initial commit of ebook 32474HEADmain

9 files changed, 56110 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6833f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+* text=auto
+*.txt text
+*.md text
diff --git a/32474-8.txt b/32474-8.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..352e1dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/32474-8.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,18597 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz
+del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2), by Bernal Diaz del Castillo
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2)
+       Written by Himself Containing a True and Full Account of
+       the Discovery and Conquest of Mexico and New Spain.
+
+Author: Bernal Diaz del Castillo
+
+Translator: John Ingram Lockhart
+
+Release Date: May 21, 2010 [EBook #32474]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO, 1 OF 2 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Julia Miller, Jane Hyland and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MEMOIRS
+OF THE
+CONQUISTADOR BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO
+
+WRITTEN BY HIMSELF
+
+CONTAINING A TRUE AND FULL ACCOUNT
+OF THE
+DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST
+OF
+MEXICO AND NEW SPAIN
+
+TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL SPANISH BY
+JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART, F.R.A.S.
+AUTHOR OF "ATTICA AND ATHENS"
+
+IN TWO VOLUMES
+VOL. I
+
+LONDON
+J. HATCHARD AND SON, 187, PICCADILLY
+MDCCCXLIV.
+
+C. AND J. ADLARD, PRINTERS, BATHOLOMEW CLOSE.
+
+
+
+
+TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
+
+
+The History of the Conquest of New Spain is a subject in which great
+interest is felt at the present day, and the English public will hail
+these memoirs, which contain the only true and complete account of that
+important transaction.
+
+The author of this original and charming production, to which he justly
+gives the title of 'The True History of the Conquest of New Spain,' was
+himself one of the Conquistadores; one who not only witnessed the
+transactions which he relates, but who also performed a glorious part in
+them; a soldier who, for impartiality and veracity, perhaps never had
+his equal. His account is acknowledged to be the only one on which we
+can place reliance, and it has been the magazine from which the most
+eloquent of the Spanish writers on the same subject, as well as those of
+other countries, have borrowed their best materials. Some historians
+have even transcribed whole pages, but have not had sufficient honesty
+to acknowledge it.
+
+The author, while living, was never rewarded for the great services he
+had rendered his country, and it is remarkable that, after his death,
+his very memoirs were pillaged by court historians, to raise a literary
+monument to themselves.
+
+Most of the other writers on the conquest, particularly the Spanish,
+have filled their works with exaggerations, to create astonishment and
+false interest; pages are filled with so termed philosophical remarks,
+which but ill supply the place of the intelligent reader's own
+reflections. Bernal Diaz differs widely from those writers, for he only
+states what he knows to be true. The British public, fond above all
+others of original productions, will peruse with interest and delight a
+work which has so long been the secret fountain from which all other
+accounts of the conquest, with the exception of those which are least
+faithful, have taken life.
+
+In respect of its originality, it may vie with any work of modern times,
+not excepting 'Don Quixote.' The author seems to have been born to show
+forth truth in all its beauty, and he raises it to a divinity in his
+mind. Can anything be more expressive of an honest conscience than what
+he says in his own preface: "You have only to read my history, and you
+see it is true."
+
+The reader may form a general idea of this work from the following
+critique, which Dr. Robertson, the historian, passes upon it: "Bernal
+Diaz's account bears all the marks of authenticity, and is accompanied
+with such pleasant naïveté, with such interesting details, with such
+amusing vanity, and yet so pardonable in an old soldier, who had been,
+as he boasts, in a hundred and nineteen battles, as renders his book one
+of the most singular that is to be found in any language."
+
+One circumstance, and that very justly, he is most anxious to impress on
+your mind, namely, that all the merit of the conquest is not due to
+Cortes alone; for which reason he generally uses the expression "Cortes
+and all of us."
+
+This is an allowable feeling in our old soldier, and it must be
+remembered that the greater part of the men who joined Cortes were of
+good families, who, as usual on such expeditions, equipped themselves at
+their own expense, and went out as adventurers of their own free choice.
+
+With respect to our author's style of writing, it is chiefly
+characterized by plainness and simplicity, and yet there are numerous
+passages which are written with great force and eloquence, and which, as
+the Spanish editor says, "could not have been more forcibly expressed,
+nor with greater elegance." Some readers may at first feel inclined to
+censure our author for going into minute particulars in describing the
+fitting out of the expedition under Cortes; for instance, his describing
+the qualities and colours of the horses; but all this, it will be seen,
+was of the utmost importance to his history, and of the horses he was
+bound to take special notice, for they performed a conspicuous part in
+the conquest. The honest old soldier even devotes a couple of his last
+chapters to the whole of his companions in arms, in which he mentions
+them all by name, describes their persons, their bravery, and the manner
+in which they died.
+
+To conclude these few remarks on this work, I must observe, that it not
+only surpasses Cortes' despatches in completeness, but also in truth and
+naïveté. He represents the whole to you with a simplicity truly sublime;
+at times he astonishes with a power of expressing his sentiments
+peculiar to himself, and with a pathos that goes to the very heart.
+
+Bernal Diaz was of a respectable family, and born in Medina del Campo, a
+small town in the province of Leon. He was what in Spain is termed an
+hidalgo--though by this little more was signified than a descent from
+Christian forefathers, without any mixture of Jewish or Moorish blood.
+With respect to the precise year of his birth he has left us in the
+dark, but, according to his own account, he first left Castile, for the
+New World, in the year 1514; and as, on his first arrival in Mexico, in
+the year 1519, he still calls himself a young man, we may safely
+conclude that he was born between 1495 and 1500. In the year 1568 he
+completed his work, at which time there were only six of the
+Conquistadores alive, and he must then have been about seventy years of
+age, but there is every reason for supposing that he reached the
+advanced age of eighty-six. Endowed with singular nobleness of mind, he
+had the happiness to enjoy an unblemished reputation.
+
+The excellent Torquemada, in speaking of him in his voluminous work
+entitled 'Monarchia Indiana,' says, "I saw and knew this same Bernal
+Diaz in the city of Guatimala; he was then a very aged man, and one who
+bore the best of reputations." Quoting him in another passage, he has,
+"Thus says Bernal Diaz del Castillo, a soldier on whose authority and
+honesty we can place reliance." He was a man devoted to his religion,
+and it must be particularly borne in mind that the Catholic faith was
+never stronger than at that time; yet we find him the least
+superstitious of all the Spanish historians on the Conquest, and, in the
+34th Chapter, he has shown a mind superior to the times in which he
+lived.
+
+If we contemplate the period in which the conquest of New Spain took
+place, we can easily imagine that Cortes considered it imperative on
+him to plant his religion among the Indians by the power of the sword,
+if he could not by kind remonstrances; and we are often reminded of
+Joshua in the Old Testament. The Spaniards themselves certainly
+entertained that idea; for in the edition of Cortes' despatches
+published at Mexico in 1770, his sword is termed, "Gladius Domini et
+Gideonis:" yet the Spaniards were not the cruel monsters they have
+generally been described during those times. As far as the conquest of
+New Spain is concerned, they were more humane than otherwise; and if at
+times they used severity, we find that it was caused by the horrible and
+revolting abominations which were practised by the natives. We can
+scarcely imagine kinder-hearted beings than the first priests and monks
+who went out to New Spain; they were men who spent their lives under
+every species of hardship to promote the happiness of the Indians. Who
+can picture to his mind a more amiable and noble disposition than that
+of father Olmedo? He was one of the finest characters, Dr. Robertson
+says, that ever went out as priest with an invading army!
+
+We may have become exceedingly partial to a work which has now been
+constantly before our eyes for the last two years, yet we can scarcely
+imagine that any one could take up a volume, whether a novel or a
+history, which he would peruse with more delight than these memoirs.
+
+With regard to the translation, which is from the old edition printed at
+Madrid in 1632, we have acted up to the author's desire, and have
+neither added nor taken anything away, and have attempted to follow the
+original as closely as possible. To the original there is not a single
+note, and particular care has been taken not to overburden the
+translation with them. In the spelling of the names of the Indian
+chiefs, the townships, and of the provinces, we have mostly followed
+Torquemada, who is considered more correct on this point, for he lived
+fifty years in New Spain, was perfect master of the Mexican language,
+and made the history of that country his peculiar study.
+
+
+
+
+AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
+
+
+I, Bernal Diaz del Castillo, regidor of the town of Santiago, in
+Guatimala, author of this very true and faithful history, have now
+finished it, in order that it may be published to the world. It treats
+of the discovery and total conquest of New Spain; and how the great city
+of Mexico and several other towns were taken, up to the time when peace
+was concluded with the whole country; also of the founding of many
+Spanish cities and towns, by which we, as we were in duty bound,
+extended the dominion of our sovereign.
+
+In this history will be found many curious facts worthy of notice. It
+likewise points out the errors and blunders contained in a work written
+by Francisco de Gomara, who not only commits many errors himself in what
+he writes about New Spain, but he has also been the means of leading
+those two famous historians astray who followed his account, namely, Dr.
+Illescas and the bishop Paulo Jovio. What I have written in this book I
+declare and affirm to be strictly true. I myself was present at every
+battle and hostile encounter. Indeed, these are not old tales or
+romances of the seventh century; for, if I may so say, it happened but
+yesterday what is contained in my history. I relate how, where, and in
+what manner these things took place; as an accredited eyewitness of this
+I may mention our very spirited and valorous captain Don Hernando
+Cortes, marquis del Valle Oaxaca, who wrote an account of these
+occurrences from Mexico to his imperial majesty Don Carlos the Fifth,
+of glorious memory; and likewise the corresponding account of the
+viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza. But, besides this, you have only to read
+my history and you see it is true.
+
+I have now completed it this 26th day of February, 1568, from my
+day-book and memory, in this very loyal city of Guatimala, the seat of
+the royal court of audience. I also think of mentioning some other
+circumstances which are for the most part unknown to the public. I must
+beg of the printers not to take away from, nor add one single syllable
+to, the following narrative, etc.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+OF
+
+THE FIRST VOLUME.
+
+
+                                                                       PAGE
+
+  CHAP. I. The time of my departure from Castile, and what farther
+  happened to me                                                          1
+
+  CHAP. II. Of the discovery of Yucatan, and the battle we fought there
+  with the natives                                                        3
+
+  CHAP. III. Discovery of the coast of Campeachy                          6
+
+  CHAP. IV. How we landed in a bay close to some maise plantations, near
+  the harbour of Potonchan, and of the attack that was made upon us
+  there                                                                   9
+
+  CHAP. V. We resolve to return to Cuba. The extreme thirst we suffered,
+  and all the fatigues we underwent until our arrival in the port of
+  Havannah                                                               12
+
+  CHAP. VI. How twenty of us went on shore in the bay of Florida with the
+  pilot Alaminos in search of water; the hostilities which the natives of
+  this country commenced with us; and of all that further befel us on our
+  passage to the Havannah                                                13
+
+  CHAP. VII. The fatigues I had to undergo until my arrival in the town of
+  Trinidad                                                               17
+
+  CHAP. VIII. How Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, sent out another
+  armament to the country we had discovered                              19
+
+  CHAP. IX. How we landed at Champoton                                   23
+
+  CHAP. X. We continued our course and ran into Terminos bay, as we named
+  it                                                                     24
+
+  CHAP. XI. How we came into the Tabasco river, which we termed the
+  Grijalva, and what happened to us there                                25
+
+  CHAP. XII. We come in sight of the town of Aguajaluco, and give it the
+  name of La Rambla                                                      28
+
+  CHAP. XIII. How we arrive on the Bandera stream and gain 1500 pesos    29
+
+  CHAP. XIV. How we come into the harbour of San Juan de Ulua            32
+
+  CHAP. XV. Diego Velasquez sends out a small vessel in quest of us      33
+
+  CHAP. XVI. What befel us on our coasting voyage along the Tusta and
+  Tuspa mountains                                                        34
+
+  CHAP. XVII. Diego Velasquez despatches one of his officials to Spain   38
+
+  CHAP. XVIII. Of some errors in the work of Francisco Lopez de Gomara   39
+
+  CHAP. XIX. How another armament was fitted out for a voyage to the newly
+  discovered countries; the command of which was given to Hernando Cortes,
+  afterwards Marquis of the Vale of Oaxaca; also of the secret cabals
+  which were formed to deprive him of it                                 42
+
+  CHAP. XX. Of the designs and plans of Hernando Cortes after he had
+  obtained the appointment of captain                                    45
+
+  CHAP. XXI. Cortes' occupations at Trinidad, and of the cavaliers and
+  warriors who there joined our expedition, and other matters            47
+
+  CHAP. XXII. How the governor, Diego Velasquez, sends two of his
+  officials in all haste to Trinidad, with full power and authority to
+  deprive Cortes of his appointment of captain, and bring the squadron
+  away, &c.                                                              49
+
+  CHAP. XXIII. Cortes embarks with all his cavaliers and soldiers in order
+  to sail along the south side of the island to the Havannah, and sends
+  off one of the vessels to go around the north coast for the same port  51
+
+  CHAP. XXIV. Diego Velasquez sends one of his officials, named Gaspar
+  Garnica, with full authority to take Cortes prisoner, whatever might be
+  the consequence; and what further happened                             54
+
+  CHAP. XXV. Cortes sets sail with the whole squadron for the island of
+  Cozumel, and what further took place                                   56
+
+  CHAP. XXVI. Cortes reviews his troops, and what further happened       57
+
+  CHAP. XXVII. Cortes receives information that two Spaniards are in the
+  power of the Indians at the promontory of Cotoche: the steps he took
+  upon this news                                                         58
+
+  CHAP. XXVIII. The manner in which Cortes divides the squadron. The
+  officers whom he appointed to the command of the several vessels. His
+  instructions to the pilots; the signals which were to be made with
+  lanterns at night, &c.                                                 62
+
+  CHAP. XXIX. How the Spaniard Geronimo de Aguilar, who was in the power
+  of the Indians, came to us when he learnt that we had again returned to
+  the island of Cozumel, and what further happened                       63
+
+  CHAP. XXX. How we re-embark and sail for the river Grijalva, and what
+  happened to us on our voyage there                                     66
+
+  CHAP. XXXI. How we arrive in the river Grijalva, called in the Indian
+  language the Tabasco; the battle we fought there; and what further took
+  place                                                                  68
+
+  CHAP. XXXII. How Cortes despatches two of our principal officers, each
+  with one hundred men, to explore the interior of the country, and what
+  further took place                                                     71
+
+  CHAP. XXXIII. Cortes issues orders that we should hold ourselves in
+  readiness to march against the Indians on the following day; he also
+  commands the horses to be brought on shore. How the battle terminates we
+  fought with them                                                       73
+
+  CHAP. XXXIV. How we are attacked by all the caziques of Tabasco, and the
+  whole armed force of this province, and what further took place        74
+
+  CHAP. XXXV. How Cortes assembles all the caziques of this province, and
+  what further happened                                                  77
+
+  CHAP. XXXVI. How all the caziques and calachonis of the river Grijalva
+  arrive with presents, and what happened after this                     80
+
+  CHAP. XXXVII. How Doña Marina herself was a caziquess, and the daughter
+  of distinguished personages; also a ruler over a people and several
+  towns; and how she came to Tabasco                                     84
+
+  CHAP. XXXVIII. How we arrive with our vessels in San Juan de Ulua, and
+  what we did there                                                      86
+
+  CHAP. XXXIX. How Teuthlille makes his report to Motecusuma, and gives
+  him our presents; as also what further took place in our camp          90
+
+  CHAP. XL. How Cortes goes in search of another harbour and a good spot
+  to found a colony, and what further happened                           92
+
+  CHAP. XLI. What happened on account of our bartering for gold, and of
+  other things which took place in our camp                              94
+
+  CHAP. XLII. How we elected Hernando Cortes captain-general and chief
+  justice until we should receive the emperor's commands on this head; and
+  what further happened                                                  97
+
+  CHAP. XLIII. How the partisans of Diego Velasquez would not acknowledge
+  the power we had conferred upon Cortes, and what further took place   100
+
+  CHAP. XLIV. How Pedro de Alvarado was ordered to make an excursion into
+  the interior of the country, in order to procure maise and other
+  provisions; and what further happened                                 101
+
+  CHAP. XLV. How we marched into Sempoalla, which at that period was a
+  very considerable township, and what we did there                     104
+
+  CHAP. XLVI. How we march into Quiahuitzlan, which was a town with
+  fortifications, and were most friendly received                       106
+
+  CHAP. XLVII. How Cortes ordered the five Mexican tax-gatherers to be
+  imprisoned, and no further obedience to be paid Motecusuma, nor tribute
+  to be exacted; and of the rebellion which was now excited against this
+  monarch                                                               109
+
+  CHAP. XLVIII. How we resolved to found Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, and
+  construct a fortress on the low meadows, in the neighbourhood of some
+  salt springs and the harbour, where our vessels were anchored; and what
+  further happened                                                      111
+
+  CHAP. XLIX. How the fat cazique and other chief men of the country come
+  and complain to Cortes that a garrison of Mexicans had been thrown into
+  the strong fortress of Tzinpantzinco, committing great depredations; and
+  what further took place                                               114
+
+  CHAP. L. How some of Diego Velasquez's adherents refused to take any
+  further part in our proceedings, and declared their determination to
+  return to Cuba, seeing that Cortes was earnestly bent upon founding a
+  colony, and had already commenced to pacify the inhabitants           115
+
+  CHAP. LI. What happened to us at Tzinpantzinco, and how, on our return
+  to Sempoalla, we destroyed all the idols; likewise of other matters   117
+
+  CHAP. LII. How Cortes erects an altar, and places thereon the image of
+  the blessed Virgin with a cross; after which mass was said, and the
+  eight Indian females were baptized                                    121
+
+  CHAP. LIII. How we arrived in our town of Vera Cruz, and what happened
+  there                                                                 123
+
+  CHAP. LIV. Concerning the account of our adventures, with the letter,
+  which we sent his majesty the emperor, through Puertocarrero and
+  Montejo, the letter being attested by some officers and soldiers      125
+
+  CHAP. LV. How Diego Velasquez is informed by his agents that we had sent
+  messengers with letters and presents to our king, and what further took
+  place                                                                 127
+
+  CHAP. LVI. How our agents passed through the Bahama channel with the
+  most favorable wind, and arrived in Castile after a short passage; and
+  of our success at court                                               129
+
+  CHAP. LVII. What took place in our camp after the departure of our
+  agents to his majesty with the gold and the letters; and the instance of
+  severity which Cortes was compelled to give                           132
+
+  CHAP. LVIII. How we came to the resolution of marching to Mexico, and of
+  destroying all our vessels, which was done with the sanction and by the
+  advice of all Cortes' true adherents                                  133
+
+  CHAP. LIX. Of the speech which Cortes made to us after our vessels were
+  destroyed, and how we prepared for our march to Mexico                135
+
+  CHAP. LX. How Cortes arrived with us at the spot where the vessel lay at
+  anchor, and captured six soldiers and sailors of the said vessel who had
+  stepped on shore; also what further took place                        136
+
+  CHAP. LXI. How we set out on our march to the city of Mexico, and, upon
+  the advice of the caziques, take our road over Tlascalla. What took
+  place here, and of the battles we fought                              138
+
+  CHAP. LXII. How we commenced our march upon Tlascalla, and sent
+  messengers before us, to obtain the sanction of the inhabitants to pass
+  through their country; how they took our messengers prisoners; and what
+  further happened                                                      143
+
+  CHAP. LXIII. Of the terrible battles we fought with the Tlascallans, and
+  what further happened                                                 146
+
+  CHAP. LXIV. How we quartered ourselves in the township of Tehuacacinco,
+  and what we did there                                                 149
+
+  CHAP. LXV. Of the great battle we fought with the Tlascallans, and what
+  further took place                                                    150
+
+  CHAP. LXVI. How we sent a message next day to the caziques of Tlascalla
+  to bring about peace between us, and the determination they came to upon
+  this                                                                  153
+
+  CHAP. LXVII. How we again sent messengers to the caziques of Tlascalla
+  in order to induce them to make peace, and the resolution they came to
+  upon this                                                             157
+
+  CHAP. LXVIII. How we came to the determination of marching to a township
+  in the neighbourhood of our camp, and what happened upon this         158
+
+  CHAP. LXIX. How we found, on our return to our encampment, that new
+  intrigues had been set on foot; and the answer Cortes gave to certain
+  representations which were made to him                                160
+
+  CHAP. LXX. How the captain Xicotencatl assembled 20,000 chosen warriors
+  to make an attack upon us in our camp, and what happened upon this    165
+
+  CHAP. LXXI. How four chief personages arrived in our camp to negotiate
+  terms of peace with us, and what further happened                     167
+
+  CHAP. LXXII. How ambassadors arrive in our camp from Motecusuma, and of
+  the presents they brought with them                                   170
+
+  CHAP. LXXIII. How the captain-general Xicotencatl arrives in our camp to
+  negotiate terms of peace; the speech he made, and what further happened
+                                                                        171
+
+  CHAP. LXXIV. How the old caziques of Tlascalla arrived in our camp and
+  invited Cortes and all of us to visit their city, and what further
+  happened                                                              175
+
+  CHAP. LXXV. How we marched into the city of Tlascalla, and were received
+  by the old caziques; of the present they made us, and how they brought
+  us their daughters and nieces; and what further happened              176
+
+  CHAP. LXXVI. How mass was said in the presence of a great number of
+  caziques, and of the present the latter brought us                    178
+
+  CHAP. LXXVII. How the caziques presented their daughters to Cortes and
+  all of us, and what further happened                                  180
+
+  CHAP. LXXVIII. How Cortes gained some information respecting Mexico from
+  Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin                                           183
+
+  CHAP. LXXIX. How our captain Hernando Cortes and all our officers and
+  soldiers determine to march to Mexico                                 187
+
+  CHAP. LXXX. How the great Motecusuma despatched four ambassadors to us,
+  all men in high authority, with presents in gold and cotton stuffs, and
+  what they said to our captains                                        190
+
+  CHAP. LXXXI. How the inhabitants of Cholulla despatched four Indians to
+  us, all men of no distinction, to apologise for not having visited us in
+  Tlascalla, and what further happened                                  192
+
+  CHAP. LXXXII. How we arrived in the town of Cholulla, and the brilliant
+  reception we met with                                                 193
+
+  CHAP. LXXXIII. How the inhabitants of Cholulla concerted a plan, at the
+  instigation of Motecusuma, to murder us all, and what further happened
+                                                                        195
+
+  CHAP. LXXXIV. The negotiations we set on foot with the great Motecusuma,
+  and the ambassadors we sent him                                       208
+
+  CHAP. LXXXV. How the powerful Motecusuma sends a valuable present in
+  gold to us, and the message which accompanied it, and how we all agree
+  to commence our march upon Mexico; and what further happened          210
+
+  CHAP. LXXXVI. How we set out on our march to Mexico; what happened to us
+  on our route; and the message Motecusuma sent us                      212
+
+  CHAP. LXXXVII. How the powerful Motecusuma again sends ambassadors to us
+  with a present of gold and cotton stuffs: that monarch's message to
+  Cortes, and the answer he returns                                     216
+
+  CHAP. LXXXVIII. The magnificent and pompous reception which the powerful
+  Motecusuma gave to Cortes and all of us, on our entrance into the great
+  city of Mexico                                                        220
+
+  CHAP. LXXXIX. How Motecusuma, accompanied by several caziques, pays us a
+  visit in our quarters, and of the discourse that passed between him and
+  our general                                                           223
+
+  CHAP. XC. How our general, the day following, paid a visit to
+  Motecusuma, and of the discourse that passed between them             225
+
+  CHAP. XCI. Of Motecusuma's person, disposition, habits, and of his great
+  power                                                                 228
+
+  CHAP. XCII. Our general takes a walk through Mexico, and views the
+  Tlatelulco, (the great square,) and the chief temple of Huitzilopochtli
+                                                                        235
+
+  CHAP. XCIII. How we erect a chapel and altar in our quarters with a
+  cross on the outside; discover the treasure of Motecusuma's father; and
+  determine to seize the monarch's person and imprison him in our quarters
+                                                                        244
+
+  CHAP. XCIV. Of the battle which the Mexican generals fought with
+  Escalante and the Totonaque tribes                                    247
+
+  CHAP. XCV. Of the imprisonment of Motecusuma, and what further happened
+                                                                        249
+
+  CHAP. XCVI. How our general appoints Alonso Grado lieutenant of Vera
+  Cruz, and Sandoval alguacil-major of the same place                   255
+
+  CHAP. XCVII. How we entertained and amused Motecusuma during his
+  confinement, and granted him permission to visit his temple           258
+
+  CHAP. XCVIII. How Cortes orders two large brigantines to be built for
+  the navigation of the lake of Mexico; Motecusuma begs permission to
+  visit his temples to offer up his prayers there; and what Cortes said to
+  him when he granted this permission                                   261
+
+  CHAP. XCIX. How our two brigantines are launched, and Motecusuma,
+  expressing a wish to go a hunting, sails in one of these vessels to a
+  river where he usually went for that purpose                          263
+
+  CHAP. C. How the nephews of Motecusuma assembled the principal
+  personages of the empire, and formed a conspiracy to rescue the monarch
+  from confinement, and beat us out of the city                         265
+
+  CHAP. CI. How the powerful Motecusuma, with several caziques and chief
+  personages of the country, declare themselves vassals of our emperor;
+  and of other occurrences which happened then                          271
+
+  CHAP. CII. How Cortes sends out some of our men to explore the gold
+  mines and those rivers which wash down gold; also the harbours from the
+  Panuco to the Tabasco, but particularly the river Guacasualco         273
+
+  CHAP. CIII. How the officers whom Cortes had despatched to the gold
+  mines and the river Guacasualco returned to Mexico                    274
+
+  CHAP. CIV. How Cortes desired the powerful Motecusuma to order all the
+  caziques of the empire to bring in the tribute of gold due to our
+  emperor                                                               277
+
+  CHAP. CV. How all the gold presented by Motecusuma, and collected from
+  the different townships, was divided; and what happened to one of our
+  soldiers on the occasion                                              280
+
+  CHAP. CVI. Of the high words which arose between Velasquez de Leon and
+  our treasurer Gonzalo Mexia on account of the gold which was missing
+  from the heap, and how Cortes put an end to that dispute              282
+
+  CHAP. CVII. How Motecusuma offers one of his daughters in marriage to
+  Cortes, who accepts her, and pays her the attention due to her high
+  station                                                               284
+
+  CHAP. CVIII. How the powerful Motecusuma acquaints Cortes that it is
+  requisite for his safety to quit Mexico, with the whole of his men, as
+  all the caziques and papas were upon the point of rising up in arms to
+  destroy us all, in compliance with the advice given them by their gods:
+  the steps which Cortes took upon this news                            286
+
+  CHAP. CIX. How the governor of Cuba, Velasquez, in all haste fits out an
+  armament against us, the command of which he gives to Pamfilo de
+  Narvaez, who was accompanied by the licentiate Lucas Vazquez de Aillon,
+  auditor of the royal court of audience at St. Domingo                 289
+
+  CHAP. CX. How Narvaez arrives with the whole of his flotilla in the
+  harbour of San Juan de Ulua, and what happened upon this              290
+
+  CHAP. CXI. How Pamfilo Narvaez despatches five persons to Sandoval, the
+  commandant of Vera Cruz, with summons to surrender up the town to him
+                                                                        293
+
+  CHAP. CXII. How Cortes, after he had gained every information respecting
+  the armament, wrote to Narvaez, and several of his acquaintances who had
+  come with him, and particularly to Andreas du Duero, private secretary
+  to Velasquez; and of other events                                     296
+
+  CHAP. CXIII. The high words which arose between the auditor Vazquez de
+  Aillon and Narvaez, who orders him to be seized and sent back prisoner
+  to Spain                                                              298
+
+  CHAP. CXIV. Narvaez marches, with the whole of his troops, to Sempoalla;
+  his proceedings there; and how we in Mexico determine to march against
+  him                                                                   300
+
+  CHAP. CXV. How the powerful Motecusuma inquires of Cortes whether it was
+  really his intention to march out against Narvaez, though the latter's
+  troops were double the number of ours                                 302
+
+  CHAP. CXVI. How we determined once more to despatch father Olmedo to
+  Narvaez's head-quarters, and what we commissioned him to say          306
+
+  CHAP. CXVII. How father Olmedo arrived in Narvaez's head-quarters at
+  Sempoalla, and what he did there                                      308
+
+  CHAP. CXVIII. How Cortes reviews the whole of his troops, and we are
+  supplied with two hundred and fifty very long new lances, by the
+  Tchinantecs                                                           310
+
+  CHAP. CXIX. How Duero, with the soldier Usagre and two of his Indian
+  servants from Cuba, arrived in our camp; who this Duero was, and the
+  reason of his visit, &c.                                              311
+
+  CHAP. CXX. How Juan Velasquez arrives in Narvaez's head-quarters, and
+  what took place there                                                 314
+
+  CHAP. CXXI. What took place in Narvaez's quarters after the return to
+  our camp of the ambassadors we had sent there                         318
+
+  CHAP. CXXII. The order of our march against Narvaez; the speech Cortes
+  made to us; and our reply to it                                       320
+
+  CHAP. CXXIII. How the 2000 Indians of Chinantla, whom Cortes had
+  demanded of the caziques there, arrived at Sempoalla after Narvaez's
+  defeat                                                                329
+
+  CHAP. CXXIV. How Cortes despatches Francisco de Lugo, with two men who
+  had formerly been ship-builders, to the harbour where Narvaez's flotilla
+  lay, to bring all the captains and pilots of the vessels to Sempoalla
+                                                                        329
+
+  CHAP. CXXV. How we all, including Narvaez's troops, hasten to Mexico by
+  forced marches                                                        333
+
+  CHAP. CXXVI. How the Mexicans made war upon us, and the battles we
+  fought with them                                                      337
+
+  CHAP. CXXVII. Cortes determines to announce Motecusuma's death to the
+  Mexican generals and chiefs who are at war with us                    345
+
+  CHAP. CXXVIII. How we come to the determination of leaving Mexico
+  secretly at night; and what further happened                          347
+
+  CHAP. CXXIX. How we quartered ourselves in the metropolis of Tlascalla,
+  and what we did there 359
+
+  CHAP. CXXX. How we marched into the province of Tepeaca, what we did
+  there, and of other things which happened                             365
+
+  CHAP. CXXXI. How a vessel, which had been sent by Diego Velasquez from
+  Cuba, arrived at Vera Cruz, commanded by the captain Pedro Barba, and
+  the manner in which Caballero captured her                            369
+
+  CHAP. CXXXII. How the inhabitants of Quauhquechola called upon Cortes,
+  and begged of him to drive out the Mexican troops from their town, as
+  they were plundered and ill-used by them                              370
+
+  CHAP. CXXXIII. How one of the vessels which Francisco de Garay had
+  fitted out for the object of forming settlements on the river Panuco,
+  put in at Vera Cruz, and what further happened                        373
+
+  CHAP. CXXXIV. How Cortes despatches Sandoval with 200 men, among which
+  were twenty horse and twelve crossbow-men, to punish the tribes of
+  Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, for having put some Spaniards to death, and to
+  demand restitution of the gold they had robbed us of; and also further
+  to explore the country                                                375
+
+  CHAP. CXXXV. How all the slaves we had taken in Tepeaca, Quauhquechola,
+  Tecalco, and Castilblanco, were brought together in our head-quarters,
+  and branded with an iron, in his majesty's name                       379
+
+  CHAP. CXXXVI. How the chief officers and principal personages of
+  Narvaez's troops request leave to return to Cuba, which Cortes grants,
+  and they accordingly leave; also how our general sends ambassadors to
+  Spain, St. Domingo, and Jamaica                                       381
+
+NOTES                                                                 387
+
+
+[Transcriber's Notes: The errata below have been corrected in the
+text. Footnote 24 has also been moved to its correct position in the text.]
+
+
+ERRATA.
+
+    P.  17, _l._  3, _for_ Fronseca, _read_ Fonseca.
+        17,      24, _for_ dubbloons, _read_ doubloons.
+        20,      18, _for_ Chaopa, _read_ Chiapa.
+        20,      26, _for_ Mautanzas, _read_ Matanza.
+        31,       8, _for_ this, _read_ their.
+        31,      28, _for_ surrounded, _read_ surmounted.
+        51,      17, _for_ his, _read_ its
+    P.  53, _l._ 19, _read_ whom the king Quauhtemoctzin took.
+       126,       2, _for_ which, _read_ whom.
+       230,      22, _for_ were, _read_ was.
+       355,       9, _for_ when, _read_ where.
+       365,      33, _for_ were the townships, _read_ was the township.
+
+
+
+
+CONQUEST
+
+OF
+
+MEXICO AND NEW SPAIN.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+    _The time of my departure from Castile, and what further happened to
+    me._
+
+
+In the year 1514 I departed from Castile in the suite of Pedro Arias de
+Avila, who had just then been appointed governor of Terra Firma. At sea
+we had sometimes bad and sometimes good weather, until we arrived at
+Nombre Dios, where the plague was raging: of this we lost many of our
+men, and most of us got terrible sores on our legs, and were otherwise
+ill. Soon after our arrival, dissensions arose between the governor and
+a certain wealthy cavalier, named Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, who had brought
+this province to subjection, and was married to one of the daughters of
+Avila. As, however, suspicion had been excited against him, owing to a
+plan he had formed of making a voyage to the South Sea at his own
+expense, for which he required a considerable body of troops, his own
+father-in-law deposed him and afterwards sentenced him to decapitation.
+
+While we were spectators of all this, and saw, moreover, how other
+soldiers rebelled against their superior officers, we learnt that the
+island of Cuba had just been conquered, and that a nobleman of Quellar,
+named Diego Velasquez, was appointed governor there. Upon this news some
+of us met together, cavaliers and soldiers, all persons of quality who
+had come with Pedro Arias de Avila, and asked his permission to proceed
+to the island of Cuba: this he readily granted, not having sufficient
+employment for so great a number of men as he had brought with him from
+Spain. Neither was there any further conquest to be made in these parts;
+all was in profound peace, so thoroughly had his son-in-law Balboa
+subdued the country, besides which it was but small in extent and thinly
+populated. As soon, therefore, as we had obtained leave, we embarked in
+a good vessel and took our departure. Our voyage was most prosperous, so
+that we speedily arrived at Cuba. The first thing we did was to pay our
+respects to the governor, who received us with great kindness, and made
+us a promise of the first Indians that might be discharged. Three years,
+however, passed away since our first arrival in Terra Firma and stay at
+Cuba, still living in the expectation of the Indians which had been
+promised us, but in vain. During the whole of this time we had
+accomplished nothing worthy of notice: we therefore, the 110 who had
+come from Terra Firma, with some others of Cuba, who were also without
+any Indians, met together to concert measures with a rich cavalier named
+Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, who, besides being a person of wealth,
+possessed great numbers of Indians on the island. This gentleman we
+chose for our captain; he was to lead us out on voyages for the
+discovery of new countries, where we might find sufficient employment.
+
+We purchased three vessels, two of which were of considerable burden;
+the third was given us by the governor, Diego Velasquez, on condition
+namely, that we should first invade the Guanajas islands, which lie
+between Cuba and the Honduras, and bring him thence three cargoes of
+Indians, whom he wanted for slaves; this he would consider as payment
+for the vessel. We were, however, fully aware that it was an act of
+injustice which Diego Velasquez thus required at our hands, and gave him
+for answer: that neither God nor the king had commanded us to turn a
+free people into slaves. When he learnt our determination, he confessed
+that our project for the discovery of new countries was more
+praiseworthy, and he furnished us with provisions for our voyage.
+
+We had now three vessels and a sufficient supply of cassave bread, as it
+is there made from the juca root. We also purchased some pigs, which
+cost us three pesos a piece; for at that time there were neither cows
+nor sheep on the island of Cuba: to this I must also add a scanty supply
+of other provisions; while every soldier took with him some glass beads
+for barter. We had three pilots; of whom the principal one, who had the
+chief command of our vessels, was called Anton de Alaminos, a native of
+Palos; the two others were, Camacho de Triana, and Juan Alvarez el
+Manquillo of Huelva. In the same way we hired sailors, and furnished
+ourselves with ropes, anchors, water-casks, and other necessaries for
+our voyage, all at our own expense and personal risk.
+
+After we had met together, in all 110, we departed for a harbour on the
+north coast of Cuba, called by the natives Ajaruco. The distance from
+this place to the town of San Christoval, then recently built, was
+twenty-four miles; for the Havannah had then only been two years in our
+possession. In order that our squadron might not want for anything
+really useful, we engaged a priest at the town of San Christoval. His
+name was Alonso Gonzalez, and by fair words and promises we persuaded
+him to join us. We also appointed, in the name of his majesty, a
+treasurer, called Beruardino Miguez, a native of Saint Domingo de la
+Calzada. This was done in order that if it pleased God we should
+discover any new countries, where either gold, silver, or pearls were to
+be found, there might be amongst us a qualified person to take charge of
+the fifths for the Emperor.[1] After everything had been thus properly
+ordered and we had heard mass said, we commended ourselves to God, our
+Lord Jesus Christ, and the virgin Mary his blessed mother, and set out
+on our voyage, as I shall further relate.
+
+[1] During the first conquests of the Spaniards in New Spain, one half
+of the profits arising from the gold mines was paid to the crown; but
+the ill effects of this exorbitant demand soon began to show themselves,
+and it was reduced to one third, and then to a fifth, called the real
+quinto, which continued for a length of time, until it was further
+reduced. I must take this opportunity of observing, that the Spanish
+"peso" is equal to about 4s. 6d. of our money. (p. 3.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+    _Of the Discovery of Yucatan, and the battle we fought there with
+    the Natives._
+
+
+We sailed in the year 1517 from the harbour of Jaruco and left the
+Havannah. This harbour lies on the north coast of Cuba, and is so called
+by the natives. After twelve days' sail we had passed the coast of Saint
+Antonius, which in Cuba is called the country of the Guanatavies, a wild
+tribe of Indians. We now made for the wide ocean, steering continually
+towards the west, totally ignorant of the shoals and currents or of the
+winds which predominate in this latitude. Certainly most hazardous on
+our part, and indeed we were very soon visited by a terrible storm,
+which continued two days and two nights, in which the whole of us had
+nigh perished.
+
+After the storm had abated and we had changed our course, we came in
+sight of land on the twenty-first day after our departure from Cuba,
+which filled every heart with joy and thanks towards God. This country
+had never been discovered before, nor had any one ever heard of it. From
+our ships we could perceive a considerable sized town, which lay about
+six miles from the sea shore. On account of its magnitude, and because
+it was larger than any town in Cuba, we gave it the name of _Grand
+Cairo_.
+
+We resolved that our smallest vessel should near the shore as much as
+possible, to learn the nature of the spot and look out for a good
+anchorage. One morning, the 5th of March, we perceived five large canoes
+full of men coming towards us as swift as their paddles and sails could
+bring them from the town just mentioned. These canoes were hollowed out
+of the trunks of large trees, after the manner of our kneading troughs.
+Many of them were big enough to hold from forty to fifty Indians.
+
+As these Indians approached us in their canoes, we made signs of peace
+and friendship, beckoning at the same time to them with our hands and
+cloaks to come up to us that we might speak with them; for at that time
+there was nobody amongst us who understood the language of Yucatan or
+Mexico. They now came along side of us without evincing the least fear,
+and more than thirty of them climbed on board of our principal ship. We
+gave them bacon and cassave bread to eat, and presented each with a
+necklace of green glass beads. After they had for some time minutely
+examined the ship, the chief, who was a cazique, gave us to understand,
+by signs, that he wished to get down again into his canoe and return
+home, but that he would come the next day with many more canoes in order
+to take us on shore. These Indians wore a kind of cloak made of cotton,
+and a small sort of apron which hung from their hips half-way down to
+the knee, which they termed a maltates. We found them more intelligent
+than the Indians of Cuba, where only the women wear a similar species of
+apron made of cotton, which hangs down over their thighs, and is called
+by them a nagua.
+
+But to continue my narrative. Very early the morning following, our
+cazique again called upon us: this time he brought with him twelve large
+canoes and a number of rowers. He made known to our captain, by signs,
+that we were good friends and might come to his town: he would give us
+plenty to eat with everything we wanted, and could go on shore in his
+twelve canoes. I shall never forget how he said, in his language, _con
+escotoch_, _con escotoch_, which means, come with me to my houses yonder.
+We therefore called the spot Punta de Cotoche, under which name it
+stands on the sea charts.
+
+In consideration of all these friendly invitations from the cazique to
+accompany him to his village, our captain held a short consultation with
+us, when we came to the resolution to lower our boats, take the smallest
+of our vessels with us, and so proceed together with the twelve canoes
+all at once on shore, as the coast was crowded with Indians from the
+above-mentioned village. This was accordingly done, and we all arrived
+there at the same time. The cazique seeing us now landed, but that we
+made no signs of going to his village, again gave our captain to
+understand, by signs, that we should follow him to his habitation,
+making at the same time so many demonstrations of friendship, that a
+second consultation was held as to whether we should accompany him or
+not. This was carried in the affirmative, but we took every precaution
+to be upon our guard, marching in close order with our arms ready for
+action. We took fifteen crossbows with a like number of matchlocks, and
+followed the cazique, who was accompanied by a great number of Indians.
+
+As we were thus marching along, and had arrived in the vicinity of
+several rocky mountains, the cazique all at once raised his voice,
+calling aloud to his warriors, who it seemed were lying wait in ambush,
+to fall upon us and destroy us all. The cazique had no sooner given the
+signal, than out rushed with terrible fury great numbers of armed
+warriors, greeting us with such a shower of arrows, that fifteen of our
+men were immediately wounded. These Indians were clad in a kind of
+cuirass made of cotton, and armed with lances, shields, bows, and
+slings; with each a tuft of feathers stuck on his head. As soon as they
+had let fly their arrows, they rushed forward and attacked us man to
+man, setting furiously to with their lances, which they held in both
+hands. When, however, they began to feel the sharp edge of our swords,
+and saw what destruction our crossbows and matchlocks made among them,
+they speedily began to give way. Fifteen of their number lay dead on the
+field.
+
+At some distance from the spot where they had so furiously attacked us
+was a small place in which stood three houses built of stone and lime.
+These were temples in which were found many idols made of clay which
+were of a pretty good size; some had the countenances of devils, others
+those of females: some again had even more horrible shapes, and appeared
+to represent Indians committing horrible offences. In these temples we
+also found small wooden boxes containing other of their gods with
+hellish faces, several small shells, some ornaments, three crowns, and
+other trinkets, some in the shape of fish, others in the shape of ducks,
+all worked out of an inferior kind of gold. Seeing all this, the gold,
+and the good architectural style of the temples, we felt overjoyed at
+the discovery of this country; for Peru was not discovered till sixteen
+years after. While we were fighting with the Indians, the priest
+Gonzalez ordered the gold and small idols to be removed to our ships by
+two Indians whom we had brought with us from Cuba. During the skirmish
+we took two of the natives prisoners, who subsequently allowed
+themselves to be baptised and became Christians. One was named Melchior
+and the other Julian; both were tattooed about the eyes. The combat
+with the natives now being at an end, we resolved to re-embark, and
+prosecute our voyage of discovery further along the coast towards the
+west. Having dressed the wounds of our men we again set sail.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+    _Discovery of the Coast of Campeachy._
+
+
+Continuing the course we had previously determined upon, more westward
+along the coast, we discovered many promontories, bays, reefs, and
+shallows. We all considered this country to be an island, because our
+pilot, Anton de Alaminos, persisted in it. During daytime we proceeded
+with all caution, but lay to at nights. After sailing in this way for
+fourteen days, we perceived another village which appeared to us of
+considerable magnitude. Here was a bay with an inner harbour, and it
+appeared to us that there might also be some river or small stream where
+we could take in fresh water, which latter had become very scarce, as
+our supply in the casks, which were none of the best, was fast
+diminishing; for, as the expedition was fitted out solely by persons in
+poor circumstances, we had not been able to purchase good ones. It
+happened to be Sunday Lazari when we landed, and we therefore named this
+place in honour of this day, although we were well aware that the
+Indians called it the land of _Campeachy_.
+
+In order that the whole of us might land at the same time, we determined
+to go on shore in our smallest vessel and three boats, all of us well
+armed, to be ready in case we should meet with a similar rencontre as at
+the cape of Cotoche. The sea in these bays and roads is very shallow, so
+that our vessels were forced to anchor at more than three miles distance
+from the shore. Thus precautious we landed near the village, but were
+still a good way from the place were we intended to fill our casks. From
+this spot the natives also had their water; for we now found that there
+was no rivulet in the neighbourhood.
+
+When we had brought our casks on shore, filled them with water, and were
+about to embark again, about fifty Indians from the village came up to
+us. They all wore stately mantels made of cotton, appeared friendly
+disposed, and to be caziques. They asked us, by signs, what our business
+was there? We told them to take in water, and that we were about to
+re-embark. They further pointed with their hands to the rising of the
+sun, and asked us whether we came from that quarter, at the same time
+pronouncing the word _Castilan_, _Castilan_; but at that moment we did not
+pay any particular attention to the word Castilan. In the course of this
+interview, however, they gave us to understand that we might go with
+them to their village.
+
+We held a consultation amongst ourselves as to whether we should accept
+the invitation, and at length unanimously agreed to follow them, but to
+use the utmost circumspection. They took us to some large edifices,
+which were strongly put together, of stone and lime, and had otherwise a
+good appearance. These were temples, the walls of which were covered
+with figures representing snakes and all manner of gods. Round about a
+species of altar we perceived several fresh spots of blood. On some of
+the idols there were figures like crosses, with other paintings
+representing groups of Indians. All this astonished us greatly as we had
+neither seen nor heard, of such things before. It appeared to us that
+the inhabitants had just been sacrificing some Indians to their gods, to
+obtain from them the power to overcome us.
+
+There were great numbers of Indians with their wives who received us
+with pleasing smiles, and otherwise made every show of friendship; but
+their numbers gradually increasing we began to entertain fears that it
+would end in the same hostile manner as at Cape Cotoche. While we were
+thus looking on, a number of Indians approached us clad in tattered
+cloaks, each carrying a bundle of dried reeds, which they arranged in
+order on the ground. Among them we also perceived two troops of men
+armed with bows, lances, shields, slings, and stones, having their
+cotton cuirasses on. At the head of these, and at some distance from us
+stood the chiefs. At this moment ten Indians came running out of another
+temple, all dressed in long white robes, while the thick hair of their
+heads was so entangled and clotted with blood that it would have been an
+impossibility to have combed or put it in order without cutting it off.
+These personages were priests, and in New Spain are commonly termed
+_Papas_.[2] I repeat it, that in New Spain they are termed papas, and I
+will therefore in future call them by that name. These papas brought
+with them a kind of incense, which looked like resin, and is termed by
+them copal. They had pans made of clay filled with glowing embers, and
+with these they perfumed us. They also gave us to understand, by signs,
+that we should leave their country before the bundles of reeds, which
+had been brought and were going to be set fire to, should be consumed,
+otherwise they would attack and kill us every man.
+
+Upon this they ordered the bundles to be lighted, and as soon as they
+began to burn, all were silent, nor did they utter another syllable.
+Those, on the contrary, who had ranged themselves in order of battle,
+began to play on their pipes, blow their twisted shells, and beat their
+drums. When we saw what their real intentions were, and how confident
+they appeared, it of course reminded us that our wounds which we had
+received at Cape Cotoche were not yet healed; that two of our men had
+died of the consequences, whom we had been obliged to throw overboard.
+As the number of Indians continued to increase, we became alarmed, and
+resolved to retreat to the shore in the best order we could. In this way
+we marched along the coast until we arrived at that spot where our boats
+and the small vessels lay with the water-casks. Not far distant from
+this place stood a rock in the midst of the sea; for, on account of the
+vast numbers of Indians, we durst not venture to re-embark where we had
+at first landed, as they would no doubt have fallen upon us while we
+were getting into our boats.
+
+After we had thus managed to get our water safe on board and re-embark
+at the small harbour which the bay here forms, we continued our course
+for six days and six nights without interruption, the weather being very
+fine. But now the wind suddenly veered round to the north and brought
+stormy weather, as is always the case with a north wind on this coast.
+The storm lasted twenty-four hours, and indeed we had nearly all of us
+met with a watery grave, so boisterous was the sea. In order to save
+ourselves from total destruction we cast anchor near the shore. The
+safety of our ship now depended upon two ropes, and had they given way
+we should have been cast on shore. Oh, in what a perilous situation we
+were then placed! had we been torn away from our anchors we must have
+been wrecked off the coast! But it was the will of Providence that our
+old ropes and cables should preserve us. When the storm had abated we
+continued our course along the coast and kept in as much as possible,
+that we might take in water when required. For, as I have before stated,
+our casks were old and leaky; nor was the best economy used with the
+water, for we thought by going on shore we should be certain either to
+meet with some spring or obtain it by digging wells. Thus coasting along
+we espied a village from our ships, and about three miles further on
+there was a kind of inner harbour, at the head of which it appeared to
+us there might be some river or brook; we therefore resolved to land
+here.
+
+The water, as I have above mentioned, being uncommonly shallow along
+this coast, we were compelled to anchor our two larger vessels at about
+three miles distance from the shore, fearing they might otherwise run
+aground. We then proceeded with our smallest vessel and all our boats in
+order to land at the above-mentioned inner harbour. We were, however,
+quite upon our guard, and carried along with us, besides the
+water-casks, our arms, crossbows, and muskets.
+
+It was about midday when we landed. The distance from here to the
+village, which was called Potonchan, might be three miles. Here we found
+some wells, maise plantations, and stone buildings. Our water-casks were
+soon filled, but we could not succeed to get them into our boats on
+account of an attack made upon us by great numbers of the inhabitants. I
+will, however, break off here and relate the battle we fought, in the
+next chapter.
+
+[2] Bernal Diaz is thus particular in laying stress on this remarkable
+circumstance, because the pope of Rome, in Spanish, is termed pápa. (p.
+7.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+    _How we landed in a bay close to some maise plantations, near the
+    harbour of Potonchan, and of the attack that was made upon us
+    there._
+
+
+While we were busy taking in water, near the above-mentioned houses and
+maise plantations, great numbers of Indians were making towards us from
+the village of Potonchan, as it is termed by the natives. They had all
+their cotton cuirasses on, which reached to their knees, and were armed
+with bows, lances, shields, and swords. The latter were shaped like our
+broadswords, and are wielded with both hands. They also had slings and
+stones, their bunches of feathers on, and their whole bodies painted
+with white, brown, and black colours. They approached us in profound
+silence, as if they came with the most peaceable intentions, and
+inquired of us by signs if we came from the rising of the sun, thereby
+pronouncing the very same words which the inhabitants of St. Lazaro had
+used: namely, _Castilan, Castilan_. We told them, likewise by signs,
+that we indeed came from the rising of the sun. We certainly did not
+understand what they meant; nevertheless it was something for us to
+reflect on, while it at the same time gave rise to a variety of
+conjectures, since the natives of St. Lazaro had used the identical
+words.
+
+It was about the hour of Ave Maria, when the Indians approached us in
+this manner. A few country houses were scattered round about the
+neighbourhood. We took the precaution to post watches in different
+quarters, and upon the whole kept a sharp look out, as the manner in
+which the natives were assembling seemed to forebode very little good.
+When we had closed our ranks and taken every necessary precaution, our
+ears were assailed by the cries and yells of large bodies of Indians who
+were advancing from different quarters. As they were all armed for
+battle we could no longer doubt that some evil design was lurking
+behind; we therefore held a consultation with our captain as to the
+course we should adopt. Many were of opinion that the best we could do
+would be to re-embark ourselves in all haste; but, as is always the case
+in critical moments, one advised this and another that, and so this
+proposal was overruled as unadvisable, for the vast numbers of Indians
+would certainly fall upon us while we were getting into our boats and we
+should all stand in danger of being killed. Others again, among which
+number I also was, were of opinion that the enemy should be attacked
+that very night; for, according to the old saying, he who strikes the
+first blow remains master of the field; but we might make up our minds
+that each of us singly would have to encounter thirty Indians at least.
+
+Day now began to dawn, and we emboldened each other to meet the coming
+severe conflict by putting our trust in God and commending our cause to
+him, while every one was determined to defend himself to the utmost. As
+soon as daylight had fully broken forth, we perceived more troops of
+armed natives moving towards the coast with flying colours. They had on
+their feather-knots, and were provided with drums, bows, lances,
+shields, and joined themselves to the others who had arrived in the
+night. They divided themselves into different bodies, surrounded us on
+all sides, and commenced pouring forth such showers of arrows, lances,
+and stones, that more than eighty of our men were wounded at the first
+onset. They next rushed furiously forward and attacked us man to man:
+some with their lances, others with their swords and arrows, and all
+this with such terrible fury that we were compelled also to show them
+earnest. We dealt many a good thrust and blow amongst them, keeping up
+at the same time an incessant fire with our muskets and crossbows; for
+while some loaded others fired. At last, by dint of heavy blows and
+thrusts we forced them to give way; but they did not retreat further
+than was necessary, in order that they might still continue to hem us in
+in all safety; constantly crying out in their language, _Al calachoni,
+al calachoni_; which signifies, kill the chief! And sure enough our
+captain was wounded in no less than twelve different places by their
+arrows. I myself had three; one of which was in my left side and very
+dangerous, the arrow having pierced to the very bone. Others of our men
+were wounded by the enemy's lances, and two were carried off alive; of
+whom, one was called Alonzo Bote, the other was an old Portuguese.
+
+Perceiving how closely we were hemmed in on all sides by the enemy, who
+not only kept constantly pouring in fresh troops but were copiously
+supplied on the field of battle with meat, drink, and quantities of
+arrows, we soon concluded that all our courageous fighting would not
+advance us a step. The whole of us were wounded, many shot through the
+neck, and more than fifty of our men were killed. In this critical
+situation we determined to cut our way manfully through the enemy's
+ranks and make for the boats, which fortunately lay on the coast near at
+hand. We therefore firmly closed our ranks and broke through the enemy.
+At that moment you should have heard the whizzing of their arrows, the
+horrible yell they set up, and how the Indians provoked each other to
+the combat, at the same time making desperate thrusts with their lances.
+But a still more serious misfortune awaited us; for as we made a
+simultaneous rush to our boats, they soon sunk or capsized, so that we
+were forced to cling to them as well as we could; and in this manner by
+swimming we strove to make the best of our way to the small vessel,
+which was now in all haste coming up to our assistance. Many of our men
+were even wounded while climbing into the vessel, but more particularly
+those who clung to its side; for the Indians pursued us in their canoes
+and attacked us without intermission. With the greatest exertions and
+help of God we thus got out of the hands of this people.
+
+After we had gained our vessels we found that fifty-seven of our men
+were missing, besides the two whom the Indians had carried off alive,
+and five whom we had thrown overboard, who had died in consequence of
+their wounds and extreme thirst. The battle lasted a little longer than
+half an hour. The spot where it took place was certainly called
+Potonchan. Our seamen, however, gave it the name of Bahea de mala Pelea,
+(the bay of the disastrous engagement,) as it stands on the maps. As
+soon as we found ourselves in safety we returned thanks to Almighty God
+for the preservation of our lives. Our wounded, however, had still great
+sufferings to undergo, as we had nothing but salt water to wash their
+wounds with, which caused them to swell very much. Some of our men swore
+most bitterly against our chief pilot Alaminos, and the conduct he had
+pursued; he having steadfastly maintained that this was an island and
+not a continent. I must, however, break off here, and relate what
+further happened to us, in the next chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+    _We resolve to return to Cuba. The extreme thirst we suffered, and
+    all the fatigues we underwent until our arrival in the port of
+    Havannah._
+
+
+After we had got into our vessels, as above related, and returned thanks
+to God for our preservation, we commenced dressing our wounds. None of
+us had escaped without two, three, or four wounds. Our captain had as
+many as twelve, and there was only one single soldier who came off
+whole. We therefore determined to return to Cuba; but as most of the
+sailors who had accompanied us on shore were also wounded, we had not
+sufficient hands to work the sails, we were therefore forced to set fire
+to our smallest vessel and leave it to the mercy of the waves, after
+taking out all the ropes, sails, and anchors, and distributing the
+sailors, who were not wounded equally among the two other vessels. We
+had, however, to struggle with another far greater evil. This was our
+great want of fresh water; for although we had filled our barrels and
+casks near Potonchan, we did not succeed to bring them off, owing to the
+furious attack of the natives and the hurry we were in to get on board:
+thus we had been compelled to leave them behind and return without a
+single drop of water. We suffered most intensely from thirst, and the
+only way we could in some measure refresh our parched tongues was to
+hold the edges of our axes between our lips. Oh, what a fearful
+undertaking it is to venture out on the discovery of new countries, and
+place one's life in danger, as we were obliged to do! Those alone can
+form any idea of it who have gone through the hard school of experience.
+
+We now kept as close into the shore as possible, to look out for some
+stream or creek where we might meet with fresh water. After thus
+continuing our course for three days we espied an inlet or mouth of some
+river as we thought, and sent a few hands on shore in the hopes of
+meeting with water. These were fifteen sailors who had remained on board
+during the battle at Potonchan, and three soldiers who had been only
+slightly wounded. They carried along with them pickaxes and three small
+casks. But the water in the inlet was salt, and wherever they dug wells
+it was equally bad. They nevertheless filled the casks with it, but it
+was so bitter and salty as to be unfit for use. Two soldiers who drank
+of it became ill of the consequences. The water here swarmed with
+lizards; we therefore gave this place the name of Lizard Bay, under
+which name it stands on the sea charts.
+
+But, to continue my history, I must not forget to mention that while
+our boats were on shore in search of water, there suddenly arose such a
+violent tempest from the north-east, that our ships were nigh being cast
+on shore. For, as we were forced to lay to, the wind blowing hard from
+the north and north-east, our position was extremely dangerous, from a
+scarcity of ropes.
+
+When the men who had gone on shore with our boats perceived the danger
+we were in, they hastened to our assistance, and cast out additional
+anchors and cables. In this way we lay for two days and two nights.
+After the expiration of that time we again heaved our anchors and
+steered in the direction of Cuba. Our pilot Alaminos here held a
+consultation with the two others, when they concluded that the best plan
+would be to get, if possible, into the latitude of Florida, which,
+according to their charts and furthest measurement, could not be more
+than 210 miles distant; for they assured us if we could get into the
+latitude of Florida, we should have a better and speedier sail to the
+Havannah. It turned out exactly as they had said; for Alaminos had been
+in these parts before, having accompanied Juan de Leon when he
+discovered Florida, about ten or twelve years previously. After four
+days' sail we crossed this gulf and came in sight of Florida.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+    _How twenty of us went on shore in the bay of Florida with the pilot
+    Alaminos in search of water; the hostilities which the natives of
+    this country commenced with us; and of all that further befel us on
+    our passage to the Havannah._
+
+
+As soon as we had arrived off the coast of Florida we determined that
+twenty of our men, who had almost recovered from their wounds, should go
+on shore. Among the number was myself and the pilot, Alaminos. We each
+took a mattock and a small cask, being, moreover, well armed with
+crossbows and muskets. Our captain, who was dangerously wounded and very
+much weakened by the extreme thirst he suffered, begged of us, in the
+name of God, to bring him some sweet water, as he was almost dying of
+thirst. Indeed, the water, as I have before said, which we then had was
+quite salty and not drinkable. We landed in a creek, and our pilot again
+recognized this coast, which he had visited ten or twelve years
+previously with Ponce de Leon, when he discovered these countries. They
+had here fought a battle with the natives, and lost many of their men.
+
+We therefore took every precaution lest the natives should also fall
+upon us unawares. We posted two sentinels at a spot where the stream had
+a considerable breadth. We then dug deep wells where we thought fresh
+water was likely to be found. The sea was just ebbing, and it pleased
+God that we should find sweet water there.
+
+With joyful hearts we then took our fill of the refreshing beverage, and
+washed the bandages of our wounded. A good hour's time was spent in
+this, and as we were on the point of re-embarking with the casks of
+water, quite overjoyed at our success, one of the men whom we had placed
+sentinel on the coast came running towards us in all haste, crying
+aloud, "To arms! to arms! numbers of Indians are approaching, both by
+land and sea." And indeed the Indians came up to us almost at the same
+time with the sentinel.
+
+They had immense sized bows with sharp arrows, lances, and spears--among
+these some were shaped like swords--while their large powerful bodies
+were covered with skins of wild beasts. They made straightways to us,
+let fly their arrows, and wounded six of our men at the first onset. I
+was also slightly wounded in my right arm. We, however, received our
+enemies with such well-directed blows and musket-shots that they very
+soon quitted us who had been digging the wells, and turned towards the
+creek to assist their companions who in their canoes were attacking
+those left behind in the boat. The latter had been forced to fight man
+to man, and had already lost the boat, which the Indians were towing off
+behind their canoes. Four of the sailors had been wounded, and the
+pilot, Alaminos, himself severely so in the throat. We, however,
+courageously faced our enemy, went up to our middles in the water, and
+soon compelled them, by dint of our swords, to jump out of the boat
+again. Twenty-two of the enemy lay dead on the shore; three others, who
+were slightly wounded, we took on board with us, but they died soon
+after.
+
+After this skirmish was ended, we questioned the soldier who had stood
+sentinel as to what had become of his companion, Berrio. He related that
+his comrade had left him with an axe in his hand, in order to go and cut
+down a palm-tree, and that this was near the inlet where the Indians
+first made their appearance. He had also heard him cry out in Spanish,
+upon which he himself had immediately hastened to give us the
+information. His companion, no doubt, had been murdered by the Indians.
+Singular that this man should have lost his life here, he being the only
+one who escaped without a wound at the battle of Potonchan. We made
+every search for him, and followed the track of the Indians who had just
+attacked us; this indeed led us to a palm-tree which had been recently
+cut, around which were numerous foot-marks. We could, however, discover
+no marks of blood; and concluded, therefore, that the Indians had
+carried off the man alive. After we had fruitlessly searched for him in
+every quarter for upwards of an hour, and repeatedly called out aloud to
+him, without receiving any answer, we returned to our boat, and brought
+the water on board. The joy of our men was as great as if we had brought
+them new life; and one of the soldiers, from excessive thirst, leaped
+from the vessel into the boat, seized one of the small casks, and poured
+such an abundance of water into his body, that he instantaneously
+swelled out and expired.
+
+Having brought the water on board our vessels, hauled in our boats, we
+hoisted our sails and stood direct for the Havannah. The day and
+following night the weather was most beautiful as we passed the Martyr
+Islands and sand-banks of the same name. We had only four fathoms water,
+where the sea was deepest; our principal ship consequently struck
+against the rocks and became very leaky, so that all hands were engaged
+at the pumps, without then being able to get the water under, while we
+every moment feared the vessel would go down. I never shall forget the
+answer which some sailors from the Levant, who were among the crew, made
+when we cried out to them: "Come on, my boys, help us to pump out the
+water, or we shall all be lost! you see how our wounds and hard labour
+have debilitated us." "That's your own look out," said they; "we get no
+pay, suffer both from hunger and thirst, and have, in the bargain, to
+share your fatigues and wounds." Nothing now remained but to drive them
+to the pumps by main force; and in this way we had alternately to work
+the sails and the pumps, however distasteful to us, until the Lord Jesus
+brought us into the port of Carena, where now the town of Havannah
+stands, the latter being previously called Puerto de Carenas, and not
+the Havannah.
+
+As soon as we had set foot on shore we returned thanks to the Almighty
+for our safe return, and got the water out of our principal ship, in
+which a Portuguese diver, who happened to be on board another vessel,
+greatly assisted us. We also immediately wrote to the governor, Diego
+Velasquez, giving him an account of the countries we discovered with
+large townships and houses built of stone, whose inhabitants were clad
+in cotton, and wore maltates; likewise of the gold and the regular
+maise-plantations of the country. Our captain journeyed overland to
+Santispiritus, where he had his Indian commendary: he died, however, ten
+days after his arrival there, from his wounds. The rest of our men
+became dispersed through the island, and three more of our men died of
+their wounds at the Havannah.
+
+Our vessels were taken to Santiago de Cuba, where the governor resided.
+Here the two Indians were brought on shore whom we had taken with us
+from the Punta de Cotoche, as above related, called Melchorillo and
+Julianillo. When, however, we brought forth the box with the crowns, the
+golden ducks, the fish, and the idols, more noise was made about them
+than they really merited, so that they became the common topics of
+conversation throughout the islands of St. Domingo and Cuba; indeed the
+fame thereof even reached Spain. There it was said that none of the
+countries which had hitherto been discovered were as rich as this, and
+in none had there been found houses built of stone. The earthen gods, it
+was said, were the remains of the ancient heathen times; others again
+went so far as to affirm that they were descendants of the Jews whom
+Titus and Vespasian had driven from Jerusalem, who had been shipwrecked
+off this coast. Peru, indeed, was not then known, and in so far the
+countries we had discovered were justly considered of the greatest
+importance. Diego Velasquez closely questioned the two Indians as to
+whether there were any gold mines in their country. They answered in the
+affirmative; and when they were shown some of the gold-dust found in the
+island of Cuba, they said there was abundance of it in their country. In
+this they told an untruth, as it is very well known there are neither
+goldmines on the Punta de Cotoche nor even in whole Yucatan. They were
+likewise shown the beds in which the seeds of that plant are sown from
+whose root the cassave bread is made, and in Cuba called yuca: they
+assured us that the same plant grew in their country, and was called by
+them tale. As the cassave-root at Cuba is called yuca, and the ground in
+which it is planted by the Indians tale, so from these two words arose
+the name of the country, Yucatan; for the Spaniards who were standing
+around the governor at the time he was speaking to the two Indians said,
+"You see, sir, they call their country Yucatan." And from this
+circumstance the country retained the name of Yucatan, although the
+natives call it otherwise.
+
+In this beautiful voyage of discovery we had spent our all, and returned
+to Cuba covered with wounds, and as poor as beggars; yet we had reason
+to congratulate ourselves that it had not been equally disastrous to us
+all as to many of our companions who had lost their lives. Our captain,
+as I have already mentioned, died soon after his return; and all of us
+suffered for a considerable time after from our wounds. Our whole loss
+amounted to seventy men, which was all we had gained by this voyage of
+discovery.
+
+Concerning all this the governor Diego Velasquez wrote to those
+gentlemen in Spain who at that time managed the affairs of India, and
+boasted of the discoveries _he_ had made, and of the vast expense it had
+put _him_ to. This actually obtained credit, and the bishop of Burgos,
+Don Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, who also bore the title of archbishop of
+Rosano, and was president of Indian affairs, wrote in that strain to his
+majesty, in Flanders, vastly extolling the merit of Diego Velasquez, at
+the same time not as much as even mentioning the names of any of us who
+had really discovered the country.
+
+I will, however, break off here, and relate in the following chapter
+what further fatigues I and three more of my companions in arms had to
+undergo.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+    _The fatigues I had to undergo, until my arrival in the town of
+    Trinidad._
+
+
+I have already above related that I with some other soldiers who had not
+quite recovered from our wounds remained behind in the Havannah. As soon
+as the latter began to heal a little we three made up our minds to go in
+company with a certain Pedro d'Avila, an inhabitant of the Havannah, to
+the town of Trinidad. This man was going to make a voyage in a canoe
+along the south coast, and had taken a lading of cotton shirts, which he
+intended to dispose of in Trinidad. As I have above stated, these canoes
+are hollowed out of the trunks of trees, after the manner of our bakers'
+troughs: in this country they are used for coasting; and we had to pay
+Pedro d'Avila ten doubloons for the voyage.
+
+As we were coasting along, sometimes rowing, sometimes sailing, we
+arrived after the eleventh day in sight of an Indian village, subject to
+the Spaniards, and called Cannareon; there arose at night-time such a
+terrible gale of wind, that, although we rowed with all our strength, we
+could not keep the sea any longer. Notwithstanding every exertion of
+Pedro d'Avila, of some Indians from the Havannah, and several other good
+rowers we had with us, nothing at last remained but to run the canoe
+aground between the steep rocks. The canoe was dashed to pieces, the
+whole lading of Pedro d'Avila went to the bottom, and we made the best
+of our way on shore, naked as the day we were born, our bodies cut and
+bruised all over by clambering over the rocks, for we had stripped
+ourselves of our clothes in order to be the better able to swim, and
+also, if possible, to save the canoe. As we had only escaped with our
+lives among these rocks, none other choice was left us than to continue
+our road over them to Trinidad, which lay along the coast through a
+barren country full of rugged rocks, where our feet soon became
+blistered and wounded; as to think of getting anything to eat was quite
+out of the question; while we had continually to struggle with a
+terrific gale of wind and the sea breaking over the rocks. Although we
+had not neglected to cover our bodies as much as possible with leaves
+and herbs, we nevertheless got sore boils between our legs, which bled
+very much. At last we could proceed no further; for the sharp stones had
+covered our feet with wounds: we managed, however, with considerable
+trouble to reach a more elevated spot. None of us having his sword left,
+we contrived by means of sharp stones to loosen the bark of some trees
+and bind it as well as we could under the soles of our feet, with the
+tendrils of climbers, which grew among the wood. And in this way, after
+suffering great fatigues we reached a sandy district on the coast,
+whence in a couple of days we arrived in the Indian village Yeguarama,
+at that time the property of Bartholomeus de las Casas,[3] who was a
+priest. I knew him afterwards when he belonged to the order of the
+Dominicans, and became bishop of Chiopia. Here the Indians gave us to
+eat, and on the following day we arrived at another village, called
+Chipiona, which was the joint property of Alonso de Avila, and of
+Sandoval, but this was not the captain of the same name who gained such
+vast renown in New Spain. From this place we at last came to Trinidad,
+where I had an acquaintance, by name Antonio de Medina, who provided me
+with a suit of clothes as they were worn in that town; my comrades were
+similarly provided by other of the inhabitants. Quite worn out by
+fatigue and miserably poor, I set off for Santiago de Cuba, where the
+governor Diego Velasquez resided. He was just then busily engaged
+fitting out another squadron, and was highly delighted at seeing me
+again when I called upon him, for we were related to each other: and as
+one word led to another, he asked me if my wounds were sufficiently
+healed to make another trip to Yucatan? I could not help smiling at this
+and said, who gave the country that name? for the natives do not call it
+so. "So Melchior, whom you brought with you, calls it," resumed he.
+"Call it rather, (said I,) the land where they killed one half of our
+men and wounded the other." "Well, (said he,) if you have undergone many
+fatigues, you have only shared the same fate with all others who have
+ventured out on the discovery of new countries. But, on the other hand,
+you will not fail to be highly honoured and rewarded by his majesty the
+king, to whom I will transmit a faithful account of all this.
+Therefore, my friend, you may in all safety join yourself to the
+squadron I am now fitting out, and I will take care that you shall have
+an honorable post." What further happened I will next relate.
+
+[3] This is the celebrated Las Casas, the protector of the rights of the
+Indians. (p. 18.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    _How Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, sent out another armament to
+    the country we had discovered._
+
+
+It was in the year of our Lord 1518, after Diego Velasquez had learnt
+the good account we gave of the newly-discovered country, called
+Yucatan, that he determined to send thither another expedition. For this
+purpose he selected four vessels, among which were the two in which we
+warriors had accompanied Cordoba on our recent voyage to Yucatan,
+purchased at our own expense. At the time this squadron was fitting out
+there were staying at Santiago de Cuba, Juan de Grijalva, Pedro de
+Alvarado, Francisco de Montejo, and Alonso de Avila; who had
+commendaries of Indians in these islands, and had come to transact
+business with the governor. As these were all men of courage and energy,
+Velasquez soon made arrangements with them to take part in this
+expedition, on the following terms: that Juan de Grijalva, who was
+related to him, should have the chief command of the whole expedition as
+captain-general, while Pedro de Alvarado, Francisco de Montejo, and
+Alonso de Avila, should be appointed to the command of the three other
+ships. They had also to furnish the vessels with provisions of cassave
+bread and pickled meat; Diego Velasquez had, on the other hand, to
+procure the four vessels, furnish the necessary crossbows, muskets,
+goods for barter, and other matters of less importance. Our account that
+the houses in the newly-discovered country were built of stone and lime,
+had spread a vast idea of its riches, added to which the Indian
+Melchorejo had given to understand by signs that it abounded in gold
+mines. All this created a great desire among the inhabitants and
+soldiers throughout the island, who possessed no commendaries of
+Indians, to go in quest of such a rich country; consequently, in a very
+short time, we mustered 220. Each person, moreover, furnished himself
+with additional provisions, arms, and other matters which might be
+useful.
+
+Thus I again took my departure for that country, under the same
+commanders I subsequently once more visited it. The instructions which
+our commanders received from Diego Velasquez, were to this effect, that
+they should barter for as much gold and silver as they could get, and if
+they deemed it advisable settle colonies, but left this entirely to
+their own judgment. A person of the name of Penolosa accompanied us in
+the capacity of comptroller; for priest we had a certain Juan Diaz. We
+had also the same three pilots who accompanied us on our former voyage;
+and a fourth, whose name I do not remember. Each had charge of one of
+the vessels; but the first in command, as chief pilot, was Anton de
+Alaminos.
+
+But before I proceed with my narrative, I must here remark, that it is
+not for want of deference on my part, that I barely give the names of
+the noblemen who were our commanding officers, without adding their
+titles and describing their several escutcheons, but shall simply call
+them thus, Pedro de Alvarado, Francisco de Montejo, and Alonso de Avila.
+I therefore now take this opportunity of saying, that Pedro de Alvarado
+was a bold cavalier, who, subsequent to the conquest of New Spain,
+became governor and chief justice of the provinces of Guatimala,
+Honduras, and Chaopo, and comptoir of Santiago. In like manner Francisco
+de Montejo, a man of great courage, subsequently was governor and chief
+justice of Yucatan. I shall merely call them by their proper names, up
+to that time when his majesty conferred on them honorary titles and
+sovereign authority.
+
+But to return to my subject, our four vessels lay in the harbour of
+Matanza on the north coast, not far from the old Havannah, which at that
+time was not built where it now stands. In this harbour, or at least in
+its neighbourhood, most of the inhabitants had their stores of cassave
+bread and pickled meat. Here consequently our vessels were provided with
+everything they further required. This place moreover had been appointed
+the rendezvous for all the officers and men.
+
+But, before I continue my narrative, I will explain how this harbour
+obtained the name of Matanza,[4] though it may seem rather out of place
+here; yet, as so many persons have asked me how it originated, there is
+some excuse.
+
+Some time ago, when Cuba was not quite subdued, it happened that a
+vessel, bound from the island of St. Domingo to the Luccas, during a
+heavy storm, was wrecked off the coast. This took place near the river
+and harbour of Matanza; there were thirty Spaniards and two Spanish
+ladies on board. In order to convey them across the river, numbers of
+Indians had collected together from the Havannah and other districts.
+They appeared most friendly inclined, and offered to carry the
+shipwrecked across in their canoes and take them to their habitations,
+where they would give them to eat. The Spaniards accepted this offer;
+when the Indians, however, had arrived in the midst of the stream, they
+upset their canoes and drowned them all, save three of the men and one
+of the females. The men were allotted to the other Indians, but the
+female, a very beautiful woman, was given to the most powerful of the
+caziques, the person who had concocted this piece of treachery. From
+this circumstance it was that the harbour got the name of Matanza.
+
+I was personally acquainted with the female whose misfortune I have just
+related. After the total conquest of Cuba, she left the cazique in whose
+power she then was, and married a citizen of Trinidad, by name Pedro
+Sanchez Farsan.
+
+I was also acquainted with the three Spaniards whose lives had been
+spared. One was Gonzalo Mexia, an old man, and native of Xeres; the
+other, Juan de Santiste-ban, from Madrigal; and the third was Cascorro,
+a sailor and fisherman, of Huelva. The cazique in whose power he was,
+had given him his daughter in marriage, and bored holes through his ears
+and nose, after the Indian fashion.
+
+Having thus detained the reader for a while with these old stories, it
+is time I return to the thread of my narrative.
+
+On the 5th of April, 1518, all of us having met together, the officers
+and soldiers, the pilots made acquainted with the signals, and the hour
+of departure fixed, we attended mass with fervent devotion, and weighed
+anchor. After ten days' sail, we passed the cape of Guaniguanico, called
+by the sailors San Anton. Eight days after, we came in sight of the
+island of Cozumel; it happened to be the feast of the Holy Cross. This
+time our ships were carried further off by the currents than the time
+before under Cordoba; the consequence was that we now landed on the
+south coast of the island. We here espied a village, and found a
+good anchorage near it, perfectly free from all rocks. Our
+commander-in-chief, therefore, went on shore here with a good body of
+soldiers. The inhabitants, who had never witnessed such a sight before,
+immediately took to flight when they saw our vessels approaching, so
+that not a single one of them had remained in the village. At length we
+discovered two Indians among the recently cut maise plants, who had not
+been able to get off quick enough. We brought them into the presence of
+our captain, who spoke to them with the help of Julianillo and
+Melchorejo, whom we had captured at the Punta de Cotoche, and who
+understood their language. The distance between their countries was only
+four hours' sail, which accounts for the inhabitants of Cozumel
+speaking the same language. Our commander was very kind to them, gave
+each some green glass beads, and sent them away to bring the Calachoni
+of the district, (so the caziques are termed here;) they, however, never
+returned. While we were still waiting for them, an Indian woman came
+towards us, comely in appearance, and who spoke the language of Jamaica.
+She told us that the Indians had fled, out of fear, to the mountains. As
+I myself and many others among us understood her language, which is the
+same as that of the island of Cuba, we were quite astonished at the
+circumstance, and inquired of her how she had got here.
+
+She told us that, two years ago, she had left Jamaica with ten Indians,
+in a large canoe, in order to go fishing among the islands in this
+neighbourhood, but had been driven on shore by the currents, when the
+inhabitants killed her husband with most of her companions, and
+sacrificed them to their gods.
+
+It struck our commander, as soon as he had learnt this, that the woman
+might be employed as a negotiator. He therefore desired her to go and
+fetch the inhabitants and cazique of the district, and gave her two days
+to return in. We durst not send Melchorejo and Julianillo with her, lest
+they should run away and return to their own country.
+
+The day following, the Indian woman returned, but informed us that,
+notwithstanding all her representations, she could neither persuade the
+Indians nor their wives to accompany her. We called this place Santa
+Cruz, because we had discovered it four or five days before the feast of
+the Holy Cross. In this neighbourhood there was plenty of honey, manioc,
+patates, and large herds of musk swine, which have their navels on their
+backs.[5] This island contains three poor villages, of which the one I
+am now speaking of is the largest; the two smaller ones were both
+situated on a promontory at about six miles distance from each other.
+Our commander Grijalva, perceiving that it was mere loss of time to make
+any further stay here, gave orders for re-embarking. The Indian woman of
+Jamaica went along with us, and we continued our voyage.
+
+[4] Puerto de Matanza, the harbour of the massacre. (p. 20.)
+
+[5] The sus tajassu, pecary, or Mexican musk hog; but what our old
+soldier, with other writers, mistook for a navel, is an open gland on
+the lower part of the back, which discharges a fetid ichorous liquor.
+(p. 22.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+    _How we landed at Champoton._
+
+
+From this point we sailed in the same direction we had taken under
+Cordoba, and arrived after eight days' sail off the coast of Champoton,
+the place where the Indians had so ill used us, as has been related in
+the proper place. The sea being very shallow in these parts we dropt our
+anchor at about three miles distance from the shore, and immediately
+landed in all our boats with half of our men, as near to the village as
+possible. The inhabitants and other Indians in the neighbourhood
+gathered themselves together as they had the time before, when they
+killed fifty-six of our men and wounded all the rest of us. From their
+bearing and proud demeanour we could easily perceive that they had not
+forgotten their victory. They were all well armed according to their
+fashion, with bows, lances, shields, and broadswords, which they wield
+with both hands. Added to all this they had slings, cotton cuirasses,
+drums and trumpets, while most of them had their faces painted black and
+white. They had arranged themselves along the sea shore in order to fall
+upon us as soon as we landed. But, as our previous loss had taught us
+prudence, we took with us this time some falconets, and otherwise well
+armed ourselves with crossbows and matchlocks.
+
+When we were near enough they let fly such a shower of arrows and lances
+that the half of our men were speedily wounded. As soon, however, as we
+got on shore, we quickly gave them an evil return with our matchlocks
+and sabres. Nothing daunted by this they each selected their man, whom
+they particularly aimed at with their arrows, but we had taken the
+precaution to put on cotton cuirasses. They continued to combat with us
+for some time, until the arrival of another of our long boats, when we
+drove them back to the wells near the village. In this conflict we lost
+Juan de Quitera and many other soldiers. Our commander, Juan de
+Grijalva, got three arrow wounds and lost two of his teeth, and above
+sixty of our men were wounded. Immediately upon our putting the enemy to
+flight, we entered the village, dressed our wounds, and buried the dead.
+Not a single person had remained behind in the village, and even those
+whom we had driven back to the wells had merely staid there a sufficient
+time to carry off their property. In this skirmish we made three
+prisoners, one of whom was a person of rank. Our commander set them at
+liberty, desiring them to go and call the cazique of the district. He
+also presented them with green glass beads and small bells to distribute
+among the inhabitants, in order to gain their friendship. We treated the
+three prisoners upon the whole with every kindness, and gave them glass
+corals to encourage them and gain their good faith. They left us indeed,
+but took good care not to return; we thought it possible, however, that
+Julianillo and Melchorejo had misrepresented our commission to them. We
+staid four days in this place, and I shall never forget it on account of
+the immense sized locusts which we saw here. It was a stony spot on
+which the battle took place, and these creatures, while it lasted, kept
+continually flying in our faces; and as at the same moment we were
+greeted by a shower of arrows from the enemy, we also mistook these
+locusts for arrows. But, as soon as we had discovered our mistake, we
+deceived ourselves in another more direful way, for we now mistook
+arrows for locusts, and discontinued to shield ourselves against them.
+In this way we mistook locusts and arrows to our great sorrow, were
+severely wounded in consequence, and otherwise found ourselves in a very
+awkward predicament.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+    _We continued our course and ran into Terminos bay, as we named it._
+
+
+On our further voyage we came to an opening on the coast, which to us
+appeared to be the mouth of some broad and large river. It was, however,
+not a river as we had supposed, but a good harbour, which reached so far
+inland, and had such a considerable breadth, that it appeared like a
+sea; and our pilot Anton de Alaminos confidently asserted that this was
+an island whose two promontories reached nigh to the continent. We,
+therefore, termed this opening the Boca de Terminos, under which name it
+may be found on the sea charts. Our commander and the other officers
+went on shore here with the greater part of our men, among which number
+I also was. We remained three whole days in this place in order
+thoroughly to explore the opening and sail through it in all directions.
+We discovered, however, that it was no island, but a deep indented bay,
+formed by the continent, affording us a most commodious harbour. As we
+also found temples here built of stone and lime, full of idols made of
+wood or clay, with other figures, sometimes representing women,
+sometimes serpents, also horns of various kinds of wild animals, we
+concluded that an Indian village must be near at hand: we considered,
+moreover, that this would be a most excellent spot to found a colony. We
+had, however, deceived ourselves in one thing, the district being quite
+uninhabited. The temples most probably belonged to merchants and
+hunters, who on their journies most likely ran into this harbour and
+there made their sacrifices. Fallow deer and rabbits abounded in this
+neighbourhood, and with one greyhound only we killed ten of the former
+and great numbers of the latter. Our dog took such a liking to this spot
+that it ran away while we were busy reimbarking, nor did we see it again
+until we visited this place subsequently with Cortes, when it appeared
+in excellent condition, quite plump and sleeky.
+
+Having thoroughly explored Terminos harbour, and sounded it throughout,
+we pursued our course along the coast to the river Tabasco, which at
+present, after the name of its discoverer, is called the river Grijalva.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+    _How we came into the Tabasco river, which we termed the Grijalva,
+    and what happened to us there._
+
+
+As we thus by day sailed along the coast of the continent, for at night
+we lay to on account of the shallows and rocks, we perceived on the
+third morning a very broad mouth of some river. We approached the shore
+as near as possible, thinking we should find a good harbour here. As we
+came closer to the mouth we saw that the waves broke over its shallows:
+we consequently lowered our boats to make soundings, and found that our
+two larger vessels could not come in here. It was therefore immediately
+resolved that they should anchor further out at sea, but that the two
+remaining vessels which did not draw so much water, with all our boats
+well manned, should proceed up the river. We could perceive in the
+canoes along the shore numbers of Indians with bows and arrows, and in
+other respects armed exactly like those of Champoton. We concluded from
+their numbers that a village could not be far off; we also found as we
+proceeded further up the river along the banks, basket kiddles put out,
+from two of which we took the fish and placed them in a boat a-stern of
+our principal ship.
+
+This river was previously called after the cazique of the district, the
+Tabasco; as we, however, discovered it during this expedition, we gave
+it the name of the Grijalva river, in honour of our chief commander,
+under which name it stands on the sea charts.
+
+We might still have been about two miles from the village when we
+distinctly heard the crackling noise of the felling of trees; for the
+Indians were constructing barricades and making other preparations of
+war against us, of the issue of which they entertained no doubts, as
+they had been duly advertised of the occurrence at Potonchan. As soon as
+we learnt this, we disembarked our men on a projecting point of land,
+about two miles from the village, where some palm trees were growing. As
+soon as they perceived this, about fifty canoes with Indians completely
+armed after their fashion made towards us, while many other canoes,
+manned in the same way, lay dispersed about the haven, at a greater
+distance, not daring to approach us so near as the first.
