So we entered the palanquins, and leaving that lovely city of gardens, were borne swiftly along the southern causeway.

On we went past towns built upon piles fixed in the bottom of the lake, past gardens that were laid out on reeds and floated over the waters like a boat, past teocallis and glistening temples without number, through fleets of light canoes and thousands of Indians going to and fro about their business, till at length towards sunset we reached the battlemented fort that is called Xoloc which stands upon the dyke.

I say stands, but alas! it stands no more.

Cortes has destroyed it, and with it all those glorious cities which my eyes beheld that day.
At Xoloc we began to enter the city of Tenoctitlan or Mexico, the mightiest city that ever I had seen.

The houses on the outskirts, indeed, were built of mud or adobe, but those in the richer parts were constructed of red stone.