The Temperature of the Air.
The Air in this place is very strange; in the day time, the Sky is generally Serene; the North Wind against the Evening brings Rain, of which the Mountain Tepeaquilla lying a little League beyond the City, gives certain Testimonies; for when a black Cloud appears on the top thereof, it is certain to be blown from thence over Mexico with Rain: After a moist Evening follows a Star-light Night, and a pleasant Morning: From September till May, it is generally dry Weather here, but if it chances to Rain, the Rain is attended with a Storm, which occasions a sulphurous Fogg, very unwholsom, and so dark, that one Man cannot discern another, and causes a pain through all the Limbs, nay sometimes Death it self; wherefore, whensoe’re it approaches, every one keeps close in his House, or goes into the Countrey.
Moreover, it is worthy of observation, how strangely this City is alter’d since its being Conquer’d by the Spaniards, and especially when Anno 1629. it was overflow’d by a mighty Deluge; which alteration by Barnabe Cabo, in a Letter to the Jesuite Hernande Leon, is thus set forth:
Barnabe Cabo, his Description of Mexico.
Mexico overflow’d.
Mexico, says he, lying in a Valley between high Mountains, hath seventy Leagues in circumference: The Valley being Oval, is for the most part interspers’d with Lakes, which the Indians, and after them the Spaniards have digg’d, only the Lake which washes Mexico is natural; and to stop the Water-falls, there are Banks and Sluces every where: The Flood before Mexicalcingo flows a Fathom and a half higher than before Mexico. The four other Lakes to the Northward have much more Water than the Mexicalcingo, of which, some have scarce four, others but three Leagues in circumference; when as Mexicalcingo’s Lake reckons fifteen, and Mexico’s sixteen. On the breaking of the Banks, Mexico hath often suffer’d great damage, wherefore the Vice-Roy de Valesco took special care to make a vent for the Water through the lowest Mountains; whereupon the Countrey being Survey’d, the Northern Coast near the Village Gueguenoca, was found to be the most convenient. But about the manner of letting the Water out, the Surveyors could no ways agree; most of them were of opinion to dig Channels, into which the Lakes might discharge their Waters; others, thought best to make a Gutter under Ground, which last Valesco put in hand with unhappy success, because the Laborers who under-min’d the Ground, were choak’d with the falling in of the Sand, or stifled with the sulphurous Vapors rising out of the Earth: Nevertheless, they gave not over the Work, though they began it quite another way, for a French-Man, call’d Henry Martin, advis’d to deepen the River Quaiotitlan, which falls into the Laguna, and by that means make it a Bay, into which the Laguna might pour her over-charg’d Waters: Which design, though contradicted by the Jesuit John Sanchez, was put in practice; by which means the Water fell in a short time so much, that they could walk dry to the Cliff El Ponnel, lying a League from the City; wherefore they continually labour’d on this Work, till such time Conde de Getues came over for Vice-Roy, who judg’d the Charge to be unnecessary, nay Commanded the Ditches to be broken down, which stopt the Water along the Silver Mines of Pachuca, that he might see exactly how much it would over-flow Mexico: After which the Flood rose yearly higher and higher; till at last, Anno 1629. a mighty Rain falling, swole the Laguna in such a manner, that it over-whelm’d all Mexico, wash’d down the Houses, all Merchandizes which could not endure the Water, were spoil’d, and had not they had innumerable Boats to help them, thousands of People might have perish’d in this Deluge: But at last, Henry Martin restor’d again the fore-mention’d Channel to its former Perfection, and brought the Flood which fell down out of the Mountains within the Banks of the River.
Stately Palaces.
Quantitlan digg’d also a Channel of eight thousand Fathom long, and made an Arch’d Sewer under Ground of the same length, which Sewer hath at every two hundred Fathoms distance, Vent-holes, and a hole of sixty Fathom deep, and by this means, diverting abundance of Water, they dry’d Mexico in a short time: When the Banks and Streets began no sooner to appear, but they fell to work to raise the Ground, and to lay Bridges, and also to build more Boats. The Citizens likewise found it convenient to make another deep Sewer for the carrying away of more Water, notwithstanding it requir’d twenty years labor. The River, which in a manner runs through the middle of the City, is curb’d by a Wall; a crooked Bridge, with many Arches, and of a long extent, leads to the City, in which stand many brave Palaces, with pleasant Walks of Trees about them; the Cloysters of several Orders of Fryers, appear with high Spires and Turrets, above all other Buildings.
And Monasteries.
The Franciscans have here four very sumptuous Buildings: The first, Consecrated to St. Francis, stands in the uppermost part of Mexico, within a large square Court, and on each a pleasant Walk of Trees: The Cloyster it self is very high, and trebble Wall’d, with Towers and Galleries about it: In the middle of the City stands another Tower’d-Cloyster, call’d St. Jago. The third lies a little distance from it, which being built long, hath a stately Turret, and is call’d Maria de Rodonda. The fourth, not far from the first, but much smaller, is nam’d San Diego; these belong to the Franciscans. The Augustin Monks are also no way inferior to the Franciscans, for magnificent Structures, with spacious Halls, high Towers, and rich Balconies: The first is denominated from St. Augustine, just behind which appears San Pabla, less stately than the rest. St. Sebastian, near the Laguna, is built in manner like a Church, whose Tower ends like a Pyramid. The Cloyster San Cruz, belonging also to the Augustines, built square, stands near the Market, in the middle of which stands a stately Fountain: The Court within inviron’d with thick Walls, amazes the beholders by the pleasantness of its situation.