+
+Seeing how ready they were for action, we were just upon the point of
+firing off our great guns, and giving them a volley of musket-shots,
+when it entered our minds, through a merciful Providence, that we ought
+first to try if we could not gain their friendship. We therefore by
+means of Julianillo and Melchorejo, (who were natives of the Punta de
+Cotoche, and certainly understood the language spoken here,) told the
+chiefs they had nothing to fear from us: we were desirous of discoursing
+with them and had things to disclose, which, as soon as they had learnt,
+would make our arrival pleasing to them: they should come to us and we
+would gladly give them of the things we had brought.
+
+Upon this invitation four of the canoes approached us, containing thirty
+Indians, or thereabouts. We showed them necklaces of blue glass beads,
+small mirrors, and green imitation corals. At the sight of the latter
+they appeared quite delighted; for they thought them to be chalchihuis
+stones, which are highly esteemed in their country.
+
+Our captain then told them, by means of our interpreters, that we came
+from a distant country, and were the subjects of a great emperor, whose
+name was Don Carlos, who had numerous sovereigns and caziques among his
+vassals: they should likewise acknowledge this emperor as their lord and
+master, for then it would go well with them;--he further desired them to
+give us fowls in exchange for our glass beads.
+
+Two of the Indians, one of whom was the chief and the other a papa--this
+is a kind of priest, who performs the ceremonies in presence of their
+idols--answered and said, "they would bring the provisions we required
+and commence a trade of barter with us.--For the rest they had already
+a master, and could not help feeling astonished that we, who had but
+just arrived and knew nothing of them, should that instant wish to
+impose a master on them. We had better consider a bit before we
+commenced war with them, as we had with those at Potonchan. That already
+all the warriors of the country had been ordered out against us, and two
+armies, each composed of 8000 men were ready for action. They certainly
+had learnt that a few days ago we had killed and wounded 200 men; but
+they were more powerful than the inhabitants of that country, which was
+the reason why they first wished to know what our intentions were. Our
+declaration would be communicated to the caziques of the numerous
+districts, who had united themselves for war or for peace."
+
+Upon this they embraced our commander, in token of peace, who presented
+them with necklaces of glass beads, and desired them to return as
+quickly as possible with an answer; adding that if they did not return
+we would enter their town by main force, though we had no evil
+intentions whatever.
+
+These delegates communicated with the caziques and papas--the latter
+having also a voice in their councils,--and they declared that our offer
+of peace was acceptable to them. Provisions were ordered to be sent us,
+and all present agreed that they themselves with the neighbouring tribes
+should each contribute their quota in order to make us a present in gold
+to insure our good friendship, and obviate a recurrence of what had
+taken place at Potonchan. From what I subsequently learnt and witnessed
+I found that it was customary with the inhabitants of these countries to
+make each other presents whenever they were in treaty about peace.
+
+All I have been relating took place on the promontory where the palm
+trees stood. About thirty Indians soon arrived, laden with broiled fish,
+fowls, fruit, and maise-bread. They also brought pans filled with
+red-hot embers, on which they strewed incense, and perfumed us all.
+After this ceremony was ended they spread some mats on the ground, over
+which they laid a piece of cotton cloth; on this they put some trifling
+ornaments in gold in the shape of ducks and lizards, with three
+necklaces made of gold, which had been melted into the shape of round
+balls. All these things, however, were of an inferior kind of gold, not
+worth 200 pesos. They next presented us with some mantles and
+waistcoats, as they themselves wore, and begged of us to accept them in
+good kind; saying they had no more gold to give us, but that further on
+towards the setting of the sun there was a country where it was found in
+great abundance; hereby often repeating the word Culba, Culba, and
+Mexico, Mexico. We however did not understand what they meant. Although
+the presents they had brought us were of little value, we nevertheless
+rejoiced exceedingly on account of the certainty we had gained that
+there was gold in this country. Having handed over the presents to us
+with due formality they told us we might now continue our voyage. Our
+captain thanked them; presenting each at the same time with some green
+beads. We now determined to re-embark, for the vessels were in great
+danger on account of the north wind, which in our present situation was
+quite contrary. We had, moreover, to go in quest of the country, which,
+according to the assurances of the Indians, abounded in gold.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+    _We come in sight of the town of Aguajaluco, and give it the name of
+    La Rambla._
+
+
+Having again re-embarked we continued our course along the coast, and
+perceived on the second day a town close to the sea shore, called
+Aguajaluco. We could discern numbers of Indians hurrying to and fro with
+huge shields made out of large tortoise-shells, which glittered so
+beautifully in the sun, that some of our men believed they were made of
+an inferior species of gold. The inhabitants appeared to be walking up
+and down the shore in great consternation, which induced us to call the
+village La Rambla, under which name it stands on the sea charts.
+
+As we proceeded further along the coast we came to a bay, into which the
+river Tonola empties itself: it was this same river we entered on our
+subsequent voyage. We gave it the name of Sant Antonio, which it still
+retains on the maps. We next passed the mouth of the great river
+Guacasualco, and would gladly have run into the bay which it forms if
+contrary winds had not prevented us. We now came in sight of the great
+Snow Mountains--Sierras Nevadas. These are covered the whole year round
+with snow. There were also other mountains, nearer the coast, to which
+we gave the name of _Holy Martin_, because a soldier of the name of San
+Martino, a native of the Havannah, first descried them. One of the
+commanders, Pedro de Alvarado, whose vessel was the fastest sailer of
+the whole, being a great way ahead of the others, ran his ship up a
+river called by the natives Papalohuna: this we termed the Alvarado,
+after the name of the discoverer. Some Indian fishermen of the village
+Tlacotalpa gave him fish: we could perceive this, though at a great
+distance from him. Alvarado was followed by two more of our ships; we
+were therefore obliged to wait until they returned. This digression
+without the general's leave occasioned ill blood; and Grijalva forbade
+Alvarado in future to sail in advance of the squadron, fearing he might
+meet with some accident or other before the rest could possibly come up
+to his assistance. From this time the four vessels kept close together.
+We soon after arrived at the mouth of another river, which we termed the
+Bandera's Stream, (Flag Stream,) from the circumstance that the banks of
+the river were crowded with Indians bearing small flags of white cloth
+attached to their lances. They called out and invited us to come on
+shore: but I will relate in the next chapter what further took place
+here.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+    _How we arrive on the Bandera's Stream, and gain 1500 pesos._
+
+
+By this time the existence of the great city of Mexico must be known
+throughout the major part of the Spanish provinces and the greater part
+of Christendom: how, like Venice, it was built in the water; and of the
+mighty monarch who resided there, king of many provinces and lord of all
+these countries, which in extent were more than quadruple that of Spain.
+The name of this monarch was Motecusuma: his power was so great that he
+would gladly have extended it to places where it was impossible, and he
+wished to know things which he never could learn. He had, however, heard
+of our first visit under the command of Cordoba, and of our battle at
+Cotoche and Champoton, also of the second engagement we had had at the
+last-mentioned spot. He was moreover aware that we had been but a
+handful of men in comparison with the multitude of the inhabitants; and
+lastly, it had been made known to him that we gladly exchanged our goods
+for gold. All this information had, from time to time, been sent him by
+means of painted figures or signs, drawn, as is the custom with this
+people, on a thick kind of cloth manufactured from the maguey,[6] very
+much resembling our linen. Being also informed that we were continuing
+our course along the coast, he issued orders to the governors of the
+several districts that at every place where we landed they should
+exchange their gold for our glass beads, but particularly for the green
+ones, which so much resembled their chalchihuis stones; and further he
+commanded them to gain every information with respect to our intentions.
+What made him dwell more particularly upon the latter was the ancient
+tradition in the country, which spoke of a people that would come from
+the rising of the sun who would at some future period get the dominion
+of the country.
+
+For whatever purpose it may have been I will leave, but certain it is
+that the powerful Motecusuma had ordered sentinels to be posted along
+the banks of the river above mentioned. These sentinels had all small
+flags attached to the points of their lances, and called out aloud,
+inviting us to come to them. While we were contemplating from our
+vessels this, to us, so novel a sight, our commander-in-chief with the
+other officers and soldiers came to the determination to inquire their
+meaning. We therefore lowered two of our boats and manned them with
+twenty soldiers, well armed with crossbows and muskets. The command of
+this was given to Francisco de Montejo. I was likewise among the number.
+Our instructions were to send immediate information to the
+commander-in-chief if anything of a hostile nature should take place and
+in general to let him know how matters stood. It pleased God that the
+weather should be calm, which is seldom the case on these coasts. We all
+got safe on shore, and were met by three caziques, one of whom was a
+governor under Motecusuma. These were attended by great numbers of
+Indians, carrying fowls, maise-bread, pines, sapotas, and other
+provisions; they spread some mats in the shade of the trees, on which
+they invited us to sit down. All this was done by signs, as Julianillo
+did not understand their language. Next they brought pans made of clay,
+filled with glowing embers, on which they strewed a species of resin,
+smelling very much like our incense, with which they perfumed us.
+
+Francisco de Montejo sent information of all this to our
+commander-in-chief, who immediately resolved to run the whole squadron
+into the bay, and proceed on shore with all our men.
+
+When the caziques and the governor saw our general on shore, who, they
+had been given to understand, was our chief officer, they paid him in
+their way the greatest possible respect, and perfumed him most
+vehemently. We thanked them kindly, and in return made many
+protestations of friendship, also presenting each with white and green
+glass beads, desiring them at the same time to bring us gold in exchange
+for our commodities. Motecusuma's governor strongly advised the Indians
+to comply with our request; the consequence of which was that the
+inhabitants of the surrounding districts soon brought us every trinket
+they possessed in the shape of gold, and commenced a trade of barter
+with us. During the six days we stayed in this spot we obtained upwards
+of 1500 pesos' worth of gold trinkets, of various workmanship, but of
+inferior quality. The historians Francisco Lopez de Gomara and Gonzalo
+Hernandez de Oviedo have also mentioned this circumstance in their
+works. They err, however, when they say it took place in the Tabasco or
+Grijalva river; for it is a well-authenticated fact that there is no
+gold found in the provinces which border on the river Grijalva, and,
+upon the whole, very few ornaments of gold. I will not, however, detain
+my reader with their account, but rather inform him that we took
+possession of this country for his imperial majesty the Emperor, in the
+name of Diego Velasquez, the governor of Cuba. This being done, our
+general told the Indians that he was now desirous of re-embarking, and
+presented them with some Spanish shirts. We took one of the Indians with
+us, who subsequently learnt our language and was converted to
+Christianity, when he took the name of Francisco. I met with him
+afterwards at Santa Fé, where he had settled himself after the conquest
+of Mexico. Our commander, finding that the inhabitants brought no more
+gold, and considering that we had already been here six days, and that
+our present anchorage was rather dangerous on account of the contrary
+winds, gave orders for re-embarking. Pursuing our voyage, we came to an
+island which was quite covered with white sand, lying above nine miles
+from the main land. We gave it the name of Isla Blanca, as it stands on
+the sea charts. Not far from this lay another island, nearly five miles
+from the main land, which offered us a very commodious landing-place.
+
+Our general, therefore, ordered the boats to be lowered, and landed,
+with the greater portion of our men, in order to explore the island. We
+found two houses, which were strongly built of stone and lime; both were
+ascended by a flight of steps, and surmounted by a species of altar, on
+which stood several abominable idols, to whom, the previous evening,
+five Indians had been sacrificed. Their dead bodies still lay there,
+ripped open, with the arms and legs chopped off, while everything near
+was besmeared with blood. We contemplated this sight in utter
+astonishment, and gave this island the name of Isla de Sacrificios.
+Quitting this place, we landed on the neighbouring continent, where we
+constructed ourselves huts on one of the large downs, with some sails
+and the branches of trees. Numbers of Indians soon made their
+appearance, bringing with them small pieces of gold for barter, in the
+same way as at the Bandera stream, according to the commands of
+Motecusuma, as we subsequently learnt. The inhabitants, however,
+approached us in great fear, and what they brought with them was a mere
+trifle. Our captain, therefore, soon weighed anchor again. The next
+place we landed at was in view of another island, which lay about two
+miles from the continent. This at present is considered the best harbour
+of the country. What happened to us in this place I will relate in the
+next chapter.
+
+[6] The author sometimes also calls this nequen, of which the garments
+of the poorer classes were manufactured. The maguey is the well-known
+agava Americana, the sap of which formed the national drink of the
+Indians, and the Mexicans were accustomed to write most of their
+hieroglyphics on the cloth manufactured from the leaves. (p. 29.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+    _How we came into the harbour of San Juan de Culua._
+
+
+Having disembarked on a part of the coast where it was very sandy, we
+were annoyed by such multitudes of muschetoes that we were forced to
+construct ourselves huts on the great downs and in the tops of trees:
+this, being done, we carefully examined the harbour in our boats, and
+were fully satisfied that it contained a good anchorage, it being
+moreover sheltered against the north wind by the island, to which our
+general now proceeded with thirty men all well armed. Here we found a
+temple on which stood the great and abominable-looking god
+Tetzcatlipuca, surrounded by four Indians, dressed in wide black cloaks,
+and with flying hair, in the same way as our canons or Dominicans wear
+it. These were priests, who had that very day sacrificed two boys, whose
+bodies they had ripped up, and then offered their bleeding hearts to the
+horrible idol. They were going to perfume us in the same way they had
+done their gods; and though it smelt like our incense, we would not
+suffer them, so shocked were we at the sight of the two boys whom they
+had recently murdered, and disgusted with their abominations. Our
+captain questioned the Indian Francisco whom we had brought with us from
+the Bandera stream as to what was meant by all this, for he seemed
+rather an intelligent person; having, at that time, as I have already
+stated, no interpreter, our captain put these questions to him by means
+of signs. Francisco returned for answer that this sacrifice had been
+ordered by the people of Culua; but, as it was difficult for him to
+pronounce this latter word, he kept continually saying _Olua_, _Olua_.
+From the circumstance of our commander himself being present, and that
+his Christian name was Juan, and it happening to be the feast of St.
+John, we gave this small island the name of San Juan de Ulua. This
+harbour was ever after much frequented. Great numbers of ships have been
+refitted there, and all merchandise for Mexico and New Spain are here
+shipped or unladen. During the time we were encamped on these downs,
+numbers of Indians from the surrounding districts, brought us their gold
+trinkets in exchange for our goods; but there was so little of it, and
+that so very inferior in quality, that we scarcely troubled ourselves
+about it. We remained, nevertheless, seven days in the huts we had
+constructed, though we were constantly annoyed by swarms of muschetoes,
+which rendered our stay most uncomfortable. As we had now been so long
+at sea, and had fully convinced ourselves that it was no island, but a
+continent, we had discovered, containing considerable towns; as our
+cassave-bread was become quite mouldy and unfit for eating; considering,
+moreover, that our numbers were too small to think of making any
+settlement here, particularly as we had lost ten of our men in
+consequence of their wounds, besides having four others dangerously
+ill,--we determined to forward Diego Velasquez an account of the state
+of affairs, and desire him to send us succours; indeed Grijalva had a
+great mind to have founded a colony even with the few men we had to
+spare. Our captain had throughout shown a magnanimous spirit, and proved
+himself a brave soldier, let the historian Gomara say anything to the
+contrary he likes. Pedro de Alvarado was selected to go on this mission
+to Cuba, with the ship San Sebastian, which had become rather leaky:
+this vessel could be refitted there, and return with succours and
+provisions. He also took with him all the gold we had bartered for, the
+cotton stuffs presented us by the Indians, and our sick. Our principal
+officers, moreover, each sent Diego Velasquez a written account,
+according to their several views, of all we had seen. We will now leave
+Pedro de Alvarado to his own good fortune on his voyage to Cuba, and
+relate what happened to the vessel which Diego Velasquez sent in quest
+of us.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+    _Diego Velasquez sends out a small vessel in quest of us._
+
+
+From the very moment in which Juan de Grijalva had quitted Cuba for the
+wide ocean, Diego Velasquez became downcast and thoughtful; he was
+constantly harassed by the idea that some misfortune would befall us. In
+the height of his impatience he at last sent out a small vessel, with
+seven men, in quest of us. The command of this was given to a certain
+Christobal de Oli, a man of great courage and energy. His instructions
+were to follow the same course in which Cordoba had sailed, until he
+should have met with us. It appears, however, that Christobal de Oli,
+while riding at anchor near the coast, was overtaken by a violent
+storm, and found himself compelled, in order to save his vessel from
+being cast ashore, to cut the cables; at least he had no anchor left on
+his return to Santiago de Cuba, nor had he been able to bring the
+governor any information respecting us.
+
+Diego Velasquez now despaired more than ever. The arrival of Pedro de
+Alvarado with the gold and other things, fortunately set his anxiety at
+rest, who, moreover, detailed to him the discoveries we had made. His
+joy was excessive when he saw the gold, and how it was worked into
+various shapes; from which very circumstance it appeared to him and
+others who happened to be present on business, of much greater value
+than it really was; nor were his majesty's officials, who had to take
+the fifth part, less astonished at the riches of the countries we had
+discovered. Pedro de Alvarado, who knew how to humour Diego Velasquez,
+afterwards related that the governor had continually embraced him,--that
+festivities and tournaments were celebrated for eight successive days.
+If the fame of the riches of these countries had been rumoured abroad
+before, it was now, on account of the gold we had sent, the more so; it
+soon spread through all the islands, and the whole of Spain.
+
+I shall have occasion to speak of this hereafter, and will also leave
+Diego Velasquez to his festivities, and return to our vessels at San
+Juan de Ulua.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+    _What befell us on our coasting voyage along the Tusta and Tuspa
+    mountains._
+
+
+After Pedro de Alvarado had set sail for Cuba, our general and other
+officers held a consultation with the pilots, when it was determined
+that we should continue our course along the coast, and push our
+discoveries as far as possible. As we sailed along, we first came in
+view of the Tusta, and, two days after, of the more elevated mountains
+of Tuspa, both of which take their names from two towns lying close to
+the foot of these mountains. On the whole, we saw numbers of towns lying
+from six to nine miles inland, now the province of Panuco. At last we
+arrived at a large stream, to which we gave the name of Canoe river, and
+dropped anchor at its mouth.
+
+While our vessels were lying at anchor here, and our men had become less
+careful than usual, sixteen large canoes full of Indians, all equipped
+for battle, with bows, arrows, and lances, came down the stream and made
+straight for our smallest vessel, commanded by Alonso de Avila, which
+lay nearest the shore. They greeted our men with a shower of arrows,
+wounding two of the soldiers, and then lay hold of the vessel as if they
+meant to carry her off, after they had cut one of the cables. We now
+hastened to the assistance of Alonso, who was still bravely repelling
+his assailants, and had capsized three of their canoes. We were well
+armed with crossbows and muskets, and very soon wounded at least above a
+third of our enemies, who speedily retreated to where they had come
+from, not exactly in the best of spirits. Upon this we weighed anchor
+and continued our course along the coast until we arrived at a wide
+projecting cape, which, on account of the strong currents, we found so
+difficult to double that we considered our further course now impeded.
+The chief pilot, Alaminos, here told our commander that it was no longer
+advisable to sail on at a venture, for which he gave us many plausible
+reasons. This matter being duly considered in council, it was
+unanimously agreed that we should return to Cuba.
+
+To this step we were, moreover, induced by the approach of winter,
+scarcity of provisions, and the bad condition of one of our vessels
+which had become very leaky. To this may also be added the disagreement
+between our commanders; for Juan de Grijalva persisted in his opinion
+that they should make an attempt to leave a colony behind, while
+Francisco de Montejo and Alonso de Avila, on the contrary, maintained
+that any such attempt would be fruitless, considering the multitude of
+warriors which inhabited these countries: to all this may be added that
+our men were heartily sick of the sea. We therefore turned our vessels
+about, hoisted all the sails, and arrived in a few days, being greatly
+assisted by the currents, in the wide waters of the Guacasualco river.
+We could not make any stay here on account of the boisterous state of
+the weather, and therefore continued our course along the coast until we
+arrived at the mouth of the river Tonala, to which we gave the name of
+St. Antonio. We ran up this river and careened the leaky vessel, which
+had struck there several times against the rocks.
+
+While we were busily engaged at this work, numbers of Indians came up to
+us from the harbour of Tonala, which lay about four miles from this
+place, bringing with them maise-bread, fish, and fruits, which they
+readily gave us. Our commander was particularly kind to them, and
+presented each with white and green glass beads, giving them at the same
+time to understand by signs that they should bring us gold in exchange
+for our goods. They soon complied with our wishes, but their gold was of
+a very inferior quality, for which they received imitation corals. As
+soon as the inhabitants of Guacasualco and the neighbouring districts
+had learnt that we offered our goods for barter, they brought us all
+their golden ornaments, and took in exchange green glass beads, on which
+they set a high value. Besides ornaments of gold, every Indian had with
+him a copper axe, which was very highly polished, with the handle
+curiously carved, as if to serve equally for an ornament as for the
+field of battle. At first we thought that these axes were made of an
+inferior kind of gold; we therefore commenced taking them in exchange,
+and, in the space of two days, had collected more than 600, with which
+we were no less rejoiced as long as we were ignorant of their real
+value, than the Indians with our glass beads. One of our sailors, who
+had by stealth bought seven of these axes and was secretly
+congratulating himself on this piece of good fortune, was betrayed to
+our commander-in-chief, who, ordering the man in his presence, commanded
+him to deliver up his treasure. Still of opinion that these axes were of
+gold, the poor fellow, though forced, reluctantly parted with them. This
+brings to my mind what befell one of our men, named Bartolome Prado:
+this fellow had managed to get inside of a temple, called by the Indians
+a cue,[7] which stood upon an elevated spot, and had found in it
+numerous idols, and some copal, which is the incense of the Indians;
+also knives made of hard flint, with which they cut their meat
+offerings, and otherwise make use of in their sacrifices. Besides these
+things, he found two small wooden boxes, filled with golden trinkets
+which are worn about the head and neck; also small idols, and other
+ornaments somewhat resembling our pearls. The idols he brought to his
+commander, but took care to keep the gold himself. It seems, however,
+that some one had been watching him all the time, who reported what he
+had seen to our captain. We all felt concerned at this, and spoke a good
+word for him, as he was a kind-hearted being: we begged hard of our
+commander that he might be allowed to retain his treasure, minus the
+fifth part claimed for the emperor, which being granted, the man had
+nigh upon eighty pesos left for himself. In this place I must also
+acquaint my readers how I sowed some orange seeds close to one of these
+temples. On account of the numbers of muschetoes which swarm along this
+river, I had, being tired, laid myself down to rest on the summit of a
+high temple: in gratitude for the quiet slumber I enjoyed there, I
+sowed, at the foot of this building, eight orange seeds which I had
+brought with me from Cuba. These seeds grew very fast, and when grown
+to small plants, were most probably watered and preserved from the ants
+by the papas, as soon as they perceived the new plant. I have merely
+related this in order to acquaint my reader that these were the first
+orange seeds that were planted in New Spain. Subsequent to the conquest
+of Mexico and friendly subjection of the Indian tribes on the
+Guacasualco, this province, being excellently situated, was considered
+of greater importance than any other, no less on account of its mines
+than for its beautiful harbour. The country, moreover, abounded in gold,
+and contained fine pastures for sheep, which was the reason why the most
+illustrious of the conquistadores[8] of Mexico settled themselves there;
+among which number was myself,--and I did not forget to look for my
+orange trees, which, indeed, I transplanted, and they afterwards
+flourished uncommonly.
+
+I am well aware that it will be said, such old tales as these are quite
+out of character here; I will not, therefore, say another syllable on
+the subject, but merely acquaint the reader that the inhabitants of
+these districts were all very much pleased with us, and embraced us at
+our departure. We set sail for Cuba, and arrived there in the space of
+forty days, during which time the weather was sometimes favorable and
+sometimes boisterous. We were most friendly received by the governor
+Diego Velasquez, who was highly delighted with the additional gold we
+brought him. Altogether it was well worth 4000 pesos; so that with the
+16,000 brought over by Alvarado, the whole amounted to 20,000 pesos.
+Some make this sum greater, some less; but one thing is certain, the
+crown officials only took the fifths of the last-mentioned sum. When
+they were about to take this also of the Indian axes, which we had
+mistaken for gold, they grew excessively angry on finding them to be
+merely of a fine species of copper; nor did this circumstance fail to
+produce the usual laughter at the expense of our trade of barter. Diego
+Velasquez, however, appeared perfectly satisfied, though not so with his
+relative Grijalva. This was wrong on his part, for it originated solely
+in the misrepresentations of Alonso de Avila, a man of a bad
+disposition, who did all he could, backed by Montejo, to lower Grijalva
+in his eyes. All this--rumour spread--was done in order to fit out
+another armament, and select a new commander.
+
+[7] According to Humboldt, the word cue was imported by the Spanish into
+New Spain from Cuba. The great temple of Mexico was called by the
+Indians teocalli; a word which Torquemada (Monarchia Indiana) thus
+explains: "Que es come decir, templo, u casas de Dios;" i.e. "As much as
+to say, a temple, or house of God." (p. 36.)
+
+[8] So those Spaniards, who made the first conquests in New Spain,
+termed themselves, by way of preference, which name they ever after
+retained as an honorary title. Even to this day in Spain it is
+considered very distinguishing to be descended from one of the
+Conquistadores, and some of the first families there date all their
+greatness from one of these bold adventurers. (p. 37.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+    _Diego Velasquez despatches one of his officials to Spain._
+
+
+My readers may perhaps think, that what I am now about to relate does
+not exactly belong to this history; but in the course of it they will
+readily perceive that I have been obliged to notice many circumstances
+before I could introduce them to the captain, Hernando Cortes. They
+ought also to bear in mind, that it often happens that two or three
+things take place at the same moment; in which case there only remains
+for the historian to treat of one circumstance after the other, and
+begin with that which lies nearest at hand. In this place the following
+comes first under our consideration.
+
+After the arrival of Pedro de Alvarado with the gold which we had made
+in the newly-discovered country, Diego Velasquez began to fear that some
+one at court, who might have received private information of all this,
+would anticipate him, in forwarding his imperial majesty the first news
+of our important discovery, and so rob him of the reward. He, therefore,
+despatched one of his chaplains, named Benito Martinez, a thorough man
+of business, to Spain, with letters and a few of the valuable things, to
+Don Juan Rodriguez Fonseca, bishop of Burgos, and archbishop of Rosano.
+He wrote at the same time to the licentiate Louis Zapata, and the
+secretary Lope Conchillos, who at that time had the conduct of all
+Indian affairs under the archbishop.
+
+Diego Velasquez was quite devoted to these gentlemen, and had presented
+them with considerable Indian villages in Cuba, with the inhabitants of
+which they worked their gold mines. But he took particular care to
+provide well for the archbishop, troubling himself very little about his
+majesty, who was at that time in Flanders.
+
+He sent moreover to these, his patrons, a great portion of the gold
+trinkets which Alvarado had brought with him; for everything that was
+determined in the imperial council of India depended upon these
+gentlemen. Diego Velasquez therefore sought, by means of his chaplain,
+to obtain unlimited permission to fit out armaments at any time he might
+think proper to make voyages of discovery, and to found colonies in the
+new countries as well as in those that might subsequently be discovered:
+in the accounts he transmitted to Spain, he spoke of the many thousands
+of gold-pesos which he had already spent in like undertakings; thereby
+giving such a favorable direction to the negotiations of his chaplain,
+Benito Martinez, that his expectations were more than fulfilled, who
+even obtained for him the additional title of Adelantado of Cuba. This
+latter appointment, however, did not arrive until the new expedition
+under Cortes had left. I will not make any further remarks on these
+matters at present, but rather say a few words respecting Francisco
+Lopez de Gomara's History of the Conquest of New Spain and Mexico. His
+history fell into my hands while I was writing my own, and I soon
+foresaw that I should have to contradict him in many instances. My
+intention is to give a faithful account, and that in due order, of every
+circumstance; this will greatly differ from his narrative, which is
+quite at variance with truth.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+    _Of some errors in the work of Francisco Lopez de Gomara._
+
+
+While busily engaged writing this narrative, the eloquent History of the
+Conquest of Mexico and New Spain, by Gomara, fell into my hands; and
+when I perceived the elegance of his style, and considered the rudeness
+of my own, I laid down my pen, ashamed at the very thoughts of its being
+read by men of distinction. With my spirits thus damped, I once more
+undertook to go through his history; it was then I, for the first time,
+discovered how mistaken this author was with respect to the occurrences
+which had really taken place in New Spain. He is equally bad whenever he
+writes about the magnitude of the towns and number of the inhabitants;
+in which, whenever it suits him, he does not, for instance, hesitate a
+moment to put 8000 for eight. In the same way he mentions the extensive
+buildings we were stated to have commenced, though, in fact, we were
+only 400 in number when we first went out to war, and had sufficient
+work to defend ourselves and prevent the victory from going over to our
+enemies. Though the Indians may have been timid, we were, nevertheless,
+guiltless of such wholesale slaughter and other barbarities as Gomara
+would lay to our doors. On the contrary, such was our situation, and I
+hereby seal my words with an oath when I state, that we daily offered up
+our prayers to God and the Holy Virgin to preserve us from destruction.
+
+Alaric was certainly a most courageous monarch, and Attila a soldier
+whose excessive pride would not allow him to shrink back from anything;
+yet they never slaughtered such multitudes of human beings on the
+Catalonian plains as we do in the book of Gomara!
+
+In the same way he mentions what numbers of towns and temples we either
+burnt or destroyed. I am speaking of the Indian temples, called by the
+inhabitants cues. This latter circumstance would certainly be most
+pleasing to his readers; but he never gave it a thought, when he was
+writing, that the conquistadores themselves, and those better informed,
+would detect his errors and falsehoods. Even in his other works,
+whenever he speaks about New Spain, he immediately commits blunders. In
+one place he praises a commander far above his merits, for which very
+reason he in another most unjustly diminishes that of a second. In
+another place again, he gives many a one a command who was not even in
+the army during the conquest: he gives, for instance, the chief command
+at the battle fought near the town afterwards called Almeria, to Pedro
+d'Irico, when, in fact, it was Juan de Escalante who commanded on that
+occasion, and was killed with seven of his men. Again he says, that Juan
+Velasquez de Leon founded the colony of Guacasualco, although it was
+Gonzalo de Sandoval, of Avila. There is as much truth in his account
+when he says that Cortes ordered the Indian Quezal Popoca, one of
+Motecusuma's chiefs, to be burnt, together with the village in which it
+was stated he had hid himself. Equal reliance may be placed in his
+description of our entry into the town and fortress of Anga Panga, where
+everything happened exactly contrary to what he has stated. In his
+narrative of our proceedings on the downs, when we had appointed Cortes
+captain-general and chief justice, he has allowed himself to be deceived
+by false information, while he has totally misrepresented our taking of
+the town Chamula, in the province of Chiapa. A still greater blunder he
+commits when he states that Cortes issued his orders secretly for the
+destruction of the eleven vessels which had brought us to New Spain, for
+it is perfectly well known that the ships were run on shore by our
+unanimous consent, and in presence of us all, in order that the sailors
+might also be armed and accompany us on our march.
+
+In like manner he lowers the merits of Juan de Grijalva, although he had
+proved himself such a worthy officer; while he passes by Hernandez de
+Cordoba in silence, though he was the first who discovered Yucatan: of
+Francisco de Garay he says, that he had accompanied us on the previous
+expedition under Grijalva, though he first visited New Spain during this
+last expedition. In the account he gives of the arrival of Narvaez, and
+the victory we gained over him, he is certainly more faithful, and has
+been well informed of all the circumstances; but, with respect to the
+battles with the Tlascallans, up to the time when peace was concluded
+with them, he has again diverged from the truth. Concerning the battle
+we fought in the city of Mexico itself, in which we were worsted and
+beaten back with the loss of 860 of our troops, of whom a great portion
+was sacrificed to the idols,--I repeat, where above 860 of our men were
+killed, for out of 1300 soldiers who had marched into the town to the
+relief of Pedro de Alvarado, which made out the united forces of Narvaez
+and Cortes, only 440 escaped, and even these were all wounded,--of this
+great and important deed of arms he speaks as if it were a mere nothing.
+He says as little of the subsequent conquest we made of the great city
+of Mexico, or the manner in which we accomplished it, and omits to
+mention the number of our killed and wounded; as if this undertaking had
+merely been a jolly marriage-procession. But why should I continue to
+enumerate all these particularities one by one, it is a mere waste of
+ink and paper! I can only say that it is a great pity if Gomara pursues
+the same course in all his works; for in the beautiful style in which he
+writes, he ought to make truth perceptible, and distinguish himself
+therein. But enough of Gomara; I have sufficiently proved, to the sorrow
+of his readers, how far he has gone beside the truth. I will now return
+to my history, and strive to act up to the advice of wise men, who say
+that honesty and truth are the true ornaments to history. Indeed, my
+rude style of writing would be insupportable without truth, and
+therefore I was determined to put my trust in it, and continue my
+narrative in the way I had begun, that it might go to the press, and
+publish to the world the conquest of New Spain, as it really took place.
+In this way his imperial majesty will also learn the great services
+which we, the true conquistadores, have rendered to the crown; how small
+our numbers were when we first arrived in this country, under the
+command of our highly-favoured and faithful captain, Hernando Cortes;
+what dangers we had to brave; and, lastly, how we conquered this
+kingdom, which forms a great part of the New World, and for which reason
+his majesty, our most christian king and master, has so often ordered
+that we should be rewarded. However, I will not say anything further on
+this head, though much might be said. In resuming my pen I will, like a
+careful pilot who throws out the lead when he is in danger of shallows,
+search after truth, where the historian Gomara flies away from it. I
+will not, however, detain my readers by entering into minute
+particulars, but always keep the whole in view, in order that the costs
+of gathering the leasings may not amount to more than the value of the
+full vintage. If other historians should further swell out my narrative,
+and bestow on Cortes, our commander, and on the brave conquistadores in
+this great and holy expedition, their just measure of praise, I can at
+least say that I have witnessed for the truth. These, indeed, are not
+stories about strange countries, or dreams, or contradictory statements;
+everything I relate, if I may so say, happened but yesterday, and the
+whole of New Spain can test these representations, and judge how far
+those are correct who have written on the same subject. I will relate
+that of which I myself was an eyewitness, facts which I know to be true,
+and will pay no attention to the contradictory statements of those who
+merely write from hearsay, for truth is a sacred thing. I will therefore
+say no more on this head, though I could, if I liked, say a good deal;
+and merely add, that there are good grounds for believing that when
+Gomara was writing his history, he had been deceived by false
+information: with him, every circumstance is made to turn to the glory
+and honour of Cortes, while no mention is made of the other brave
+officers and soldiers; but, the partiality of this author is
+sufficiently seen from the circumstance of his having dedicated his work
+to the present Marquis del Valle, son of Cortes, and not to his majesty
+the king. But, alas! these untruths and errors are not peculiar to
+Francisco Lopez de Gomara, but have also been the means of leading many
+other writers and historians who had followed his work into like error,
+as for instance, Doctor Illescas and Paulo Jovio, who have exactly
+copied Gomara's account, without adding or taking away a single word.
+For all their blunders they are indebted to Gomara.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+    _How another armament was fitted out for a voyage to the newly
+    discovered countries. The command of which was given to Hernando
+    Cortes, afterwards Marquis of the Vale of Oaxaca; also of the secret
+    cabals which were formed to deprive him of it._
+
+
+Immediately after the return of Juan de Grijalva from our last voyage of
+discovery, in the year 1518, Diego Velasquez issued orders for the
+fitting-out of a more considerable armament than the foregoing. For this
+purpose he had ten vessels lying in the harbour of Santiago de Cuba, at
+his disposal. Among these were the four vessels in which we had just
+returned with Grijalva, which had been immediately refitted and
+careened. The six others had been collected from the different ports of
+the island. The vessels were provided with sufficient provisions,
+consisting in cassave-bread, tobacco, and smoked bacon, to last us on
+our voyage to the Havannah, where they were to be fully equipped, for at
+that time there was neither beef nor mutton to be had in Cuba. In the
+meantime, however, Diego Velasquez could not make up his mind to whom
+he should intrust the command. Some cavaliers certainly mentioned Vasco
+Porcallo, a captain of great renown, and related to the earl of Feria,
+who, it was said, would shortly arrive to take the command. This man,
+however, did not suit Diego Velasquez; he feared his daring spirit, and
+was apprehensive that once having the armament under his command he
+would declare himself independent of him. Others again spoke of Augustin
+Bermudez, Antonio Velasquez Borrego, and Bernardino Velasquez, who were
+all three relatives of Velasquez. We soldiers, however, would not hear
+of any other than Juan de Grijalva, who, besides being a brave officer,
+bore an unblemished character; a man moreover who fully understood the
+art of commanding. While such like rumours were afloat, the affair was
+secretly settled, by two confidants of Diego Velasquez, Andreas de
+Duero, secretary to the governor, and Almador de Lares, the royal
+treasurer, with Hernando Cortes. Cortes was a cavalier of rank, a native
+of Medellin, and son of Martin Cortes de Monroy, and of Catalina Pizarro
+Altamirano, both descendants of two ancient noble families of
+Estremadura, though then in rather straitened circumstances. Cortes had
+an Indian commendary in Cuba, and had been recently married to Doña
+Catalina Suarez Pacheco, daughter of the late Diego Suarez Pacheco of
+Avila, and of Maria de Mercaida of Biscay; and sister to Juan Suarez
+Pacheco, who, subsequent to the conquest of New Spain, took up his abode
+in Mexico, where he had a commendary. This marriage proved very
+expensive to Cortes, and had even occasioned his imprisonment. Diego
+Velasquez favoured the family of Cortes's wife, who had been averse to
+the match: but I must leave this for others to expatiate upon, and
+rather confine myself to the principal subject in this place, which is,
+to acquaint my reader that the above-mentioned confidants of Diego
+Velasquez did all in their power to obtain the appointment of
+commander-in-chief for Cortes; who, on the other hand, had promised to
+share equally with them all the profits arising from the gold, silver,
+and jewels, which pending this expedition should fall to his share,
+which might turn out very considerable, since the real design of Diego
+Velasquez, in fitting-out this expedition, was not to make settlements,
+but that a trade of barter should be carried on with the natives. Duero
+and the royal treasurer, therefore, employed all their cunning with the
+governor. They took every opportunity of placing Cortes in the most
+favorable light--extolling his great courage, in a word, declared him to
+be the most proper person whom he could intrust with the command. In him
+he might place implicit confidence, the more so since he himself had
+been present as a witness at Cortes's marriage, and given the bride
+away, and was thus spiritually related to him. Their endeavours were
+indeed crowned with success, by Diego Velasquez conferring the
+appointment of captain-general of the expedition on that gentleman. The
+secretary Duero did not fail on this occasion, as the saying is, to
+write out the commission with the best of ink, to word it agreeably to
+Cortes's wishes, and finish it in all haste. When the appointment became
+known to the public, some approved of it and others not.
+
+On the Sunday following, as Diego Velasquez was on his way to church,
+accompanied by the principal personages in the town, as was due to him
+in his capacity of governor, it happened that he did Cortes the honour
+of placing him on his right side; on the road they were met by a jester,
+nick-named the fool Servantes: this fellow kept in front of the
+governor, cutting all manner of ridiculous figures and playing all sorts
+of pranks. "Well-a-day, friend Diego, (commenced this jack-pudding,)
+what manner of a captain-general have you appointed? He of Medellin and
+Estremadura! A captain who wants to try his fortune in no small way. I
+am afraid he will cut his sticks with your whole squadron; for he is a
+terrible fellow when he once begins, this you may read in his
+countenance." As he was chattering on in this strain for some time and
+growing more severe in his observations, Andreas de Duero, who was
+walking by the side of Cortes, hit him a good blow on the head, crying
+out at the same time, "begone you drunken fool! I am sure these
+scandalous pleasantries never emanated in your brain." The buffoon,
+however, took no notice of this, but commenced a-new. "Long live my
+friend Diego and the bold captain Cortes! Upon my life, master Diego, I
+must really go myself with Cortes to those rich countries, in order that
+you may not repent of the bargain you have made!" Nobody doubted for a
+moment that it was Velasquez, the governor's relative, who had feed the
+jester with a few pesos to utter these complaints, all emanating from a
+bad feeling. Everything this fool had predicted, however, took place to
+the very letter, and only proves that fools often speak the truth. It is
+nevertheless certain that the appointment of Hernando Cortes was
+pleasing in the eyes of God, a blessing to our holy religion, and of the
+first importance to his majesty, as will be clearly proved in the
+sequel.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+    _Of the designs and plans of Hernando Cortes after he had obtained
+    the appointment of captain._
+
+
+After Hernando Cortes had thus been appointed captain, he immediately
+set about to collect all manner of arms and ammunition, consisting of
+matchlocks, crossbows, powder, and the like; in the same way he took
+care to provide a large stock of goods for barter, and other necessaries
+requisite for our expedition. He was now also most particular in
+adorning his outward person, more than ordinarily: he stuck a bunch of
+feathers in his cap, to which he fastened a golden medal, which gave him
+a very stately appearance. Notwithstanding all this he was at that time
+greatly pinched for money to purchase the things he required, being, in
+addition, head and ears in debt: for, though his commendary was a
+lucrative one, and his gold mines very productive, he required it all
+for his own person and the dress of his young wife. For the rest his
+countenance was most winning, his conversation agreeable, while he was
+beloved by every one. He had been twice Alcalde of Santiago de Boroco,
+where he resided, which is esteemed a great honour in these parts. When,
+therefore, his friends among the merchants, Jaime Tria and a certain
+Pedro de Xeres, heard of his appointment, they lent him 4000 gold pesos
+and other merchandise, upon the income arising from his commendary. With
+this money he bought a state robe with golden trains, ensigns bearing
+the arms of our sovereign the king, on each side of which was the figure
+of a cross, beneath this a Latin inscription, the meaning of which was:
+"Brothers, let us in true faith follow the cross, and the victory is
+ours!" He then made known by sound of drum and trumpet, in the name of
+his majesty and Diego Velasquez the governor, that all those who felt
+inclined to accompany him to the conquest and colonization of the
+newly-discovered countries, should have a share in the gold, silver, and
+jewels they might gain; also that, when any one settled himself there,
+he should be presented with an Indian commendary, the distribution of
+which his majesty had confided to Diego Velasquez.
+
+Although this proclamation was made previous to the return of the
+chaplain Benito Martinez, whom Diego had despatched to Spain to procure
+for him such authority and other powers, yet it made a deep impression
+among the inhabitants of the island. Cortes, also, at the same time
+wrote to all his friends, inviting them to join the expedition. Many
+there were who sold all they were possessed of, to buy themselves arms
+and a horse; others purchased stores of cassave-bread and salted bacon
+to provision the ships, and otherwise equipped themselves as well as
+they could. Our numbers had increased to 300 soldiers when we left
+Santiago de Cuba: we were even joined by some of the principal
+personages of Diego Velasquez's household; among the number was Diego de
+Ordas, his steward. To this he had certainly been advised by his master,
+to see that nothing was done opposed to his interests, as he did not
+altogether trust Cortes. There was also Francisco de Morla, Escobar,
+Herredia, Juan Ruano, Pedro Escudero, and Martin Ramos de Pares of
+Biscay, with many other friends and acquaintances of Velasquez. Myself I
+speak of last. Though I have merely enumerated these warriors as they
+came to my memory; without wishing, however, to give one any preference
+above the other. I intend hereafter to give the names of them all in the
+proper place.
+
+While Cortes was thus making every exertion to expedite the equipment of
+the vessels, the malice and envy of the relatives of Velasquez was not
+silent, who felt themselves most grievously neglected that the command
+should have been intrusted to Cortes. Velasquez had only shortly
+beforehand shown his hatred to Cortes on account of his marriage, and
+even persecuted him; they were therefore the more spiteful, and in every
+way strove to lower him in the eyes of the governor, hoping thereby to
+deprive him of the command. Cortes, who was fully acquainted with this,
+took care to be always at Velasquez's side. He took every opportunity of
+showing his attachment to him, and spoke of nothing but of the glory of
+this undertaking, and of the vast riches it could not fail, in a short
+time, to bring his patron Velasquez. Even Andreas de Duero urged Cortes
+by all means to hasten the embarkation, as the relatives of Velasquez
+had already succeeded in altering his sentiments with regard to Cortes.
+The latter therefore desired his wife to send him on board the
+provisions and other presents which women under such circumstances are
+accustomed to give their husbands. He made known to the masters and
+pilots of the different vessels the day and hour of departure, and
+ordered all the men to be on board by a certain day.
+
+Everything being now ready for his departure, and all the men on board,
+Cortes called upon the governor to take leave of him, and was
+accompanied on this occasion by his best friends and companions in arms,
+Andreas de Duero, the royal treasurer, Almador de Lares, and the
+principal inhabitants of the town. Velasquez and Cortes vowed eternal
+friendship, and did not part until they had several times embraced each
+other.
+
+The next morning early we attended mass, after which we marched to our
+vessels accompanied by the governor and a number of cavaliers in
+honorable escort.
+
+The weather being very fine, we arrived, after a few days' sail, safely
+in the harbour of Trinidad, and landed there.
+
+From what has already been said, and will further be seen in the
+following chapter, the reader may easily imagine the various
+difficulties Cortes had to struggle with; though, when my narrative is
+confronted with that of Gomara, it will be found how greatly they
+differ. Gomara, for instance, will have that Andreas de Duero was a
+merchant, though, as private secretary to the governor, he had
+considerable weight in the island; and of Diego de Ordas, he says, that
+he accompanied the expedition under Grijalva, though he never went out
+until this time with Cortes. But I will leave Gomara and his miserable
+history, and relate our doings in the town of Trinidad.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+    _Cortes's occupations at Trinidad, and of the cavaliers and warriors
+    who there joined our expedition, and other matters._
+
+
+On the first notice of our arrival at Trinidad, the inhabitants came out
+to welcome us and our commander Cortes. Among the great body of
+cavaliers in this place, every one strove hardest to have Cortes for his
+guest. Cortes immediately planted his standard in front of his dwelling,
+and made the public acquainted with the particulars of the expedition in
+the same way as he had done at Santiago, and further collected whatever
+he could in the shape of firearms with other necessaries. Here we were
+also joined by the Alvarados, namely, Pedro, who has often been
+mentioned in this history, his brothers Gonzalo, Jorge, Gomez, and his
+natural brother the elder Juan Alvarado. Further we were here joined by
+Alonso de Avila of Avila, who had a command in the last expedition,
+under Grijalva; Juan de Escalante, Pedro Sanchez Farsan of Sevilla;
+Gonzalo Mexia, subsequently treasurer at Mexico; Vaena, Juanes de
+Fuentarabia, and Christobal de Oli, who had a command at the taking of
+Mexico, and in all the battles fought in New Spain. Further, Ortiz, the
+musician, and Gaspar Sanchez, nephew to the treasurer of Cuba; Diego de
+Pinedo, Alonzo Rodriguez, who possessed some lucrative gold mines, and
+Bartolome Garcia. To which may be added many other cavaliers whose
+names at present I cannot remember, all personages of influence and
+respectability. From this place Cortes also wrote letters to
+Santispiritus, fifty-four miles from Trinidad, and made our expedition
+known to the public there. He knew so well how to mix up his sentences
+with inviting expressions and great promises, that many of the first
+personages of that town were thereby induced to join us. These were
+Hernando Puertocarrero, cousin to the earl of Medellin, and Gonzalo de
+Sandoval, who had been eight months alguacil-major and governor, and was
+afterwards a commander in New Spain; also Juan Velasquez de Leon, a
+relation of Diego Velasquez; Rodrigo Rangel, Gonzalo Lopez de Ximena,
+with his brother Juan Lopez, and Juan Sedeño. This latter gentleman was
+an inhabitant of Santispiritus, and had joined Cortes because of the two
+other Sedeños who were among us. These gentlemen, who were all men of
+consequence, had arrived at the same time in Trinidad, when Cortes,
+accompanied by the whole of us, went out to meet them. Cannons were
+fired, and other rejoicings took place on this occasion, while
+professions of esteem and friendship were past from one party to the
+other. All these men possessed land in the neighbourhood of this town,
+where they ordered cassave-bread to be made, and bacon to be cured, and
+otherwise collected all the provisions they possibly could for our
+vessels. Here also we hired soldiers, and purchased some horses, which
+latter, at that time, were very scarce, and only to be had at exorbitant
+prices. Alonso Hernandez de Puertocarrero, whom I had previously known,
+had not sufficient money to purchase himself a horse; Cortes, therefore,
+bought one for him, and paid for it with the golden borders of the
+velvet robe he had procured at Santiago. About this time there also
+arrived in the port of Trinidad a vessel belonging to a certain Juan
+Sedeño, of the Havannah, laden with cassave-bread and salted meat, which
+was destined for the mines of Santiago. This Sedeño, who had called upon
+our commander to pay his respects, was soon persuaded, by the eloquence
+and address of Cortes, to sell him his ship with the lading and all, and
+himself to join the expedition. We had now eleven ships in all, and
+everything, thanks to Providence, was going on well, when letters
+arrived from Diego Velasquez with peremptory orders that Cortes was to
+be deprived of the command. But I will detail this matter in the
+following chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+    _How the governor Diego Velasquez sends two of his officials in all
+    haste to Trinidad, with full power and authority to deprive Cortes
+    of his appointment of captain, and bring the squadron away, &c._
+
+
+I must now carry my narrative back a few days, in order to relate what
+happened at Santiago de Cuba after our departure. We had scarcely set
+sail when Diego Velasquez's friends left him not a moment's peace,
+harassing him until they had totally revolutionised his sentiments with
+regard to Cortes. They now plainly told him that he might consider
+Cortes as lost to his interests from his having so secretly sneaked away
+from the harbour. Neither had he made any secret of his determination to
+have the chief command of the armament, whether Diego might wish it or
+not; for which reason he had embarked his men at night-time, that if any
+attempt were made to deprive him of the squadron, he would resist it by
+main force. He, the governor, had been deceived by his private secretary
+Duero, and De Lares the royal treasurer, who had both made some previous
+agreement with Cortes to procure him the command. But in particular the
+relatives of Velasquez were constantly urging him to cancel the recent
+appointment of Cortes, in which they were backed by a certain old man,
+named Juan Millan, commonly termed the astrologer, who was considered by
+many not to be exactly in his proper senses. This old man repeatedly
+told the governor that Cortes would now revenge himself for his having,
+some time ago, thrown him into prison: "Sly and artful as he is, he will
+be the means of ruining you, if you are not upon your guard."
+
+These hints were not thrown away upon Velasquez; they brought about a
+revolution in his mind, which ended in his despatching two trustworthy
+persons out of his establishment, with private instructions to his
+brother-in-law Francisco de Verdugo, then alcalde major of Trinidad, by
+which he was peremptorily commanded, under all circumstances, to deprive
+Cortes of the squadron, whose appointment of captain had been withdrawn,
+and given to Vasco Porcallo. At the same time he wrote letters to Diego
+de Ordas, Francisco de Morla, and to his relations and friends, desiring
+them, at all events, to leave the squadron.
+
+As soon as Cortes got information of this, he had a secret interview
+with Ordas and all those officers and inhabitants of Trinidad, who, he
+thought, might feel inclined to obey the orders of Velasquez. To these
+he spoke so feelingly, and in such kind terms, accompanied by such great
+promises, that they were all soon gained over to his side. Diego de
+Ordas even undertook to advise the alcalde major Francisco de Verdugo
+not to put these commands immediately into execution, and to keep them
+secret; telling him, at the same time, he had seen nothing in Cortes
+which gave the slightest reasons for suspecting him of anything wrong;
+on the contrary, he had, on every occasion, given proofs of his
+adherence to the governor. He assured him, moreover, that it would be an
+impossibility to deprive Cortes of the command of the squadron, in which
+he had so many friends among the cavaliers, and Diego Velasquez so many
+enemies, who would not easily forgive him that he had neglected to
+bestow on them more profitable commendaries. Besides the number of
+friends Cortes had among the officers, he could rely upon most of the
+soldiers, and thus it would be useless to attempt anything against him.
+The whole town would become mixed up in the quarrel, which would be
+plundered by our men, and even worse consequences might follow. By these
+arguments, Ordas prevented all violent measures; and one of the
+above-mentioned officials, whom Diego had sent with despatches to his
+nephew, named Pedro Laso, even joined our expedition. The other, Cortes
+sent back with a letter to the governor, in which he made use of every
+kind sentiment, and expressed his utter astonishment at the resolution
+he had taken, particularly as he had no other design than to serve God,
+his majesty the king, and the governor. He earnestly advised him not to
+listen any further to his cousin Velasquez, nor to allow the kind
+feeling he entertained for him to be poisoned by such an old fool as
+Juan Millan. Cortes, at the same time, wrote to his other friends, and
+in particular to his two confederates, the private secretary and royal
+treasurer.
+
+The next step he took was to command his men to put their arms into good
+repair. Every smith in the town was set to work to fix points to our
+lances, and the gunners were ordered to search every magazine for
+arrows. He at last even persuaded the very smiths to join the armament.
+
+We remained altogether twelve days at Trinidad, and thence sailed for
+the Havannah. From the foregoing statement, the reader will readily
+perceive how differently all this has been related by Gomara, who even
+makes Velasquez confer the chief command on Ordas; the latter, he says,
+invited Cortes to dine with him on board his vessel, had him seized
+while at dinner, and taken off prisoner to Santiago. I could cite many
+similar errors from Gomara's history, and thereby convince the reader
+that it is better to believe an eyewitness than an author who writes
+about things he never saw. However, enough of Gomara; let us return to
+our subject.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+    _Cortes embarks with all his cavaliers and soldiers in order to sail
+    along the south side of the island to the Havannah, and sends off
+    one of the vessels to go around the north coast for the same port._
+
+
+Cortes, finding that he had nothing further to do at Trinidad,
+acquainted his officers and men with the hour of departure, leaving it
+to each one's choice either to proceed to the Havannah by sea, or march
+thither overland, under the command of Pedro de Alvarado, who would be
+joined by some men from one of the colonies, on his road. Alvarado was a
+kind-hearted man, who knew best how to deal with soldiers; wherefore I
+myself, with fifty other military men, gladly joined him; our numbers
+were, moreover, increased by all our horse. Cortes also sent a vessel,
+under the command of Juan de Escalante, which was to shape its course
+around the north coast to the Havannah. Cortes then embarked, and
+proceeded, with the whole squadron, for the same port. The transport
+ships must, however, have missed the vessel of our commander-in-chief in
+the night, as they all arrived safe at the Havannah without it. The
+troops under Pedro de Alvarado also arrived in good time, and the vessel
+under the command of Escalante, which had sailed around the north coast.
+
+Cortes alone remained behind; nor could any one account for his delay,
+or what could possibly have detained him. Five days passed away without
+our obtaining the least tidings of him, and we already began to fear
+that he had been shipwrecked off the Jardines,[9] which lie from thirty
+to thirty-six miles from the Havannah, near the Pinos isles, where the
+sea is very shallow: we therefore determined to send out our three
+smaller vessels in quest of her; but what with the fitting-out of these
+vessels, added to the manifold opinions and advices, two more days
+elapsed, and Cortes still remained behind. All manner of artifices were
+now had recourse to, as to whom the command should be given, until some
+certainty was gained respecting the fate of Cortes, in which Diego de
+Ordas, in his capacity of steward over the household of Velasquez, and
+secret observer of our movements, was most active.
+
+The following misfortune had befallen Cortes. When his vessel, which was
+of considerable tonnage, had arrived off the Pinos isles on the shallows
+of the Jardines, there was not sufficient depth of water to carry her,
+and she consequently got aground. The ship had now to be unladen, which
+was an easy matter, on account of the nearness of the shore. As soon as
+she was set afloat again and brought into deeper water she was reloaded
+and pursued her voyage to the Havannah. The joy among the officers and
+soldiers was very great as soon as she became visible in the horizon, to
+those excepted who had prized themselves with the command, to whose
+machinations, however, there was now an end. We accompanied Cortes to
+the house of Pedro Barba, Velasquez's lieutenant at Trinidad, where
+quarters had been got ready for his reception. He immediately hoisted
+his standard in front of his dwelling, and by public proclamation
+invited the inhabitants to join the expedition.
+
+It was here that Francisco de Montejo first joined us, of whom I shall
+often have to speak in the course of this history: subsequent to the
+conquest of Mexico he became adelantado and governor of Yucatan and the
+Honduras. Here we were also joined by Diego de Soto of Toro, namely, who
+afterwards was Cortes's steward in Mexico; further, Angula and Garci
+Caro, Sebastian Rodriguez, Pacheco, Gutierras, Royas (this is not he
+commonly called the wealthy); also by a young fellow of the name of
+Santaclara; the two brothers, Martinez del Frexenal and Juan de
+Najara--not the deaf one of the tennis-court at Mexico: all of whom were
+men of rank and quality. There were also other soldiers who joined us,
+whose names I have forgotten.
+
+When Cortes, therefore, beheld all these cavaliers together, his heart
+leaped with joy, and he sent off another ship for a further supply of
+provisions to the promontory of Guaniguanico, where Velasquez had landed
+property. Here was a village where cassave-bread was made, and
+quantities of swine's flesh cured. He gave the command of this vessel to
+Diego de Ordas, who, as Velasquez's steward, ordered matters on his
+master's property as he liked. Cortes wished to keep him out of the way,
+having learnt that Ordas had not spoken in very favorable terms of him
+during the dispute as to whom the command should be given, when he was
+detained off the Pinos isles. Ordas's instructions were to remain in the
+harbour of Guaniguanico, after he had taken in his lading, until the
+arrival there of the vessel which was to sail around the north coast,
+with which he was then to proceed to the island of Cozumel, provided he
+received no further instructions by Indian canoes.
+
+Francisco de Montejo and other cavaliers of the Havannah likewise
+furnished quantities of cassave-bread and cured bacon; there being no
+other kind of provisions to be had. In the meantime Cortes ordered all
+our heavy guns, consisting in ten copper cannons and a few falconets, to
+be brought on shore and given in charge of an artilleryman, named Mesa,
+a certain Arbenga who traded to the Levant, and Juan Catalan, to prove
+them, and otherwise put them into good repair; also to furnish for each
+the right-sized balls and proper quantity of powder. He also gave them
+an assistant, named Bartolome de Usagre, and furnished them with vinegar
+and wine to polish the copper pieces. In the same way all our crossbows
+were inspected, and their strength ascertained by shooting at the
+target. Cotton being very plentiful here we constructed ourselves
+cuirasses with it, which form the most efficient protection against
+Indian arrows, pikes, and slings. Here it was also that Cortes put his
+establishment on a much superior footing, and had himself served as a
+person of the first quality. He took for his butler a certain Guzman,
+who was subsequently killed by the Indians; he must not, however, be
+confounded with Christobal de Guzman, who afterwards became his steward,
+and was the man whom took the king Quauhtemoctzin prisoner, during the
+battle in the suburbs of Mexico. Rodrigo Rangel he appointed his
+chamberlain, and Juan de Caceres his house-steward, who after the
+conquest of Mexico was considered a man of great wealth. Having ordered
+all these things, he commanded us to hold ourselves in readiness for
+embarking, and to distribute the horses among the vessels, for which the
+necessary quantity of maise and hay had been provided.
+
+For memory's sake I will here likewise describe the horses and mares
+which we took with us on our expedition. Cortes had a dark chesnut
+stallion, which died afterwards at St. Juan de Ulua. Pedro de Alvarado
+and Hernando Lopez d'Avila had jointly an excellent brown mare, which
+had been broken-in for the field of battle as well as for tournaments.
+After our arrival in New Spain, Alvarado bought Lopez's share, or
+perhaps took forcible possession of it. Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero
+had a grey-coloured mare, which Cortes had purchased for him with the
+golden borders of his state-robe, it was capitally trained for the field
+of battle. Juan Velasquez de Leon's mare was of the same colour, a noble
+and powerful animal, full of fire and eager for battle: we commonly
+termed it the "short tail."
+
+Christobal de Oli had a dark brown fine-spirited horse. Francisco de
+Montejo and Alonso de Avila had between them a sorel-coloured horse, but
+of little use in battle. Francisco de Morla had likewise a dark chesnut
+stallion, one full of fire and wonderfully swift. The light-coloured
+horse of Juan de Escalante was not worth much. The grey-coloured mare of
+Diego de Ordas, which would never foal, was neither very swift. Gonzalo
+Dominiguez had a small dark-brown nag, a very swift and noble animal.
+Also the brown-coloured horse of Pedro Gonzalez de Truxillo was a swift
+animal. Moron, who was a native of Vaimo, had a small horse which was
+pretty well trained. Vaena, of Trinidad, had a darkish-coloured horse,
+though a bad leaper. The light-coloured chesnut galloway of De Lares
+was, on the other hand, a splendid animal and a capital runner.
+
+Ortiz, the musician, and a certain Bartolome Garcia, who had applied
+himself to the art of mining, had between them a very good dark-coloured
+horse, which they named the Arriero (mule-driver,) and was one of the
+best animals of the whole corps. Juan Sedeño, of the Havannah, had a
+fine chesnut mare, which foaled on board. This Sedeño was considered to
+be the most wealthy man amongst us; for he had a ship of his own, a
+horse, a few negroes to attend upon him, and his own lading of cassave
+and cured bacon. Just about this time horses and negroes were only to be
+purchased for very high prices, which accounts for the small number of
+the former we had with us on this expedition.
+
+However, I will stop here, and relate in the next chapter what happened
+as we were just about to embark.
+
+[9] Jardines, or the Caribbee islands, lying along the south coast of
+Cuba, better known as the Windward and Leeward islands. (p. 51.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+    _Diego Velasquez sends one of his officials, named Gaspar Garnica,
+    with full authority to take Cortes prisoner, whatever might be the
+    consequence; and what further happened._
+
+
+In order that my history may be perfectly intelligible to my readers, I
+must sometimes recur to prior events. In this place I have to return to
+Diego Velasquez, who, when he learnt that his brother-in-law, Francisco
+Verdugo, sub-governor of Trinidad, had not only confirmed Cortes in his
+appointment over the squadron, but even, conjointly with Diego de Ordas,
+lent him every possible assistance, fell into such a rage that he roared
+like a wild beast. He accused his private secretary Andreas de Duero,
+and the royal treasurer Almador de Lares, of a conspiracy to cheat him,
+adding, that Cortes had run off with the whole squadron. Nor did
+Velasquez stop here, but despatched one of his officials with
+imperative commands to Pedro Barba, sub-governor of the Havannah, at the
+same time writing to all his relatives in that town, to De Ordas and to
+Juan Velasquez de Leon, who were his special confidants, requiring them
+to swear, by the friendship they bore him, not, under any pretence
+whatsoever, to allow the squadron to depart, but to send Cortes prisoner
+to Santiago. As soon as Garnica, the bearer of these despatches,
+arrived, it was immediately guessed for what purpose he came. Cortes was
+even apprized of it by means of the very bearer himself: for one of the
+brethren of Charity, who was much in company with Velasquez, and greatly
+in favour with him, had forwarded by this same Garnica a letter to a
+brother of the same order, named Bartolome de Olmedo, who had joined our
+expedition. By means of this letter, Cortes was apprized of the whole
+posture of affairs by those interested with him, Andreas de Duero and
+the royal treasurer. Ordas, as we have above seen, having been sent off
+in quest of provisions, Cortes had now only to fear opposition from Juan
+Velasquez de Leon; but even him he had half gained over to his side, not
+being on the best of terms with his relative the governor, who had only
+presented him with a very poor commendary. Thus it was that the design
+of Velasquez was frustrated by those very persons to whom he had
+written. Indeed, from that very moment, these personages only united
+themselves the closer to Cortes, particularly the sub-governor Pedro
+Barba, the Alvarados, Puertocarrero, Montejo, Christobal de Oli, Juan
+de Escalante, Andreas de Monjaraz, and his brother Gregorio, who, with
+all of us, were ready to stake our lives for Cortes. Had the orders of
+Velasquez been kept secret in Trinidad, they were now the more so in
+this place; and Pedro de Barba despatched Garnica to Diego Velasquez
+with the information that he durst not venture to take Cortes into
+custody, as he was too powerful and too much beloved by the soldiers;
+fearing, if he should make the attempt, that the town would be
+plundered, and the whole of the inhabitants forcibly dragged away. For
+the rest, he could assure Diego Velasquez that Cortes was quite devoted
+to him, and did nothing that could be said to militate against his
+interests. Cortes himself also wrote a letter couched in those smooth
+terms he so very well knew how to employ, assuring Velasquez of the
+unabated friendship he entertained for him, and that he was going to set
+sail the very next day.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+    _Cortes sets sail with the whole squadron for the island of Cozumel,
+    and what further took place._
+
+
+Cortes deferred the review of his troops until we should have arrived at
+the island of Cozumel, and gave orders for the embarking of our horses.
+Pedro de Alvarado, in the San Sebastian, which was a very fast sailer,
+was ordered to shape his course along the north coast, and his pilot
+received strict orders to steer direct for the cape of St. Antonio,
+where all the other vessels would meet and set sail for Cozumel: like
+instructions were forwarded to Diego de Ordas. Mass having been said,
+the nine remaining vessels set sail, in a southerly direction, on the
+10th of February, 1519. There were sixty soldiers on board the San
+Sebastian, under Alvarado, among which number I was myself. Camacho, our
+pilot, took no notice of the orders he had received from Cortes, but
+shaped his course direct for Cozumel, so that we arrived two days
+earlier there than the rest. We landed our men in the same harbour I
+before mentioned in our expedition under Grijalva. Cortes had been
+detained on his passage by the breaking of the rudder of Francisco de
+Morla's vessel, which had to be replaced from what they had at hand.
+
+Our vessel, as I have stated above, arrived two days earlier at Cozumel
+than the rest, and the whole of the men proceeded on shore. We did not
+meet with a single Indian in the village of Cozumel, as all the
+inhabitants had fled away. Alvarado, therefore, ordered us to another
+village at about four miles distance from the latter. Here the
+inhabitants had likewise fled to the woods, without, however, being able
+to carry off all their property, so that we found numbers of fowls and
+other things; of the former, Alvarado would not permit us to take more
+than forty. Out of a temple near at hand we took several cotton mats,
+and a few small boxes containing a species of diadem, small idols,
+corals, with all manner of trinkets made of an inferior sort of gold. We
+also took two Indians and a female prisoners, after which we returned to
+the village near which we had landed.
+
+In the meantime Cortes had arrived with the remaining vessels. He had
+scarcely stepped on shore when he ordered our pilot Camacho to be put in
+irons, for having followed a contrary course to what he had been
+ordered. But his displeasure was still greater when he learnt that the
+village was quite deserted, and that Alvarado had taken away, besides
+the fowls, the religious implements and other matters, though of little
+value, being half copper. Having shown no lenity to Camacho, he now also
+gave Alvarado an earnest reproof, telling him that it was not the way to
+gain the love of the inhabitants by beginning to rob them of their
+property. He then ordered the two Indians and the female whom we had
+taken prisoners to be brought into his presence, and put several
+questions to them. Melchorillo, whom we had captured at the promontory
+of Cotoche, (Julianillo had since died,) and taken with us, perfectly
+understood the language of this country, and interpreted on the
+occasion. Cortes sent the three Indians to the cazique and the
+inhabitants, desiring them to state that they had nothing to fear from
+us, and to return to their village. He also restored to them the
+religious implements, with the golden trinkets, and gave them glass
+beads in exchange for the fowls, which we had eaten: besides this, he
+presented each of them with a Spanish shirt. They faithfully executed
+Cortes's commission; for the very next day the cazique returned with the
+whole of the inhabitants, and so confidently did they converse with us
+as if they had known us all their lives: indeed, Cortes had given
+peremptory orders that they should in no wise be molested. It was here
+also that Cortes began strict discipline, and set to work with
+unremitting assiduity, to which Providence lent his blessing; for
+everything in which he concerned himself went well, particularly with
+regard to making peace with the tribes or inhabitants of these
+countries. This the reader will find fully confirmed in the course of my
+history.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+    _Cortes reviews his troops, and what further happened._
+
+
+On the third day after our arrival at Cozumel, Cortes reviewed the whole
+of his troops. Without counting the pilots and marines, our number
+amounted to 508 men. There were 109 sailors, and sixteen horses, which
+were trained equally for tournaments or for war. Our squadron consisted
+of eleven vessels of different tonnage; among these, one was a kind of
+brigantine, the property of a certain Gines Nortes. The number of
+crossbow men was thirty-three, and of musketeers thirteen: add to this
+our heavy guns and four falconets, a great quantity of powder and balls.
+As to the precise number of crossbow men I cannot exactly swear, though
+it matters not whether there were a few more or less.
+
+After this review, Cortes ordered the artillerymen Mesa, Bartolome de
+Usagre, Arbenga, and a certain Catalonier whose name I forget, to keep
+all our firearms bright and in good order, to see that each cannon had
+its right-sized ball, to prepare the cartridges, and distribute the
+powder properly. The chief care of our gun department he confided to a
+certain Francisco de Oroze, who had proved himself a brave soldier in
+the Italian wars. Juan Benitez and Pedro de Guzman had to inspect the
+crossbows, and see that they were supplied with two or three nuts and as
+many cords. They had also to superintend the exercise of shooting at the
+target, and the breaking-in of our horses, particularly to accustom them
+to the noise of our firearms. I have now said sufficient of our
+armament: indeed, Cortes was most particular with the merest trifles in
+these matters.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+    _Cortes receives information that two Spaniards are in the power of
+    the Indians at the promontory of Cotoche: the steps he took upon
+    this news._
+
+
+As Cortes paid attention to every circumstance, he ordered myself and
+Martin Camos of Biscay into his presence, and asked us what our opinion
+was of the word _Castilan_, _Castilan_, which the Indians of Campeachy
+had so often repeated when we landed there, under the command of
+Hernandez de Cordoba.
+
+We again informed him of every circumstance that had there taken place.
+He said, he had often turned this matter over in his mind, and could not
+help thinking but that the inhabitants must have some Spaniards among
+them, and he thought it would not be amiss to question the caziques of
+Cozumel upon this head. This Cortes accordingly did, and desired
+Melchorejo, who by this time had gained some little knowledge of the
+Spanish, and perfectly understood the language of Cozumel, to question
+the chiefs about it. Their several accounts perfectly corresponded; and
+they satisfactorily proved that there were several Spaniards in the
+country, whom they had seen themselves; that they served the caziques,
+who lived two days' march inland, as slaves, and that it was only a few
+days ago some Indian merchants had spoken with them.
+
+We all felt overjoyed at this news. Cortes told these chiefs that he
+would send the Spaniards letters, which they call amales in their
+language, in which he would desire them to come to us. The cazique and
+other Indians who undertook to forward these letters were most kindly
+treated by Cortes, who gave them all kinds of presents, and promised
+them more on their return. Upon which the cazique remarked to Cortes,
+that it would be necessary to send a ransom to the chiefs whom the
+Spaniards served as slaves before they would let them go. Various kinds
+of glass beads were therefore given to the messengers for this purpose,
+and Cortes sent two of the smaller vessels, armed with twenty crossbow
+men and a few musketeers, under command of Diego de Ordas, to the coast
+of Cotoche, with orders to remain there for eight successive days with
+the larger of the two vessels, and to send him information from time to
+time by the other vessel, while the messengers brought letters to and
+fro; for the distance to the promontory of Cotoche from this place was
+only nine miles, the whole appearing, moreover, to form but one country.
+The following were the contents of the letter which Cortes wrote to the
+Spaniards:
+
+"Dear Sirs and Brothers,--Here, on the island of Cozumel, I received
+information that you are detained prisoners by a cazique. I beg of you
+to come here to me on the island of Cozumel. To this end I have sent out
+an armed ship, and ransom-money, should it be required by the Indians. I
+have ordered the vessel to remain stationary off the promontory of
+Cotoche for eight days, to wait for you. Come as speedily as possible;
+you may depend upon being honorably treated by me. I am here with eleven
+vessels armed with 500 soldiers, and intend, with the aid of the
+Almighty and your assistance, to proceed to a place called Tabasco, or
+Potonchon; etc."
+
+With this letter the two Indian merchants embarked on board our vessel,
+which passed this narrow gulf in three hours, when the messengers with
+the ransom-money were put on shore.
+
+After the lapse of a couple of days they actually handed over the letter
+to one of the Spaniards in question, who, as we afterwards learnt, was
+called Geronimo de Aguilar, and I shall therefore in future distinguish
+him by that name. When he had read the letter and received the
+ransom-money we had forwarded, he was exceedingly rejoiced, and took the
+latter to the cazique his master to beg for his liberation. The moment
+he had obtained this he went in quest of his comrade, Gonzalo Guerrero,
+and made him acquainted with all the circumstances; when Guerrero made
+the following reply:
+
+"Brother Aguilar,--I have united myself here to one of the females of
+this country, by whom I have three children; and am, during wartime, as
+good as cazique or chief. Go! and may God be with you: for myself, I
+could not appear again among my countrymen. My face has already been
+disfigured, according to the Indian custom, and my ears have been
+pierced: what would my countrymen say if they saw me in this attire?
+Only look at my three children, what lovely little creatures they are;
+pray give me some of your glass beads for them, which I shall say my
+brethren sent them from my country."
+
+Gonzalo's Indian wife followed in the same strain, and was quite
+displeased with Aguilar's errand. "Only look at that slave there, (said
+she,) he is come here to take away my husband from me! Mind your own
+affairs, and do not trouble yourself about us."
+
+Aguilar, however, afterwards made another attempt to induce Gonzalo to
+leave, telling him to consider that he was a Christian, and that he
+ought not to risk the salvation of his soul for the sake of an Indian
+woman. Moreover, he might take her and the children with him if he could
+not make up his mind to separate himself from them. Aguilar, however,
+might say what he liked, it was all to no purpose; he could not persuade
+Gonzalo to accompany his heretofore companion in good and ill fortune.
+This Guerrero was most probably a sailor, and a native of Palos.[10] He
+remained among the Indians, while Geronimo de Aguilar alone took his
+departure with the Indian messengers, and marched towards the coast
+where our ship was to have waited for them: but she had left; for De
+Ordas, after staying there the eight days, and another in addition,
+finding that no one appeared, again set sail for Cozumel. Aguilar was
+quite downcast when he found the ship was gone, and he again returned to
+his Indian master.
+
+Ordas, however, did not meet with the best of reception when he returned
+without the ransom-money or any information respecting the Spaniards,
+and even without the Indian messengers. Cortes said to him, with great
+vehemence, he expected he would have fulfilled his commission better
+than to return without the Spaniards, and even without bringing him any
+information respecting them, although well aware they were staying in
+that country. Cortes had, moreover, just that moment been greatly put
+out by another circumstance. A soldier, called Berrio, had accused some
+sailors of Gibraleon of having stolen from him a couple of sides of
+bacon, which they would not return. They positively denied that they had
+committed the robbery, and even took an oath to that effect; however,
+after a good search, the bacon was found among their clothes. There were
+seven sailors who had been concerned in the robbery, and Cortes,
+notwithstanding their officers interceded in their behalf, ordered them
+to be severely whipped.
+
+The island of Cozumel, it seems, was a place to which the Indians made
+pilgrimages; for the neighbouring tribes of the promontory of Cotoche
+and other districts of Yucatan, came thither in great numbers to
+sacrifice to some abominable idols, which stood in a temple there. One
+morning we perceived that the place where these horrible images stood
+was crowded with Indians and their wives. They burnt a species of resin,
+which very much resembled our incense, and as such a sight was so novel
+to us we paid particular attention to all that went forward. Upon this
+an old man, who had on a wide cloak and was a priest, mounted to the
+very top of the temple, and began preaching something to the Indians. We
+were all very curious to know what the purport of this sermon was, and
+Cortes desired Melchorejo to interpret it to him. Finding that all he
+had been saying tended to ungodliness, Cortes ordered the caziques, with
+the principal men among them and the priest, into his presence, giving
+them to understand, as well as he could by means of our interpreter,
+that if they were desirous of becoming our brethren they must give up
+sacrificing to these idols, which were no gods but evil beings, by which
+they were led into error and their souls sent to hell. He then presented
+them with the image of the Virgin Mary and a cross, which he desired
+them to put up instead. These would prove a blessing to them at all
+times, make their seeds grow and preserve their souls from eternal
+perdition. This and many other things respecting our holy religion,
+Cortes explained to them in a very excellent manner. The caziques and
+priests answered, that their forefathers had prayed to their idols
+before them, because they were good gods, and that they were determined
+to follow their example. Adding, that we should experience what power
+they possessed; as soon as we had left them, we should certainly all of
+us go to the bottom of the sea.
+
+Cortes, however, took very little heed of their threats, but commanded
+the idols to be pulled down, and broken to pieces; which was accordingly
+done without any further ceremony. He then ordered a quantity of lime to
+be collected, which is here in abundance, and with the assistance of the
+Indian masons a very pretty altar was constructed, on which we placed
+the image of the holy Virgin. At the same time two of our carpenters,
+Alonso Yañez and Alvaro Lopez made a cross of new wood which lay at
+hand, this was set up in a kind of chapel, which we built behind the
+altar. After all this was completed, father Juan Diaz said mass in front
+of the new altar, the caziques and priests looking on with the greatest
+attention.
+
+Before I close this chapter, I have to remark that the caziques on the
+island of Cozumel, like those on the land of Potonchan, are likewise
+termed Calachionies.
+
+[10] Palos, a small town of Spain, lying on the river Tinto. This port
+produced the best Spanish sailors during the early voyages of discovery,
+and here also the expedition under Columbus was fitted out. (p. 60.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+    _The manner in which Cortes divides the squadron. The officers whom
+    he appointed to the command of the several vessels. His instructions
+    to the pilots; the signals which were to be made with lanterns at
+    night, &c._
+
+
+The following were the officers which commanded the several vessels.
+
+Cortes himself commanded, in the principal vessel, over the whole
+squadron. To the San Sebastian, which was a very capital sailer, he
+appointed Alvarado and his brother. The other vessels were severally
+commanded by Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero, Francisco de Montejo,
+Christobal de Oli, Diego de Ordas, Juan Velasquez de Leon, Juan de
+Escalante, Francisco de Morla, and Escobar the page. The smallest
+vessel, a kind of brigantine, was commanded by its owner, Gines Nortes.
+
+Every vessel had its own pilot, who received his instructions, and also
+the signals with the lanterns from Alaminos.
+
+As soon as Cortes had ordered these matters he took leave of the
+caziques and priests, commended them most emphatically to the image of
+the holy Virgin and to the cross, desiring them to pray before it, not
+to damage either but continually to decorate them with green boughs. He
+assured them that thereby they would derive great benefit. They promised
+to comply with all his wishes, presented him with four more fowls and
+two jars of honey, and then took leave of us under the most friendly
+embraces. It was some day in the month of March, in the year 1519, when
+we again set sail; we were pursuing our course with the most favorable
+of winds, when on the very first day at ten o'clock in the morning,
+signals of distress were made on board one of our vessels, both by flags
+and the firing of guns. As soon as Cortes saw and heard this, he looked
+over the poop of his vessel, and found that the ship commanded by Juan
+de Escalante was making straight again for the island of Cozumel. What
+is the matter there? What does all this mean? cried out Cortes to the
+vessel nearest him. A soldier, named Zaragoza replied, that the vessel
+of Juan de Escalante, laden with cassave-bread, was sinking fast. God
+forbid! cried Cortes, that any misfortune should befall us here, and
+desired our chief pilot, Alaminos, to make signals for all the vessels
+to return to the island Cozumel. So we again put into the harbour we had
+just left: we unloaded the cassave-bread; and found, to our great joy,
+that the image of the holy Virgin and cross were in the best condition,
+and that incense had been placed before them. It was not long before the
+caziques and priests again made their appearance, and asked what had
+caused us to return so speedily. Cortes told them that one of our
+vessels was leaky and had to be repaired, begging of them to assist us
+with their canoes in unloading our cassave-bread. This they most readily
+complied with, and it took us four more days to repair the vessel.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+    _How the Spaniard Geronimo de Aguilar, who was in the power of the
+    Indians, came to us when he learnt that we had again returned to the
+    island of Cozumel, and what further happened._
+
+
+When the Spaniard, who was in the power of the Indians got certain
+information that we had again returned to the island Cozumel, he
+rejoiced exceedingly and thanked God with all his heart.
+
+He immediately hired a canoe, with six capital rowers, for himself and
+the Indians who had brought him the glass beads. The former being richly
+remunerated with these, so valuable in their estimation: they performed
+their work so well, that the channel between the island and mainland, a
+distance of about twelve miles, was soon crossed. After they had arrived
+off the island and stepped on shore, some soldiers who were returning
+from the chase of musk swine, informed Cortes that a large canoe had
+just arrived from the promontory of Cotoche. Cortes immediately
+despatched Andreas de Tapia with a few men to learn what news they had
+brought. As Tapia with his men approached the shore, the Indians, who
+had arrived with Geronimo, evinced great fear and ran back to their
+canoe in order to put off to sea again. Aguilar, however, told him in
+their language they need have no fear; for we were their brothers.
+Andreas de Tapia, who took Aguilar also for an Indian, for he had every
+appearance of one, sent to inform Cortes that the seven Indians who had
+arrived were inhabitants of Cozumel. It was not until they had come up
+to them and heard the Spaniard pronounce the words--God, holy Virgin,
+Sevilla, in broken Spanish, and ran up to Tapia to embrace him, that
+they recognized this strange-looking fellow. One of Tapia's men
+immediately ran off to inform Cortes that a Spaniard had arrived in the
+canoe, for which news he expected a handsome reward.
+
+We all greatly rejoiced at this information, and it was not long before
+Tapia himself arrived with the strange-looking Spaniard. As they passed
+by us many of our men still kept inquiring of Tapia which among them was
+the Spaniard? although he was walking at his very side, so much did his
+countenance resemble that of an Indian. His complexion was naturally of
+a brownish cast, added to which his hair had been shorn like that of an
+Indian slave: he carried a paddle across his shoulder, had one of his
+legs covered with an old tattered stocking; the other, which was not
+much better, being tied around his waist. An old ragged cloak hung over
+his shoulders, his maltatas was in a much worse condition. His
+prayerbook, which was very much torn, he had folded in the corner of his
+cloak.
+
+When Cortes beheld the man in this attire, he, as all the rest of us had
+done, asked Tapia where the Spaniard was? When Geronimo heard this, he
+cowered down after the Indian fashion, and said: "I am he." Upon this
+Cortes gave him a shirt, a coat, a pair of trousers, a cap and shoes,
+from our stores. He then desired him to give us an account of the
+adventures of his life, and explain how he had got into this country.
+
+He said, though still in broken Spanish, that his name was Geronimo
+d'Aguilar, and was a native of Ecija. About eight years ago he had been
+shipwrecked with fifteen men and two women, on a voyage between Darien
+and the island of St. Domingo, which they had undertaken on account of a
+lawsuit between a certain Enciso and a certain Valdivia. They had 10,000
+pesos on board, and papers relating to the lawsuit. The ship struck
+against a rock, and they had not been able to get her off again. The
+whole of the crew then got into the boat, in the hopes of making the
+island of Cuba or Jamaica, but were driven on shore by the strong
+currents, where the Calachionies had taken them prisoners and
+distributed them among themselves. The most of his unfortunate
+companions had been sacrificed to their gods, and some had died of
+grief, of which also both the women pined away; being soon worn out by
+the hard labour of grinding, to which they had been forced by the
+Indians. He himself had also been doomed as a sacrifice to their idols,
+but made his escape during the night, and fled to the cazique, with whom
+he had last been staying, whose name, however, I cannot now remember. Of
+all his companions, he himself and a certain Gonzalo Guerrero, were only
+living. He had tried his best to induce him to leave, but in vain.
+
+When Cortes heard this, he returned thanks to the Almighty, and told the
+Spaniard that he hoped, with the blessing of God, he would never find
+reason to regret the determination he had taken. He then put some
+questions to him about the country and its inhabitants. Aguilar said he
+was not able to give him much information about either, as he had been
+treated like a slave, having been merely employed to fetch wood, water,
+and to work in the maise-plantations. It was only upon one occasion he
+was sent on some business to a distance of about twelve miles from his
+village, but, owing to a heavy burden he had to carry and the weak state
+of his body, he had not even been able to reach that distance; for the
+rest, he had been given to understand that the country was very thickly
+populated. With regard to his companion Alonso Guerrero, he had married
+an Indian woman, and was become the father of three children. He had in
+every respect adopted the Indian customs,--his cheeks were tattooed, his
+ears pierced, and his lips turned down. He was a sailor by profession,
+native of Palos, and was considered by the Indians to be a man of great
+strength. It might have been about a year ago that a squadron,
+consisting of three vessels, had touched at the promontory of Cotoche,
+(probably the expedition under Hernandez de Cordoba,) when Guerrero
+advised the inhabitants to commence hostilities, who, in common with the
+caziques of a large district, commanded on that occasion. Cortes here
+remarked, that he very much wished to get the man into his power, for
+his staying among the Indians would do us no good.
+
+The caziques of Cozumel showed Aguilar every possible friendship when
+they heard him speak in their language. Aguilar advised them always to
+do honour to the image of the holy Virgin and cross we had set up, as
+they would prove a blessing to them. It was also upon his advice they
+begged of Cortes to give them letters of recommendation to other
+Spaniards who might run into this harbour, in order that they might not
+be molested by them. Cortes readily complied with this request; and,
+after mutual protestations of friendship had passed between us, we
+weighed anchor, and set sail for the river Grijalva.
