banks were decorated with all kinds of shrubbery. Besides the many
beautiful buildings which it contained there were also artificial rocks,
(p. 40.)

[15] The Mexican name is Quauhnahuac, where Cortes subsequently built
himself a palace. (p. 41.)

[16] According to Cortes' despatches, the Indians made use of these
words, which are indeed more intelligible than our author's: "They had
sought our friendship thus late, because they thought they were bound
first to atone for their guilt by allowing us to inflict some punishment
upon them, after which they thought we should not be so embittered
against them." (p. 42.)

[17] According to Torquemada, who was born in Mexico, and was elected
provincial of his order by a chapter held at Xochimilco, the distance
was sixteen miles. (p. 42.)

[17*] Torquemada here relates that Cortes was saved by a Tlascallan, and
that the day following he made a fruitless search for him among the
dead. (p. 44.)

[18] The following is a free translation of the first six lines:

"Pensive and sad brave Cortes stood
Surrounded by his valiant band,
His thoughts were in the heaviest mood,
While musing on Tlacupa's land,
Grief must assume an attitude,
Forehead and side were clasped by either hand."

Of the four following lines Bernal Diaz only gives the first two, the
last two I have taken from Las Casas, (Brevissima Relacion de la
destrucyon de las Indias.) These lines were most likely applied to
Cortes after the attack he made upon the Cholullans:

On the Tarpeian rock as Nero stood
To view the flames consume th' imperial city,
Both young and old uttered their grief aloud,
But Nero neither showed remorse nor pity. (p. 52.)

[19] According to Torquemada there were 300 concerned in this
conspiracy, and their intention was to elect Francisco Verdugo,
brother-in-law to the governor of Cuba, captain-general in Cortes'
stead; but adds that Verdugo, who was very courageous and highly
esteemed, was not let into the conspiracy. (p. 55.)

[20] According to Cortes, this canal was two miles long, twice the
breadth of a man's length, and as deep. It was completed in fifty days
by 8000 Indians. (p. 55.)

[21] Herrera (Historia Gen. de las Indias) gives another reason for the
younger Xicotencatl's return to Tlascalla. He says, that Alonso Ojeda
had given a relation of Xicotencatl, named Piltectetl, who had been
shamefully ill-used by the Spaniards, leave to