The Native Races [of the Pacific states], Volume 2, Civilized Nations / The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 2

by Hubert Howe Bancroft

[718] Meaning place of detention, because here the immigrating tribes used to halt, while deciding upon their settlement. Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., in Kingsborough's Mex. Antiq., vol. ix., p. 214.

[719] Las Casas, Hist. Apologética, MS., cap. xlix., says that it was nearly as large as Mexico. Gomara, Conq. Mex., fol. 115. Motolinia, Hist. Indios, in Icazbalceta, Col. de Doc., tom. i., p. 182, gives it a league in width and six in length. Peter Martyr, dec. viii., lib. iv., gives it 20,000 houses. Carbajal Espinosa, Hist. Mex., tom. i., pp. 87-8, estimates it at 30,000 houses, and thinks that Torquemada must have included the three outlying towns to attain his figure. Torquemada, Monarq. Ind., tom. i., p. 304.

[720] Brasseur de Bourbourg, Hist. Nat. Civ., tom. iv., pp. 89-90, 303-4; Carbajal Espinosa, Hist. Mex., tom. i., pp. 87-8; Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., in Kingsborough's Mex. Antiq., vol. ix., pp. 242-4. For further references to Mexican towns, forts, etc., see: Cortés, Cartas, pp. 24, 57-60, 67-8, 74-5, 92-3, 153, 171, 186, 196; Bernal Diaz, Hist. Conq., fol. 43; Relatione fatta per vn gentil'huomo del Signor Fernando Cortese, in Ramusio, Navigationi, tom. iii., fol. 308; Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., in Kingsborough's Mex. Antiq., tom. ix., pp. 214, 242, 251-2, 257; Las Casas, Hist. Apologética, MS., cap. xlix.; Torquemada, Monarq. Ind., tom. i., pp. 251-2, 304, 449-50; Gomara, Conq. Mex., fol. 26, 51, 115; Herrera, Hist. Gen., dec. ii., lib. v., cap. viii., lib. vi., cap. iv., xii., xvi., lib. vii., cap. iv., dec. iii., lib. iii., cap. iii.; Clavigero, Storia Ant. del Messico, tom. ii., p. 150, with cut; Peter Martyr, dec. iv., lib. iv., vii., dec. viii., lib. iv.; Oviedo, Hist. Gen., tom. iii., p. 283; West-Indische Spieghel, pp. 221, 225-6; Bologne, in Ternaux-Compans, Voy., série i., tom. x., p. 212; Montanus, Nieuwe Weereld, p. 236; Klemm, Cultur-Geschichte, tom. v., p. 186; Delaporte, Reisen, tom. x., p. 256; Carbajal Espinosa, Hist. Mex., tom. i., pp. 87-8, 259, 663, tom. ii., pp. 51, 161; Warden, Recherches, pp. 67-8; Prescott's Mex., vol. ii., p. 65; Helps' Span. Conq., vol. ii., p. 296; Bussierre, L'Empire Mex., pp. 240, 243.

[721] Las Casas states that when a warrior distinguished himself abroad he was allowed to build his house in the style used by the enemy, a privilege allowed to none else. Hist. Apologética, MS., cap. lxvi.

[722] 'I fondamenti delle case grandi della Capitale si gettavano a cagione della poca sodezza di quel terreno sopra un piano di grosse stanghe di cedro ficcate in terra.' Clavigero, Storia Ant. del Messico, tom. ii., p. 202. 'Porque la humedad no les causase enfermedad, alzaban los aposentos hasta un estado poco mas ó menos, y así quedaban como entresuelos.' Mendieta, Hist. Ecles., p. 121. Speaking of Cempoalla, Peter Martyr says: 'Vnto these houses or habitations they ascend by 10. or 12. steppes or stayres.' Dec. iv., tom. vii. The floor of the palace at Mitla consisted of slabs of stone three feet thick, which rested on ten feet piles. Brasseur de Bourbourg, Hist. Nat. Civ., tom. iii., p. 26. Houses with elevated terraces were only allowed to chiefs. Tezozomoc, Hist. Mex., tom. i., p. 188.

[723] Las Casas, Hist. Apologética, MS., cap. xlix. This mode of whitewashing the walls and polishing them with gypsum seems to have been very common in all parts of Mexico, for we repeatedly meet with mentions of the dazzling white walls, like silver, which the Spaniards noticed all through their march. Torquemada, Monarq. Ind., tom. i., p. 251; Clavigero, Storia Ant. del Messico, tom. ii., p. 202.

[724] In Cempoalla, says Peter Martyr, 'none may charge his neighbours wall with beames or rafters. All the houses are seperated the distance of 3. paces asunder.' Dec. iv., lib. vii. Cortés, Cartas, p. 24, mentions as many as five courts.

[725] Torquemada, Monarq. Ind., tom. i., p. 291; Las Casas, Hist. Apologética, MS., cap. l.; Prescott's Mex., vol. ii., pp. 76-7; Chevalier, Mex., Ancien et Mod., p. 173. 'N'avaient guère qu'un étage, à cause de la fréquence des tremblement de terre.' Bussierre, L'Empire Mex., p. 173.

[726] Cortés, Cartas, p. 24.

[727] Chaves, Rapport, in Ternaux-Compans, Voy., série ii., tom. v., p. 328. The palace at Tecpeque, says Las Casas, was a very labyrinth, in which visitors were liable to lose themselves without a guide. In the palace allotted to Cortés at Mexico he found comfortable quarters for 400 of his own men, 2000 allies, and a number of attendants. Hist. Apologética, MS., cap. lii., l. 'Auia salas con sus camaras, que cabia cada vno en su cama, ciento y cincuenta Castellanos.' Herrera, Hist. Gen., dec. ii., lib. vii., cap. v. 'Intorno d'una gran corti fossero prima grandissime sale & stantie, però v'era vna sala cosi grande che vi poteano star dentro senza dar l'un fastidio all'altro piu di tre mila persone.' Relatione fatta per vn gentil'huomo del Signor Fernando Cortese, in Ramusio, Navigationi, tom. iii., fol. 309.