+
+For the rest, I can assure the reader that what I have related of
+Aguilar is all the man told us himself, although the historian Gomara
+gives a very different account; which, however, should not excite our
+surprise, as he merely thereby intended to divert his readers with some
+strange story.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+    _How we re-embark and sail for the river Grijalva, and what happened
+    to us on our voyage there._
+
+
+On the 4th of March, 1519, the day after we had had the good fortune to
+obtain such an excellent and trustworthy interpreter, Cortes gave orders
+for re-embarking. This took place in the same way as before, and similar
+instructions were issued with regard to the night signals with the
+lanterns. For some time we had the most favorable weather imaginable;
+when, towards evening, it suddenly changed, the wind blowing most
+violently against us, so that all our vessels were in danger of being
+cast on shore. Towards midnight, it pleased God the wind should abate,
+and, when daylight broke forth, our vessels again joined each other; one
+only was missing, that namely of Velasquez de Leon, which occasioned a
+good deal of anxiety, for we concluded she had been wrecked off some of
+the shallows. We did not discover her loss until midday; and as night
+was now fast approaching, and the vessel still nowhere to be seen,
+Cortes told our principal pilot Alaminos that we ought not to continue
+our course without gaining some certain knowledge as to her fate:
+signals were, therefore, made for all the vessels to drop anchor, to
+give the missing ship time to come up with us, on the supposition it had
+been driven into some harbour and there retained by contrary winds.
+Alaminos, still finding she did not make her appearance, said to Cortes,
+"You may be sure, sir, that she has run into some harbour or inlet along
+this coast, where she is now wind-bound; for her pilot Manquillo has
+twice before visited these seas, once with Hernandez de Cordoba, the
+second time under Grijalva, and is acquainted with this bay." Upon this
+it was resolved that the whole squadron should return to the bay which
+Alaminos was speaking of, in search of the vessel: to our great joy we
+indeed found her riding there at anchor, and we all remained here for
+one day. During this time, Alaminos, with one of our principal officers
+named Francisco de Lugo, went on shore in two boats; they found the
+country inhabited, and saw several regular maise-plantations: they
+likewise met with places where salt was manufactured, and saw four cues,
+or large temples, with numerous figures, mostly in the shape of women,
+and of considerable height; whence this promontory was called _la punta
+de las Mujeres_, (the promontory of women.) Aguilar observed that this
+was the spot where he was once a slave among the Indians; here his
+master had found him sunk beneath the weight of the heavy burden which
+he had forced him to carry: neither was the township far off where
+Alonso Guerrero had settled himself. Every inhabitant possessed gold,
+but in small quantities; he would show us the way, if we were desirous
+of going there. To which Cortes said, laughingly, he had not gone out
+for the sake of such trifles, but to serve God and his king. In the
+meantime he despatched Escobar, one of our commanders, with a
+fast-sailing vessel of small tonnage, to the Terminos bay, there to
+examine the country and search for a secure spot to found a colony; also
+to inform us whether game really was so abundant there as had been
+represented. All this was done according to the advice of our chief
+pilot, to save the trouble of running in there with the whole fleet on
+our passing by. Escobar, when he had explored the harbour, was merely to
+leave some sign on both sides of the entrance, either by felling trees
+or by leaving something in writing, from which we should know that he
+had entered safely, or that, having fully explored the harbour, he was
+tacking about until we fell in with him again.
+
+With these instructions Escobar set sail, and ran into Terminos bay,
+where he executed the commands he had received: he likewise found the
+greyhound which had run away from us when we landed there with Grijalva.
+It was quite glossy and fat, and immediately knew the ship again as it
+entered the bay, wagging its tail, and jumping up against our men as it
+followed them on board. Escobar now quitted the bay, and intended
+laying-to until the rest of our vessels should come up, but was driven a
+considerable way out to sea by a strong south wind. We must now return
+to our squadron, which we left at the punta de las Mujeres. Having left
+this spot next morning with a stiffish breeze blowing from the land, we
+arrived at the entrance of Terminos bay, without, however, seeing
+anything of Escobar. Cortes ordered a boat to be lowered, armed with ten
+crossbow-men, to run into the bay, or search whether Escobar had left
+any sign or written paper as desired. Some trees were found cut down,
+and near them a small paper, on which was written, that both the bay and
+country round about were charming, that the spot abounded with game, and
+that they had found the dog. Our principal pilot here remarked to Cortes
+that it would be most advisable for us to continue our course, for the
+south wind had no doubt obliged Escobar to hold out to sea, though he
+could not be far off, as he must have sailed in a slanting direction.
+Cortes, however, still apprehended some accident must have befallen him:
+nevertheless, he ordered the sails to be set, and we very soon came up
+with Escobar, who related all he had seen, and explained what had
+prevented him from waiting for us. In this way we arrived in the waters
+off Potonchan, and Cortes ordered Alaminos to run into the inlet where
+Cordoba and Grijalva had met with such disastrous treatment. Alaminos,
+however, declared that it was a dangerous station for the vessels, as
+the waters were very shallow off the coast, and we should be forced to
+anchor six miles from the land. Cortes's intention was to punish the
+inhabitants severely, and many of us who had been present at those
+engagements begged of him to run in that we might revenge ourselves upon
+them. But Alaminos and the other pilots said we should lose more than
+three days by running in, and, if the weather became unfavorable, we
+might be detained there above eight: the wind, moreover, being now most
+favorable to reach the Tabasco river, which was our chief object, and
+where we might arrive in a couple of days. We accordingly put out to
+sea, and reached the Tabasco after three days' sail.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+    _How we arrive in the river Grijalva, called in the Indian language
+    the Tabasco; the battle we fought there; and what further took
+    place._
+
+
+On the 12th of March, 1519, we arrived with our whole squadron in the
+mouth of the Tabasco. As we had experienced, under the expedition with
+Grijalva, that no vessels of any considerable burden could enter the
+mouth of the river, our larger ones anchored out at sea, while the
+smaller ones only, followed by our boats, carrying the whole of our men,
+sailed up the river, in order to disembark at the promontory where the
+palm trees grew, about four miles from the town of Tabasco; the same
+spot where Grijalva had landed.
+
+We perceived numbers of Indians, all under arms, lurking between the
+almond trees along the shore. This circumstance greatly astonished those
+among us who were here before with Grijalva. Besides this, more than
+12,000 men, all armed after their fashion, had assembled at the town
+itself in order to attack us. This town was very powerful at that time,
+many others being subject to it. These warlike preparations were
+occasioned by the following circumstances: The inhabitants of Potonchan,
+of Lazaro, and other neighbouring tribes, had accused the Tabascans of
+cowardice, for having given Grijalva their gold trinkets mentioned
+above: they reproached them the more because their population was more
+extensive, and their warriors much more numerous than those of the
+tribes just mentioned, who had courageously attacked and killed
+fifty-six of our men. It was owing to these reproaches that they now
+likewise took up arms against us. Cortes observing these preparations,
+desired our interpreter Aguilar, who perfectly understood the language
+of Tabasco, to ask some Indians who were passing by in a large canoe,
+what the meaning was of all this noise? we had not come to do them any
+harm; on the contrary, we were disposed to treat them as our brethren,
+and share our victuals with them: they should be careful how they went
+to war with us, for they would certainly have to repent it. This and
+many other things were told them by Aguilar, to incline them to peace,
+but the more he said the more insolent they became, threatening to
+destroy us all should we dare to set foot on their territory or in their
+town, which they had fortified by means of heavy trees felled for the
+purpose, and a strong stone wall. Aguilar, however, made another attempt
+to bring about peace, and obtain us permission to take in fresh water,
+barter for provisions, and incline them to listen to the disclosures we
+came to make in the name of our God. They, however, persisted we should
+not pass beyond the palm trees; if we did, they would kill us all.
+
+When Cortes found that all attempts to make peace were fruitless, he
+ordered the small vessels and boats to prepare for battle. Three pieces
+of cannon were put on board of each of the former, the crossbow-men and
+musketeers being equally distributed among them. We remembered, during
+the expedition under Grijalva, that a narrow road ran from the palm
+trees along some quagmires and wells to the town. Cortes here posted
+three sentinels to watch whether the Indians went home at night, if so,
+to send him immediate notice. Information was soon brought in the
+affirmative. The rest of the day was now spent in reconnoitring the
+territory, and fitting out the vessels. The next morning early, after we
+had attended mass and well armed ourselves, Cortes despatched Alonso de
+Avila with one hundred men, among whom were ten crossbow-men, along the
+narrow road above mentioned, leading to the town, which, as soon as he
+should hear the firing of cannon, he was to attack on one side, while we
+did the same from the other; Cortes himself, with the rest of our
+officers and men, moving up the river in the small vessels and our
+boats.
+
+When the Indians, who were standing under arms along the coast between
+the palm trees, saw us approaching, they leaped into their canoes and
+stationed themselves where we were going to land, in order to prevent
+us. The shore was covered with warriors armed with all kinds of
+weapons, while a terrible noise assailed our ears from their twisted
+shells, drums, and fifes. Cortes ordered us to halt for a few moments
+and not to fire as yet. As he was very particular in doing everything in
+proper form, he desired the royal secretary, who was with us, and Diego
+de Godoy, once more to request the inhabitants to allow us to come
+peaceably on shore to take in fresh water. Aguilar acted as interpreter.
+They were also to give them some notion, if possible, of the Lord God,
+and his imperial majesty, and explain to them, that if they attacked us,
+and we in defending ourselves killed any of their men, the guilt would
+be upon their heads, not ours. The Indians, however, continued their
+defiances, threatening to destroy us all if we came on shore. Indeed the
+battle now soon began, for immediately after they commenced pouring
+forth showers of arrows, the drummers to give signals for the other
+troops to fall upon us in a body, and in an instant they rushed bravely
+forward. They completely surrounded us with their canoes, and shot off
+their arrows so quickly, that many of us were soon wounded, we being
+moreover compelled for a length of time to fight up to our waists, and
+sometimes even higher in the water. The place where we were attempting
+to land was disadvantageous in another way, for the ground was composed
+of mud and clay, in which it was impossible to move very fast,
+particularly as at the same time we had to defend ourselves against the
+enemy's arrows and the thrusts of their lances. Cortes himself, while
+fighting in this way was obliged to leave one of his shoes sticking in
+the mud in order to get on firm land. We had all, indeed, hard work to
+do before we could gain the dry ground; but having once obtained this we
+fell so furiously upon our enemies, under the cry of our patron St.
+Jacob! that they began to retreat, but immediately again drew themselves
+up in order of battle behind the wood and the trees they had cut down.
+Here they made an obstinate resistance, until we likewise drove them
+from this place, having forced some passages leading to the town, which
+latter we entered fighting our way in. The battle now continued in the
+streets, until our progress was impeded by another barricade of fallen
+trees, defended by a fresh set of men. Here the conflict was continued
+with renewed obstinacy, the Indians incessantly crying out: _ala lala,
+al calachoni, al calachoni!_ meaning in their language, kill the
+commander-in-chief. While we were thus busily engaged, Alonso de Avila
+appeared with his men, who had marched along from the palm-trees. He had
+been detained by the morass and pools of water which lay in his road.
+This delay now proved an advantage to us, as we had also lost time in
+striving to make peace with the enemy by means of our two
+parliamentaries, and the difficulty we had had to fight our way on
+shore. With our united troops we now beat the Indians from this strong
+post; though, like brave warriors, they set vigorously upon us with
+their arrows and lances, which latter had been hardened in the fire; nor
+did they turn their backs, until we had forced our way into a large
+courtyard, adjoining which were several spacious apartments and halls.
+Here also stood three temples, but the Indians had carried off all the
+religious implements with them.
+
+The enemy being now put to flight, Cortes ordered his men to halt, that
+we might take formal possession of the country, in the name of his
+majesty. He performed this ceremony by drawing his sword, and giving
+therewith two deep cuts into a large ceiba tree, which stood in the
+courtyard, crying out at the same time, that he would defend the
+possession of this country with sword and shield against any one who
+should dare dispute it. The whole of us who were present gave our assent
+to these proceedings, swearing we would support him in its defence; all
+of which was formally registered by the royal treasurer. The adherents
+of Diego Velasquez alone were not pleased because the name of the latter
+had not at all been mentioned therein.
+
+In this engagement fourteen of our men were wounded, I myself was of the
+number, being wounded by an arrow in the thigh, though not severely. The
+Indians lost, altogether, eighteen men. We passed the night in this
+spot, having taken the precaution to post sentinels in different places,
+so necessary did we deem it to be upon our guard here.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+    _How Cortes despatches two of our principal officers, each with one
+    hundred men, to explore the interior of the country, and what
+    further took place._
+
+
+The next day Cortes despatched Alvarado with one hundred men, among whom
+were fifteen crossbow-men and musketeers, to march six miles inland, in
+order to explore the country. He was to take along with him Melchorejo,
+of the punta de Cotoche, but he could nowhere be found. He had most
+probably gone off in a canoe the night before with the inhabitants of
+Tabasco. We conjectured this at least, because the day previous he had
+left all his Spanish clothes behind him hanging in a tree. Cortes was
+greatly vexed at his escape, as he might betray many things to the
+inhabitants that would do us no good.
+
+I will, however, leave the fugitive to his own fate, and continue my
+narrative.
+
+Cortes also sent out a second of our chief officers, named Francisco de
+Lugo, with another hundred men; among whom were twelve crossbow-men and
+musketeers, with similar instructions as to Alvarado, but to take
+another direction and return to head-quarters towards evening.
+
+Francisco de Lugo may have reached the distance of about four miles when
+he fell in with vast numbers of Indians, commanded by their several
+chiefs. They were armed as usual, immediately advanced towards our men,
+whom they surrounded on all sides, and began pouring forth a shower of
+arrows. The Indians, indeed, were in too great numbers for our small
+detachment. They first threw in their lances and the stones from their
+slings, then fell upon our men with sharp swords, which they wield with
+both hands. Though De Lugo and his men defended themselves bravely, they
+were unable to drive back such overwhelming numbers. They therefore
+began to retreat in the best order possible to our head-quarters, having
+first despatched an Indian of Cuba, who was a swift runner, to inform
+Cortes of their situation and beg of him to send a reinforcement. During
+all this time De Lugo and his troops, particularly the crossbow-men and
+musketeers bravely withstood the whole body of the enemy.
+
+In the meantime Alvarado had marched about four miles in the direction
+he was commanded to take, when he came to an inlet which he was unable
+to pass. Here the good Lord fortunately gave him the thought to return
+in a direction which led to the spot where De Lugo was fighting with the
+Indians. The firing of the muskets, the noise of the drums and trumpets,
+with the yelling of the Indians, soon convinced Alvarado that the latter
+had again commenced hostilities; he therefore marched in a direct line
+to the place whence the noise came, and found De Lugo in the heat of an
+engagement with the enemy, of whom five were already killed. Both
+detachments now fell with their united forces upon the Indians, who were
+speedily dispersed, yet they were unable to put them totally to the
+rout; on the contrary, they would certainly have followed us to our
+head-quarters, if Cortes had not come up with the rest of our troops,
+when, after some sharp firing and heavy blows, they were obliged to fall
+back. Cortes, on receiving information of De Lugo's dangerous position,
+had immediately repaired to his assistance with the whole of his men,
+and came up with the two commanders at about two miles from our
+head-quarters. In this engagement we did not escape without some loss,
+for two of De Lugo's detachment were killed and eight wounded; Alvarado
+had only three of the latter. Having arrived at our head-quarters, we
+dressed the wounds of our men, buried the dead, and posted sentinels in
+proper places, that we might not be fallen upon unawares. In this
+battle, the enemy lost fifteen men killed, and three were taken
+prisoners, of whom one appeared to be a chief. Our interpreter Aguilar
+asked them what madness could have induced them to attack us? One of the
+Indians returned for answer, that Melchorejo, whom we brought with us
+from the punta de Cotoche, had come over to their camp the night
+previous, advising them to fall upon us, and continue to do so night and
+day, for, in the end, they would, no doubt, be able to conquer our small
+numbers: so that Cortes's apprehensions with respect to the flight of
+this fellow were verified.
+
+We now despatched one of our prisoners to the caziques with green glass
+beads, and offers of peace: this personage, however, never returned to
+bring any answer. We also learnt from our two other prisoners, who were
+closely questioned by Aguilar, that the day previous all the caziques of
+the neighbouring districts had been under arms to fall upon us, and that
+the next day they would return to storm our head-quarters. All this was
+likewise done by the advice of Melchorejo.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+    _Cortes issues orders that we should hold ourselves in readiness to
+    march against the Indians on the following day; he also commands the
+    horses to be brought on shore. How the battle terminates we fought
+    with them._
+
+
+Cortes being now certain that the Indians would renew the attack,
+immediately ordered all our horses to be brought on shore, and every
+one, our wounded not excepted, to hold himself in readiness. When our
+horses, which had been such a length of time at sea, now stepped on firm
+ground again, they appeared very awkward and full of fear; however, the
+day following, they had regained their usual liveliness and agility.
+There were also six or seven of our men, all young and otherwise strong
+fellows, who were attacked with such severe pains in the groins that
+they could not walk without support. No one could guess the cause of
+this; it was only said they had lived too freely at Cuba, and that the
+pain was occasioned by the heat, and the weight of their arms; Cortes,
+therefore, ordered them again on board. The cavaliers, who were to fight
+on horseback, were commanded to hang bells around their horses' necks,
+and Cortes impressed on their minds not to rush at the Indians with
+their lances before they had been dispersed, and then even to aim at
+their faces only. The following men were selected to fight on horseback:
+Christobal de Oli, Pedro de Alvarado, Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero,
+and Juan de Escalante. Francisco de Montejo and Alonso de Avila were to
+use the horses of Ortiz the musician, and of a certain Bartolome Garcia,
+though neither were worth much. Further, there were Velasquez de Leon,
+Francisco de Morla, and one of the Lares, (for there was another
+excellent horseman among us of that name,) and Gonzalo Dominiguez, both
+superior horsemen; lastly, there were Moron de Bayamo and Pedro de
+Truxillo. Then comes Cortes, who placed himself at their head. Mesa had
+charge of the artillery, while the rest of our men were commanded by
+Diego de Ordas, who, though he knew nothing of the cavalry service,
+excelled as a crossbow-man and musketeer. The morning following, which
+was the day of annunciation to the holy Virgin, we attended mass very
+early, and arranged ourselves under our ensign Antonio de Villareal. We
+now put ourselves in motion, and marched towards some extensive bean
+fields, where Francisco de Lugo and Pedro de Alvarado had fought the
+previous battle. There was a village in this neighbourhood called
+Cintla, belonging to the Tabascans, which lay about four miles from our
+head-quarters. Cortes, on account of the bogs which our horse could not
+pass, was obliged to take a circuitous route. Our other troops, however,
+under Diego de Ordas, came up with the Indians near Cintla, where they
+had arranged themselves on the plain: if they felt equal ardour for the
+combat as we did, they could now satisfy themselves,--for this was a
+battle in every sense of the word which we here fought, fearful in the
+extreme, as will be seen.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+    _How we are attacked by all the caziques of Tabasco, and the whole
+    armed force of this province, and what further took place._
+
+
+The Indians were already moving forward in search of us, when we came up
+with them: every one had a large bunch of feathers on his head, a cotton
+cuirass on, and their faces were daubed with white, black, and red
+colours. Besides having drums and trumpets, they were armed with huge
+bows and arrows, shields, lances, and large broadswords; they had also
+bodies of slingers, and others armed with poles hardened in the fire.
+The Indians were in such vast numbers that they completely filled the
+bean fields, and immediately fell upon us on all sides at once, like
+furious dogs. Their attack was so impetuous, so numerous were the
+arrows, stones, and lances with which they greeted us, that above
+seventy of our men were wounded in no time, and one named Saldaña, was
+struck by an arrow in the ear, and instantly dropt down dead. With like
+fury they rushed at us with their pikes, at the same time pouring forth
+showers of arrows, and continually wounding our men. However, we fully
+repaid them with our crossbows, muskets, and heavy cannon, cutting right
+and left among them with our swords. By this means we forced them to
+give ground a little, but only that they might shower forth their arrows
+at a greater distance, where they thought themselves more secure from
+our arms. Even then our artilleryman Mesa made terrible havoc among
+them, standing as they did crowded together and within reach of the
+cannon, so that he could fire among them to his heart's content.
+Notwithstanding the destruction we made among their ranks, we could not
+put them to flight. I now remarked to our commander Diego de Ordas that
+we should rush forward upon the Indians and close with them. My motive
+for advising this was, because I saw that they merely retreated from
+fear of our swords, but still continued to annoy us at a distance with
+arrows, lances, and large stones. De Ordas, however, considered this not
+expedient, as the enemy's numbers were so vast that every single man of
+us would have had to encounter 300 of the enemy at once.
+
+My advice, however, was at length followed up, and we fell so heavily
+upon them that they retreated as far as the wells. All this time Cortes
+still remained behind with the cavalry, though we so greatly longed for
+that reinforcement: we began to fear that some misfortune might also
+have befallen him. I shall never forget the piping and yelling which the
+Indians set up at every shot we fired, and how they sought to hide their
+loss from us by tossing up earth and straw into the air, making a
+terrible noise with their drums and trumpets, and their war-whoop _Ala
+lala_.[11]
+
+In one of these moments Cortes came galloping up with the horse. Our
+enemies being still busily engaged with us, did not immediately observe
+this, so that our cavalry easily dashed in among them from behind. The
+nature of the ground was quite favorable for its manoeuvres; and as it
+consisted of strong active fellows, most of the horses being, moreover,
+powerful and fiery animals, our small body of cavalry in every way made
+the best use of their weapons. When we, who were already hotly engaged
+with the enemy, espied our cavalry, we fought with renewed energy, while
+the latter, by attacking them in the rear at the same time, now obliged
+them to face about. The Indians, who had never seen any horses before,
+could not think otherwise than that horse and rider were one body. Quite
+astounded at this to them so novel a sight, they quitted the plain and
+retreated to a rising ground.
+
+Cortes now related why he had not come sooner. First, he had been
+delayed by the morass; then again he was obliged to fight his way
+through other bodies of the enemy whom he had met, in which five men and
+eight horses were wounded.
+
+Having somewhat rested from our fatigue under the trees which stood on
+the field of battle, we praised God and the holy Virgin, and thanked
+them with uplifted hands for the complete victory they had granted us:
+and, as it was the feast of the annunciation to the holy Virgin, the
+town which was subsequently built here in memory of this great victory,
+was named Santa Maria de la Vitoria. This was the first battle we fought
+under Cortes in New Spain.
+
+After this pious solemnity we bandaged the wounds of our men with linen,
+which was all we had for that purpose. Those of our horses we dressed
+with melted fat, which we cut from the dead bodies of the Indians. We
+likewise took this opportunity of counting the number of killed left by
+the enemy on the field of battle. We found above eight hundred, numbers
+still showing signs of life. Our swords had done the most carnage among
+them, though many were killed by our cannon. Wherever the cavalry made
+its appearance the enemy had most work to do. The fighting lasted about
+an hour; and our enemies maintained their ground so well, that they did
+not quit the field of battle until our horse broke in among them. There
+were two caziques among the five prisoners we made.
+
+As we were quite fatigued and hungry we returned to our quarters, buried
+the two soldiers, one of whom had been shot in the neck and the other in
+the ear, posted strong watches, then ate our supper and retired to rest.
+
+Francisco Lopez de Gomara, in his account of this battle, says, that
+previous to the arrival of Cortes with the cavalry, the holy apostle St.
+Jacob or St. Peter in person had galloped up on a gray-coloured horse
+to our assistance. I can only say, that for the exertion of our arms
+and this victory, we stand indebted to our Lord Jesus Christ; and that
+in this battle every individual man among us was set upon by such
+numbers of the enemy, that if each of them had merely thrown a handful
+of earth upon us we should have been buried beneath it. Certain it is,
+therefore, that God showed his mercy to us here, and it may, indeed,
+have been one of the two glorious apostles St. Jacob or St. Peter who
+thus came to our assistance. Perhaps on account of my sins I was not
+considered worthy of the good fortune to behold them; for I could only
+see Francisco de Morla on his brown horse galloping up with Cortes, and
+even at this very moment, while I am writing this, I can fancy I see all
+passing before my eyes just as I have related it; although I, an
+unworthy sinner, was not considered worthy of beholding one of the
+glorious apostles face to face: yet again I never heard any of the four
+hundred soldiers, nor ever Cortes himself, nor any of the many
+cavaliers, mention this wonder, or confirm its truth. We should
+certainly have built a church, and have called the town _Santiago_, or
+_San Pedro de la Vitoria_, and not _Santa Maria de la Vitoria_. If,
+therefore, what Gomara relates is true, then we must indeed have been
+bad Christians not to have paid greater respect to the assistance which
+God sent us in the person of his holy apostles, and for having omitted
+to thank him daily for it in his own church. Nevertheless, I should feel
+delighted if this historian has spoken the truth, although I must
+confess that I never heard this wonder mentioned before reading his
+book, nor have I ever heard any of the conquistadores speak of it who
+were present at the battle.
+
+[11] Ala lala. What a striking similarity there is between this cry and
+the Turkish Alla il Allah, of which, as Byron says, in one of his notes
+to the 'Bride of Abydos,' the Turks are very profuse in battle! (p. 75.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+    _How Cortes assembles all the caziques of this province, and what
+    further happened._
+
+
+I have above related that in this battle we took five prisoners, among
+whom were two chiefs. Aguilar, who understood their language, often
+discoursed with them, and from some remarks which they made, concluded
+that we might employ them as delegates to their countrymen. Having
+communicated his thoughts to Cortes, he proposed they should be set at
+liberty, and despatched with a message to the caziques and other
+inhabitants of the district. To this Cortes assented, ordering both the
+prisoners to be presented with blue glass beads, while Aguilar told them
+many things which he knew would please the inhabitants and prove
+advantageous to us. He assured them, that after this battle, which had
+been entirely of their own seeking, they had nothing further to fear
+from us, and commissioned them now to assemble all the caziques of the
+district, for we were very desirous of communicating with them.
+Everything Aguilar said was done with the view of inclining the Indians
+to make peace with us. The prisoners most willingly complied with our
+wishes, which they communicated to the caziques and principal personages
+among the inhabitants, telling them how we longed to become their
+friends. This message was in so far successful, that they resolved to
+send us fifteen of their Indian slaves with fowls, baked fish, and
+maise-bread. These slaves had their faces blackened, and were completely
+covered with ragged cloaks. When these personages appeared in the
+presence of Cortes he received them very friendly: Aguilar, on the
+contrary, asked them in an angry tone, why they had come with such
+painted faces--appearing rather to seek war than peace? If they were
+desirous of making peace, continued he, persons of rank should be
+deputed to us, not slaves. This they were to communicate to those who
+had sent them. We, however, treated these black faces very kindly,
+presenting them moreover with blue beads in token of peace, and in order
+to gain the good wishes of the inhabitants. And sure enough the very
+next day above thirty of the principal Indians, well dressed, appeared
+in our quarters, bringing with them, fowls, fruits, and maise-bread, and
+begged permission of Cortes to burn and bury the bodies of their fallen
+countrymen, in order that they might not create a pestilence in the air,
+or become a prey to the lions and tigers. This being granted, they
+brought along with them a great number of Indians to burn the bodies,
+and bury them according to their custom. Cortes himself went to watch
+their proceedings, when they assured him they had lost above 800 killed,
+without counting the wounded; adding, that at present they durst not
+enter into any treaty with us, as the day following all the chiefs and
+principal personages of the district would assemble to take our offers
+of peace into consideration.
+
+Cortes, who profited by every circumstance, said smilingly to us: "It
+appears to me, gentlemen, that the Indians stand in great awe of our
+horses, and imagine that these and our guns alone fight the battle. A
+thought has just struck me which will further confirm them in this
+notion. You must bring here the mare of Juan Sedeño which foaled on
+board a short time ago, and fasten her here where I am now standing.
+Then bring also the stallion of the musician Ortiz, which is a very
+fiery animal, and will quickly scent the mare. As soon as you find this
+to be the case, lead both the horses to separate places, that the
+caziques may neither see the horses, nor hear them neigh, until I shall
+be in conversation with them." All this was accordingly done. He
+likewise ordered our largest cannon to be heavily loaded with gunpowder
+and ball.
+
+A little after midday, forty caziques arrived in great state and richly
+clothed according to their fashion. They saluted Cortes and all of us,
+perfumed us with their incense, begged forgiveness for what had
+happened, and promised to be friendly for the future. Cortes answered by
+our interpreter Aguilar, reminding them, with a very serious look, how
+often he had wished them to make peace with us, and how, owing to their
+obstinacy, we were almost upon the point of destroying them with the
+whole of the inhabitants of this district. We were vassals of the mighty
+king and lord the emperor Charles, he further added, who had sent us to
+this country with orders to favour and assist those who should submit to
+his imperial sway, which we would assuredly do if they were amicably
+inclined towards us. If, however, they were not so, the _tepustles_ (so
+the Indians called our cannon) would be fired off, which were already
+embittered against them in some measure on account of the attack they
+had made upon us. Cortes, at this moment, gave the signal for firing our
+largest cannon. The report was like a sudden clap of thunder, the ball
+whizzing along the hills, which could be distinctly heard as it was
+midday and not a breath of air stirring. The caziques who had never seen
+this before appeared in dismay, and believed all Cortes had said; who,
+however, desired Aguilar to comfort and assure them he had given orders
+that no harm should be done them. At this moment the stallion was
+brought and fastened at a short distance from the spot where Cortes and
+the caziques were holding the conference: as the mare was likewise near
+at hand, the stallion immediately began to neigh, stamp the ground and
+rear itself, while its eyes were continually fixed on the Indians who
+stood in front of Cortes's tent, as the mare was placed behind it. The
+caziques, however, thought the animal was making all these movements
+against them and appeared greatly agitated. When Cortes found what
+effect this scene had made upon the Indians, he rose from his seat, and
+walking to the horse, took hold of the bridle, and desired his servant
+to lead it away. Aguilar, however, was to make the Indians believe that
+he had ordered the horse not to do them any injury.
+
+While all this was going on above thirty Indian porters (whom they term
+tamemes) arrived with fowls, baked fish, and various fruits: these
+porters, on account of their loads, had perhaps not been able to follow
+the caziques fast enough. A lively discourse was now kept up between
+Cortes and the caziques, who in the end left us perfectly contented,
+with the assurance that the following day they would return with a
+present.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+    _How all the caziques and calachonis of the river Grijalva arrive
+    with presents, and what happened after this._
+
+
+On the following morning, it was one of the last days in March, 1519, a
+number of caziques, with the principal personages of the Tabasco
+district and surrounding neighbourhood arrived. They paid us profound
+reverence, and brought a present, consisting in four diadems, some
+lizards, ear-rings, four ducks, figures like dogs, others with Indian
+faces, two sandals with golden soles, and various other trifling
+trinkets of gold,[12] whose value I have forgotten. There were also
+cloaks as the Indians wear them, which are very commodious. The present
+altogether was of little value, (most likely the province altogether
+possessed few riches,) and was certainly not to be compared to the
+twenty females with which they presented us, among whom one was a very
+fine woman, who subsequently became a convert to Christianity, and was
+named Doña Marina. Cortes was vastly pleased with this present, and
+held, by means of Aguilar, a long discourse with the caziques, telling
+them among other things, that their present was very acceptable; but he
+had something further to beg, namely, that they should again return to
+their dwellings with their wives and children. He should not consider
+the peace really concluded unless within the space of two days all the
+inhabitants had returned to the village. The caziques upon this issued
+the necessary orders, and in a couple of days all the families had
+returned. They showed the same readiness to comply with Cortes's wishes
+when he desired them to do away with their idols and human sacrifices.
+He likewise, as well as he could, gave them some idea of our holy
+Christian faith, and how we only adored one God. We also showed them a
+very pious figure, representing the mother of God holding her blessed
+Son in her arms, and explained to them how we paid reverence to this
+figure, and by it to the mother of God who was in heaven. Hereupon the
+caziques answered, that they were much pleased with this great
+_Tecleciguata_, and that they should much like to keep it in their
+village. In their language, _Tecleciguata_ means a woman of distinction.
+Cortes promised them they should have it, and for this purpose ordered a
+pretty altar to be built. In the same way our carpenters, Alonso Yañez
+and Alvaro Lopez, were desired to construct a very high cross.
+
+Cortes also further asked the caziques, why they had thus for the third
+time commenced war with us, though we had always sought to be at peace
+with them? They answered, that they were sorry enough for it, and we had
+forgiven them; for the rest it was at the instigation of their brother,
+the cazique of Champoton, who had previously accused them of cowardice
+for not having attacked us when we arrived off the coast with four ships
+under another commander, meaning most probably Grijalva. The same advice
+was also given them by our Indian interpreter, who had run away from us
+in the night-time, telling them not to leave us any peace day or night,
+as we were but few in number. Cortes desired that he should be delivered
+up to us, but they declared they did not know what had become of him, as
+on the unfortunate termination of the battle he had immediately took to
+flight. This, however, was an untruth, as we were well aware how dearly
+the poor devil had paid for his advice, as shortly after the battle he
+was seized and sacrificed to their gods.
+
+On being questioned as to where they got their gold and the trinkets,
+they answered from the country towards the setting of the sun, and
+pronounced the words _Culhua_ and _Mexico_. As at that time we did not
+comprehend the meaning of these words, we paid little attention to them.
+We, however, questioned our other interpreter Francisco, who remained
+with us from our former expedition under Grijalva, but he knew very
+little of the Tabasco language, being only acquainted with the Culhuan,
+that is to say the Mexican. He told Cortes, partly by signs, that
+_Culhua_ lay at a great distance before us, at the same time continually
+mentioning the word Mexico, Mexico. We were then still ignorant what he
+wished to convey to us.
+
+The day following the cross and altar were erected, and the figure of
+the holy Virgin being placed thereon: we all fell down upon our knees
+before it, while father Bartolome de Olmedo read mass. The caziques and
+chief Indians were present. On this occasion also the village of Tabasco
+was in all solemnity named Santa Maria de la Vitoria; and father Olmedo,
+with the assistance of Aguilar, said many excellent things to the twenty
+females who were presented to us, concerning our holy religion; that
+they should abandon their belief in idols, and no longer bring them
+sacrifices, for they were not gods but evil spirits; they had up to
+this moment lived in gross error, and should now adore Christ, our Lord.
+After this address the women were baptized, and she of whom I have
+already spoken was named Doña Marina. This was a lady of distinction,
+the daughter of a powerful cazique and a princess who had subjects of
+her own, which, indeed, you might see from her appearance. The
+circumstances which occasioned her being brought into our power I will
+relate hereafter. The names of the other Indian females who were
+baptized I cannot now bring to mind; but these were the first who were
+converted to Christianity in New Spain, and were distributed among
+Cortes's chief officers. Doña Marina, who was the prettiest, the most
+active and lively of the number, was given to Puertocarrero, who was a
+stout cavalier and cousin to the earl of Medellin. When he subsequently
+left for Spain, Cortes took Marina unto himself, and had a son by her,
+who was named Don Martin Cortes, and became Comptoir of Santiago.
+
+We remained five days in this spot, partly to cure our wounds, partly
+for the sake of those who suffered from pain in the groins, but who soon
+recovered here. Cortes employed these days in useful conversation with
+the caziques, and talked to them about the emperor, our master, of his
+numerous lordly vassals, and the advantage they would gain by having
+subjected themselves to him; as, for the future, in all their
+difficulties they would only have to apply to him, and wherever he might
+be he would come to their assistance.
+
+The caziques thanked him for this offer; they solemnly declared
+themselves to be vassals of our great emperor, and these were the first
+among the inhabitants of New Spain who subjected themselves to his
+majesty. As the day following was Palm Sunday, Cortes desired them to
+come early in the morning to pray before the holy mother of God and the
+cross. He also sent for six Indian carpenters to assist ours in making a
+cross on a high ceiba tree,[13] near the village of Cintla, where the
+Lord had granted us the great victory. This cross was made in a manner
+so as to be very durable, for the bark of the tree, which always grows
+to again, was so cut as to form that figure. Lastly, Cortes desired the
+Indians to bring out all their canoes in order to assist us in
+re-embarking, for we were desirous of setting sail on that holy day, as,
+according to our pilots, our present station was not secure from the
+north winds.
+
+Early the next morning the caziques and the principal personages, all
+with their wives and children, made their appearance in the courtyard,
+where we had erected the altar and cross, and collected the palm
+branches for our procession. Upon this Cortes, with the officers and
+all our men, rose and made a solemn procession. Both our priests, the
+father Bartolome de Olmedo, belonging to the order of the charitable
+brethren, and Juan Dias, were dressed in their full canonicals, and read
+mass. We prayed before the cross and kissed it, the caziques and Indians
+all the while looking on. After the ceremony was finished the principal
+Indians brought ten fowls, baked fish, and all kinds of greens, which we
+enjoyed very much. We now took our leave, and Cortes repeatedly
+recommended them to take care of the image of the holy Virgin and the
+cross, and to hold the chapel in due reverence, in order that salvation
+and blessings might come upon them.
+
+We all embarked in the evening, and on Monday morning we set sail with a
+good wind. We always kept close to the shore, and steered in the
+direction of San Juan de Ulua. As we coasted along, the weather being
+most favorable, we who had been here with Grijalva, and were well
+acquainted with these parts, pointed out to Cortes La Rambla, which the
+Indians call Aguajaluco; further on, the coast of Tonala or San Antonio,
+the great river Guacasualco, the elevated snow mountains (sierras
+nevadas), and those of San Martin. We also showed him the split rock
+forming two points, which stretch out into the sea, and somewhat
+resemble the figure of a chair. We then showed him the river Alvarado;
+further on the river Banderas, where we made the 16000 pesos; the Isla
+Blanca and Isla Verde, also the Isla di Sacrificios, where, under
+Grijalva, we found the idols with the Indians who had been recently
+sacrificed.
+
+In this way we pretty quickly arrived at San Juan de Ulua, which we
+reached on Holy Thursday about noon. I shall never forget how Alonso
+Hernandez Puertocarrero just about this time remarked to Cortes:
+"Methinks we are now certainly arrived in that country, of which those
+gentlemen who have been here twice before, sung:[14]
+
+    'Cata Francia, montesinos!
+    Cata Paris, la Ciudad,
+    Cata las aguas de Duero,
+    Do van a dar en la mar!'
+
+"I tell you, only look at this rich country, and keep strict command
+over us." Cortes, who well knew what he meant, said in return: "If God
+will only grant us that good fortune in arms which he gave to Roland,
+the Paladin, then with your assistance and that of the other gentlemen
+cavaliers, we shall succeed in everything else." This happened just at
+the moment when Cortes was entering the river Alvarado, which
+circumstance is also mentioned by Gomara.
+
+[12] This passage is very important, as it shows to what degree of
+civilization the inhabitants of this district had arrived, and that they
+were at least skilful in the working of gold. The Spanish words are:
+"Quatro diademas, unas lagartijas, y dos como perillos, y orejeras, y
+cinco anades, y dos figuras de caras de Indios, y dos Suelas de Oro,
+como de sus Cotoras."
+
+The Caras de Indios (faces of Indians) were most probably shaped like
+masks, for similar ones, made of clay, are found to this day in the vale
+of Mexico. "Suelas de Oro, como de sus Cotoras," we have ventured to
+translate "Sandals with golden soles," particularly as Bernal Diaz, in a
+subsequent chapter, expressly remarks that Motecusuma wore a kind of
+half-boot with soles of gold. (p. 80.)
+
+[13] The bombax ceiba of Linnæus, and one of the tallest trees growing
+in America. The fruit produces a very fine cotton, resembling silk, used
+for stuffing bolsters and chair seats. (p. 82.)
+
+[14] Cata Francia, Montesinos, &c. This is the first strophe of an old
+Spanish romance, in which Montesinos the father desires his son to
+revenge him of his mortal enemy Tomillas:
+
+"Montesinos cast a glance On your lands, the soil of France; See how the
+Duro's sportive motion Carries its waters to the ocean!" (p. 83.)
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+    _How Doña Marina herself was a caziquess, and the daughter of
+    distinguished personages; also a ruler over a people and several
+    towns, and how she came to Tabasco._
+
+
+Previous to going into any details here respecting the powerful
+Motecusuma, his immense kingdom of Mexico, and its inhabitants, I must
+relate what I know of Doña Marina. She was born a ruler over a people
+and country,--for her parents had the dominion of a township called
+Painala, to which several other townships were subject, lying about
+twenty-four miles from the town of Guacasualco. Her father died when she
+was very young, and her mother married another young cazique. By him she
+had a son, of whom it appears they were both very fond, and to whom,
+after their death, they designed to leave their territories. In order,
+however, that the daughter of the first marriage might not stand in his
+way, she was conveyed secretly during night-time to an Indian family in
+Xicalango, they spreading the rumour she had died, which gained further
+belief from the circumstance that a daughter of one of her female slaves
+happened to die at the time. The Indians of Xicalango did not keep the
+young girl themselves, but gave her to the inhabitants of Tabasco, by
+whom she was presented to Cortes. I knew her mother and half-brother
+myself, the latter having already reached manhood, and governed the
+township jointly with his mother. When they were subsequently both
+converted to Christianity, the latter was named Martha and her son
+Lazaro. I was well acquainted with the whole of this circumstance; for
+in the year 1523, when Mexico and several other provinces had been
+subdued, and Christobal de Oli had rebelled in the Higueras, Cortes came
+to Guacasualco, and on that occasion visited Marina's birth-place. Most
+of the inhabitants of Guacasualco accompanied Cortes on this expedition;
+I myself was also among the number. As Doña Marina, in all the wars of
+New Spain, Tlascalla, and at the siege of Mexico, had rendered the
+greatest services in capacity of an interpretress, Cortes carried her
+everywhere with him. During this journey it also was that he married her
+to a cavalier of the township of Orizava, named Juan Xaramillo. Among
+others, there was present as a witness a certain Aranda of Tabasco,
+through whom this circumstance became immediately known. These are the
+true particulars of the whole case, not, however, as related by Gomara.
+For the rest, Marina had the most extensive influence in New Spain, and
+did with the Indians what she pleased.
+
+While Cortes was staying in Guacasualco, he ordered all the caziques of
+the province to assemble, and advised them to adopt our holy religion.
+On this occasion the mother and brother of Doña Marina also made their
+appearance with the other caziques. They recognized each other
+immediately; the former, however, appeared to be in the greatest
+anxiety, thinking that they had merely been called there to be killed.
+Doña Marina, however, desired them to dry away their tears, and
+comforted them by saying they were unconscious of what they were doing
+when they had sent her away to the inhabitants of Xicalango, and that
+she freely forgave the past. By this means God certainly directed
+everything for her best, turned her away from the errors of heathenism,
+and converted her to Christianity.
+
+Thus destined, she likewise bore a son unto her master Cortes, and then
+married a cavalier named Juan Xaramillo. All this I consider of much
+greater importance than if she had been presented with the sole dominion
+of the whole of New Spain. She likewise gave presents to her relatives
+on their return home. What I have related is the strict truth, and can
+swear to it. Gomara's account respecting this is wholly erroneous, and
+he adds many other circumstances which I shall leave without comment.
+This, however, is certain, that the whole affair reminds one of the
+history of Joseph and his brethren in Egypt, when they came into his
+power. After this diversion into matters which subsequently took place,
+I must relate how we first managed to understand Doña Marina. She was
+conversant with the language of Guacasualco, which is the Mexican, and
+with that of Tabasco. Aguilar, however, merely understood the latter,
+which is spoken throughout the whole of Yucatan. Doña Marina had,
+therefore, first to make herself understood to Aguilar, who then
+translated what she said into Spanish. This woman was a valuable
+instrument to us in the conquest of New Spain. It was, through her only,
+under the protection of the Almighty, that many things[15] were
+accomplished by us: without her we never should have understood the
+Mexican language, and, upon the whole, have been unable to surmount many
+difficulties.
+
+Let this suffice respecting Doña Marina; I will now relate how we
+arrived in San Juan de Ulua.
+
+[15] On this woman the captain Cadahalso, in his 'Cartas Marruecas,'
+passes the following encomium: "Primera muger, que no ha prejudicado en
+uno exercito;" i.e. "The first woman who ever accompanied an army
+without being a prejudice to it." (p. 85.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+    _How we arrive with our vessels in San Juan de Ulua, and what we did
+    there._
+
+
+On Holy Thursday, in the year of our Lord 1519, we arrived with our
+whole squadron in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua. As Alaminos well
+remembered this spot from the expedition under Grijalva, he brought our
+ships to anchor in a place where they were sheltered from the north
+wind. We had scarcely lain here half an hour when we espied two large
+canoes, which are called here pirogues, filled with a number of Indians,
+making straight for Cortes's vessel, which, from the large flag hanging
+from the mast-head, they recognized as our commander's ship. They
+climbed on board without any ceremony, and inquired for the _Tlatoan_,
+which, in their language, means master. Doña Marina understood their
+question, and pointed to Cortes; they, therefore, turned to him, paying
+him great reverence after the Indian fashion, and bid him welcome. Their
+master, they said, who was a servant of the great Motecusuma, had sent
+them in order to ascertain who we were and what we came to seek in his
+country. We had only to inform them of what we wanted for our ships, and
+they would see that it was provided.
+
+Cortes thanked them for their kindness, through Aguilar and Doña Marina,
+presented them with some blue glass beads, and ordered some meat and
+drink to be placed before them. After they had taken some refreshment,
+he told them we were merely come here to make their acquaintance, and
+open a trade with them: we had not the remotest intention of doing them
+an injury, nor need they apprehend anything from our arrival. The
+ambassadors now returned, well contented, to their homes. The following
+morning, Good Friday, we disembarked our horses and cannon near some
+sand-hills which here run along the whole coast. Our artilleryman Mesa
+placed the cannon on a very advantageous spot, and we erected an altar
+where mass was immediately performed: for Cortes and the other chief
+officers huts were constructed of green boughs; the rest of us likewise
+constructed huts, and slept three together: the horses also were well
+provided for. The whole of Good Friday was spent in this work; and on
+the Saturday many Indians arrived, who had been sent by a man of
+distinction, named Quitlalpitoc, governor under Motecusuma: this
+personage was afterwards christened Ovandillo. They had axes with them,
+and cut off an additional quantity of branches to make a better finish
+to Cortes's hut, which they then overhung with large pieces of cloth,
+to keep out the heat, which was already very great. They also brought
+along with them fowls, maise-bread, and plums, which were then nice and
+ripe; also, if I rightly recollect, they had with them some gold
+trinkets. All these things they handed over to Cortes, adding, that the
+governor himself would come the next day and bring with him a further
+supply of provisions. Cortes joyfully accepted of these presents, and
+ordered various kinds of toys we had brought for barter to be given
+them, with which they were uncommonly delighted. On Easter day, the
+governor indeed appeared in person, as had been assured us. His name was
+_Teuthlille_, and he was one of the farmer generals of the Mexican
+empire. He was accompanied by another person of distinction, called
+Quitlalpitoc. We subsequently learnt that both these personages were
+appointed governors over the provinces Cotastlan, Tustepec,
+Guazpaltepec, and Tlatateteclo, and other townships recently subdued.
+They were followed by a great number of Indians, carrying the presents,
+consisting of fowls and greens. Teuthlille having ordered the others to
+stand back a little, walked up to Cortes, and made him three most
+reverential bows, after the Indian fashion, which he repeated on turning
+to us who stood nearest. Cortes bid both welcome, then embraced them,
+and desired them to wait a little, as he would afterwards give them a
+more circumstantial answer. In the meantime he ordered the altar to be
+fitted up as prettily as possible. Francisco Bartolome and father Juan
+Diaz performed mass. Both the governors and the principal personages of
+their suite were present during the ceremony, after which Cortes sat
+down to dinner with them.
+
+After the table had been cleared, Cortes, with the assistance of Aguilar
+and Doña Marina, entered into conversation with the Mexican officials
+and the caziques, telling them we were Christians, and subjects of the
+greatest monarch of the world, whose name was emperor Charles, and that
+he had many great personages among his vassals and servants. We had come
+by his command to their country, of which and its powerful monarch who
+now reigned over it, his majesty had heard long ago. As far as regarded
+himself, he was desirous of becoming his friend, and had to disclose
+many things to him, in the name of his emperor, which he would listen to
+with delight. In order that a good understanding might be established
+between him and his subjects, they should acquaint him with the place
+where their monarch resided, that he might pay his respects to him, and
+make the necessary disclosures. To which Teuthlille answered in a rather
+imperious tone, "Since you are but just arrived, it would be more
+fitting that you, previous to your desiring an interview with my
+monarch, should accept this present, which we have brought you in his
+name, and disclose your wishes to me." He then brought forth, out of a
+species of box, a quantity of gold trinkets, of beautiful and skilful
+workmanship, besides more than twenty packages of stuffs very prettily
+worked of white cotton and feathers. These they presented to Cortes,
+with various other costly things, which, owing to the number of years
+which have since elapsed, I cannot now remember, besides provisions,
+consisting in quantities of fowls, fruits, and dried fish. Cortes
+accepted all this with a joyful countenance, presenting these gentlemen
+in return with glass beads resembling brilliants, and other things we
+brought from Spain. He begged of them to desire the inhabitants of the
+different districts to commence trading with us, as we possessed various
+articles which we were desirous of exchanging for gold; this they
+promised to do.
+
+Cortes then ordered an arm-chair to be brought, beautifully painted and
+adorned with inlaid work, some pieces of precious stones, wrapt in
+cotton cloth, perfumed with musk, a necklace of imitation pearls, a
+scarlet cap, with a medal, on which was represented the holy St. George
+on horseback, with lance in hand, killing the dragon. Cortes addressed
+Teuthlille, and said, that he presented this chair to his monarch
+Motecusuma, that he might sit in it when he should pay him a visit, and
+the string of pearls to wind around his head on the same occasion; all
+of which were presents from the emperor our master, who had sent these
+things to his monarch in token of friendship and as a proof of the
+esteem in which he held him: he ought now to inform us where and when he
+could personally wait upon him. Teuthlille accepted the presents, and
+said, in return, that his master Motecusuma, as he was also a great
+monarch, would on his side be equally delighted to learn something about
+our great emperor: he would hasten to lay the presents before him, and
+return with his answer.
+
+Teuthlille had with him very clever painters, for there were such in
+Mexico, and he ordered them to sketch the likeness and whole person of
+Cortes, with the dress he wore; also all the other chief officers, the
+soldiers, our vessels, horses, Doña Marina, and Aguilar; even our two
+dogs, the cannon, the balls; in short, everything they could fix their
+eyes on belonging to us: these paintings they took along with them to
+show to their monarch. In order, however, to convey to him a still
+greater idea of our power, Cortes ordered our cannon to be heavily laden
+with powder, so as to produce a very loud report, commanding also
+Alvarado and the other cavaliers to mount their horses, to hang bells
+around the necks of the latter, and to gallop up in full speed in
+presence of Motecusuma's ambassadors. Cortes also mounted his horse, and
+said to the others, "It would be capital if we could gallop across these
+sand-hills at full speed; but, as we should so easily stick in the sand,
+it will be better for us to ride two and two along the sea-shore at low
+water." He then gave the command of the horse to Alvarado, whose brown
+mare was a spirited animal, and very swift. All this was done in
+presence of the Mexican ambassadors; but, that they might likewise see
+the cannon fired, Cortes, under the pretence of having something further
+to communicate, took them and several other principal personages to a
+spot where they might have a good view of it. The weather was perfectly
+calm; and when the cannon was fired, the stone balls flew with a
+tremendous crash along the sand-hills, re-echoing for a length of time.
+The Indians were terribly startled, and ordered their painters to
+represent this likewise, to them so novel a sight, that they might show
+it to Motecusuma.
+
+One of our men had on a casque, which was partly gilt; Teuthlille, who
+was much more enlightened than any of his companions, remarked, when his
+eye fell upon it, that it bore a great resemblance to a helmet which
+belonged to their most ancient forefathers, and now adorned the head of
+their warrior-god Huitzilopochtli. Motecusuma, he further added, would
+certainly be uncommonly pleased if he could likewise see this casque.
+Cortes, on hearing this, ordered the casque to be presented to him,
+thereby expressing the wish, that he should like to satisfy himself that
+the gold of this country was similar to what we find in our rivers. If
+they would send him the casque full of gold dust, he would send it to
+our great emperor. Upon this Teuthlille took leave of Cortes and all of
+us, promising to return speedily, while Cortes, under the most tender of
+embraces, made him every profession of friendship.
+
+After this personage had taken his departure, we learnt that he was not
+merely a distinguished statesman, but also the most nimble pedestrian at
+Motecusuma's court. He did, indeed, use the utmost expedition to bring
+his monarch information, and hand over to him the paintings and
+presents. The great Motecusuma was vastly astonished at everything he
+heard and saw, and yet he was pleased. But, when at last he espied the
+casque, and compared it with that of the idol Huitzilopochtli, he no
+longer doubted for an instant that we belonged to that people, whom his
+forefathers had prophesied would, one time or other, come and subdue the
+country.
+
+Concerning these things Gomara has adduced much of which he had been ill
+informed; I will not, however, detain myself by contradicting him, but
+continue my narrative.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+    _How Teuthlille makes his report to Motecusuma, and gives him our
+    presents; as also what further took place in our camp._
+
+
+After the departure of Teuthlille with the presents which Cortes sent to
+his monarch, Motecusuma; the other governor, Quitlalpitoc, remained
+behind in our camp. He took up his quarters in a kind of hut, at a
+distance from ours, and ordered Indians to bake maise-bread, procure the
+fowls, fruits, and fish, which the province had to furnish, for the
+table of Cortes and his officers. We other soldiers, if we wished to get
+our bellies full were compelled to catch shell and other fish ourselves.
+In the meantime numbers of Indians arrived from the above-mentioned
+provinces, over which the two officials sent by Motecusuma were
+governors, bringing with them some gold trinkets of small value, and
+fowls, which they gave us in exchange for our goods, consisting in glass
+pearls and such like; with which we were all provided, having
+experienced the value of these during the expedition under Grijalva.
+
+Six or seven days may have thus been spent, when Teuthlille returned in
+the morning with more than a hundred Indian porters, all heavily laden,
+accompanied by a great Mexican cazique, who both in countenance,
+stature, and deportment, greatly resembled Cortes, and on that account
+only had been selected by his monarch to accompany the deputation; for,
+as was related, when Teuthlille brought forth the picture representing
+Cortes, all the grandees who were present with their monarch Motecusuma,
+immediately observed that he resembled a person of distinction named
+Quintalbor. This was the same person who now accompanied Teuthlille, we
+therefore called one the Cortes of this place, and the other the Cortes
+of that place. We must now, however, learn what the ambassadors did when
+they came into the presence of Cortes. First of all they touched the
+ground at his feet with the hand, they then perfumed him and all the
+Spaniards who were present, with pans made of clay. Cortes gave them a
+most cordial reception, and desired them to sit down at his side. The
+cazique Quintalbor was commissioned to discuss matters jointly with
+Teuthlille. Both, therefore, told Cortes he was most welcome in their
+country; and after a good deal of talking on both sides, they produced
+the presents and spread them out on a mat, over which they had first
+thrown some cotton cloths. The first was a round plate, about the size
+of a waggon wheel, representing the sun, the whole of the finest gold,
+and of the most beautiful workmanship; a most extraordinary work of art,
+which, according to the account of those who weighed it, was worth
+above 20,000 gold pesos. The second was a round plate, even larger than
+the former, of massive silver, representing the moon, with rays and
+other figures on it, being of great value. The third was the casque,
+completely filled with pure grains of gold, as they are found in the
+mines, worth about 3000 pesos, which was more to us than if it had been
+ten times the value, as we now knew for certain there were rich gold
+mines in the country. Among other things there were also thirty golden
+ducks, exactly resembling the living bird, and of splendid workmanship;
+further figures resembling lions, tigers, dogs and apes; likewise ten
+chains with lockets, all of gold, and of the most costly workmanship; a
+bow with the string and twelve arrows, and two staffs five palms in
+length, like those used by the justices, all cast of the purest gold;
+further, they brought small cases containing the most beautiful green
+feathers, blended with gold and silver, and fans similarly worked; every
+species of game likewise cast in gold. In short such a number of
+objects, which from the many years since elapsed I cannot now altogether
+remember.[16] There were alone above thirty packages of cotton stuffs,
+variously manufactured and interworked with variegated feathers. When
+the great cazique Quintalbor and Teuthlille handed over these presents
+to Cortes, they begged of him to accept of them in the same friendly
+disposition with which their monarch sent them, and to distribute them
+among his Teules. Upon this they began to unfold what their monarch had
+in particular commissioned them to say, which was as follows: "He,
+Motecusuma, was delighted with the arrival of such courageous men in his
+states, as we, according to the accounts he had received and judging
+from the occurrence at Tabasco, certainly must be. He wished very much
+to see our great emperor, who was such a powerful monarch, of whom,
+although residing at such a vast distance, he had already gained some
+knowledge, and he would send him a present of some valuable stones. He
+was likewise ready to furnish us with everything we might require during
+our stay. But as for Cortes calling upon him, we had better give up all
+thoughts of that, as it was not necessary, and would be accompanied with
+great difficulties."
+
+Cortes thanked them most sincerely for their kindness, gave to each a
+couple of shirts made of holland, blue beads, and other trifles, begging
+of them to return to their great monarch Motecusuma, and tell him that
+our emperor and master would take it very unkind, after we had come from
+such distant countries and crossed such vast seas, merely with the
+intention of paying our respects to Motecusuma, if we returned without
+fulfilling this object. He wished, therefore, to proceed to his
+residence and himself to receive his commands. The ambassadors answered,
+that they would mention all this to their monarch, but that any waiting
+upon him would be superfluous. Cortes upon this gave them out of our
+poverty a cup, of Florentine workmanship, gilt and surrounded with a
+quantity of relieved foliage, besides those shirts made of holland, and
+other things; all these were to be presented to Motecusuma, and he
+desired them to take his answer to him. Both the delegates then
+departed, while Quitlalpitoc remained alone behind in our camp,
+commissioned, it appeared, by the two other officials of Motecusuma, to
+provide provisions for us out of the neighbouring districts.
+
+[16] These remarkable presents have all been enumerated by Torquemada,
+(Monarchia Indiana, i, iv, c. 17;) and we cannot do better than give his
+minute description of them here: "The ambassador of Motecusuma ordered
+mats to be spread on the ground before Cortes, and over them some cotton
+cloths, on which he arranged the presents, consisting of large
+quantities of cotton shirts and other cotton stuffs, beautifully
+manufactured, and interwoven with feathers of the most splendid colours;
+bucklers made of the purest white staffs, decorated with feathers, gold,
+silver, and pearls, surpassing everything in beauty and skilfulness of
+workmanship that was ever seen. There was also a helmet, tastefully
+carved out of wood, filled with grains of gold; a casque, made of thin
+plates of gold, decorated with tassels and stones, resembling the
+smaragdus; numerous large bunches of feathers of diversified colours,
+fastened in silver and gold; fans for keeping off flies, made of the
+rarest feathers; a thousand lockets of gold and silver, of the most
+curious and beautiful workmanship; bracelets and military decorations of
+gold and silver, splendidly embossed with green and bright yellow
+feathers; leather made of deer skin, curried and coloured in the best
+possible manner; shoes and sandals of the same leather, sewn with thin
+gold wire, and the soles made of splendid white and blue stone. There
+were other kinds of shoes, most tastefully manufactured of cotton;
+mirrors of marcasite, globular shaped, of the size of a fist, and most
+ingeniously set in gold, the small frame itself being very valuable, and
+worthy of the acceptance of any crowned head; coverings and curtains to
+beds, manufactured of various coloured cotton, more glossy and of finer
+texture than silk; a number of other gold and silver trinkets; a
+necklace of gold, decorated with upwards of a hundred emeralds, rubies,
+and various other ornaments of gold; a second necklace, consisting of
+numbers of large pearls and emeralds, all of the most exquisite
+workmanship; numerous other gold trinkets in the shape of frogs and
+animals; jewels in the form of medals, the shrines being even more
+valuable than the precious stones they contained; a quantity of large
+and small grains of gold. The most valuable of these presents, however,
+were two round plates, one of gold, on which was a sun with rays and the
+zodiac; this weighed above one hundred marks: the other was of silver,
+which in a similar manner represented the moon, weighing above fifty
+marks: both were massive, and of the thickness of the Spanish coin of
+four silver reals, and as large as a waggon wheel. Those who saw these
+splendid presents said that, without considering the beautiful
+workmanship, the value of the gold and silver alone amounted to 25,000
+castellanos de oro; so that the whole together may well be estimated at
+50,000 ducats." (p. 91.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+    _How Cortes goes in search of another harbour and a good spot to
+    found a colony, and what further happened._
+
+
+After the Mexican ambassadors had again taken their departure, Cortes
+ordered two vessels to sail further on and explore the coast. The
+command of these was given to Francisco de Montejo, with orders to
+follow the same course taken by Grijalva. He was to sail on for the
+space of ten days, and search for a good harbour and convenient spot to
+form a settlement; for in the sandy region we were now staying it was
+impossible to live, on account of the gnats; the inhabited districts,
+moreover, being too far distant. Alaminos and el Manquillo who were
+already acquainted with these waters, piloted the vessels. Montejo
+departed and arrived in the waters of Rio Grande, near Panuco, as far as
+we had gone with Grijalva, but on account of the heavy currents there he
+could proceed no further; he, therefore, returned to San Juan de Ulua,
+bringing us no other news than that they had seen at a distance of about
+thirty-six miles further on a town, which to all appearance was
+fortified. This place was called Quiahuitzlan, having a harbour, which,
+according to the opinion of Alaminos, was secure from the north wind.
+Ten or twelve days were spent by Montejo in this expedition out and
+home. Quitlalpitoc, who had remained to furnish us with provisions, soon
+ceased to do so altogether, which, of course, created a great scarcity
+of food: our cassave-bread had likewise become quite mouldy and swarmed
+with worms, so that we had nothing to eat if we did not procure
+ourselves shellfish. In the commencement the Indians had certainly
+brought us gold and fowls for our goods, but now they no longer came in
+such great numbers as at first, and those who did come appeared quite
+shy and reserved. We, therefore, anxiously awaited the return of the two
+ambassadors from Mexico.
+
+After some days had elapsed Teuthlille indeed returned with a great
+number of Indians. They observed the same courteous behaviour as on the
+previous occasion, perfuming Cortes and all of us, and then brought
+forth their presents, consisting in ten packages of mantles, richly
+worked in feathers; further, four _chalchihuitls_, a species of green
+stone of uncommon value, which are held in higher estimation with them
+than the smaragdus[17] with us; lastly, there were also all kinds of
+gold trinkets, which I heard valued at 3000 pesos. The great cazique
+Quintalbor had fallen ill on the journey, and consequently remained
+behind. Teuthlille and Quitlalpitoc, therefore, alone fulfilled
+Motecusuma's commission, and assured us that he had most graciously
+accepted of our present. Regarding the four chalchihuitls they observed,
+that those were intended as a present to our emperor, as each of them
+was worth, more than a load of gold. For the rest it was unnecessary to
+send any more messengers to Mexico, neither was there any further
+mention to be made of a personal interview between their monarch and
+Cortes.
+
+Although, it was very unpleasant to the latter that his visit to
+Motecusuma should thus be declined in dry words, yet he thanked them
+most kindly; and added to some of us who were present: "Really this
+Motecusuma must be a great and rich gentleman; nevertheless, if God be
+willing, we shall one day visit him in his palace!" "We only wish,
+(returned we soldiers,) that we were once nicely engaged with him."
+
+All this took place just about the hour of Ave Maria; the bell,
+therefore, announced that we should assemble ourselves around the cross,
+which we had erected on an elevated sand-hill. While we were all on our
+knees before it, and repeating the Ave Maria, Teuthlille and
+Quitlalpitoc inquired why we thus humbled ourselves so greatly before
+that pole.
+
+Cortes immediately turned to Bartolome de Olmedo, and remarked to him:
+"This is a good opportunity, father, to give these people some notion of
+our holy religion through our interpreters." This father Olmedo
+accordingly did in a manner which would have done honour to the greatest
+of theologians. He first of all explained that we were Christians, and
+then expatiated on the whole substance of our belief; he then proved
+that their idols were useless things, evil spirits, which fled away from
+the presence of the cross. On such a cross, he continued, the Lord of
+heaven and earth suffered death, we believed in him only, and prayed to
+him as the only true God, Jesus Christ, who suffered death for the
+salvation of the human race; who rose again on the third day, and
+ascended into heaven, that he would again appear to hold judgment over
+the living and the dead. Upon this followed everything that was
+edifying, which the Indians comprehended well, and which they assured us
+they would relate to their monarch.
+
+Cortes then explained to them, that among the many reasons which had
+induced our great emperor to send us here, one was that they should
+abandon for ever the religion of their cursed idols, abolish human
+sacrifices, and abstain from kidnapping. He, therefore, must beg of them
+to erect crosses like this in their towns and on their temples, and also
+the figure of the holy Virgin, with her most excellent Son, then God
+would bestow great blessings on them. In short, there were many
+expressions replete with excellent feeling, which I am unable wholly to
+report, and therefore will rather leave in my pen.
+
+Our men now commenced to barter with the Indians, who had arrived with
+Teuthlille for what they had brought, and obtained various kinds of
+things, all of inferior gold, which we gave to our sailors for catching
+us fish; this was the only means we had of stilling our hunger. Cortes
+was well aware of this, and secretly enjoyed the idea; however, the
+creatures of Diego Velasquez drew his attention to it, and thought he
+ought not to permit such a species of traffic. We shall further see what
+happened on this account.
+
+[17] Chalchihuitls; Bernal Diaz calls these Chalchuites. This stone is
+of a light green colour, at first held in great estimation by the
+Spaniards, but Torquemada, a contemporary of our author, remarks,
+(Monarchia, Ind. i, p. 462,) it is a stone on which the Indians set a
+high value, but not so the Spaniards. He calls it a kind of smaragdus,
+"the polishing of which the Indians say was taught them by the god
+Quetzalcohuatl." Bustamente (Historia de la Conquista de Mexico escrita,
+por Fr. Bernardino Sahagun, Mexico, 1829,) calls it, "Piedra jaspe, mui
+verde, o sea esmeralda ordinaria," i.e. "A jasper of a very green
+colour, or a common smaragdus."
+
+This stone represented among the Mexicans everything that was excellent
+in its kind, for which reason they put such a stone in the mouth of the
+distinguished chiefs who died. (p. 93.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+
+_What happened on account of our bartering for gold, and of other things
+which took place in our camp._
+
+
+This bartering for gold being continued with the Indians, the adherents
+of Diego Velasquez remonstrated with Cortes, and asked him how he could
+suffer such a thing? Diego Velasquez, they added, had not sent him
+hither, that the soldiers should put most of the gold in their pockets.
+It ought to be made known, that henceforth no one but Cortes himself
+should barter for gold, and that every one should render an account of
+the gold in his possession, in order that the emperor's fifths might be
+deducted therefrom. It was, moreover, necessary to appoint a treasurer.
+Cortes confessed they were in the right, and allowed them to choose a
+treasurer themselves. But, not until their choice had fallen on one
+Gonzalo Mexia, did he show what his real intentions were; then he said
+to them with a heavy frown on his brow: "Only consider, gentlemen, how
+hard our comrades have to fare, since provisions totally fail! In order
+that they might not hunger, I have up to this moment overlooked this
+system of bartering, and indeed it produces but a mere trifle. I hope,
+with the assistance of God, that our affairs will take a better turn by
+and bye. Everything has its two sides to be looked at, and as we have
+now, in compliance with your wishes, ordered that no more bartering for
+gold shall be allowed in future, we have to see whence we are henceforth
+to obtain provisions."
+
+Gomara is in the wrong, when he relates, that Cortes issued that order,
+on this occasion, to make Motecusuma believe we cared little about gold.
+This monarch knew very well how the matter stood on this point, from the
+time of our arrival under Grijalva in the Bandera stream; he might also
+easily guess what we were after, when we begged of him to send us the
+casque full of golden grains, and our daily bartering for that metal.
+The Mexicans, indeed, are not the kind of folks to be thus imposed upon.
+
+However this may be, one fine morning the Indians, who had resided near
+us in the huts and were accustomed to furnish us with provisions and
+bring gold for barter, had all secretly left with Quitlalpitoc. This, we
+subsequently learnt, was done by the commands of Motecusuma, who had
+forbidden all intercourse with Cortes, which he had been induced to do
+from his attachment to his idol-gods. These were named _Tetzcatlipuca_
+and _Huitzilopochtli_, the former being the god of hell and the latter
+the god of war, to whom Motecusuma daily sacrificed some young children,
+that they might disclose to him what he should do with us. His intention
+was to take us prisoners if we would not re-embark, and employ some to
+educate children, while others were to be sacrificed. For his idol-gods,
+as we afterwards discovered, advised him not to listen to Cortes, and to
+take no notice of what we had sent him word concerning the cross and the
+figure of the blessed Virgin. This was also the reason why his men had
+gone away so secretly.
+
+Affairs having assumed such a posture, we now daily expected that
+hostilities would break out, and were particularly on our guard. It was
+during one of these days that I was standing sentinel on the sand-hills
+with another soldier, when we espied five Indians approaching along the
+shore. Not to alarm our camp with such a trifle we allowed them to come
+up. They all appeared very good humoured, made their obeisance to us
+after their fashion, and begged of us, by signs, to conduct them to our
+camp. Upon which I said to my companion, I will take them there, while
+you remain where you are, for at that time my legs were not so infirm as
+they are now, in my old age. When I presented them to Cortes, they paid
+him the profoundest respect, and continually repeated the word,
+_Lopelucio_, _Lopelucio_, which in the Totonaque language means Lord,
+great God. In dress and language this people differed entirely from the
+Mexicans, whom Motecusuma had sent to our camp. They had large holes
+bored in their under-lips, in which they wore pieces of blue speckled
+stone, or thin plates of gold; the holes in their ears were still larger
+in size, and adorned with similar ornaments. Neither Aguilar nor Doña
+Marina understood their language; but the latter inquired of them
+whether there was any _Naëyavatos_, or interpreter, among them? Upon
+which two of them answered that they understood the Mexican language,
+and now the discourse immediately commenced. They bid us welcome, and
+stated that their ruler had sent them hither to inquire who we were, and
+that he would be delighted to be of any use to such powerful men as we
+were. They would have waited upon us earlier if they had not shunned the
+people of Culhua, namely, the Mexicans (meaning as much as villains,)
+who had been with us. Most probably these people had heard of our
+battles at Tabasco and Potonchan; they at least knew that the Mexicans
+had secretly departed from us three days ago. Cortes learnt from them
+many things which were of the greatest importance to him, particularly
+respecting the enemies and opponents of Motecusuma: Cortes, therefore,
+was most friendly to these people, gave them various kinds of presents,
+and desired them to return to their ruler and acquaint him that he would
+visit him shortly in person. From this moment we called these Indians by
+no other name than Lopelucios. However, it was impossible for us to
+remain on these sand-hills, on account of the long-legged and small
+gnats, which they call chechenes, and are the worst of all: we could get
+no sleep for them. Moreover, we had no kind of provisions left; our
+cassave-bread was quite mouldy and uneatable, on account of the worms,
+with which it swarmed: it was, therefore, no wonder that several of our
+men, who had Indian possessions in the island of Cuba, should wish to
+return home, which was in particular the case with all the friends and
+creatures of Velasquez. Cortes, observing this disposition, gave orders
+for our departure to Quiahuitzlan, which had been seen by Montejo and
+Alaminos, and where the vessels would be secure from the north winds,
+being sheltered by the rock above mentioned.
+
+While preparations were making for our departure, the whole of Diego
+Velasquez's adherents united to remonstrate with Cortes. They asked him
+how he was to commence the march without provisions; it was, indeed,
+quite impossible to proceed further on by sea. Already thirty-five of
+our men had died either of the wounds they received at Tabasco, of
+sickness, or of hunger. The country we were now in was extensive, the
+population numerous, and the inhabitants would, no doubt, attack us in a
+few days. It was, therefore, most advisable to return to Cuba, and
+render an account to Diego Velasquez of the gold we had bartered for, of
+which we possessed a good deal: to this might be added the presents sent
+by Motecusuma, the golden sun, silver moon, the casque full of gold
+dust, and all the other precious things, which I have above mentioned.
+To which Cortes answered, "that he did not consider it advisable to
+return without having even seen the country. Up to this moment we had no
+reason to complain of ill luck; on the contrary, God had everywhere lent
+us his support. If we had lost any of our men, such things were to be
+expected in warlike undertakings. We should first explore the country
+more thoroughly; and with regard to provisions, there was sufficient
+maise in the country, with which we must make a shift for the present."
+
+By these arguments Cortes succeeded in quieting the partisans of Diego
+Velasquez; yet it was of short duration, for they held secret meetings,
+and commenced setting all manner of intrigues on foot to bring about our
+return to Cuba: how far they succeeded we shall presently see.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+
+    _How we elected Hernando Cortes captain-general and chief justice
+    until we should receive the emperor's commands on this head; and
+    what further happened._
+
+
+I have already remarked how the relatives and friends of Diego Velasquez
+united to stop our further progress, and bring about our return to Cuba.
+Cortes, on his part, however, was no less active, and managed with his
+friends to get himself appointed our captain-general. In this the
+following personages acted the chief part: Alonso Hernandez
+Puertocarrero, Pedro de Alvarado, with his four brothers Jorge, Gonzalo,
+Gomez, and Juan; further, Christobal de Oli, Alonso de Avila, Juan de
+Escalante, Francisco de Lugo, myself, and many other cavaliers and
+officers.
+
+Francisco de Montejo soon perceived what our intentions were, and kept a
+sharp look-out upon everything that was going on. I was drawn into this
+affair in the following manner: at midnight, Puertocarrero, Escalante,
+and De Lugo, to whom I stood somewhat related, both of us, moreover,
+being born at the same place, called upon me in my quarters, and said,
+"Bernal Diaz del Castillo, take your arms and follow us: we are to
+accompany Cortes, who is going to make the rounds." When we had arrived
+at some distance from my hut, they again commenced, "We have something
+to tell you, sir, but you must keep it a secret, for it is of great
+importance, and those of Diego Velasquez's partisans who mess with you
+must know nothing about it. We are of opinion that Cortes does not act
+rightly towards us. At Cuba he made known that he was going out to found
+a colony, and now we hear that he was not empowered to do so, but was
+merely sent out to barter for gold, and then to return to Cuba with all
+we should make. If this takes place, we are altogether ruined men, and
+Diego Velasquez will himself comfortably pocket the gold, and keep it,
+as he has on previous occasions. Do but reflect, sir, that this is the
+third expedition of the kind which you have accompanied, that you have
+spent your whole in them, and undergone so many fatigues, risked your
+life, and suffered from wounds, all for nothing. This we cannot allow.
+We cavaliers are sufficient in number, your friends one and all, and we
+must insist that Cortes founds a colony here, in the name of his
+majesty; we must also find means to acquaint our sovereign immediately
+with this. Promise that you also will be one of us. We have united to
+elect Cortes our captain-general. It would, indeed, be rendering God and
+our king a great service."
+
+To all this I answered that I considered it equally inadvisable to
+return to Cuba, and that I was quite ready to give my consent towards
+electing Cortes captain-general and chief justice, until his imperial
+majesty should have communicated his wishes to us on that point. As this
+plan went round from one to another, the partisans of Diego Velasquez,
+who were much more numerous than we, soon got wind of it, and boldly
+asked Cortes what intrigues had been set on foot to form a colony here?
+and why he should shirk from rendering the account which was due to him
+by whom he had been appointed head of the expedition? Diego Velasquez
+would certainly be ill pleased with such proceedings: we could not do
+otherwise than re-embark: all his intrigues with the men were useless:
+to found a colony, we were in want both of provisions, men, and
+everything else to ensure success. Cortes, without showing the least
+irritability, answered, that he was quite of their opinion, and had not
+the remotest intention to act contrary to the instructions and wishes of
+Diego Velasquez, and immediately issued orders that every one who had
+come with him should repair on board by the next day.
+
+As soon as we others, who had confederated, heard this, we declared to
+Cortes that he was doing wrong in thus wishing to deceive us. At Cuba he
+had publicly announced that he was going out to found a colony, and now
+it appeared it was merely for the sake of trafficking. We begged of him,
+for the sake of God and our king, not to break his word, but to found a
+colony, as was required of us, to promote the interests of his majesty
+and the service of God. It would be impossible for us to return here at
+any future time, as the inhabitants would certainly not permit us to
+land: but, if a colony was once founded, soldiers from every island in
+these parts would come flocking hither in order to assist us. Diego
+Velasquez had deceived us when he falsely announced that he was
+empowered by his majesty to found colonies: we were, therefore,
+determined to found one, and left it to the choice of the others if they
+wished to return to Cuba. Cortes at first refused to comply, and only
+submitted after much begging and entreating; as the saying goes,
+
+    What you desire
+    Is my wish.
+
+He, however, made the condition that we should nominate him chief
+justice and captain-general, and, what was worse, that a fifth part of
+the gold should fall to his share which remained after deducting the
+fifths for his majesty: concerning all which and everything else, the
+royal secretary Godoy was to draw up a formal deed. Upon this we
+resolved that a town should be built, and called _Villa Rica de la Vera
+Cruz_, as we arrived off this coast on Holy Thursday, and stepped on
+land on Good Friday. The addition of Villa Rica (rich town) was owing to
+what Puertocarrero had some time previous said to Cortes, "He might look
+upon these rich countries,--he would know how to govern them;" meaning
+to say thereby, that he wished Cortes to be appointed captain-general.
+
+After the ceremony of laying the first stone of the town was ended, we
+nominated the alcaldes and regidors. The chief alcaldes were Alonso
+Puertocarrero and Francisco de Montejo: Cortes purposely appointed the
+latter because he was not on the best terms with him. To give all the
+names of the regidors would be superfluous, and it must suffice to
+mention their names as they appear in the course of this narrative. We
+also erected a pillory inside the town, and a gallows outside. Pedro de
+Alvarado was appointed city-major; Christobal de Oli, colonel; Juan de
+Escalante, alguacil-major; treasurer, Gonzalo Mexi Mexia; book-keeper,
+Alonso de Avila; standard-bearer, a certain Corrar, as Villareal, who
+first filled this post, had got into disgrace with Cortes about an
+Indian female of Cuba, and was obliged to relinquish it. Achoa of Biscay
+and Alonso Romero were nominated alguacils of the camp.
+
+The reader will wonder that I have not yet mentioned the name of one of
+our principal men, Gonzalo de Sandoval, though he was such a renowned
+officer, being second to Cortes only, and particularly distinguished by
+our emperor himself. There is no other reason than that Sandoval was
+still very young, and that we did not make so much of him and other
+brave officers then as we did subsequently, when we saw all his real
+qualities developed in a manner that drew forth unbounded praise from
+Cortes and every soldier: indeed he was considered equal to Cortes
+himself.--Gomara has likewise related a good deal respecting these
+matters, of which he has been ill informed. I could not leave this
+unnoticed, however beautiful his style of writing may be, in which his
+strength really lies.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+    _How the partisans of Diego Velasquez would not acknowledge the
+    power we had conferred upon Cortes, and what further took place._
+
+
+The partisans of Diego Velasquez, finding we had elected Cortes
+captain-general, and appointed the other officers just mentioned, were
+terribly annoyed and vexed. They armed themselves in small troops, and
+threw out the most insolent language against Cortes and those among us
+who had chosen him captain-general. All this they considered should not
+have been done without the consent of the whole of the officers and
+soldiers. Diego Velasquez had merely empowered Cortes to barter with the
+natives. In short, their dissatisfaction rose to such a pitch, that our
+party was afraid matters would be carried much farther, and end in
+hostilities. Cortes now secretly desired Juan de Escalante to intimate
+that we should demand the instructions to be produced which he had
+received from Velasquez. This was accordingly done, and Cortes pulled
+them out from under his waistcoat, handing them over to the royal
+secretary to be read aloud. And sure enough the words were, _After you
+have bartered for as many precious things as possible, you shall return
+home._ This document was signed by Velasquez, and countersigned by his
+private secretary Andreas de Duero. Upon this we desired of Cortes that
+these instructions should be entered into the appointment we had given
+him, and announced by a public crier, as had been done at Cuba, in order
+that his majesty might convince himself of the true state of things, and
+that everything was done to further his sovereign interest only. This
+step was most agreeable to our purpose, as the bishop of Burgos, Don
+Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, was wrongly informed respecting these
+proceedings, and only laboured to ruin us, as we subsequently learnt.
+The partisans of Diego Velasquez, however, were not to be silenced by
+this; and as the election had been made without their knowledge, they
+considered it illegal, and maintained that they were not called upon to
+obey his commands, but were determined to return to Cuba. Cortes
+answered, that he would not compel them to remain, but would discharge
+any one who might wish it, even if he himself should, in the end, remain
+alone behind. By this some were silenced. Juan Velasquez de Leon, (who
+was closely related to Velasquez,) Diego de Ordas, Escobar, (whom we
+commonly termed the page,) Pedro de Escudero, and others of Velasquez's
+party, still continued refractory, and things at last came to such a
+pass, that, in the end, they formally refused to obey Cortes. In such a
+state of affairs it was necessary to adopt some stronger measure, which
+was carried into execution with our consent. We seized the persons of
+the above-mentioned refractory officers, bound them in chains, and kept
+watch over them as if they had been prisoners.
+
+Respecting these circumstances Gomara has again been misinformed, and
+not a word is to be credited of anything he says on the subject.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+    _How Pedro de Alvarado was ordered to make an excursion into the
+    interior of the country, in order to procure maise and other
+    provisions; and what further happened._
+
+
+It was now resolved that Pedro de Alvarado should make an excursion into
+the interior to explore the country, gain further knowledge of some
+townships which we knew by name, and procure maise and other provisions,
+of which we were in the greatest want. For this purpose 100 men were
+selected, among whom were fifteen crossbow-men and six musketeers; above
+half, moreover, were adherents of Velasquez: the rest of us, on whom
+Cortes could fully depend, remained with him, in order that no
+conspiracy might be set on foot against him.
+
+Alvarado, during this expedition, visited some small townships which
+were subject to a greater one, called, in the Aculhua language,
+_Costatlan_.[17*] This language is that of Mexico and Motecusuma; and
+when we speak of persons of Aculhua, we must always understand subjects
+of his empire. Alvarado nowhere met with any inhabitants, but found
+sufficient proofs in the temples that boys and full-grown people had
+very recently been sacrificed; for the altars and walls were covered
+with drops of fresh blood. The flint knives with which the unfortunate
+victim's breast is cut open to tear the heart away, and the large stones
+on which they are sacrificed, still lay in their proper places. Most of
+the bodies thus seen by our men were without arms or legs, which,
+according to the accounts of the Indians, had been devoured. Our men
+were perfectly horror-struck at such barbarities: however, I will not
+waste another word on the subject, for we found the same thing over
+again in every district we visited in this country. Alvarado found these
+districts well stocked with provisions, but so completely deserted by
+the inhabitants that he could only find two Indians to assist the men in
+carrying maise: every soldier, therefore, was compelled to take a load
+of greens and fowls, and in this way the detachment returned to our camp
+with a good supply of provisions, and without having encountered any
+disaster. This was all the damage our men did, although they had so many
+opportunities of doing more, Cortes having most strictly forbidden any
+wanton outrage, that there might not be a repetition of what happened on
+the island of Cozumel.
+
+We were overjoyed with the provisions; for when man can satisfy his
+appetite, he forgets half his sufferings. Gomara mentions another
+expedition in this place, which, he says, Cortes himself undertook, with
+400 men, to explore the interior of the country: but here again he must
+have been misinformed; for there was no other made than the one I have
+just mentioned. In the meantime Cortes was not inactive, but did all in
+his power to gain the adherents of Diego Velasquez: one was presented
+with some of the gold we had made,--for with gold mountains are removed;
+another was silenced by considerable promises. He likewise set the whole
+of them at liberty, excepting Juan Velasquez de Leon and Diego de Ordas,
+who were lying bound in chains on board a vessel: however, both these
+were also shortly after released, and they became true friends to him,
+of which they subsequently gave sufficient proofs. Gold, indeed, was
+not spared on this occasion, for they were only to be tamed by that
+means. As soon as greater union was thus restored, it was resolved that
+we should march for the township Quiahuitzlan, which I have above
+mentioned. Our vessels were also at the same time to set sail and run
+into the harbour, lying about four miles from the latter place.
+
+Our march lay along the coast, and on our route we killed a large fish
+which had been thrown on shore; we then came to a pretty deep river, on
+whose banks the town of Vera Cruz at present lies: this we crossed by
+means of some old canoes we found here, and by ferryboats; I, however,
+swam across. On the opposite bank of the river lay several small
+townships, subject to one more extensive called Sempoalla. This was the
+home of the five Indians who came to Cortes in the character of
+ambassadors, and who were called by us _Lopelucios_. We found the
+idol-temples stained with spots of blood, the apparatus for perfuming
+and sacrificing, a quantity of parrot feathers, and several packages of
+paper stitched one over the other, resembling our Spanish linen. We
+nowhere met any Indians; for as they had never before seen people like
+unto us, nor any horses, they had all run away from fear, so that we
+were forced to go hungry to bed. The next day we marched inland in an
+easterly direction: of course we had not the least knowledge of the road
+we were taking, and we turned at a venture into a beautiful meadow,
+where we found wild deer grazing. Pedro de Alvarado chased one of these
+on his brown mare, and managed to wound it with his lance; but the
+animal escaped over some heights.
+
+In the meantime twelve Indians made their appearance, inhabitants of the
+district, where we were encamped for the night, bringing with them some
+fowls and maise-bread, which, they told Cortes, by means of our
+interpreter, had been sent us by their cazique, who had likewise desired
+we should visit his township, which lay at a distance of one sun, say a
+day's march, from our present station. Cortes returned them sincere
+thanks for their great kindness, and we marched on until we came to a
+small township, where a short time previous several human beings had
+been sacrificed. As the kind reader would be disgusted with hearing of
+the numbers of male and female Indians we found butchered along every
+road and in every village we passed through, I will be silent on that
+head, and merely add that a supper was provided for us in the small
+village where we had arrived. Here we also learnt that the road to
+Quiahuitzlan, which latter lay on a hill, passed through Sempoalla,
+where we next arrive.
