was resumed to the sound of drums and wind instruments. At the head were scouts on horseback, followed by the cavalry, under Cortés, who had by his side two large greyhounds; then came the infantry, with the artillery and baggage in the centre; and last, the allies.[1] The streets, which had been deserted by the people out of deference to the emperor and to the requirements of his procession, were now alive with lookers-on, particularly in the entrances to the alleys, in the windows, and on the roofs.[2]
At the plaza, wherein rose the great pyramidal temple surrounded on all sides by palatial edifices, the procession turned to the right, and Cortés was led up the steps of an extensive range of buildings, known as the Axayacatl palace, which faced the eastern side of the temple inclosure.[3] Here Montezuma appeared, and through a court-yard shaded by colored awnings
- ↑ About 6000 in all. 'Nosotros aun no llegauamos á 450 soldados.' Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 65. Prescott places the number at about 350.
- ↑ According to Sahagun not a soul was to be seen, either upon the causeway or along the streets, the people having taken this manner to express their indignation at the semi-forcible entry of the Spaniards. Montezuma came to receive them purely out of a feeling of humanity. Startled at this solitude, Cortés fears dangers, and vows, if all goes well, to build a church. This was the origin, says Bustamante, of the Hospital de Jesus. Sahagun, Hist. Conq. (ed. Mex. 1840), 79-84. See note 12, this chapter. Brasseur de Bourbourg accepts this view. Hist. Nat. Civ., iv. 212-13. Still Sahagun describes the interview with Cortés as most cordial. He is in fact contradictory, and it is evident that the order issued to the people to keep the narrow causeway clear, and the etiquette which required them to give way to the emperor, have been hastily interpreted by the chronicler into 'deserted streets' and 'popular indignation.' Had the citizens objected to receive the strangers, the bridges could have been raised against them.
- ↑ Au coin de la rue del Indio triste et de celle de Tacuba,' says Humboldt, Vues, i. 58, prudently, without attempting to give its extent. Ramirez and Carbajal do so, however, and in allowing it about the same length as the temple inclosure, they place it right across the eastern avenue of the city, which like the other three is admitted to have terminated at one of the temple gates. Carbajal Espinosa, Hist. Mex., ii. 222; Ramirez, notes in Prescott's Mex. (ed. Mex. 1845), ii. app. 103. 'Donde hoy las Casas de el Marqués del Valle,' says Lorenzana, in Cortés, Hist. N. Esp., 86, a statement disputed by later writers. Prescott quotes Humboldt, but evidently does not understand him, for he places the palace 'facing the western gate,' which is not only on the wrong side, but across the western avenue. Mex., ii. 79. 'Adonde. . . tenia el gran Monteçuma sus grandes adoratorios de idolos. . . .nos lleuaron á aposentar á aquella casa por causa, que cono nos llamauã Teules, é por tales nos tenian, que estuuiessemos entre sus idolos.' Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 66. The idea of being regarded as a god seems to have pleased the old soldier immensely.
