Conquest of Mexico
Page 336 (1).—Cardinal Lorenzana says, the street intended, probably, was that crossing the city from the Hospital of San Antonio. (Rel. Seg. de Cortés, p. 79, nota.) This is confirmed by Sahagun: "Thus it was in that space which runs from the church of San Antonio (which they call Xuluco), past the front of Alvarado's house, to the hospital of La Concepción, that Montezuma came forth to receive Don Hernando Cortés in peace."—Hist. de Nueva España, MS., lib. 12, cap. 16.
Page 337 (1).—For the preceding account of the equipage and appearance of Montezuma, see Bernal Diaz, Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 88.—Carta de Zuazo, MS.—Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., MS., cap. 85.—Gomara, Crónica, cap. 65.—Oviedo, Hist. de las Ind., MS. ubi supra, et cap. 45.—Acosta, lib. 7, cap. 22.—Sahagun, Hist. de Nueva España, MS., lib. 12, cap. 16.—Toribio, Hist. de los Indios, MS., Parte 3, cap. 7. The noble Castilian, or rather Mexican bard, Saavedra, who belonged to the generation after the Conquest, has introduced most of the particulars in his rhyming chronicle. The following specimen will probably suffice for the reader; "And the great Montezuma came robed in a voluminous mantle of blue and white, woven of fine and delicate cotton; and where the edges were drawn together in a knot at his neck, it was clasped by a shell of emerald. He wore a crown like a garland, and sandals with golden soles, fastened with richly adorned thongs."—El Peregrino Indiano, canto 11.
Page 337 (2).—"Looking not unpleased," says Martyr, "but let the wise decide whether his heart was free from all vexation, or whether any man could ever gladly receive guests who were forced upon him."—De Orbe Novo, dec. 5, cap. 3.
Page 337 (3).—Rel. Seg. de Cortés, ap. Lorenzana, p. 79.
Page 340 (1).—"They entered the city of Mexico in warlike array, with drums beating and flags flying," etc.—Sahagun, Hist. de Nueva España, MS., lib. 12, cap. 15.
Page 340 (2).—"And gardens both above and below, which was a wonderful thing to see."— Rel. d'un gent. ap. Ramusio, tom. iii. Fol. 309.
Page 341 (1).—The euphonious name of Tenochtitlan is commonly derived from Aztec words signifying "the tuna, or cactus, on a rock," the appearance of which, as the reader may remember, was to determine the site of the future capital. (Toribio, Hist. de los Indios, Parte 3, cap. 7.— Esplic. de la Colec: de Mondoza, ap. Antiq. of Mexico, vol. iv.) Another etymology derives the word from Tenoch, the name of one of the founders of the monarchy.
Page 341 (2).—Clavigero, Stor. del Messico, tom. iii. p. 78. It occupied what is now the corner of the streets, "Del Indio Triste" and "Tacuba."—Humboldt, Vues des Cordillères, p. 7, et seq.
Page 341 (3).—Rel. Seg. de Cortés, ap. Lorenzana, p. 88.—Gonzalo de las Casas, Defensa, MS., Parte 1, cap. 24.
Page 342 (1).—Bernal Diaz, Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 88.—Rel. Seg. de Cortés, ap. Lorenzana, p. 80.
Page 342 (2).—Bernal Diaz, Ibid., loc. cit.—Oviedo, Hist. de las Ind., MS., lib. 33, cap. 5.— Sahagun, Hist. de Nueva España, MS., lib. 12, cap. 16.
Page 344 (1).—"It was there that the family built the fine residence in which are kept the State archives, and which passed, by inheritance, with the rest of the property, into the possession of the Neapolitan Duke of Monteleone." (Humboldt, Essai Politique, tom. ii. p. 72.) The inhabitants of Modern Mexico have large obligations to this inquisitive traveller, for the care he has taken to identify the memorable localities of their capital. It is not often that a philosophical treatise is also a good manuel du voyageur.
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