Eight Leagues from _Tenustitan_ he saw the double-spired Mountain _Popocatepeque_, so call’d from the Smoke which continually ascends from its top; for _Popoca_ signifies _A Smoke_, and _Tepeque, A Mountain_. The Smoke rises upright, and with so much strength, that by the greatest Wind it deviates not one jot from mounting upwards in a direct Line, to whose forked Head ten _Spaniards_ resolv’d to climb; but having got scarce half way up, they were forc’d to return, the Ashes lying knee-deep; yet at last two more resolute conquer’d all those Difficulties, and got to the top, where the mouth of the Cave, as they guessed, measur’d four Miles in Circumference: The shaking of the Mountain, and roaring of the Flames, frequently bursting forth, so much terrified them, that they staid not long there; for, as we said, the Ground not onely trembled under them, but the Fiery Gulph ejected great Stones, which falling down on all sides of the Mountain, rolled to the bottom; and without doubt they had there perish’d, had they not speedily run to a hollow neighboring Hill, from whence they came at length to the rest of their Company, where they were admir’d by the _Indians_ for their undaunted Resolution, and presented with several rich Gifts. These _Indians_ had a Tradition, That for wicked Princes, and such as had not govern’d the People well, this was the _Tophet_ appointed for their Torments. [Illustration] [Sidenote: Strange Cities in _America_.] [Sidenote: A very strange Cawse-way.] _Cortez_ being got through the poor Territory of the _Guazazingers_, and having suffer’d great Cold upon the Mountains, discover’d _Amaquameca_, the chief City of the Province _Chialco_, seated in a great Lake, to which he row’d in a kind of Boats, by the Inhabitants call’d _Acales_. Passing from thence, he was courteously receiv’d in _Iztapalapa_, another City, which boasts above eight thousand Stone Buildings, besides admirable Palaces, with spacious Rooms, delightful Gardens, and Ponds full of Fish, and almost cover’d with Fowl; from whence a Wall or Cawse-way of a great breadth, that cross’d over both Land and Water, led from _Iztapalapa_ to _Tenustitan_. This Cawse-way hath many Bridges, which are drawn up in time of War, under which the Water runs out of a Salt Lake into a Fresh, that ebbs and flows, although lying between high Mountains, and seventy Leagues from the Sea. On both sides this Wall, being ten Leagues in length, appears three great Towns, _viz._ _Mesiqualisingo_, _Colvacana_, and _Vuichilabusco_, all Populous, and well-built. [Sidenote: How they make Salt.]