
They entered the city. " Who," continues Diaz, " could count the 
multitudes of men, women, and children, who thronged the streets, canals, 
and terraces, and the tops of the houses, on that day ! 
" The whole of what I saw on this occasion is so strongly imprinted on 
my memory, that it appears to me as if it had happened only yesterday. 
Glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave us courage to venture on such 
dangers, and brought us safely through them !" 
Lodgings were provided for the Spaniards by the luxurious and lavish 
monarch — they were fed and entertained at his cost, and presents were 
made to all. " Montezuma," says the historian, " made signs to one of 
his principal attendants, to order his officers to bring him certain pieces 
of gold to give to. Cortez — together with ten loads of fine stuffs which he 
divided between Cortez and his captains, and to every soldier he gave 
two collars of gold, each worth ten crowns, and two loads of mantles ; and 
