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144 and commended ourselves to God with faith that the power that had vouchsafed us protection in the past would guard us against the evils of Mexico.

To a town in which we rested Montezuma now despatched his nephew, Cacamatzin, lord of Texcoco, to bid us welcome. The young man came toward us in great pomp, seated in a litter richly wrought with silver, and green feathers, and many precious stones set in finest gold, and borne by eight caciques upon their shoulders. They came to the front of Cortes' quarters and then they aided Cacamatzin out of the litter and swept clean the ground before him. In all his splendor standing before Cortes, the cacique said, "Malinche, I and these chiefs have come to wait upon and provide you and your comrades all that you may need, and to conduct you to quarters we have prepared for you in our city. The powerful Montezuma commands this."

In the way he knew so well Cortes answered with many fine things, and we then continued our march. Vast crowds, both followers of the caciques and curious country folks, so surrounded us that we could scarcely move along. Next morning we arrived at a broad causeway, when we saw many towns and villages built in the lake, and other large towns on the land, with the level causeway running in a straight line to Mexico. We were astounded and told one