Page:The Conquest of Mexico Volume 2.djvu/459

 Page 324 (1).—Cortés, reckoning only the Indian population, says treinta mil vecinos. (Rel. Quarta, ap. Lorenzana, p. 375.) Gomara, speaking of Mexico some years later, estimates the number of Spanish householders as in the text.—Crónica, cap. 162.

Page 324 (2).—Toribio, Hist. de los Indies, MS., Parte 3, cap. 7. Yet this is scarcely stronger language than that of the Anonymous Conqueror: "So well laid out and with such fine squares, and streets, the equal of any city in the world."—Rel. d'un gent., ap. Ramusio, tom. iii. fol. 309.

Page 324 (3).—"And I am convinced that this town is bound to become, after this city (Mexico) the finest in all New Spain." (Rel. Quarta, ap. Lorenzana, p. 382.) The archbishop confounds this town with the modern Vera Cruz. But the general's description of the port refutes this supposition, and confirms our confidence in Clavigero's statement, that the present city was founded by the Conde de Monterey, at the time mentioned in the text.—See vol. i. p. 196, note.

Page 325 (1).—Ordenanzas Municipales, Tenochtitlan, Marzo, 1524, MS. The Ordinances made by Cortés, for the government of the country during his vice-royalty, are still preserved in Mexico; and the copy in my possession was transmitted to me from that capital. They give ample evidence of the wise and penetrating spirit which embraced every object worthy of the attention of an enlightened ruler; and I will quote, in the original, the singular provisions mentioned in the text. "Item.—In order that the intention of the dwellers in these regions to reside here permanently may be proved, I command that all persons who possess Indians, and who were married in Castile or in other parts, shall bring their wives within a year and a half following the promulgation of this decree, under penalty of losing their Indians and all other goods acquired; and since many men might put forward the pretext that they had not sufficient money to send for their wives, such persons must present themselves before the Reverend Father Juan de Teto or before Alonso de Estrada, the Treasurer of His Majesty, to give information of their necessities, so that these facts may be communicated to me and their needs supplied; and if some persons are married and, not having their wives in this country, wish to bring them, be it known that they will be helped in this manner, giving pledges. Item.—Since there are in this land many persons, possessing Indians, who are not married, I command, in order to benefit the health of their consciences by correct living, as well as to populate and to improve their estates, that such men shall marry, and shall bring and maintain their wives in this country within a year and a half from the promulgation of these decrees, and in default they shall be deprived of the Indians that they hold."

Page 325 (2).—Bernal Diaz, Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 137.

Page 325 (3).—Ante, vol. i. p. 137.

Page 325 (4).—Of asthma, according to Bernal Diaz (Hist. de la Conquista, ubi supra); but her death seems to have been too sudden to be attributed to that disease. I shall return to the subject hereafter.

Page 326 (1).—Rel. Terc. ap. Lorenzana, pp. 319, 320.

Page 326 (2).—Herrera, Hist. General, dec. 3, lib. 5, cap. 1.

Page 326 (3).—Herrera, Hist. General, dec. 4, lib. 6, cap. 5.—Ordenanzas, MS. The ordinances prescribe the service of the Indians, the hours they may be employed, their food, compensation, and the like. They require the encomendera to provide them with suitable means of religious instruction and places of worship.—But what avail good laws, which, in their very nature, imply the toleration of a great abuse?

Page 326 (4).—The whole population of New Spain, in 1810, is estimated by Don Francisco Navarro y Noriega at about 6,000,000; of which more than half were pure Indians. The author