Conquest of Mexico
Page 410 (2).—He sometimes killed his game with a tube, a sort of air-gun, through which he blew little balls at birds and rabbits.
Page 411 (1).—Ante, Book I. Chap. VI.
Page 411 (2).—"This city is called Tezcuco, and has about thirty thousand householders." (Rel. Seg., ap. Lorenzana, p. 94.) According to the licentiate Zuazo double that number,—sesenta mil vecinos. (Carta, MS.) Scarcely probable, as Mexico had no more. Toribio speaks of it as covering a league one way, by six another! Hist. de los Indios, MS., Parte 3, cap. 7.) This must include the environs to a considerable extent. The language of the old chroniclers is not the most precise.
Page 411 (3).—The last relics of this palace were employed in the fortifications of the city in the revolutionary war of 1810. (Ixtlilxochitl, Venida de los Esp., p. 78, nota.) Tezcuco is now an insignificant little place, with a population of a few thousand inhabitants. Its architectural remains, as still to be discerned, seem to have made a stronger impression on Mr. Bullock than on most travellers.—Six Months in Mexico, chap. 27.
Page 415 (1).—Rel. Seg. de Cortés, ap. Lorenzana, pp. 95, 96.—Oviedo, Hist. de las Ind., MS., lib. 33, cap. 8.—Ixtlilxochitl, Hist. Chich., MS., cap. 86. The latter author dismisses the capture of Cacama with the comfortable reflection, "that it saved the Spaniards much embarrassment, and greatly facilitated the introduction of the Catholic faith."
Page 415 (2).—Cortés calls the name of this prince Cucuzca.—In the orthography of Aztec words, the general was governed by his ear; and was wrong nine times out of ten.—Sahagun, probably regarding him as an intruder, has excluded his name from the royal roll of Tezcuco.— Hist. de Nueva España, lib. 8, cap. 3.
Page 415 (3).—The exceeding lenity of the Spanish commander, on this occasion, excited general admiration, if we are to credit Solis, throughout the Aztec empire! "This bloodless form of punishment won universal approbation throughout the whole realm; and it was attributed to the superior wisdom of the Spaniards, since no such moderation was expected from Montezuma."—Conquista, lib. 4, cap. 2.
Page 415 (4).—Rel. Seg. de Cortés, ap. Lorenzana, p. 91.
Page 416 (1).—"I write what is reported," says Martyr, briefly, in reference to this valuation. (De Orbe Novo, dec. 5, cap. 3.) Cortés notices the reports made by his people, of large and beautiful edifices in the province of Oaxaca. (Rel. Seg., ap. Lorenzana, p. 89.) It is here, also, that some of the most elaborate specimens of Indian architecture are still to be seen in the ruins of Mitla.
480
