massacres did not include the helpless inhabitants of
the towns. However, with his usual policy, Cortes spared some of the
Cholulan lords and when he had shown his power over them, he released
them and told them to summon back the people who had left the city. He
had no more trouble with the Cholulans after that victory, and he
presently took up his journey toward Mexico.

Now, the City of Mexico to the Spaniards was one of the wonders of the
world. They have described it in such terms as show the impression it
made upon them, but they have not described it in such terms as to
enable us to understand from their stories exactly what the city was.
It was described as an island city. Some believed it to have been an
enormous Pueblo city, such as may be seen in Arizona or New Mexico,
surrounded by thousands of squalid huts. {147} Others conjectured it
as a city as beautiful as Venice, as great as Babylon, and as wonderful
as hundred-gated Thebes.

Cortes shall tell himself the impression it made upon him in the next
section which is lifted bodily from one of his famous letters to the
emperor Charles V.

VI. Cortes' Description of Mexico, written by his own hand to Charles
V., Emperor of Germany and King of Spain

In order, most potent Sire, to convey to your Majesty a just conception
of the great extent of this noble city of Temixtitan, and of the many
rare and wonderful objects it contains; of the government and dominions
of Muteczuma, the sovereign; of the religious rites and customs that
prevail, and the order that exists in this as well as other cities,
appertaining to his realm; it would require the labor of many
accomplished writers, and much time for the completion of the task. I
shall not be able to relate an hundredth part of what could be told
respecting these matters; but I will endeavor to describe, in the best
manner in my power, what I have myself seen; and, imperfectly as I may
succeed in that attempt, I am fully aware that the account will appear
so wonderful as to be deemed scarcely worthy of credit; since even we
who have seen these things with our own eyes, are yet so amazed as to
be unable to comprehend their reality. But your Majesty may be assured
that if there is any fault in my relation, either in regard to the
present subject, or to any other matters of which I shall give your
Majesty an account, it will arise from too great brevity rather than
extravagance or prolixity in the details;