+
+[17*] Costatlan, Bernal Diaz also adds here, "Y este nombre de Culua es
+en aquella tierra, como si dixessen los Romanos hallados." As this
+passage is rather obscure, we thought it best to insert it here. The
+literal translation is: "And this appellation of Culua, in this country,
+means as much as when one would say, 'the merry Romans.'" In the 31st
+chapter he makes a similar remark. (p. 102.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+
+    _How we marched into Sempoalla, which at that period was a very
+    considerable township, and what we did there._
+
+After we had slept in the village, where the twelve Indians had
+quartered us, and accurately ascertained the road we were to take to
+Quiahuitzlan, we left very early in the morning for that place. Cortes
+sent six of the Indians before us to acquaint the caziques of Sempoalla
+that we were approaching, and to beg permission to visit them. The six
+other Indians remained behind as our guides. The whole of us marched
+forward in the best order, while our cannon and other arms were ready
+for use at a moment's notice; besides this sharp-shooters were always in
+advance, all strong active fellows, whom as well as the horse no one
+could elude.
+
+We were not further than three miles from Sempoalla, when we were met by
+twenty Indians who came to welcome us in the name of their cazique.
+These carried in their hands pine-apples, most deliciously scented, and
+of a deep red colour, which they presented to Cortes and the others who
+sat on horseback, adding that their ruler awaited us in his quarters,
+for on account of his corpulency he had been prevented from coming out
+to meet us himself. Cortes thanked them kindly for their attentions, and
+we marched forward. As we passed along the houses of the town we were
+greatly surprised, for a town of such magnitude we had not yet met with.
+And when we saw that all around had the appearance of a luxurious
+garden, and that the streets were filled with people of both sexes, we
+returned most fervent thanks to God for having allowed us to discover
+such a country. The vanguard of our horse was naturally very much in
+advance, and had arrived in the great square and up to the dwellings
+where our quarters were prepared. As the walls a few days previous had
+been newly plastered with lime, (which these Indians prepare uncommonly
+well,) and the sun was shining full upon them at the time, one of our
+horse soldiers came galloping up to Cortes at full speed to inform him
+that the walls here were built of silver. Aguilar and Doña Marina
+immediately saw that this was lime fresh laid on; which of course
+created abundance of laughter. We never omitted on subsequent occasions
+to remind the man of it, joking him that everything white appeared to
+him like silver.
+
+When we arrived at our quarters the fat cazique came out in the
+courtyard to receive us. The man was, indeed, excessively corpulent,
+wherefore I shall always distinguish him thereby. He paid Cortes the
+greatest respect, and perfumed him according to the custom of the
+country, who then embraced him in return. After these welcomes we were
+shown into our quarters, which were very comfortable, and so spacious
+that there was sufficient room for us all. Food was next set before us,
+among which there was maise-bread and several basketsful of plums, of
+which there were great quantities, these being just then in season. As
+we were greatly famished, and had not for a length of time seen such
+quantities of provisions at once, some of us called the place
+Villariciosa (luxurious town), and others Sevilla. Cortes gave strict
+orders that the inhabitants should not be molested in the slightest
+degree, and also that none of us should leave our quarters.
+
+It being announced to the fat cazique that we had finished dining, he
+sent word to Cortes that he was desirous of paying him a visit, and
+immediately after he arrived with a considerable number of distinguished
+personages, who wore heavy golden ornaments and richly-worked mantles.
+Cortes rose to meet them at the entrance of our quarters, and received
+them most kindly. After the first compliments were passed the fat
+cazique handed a present to him which he had brought, consisting in
+golden trinkets and cotton stuffs, but of little value. The cazique
+constantly repeated: "Lopelucio, Lopelucio, accept this in favorable
+kind; if we had more to give we should have brought it."
+
+Cortes desired Doña Marina and Aguilar to acquaint him how grateful he
+was for so much kindness, and he had merely to inform him in what way he
+in return could be of service to him and his people. We were the vassals
+of the great emperor Charles, who had dominion over many kingdoms and
+countries, and who had sent us out to redress wrongs wherever we came,
+punish the bad, and make known his commands that human sacrifices should
+no longer be continued. To all this was added a good deal about our holy
+religion.
+
+After the fat cazique heard this he sighed deeply, and complained most
+bitterly about Motecusuma and his governors. It was not long ago that he
+had been subdued by the former, and robbed of all his golden trinkets.
+His sway was so excessively oppressive, that he durst not move without
+his orders; yet no one had sufficient courage to oppose him, as he
+possessed such vast towns and countries, such numbers of subjects and
+extensive armies. Cortes answered that he would relieve him of the
+oppression under which he groaned, but for the present moment he could
+not occupy himself with such matters. He had first of all to pay a
+visit to his _acales_, (so ships are termed in their language,) and
+prepare our quarters in Quiahuitzlan, where they would further talk the
+matter over. The fat cazique said he was perfectly satisfied with this,
+and the next morning we left Sempoalla. Four hundred Indian porters,
+who, in this district, are termed tamenes, were sent to accompany us.
+Each of these porters is capable of carrying a weight of fifty pounds to
+a distance of twenty miles. We were all highly delighted that each of us
+had a man a piece to carry our baggage; for previously every one had to
+carry his own knapsack, the five or six Cuba Indians we had with us
+being of little use. Doña Marina and Aguilar said that according to the
+custom of this country the caziques were bound in times of peace to lend
+their porters to any one who required them. From this moment we always
+demanded them wherever we came. After the first day's march we staid the
+night at a small township not far from Quiahuitzlan. It was wholly
+uninhabited, and the people of Sempoalla furnished us with food for
+supper. Gomara allows Cortes to pass several days at Sempoalla, and then
+form the confederacy and rebellion against Motecusuma. This, together
+with the account he gives of the number of Cuba Indians we were said to
+have brought with us, is wholly false; for, as I have stated, we left
+Sempoalla immediately on the following morning after our arrival. Where
+and what caused the different tribes to revolt I will afterwards relate.
+For the present we shall make our entry into Quiahuitzlan.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+    _How we march into Quiahuitzlan, which was a town with
+    fortifications, and were most friendly received._
+
+
+The next morning about ten o'clock we arrived in the principal township
+Quiahuitzlan, which is built on the steep declivity of a rock, and would
+certainly be difficult to take if defended. We put no trust in the peace
+which reigned through the country, and marched in the best order with
+the greatest precaution. Our troops were preceded by the cannon, that it
+might be ready at hand if required. Here it was that Alonso de Avila, a
+severe and haughty man, ran a soldier named Alonso of Villanueva, who
+had only one arm, through the empty sleeve of his coat, with the point
+of his lance, because he marched out of the ranks. From that moment we
+termed the man the one-armed of Villanueva. However, I shall likewise
+be accused of marching out of the ranks, if I relate such trifles: I
+cannot deny it, and will, therefore, immediately fall in again. We
+arrived in the midst of the town without meeting any one, and were not a
+little surprised at this circumstance, as the inhabitants had left that
+very morning, when they found we were approaching their dwellings. On
+the most elevated point of the fortress there was an open space in front
+of the cues and large houses of their idols; and here we first met with
+fifteen well-dressed Indians, who were carrying perfuming pans. With
+these they went up to Cortes, perfumed him and all who were near at the
+time, bid us welcome, and most humbly begged forgiveness for not having
+come out to meet us, and confessed that fear of ourselves and horses had
+prevented them, and that they had first wished to know who we were. We
+had now only to make ourselves comfortable, they added, and that very
+evening they would see that all the inhabitants returned to their
+houses.
+
+Cortes thanked them most kindly for their good reception, and told them
+many things about our holy religion and our great monarch, as was
+customary with us wherever we came. He also presented them with a few
+green glass beads and other trifles we had brought from Spain; they
+supplying us with fowls and maise-bread in return.
+
+While the first welcomings were going on it was announced to Cortes that
+the fat cazique of Sempoalla was approaching in a sedan, supported by
+numbers of distinguished Indians. Immediately upon his arrival he
+renewed his complaints against Motecusuma, in which he was joined by the
+cazique of this township and the other chief personages. He related so
+much of the cruelties and oppression they had to suffer, and thereby
+sobbed and sighed so bitterly that we could not help being affected. At
+the time when they were subdued, they had already been greatly ill used;
+Motecusuma then demanded annually a great number of their sons and
+daughters, a portion of whom were sacrificed to the idols, and the rest
+were employed in his household and for tilling his grounds. His
+tax-gatherers took their wives and daughters without any ceremony if
+they were handsome, merely to satisfy their lusts. The Totonaques, whose
+territory consisted of upwards of thirty townships, suffered like
+violence.
+
+Cortes consoled them as well as he could by means of our interpreters.
+He promised and assured them that he would put an end to such oppression
+and ill usage. It was particularly for this object that his majesty had
+sent us to their country; they should, therefore, keep up their spirits,
+and they would soon see what he was about to do for their good. This in
+some measure seemed to comfort them; though Cortes was unable wholly to
+allay the fear in which they stood of the great Motecusuma.
+
+We soon had proof of this on the very spot; for, during our discourse
+with these caziques, some Indians belonging to the district announced
+that just then five Mexican tax-gatherers had arrived. At this
+information the caziques turned quite pale with fear; they left Cortes
+and hastened to receive the unexpected guests, for whom an apartment was
+immediately cleared and dinner set on table. Cacao in great quantities
+was in particular served up to them, which is the principal beverage of
+the Indians. As the house of the cazique was in the neighbourhood, the
+Mexicans passed by our quarters; but behaved with such reserve and so
+haughtily, that they neither addressed Cortes nor any of us. They wore
+richly-worked mantles and maltatas similarly manufactured, which were
+then still in fashion among them. The hair of their head was combed out
+quite glossy and tied up in a knot in which were stuck some sweet
+scented roses. Every one carried a stick with a hook, and had an Indian
+slave with a fan to keep off the flies. They were accompanied by a great
+number of distinguished personages from the country of the Totonaques,
+who remained around them until they arrived in their quarters and had
+sat down to dinner. After this was finished they sent for the fat
+cazique and the other chiefs of the townships, and scolded them under
+severe threats for having received us. They had no business with us,
+added they; this was by no means the wish of their master Motecusuma,
+without whose command and permission they ought not to have provided us
+with quarters, nor given us any golden trinkets. They would have to pay
+dearly for all this; at present, however, they must find twenty Indians
+and an equal number of females, in order that by sacrificing them they
+might appease the gods for the evil service which had thus been
+rendered.
+
+Cortes, who observed how restless every one appeared, desired Doña
+Marina and Aguilar to explain the reason of all this, and who the
+strange Indians were. Marina knew all that had passed, and told him
+accordingly; upon which he sent for the fat cazique, with the chiefs of
+the townships, and questioned them himself as to who the strangers were
+whom they treated so ceremoniously? They answered, that these were
+tax-gatherers of the great Motecusuma, who had remonstrated with them
+for having received us without his previous permission, and now required
+twenty persons, of both sexes, for a sacrifice to the god of war, in
+order that he should grant them the victory over us. They had likewise
+been assured, that Motecusuma would take us prisoners and turn us into
+slaves.
+
+Upon this Cortes consoled and bid them take courage, assuring them he
+would punish the Mexicans for it, as both he himself and his troops were
+willing, and had the power to do so.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+
+    _How Cortes ordered the five Mexican tax-gatherers to be imprisoned,
+    and no further obedience to be paid Motecusuma, nor tribute to be
+    exacted; and of the rebellion which was now excited against this
+    monarch._
+
+
+Cortes further said to the caziques, they were aware he had already
+assured them that the emperor, our master, had specifically commissioned
+him to punish all those who did evil, and in particular, no longer to
+suffer kidnapping nor human sacrifices.
+
+As the Mexican tax-gatherers now required human beings of them for those
+sacrifices, he would take and keep them prisoners until Motecusuma
+should learn the reason why he had done so, and was made acquainted with
+the other violent measures they were accustomed to commit against them,
+their wives and daughters.
+
+The caziques were excessively alarmed that Cortes should require this at
+their hands, and durst not venture to lay hands on the tax-gatherers of
+the mighty Motecusuma. But Cortes exhorted them for such a length of
+time that they at last took courage, seized their persons, and fastened
+them, in their fashion, to long poles, by collars, which went round the
+neck, so that they could not even move themselves. One of them, who made
+resistance, was whipped into the bargain.
+
+Upon this Cortes commanded the caziques no longer to obey the mandates
+of Motecusuma, nor to pay him tribute, and to make these his wishes
+known to all those tribes with whom they were allied and friendly,
+adding that they should inform him, whether there were tax-gatherers in
+other districts, that he might also send to take them prisoners.
+
+The rumour of all this quickly spread through the whole country, as the
+fat cazique despatched messengers to that end, while the chiefs, who had
+accompanied the Mexican tax-gatherers, hastened back to their townships
+to relate the wonderful news. When the Indians learnt this astounding,
+and to them so important an occurrence, they said to one another, that,
+such great things could not have been done by men, but only by _teules_,
+which sometimes mean gods, sometimes demons, here in the former sense;
+which was the reason they termed us teules, from that moment; and I beg
+the reader to observe, that whenever in future I speak of teules in
+affairs relating to us, that we are meant thereby.
+
+All the caziques were of opinion that we should sacrifice the prisoners,
+that they might not return to Mexico and relate what had befallen them.
+Cortes, however, strictly forbade this, and placed a strong watch over
+them. About midnight he ordered the sentinels into his presence, and
+said to them: "Pay particular attention to what I say. Take two of the
+most active of the prisoners, now in our hands, and bring them into my
+quarters. This must be done with great circumspection, so that the
+Indians of this township may know nothing of it."
+
+When the two men were brought before Cortes, he did as if he was
+unconscious they were Mexicans, and questioned them, by means of
+interpreters, as to whence they came, and why they had been taken
+prisoners? To which they answered, "that the caziques of Sempoalla, and
+of this township, had seized upon their persons in secret understanding
+with us." Cortes, however, positively assured them, that he was totally
+ignorant of the whole matter, and was very sorry it should have
+happened. He immediately ordered food to be given them, and otherwise to
+be kindly treated, and commissioned them to acquaint their monarch,
+Motecusuma, that we were all his sincerest friends and most devoted
+servants. That they might not suffer any further ill treatment, he
+added, they should be set at liberty and he would severely reprimand the
+caziques, by whom they had been imprisoned. He was ready to render them
+any service in his power, and he would likewise release their three
+companions; they themselves, however, had better get out of sight as
+quickly as possible, that they might not be retaken by the inhabitants
+and killed. Both the prisoners said, they should be very thankful for
+their liberty, but were afraid of falling again into their enemies'
+hands, as they were compelled to pass through their country. Cortes
+therefore ordered six sailors to take the Mexicans in a boat to a
+certain point on the coast, twelve miles distant, where they would be
+out of the Sempoallan territory. All this was dexterously managed, and
+when daylight appeared the caziques and other chiefs were not a little
+surprised to find only three prisoners remaining. These they insisted
+should be sacrificed, but Cortes feigned to be highly incensed at the
+escape of the two, and said he was determined to guard the others
+himself. To this end he ordered chains to be brought from our vessels,
+with which the prisoners were bound, and in that way taken on board,
+where their chains were taken off again. They received the kindest
+treatment, and were assured they would be sent back to Mexico in a very
+short time.
+
+The caziques of Sempoalla, Quiahuitzlan, and those from the country of
+the Totonaques, now assembled and explained the position in which they
+were placed at present, as no doubt Motecusuma, upon the first
+intelligence of the imprisonment of his tax-gatherers, would put his
+army in motion and fall upon them, the consequence of which would be
+their total extirpation.
+
+But Cortes assured them, with the most pleasing smile on his
+countenance, that he and his brothers who were with him would be their
+protection, and he who should dare to molest them, should forfeit his
+life. Upon this the caziques, one and all, promised to unite their whole
+armed force to ours against Motecusuma and his allies. On this occasion
+Diego de Godoy drew up a formal deed of their subjection to the sceptre
+of his majesty the emperor, and notice was sent of this to the different
+townships of the province. As there was no further talk of tribute, and
+tax-gatherers no longer made their appearance, these people were almost
+out of their senses for excessive joy in having shaken off the Mexican
+yoke.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+
+    How we resolved to found Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz and construct a
+    fortress on the low meadows, in the neighbourhood of some salt
+    springs and the harbour, where our vessels were anchored; and what
+    further happened.
+
+
+After we had thus formed an alliance with the thirty townships of the
+Totonaque mountains, which had revolted from Motecusuma and submitted of
+their own free will to the sceptre of our sovereign, we immediately
+hastened to profit by the circumstance and found Villa Rica de la Vera
+Cruz. The spot we made choice of lay at about two miles distance from
+the fortress of Quiahuitzlan, in the valley beneath. We first of all
+marked out the ground for the church, the market, the magazines and
+other public buildings belonging to a town. We then set off part of the
+ground to form a fortress, and nothing could exceed the assiduity with
+which the walls of the foundation were carried up, the woodwork
+completed, the turrets and loopholes constructed with the parapets.
+Cortes himself put the first hand to it, carried a basket filled with
+stones and earth on his shoulders, and worked at the foundations. The
+caziques and all of us followed his example, and every part of the work
+was carried on with like vigour. Some were mixing mortar, fetching
+water, burning chalk, baking bricks and tiles, others prepared the food
+and cut wood. The smiths hammered hard at the nails and other ironwork.
+In short, from the highest to the lowest showed the greatest activity,
+while the Indians lent us such efficacious aid, that in a short time the
+church and other buildings were quite finished, and the fortress nearly
+so.
+
+In the meantime Motecusuma received the intelligence at Mexico, that
+his tax-gatherers had been imprisoned by our allies; that the latter had
+renounced obedience to him, and that all the Totonaque townships had
+revolted. He was excessively enraged against Cortes and the whole of us,
+and ordered one of his powerful chiefs to make war upon the tribes which
+had revolted, and extirpate them to a man. Against us he would march in
+person at the head of an immense army, commanded by many generals. While
+preparations for this purpose were being made, the two prisoners whom
+Cortes had liberated arrived in Mexico. When Motecusuma learnt that
+Cortes had restored them to liberty, and himself sent them to Mexico
+with the commission to offer his services to their monarch, the Almighty
+softened down the hardness of his heart, and he resolved to make
+inquiries as to what our intentions were. To this end he despatched two
+of his young nephews, accompanied by four aged men, who were caziques of
+distinction, to our quarters, sending with them a present consisting in
+gold and cotton stuffs. These men were commissioned to thank Cortes for
+the liberation of his two tax-gatherers, but at the same time to make
+heavy complaints respecting these tribes who had presumed to revolt from
+him, merely because we had taken them under our protection, and now
+refused all further obedience and to pay tribute. At present he was
+merely withheld from putting his threat into execution of exterminating
+them totally, out of consideration for us, since we inhabited their
+dwellings; for, in our persons he recognized that people whose arrival
+in this country had been foretold by his ancestors, and who were of the
+same lineage with himself. However, they would not long rejoice in their
+treachery, and he should know how to deal with them at some future
+period.
+
+Cortes received these messengers very kindly and accepted their
+present, which was worth above 2000 pesos. He assured them that he as
+well as all the rest of us were friendly disposed, and ready to serve
+Motecusuma, and that it was in this spirit we had taken the three other
+tax-gatherers under our protection, who were now immediately brought
+forth from our vessels, clothed and delivered up to the ambassadors.
+Neither did Cortes on his part suppress the complaints he had to make
+against Motecusuma, for he told them, that Quitlalpitoc, his governor,
+had passed a night in our quarters, and had been uncourteous enough not
+to call upon him. He was, certainly, convinced that such behaviour had
+not been commanded by Motecusuma, but had emanated from the natural
+ill-breeding of the man. Honorable treatment, however, had so much worth
+in our estimation, that for this reason only had we paid a visit to the
+townships where we now were. Motecusuma, therefore, ought to pardon the
+people for our sakes. But as to their complaints respecting the refusal
+to pay tribute, it was to be imagined that they could not serve two
+masters at once, as they had, during our stay here, sworn allegiance to
+our emperor. For the rest, he and his companions would shortly wait upon
+Motecusuma himself, when these matters could be altogether amicably
+adjusted.
+
+After this and other declarations, Cortes presented both these
+distinguished young personages and their four venerable companions, who
+were men of the first consequence, with blue and green coloured beads,
+paying them the greatest possible respect.
+
+As the meadows in this neighbourhood were well adapted for cavalry
+exercise, Cortes desired Alvarado, who had an excellent brown mare, and
+our other good riders, to go through the different manoeuvres, by which
+we quite won the hearts of these messengers, who returned highly
+satisfied to Mexico. About this time Cortes lost his horse; for which
+reason Ortiz, the musician, and Bartolome Garcia, the mountaineer, gave
+up their dark brown horse to him, which was one of the best among the
+whole troop.
+
+For the rest, our allies in the mountains and the inhabitants of
+Sempoalla had stood in no little awe of Motecusuma, as they believed
+nothing less than that he would instantly invade their country with a
+great army to extirpate them. But, when they found that even several of
+his relatives arrived, bringing presents, and that they comported
+themselves so submissively to Cortes, they began more and more to fear
+us, and the caziques said to one another, these must necessarily be
+teules, as even Motecusuma himself stood in awe of us and sent us
+presents. If they had previously formed a great idea of our power, it
+was now vastly augmented by this unexpected circumstance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+
+    _How the fat cazique and other chief men of the country come and
+    complain to Cortes, that a garrison of Mexicans had been thrown into
+    the strong fortress of Tzinpantzinco, committing great depredations;
+    and what further took place._
+
+
+After the Mexican messengers had taken their leave, the fat cazique with
+several other distinguished personages from among our allies called upon
+Cortes, and begged of him to repair to a township called Tzinpantzinco,
+two days' journey, or about from thirty-two to thirty-six miles from
+Sempoalla; as a number of Mexican warriors had assembled there,
+destroying their fields and plantations, falling upon their subjects,
+and doing all manner of mischief. Cortes manifested great sympathy for
+them, but scarcely knew what answer he should give, as he had promised
+them every assistance. He, therefore, desired them to retire, until he
+should have considered the matter a little.
+
+After he had bethought himself for a short time, he turned smilingly
+round to us who were standing near him and said: "Methinks, gentlemen,
+we already pass here for great heroes; indeed, after what has happened
+with the tax-gatherers these people must look upon us as gods, or a
+species of beings like their idols. Now, I am of opinion it is best to
+strengthen them in this notion; and that they may think that one single
+man of us is sufficient to dislodge the Mexicans from the fortress of
+Tzinpantzinco, we will send thither old Heredia of Biscay. The
+malignancy of his features, his huge beard, his half-mangled
+countenance, his squinting eyes and lame leg, constitute him the most
+fitting person for this object, besides which he is a musketeer."
+
+Cortes then sent for the man and said to him: "You must go with the
+caziques to the river which flows about a mile from this spot. When you
+have arrived there do as if you were thirsty, and wished to wash your
+hands; then fire off your musket. This shall be a signal for me to send
+some one after you, who will, in my name, desire you to return. All this
+is done in order that the Indians may suppose us to be deities, and as
+you have not one of the most pleasing countenances, I trust they will
+take you by preference to be some idol."
+
+Heredia, who had served many years in Italia, perfectly well knew how to
+perform his part, and gladly undertook this matter. Cortes now ordered
+the fat cazique, and the other chief Indians who were expecting succours
+from us, into his presence again, saying to them: "I send this my
+brother with you to drive the Mexicans out of the fortress, and to bring
+those whom he does not kill prisoners to me."
+
+When the caziques heard this they stood in utter amazement, not knowing
+whether Cortes was in earnest; but finding he did not change
+countenance, they began to convince themselves that this was really his
+intention, and marched away in company of Heredia. When he had arrived
+between the mountains he loaded his musket and shot it off in the air,
+that it might be heard by every Indian in the district. The caziques
+themselves sent notice to the different townships, that they had a teule
+with them, and were marching to Tzinpantzinco in order to kill the
+Mexicans there.
+
+I have mentioned this laughable circumstance, that the reader may see
+what artifices Cortes employed to throw dust into the eyes of the
+Indians. Of course, when Heredia arrived at the river he was recalled;
+the caziques returning with him, to whom Cortes said, he had formed a
+different plan. His friendship for them was so great, that he would
+accompany them himself with some of his brothers, in order to take a
+survey of the country and the fortress. They had only to furnish four
+hundred porters to convey the cannon, and to return to us next morning
+early. All this was accordingly done, and as soon as daylight had broken
+forth, we moved forward, four hundred in number, with fourteen horse and
+a sufficient number of matchlocks and arquebuses.
+
+On this occasion some of Diego Velasquez's adherents again began to
+murmur, declaring that Cortes might proceed further with those who
+wished to follow him; but as for themselves they were determined to
+return to Cuba.
+
+How this matter terminated we shall see in the following chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER L.
+
+    _How some of Diego Velasquez's adherents refused to take any further
+    part in our proceedings, and declared their determination to return
+    to Cuba, seeing that Cortes was earnestly bent upon founding a
+    colony, and had already commenced to pacify the inhabitants._
+
+
+Next morning when our petty officers went round to our different
+quarters and called upon the men to march out with their arms and
+horses, the partisans of Velasquez insolently answered, that they would
+take no further part in any expedition, but wished to return home to
+their possessions in Cuba. They had already lost enough, by allowing
+themselves to be led away by Cortes to join him in the first instance;
+they now, however, would desire him to fulfil the promise, which he had
+made in the camp on the downs, namely, to grant those their discharge
+who wished to return to Cuba, and provide them a vessel and the
+necessary provisions.
+
+Seven men now declared they were positively determined to return home;
+Cortes, therefore, desired they should be brought before him, and asked
+them, "Why they wished to play him such a vile trick?" They answered in
+rather an angry tone, "That they could not help feeling astonished, he
+should think of founding a colony with a handful of men in a country
+full of towns possessing many thousands of inhabitants. They were
+suffering from indisposition, quite tired of roving about, and desired
+to return to their settlements in Cuba; he ought, therefore, to grant
+them their discharge according to promise."
+
+To this Cortes answered, in the mildest manner possible, that he had
+made such promise indeed; but, that they would be acting in a manner
+forgetful of their duty to desert the standard of their captain at a
+time when he was meditating an expedition: at the same time he commanded
+them to embark themselves immediately, and provided them with a vessel,
+cassave-bread, a bottle of oil, a quantity of vegetables, and such
+things as ships generally take on distant voyages. One of these men, a
+certain Moron of Delbayamo, had a well-trained horse, and exchanged it
+most profitably with Juan Ruano for some valuable property the latter
+had at Cuba.
+
+When these men were about to set sail, the rest of our troops, headed by
+the alcaldes and regidors of the town of Vera Cruz, repaired to Cortes
+and begged of him to issue an order that no one should leave the
+country, an order which both the service of God and his majesty
+required, declaring that they considered every one merited death who
+could think of such a thing, surrounded as we were by such numerous
+enemies, nor could we look upon them in any other light than men who
+wished to desert their commander and his standard in the midst of battle
+and in the moment of the greatest danger. Cortes, nevertheless, did as
+if he was desirous of discharging the malcontents, but soon after
+countermanded this order. All they got for their pains was contempt and
+disgrace, while Moron in the bargain was done out of his horse, which
+Juan Ruano had no wish to return him. Upon this Cortes gave orders for
+our march, and we arrived without any accident in Tzinpantzinco.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LI.
+
+    _What happened to us at Tzinpantzinco, and how, on our return to
+    Sempoalla, we destroyed all the idols; likewise of other matters._
+
+
+The first day we marched twenty miles, and arrived at Sempoalla, where
+we passed the night: here 2000 Indian warriors, divided into four
+troops, stood ready to join us. The second day, towards nightfall, we
+arrived at the plantations in front of Tzinpantzinco, and took the road
+leading into that fortress, which wound up between large and steep
+rocks. The inhabitants were most likely apprized of our approach; for
+immediately eight Indians of distinction and several papas came out to
+us, making signs of peace, and asked Cortes, with tears in their eyes,
+why we were going to kill them, as they had done nothing against us? We
+bore the character of doing good only wherever we might come, and of
+putting a stop to the oppression of nations, and for that reason had
+even imprisoned the tax-gatherers of Motecusuma: between the warriors of
+Sempoalla, who accompanied us, and themselves there existed an inimical
+feeling, already of ancient date, respecting a dispute of territory and
+boundaries, and these people had no other object in view than to plunder
+and destroy them, under our protection: there was, indeed, generally
+speaking, a Mexican garrison in their township, which, however, had
+returned home, upon the news that we had imprisoned the tax-gatherers;
+they, therefore, begged of us not to proceed any further, and to be
+merciful towards them.
+
+When these representations were made known to Cortes through our
+interpreters, he immediately ordered Alvarado and Christobal de Oli,
+with us who were nearest to him, to march off to the Sempoallans and
+command them not to advance any further. Though we used the utmost
+expedition to fulfil these orders, yet we already found them plundering
+the plantations. This made Cortes excessively angry; he ordered the
+chiefs of the Sempoallans into his presence, and severely remonstrated
+with them for such behaviour: he commanded them, with heavy threats, to
+bring him all the plunder, and not to set a foot into the town. They had
+trumped up a false story to us, he told them, merely to be enabled,
+under our protection, to plunder their neighbours and then to sacrifice
+them, whereby they had deserved death. Our emperor had not sent us to
+this country to commit such crimes, and they had better mind not again
+to fall into such guilt, as none of them would escape alive if it
+happened again.
+
+After this earnest reproof, the caziques and chiefs of Sempoalla
+brought the prisoners and the turkey-fowls they had captured: the first,
+Cortes ordered to be set at liberty, and the latter were restored to
+their owners; upon which he commanded the Sempoallans, in a very angry
+tone, to return to their camp and there remain for the night.
+
+The caziques and papas of Tzinpantzinco, with other inhabitants of the
+surrounding neighbourhood, having witnessed this act of justice, and
+seeing altogether how friendly Cortes was disposed, and the good deeds
+which he manifested, were the more susceptible of the things he told
+them about our holy religion,--respecting the abolishment of their human
+sacrifices and kidnapping, the discontinuation of other abominations and
+obscenities, with other matters salutary to their well being. They
+appeared so well inclined that they assembled the inhabitants of the
+surrounding districts, and formally declared themselves vassals of the
+emperor, our master. On this occasion, likewise, numerous complaints
+were made against Motecusuma, which all terminated with instances of his
+oppression similar to what we had heard from the Sempoallans and
+Quiahuitzlans.
+
+The next morning very early Cortes sent for the chiefs and caziques of
+the Sempoallans. In fear and anxiety had they passed the while, in
+consequence of his anger for having attempted to deceive us with a pack
+of lies. He brought about a reconciliation and good understanding
+between them and the inhabitants of Tzinpantzinco, which was never
+afterwards interrupted. Upon this we again put ourselves in motion, and
+marched back to Sempoalla, but took a different route over two townships
+friendly with the Tzinpantzincans, where we rested ourselves, as we were
+greatly fatigued, and the sun was excessively hot. In one of these
+townships, a certain Mora, of Ciudad-Rodrigo, took some fowls out of an
+Indian hut, which so greatly incensed Cortes that he ordered a rope to
+be tied around the fellow's neck, and would have had him hung up if
+Alvarado, who was standing next to Cortes, had not cut the rope in two
+with his sword, and thus released the poor devil, who had the fear of
+death before his eyes.
+
+I have merely mentioned this trait to convince the curious reader how
+exemplary Cortes acted, and of the necessity of being strict under
+similar circumstances. Mora subsequently lost his life in a battle we
+fought on a mountain in the province of Guatimala. After we had left
+these two townships in peace, we found the fat cazique with the chiefs
+of Sempoalla in some huts which they had constructed for us, where they
+were waiting our arrival with various kinds of provisions which they had
+brought with them. Although Indians, they readily perceived what a good
+and holy thing is justice, and that Cortes' declaration of our having
+come into these countries to put an end to all oppression, perfectly
+agreed with his conduct on our entry into Tzinpantzinco; they,
+therefore, became the more united to us. We passed the night in these
+huts, and returned next morning, in company of our Indian friends, to
+Sempoalla. Indeed, the only wish of the Sempoallans was now, that we
+should never leave their country again, fearing Motecusuma would send an
+army about their ears; they, therefore, proposed to Cortes, since such a
+close and friendly alliance now subsisted between us, and we could look
+upon each other as brothers, that we should choose wives from among
+their daughters and relatives, that our posterity might descend from one
+and the same stock. In order that this more intimate connexion might be
+brought about, they immediately made a good beginning by presenting us
+with eight females, all daughters of caziques: one of these, the niece
+of the fat cazique, was given to Cortes, and Puertocarrero was presented
+with the daughter of another powerful cazique, whom they called Cuesco.
+All these young women were finely dressed out after the fashion of the
+country: they wore beautiful shifts, had golden chains about their
+necks, golden rings in their ears, and had other Indian females to wait
+upon them.
+
+When the fat cazique presented these, he said to Cortes, "_Tecle_,
+(which signifies sir, in their language,) these seven women are intended
+for your chief officers, and this my niece, who herself holds dominion
+over a country and a people, I have destined for you." Cortes joyfully
+accepted of the young women, and returned thanks to the chiefs,
+remarking, at the same time, that he should gladly recognize in these
+women, the bonds of brotherly union between us. But now they should
+likewise renounce their idols, and no longer bring them human
+sacrifices. It grieved him sorely whenever he reflected on the monstrous
+heresy in which they lived; henceforth he would neither see nor hear of
+these abominations, of human sacrifices and unnatural offences: then
+only could a permanent and brotherly union subsist between us. Above all
+things the women must be converted to Christianity, before we could
+think of taking them. Further, all unnatural crimes must be put a stop
+to, and young men must cease to go about in female garments, to make a
+livelihood by such cursed lewdness. Indeed, hardly a day passed by that
+these people did not sacrifice from three to four, and even five
+Indians, tearing the hearts out of their bodies, to present them to the
+idols and smear the blood on the walls of the temple. The arms and legs
+of these unfortunate beings were then cut off and devoured, just in the
+same way we should fetch meat from a butcher's shop and eat it: indeed I
+even believe that human flesh is exposed for sale cut up, in their
+_tiangues_, or markets.
+
+"All these atrocities," added Cortes, "must cease from this moment; then
+only could our union be sincere, and should we be able to make them
+lords over additional countries." To this the caziques, the papas, and
+all the other personages answered, "That it would be impossible to
+abolish their idols and the human sacrifices: for everything that was
+good they received from these idols; they made their seeds grow and
+granted them all necessaries; but with regard to the unnatural crimes,
+they would strive in future to put an end to them."
+
+This unsatisfactory answer made a most disagreeable impression on Cortes
+and all of us; for, indeed, we could no longer bear to look upon their
+barbarities and the dissolute life which they led. Cortes spoke a long
+time to us upon the subject; he brought many holy and useful lessons to
+our mind, and observed "That we could do nothing which would be more
+beneficial to this people, and more to the glory of God, than to abolish
+this idolatry with its human sacrifices. It was certainly to be expected
+that the inhabitants would rise up in arms, if we proceeded to destroy
+their idols: we should, however, make the attempt, if even it were to
+cost us our lives."
+
+Upon this we all arrayed ourselves as if we were preparing for battle,
+and Cortes acquainted the caziques that we were now going out to destroy
+their idols. When the fat cazique heard this he ordered the other chiefs
+to call out the warriors in their defence, and when we were about to
+mount up a high temple where the sacrifices were made,--I forget now how
+many steps led to the top,--he and the other chiefs became outrageously
+furious. They went menacing up to Cortes, and asked him, "Why he was
+going to destroy their gods? such an insult they would not suffer; it
+would be their and our destruction."
+
+Cortes now also lost patience, and answered, "He had already told them
+several times they should not sacrifice to these monsters, who were
+nothing more than deceivers and liars. There was now, therefore, no
+alternative left him than to lay violent hands on them himself, and hurl
+them from their bases. He must look upon them as his worst enemies, and
+not as friends, since they would put no faith in his advice. He was well
+aware what design their chiefs and armed warriors had in hand; his
+forbearance was at last exhausted, and any opposition would cost them
+their lives."
+
+These threats were most intelligibly interpreted to the Indians by Doña
+Marina, who also put them in mind of Motecusuma's army, which every
+moment might fall upon them. They, therefore, turned the question
+another way, and declared, "That they were not worthy of laying hands on
+their gods. If we durst venture to do so, they supposed we must, for we
+could not resist the temptation; but they would never give their
+consent."
+
+They had scarcely done speaking when more than fifty of us began to
+mount the steps of the temple. We tore down the idols from their
+pediments, broke them to pieces, and flung them piecemeal down the
+steps. Some of these idols were shaped like furious dragons, and were
+about the size of young calves; others with half the human form; some
+again were shaped like large dogs, but all were horrible to look at.
+
+When the caziques and papas thus beheld these monsters lying crumbled on
+the ground, they set up a miserable howl, covered their faces, and
+begged forgiveness of the idols in the Totonaque language, as they were
+unable to protect them against the teules, nor durst they attack us for
+fear of Motecusuma. It did not, however, end here, for their armed
+warriors who had now come up began to fly their arrows at us. Finding
+matters had taken such a turn, we seized the fat cazique, six papas, and
+several of the chief personages; and Cortes declared to them, that if
+the attack was not instantly staid they should all forfeit their lives.
+Upon this the fat cazique commanded his men to desist, and when quiet
+was somewhat restored they began to negotiate about terms of peace,
+which was concluded as shall shortly be related.
+
+In this place I have only further to add, that our march to
+Tzinpantzinco was the first expedition Cortes made towards the interior
+of New Spain, and that it turned out greatly to our advantage. The
+historian Gomara here again tells his fables of the many thousands of
+human beings we destroyed at Tzinpantzinco; the curious reader, however,
+may sufficiently convince himself from my account what little faith is
+to be placed in his history, however beautiful the style may be in which
+it is written.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LII.
+
+    _How Cortes erects an altar, and places thereon the image of the
+    blessed Virgin with a cross; after which mass was said, and the
+    eight Indian females baptized._
+
+
+After peace had been restored between us, the caziques, papas, and other
+chiefs, Cortes ordered the fragments of the idols we had destroyed to be
+carried away and burnt. These orders were executed by six papas who
+came forth from a particular house, into which they carried the broken
+pieces and burnt them. The dress of these priests consisted in a long
+black cloak, white cassock, without sleeves, which hung down to the
+feet, and in a species of hood, which some wore greater, some less in
+size. Their dress was completely clogged together with blood, with which
+they were besmeared from head to foot, and impeded in their walk: they
+likewise smelt most offensively of sulphur and putrid flesh. We
+subsequently learnt that these papas were sons of distinguished
+personages. They were forbidden to marry, but were wholly given to
+unnatural offences, and fasted on certain days. Generally speaking, I
+never saw them eat anything else than the seeds of the cotton tree; they
+may, however, have partaken of other food for all I know.
+
+When the idols were burnt, Cortes said everything that was edifying to
+the Indians by means of our interpreters. "Now," he said, "we could look
+upon them as our true brothers, and lend them every powerful assistance
+against Motecusuma and the Mexicans, he having already acquainted the
+former that he was no longer to make war upon them, nor to exact
+tribute. Instead of their idols, he would give them our own blessed
+Virgin and Sainte, the mother of Jesus Christ, in whom we believed, and
+to whom we prayed, that she might intercede and protect them in heaven."
+
+The Indians listened with great good nature to this and many other
+things, which Cortes explained to them, concerning our holy religion.
+Every mason in the town was now set to work to bring chalk, which was in
+great abundance here, to clean away the blood from the walls of the
+cues, and plaster them well over. The day following this work was
+finished and an altar erected, which was covered with cotton cloth. The
+Indians were likewise ordered to bring a quantity of their splendid and
+sweet-scented roses with small branches of trees. Of these a garland was
+plaited, which was constantly to be renewed, that the place might remain
+pure and undefiled. Four papas were selected by Cortes to take charge of
+this; but their hair was previously shorn off, which they wore, as I
+have before remarked, very long and bristly; their dirty cloaks were
+taken off, and white ones put on, which, with the other part of their
+dress, they were in future to keep perfectly clean. In order, however,
+that they might have some one to look over them in their new occupation,
+Cortes nominated Juan de Torres, an old lame invalid of Cordova, to
+dwell near the altar, in the capacity of anchorite. The carpenters
+likewise made a cross which we erected on an elevated base, well
+plastered over with lime.
+
+The next morning early father Olmedo said mass. A regulation was also
+made that in future the copal of this country should be used instead of
+our usual incense, and the inhabitants were taught to make wax candles
+from the wax of the country; of which, up to this moment, they had made
+no manner of use: these candles were always to be kept burning on the
+altar. The principal caziques of the district and village attended mass.
+But the chief ornaments there were the eight Indian females, who in the
+meantime had remained with their parents and relatives. These were now
+baptized after an edifying discourse had preceded the ceremony. The
+niece of the fat cazique, a very ugly woman, was named Doña Catalina,
+and presented to Cortes, who accepted her with every appearance of
+delight. The daughter of Cuesco, on the other hand, was most beautiful
+for an Indian female, and received the name of Doña Francisca, and fell
+to the lot of Puertocarrero. The six remaining young women, whose names
+I have totally forgotten, were given to some other of our soldiers.
+
+The mass and baptismal ceremony being concluded, the caziques and
+principal personages took their leave, and from this moment the best
+feeling subsisted between us, for they were highly delighted that Cortes
+had accepted their daughter. We, therefore, returned to our new town
+Vera Cruz amidst the most joyous professions of friendship, and we shall
+soon see what happened there.
+
+The good reader, however, may feel assured that nothing of any
+consequence further took place at Sempoalla than what I have related,
+and that herein Gomara and the other historians have completely erred.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIII.
+
+    _How we arrived in our town of Vera Cruz, and what happened there._
+
+
+We arrived at Vera Cruz, in company of the most distinguished personages
+of Sempoalla, on the same day that a ship had run in there from Cuba.
+The captain's name was Francisco de Saucedo, but we always called him
+the gallant, from his extravagance in beautifying his outward person,
+being altogether a perfect fop. He was said to have been at one time
+butler to the admiral of Castile, and was born at Medina de Rioseco.
+Along with him were ten soldiers, and a certain Luis Marin, a most
+distinguished officer, who afterwards became one of our chief commanders
+in the Mexican campaigns. Both the former had horses, one a stallion,
+and the other a mare. These men brought us intelligence that Diego
+Velasquez had obtained authority from Spain to trade and found colonies
+wherever he liked, and was appointed adelantado of Cuba. All this
+pleased his adherents excessively, in particular the latter preferment.
+
+The building of the fortress having solely occupied us for a length of
+time, and now in such a forward state that we could lay the woodwork, we
+began to grow tired of doing nothing. Almost the whole of us, therefore,
+addressed Cortes in a body: representing to him, that we had now been
+three months in this country, and high time we should just convince
+ourselves how much truth there was in the boasted power of Motecusuma,
+of which so much had been said: we would gladly risk our lives in it,
+and therefore begged he would make preparations for this expedition.
+But, previous to commencing our march, we ought first to give some proof
+of our most humble submission to his majesty our emperor, by forwarding
+him a complete account of everything that had befallen us since our
+departure from Cuba. We also proposed that all the gold we had bartered
+for, and the presents sent by Motecusuma, should be forwarded to his
+majesty.
+
+In answer to which Cortes said, that our ideas accorded exactly with his
+own, and that he had already spoken to the same effect to several of the
+cavaliers. There was merely one circumstance which caused him to
+hesitate, namely, that if each person took the portion of gold which
+fell to his share, too little would remain to be worthy of his majesty's
+acceptance. For this reason he commissioned Diego de Ordas and Francisco
+de Montejo, who were thorough men of business to see what they could
+make out of those men whom they might expect would demand their share.
+This was accordingly done, and they represented to every one that we
+were desirous of sending his majesty the emperor a present in gold,
+which, considering it was the first, ought indeed to be something
+valuable. In order, however, to make this possible, nothing remained but
+that each one should give up his share of the gold which had been made
+up to this moment. A great number of officers and soldiers had already
+signed their hands to that effect; yet every one was at liberty to act
+herein as he thought proper. Here was the paper, which every one who
+chose could put his hand to.
+
+Every one, without exception, signed his name to the document, and
+agents were chosen to be despatched to Spain. These were Alonso
+Puertocarrero and Francisco de Montejo, to whom Cortes himself had
+already given above two thousand pesos. The best vessel of our squadron,
+furnished with the necessary provisions and manned with fifteen sailors,
+was selected to convey them. The charge of the vessel was given to two
+pilots, one of whom was Anton de Alaminos, from his being so well
+acquainted with the passage through the Bahama channel, and the first
+who had ventured that road. Upon this all of us, in common, drew up an
+account of our adventures expressly for his majesty, relating everything
+that had happened to us, and Cortes himself, as he assured us, likewise
+wrote a very circumstantial narrative, which, however, was not given us
+to read.[18] The account was signed by all the authorities of the new
+town and ten soldiers, of which I myself was one. But there was likewise
+another account drawn up by all the officers and soldiers, the contents
+of which will be fully explained in the following chapter.
+
+[18] Most probably Cortes' despatches of the 16th of July, 1519, which
+were lost. (p. 125.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIV.
+
+    _Concerning the account of our adventures, with the letter, which we
+    sent his majesty the emperor, through Puertocarrero and Montejo, the
+    letter being attested by some officers and soldiers._
+
+
+This account very properly opened with those distinguished marks of
+respect which were due to our great emperor and master. Then followed a
+complete account of our expedition, from the day of our departure from
+Cuba up to our arrival on the coast of Mexico, and the day the account
+was drawn up. We did not omit to state that we had merely been induced
+to join the expedition from a promise that we were going to found a
+colony, and how Diego Velasquez had given Cortes secret instructions
+merely to confine himself to the trade of barter. That Cortes,
+conformably to this, had indeed wished to return to Cuba with the gold
+we had made; that, however, we had compelled him to remain here and
+found a colony, for which purpose we had elected him captain-general and
+chief justice, until we should receive his most gracious majesty's
+pleasure on this head. We had, moreover, promised him a fifth part of
+all the gold that should remain after deducting the fifths for his
+majesty. We then mentioned the name of Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba,
+as the first discoverer of this country; the expedition which followed
+upon that under Juan de Grijalva; of our landing on the island of
+Cozumel, and of our fortunate discovery of Geronimo de Aguilar, and
+other things. We described our negotiations with the great Motecusuma,
+mentioning his power and riches, of which the things he had given us to
+present to his majesty, consisting in the sun of gold and moon of
+silver, and the casque of gold dust, as it is found in the mines, as
+also the other articles of solid and manufactured gold, were small
+proofs.
+
+After this we spoke about the extent of the country, its population, the
+arts, customs, and religion of the inhabitants, of whom we sent four as
+a sample, whom we had liberated from a wooden cage at Sempoalla, where
+they were being fattened for a sacrificial feast. We then mentioned
+something about ourselves; how we were in all 450 armed men in the midst
+of so many warlike tribes; how our expedition had merely for its object
+to serve God and his majesty; and, in the position we were now placed,
+how much depended upon a man being at our head who was acquainted with
+the country, and in whom we could repose all trust. We most humbly
+begged of his majesty not to confer the command of this country upon any
+one of his officers; from its extent and vast riches, it was worthy of
+being ruled by a royal prince or some other great personage. We all
+feared that the archbishop Don Rodriguez de Fonseca, whom his majesty
+had intrusted with the government of Indian affairs, had destined the
+command to one of his own creatures, namely, a certain Diego Velasquez,
+who was then viceroy of Cuba; this favour, however, was entirely owing
+to the presents which the bishop received from Velasquez, consisting in
+the most valuable townships of his imperial domains wherever any gold
+was to be found. As his majesty's most humble and faithful servants, we
+could not neglect to bring this under his imperial notice, and we had
+resolved to wait until our agents had thrown themselves at his majesty's
+feet to hand over our letters, and his majesty should have acquainted
+them with his imperial wishes, which we, whatever they might be, would
+honour in the very dust. If the archbishop Fonseca in the meantime sent
+any one to take the command, we should not obey him until we had
+informed his majesty of it, wherever he might be. We begged of his
+majesty, for the present, to confer the command on Cortes. This prayer
+we accompanied by such high-flown praise of Cortes,--how faithful and
+devoted he was to his majesty; that we elevated him to the very skies.
+This closed the letter, which was drawn up with great discernment, and
+divided into chapters. This letter was signed by all the officers and
+soldiers who belonged to Cortes' party. We also took the precaution of
+keeping other copies.
+
+After the letter was quite finished, Cortes desired to read it, and when
+he found how faithfully the account was drawn up, and himself so highly
+praised, he was vastly pleased, returned us hearty thanks, and promised
+us golden mountains. He, however, observed, that it would be better to
+make no allusion to the fifth part of the gold which we had promised
+him; also to suppress the names of the first discoverers of the
+country. Indeed, we subsequently learnt that Cortes, in his account,
+never mentioned a word either about Cordoba, or of Grijalva, but
+reserved all the honour and merit to himself.
+
+Nevertheless the men were not wanting among us who answered the
+objections made by Cortes, saying it was our bounden duty to narrate
+every circumstance to his majesty as it had really taken place.
+
+Our agents took charge of the letters, and were bound down by a promise
+not to touch at the Havannah under any pretence whatever, nor run into
+the harbour of El Marien, where Francisco de Montejo had possessions.
+This was done that Velasquez might receive no intelligence of our
+doings. They certainly promised, but neglected to observe these orders,
+as will be seen.
+
+Everything being now ready for their departure, father Olmedo said mass,
+and we commended them to the guidance and protection of the Holy Ghost.
+On the 26th of July, 1519, they set sail from San Juan de Ulua, and
+arrived pretty soon at the Havannah. Here Francisco de Montejo left our
+chief pilot Alaminos no peace, persuading him to sail along the coast in
+the direction of his settlement, where he pretended he would take in a
+fresh supply of cassave-bread and bacon. Puertocarrero was greatly
+displeased with this conduct; however, the landing was effected. The
+night following a sailor swam secretly on shore, and forwarded Diego
+Velasquez letters from his adherents, giving him an account of all that
+had passed. We afterwards learnt that Montejo himself had sent this man,
+who, besides this, spread the news everywhere along the route he
+journeyed. We shall now see what steps Velasquez took upon this.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LV.
+
+    _How Diego Velasquez is informed by his agents that we had sent
+    messengers with letters and presents to our king, and what further
+    took place._
+
+
+Diego Velasquez received intelligence of everything we had done, partly
+by the letters which had been secretly conveyed to him, and were said to
+be of Montejo's own writing, and partly from the sailor, who swam on
+shore for that purpose. When he heard of the valuable present which we
+sent to his majesty, and of the agents we had selected for the purpose,
+he grew excessively angry, and threw out the most heavy curses against
+Cortes, against his own private secretary Duero, and the treasurer
+Almador de Lares. He then immediately ordered two small but very swift
+sailing vessels to be fitted out, and furnished with as great a number
+of men and firearms as could be got together at the moment. These
+vessels were given in command of two officers named Gabriel de Rojas and
+Guzman, who were ordered to repair to the Havannah, and to capture the
+vessel which conveyed our agents and the gold.
+
+Both vessels arrived, after two days' sail, in the Bahama roads, and
+made every inquiry of the fishermen and coasters whether they had seen a
+ship of considerable tonnage pass that way. All the accounts they
+received went to show that she must have left the roads, as the wind had
+constantly been favorable: they, therefore, tacked up and down a
+considerable time, but, discovering no trace of her, they returned to
+Santiago.
+
+If the first accounts had made Diego Velasquez dispirited, he was now
+the more so when he found the ship had escaped. His friends now advised
+him to send some one to Spain to lay his complaints before the president
+of Indian affairs, with whom he stood in great favour. Velasquez also
+laid a formal accusation against Cortes and all of us, in the royal
+court of audience at Santo Domingo, and also before the Hieronymite
+brethren, who were viceroys of that island. These brothers were then
+three in number, father Luis de Figueroa, father Alonso de Santo
+Domingo, and father Bernardino de Mancañedo: they lived together in the
+cloister of Mejorada, eight miles from Medina del Campo. The answer they
+gave Diego Velasquez was not very consoling; for, when they found, from
+our papers, what great things we had done, they declared that no
+reproach could be made either to Cortes or his troops: we had merely
+addressed the emperor our master, and sent him a present of such
+considerable value as had not been seen in Spain for a length of time,
+(this they might say in all justice, for Peru was then still unknown;)
+on the contrary, we had merited a most noble remuneration at his
+majesty's hands.
+
+Besides coming to this decision, the Hieronymite brothers commissioned
+the licentiate Zuazo, who was either purposely sent to Cuba for this
+purpose, or at least had arrived there only a few months previous, to
+examine into this affair of Velasquez on the spot itself. The turn which
+this matter had taken completely prostrated his spirits for many days
+together. At last he again aroused himself, and gave orders to fit out
+every ship in the island, and to enlist officers and men: his intention
+was to send out such a powerful fleet as would soon overcome Cortes and
+the whole of us: indeed he spared no trouble; he travelled himself from
+place to place, and from one settlement to another, and where he could
+not call in person, he at least sent letters, and invited all his
+friends to join the armament. In this way he succeeded, after the space
+of eleven or twelve months, to fit out a fleet of eighteen sail,
+carrying 1300 soldiers and sailors: for, as the affair was carried on
+with great party spirit, his relations and every distinguished person of
+Cuba, as well as every one who had a commendary, considered themselves
+bound to take part in the undertaking. The command of this fleet was
+given to a cavalier named Pamfilo de Narvaez, a man of high stature and
+great bodily strength, with a voice amazingly powerful, and an imperious
+look in his countenance: he was a native of Valladolid, very wealthy,
+and had married a widow at Cuba named Maria de Valenzuela, who possessed
+several lucrative Indian townships.
+
+For the present, however, we will leave this expedition to itself, and
+turn to our agents, who had most favorable weather for their voyage, and
+arrived safe at the place of destination, as we shall see in the
+following chapter. The good reader will do me the justice to consider,
+with respect to the irregular mode of narrating which I appear to
+pursue, that I am bound to mention the occurrences in this my history in
+the order they follow each other.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVI.
+
+    _How our agents passed through the Bahama channel with the most
+    favorable wind, and arrived in Castile after a short passage; and of
+    our success at court._
+
+
+Our agents had a most favorable voyage to the Havannah, and thence
+through the Bahama roads: their further course was equally prosperous,
+and they very soon arrived at the Tercera isles, and from there to
+Sevilla, where they hired a carriage and posted to the imperial court
+residence, at that time in Valladolid. Here the archbishop Fonseca
+governed at will, he being, moreover, president of Indian affairs, and
+the emperor then still very young, and residing in Flanders.
+
+Our agents waited upon the archbishop, in the full expectation of being
+well received with thanks. They handed over to him the letters with the
+details of our adventures, also the presents, with the valuable things,
+and begged of him to forward all this to his majesty by a courier, whom
+they would accompany themselves. However, instead of meeting with a
+kind reception, they were very coolly received, and dismissed with a few
+dry and harsh words. They begged of him to mention the great services
+which Cortes and his men had rendered his majesty, and repeatedly urged
+him to send the letters and presents to the emperor, that he might learn
+everything as it had really taken place. He, however, answered in a very
+haughty tone, desiring them not to give themselves any further trouble:
+he would fully inform his majesty of what had taken place; not, however,
+according to their story, but conformably to truth; that, namely, we had
+rebelled against Velasquez. This was followed by many other sharp
+rebukes.
+
+About this time also, Benito Martin, chaplain to Velasquez, arrived in
+Valladolid, preferring heavy accusations against Cortes and all of us,
+which set the archbishop more and more against us. Francisco de Montejo
+had not the courage to step forward and defend our cause; but
+Puertocarrero, as cousin to the earl of Medellin, durst presume the
+more: he therefore took up the question, and most urgently begged of the
+archbishop to give them a quiet hearing, and not to answer them so
+harshly. They demanded nothing further of him than to forward the
+presents to his majesty; they had a right to ask this, for we were
+servants of the crown, and merited a remuneration, but not the remarks
+he had allowed himself to make.
+
+These words so greatly incensed the archbishop, that he ordered
+Puertocarrero to be thrown into prison, on account of some previous
+affair which had come to his ears; he having, namely, three years ago,
+carried off a married woman, named Maria Rodriguez, of Medellin, and
+taken her to India. Such was the first reception which our presents and
+services met with in Spain, and nothing remained for our agents but to
+hold their tongues for the present, and wait until a more favorable time
+and opportunity should present itself. The archbishop now forwarded his
+account to the emperor, who was then in Flanders, in which he extolled
+the merits of his creature Velasquez to the very skies, saying
+everything that was bad of Cortes and all of us; nor did he mention one
+single word about our letters.
+
+Upon this Puertocarrero, Montejo, Martin Cortes, the father of our
+general, the licentiate Nuñez, who was reporter to the royal council,
+and a near relation to Cortes, determined to despatch a courier of their
+own to the emperor in Flanders. They fortunately possessed duplicates of
+all our despatches and letters, as also a list of all the presents we
+had destined for his majesty.
+
+With these papers they likewise sent a separate letter to the emperor
+with complaints against the archbishop and the whole of his doings with
+Diego Velasquez. In this resolution they were backed by other cavaliers
+who were at variance with the archbishop, who, upon the whole, had many
+enemies on account of his haughty behaviour and the abuse he made of the
+important offices he filled. And as the great services we had rendered
+to God and his majesty, in whom we had alone reposed our trust, were
+looked upon in a favorable light, it also happened that his majesty made
+the strictest inquiries into the whole affair. His majesty was so highly
+pleased with what we had done, that the dukes, marquisses, earls, and
+other cavaliers, for days together spoke of nothing but Cortes, our
+courageous behaviour, our conquests, and of the riches we had sent over.
+It was owing to this as well as to the unfaithful and distorted account
+which the archbishop had drawn up respecting these matters, and
+particularly because he had not sent all the presents, but kept the
+major part to himself, that he fell from that moment into his majesty's
+displeasure. In the meantime the archbishop's agents in Flanders had
+sent him information of all that had passed, which vexed him in no small
+degree, and if previously he had blackened Cortes and all of us to his
+majesty, he now boldly accused us of high treason. But the Lord very
+soon bridled his rage; for two years after he received his dismissal,
+and then in his turn experienced the curse of malice and contempt. We,
+on the contrary, were looked upon as loyal men who had rendered services
+to the crown, as shall be mentioned in the proper place. For the present
+the emperor informed our agents, that he would himself shortly visit
+Spain to investigate the matter more closely and reward us. Our agents,
+therefore, awaited his majesty's arrival in Spain.
+
+Before I proceed any further with my narrative, I must answer one
+question, which several cavaliers have very justly put to me; namely,
+how it was possible for me to relate these things, as I was not present
+myself, but making the campaign in New Spain, when our agents were
+despatched with the letters and presents, and met with this ill
+treatment from the archbishop of Rosano? To which my answer is, that our
+agents forwarded to us, the true conquistadores, verbatim all that had
+passed between them and the latter, as also the favorable decision which
+the emperor came to in our behalf; of which Cortes sent copies to all
+the towns where we happened to be stationed, to show us how favorably
+everything had terminated, and what a great enemy we had in the
+archbishop. After this digression we will return to our quarters in New
+Spain, and see what happened there in the meantime.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVII.
+
+    _What took place in our camp after the departure of our agents to
+    his majesty with the gold and the letters; and the instance of
+    severity which Cortes was compelled to give._
+
+
+The suspicions of Velasquez's adherents were again aroused at the
+departure of our agents, and the following occurrence took place a few
+days after. A conspiracy was set on foot by Pedro Escudero, Juan
+Cormeño, Gonzalo de Umbria, a pilot, the priest Juan Diaz, Bernardino de
+Coria, (who afterwards became a citizen of Chiapa, and was father of a
+certain Centeno,) and some seamen of Gibraleon. All these were
+excessively embittered against Cortes; some because he had refused to
+grant them the promised discharge to return to Cuba; others because they
+had lost their share of the gold by the present which had been sent to
+the emperor; and the seamen because they could not forget the lashes
+which he had given them on the island of Cozumel for stealing the
+flitches of bacon. They had determined to seize upon one of our small
+vessels, to sail to Cuba, and acquaint the viceroy Diego Velasquez that
+he had merely to send to the Havannah and the possessions of Montejo in
+order to capture our agents with all the riches. We concluded from this
+that the conspirators had been counselled by persons of authority among
+our officers, since they knew that Montejo, notwithstanding the strict
+injunctions which he had received to the contrary, had landed at his
+commendary. The affair was already so far advanced that the conspirators
+had sent on board the necessary provisions of cassave-bread, oil, dried
+fish, water, and such like, and were about to set sail, when one of
+them, Bernardino de Coria, began to repent, called upon Cortes at
+midnight, and discovered the whole plot to him.
+
+Cortes first of all made an accurate inquiry into the names and number
+of the conspirators, as also into the reasons and the way they intended
+carrying out the plot; he then ordered the sails, the compass, and the
+rudder to be taken from the vessel which was to have conveyed them. Upon
+which he closely examined the conspirators, when they immediately made a
+full confession, and mentioned the names of others who were implicated.
+These names were for the present very prudently suppressed, and
+proceedings were merely taken against those who stood most prominent in
+the affair. A council of war having been held with all the usual
+formalities, Pedro Escudero and Juan Cormeño[19] were sentenced to be
+hung; the pilot Gonzalo de Umbria to have his feet cut off, and the
+sailors to receive two hundred lashes each. If father Juan had not been
+a priest he would likewise have shared a similar fate; as it was he
+merely suffered for a time the dread of suspense which indeed must have
+been terrible enough. I shall never forget how Cortes cried out, with a
+sigh, and deeply affected, at the moment he signed the death-warrants:
+"What a fortunate thing if I were unable to write; then should I neither
+be able to sign a death-warrant!" This same exclamation likewise
+frequently falls from judges who have to decide over life and death; in
+which expression, however, they merely repeat the words of the barbarous
+emperor Nero, when in the commencement of his reign he showed so goodly
+a disposition.
+
+The sentences being executed, Cortes immediately set out for Sempoalla,
+having previously ordered that 200 men, with all our horse, should
+follow him. The distance to this place was a good twenty miles. Pedro de
+Alvarado was absent during this time, having three days beforehand been
+sent with 200 men into the mountains in search of provisions, which were
+extremely scarce. Orders were, therefore, left behind for him to march
+to Sempoalla on his return, where arrangements would be made for our
+further route to Mexico. Alvarado, consequently, was not present when
+the executions took place.
+
+[19] Torquemada (Mon., Ind. i, iv, c. 25) gives some additional
+circumstances respecting this conspiracy; among other things he says,
+that the pilot Cermeno was so remarkably nimble, that if two of the
+tallest men held up a lance as high as they could horizontally, he would
+bound over it with ease by means of another lance. Also that his sense
+of smelling was so acute that he could scent the land at a distance of
+sixty miles when at sea; but adds, "aunque no olio esta muerte;" yet he
+could not smell the nature of his death. (p. 133.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVIII.
+
+    _How we came to the resolution of marching to Mexico, and of
+    destroying all our vessels, which was done with the sanction and by
+    the advice of all Cortes' true adherents._
+
+
+While preparations were going on at Sempoalla for our march into the
+interior numerous consultations were held with Cortes respecting
+everything connected with it, we, his trustworthy adherents, proposed
+that all the vessels should be run on shore, in order at once to cut off
+all possibility of further mutiny, when we should have advanced far into
+the interior of the country. In which case, likewise, the pilots and
+sailors would be of greater use to us than by idling their time away in
+the harbour. I am well aware that the idea of destroying our vessels
+originated with Cortes himself, and that he merely shoved it on our
+shoulders for this reason, that if payment for the vessels should be
+demanded of him, he could throw the blame on us, and say that all was
+done at our own request; so that we both individually and collectively
+should have to assist in repaying the damages. This resolution was
+immediately adopted, and Cortes ordered the alguacil-major, Juan de
+Escalante, a young man of very great courage, and who was a close
+adherer to him, utterly hating Diego Velasquez because he had neglected
+to give him any considerable commendary in Cuba, to take all the
+anchors, ropes, sails, in short everything that might be of use to us
+out of the vessels, and run the latter all on shore, with the exception
+of the boats. The pilots, the old ships' masters, and those seamen who
+were unable to make the campaign with us, were to remain behind in the
+town, and employ themselves in catching fish with our two drag-nets in
+the harbour, where the former were in great abundance.
+
+Juan de Escalante punctually obeyed these orders, and arrived in
+Sempoalla with an additional company formed of the sailors, of whom
+several became very excellent soldiers. The next thing Cortes did was to
+call all the caziques of the mountain tribes together, who had revolted
+from Motecusuma, and formed an alliance with us. He gave them to
+understand that they were to assist in the building of the church, the
+fortresses, and houses of our new town. "This man," continued he, taking
+Juan de Escalante by the hand, "is my brother; him you must obey in
+everything; and to him you must apply if you require assistance against
+the Mexicans. He will himself at all times march out in your defence."
+The caziques in reply, said, "They were ready to obey him in
+everything," and perfumed Juan de Escalante after their fashion, which I
+can still well remember he unwillingly submitted to. For the rest he was
+a man you could trust in all matters, and who fully possessed the
+confidence of Cortes; for which reason the latter intrusted him with the
+command of the town and harbour, as one in whom he could place implicit
+reliance, in case, during his absence, Diego Velasquez should set
+anything on foot against him.
+
+Gomara here relates, that Cortes ordered the vessels to be sunk, and
+that he did not disclose his intentions to us of visiting the great
+Motecusuma himself at Mexico. But we Spaniards are, indeed, not the
+people who require so much pressing to move forward, or who desire to
+sit quietly down in a place where neither advantage nor military honour
+is to be gained. Gomara also says, that Pedro de Irico was the person
+left behind in command of Vera Cruz. This, however, is quite erroneous,
+for it was Juan de Escalante who was appointed commander and
+alguacil-major of New Spain. Pedro de Irico, indeed, would scarcely
+have been intrusted with the command of a company, much less, therefore,
+with such an important post. Nothing should be given to a man that does
+not belong to him, and nothing should be taken from him to which he is
+entitled.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIX.
+
+    _Of the speech which Cortes made to us after our vessels were
+    destroyed, and how we prepared for our march to Mexico._
+
+
+After the vessels had been run ashore before our eyes, and we the
+officers and soldiers were one morning after mass all standing around
+Cortes, the discourse turned upon various military topics, when he
+begged our attention for a few minutes, as he had some proposal to make
+to us. He then addressed us at great length, as near as possible, to the
+following effect. We already knew of the campaign which was in
+contemplation. It was of such a nature, that the aid of Jesus Christ,
+our Lord, only could bring us forth victorious from all the battles and
+engagements which awaited us; but, notwithstanding all the trust we
+reposed in God, we should not ourselves be wanting in courage and
+activity; should we be worsted, which Almighty God forbid, considering
+our small numbers we could expect no other assistance than from above,
+and that of our own arms, as we had no longer any vessels to return to
+Cuba. Cortes then adduced many beautiful comparisons from history, and
+mentioned several heroic deeds of the Romans. We answered him, one and
+all, that we would implicitly follow his orders, as the die had been
+cast, and we, with Cæsar, when he had passed the Rubicon, had now no
+choice left; besides which, everything we did was for the glory of God
+and his majesty the emperor.
+
+After this speech, whose penetrating eloquence and charming powers I am
+unable to repeat, Cortes ordered the fat cazique into his presence, and
+reminded him of the care and reverence which was due from him to the
+church and the cross. For himself he was now about leaving for Mexico;
+he added, to oblige Motecusuma, for the future to abolish all robbery
+and the human sacrifices. He also told him he should require two hundred
+porters to transport our cannon, and fifty of his best warriors to
+accompany us.
+
+When we were about to put ourselves in motion a soldier arrived from
+Vera Cruz, whom Cortes had despatched there to fetch more men. He
+brought a letter from Juan de Escalante, announcing that a vessel had
+been seen off the coast, to which he had made various signals by means
+of smoke and other things; had hung out white flags and rode up and down
+the coast on horseback dressed in scarlet, to attract the attention of
+those on board. He did not doubt for an instant but all this had been
+observed by the men on-board, yet they made no signs of running into the
+harbour. He had made inquiries along the coast as to where the vessel
+had put in, and found she was lying at anchor in the mouth of a small
+river, at the distance of about nine miles; he therefore awaited Cortes'
+orders as to what further steps he was to take. As soon as Cortes had
+read the letter he gave the command of all the troops, then at
+Sempoalla, to Alvarado conjointly with Gonzalo de Sandoval. This was the
+first time Sandoval had been put in command, for those military
+qualities, by which he so greatly distinguished himself all the rest of
+his life, now began to develop themselves. Properly speaking, the
+command ought to have devolved upon Alonso de Avila, which therefore
+created ill blood between him and Sandoval. Upon this Cortes mounted
+horse, selected four of our cavalry, and fifty of the most nimble-footed
+men amongst us, and marched to Vera Cruz, where we arrived that very
+night.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LX.
+
+    _How Cortes arrived with us at the spot where the vessel lay at
+    anchor, and captured six soldiers and sailors of the said vessel,
+    who had stepped on shore; also what further took place._
+
+
+As soon as we had arrived at Vera Cruz, Juan de Escalante came up to
+Cortes and told him, it would be best to make off for the strange vessel
+that very night, otherwise she might heave anchor and steer for the wide
+ocean. Cortes himself might take his rest and allow him to manage the
+affair with twenty men.
+
+To this Cortes answered, he could not rest as long as there was any
+thing to be done, and he was determined to go in person with the men he
+had brought along with him. We accordingly set off on our march along
+the coast, without even tasting a morsel of food before we left. On our
+road we soon captured four Spaniards, who had been ordered to take
+possession of the country in the name of Francisco de Garay, viceroy of
+Jamaica. They had been sent on shore by an officer named Alonso Alvarez
+de Pinedo, who a few days previous had left a settlement on the banks of
+the Panuco. One of the four Spaniards, named Guillan de la Loa, had
+drawn up a formal deed of having taken possession of the country, which
+was signed by the three others.
+
+After the prisoners had made this disclosure to Cortes, he inquired of
+them under what pretence Garay had sent them out to take possession of
+the country? To which they gave the following answer. In the year 1518,
+when the fame of our having discovered this country, under Cordoba and
+Grijalva, and of the twenty thousand pesos which it produced Diego
+Velasquez, had spread through the whole of the West Indies, Anton de
+Alaminos and another pilot who had made the voyage of discovery with us,
+persuaded Garay to petition his majesty, that the discovery of all the
+countries which might lie to the north of the river St. Peter and Paul
+might be granted to him. Trusting to the patrons he had at the court of
+Madrid, he despatched his house-steward, Torrolva, to Spain, who managed
+to obtain for him the appointment of adelantado, and vice-regent of all
+countries north of the river just mentioned. Garay, in consequence of
+this appointment, fitted out three vessels with two hundred and seventy
+men, besides horses and the necessary provisions. The command of these
+he intrusted to an officer named Alonso Alvarez Pinedo, who at present
+was lying at a distance of about 280 miles from this place, in the river
+Panuco, where he intended to found a colony. For the rest, added the
+prisoners, they had merely obeyed the commands of that officer, and were
+therefore not answerable for anything they had done. Cortes was very
+much pleased with these fellows, on account of the disclosure they had
+made; he tried to gain them over to his interest, and inquired of them,
+if it were possible to capture the vessel? Guillan de la Loa, the most
+distinguished of the prisoners, thought it might be done, and he, with
+his comrades, would hail the ship's shallop on shore. This they
+accordingly tried, but, notwithstanding all their shouting and signals,
+no one moved from the vessel. No doubt we must have been observed by
+them, for the captain knew all about us, and he had particularly
+cautioned his men to be upon their guard, not to fall into the hands of
+Cortes. We had now, therefore, no other course left than to try to
+entice the shallop on shore by some other stratagem. For this purpose
+Cortes desired the prisoners to take off their clothes, and four of our
+men to put them on, who were to remain behind. The rest of us marched
+back along the road we had come, and halted behind a mountain, as soon
+as we were out of sight of the vessel. Here we remained until midnight,
+when all was dark around; we then, without the least noise, put
+ourselves in motion, and made for the landing-place, in the
+neighbourhood of which we concealed ourselves, so as to be invisible to
+any one excepting our four disguised soldiers.
+
+As soon as daylight had broken forth, the latter made signals to the
+vessel with their cloaks and hats; upon which the shallop put off with
+six sailors, two of whom had water-bottles in their hands, and
+immediately stepped on shore. We watched until the four others should
+have done the same. Our four disguised men were in the meantime washing
+their hands, and doing everything else to hide their faces. Those in the
+shallop cried out, "What the deuce are you about there? why don't you
+come on board?" One of our men then answered, "Come on shore for a few
+minutes, and see what the place is like!" They found, however, the voice
+to be that of a stranger, and put off with the shallop to the vessel
+again, notwithstanding all the signals our men were making. We others
+were very desirous of sending a few musket-shots after them, but Cortes
+would not permit us, saying, we ought to allow them to go off quietly,
+and he would communicate with their commander himself. All the prisoners
+we made, therefore, were the four above-mentioned, and the two who had
+stepped out of the shallop, and we returned to Vera Cruz without having
+tasted a morsel of food. Such are the true particulars of the whole
+matter, and not as Gomara relates, who even makes Garay himself present
+on this occasion, though he did not visit these parts in person until
+some time after, having sent the three officers with the vessels before
+him. I shall speak more particularly of this in the proper place.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXI.
+
+    _How we set out on our march to the city of Mexico, and, upon the
+    advice of the caziques, take our road over Tlascalla. What took
+    place here, and of the battles we fought._
+
+
+After we had got all in readiness for our march to Mexico, we held a
+consultation as to the route we should take. The chiefs of Sempoalla
+preferred the road through the province of Tlascalla, as the inhabitants
+were friendly with them and deadly enemies of the Mexicans. They had
+likewise equipped forty of their best warriors to accompany us, who,
+indeed, proved of the greatest utility to us on this journey. They also
+gave us 200 porters to convey our cannon; for, at that time, we poor
+soldiers had no other baggage than our weapons, with which in hand we
+stood, walked, and slept: we had not even any other covering to our
+feet than light shoes, but we were always ready for battle. It was about
+the middle of the month of August, 1519, that we broke up our quarters
+at Sempoalla. During our march we observed the strictest order, while
+our sharp-shooters and a great number of our most active men were always
+in advance. On the first day we arrived in the township of Xalapa, and
+from there to Socochina, which is very strongly situated, the access to
+it being very dangerous, and surrounded by numerous trained vine
+trees.[20] Doña Marina and Aguilar told the inhabitants a good deal
+about our holy religion, and how we were subjects of the emperor Don
+Carlos the Fifth, who sent us out to bring them back from kidnapping and
+sacrificing human beings. As they were in friendship with the
+Sempoallans, and paid no tribute to Motecusuma, we found them very well
+inclined towards us, and we received hospitable treatment. We erected a
+cross in every township, and explained its signification to the
+inhabitants, and what great veneration was due to it. From Socochina we
+marched over a high mountain, through a pass, to Texutla: here,
+likewise, the inhabitants were friendly to us, because they refused to
+pay any further tribute to Motecusuma. It was from this township that we
+first arrived into a rugged and wild mountain district; the population
+ceased, and, in the very first night, we had excessive cold, with hail
+showers; add to which, our provisions were totally gone, and the wind so
+keen which blew across the snow mountains, that we shook again with the
+frost: indeed, no one can wonder at this, for we had come so suddenly
+from the hot climate of Cuba, the town of Vera Cruz, and the
+neighbouring coast, into a cold country. Whatever calamity might befall
+us, we had only our weapons for protection, and were, moreover, totally
+unaccustomed to the cold. From this place we arrived at another mountain
+pass, where we found some houses and huge temples for human sacrifices;
+near these, heaps of wood were piled up for the use of the idol-worship.
+Neither did we here again meet with any food, the weather continuing
+bitterly cold.
+
+Our route now lay across the territory of the township Xocotlan. We sent
+before us two Indians of Sempoalla to the cazique, to acquaint him of
+our approach, and beg of him to give us an hospitable reception. As the
+inhabitants of this district were subject to Motecusuma, everything wore
+a different aspect, and we marched forward with the utmost precaution
+and in close array. For the rest, we were as much pleased with this spot
+as with many a Spanish town, on account of the numerous and beautifully
+whitewashed balconies, the dwellings of the caziques, and the elevated
+temples wholly built of stone and lime. We, therefore, called it
+Castilblanco, which name it still retains; for a Portuguese soldier, who
+was among our troops, assured us, the place was very like the town of
+Casteloblanco in Portugal. The cazique, on receiving information of our
+arrival, came out to meet us with the principal inhabitants. His name
+was Olintecle, and he led us into his habitation, where he gave us but
+little to eat, and that with bad will.
+
+After the repast, Cortes, by means of our interpreters, put all manner
+of questions to the cazique respecting the affairs of his monarch.
+Motecusuma, and we learnt a good deal about the great armies which were
+stationed in the conquered provinces, besides those on the boundaries
+themselves, and the provinces which bordered on them. He spoke of the
+great and strong city of Mexico, how it lay in the midst of the waters,
+and that it was only by means of bridges and canoes that a person could
+go from one house to another: every house was provided with a balcony at
+the top, and was so completely isolated by means of moats, that they
+might separately be considered as so many castles, and, as such, capable
+of defence. The town was approached by three roads, each of which was
+cut through in four or five several places, to admit the water; across
+these sections, wooden bridges were built: it was merely requisite to
+break down these bridges, and all access to Mexico was cut off. Lastly,
+the cazique also mentioned the great quantity of silver and gold, the
+numerous precious stones and great riches of Motecusuma; in fact, there
+was no end to the praises he bestowed upon his monarch.
+
+Cortes and all of us were vastly astonished at everything the man
+related of Motecusuma's power and greatness. However, instead of being
+thereby disheartened, we only the more earnestly desired to try our
+fortune against the fortresses and bridges, for such is the very spirit
+of a Spanish soldier; while the impossibility of which Olintecle spoke
+seemed to us a mere nothing. Mexico was, indeed, strongly fortified, and
+even more so than mentioned by the cazique: a person ought to have seen
+it himself to form an idea of it,--a description can convey none. For
+the rest, added the cazique, Motecusuma is accustomed to obedience from
+every one, and he feared Motecusuma's resentment when he should learn
+that we had entered the township without his permission, and had been
+provided with provisions.
+
+Upon which Cortes, by means of our interpreters, spoke to him as
+follows: "I give you to understand that we have come here from very
+distant countries, by command of our emperor and master Don Carlos, who
+has among his numerous vassals many powerful princes, to acquaint your
+great Motecusuma that he shall no longer permit kidnapping and human
+sacrifices, nor conquer any more territories, and that he must obey the
+commands of the emperor our master. In the same way I also declare to
+you Olintecle, and the other caziques now present that you must
+relinquish those human sacrifices, no longer eat human flesh, and
+abstain from committing unnatural offences and other abominations
+customary with you; for such are the commandments of the God in whom we
+believe, and whom we adore, from whom come life and death, and who will
+once receive us into his heaven."
+
+As the Indians made no answer to all this and many other things he said
+of our holy religion, Cortes turned to us, and said, "I think,
+gentlemen, we can do nothing further here than erect a cross:" to which
+father Olmedo answered, "I think, sir, that even this would be doing too
+much at present, for these people, as subjects of Motecusuma, are
+neither afraid nor shy of us, and would undoubtedly destroy the cross.
+What we have disclosed to them concerning our religion is sufficient
+until the time they shall be susceptible of understanding more of it."
+
+In compliance with this advice, no cross was erected here.
+
+On this expedition we had a large dog with us, the property of Francisco
+de Lugo. As the animal did nothing but bark the whole night, the
+caziques asked our friends of Sempoalla whether it was a lion or a tiger
+which we employed for the purpose of tearing the Indians to pieces? The
+Sempoallans answered that we indeed let it loose upon those who attacked
+us. They gave similar answers to questions concerning our cannon,
+telling them we loaded these with stones, and killed every one therewith
+at whom we shot: that our horses were as nimble as deer; that they
+galloped against whomsoever we desired. "Certainly these must be
+teules!" said Olintecle and the other chiefs. "That they are indeed as
+you see them now before you, (continued the Sempoallans,) therefore take
+great care not to arouse their displeasure. Whatever you may do, they
+are sure to know: they penetrate your very thoughts, and have even
+imprisoned the tax-gatherers of your great Motecusuma, and commanded the
+inhabitants of the mountains and us of Sempoalla not to pay any more
+tribute. They have likewise torn down our teules from the temples, and
+placed theirs there instead. The tribes of the Tabasco and Tzinpantzinco
+were conquered by them; and, however powerful Motecusuma may be, he
+nevertheless sent them presents. Now they have visited you, and you have
+given them nothing; therefore you cannot too speedily correct the
+mistake you have made."
+
+From this it may be seen that our confederates perfectly understood how
+to boast of us: nor was it long before the caziques brought us four
+chains, three neck ornaments, and a few lizards, all of gold, though of
+an inferior quality; besides this there was a package of cotton cloths,
+and four women to bake our bread. Cortes thanked them very kindly for
+these presents, and offered to render them services in return.
+
+One certain spot in this township I never shall forget, situated near
+the temple. Here a vast number of human skulls were piled up in the best
+order imaginable,--there must have been more than 100,000; I repeat,
+more than 100,000. In like manner you saw the remaining human bones
+piled up in order in another corner of the square; these it would have
+been impossible to count. Besides these, there were human heads hanging
+suspended from beams on both sides. Three papas stood sentinel on this
+place of skulls, for which purpose, it was told us, they were
+particularly appointed.[21]
+
+Similar horrible sights we saw towards the interior of the country in
+every township, and even in Tlascalla.
+
+Cortes inquired of the cazique Olintecle, which was the best and most
+easy road to Mexico. "That one," answered the cazique, "over Cholulla,
+which is a very large town." Our friends of Sempoalla, however, advised
+us not to take that road, as the inhabitants of Cholulla were a
+treacherous people, and Motecusuma had always a strong garrison in that
+town. We had better choose the road over Tlascalla was their opinion;
+for there the inhabitants were their friends, and sworn enemies to the
+Mexicans. This advice was followed by Cortes, and the Almighty blessed
+his choice. Before our departure we required an additional twenty of
+their best warriors to join our ranks, which were accordingly granted us
+by the cazique.
+
+The next morning we commenced our march to Tlascalla, and first arrived
+in the small township of Xacatcinco. From this place we sent before us
+to the Tlascallans two of the principal men of Sempoalla, who well knew
+how to blazon forth our praise, and were upon intimate terms of
+friendship with the latter. We gave them a letter to these, although we
+knew they could not read it, and a Flanders hat surmounted by a coloured
+feather, as they were worn at that time. I will relate in the following
+chapter what further took place.
+
+[20] It may appear astonishing to some that grape trees should have been
+found here, as it is well known that this tree was introduced from
+Europe into the West Indies; yet it is certainly true that the Spaniards
+found the wild vine growing in the New World. Oviedo, in his valuable
+work entitled 'Historia general y natural de las Indias,' says, "These
+wild vines bear good black grapes, and I have often eaten them myself. I
+say good, for considering the wild state in which they grow, they are
+really good. These grapes are found throughout the whole of the West
+Indies, and I do believe that all other vines have originated from these
+wild trees." (p. 133.)
+
+[21] Of the township of Xocotlan, Torquemada gives some further account,
+from which we learn more of the condition of the country at the time of
+the conquest. Olintecl, he says, was lord of 20,000 subjects, and he had
+thirty wives, who were attended upon by one hundred female servants. The
+township contained thirteen temples, full of various shaped idols made
+of stone, to whom were sacrificed men, women, children, pigeons, and
+quails. Here the Mexican monarch had a garrison of 5000 men, and couriers
+were stationed at particular distances from each other all the way from
+the town to the city of Mexico. These nimble pedestrians were always in
+pairs, that all news might be conveyed to the metropolis with the utmost
+speed. (p. 142.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXII.
+
+    _How we commenced our march upon Tlascalla, and sent messengers
+    before us, to obtain the sanction of the inhabitants to pass through
+    their country; how they took our messengers prisoners, and what
+    further happened._
+
+
+On our march from Castilblanco we were, if possible, doubly precautious.
+Our sharp-shooters were always in advance, the cavalry kept surrounding
+our troops, our muskets were loaded, the matches lighted, and, in short,
+we were ready for action at a moment's notice.
+
+We first arrived in the small township of Xacatcinco, where the
+inhabitants presented us with a golden chain for the neck, some packages
+of cotton stuffs, and two Indian females. As above remarked, we
+despatched two distinguished personages of Sempoalla to Tlascalla, who
+were to announce our approach, and say we came as friends, and hoped
+they would receive us as such. We found it the more necessary to send
+this message, as we learnt in Xacatcinco, that the whole of Tlascalla
+was up in arms against us. They were already informed of our having left
+that place, and concluded from the number of warriors we had with us out
+of Sempoalla and Xocotlan, tributary to Motecusuma, that we came with
+hostile intentions. They had quite concluded we were going to act like
+the Mexicans, who always, under some fraudulent pretence or other,
+marched into their country when intent upon plunder.
+
+When, therefore, the messengers arrived with our letter and the Flanders
+hat, and were about to deliver our commission, they were even refused a
+hearing, and immediately thrown into prison. We awaited their return for
+two days, during which time Cortes explained to the inhabitants as
+usual, the nature of our holy religion, who our emperor was, the
+sinfulness of human sacrifices, and the other abominations they
+practised. He also demanded twenty of their warriors to accompany us.
