isions is brought in, huts are erected and persons stationed as
guards, who receive a _certum quid_ for everything that enters. I know
not whether the sovereign receives this duty or the city, as I have not
yet been informed; but I believe that it appertains to the sovereign,
as in the markets of other provinces a tax is collected for the benefit
of their cacique. In all the markets and public places of this city
are seen daily many laborers and persons of various employments waiting
for some one to hire them. The inhabitants of this city pay a greater
regard to style in their mode of living, and are more attentive to
elegance of dress and politeness of manners, than those of the other
provinces and cities; since as the Cacique[4] Muteczuma has his
residence in the capital, and all {157} the nobility, his vassals, are
in the constant habit of meeting there, a general courtesy of demeanour
necessarily prevails. But not to be prolix in describing what relates
to the affairs of this great city, although it is with difficulty that
I refrain from proceeding. I will say no more than that the manners of
the people, as shown in their intercourse with one another, are marked
by as great an attention to the proprieties of life as in Spain, and
good order is equally well observed; and considering that they are a
barbarous people, without the knowledge of God, having no intercourse
with civilized nations, these traits of character are worthy of
admiration.

In regard to the domestic appointments of Muteczuma, and the wonderful
grandeur and state he maintains, there is so much to be told, that I
assure your Majesty I do not know where to begin my relation, so as to
be able to finish any part of it. For, as I have already stated, what
can be more wonderful, than that a barbarous monarch, as he is, should
have every object found in his dominions, imitated in gold, silver,
precious stones and feathers?--the gold and silver being wrought so
naturally as not to be surpassed by any smith in the world; the stone
work executed with such perfection that is it difficult to conceive
what instruments could have been used; and the feather work superior to
the finest productions in wax and embroidery. The extent of
Muteczuma's dominions has not been ascertained, since to whatever point
he despatched his messengers, even two hundred leagues from his
capital, his commands were obeyed, although some of his provinces were
in the midst of count