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280 lay on the staples near the lake; indeed, three several times they did attempt to fire them. But the Mexicans were now engaged in despatching messengers to every town subject to the great city, and commanding the people to make vigorous preparations for war. Day and night they were also busy in deepening and widening the canals beneath the bridges, and strengthening their fortifications, making long lances to throw against our horses, and getting in order darts and dart-throwers and swords and round stones.

After several expeditions to towns within a few miles of Texcoco, Cortes determined on his march against hostile cities and villages about the lake. To accomplish this, we set out in the morning of the 5th of April, 152I, the first night casting our camp at Tlamanalco, where the people received us kindly. When, next day, we reached Chalco, Cortes sent for all the caciques of the province and made them a speech, through Donna Marina and Aguilar, telling how we wanted them to assemble all their warriors the following day and go with us, for we were now going to try to induce the towns near the lake to keep peace and also to see the country before, aided by our sloops, we blockaded Mexico. Agreeing to what we asked with one voice, more than twenty thousand Indians joined us—a larger force than had up to that time ever acted with us. Hope of booty