ABSTRACT
Don Hernan Cortes put himself at the head of his little corps of cavalry, and nearly all the Spanish foot, as usual, and followed the caciques sent by Montezuma to guide him. They proposed first to conduct him to the great market of Tlatelolco, in the western part of the city. On drawing near to the tianguezy or great market, the Spaniards were astonished at the throng of people pressing towards it, and the dimensions of the enclosure, thrice as large as the celebrated square of Salamanca. The market-place was surrounded by deep porticoes, and the several articles had each its own quarter allotted to it might be seen cotton piled up in bales, or manufactured into dresses and articles of domestic use, as tapestry, curtains, coverlets, and the like. The tianguez of Mexico was naturally an object of great interest, as well as wonder, to the Spaniards. Every place seemed alive with business and bustle.
