Grass, the bark of trees, slugs and insects, washed down with brackish water from the lake, these were their best food, these and the flesh of captives offered in sacrifice.

Now they began to die by hundreds and by thousands, they died so fast that none could bury them.

Where they perished, there they lay, till at length their bodies bred a plague, a black and horrible fever that swept off thousands more, who in turn became the root of pestilence.

For one who was killed by the Spaniards and their allies, two were swept off by hunger and plague.

Think then what was the number of dead when not less than seventy thousand perished beneath the sword and by fire alone.