This Countrey is both large and rich, containing not much less than one hundred and thirty Leagues, both in length and breadth; and if it yields any thing to Peru in the plenty of Gold and Silver, ’tis certain it much excels it in many other Commodities; as namely, in all sorts of Fruits, abundance of Cattel, plenty of Corn and Grain; in all which, the advantage this Countrey hath, not only of Peru, but of all the other Provinces of America beside, is well known: Not to speak any thing of the great plenty and variety of good Fish, which both the Rivers and Lakes of this Countrey afford, which is very great; insomuch, that the very Tribute of the one Lake of Mexico is said to yield an Income of above twenty thousand Crowns yearly, one with another.
The People of the Countrey are generally Industrious and Active, especially since the Spaniards came among them; rich Merchants, if they apply themselves to it; and they say likewise good Soldiers, when they are train’d and imploy’d that way.
Chief Towns of Mexicana.
The chief Towns and places of the Province are, 1. Mexico, both anciently and at present, the Metropolis and Capital City; being the Seat of an Archbishop, and the ordinary Residence of the Vice-Roy, and chief Governors of New-Spain.
Description of the City Mexico.
This City, by the Indians was formerly call’d Tenustatan, lies in nineteen Degrees and a half to the Northward of the Equinoctial-Line, rais’d out of a brackish Lake, full of muddy Water; whose circumference along the Mountains is seventy Leagues: This Lake swarms continually with Boats, which carry the People to and again from one inhabited Island to another; four Stone-bridges, no less costly than artificial, with Arches and Gates in several places, lead from the City to the Main Continent.
The fresh Water which they have in the City Mexico, is led into the same through Pipes that lie in the bottom of the Lake; but none are to enjoy the benefit thereof, before they have paid a certain Sum of Money to the King’s Collectors.
Moreover, the City divided into Islands, contains above sixty thousand Houses, which being built on several Isles, have large Bridges, which reach from one to another; some that lie in the middle of the Lake, they approach in little Boats; round about the Lake, especially where the way leads from the Continent into the City, lie several Suburbs, all inclos’d with Walls; between which stand strong Towers, cover’d on the top: To keep off the force of the Water, the Tenustatans have with great labor and charge, made a Bank through the Lake, half way along the City: But the Lake Laguna, from whose bottom Mexico is rais’d, is divided in two parts, the Sweet Lake, which is higher than the Salt, falls in to the same through Sluces, with Bridges built on the Bank that leads from the City to the main Land: The Salt-Lake, which hath brackish and bitter Water, ebbs and flows according as the Wind blows; no Fish is able to live in the same, because the Water which in the sight of Mexico falls into the same out of the Mountains, hath a sulphury Ground: All along the shore, much Salt is made, with which the Citizens drive a great Trade: There are continually above a hundred thousand Boats (by the Indians call’d Acales, and by the Spaniards, Canoos) going off and on from one shore to another: The fresh Water Lake, which is bigger than the salt, and feeds small Fishes, hath above fifty Suburbs about the same, of which, some boast five thousand, and others ten thousand Houses: Nay, the Suburb Tescuco, in former times was no way inferior to Mexico in bigness; since the Spaniards have been Masters of this City, they stopt up many Moats, to inlarge their narrow Streets.
Besides three publick Markets, every open place affords all sorts of Provisions daily; the Indians call the Markets Tianguystly, and the Spaniards, Tianguez; the first and chiefest stands in Tatelulco, adorn’d with Galleries on three sides; in the middle of this Square, which is accounted the biggest in the World, stands next to the place of Execution, a stately Fountain; the Tents which are every Week pitch’d up here for Trade, amount to above thirty thousand. The second Market call’d St. John’s, is in Mexico, and swarms continually with People. The third is call’d Hipolito, from the Guardian-Saint of the City, whither every Wednesday and Thursday comes such a multitude of People, that this spacious Market is too little for them; for the sale of every Commodity, a peculiar corner is allotted; but great Packs are left to be dispos’d of in Boats, which lie near the shore.
At the four corners of the City, at present call’d St. John, St. Maria la Rotonda, St. Pablo, and St. Sebastian, are above four thousand Spanish Families, and thirty thousand Indians, besides what inhabit Tatelulco, now St. Jago.