+
+These they readily furnished us, and after we had commended ourselves to
+the protection of the Almighty, we broke up our quarters on the third
+day and marched for Tlascalla. On our route we were met by our two
+messengers, who had been secretly released by their friends. All
+Tlascalla was making warlike preparations against us. They appeared
+quite downcast, and durst scarcely inform us of what they had seen and
+heard. Having at last taken courage, they related how they had been
+immediately seized and thrown into prison, and what terrible threats had
+been thrown out against us and themselves. "Now we will rise up," it
+had been told them, "and destroy those whom yon term teules. We shall
+soon see whether they are so courageous as you have mentioned. We will
+devour both you and them together, for you are come under fraudulent
+pretences, and at the instigation and in the spirit of the traitor
+Motecusuma."
+
+The messengers might say what they liked in contradiction to this it was
+all to no purpose. When Cortes and we others heard this lofty language,
+and how they awaited us completely equipped for war, we did not think
+altogether so light of the matter; nevertheless, we one and all cried
+out, "Well, then, since it cannot be otherwise, forward! for good or ill
+luck." We commended ourselves to the protection of God, and unfurled our
+standard, which was borne by the ensign Corral. The inhabitants of the
+small township, where we passed the night, informed us, that the
+Tlascallans would march against us to prevent our entering into their
+country. Of this opinion were also our friends of Sempoalla.
+
+As we were marching along, our only discourse was how we should attack
+the enemy. Our cavalry was to gallop up three abreast, with lances
+fixed, and run the Indians full in the face. At the same time they were
+to be particularly upon their guard that the enemy did not lay hold of
+the lances with their hands; should such, however, be the case, the
+rider was to keep the tighter hold of his lance, give his horse the
+spur, and either by a sudden jerk wrest it out of the enemy's grasp, or
+drag him along with it.
+
+The reader will perhaps ask, why we took these precautions though we had
+not yet come in sight of the foe? I can answer this with Cortes' own
+words, who spoke to us as follows: "You are aware, gentlemen, of the
+smallness of our numbers, we must, therefore, be the more upon our
+guard, and fancy the enemy will each moment fall upon us. Nor is this
+sufficient, we must imagine ourselves already fighting, as if the battle
+was begun. Every soldier is fond of catching hold of the enemy's lance
+with his hand, but considering the smallness of our numbers, we must now
+particularly guard ourselves against it. For the rest, you are not in
+need of my advice, for I have always found that you do things much
+better than I am able to instruct you."
+
+Under similar discourses we had already advanced about eight miles, when
+we came up to an enormous entrenchment, built so strongly of stone,
+lime, and a kind of hard bitumen, that it would only have been possible
+to break it down by means of pickaxes, and if defended would have with
+difficulty been taken. We halted on purpose to inspect this
+fortification, and Cortes inquired of the Xocotlans, for what purpose it
+stood there. They told him that it was built by the Tlascallans, on
+whose territory we were now entering, against the great Motecusuma, with
+whom they were continually at war, to protect them against his hostile
+incursions.[22]
+
+After we had examined this structure for some time, and each expressed
+his opinion upon it, Cortes cried out, "Let us follow our standard,
+gentlemen! It bears the figure of the holy cross, and in that sign we
+shall conquer." To which we unanimously added: "Forward! whatever may
+happen; for God is our only strength."
+
+We now continued our march onwards in the cautious manner above
+mentioned, and had not proceeded far when our vanguard observed at no
+very great distance about thirty Indians, who had been sent out to
+reconnoitre; this was immediately communicated to us. They had broad
+swords, which are used with both hands, the edges of which are made of
+hard flint, and are sharper than our steel swords. They were also armed
+with shields, lances, and had feathers stuck in their hair. Cortes
+ordered some of our cavalry to go in among them, and try, if possible,
+to capture one, but not to inflict any wounds. These were followed at a
+distance by five others, to assist them should they fall into an ambush;
+the rest of our army marched direct for the narrow pass, but with the
+utmost circumspection, as our friends had assured us that we should
+undoubtedly meet with a large body of the enemy in some hiding place or
+other. When the thirty Indians above mentioned found our cavalry
+approaching them, and saw how they beckoned to them with their hands,
+they began to retreat slowly, and arranged themselves again in order,
+whenever our men attempted to take any of them prisoners. They defended
+themselves right valiantly with their swords and lances, wounding
+several of our horses. The blood of our men now also began to boil, who,
+in return, killed five of the Indians. At that moment a swarm of more
+than 3000 Tlascallans rushed furiously from an ambush, pouring forth a
+shower of arrows upon our cavalry, who now immediately closed their
+ranks. At the same time we fired among them with our cannon, and so at
+last we obliged the enemy to give ground, though they fought bravely and
+with a good deal of manoeuvring. On our side we had four wounded, of
+whom one died a few days after, if I still remember rightly. Seventeen
+of the enemy lay dead, and the number of their wounded was very
+considerable. As it was growing very late they continued to retreat, and
+we to follow them.
+
+As soon as we had passed over the mountain we came into a plain, and
+found numerous plantations of maise and maguey,[23] from which the
+inhabitants make their wine. We took up our night's quarters near a
+brook, and for want of oil we dressed the wounds of our men with the fat
+of a corpulent Indian who had been killed. We made our supper off young
+dogs, which we found here in great numbers; for, although the
+inhabitants had left all their plantations and taken the dogs with them,
+these animals during the night time had come back to their old places
+again; and we were thus able to catch a good many, and so procured
+ourselves some very delicious joints. The whole of this night we kept a
+most vigilant look-out. We placed outposts in all quarters; our horses
+stood ready saddled and bridled, and the rounds were regularly made. I
+will, however, break off here, and relate our further battles in the
+next chapter.
+
+[22] Of this fortification Torquemada gives a different account. He says
+it was a wall of twenty feet in thickness, that it could be defended
+from the top; had only one entrance, defended by other works within, and
+was built by a cazique of the country, whom he calls Yztacmixtitlan, to
+protect the boundaries of his country against the incursions of the
+Tlascallans. (p. 145.)
+
+[23] Agava Americana. (p. 145.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIII.
+
+    _Of the terrible battles we fought with the Tlascallans, and what
+    further happened._
+
+
+The next morning, after we had commended ourselves to God in prayer, we
+broke up our quarters. Each company marched in close order, and our
+cavalry were to be particularly upon their guard; were either to advance
+suddenly, or fall back upon us, according as circumstances might be, and
+at all events to watch that our ranks were nowhere broken, and that no
+one strayed from his own company.
+
+After we had marched onwards for some time we came up with two large
+bodies of the enemy, amounting to about 6000 men. They set up a most
+terrific noise with their drums and trumpets, and yelled awfully. They
+then let fly their arrows, threw their lances at us, and upon the whole
+were most daringly valiant. Cortes now ordered us to halt, and
+despatched three Indians, whom we had made prisoners the day before, to
+the enemy, requesting them to stay hostilities, as we were very desirous
+of looking upon them as brothers and friends. At the same time he
+ordered one of our warriors, Diego de Godoy, who was the royal
+secretary, to pay particular attention to everything that should take
+place, in order that if any reproach were made us for having destroyed
+any of the Indians, he might give evidence, and be able to prove that we
+on our side had shown every disposition for peace.
+
+The prisoners went off with this message to the enemy, but not the
+slightest notice was taken of it; on the contrary, they attacked us so
+furiously that we could no longer look idly on. "Forward! St. Jacob is
+with us! On to the enemy!" cried Cortes; and in an instant we greeted
+the Indians so sharply with our firearms, that numbers were immediately
+killed and wounded; among the former three chiefs. After this first
+volley they fell back to about the distance of a musket-shot, where they
+took up their position. Here an army of above 40,000 warriors, commanded
+by their general-in-chief Xicotencatl, lay in ambush. Their standards
+bore his colours, white and variegated. As the ground here was full of
+deep cavities our cavalry were completely useless, until by using the
+greatest precaution they managed to pass over these. This was not done
+without considerable risk, for the enemy plied their bows and lances
+with great dexterity, having, moreover, the advantage of the higher
+ground. The stones from their slings were no less annoying; but all this
+only lasted until we had gained the level ground. For now we richly
+rewarded them for their pains, and killed great numbers. Yet we durst
+not venture to open our ranks; for the instant any one stepped out to
+assist any other soldier or officer he was that moment dangerously
+wounded. We were, therefore, obliged to keep our ranks firmly closed,
+and by degrees had to contend with more than twenty different divisions,
+which was, indeed, pretty hot work. Besides all this the Indians kept
+continually throwing sand in our faces to blind us. Here, indeed, the
+great mercy of God alone could save us. The chief object of the enemy
+was to capture one of our horses, in which they did not altogether fail;
+for, as Pedro de Moron on his well-trained mare, attended by three
+others of our cavalry, was attempting to break through the enemy's
+ranks, the Indians wrenched the lance out of his hand, and fell
+furiously upon him with their broad swords, wounding him severely. They
+gave his mare such a terrific cut with the same weapon in the neck, that
+the animal instantly fell down dead. If Moron's three companions had not
+immediately hastened to his assistance, he would have shared his horse's
+fate; for this gave our whole company time to come up.
+
+I must again repeat, that the worst was, we had to keep ourselves so
+close together in order not to run the danger of being cut off, which of
+course greatly encumbered our movements. Nevertheless, we were obliged
+to open our ranks to rescue the mare and Moron whom they were already
+dragging off half dead. The mare we were obliged to relinquish, though
+we managed to cut the girth asunder in order at least to save the
+saddle. In this battle we had nine wounded. As for the enemy I believe
+on this occasion we killed four of their chiefs. We pushed forward
+shoulder to shoulder, and made considerable havoc with our swords. The
+enemy retreated, carrying off the dead mare, which was subsequently cut
+into pieces to be sent into every township of Tlascalla. As we
+afterwards learnt, the horse's shoes, the Flanders hat, and the letter
+we sent them, were brought as an offering to their idols. The mare
+belonged to Juan Sedeño, who, on the previous day, was wounded in three
+several places, and had, therefore, lent her to Moron. This Moron was a
+capital horse soldier, and died a few days after; at least, I do not
+remember to have seen him again after this battle.
+
+We had fought for a good hour, and our firearms must have done
+considerable destruction among the enemy who stood so crowded together.
+Every man among us did his duty, and we fought away like brave warriors,
+for in all truth we were placed in greater jeopardy this time than we
+had ever been before. Numbers of the Indians lay dead on the field of
+battle; among whom were eight of the principal chiefs, all sons of old
+caziques, who dwelt together in the chief town of the country. At last
+our enemies retreated in good order, which we were glad enough to see,
+for we could scarcely stand any longer from over-fatigue, nor durst we
+think of following the enemy. Add to which, the ground was greatly to
+our disadvantage, partly on account of the number of straggling houses,
+partly on account of a species of pits in which many of the inhabitants
+dwelt. This battle was fought on the first two days of September, 1519,
+near the village of Tehuacacinco, and we returned fervent thanks to God
+for having rescued us from such great peril and for the victory we had
+gained.
+
+After the battle, we fell back to some temples, which were very high,
+and large enough to serve us for castles. We dressed the wounds of our
+men with the fat of Indians, as we had done on previous occasions. Five
+of our horses were wounded, and fifteen men, of whom one subsequently
+died. Upon this we took our suppers, and made a good meal off the number
+of dogs and fowls which we found in the dwellings. Before, however, we
+lay down to rest, we posted our sentinels, and continually patrolled
+during the night: not before all these things were properly ordered did
+we lie down, and slept till morning.
+
+For the rest, we made fifteen prisoners, among whom were two of the most
+distinguished personages; but we could never discover how many we killed
+or wounded, as it was customary with the Tlascallans immediately to
+carry off the wounded and dead from the field of battle.[24]
+
+[24] (This note refers to the last sentence of the chapter.) To this
+custom of the Tlascallans of carrying off their killed and wounded from
+the field of battle, the historian de Solis partially attributes Cortes'
+great success in these battles; for as a great number of the enemy were
+constantly occupied in this work, they naturally offered a less
+formidable front, and considerable openings were made in their ranks.
+(p. 147.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIV.
+
+    _How we quartered ourselves in the township of Tehuacacinco, and
+    what we did there._
+
+
+As the battles we fought had greatly fatigued us, besides that several
+of our men and horses were wounded, we made a day of rest, repaired our
+crossbows, and supplied ourselves with arrows. The next morning Cortes
+said to us, "It would be no harm if our horse were to gallop up and down
+the country a little; the Tlascallans might otherwise think we had had
+enough of it in the last battle: we must show them that we are
+constantly at their heels." And indeed it was better that we began
+ourselves than wait until we should be attacked, that the enemy might
+not suppose we had been too greatly weakened, and had lost our courage.
+Besides this, the country round about was quite level, and thickly
+populated. We therefore ordered out seven horse, some crossbow-men, and
+several musketeers, in all 200 men, without including our confederates.
+Every possible precaution had been previously made to secure our camp.
+On our march through the townships we captured twenty Indians of both
+sexes, but in no way molested them. Our allies, however, who were
+barbarous characters, could not refrain from setting fire to many houses
+where they had found quantities of fowls and young dogs. After we had
+again returned to our quarters, Cortes ordered the fetters to be taken
+off the prisoners, and food to be given them. Doña Marina and Aguilar
+then addressed them very affectionately, and gave to each some glass
+beads, adding, at the same time, that in future they should not be so
+foolish, but make peace with us, as we were very desirous of looking
+upon them as brothers, and would protect them as such.
+
+We also set the first two Indians at liberty whom we had captured, and
+gave them a letter with the commission to tell the chief of the
+provinces that we were not come in any way to injure the Tlascallans,
+but merely wished to take the road through their country to Mexico,
+there to have an interview with Motecusuma.
+
+Both these delegates punctually followed our orders, and arrived at the
+head-quarters of Xicotencatl, which lay, if I remember rightly, about
+six miles from our camp, in the township of Tehuacinpacingo. Having, in
+the absence of the father, fulfilled our commission to the younger
+Xicotencatl, he told them, we had only to come to his father's township,
+there they would make peace, after they had satiated themselves with the
+flesh of our bodies, and had honoured their gods with the sacrifice of
+our blood and hearts. The next morning we should behold his answer with
+our own eyes.
+
+As the last battles were still fresh in our memories, we did not exactly
+relish the haughty answer with which our delegates returned. Cortes,
+nevertheless, received them most kindly, perceiving, from their return,
+that they no longer stood in awe of us; and with the view that they
+should once more be despatched as messengers of peace, he gave them some
+additional strings of beads. For the rest he made the most minute
+inquiries respecting the commander Xicotencatl, and the number of his
+troops, and found that the latter were much more numerous than in the
+last battle: he had now five chiefs under him, each of whom commanded
+10,000 men. These troops were enumerated in the following manner: First
+of all came the 10,000 men of Xicotencatl's division; next a similar
+number under another powerful cazique called Maxixcatzin; then a like
+number under the distinguished cazique Chichimeclatecl; 10,000 under the
+cazique of Topoyanco, named Tecapaneca; and an equal number under the
+cazique Quaxobcin;--altogether thus 50,000 men. Each troop had its
+standard and arms, the latter being a large white bird, with outspread
+wings, as if preparing to fly, and resembled an ostrich.[25] Besides
+this, every chief had his particular insignia of war and colours, in the
+same way as our Spanish dukes and earls. At first we did not believe
+anything of all this, but found afterwards that it was perfectly true;
+and since we were human beings, and feared death, we all confessed to
+father Olmedo and the priest Juan Diaz, which occupied them the whole of
+the night: neither did we fail to offer up fervent prayers to the
+Almighty to grant us victory. Under such like occupations the following
+day broke forth on which we were to fight the battle, of which I shall
+speak in the next chapter.
+
+[25] This is a very remarkable observation of Bernal Diaz, for the
+ostrich with outspread wings is also found on the ancient Persian
+monuments; and this bird, it is well known, is not common to the New
+World. If we add to this circumstance the repeated questions which were
+put to the Spaniards by the inhabitants of New Spain, as to whether they
+came from the region where the sun rises, there is reason for supposing
+that the tradition which came down to them from their forefathers was
+not altogether vague; namely, that a people would come from the east and
+take possession of their country. (p. 150.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXV.
+
+    _Of the great battle we fought with the Tlascallans, and what
+    further took place._
+
+
+It was the following morning, on the 5th of September, 1519, that we
+equipped ourselves for battle. Our horse were first arranged in order,
+then the foot soldiers, and even our wounded were forced to go along
+with us, if only to swell out our numbers, and do what lay in their
+power. The crossbow-men received orders that some were merely to load,
+while others fired, and this always in platoons. The musketeers received
+similar orders, and the remaining portion of our men, who were armed
+with swords and shields, were principally to strike at the enemy in the
+region of the belly, in order to stop them from venturing so near to us
+as they had the time before. Every one was also particularly cautioned
+not to leave the ranks. It was also the particular duty of our cavalry
+not to leave each other in the lurch, always to attack in full gallop,
+and only aim at the face and eyes. The ensign Corral received a guard of
+four men, and in this way we sallied forth from our camp, with our
+standard flying.
+
+We had scarcely proceeded a quarter of a mile when we found the fields
+covered with warriors; they had large feather-knots on their heads,
+waved their colours, and made a terrific noise with their horns and
+trumpets: indeed, the pen that would wish to describe everything we saw
+here, would not find it such an easy task! this was indeed a battle of
+as fearful and dubious an issue as well could be. In an instant we were
+surrounded on all sides by such vast numbers of Indians, that the plain,
+here six miles in breadth, seemed as if it contained but one vast body
+of the enemy, in the midst of which stood our small army of 400 men, the
+greater part wounded and knocked up with fatigue. We were also aware
+that the enemy had marched out to battle with the determination to spare
+none of us, excepting those who were to be sacrificed to their idols.
+When, therefore, the attack commenced, a real shower of arrows and
+stones was poured upon us; the whole ground was immediately covered with
+heaps of lances, whose points were provided with two edges, so very
+sharp that they pierced through every species of cuirass, and were
+particularly dangerous to the lower part of the body, which was in no
+way protected. They fell upon us like the very furies themselves, with
+the most horrible yells; we employed, however, our heavy guns, muskets,
+and crossbows, with so much effect, and received those who pressed
+eagerly upon us with such well-directed blows and thrusts, that
+considerable destruction was made among their ranks, nor did they allow
+us to approach so near to them as in the previous battle: our cavalry,
+in particular, showed great skill and bravery, so that they, next to the
+Almighty, were the principal means of saving us.
+
+Indeed our line was already half broken; all the commands of Cortes and
+our other officers to restore order and form again were fruitless, the
+Indians continually rushing upon us in such vast crowds that we could
+only make place with sword in hand to save our line from being broken.
+Our only safety was owing to the great number of the enemy itself; for
+they stood so closely crowded that each shot we fired must have done
+great execution among them. They left themselves altogether no room to
+manoeuvre in, while many of the chiefs, with their men, were not even
+able to mix at all in the engagement. Besides this, disagreements and
+inimical feelings had arisen out of the previous battle between the
+commander-in-chief Xicotencatl and another chief, the son of
+Chichimeclatecl. Xicotencatl had accused the latter of not having done
+his duty, who, in reply, said, he had discharged it better than he; so
+that in this battle neither lent the other any assistance, and
+Chichimeclatecl had even commanded Huexotzinco not to take any part in
+the combat. To all this must be added, that the enemy had been taught in
+the former battle to fear our horse, cannon, swords, and crossbows, not
+to forget the courage we displayed. It must likewise be borne in mind
+that a merciful God had lent us extraordinary powers during the
+engagement. As Xicotencatl met with no obedience from two of his
+principal officers,--we, on the contrary, fighting on the more bravely,
+and killing great numbers of their men, who, as well as the wounded,
+were immediately hurried from the field of battle, so that we never came
+to see any of their killed,--the Indians at length grew exasperated
+against those two chiefs who had thus left them in the lurch, and now
+fought with less vigour. It is, however, probable that one of their
+chief commanders had fallen, for they retreated in good order: our
+cavalry, indeed, pursued them a short distance in full gallop, but were
+soon compelled to return, from fatigue.
+
+As soon as we had got rid of this vast crowd, we returned most fervent
+thanks to the Almighty. We had, however, only lost one man, but, on the
+other hand, sixty of us were wounded, with all our horses. I myself
+carried off two wounds, one of which was on my head from the stone of a
+sling, and the other by an arrow piercing my ankle; but neither of them
+were so bad as to compel me to leave the battle, or disable me from
+doing duty. This, however, was the same case with the majority of my
+comrades; for, if a wound was not dangerous, they still continued to
+perform duty, as the number of those who came off whole would have been
+too small to make head against the enemy. We now returned to our
+quarters, overjoyed at our victory, and offered up fervent thanks to
+God. We buried our dead in one of the subterranean dwellings, that the
+Indians might not discover us to be mortal as well as themselves, but
+still continue to fancy us gods: we, therefore, heaped up a quantity of
+earth over the spot, that even the stench of the decomposing body might
+not betray the dead. The fat of the Indians, as before, served us to
+dress our wounds. Oh, the distress we suffered here! We had neither oil
+for our wounds nor salt to our food. To all this was added the
+misfortune of having nothing to shelter us from the keen wind, which
+blew across the Sierra Nevada, and made us shake again with cold. We,
+nevertheless, kept up our spirits, and this night we slept more soundly
+than on the previous one, as we had better regulated our outposts and
+the patrols.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVI.
+
+    _How we sent a message next day to the caziques of Tlascalla to
+    bring about peace between us, and the determination they came to
+    upon this._
+
+
+In the last battle we had taken three distinguished personages
+prisoners. These Cortes sent with the two others whom we had previously
+taken, and once before despatched with a message to the caziques of
+Tlascalla, desiring them in our name to make peace with us, and allow us
+to march through their country to Mexico, as we had before requested of
+them. If they still refused, we would exterminate them all. It would,
+however, grieve us if they drove us to such extremities, as we were well
+inclined, and would gladly look upon them as brothers; nor should we
+have done thus much if they themselves had not driven us to it. Besides
+this, Cortes said many other kind things to gain their friendship.
+
+The delegates arrived betimes in the chief town of Tlascalla, and
+delivered their message in a full assembly of the caziques, whom they
+found conversing with several old men and papas. Every one still
+appeared very downcast on account of the unfavorable issue of the
+battle, the loss of their chiefs, their sons and relations who had
+fallen; and at first would not even listen to our messengers. At last
+they came to the resolution to consult all the astrologers, papas, and
+fortune-tellers, a species of conjurors whom they call _Tacalnaguas_.
+These being assembled, they were desired to discover by their witchcraft
+and enchantments, what sort of people we were, and whether it was
+possible to overcome us if they continued to harass us night and day.
+They were also to give a decisive answer as to whether we were really
+teules, that is to say evil spirits, as the inhabitants of Sempoalla had
+assured them; and lastly, what nourishment we took. All this they were
+most minutely to investigate.
+
+The soothsayers, conjurors, and papas, who were in great numbers,
+immediately began their exorcisms and enchantments, after their fashion;
+and they pretended to have discovered, by means of their art, that we
+were human beings made of flesh and bone; that we ate dogs, fowls, bread
+and fruits, as they did, if we could get them; and that we did not
+devour the Indians, and much less the hearts of those we had slain. Our
+friends of Sempoalla, namely, had told them all manner of foolish things
+about us; not only that we were teules, but that we devoured the hearts
+of the Indians; that the flashes of our bombards, shot off like
+lightning; that our dog was a tiger or a lion, and that we let loose our
+horses upon the Indians when we wished to kill them. But the worst thing
+these soothsayers and papas affirmed was, its being impossible to
+conquer us excepting during the night-time, for we were helpless as soon
+as the sun, from which we received all our strength, had gone down.
+
+This affirmation seemed a capital hint to the caziques, they therefore
+sent orders to their captain-general, Xicotencatl, to fall upon us as
+soon as possible with a large force during night-time. This, Xicotencatl
+did not fail to do. He drew out ten thousand of his bravest troops,
+marched towards our quarters, and fell upon us from three several points
+at once, with the utmost fury. They made this attack with perfect
+assurance, believing they had merely to show themselves and they should
+be able to capture us immediately, and sacrifice us to their idols. But
+the Almighty had ordered things differently. For, however silently they
+approached, they found us perfectly upon our guard, as the outposts and
+patrols had come running in at the first noise they heard and given the
+alarm. As, moreover, we were accustomed to sleep in our clothes with our
+weapons in our hands, the horses always ready bridled and saddled, and
+our cannon loaded, we gave the enemy such a rough reception with our
+muskets and crossbows, and cut among them so vigorously with our swords,
+that they soon had enough of it and turned their backs. The country
+before us was quite level, and the moon shone bright, so that our
+cavalry were able to follow the flying enemy to a considerable distance.
+Next morning we found about twenty of them dead and wounded, so that
+their loss must have been considerable, and they experienced, no doubt,
+that this fighting at night-time was not exactly so pleasant. It is also
+said they were so exasperated against the soothsayers and papas, that
+two of them were butchered for a sacrifice. In this night's combat we
+lost one of our friends of Sempoalla, and two of our men besides a horse
+were wounded. The number of prisoners we made were four. The kind reader
+may well conceive that we were not a little overjoyed that this affair
+terminated so fortunately. We fervently thanked God for the assistance
+he had lent us, buried our friend of Sempoalla, dressed our wounds, and
+lay ourselves down to rest for the remaining part of the night; but not
+without previously taking every precaution to secure our camp as usual.
+It was only the following morning we were able to discover our true
+condition. There was not one among us who had not, up to this moment,
+received one, two, or three wounds, and all were more or less weakened
+by fatigues and hardships. Xicotencatl continued to hover around us, and
+we had already lost fifty-five of our men, some of whom were killed on
+the field of battle, others had died of disease and from excessive cold.
+Twelve of our men were knocked up with fatigue, and even our
+commander-in-chief himself and father Olmedo were suffering from fever.
+But no one can wonder at this; for among all the hardships we had to
+undergo, we never durst for one moment leave our heavy weapons out of
+our hands; to all these discomforts was added the severity of the
+weather, and particularly our great want of salt, which we could find no
+means of obtaining. It was also natural that we should begin to think
+what would be the final issue of this campaign, and if we once got out
+of the present snare where we were next to bend our steps; for the idea
+of penetrating into Mexico appeared to us perfectly laughable, when we
+considered the great power of that state. If even we succeeded in making
+the same good terms with the people of Tlascalla as we had done with the
+Sempoallans, what would become of us if we ever came to an engagement
+with the great armies of Motecusuma? We were totally ignorant as to how
+matters stood in our fortress at Vera Cruz, and our men there knew as
+little what had become of us. Certainly there were among us plenty of
+valiant cavaliers and soldiers of great courage in battle, who showed no
+less wisdom in our councils, nor did Cortes ever speak or do anything
+without previously consulting them. With the historian Gomara it is
+always thus: Cortes did this, Cortes did that, Cortes was there, Cortes
+left there; just as if all this had been a mere nothing. If even, as
+Gomara affirms, Cortes had had an iron frame, he could not possibly have
+been everywhere, and have done everything himself. What good is it to
+make use of such expressions? He could only say, that Cortes was an
+excellent captain, as indeed he was, and this would have been enough! I
+was forced to make this remark, for besides the protection which the
+Almighty lent us in all our undertakings, his blessing was upon the arm
+of us soldiers and the advice we gave Cortes, and it was only in this
+way all things could have terminated so well.
+
+I will not, however, detain the reader with this preamble of great
+deeds, for it has little to do with the principal object of this
+history. I am more pleased to relate, that we unanimously swore to
+protect his person, and begged of him, that as God had rescued us out of
+such extreme danger and spared our lives, to set our prisoners at
+liberty and send them again to the caziques, and desire of them to
+conclude peace with us, adding, that we should pardon what had taken
+place, as also the death of the horse.
+
+Neither must I omit to mention the fine manly spirit which Doña Marina,
+though one of the daughters of the country, showed upon every occasion.
+We heard nothing the whole day long but of being butchered and devoured
+by the inhabitants; she had with her own eyes beheld how we had been
+completely surrounded by our enemies in the recent battles; how we were
+all wounded and suffering from disease; yet she never appeared
+disheartened; but, on the contrary, displayed a courage much beyond that
+of her sex. When the prisoners were about departing, again to make
+offers of peace to the enemy, she and Aguilar gave them every
+instruction as to what they were to say; that peace was to be concluded
+within the space of two days, otherwise we would march forward, lay
+waste the whole country, force our way into their towns, and put every
+living being to the sword. I must, however, again return to Gomara, who
+never mentions a single word about our killed and wounded, or the
+hardships we underwent; as if everything of itself turned to our
+advantage. Indeed, those who furnished him with the account must have
+been badly informed themselves. Did it never once occur to him, that his
+work would be highly interesting to all of us conquistadores, and that
+we would not repress the truth when we had read it?
+
+But to return to my narrative, our delegates went straightway to the
+chief town of Tlascalla, where the elder Xicotencatl abode. If I still
+remember rightly, we sent a letter with them, although we knew the
+Indians could not understand it; there was likewise an arrow with the
+letter. They found the two chief caziques in council with the other
+principal personages. I will give their answer in the following
+chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVII.
+
+    _How we again sent messengers to the caziques of Tlascalla in order
+    to induce them to make peace, and the resolution they came to upon
+    this._
+
+
+The two chief caziques to whom our messengers addressed themselves were
+Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl, father of the captain-general of
+the same name, who was commonly termed the younger. They fulfilled their
+commission, and the caziques remained for a time silent and undecided,
+when the Almighty inclined their hearts to conclude a peace with us.
+They called a meeting of all the caziques and chief personages who had
+weight in the townships, as also of their friends from the province of
+Huexotzinco. All having met in the township of Maxixcatzin and the elder
+Xicotencatl, which held the first rank, the latter who were men of good
+understanding addressed the meeting to the following effect. Though we
+may not, perhaps, give the exact words, yet, from what we afterwards
+learnt, it was to this effect: "Brothers and friends! You yourselves
+know how often these teules, who are now in our country, ready to fight
+at a moment's notice, have offered us peace, and assured us that they
+have come as friends to our assistance. Nor can you have yet forgotten
+the numbers of prisoners they have taken, though they never do them any
+harm, but always restore them to liberty. Thrice have we attacked them
+with the whole of our forces, both by day and by night, but we have not
+been able to conquer them. On the contrary, they have killed many of our
+subjects, numbers of our sons, relations, and chiefs in these battles.
+They now again request us to come to terms of peace, and those of
+Sempoalla who are encamped with them, assure us they are enemies to
+Motecusuma and the Mexicans, and have commanded them and the tribes of
+the Totonaque mountains not to pay any more tribute to him. We all very
+well know that the Mexicans for a space of more than one hundred years
+have annually made incursions into our country. Indeed, they have
+completely shut us up within our own territory. We cannot get beyond to
+fetch salt for our victuals, nor cotton for our clothing. If any one of
+us ever ventures beyond the mountains, he very seldom returns home
+alive. The treacherous Mexicans and their allies kill all our people
+that fall into their hands, or at least make slaves of them. Our
+tacalnaguas, soothsayers, and papas have told us their opinion of these
+teules; that they are very powerful and courageous we have experienced
+ourselves. We feel, therefore, inclined to make peace with them. Whether
+they are men or teules, in both cases an alliance with them will be
+useful to us. Let us, therefore, despatch four of our chiefs to their
+camp with good provisions, and show them love and an inclination to make
+peace, that they may assist and protect us against our enemies. We will
+invite them into our country, and present them with females from among
+our countrywomen, that we may become one people with them; for,
+according to the assurance of the messengers whom they have sent to
+offer us peace, they have women with them." The caziques upon hearing
+this proposition all declared they were agreeable to it, and resolved
+that a treaty for peace should be set on foot, and the captain-general
+Xicotencatl and the other commanders should be ordered to stay all
+hostilities; for which end they instantly despatched messengers. The
+younger Xicotencatl, however, would by no means listen to these orders,
+but evinced excessive grief and used harsh language. "As affairs stood
+there was no need of sueing for peace," he said. "Many of the teules
+were already killed, besides one of their horses; he would fall upon us
+the night following and destroy us all."
+
+When the elder Xicotencatl, Maxixcatzin, and the other caziques received
+this answer, they were so exasperated, that they immediately sent orders
+round to all the officers and the whole army not to obey Xicotencatl in
+anything which related to an attack upon us, and altogether to stay all
+hostilities against us. Neither would Xicotencatl submit to these
+orders, so that it was found necessary to send the four old men, who
+were appointed to make a treaty of peace between us, the Tlascallans and
+inhabitants of Huexotzinco, to these refractory fellows in order to
+bring them to reason. These four men, however, stood in such awe of the
+young hothead that they neglected to fulfil their commission.
+
+As two or three different occurrences took place at the same time, I
+must relate what comes first in order, and give an account of our
+excursion to another township which lay in the neighbourhood.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVIII.
+
+    _How we came to the determination of marching to a township in the
+    neighbourhood of our camp, and what happened upon this._
+
+
+After two days had passed by without our doing anything worthy of
+notice, we proposed to Cortes that we should make an excursion to a
+township situated about four miles from our encampment, to the
+inhabitants of which we had fruitlessly made overtures of peace. We
+determined upon taking them by surprise during night-time; not with the
+intention of injuring, killing, wounding, or taking the inhabitants
+prisoners, but merely to procure provisions, frighten them a little, and
+make new offers of peace according as circumstances might be. This
+township was called Zumpanzingo, and was the chief of many smaller ones.
+The district Tecodcungapacingo, where we had taken up our quarters,
+stood likewise under it; the whole country round about moreover being
+covered with straggling houses and villages. Cortes fell in with this
+proposal, and we accordingly commenced our march shortly before daybreak
+with all our men who were best able to bear the fatigue, six of our
+cavalry, ten crossbow-men, and eight musketeers. The command was taken
+by Cortes himself, although he was suffering from the tertian ague. For
+the rest all necessary precautions were taken for our camp.
+
+We had marched to a distance of about six miles before daylight
+appeared, and the wind which blew across the snow mountains was so keen,
+that we shook again with cold. Our horses likewise felt the frost very
+sensibly. Two of them indeed got the gripes and trembled like aspen
+leaves, at which we were greatly concerned, for we thought they would
+have died. Cortes therefore ordered them back to our camp. We arrived in
+front of Zumpanzingo before sunrise. The inhabitants, having observed
+our approach, had fled from their dwellings. Their minds full of the
+most horrible ideas they had formed of us, they kept crying out to one
+another to beware of the teules. They kill all, it was said, and spare
+neither young nor old. Finding how greatly they feared us, we halted in
+a courtyard until daylight had fully broken forth, that we might not
+injure any of the people in the dark. On the summit of the highest
+temples in the township we observed some papas and other old men of
+distinction, who, when they found we remained quiet without doing the
+least harm, took courage and came down to Cortes. They commenced by
+making excuses for not having sent us provisions, or any one with offers
+of peace, though we had demanded both of them. They assured us that no
+one was to blame for all this but the commander Xicotencatl, who had
+forbidden them, and was at that moment stationed in the immediate
+neighbourhood. They could not help feeling afraid of this man, as he had
+all their warriors as well as all those out of the land of Tlascalla
+under his banners. Cortes answered them by means of our interpreters,
+Doña Marina and Aguilar, whom we carried along with us wherever we went.
+They were told to allay their fears, and desire the caziques of the
+chief township to come and make peace with us, as war would only bring
+misfortune down upon them.
+
+This was the message which the papas were to deliver; for we had not yet
+received any answer from the other ambassadors whom we had sent to the
+chiefs of Tlascalla, neither had their four distinguished personages yet
+arrived. Previous to their departure the papas, however, brought us more
+than forty fowls and turkeys, besides two women to bake our bread.
+Cortes thanked them very kindly for this present, and demanded twenty
+Indians to carry them to our camp. These immediately came forward
+without evincing any signs of fear, carried the provisions and remained
+with us until evening. After presenting them with a few trifles they
+returned highly delighted to their homes. As we did no one any injury,
+the inhabitants greatly extolled our kind behaviour; the papas and chief
+personages also informing the captain-general, Xicotencatl, that they
+had given us provisions and two females; which grieved him sorely. The
+same information was sent to the elder caziques, who were delighted when
+they learnt how we could have destroyed them all during the night, but
+that instead of doing any harm we had only made offers of peace. They,
+therefore, ordered provisions to be sent us daily, with everything else
+we might require. The orders to the four principal personages who were
+commissioned to make terms of peace with us were also renewed; they now
+no longer delayed, but repaired to our quarters and brought us
+provisions and other presents. We then returned to our camp, much
+pleased with the victuals and the Indian females.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIX.
+
+    _How we found on our return to our encampment that new intrigues had
+    been set on foot; and the answer Cortes gave to certain
+    representations which were made to him._
+
+
+On returning to our head-quarters from Zumpanzingo with a good supply of
+provisions, and delighted with the peace we had concluded with the
+inhabitants, we met with nothing but complaints and discontent. We heard
+of nothing else than the imminent dangers we were daily exposed to in
+this campaign; nor did our arrival mend matters. Foremost among the
+discontented were those again who possessed settlements and Indian
+commendaries at Cuba, nor did they confine themselves to murmuring in
+secret, but seven of them, whose names, for honour's sake, I will
+refrain from mentioning, confederated together, and repaired to the
+quarters of Cortes. One of them was chosen spokesman. He was a man
+eloquent in address, and perfect master of the subject he was about to
+speak on.
+
+He began in the kindly tone of giving advice, and desired Cortes to
+consider our wounds, how disabled and knocked up we were by the
+excessive hardships we had to undergo day and night, by constant
+battling, patrolling the country, standing at the outposts, and
+reconnoitring about. They had calculated, he said, that we had already
+lost fifty-five of our men since our departure from Cuba. Neither did we
+know how matters stood with our garrison at Vera Cruz. Though the
+Almighty had everywhere granted us victory, it was merely out of the
+abundance of his mercy towards us. It was not right to calculate too
+long upon his mercy and forbearance, for that would be tempting him. The
+pitcher goes to the well until it is broken, and one morning or other we
+should undoubtedly be sacrificed to the idols. God in his mercy might
+certainly avert this; but then also it was necessary we should return to
+Vera Cruz and there remain quiet, where we should be surrounded by our
+friends and allies, the tribes of the Totonaque mountains, until we had
+fitted out a vessel and sent to Diego Velasquez and to the islands for a
+fresh supply of men and other necessaries. What a good thing if our
+vessels had been preserved, or at least a couple, in case of accident.
+But, alas! he had followed the advice of men who did not consider the
+instability of fortune, and who had totally destroyed the last means of
+escape.
+
+"May God forbid," said they, "that you and those whose advice it was,
+may not yet have to rue it. The measure of our miseries is already full;
+our condition begins to be insupportable, and the life we lead is worse
+than that of beasts of burden. When these have gone their day's journey,
+their load is taken off, food is given them, and they are allowed to
+take rest; we, on the contrary, are always under arms, nor do we ever
+take our clothes off. He might compare the histories of the Romans, of
+Alexander the Great, and of the most celebrated generals," continued
+they, "and he would find that none of them ever destroyed a fleet, when
+similarly situated as we were, a mere handful of men amidst numerous and
+warlike tribes. He would have to answer for his own death and the
+destruction of us all. He should at least attempt to save ours and his
+own life, and march back to Vera Cruz, while we were still at peace with
+the country. They would gladly have mentioned all this earlier to him;
+but the vast numbers of the enemy by which we had been daily surrounded
+had given them no opportunity; this, however, was now at last presented
+them by the quiet demeanour of the foe. For the rest, the enemy would
+certainly return, the three days which Xicotencatl had allowed to pass
+by was merely in expectation of a fresh supply of men. We could not
+think of coming to another trial of strength as we had done up to this
+moment."
+
+These and other representations they made to Cortes, and held up their
+heads pretty high the whole time. As, however, all was said under the
+guise of giving good advice, Cortes answered them very mildly, as nearly
+as possible in these words: "Much of what you have been representing to
+me has not escaped my own notice; but, what I have seen above all
+things, and of which I have gained the most convincing proofs, is this,
+that the whole world could not produce Spaniards who are so brave, and
+fight so courageously, and who could bear hardships as well as we do.
+Indeed, we should have been inevitably lost if we had not continually
+held our weapons in our hands, kept patrolling and watching day and
+night, and boldly encountered all weathers. We are indebted to our
+safety by having manfully borne these and other greater hardships. The
+Almighty certainly lent us his aid, yet I cannot imagine to myself a
+greater piece of heroism, when I bring back to my recollection the vast
+crowds of the enemy, how they locked us in on all sides with their
+troops, and fell upon us with their broad swords, particularly in that
+battle where they killed one of our horses. At that critical moment I
+learnt more of your noble character than on any former occasion. And
+since the Almighty rescued us out of that battle I have gained the hope
+that our future endeavours will be crowned with success. I can call you
+to witness, that I was never found for an instant to lack courage in any
+of the dangers I have shared with you; nor have you, I must add, ever
+proved unworthy of the trust I reposed in you."
+
+It was perfectly true what Cortes said of himself, for he was always
+found foremost in battle.
+
+"Neither must you forget, gentlemen," continued he, "that up to this
+moment the Almighty has lent us his protection, and we may confidently
+hope he will not desert us in future, for, from our first arrival in
+this country we have announced his holy religion to the different tribes
+according to the best of our abilities and destroyed the idols. We may
+also, in trusting to God and our mediator the holy apostle Peter,
+consider the war in this province at an end, since Xicotencatl and the
+other chiefs no longer show themselves, because they fear us on account
+of the destruction we made among their troops in the late battles, or it
+may be they are unable to rally their men again. The inhabitants of
+Zumpanzingo willingly furnish us with provisions, while the surrounding
+tribes continue peaceably in their villages. With regard to our vessels,
+it was, indeed, requisite they should be destroyed, and if I did not
+consult all of you on the occasion I had sufficient reason for pursuing
+that course after the occurrence on the downs, which, however, I will
+not enter into here. The course you advised me to adopt on the former
+occasion, and your present discontent, both emanate from the same bad
+feeling; but you should remember that there are several cavaliers among
+our troops who are not of the same opinion with yourselves, who request
+and counsel that we should continue as heretofore to repose our trust in
+God alone, and faithfully fulfil our duties in his holy service. You
+are, however, perfectly justified in saying that the most renowned
+generals of Rome even cannot boast of such military exploits as we can.
+Future historians will also have to relate, if God be willing, greater
+things of us than of them. We shall continually be reaping harvests of
+glory, because strict justice and christian feeling are everywhere our
+guides, and also because our endeavours are exerted in the service of
+God and of our emperor. You cannot, gentlemen, have weighed the matter
+well if you suppose we could save ourselves by a retreat: for the
+instant these people were to observe this, and though we should depart
+from them in profound peace, the very stones of the ground would be
+raised up against us. And in the same way the Indians now stare at us as
+if we were beings of a superior order, or rather gods, as they term us,
+they would then consider us cowards and poltroons. We might, you say,
+settle ourselves quietly down among our allies, the tribes of the
+Totonaque mountains! To which my answer is, that even they would rise up
+against us immediately they perceive we are turning back without
+marching on to Mexico; for if we leave them, and they refuse to pay
+tribute to Motecusuma as heretofore, he will send his armies against
+them not merely to subdue, but to compel them to declare war with us;
+and if they are not desirous of being annihilated, what other course
+could they pursue? In this way, where we had thought to have friends, we
+should be preparing ourselves enemies. What reflections would the
+powerful Motecusuma make, and what judgment would he pass upon our
+previous speeches and the messages we sent him if we were to turn back?
+He would think we had been jesting with him. Thus you see, gentlemen, it
+looks bad one way and worse another. The most prudent step we can take
+for the present is to maintain our ground here in this thickly populated
+valley where we can obtain provisions in abundance. To-day we have
+fowls, to-morrow dogs, and thus, thank God, we shall always have plenty
+of food. Salt and warmer clothing are really at present the only great
+privations we suffer. You further state, that we have lost fifty-five
+men since our departure from Cuba from famine, cold, fatigue, disease,
+and from wounds: that our numbers are very small, and all of us more or
+less suffering from ill health. But, on the other hand, you must
+remember that God has given us the power of numbers, and that war is
+ever accompanied by loss of men and horses. To-day we have provisions,
+the next day none. And you must also bear in mind that we are not come
+into this country to seek repose, but to fight valiantly about whenever
+it may be necessary. I, therefore, beg of you, gentlemen, who are
+cavaliers, and who have up to this moment behaved so courageously, and
+whom despondency so ill suits, to drive from your minds all remembrance
+of Cuba and everything you have left behind there. Show yourselves brave
+soldiers as you have hitherto, for next to God, who is our strength, all
+depends upon the valour of our arms."
+
+With this answer the deputies repaired to their partisans, who all
+declared they could not contradict anything our general had stated, and
+remarked that we had certainly departed from Vera Cruz with the full
+intention of marching to Mexico; but that at present we were better
+informed as to the strength of that city and its numerous troops. The
+Tlascallans themselves never mentioned the Mexican name but with terror.
+We said the Sempoallans were at peace with us, but we had as few certain
+proofs of that as of the state of affairs in Mexico. Up to this moment
+we had altogether suffered so much that if we were once again so
+furiously attacked as we had been in the late battles, we should be
+unable to stand against them. Suppose even they were to remain quiet for
+the present, our march to Mexico would, nevertheless, be a monstrous
+undertaking; and they were surprised at the man who could desire it and
+issue commands to that effect. To all this Cortes replied rather
+angrily: "Even then it is better to die like a brave warrior, as the
+poets say, than to live a coward!" We others who closely adhered to our
+general, and had consented to the destruction of our vessels, and
+appointed him captain-general, agreed with all he had said, and desired
+him in a loud voice not to trouble himself any further about their talk
+and complaints, but to order everything, with the aid of God, as
+circumstances might require, and to rely on our faithful assistance.
+
+Herewith an end was put to all their cabals. They certainly continued
+their murmurings against Cortes, and cursed us who adhered to him, and
+the Sempoallans for having proposed this route; making altogether use
+of language which little beseemed them; but for the time being they
+remained quiet, and obeyed our general even to a wink.
+
+In the meantime the elders of Tlascalla again sent peremptory orders to
+Xicotencatl not to attack us, but to send us provisions and repair to
+our camp in person to conclude a treaty of peace with us. This was the
+desire of all the caziques and principal personages of Huexotzinco and
+Tlascalla. A message was at the same time forwarded to each of his
+officers, commanding them not to obey him in anything which had not
+reference to a conclusion of peace. These orders were despatched no less
+than three successive times to Xicotencatl, information having been
+received that he was not only determined to lend a deaf ear to these
+injunctions, but to fall upon us the very next night, for which purpose
+he had assembled 20,000 warriors. Thus ever presumptuous and haughty, he
+now again refused to listen to their commands, and we shall see in the
+following chapter how this terminated.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXX.
+
+    _How the captain Xicotencatl assembled 20,000 chosen warriors to
+    make an attack upon us in our camp, and what happened upon this._
+
+
+The caziques, Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl, with all the chief
+personages of the principal town of Tlascalla, had now for the fourth
+time issued orders to their captain-general not to approach our camp,
+and commanded the other officers not to accompany him unless he called
+upon us to make peace. Xicotencatl lay in our immediate neighbourhood,
+and was terribly exasperated at this; yet he determined to send us forty
+Indians with provisions, consisting in fowls, bread, and fruits.[26]
+This present was also accompanied by four disgusting old Indian females
+and a quantity of copal and parrot feathers.
+
+We, of course, concluded that these people came with peaceable
+intentions. They perfumed Cortes when they were brought into his
+presence, and thus addressed him, without observing the courtesies
+customary among them: "These presents are sent you by the general
+Xicotencatl, that you may eat, in case you are teules, as the people of
+Sempoalla have assured us. If you require a sacrifice with them, kill
+these four women, and devour their flesh and their hearts. As we do not
+know what your wish is on this head we have not sacrificed them for you.
+But if you are human beings, be contented with the fruit and the fowls;
+and if you are kind-hearted teules, take the copal and the parrot
+feathers as an offering."
+
+Cortes answered, by means of our interpreters, that he was desirous of
+making peace, not war, which he had already made known to them. He was
+come into their country to beg of them, in the name of our Lord Jesus
+Christ, and of our great emperor Don Carlos, to abstain from human
+sacrifices. We were all human beings made of flesh and bone like
+themselves, and not teules, but Christians. We killed no one, excepting
+when we were attacked, then, indeed, we destroyed our enemies, whether
+it happened to be day or night. He was very thankful for the provisions,
+but now they should likewise have the good sense to send us messengers
+of peace.
+
+We readily perceived that these people whom Xicotencatl had despatched
+to us were spies, who came to gain the necessary information respecting
+the accesses to our camp, and the number of our troops, of the horses
+and the cannon, and everything else. They remained with us the whole day
+and following night. From time to time some returned to Xicotencatl, and
+others again arrived in their stead. All this greatly surprised our
+friends of Sempoalla, as it was not customary with them to stay night
+and day in an enemy's camp without some particular design. This
+accordingly aroused their suspicions, which were further confirmed by
+some hints which fell from two old men of Zumpanzingo that Xicotencatl
+stood ready with a large army to fall upon us unawares. At first they
+had laughed at the idea, thinking it a mere piece of bragging, and had,
+therefore, not mentioned it to Cortes. Doña Marina, to whom they had
+made this known, immediately brought the intelligence to our general,
+who, to fathom this matter more deeply, ordered two of the Tlascallans,
+who appeared to be honest fellows, to be seized, when they confessed
+that Xicotencatl had sent them as spies into our camp. These men were
+then liberated, and several others seized, who all gave the same answer,
+adding, that their commander Xicotencatl was merely waiting their
+information to fall upon us the following night with the whole of his
+troops.
+
+After Cortes had convinced himself of the true state of affairs, he
+commanded us to be upon our guard, and to hold ourselves ready for
+action; he also imprisoned seventeen other of the spies, some of whom he
+ordered to have their thumbs cut off, others the whole hand, and to be
+sent back in that condition to Xicotencatl, with the information, "That
+this was his mode of punishing such messengers. He might now come
+whenever he liked in the night or by daytime, we would wait for him here
+two whole days: if we had not been peaceably inclined, we should
+ourselves have attacked and annihilated both his army and himself long
+before this: it was now, however, high time he should desist from his
+folly, and send us a sincere token of peace."
+
+The unfortunate beings who had thus been dismembered, arrived in
+Xicotencatl's head-quarters just as he was on the point of marching off
+with his whole army to fall upon us in the dark. When he saw his spies
+before him in that condition, and learnt why they had been so treated,
+his pride and conceit fell at once. To this was added, that a certain
+chief, with whom he had quarrelled on account of the late battles, had
+left the camp with the men under his command.
+
+[26] During this war the Tlascallans frequently sent provisions to
+Cortes' troops. This they did partly out of pride, that it might not be
+said they conquered the Spaniards by famine; partly that the latter
+might not become meagre in body, but that their flesh might taste
+savoury when they sacrificed them to their gods, so sure were these
+brave warriors of victory! (p. 165.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXI.
+
+    _How four chief personages arrived in our camp to negotiate terms of
+    peace with us, and what further happened._
+
+
+We now despaired of concluding the peace we so greatly desired, and
+therefore began to prepare for battle. We cleaned and sharpened our
+weapons, provided ourselves with arrows, and were making other
+preparations for an engagement, when one of our outposts came suddenly
+running up with the tidings that a number of Indians of both sexes were
+advancing along the principal road of Tlascalla, straightway to our
+quarters, laden with packages. One of our horse had rode up to watch
+their movements more closely, and now also came galloping up with the
+news that the procession was fast approaching our camp, and merely
+halted from time to time to take a little rest.
+
+Cortes and all of us were highly delighted with this piece of news, for
+we hoped they were coming with tidings of peace, which, indeed, was
+really the case. He issued orders that no alarm should be sounded, and
+for all of us to remain quiet in our huts as if we were unconscious of
+their approach. When the Indians had arrived at our camp, four principal
+personages stepped forth from among the porters, who had been
+commissioned by the elder caziques to conclude a treaty of peace with
+us. They made the sign of peace, which consisted in bending the head
+forwards; they then walked straightway to the hut which Cortes
+inhabited. They first touched the ground with their hands, and then
+kissed it, bowed themselves three times, and perfumed with copal. They
+then began as follows: "All the caziques of Tlascalla, with their
+subjects, allies, friends, and confederates, make peace and friendship
+with Cortes and his brothers, the teules. They beg forgiveness for
+having commenced hostilities, instead of uniting in friendship with
+them, which had merely been done under the impression that we were
+friends of Motecusuma and the Mexicans, who had been their most deadly
+enemies from time immemorial; and what had strengthened them in this
+suspicion was, our being accompanied by such numbers of the tribes who
+were tributary to that monarch, who was accustomed to fall into their
+country under various pretences, and carry off their wives and children.
+They had this time again feared some foul stratagem was on hand, and
+therefore had put no faith in our ambassadors. They had not commenced
+the attack in the first instance when we marched into their country,
+neither was it done at their instigation or command, but assured us it
+was the Chontal-Otomies, a rude and wild mountain tribe, who imagined
+they would have been easily able to overcome our small numbers, carry us
+off prisoners, and send our hearts to the Tlascallan chiefs, in order to
+gain their good wishes. They now came to beg forgiveness, and would
+daily bring us a sufficient supply of provisions. They hoped we would
+accept of these they now brought with the same kind feeling in which
+they were offered. In the space of two days the chief commander
+Xicotencatl, with the other caziques, would call himself, and further
+prove how fervently the whole of Tlascalla desired to make peace and
+friendship with us."
+
+After the chiefs had done speaking, they again bowed themselves, touched
+the ground with their hands, and kissed it. Cortes, with great dignity
+and earnestness depicted in his countenance, returned them the following
+answer through our interpreters: "He had certainly great cause to refuse
+them a hearing, or to make any compact of friendship with them; for,
+upon our first entering into their country, he had offered them peace,
+and announced that he intended to assist them against their enemies the
+Mexicans; yet they would not believe him, and had even been upon the
+point of killing our ambassadors, and had made three murderous attacks
+upon us; and, by way of a finish, had also sent spies into our camp. In
+the battle we had fought with them, we could have killed many more of
+the troops; and we even grieved for those whose lives had thus been
+sacrificed, but we had been driven to it. He had resolved to carry the
+war into the very town where the old caziques dwelt; but as they now
+came to sue for peace, he was willing to receive them kindly in the name
+of our emperor, and was also pleased to accept of the provisions which
+they had brought. They should now tell their chiefs to repair hither in
+person, or send him some better warranty of peace. If they refused to
+come, he would put his army in motion, and attack them at their very
+doors. They were, moreover, to approach our camp during daytime only,
+for if they came at night, we would put them all to the sword without
+mercy."
+
+After Cortes had given them this answer, he presented the messengers
+with blue beads for the caziques, in token of peace. They then took
+leave, and turned off to some Indian dwellings which lay in the
+neighbourhood, leaving there the Indian females whom they had brought
+along with them to prepare the bread, fowls, and a dinner for us;
+besides this there were twenty Indians who furnished the wood and water
+for cooking; and indeed they prepared us a most delicious meal. Being
+now convinced that they earnestly desired peace, we returned hearty
+thanks to God, who had thus ordered things: indeed it was high time, for
+we were all in a terrible state of exhaustion, and were sick of a war to
+which there seemed no end, as the good reader may well imagine.
+
+With respect to these proceedings, Gomara has again mixed up many
+untruths. One time he makes Cortes mount up to the top of a mountain,
+and thence look over the township of Zumpanzingo, and yet it lay quite
+close to our camp, and he must have been blind indeed who could not see
+it straight before him. He also relates that the soldiers said things
+which I will not repeat here, though he would make one believe he had
+all from good authority. There is not the slightest foundation for all
+his assertions. There never was a commander in this world who was so
+strictly obeyed as Cortes, nor will it ever again fall to the lot of any
+man to be so. No such thought ever entered the minds of our men,
+excepting on the occasion which I have related above. Even the
+representations which were made to Cortes, mentioned in the preceding
+chapter, were all given in the tone of advice. Those who made them did
+so with a good intention, and imagined they were in the right, and
+though they differed with him in opinion, they paid him strict
+obedience. Is it, then, any wonder that a general should listen to good
+advice from intelligent soldiers, particularly when his troops are so
+awkwardly situated as ours were? I am only sorry when I reflect that all
+Gomara's untruths will be credited, because his style of writing is so
+eloquent.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXII.
+
+    _How ambassadors arrive in our camp from Motecusuma, and of the
+    presents they brought with them._
+
+
+After the Almighty, in his great mercy, had granted us the victory in
+the battles against the Tlascallans, our fame was spread to every
+district, and even reached the ears of the mighty Motecusuma, in the
+great city of Mexico. If we had been previously looked upon as teules,
+or a species of gods, their idea of our bravery now became the more
+exalted, and terror seized the whole country when we had broken the
+great power of the Tlascallans with such a handful of men, and compelled
+them to sue for peace.
+
+And so it also happened that the powerful king of Mexico, Motecusuma,
+either in the great goodness of his heart, or because he began to fear
+our approach to his metropolis, despatched five men of distinction to
+our camp in the land of Tlascalla to welcome us on our arrival, and to
+assure us of the excessive delight he felt at the great victories which
+we had gained over such numerous armies. This message was accompanied by
+a valuable present in gold trinkets of various workmanship, worth about
+1000 pesos, and of packages of cotton stuffs as much as twenty men could
+carry. He likewise wished us to know that it was his desire to become a
+vassal of our emperor, and the great pleasure he felt to find that we
+were so near his metropolis, that he was every way well disposed towards
+Cortes and all the teules his brothers: he likewise wished to know from
+us what annual tribute in gold, silver, jewels, and cotton stuffs he was
+to forward to our great emperor, which would save us the trouble of
+coming to Mexico: he should, indeed, be pleased to see us, but our march
+there would be a terrible one, through a sterile and rocky country, and
+the fatigues which we should have to undergo grieved him the more when
+he considered the impossibility to remove those difficulties out of our
+way.
+
+To this Cortes answered, that he was very thankful for such kind
+feeling, as also for the presents, and the offer to pay tribute, but he
+must beg of the ambassadors not to leave again before we had reached the
+metropolis of Tlascalla, when he would deliver to them his answers for
+their monarch.
+
+The real fact was, he did not feel well enough just then, as the day
+previous he had taken a purgative of manzanilla,[27] which latter is
+found on the island of Cuba, and is very wholesome when its use is
+rightly understood.
+
+[27] This name Oviedo gives to the fruit of a tree, which he calls
+macanna, growing in Cuba. (Hippomane Mancinella of Linn.) From the same
+fruit, according to this historian, the inhabitants prepare the deadly
+poison in which they dip the points of their arrows. (p. 170.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXIII.
+
+    _How the captain-general Xicotencatl arrives in our camp to
+    negotiate terms of peace; the speech he made, and what further
+    happened._
+
+
+Cortes was still discoursing with the ambassadors of Motecusuma, and
+about to dismiss them, to retire to rest, for the fit of ague was again
+coming upon him, when it was announced that the general Xicotencatl was
+approaching, with several caziques. They were clothed in cloaks, white
+and parti-coloured, that is, one half of the cloak was white and the
+other coloured, for these were their national colours in time of peace.
+The number of distinguished personages who accompanied Xicotencatl
+amounted altogether to about fifty. When they had arrived in Cortes'
+quarters, they paid him the most profound reverence, after their
+fashion, and burnt a quantity of copal before him. Cortes received them
+most friendly, and desired them to take place near him; upon which
+Xicotencatl said, "He came, in the name of his father, of Maxixcatzin,
+and of all the caziques of the republic of Tlascalla, to beg of us to
+admit them to our friendship: he, at the same time, in their name, came
+to do homage, and promise obedience to our emperor and master, and to
+beg forgiveness for having taken up arms against us. They had done this
+because they were ignorant as to who we were: indeed, they believed we
+had been sent by their enemy Motecusuma, who had often before used fraud
+and treachery to enter their country for the sake of plunder, and they
+now thought he contemplated another attack upon them: they, therefore,
+considered themselves bound to advance boldly into the field to protect
+their persons and their country. They were, however, very poor, and
+possessed neither gold, silver, jewels, nor cotton stuffs: they were in
+want of salt to savour their victuals, as Motecusuma would not allow
+them to stir out of their country to procure it. Their forefathers had
+certainly possessed some gold and precious stones, but this had from
+time to time been delivered up to Motecusuma, to prevent their total
+destruction. All this had happened a long time ago, and now they had
+nothing left wherewith to make us a present. It was not their fault, but
+their poverty, yet they were well disposed."
+
+After this preamble Xicotencatl brought various other accusations
+against Motecusuma and his allies. "The latter," he said, "were all
+hostile to their country, and left them no peace. They had certainly, up
+to this moment, defended themselves bravely at all times, but found that
+all their endeavours were fruitless against us, although they had
+renewed the conflict three several times; we were invincible. Hard
+experience at length taught them who we were, and they now desired to
+become our friends, and the vassals of the great emperor Don Carlos;
+for, they were convinced, that in alliance with us, they would be able
+to live in security and peace with their wives and children, and not be
+each moment exposed to the incursions of the treacherous Mexicans."
+
+Xicotencatl made various other offers of his services in the name of his
+country. This Xicotencatl was a tall man, broad shouldered, and well
+built, with a large fresh coloured face, full of scars, as if pitted
+with the smallpox. He may have been about thirty-five years of age, and
+was earnest and dignified in his deportment. Cortes thanked him most
+sincerely, saying, "he would acknowledge them as vassals of our emperor,
+and would, for the future, look upon them as our friends."
+
+Upon this Xicotencatl begged he would repair to the metropolis of his
+country, where all the caziques, elders, and papas were expecting us
+with impatience. Cortes answered, that he would comply with his request
+as soon as possible; for the present he had still some business to
+transact with the ambassadors of Motecusuma, and as soon as he had
+finished this he would visit them. He then continued to address them in
+a harsher tone of voice, and mentioned the repeated attacks they had
+made upon us. He would certainly bear them no malice, and freely forgave
+all the past, but they must sacredly observe the peace which he had
+granted them, and show no inconstancy in their conduct. If they did he
+would assuredly destroy their town and put all the inhabitants to the
+sword, and no longer listen to them, but carry on a war of extirpation
+to the very last. Xicotencatl, and all the distinguished personages who
+were with him, assured Cortes they would faithfully abide by their
+promise, and that they were ready to offer themselves as hostages in
+proof of their sincerity. Upon this followed various other discourses
+between Cortes, Xicotencatl, and the principal men of his suite. We
+presented them with blue beads for themselves, the elder Xicotencatl and
+most of the other caziques, with the assurance that we intended soon to
+visit their metropolis, which we desired they would announce to their
+countrymen.
+
+The Mexican ambassadors were present during the whole of this interview,
+and heard the friendly offers which the Tlascallans made us of their
+services; and were not at all pleased with the peace we had concluded,
+and easily foresaw it would prove disadvantageous for their country.
+When, therefore, Xicotencatl had taken his leave, they remarked rather
+smilingly to Cortes, that he should not repose any trust in their
+assurances of friendship and kind offers. All this was sheer deceit,
+and nothing but treachery was hidden in their sentiments. They merely
+wished thereby to entice us into their town, when they could fall upon
+us unawares and destroy us all. We should remember how often they had
+attacked us with their whole army, but finding open force of no avail,
+they now, after so many of their numbers had been killed and wounded,
+would try their chance with fine words and a pretended show of peace.
+
+To this Cortes answered with an air of determination, that he no way
+troubled himself about their intentions. If their suspicions proved true
+he would put the Tlascallans all to death. They might attack him by
+night or day, in the open field or in the town, it was all the same to
+him, and to convince himself as to how matters really stood he was
+determined to visit their metropolis. When the Mexican ambassadors found
+him thus determined, they begged of him to remain for at least another
+six days in his present quarters, that they might first send messengers
+to communicate with Motecusuma, and would return again with his answer
+in the time specified.
+
+To this Cortes consented, partly on account of his ague, partly because
+he thought the warnings the Mexicans had given him might not be
+altogether so unfounded as he imagined. In that time he could also gain
+more certain proofs of the real intentions of the Tlascallans.
+
+As everything now wore a peaceable aspect, and the whole country from
+the town of Vera Cruz up to our present quarters, was inhabited by
+friendly tribes and our allies, Cortes ventured to forward a letter to
+Juan de Escalante, who had remained behind there in garrison. He desired
+him to complete the buildings, and then gave him an account of the great
+victories we had gained since our arrival in Tlascalla, and how we had
+compelled the inhabitants to sue for peace. He also desired him to make
+a day of thanksgiving, and in every way to favour our allies of the
+Totonaque mountains. Lastly, he requested him to send two bottles of
+wine which he had buried in a certain corner of his quarters there, and
+some holy wafers, as we had none left. Escalante sent a speedy answer
+with the things Cortes required. It may easily be imagined how joyously
+this news was received at Vera Cruz, without my spending many words upon
+it.
+
+During these days we erected a majestic cross in our quarters, and
+Cortes had one of the temples in our neighbourhood cleansed and fresh
+plastered by the inhabitants of Zumpanzingo, and some other Indians.
+But, to return to our new friends, the caziques of Tlascalla; the
+postponement of our visit greatly distressed them, yet they continued to
+send us fowls and figs,[28] which were now just in season, and a daily
+supply of provisions. This they did with the best of good will, nor
+would they ever take anything in return; on the contrary, they daily
+more earnestly begged of Cortes not to delay his visit any longer. Our
+general, however, was desirous of waiting the six days for the return of
+the Mexican ambassadors, and he each time put off the Tlascallans with
+some friendly excuse.
+
+The Mexicans faithfully kept their word, and at the expiration of the
+above-mentioned time six distinguished personages arrived from Mexico
+with a rich present from Motecusuma, in value above 3000 pesos,
+consisting in gold trinkets of various workmanship, two hundred pieces
+of cotton stuffs, interwoven with feathers and other productions of
+Mexican art.
+
+When they handed over these presents to Cortes they informed him that
+Motecusuma was greatly delighted at the successful state of our affairs.
+For the rest he requested us most urgently not to bring any Tlascallans
+into his dominions, for whatever purpose it might be, and upon the whole
+not to trust them. They were merely watching to rob us of our gold and
+other valuables, as they were quite poverty-struck themselves, and
+possessed no fine cotton cloaks. This evil design they cherished the
+more fervently, as they knew that we were on friendly terms with them,
+and had received presents in gold and cotton stuffs. Cortes accepted
+these presents with every appearance of delight, and thanked them, with
+the assurance that he would render Motecusuma good services in return.
+If he should discover that the Tlascallans really bore treachery at
+heart they would have to pay very dearly for it. He, however, trusted
+that such thoughts were remote from their minds, and he would now repair
+thither in person to see how much truth there was in their statement.
+
+In the midst of this discourse several messengers arrived from
+Tlascalla, bringing Cortes information that all the old caziques of the
+country were on their road to pay us a visit, and conduct us into their
+city. On learning this, Cortes requested the Mexican ambassadors to stay
+with us three days before they departed again to their monarch with his
+answer; for that, at present, he was about to grant terms of peace to
+the Tlascallan chiefs.
+
+[28] These figs, Bernal Diaz calls Tuna, which is the Cactus Tuna of
+Linnæus. (p. 173.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXIV.
+
+    _How the old caziques of Tlascalla arrived in our camp and invited
+    Cortes, and all of us to visit their city, and what further
+    happened._
+
+
+The old caziques of Tlascalla finding that we did not arrive in their
+city, determined to call upon us themselves, and set out, some on foot
+and some in sedans and a species of hand-barrow. Besides those I
+mentioned above, (Maxixcatzin and the blind Xicotencatl, the elder,)
+there were Guaxolacima, Chichimeclatecl, and Tecapaneca of Topoyanco.
+Their suite was composed of several distinguished personages. When they
+arrived in presence of Cortes they paid him the profoundest respect,
+making him and us who stood around three deep bows. They likewise
+perfumed with copal, touched the ground with their hands, and kissed it.
+
+The elder Xicotencatl then addressed Cortes as follows:
+
+"Malinche! Malinche! often have we begged of you to forgive the hostile
+attacks we made upon you. We have already explained to you that we
+imagined you were in league with Motecusuma. Indeed, if we had known
+before what we now do, instead of refusing you admission, we would not
+only have marched out to meet you by the shortest route with a quantity
+of provisions, but have come to the very coast where your vessels lie,
+in order to conduct you hither. But, as you have now pardoned all this,
+I am come with all the caziques to beg of you to accompany us
+immediately to our city, and to construct in good part the reception
+which we intend to give you there according to the best of our
+abilities. Stay all other business for the present, Malinche, we beg of
+you, and go with us now. We greatly deplore that the Mexicans should
+have attempted to poison your mind with all manner of falsehoods
+respecting us, and that this should alone have withheld you from paying
+us a visit. We are quite accustomed to their slanders. You must not
+believe them, no, nor even listen to them, for all their actions and
+words are full of deceit."
+
+To which Cortes said, with serenity depicted on his countenance, "He
+knew years ago that we should one time visit this country. They were a
+brave people, and he was astonished they should have treated us as
+enemies. With regard to the Mexicans who were now present, they were
+merely waiting his commands to return to their monarch Motecusuma. He
+joyously accepted of their invitation to visit their city, and thanked
+them for the provisions they had sent, and also for all their other
+kind offers; they might depend upon our services in return. The reason
+why he had not visited them before this was solely owing to our want of
+men to transport the tepuzques," so they termed our cannon. When they
+heard this, they appeared exceedingly pleased, and immediately cried
+out, "How! was it nothing but this, and you would not tell us?" And,
+sure enough, scarcely half an hour elapsed before there were 500 porters
+on the spot, so that next morning early we were enabled to set out for
+the metropolis of Tlascalla. We marched forward as usual, with the heavy
+guns, the horse, the crossbow-men, and musketeers, in close order.
+Cortes had also requested the Mexican ambassadors to accompany us, in
+order that they might convince themselves that the people of Tlascalla
+were sincere. To allay their apprehensions, he assured them they should
+live in his own quarters, and not be molested.
+
+Before, however, I proceed with my narrative, I must explain how it
+happened that Cortes was termed Malinche by all the tribes through whose
+territories we had passed. I myself in future will call him by that
+name, excepting there where it would be improper. This name was given to
+him because our interpretress Doña Marina was always about his person,
+particularly when ambassadors arrived, and in our negotiations with the
+several caziques, as on those occasions she interpreted for both
+parties. They therefore called him the captain of Marina, and contracted
+that appellation in the word Malinche.[29] This name was likewise given
+to Juan Perez de Artenga of Puebla, because he always accompanied Doña
+Marina, and to Geronimo de Aguilar for a similar reason. The former of
+these two even retained the name of Juan Perez Malinche. Our entry into
+the metropolis of Tlascalla took place twenty-four days after we had
+crossed the confines of the country, the 23d day of September, in the
+year of our Lord 1519.
+
+[29] For Marina, as appears from several passages in Torquemada and
+other writers, was called by the inhabitants Malintziu. (p. 176.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXV.
+
+    _How we marched into the city of Tlascalla, and were received by the
+    old caziques; of the present they made us, and how they brought us
+    their daughters and nieces; and what further happened._
+
+
+When the caziques found that our baggage was moving forward, they
+hastened before us to make the necessary preparations for our reception,
+and to adorn our quarters with green boughs. We had arrived within a
+mile of their city when they again came out to meet us, accompanied by
+their daughters, nieces, and other distinguished personages, in which
+those of the same kin or same family or tribe kept together. Without
+that of Topoyanco, which held the fifth degree, there were four tribes.
+The inhabitants of the other townships also kept flocking up, all
+distinguished by the national colours of their respective dresses,
+which, for want of cotton, were very prettily and neatly manufactured of
+coloured nequen. Next came the whole body of papas, of whom there were
+great numbers in the temple service. They carried the pans with glowing
+embers, and perfumed us. Some of them had on long white cloaks, after
+the fashion of surplices with capes, as worn by our canons. The hair of
+their heads was long and matted together, so that it would have been an
+impossibility to have put it in any shape or order without cutting it
+off: besides this, it was completely besmeared with blood, which
+trickled down over their ears, for they had been sacrificing that very
+day. The nails of their fingers were uncommonly long, and they held down
+their heads on approaching us, in token of humility. It was told us that
+these men were greatly revered for their religion. The principal
+personages now gathered themselves around Cortes' person, and formed a
+guard of honour. When we entered the town, the streets and balconies
+could scarcely contain the numbers of men and women who had come out to
+see us: delight was depicted on every countenance, and twenty baskets
+full of roses were brought us, of various colours and sweetly scented,
+which were presented to Cortes and the other soldiers whom they
+considered officers, and particularly to those who sat on horseback. In
+this way we gradually arrived to some spacious courtyards, where
+quarters had been prepared for us. Here Xicotencatl the elder and
+Maxixcatzin took Cortes by the hand and conducted him into his
+apartments. For each of us there was a separate bed, filled with a
+species of dried grass, and covered with cloaks of nequen. Our friends
+of Sempoalla and Xocotlan were quartered in our vicinity in a similar
+manner. Cortes then requested that the ambassadors of Motecusuma might
+lodge with him. We soon discovered that good-will and friendly feeling
+were universal towards us here, and we therefore somewhat relaxed in our
+ordinary precautions. The officer whose duty it was to post our
+sentinels and order the patrols, remarked to Cortes, that, as everything
+wore such a friendly aspect there, our usual watchfulness would not be
+required. "This may be very true," answered our general, "yet we will
+not relinquish that excellent custom. Though the people here may be very
+good, we must not trust too much to this peace, but always be upon our
+guard as if we expected each moment to be attacked. Many a general has
+been ruined by carelessness and over-confidence. We, who are a mere
+handful of men, and have been precautioned by Motecusuma himself, though
+he may not exactly have been in earnest, must be ready for action at a
+moment's notice."
+
+The two chief caziques, the elder Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin, were very
+much hurt at the military precautions we took, nor did they strive to
+hide their feelings from Cortes, but spoke to him as follows: "Malinche,
+if we are to draw a conclusion from the steps you are taking, you either
+look upon us as your enemies, or at least you place no confidence in us
+and the treaty of peace which has been concluded between us. You post
+sentinels and order your men to patrol the streets as formerly, when
+both armies stood in hostile array against each other. This you have not
+done of your own accord, Malinche, but because the Mexicans have
+secretly whispered to you fears of treachery, wishing thereby to
+estrange you from us. Believe us, you cannot put any faith in what they
+say. You are now in the midst of us; everything we have is at your
+service--our own persons and our children; and we are ready to suffer
+death for you. Ask for as many hostages as you like, and you shall have
+them."
+
+Cortes and all of us admired and were moved at the kind and graceful
+manner in which the old men expressed themselves. Our captain said he
+required no hostages; he had merely to make use of his eyes to convince
+himself that all was perfectly safe. These military precautions were
+ever customary with us, and they were not to take umbrage on that
+account. He thanked them for their kind intentions, and promised to
+render them great services in return.
+
+After this explanation, other persons of distinction arrived with a
+quantity of provisions, consisting of fowls, maise-bread, figs, and
+vegetables. We had, indeed, everything in the greatest abundance during
+the whole of the twenty days we lay in this town.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXVI.
+
+    _How mass was said in the presence of a great number of caziques,
+    and of the present the latter brought us._
+
+
+The next morning early Cortes ordered an altar to be constructed, and
+mass to be said, as we now again had a supply of wine and holy wafers.
+Father Olmedo lying ill of the fever, which had greatly weakened him,
+the priest Juan Diaz officiated for him: Maxixcatzin, the elder
+Xicotencatl, and several other caziques were present.
+
+After mass, Cortes retired to his quarters. Those among us who were
+always about his person accompanied him: we were also followed by the
+old caziques and our interpreters, who were indispensable in such
+company. The elder Xicotencatl now informed Cortes that it was the
+general wish of the inhabitants to make him a present, if agreeable to
+him. Cortes answered that he should at all times be most happy to
+receive one: they accordingly spread some mats on the floor, and over
+these a few cloaks, upon which they arranged five or six small pieces of
+gold, a few stones of trifling value, and several parcels of
+manufactured nequen, altogether a very poor present, and not worth
+twenty pesos. The caziques, on presenting these things to Cortes, said
+to him, with a smile on their countenance, "Malinche! we can easily
+imagine that you will not exactly experience much joy on receiving a
+present of such wretched things as these; but we have told you before
+that we are poor, possessing neither gold nor other riches, as the
+deceitful Mexicans, with their present monarch Motecusuma, have by
+degrees despoiled us of everything we had. Do not look to the small
+value of these things, but accept them in all kindness, and as coming
+from your faithful friends and servants." These presents were at the
+same time accompanied by a quantity of provisions.
+
+Cortes accepted of all this with every appearance of delight, and
+assured the old men that, since these things came from them, and were
+given with such great good will, they had more value in his estimation
+than a whole house full of gold, and that he accepted of them in that
+light. These words he accompanied with numerous other kind sayings and
+assurances of the esteem he entertained for them.
+
+The caziques had also agreed among themselves to present us the most
+beautiful of their daughters and nieces. The old Xicotencatl, therefore,
+again addressed Cortes: "In order, Malinche, that you may have a still
+clearer proof of our good feeling towards you, and to show you how glad
+we are to do anything which we imagine may please you, we have resolved
+to give you our daughters in marriage, that they may have children by
+you. We should like to be completely fraternized with such good and
+brave men as you are. I myself have a daughter, who is very beautiful,
+and has never been married, whom I have destined for you."
+
+Maxixcatzin and most of the other caziques continued in the same strain,
+begging of us to take their daughters for our wives. These requests were
+accompanied by various other proffers of friendship, and Maxixcatzin
+and Xicotencatl passed the whole day with us: the latter was blind with
+age; in order, therefore, to form to himself some idea of Cortes, he
+drew his hand over his hair, his face, his beard, and the whole of his
+body.
+
+Cortes answered, with respect to the women, that he himself and all of
+us were very grateful for them, and that we should take the first
+opportunity of rendering them a kindness in return.
+
+"What is your opinion," said Cortes, turning to father Olmedo, "would
+this not be the proper moment to desire these people to abolish their
+idols and the human sacrifices? From fear of the Mexicans, they will
+undoubtedly do anything we require of them." "It will be time enough,"
+answered the priest, "when they bring us their daughters: then we shall
+have the best opportunity of telling them that we cannot accept of them
+until they have promised to abstain from their human sacrifices. If they
+comply, it is well; if they refuse, we know what our duty and our
+religion require of us."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXVII.
+
+    _How the caziques presented their daughters to Cortes and all of us,
+    and what further happened._
+
+
+The day following, the old caziques came and brought five young women
+with them, who, for Indian females, were in every sense handsome, and
+neatly dressed. Each had, in addition, a young woman as maid in waiting,
+and all were daughters of caziques. On this occasion, Xicotencatl thus
+spoke to Cortes: "Malinche, this is my daughter; she is still a virgin,
+and has never been married: take her to yourself, and give the others to
+your officers."
+
+Cortes received the young women from his hand, and appeared very
+pleased, declaring that he would now consider these females as our own,
+but desired that they should, for the present, remain with their
+fathers. The caziques inquired the reason of this, when Cortes replied:
+"I have no other reason than that I am bound first to fulfil my duty to
+the God whom we adore, and to the emperor our master, which is to
+require of you to abolish your idols, the human sacrifices, and other
+abominations practised among you, and exhort you to believe in him in
+whom we believe, who alone is the true God." Besides this, he told them
+many other things concerning our holy faith, which Doña Marina and
+Aguilar explained right well to them. Similar discourses took place on
+every occasion: Cortes at the same time showed them the image of the
+holy Virgin, holding her inestimable Son in her arms, and he explained
+to them how that represented the blessed Virgin Mary: she was now high
+in the heavens above, and was the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom
+she held in her arms, conceived by the Holy Ghost; that she was a virgin
+before, after, and during his birth. She was our mediator with her
+heavenly Son, our God.
+
+To this he added many other things concerning our holy religion, and
+concluded by saying: "If you are, indeed, our brothers, and you are
+really inclined to conclude a lasting peace with us, and if we are to
+take and keep your daughters as affectionate husbands should do, they
+must abandon their horrible idols, and believe in the Lord God whom we
+adore. They would soon discover the beneficial effect of this; blessings
+would be showered down upon them, the seasons would be fruitful, and all
+their undertakings would prosper; after death their souls would be
+transplanted to heaven, and partake of eternal glory; for, by the human
+sacrifices which they made to their idols, who were nothing but devils,
+they would be led to hell, where eternal fire would torment their
+souls." For the present Cortes said nothing further to them respecting
+their idols, as he had often before spoken to them concerning these.
+
+In answer to all this, they said to Cortes: "Malinche, we have heard all
+this from you on former occasions, and willingly believe that this your
+God and this illustrious woman are right good beings. But you should
+reflect how very recently you have arrived in our country, and you have
+but just entered our city. You should certainly give us time to learn
+more of your doings, manner of behaviour, and nature of your gods; and
+when we shall have satisfied ourselves respecting their qualities, we
+shall certainly make choice of those we consider best. How can you ask
+us to abandon our gods whom we have adored for so many years, and prayed
+and sacrificed to them? But if we should even do so to please you, what
+would our papas, our young men, yes, even our boys, say to it? Believe
+us, they would all rise up in arms. The papas, indeed, have already
+spoken to our teules, who have told them not to abolish our human
+sacrifices, nor any other of our ancient customs, otherwise they would
+destroy our whole country by famine, pestilence, and war."
+
+We might conclude from this straightforward and fearless answer, that it
+would be useless to insist any longer on this point, and that they would
+rather allow themselves to be killed than abolish their human
+sacrifices. Even father Olmedo, who was a profound theologian, found
+himself compelled thus to address Cortes on the subject: "My opinion is,
+sir, that you should no longer urge this matter with these people. It is
+not acting right to force them to become Christians. I could likewise
+wish that we had not destroyed the idols at Sempoalla. This I am
+convinced ought not to be done until the people have gained some
+knowledge of our holy religion. What, indeed, do we gain by pulling down
+their idols from the temples? They have merely then to repair to another
+temple. But, on the other hand, we should never cease to exhort them
+with our pious lessons. In this way the time will certainly arrive, when
+they will find that our intentions and our advice are good."
+
+In this same strain the three cavaliers Alvarado, Leon, and Lugo
+likewise spoke to Cortes; assuring him that father Olmedo was in the
+right, and that they perfectly agreed with him, that it would be
+inadvisable again to touch upon this point with the caziques.
+
+Here, accordingly, the subject was dropped, and Cortes confined himself
+to ordering the idols to be taken down from a temple which had been
+recently built in the neighbourhood. The latter to be cleansed and fresh
+plastered, and the image of the blessed Virgin to be placed on it. To
+this the caziques readily consented, and when all was finished mass was
+said, and the daughters of the caziques were baptized. Xicotencatl's
+daughter was named Doña Louisa,--when Cortes took her by the hand and
+presented her to Alvarado, saying, at the same time, to Xicotencatl,
+that he to whom he had given her was his brother and a chief officer
+under him, who would certainly treat her well, and with whom she would
+live happily; to this Xicotencatl said he was perfectly agreeable.
+
+The niece or daughter of Maxixcatzin received the name of Doña Elvira.
+She was very beautiful, and was presented, if I still remember rightly,
+to Leon. The others were given to Oli, Sandoval, and Avila, who all
+subjoined their Christian names to theirs as if they had been young
+ladies of noble birth.
+
+Upon this it was also explained to the caziques why we always erected
+two crosses wherever we formed a camp and passed the night: assuring
+them amongst other things that their gods feared them. All this the
+caziques listened to with great attention. But before I continue my
+narrative I must add a few words about Xicotencatl's daughter, Doña
+Louisa, who was given to Alvarado.
+
+The whole of Tlascalla took the greatest interest in her welfare, and
+honored her as a woman invested with command. Alvarado, who was a
+bachelor, got a son by her, who was named Don Pedro; and also a
+daughter, Doña Leonora, who is now the wife of Don Francisco de la
+Cueva, a cavalier of distinction, and a relation of the duke of
+Albuquerque. She is already the mother of four or five sons, all valiant
+cavaliers. She is an excellent lady, and a daughter worthy of such a
+father, who, as every one knows, is comptoir of Santjago and chief
+justice and viceroy of Guatimala; nor is she less worthy of the house of
+Xicotencatl, for the latter ranked very high in Tlascalla, and was
+looked upon as a king.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXVIII.
+
+    _How Cortes gained some information respecting Mexico from
+    Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin._
+
+
+Cortes one day took the caziques aside, and put several questions to
+them respecting the situation and affairs of Mexico. Xicotencatl, as the
+more intelligent and distinguished personage, answered his queries, and
+Maxixcatzin, who was likewise a man of high rank, assisted him from time
+to time.
+
+"Motecusuma," said Xicotencatl, "had such a vast army, that when he
+intended to conquer any large township, or of falling into any province,
+he invariably ordered 100,000 warriors into the field. They, the
+Tlascallans, had often experienced this in the many wars which they had
+waged with the Mexicans for upwards of 100 years."
+
+When Cortes here interrupted them with the question: "How they had
+managed to escape from being in the end subdued by such a vast army?"
+They replied, "That they had, indeed, often been worsted by the
+Mexicans, and lost many of their men, who were either killed in battle,
+or taken prisoners and sacrificed to the idols; but that they likewise
+had slain numbers of the enemy and taken many of them prisoners. Neither
+did the Mexicans ever approach so unobserved, but that they received
+some previous notice of their movements. In these cases they made every
+effort that lay in their power; could always depend on the assistance of
+the Huexotzincans; and, according to circumstances, either assailed the
+enemy or pursued a system of defence. Besides this, another circumstance
+was greatly in their favour, namely, that the Mexicans were excessively
+hated in all the provinces and among all the tribes which Motecusuma had
+subdued and plundered, and that the warriors who were forced to serve in
+his army fought with reluctance and with little courage. In this way,
+then, they defended their country as well as they could. The greatest
+overthrow they ever experienced was from the Cholullans, whose town lay
+about a day's march from Tlascalla. The inhabitants there were a most
+deceitful set. In that town it was that Motecusuma usually assembled his
+troops, whence they generally commenced their march during night-time."
