Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 1.djvu/254

230 we had yet seen, not only on account of the well decorated houses and towers, hut also because of the excellent construction of its foundations in the water.

In this city, which has about two thousand inhabitants, we were very well received, and they gave us excellent food. The lord and chiefs of it came to speak with me, and prayed me to remain, and sleep there; however, Montezuma's messengers who were with me told me not to stop, but to go on to another city, called Iztapalapan, about three leagues distant, belonging to a brother of Montezuma; so I did this. The exit from the said city where we dined, whose name at present does not occur to my memory, is by another causeway, a long league in length, which extends to the mainland.

Having arrived at this city of Iztapalapan, the chief of it came out to receive me, as well as one from  Descrip- tion of Iztapalapan another great city, called Calnaalcan, which is near, being perhaps three leagues distant, and these Were accompanied by many other chiefs who were waiting for me; and they gave me three or four thousand castellanos, some female slaves, and wearing apparel, receiving me very well. This city of

Texcoco. The Spaniards called it Venezuela (little Venice). Clavigero insists that, after leaving Cuitlahuac for Iztapalapan, the two discontented brothers of the King of Texcoco, Ixtlilochitl and Coanacochtzin, met Cortes, and offered their alliance, explaining their grievances against their brother Cacamatzin, the reigning King, and Montezuma their uncle; and that Cortes went on their invitation to Texcoco. As neither Cortes nor Bernal Diaz mentions what would have been an important and interesting divergence from their route, and both account for almost every hour of the time, by recording their daily movements, the visit to Texcoco seems more than doubtful. The interview with the two princes might easily have taken place on the road.