_The magnificent and pompous reception which the powerful Motecusuma
gave to Cortes and all of us, on our entrance into the great city of
Mexico._
The following morning we left Iztapalapan accompanied by all the
principal caziques above mentioned. The road along which we marched was
eight paces in breadth, and if I still remember ran in a perfectly
straight line to Mexico. Notwithstanding the breadth, it was much too
narrow to hold the vast crowds of people who continually kept arriving
from different parts to gaze upon us, and we could scarcely move along.
Besides this, the tops of all the temples and towers were crowded, while
the lake beneath was completely covered with canoes filled with Indians,
for all were curious to catch a glimpse of us. And who can wonder at
this, as neither men like unto ourselves, nor horses, had ever been seen
here before!
When we gazed upon all this splendour at once, we scarcely knew what to
think, and we doubted whether all that we beheld was real. A series of
large towns stretched themselves along the banks of the lake, out of
which still larger ones rose magnificently above the waters. Innumerable
crowds of canoes were plying everywhere around us; at regular distances
we continually passed over new bridges, and before us lay the great city
of Mexico in all its splendour.
And we who were gazing upon all this, passing through innumerable crowds
of human beings, were a mere handful of men, in all 450, our minds still
full of the warnings which the inhabitants of Huexotzinco, Tlascalla,
and Tlalmanalco, with the caution they had given us not to expose our
lives to the treachery of the Mexicans. I may safely ask the kind reader
to ponder a moment, and say whether he thinks any men in this world ever
ventured so bold a stroke as this?
When we had arrived at a spot where another narrow causeway led towards
Cojohuacan we were met by a number of caziques and distinguished
personages, all attired in their most splendid garments. They had been
despatched by Motecusuma to meet us and bid us welcome in his name; and
in token of peace they touched the ground with their hands and kissed
it. Here we halted for a few minutes, while the princes of Tetzcuco,
Iztapalapan, Tlacupa, and Cojohuacan hastened in advance to meet
Motecusuma, who was slowly approaching us, surrounded by other grandees
of the kingdom, seated in a sedan of uncommon splendour. When we had
arrived at a place not far from the town, where several small towers
rose together, the monarch raised himself in his sedan, and the chief
caziques supported him under the arms, and held over his head a canopy
of exceedingly great value, decorated with green feathers, gold, silver,
chalchihuis stones, and pearls, which hung down from a species of
bordering, altogether curious to look at.
Motecusuma himself, according to his custom, was sumptuously attired,
had on a species of half boot, richly set with jewels, and whose soles
were made of solid gold. The four grandees who supported him were also
richly attired, which they must have put on somewhere on the road, in
order to wait upon Motecusuma; they were not so sumptuously dressed when
they first came out to meet us. Besides these distinguished caziques,
there were many other grandees around the monarch, some of whom held the
canopy over his head, while others again occupied the road before him,
and spread cotton cloths on the ground that his feet might not touch the
bare earth. No one of his suite ever looked at him full in the face;
every one in his presence stood with eyes downcast, and it was only his
four nephews and cousins who supported him that durst look up.
When it was announced to Cortes that Motecusuma himself was approaching,
he alighted from his horse and advanced to meet him. Many compliments
were now passed on both sides. Motecusuma bid Cortes welcome, who,
through Marina, said, in return, he hoped his majesty was in good
health. If I still remember rightly, Cortes, who had Marina next to him,
wished to concede the place of honour to the monarch, who, however,
would not accept of it, but conceded it to Cortes, who now brought forth
a necklace of precious stones, of the most beautiful colours and shapes,
strung upon gold wire, and perfumed with musk, which he hung about the
neck of Motecusuma. Our commander was then going to embrace him, but the
grandees by whom he was surrounded held back his arms, as they
considered it improper. Our general then desired Marina to tell the
monarch how exceedingly he congratulated himself upon his good fortune
of having seen such a powerful monarch face to face, and of the honour
he had done us by coming out to meet us himself. To all this Motecusuma
answered in very appropriate terms, and ordered his two nephews, the
princes of Tetzcuco and Cojohuacan, to conduct us to our quarters. He
himself returned to the city, accompanied by his two other relatives,
the princes of Cuitlahuac and Tlacupa, with the other grandees of his
numerous suite. As they passed by, we perceived how all those who
composed his majesty's retinue held their heads bent forward, no one
daring to lift up his eyes in his presence; and altogether what deep
veneration was paid him.
The road before us now became less crowded, and yet who would have been
able to count the vast numbers of men, women, and children who filled
the streets, crowded the balconies, and the canoes in the canals, merely
to gaze upon us? Indeed, at the moment I am writing this, everything
comes as lively to my eyes as if it had happened yesterday; and I daily
become more sensible of the great mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
he lent us sufficient strength and courage to enter this city: for my
own person, I have particular reason to be thankful that he spared my
life in so many perils, as the reader will sufficiently see in the
course of this history: indeed I cannot sufficiently praise him that I
have been allowed to live thus long to narrate these adventures,
although they may not turn out so perfect as I myself could wish.
We were quartered in a large building where there was room enough for us
all, and which had been occupied by Axayacatl, father of Motecusuma,
during his life-time. Here the latter had likewise a secret room full of
treasures, and where the gold he had inherited from his father was hid,
which he had never touched up to this moment. Near this building there
were temples and Mexican idols, and this place had been purposely
selected for us because we were termed teules, or were thought to be
such, and that we might dwell among the latter as among our equals. The
apartments and halls were very spacious, and those set apart for our
general were furnished with carpets. There were separate beds for each
of us, which could not have been better fitted up for a gentleman of the
first rank. Every place was swept clean, and the walls had been newly
plastered and decorated.[48]
When we had arrived in the great courtyard adjoining this palace,
Motecusuma came up to Cortes, and, taking him by the hand, conducted him
himself into the apartments where he was to lodge, which had been
beautifully decorated after the fashion of the country. He then hung
about his neck a chaste necklace of gold, most curiously worked with
figures all representing crabs. The Mexican grandees were greatly
astonished at all these uncommon favours which their monarch bestowed
upon our general.
Cortes returned the monarch many thanks for so much kindness, and the
latter took leave of him with these words: "Malinche, you and your
brothers must now do as if you were at home, and take some rest after
the fatigues of the journey," then returned to his own palace, which was
close at hand.
We allotted the apartments according to the several companies, placed
our cannon in an advantageous position, and made such arrangements that
our cavalry, as well as the infantry, might be ready at a moment's
notice. We then sat down to a plentiful repast, which had been
previously spread out for us, and made a sumptuous meal.
This our bold and memorable entry into the large city of
Temixtitlan-Mexico[49] took place on the 8th of November, 1519. Praise
be to the Lord Jesus Christ for all this. If, however, I have not
exactly related every circumstance that transpired at the moment, the
reader must pardon me for the present.
[48] Of this building Torquemada says, it contained apartments in which
one hundred and fifty Spaniards slept, each in a separate bed; and that,
notwithstanding the magnitude of the building, every place was kept
remarkably clean; the floors were covered with mats, and the walls were
hung with tapestry of cotton decorated with feathers, and in every room
there was a fire, which threw out a delightful perfume. (p. 222.)
[49] The real name was Tenuchtitlan, and it was not known by any other
name when Cortes first visited the country; for Mexico was a more modern
name for this city. (p. 223.)