+
+Maxixcatzin here observed, "That Motecusuma had strong garrisons in
+every town, besides the warriors who marched out from the metropolis to
+the field of battle. Every province was compelled to pay him tribute,
+consisting in gold, silver, feathers, precious stones, cotton stuffs, as
+well as Indians of both sexes: some of whom he took into his service,
+and some were sacrificed. He was altogether such a powerful and wealthy
+monarch, that he accomplished and obtained everything he desired. His
+palaces were filled with riches and chalchihuis stones, on which he
+seized wherever he came. In short, all the wealth of the country was in
+his possession."
+
+They then gave such an account of the magnificence and splendour of his
+court, that if I here felt inclined to repeat what they told us, I
+should never finish; also of the number of his wives; some of whom he
+now and then gave in marriage to his relations; the great strength of
+his metropolis, how it lay in the midst of a lake, and the great depth
+of the latter. Several causeways, they added, led to this city, which
+were intersected in various places, over which wooden bridges were
+built, under which canoes could pass; but, if they were removed, the
+space between every two sections became an island, and all entrance to
+the town was completely cut off. Nearly the whole of the houses of the
+city were built in the water, and it was only possible to get from one
+building to another by means of drawbridges or canoes. Balconies were
+attached to each house, which were provided with a kind of breastwork,
+so that the inhabitants were able to defend themselves from the tops of
+the houses. Yet the whole town was well supplied with sweet water from
+the spring of Chapultepec, which lay about two miles from the town,
+whence the water was partly conveyed to the houses by means of pipes,
+partly in boats through the canals, and then retailed to the
+inhabitants.
+
+With respect to the weapons employed by this nation, they consisted in
+two-edged lances, which they threw by means of a thong, and would
+penetrate through any cuirass. They were likewise excellent shots with
+the bow and arrow, and carried pikes with blades made of flint, which
+were of very skilful workmanship and as sharp as razors. Besides these,
+they carried shields, and wore cotton cuirasses. They likewise employed
+a great number of slingers, who were provided with round stones, long
+pikes, and sharp swords, which are used with both hands.
+
+To explain all this they brought forth large pieces of nequen, on which
+were depicted their battles and their art of warfare. When Cortes and we
+others considered we had gained sufficient information of these things,
+the discourse turned on subjects of greater importance. Our friends told
+us how and whence they came into this country, and how they had settled
+themselves there; how it came that, notwithstanding their vicinity to
+the Mexicans, they resembled each other so little, and lived in
+perpetual warfare with each other. The tradition was also handed down
+from their forefathers, that in ancient times there lived here a race of
+men and women who were of immense stature with heavy bones, and were a
+very bad and evil-disposed people, whom they had for the greater part
+exterminated by continual war, and the few that were left gradually died
+away.
+
+In order to give us a notion of the huge frame of this people, they
+dragged forth a bone, or rather a thigh bone, of one of those giants,
+which was very strong, and measured the length of a man of good stature.
+This bone was still entire from the knee to the hip joint. I measured it
+by my own person, and found it to be of my own length, although I am a
+man of considerable height. They showed us many similar pieces of bones,
+but they were all worm-eaten and decayed; we, however, did not doubt for
+an instant, that this country was once inhabited by giants. Cortes
+observed, that we ought to forward these bones to his majesty in Spain
+by the very first opportunity.
+
+The caziques also mentioned another tradition which had come down from
+their forefathers. A certain god, to whom they paid great honours, had
+informed them that there would one time come from the rising of the sun,
+out of distant countries, a people who would subject and rule over them.
+If we were that people they should feel delighted, for we were
+courageous and good-hearted. This old prophecy was also brought up when
+we were negotiating terms of peace with them, and they had chiefly
+offered us their daughters in order to bring about a relationship
+between us and themselves, and to obtain assistance against the
+Mexicans; this they had communicated to their idols.
+
+We were all greatly astonished at this account, and inquired of each
+other in amazement, whether all they told us could be true. Cortes said
+to them, "That we came, indeed, from the rising of the sun. The emperor,
+our master, had purposely sent us, that we might become their brothers,
+as he had had some previous knowledge respecting their country. May God
+in his mercy grant," continued Cortes, "that we may be the means of
+saving you from eternal perdition!" To which we all added, "Amen!"
+
+The good reader will now, no doubt, have heard sufficient of our
+discourses with the people of Tlascalla. And I myself shall be glad to
+cut them short here, as I have many other things to relate besides
+these.
+
+Among others, in particular, the burning mountain of Huexotzinco, which,
+at the time we were in Tlascalla, happened to be emitting more flames
+than usual, and Cortes and all of us, to whom a volcano was something
+new, regarded it in astonishment. Diego de Ordas, one of our chief
+officers, entertained the bold idea to inspect this wonder more
+minutely, and begged leave of our general to ascend the mountain, who
+granted this request.
+
+Ordas took two of our men with him, and desired some of the chief
+personages of Huexotzinco to accompany him. They certainly did not
+refuse, but tried to deter him by assuring him, that when he should have
+ascended the Popocatepetl, for so they termed this volcano, half way, he
+would not be able to advance further on account of the trembling of the
+earth, and the flames, stones and ashes which were emitted from the
+crater. They themselves never durst venture higher than to where some
+temples were built to the teules of Popocatepetl. And indeed they left
+Ordas when he arrived at that spot. The latter, however, boldly
+continued to ascend with our two soldiers until he had reached the
+summit.
+
+While they were still ascending, the volcano began to emit huge flames
+of fire, half burnt and perforated stones, with a quantity of ashes; and
+the whole mountain shook under their feet to the very foundation. They
+then halted for an hour, until they found that the smoke and fire
+gradually began to diminish and less ashes to fall; they then continued
+to ascend until they reached the crater, which was perfectly round and
+about a mile in diameter. From this elevation they could plainly discern
+the great city of Mexico, with the whole of its lake, and the
+surrounding townships; for this mountain only lies about forty-eight
+miles from Mexico.
+
+After Ordas had well viewed everything and sufficiently enjoyed and
+wondered at the sight of Mexico and its suburbs, he again returned with
+the two soldiers and the Indians of Huexotzinco to Tlascalla. The
+inhabitants there considered this undertaking to be extremely
+venturesome, and even we ourselves who had never seen a burning mountain
+before, were perfectly astonished at the account which Ordas gave Cortes
+of his hazardous enterprise. Indeed at that time it might well be
+termed hazardous! Subsequently, to be sure, several other Spaniards and
+Franciscan monks ascended to the mouth of this volcano, but Ordas was
+nevertheless the first who had ventured. When, therefore, he afterwards
+again returned to Spain, he begged permission of his majesty to bear a
+volcano in his coat of arms. These arms are at present borne by his
+nephew of the same name, living at Puebla. As long as we remained in
+this country we never again saw the mountain throw out so much fire, or
+heard of its making such a heavy rumbling noise, as on this occasion,
+and not until the year 1539 did it burst out again.
+
+Enough, however, of this mountain; we now pretty well know what it is.
+Subsequently we saw many other volcanoes, as those of Nicaragua and
+Guatimala; after which that of Huexotzinco is scarcely worth noticing. I
+have still to mention that in Tlascalla we found houses built of wood,
+in the shape of cages, in which numbers of Indians, of both sexes, were
+confined, and fattened for their sacrifices and feasts. We never
+hesitated a single moment to break them down and liberate the prisoners.
+These unfortunate beings, however, never durst leave our side, and this
+was the only means of saving them from being butchered. From this moment
+Cortes gave orders to break open these cages wherever we came, for we
+found them in every township. We all showed our horror of these
+atrocities, and earnestly reproved the caziques for it, who then
+promised no longer to kill and devour human beings. I say they promised,
+but that was all, and if we were but an instant out of sight the same
+barbarities were committed. It is now, however, high time to think of
+our march to Mexico.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXIX.
+
+    _How our captain Hernando Cortes and all our officers and soldiers
+    determine to march to Mexico._
+
+
+We had now been seventeen days in Tlascalla, and had heard so much
+during that time respecting the immense treasures of Motecusuma, and the
+splendour of his metropolis, that Cortes resolved to hold a consultation
+concerning our march to Mexico, with all those officers and soldiers
+amongst us whom he presumed were inclined to advance further on. In this
+council of war it was agreed that we should commence our march thither
+without delay; various opinions, however, were expressed on the occasion
+in our camp. Many maintained that it would be acting over-rashly to
+venture with a mere handful of men into a strongly fortified city,
+whose monarch had such vast numbers of warriors at his command. But
+Cortes declared that all arguing on this point was useless; we could not
+alter the resolution we had come to, and we had on every occasion
+expressed our desire to pay our respects personally to Motecusuma. When
+those who were averse to this step saw his determination, and that the
+majority of us warriors were devoted with our very hearts to him, crying
+out, "Forward, now or never!" they ceased to make any further
+opposition. Those who opposed us were those again who had possessions in
+the island of Cuba; we other poor soldiers were ready to sacrifice our
+very existence in battle, and to undergo all manner of fatigues for God
+and our sovereign. When Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin were convinced that
+it was our determination to march to Mexico, they grew anxious on our
+account. They urgently dissuaded Cortes from it, and warned him not to
+put the slightest trust in Motecusuma, nor altogether in any of the
+Mexicans,--to put no faith in his show of veneration, his courteous and
+humble talk. All their professions of friendship, said they, and even
+their very presents had treachery at the bottom; for what they give at
+one moment they take away at another. They advised us to be upon our
+guard night and day; for they were perfectly assured that the Mexicans
+would fall upon us when we were least prepared to defend ourselves.
+Neither were we to spare life to any of them, if it should come to a
+battle;--to the young man that he might not again take up arms against
+us, to the old man that he might not do us injury by his counsel.
+
+They gave us many similar precautions, and our captain assured them how
+grateful he was for it, and otherwise showed them every possible
+kindness, made them and the other caziques various presents, and divided
+among them a great portion of the fine stuffs which had been presented
+to him by Motecusuma. Cortes at the same time remarked to the caziques,
+that it would be the best possible thing if peace and friendship could
+be brought about between themselves and the Mexicans, that they might no
+longer continue in the disagreeable necessity of making shift with other
+things for want of cotton, salt, and other wares.
+
+To this Xicotencatl immediately replied, "That with the Mexicans a
+treaty of peace was a mere formality: enmity, nevertheless, always clung
+fast to their hearts. It was the characteristic of this people to plot
+the foulest treacheries under the semblance of profound peace. No
+reliance could be placed on their promises, their words were empty
+sounds, and he could not remind and beg of us too often to be upon our
+guard against the snares of this vile people."[30]
+
+Next came into consideration the route we should take in our march to
+Mexico. Motecusuma's ambassadors, who still remained with us, and wished
+to act as our guides, maintained that the best and most level road lay
+through the town of Cholulla, whose inhabitants, as subjects of
+Motecusuma, would be ready to lend any assistance.
+
+We were also unanimously of opinion that this was the road we ought to
+take; but the caziques of Tlascalla, on the contrary, were quite
+downcast, when they learnt our determination, and maintained that we
+ought to march over Huexotzinco, whose inhabitants were their relatives
+and friends, and that we ought not to take our road through Cholulla,
+where Motecusuma was accustomed to form his vile stratagems. Their
+arguments, however, were of no avail: Cortes adhered to his resolution
+of marching over that town. His reason for taking that road was because
+this town, according to general report, was thickly populated, had many
+beautiful towers, and large cues and temples, and lay in a beautiful
+valley, surrounded by extensive townships well stocked with provisions.
+Indeed, at that time even, Cholulla, when viewed at a distance, had the
+appearance of our great city of Valladolid of Old Castile. At Cholulla,
+moreover, we should have our friends of Tlascalla in the immediate
+neighbourhood; we could not, therefore, select a more proper spot to
+form our plans of reaching the city of Mexico without coming into
+contact with the great body of its troops. For in all truth, if God had
+not mercifully assisted us with his heavenly arm, and lent us strength
+in the moment of need, it would not have been possible for us to have
+achieved what we did!
+
+After a long deliberation thus, the route over Cholulla was fixed upon,
+and Cortes sent to acquaint the inhabitants with our intentions, more
+particularly as, notwithstanding they dwelt so near, they had despatched
+no ambassadors to us, nor shown any of those attentions which were due
+to us who came in the name of our great monarch, who, he added, had the
+good of the people of Cholulla at heart. He at the same time desired
+that all the caziques and papas of the town should repair to our
+quarters, and swear allegiance to our sovereign and master, otherwise he
+should look upon them as our enemies.
+
+While Cortes was despatching this message, and making other
+arrangements, it was announced to him that four ambassadors had arrived
+with presents in gold from the powerful Motecusuma, who, indeed, never
+despatched any messengers from his court if not provided with presents
+by him. He would have considered it an insult offered to us if he had
+not done so. I will relate in the following chapter what message these
+ambassadors brought.
+
+[30] In all the conferences which Cortes had with the Tlascallan chiefs,
+they showed an excessive hatred to the Mexicans, from which the
+Spaniards derived great advantages: Gomara, however, would make it
+appear that the Mexicans could at any time have given the Tlascallans a
+total overthrow if they had felt so inclined, but that they considered
+it better policy to attack them from time to time, when they wanted
+victims for their sacrifices; and then also the younger warriors of
+Mexico could have frequent opportunities of learning the art of war near
+to the metropolis, without marching to the distant boundaries of the
+empire for that purpose. This supposition of Gomara, however, is not
+founded on anything like fact. (p. 188.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXX.
+
+    _How the great Motecusuma despatched four ambassadors to us, all men
+    in high authority, with presents in gold and cotton stuffs, and what
+    they said to our captains._
+
+
+When Cortes admitted the four ambassadors into his presence they paid
+him and we other warriors, who stood around his person, the most
+profound respect, and placed before him the presents, consisting of
+valuable gold trinkets of various workmanship, worth about 10,000 pesos;
+and in ten packages of cotton stuffs, most beautifully interwoven with
+feathers: all of which our general received with a friendly smile. They
+then said that their monarch could not help feeling astonished that we
+had made such a long stay among a poor and uncivilized people, who were
+even not fit for slaves, but at the same time so viciously disposed, so
+treacherous and thievish, that some day or night when we least expected
+it they would murder us merely for the sake of plunder. Motecusuma
+begged of us rather to visit his town, where, at least, we might enjoy
+the good things it offered, though even these should be below our
+deserts, and not equal to what he could wish. We should be regularly
+supplied with the necessary provisions, though these had all to be
+brought into their city from other parts.
+
+These expressions of friendship were merely sent by Motecusuma in order
+to entice us from Tlascalla, being aware that we stood in close
+friendship with its inhabitants, and that the caziques to strengthen the
+union had given their daughters to Malinche and his officers. For he
+would easily conjecture that nothing good could ensue to the Mexicans
+from our alliance with them, and this was the reason why he baited us
+with gold and other presents that we might enter into his territory, or
+that we should, at least, quit the country of the Tlascallans.
+
+The Tlascallans were personally acquainted with these ambassadors, and
+they told our captain that all of them were great personages and landed
+proprietors, who had subjects of their own. These ambassadors Motecusuma
+employed on the most important matters only. Cortes returned them many
+thanks, in the most flattering manner, for their civilities and the
+expressions of friendship they made in the name of their monarch, and he
+desired them to say that in a short time he would pay his respects to
+him. He then invited them to pass some time amongst us.
+
+About this time Cortes also sent two of our chief officers in advance to
+communicate with Motecusuma and view the great city of Mexico, and
+inspect its strong fortifications and other works of defence. These
+officers were Alvarado and Vazquez de Tapia. They set out on their
+march, and the four ambassadors who had brought the last present
+remained with us as hostages. Our two officers were accompanied by the
+other messengers who had previously arrived. At that time I was
+suffering from a severe wound, accompanied by fever, and could procure
+no medicine to relieve my sufferings, so that I cannot now recall to my
+memory how far these two officers proceeded on their journey: this,
+however, I have not forgotten, that as soon as it was known that Cortes
+had sent these cavaliers at a venture to Mexico, it met with universal
+disapprobation, and we desired that they might be recalled from their
+journey, as nothing could ensue from this but a mere view of that city;
+and a despatch was accordingly sent after them, with orders for their
+immediate return to our camp. They were not long returning, as Tapia had
+been attacked by fever on the road. When the ambassadors who accompanied
+them related this to Motecusuma, he was very curious to know something
+about the features and the height of these two teules, who had been on
+their way to Mexico, and whether they were officers. These ambassadors,
+it appears, informed him, that Alvarado was a man whose countenance was
+particularly graceful and noble, shone like the sun, and that he was an
+officer. They had indeed taken a faithful likeness of him, and gave him
+the name of _Tonatio_,[31] which he retained ever after among them, and
+signifies the _Sun, son of the Sun_. Of Tapia, that he was a man of a
+very stately deportment, powerful, and likewise a chief officer.
+Motecusuma was sorely grieved to hear of their return; his ambassadors,
+however, had correctly delineated their physiognomies and stature: for
+Alvarado was in every sense beautifully proportioned in body, noble in
+his gait, had very pleasing features, and an amiable manner of
+expressing himself, so that there always appeared a smile on his
+countenance; in the same way Tapia, notwithstanding a certain expression
+of bodily strength which he had about him, had great nobleness in his
+carriage.
+
+For the rest, we were not a little delighted when they reappeared in our
+quarters; nor did we make a secret of our opinion, that their mission
+had not exactly been the most prudent of Cortes' resolves. But I will
+say nothing further of this matter, as it has little to do with my
+history.
+
+[31] The name which the Mexicans gave to Alvarado was Tonatiuh, the sun.
+It may naturally be supposed that when the Spaniards first arrived in
+New Spain, they did not catch the true sound of names. Torquemada, who
+spent nearly the whole of his life in New Spain, is considered the most
+correct in this respect. (p. 191.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXI.
+
+    _How the inhabitants of Cholulla despatched four Indians to us, all
+    men of no distinction, to apologise for not having visited us in
+    Tlascalla, and what further happened._
+
+
+I mentioned in the preceding chapter that our captain had sent a message
+to Cholulla, inviting the inhabitants of that town to visit us in
+Tlascalla. When the caziques there received this message, they merely
+thought proper to send us four Indians of mean rank, and apologised for
+not appearing themselves, on account of indisposition. These messengers
+neither brought any provisions nor anything else with them, but in a few
+dry words offered the excuse just mentioned.
+
+The caziques of Tlascalla who were present when these messengers
+arrived, were struck with their appearance, and remarked to Cortes that
+this message was a real insult to him and all of us, since these
+messengers were _Macehuales_,[32] and people of mean condition.
+
+This circumstance induced Cortes to despatch four Indians of Sempoalla
+to Cholulla, telling them to acquaint the inhabitants there that he
+should expect an embassy from them within the space of three days,
+consisting of men of rank and authority. The distance between them and
+him was merely twenty miles, and if no one appeared within the stated
+time, he should consider the town of Cholulla in rebellion against us.
+If, however, the embassy he required did make its appearance, it was his
+intention to reveal matters of importance to them, for the salvation of
+their souls, and salutary to their whole existence; he would then also
+look upon them as friends and brothers, in the same way as he considered
+their neighbours the Tlascallans. If, however, our proposals met with
+their entire disapprobation, and if they did not consider our friendship
+worthy of acceptance, we should be far from troubling them with our
+presence.
+
+When the inhabitants of Cholulla were made acquainted with this friendly
+declaration, they sent word that the reason why they could not come to
+Tlascalla was, because they were at enmity with the inhabitants, and
+were well aware how they and their ruler Motecusuma had been slandered
+by them: we had merely to quit the town of Tlascalla and the boundaries
+of that province, and if then they did not do their duty towards us, we
+might look upon them in the light we had threatened, and treat them
+accordingly.
+
+Our captain considered this excuse perfectly reasonable, and we
+therefore resolved upon marching to Cholulla. When the caziques of
+Tlascalla saw that our determination was fixed, they thus addressed
+Cortes: "Then you rather put your trust in what the Mexicans say, than
+in us who are your friends? We have often impressed on your mind how
+particularly you should be upon your guard with the people of Cholulla,
+and against the power of Mexico in general; however, in order that you
+may have assistance in case of need, we have armed 10,000 of our
+warriors to accompany you."
+
+Cortes expressed his thanks to these excellent men for their good
+wishes, and deliberated with us as to the policy of entering with such a
+large army into a country whose friendship we were desirous of gaining.
+After mature consideration, we came to the conclusion that 2000 men
+would be a sufficient number to join us, and Cortes accordingly begged
+our friends for so many, and the rest were thus forced to remain at
+home.
+
+[32] Bernal Diaz writes, incorrectly, Macegales. By this word the
+Mexicans denoted the country people, who formed the great mass of the
+population, who also tilled the ground, and paid to the landowners a
+third part of the produce. Landed proprietors in Greece, at the present
+day, are not so generous, for they take two thirds of the produce and
+allow the tenant only one. (p. 192.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXII.
+
+    _How we arrived in the town of Cholulla, and the brilliant reception
+    we met with._
+
+
+Early one morning we broke up our quarters, and left for the town of
+Cholulla. We marched onward in the best order possible; for, as I have
+before remarked, we were always doubly on our guard wherever we
+suspected hostilities. The first day's march brought us to a river which
+flows about four miles this side of Cholulla, and we took up our night's
+quarters at a spot where now a stone bridge is built across the river.
+Here, huts and messrooms had been erected for our accommodation.
+
+This same night ambassadors arrived from the caziques of Cholulla, all
+personages of the first rank, to bid us welcome in their territory. They
+brought us provisions, consisting of fowls and maise-bread, and
+announced to us that all the caziques and papas would call to give us a
+friendly reception, and begged we would excuse them for not having come
+out immediately. Cortes returned them thanks through Doña Marina and
+Aguilar for the provisions and their kind intentions; we then laid
+ourselves down to rest, after we had posted the necessary sentinels and
+ordered the patrols.
+
+With break of day we put ourselves in motion, and marched direct for the
+town, within a short distance of which we were met by the caziques,
+papas, and numbers of other Indians who had come out to welcome us.
+Most of them were clad in a species of cotton cloak, similar in shape to
+our marlotas.[33] These cloaks are also worn by the Capotecas Indians.
+They all appeared friendly, and well-disposed towards us. The papas
+carried along with them earthern censors, with which they perfumed our
+officers and those soldiers who stood nearest.
+
+When the papas and other chief Indians saw the Tlascallans who had
+accompanied us, they begged of Doña Marina to remind Cortes that it was
+not proper for their enemies to enter into the town with weapons in
+their hands. Cortes then ordered the officers and the whole of us to
+halt, and spoke to us as follows: "I am of opinion, gentlemen, that,
+previous to our entering into Cholulla, we should, by kind words, elicit
+from these papas and caziques what their real intentions are. They seem
+hurt that these our friends the Tlascallans should have accompanied us,
+and are, indeed, perfectly right in what they say; wherefore it is my
+intention to acquaint them, in a mild manner, with our reasons for
+visiting their city. You know already, from the Tlascallans, that these
+people are treacherous by nature; it is, therefore, most prudent we
+should first desire them to take an oath of allegiance to our
+sovereign."
+
+He then desired Doña Marina to call the caziques and papas around him
+where he sat on horseback, all of us being close at his side. Three of
+the principal caziques and two papas immediately appeared in Cortes'
+presence, and addressed him thus: "Malinche, you must not harbour any
+suspicion against us for not having come to Tlascalla to pay our
+respects to you there, and because we did not send you any provisions.
+We were not wanting in good wishes towards you, but Maxixcatzin,
+Xicotencatl, and the whole of Tlascalla are at enmity with us. They have
+too grossly slandered us and our great monarch, and now they no longer
+abide by words, but have the audacity to be upon the point of entering,
+all armed, into our city, under your protection. We earnestly beg you
+will tell them to return to their own country, or at least command them
+to remain outside in the fields, and not to march into our city in such
+a manner. The rest of you are at liberty to enter at any time, and are
+perfectly welcome."
+
+As soon as our captain was informed of this their reasonable request he
+sent for Alvarado and Oli, and commissioned them to beg of the
+Tlascallans to erect themselves huts and barracks outside the town, and
+not to follow us there except those of them who transported our heavy
+guns, and our friends of Sempoalla. These officers were, at the same
+time, to inform them what had occasioned these orders, and the great
+fear in which all the caziques and papas stood of them; that they should
+be duly informed of the day when we commenced our march through Cholulla
+to Mexico; lastly, they were desired not to grieve on account of this
+change.
+
+When the inhabitants of Cholulla perceived the arrangements which Cortes
+had made respecting the Tlascallans, they appeared more easy; upon which
+Cortes acquainted them that our sovereign and master, whose subjects we
+were, was a powerful monarch, who had under his command many great kings
+and caziques. We were sent by him into this country to acquaint them, in
+his name, that, in future, they were no longer to worship idols, make
+human sacrifices, eat human flesh, and were to abstain from committing
+unnatural crimes, and all other abominations. We had come to their town
+because the road to Mexico lay through it, whither we were going to hold
+a conference with the great Motecusuma; and we were also desirous of
+considering them as brothers. Cortes further said that other great
+caziques had already sworn obedience and submission to our sovereign,
+and he hoped they would follow their example.
+
+In answer to this, they said that we really demanded too much; we had
+scarcely seen them before we required of them to abolish their teules,
+which they could not think of complying with; but as regarded doing
+homage to our sovereign, in so far they would yield to our wishes. They
+accordingly made a verbal promise of allegiance, but not with the usual
+formalities, in presence of a royal notary; upon this we made our entry
+into the city of Cholulla. The tops of the houses and streets were
+everywhere crowded with people to gaze upon us. And who can wonder? They
+had never before seen men like ourselves, nor any horses! Through this
+mass of people we were conducted to our quarters, consisting of several
+large apartments, in which all of us, with our friends of Sempoalla and
+the Tlascallans who transported our baggage, found plenty of room, and
+we were immediately supplied with abundance of good victuals.
+
+[33] A small kind of cloak, a part of the old Moorish dress, still worn
+in Spain during festivals. (p. 194.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXIII.
+
+    _How the inhabitants of Cholulla concerted a plan, at the
+    instigation of Motecusuma, to murder us all, and what further
+    happened._
+
+
+The splendid reception we met with at Cholulla was certainly well meant
+and honest on the part of the inhabitants, yet a most rapid change took
+place. Motecusuma, namely, through his ambassadors, had concocted a plan
+with the inhabitants to murder us all. The latter were ordered to arm
+themselves in all secrecy, and act in concert with 20,000 of his troops,
+who were already on their road, and would enter Cholulla by stealth,
+when they were to fall upon us unawares in a body, harass us day and
+night, take as many of us prisoners as they could, and send us bound to
+Mexico. These orders were accompanied with great promises and presents
+of jewels, and other precious things,--among them a golden drum. The
+papas also received instructions to sacrifice twenty of us to their
+idols.
+
+All this was nicely planned, and ready to burst forth. Motecusuma's
+troops lay for a part hid among the woods, about two miles from
+Cholulla; another portion had been secretly admitted into the dwellings
+of the Cholullans. All were well armed, and the balconies of the houses
+had been strengthened by breastworks, the streets barricaded by heaps of
+earth, and intersected by deep holes, so as to render our horse useless.
+Some houses had even been filled with neck-straps, ropes made of twisted
+hides, and long poles, to which we were to be bound and transported to
+Mexico. But the Almighty had willed this otherwise, and all their
+designs were frustrated, as the kind reader will shortly see.
+
+For the present we were lodged in good quarters, and received a regular
+and plentiful supply of provisions during the first days; and though all
+seemed in profound peace, we did not relax in our excellent custom of
+keeping a sharp look-out: and, indeed, a visible change was taking
+place, for, on the third day, provisions were no longer brought us, nor
+did any cazique or papa make his appearance among us: if any Indian did
+approach our quarters from curiosity, he merely came with derisive
+smiles, as if to convey that something unexpected was going to befall
+us. Cortes, perceiving this, desired the ambassadors of Motecusuma, who
+still remained with us, to order the caziques to send us provisions as
+usual. Some wood and water was now indeed brought us, but the old man
+who came with it assured us that there was no more maise left in
+Cholulla. That very day even other ambassadors had arrived from
+Motecusuma, who joined those staying with us, and delivered their
+monarch's message to Cortes without any show of courtesy, and in an
+impudent tone of voice, saying that their monarch desired we should not
+come to his city, as he could not provide for our sustenance there. To
+this they required an immediate answer, they being in a hurry to return
+with our reply to Mexico. As soon as Cortes saw what a sad turn affairs
+had taken, he spoke with much reserve, and answered the ambassadors in
+the most courteous manner possible, telling them how greatly he was
+astonished that so powerful a monarch as Motecusuma should so often
+change his mind: in the meantime he begged of them to postpone their
+return until the following day, when he would be able to say in how far
+we could comply with their monarch's wishes.
+
+If my memory is correct, he likewise presented them with a few strings
+of glass pearls. It is, however, certain that they promised to remain
+until the morrow.
+
+As soon as this conference had ended, Cortes called us all together, and
+told us to be particularly upon our guard, as the inhabitants, no doubt,
+had some evil design in hand. He then sent for the principal cazique,
+whose name has slipped my memory, and desired him, if he could not come
+in person, to send some one else; but received an answer that he was
+indisposed, and that neither he nor any other of the chiefs could come.
+
+Cortes, perceiving this unfavorable aspect of affairs, ordered two papas
+to be brought into his presence from a large cu[34] adjoining our
+quarters, where several other papas had assembled together. This was
+accordingly done with every mark of respect due to their persons.
+
+Cortes commenced by presenting each with a chalchihuis, a stone which
+they prize as much as we do a smaragdus. He then, in a most affectionate
+manner, inquired of them what had caused the fear which had seized the
+caziques, the other chiefs, and the papas, and why they no longer called
+upon us, though we had sent them invitations? One of these papas
+appeared to hold a superior rank, as of a bishop, above the others; all
+the cues of the town stood under him, and the inhabitants paid him the
+profoundest veneration. This personage stated, in reply to Cortes, that
+the papas did not entertain any fear for us: if the cazique and other
+chief personages would not make their appearance, he was very willing to
+call upon them, and he doubted not for an instant but that they would
+immediately repair to our quarters.
+
+Cortes desired him accordingly to go and call them; in the meantime he
+would detain the other papa. It was not long before this chief priest
+reappeared in our quarters, bringing along with him the caziques and the
+other principal personages of the district. Cortes inquired of them what
+cause they had had to fear us, and why they no longer sent us anything
+to eat? adding, that if our stay in their town was burdensome to them,
+we would leave the very next morning for Mexico, to pay our respects to
+their monarch Motecusuma: they had merely to furnish us with a requisite
+number of their porters to convey our baggage and the tepuzques, (that
+is, our cannon,) and to send us provisions.
+
+The cazique was so embarrassed at what Cortes had said, that he scarcely
+durst open his mouth; but at length promised us the provisions we
+required, although he had been, he added, commanded by Motecusuma, his
+sovereign, to withhold them, and not to allow us to proceed any further
+on our march.
+
+During this conference, three of our Sempoallan friends entered, and
+secretly acquainted Cortes that they had found deep holes in the streets
+adjoining our quarters, which were thinly covered over with sticks and
+earth, so as to be imperceptible to the eye, unless by close inspection;
+they had the curiosity to remove the earth from off one of these holes,
+and found, sticking up at the bottom, numbers of short stakes sharply
+pointed, and no doubt placed there to wound our horse when they fell
+into the holes: heaps of stones had been gathered on the tops of the
+houses, and the latter strengthened by breastworks made of burnt bricks.
+Every preparation had been made for an attack, and another street was
+strongly barricaded by large wooden beams. At this same moment eight
+Tlascallans also arrived from their quarters outside the town, and said
+to Cortes, "Are you ignorant, Malinche, of the treacherous designs which
+are going on in this town? We have been given to understand that the
+Cholullans last night sacrificed seven persons to their god of war,
+among them five children, in order to obtain from him a promise of
+victory over you. And we also know that all their goods, wives, and
+children have been sent out of the town."
+
+On learning this piece of news, Cortes desired these men to return to
+their quarters and tell their chiefs to hold themselves in readiness to
+fall into the town at a moment's notice. Then, turning to the cazique,
+papas, and chiefs of Cholulla, he told them to allay their fears; to
+remain true to the promise they had made with respect to our monarch,
+otherwise he should find himself obliged to punish them severely: he had
+already acquainted them that, on the following morning, he intended to
+take his departure for Mexico, and he should require 2000 of their
+warriors to join his army, a like number having been furnished by the
+Tlascallans.
+
+The chiefs, in reply, assured Cortes of their willingness to comply with
+his wishes; they would find him the number of warriors and porters he
+required; they then took their leave to make the necessary preparations,
+and appeared perfectly confident, for they thought we should not be able
+to stand against their warriors and the army of Motecusuma, which lay in
+ambush in the defiles, and that they should be able either to kill us or
+take us prisoners, as we should be unable to use our horses on account
+of the deep holes. They likewise ordered their men to block up all the
+outlets of the town, and so inclose us in the narrow streets, as we
+intended leaving next morning. Every one was to be particularly on his
+guard, and to perform his part at the right time. They would also send
+2000 men in advance, and as we did not dream of what was going to take
+place, they would make easy work with us, take us prisoners without
+danger, and carry us off bound to Mexico. There was no doubt as to their
+success, for they had sacrificed to their god of war, and obtained a
+promise of victory from him.
+
+While they were thus making sure of victory, Cortes made every effort to
+discover their plans, and commissioned Doña Marina to present the two
+papas, he had first spoken to, with additional chalchihuis stones, and
+acquaint them that Malinche was very desirous of having a second
+interview with them. Doña Marina was quite an adept in such matters, and
+succeeded by means of the presents, to induce them to accompany her into
+our general's quarters, who then desired them to disclose everything
+faithfully to him, which, as priests and men of rank, who would disgrace
+themselves by telling lies, they were doubly bound to do. He also
+assured them that the trust they reposed in him should not be betrayed,
+particularly as we were going to leave next day; and in order to give
+more weight to his words, he made them considerable promises. The papas
+then confessed that their sovereign Motecusuma could come to no
+resolution with himself as to whether he ought to allow us to march
+towards his metropolis, and that he changed his mind several times in
+one day. At one time he sent orders, that when we should arrive in
+Cholulla, we were to be treated in the most respectful manner, and they
+were to accompany us to his city; at another time he sent word that our
+march to Mexico was contrary to his wishes; and now his gods,
+Tetzcatlipuca and Huitzilopochtli, in whom he reposed all confidence,
+had advised him to kill us, or have us taken prisoners in Cholulla. The
+day before he had sent 20,000 warriors to this place, of whom one half
+was already secreted in the town, the other among the mountain defiles
+in the neighbourhood. These troops had been informed of our intended
+departure, and of the mode in which the attack was to be made upon us,
+as also of the 2000 men of Cholulla who were to accompany us, and how
+twenty of our men were to be sacrificed to the idols of Cholulla.
+
+After Cortes had elicited all this from them, he presented both the
+papas with several of the most beautiful cloaks, enjoining them to
+betray nothing of what had passed between him and themselves, if they
+did they should certainly forfeit their lives on his return from Mexico.
+That very night our general called a council of war, consisting of the
+most sensible and experienced soldiers of our small army, to deliberate
+what our next step should be. Opinion, as generally happens under such
+circumstances, was much divided. Some proposed that we should change our
+route altogether and take the road over Huexotzinco. Others were of
+opinion that we should preserve peace at any sacrifice and return to
+Tlascalla. We others, however, maintained, that if we left the
+contemplated treachery of the Cholullans unpunished, the Mexicans would
+play us worse tricks in other places, and as we had once gained a
+footing in this vast territory, it would be better for hostilities to
+break out here, where, besides that, provisions were plentiful, we could
+do more execution than in the open field; and immediately to acquaint
+the Tlascallans with our determination, that they might join us in the
+combat.
+
+This plan, in the end, received unanimous consent, and the following
+morning was fixed on for the day of our departure. We therefore fastened
+up our knapsacks, which indeed was no great trouble, as we had very
+little baggage with us. Our attack upon the Indians was to be made in
+the spacious square adjoining our quarters, which was surrounded by high
+walls, here we should be able to pay them out according to their
+deserts. As to the ambassadors of Motecusuma, we merely told them, that
+some villains of Cholulla had formed a conspiracy against us, and had
+attempted to lay it all to the door of their sovereign Motecusuma and
+his ambassadors; but that we could not for a moment give credence to
+this, though for the present we must beg of them not again to leave our
+general's head-quarters, and to break off all further intercourse with
+the inhabitants of the town, in order to erase from our minds all
+suspicion of an understanding between the latter and themselves; they
+could also act as our guides on our march to Mexico.
+
+The ambassadors assured us that neither their sovereign Motecusuma, nor
+they, were aware of anything we had mentioned to them. We, however,
+placed a guard over their persons, fearing they might depart without our
+knowledge, and relate to Motecusuma how we had discovered the
+conspiracy.
+
+During the whole of this night we were particularly on our guard and all
+under arms, the horses were ready saddled and bridled, strong watches
+were posted in various places, and one patrol followed the other, as we
+were sure we should be attacked that night by the united forces of
+Mexico and Cholulla. Of this we obtained further certainty from an old
+Indian female, the wife of a cazique, who taking compassion on the youth
+and good looks of Doña Marina, knowing at the same time that she
+possessed many fine things, had induced her to follow her home to save
+her from the impending carnage; for, according to her account, we were
+all to be killed that night or the day following. This woman assured her
+that Motecusuma had issued the most peremptory orders to this effect,
+and had therefore sent an army of Mexicans, who were to join the
+Cholullans and spare none of us alive, excepting those they could make
+prisoners, who were to be sent bound to Mexico. On hearing this, the old
+woman added, she was induced from a compassionate feeling to disclose it
+to her. She advised her to pack up her goods in all haste and come and
+live in her house. She should have her second son for husband, the
+brother of the young man then present.
+
+Doña Marina, who was altogether very shrewd, thus answered the old
+woman: "I am thankful indeed, good mother, for your kind warning; I
+would go with you this instant if I could find any one to carry away my
+mantles and gold trinkets, for I have a pretty good quantity of both.
+Wherefore I beg of you, good mother, wait a few moments here with your
+son, and we will leave together during the night; for these teules have
+their ears and eyes everywhere."
+
+The old woman placed perfect confidence in what she had said, and
+continued chatting with her for some time. Doña Marina then put several
+other questions to her, as to the manner in which we were to be killed?
+How and when the plan had been formed? The answers which the old woman
+returned perfectly agreed with the account of the two papas. Marina then
+questioned her as to how she had come to the knowledge of that, which
+the Cholullans had thought to keep so secret? "I know all this from my
+husband," returned she, "who is the chief of one of the quarters of this
+town, and who has already joined the men under his command, to make the
+necessary preparations, and join the troops of Mexico in the mountain
+defiles. Both armies will meet and cut down all the teules. All this I
+have known three days ago, for my husband has been presented with a
+golden drum, and the three other chiefs with splendid cloaks and gold
+trinkets, with orders to take all the teules prisoners and send them to
+Mexico."
+
+Doña Marina artfully concealed the real impression all this made upon
+her mind, and said to the old woman: "How delighted am I to learn that
+your son, to whom you intend to marry me, is a man of high rank! We have
+now been discoursing about matters which were intended to be kept a
+secret. I will now go and pack up my things; in the meantime you wait
+for me here, for I cannot carry all my goods alone; you, your son, my
+future brother, must assist me to decamp."
+
+The old woman swallowed all this, and stationed herself at some
+particular spot with her son. In the meantime Doña Marina related to our
+general the whole of the discourse she had had with the old woman.
+Cortes immediately ordered the latter into his presence, and put further
+questions to her respecting the plans of the treacherous Cholullans.
+Everything she related corresponded with the account of the two papas;
+Cortes then ordered her to be detained in close custody that she might
+not return and disclose anything to her companions.
+
+When morning arrived it was quite amusing to behold the air of contempt
+and the confidence which was depicted in the countenances of the
+caziques, the papas, and of the Indians in general. They appeared as if
+they had already caught us in a snare. They sent a larger body of their
+troops than we had demanded of them; yet there was sufficient room to
+hold all these besides our own men in the square adjoining our quarters,
+which may be seen to this hour as a memento of that bloody day. Though
+it was very early when the troops of Cholulla arrived in our quarters,
+yet they found us quite ready for the day's work.
+
+The largest gate of this inclosed square was occupied by that portion of
+our troops who were armed with swords and shields, who were ordered not
+to allow egress to any Indian who bore arms. Our general had mounted his
+horse, surrounded by several of us as a guard to his person, and when he
+saw how early all the caziques, papas, and warriors had assembled in the
+morning, he cried out in a loud voice: "How impatient these treacherous
+people are to get us among the defiles and satiate themselves with our
+flesh: but the Almighty will order things differently from what they
+expect!"
+
+He then inquired for the two papas who had disclosed the plot to him;
+and was informed that they were waiting outside with other caziques, and
+wished to be admitted; upon which Cortes sent our interpreter, Aguilar,
+to desire them to return home, as he had no occasion for them at that
+moment. This was done that no harm might befall them when we should fall
+upon the Indians, and as a recompense for the services they had rendered
+us.
+
+Our general, seated on horseback, with Doña Marina at his side, then
+severely upbraided the caziques and papas. "Why had they," said he to
+them, "wished to murder us all the preceding night, though we had not
+done them the smallest injury? Had we said or done anything to justify
+this treacherous movement? Had he done anything more than exhorted them,
+as he had all the different tribes through whose territories he had
+passed, to abolish their human sacrifices and abstain from eating human
+flesh, to commit no unnatural crimes, and to lead a better life than
+they had hitherto? He had, further, merely spoken to them about our holy
+religion, and certainly thereby done them no violence. For what purpose
+had they collected all those long poles with the nooses and ropes in the
+house adjoining the large cue? Why had they during the last three days
+barricaded the streets, intersected the latter by deep holes, and
+fortified the tops of their houses with breastworks? Why had they sent
+away from the town their wives, children, and all their goods? All this
+sufficiently proved their treacherous designs, which were no longer to
+be concealed; they had even refused to provide us food, and in mockery
+had sent us merely wood and water, as if to make us believe they had no
+maise left. He was perfectly aware that large troops of warriors had
+secreted themselves in the defiles near the town, laying in wait for us
+when we should be on our road to Mexico. During the past night they had
+been joined by several other troops. In reward for our having looked
+upon them as brothers, and announced what our God and our sovereign had
+commissioned us to reveal to them, they wished to murder us, and eat our
+flesh, for which purpose they had already prepared the dishes, the salt,
+the pepper, and the tomates. If they intended to kill us, why did they
+not attack us boldly in the open field as beseemed brave warriors, as
+their neighbours the Tlascallans had done? He was fully acquainted with
+all their designs, how they had promised to sacrifice twenty of us to
+their god of war; and that they had sacrificed seven Indians three
+nights ago to him, that he might grant them victory over us. But all his
+promises were full of lies and deceit. Their gods had no power whatever
+over us, and their evil deeds, with all their treachery, would recoil
+upon themselves."
+
+When the caziques, papas, and the other principal personages heard this,
+all of which Doña Marina most intelligibly interpreted to them, they
+confessed that what Cortes had said was perfectly correct, but added,
+that they were not the guilty persons, everything having been done at
+the instigation of Motecusuma's ambassadors, in accordance with his
+commands. To which Cortes answered, "That the Spanish laws did not allow
+such treachery to pass by unpunished, and that they would be punished
+for it with the loss of their lives." At this moment he ordered a cannon
+to be fired, which was the signal for us to fall upon them.
+
+A great number of these people were put to the sword, and some were
+burnt alive, to prove the deceitfulness of their false gods. Before a
+couple of hours had elapsed our friends of Tlascalla came storming out
+of their camp into the town, and fought courageously with the troops of
+Cholulla in the streets, who strove to drive them back. They then
+dispersed themselves about the town for the sake of plunder, and taking
+prisoners; nor were we able to prevent them. The following day more
+troops arrived from Tlascalla, who committed worse depredations, so
+deeply rooted was their hatred against Cholulla. At length our
+compassion was aroused, and we ordered the Tlascallans to stay all
+further hostilities, and Cortes commanded all the chiefs into his
+presence, when he addressed them at some length, and requested them to
+return to their camp, which they accordingly complied with, the
+Sempoallans alone remaining within the town.[35]
+
+While all this was going on, several caziques and papas arrived from
+other quarters of the town, who were said to have taken no part in this
+treacherous movement; which may, indeed, have been the case, as in this
+large town every quarter had its own regiment and peculiar regulations.
+These people begged Cortes and all of us to pardon them, as the real
+traitors had now received their deserved punishment. In this prayer they
+were joined by our friends, the two papas, who had first discovered the
+plot to us, and the old wife of the Indian chief, who was to have been
+Doña Marina's mother-in-law.
+
+Cortes at first appeared very little disposed to listen to their
+prayers; but at length he sent for the two ambassadors of Motecusuma,
+whom we had kept in close confinement. He began by telling them, that
+though the whole town, with all its inhabitants, had merited total
+destruction, he would, nevertheless, substitute mercy for justice in
+consideration of their monarch Motecusuma, whose subjects they were; but
+he expected they would in future show a better disposition towards us,
+and give us no further cause to renew such a scene as had just taken
+place, otherwise they would undoubtedly forfeit their lives. He next
+sent for the caziques of the Tlascallan camp, and ordered them to
+liberate the prisoners they had taken, as they had now sufficiently
+revenged themselves. It was with difficulty we could persuade the
+Tlascallans to comply with this, for they maintained that the Cholullans
+had deserved a good deal more at their hands for the many times they had
+suffered from them; however, as it was Cortes' wish, they liberated a
+great number of their captives; but carried off a great deal of booty,
+consisting in gold, cloaks, cotton, salt, and other matters.
+
+Cortes then brought about a reconciliation between these two tribes, and
+as far as I know, the good understanding which grew up between them was
+never after disturbed. He then desired the caziques and papas to order
+all the inhabitants into the town again, and to open the tiangues[36] or
+markets, at the same time assuring them that no further harm should
+befall them. The chiefs accordingly promised that all the inhabitants
+should return to the town within the space of five days, as most of them
+had fled to the woods; and added, that they feared Cortes would elect a
+cazique to whom they might be averse in the room of him who had been
+killed in the recent attack. Our general, however, merely inquired who
+the rightful successor was according to their laws; and on being
+informed the late cazique's brother, he appointed him governor.
+
+As soon as the town was again filled with people, and the markets
+frequented as usual, Cortes assembled the papas, chiefs, and the
+principal inhabitants, and explained to them the nature of our holy
+religion, and showed them the necessity of abolishing their idolatry and
+human sacrifices, and their other abominations. He likewise showed them
+the delusion they lived under with respect to their idols, which were
+nothing but evil spirits from whom they could expect nothing but
+falsehood. They should remember how these had lately promised them the
+victory over us, and how all their promises had terminated. They should,
+therefore, pull down and destroy those lying and deceitful idols, or
+leave that work to us, if they declined doing it themselves. At present
+he desired they would clear and fresh plaster one of their temples, that
+we might fit it up for a chapel and erect a cross there. These words
+seemed to cheer them up a little, and they gave a solemn promise to
+destroy their idols, but continually postponed the fulfilment whenever
+we put them in mind of it. On this matter father Olmedo set Cortes' mind
+at ease, by assuring him it would be of little use if even the Indians
+did abolish their idols, unless they had previously received some notion
+of our religion and faith. We ought first to see what impression our
+march into Mexico would make upon them. Time alone could be our surest
+guide as to our further proceedings. For the present we had done
+sufficient by admonishing them to piety, and by erecting a cross there.
+
+Respecting the town of Cholulla, I have further to remark; that it lay
+in a valley, and was surrounded by the townships Tepeaca, Tlascalla,
+Chalco, Tecamachalco, Huexotzinco, and so many others that I am unable
+to enumerate them all. The country furnished quantities of maise and
+various leguminous plants, and particularly maguey, from the sap of
+which the inhabitants make their wine.[37] In the town itself various
+kinds of earthenware pots are made, embellished with black and white
+colours, which are burnt in; with these it supplies Mexico and the
+neighbouring provinces. In this respect Cholulla is equally celebrated
+in this country, as the towns Talavera and Valencia are in Spain. At
+that time Cholulla had above a hundred very high towers, the whole of
+which were cues or temples, on which the human sacrifices were made and
+their idols stood. The principal cu here was even higher than that of
+Mexico, though the latter was, indeed, magnificent and very high.[38] It
+is said to have contained one hundred courts, and an idol of enormous
+dimensions, (the name of which I have forgotten,) which stood in great
+repute, and people came from various parts to sacrifice human beings to
+it and bring offerings for the dead.[39] I well remember when we first
+entered this town, and looking up to the elevated white temples, how the
+whole place put us completely in mind of Valladolid.
+
+I must now say a few words respecting the troops which Motecusuma had
+despatched here. These lay in ambush in the immediate vicinity of the
+town, and had planted stakes in the ground, and dug deep holes to render
+our cavalry incapable of acting. But when they were informed of what had
+taken place there, they immediately returned to Mexico to bring the
+intelligence to Motecusuma. However rapidly their departure may have
+been, we, nevertheless, were immediately apprized of it by the two
+distinguished personages who were with us. Motecusuma was excessively
+vexed and grieved at the news, and instantly ordered a number of Indians
+to be sacrificed to his warrior god Huitzilopochtli, that he might
+reveal to him whether he should obstruct our march to Mexico, or allow
+us peaceable entrance into his metropolis. Two whole days did he spend
+with his papas in devotional exercises, and in sacrificing human beings
+to his idols, and at length was advised by them to send us ambassadors
+to apologise for the occurrence at Cholulla. He was further to allow us
+to march into Mexico, under every show of friendship; but when we had
+entered the town to deny us provisions and water, break down the
+bridges, shut us in, and put us all to the sword. If they attacked us in
+a body, and from all sides at once, not one of us could escape. Not till
+then were the great sacrifices to be instituted, as well in honour of
+the warrior-god Huitzilopochtli, who had given the oracle, as in that of
+the god of hell, Tetzcatlipuca. Our legs, thighs, and arms were to be
+eaten at their feast, and our entrails, with the remaining part of our
+bodies, were to be thrown to the serpents and tigers, which they kept
+confined in wooden cages, as will be mentioned in the proper place.
+
+It may well be imagined that the chastisement we gave the inhabitants of
+Cholulla spread like wildfire through the whole of New Spain. If,
+previously, the battles of Potonchan, Tabasco, Cingapacinga, and
+Tlascalla, had spread the fame of our invincible courage, and obtained
+for us the name of teules or gods of a fearful nature, we were now
+looked upon as divinities of a superior order, from whom nothing could
+be kept a secret, and the greatest veneration was consequently paid to
+us.
+
+The kind reader has now, no doubt, heard enough of this occurrence at
+Cholulla, and I myself would gladly break off here, but must add a word
+or two about the wooden cages we saw in this town. These were
+constructed of heavy timber, and filled with grown-up men and little
+boys, who were fattening there for the sacrifices and feasts. These
+diabolical cages Cortes ordered to be pulled down, and sent the
+prisoners each to their several homes. He likewise made the chiefs and
+papas promise him, under severe threats, never again to fasten up human
+beings in that way, and totally to abstain from eating human flesh. But
+what was the use of promises which they never intended to keep?
+
+These are, among others, those abominable monstrosities which the bishop
+of Chiapa, Las Casas, can find no end in enumerating. But he is wrong
+when he asserts that we gave the Cholullans the above-mentioned
+chastisement without any provocation, and merely for pastime. I can,
+however, produce as witnesses to the contrary the pious Franciscan
+friars who were the first monks our emperor despatched thither after the
+conquest of New Spain. These venerable men were purposely sent to
+Cholulla to make the minutest investigation into this affair. They
+gained all their information from the elders and papas of the town
+itself, and they were fully convinced that everything had really taken
+place as I have related above: and, indeed, if we had not made an
+example here, we should have lived in constant alarm, as we were
+completely surrounded by Mexican and Cholullan troops, who were
+everywhere lying in ambush. If we had been destroyed at that time, New
+Spain would certainly not have been so speedily conquered; a second
+armament would not so easily have found its way there; and if it had,
+there would have been hard work with the Indians who defended the
+coasts; and they would have continued in their idolatrous worship. I
+have myself heard the very pious Franciscan brother Toribio Motelmea[40]
+say that it would certainly have been better if we could have avoided
+spilling so much blood, and the Indians had not given us the cause to do
+so; but it had this good effect, that all the inhabitants of New Spain
+became convinced that their idols were nothing but deceitful demons, and
+they experienced how much happier they were when they discontinued to
+worship them or sacrifice to them; and it is a fact, that the
+inhabitants of Cholulla, from that moment, cared very little about their
+idols: they took down the large one from the principal cu, and either
+hid it somewhere or destroyed it altogether: we, at least, never saw
+that one again, and they placed another there in its stead.[41]
+
+[34] A temple where human beings were sacrificed to idols. (p. 197.)
+
+[35] Cortes, in his despatches to the emperor, mentions that three
+thousand Cholullans were killed on this occasion; but Torquemada gives
+double the number, which is nearer the truth, particularly as Gomara
+agrees with him.
+
+Respecting this massacre, Torquemada gives the following remarkable
+account: The Cholullans, he says, expected that their god Quetzalcohuatl
+would come to their assistance with some miracle. They believed that at
+any time, by removing part of the white plaster from the temple, a
+strong flood of water would instantly burst out, and they were therefore
+very particular in repairing any little damage that might happen in this
+way to the temple, by means of chalk mixed with the blood of children
+two and three years of age, killed for the purpose. It was on this
+temple that the Cholullans defended themselves with the greatest
+obstinacy; but the victory soon declaring in favour of the Spaniards,
+the inhabitants began to loosen the plaster off the outside, firmly
+believing that a deluge of water would instantly burst forth, and drown
+the assailants; when finding themselves disappointed in their
+expectations, they complained bitterly to their god for not rendering
+them any assistance; refused, however, to capitulate; and numbers flung
+themselves headlong from the top of the temple, to seek death that way.
+(p. 204.)
+
+[36] Torquemada sometimes writes this word Tianquitz, sometimes
+Tiangues, but we find it also written Tianquiztli. By the terminating
+syllable most likely some particular market is meant; for it is peculiar
+to the Mexican language to modify the meaning of words in that manner.
+(p. 205.)
+
+[37] Termed by the inhabitants Pulque. (p. 205.)
+
+[38] An interesting account of this remarkable building, of which
+considerable remains are still to be seen, is given by Humboldt, in the
+'Atlas Pittoresque.' (p. 206.)
+
+[39] It was the god Quetzalcoatl, of whom also an account will be found
+in the above-mentioned work of Humboldt. (p. 206.)
+
+[40] The name is correctly written Motolinia. This was the excellent
+brother Toribio Benavente, who so greatly exerted himself in converting
+the Indians to Christianity. He adopted the name of Motolinia on his
+arrival in New Spain, and the word means, _O! the poor man!_ which the
+Indians exclaimed when they first beheld the meanness of his attire. (p.
+207.)
+
+[41] Respecting the castigation of the inhabitants of Cholulla, Las
+Casas, (Brevissima Relacion de la destrucyon de las Indias) asserts,
+though merely from hearsay, that Cortes, while cutting down the Indians,
+repeated this verse:
+
+Miro Nero de Tarpeya, A Roma como se ardia, Gritos dan Niños y' viejos,
+Y el de nada se dolia.
+
+A translation of these lines will be found in a subsequent note. (p.
+208.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXIV.
+
+    _The negotiations we set on foot with the great Motecusuma, and the
+    ambassadors we sent him._
+
+
+We had now lain a fortnight in Cholulla, and any further stay there
+would have been waste of time. All the inhabitants had returned to their
+dwellings, and the markets were again filled with goods and merchants;
+peace had been concluded between them and their neighbours the
+Tlascallans; a cross erected, and much of our holy faith explained to
+the inhabitants. Besides this, we discovered that Motecusuma had sent
+spies into our quarters to gain intelligence as to our future plans, and
+whether we really intended marching to his metropolis. His two
+ambassadors, who were still with us, also forwarded him due information,
+from time to time, of all that was going on.
+
+Our captain now called a council of war of those officers and soldiers
+in whom he could place implicit confidence, and of whose wisdom and
+courage he entertained the highest respect. In this council it was
+resolved we should despatch a most friendly and flattering message to
+Motecusuma, as near as possible to the following effect: "We had now, in
+compliance with the commands of our sovereign, journeyed over many seas,
+and through far distant countries, solely for the object of paying our
+personal respects to him, the monarch of Mexico, and of disclosing
+things to him which would prove of the greatest advantage to him. We
+chose the road over Cholulla because his ambassadors had proposed that
+route, and had assured us that the inhabitants were his subjects. We met
+with the best of receptions, and were well treated during the first two
+days of our stay there, when we discovered that a vile conspiracy had
+been set on foot to destroy us all; which, however, could not prove
+otherwise than a failure, as we were endowed with the faculty of knowing
+things beforehand, and it was utterly impossible to do anything without
+our knowledge: we had, therefore, punished a number of those who had
+concocted that treacherous movement, but we had, at the same time,
+abstained from punishing all those who had taken part in it, in
+consideration that the Cholullans were his subjects, and from the deep
+veneration we entertained for his person, and the great friendship we
+bore him. It was, however, to be regretted that the caziques and papas
+should have unanimously declared that all had been done at his commands,
+and planned by his own ambassadors. Of this, however, we had not
+believed a single word, as it seemed impossible to us that so great a
+monarch, who always styled himself our friend, could have consented
+thereto. On the contrary, we expected from him that, in case his gods
+had whispered to him to treat us hostilely, he would have attacked us in
+the open field, although it was all the same to us whether we were to
+fight about in a town or in the open field, or during night or daytime,
+as we easily overthrew those who ventured to attack us. As we were fully
+convinced of his friendship, and were very desirous to make his personal
+acquaintance, and to discourse with him, we intended marching to Mexico
+to lay our monarch's commission before him."
+
+When Motecusuma received this message, and found that we in no way
+considered him implicated in the occurrence which had taken place at
+Cholulla, he again, as we were told, began to fast with his papas, and
+to sacrifice to his gods, of whom he wished to know whether he was to
+admit us into his metropolis or not. They pronounced in the affirmative,
+as, when we were once there, he would be able to slay us at his
+pleasure. His chief officers and papas were of the same opinion, and
+thought that, if he did not admit us into the city, we might commence
+hostilities against his subjects, and call in the assistance of the
+Tlascallans, the Totonaque, and other tribes who were at enmity with the
+Mexicans, and in alliance with us. To obviate all this, the surest way
+would be to follow the wise counsel which Huitzilopochtli had given.
+
+The day had now arrived which had been fixed for our departure, and,
+just as we were about to break up our quarters, other ambassadors
+arrived, with presents from Motecusuma.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXV.
+
+    _How the powerful Motecusuma sends a valuable present in gold to us,
+    and the message which accompanied it, and how we all agree to
+    commence our march upon Mexico; and what further happened._
+
+
+When Motecusuma was made acquainted with what we said concerning our
+friendship towards him, and the confident manner in which we had
+expressed ourselves, he again felt embarrassed, and was amazed at the
+idea that nothing could be concealed from us, and that he might attack
+us whenever he liked, within the city walls or in the open field, by day
+or by night, it was all the same to us. He thought of our war with the
+Tlascallans, of the battles we had fought at Potonchon, Tabasco,
+Cingapacinga, and Cholulla, and grew quite perplexed and dispirited. He
+several times altered his resolutions, until at last he determined upon
+sending us six of his principal courtiers with a present in gold and
+trinkets of various workmanship, worth altogether above 2000 pesos,
+besides several packages of cotton stuffs most beautifully manufactured.
+
+When these messengers were introduced into Cortes' presence, they
+touched the ground with their hands, and kissed it, and thus addressed
+our general, with signs of the deepest veneration: "Malinche! our ruler
+and monarch, the mighty Motecusuma, sends you this present, and begs you
+will accept of it with the same kind feeling he bears you and your
+brothers: he at the same time desires us to express his regret for the
+late occurrence at Cholulla, and to assure you it would be pleasing to
+him if you would castigate that evil-minded and lying people more
+severely, since they had wished to heap the infamy of their vile
+proceedings upon him and his ambassadors. We might (they continued) rest
+assured of his friendship, and repair to his metropolis as soon as we
+should think proper. Being as we were men of vast courage, and the
+ambassadors of so great a monarch, he would receive us with due honours,
+and only regretted that, owing to the situation of his metropolis in the
+midst of a lake, he should not be able to furnish our table with the
+victuals he otherwise could wish. The greatest respect would everywhere
+be paid us, and he had also sent orders to the different townships we
+should pass through to furnish us with everything we required." Besides
+these, there were many other civilities they mentioned in their
+monarch's name.
+
+Cortes, to whom our interpreters had explained this message, accepted
+the present with every appearance of delight. He embraced the
+ambassadors, and presented them with various articles of cut glass.
+Every officer and soldier amongst us congratulated himself upon this
+favorable turn which affairs had taken, and at the monarch's invitation
+to visit Mexico,--for our desire to see that city daily grew upon us,
+particularly upon those who had no possessions in Cuba, and had
+accompanied the previous expeditions under Cordoba and Grijalva.
+
+Cortes returned the ambassadors a kind answer to all they had said, and
+arranged that three of them should remain with us to show us the road,
+while the others were despatched to Mexico, to acquaint their monarch
+that we had already set out on our march thither.
+
+When the two old caziques of Tlascalla found that Cortes was earnestly
+bent on marching to Mexico, they appeared excessively grieved, and
+reminded Cortes how frequently they had warned him, and could not do so
+too often, to dissuade him from marching into a town of such vast extent
+and power, and which possessed various means of carrying on a murderous
+war. The Mexicans would certainly, one day or other, fall upon us
+unawares, and it would be a wonder if we escaped alive out of their
+hands. To convince us how well they were inclined towards us, they
+would, however, gladly furnish us with 10,000 of their warriors, under
+the command of their most able generals, with a sufficient supply of
+provisions.
+
+Cortes thanked them for their kind offers, and explained to them that it
+would not be proper to enter Mexico at the head of so large an army,
+particularly as the hatred between themselves and the Mexicans was so
+excessive. One thousand men was all he required to transport our cannon
+and baggage, and clear the road before us.
+
+These 1000 men were immediately upon the spot, all strong and fine young
+fellows, and we were just upon the point of commencing our march when
+the caziques and chiefs of Sempoalla, who had remained with us all this
+time, and rendered us such valuable services, called upon Cortes and
+hoped he would return with them to Sempoalla. They were determined, they
+said, not to march over Cholulla to Mexico, as they were quite convinced
+it would be ours and their destruction; theirs, because they were the
+most distinguished personages of Sempoalla, who had not only been the
+chief means of inducing their countrymen to refuse all further obedience
+and to pay tribute to Motecusuma, but also of seizing his tax-gatherers.
+
+Cortes, in answer to this, desired them to allay their fears; he was
+sure no harm would befall them, for, if they marched along in our
+company, who would dare to molest either? He therefore begged of them to
+alter their determination, and remain with us, and promised them all
+manner of riches. But all his entreaties, added to Marina's friendly
+advice, were fruitless, and they refused to accompany us: upon which
+Cortes cried out, "God forbid that we should force these people, who
+have rendered us such valuable services, to go with us against their
+inclination!" He then ordered several packages of the very finest cotton
+stuffs to be divided among them, and likewise sent the fat cazique two
+packages for himself and his nephew Cuesco, who was also a powerful
+cazique. He wrote, at the same time, to his lieutenant Juan de
+Escalante, who was alguacil-major of Vera Cruz, mentioning all that had
+befallen us, and that we were on our march to Mexico. He particularly
+cautioned him to keep a sharp look out upon the inhabitants of the
+country, desired him by all means to hasten the completion of the
+fortress, and to take the inhabitants there under his protection against
+the Mexicans, and also not to suffer our men to molest them in any way.
+This letter was given in charge of the Sempoallans, and we then
+commenced our march forward with every military precaution.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXVI.
+
+    _How we set out on our march to Mexico; what happened to us on our
+    route; and the message Motecusuma sent us._
+
+
+On our march from Cholulla, we adopted our usual precautions. A few of
+our cavalry were always in advance to explore the territory, and these
+were closely followed by a number of our best foot to assist them in
+case of an ambush, and to clear any obstruction from the road. Our
+cannon and muskets were ready loaded, while our cavalry rode three and
+three together on the flanks of our troops to lend immediate assistance
+should anything occur, all the rest of our men marching in close order.
+I am very particular in mentioning all this that my readers may convince
+themselves of the great precautions we observed on this march.
+
+On the first day we arrived at a spot where there were a few scattered
+dwellings on a rising ground, subject to Huexotzinco, and, if I mistake
+not, bear the name of Iscalpan, and lie about nine miles from Cholulla.
+Here we found all the caziques and papas of Huexotzinco assembled, who
+were friendly with the Tlascallans. They had brought along with them
+other tribes from the neighbourhood of the volcano, and presented Cortes
+with a quantity of provisions and a few trinkets of gold, begging him,
+at the same time, not to consider the small worth of the latter, but
+the good will with which they were given. They then one and all
+dissuaded him from marching to Mexico, representing to him the strength
+of the city, the vast numbers of warriors there, and all the dangers we
+should be exposed to. Seeing, however, that they could not alter our
+determination, they instructed us as to the road we should take, and
+told us that, as soon as we had laid back the mountain pass, we should
+come to two broad roads, one of which led to Chalco, the other to
+Tlalmanalco, both of which townships were subject to the Mexican empire.
+One of these roads was in excellent condition, and passable, and in so
+far it would be the best we could take; the other had been rendered
+impassable by numbers of large pine and other trees which had been
+felled and thrown across the road to prevent our marching that way. A
+little way further up the mountain, the good road along which it was
+supposed we would march had been intersected and palisaded, and Mexican
+troops were lying in ambush there, and others had been stationed in this
+pass to fall upon us and put us to the sword. They therefore advised us
+to leave the good road, and turn into the one leading to Tlalmanalco,
+which had been rendered impassable by the fallen trees. They would lend
+us sufficient hands to clear away the latter, in which they would be
+assisted by the Tlascallans who were with us.
+
+Cortes returned them many thanks for their present and good advice,
+assuring them he was determined, with the assistance of Providence, to
+continue his march, and would take the road they had pointed out.
+
+The next morning very early we again moved forward, and, towards noon we
+reached the summit of the mountain, where we found the two roads exactly
+as described by the inhabitants of Huexotzinco. Here we halted for a
+short time to reconsider what had been told us respecting the Mexican
+troops which we should find stationed in the pass. Cortes then inquired
+of the two Mexican ambassadors which of the two roads they would advise
+him to turn into,--the one which had been blocked up by a fall of
+timber, or the smooth road? They told him into the latter, because it
+led to Chalco, a town of considerable magnitude, where we should meet
+with a good reception, as it was subject to Motecusuma; the other road,
+blocked up by the trees, was very dangerous in places, and was rather
+round about, leading, moreover, to a township much inferior to Chalco.
+Cortes, however, determined for the other road, and we marched through
+the mountains in the closest possible order. Our Indian friends set
+diligently to work to clear away the heavy trees, and even to this day
+many of the latter are still to be seen lying on the roadside. When we
+had reached the summit of the mountain, it began to snow so fast that
+the ground was soon covered with it. We now began to descend, and we
+took up our night's quarters in some scattered huts, which had the
+appearance of taverns for the accommodation of Indian merchants. We
+likewise found abundance of food here, and, notwithstanding the severity
+of the weather, we posted our sentinels as usual, and made regular
+patrols.[42]
+
+The next morning we broke up our quarters, and arrived, about the hour
+of high mass, in the township of Tlalmanalco, where we met with very
+kind and hospitable treatment. Immediately upon the news of our arrival,
+numbers of people gathered about us from the neighbouring townships of
+Chalco, Amoquemecan, Ayotzinco, and from various other small places
+whose names I have forgotten. The last-mentioned town has a harbour,
+where canoes ply up and down. These tribes made us a present in common,
+consisting in gold, worth about 150 pesos, two packages of cotton
+stuffs, and eight females. "Malinche," said they, in handing these over
+to Cortes, "may it please you to accept of the present we have here
+brought you, and from this moment we hope you will look upon us as your
+friends!"
+
+Cortes received it with every appearance of delight, and promised to
+assist them whenever they might require his aid. While we were thus
+standing around him, he desired father Olmedo to give them some notion
+of the Christian religion, and to admonish them to abolish their
+idol-worship, with which the father complied, and made similar
+disclosures to them as we had done to the inhabitants of the other
+townships we had visited. They acknowledged that all was very good which
+he told them, and that they would consider that matter more maturely at
+some future period. We likewise spoke to them about the vast power of
+our emperor, and how he had sent us to this country to put an end to all
+robbery and oppression.
+
+We had scarcely touched this string when they began to throw out bitter
+accusations against Motecusuma and his tax-gatherers, but out of the
+hearing of the Mexican ambassadors. The Mexicans, they said, robbed them
+of everything they possessed; abused the chastity of their wives and
+daughters, before their eyes, if they were handsome, and carried them
+forcibly away to toil hard in base servitude. They themselves were
+compelled to transport wood, stones, and maise, both by water and by
+land, to the monarch's extensive maise plantations, and to relinquish
+the produce of their own land for the maintenance of the great temple:
+in short, their complaints knew no end, and, owing to the many years
+which have since elapsed, I cannot now remember them all.
+
+Cortes, in the most affectionate manner, gave them every consolation in
+his power, which Doña Marina interpreted to them exceedingly well,
+adding, however, that, at present, our general could not redress their
+wrongs. They would have to bear with these hardships for some time yet,
+when they would certainly be released from this state of oppression. He
+then requested two of their principal personages to repair in all
+secrecy, with four of our friends from Tlascalla, to the spot where the
+other road had been intersected, mentioned by the inhabitants of
+Huexotzinco, to ascertain how matters stood, and if any troops were
+stationed there. But the caziques assured our general that it was not
+necessary to repair thither for that purpose, as all the palisades had
+been taken away, and the hole filled up again. The Mexicans had, indeed,
+cut through a dangerous pass some six days ago, and stationed a strong
+body of troops there to prevent our passing that way; but, since that
+time, they had been advised by their god of war to allow us to march
+forward unmolested, and not to attack us until we should be within the
+city, and then to kill us all. The caziques likewise begged of us to
+remain with them, and they would provide us with everything we might
+require. "Believe us," they added, "you must not go to Mexico, for we
+know how great the strength of that city is, and what large bodies of
+troops are there: if you once enter that city, you will all be put to
+death."
+
+Cortes replied to this well-meant advice with the serenest countenance
+in the world, and assured them that neither the Mexicans nor any other
+people had the power to deprive us of life,--this was in the hands of
+the God in whom we believed. We had to fulfil our commission to
+Motecusuma, to all the caziques and papas, and were therefore determined
+to march straightway to Mexico. We should only require twenty of their
+men to accompany us. He would do his utmost for them, and, immediately
+upon his arrival there, demand justice for them; and that neither
+Motecusuma nor his tax-gatherers should oppress them as heretofore.
+
+These promises spread an expression of joy over the countenance of every
+Indian present, and the twenty men whom Cortes required, instantly
+joined us; and, just as we were about to leave, other ambassadors
+arrived from Motecusuma, whose message I will relate in the next
+chapter.
+
+[42] It was here probably that Cortes was nigh being shot by one of his
+own sentinels. Late at night he visited the outposts himself, and one of
+the sentinels was just upon the point of firing at him, when Cortes
+fortunately made himself known. (p. 214.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXVII.
+
+    _How the powerful Motecusuma again sends ambassadors to us with a
+    present of gold and cotton stuffs: that monarch's message to Cortes,
+    and the answer he returns._
+
+
+As I have before said, we were about to continue our march, when four
+distinguished Mexicans arrived in our quarters, with a message from
+Motecusuma, accompanied by a present in gold and cotton stuffs, and thus
+addressed Cortes, after they had shown the usual signs of veneration:
+"Malinche! our sovereign, the mighty Motecusuma, sends you this present.
+He desires us to express his sorrow for the many hardships which you
+have been compelled to undergo on your tedious journey from such distant
+countries to behold his person. He now likewise, again renews the offer
+to pay you a quantity of gold, silver, and chalchihuis stones, in shape
+of tribute to your monarch, and as a present to you and the other teules
+who are with you; but, at the same time, he again begs of you not to
+advance any further, but to return from whence you came. He promises to
+send abundance of gold, silver, and jewels, for your emperor, to the
+harbour on the sea coast; he will present you with four loads of gold,
+and your companions with one each:[43] but he altogether forbids you to
+enter into Mexico, as all his troops are under arms to oppose you; add
+to which, the only access to the metropolis is by one narrow causeway,
+and we could not supply you with provisions there."[44]
+
+Besides these, the ambassadors offered many other reasons in order to
+dissuade us from advancing any further. However unpleasant this
+disclosure might sound in his ears, Cortes, nevertheless, embraced the
+ambassadors most affectionately, and accepted the presents, the value of
+which I cannot now remember. I must also remark that Motecusuma never
+sent any message to us which was not accompanied by some present in
+gold.
+
+On this occasion Cortes again told the ambassadors that he was surprised
+how their master, who had styled himself our friend so very many times,
+and was so powerful a monarch, could so often change his mind. Desire a
+thing one day, to countermand it the next. With respect to his offer of
+the gold for our emperor and ourselves, we were thankful for his kind
+intentions, as also for the presents they now brought with them, and he
+would certainly some day render him valuable services in return. He
+would ask them himself if it would be acting right after we had advanced
+within such a short distance of his metropolis, to turn back without
+fulfilling our monarch's commission? Motecusuma should place himself in
+our position and consider, if he had sent ambassadors to a monarch of
+his own rank, how he would like it, if they returned home after arriving
+almost at his palace, without once seeing that monarch or fulfilling
+their commission to him? How would he receive these ambassadors when
+they appeared before him? Would he not look upon them as cowards and
+spiritless beings? Our emperor, at least, would not look upon us in any
+other light, and treat us accordingly if we returned so to his court. We
+had now no choice left, and we must get into his metropolis one way or
+other. In future, therefore, we begged their monarch would not send any
+more ambassadors with such messages. He, Cortes, was determined to see
+and speak to Motecusuma himself personally, to acquaint him with the
+object of our mission. All we required of him was merely an audience,
+for the moment our stay in his metropolis became irksome to him we would
+leave and return to the place whence we had come. With regard to the
+alleged scarcity of provisions, we were accustomed to content ourselves
+with little. He had better, therefore, make up his mind to receive our
+visit, as we could not possibly relinquish our purpose of seeing Mexico.
+With this answer Cortes sent the ambassadors back to their monarch, and
+we continued our march. As we had been so often warned by the people of
+Huexotzinco and Chalco, and we were aware that Motecusuma had been
+advised by his idols and papas to allow us to enter the city and then
+fall upon us, we became more thoughtful, for we were likewise mortals
+and feared death. We were now, therefore, doubly upon our guard, more
+particularly as the country was thickly populated; and we made short
+days' marches. We arranged the manner in which we were to enter the
+city, and commended ourselves to the protection of God, and we felt
+confident hopes, that as the Lord Jesus had up to this moment watched
+over us in all our perils, he would also shield us against the power of
+Mexico.
+
+We took up our night's quarters in Iztapalapan, where we found an
+excellent supper awaiting us. This town lay half in the water and half
+on the dry land, on the slope of a small hill, where, at present, a
+public-house is built.
+
+After Motecusuma had learnt our answer to his message, he despatched his
+nephew Cacamatzin, prince of Tezcuco to us, in great pomp, to bid us
+welcome. The first intimation of this prince's approach was brought in
+by our outposts, who announced to our general that a great number of
+Mexicans were advancing, arrayed in their most splendid mantles and
+showed signs of peace. It was still early in the day, just as we were
+about to break up our quarters, and Cortes consequently ordered us to
+halt, until we should learn the purport of this visit.
+
+At this moment four distinguished personages came up to him, and made
+signs of the profoundest veneration, and announced to him that
+Cacamatzin, prince of Tezcuco, and nephew to Motecusuma, was approaching,
+and they begged that Cortes would await his arrival, as he would come
+almost immediately. It was indeed not long before this prince made his
+appearance in such splendour and magnificence as we had not yet seen in
+any of the Mexican chiefs. He was seated in a beautiful sedan, which was
+decorated with silver, green feathers, and branches made of gold, from
+which hung quantities of precious stones. This sedan was supported on
+the shoulders of eight distinguished personages, who, we were assured,
+were likewise caziques over townships.
+
+When the procession had arrived in front of Cortes' quarters, they
+assisted the prince out of the sedan, and swept clean every inch of
+ground before him, and then introduced him into the presence of our
+commander. After the usual compliments, Cacamatzin addressed Cortes as
+follows: "Malinche! I and these chiefs are come here to wait upon you,
+and to provide all those things for you and your companions which you
+may require, and to conduct you to the quarters we have prepared for you
+in our city. All this is done at the command of our monarch, the
+powerful Motecusuma."
+
+When we contemplated the splendour and majesty of these caziques, and
+particularly of the nephew of Motecusuma, we could not help remarking to
+each other, if these appear in so much splendour what must not the power
+and majesty of the mighty Motecusuma himself be![45]
+
+When Cacamatzin had done speaking, Cortes embraced him, and said many
+fine things to this prince and the great personages around him, and
+presented the former with three pieces of polished stone, of a pearly
+hue, containing various figures in different colours;[46] and the other
+chiefs with blue glass beads. He then again thanked him for the
+attentions which Motecusuma had thus far shown him, and inquired what
+day he should be able to thank Motecusuma in person?
+
+This conference being ended, we continued our march; we were accompanied
+by the caziques who had come out to meet us and their numerous suite,
+with all the inhabitants of the surrounding neighbourhood, so that we
+could scarcely move along for the vast crowds of people.
+
+The next morning we reached the broad high road of Iztapalapan, whence
+we for the first time beheld the numbers of towns and villages built in
+the lake, and the still greater number of large townships on the
+mainland, with the level causeway which ran in a straight line into
+Mexico. Our astonishment was indeed raised to the highest pitch, and we
+could not help remarking to each other, that all these buildings
+resembled the fairy castles we read of in Amadis de Gaul; so high,
+majestic, and splendid did the temples, towers, and houses of the town,
+all built of massive stone and lime, rise up out of the midst of the
+lake. Indeed, many of our men believed what they saw was a mere dream.
+And the reader must not feel surprised at the manner in which I have
+expressed myself, for it is impossible to speak coolly of things which
+we had never seen nor heard of, nor even could have dreamt of,
+beforehand.
+
+When we approached near to Iztapalapan, two other caziques came out in
+great pomp to receive us: one was the prince of Cuitlahuac, and the
+other of Cojohuacan; both were near relatives of Motecusuma. We now
+entered the town of Iztapalapan, where we were indeed quartered in
+palaces, of large dimensions, surrounded by spacious courts, and built
+of hewn stone, cedar and other sweet-scented wood. All the apartments
+were hung round with cotton cloths.
+
+After we had seen all this, we paid a visit to the gardens adjoining
+these palaces, which were really astonishing, and I could not gratify my
+desire too much by walking about in them and contemplating the numbers
+of trees which spread around the most delicious odours; the rose bushes,
+the different flower beds, and the fruit trees which stood along the
+paths. There was likewise a basin of sweet water, which was connected
+with the lake by means of a small canal. It was constructed of stone of
+various colours, and decorated with numerous figures, and was wide
+enough to hold their largest canoes. In this basin various kinds of
+water-fowls were swimming up and down, and everything was so charming
+and beautiful that we could find no words to express our astonishment.
+Indeed I do not believe a country was ever discovered which was equal in
+splendour to this; for Peru was not known at that time. But, at the
+present moment, there is not a vestige of all this remaining, and not a
+stone of this beautiful town is now standing.[47]
+
+We had not been long here before the caziques of this town, and of
+Cojohuacan arrived with a present, worth about 2000 pesos, for which
+Cortes returned them many thanks, and showed the caziques every possible
+kindness, and explained, by means of our interpreters, many important
+things to them relative to our holy religion, and the great power of our
+emperor.
+
+Iztapalapan was at that time a town of considerable magnitude, built
+half in the water and half on dry land. The spot where it stood is at
+present all dry land; and where vessels once sailed up and down, seeds
+are sown and harvests gathered. In fact, the whole face of the country
+is so completely changed that he who had not seen these parts
+previously, would scarcely believe that waves had ever rolled over the
+spot where now fertile maise plantations extend themselves to all sides;
+so wonderfully has everything changed here in a short space of time!
+
+[43] Clavigero says, that a Mexican load was equal in weight to fifty
+Spanish pounds, or eight hundred ounces, and values the gold which
+Motecusuma offered to Cortes on this occasion at above three millions of
+ducats! (p. 216.)
+
+[44] Torquemada (Monarch. Ind. lib. iv) gives many reasons why
+Motecusuma was so undecided as to whether he should allow the Spaniards
+to enter his metropolis. (p. 216.)
+
+[45] Other writers say, that several of the Spaniards could not be
+persuaded for a length of time that it was not the monarch himself. (p.
+218.)
+
+[46] Bernal Diaz says, "Tres piedras que se llaman margaritas."
+Margarita is Spanish for a pearl; yet it is evident our old soldier is
+not speaking of pearls here, and most likely what he calls stones were
+nothing more than coloured Venetian glass, which was formerly held in
+great estimation; for in the next chapter he further describes these
+stones by "piedras de vidrio," stones of glass. (p. 218.)
+
+[47] Cortes, in his despatches, gives even a more glowing description of
+this charming spot; a strong proof that Bernal Diaz has not said too
+much of it. (p. 219.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXVIII.
+
+    _The magnificent and pompous reception which the powerful Motecusuma
+    gave to Cortes and all of us, on our entrance into the great city of
+    Mexico._
+
+
+The following morning we left Iztapalapan accompanied by all the
+principal caziques above mentioned. The road along which we marched was
+eight paces in breadth, and if I still remember ran in a perfectly
+straight line to Mexico. Notwithstanding the breadth, it was much too
+narrow to hold the vast crowds of people who continually kept arriving
+from different parts to gaze upon us, and we could scarcely move along.
+Besides this, the tops of all the temples and towers were crowded, while
+the lake beneath was completely covered with canoes filled with Indians,
+for all were curious to catch a glimpse of us. And who can wonder at
+this, as neither men like unto ourselves, nor horses, had ever been seen
+here before!
+
+When we gazed upon all this splendour at once, we scarcely knew what to
+think, and we doubted whether all that we beheld was real. A series of
+large towns stretched themselves along the banks of the lake, out of
+which still larger ones rose magnificently above the waters. Innumerable
+crowds of canoes were plying everywhere around us; at regular distances
+we continually passed over new bridges, and before us lay the great city
+of Mexico in all its splendour.
+
+And we who were gazing upon all this, passing through innumerable crowds
+of human beings, were a mere handful of men, in all 450, our minds still
+full of the warnings which the inhabitants of Huexotzinco, Tlascalla,
+and Tlalmanalco, with the caution they had given us not to expose our
+lives to the treachery of the Mexicans. I may safely ask the kind reader
+to ponder a moment, and say whether he thinks any men in this world ever
+ventured so bold a stroke as this?
+
+When we had arrived at a spot where another narrow causeway led towards
+Cojohuacan we were met by a number of caziques and distinguished
+personages, all attired in their most splendid garments. They had been
+despatched by Motecusuma to meet us and bid us welcome in his name; and
+in token of peace they touched the ground with their hands and kissed
+it. Here we halted for a few minutes, while the princes of Tetzcuco,
+Iztapalapan, Tlacupa, and Cojohuacan hastened in advance to meet
+Motecusuma, who was slowly approaching us, surrounded by other grandees
+of the kingdom, seated in a sedan of uncommon splendour. When we had
+arrived at a place not far from the town, where several small towers
+rose together, the monarch raised himself in his sedan, and the chief
+caziques supported him under the arms, and held over his head a canopy
+of exceedingly great value, decorated with green feathers, gold, silver,
+chalchihuis stones, and pearls, which hung down from a species of
+bordering, altogether curious to look at.
+
+Motecusuma himself, according to his custom, was sumptuously attired,
+had on a species of half boot, richly set with jewels, and whose soles
+were made of solid gold. The four grandees who supported him were also
+richly attired, which they must have put on somewhere on the road, in
+order to wait upon Motecusuma; they were not so sumptuously dressed when
+they first came out to meet us. Besides these distinguished caziques,
+there were many other grandees around the monarch, some of whom held the
+canopy over his head, while others again occupied the road before him,
+and spread cotton cloths on the ground that his feet might not touch the
+bare earth. No one of his suite ever looked at him full in the face;
+every one in his presence stood with eyes downcast, and it was only his
+four nephews and cousins who supported him that durst look up.
+
+When it was announced to Cortes that Motecusuma himself was approaching,
+he alighted from his horse and advanced to meet him. Many compliments
+were now passed on both sides. Motecusuma bid Cortes welcome, who,
+through Marina, said, in return, he hoped his majesty was in good
+health. If I still remember rightly, Cortes, who had Marina next to him,
+wished to concede the place of honour to the monarch, who, however,
+would not accept of it, but conceded it to Cortes, who now brought forth
+a necklace of precious stones, of the most beautiful colours and shapes,
+strung upon gold wire, and perfumed with musk, which he hung about the
+neck of Motecusuma. Our commander was then going to embrace him, but the
+grandees by whom he was surrounded held back his arms, as they
+considered it improper. Our general then desired Marina to tell the
+monarch how exceedingly he congratulated himself upon his good fortune
+of having seen such a powerful monarch face to face, and of the honour
+he had done us by coming out to meet us himself. To all this Motecusuma
+answered in very appropriate terms, and ordered his two nephews, the
+princes of Tetzcuco and Cojohuacan, to conduct us to our quarters. He
+himself returned to the city, accompanied by his two other relatives,
+the princes of Cuitlahuac and Tlacupa, with the other grandees of his
+numerous suite. As they passed by, we perceived how all those who
+composed his majesty's retinue held their heads bent forward, no one
+daring to lift up his eyes in his presence; and altogether what deep
+veneration was paid him.
