Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/29

Rh and Arciniega. By means of a tunnel between the mount Sincoe and Nochistongo hill the ever threatening waters from most elevated northern lakes of Zumpango could be carried through the Tula tributary of Rio Pánuco to the gulf of Mexico. This being decided upon, Enrico Martinez, a Hollander, and the Jesuit Juan Sanchez submitted plans for the work, one of which embraced also a partial drainage of the middle lakes, while another proposed merely to divert the waters of Rio Quauhtitlan from the Citlaltepec section of Zumpango Lake. The latter was adopted as the speedier and cheaper, and on November 28, 1607, the viceroy broke the first sod in presence of a vast concourse of officials and citizens. The work was intrusted to Martinez, who displayed great energy, and set an immense number of Indians to the task, at different points. The expense was covered by a tax of one and a half per cent on the city property, and a levy on wine.

A canal conducted the waters from the Citlaltepec section of Zumpango Lake, or rather from its great tributary, Rio Quauhtitlan, to Huehuetoca, and thence they passed through a tunnel more than a league in length, and four by five varas in height and width,