much impressed by his superiority in state and
bearing to anything they had before seen in the country.

Resuming their march along the southern shore of Lake Chalco, through
splendid woods, and orchards glowing with unknown fruits, the army came
at length to a great dyke or causeway four or five miles long, which
divided the Lake Chalco from Xochicalco on the west. It was a lance in
breadth at the narrowest part, and in some places wide enough for eight
horsemen to ride abreast, and was solidly built of stone and lime. As
they passed along it they saw multitudes of Indians darting up and down
the lake in their light pirogues, eager to catch a glimpse of the
strangers, and they were amazed at the sight of the floating islands,
covered with flowers and vegetables and moving like rafts over the
waters. All round the margin, and occasionally far out in the lake, they
saw little towns and villages half buried in foliage; and the whole
scene seemed to them so new and wonderful that they could only compare
it to the magical pictures of the old romances. Midway across the lake
the army halted at the town of Cuitlahuae, which was not large, but was
remarkable for the beauty of its buildings. The curiosity of the Indians
increased as the Spaniards proceeded, and they clambered up the causeway
and lined the sides of the road, so that the troops were quite
embarrassed by them, and Cortes was obliged to resort to commands, and
even menaces, to clear a passage. He found, as he neared the capital, a
considerable change in the feeling shown towards the government, and
heard only of the pomp and magnificence of Montezuma, and nothing of his
oppressions. From the causeway the army descended on a narrow point of
land which lay between the two lakes, and crossing it reached the royal
residence of Iztapalapan.

This place was governed by the emperor's brother, who, to do greater
honour to Cortes, had invited the neighbouring lords to be present at
his reception, and at the banquet which followed. The Spaniards were
struck with admiration, when, after the usual ceremonies had been gone
through, and a gift of gold and costly stuffs had been presented, they
were led into one of the gorgeous halls of the palace, the roof of which
was of odorous cedar-wood, and the stone walls tapestried with brilliant
hangings. But, indeed, this was only one of the many beautiful things
which they saw in this fairy city. There were gardens cunningly planted,