abandoned bridges, on foot and on horseback under cover of the brigantines which sailed near the causeway. Our allies of Tascaltecal and the Spaniards pursued the enemy, some of whom they killed and others they forced to seek refuge in the water on the other side of the causeway from where the brigantines approached. Thus victoriously they advanced a long league on the causeway until they reached the place where I stopped with the brigantines, as I shall hereafter relate.
We continued chasing the canoes with the brigantines for nearly three leagues. Those which escaped us took refuge amongst the houses of the city, and, The Fortress as it was already vespers, I ordered the brig-o f Xoloc an tines to retire, and we arrived with them at the causeway. Here I determined to land with thirty men and capture two small towers[1] of their idols, which were surrounded by a low wall of stone and mortar; and, when we landed, they fought us very stoutly to defend them, but finally after much danger and trouble we captured them. I immediately landed and mounted three heavy iron field pieces which I had brought. As about half a league of that causeway between that point and the city was crowded with the enemy, and on both sides of the causeway the water was covered with canoes full of warriors, I ordered one of the field pieces to be aimed and fired, which raked the causeway, and did much execution amongst the enemy. Owing to the carelessness of the gunner, all our powder was set fire to when he fired, although it was little. I presently sent a brigantine to
- ↑ This was the small fortress called Xoloc, which stood at the junction of the causeways leading to Itztapalapan and Cuyoacan respectively. It consisted of two small towers surrounded by a wall, and was not large enough to hold a numerous garrison, and hence was easily captured by the Spaniards. It was just after passing Xoloc that the first meeting between Montezuma and Cortes took place.