+
+The road before us now became less crowded, and yet who would have been
+able to count the vast numbers of men, women, and children who filled
+the streets, crowded the balconies, and the canoes in the canals, merely
+to gaze upon us? Indeed, at the moment I am writing this, everything
+comes as lively to my eyes as if it had happened yesterday; and I daily
+become more sensible of the great mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
+he lent us sufficient strength and courage to enter this city: for my
+own person, I have particular reason to be thankful that he spared my
+life in so many perils, as the reader will sufficiently see in the
+course of this history: indeed I cannot sufficiently praise him that I
+have been allowed to live thus long to narrate these adventures,
+although they may not turn out so perfect as I myself could wish.
+
+We were quartered in a large building where there was room enough for us
+all, and which had been occupied by Axayacatl, father of Motecusuma,
+during his life-time. Here the latter had likewise a secret room full of
+treasures, and where the gold he had inherited from his father was hid,
+which he had never touched up to this moment. Near this building there
+were temples and Mexican idols, and this place had been purposely
+selected for us because we were termed teules, or were thought to be
+such, and that we might dwell among the latter as among our equals. The
+apartments and halls were very spacious, and those set apart for our
+general were furnished with carpets. There were separate beds for each
+of us, which could not have been better fitted up for a gentleman of the
+first rank. Every place was swept clean, and the walls had been newly
+plastered and decorated.[48]
+
+When we had arrived in the great courtyard adjoining this palace,
+Motecusuma came up to Cortes, and, taking him by the hand, conducted him
+himself into the apartments where he was to lodge, which had been
+beautifully decorated after the fashion of the country. He then hung
+about his neck a chaste necklace of gold, most curiously worked with
+figures all representing crabs. The Mexican grandees were greatly
+astonished at all these uncommon favours which their monarch bestowed
+upon our general.
+
+Cortes returned the monarch many thanks for so much kindness, and the
+latter took leave of him with these words: "Malinche, you and your
+brothers must now do as if you were at home, and take some rest after
+the fatigues of the journey," then returned to his own palace, which was
+close at hand.
+
+We allotted the apartments according to the several companies, placed
+our cannon in an advantageous position, and made such arrangements that
+our cavalry, as well as the infantry, might be ready at a moment's
+notice. We then sat down to a plentiful repast, which had been
+previously spread out for us, and made a sumptuous meal.
+
+This our bold and memorable entry into the large city of
+Temixtitlan-Mexico[49] took place on the 8th of November, 1519. Praise
+be to the Lord Jesus Christ for all this. If, however, I have not
+exactly related every circumstance that transpired at the moment, the
+reader must pardon me for the present.
+
+[48] Of this building Torquemada says, it contained apartments in which
+one hundred and fifty Spaniards slept, each in a separate bed; and that,
+notwithstanding the magnitude of the building, every place was kept
+remarkably clean; the floors were covered with mats, and the walls were
+hung with tapestry of cotton decorated with feathers, and in every room
+there was a fire, which threw out a delightful perfume. (p. 222.)
+
+[49] The real name was Tenuchtitlan, and it was not known by any other
+name when Cortes first visited the country; for Mexico was a more modern
+name for this city. (p. 223.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXIX.
+
+    _How Motecusuma, accompanied by several caziques, pays us a visit in
+    our quarters, and of the discourse that passed between him and our
+    general._
+
+
+After Motecusuma had dined, and was informed that we had likewise left
+table, he set out from his palace in great pomp, accompanied by a number
+of his grandees and all his relations, to pay us a visit. Cortes, being
+apprized of his approach, advanced to the middle of the apartment to
+receive him. Motecusuma took him by the hand, while others brought in a
+species of chair of great value, decorated, according to Mexican
+fashion, with gold beautifully worked into various shapes; the monarch
+then invited our general to seat himself next to him.
+
+Motecusuma then began a very excellent discourse, and, first of all,
+expressed his delight to entertain in his kingdom and city such
+courageous cavaliers as Cortes and all of us were. A couple of years ago
+he had received intelligence that some other officer had made his
+appearance in the province of Champoton; and a year later, of a second,
+who had been off the coast with four vessels. He had long desired to
+see Cortes, and, since his wishes were now fulfilled, he was ready to
+render us any services, and provide us with everything we might require.
+He was now convinced that we were those people of whom his earliest
+forefathers had spoken,--a people that would come from the rising of the
+sun and conquer these countries. After the battles we had fought at
+Potonchan, Tabasco, and those against the Tlascallans, which had been
+represented to him by pictures, all further doubt had vanished from his
+mind.[50]
+
+To which Cortes answered, that we should never be able to repay him for
+all the kindnesses he had shown us. We indeed came from the rising of
+the sun, and were servants and subjects of a powerful monarch, called
+Don Carlos, who had numerous distinguished princes among his vassals.
+Our monarch had received intelligence of him, Motecusuma, and of his
+great power, and had expressly sent us to his country to beg of him and
+his subjects to become converts to the Christian faith, for the
+salvation of their souls; and that we only adored one true God, as he
+had previously, in some degree, explained on the downs to his
+ambassadors Teuthlille, Cuitalpitoc, and Quintalbor, all of which,
+however, would be more fully explained to him at some future period.
+When this discourse was ended, Motecusuma presented to our general
+various kinds of valuable gold trinkets, and a smaller portion of the
+same kind to each of our officers, with three packages of cotton stuffs,
+splendidly interwoven with feathers; and to every soldier two similar
+packages. All this he gave with every appearance of delight, and in all
+he did he showed his excellent breeding. He likewise inquired, after the
+presents had been distributed, whether we were all brothers, and
+subjects of our great emperor? To which Cortes replied in the
+affirmative, assuring him we were all united in love and friendship
+towards each other. In this way a pleasant discourse was kept up between
+Motecusuma and Cortes, though it was of short duration, as this was the
+monarch's first visit, and he was unwilling to be too troublesome thus
+early. He then ordered his house steward to provide us the necessary
+provisions, consisting in maise, fowls, and fruits, and also grass for
+our horses; to furnish women to grind our corn with stones, and bake the
+bread: after which the monarch took leave of us with great courtesy,
+Cortes and all of us conducting him to the door.
+
+Our general now issued strict commands that no one should stir from
+head-quarters until we had gained some certain knowledge as to how
+matters really stood.
+
+[50] Cortes, in his despatches to the emperor, says that the monarch
+spoke as follows to him: "We have long known, from the historical books
+of our forefathers, that neither I, nor the inhabitants of this country,
+originally belonged to it, but that our forefathers came from distant
+countries. We also know that the tribe we belong to was brought hither
+by a monarch to whom it was subject; but this king returned to his own
+country, nor did he return to visit his people till several years had
+elapsed, after they had married the daughters of the land, and got large
+families by them. The monarch came with the view of leading them back to
+their old country again; however, they not only refused to accompany
+them, but would no longer acknowledge him as their king. We have always
+firmly believed that descendants of this monarch would one time or other
+make their appearance among us, and obtain the dominion of the country.
+As you, according to your assurances, come from the rising of the sun,
+we doubt not, after what you have told us of your great monarch, who
+sent you here, that he is our rightful sovereign; and we have the more
+reason to believe this, since you tell us that he had some previous
+knowledge of us." (p. 224.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XC.
+
+    _How our general, the day following, paid a visit to Motecusuma, and
+    of the discourse that passed between them._
+
+
+The next day Cortes determined to visit Motecusuma in his own palace. He
+therefore first sent to inquire after his health, and whether it would
+be agreeable to the monarch to receive a visit from him. Our general
+took with him four of our principal officers, namely, Alvarado, Leon,
+Ordas, and Sandoval, besides five soldiers, of whom I was one.
+
+When our arrival was announced to Motecusuma, he advanced to the middle
+of the apartment to meet us, being solely attended by his nephew, as the
+other grandees were only allowed to enter his apartments upon very
+important occasions. After the first compliments had passed between the
+monarch and our general, they shook hands, and Motecusuma conducted
+Cortes to an elevated seat, and placed him at his right hand. The rest
+of us were also desired to sit down on chairs which were brought in for
+us. Cortes then, by means of our interpreters, addressed Motecusuma at
+considerable length: "He said that all his and our wishes were now
+fulfilled, as he had reached the end of his journey, and obeyed the
+commands of our great emperor. There only now remained to disclose to
+him the commandments of our God. We were Christians, believing in one
+true God only, Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for our salvation. We
+prayed to the cross as an emblem of that cross on which our Lord and
+Saviour was crucified. By his death the whole human race was saved. He
+rose on the third day, and was received into heaven. By him, heaven,
+earth, and sea, and every living creature was formed: and nothing
+existed but by his divine will. Those figures, on the contrary, which he
+considered as gods, were no gods, but devils, which were evil spirits.
+It was very evident how powerless and what miserable things they were,
+since in all those places where we had planted the cross, those gods no
+longer durst make their appearance. Of this his ambassadors were fully
+convinced, and he himself would, in the course of time, be convinced of
+this truth. He begged he would also pay particular attention to
+something else he had to communicate." Here Cortes very intelligently
+explained to him how the world was created, how all people were
+brothers, and sons of one father and mother, called Adam and Eve; and
+how grieved our emperor was to think that so many human souls should be
+lost, and sent to hell by those false idols, where they would be
+tormented by everlasting fire; for this reason he had sent us hither to
+put an end to so much misery, and to exhort the inhabitants of this
+country no longer to adore such gods, nor sacrifice human beings to
+them; and also to abstain from robbery and committing unnatural
+offences. In a very short time our emperor would send to this country
+men of great piety and virtue, of whom there were numbers in our
+country, and who would explain these things more fully to them. Of all
+this we were merely the first messengers, and could only beg of them to
+support us in our labours, and assist us in their completion.
+
+As Motecusuma was about to answer, Cortes stopped short, and, turning to
+us, said, "Verily, I am determined they shall comply with this, and let
+this be the commencement of our work!"
+
+Motecusuma, in reply, expressed himself as follows: "Malinche! What you
+have just been telling me of your God has, indeed, been mentioned to me
+before by my servants, to whom you made similar disclosures immediately
+upon your arrival off the coast. Neither am I ignorant of what you have
+stated concerning the cross and everything else in the towns you passed
+through. We, however, maintained silence, as the gods we adore were
+adored in bygone ages by our ancestors. We have, once for all,
+acknowledged them as good deities, in the same way as you have yours,
+and therefore let us talk no further on this subject. Respecting the
+creation of the world, we likewise believe it was created many ages ago.
+We likewise believe that you are those people whom our ancestors
+prophecied would come from the rising of the sun, and I feel myself
+indebted to your great emperor, to whom I will send a present of the
+most valuable things I possess. It is now two years ago that I received
+the first intelligence of him by some vessels which appeared off my
+coast belonging to your country, the people on board of which likewise
+called themselves subjects of your great emperor. Tell me, now, do you
+really all belong to the same people?"
+
+Cortes assured him we were all servants of the same great emperor; that
+those vessels were merely sent out in advance to explore the seas and
+the harbours, to make the necessary preparations for our present
+expedition.
+
+Motecusuma likewise remarked that then even he had contemplated allowing
+some of those men to penetrate into the interior of his country, from
+his great desire to see them, and had intended to pay them great
+honours. Since the gods had now fulfilled his greatest desires, and we
+now inhabited his dwellings, which we might look upon as our own, we
+could rest from our fatigues, and enjoy ourselves, and we should not
+want for anything. Although he had sometimes sent us word not to repair
+to his metropolis, he had done so with great reluctance. He had been
+forced to act so on account of his subjects, who stood in great awe of
+us, and believed that we whirled fire and lightning around us, and
+killed numbers of men with our horses; that we were wild and unruly
+teules, and such like nonsense: as he had now gained personal knowledge
+of us, and convinced himself that we were likewise formed of flesh and
+bone, and men of great understanding, with great courage, he entertained
+even a more elevated opinion of us than he had previously, and was ready
+to share all he possessed with us.
+
+Upon this, Cortes assured him that we felt ourselves vastly indebted to
+him for the very kind feeling he evinced on our behalf.
+
+Motecusuma, who was always of a merry disposition, though never, for an
+instant, forgetful of his high station, now continued in a more humorous
+style, as follows: "I am perfectly well aware, Malinche, what the people
+of Tlascalla, with whom you are so closely allied, have been telling you
+respecting myself. They have made you believe that I am a species of
+god, or teule, and that my palaces are filled with gold, silver, and
+jewels. I do not think, for an instant, that reasonable men as you are
+can put any faith in all their talk, but that you look upon all this as
+nonsense: besides which, you can now convince yourself, Malinche, that I
+am made of flesh and bone as you are, and that my palaces are built of
+stone, lime, and wood. I am, to be sure, a powerful monarch; it is
+likewise true that I have inherited vast treasures from my ancestors;
+but with regard to anything else they may have told you respecting me,
+it is all nonsense. You must just think of that as I think of the
+lightning and burning flames which you are said to whirl about in all
+directions."
+
+To this Cortes answered, likewise laughingly, "We knew, from old
+experience, that enemies neither tell the truth nor speak well of each
+other. We had, however, long ago convinced ourselves that there was not
+another such a noble-minded and illustrious monarch as himself in this
+quarter of the world, and that the great idea our emperor had formed of
+him was well founded."
+
+During this discourse, Motecusuma secretly desired his nephew to order
+his house-steward to bring in some gold trinkets and ten packages of
+fine stuffs, which he divided among Cortes and the four officers who
+were present. We five soldiers obtained each two gold chains for the
+neck, in value about ten pesos each, besides two packages of cotton
+stuffs.
+
+The gold which Motecusuma gave away upon this occasion was estimated at
+above 1000 pesos. But what was more, everything he gave away was given
+with the best of good will, and with an air of dignity which you might
+expect in so great a monarch.[51]
+
+As it was already past noon, Cortes began to fear that any longer stay
+might be troublesome to the monarch, and said to him, in rising from his
+seat, "We are daily becoming more and more indebted to your majesty for
+so many kindnesses; at present it is time to think of dinner."
+
+The monarch, in return, thanked us for our visit, and we took leave of
+each other in the most courteous manner imaginable. We now returned to
+our quarters, and acquainted our fellow-soldiers with the kind reception
+the monarch had given us.
+
+[51] Torquemada relates that the monarch had made minute inquiries of
+the interpreters respecting the rank of each Spaniard, and that the
+value of the presents he intended to give them was to be according to
+their respective ranks. (p. 228.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCI.
+
+    _Of Motecusuma's person, disposition, habits, and of his great
+    power._
+
+
+The mighty Motecusuma may have been about this time in the fortieth year
+of his age. He was tall of stature, of slender make, and rather thin,
+but the symmetry of his body was beautiful. His complexion was not very
+brown, merely approaching to that of the inhabitants in general. The
+hair of his head was not very long, excepting where it hung thickly down
+over his ears, which were quite hidden by it. His black beard, though
+thin, looked handsome. His countenance was rather of an elongated form,
+but cheerful; and his fine eyes had the expression of love or severity,
+at the proper moments. He was particularly clean in his person, and took
+a bath every evening. Besides a number of concubines, who were all
+daughters of persons of rank and quality, he had two lawful wives of
+royal extraction, whom, however, he visited secretly without any one
+daring to observe it, save his most confidential servants. He was
+perfectly innocent of any unnatural crimes. The dress he had on one day
+was not worn again until four days had elapsed. In the halls adjoining
+his own private apartments there was always a guard of 2000 men of
+quality, in waiting: with whom, however, he never held any conversation
+unless to give them orders or to receive some intelligence from them.
+Whenever for this purpose they entered his apartment, they had first to
+take off their rich costumes and put on meaner garments, though these
+were always neat and clean; and were only allowed to enter into his
+presence barefooted, with eyes cast down. No person durst look at him
+full in the face, and during the three prostrations which they were
+obliged to make before they could approach him, they pronounced these
+words: "Lord! my Lord! sublime Lord!" Everything that was communicated
+to him was to be said in few words, the eyes of the speaker being
+constantly cast down, and on leaving the monarch's presence he walked
+backwards out of the room. I also remarked that even princes and other
+great personages who come to Mexico respecting lawsuits, or on other
+business from the interior of the country, always took off their shoes
+and changed their whole dress for one of a meaner appearance when they
+entered his palace. Neither were they allowed to enter the palace
+straightway, but had to show themselves for a considerable time outside
+the doors; as it would have been considered want of respect to the
+monarch if this had been omitted.
+
+Above 300 kinds of dishes were served up for Motecusuma's dinner from
+his kitchen, underneath which were placed pans of porcelain filled with
+fire, to keep them warm. Three hundred dishes of various kinds were
+served up for him alone, and above 1000 for the persons in waiting. He
+sometimes, but very seldom, accompanied by the chief officers of his
+household, ordered the dinner himself, and desired that the best dishes
+and various kinds of birds should be called over to him. We were told
+that the flesh of young children, as a very dainty bit, was also set
+before him sometimes by way of a relish. Whether there was any truth in
+this we could not possibly discover; on account of the great variety of
+dishes, consisting in fowls, turkeys, pheasants, partridges, quails,
+tame and wild geese, venison, musk swine, pigeons, hares, rabbits, and
+of numerous other birds and beasts; besides which there were various
+other kinds of provisions, indeed it would have been no easy task to
+call them all over by name. This I know, however, for certain, that
+after Cortes had reproached him for the human sacrifices and the eating
+of human flesh, he issued orders that no dishes of that nature should
+again be brought to his table. I will, however, drop this subject, and
+rather relate how the monarch was waited on while he sat at dinner. If
+the weather was cold a large fire was made with a kind of charcoal made
+of the bark of trees, which emitted no smoke, but threw out a delicious
+perfume; and that his majesty might not feel any inconvenience from too
+great a heat, a screen was placed between his person and the fire, made
+of gold, and adorned with all manner of figures of their gods. The chair
+on which he sat was rather low, but supplied with soft cushions, and was
+beautifully carved; the table was very little higher than this, but
+perfectly corresponded with his seat. It was covered with white cloths,
+and one of a larger size. Four very neat and pretty young women held
+before the monarch a species of round pitcher, called by them Xicales,
+filled with water to wash his hands in. The water was caught in other
+vessels, and then the young women presented him with towels to dry his
+hands. Two other women brought him maise-bread baked with eggs. Before,
+however, Motecusuma began his dinner, a kind of wooden screen, strongly
+gilt, was placed before him, that no one might see him while eating, and
+the young women stood at a distance. Next four elderly men, of high
+rank, were admitted to his table; whom he addressed from time to time,
+or put some questions to them. Sometimes he would offer them a plate of
+some of his viands, which was considered a mark of great favour. These
+grey-headed old men, who were so highly honoured, were, as we
+subsequently learnt, his nearest relations, most trustworthy counsellors
+and chief justices. Whenever he ordered any victuals to be presented
+them, they ate it standing, in the deepest veneration, though without
+daring to look at him full in the face. The dishes in which the dinner
+was served up were of variegated and black porcelain, made at Cholulla.
+While the monarch was at table, his courtiers, and those who were in
+waiting in the halls adjoining, had to maintain strict silence.
+
+After the hot dishes had been removed, every kind of fruit which the
+country produced was set on the table; of which, however, Motecusuma ate
+very little. Every now and then was handed to him a golden pitcher
+filled with a kind of liquor made from the cacao, which is of a very
+exciting nature.[52] Though we did not pay any particular attention to
+the circumstance at the time, yet I saw about fifty large pitchers
+filled with the same liquor brought in all frothy. This beverage was
+also presented to the monarch by women, but all with the profoundest
+veneration.
+
+Sometimes during dinner time, he would have ugly Indian humpbacked
+dwarfs, who acted as buffoons and performed antics for his amusement. At
+another time he would have jesters to enliven him with their witticisms.
+Others again danced and sung before him. Motecusuma took great delight
+in these entertainments, and ordered the broken victuals and pitchers of
+cacao liquor to be distributed among these performers. As soon as he had
+finished his dinner the four women cleared the cloths and brought him
+water to wash his hands. During this interval he discoursed a little
+with the four old men, and then left table to enjoy his afternoon's nap.
+
+After the monarch had dined, dinner was served up for the men on duty
+and the other officers of his household, and I have often counted more
+than 1000 dishes on the table, of the kinds above mentioned. These were
+then followed, according to the Mexican custom, by the frothing jugs of
+cacao liquor; certainly 2000 of them, after which came different kinds
+of fruit in great abundance.
+
+Next the women dined, who superintended the baking department; and those
+who made the cacao liquor, with the young women who waited upon the
+monarch. Indeed, the daily expense of these dinners alone must have been
+very great!
+
+Besides these servants there were numerous butlers, house-stewards,
+treasurers, cooks, and superintendents of maise-magazines. Indeed there
+is so much to be said about these that I scarcely knew where to
+commence, and we could not help wondering that everything was done with
+such perfect order. I had almost forgotten to mention, that during
+dinner-time, two other young women of great beauty brought the monarch
+small cakes, as white as snow, made of eggs and other very nourishing
+ingredients, on plates covered with clean napkins; also a kind of
+long-shaped bread, likewise made of very substantial things, and some
+pachol, which is a kind of wafer-cake. They then presented him with
+three beautifully painted and gilt tubes, which were filled with liquid
+amber, and a herb called by the Indians tabaco. After the dinner had
+been cleared away and the singing and dancing done, one of these tubes
+was lighted, and the monarch took the smoke into his mouth, and after he
+had done this a short time, he fell asleep.[53]
+
+About this time a celebrated cazique, whom we called Tapia, was
+Motecusuma's chief steward: he kept an account of the whole of
+Motecusuma's revenue, in large books of paper which the Mexicans call
+_Amatl_. A whole house was filled with such large books of accounts.[54]
+
+Motecusuma had also two arsenals filled with arms of every description,
+of which many were ornamented with gold and precious stones. These arms
+consisted in shields of different sizes, sabres, and a species of
+broadsword, which is wielded with both hands, the edge furnished with
+flint stones, so extremely sharp that they cut much better than our
+Spanish swords:[55] further, lances of greater length than ours, with
+spikes at their end, full one fathom in length, likewise furnished with
+several sharp flint stones. The pikes are so very sharp and hard that
+they will pierce the strongest shield, and cut like a razor; so that the
+Mexicans even shave themselves with these stones. Then there were
+excellent bows and arrows, pikes with single and double points, and the
+proper thongs to throw them with; slings with round stones purposely
+made for them; also a species of large shield, so ingeniously
+constructed that it could be rolled up when not wanted: they are only
+unrolled on the field of battle, and completely cover the whole body
+from the head to the feet. Further, we saw here a great variety of
+cuirasses made of quilted cotton, which were outwardly adorned with soft
+feathers of different colours, and looked like uniforms; morions and
+helmets constructed of wood and bones, likewise adorned with feathers.
+There were always artificers at work, who continually augmented this
+store of arms; and the arsenals were under the care of particular
+personages, who also superintended the works.
+
+Motecusuma had likewise a variety of aviaries, and it is indeed with
+difficulty that I constrain myself from going into too minute a detail
+respecting these. I will confine myself by stating that we saw here
+every kind of eagle, from the king's eagle to the smallest kind
+included, and every species of bird, from the largest known to the
+little colibris, in their full splendour of plumage. Here were also to
+be seen those birds from which the Mexicans take the green-coloured
+feathers of which they manufacture their beautiful feathered stuffs.
+These last-mentioned birds very much resemble our Spanish jays, and are
+called by the Indians quezales. The species of sparrows were
+particularly curious, having five distinct colours in their
+plumage--green, red, white, yellow, and blue; I have, however, forgotten
+their Mexican name. There were such vast numbers of parrots, and such a
+variety of species, that I cannot remember all their names; and geese of
+the richest plumage, and other large birds. These were, at stated
+periods, stripped of their feathers, in order that new ones might grow
+in their place. All these birds had appropriate places to breed in, and
+were under the care of several Indians of both sexes, who had to keep
+the nests clean, give to each kind its proper food, and set the birds
+for breeding. In the courtyard belonging to this building, there was a
+large basin of sweet water, in which, besides other water fowls, there
+was a particularly beautiful bird, with long legs, its body, wings, and
+tail variously coloured, and is called at Cuba, where it is also found,
+the ipiris.
+
+In another large building, numbers of idols were erected, and these, it
+is said, were the most terrible of all their gods. Near these were kept
+all manner of beautiful animals, tigers, lions of two different kinds,
+of which one had the shape of a wolf, and was called a jackal; there
+were also foxes, and other small beasts of prey. Most of these animals
+had been bred here, and were fed with wild deers' flesh, turkeys, dogs,
+and sometimes, as I have been assured, with the offal of human beings.
+
+Respecting the abominable human sacrifices of these people, the
+following was communicated to us: The breast of the unhappy victim
+destined to be sacrificed was ripped open with a knife made of sharp
+flint; the throbbing heart was then torn out, and immediately offered to
+the idol-god in whose honour the sacrifice had been instituted. After
+this, the head, arms, and legs were cut off and eaten at their banquets,
+with the exception of the head, which was saved, and hung to a beam
+appropriated for that purpose. No other part of the body was eaten, but
+the remainder was thrown to the beasts which were kept in those
+abominable dens, in which there were also vipers and other poisonous
+serpents, and, among the latter in particular, a species at the end of
+whose tail there was a kind of rattle. This last-mentioned serpent,
+which is the most dangerous, was kept in a cabin of a diversified form,
+in which a quantity of feathers had been strewed: here it laid its eggs,
+and it was fed with the flesh of dogs and of human beings who had been
+sacrificed. We were positively told that, after we had been beaten out
+of the city of Mexico, and had lost 850 of our men, these horrible
+beasts were fed for many successive days with the bodies of our
+unfortunate countrymen. Indeed, when all the tigers and lions roared
+together, with the howlings of the jackals and foxes, and hissing of the
+serpents, it was quite fearful, and you could not suppose otherwise than
+that you were in hell.
+
+I will now, however, turn to another subject, and rather acquaint my
+readers with the skilful arts practised among the Mexicans: among which
+I will first mention the sculptors, and the gold and silversmiths, who
+were clever in working and smelting gold, and would have astonished the
+most celebrated of our Spanish goldsmiths: the number of these was very
+great, and the most skilful lived at a place called Escapuzalco, about
+four miles from Mexico. After these came the very skilful masters in
+cutting and polishing precious stones, and the chalchihuis, which
+resemble the emerald. Then follow the great masters in painting, and
+decorators in feathers, and the wonderful sculptors. Even at this day
+there are living in Mexico three Indian artists, named Marcos de Aguino,
+Juan de la Cruz, and El Crespello, who have severally reached to such
+great proficiency in the art of painting and sculpture, that they may be
+compared to an Apelles, or our contemporaries Michael Angelo and
+Berruguete.[56]
+
+The women were particularly skilful in weaving and embroidery, and they
+manufactured quantities of the finest stuffs, interwoven with feathers.
+The commoner stuffs, for daily use, came from some townships in the
+province of Costatlan, which lay on the north coast, not far from Vera
+Cruz, where we first landed with Cortes.
+
+The concubines in the palace of Motecusuma, who were all daughters of
+distinguished men, were employed in manufacturing the most beautiful
+stuffs, interwoven with feathers. Similar manufactures were made by
+certain kind of women who dwelt secluded in cloisters, as our nuns do.
+Of these nuns there were great numbers, and they lived in the
+neighbourhood of the great temple of Huitzilopochtli. Fathers sometimes
+brought their daughters from a pious feeling, or in honour of some
+female idol, the protectress of marriage, into these habitations, where
+they remained until they were married.
+
+The powerful Motecusuma had also a number of dancers and clowns: some
+danced in stilts, tumbled, and performed a variety of other antics for
+the monarch's entertainment: a whole quarter of the city was inhabited
+by these performers, and their only occupation consisted in such like
+performances. Lastly, Motecusuma had in his service great numbers of
+stone-cutters, masons, and carpenters, who were solely employed in the
+royal palaces.[57] Above all, I must not forget to mention here his
+gardens for the culture of flowers, trees, and vegetables, of which
+there were various kinds. In these gardens were also numerous baths,
+wells, basins, and ponds full of limpid water, which regularly ebbed and
+flowed. All this was enlivened by endless varieties of small birds,
+which sang among the trees. Also the plantations of medical plants and
+vegetables are well worthy of our notice: these were kept in proper
+order by a large body of gardeners. All the baths, wells, ponds, and
+buildings were substantially constructed of stonework, as also the
+theatres where the singers and dancers performed. There were upon the
+whole so many remarkable things for my observation in these gardens and
+throughout the whole town, that I can scarcely find words to express the
+astonishment I felt at the pomp and splendour of the Mexican monarch.
+
+In the meantime, I am become as tired in noting down these things as the
+kind reader will be in perusing them: I will, therefore, close this
+chapter, and acquaint the reader how our general, accompanied by many of
+his officers, went to view the Tlatelulco, or great square of Mexico; on
+which occasion we also ascended the great temple, where stood the idols
+Tetzcatlipuca and Huitzilopochtli. This was the first time Cortes left
+his head-quarters to perambulate the city.
+
+[52] This was something like our chocolate, and prepared in the same
+way, but with this difference, that it was mixed with the boiled dough
+of maise, and was drunk cold. (p. 230.)
+
+[53] Respecting the custom of smoking among the Mexicans, Humboldt gives
+the following, in his work on New Spain: "The Mexicans called tobacco
+_yetl_, which they not only considered a remedy against toothach, cold
+in the head, and bowel complaints, but they likewise used it as a
+luxury, by smoking and snuffing it. At Motecusuma's court it was used as
+a narcotic, not only after dinner, but also after breakfast, to produce
+a comfortable nap, as is still the custom in many districts of America.
+The leaves were rolled together like cigars, and then stuck in tubes
+made of silver, wood, or of shell." (p. 231.)
+
+[54] The revenue of Motecusuma we know consisted of the natural products
+of the country, and what was produced by the industry of his subjects.
+Respecting the payment of tribute, we find the following story in
+Torquemada: "During the abode of Motecusuma among the Spaniards, in the
+palace of his father, Alonso de Ojeda one day espied in a certain
+apartment of the building a number of small bags tied up. He imagined at
+first that they were filled with gold dust, but on opening one of them,
+what was his astonishment to find it quite full of lice? Ojeda, greatly
+surprised at the discovery he had made, immediately communicated what he
+had seen to Cortes, who then asked Marina and Aguilar for some
+explanation. They informed him that the Mexicans had such a sense of
+their duty to pay tribute to their monarch, that the poorest and meanest
+of the inhabitants, if they possessed nothing better to present to their
+king, daily cleaned their persons, and saved all the lice they caught,
+and that when they had a good store of these, they laid them in bags at
+the feet of their monarch. Torquemada further remarks, that his reader
+might think these bags were filled with small worms (gasanillos), and
+not with lice; but appeals to Alonso de Ojeda, and another of Cortes'
+soldiers, named Alonso de Mata, who were eyewitnesses of the fact."
+
+This story, no doubt, is founded on something like truth, and most
+probably these bags were filled with the coccus cacti, the famous
+cochineal insect, then unknown to the Spaniards, who might easily have
+mistaken them in a dried state for lice. (p. 231.)
+
+[55] This weapon, called by the Mexicans maquahuitl, was much dreaded by
+the Spaniards; and the historian Acosta relates that the Mexicans would
+cut off the head of a horse with it at one blow. (p. 231.)
+
+[56] Alonso Berruguete, a Spanish artist, who rose to great eminence in
+painting, architecture, and sculpture. He received great protection from
+Charles the Fifth, who employed him in considerable works in the
+Alhambra of Granada and elsewhere. (p. 233.)
+
+[57] Bernal Diaz, unfortunately, gives no description of Motecusuma's
+palace; we will therefore give Torquemada's account of this remarkable
+building. He himself, however, never saw it, but chiefly gained his
+information from the Mexicans themselves, who may have exaggerated a
+little: Motecusuma's palace had twenty doors, which either opened into
+the large square or into the principal streets of the city; it had three
+large courts, and in one of them was a tank, supplied with water by the
+aqueduct of Chapultepec. The palace contained a number of halls, and a
+hundred rooms twenty-five feet long and as many broad, each provided
+with a bath. Everything was built of stone and lime. The walls were
+covered with beautiful stones, marble, jasper, porphyry, and a block
+stone, which is so highly polished that you might use it for a
+looking-glass; besides these, there was a white stone, almost
+transparent. All the woodwork was made of white cedar, palm, cypress,
+pine, and other fine woods, adorned with beautiful carved-work. In one
+of the apartments, which was one hundred and fifty feet long and fifty
+broad, was Motecusuma's chapel, which was covered with plates of gold
+and silver almost the thickness of a finger, besides that it was
+decorated with innumerable emeralds, rubies, topaz, and other precious
+stones. (p. 235.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCII.
+
+    _Our general takes a walk through Mexico, and views the Tlatelulco,
+    (the great square,) and the chief temple of Huitzilopochtli._
+
+
+We had already been four days in the city of Mexico, and neither our
+commander nor any of us had, during that time, left our quarters,
+excepting to visit the gardens and buildings adjoining the palace.
+Cortes now, therefore, determined to view the city, and visit the great
+market, and the chief temple of Huitzilopochtli: he accordingly sent
+Geronimo Aguilar, Doña Marina, and one of his pages named Orteguilla,
+who, by this time, understood a little of the Mexican language, to
+Motecusuma, to request his permission to view the different buildings of
+the city. Motecusuma, in his answer to this, certainly granted us
+permission to go where we pleased, yet he was apprehensive we might
+commit some outrage to one or other of his idols: he, therefore,
+resolved to accompany us himself, with some of his principal officers,
+and, for this purpose, left his palace with a pompous retinue. Having
+arrived at a spot about half way between his palace and a temple, he
+stepped out of his sedan, as he would have deemed it a want of respect
+towards his gods to approach them any otherwise than on foot. He leant
+upon the arms of the principal officers of his court; others walked
+before him, holding up on high two rods, having the appearance of
+sceptres, which was a sign that the monarch was approaching. He himself,
+whenever he was carried in his sedan, held a short staff in his hand,
+one half of gold, the other of wood, very much like that used by our
+judges. In this way he came up to the temple, which he ascended, in
+company with many papas. On reaching the summit he immediately began to
+perfume Huitzilopochtli, and to perform other ceremonies.
+
+Our commander, attended by the greater part of our cavalry and foot, all
+well armed, as, indeed, we were at all times, had proceeded to the
+Tlatelulco: by command of Motecusuma, a number of caziques had come to
+meet us on our road there. The moment we arrived in this immense market,
+we were perfectly astonished at the vast numbers of people, the
+profusion of merchandise which was there exposed for sale, and at the
+good police and order that reigned throughout. The grandees who
+accompanied us drew our attention to the smallest circumstance, and gave
+us full explanation of all we saw. Every species of merchandise had a
+separate spot for its sale. We first of all visited those divisions of
+the market appropriated for the sale of gold and silver wares, of
+jewels, of cloths interwoven with feathers, and of other manufactured
+goods; besides slaves of both sexes. This slave market was upon as great
+a scale as the Portuguese market for negro slaves at Guinea. To prevent
+these from running away, they were fastened with halters about their
+neck, though some were allowed to walk at large. Next to these came the
+dealers in coarser wares--cotton, twisted thread, and cacao. In short,
+every species of goods which New Spain produces were here to be found;
+and everything put me in mind of my native town Medina del Campo during
+fair time, where every merchandise has a separate street assigned for
+its sale. In one place were sold the stuffs manufactured of nequen;
+ropes, and sandals; in another place, the sweet maguey root, ready
+cooked, and various other things made from this plant. In another
+division of the market were exposed the skins of tigers, lions, jackals,
+otters, red deer, wild cats, and of other beasts of prey, some of which
+were tanned. In another place were sold beans and sage, with other herbs
+and vegetables. A particular market was assigned for the merchants in
+fowls, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, hares, deer, and dogs; also for
+fruit-sellers, pastry-cooks, and tripe-sellers. Not far from these were
+exposed all manner of earthenware, from the large earthen cauldron to
+the smallest pitchers. Then came the dealers in honey and honey-cakes,
+and other sweetmeats. Next to these, the timber-merchants,
+furniture-dealers, with their stores of tables, benches, cradles, and
+all sorts of wooden implements, all separately arranged. What can I
+further add? If I am to note everything down, I must also mention human
+excrements, which were exposed for sale in canoes lying in the canals
+near this square, and is used for the tanning of leather; for, according
+to the assurances of the Mexicans, it is impossible to tan well without
+it. I can easily imagine that many of my readers will laugh at this;
+however, what I have stated is a fact, and, as further proof of this, I
+must acquaint the reader that along every road accommodations were built
+of reeds, straw, or grass, by which those who made use of them were
+hidden from the view of the passers-by, so that great care was taken
+that none of the last-mentioned treasures should be lost. But why should
+I so minutely detail every article exposed for sale in this great
+market? If I had to enumerate everything singly, I should not so easily
+get to the end. And yet I have not mentioned the paper, which in this
+country is called amatl; the tubes filled with liquid amber and tobacco;
+the various sweet-scented salves, and similar things; nor the various
+seeds which were exposed for sale in the porticoes of this market, nor
+the medicinal herbs.
+
+In this market-place there were also courts of justice, to which three
+judges and several constables were appointed, who inspected the goods
+exposed for sale. I had almost forgotten to mention the salt, and those
+who made the flint knives; also the fish, and a species of bread made of
+a kind of mud or slime collected from the surface of this lake, and
+eaten in that form, and has a similar taste to our cheese.[58] Further,
+instruments of brass, copper, and tin; cups, and painted pitchers of
+wood: indeed, I wish I had completed the enumeration of all this
+profusion of merchandise. The variety was so great that it would occupy
+more space than I can well spare to note them down in; besides which,
+the market was so crowded with people, and the thronging so excessive in
+the porticoes, that it was quite impossible to see all in one day.
+
+On our proceeding to the great temple, and passing the courtyards
+adjoining the market, we observed numbers of other merchants, who dealt
+in gold dust as it is dug out of the mines, which was exposed to sale in
+tubes made of the bones of large geese, which had been worked to such a
+thin substance, and were so white that the gold shone through them. The
+value of these tubes of gold was estimated according to their length and
+thickness, and were taken in exchange, for instance, for so many
+mantles, xiquipiles[59] of cacao[60] nuts, slaves, or other merchandise.
+
+On quitting the market, we entered the spacious yards which surround the
+chief temple. These appeared to encompass more ground than the
+market-place at Salamanca, and were surrounded by a double wall,
+constructed of stone and lime: these yards were paved with large white
+flag-stones, extremely smooth; and where these were wanting, a kind of
+brown plaster had been used instead, and all was kept so very clean that
+there was not the smallest particle of dust or straw to be seen
+anywhere.
+
+Before we mounted the steps of the great temple, Motecusuma, who was
+sacrificing on the top to his idols, sent six papas and two of his
+principal officers to conduct Cortes up the steps. There were 114 steps
+to the summit, and, as they feared that Cortes would experience the same
+fatigue in mounting as Motecusuma had, they were going to assist him by
+taking hold of his arms. Cortes, however, would not accept of their
+proffered aid. When we had reached the summit of the temple, we walked
+across a platform where many large stones were lying, on which those who
+were doomed for sacrifice were stretched out. Near these stood a large
+idol, in the shape of a dragon, surrounded by various other abominable
+figures, with a quantity of fresh blood lying in front of it. Motecusuma
+himself stepped out of a chapel, in which his cursed gods were
+standing, accompanied by two papas, and received Cortes and the whole of
+us very courteously. "Ascending this temple, Malinche," said he to our
+commander, "must certainly have fatigued you!" Cortes, however, assured
+him, through our interpreters, that it was not possible for anything to
+tire us. Upon this the monarch took hold of his hand and invited him to
+look down and view his vast metropolis, with the towns which were built
+in the lake, and the other towns which surrounded the city. Motecusuma
+also observed, that from this place we should have a better view of the
+great market.
+
+Indeed, this infernal temple, from its great height, commanded a view of
+the whole surrounding neighbourhood. From this place we could likewise
+see the three causeways which led into Mexico,--that from Iztapalapan,
+by which we had entered the city four days ago; that from Tlacupa, along
+which we took our flight eight months after, when we were beaten out of
+the city by the new monarch Cuitlahuatzin; the third was that of
+Tepeaquilla. We also observed the aqueduct which ran from Chapultepec,
+and provided the whole town with sweet water. We could also distinctly
+see the bridges across the openings, by which these causeways were
+intersected, and through which the waters of the lake ebbed and flowed.
+The lake itself was crowded with canoes, which were bringing provisions,
+manufactures, and other merchandise to the city. From here we also
+discovered that the only communication of the houses in this city, and
+of all the other towns built in the lake, was by means of drawbridges or
+canoes. In all these towns the beautiful white plastered temples rose
+above the smaller ones, like so many towers and castles in our Spanish
+towns, and this, it may be imagined, was a splendid sight.
+
+After we had sufficiently gazed upon this magnificent picture, we again
+turned our eyes toward the great market, and beheld the vast numbers of
+buyers and sellers who thronged there. The bustle and noise occasioned
+by this multitude of human beings was so great that it could be heard at
+a distance of more than four miles. Some of our men, who had been at
+Constantinople and Rome, and travelled through the whole of Italy, said
+that they never had seen a market-place of such large dimensions,[61] or
+which was so well regulated, or so crowded with people as this one at
+Mexico.
+
+On this occasion Cortes said to father Olmedo, who had accompanied us:
+"I have just been thinking that we should take this opportunity, and
+apply to Motecusuma for permission to build a church here."
+
+To which father Olmedo replied, that it would, no doubt, be an excellent
+thing if the monarch would grant this; but that it would be acting
+overhasty to make a proposition of that nature to him now, whose consent
+would not easily be gained at any time.
+
+Cortes then turned to Motecusuma, and said to him, by means of our
+interpretress, Doña Marina: "Your majesty is, indeed, a great monarch,
+and you merit to be still greater! It has been a real delight to us to
+view all your cities. I have now one favour to beg of you, that you
+would allow us to see your gods and teules."
+
+To which Motecusuma answered, that he must first consult his chief
+papas, to whom he then addressed a few words. Upon this, we were led
+into a kind of small tower, with one room, in which we saw two basements
+resembling altars, decked with coverings of extreme beauty. On each of
+these basements stood a gigantic, fat-looking figure, of which the one
+on the right hand represented the god of war Huitzilopochtli. This idol
+had a very broad face, with distorted and furious-looking eyes, and was
+covered all over with jewels, gold, and pearls, which were stuck to it
+by means of a species of paste, which, in this country, is prepared from
+a certain root. Large serpents, likewise, covered with gold and precious
+stones, wound round the body of this monster, which held in one hand a
+bow, and in the other a bunch of arrows. Another small idol which stood
+by its side, representing its page, carried this monster's short spear,
+and its golden shield studded with precious stones. Around
+Huitzilopochtli's neck were figures representing human faces and hearts
+made of gold and silver, and decorated with blue stones. In front of him
+stood several perfuming pans with copal, the incense of the country;
+also the hearts of three Indians, who had that day been slaughtered,
+were now consuming before him as a burnt-offering. Every wall of this
+chapel and the whole floor had become almost black with human blood, and
+the stench was abominable.
+
+On the left hand stood another figure of the same size as
+Huitzilopochtli. Its face was very much like that of a bear, its shining
+eyes were made of tetzcat, the looking-glass of the country. This idol,
+like its brother Huitzilopochtli, was completely covered with precious
+stones, and was called _Tetzcatlipuca_. This was the god of hell, and
+the souls of the dead Mexicans stood under him.[62] A circle of figures
+wound round its body, resembling diminutive devils with serpents' tails.
+The walls and floor around this idol were also besmeared with blood, and
+the stench was worse than in a Spanish slaughter-house. Five human
+hearts had that day been sacrificed to him. On the very top of this
+temple stood another chapel, the woodwork of which was uncommonly well
+finished, and richly carved. In this chapel there was also another idol,
+half man and half lizard, completely covered with precious stones; half
+of this figure was hidden from view. We were told that the hidden half
+was covered with the seeds of every plant of this earth, for this was
+the god of the seeds and fruits: I have, however, forgotten its name,
+but note that here also everything was besmeared with blood, and the
+stench so offensive that we could not have staid there much longer. In
+this place was kept a drum of enormous dimensions, the tone of which,
+when struck, was so deep and melancholy that it has very justly been
+denominated the drum of hell. The drum-skin was made out of that of an
+enormous serpent; its sound could be heard at a distance of more than
+eight miles. This platform was altogether covered with a variety of
+hellish objects,--large and small trumpets, huge slaughtering knives,
+and burnt hearts of Indians who had been sacrificed: everything clotted
+with coagulated blood, cursed to the sight, and creating horror in the
+mind. Besides all this, the stench was everywhere so abominable that we
+scarcely knew how soon to get away from this spot of horrors. Our
+commander here said, smilingly, to Motecusuma: "I cannot imagine that
+such a powerful and wise monarch as you are, should not have yourself
+discovered by this time that these idols are not divinities, but evil
+spirits, called devils. In order that you may be convinced of this, and
+that your papas may satisfy themselves of this truth, allow me to erect
+a cross on the summit of this temple; and, in the chapel, where stand
+your Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca, give us a small space that I may
+place there the image of the holy Virgin; then you will see what terror
+will seize these idols by which you have been so long deluded."[63]
+
+Motecusuma knew what the image of the Virgin Mary was, yet he was very
+much displeased with Cortes' offer, and replied, in presence of two
+papas, whose anger was not less conspicuous, "Malinche, could I have
+conjectured that you would have used such reviling language as you have
+just done, I would certainly not have shown you my gods. In our eyes
+these are good divinities: they preserve our lives, give us nourishment,
+water, and good harvests, healthy and growing weather, and victory
+whenever we pray to them for it. Therefore we offer up our prayers to
+them, and make them sacrifices. I earnestly beg of you not to say
+another word to insult the profound veneration in which we hold these
+gods."
+
+As soon as Cortes heard these words and perceived the great excitement
+under which they were pronounced, he said nothing in return, but merely
+remarked to the monarch with a cheerful smile: "It is time for us both
+to depart hence." To which Motecusuma answered, that he would not detain
+him any longer, but he himself was now obliged to stay some time to
+atone to his gods by prayer and sacrifice for having committed
+_gratlatlacol_, by allowing us to ascend the great temple, and thereby
+occasioning the affronts which we had offered them.
+
+"If that is the case," returned Cortes, "I beg your pardon, great
+monarch." Upon this we descended the 114 steps, which very much
+distressed many of our soldiers, who were suffering from swellings in
+their groins.[64] The following is all I can communicate with respect to
+the size or circumference of this temple; but previously reckon upon the
+reader's kind indulgence, if I should make any misstatement; for at the
+time when all these things were going on, I was thinking of anything but
+writing a book, but rather how best to fulfil my duty as a soldier, and
+to act up to the commands of our general Cortes. However, if I remember
+rightly, this temple occupied a space of ground on which we should erect
+six of the largest buildings, as they are commonly found in our
+country.[65] The whole building ran up in rather a pyramidical form, on
+the summit of which was the small tower with the idols. From the middle
+of the temple up to the platform there were five landings, after the
+manner of barbacans, but without any breastworks. A perfect idea of the
+form of this temple may be gained from the pictures which are in the
+possession of several of the Conquistadores, (I have one myself,) which
+every one must have seen by this time. The following is what I learnt
+respecting the building of this temple. Every inhabitant had contributed
+his mite of gold, silver, pearls and precious stones thereto. These
+gifts were then buried in the foundations, and the ground sprinkled with
+the blood of a number of prisoners of war, and strewed with the seeds of
+every plant growing in the country. This was done in order that the gods
+might grant the country conquest, riches, and abundant harvests. The
+reader will here naturally ask the question: how we got to know that its
+foundations were thus filled with gold, pearls, silver, precious stones,
+seeds, and sprinkled with human blood, as this building had stood there
+for the space of one thousand years? To this I answer, that subsequent
+to the conquest of this large and strongly fortified city, we found it
+to be a positive fact; for when new buildings were being erected on the
+place where this temple stood, a great part of the space was fixed upon
+for the new church dedicated to our patron Saint Santiago, and the
+workmen, on digging up the old foundations to give more stability to
+the new ones, found a quantity of gold, silver, pearls, chalchihuis
+stones, and other valuable things. A similar discovery was made by a
+citizen of Mexico, to whom also a portion of this space had been
+allotted for building-ground, but the treasure was claimed for his
+majesty; and parties went so far as to commence a lawsuit about it, I
+cannot however now recollect how it terminated. Besides all this, the
+accounts of the caziques and grandees of Mexico, and even of
+Quauhtemoctzin himself, who was alive at that time, all correspond with
+my statement. Lastly, it is also mentioned in the books and paintings
+which contain the history of the country.[66]
+
+With respect to the extensive and splendid courtyards belonging to this
+temple I have said sufficient above. I cannot, however, pass by in
+silence a kind of small tower standing in its immediate vicinity,
+likewise containing idols. I should term it a temple of hell; for at one
+of its doors stood an open-mouthed dragon armed with huge teeth,
+resembling a dragon of the infernal regions, the devourer of souls.
+There also stood near this same door other figures resembling devils and
+serpents, and not far from this an altar encrusted with blood grown
+black, and some that had recently been spilt. In a building adjoining
+this we perceived a quantity of dishes and basins, of various shapes.
+These were filled with water and served to cook the flesh in of the
+unfortunate beings who had been sacrificed; which flesh was eaten by the
+papas. Near to the altar were lying several daggers, and wooden blocks
+similar to those used by our butchers for hacking meat on. At a pretty
+good distance from this house of horrors were piles of wood, and a large
+reservoir of water, which was filled and emptied at stated times, and
+received its supply through pipes underground from the aqueduct of
+Chapultepec. I could find no better name for this dwelling than the
+house of satan!
+
+I will now introduce my reader into another temple, in which the
+grandees of Mexico were buried. The doors of which were of a different
+form, and the idols were of a totally different nature, but the blood
+and stench were the same.
+
+Next to this temple was another in which human skulls and bones were
+piled up, though both apart; their numbers were endless. This place had
+also its appropriate idols; and in all these temples, we found priests
+clad in long black mantles, with hoods shaped like those worn by the
+Dominican friars and choristers; their ears were pierced and the hair of
+their head was long and stuck together with coagulated blood. Lastly, I
+have to mention another temple at no great distance from this place of
+skulls, containing another species of idol, who were said to be the
+protectors of the marriage rights of the men, to whom likewise those
+abominable human sacrifices were made. Round about this large courtyard
+stood a great number of small houses in which the papas dwelt, who were
+appointed over the ceremonies of the idol-worship. Near to the chief
+temple we also saw an exceedingly large basin or pond, filled with the
+purest water, which was solely adapted for the worship of
+Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca, being also supplied by pipes
+underground from the aqueduct of Chapultepec. There were also other
+large buildings in this neighbourhood, after the manner of cloisters, in
+which great numbers of the young women of Mexico lived secluded, like
+nuns, until they were married. These had also two appropriate idols in
+the shape of females, who protected the marriage rights of the women,
+and to whom they prayed and sacrificed in order to obtain from them good
+husbands.
+
+Although this temple on the Tlatelulco, of which I have given such a
+lengthened description, was the largest in Mexico, yet it was by no
+means the only one; for there were numbers of other splendid temples in
+this city, all of which I am unable to describe. I have to remark,
+however, that the chief temple at Cholulla was higher than that of
+Mexico, and was ascended by 120 steps: also the idol at Cholulla stood
+in greater repute; for pilgrimages were made to it from all parts of New
+Spain, to obtain forgiveness of sins. The architecture of this building
+was also different, but with respect to the yards and double walls they
+were alike. The temple of the town of Tetzcuco was also of considerable
+height, being ascended by 117 steps, and had broad and beautiful
+courtyards, equal to those of the two last mentioned, but differently
+constructed. It seems indeed quite laughable that each province and
+every town should have its own peculiar idols, which, however, never
+interfered with each other, and the inhabitants severally sacrificed to
+them.
+
+Cortes, and the whole of us at last grew tired at the sight of so many
+idols and implements used for these sacrifices, and we returned to our
+quarters accompanied by a great number of chief personages and caziques,
+whom Motecusuma had sent for that purpose.
+
+[58] This slimy substance the Mexicans called tecuitlatl, or excrement
+of stone. It was made into various shapes, and dried in the sun. (p.
+237.)
+
+[59] According to Torquemada, this word expressed the number 8000 of
+anything, whether of cacao beans, troops, or other matters. (p. 237.)
+
+[60] Cacao nuts should be cacao beans; they were used by the Mexicans as
+small coin, and even to this day, according to Humboldt, they form the
+smallest coin among the inhabitants of New Spain. (p. 237.)
+
+[61] In the large work of Ramusio, entitled 'Raccolta delle Navigazioni
+e Viaggi,' there is a very interesting account of the city of Mexico.
+There we find that this market was about three times larger than the one
+at Salamanca, and surrounded by porticos. Every five days was a great
+market day, and from forty to fifty thousand people come to buy and sell
+there. (p. 238.)
+
+[62] With regard to Mexican mythology, Bernal Diaz is, perhaps, not
+quite so correct in general. The abbé F.S. Clavigero, who wrote a
+history of Mexico, in two volumes quarto, is more intelligent in this
+respect. (p. 239.)
+
+[63] This note refers to the idol, half hidden from view, of which
+Bernal Diaz has forgotten the name; it was probably the goddess
+Centeotl, sometimes called Tonacajohua. (p. 240.)
+
+[64] The Spanish is, "Estavan malos de bubas ó humores, les dolieron los
+muslas de baxar!" bubas I have everywhere translated by the general term
+of swellings in the groin, though it is quite evident, from the 68th
+letter of Petrus Martyr ab Angleria, (De Rebus Oceanicis el Novo orbe
+decades tres) that this disease was the syphilis, which was then
+spreading so dreadfully. (p. 241.)
+
+[65] The best-informed writers agree with Bernal Diaz as to the vast
+extent of this temple. It was so extensive, says Torquemada, that an
+arrow shot from a crossbow would not reach the length of one of its
+sides. A few lines lower he says, that each of these sides was three
+hundred and sixty feet long! The wall which surrounded this huge temple
+was entirely built of hewn stone. (p. 241.)
+
+[66] Bernal Diaz is here speaking of the Mexican picture writing or
+hieroglyphics. (p. 242.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCIII.
+
+    _How we erect a chapel and altar in our quarters with a cross on the
+    outside; discover the treasure of Motecusuma's father; and determine
+    to seize the monarch's person and imprison him in our quarters._
+
+
+Our general and father Olmedo readily perceived that Motecusuma would
+never give his consent to our erecting a cross on his chief temple, nor
+that we should build a chapel there. We had, upon our arrival in Mexico,
+fitted up some tables as an altar; but we were not satisfied with this,
+and therefore begged of Motecusuma's house-steward to order his masons
+to build us a church in our quarters, who referred us to the monarch
+himself, upon which Cortes sent him with our interpretress and the page
+Orteguilla to Motecusuma, who immediately gave his consent and issued
+orders accordingly.[67]
+
+In three days our church was finished, and a cross planted in front of
+our quarters. Mass was now regularly said every day as long as our wine
+lasted, which indeed was very short, as Cortes and father Olmedo, during
+their illness in Tlascalla, had used the wine destined for the mass.
+Nevertheless we went daily to church and prayed on our knees in front of
+the altar and before the holy images; because it was our Christian duty,
+and that Motecusuma and his grandees might notice it, and become
+accustomed to these holy things, from seeing us kneel down in devotion
+before them, particularly when we repeated the Ave Maria.
+
+Wherever we went it was our custom to examine everything about us, and
+consequently we searched every corner and nook in our quarters; and so
+it happened, as we were looking for a proper spot to erect our altar,
+that two of our men, one of whom was Yañez our carpenter, found the
+traces of a doorway in the wall of one of the apartments, which had been
+carefully walled up and neatly plastered over; and as we all very well
+knew that the treasure of Motecusuma's father was secreted somewhere in
+our quarters, these two men soon conjectured that this doorway might be
+the entrance to the treasury. Yañez communicated his suspicions to the
+chief officers, Leon and Lugo, who were relatives of mine; and at last
+it got to the ears of Cortes. The consequence was, that the doorway was
+in all secrecy broken open, and Cortes, with some of our officers,
+entered the hidden apartment.
+
+Their expectations were fully realized; for they found here such a vast
+quantity of trinkets, thick and thin plates of gold, chalchihuis, and
+other precious things heaped up together, that they were perfectly
+astounded and were almost speechless at the sight of such immense
+riches. This matter soon became known to all of our men, who now also
+paid a visit to this secret treasure. I also followed their example, and
+as at that time I was still a young man, and had never before beheld
+such vast treasures, I concluded that the whole of the remaining part of
+the world, put together, could not produce such a vast collection of
+riches. However, all our officers and soldiers unanimously agreed to
+leave everything untouched, and that the doorway should be walled up
+again as before, nor was Motecusuma to be informed of our discovery.
+
+As all of us, officers as well as privates, were men of experience, full
+of energy and very determined, who never lost sight that the Lord Jesus
+Christ had assisted us with his divine hand in all our undertakings, we
+deputed four officers and twelve of our most trustworthy and faithful
+soldiers, myself being among the number, to Cortes, and represented to
+him how we were cooped up in this strong city, as if we had been caught
+in a net or cage. We begged of him to remember the bridges and
+causeways, how we had been cautioned in every town we passed through
+against Motecusuma, and were assured that Huitzilopochtli had advised
+him to allow us to enter the city quietly, and when once there to fall
+upon us unawares and destroy us all. He ought to remember the
+inconstancy of the human mind in general, and of the Indians in
+particular; and not trust to the kindness and friendship which
+Motecusuma showed us. All this might change in an instant, and if
+Motecusuma did not exactly fall upon us with sword in hand, he had
+merely to cut off our supply of provisions and water, or break down some
+of the bridges, and we should be lost. He, Cortes, ought to consider
+what a large body of warriors always surrounded the monarch, and how
+powerless we should be and ill able to defend ourselves, since all the
+houses stood in the water. We could not count upon the assistance of our
+friends the Tlascallans, as they would be totally cut off from us.
+
+Taking all this into consideration our opinion was, that we had no other
+resource left by which we could place our own lives in safety than by
+seizing the monarch's person without delay. All the gold this monarch
+had given us, all we had seen in the treasury of his father, and all the
+fine provisions he had set before us, could not induce us to hide our
+sentiments. These reflections harassed us night and day, and if some of
+our men did appear heedless as to our present position, these were
+merely a few narrow-minded folks, who, on account of the vast quantity
+of gold after which their mouths watered, were unable to see the death
+which stood before them.
+
+Cortes, in reply to their representations said: "Do not imagine,
+gentlemen, that I either sleep so peaceably, or that what you have just
+been stating has not also caused me much anxiety. But we ought first to
+weigh well whether you think we are sufficiently strong in numbers for
+so bold an attempt as to take this mighty monarch prisoner in his own
+palace, amidst his body-guard and other warriors. I cannot see how we
+can manage this matter without running the risk of being attacked by his
+troops."
+
+Our four officers, namely, Leon, Ordas, Sandoval, and Alvarado, said,
+that the only way would be by some means or other to entice the monarch
+out of his palace, then to conduct him to our quarters, and then inform
+him that he was our prisoner. If he offered any resistance or made any
+noise, then to knock him down at once. If Cortes himself objected to
+have any hand in it, they begged he would give them permission to carry
+it out themselves. There was as much danger on one side as on the other;
+but it was certainly more advisable to take the monarch prisoner than to
+wait until he made war upon us; for what chance of escape should we then
+have?
+
+To all this was added, that several of us had of late remarked, that
+Motecusuma's house-steward appeared to become haughty in his manners,
+and that he did not supply our table so abundantly as on the first few
+days. Lastly, our friends of Tlascalla had secretly informed Aguilar
+that the Mexicans, for the last two days, appeared to have some evil
+design on hand.
+
+One hour was thus spent in deliberating as to whether we should take
+Motecusuma prisoner, and the manner in which it was to be done. At last
+we came to the resolution of seizing the monarch's person on the
+following day, and Cortes gave his full consent. The whole of that night
+was spent in prayer with father Olmedo, to ask the Almighty's support in
+this holy cause.
+
+The following morning two Tlascallans arrived secretly in our quarters,
+with a letter from Vera Cruz, announcing to Cortes that Juan de
+Escalante had been slain with six other Spaniards in an engagement with
+the Mexicans. A horse had likewise been killed, and all the Totonaques
+who had joined him had been slain. All the mountain tribes as well as
+the Sempoallans had turned against us. They would neither any longer
+furnish the town with provisions nor assist in building the
+fortifications, and the garrison scarcely knew what to be about in its
+present distress.
+
+After this overthrow, the belief that the Spaniards were teules had
+altogether vanished. The Totonaque tribes, as well as the Mexicans,
+began to throw out threats, and the profound veneration in which they
+before held us was now changed for utter contempt.
+
+God only knows what a terrible sensation this news created among us. It
+was the first defeat we had sustained in New Spain, and the good reader
+may easily see from this how rapidly the wheel of fortune turns from
+good to bad. She had but just seen us enter this great metropolis, and
+meet with a splendid and triumphant reception. We already believed we
+were on the sure road to wealth, from the many presents which Motecusuma
+gave us daily. We had had a peep into Axayacatl's treasure; we had, up
+to this moment, been regarded as teules who could not fail to come off
+victorious in battle. This delusion had now flown all at once. We
+appeared, like all other men, vincible, and the Indians had already
+began to be insolent and haughty in their demeanour towards us.
+
+We had now the more reason to strike some determined blow, and we
+therefore resolved to get possession of Motecusuma's person some how or
+other, if we were even to forfeit all our lives in the attempt.
+
+I will, however, first relate the battle in which Escalante and the six
+other Spaniards lost their lives.
+
+[67] This passage fully proves the kind disposition of the monarch, for
+he even overcame his religious scruples to please the very men who came
+to take his kingdom from him. (p. 244.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCIV.
+
+    _Of the battle which the Mexican generals fought with Escalante and
+    the Totonaque tribes._
+
+
+The reader will remember, some chapters back, how we lay quartered in
+the township of Quiahuitzlan, and that several of the confederate
+tribes, friendly with Sempoalla, assembled around us there. Above thirty
+townships, on this occasion, at the command of Cortes, refused to pay
+any further tribute to Motecusuma, and threw off his yoke. It was during
+that time also that the Mexican tax-gatherers were imprisoned by the
+Sempoallans, at our instigation. After all this had taken place we broke
+up our quarters at Sempoalla and began our march towards Mexico, leaving
+Juan de Escalante behind, as governor of Vera Cruz, who received
+particular instructions to protect our allies.
+
+Motecusuma had garrisons in every province of his empire, which were
+always stationed on the confines. Such garrisons, for instance, lay in
+Xoconoctico, for the protection of Guatimala and Chiapa, another in
+Coatzagualco, a third in Mechoacan, and a fourth on the confines of
+Panuco, between Tuzapan and a township lying on the north coast, which
+was called Almeria.[68] When the garrison of the latter place demanded
+the tribute of Indians with the provisions from the neighbouring
+townships, they refused to pay it, (as they were in alliance with
+Sempoalla, and had assisted Escalante in the building of the fortress,)
+and gave for reason that Malinche had so commanded it, and that the
+powerful Motecusuma had consented thereto.
+
+The Mexican chiefs, however, were not to be put off with this answer,
+and declared they would destroy every township which refused to pay the
+tribute, and carry off the inhabitants as slaves, as they were bound to
+obey the commands which Motecusuma had recently issued.
+
+On hearing these threats the Totonaque tribes applied to Escalante for
+assistance against the Mexicans, who were coming to plunder them.
+Escalante accordingly sent off messengers to the Mexican chiefs,
+commanding them to leave those tribes at peace, as that was the wish of
+their monarch, Motecusuma, with whom we stood on very friendly terms;
+and if they refused compliance with his commands he would march into the
+field against them in person, and treat them as enemies.
+
+The Mexicans received these threats with utter contempt, and returned
+the haughty answer, "that they would meet him on the field of battle!"
+Escalante, who was a man of great courage, and very prompt in what he
+did, issued orders to our mountain allies to equip themselves for
+battle, and he selected those from among his own men who were in the
+best health, and most able to bear fatigue.
+
+In this way he marched out against the Mexicans, with two cannon, a
+small supply of powder, three crossbow-men, two musketeers, besides
+forty Spanish soldiers and above 2000 Totonaques. The Mexicans were
+double the number of our Totonaque auxiliaries, who, besides this, had
+become intimidated by former battles; so that they left Escalante in the
+lurch after the very first attack. Escalante now forced his way to
+Almeria, which he set fire to. Here he halted for a short time, as he
+was dangerously wounded. In the several engagements which here took
+place Escalante lost one horse, and one of his men, named Arguello, a
+young man of amazing bodily strength, with a wild-looking countenance, a
+large head, and black curly beard, who was carried off alive by the
+Mexicans. Six others of his men were likewise dangerously wounded; the
+only alternative, therefore, which Escalante had left was to return to
+Vera Cruz, where he and six others of his men died three days after
+their arrival.
+
+This is exactly what took place at Almeria; and not as Gomara relates,
+who says, that all this happened under Pedro de Ircio, who had marched
+out on this occasion with a few men to Panuco, in order to found a
+colony there; though we had scarcely sufficient troops in Vera Cruz to
+place the necessary sentinels; how much less, therefore, could the
+thought have entered our mind to send out a colony to Panuco? Besides
+which, Ircio was not an officer at that time; no, nor even a corporal;
+had altogether nothing to do with the whole affair, being at the time
+with us in Mexico. In the same way Gomara tells his tales about our
+imprisoning Motecusuma, without for a moment reflecting that several of
+the Conquistadores were still alive; who, when they had perused his
+work, would be able to say so and so such a thing happened, and not
+otherwise.
+
+We must now turn to the Mexican generals, and relate how they announced
+their victory to Motecusuma, and sent him the head of Arguello, who most
+likely died on the road of his wounds. We afterwards learnt that
+Motecusuma was quite horror-struck at the sight of this enormous head
+with the thick curly beard. He could not bear to look at it, and would
+not allow the head to be brought near any of the temples in Mexico, but
+ordered it to be presented to the idols of some other town; yet he
+inquired how it came that his troops, which had been many thousands in
+number, had not been able to overthrow such a handful of teules? His
+captains replied, that notwithstanding all their courageous fighting
+they had not been able to make the Spaniards give way, because a great
+Spanish _tecleciguata_[69] had stood at their head, who had filled the
+Mexicans with fear, and animated the teules by her speeches.
+
+Motecusuma was convinced that this illustrious warrior was the Virgin
+Mary, who, we had told him, with her heavenly Son, whom she held in her
+arms, was our strong rock.
+
+This wonderful apparition I did not behold with mine own eyes, as I was
+at the time in Mexico. However, several of the Conquistadores spoke of
+it as a fact; and may it please God that it was so. It is, however,
+certainly true that the blessing of the Virgin Mary was always upon us.
+
+[68] The Mexican name of this township was Nauhtlan. (p. 248.)
+
+[69] The Mexican name for goddess. (p. 249.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCV.
+
+    _Of the imprisonment of Motecusuma, and what further happened._
+
+
+After we had come to the determination of seizing the person of
+Motecusuma, and had been on our knees the whole night in prayer, to
+supplicate the Almighty's assistance in this bold attempt, and that it
+might redound to the glory of his holy religion, we made the necessary
+arrangements when morning came for that purpose.
+
+Every one received orders to be ready to march out at a moment's notice,
+and the horses were to be kept saddled. It is not necessary for me to
+repeat here that our arms were always in readiness; for they were never
+out of our hands either day or night; while our alpargates, the only
+covering we had to our feet, were never taken off.
+
+Our general now sallied forth, accompanied by our five chief officers,
+Alvarado, Sandoval, Lugo, Leon, and Avila; besides our interpreters,
+Marina, and Aguilar. Cortes and his officers were completely armed; yet
+this would not appear strange to Motecusuma, as he had never seen them
+otherwise whenever they paid him a visit. Cortes, as on the former
+occasion, sent some one before him to announce his approach, that
+Motecusuma might not perceive any change in our behaviour, and feel no
+uneasiness at our unexpected visit. His conscience, however, was not
+altogether easy, on account of the affair which had taken place at
+Almeria, and he had a misgiving that it would bring down evil upon him.
+Yet he sent word that our visit would be agreeable to him.
+
+After Cortes had entered his apartment, and the usual compliments had
+been passed, he thus addressed Motecusuma: "I am greatly astonished that
+a prince of such power, who styles himself our friend, should have
+commanded his troops, which lie on the coast near Tuzapan, to take up
+arms against my Spanish troops, and presume to demand a certain number
+of men and women for the sacrifices from those townships which have put
+themselves under the protection of our emperor. But this is not all;
+they have plundered those places, and even killed one of my brothers,
+and a horse."
+
+Cortes very prudently omitted to mention the death of Escalante and the
+six others; for Motecusuma at that time knew as little of that as his
+generals who had commanded on the occasion.
+
+"How very differently we acted on our side!" continued Cortes. "I had
+put implicit reliance in your friendship, and desired my officers in
+every way to comply with your wishes. You, on the contrary, have
+commanded your officers the very opposite. You once likewise sent a
+large body of troops to Cholulla to destroy us all there. At that time,
+from the friendship I bore you, I would not notice to you that I was
+aware of that. At the present moment your generals have the audacity to
+plot in secret to put us all to death. However, notwithstanding all this
+treachery, I will refrain from making war upon you, which would only
+end in the total destruction of this city; but in order that peace may
+be maintained between us, you must make a small sacrifice, which is, to
+follow us quietly into our quarters, and take up your abode there. There
+you will receive the same attention, and be treated with the same
+respect as if you were in your own palace. But if you make any alarm
+now, or call out to your attendants, you are a dead man; and it is for
+this reason only that I have this time brought these officers with me."
+
+Motecusuma was seized with such sudden terror at these words, that he
+remained speechless for some time. At length, however, he took courage,
+and declared he had never given any one orders to take up arms against
+us. He would that instant send for his generals, and learn from them the
+truth of the whole matter, and give exemplary punishment. For this
+purpose, he loosened the seal and mark of Huitzilopochtli, which he
+always wore around his wrist. This he only did when he issued orders of
+the first importance, and that those who had the seal might be
+immediately obeyed. He was quite astonished, he said, we should presume
+to take him prisoner, and lead him away out of his palace against his
+wishes. No one had a right to demand that of him, he added; and
+altogether he felt no inclination to comply with our request.
+
+Cortes, in answer to this, gave him very good reasons for our having
+come to this determination; but Motecusuma continually brought in
+stronger reasons why he should not comply; and was resolved not to leave
+his palace.
+
+As this dispute had now lasted above half an hour, our officers began to
+lose all patience, and said to Cortes with great warmth, "What is the
+use of throwing away so many words? He must either quietly follow us, or
+we will cut him down at once. Be so good as to tell him this; for on
+this depends the safety of our lives. We must show determination, or we
+are inevitably lost."
+
+These words were uttered by Juan Velasquez in a loud and harsh tone of
+voice. When, therefore, Motecusuma heard this, and perceived the dark
+looks of the officers, he asked Marina what the man had said who spoke
+so loud.
+
+Marina, who was uncommonly shrewd, and well knew how to help us out with
+a good answer, said, "Great monarch, if I may be allowed to give you
+advice, make no further difficulties, but immediately follow them to
+their quarters. I am confident they will pay you every respect, and
+treat you as becomes a powerful monarch. But if you continue to refuse,
+they will cut you down on the spot."
+
+Motecusuma then turned to Cortes, and said: "Malinche, since then you
+repose no trust in me, take my son and my two legitimate daughters as
+hostages; only do not disgrace me, by demanding my person. What will the
+grandees of my empire say, if they see me taken prisoner?"
+
+Cortes, however, said that his own person would be the only guarantee of
+our safety, and that there was no other means of quieting our fears. At
+last Motecusuma, after a good deal of altercation, made up his mind to
+go quietly with us.
+
+As soon as he had declared this his intention, our officers showed him
+every possible civility, and hoped that he would excuse the grief they
+had occasioned him, and desired him to acquaint his generals and his
+body-guard that he had chosen, of his own free will, to take up his
+abode in our quarters; and also upon the advice of Huitzilopochtli and
+his papas, who considered it necessary for his health, and for the
+safety of his life.
+
+His rich and splendid sedan was then brought in, which he commonly used
+when he left his palace with his whole suite, and he followed us to our
+quarters, where we took every precaution to secure his person. Every one
+of us strove hardest to make him happy, and procured him every
+entertainment we could think of, to make his confinement as pleasant as
+we could.
+
+Shortly afterwards all the Mexican grandees, with his nephew, called
+upon him, to inquire the reason of his imprisonment, and ask him if they
+should commence hostilities against us? But Motecusuma told them he
+wished to do himself the pleasure of passing a few days with us, and
+that this change of abode was of his own free choice. He would make his
+wishes known to them as soon as he found reason to complain. They might
+allay their fears, and keep the metropolis quiet, and not trouble
+themselves any further about him. The determination he had thus taken
+was fully consented to by Huitzilopochtli, as many priests, who had
+purposely consulted him, had admitted.
+
+These are the true circumstances relative to the imprisonment of
+Motecusuma. He was always surrounded by the whole of his household, and
+had all his wives with him, and continued to bathe himself daily, as he
+had been accustomed to, in his own palace. He was likewise always
+attended by twenty of his generals and counsellors, nor did he show the
+least signs of grief on account of his confinement. Disputes from the
+most distant parts were laid before him, as usual, for his decision; the
+tribute was collected, and he continued to attend to the most important
+affairs of state as before. His subjects paid the same veneration to his
+person, and the most distinguished princes who waited on him, or came
+upon business, always took off their fine garments, to put on a meaner
+dress of nequen cloth, and came so, barefoot, into his presence. Neither
+did they enter at the principal gate, but sought for some side door, and
+approached with eyes downcast, and made three prostrations, and
+pronounced the words Lord, my lord, great lord! They then acquainted him
+with their business, by means of pictures drawn on nequen cloth; and
+made use of thin sticks, with which they pointed to the different
+objects, to explain what they wanted, or the nature of the lawsuit they
+came about.
+
+Motecusuma had constantly two old distinguished caziques at his side,
+who, as judges, gave their opinion in every case, after due
+deliberation; and the monarch then, in few words, gave his decision. The
+parties then, without uttering a syllable, or turning their backs to
+him, left the apartment with three deep bows; and on arriving outside,
+they again put on their fine garments, and took a stroll in the
+metropolis.
+
+After some time had elapsed, the generals who had fought against
+Escalante were brought in prisoners to the monarch. What he told them on
+this occasion I do not know; but he sent them to Cortes to pronounce
+judgment on them himself. These unfortunate men confessed they had
+merely acted up to the commands of their monarch, which was, to levy the
+tribute by force of arms; and if the teules should protect the rebels,
+to attack them also, and put them to the sword.
+
+Cortes acquainted Motecusuma with what these men had said, but declared
+that the monarch had sufficiently exculpated himself from any guilt in
+the affair. According to the laws of our emperor, that man suffered
+death who had killed another, whether he deserved killing or not;
+however, his love for Motecusuma was so great, that he would rather take
+the responsibility of this matter upon himself than allow it to rest
+with him; but as he still seemed anxious about it, our general made no
+further ceremony with these Mexicans, but sentenced them to death, and
+they were burnt alive in front of Motecusuma's palace.[69*]
+
+And that no impediment might be thrown in the way while these sentences
+were being put into execution, Cortes ordered chains to be put on
+Motecusuma. At first he certainly did not approve of this at all, but,
+in the end, quietly submitted, and grew even the more tractable
+afterwards. When the executions had taken place, Cortes approached him,
+with five of our officers, and himself took off his chains again, with
+the assurance that he loved him more than a brother. He likewise told
+him, however great a monarch he might be at present, that additional
+countries should be annexed to his empire, and he was at liberty to
+visit any of his other palaces whenever he felt inclined.
+
+At these words Motecusuma became affected, and big tears rolled down his
+cheeks; and though he felt that all was mere empty sound he had heard,
+he nevertheless thanked Cortes for his kindness, adding, that at present
+he felt no inclination to go anywhere.
+
+His nephews, relations, and grandees daily stormed him with petitions to
+allow them to make war upon us, and release him from confinement. And,
+indeed, it required all his persuasion to prevent them from rising up in
+arms immediately. If he were once, said they, outside of our quarters,
+they would take forcible possession of his person. The whole of the
+inhabitants in his metropolis would rise up in arms, and if then he
+would not join them, they would care little about him, and elect a new
+king. Motecusuma, however, succeeded in silencing them by the assurance
+that Huitzilopochtli had himself advised him to bear with his
+confinement.
+
+To account for Motecusuma thus quietly submitting to his confinement, I
+must here remark that Cortes ordered Aguilar to acquaint him secretly
+that if even our general himself gave his consent to his liberation, it
+would be of no avail, as all our officers and soldiers would oppose it.
+Cortes feigned to be unconscious of all this, and embraced the monarch
+under the assurances of sincere friendship. He likewise gave him his
+page Orteguilla, who had already gained some knowledge of the Mexican
+language, the monarch having expressed a wish to have a Spanish
+attendant. This young man was of the greatest utility both to Motecusuma
+and ourselves, the monarch learning many things from him relating to
+Spain, and we again a good deal of the discourses which passed between
+the former and his generals: he was in every way attentive to the
+monarch, who became exceedingly fond of him. On the whole, Motecusuma
+appeared perfectly content with the civilities we showed him, and he
+continually felt greater delight in our company; for whenever any one of
+us passed by him, he immediately entered into discourse with us: we were
+quite at our ease with him, even when Cortes was present, and took off
+our helmets in his presence, which, as well as our weapons, we never
+laid aside; and the monarch always treated us with great respect.
+
+The severe example which Cortes had made of the Mexican generals had had
+its full effect. The news thereof ran like wildfire through the whole of
+New Spain; the tribes along the coast, by whom our troops of Vera Cruz
+had been defeated, were seized with terror, and again offered their
+services to the garrison there.
+
+I must now beg the kind reader to pause a moment upon the heroic deeds
+we performed, and consider their magnitude! First of all, we destroy all
+our vessels, and thereby cut off all hopes of escaping from this
+country. We then venture to march into this strong city, though we were
+warned against it on all sides, and assured we should merely be allowed
+a peaceable entrance to be the more easily destroyed. We then have the
+audacity to imprison the monarch of this vast empire, the powerful
+Motecusuma, in his own metropolis, in his very palace, amidst his
+numerous troops. At last, we even fearlessly burn some of his generals
+to death in front of his own palace, and throw the monarch himself in
+chains while this was being executed! Even now, in my old age, the
+heroic deeds we then accomplished come vividly to my memory. I imagine I
+see all passing before me now, but must also acknowledge that, although
+we had our hands full, we were aided by Divine Providence. When again on
+earth will be found such a handful of soldiers, in all scarcely 550, who
+would dare to penetrate, at a distance of above 6000 miles from their
+native country, into the heart of such a strong city, larger than
+Venice, take its very monarch prisoner, and execute his generals in his
+very presence? These things, indeed, ought to be deeply pondered on, and
+not mentioned so briefly as I here have done! But it is time I should
+continue my history.
+
+[69*] Bernal Diaz only mentions three of these generals by name:
+Quetzalpopoca, Coatl, and Quiahuitle, which we thought better to insert
+here. When Quetzalpopoca, says Torquemada, was brought into the presence
+of the Spaniards, and asked whether he was a vassal of Motecusuma, he
+replied: "Is it possible in this world to be the vassal of any other
+monarch." (p. 253.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCVI.
+
+    _How our general appoints Alonso Grado lieutenant of Vera Cruz, and
+    Sandoval alguacil-major of the same place._
+
+
+After the execution of the Mexican generals, and Motecusuma had become
+pacified again, Cortes despatched one of our officers, named Alonso de
+Grado, a very active, handsome, and sensible man, to Vera Cruz, with the
+appointment of lieutenant, who, besides being an excellent musician, was
+a capital penman.
+
+This Grado was one of those who had always opposed our march to Mexico,
+and particularly on the occasion when the intrigues were set on foot by
+the discontented during our stay in Tlascalla: he then insisted on our
+return to Vera Cruz, and, upon the whole, spoke in severe terms against
+our general. He was very expert in various matters, and was successful
+in his undertakings, and hence again obtained the command of Vera Cruz,
+though he was not a very good soldier. Cortes, well acquainted with the
+man's character, that he was not one of the most courageous, said to
+him, in giving him the appointment, rather jokingly, "Your desire of
+going to Vera Cruz, Alonso de Grado, is about to be fulfilled. There you
+must continue the building of the fortress with assiduity; but have
+nothing to do with any warlike movements: it might end equally
+disastrous for you as it did for Juan de Escalante!"
+
+While Cortes was thus addressing him, he winked his eye to those who
+were present, as much as to say if he were required on the field of
+battle, we should have to drag him there by the hair of his head.
+
+When Grado's appointment and instructions were about to be drawn up, he
+likewise begged Cortes to confer on him the appointment of
+alguacil-major, which Escalante had enjoyed with that of lieutenant. Our
+commander, however, told him it had already been conferred upon
+Sandoval, but, in a short time, he would give him some further
+appointment. He particularly desired him to watch over the interests of
+the inhabitants of Vera Cruz as a father, and not allow any harsh
+measures to be practised against the Indian population. Lastly, he
+desired him to order the smith at Vera Cruz to make two heavy iron
+chains, and to forward them, with the anchors we had taken out of our
+vessels, immediately to Mexico.
+
+Alonso de Grado's conduct, however, very little corresponded with the
+instructions he had received. His behaviour towards the Spanish garrison
+at Vera Cruz was haughty to a degree. He required the men to wait upon
+him, as if he had been a grandee, and demanded golden trinkets and
+beautiful females from the thirty surrounding tribes which were friendly
+with us. He no way troubled himself about completing the fortress, and
+spent all his time in feasting and gambling. He went even further than
+this, and gave way to his former ill-will towards Cortes, by seeking to
+gain his friends and others over to the interest of Diego Velasquez, and
+proposed that if the latter himself, or any one sent by him, should
+appear off the coast, to make common cause with him, and deliver up
+possession of the country to him.
+
+Cortes was duly apprized of all this, and sadly repented in the choice
+of this man, whose character and artful disposition, however, he had
+known beforehand.
+
+As Cortes was still afraid that Diego Velasquez might somehow or other
+obtain information of the purport of our mission to the emperor, and not
+merely frustrate our designs, but also send out an armament against us,
+he considered it necessary to send a trustworthy man to Vera Cruz. His
+choice fell upon Sandoval, who became alguacil-major of the town after
+the death of Escalante. Sandoval was accompanied by Ircio, the same
+who, Gomara affirms, founded a settlement in Panuco. This Ircio had been
+groom to the earl of Ureña, and likewise to Don Pedro Giron, and knew
+well how to entertain Sandoval with the various adventures of his life:
+hereby he succeeded in gaining the intimate friendship of this excellent
+man, who was innocence itself, and, by degrees, he obtained a captaincy.
+He, however, repaid him with ingratitude, and calumniated him so grossly
+that he might have been punished according to law, but Sandoval
+contented himself by giving him a severe reprimand.
+
+I will, however, leave this subject, and relate that Sandoval,
+immediately upon his arrival at Vera Cruz, fulfilled Cortes' orders,
+took Grado prisoner, and sent him under a strong escort of Indian
+auxiliaries to Mexico. Sandoval very soon gained the good wishes of the
+whole garrison, for he began his work by providing food for the sick,
+and treating the inhabitants with every possible kindness, and was most
+particular in promoting the interests of the surrounding townships which
+were friendly with us. In the same way he set diligently about the
+completion of the fortress, and every way proved himself an active and
+vigilant commander, who afterwards, as will be seen, rendered vast
+services to Cortes and all of us.
+
+I must now return to Grado, who soon arrived at Mexico in custody of our
+Indian auxiliaries. His request to obtain a hearing from Cortes was not
+only refused, but he was thrown into a wooden cage which had just been
+constructed. I can still well remember that the wood of this cage smelt
+strongly of garlic and onions. However, our prisoner was obliged to pass
+two whole days in it; yet, like a clever fellow, who is never at a loss,
+he found means to soften Cortes' resentment by making him solemn
+promises of future obedience, and not only obtained his liberty again,
+but, from that moment, as I witnessed myself, became very intimate with
+our general, who, however, never again intrusted him with any military
+command, but employed him in matters which suited his talents.
+Subsequently he appointed him auditor of the army accounts, which Avila
+had previously filled, and whom Cortes had despatched, as his attorney,
+to St. Domingo, as will subsequently be seen.
+
+Before I close this chapter, I have to observe that Cortes desired
+Sandoval, on his arrival at Vera Cruz, to send him the two smiths of
+that town, with all their apparatus, a quantity of iron, besides the two
+heavy iron chains which were already finished; and likewise a supply of
+sails, some rigging, pitch, and a compass; all of which Cortes required
+for the brigantines which he intended building to navigate the lake of
+Mexico.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCVII.
