Strange Cities in America.
A very strange Cawse-way.
Cortez being got through the poor Territory of the Guazazingers, and having suffer’d great Cold upon the Mountains, discover’d Amaquameca, the chief City of the Province Chialco, seated in a great Lake, to which he row’d in a kind of Boats, by the Inhabitants call’d Acales. Passing from thence, he was courteously receiv’d in Iztapalapa, another City, which boasts above eight thousand Stone Buildings, besides admirable Palaces, with spacious Rooms, delightful Gardens, and Ponds full of Fish, and almost cover’d with Fowl; from whence a Wall or Cawse-way of a great breadth, that cross’d over both Land and Water, led from Iztapalapa to Tenustitan. This Cawse-way hath many Bridges, which are drawn up in time of War, under which the Water runs out of a Salt Lake into a Fresh, that ebbs and flows, although lying between high Mountains, and seventy Leagues from the Sea.
On both sides this Wall, being ten Leagues in length, appears three great Towns, viz. Mesiqualisingo, Colvacana, and Vuichilabusco, all Populous, and well-built.
How they make Salt.
Colvacana is supplied by the Salt Lake, to its no small benefit and inriching; for the Water being by Pipes convey’d into the City, in all the Places and Cisterns for its reception makes a Scum, which being coagulated by the Sun, and after boyl’d, becomes Salt, with which they drive a great Trade; for no Salt being to be had in any place but here, all Foreign Merchants come thither for Supply.
Remarkable Passage of King Montezuma.
Cortez being in his March within a League and a half of Tenustitan, Montezuma, preceded with a thousand of his Nobless, came to meet and salute him, all of them rather like Pilgrims, bare-footed, and congying, kissing their right Hands, with which they first kiss’d the Ground: After them appear’d Montezuma himself, who put a Chain of Gold, imboss’d with Pearls, about Cortez his Neck, and immediately conducted him to the City, where having entred, and being come into the Palace, Montezuma plac’d Cortez on a Golden Throne, and surrendred up his Right to his Catholick Majesty of Spain, in the presence of all his Peers, to their no small amazement.
But whilst all things had a good face, and went on thus fairly beyond their expectations, Cortez was inform’d, That King Coalcopoca had a Design on the new City Vera Crux, and had treacherously murder’d two of the Garrison, and wounded two more: Whereupon Cortez having such fair beginnings, who had swallow’d already in his Hopes the whole Empire and Wealth belonging to Montezuma, laid hold of this Occasion, pretending Treason, and breach of Contract; wherefore he put Montezuma under Custody, notwithstanding he had clear’d himself of the Conspiracy, by bringing Coalcopoca, with his Sons, and fifteen of his Peers, Prisoners to Tenustitan, who by the command of Cortez suffer’d a lingering death, being all burnt with Green Wood. But in vain did Montezuma think to reconcile himself with Cortez, since all he did could render no manner of satisfaction; however he continu’d to oblige him by fresh Favors, whose Relation we will be more particular in, as meriting the same.