+
+    _How we entertained and amused Motecusuma during his confinement,
+    and granted him permission to visit his temple._
+
+
+Our general was a man who thought of everything, and strove as much as
+possible to enliven the monarch in his confinement, that he might not
+feel the weight of his misfortune too deeply. Cortes, therefore, every
+morning after we had said prayers, visited the monarch with four of our
+principal officers, to inquire after his health and after his wants, and
+otherwise to amuse him in every way; in which they succeeded so well
+that Motecusuma one day himself declared his confinement was not irksome
+to him, as our gods had given us the power to take him prisoner, and
+Huitzilopochtli had allowed it.
+
+Sometimes also Motecusuma played at a certain game with Cortes, which
+the Mexicans call the game of _totoloc_: it is played with small round
+glossy balls, which here were made of gold, and are pitched at a certain
+mark, also of the same metal: five throws finished the game, and the
+stakes were for valuable gold trinkets and jewels. I still remember once
+when Motecusuma and Cortes were playing at this game, Alvarado scoring
+for Cortes, and a distinguished cazique (his nephew) for the monarch,
+that Alvarado continually scored one too many for Cortes. This was
+observed by Motecusuma, who said, with a pleasing smile, that he was not
+exactly pleased when _Tonatio_ (so they termed Alvarado) marked the game
+for Cortes, for he was guilty of _Ixoxol_ in scoring, which means that
+he scored falsely, by continually marking one more than he ought.
+
+Cortes, and we others who happened to be on duty at the time in the
+apartment, could not resist laughing at the observation of the monarch.
+And why, it will be asked, did we find that expression so amusing?
+Because Alvarado, notwithstanding the handsome and refined man he was,
+could not resist the temptation of scoring falsely, and had been
+discovered. However, all the gain was divided among those present; for
+what Cortes won he presented to the monarch's nephew and his servants;
+Motecusuma dividing his gains among those who happened to be on duty at
+the time.[70] And not a day passed that he did not present Velasquez de
+Leon, who was very kind to him, and was captain of the guard, and those
+who were on duty, with valuable gold trinkets and manufactured stuffs.
+
+One night a sailor, named Truxillo, stood sentinel in the monarch's
+apartment. This fellow was very stout and strongly-built; he happened
+to forget himself, for a moment, in a way which, out of respect for the
+reader, I will not describe more minutely here. Motecusuma, who was a
+monarch of refined manners, happened to hear it at the moment, and
+considered himself grossly insulted. He inquired of his page Orteguilla
+who the low-bred fellow was? Orteguilla replied that the man was a
+sailor, and that such persons were little acquainted with good manners.
+It was upon this occasion also that Orteguilla explained to him the rank
+of every individual soldier, who were cavaliers and who were not, and
+many other things the monarch wished to know. Motecusuma, however, had
+not forgotten the insult which the sailor had offered to his person, for
+daylight had scarcely broken forth when he sent for him, and reproached
+him for his disrespectful behaviour, and advised him to mend his manners
+for the future; but sweetened down this lecture by presenting him with
+some gold trinkets, worth about five pesos. This kind treatment,
+however, had little effect on the rough sailor, who repeated his filthy
+conduct the following night, in the hopes of getting a second present
+when morning came. Motecusuma, however, disdained speaking to him any
+more, but complained to the captain of the guard, and desired that the
+fellow might be severely reprimanded and never allowed again to stand
+sentinel there.
+
+Something similar happened to a soldier named Lopez, who was an
+excellent crossbow-man, and had a fine figure, though otherwise a man of
+little understanding. As he was one night on duty in the monarch's
+apartment, and the corporal came to make the rounds, he remarked to the
+latter, "A curse upon this dog, I am sure this standing sentinel at
+night will be my death!"
+
+Motecusuma heard these words, and considered his feelings deeply
+wounded. When, therefore, Cortes came in the morning to pay the monarch
+his usual visit, he complained bitterly to him about the insult that had
+been offered him. Cortes was exceedingly vexed, and was so enraged with
+Lopez that he ordered him to be whipped. From that day every one who
+stood sentinel in the monarch's apartment maintained a respectful
+silence; though, as far as regarded myself and others of my companions
+who often stood sentinel in the same apartment, we needed no
+instructions as to how we were to behave in the presence of such a great
+monarch, who soon got to know all our names and peculiarities, was
+exceedingly kind towards us, and often distributed gold trinkets among
+us, besides manufactured cottons and pretty females. At that time I was
+yet a young fellow, and whenever I stood sentinel in the monarch's
+apartment, I always behaved with the greatest respect, and uncovered my
+head on passing by him. This drew his attention towards me, and, on
+inquiring who I was, Orteguilla informed him that I had accompanied the
+two former voyages of discovery to these parts. When, therefore,
+Orteguilla, at my desire, hinted to him that I should be much pleased
+with a pretty Mexican female, he sent for me, and said, "I understand,
+Bernal Diaz del Castillo, that you have abundance of gold and cotton
+stuffs, wherefore I will now give you a pretty young female. Treat her
+well, for she is the daughter of distinguished parents, who will,
+besides, give you more gold and cotton stuffs with her."
+
+I very respectfully thanked the monarch for his kindness, and hoped God
+would bless him for it. When the page interpreted my answer, he said,
+"Bernal Diaz appears to me to have the true feelings of a well-bred
+man," and ordered three small plates of gold and two additional packages
+of cotton stuffs to be given me.
+
+With respect to Motecusuma's mode of life, it was his custom to say his
+prayers the first thing in the morning, and sacrifice to his gods: he
+then partook of a little breakfast, which consisted not in meat, but
+solely in _agi_.[71] This being finished, he gave an hour's audience to
+the caziques, who came from distant parts in great numbers to lay before
+him certain disputes, and obtain his judgment. The remaining part of the
+day was then spent in amusement, particularly with his concubines, of
+whom he had a great number; some of these, at times, he gave in marriage
+to his generals, principal favorites, and likewise to us soldiers; as I,
+for instance, obtained Doña Francisca, whom you might well see was a
+woman of distinction. Now and then the monarch would laugh, and then
+again he was pensive, and seemed to reflect on his confinement.
+
+I must once more return to the soldier whom Cortes had so severely
+punished for calling Motecusuma a dog. Many to whom I have related this
+were surprised at the severity of his punishment, as the man had not
+said it to the monarch's face; besides that, our numbers were so small,
+and that the Mexicans would be sure to hear of it. My reply to this is,
+that all of us, even Cortes himself, paid Motecusuma the most profound
+respect, and no one passed by him without uncovering his head: add to
+all this, he was so very kind, and so courteous in his behaviour towards
+us, that we should have considered ourselves bound to pay his person and
+good breeding every possible respect, though he had not been the monarch
+of New Spain.
+
+Lastly, it must be remembered that our lives were in his hands; for, at
+his very wink, his subjects would have flown to his rescue. When we saw
+how he was continually surrounded by so many distinguished personages,
+and the numbers of princes who came to wait upon him from distant parts
+of his empire, in the same way as if he had still been at liberty in his
+own palace, can we at all feel surprised, then, that Cortes should so
+severely have punished on the spot an insult offered to this monarch?
+Assuredly he did nothing more than the circumstances of the moment
+required!
+
+[70] Alvarado, who sometimes also played a game with Motecusuma, showed
+little generosity, according to other writers. If he lost, he paid with
+chalchihuis stones; if he won, he was paid with bars of gold, each worth
+at least fifty ducats. Motecusuma frequently lost in one evening from
+forty to fifty of such gold bars to Alvarado; but the more he lost, the
+more good-humoured he appeared. (p. 258.)
+
+[71] A kind of soup or broth, of which the so termed Spanish pepper
+formed the chief ingredient. (p. 260.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCVIII.
+
+    _How Cortes orders two large brigantines to be built for the
+    navigation of the lake of Mexico; Motecusuma begs permission to
+    visit his temples to offer up his prayers there; and what Cortes
+    said to him when he granted this permission._
+
+
+After the necessary materials had arrived for constructing the two
+brigantines, Cortes informed Motecusuma that he intended to build two
+small pleasure yachts to navigate the lake of Mexico, and requested him
+to allow his carpenters to cut wood for the purpose, and assist our ship
+carpenters, Martin Lopez and Alonso Nuñez, in the building of the
+vessels.
+
+There was plenty of wood at a distance of about sixteen miles from the
+town, which could easily be transported hither. The building of these
+vessels went on very fast, as our men were assisted by numbers of
+Indians. These brigantines, therefore, were very soon completed and
+rigged; besides which, each was provided with an awning to keep out the
+heat of the sun. Both vessels turned out very good, and sailed
+uncommonly fast.
+
+This Lopez was not only an excellent soldier, but also a very clever man
+in his profession, and subsequently built the thirteen brigantines which
+were of the most valuable assistance to us in the conquest of Mexico, as
+will be seen in the proper place.
+
+About this time, Motecusuma expressed a wish to visit his temple, in
+order to make his devotions there, and sacrifice to his idols. His
+motive for wishing this he declared was not merely to fulfil his
+religious duties, but also to convince his generals, his courtiers, and
+particularly some of his relatives, who daily begged he would allow them
+to rescue him from his confinement, and commence hostilities with us,
+that it was his own choice to dwell with us, to which Huitzilopochtli
+had given his consent.
+
+In answer to this request, Cortes said, he was afraid it would cost him
+his life, as his generals and papas might suddenly form the idea of
+taking forcible possession of his person on the occasion, and fall upon
+us, and his life would become endangered in the struggle. He was,
+however, no way inclined to oppose his wishes, and he might repair there
+early in the morning, but was not to sacrifice any human beings, as that
+was a great sin against the only true God, whom we had made known to
+him. Neither could he help remarking that it would be much more
+profitable to him to make his devotions before our altars and the image
+of the holy Virgin.
+
+Motecusuma then assured Cortes he would not permit any human sacrifices
+to take place. The monarch then, with Cortes' permission, made a
+procession to the temple, dressed in his splendid garments, and
+surrounded by his most distinguished courtiers, with the usual display
+of pomp, preceded by the staff of honour, to announce the monarch's
+approach. Four of our principal officers, Leon, Alvarado, Avila, and
+Lugo, with 150 soldiers, accompanied him as a guard, and father Olmedo
+to restrain the monarch from instituting any human sacrifices.
+
+When Motecusuma had arrived at the cursed temple of Huitzilopochtli, he
+was assisted out of the sedan by his nephews and other caziques. As the
+procession moved along, all the Mexican grandees kept their eyes fixed
+to the ground, not daring to look up in the monarch's face. At the foot
+of the temple he was met by a number of papas who assisted him in
+mounting the steps. The night previous, they had sacrificed four
+Indians; for, notwithstanding all Cortes and father Olmedo might say,
+they were not to be deterred, and continued those abominations. At that
+time, indeed, all we could do was to feign ignorance of their having
+taken place; for Mexico and other great towns had already been aroused
+into rebellion by Motecusuma's nephews, as will be presently seen.
+
+The monarch having finished his devotions, which were of short duration,
+again returned with us to our quarters. He appeared now in better
+spirits, and presented each of us who had accompanied the procession
+with trinkets of gold.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCIX.
+
+    _How our two brigantines are launched, and Motecusuma, expressing a
+    wish to go a hunting, sails in one of these vessels to a river where
+    he usually went for that purpose._
+
+
+When both our brigantines were launched, and completely rigged and
+manned with sailors, Motecusuma expressed a wish to take a trip by water
+to a river where he was accustomed to go for the purpose of hunting,
+situated at the foot of a mountain along the banks of the lake. No one,
+not even his principal officers, durst visit this spot for the sake of
+killing game, under pain of death. Cortes answered, that, as far as
+regarded himself, he in no way objected, but again impressed upon his
+mind what he had told him on his visit to the temple: and he would
+advise him to make use of one of the brigantines on the occasion, which
+were much more safe than the canoes or pirogues.
+
+Motecusuma was vastly pleased with this offer, and went on board the
+better of the two, with a great number of his principal officers: the
+other brigantine conveyed a son of the monarch, attended by numbers of
+caziques; and the royal huntsmen followed in the canoes of the country.
+Cortes took along with him Leon, Alvarado, Oli, and Avila, besides 200
+of our troops, bidding them to pay particular attention to everything
+that passed, and narrowly watch the person of Motecusuma. Besides this,
+four cannon were brought on board, with the necessary powder, and our
+artillerymen; so that every precaution was taken. A stiffish breeze
+fortunately rose just as the brigantines were leaving, so that we were
+able to make the best use of the sails, and the monarch was greatly
+delighted at thus, as it were, flying across the lake: nor could the
+canoes, filled with the huntsmen and other Mexican chiefs,
+notwithstanding the number of their rowers, any way keep up with us,
+which amused the monarch uncommonly, and he said it showed great skill
+thus to be able to unite the power of the sails and the oars.
+
+The desired river, therefore, which was not very far distant, was soon
+reached. Here Motecusuma created terrible destruction among the deer,
+hares, and rabbits, and returned highly delighted to his metropolis.
+When we had arrived near to Mexico, he begged our officers to fire the
+cannon, which gave him a new pleasure; and as we found that he was open
+and frank, we experienced a real pleasure in paying him the same respect
+as was shown him by his own grandees. But if I were to attempt a
+description of his grandeur, and the perfect submission and deep
+veneration which every prince of New Spain and other provinces evinced
+towards his person, I should, perhaps, find no end. He had merely to say
+the word, and everything was brought he desired, as the following
+instance will prove. One day, as many of us officers and soldiers were
+with Motecusuma, a hawk pounced upon a quail, which, with others, and
+numbers of pigeons, was kept by his Indian major domo, whose business it
+was to see that our quarters were always clean and tidy. This hawk
+succeeded in seizing its prey, and flew off with it. As we were all
+looking on, one of our men, Francisco de Azenedo, cried out, "O! what a
+fine bird! how beautifully it flies away with its prey!" We were all of
+the same opinion, and remarked, that this country altogether abounded
+with birds that might be capitally trained for hawking.
+
+Motecusuma, observing how lively we were discoursing together, was
+curious to know what it was, and inquired the reason of his page
+Orteguilla, who told him we were admiring the hawk which had pounced
+upon the quail, and added, that if we had such a bird in our power, we
+could teach it to fly from the hand, and attack a bird of any size and
+kill it.
+
+Then, returned Motecusuma, I will have this same hawk caught, and we
+shall see whether they can teach it all they say. Upon which, we all
+took our caps off and thanked him for his kindness. Motecusuma then sent
+for his birdcatchers, and commanded them to bring him the hawk above
+mentioned. These immediately set to work, and before the hour of Ave
+Maria they actually caught the bird, and presented it to Azenedo, who
+immediately recognized, by the plumage, that it was the identical one we
+had seen. We saw many similar instances, and even stronger proofs of the
+punctuality with which this monarch's orders were fulfilled. Even now,
+in his confinement, his subjects not only continued to bring him tribute
+from the most distant parts of New Spain, but they likewise obeyed his
+commands implicitly, and stood in such great awe of him, that even the
+birds which flew in the skies above were brought down for him if he
+expressed a wish that way.
+
+It is now, however, time to relate how suddenly the wheel of fortune
+turned against us, by a conspiracy, which was set on foot by the
+inhabitants, to put us all to death.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER C.
+
+    _How the nephews of Motecusuma assembled the principal personages of
+    the empire, and formed a conspiracy to rescue the monarch from
+    confinement, and beat us out of the city._
+
+
+When Cacamatzin, the prince of Tezcuco, which, next to Mexico, was the
+largest town of all New Spain, was informed of his uncle Motecusuma's
+imprisonment, and that we seized everything we could lay our hands
+on,--that we had even opened the treasure of his ancestor Axayacatl,
+though left it entire as yet,--he determined to put an end to our
+dominion before we should likewise take him prisoner.
+
+For this reason he assembled all the chiefs of Tezcuco, and with them
+the prince of Cojohuacan, who was his cousin, and nephew to Motecusuma;
+likewise the princes of Tlacupa and Iztapalapan, and another powerful
+cazique, prince of Matlaltzinco, a man of great courage, and so nearly
+related to Motecusuma, that many even believed the crown of right should
+have devolved upon him.
+
+These powerful caziques accordingly, with other Mexican generals, fixed
+a day when all their warriors were to meet and fall upon us with their
+united forces. It appeared, that the prince of Matlaltzinco, who was
+considered to be the most courageous man in the kingdom, and who had
+such great pretensions to the crown, had only consented to join the
+conspiracy, on condition that he should be elevated to the throne. He
+would himself, first of all, force his way into Mexico with the whole of
+his army, drive us out of the city, or put us all to the sword.
+Cacamatzin, however, it is said, had declared that the crown would
+sooner devolve upon him, as nephew of Motecusuma, and that he should be
+able to overcome us without paying so dearly for the prince
+Matlaltzinco's assistance. It is nevertheless certain, that Cacamatzin,
+and the before-mentioned princes, agreed to meet on a certain day before
+Mexico, and that the troops there should, at a certain signal, rise up
+in arms and admit them into the city.
+
+Motecusuma received due intelligence of all this, through the prince of
+Matlaltzinco, who had disagreed with Cacamatzin. The former to gain
+surer proofs of the whole affair, summoned all the grandees of Mexico
+into his presence; who then confessed that Cacamatzin had gained them
+over by presents and promises to join him in the attack upon us, and to
+liberate the monarch his uncle.
+
+Motecusuma, who was extremely prudent and not willing that his
+metropolis should be the scene of rebellion and bloodshed, informed
+Cortes of the conspiracy. Our commander, however, as well as every
+soldier among us, was perfectly aware of what was going on, though
+perhaps not of all the particulars. He, therefore, proposed to
+Motecusuma that he should put all his troops under his command, when in
+concert with ours he would fall upon Tezcuco, destroy the town and lay
+waste the whole province.
+
+But as Motecusuma was unwilling to fall in with this advice, Cortes sent
+word to Cacamatzin, that if he commenced hostilities against us it would
+be his death; that it was our wish to live in friendship with him and to
+render him good services.
+
+Cacamatzin, however, was a young hothead, and supported in his views by
+a great number of chiefs, who constantly kept urging him on to fall upon
+us. He, therefore, sent word to Cortes that he had already heard too
+much of his smooth words, and desired he would send him no more of his
+messages; it would be quite time enough to talk with each other when
+their armies stood one against the other in the field of battle.
+
+Cortes, however, sent him a second warning, and desired him to pause a
+little before he insulted our emperor in our persons. He would have
+dearly to pay for such presumptuous behaviour, and certainly be put to
+death.
+
+To which this prince returned the haughty answer: He knew nothing of our
+emperor, and wished also he had never known anything of Cortes, since he
+had so grossly deceived his uncle with his vile flattery.
+
+When Cortes received this answer he begged Motecusuma to use his own
+authority against the rebels, observing at the same time, that in
+Tezcuco there were many powerful men and relatives of his, who bore
+Cacamatzin ill blood, on account of his persecution and haughty
+behaviour towards them, and that he himself harboured one of his
+brothers, a young man of great promise, who had fled from Tezcuco to
+evade death, with which Cacamatzin had threatened him; for he could not
+forgive him the hopes he entertained of succeeding to the throne. He
+should therefore, continued Cortes to the monarch, issue orders to the
+grandees of Tezcuco to take Cacamatzin prisoner, or by some means or
+other try to entice him to Mexico, where he could be seized and kept in
+confinement until his reason had returned. He should also transfer the
+sovereign power over Tezcuco upon the brother, who had fled for
+protection to Mexico. Moreover, Cacamatzin had already forfeited all
+right to sovereign power, as he had attempted to revolutionize the whole
+of New Spain, and by that means to make himself master of Motecusuma's
+throne.
+
+The monarch now no longer hesitated, and promised to send for him,
+expressing, however, his doubts as to whether he would make his
+appearance; but if he did he would order his officers to seize his
+person. Cortes returned him many thanks for his ready compliance, and
+said: "Great monarch, if you should feel desirous of returning to your
+palace I myself would willingly let you go, for I now see how upright
+your intentions are towards us; I feel such an excess of friendship for
+you, that I would long ago have conducted you back to your palace with
+every magnificence, if it had depended solely upon me, and you yourself
+did not consider it good policy to stay with us, that you may not be
+hurried into the rebellious movement which your nephews have set on
+foot. Indeed, I myself should never have deprived you of your liberty if
+I had not been compelled to give way to my officers on that point, who
+think they see a guarantee of our own safety in detaining possession of
+your person." Motecusuma was now the more inclined to give Cortes credit
+for his good wishes towards him, and considered himself greatly indebted
+to him, and more so since Orteguilla had likewise assured him, that his
+imprisonment was entirely owing to our officers, and that Cortes would
+not be able to act according to his own wishes in this matter.
+Motecusuma, therefore, answered Cortes, "that he in every way preferred
+staying with us, until he should have gained more certain intelligence
+as to the real designs of his nephews." He now sent some trustworthy
+personages to Cacamatzin to invite him to Mexico, under the pretence
+that he was desirous of becoming reconciled to him. He told him, at the
+same time, not to feel any solicitude on account of his confinement, for
+it depended upon himself to leave our quarters whenever he thought
+proper; and Malinche himself had twice invited him to take up his abode
+in his own palace again. But he had refused to do so, that he might not
+go against the commandments of his gods, who had told him, through his
+priests, to continue our prisoner for a certain space of time, if he was
+desirous of preserving his life. It was therefore his interest to remain
+on good terms with Malinche and his brothers.
+
+Motecusuma also sent similar messages to the other chiefs of Tezcuco,
+adding, that he had invited his nephew to Mexico, to bring about
+friendship between him and us again. They were therefore to thwart all
+attempts the young hothead might make of commencing war upon us. On the
+receipt of this message, Cacamatzin with his principal adherents met to
+consult what steps they should take. He opened the assembly with a
+haughty and turbulent speech, assuring them he would destroy us all
+within the space of four days. His uncle was a faint-hearted old woman
+for not having fallen upon us as he had been advised on our descending
+the mountain of Chalco, and when all their warriors stood in readiness.
+Motecusuma, indeed, had invited us into the city as if we were going to
+do him some good. He gave us all the gold that was collected by tribute,
+and we had even broken open the secret treasury of his ancestor
+Axayacatl. We detained the monarch himself in prison, and continually
+admonished him to abolish his gods and adopt ours in their stead. The
+injury we had done was already great, but in order to put a stop to
+this, and that such injustice might not remain unpunished, he begged of
+them to lend him their powerful aid. All he had been stating they knew
+to be true, and had beheld with their own eyes how Motecusuma's generals
+were burnt at the stake: nothing now remained but to fall upon us in
+good earnest.
+
+These representations were accompanied, not only by promises when he
+should have ascended the Mexican throne of raising them all to great
+dignity, but he likewise presented them on the spot with all kinds of
+valuable things; assuring them he was in perfect understanding with the
+princes of Cojohuacan, Iztapalapan, Tlacupa, and other places, who would
+all join him with their troops. Even in Mexico itself he had drawn over
+a large number of the principal personages to his side, who would rise
+up in arms to assist him at a moment's notice. Nothing would be easier
+than to force their way into Mexico. Some of the troops were to march
+along the causeways, but the main body would be conveyed thither by
+canoes and pirogues. They would nowhere meet with any opposition, for
+his uncle was in confinement, and could issue no orders to the
+inhabitants of Mexico. There was no reason to fear us, for his uncle's
+generals had a few days ago killed several of the teules and one of
+their horses, near Almeria. Both the dead horse and head of one of the
+former had been shown to every one in Mexico. In the short space of one
+hour they would be able to capture the whole of us and feast sumptuously
+off our flesh.
+
+As soon as Cacamatzin had done speaking, the generals stood gazing at
+each other in silence, each one waiting to hear his neighbour's answer
+first. At last four or five of the most distinguished personages broke
+silence, declaring, if they were to commence hostilities in the very
+metropolis of their monarch, without his command, it was their duty,
+first of all, to apprize him of it. If he gave his consent, they would
+join him heart and soul; but would consider themselves traitors, if they
+acted contrary to his wishes.
+
+This answer displeased Cacamatzin uncommonly, and in the heat of his
+anger he threw three of the generals who thus opposed him into prison.
+As there were a great number of his relatives, and boisterous young men,
+like himself, at the meeting, the majority was for supporting him until
+death. Cacamatzin, therefore, sent the following answer to Motecusuma:
+"He might have spared himself the trouble of exhorting him to make
+friendship with people who had insulted him, Motecusuma, so greatly, by
+keeping him prisoner. They could only account for the conduct he had
+pursued from our being enchanters, who had bound down both his mind and
+energies by witchcraft, or that our gods, and the great Spanish woman,
+whom we termed our protectress, gave us power to accomplish everything
+we might wish."
+
+Herein Cacamatzin was certainly right; for the great mercy of God and of
+the blessed Virgin was certainly our greatest support. This message of
+Cacamatzin closed thus: "It was his intention to pay both his uncle and
+us a visit, to our sorrow, and speak words of death to us."
+
+Motecusuma was highly incensed at this impudent answer, and that instant
+sent for six of his most trustworthy generals, handed over to them his
+seal, with various other valuable things, and commissioned them to
+repair to Tezcuco, and secretly show his signet to all his relations,
+and those chiefs of the city whom they knew were ill inclined towards
+Cacamatzin, on account of his haughty behaviour, and command them to
+seize him, and those who supported him, and bring them to Mexico.
+
+These officers accordingly set out immediately for Tezcuco, and
+fulfilled their orders so promptly, that they seized Cacamatzin in his
+own palace amidst his adherents, five of whom were also taken. They were
+bound hand and foot, thrown into canoes, which were lying ready, well
+manned, and so brought to Mexico.
+
+When the officers had arrived there with the prisoners, they allowed
+Cacamatzin to mount his royal sedan, and so conducted him, with every
+respect due to his station, into the presence of Motecusuma.
+
+In his discourse with Motecusuma, Cacamatzin showed even more audacity
+than before; and when the monarch learnt from the other five prisoners
+that he had designed to deprive him of the crown, and place it on his
+own head, he grew terribly exasperated. He ordered the five other
+prisoners to be released, but Cacamatzin to be conducted into the
+presence of Cortes, that the latter might take him into his own custody.
+
+Upon this, Cortes repaired to the monarch, thanked him for this great
+proof of his friendship, and, with the approbation of Motecusuma, raised
+the brother of Cacamatzin, who, as above related, had fled for
+protection to Motecusuma, to the throne of Tezcuco. This was done with
+great pomp and ceremony, and the election of this new king was hailed by
+the inhabitants of that great city, and all the influential men of the
+province. The young king of Tezcuco received the name of Don Carlos.[71*]
+
+After the other nephews of Motecusuma, the princes of Cojohuacan,
+Iztapalapan, and Tlacupa, had learnt the fate of Cacamatzin, they
+naturally concluded that Motecusuma was informed of their having joined
+in the conspiracy, and they durst not come, as usual, to pay their court
+to him; but the former, in understanding with Cortes, likewise ordered
+them to be seized; and scarcely eight days had elapsed before we had the
+satisfaction of seeing them all securely locked in chains in our
+quarters.
+
+The reader may well imagine from all this that our lives hung, as it
+were, by a short thread, and we heard of nothing on all sides than how
+we should be cut off to a man, and our bodies devoured. Here a merciful
+Providence was our only protection. To him we are alone indebted that
+the excellent Motecusuma himself should have furthered all our designs,
+and that his subjects, even in his confinement, should have paid
+implicit obedience to all his commands. We therefore every way strove to
+show the monarch our gratitude for his great kindness; we took every
+possible means to amuse him; no one was allowed for one moment to treat
+him with disrespect; and Cortes himself even never sat down in his
+presence unless he desired him to do so. We not only treated him with
+profound respect, but we really loved him; for in all his actions he
+indeed proved himself a great monarch. Father Olmedo from time to time
+would also speak to him about our holy religion. We also acquainted him
+with the great power of our emperor, and the immense extent of his
+territories. All of this he would listen to with delight; then again he
+would play a game at totoloc with Cortes, and always divided his gains
+among us; for liberality was a leading feature in his character.
+
+[71*] The name of the prince was Cuicuitzcatl. (p. 270.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CI.
+
+    _How the powerful Motecusuma, with several caziques and chief
+    personages of the country, declare themselves vassals of our
+    emperor; and of other occurrences which happened then._
+
+
+As peace was again restored to the country after the imprisonment of the
+petty kings, Cortes reminded Motecusuma of the offers he had made,
+previously to our entering Mexico, to pay tribute to our emperor;
+observing at the same time that he must now be sufficiently convinced of
+the power and the vast extent of his empire, the number of his vassals,
+among whom even there were distinguished sovereigns. It would be good,
+therefore, if he, with all his subjects, likewise acknowledged
+themselves vassals of our emperor; and it was customary for this act of
+submission to be preceded by payment of tribute.
+
+In answer to this, Motecusuma said he was quite willing to assemble all
+the grandees of his empire, and deliberate the matter with them: and
+after the space of ten days the greater part of the caziques from the
+surrounding districts assembled together, with the exception, however,
+of the cazique of Matlaltzinco, who was a near relation of Motecusuma,
+and considered a man of uncommon bravery; at least his demeanour and
+bodily frame fully bespoke it, and he was looked upon as Motecusuma's
+successor to the throne of Mexico.
+
+But even this man, it would appear, was seized with terror; for he sent
+Motecusuma word from Tula, where he was then staying, that it was
+impossible for him to be present at the meeting, and he was unable to
+pay tribute; indeed scarcely able to live himself on what his province
+produced him.
+
+Enraged at this unexpected answer, Motecusuma despatched some of his
+generals to take the refractory prince prisoner. But as he was a very
+powerful cazique, he had, of course, numerous adherers, who sent him
+intelligence of the steps Motecusuma had determined to take against him;
+so that he had sufficient time to retreat into the interior of the
+country, where he was quite out of his monarch's reach.
+
+The other chiefs, however, duly assembled at their monarch's bidding;
+but neither Cortes nor any of us were present at the meeting, save the
+page Orteguilla, from whom we learnt what follows:--Motecusuma opened
+the assembly by reminding the caziques of the ancient tradition of their
+forefathers, written down in their historical records, of a people that
+would one time come from the quarter where the sun rose, who were
+destined to rule this country, and put an end to the Mexican empire.
+That tradition referred to us, as he concluded, from the declarations of
+his gods. The priests of Huitzilopochtli had expressly demanded an
+oracle of that god on this point, and had instituted sacrifices for that
+purpose; but the god, contrary to his usual custom, had refused the
+oracle, and merely referred them to his previous declaration; wherefore
+they had not dared to put any further questions. We may therefore
+conclude, continued Motecusuma, that Huitzilopochtli meant to say we
+were even to take the oath of allegiance to the king of Spain, whose
+subjects the teules are. For the present we cannot do otherwise than act
+accordingly: we must wait to see if our gods will give a better response
+some time hence, we can then act as circumstances require. He therefore
+desired and commanded them, for their own good, cheerfully to give some
+proof of their allegiance to the Spanish monarch. Malinche had been
+importunate on this point, and it would not be well to refuse him. For
+the eight or ten years he had ruled over them they had obeyed him like
+faithful servants; for which reason he had enriched them, enlarged their
+territories, and elevated them to high dignities. They were to consider
+his present confinement as the will of Huitzilopochtli, who had
+particularly advised him to it, as he had so often assured them on other
+occasions.
+
+After this reasoning and statement of Motecusuma, all present declared
+themselves willing to comply with his wishes, but broke out into tears,
+and sighed deeply, Motecusuma himself being most vehemently affected. He
+then immediately despatched one of his principal officers to Cortes with
+the information that the day following they would again meet, and take
+the oath of allegiance to the emperor.
+
+The next day accordingly this was done in the presence of Cortes, of our
+officers, and the greater part of the soldiers. All the Mexicans seemed
+deeply grieved, and Motecusuma himself could not refrain from shedding
+tears. Even we ourselves, from the great affection we bore this monarch,
+became quite affected at the sight of his tears, and many of us wept as
+much as the monarch himself. We therefore strove, if possible, to
+redouble our attention towards him, and Cortes, with Father Olmedo, who
+was a man of great intelligence, scarcely left him for a moment; and
+while we employed every means to cheer him, we never lost an opportunity
+of exhorting him to abolish his false gods.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CII.
+
+    _How Cortes sends out some of our men to explore the gold mines and
+    those rivers which wash down gold; also the harbours from the Panuco
+    to the Tabasco, but particularly the river Guacasualco._
+
+
+Cortes one day, as usual, sitting with Motecusuma, the discourse, among
+other things, turned upon mining, and he inquired of the monarch where
+the gold mines and those rivers were situated where gold dust was found,
+and what method they pursued to collect the same, as he intended sending
+out two of his men for that purpose, who were great proficients in the
+art of mining.
+
+Motecusuma answered, that gold was found in three different parts of the
+country; but more abundantly in the province of Zacatula, from ten to
+twelve days' journey south of Mexico. There the earth which contained
+the gold was washed in wooden vessels, and the gold dust sunk to the
+bottom. At present gold was likewise brought from the northern province
+of Tustepec, near to where we had landed. There it was collected from
+the beds of the rivers; and very productive gold mines were also worked
+in this province by the Chinantecs and Tzapotecs, two tribes which were
+not subject to him. If Cortes was desirous of sending some of his men
+there, he was very willing himself to despatch several distinguished
+officers with them.
+
+Cortes accepted of this offer, and thanked Motecusuma for his kindness,
+and sent off our pilot Gonzalo de Umbria, with two miners, to Zacatula.
+This Umbria was the same person whom Cortes sentenced to have his feet
+cut off, while we were staying at San Juan de Ulua.[72] He and his
+companions were to return within the space of forty days. To the mines
+in the north he despatched an officer, named Pizarro, a young man
+twenty-five years of age, whom he treated as one of his own relations.
+
+At that time Peru was still unknown, and the name of Pizarro not thought
+of. This young officer was accompanied by four miners and an equal
+number of distinguished Mexicans. A space of forty days was likewise
+allowed him to return to Mexico, as he had to travel a distance of 320
+miles.
+
+Motecusuma on that occasion likewise presented Cortes with a piece of
+nequen cloth, on which all the rivers and indentures along the coast
+running northwards of Panuco to Tabasco, a distance of 560 miles, were
+very accurately described and drawn. By this chart our observation was
+drawn to the river Guacasualco, and as we were well acquainted with all
+the harbours and indentures there noted down, from our voyage under
+Grijalva, but knew nothing of that river, which the Mexicans described
+as very broad and deep, Cortes determined also to send some one there to
+make soundings at its mouth, and further explore the country; Diego de
+Ordas, a man of great intelligence and courage, offered himself for this
+purpose, if two of our men, and some Mexicans, might accompany him.
+
+Cortes was at first very loth to part with him, as he was so useful to
+him in various ways, but at last gave his consent, to keep him in good
+humour. Motecusuma likewise expressed his fears about this journey, as
+the land of Guacasualco was not subject to him, and inhabited by a very
+warlike people. He cautioned Ordas to be particularly on his guard, and
+hoped that no reproach would be made him if any harm befel him. But if
+Ordas should think proper, he would order a sufficient number of his
+troops, which lay on the confines, to accompany him into Guacasualco.
+Cortes and Ordas returned Motecusuma many thanks for his kindness, and
+the latter then set out on his journey, accompanied by two of our men
+and several distinguished Mexicans.
+
+Here again the historian Gomara commits another blunder similar to the
+one he previously made, respecting Pedro de Ircio, whom he sends to
+Panuco; for here he despatches Juan Velasquez with 100 men to form a
+colony in Guacasualco. In the next chapter I will give an account of
+what these officers saw, and the samples of gold they brought with them.
+
+[72] According to Torquemada, Umbria was only scourged, which appears
+more probable. (p. 273.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CIII.
+
+    _How the officers whom Cortes had despatched to the gold mines and
+    the river Guacasualco[73] returned to Mexico._
+
+
+The first who returned to Mexico was Gonzalo de Umbria, with his
+companions. He brought with him about 300 pesos worth of gold dust,
+which they had collected in the township of Zacatula. There, he related,
+the caziques of the province employed numbers of the inhabitants at the
+rivers to wash gold out of the sand in small troughs. There were two
+rivers from which gold dust was collected, and if clever miners were set
+to work there, and the mining carried out in the same way as at St.
+Domingo and Cuba, they would prove very profitable.
+
+Four distinguished chiefs of that province had accompanied Umbria to
+Mexico, with a present in gold trinkets for our emperor, valued at about
+200 pesos. Cortes was as much pleased with this small quantity of gold
+as if it had been worth 3000 pesos, as he now knew for a certainty that
+there were rich mines in those parts. He treated the caziques who
+brought this present very kindly, gave them glass beads, and promised
+them all manner of good things; so that they returned home highly
+delighted.
+
+Besides this, Umbria spoke about many other large townships in the
+neighbourhood of Mexico, and of a province on the confines, called
+Matlaltzinco. We could well perceive that Umbria and his companions had
+not forgotten themselves, for they had well stuffed their pockets with
+gold. This Cortes had readily foreseen, and purposely selected Umbria
+for that journey, to regain his friendship, and that he might forget the
+severe sentence which he had passed upon him.
+
+Neither did Diego de Ordas, who had been sent to the river Guacasualco,
+return with empty hands. He had likewise passed through large townships,
+all of which he mentioned by name, and had everywhere been received with
+great respect. Every town he came to he had met with endless complaints
+from the inhabitants respecting the depredations and cruelties exercised
+upon them by the Mexican troops stationed on the confines. Ordas, and
+the distinguished Mexicans who accompanied him, had severely reprimanded
+the officers who commanded these troops, and threatened to acquaint
+Motecusuma with every circumstance, who would certainly send for and
+punish them with equal severity as he had Quauhpopoca for similar
+misconduct. These remonstrances had the desired effect, and on his
+further journey Ordas was only accompanied by one of his Mexican
+fellow-travellers. Tochel, cazique of the province of Guacasualco,
+having received information of Ordas's approach, sent out several
+distinguished personages to meet him. Everywhere he met with the kindest
+reception, for the inhabitants had learnt to know what kind of people we
+were, from the expedition under Grijalva.
+
+In order to assist him in exploring this river, the cazique Tochel not
+only lent him several large canoes, but himself, accompanied by a number
+of his officers, had accompanied him to the river Guacasualco. At the
+mouth of this river Ordas found a depth of three fathoms, but higher up
+the river became gradually deeper, and was navigable for large vessels;
+and near a certain Indian village there was depth enough to carry a
+Spanish carack. In this village the inhabitants presented Ordas with
+some gold trinkets and a pretty Indian female. They likewise declared
+themselves vassals of our emperor, and complained bitterly of
+Motecusuma, and the cruelties exercised by his troops. It was only a
+short time ago they had fought a battle against the latter, and slain
+great numbers of them; for which reason they had named the small
+village where the engagement took place _Cuitlonemiqui_, which in their
+language means the _spot where the Mexican beasts fell_. Ordas thanked
+them very kindly for the great respect they had shown him, and presented
+them with some glass beads. He likewise said that the country was well
+adapted for the breeding of cattle, and the harbour excellently situated
+for trading with Cuba, St. Domingo, and Jamaica, but too far distant
+from Mexico; and, what was worse, full of shallows; which was the reason
+we seldom made use of this harbour for commerce, or transporting goods
+from Mexico.
+
+With respect to Pizarro, he returned, with only one of the Spaniards who
+accompanied him to Tustepec, but he had been more fortunate in the
+discovery of gold, of which he brought with him dust of that metal to
+the value of 1000 pesos. He related that he had himself commenced
+washing for gold dust in the provinces of Tustepec and Malinaltepec, and
+neighbouring districts; for which purpose he had employed a considerable
+number of Indians, whom he remunerated for their labour with two thirds
+of the gold they found. He had likewise visited other provinces higher
+up in the mountains, called the country of the Chinantecs. Here he was
+met by a number of Indians, armed with bows, arrows, shields, and
+lances, of much greater length than ours. They declared that no Mexican
+should set foot in their territory, under pain of death, but that the
+teules were very welcome. The Mexicans consequently remained behind, and
+Pizarro pursued his journey with the Spaniards only. The Chinantec
+caziques then ordered a number of the inhabitants to repair to the
+river, to wash the gold dust from the sand. The gold dust here found is
+of a curly shape, and the inhabitants said that the mines, where the
+metal was found in that shape, were much more productive and the metal
+more solid. Pizarro was likewise accompanied by two caziques of that
+country, who, in the name of the inhabitants, came to make friendship
+with us, and declare themselves vassals of our emperor. They also
+brought a present in gold, and complained bitterly of the Mexicans, who
+were held in such utter abhorrence by them, on account of their lust
+after plunder, that they could not endure the sight of a Mexican, or
+bear to hear their name pronounced.
+
+Cortes received Pizarro and the caziques with every possible kindness,
+and returned the latter many thanks for their present, assuring them of
+our friendship, and readiness to serve them at all times, and then
+dismissed them. That, however, they might travel in safety through the
+Mexican territories, he desired two distinguished Mexicans to accompany
+them to the confines, for which they were very thankful. Cortes then
+inquired of Pizarro what had become of the other Spaniards who had
+accompanied him. Pizarro replied, that he had ordered them to remain
+behind there, as the soil seemed so rich, and abounded in gold mines,
+and the inhabitants so peaceably inclined. He had desired them to form a
+small settlement there, and lay out extensive grounds for cacao, maise,
+and cotton plantations; also to promote the breed of cattle, and explore
+the gold mines of the country. Cortes greatly disapproved of his having
+exceeded his commands, and upbraided him severely in private, telling
+him that it betrayed a low disposition instantly to begin thinking of
+speculation in cacao plantations and breeding of cattle. Cortes then
+despatched a soldier, named Alonso Luis, to the Spaniards left behind,
+with orders for their immediate return to Mexico.
+
+[73] At the present day even this river is known in New Spain by the
+name of Huasacualco, and even Guacasualco. (p. 274.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CIV.
+
+    _How Cortes desired the powerful Motecusuma to order all the
+    caziques of the empire to bring in the tribute of gold due to our
+    emperor._
+
+
+As Diego de Ordas and the other officers whom Cortes had sent out for
+the discovery of gold mines had all returned with samples of that metal,
+and brought the most satisfactory accounts concerning the wealth of the
+country, our general, after long deliberation with his officers and
+several of the soldiers, resolved that Motecusuma should now be desired
+to send round to all his caziques, and to every township of his empire,
+and require them to bring in tribute to our emperor, and that he
+himself, as the most wealthy of his vassals, should pay the same from
+his own private treasures.
+
+In answer to this request, Motecusuma said that he would forward the
+necessary orders for this purpose to every township; but he was
+compelled to inform us that many of them would be unable to fulfil those
+commands, who could merely contribute some trifling trinkets in gold
+which they had inherited from their forefathers.
+
+Motecusuma then sent several of his principal officers to the districts
+where there were gold mines, desiring the inhabitants of such places to
+forward him the usual weight and number of gold bars they were
+accustomed to pay as tribute, and forwarded them two bars as a sample.
+He despatched similar orders to the province which stood under his
+relative, who behaved so refractory. This prince, however, sent him word
+that he would neither send any gold nor pay any attention to
+Motecusuma's commands, and that he had as much right to the throne of
+Mexico as he who thus dared to demand tribute of him.
+
+The monarch was so incensed at this answer that he instantly despatched
+some of his most active officers, with his seal, to seize the rebel and
+bring him to Mexico. These officers were more successful than the former
+had been, and brought in the rebel prince prisoner. When he was led into
+the presence of Motecusuma, he not only evinced no fear, but was
+impudent to a degree, and expressed himself so disrespectfully that his
+conduct could only be accounted for by madness, as he, it was said, was
+subject to fits of insanity. Cortes, who received information that
+Motecusuma had given orders for his execution, begged the latter he
+might be sent to him, that he might take him into his own custody. The
+former complied with this request, and when the prince was brought into
+our general's presence, he spoke very kindly to him, and begged of him
+not to act the madman with his monarch, and assured him he would obtain
+his liberty again. But Motecusuma was of a very different opinion, and
+desired he might be heavily chained, as the other princes had been.
+
+After the lapse of twenty days, all the officers whom Motecusuma had
+sent out into the provinces to collect the tribute, had returned to
+Mexico. He then sent for Cortes, his officers, and several of us who had
+been accustomed to stand sentinel in his apartment, and spoke to us as
+follows: "Malinche, and you other officers and soldiers, I consider
+myself greatly indebted to your emperor for his having thought it worth
+his while to send from such distant countries to make inquiries after
+me; but what more deeply occupies my thoughts is the tradition of our
+ancestors, which has been fully confirmed by the oracles of our gods,
+that, namely, the dominion of these countries was destined to devolve
+upon him. Receive, therefore, this gold for him; I have no more at
+present, as the notice to collect it was too short. With regard to
+myself, I have destined the whole of my father's treasure for him as my
+share of the tribute, which lies secreted in your quarters. I am well
+aware that you have inspected it, but closed up the opening as before.
+When, however, you transmit this treasure to your emperor, you must say
+in your letter, this is sent you by your faithful vassal Motecusuma. To
+this I will also add a few chalchihuis, of such enormous value that I
+would not consent to give them to any one save to such a powerful
+emperor as yours: each of these stones are worth two loads of gold. I
+further think of sending him three crossbows, with the small balls, and
+bag which contains them, all richly ornamented with jewels, which will
+certainly please him much. I should like to give him all I possess; now
+I have very little left, as I have from time to time given you the
+greater portion of my gold and jewels."
+
+Cortes and all of us were astonished at this generosity and great
+goodness of the monarch, and we took off our caps very respectfully, and
+thanked him. Cortes, at the same time, assured him he would send our
+majesty an accurate description of all these splendid presents.
+Motecusuma did not delay one instant to fulfil his promise, for that
+very same hour his house-stewards arrived to hand us over all the
+treasures contained in the secret chamber. There was such a vast heap of
+it that we were occupied three days in taking all out of the different
+corners of this secret room, and in looking them over; we were even
+obliged to send for Motecusuma's goldsmiths from Escapuzalco to assist
+us. The reader may form some notion of this treasure when I tell him
+that, when all the articles were set apart in three heaps and weighed,
+the gold alone, not counting the silver and other precious things, was
+found to be worth above 600,000 pesos: in this are not included the gold
+plates, bars, and the gold dust contributed by the other provinces. All
+this treasure we ordered the goldsmiths of Escapuzalco to smelt into
+bars measuring three inches square.
+
+Besides all this, Motecusuma brought another present, consisting in gold
+and jewels of enormous value. There were also chalchihuis stones of
+extreme beauty and size, which were considered of immense value among
+the caziques of the country. Further, there were three crossbows, with
+their cases set in jewels and pearls, besides a number of pictures made
+of feathers and small pearls, all of great value: indeed, it would be no
+easy task to describe all these splendid things one by one.
+
+Upon this Cortes ordered an iron stamp to be made, about the size of a
+Spanish real, bearing the arms of Spain, with which the royal treasurers
+were to mark all the gold, with the exception of that set in jewels,
+which we were loth to pull to pieces. As we possessed neither scales nor
+weights, we cast the latter in iron, from twenty-five pounds to half a
+pound weight, and to four ounces; for we cared very little to weigh to a
+nicety of half an ounce or so. When the gold, without including the
+silver and jewels, was weighed, we found, as I have before stated, that
+it amounted to 600,000 pesos, though many of our men valued it at much
+more.
+
+Nothing now remained but to deduct the emperor's fifths therefrom, and
+divide the remainder among the officers and soldiers, including those
+left behind at Vera Cruz. Cortes, however, was of opinion that the
+division should be postponed until our stock should be further
+increased, but most of our officers and soldiers desired that it might
+take place forthwith, for they asserted that above one third had already
+disappeared since the three heaps had been first collected together.
+They greatly suspected that Cortes and his principal officers had
+secretly taken away the greater part. The weighing of the gold,
+consequently, was commenced immediately, that the division might take
+place on the following day. In what way this was done, and how most of
+it fell into the hands of Cortes and others, I will relate in the
+following chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CV.
+
+    _How all the gold presented by Motecusuma, and collected from the
+    different townships, was divided; and what happened to one of our
+    soldiers on the occasion._
+
+
+First of all, one fifth of the treasure was set apart for the crown, and
+a second for Cortes, as had been promised him when we elected him
+captain-general and chief justice. After this had been deducted, Cortes
+brought in the expenses of fitting out the armament at Cuba; then the
+sum due to Velasquez for the vessels we had destroyed, and, lastly, the
+travelling expenses of our agents whom we sent to Spain. Next were
+deducted the several shares due to the garrison at Vera Cruz, which
+consisted of seventy men; then the value of the two horses which had
+been killed, one in the engagement with the Tlascallans, the other at
+Almeria.
+
+Not until all this had been deducted were the rest of our men allowed to
+take their shares. Double shares were also set apart for the two
+priests, the officers, and the cavalry, likewise for the musketeers and
+crossbow-men. After these and other nibblings, there remained, for the
+greater part of our men, who could only claim one share, such a mere
+trifle, that many of them would not even accept of it, which Cortes then
+took himself. At that time, indeed, we thought it best to say nothing
+about this unjust division; for what would it have availed us had we
+demanded justice? Besides which, Cortes had secretly bribed some with
+presents and large promises, and many of the most noisy he presented
+with a hundred pesos to stop their mouths.
+
+The portion belonging to the garrison at Vera Cruz was forwarded to
+Tlascalla for safe keeping. Most of our officers employed Motecusuma's
+goldsmiths of Escapuzalco to make them heavy chains of the gold; and
+Cortes, among other things, ordered a grand dinner service. Several of
+our soldiers, who had learnt how to fill their pockets, had other things
+made; and it was not long before a number of the stamped bars and
+trinkets came into circulation; for gambling was now commenced to a
+great extent, after a certain Pedro Valenciano had managed to
+manufacture playing cards from parchment, which were as well painted and
+as beautiful to the eye as those manufactured in Spain.
+
+I will, however, show what impression this unfair division of the gold
+made upon our men. Among our troops there was a man named Cardenas, a
+sailor by profession, who had left behind him in Spain a wife and
+children in great want, and had the ill-luck, with many of us, to
+continue in poverty.
+
+When this man beheld the great heap of gold piled up in bars, plates,
+besides the gold dust, and found his share of the spoil was a mere
+hundred pesos, he became excessively low-spirited. One of his friends,
+who had observed this, asked him the cause of his grief and heavy sighs?
+He answered, "Why, how the devil can I do otherwise, when I see the gold
+which we have so hardly earned find its way into Cortes' pockets, with
+his fifths, monies laid out for horses, vessels, and other such like
+vile trickeries, while my wife and children are perishing at home for
+want of food? I could even have sent them a little help when our agents
+went to Spain, for there was sufficient gold at that time to have
+divided it among us." "What gold are you speaking of?" inquired his
+friend. "Why," answered Cardenas, "of that which our agents took with
+them to Spain. If Cortes had granted me my share of that, my wife and
+children would not have wanted: but he employed every species of
+artifice to persuade us to send the whole treasure as a present to the
+emperor, with the exception, however, of above 6000 pesos to Martin
+Cortes, his father: I will not even mention the gold which he has
+secretly stowed away. We others who have fought about courageously night
+and day at Tabasco, Tlascalla, Zinpantzinco, and Cholulla; we who at
+present live in continual fear, with almost certain death before our
+eyes as soon as the inhabitants of this great city get it into their
+heads to rise up against us,--we all remain, as before,
+poverty-stricken, and all our remonstrances are in vain! Cortes, on the
+contrary, acts as if he were the emperor himself, and runs away with a
+fifth of our hard earnings!"
+
+In this strain the poor fellow continued his complaints, and was of
+opinion that we should not have allowed Cortes to deduct a fifth for
+himself; and that we required no other sovereign than our own emperor.
+
+"And are you really," returned the other, "going to embitter your
+happiness with such thoughts? All this will avail you nothing. You know
+we fare equally bad with respect to provisions, for Cortes and his
+officers nearly eat up all themselves; but it is of no use for us to
+complain, therefore drive away, all such melancholy thoughts from your
+mind, and pray to the Almighty that we may not meet with our total
+destruction in this city."
+
+Cortes was duly apprized of all this and similar complaints; and as the
+discontent among the men respecting the unfair division of the gold
+became pretty general, he ordered the whole of us into his presence, and
+addressed us in a speech abounding with the sweetest sentences
+imaginable. He was indebted, he said, for all he had to us; that he had
+not required the fifth part, but the share which was promised him when
+we elected him captain-general, and he was quite ready to bestow
+something on those who stood in need. The gold we had collected up to
+this moment, he continued, was a trifle to that which was to come. We
+ought to remember what great cities were dispersed through the country,
+and the rich mines which were in our possession; these certainly would
+enrich every man in his army. In this way he continued for some time,
+and spoke feelingly to the heart! but, finding all this had no effect,
+he employed other means. Many he secretly silenced with gold, and others
+by great promises, and the provisions sent us by Motecusuma's orders
+were from this moment justly divided, so that every man among us had an
+equal share of food with himself. He likewise took Cardenas aside, and
+quieted him with a present of 300 pesos, and the promise that he would
+allow him to return home to his family with the first vessel that left
+for Spain. This Cardenas I shall have occasion to mention on some future
+occasion, for he did Cortes considerable injury in Spain during the
+subsequent complaints which were laid before the emperor against him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CVI.
+
+    _Of the high words which arose between Velasquez de Leon and our
+    treasurer Gonzalo Mexia on account of the gold which was missing
+    from the heap, and how Cortes put an end to that dispute._
+
+
+Since gold, generally speaking, is the great desire of man, and that the
+more he possesses of it the more avaricious he grows, it also happened
+here that many pieces of gold were missing from the heaps, which I have
+mentioned above; and as one of our officers named Leon had ordered
+Motecusuma's goldsmiths to make him heavy gold chains and other
+ornaments, the royal treasurer Gonzalo Mexia suspected something wrong,
+and secretly observed to him that the emperor's fifths had not been
+deducted from several of the bars he had sent to be smelted. Leon, who
+stood in high favour with Cortes, answered, that it was not his
+intention to return anything. The gold he possessed he had not taken
+himself, but had received all from Cortes before it had ever been
+smelted.
+
+The royal treasurer, however, was not to be silenced by this, but
+affirmed, that, besides the gold Cortes had secretly taken away, and of
+which he had deprived his companions in arms, there was a good deal
+elsewhere from which the royal fifths had not been deducted, and that,
+in his capacity of royal treasurer, he could not suffer the emperor's
+interest to be thus prejudiced.
+
+This, consequently, led to high words between both parties, so that they
+drew swords, and would certainly have killed each other if we had not
+instantly parted them; for both were high-spirited men and excellent
+swordsmen, and each had already wounded his antagonist.
+
+As soon as Cortes was informed of this affair, he ordered both to be
+arrested and heavily chained. As, however, he always had been heart in
+hand with Leon, many were of opinion that all this was a mere blind to
+make us believe that he preferred justice to friendship; besides which
+it was whispered that he secretly visited him during his arrest, and
+assured him that he should not be confined beyond a couple of days, when
+he and Mexia would again be set at liberty. But all this did not go to
+quiet our suspicions, and now Mexia, in his turn, was reproached for not
+having fulfilled the duties of royal treasurer, and he was compelled by
+the soldiers to inquire of Cortes what had become of the missing gold?
+
+I will, however, cut this matter short here, and return to Leon, who was
+confined in a room not far from the apartments occupied by Motecusuma.
+When Leon, therefore, who was a tall powerful man, paced up and down his
+room, his heavy chains dragged along the floor, so that the monarch
+could plainly hear the jingling noise, and he inquired of Orteguilla who
+the prisoner was? His page then told him that it was Leon, who had
+previously been captain of the guard, an appointment now filled by Oli,
+and told him that the reason of his confinement was on account of some
+gold that was missing.
+
+When Cortes that day, as usual, paid his visit to the monarch, and the
+first compliments had passed between them, the latter inquired of our
+general how it came that such a distinguished officer as Leon should
+have been thrown into chains? To which Cortes answered, jokingly, that
+all was not as it should be with him, he having threatened, because he
+had not received sufficient gold, to travel around to the different
+towns, and demand gold of the caziques. Fearing, therefore, he might put
+his threats into execution, and kill one or other chief, he had thrown
+him into prison. Motecusuma, on hearing this, begged Cortes to set him
+at liberty again, and promised he would soon drive such thoughts from
+his mind by presenting him with gold from his own private treasure.
+
+Cortes feigned great unwillingness to grant the monarch's request, but
+at length assured him he would comply merely on account of the affection
+he bore him, Motecusuma. Leon was, consequently, released, and Cortes
+brought about a reconciliation between him and Mexia; then despatched
+him with some of Motecusuma's principal officers to raise gold at
+Cholulla, from which place he did not return till the end of six days,
+and now he had more gold than ever. Mexia, however, never forgot this
+affair, and a coolness ever after existed between him and our general.
+
+I have related this story, though foreign to my narrative, to show the
+reader what artful devices Cortes was accustomed to set on foot, and
+what a show he made of justice to make us fear him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CVII.
+
+    _How Motecusuma offers one of his daughters in marriage to Cortes,
+    who accepts her, and pays her the attentions due to her high
+    station._
+
+
+I have often related how we strove, in every possible manner, to amuse
+Motecusuma in his confinement, and daily visited him in his apartments.
+It was on one of these occasions that the monarch said to our general,
+"Malinche! in order to prove the great affection I have for you, I must
+acquaint you that it is my intention to give you one of my prettiest
+daughters in marriage."
+
+Cortes took his cap off, and thanked him for the honour he was going to
+confer upon him, and said he was already married, and that the religion
+and laws of our country would not allow a man to have more than one
+wife; but that he would accept her and treat her with the respect due to
+her high rank, and it was requisite she should become converted to
+Christianity, as the daughters of many of his grandees had been.
+
+Motecusuma readily agreed to this, as he did in everything else we
+desired, save the sacrificing of human beings, which nothing could
+induce him to abolish; day after day were those abominations committed:
+Cortes remonstrated with him in every possible way, but with so little
+effect, that at last he deemed it proper to take some decided step in
+the matter. But the great difficulty was to adopt a measure by which
+neither the inhabitants nor the priesthood would be induced to rise up
+in arms. We, however, came to the determination, in a meeting called for
+the purpose, to throw down the idols from the top of Huitzilopochtli's
+temple; and should the Mexicans rise up in arms for their defence, then
+to content ourselves by demanding permission to build an altar on one
+side of the platform, and erect thereon the image of the holy Virgin
+with the cross.
+
+Thus determined, Cortes, accompanied by seven officers and soldiers,
+repaired to Motecusuma, and spoke to him as follows: "Great monarch, I
+have already so many times begged of you to abolish those false idols by
+whom you are so terribly deluded, and no longer to sacrifice human
+beings to them; and yet these abominations are continued daily: I have,
+therefore, come to you now, with these officers, to beg permission of
+you to take away these idols from the temple, and place in their stead
+the holy Virgin and the cross. The whole of my men feel determined to
+pull down your idols, even should you be averse to it; and you may well
+suppose that one or other of your papas will become the victim."
+
+When Motecusuma heard this, and saw how determined our officers were, he
+said to Cortes, "Alas, Malinche! why is it you wish to compel me to
+bring down total destruction on this town? Our gods are already angry
+with us, and who can tell what revenge they contemplate against you? I
+will, however, assemble all the papas, to know their opinion."
+
+Cortes made a sign with his hand for the other officers to retire, and
+begged of Motecusuma to grant him and father Olmedo a private audience.
+Cortes then told the monarch he only knew one way of saving the town
+from open rebellion, and the idols from destruction, namely, by our
+being allowed to erect an altar, with the cross and Virgin Mary, on the
+top of the great temple. He would then pledge himself to silence the
+murmurs of his men, and the Mexicans themselves would soon be convinced
+how greatly such a change would benefit their souls, what great
+blessings would be showered down upon them, and how abundant their
+harvests would be.
+
+To this Motecusuma likewise answered, with a deep sigh, and a
+countenance full of sorrow, that he would discuss the matter with his
+papas. At length, after a good deal of arguing between the papas and
+himself, we were allowed to erect an altar, with the cross and holy
+Virgin, on the top of the temple, opposite the cursed idol
+Huitzilopochtli. We returned heartfelt thanks to the Almighty, and
+father Olmedo, assisted by the priest Juan Diaz, and many of our
+soldiers, celebrated high mass.[74]
+
+Cortes appointed an old soldier to keep watch over this altar, and
+begged, at the same time, of Motecusuma to order his papas not to
+obstruct the man in his duty, which was to keep the place clean, burn
+incense before the altar, keep the candles lighted there night and day,
+and decorate it from time to time with fresh branches and flowers.
+
+I must, however, break off here, and relate something we little
+expected.
+
+[74] For a further account of what happened after the building of this
+altar, I must refer the reader to the oft-quoted work of Torquemada
+(Monarchia, Ind. iv, 53.) (p. 286.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CVIII.
+
+    _How the powerful Motecusuma acquaints Cortes that it is requisite
+    for his safety to quit Mexico, with the whole of his men, as all the
+    caziques and papas were upon the point of rising up in arms to
+    destroy us all, in compliance with the advice given them by their
+    gods: the steps which Cortes took upon this news._
+
+
+From the very moment we had erected this altar and cross on the great
+temple, and had celebrated high mass there, a storm began to gather over
+our heads.
+
+About this time Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca are said to have
+addressed the papas, and acquainted them they were desirous of leaving
+the country, as the teules had treated them with such great contempt,
+and that it was impossible for them to dwell in the same spot with that
+image and cross. If they were desirous they should remain in Mexico,
+they were to kill us all. These were the last words they should utter;
+they were to be communicated to Motecusuma and his grandees, and the
+papas were at the same time to put them in mind how we had melted all
+the gold into bars, with which previously the gods had been honoured;
+how we ordered things as if we had been lords of the country, and kept
+five powerful princes bound in chains.
+
+All this was faithfully reported to Motecusuma, who then sent word to
+Cortes he should like to see him, as he had things of the utmost
+importance to disclose to him.
+
+The page Orteguilla, who had been despatched to Cortes for this purpose,
+informed the latter that Motecusuma appeared quite changed and
+spiritless; that, the day previous, several papas and distinguished
+officers had had secret interviews with him, and they uttered words of
+which he had not understood one syllable.
+
+Upon this, Cortes, accompanied by Oli, four other officers, and our two
+interpreters, immediately called upon the monarch, and, after the usual
+courtesies had passed between them, the latter broke out as follows:
+"Alas! Malinche and you other officers, how grieved I am at the commands
+which our gods have imparted to our papas, myself, and my chief
+officers!
+
+"They most earnestly demand of us that we shall commence hostilities
+with you, and put you to death, or drive you away from this country by
+some other means. My advice is, that you had better leave of your own
+accord, than allow hostilities to commence.
+
+"This, Malinche, I could not help disclosing to you, that you might come
+to some determination or other. For myself, I have no doubt that all
+your lives are at stake here."
+
+The reader may easily imagine that Cortes and his officers did not treat
+all this so very lightly, and that they were not a little surprised at
+this disclosure. No one could have suspected that affairs would have
+taken such a turn; but the monarch had spoken in such a positive tone as
+to leave no doubt on our minds that we lived in imminent danger. Cortes,
+however, hid his fears from the monarch, and thanked him for his
+information, adding, that he was sorry we had no vessels left in which
+we could leave the country; and that if we even did leave it, we must
+take him, the monarch, along with us, that he might be presented to our
+emperor: he therefore begged of him to amuse his priests and officers
+until we should have constructed three vessels on the sea-coast. And if
+they commenced war with us, they would undoubtedly all be killed. And
+that Motecusuma might convince himself that he would fulfil his promise,
+he desired he would despatch two of his chief officers with our
+carpenters to the coast to cut wood for the building of the vessels.
+
+Motecusuma was now more dispirited than ever when he heard Cortes say
+that he himself must accompany us; that he was to issue the necessary
+orders to his carpenters, and act and not talk. Our general also desired
+him to call the papas and officers to acquaint them that it was
+unnecessary to raise the town into open rebellion; they might, for the
+present, appease the gods by offerings, but we forbade any sacrifice of
+human beings.
+
+After this important disclosure Cortes left the monarch, and we now
+lived in constant fear of hostilities breaking out. Cortes, however,
+fulfilled his promise, and sent for Martin Lopez and Andreas Nuñez,
+described to them the size of the three vessels he wished them to
+build, and to march to Vera Cruz with the Mexican carpenters, where all
+the necessary materials, consisting in iron, rigging, tar and tow would
+be found. These orders were promptly obeyed. The necessary quantity of
+wood was cut on the coast of Vera Cruz, and the building of the vessels
+was commenced with all assiduity. Whether Cortes gave Lopez any secret
+instructions I do not know; but I cannot pass by this circumstance in
+silence, as Gomara mentions it likewise in his history, and maintains
+that all this building of the vessels was mere artifice to amuse
+Motecusuma. May those who know more about this matter publish the truth.
+There are certainly numbers of our men alive who would be able to give a
+true account of this. All I know is that Lopez told me in confidence,
+that the building of the vessels was really commenced, and that the
+three vessels were actually lying on the staples.
+
+At present, however, we will leave them quietly there, and acquaint the
+reader that we grew much alarmed at our situation in this great city,
+and momentarily expected an attack upon our friends of Tlascalla, as
+Doña Marina had informed our general to that effect. The page,
+Orteguilla, shed tears all day long, and we others narrowly watched the
+monarch's person. I must here for the last time acquaint the reader,
+that whether night or day, we never took off our gorgets or our armour,
+while our arms were never for a moment out of our hands. A bundle of
+straw and a mat formed a couch; our horses stood ready saddled, and in
+short every soldier was ready for action at a moment's notice.
+
+At night we also took the precaution of posting such numbers of
+sentinels, that each of us in turn, had at least one watch every night.
+I do not mention this in praise of myself; but I grew so accustomed to
+being armed night and day, as it were living in armour, that after the
+conquest of New Spain I could not accustom myself for a length of time
+to undress on going to lie down, or make use of a bed, but slept better
+in soldier fashion than on the softest down. Even at the present day, in
+my old age, I never take a bed with me when I visit the townships
+belonging to my commendary; and if I do take one, it is merely because
+the cavaliers who accompany me may not think I take no bed with me,
+because I have no good one. From continued watching at night it has
+become quite natural to me to sleep for a short time together only, and
+get up at intervals to gaze upon the heavens and the stars, and take a
+couple of turns in the open air. Neither do I wear a nightcap or wind a
+kerchief around my head; and thanks be to God! this has become so
+natural to me, that I never feel any inconvenience from it. I have
+merely mentioned all this to convince the reader how we, the true
+Conquistadores, were always obliged to be upon our guard, and what
+hardships we had to undergo.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CIX.
+
+    _How the governor of Cuba, Velasquez, in all haste fits out an
+    armament against us, the command of which he gives to Pamfilo de
+    Narvaez, who was accompanied by the licentiate Lucas Vazquez de
+    Aillon, auditor of the royal court of audience at St. Domingo._
+
+
+In order to explain what I am now about to relate I must refer to prior
+events.
+
+I have already mentioned, in the proper chapter, that Diego Velasquez
+got information of our having sent agents to our emperor with all the
+gold and presents we had received; and also of the bad reception they
+had met with from the bishop of Burgos; who not only favoured Velasquez
+in various ways, but even commanded him to fit out an armament against
+us, for which he himself would be responsible to the emperor.
+
+The governor of Cuba accordingly used the utmost exertions and assembled
+a flotilla, consisting of nineteen sail, on board of which were 1400
+soldiers, above forty cannon, with a quantity of powder, balls, and
+gun-flints, besides two artillerymen, who, with the artillery stood
+under the immediate command of the captain Rodrigo Martin. To this was
+added eighty horse, ninety crossbow-men, and seventy musketeers. Fat and
+corpulent as he was, Velasquez had, nevertheless, in the height of his
+passion, visited every township in Cuba, to hasten the equipment of the
+flotilla, and invited every inhabitant who had either Indians,
+relations, or friends who could manage their estates, to join the
+standard of Pamfilo Narvaez, and share the honour of taking Cortes and
+all of us prisoners, or at least to blow out our brains. He had even
+advanced as far as the promontory of Guaniguanico, in the height of his
+zeal, though that promontory was above 240 miles from the Havannah.
+
+Before this armament quitted the harbour, the royal court of audience at
+St. Domingo, and the Hieronymite brothers, who were viceroys there, were
+determined to look into the matter a little; as the licentiate Suazo,
+who was their agent in Cuba, had sent them information of the
+extensiveness of the armament.
+
+As the great and valuable services which we had rendered God and his
+majesty were very well known at St. Domingo, as also the fact of our
+having sent valuable presents to our emperor, it was considered there
+that Velasquez was not justified in fitting out an armament to revenge
+himself upon us, but that his only way was to pursue us in a court of
+law. These impartial men well foresaw how this armament would impede the
+conquest of New Spain. They therefore despatched the licentiate Lucas
+Vazquez de Aillon, who was auditor of the court of audience at St.
+Domingo, to Cuba, with peremptory commands to Velasquez not to allow the
+flotilla to leave the harbour.
+
+The auditor punctually fulfilled these commands, and in due form
+protested against the flotilla leaving the harbour; but Diego Velasquez,
+who had spent all his property in fitting out this armament, relied upon
+the good favour of the bishop of Burgos, and took no notice of the
+protest. Upon this Vazquez de Aillon determined upon embarking himself
+on board one of the vessels, to try at least if he could not prevent
+hostilities between Narvaez and Cortes. Many even maintained that he
+came to Mexico with the secret intention to side with our party, or, if
+we could not succeed in defeating Narvaez, himself to take possession of
+the country in the name of our emperor. At all events he embarked with
+Narvaez and arrived in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua, of which we
+shall hear more presently.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CX.
+
+    _How Narvaez arrives with the whole of his flotilla in the harbour
+    of San Juan de Ulua, and what happened upon this._
+
+
+When Narvaez had arrived with the flotilla off the mountains of San
+Martin, a north wind arose, which is always dangerous on these coasts.
+One of the vessels commanded by a cavalier, named Christobal de Morante,
+of Medina del Campo, was wrecked during night-time off the coast, and
+the greater part of the men perished. The other vessels, however,
+arrived safely in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua.
+
+This armament, which may indeed be considered extensive, considering it
+was fitted out at Cuba, was first of all seen by some soldiers whom
+Cortes had sent out in search of gold mines. Three of these, Cervantes,
+Escalona, and Alonso Carretero, did not hesitate a moment to go on
+board the commander's ship, and are said, as soon as they stepped on
+board to have praised the Almighty for having rescued them out of the
+hands of Cortes and the great city of Mexico, where death stood daily
+before their eyes.
+
+Narvaez ordered meat and drink to be set before them, and as their
+glasses were abundantly filled, they said to one another in his
+presence: "This is indeed leading a different sort of life with a glass
+of good wine in one's hand, when compared to the slavery under Cortes,
+who allows a person no rest either night or day; where a person dares
+scarcely say a word, and death is always staring him in the face."
+
+Cervantes, however, who was a low buffoon, even addressed Narvaez
+himself, and exclaimed: "O Narvaez! Narvaez, what a fortunate man you
+are, that you just arrive at the moment when the traitor Cortes has
+heaped together above 700,000 pesos, and the whole of his men are so
+enraged with him for his having cheated them out of the greater part of
+the gold, that many even disdain to accept of their shares."
+
+Such was the language which these low-minded and worthless fellows
+uttered, and they told Narvaez more than he was desirous of knowing.
+They likewise informed him that thirty-two miles further on he would
+come to a town we had built, called Vera Cruz, which had a garrison of
+sixty men, all invalids, under an officer named Sandoval, and he had
+merely to show himself with a few men there and they would immediately
+deliver up the town to him.
+
+Motecusuma was immediately apprized of the arrival of this flotilla, and
+without saying a single word to Cortes despatched several of his chief
+officers to Narvaez, with a present in gold and other things; and
+commanded the inhabitants to furnish him with provisions.
+
+Narvaez, in his message to Motecusuma, calumniated Cortes and all of us,
+telling him we were nothing but a parcel of thieves and vagabonds, who
+had fled from Spain without the knowledge of our emperor, but his
+imperial majesty having been informed that we were in this country
+committing all manner of depredations, and that we had even imprisoned
+its monarch, had ordered him to repair hither with his flotilla and
+troops, to put an end to these disorders and liberate the monarch. He
+had likewise received orders to put Cortes and all his men to the sword,
+or take them alive and send them prisoners to Spain, where death awaited
+them. This sober language the three soldiers, who understood the Mexican
+language were to translate to Motecusuma's messengers, to whom Narvaez
+at the same time sent a present of some Spanish goods.
+
+Motecusuma was not a little delighted with this message, particularly
+when he learnt the number of Narvaez's vessels, of his cannon, and his
+1300 soldiers. He, of course, thought it would be an easy matter for
+Narvaez to overcome us, and as his messengers had seen the three
+treacherous rascals who had deserted to Narvaez, he found the more
+reason to believe all the scandal the latter had said concerning Cortes.
+Besides which he received an accurate description of the whole armament
+from his artists, who had immediately depicted on cotton cloth
+everything they saw. He therefore sent a second message, accompanied by
+more valuable presents in gold and cotton stuffs to Narvaez, with strict
+commands to the inhabitants of the coast to supply him with plenty of
+provisions.
+
+Motecusuma had received intelligence of the arrival of the flotilla off
+the coast three days before Cortes. When the latter, as usual, one day
+paid a visit to the monarch he found him in particular good spirits, and
+asked him what had occasioned it? Motecusuma replied, that he found
+himself in better health than he had done for some time past.
+
+Cortes, who was very much surprised at this sudden change in the
+monarch, called upon him a second time that day, and now the latter
+began to fear our general was cognizant of the arrival of the flotilla.
+To remove all suspicion from his mind, therefore, he thought it better
+to break the news to him himself. "I have just this moment, Malinche,"
+said he, "received the information that an armament of eighteen vessels,
+with a great number of soldiers and horses, has arrived in the harbour
+where you landed. Pictures of the whole armament have been transmitted
+to me. This, no doubt, is no news to you, and I thought from your second
+visit to me this day, you came to bring me the intelligence yourself,
+and that now there was no need for you to build new vessels. Though I
+may have felt hurt that you wished to keep all this a secret from me,
+yet, on the other hand, I am delighted at the arrival of your brothers,
+with whom you can now return to Spain; which thus removes all
+difficulties at once."
+
+When Cortes heard this and saw the painting which the Mexicans had made
+of all the vessels, he exclaimed in the excess of his delight: "Praise
+be to God, whose assistance always comes at the right time!" Indeed the
+whole of us greatly rejoiced at this news, we galloped about on our
+horses, and fired salute after salute.
+
+Cortes, however, began to consider it in a more serious light than he
+had done in the first moments, as he now plainly saw that this armament
+was sent out against us by Velasquez; and he communicated his
+suspicions to us all, and by great presents and promises he made us
+pledge ourselves not to act any way against his interests; which we did
+the more readily, as the commander of this new armament was totally
+unknown to us. Our joy was now excessive, not only on account of the
+gold which Cortes gave us from his private purse, but at the arrival of
+this flotilla, which we saw the Almighty had sent to us in our distress.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXI.
+
+    _How Pamfilo Narvaez despatches five persons to Sandoval, the
+    commandant of Vera Cruz, with summons to surrender up the town to
+    him._
+
+
+After Narvaez had received every information about Vera Cruz from the
+three deserters, he determined to despatch thither a priest named
+Guevara, who was a capital hand at talking, and a certain Amaya, a man
+of great distinction, and a relative of Velasquez; besides a secretary
+named Vergara and three witnesses, whose names I have forgotten. These
+gentlemen were to announce his arrival, and summon the town to
+surrender; and, to make sure work, were provided with a copy of Narvaez
+appointment.
+
+Sandoval had already been apprized of the arrival of Narvaez by the
+inhabitants. But as he was a man who was always upon the alert, and
+possessed of great penetration, he immediately guessed that the armament
+was fitted out by Velasquez, and that his object was to gain possession
+of Vera Cruz; he therefore instantly adopted every precaution, and
+commenced by sending all the invalid soldiers to the Indian township
+Papalote, merely retaining those who were in good health. He then posted
+watches along the road leading to Sempoalla, which Narvaez would be
+obliged to take if he marched to Vera Cruz. Sandoval also made his men
+promise him neither to surrender the town to Velasquez nor any one else,
+and that none of his men might forget their promise he ordered a gallows
+to be erected on an elevated spot outside the town.
+
+When the outposts brought Sandoval information that six Spaniards were
+approaching the town, he retired into his own house to await their
+arrival; for he was determined not to go out to receive these guests,
+and had also issued orders to his men not to quit their quarters, nor
+exchange a single word with the strangers.
+
+When, therefore, the priest Guevara and his companions arrived in the
+town, they only saw some Indians, who were working at the
+fortifications, but not a Spaniard to speak to; they walked straightway
+into the church to pray, and then repaired to Sandoval's house, which
+they recognized from its being the largest one in the town.
+
+After the first greetings had passed between them, the priest began his
+discourse by stating to Sandoval what large sums of money Velasquez had
+expended on the armament which went out under the command of Cortes,
+who, with the whole of the men, had turned traitors to the governor; and
+concluded by saying, that he came to summon him in the name of Narvaez,
+whom Velasquez had appointed captain-general, to deliver up the town to
+him.
+
+When Sandoval heard this, and the expressions which reflected dishonour
+on Cortes, he could scarcely speak, from downright vexation; at length
+he replied: "Venerable sir, you are wrong to term men traitors who have
+proved themselves better servants to our emperor than Velasquez has, or
+your commander; and that I do not now this instant punish you for this
+affront, is merely owing to your being a priest. Go, therefore, in the
+name of God, to Mexico; there you will find Cortes, who is
+captain-general, and chief justice of New Spain. He will answer you
+himself; here you had better not lose another word."
+
+At this moment the priest, with much bravado, ordered the secretary
+Vergara to produce the appointment of Narvaez, and read it to Sandoval,
+and the others present. Sandoval, however, desired the secretary to
+leave his papers quietly where they were, as it was impossible for him
+to say whether the appointment was a lawful one or not. But as the
+secretary still persisted in producing his papers, Sandoval cried out to
+him: "Mind what you are about, Vergara! I have already told you to keep
+your papers in your pocket; go with them to Mexico! I promise you, the
+moment you proceed to read a single syllable from them, 100 good lashes
+on the spot. How can I tell whether you are a royal secretary or not?
+First show me your appointment; and if I find you are, I will listen to
+your papers. But, even then, who can prove to me whether your papers are
+true or false?"
+
+The priest, who was a very haughty man, then cried out, "Why do you
+stand upon any ceremony with these traitors? Pull out your papers, and
+read the contents to them!"
+
+To which Sandoval answered: "You lie, you infamous priest!" and ordered
+his men immediately to seize those gentlemen, and carry them off to
+Mexico.
+
+He had hardly spoken, when they were seized by a number of Indians
+employed at the fortifications, bound hand and foot, and thrown upon
+the backs of porters. In this way they were transported to Mexico, where
+they arrived in the space of four days; the Indian porters being
+constantly relieved by others on the road.
+
+These gentlemen were not a little surprised at this rough treatment; but
+the deeper they advanced into the country, the more astonished they
+grew, at the sight of the large towns and villages, where they stopped
+to take refreshment. They were, it is said, very doubtful within
+themselves whether all was not enchantment, or merely a dream.
+
+Sandoval had sent Pedro de Solis, Orduña's son-in-law, as alguacil, to
+accompany the escort; and he likewise informed Cortes, by letter, of
+everything that was going on at the coast, and of the name of the
+captain who commanded the flotilla. The letter even arrived before the
+prisoners in Mexico; so that Cortes was apprized of their approach when
+they were still at some distance from the town.
+
+He immediately despatched some men with a quantity of the best
+provisions, and three horses, for the most distinguished of the
+prisoners, with orders that they should be immediately released from
+their fetters. He likewise wrote them a letter, in which he expressed
+his regret that they should have met with such harsh treatment from
+Sandoval, and that he would give them the most honorable reception.
+Indeed he even went out to meet them himself, and escorted them into the
+town.
+
+The priest and his companions--after they became acquainted with the
+vast extent of Mexico, and the number of other towns built in the lake,
+saw the quantity of gold which every one of us possessed, and the noble
+and open countenance of Cortes--were quite enchanted; and they had not
+been above a couple of days with us before Cortes succeeded so well to
+tame them, by kind words, fair promises, jewels, and bars of gold, that
+they, who had come like furious lions, now returned back to Narvaez as
+harmless as lambs, and offered to render our general every service in
+their power. Indeed, when they had arrived in Sempoalla, and given
+Narvaez an account of all they had seen, they spoke of nothing else to
+his men than of the policy to make common cause with us.
+
+I will, however, break off here, and acquaint the reader with the letter
+which Cortes wrote to Narvaez.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXII.
+
+    _How Cortes, after he had gained every information respecting the
+    armament, wrote to Narvaez, and several of his acquaintances who had
+    come with him, and particularly to Andreas du Duero, private
+    secretary to Velasquez; and of other events._
+
+
+Cortes was a man who never allowed the smallest advantage to escape; and
+whatever difficulty he might be in, he managed to get out of it. But it
+must also be remembered, that he had the good fortune to command
+officers and soldiers on whom he could place every reliance under all
+circumstances, who not only lent a powerful arm in battle, but likewise
+assisted him with their prudent counsel. In this way, then, it was
+unanimously resolved in council, that a letter should be despatched by
+Indian couriers to Narvaez, written in the most affectionate tone, with
+offers of our services to him, and begging of him not to excite a
+rebellion in the country, which would certainly be the case if the
+Indians observed we were at enmity with each other. This letter was to
+be delivered to Narvaez before the return there of Guevara. We expressly
+wrote in this friendly tone, as our numbers were so very small in
+comparison to his, and because we were first desirous of knowing how he
+was inclined. Besides this, we employed other means to gain friends
+among Narvaez's officers, which seemed no great difficulty, as Guevara
+had assured Cortes that the latter were not on the best terms with their
+commander, and that a few bars of gold, with a few chains of the same
+metal, would soon pave the way. In this letter Cortes informed Narvaez
+how both he and all his men were rejoiced at his arrival here; in
+particular himself, as they were old friends. He also desired he would
+not connive at the liberation of Motecusuma, as the consequences would
+be a rebellion in the city, and throughout the whole country, which
+would be the destruction of both his troops and ours, as we should be
+overwhelmed by numbers. He could not help drawing his particular
+attention to this circumstance, as Motecusuma of late seemed greatly
+changed in his behaviour towards him, and the inhabitants were upon the
+point of rising up in arms, from the message which Motecusuma had
+received in Narvaez's name; but he was convinced that he was too prudent
+and sensible a man, and would not have sent such a dangerous message at
+such a critical period, if he had not been misled by the three
+scoundrels who had run over to him. To make a good finish to the letter,
+he begged to say that Narvaez was at liberty to dispose of his person
+and of his purse, and he would await his commands.
+
+Cortes at the same time wrote to Andreas de Duero and Vazquez de Aillon,
+and accompanied these letters with some gold for themselves and his
+other friends. Aillon, besides this, privately received some other gold
+bars and chains. He also despatched father Olmedo to Narvaez's
+head-quarters with a good stock of these persuasive articles, consisting
+in various trinkets of gold and precious stones of great value.
+
+The first letter which Cortes had sent by the Indian courier reached
+Narvaez's quarters before Guevara had returned there. This Narvaez read
+aloud to his officers, and kept the whole time making merry at the
+expense of Cortes and all of us. One of his officers, named Salvatierra,
+even blamed him for reading the letter of such a traitor as Cortes was,
+to his men. Narvaez, continued he, should immediately march out against
+us, and put us all to death. He himself, he swore, would cut off Cortes'
+ears, broil them, and eat them up; and all such like folly. He said the
+letter ought not to be answered, and he did not care a snap of the
+fingers for us.
+
+In the meantime the priest, Guevara, and his companions, had returned,
+and the latter gave Narvaez a circumstantial account of Cortes, showing
+him what an excellent cavalier he was, and what a faithful servant he
+had proved himself to our emperor. He spoke about the great power of
+Motecusuma, and the number of towns through which he had journeyed, and
+that Cortes would gladly submit to him. He also added, that it was for
+the advantage of both to remain on friendly terms with each other. New
+Spain was large enough to afford room for them both, and Narvaez might
+choose which part of the country he would occupy with his troops.
+
+These statements, which Amaya and Guevara had accompanied by some good
+advice, so greatly incensed Narvaez, that he would neither see nor speak
+to them from that moment. The impression, however, it produced on the
+troops was various; for when they saw the gold these two men returned
+with, and heard so much good of Cortes and all of us, and heard them
+speak of the wondrous things they had seen, and the vast quantity of
+gold, and how we played at cards for gold only, many of them longed to
+join our corps.
+
+Shortly after this, father Olmedo likewise arrived in Narvaez's quarters
+with bars of gold and secret instructions. When he called upon him to
+pay him Cortes' respects, and said how ready he was to obey Narvaez's
+commands, and remain on terms of peace with him, the latter grew more
+enraged than before. He even refused to listen to him, and called Cortes
+and all of us traitors; and when Olmedo denied this, and told him we
+were the most faithful of the emperor's servants, he grossly insulted
+him. All this, however, did not deter Olmedo from fulfilling his secret
+mission, and distributing the bars of gold and golden chains among those
+for whom Cortes had destined them; and he strove in every way to draw
+over Narvaez's principal officers to our side.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXIII.
+
+    _The high words which arose between the auditor Vazquez de Aillon
+    and Narvaez, who orders him to be seized and sent back prisoner to
+    Spain._
+
+
+The auditor Aillon, as I have before mentioned, was most favorably
+inclined towards Cortes, and had purposely come to New Spain with
+instructions from the royal court of audience at St. Domingo and the
+Hieronymite brothers, who were aware of the great and important services
+we had rendered to God and the emperor, to promote our cause in every
+possible manner. After he had carefully perused Cortes' letters, and
+received the bars of gold, he no longer made a secret of his sentiments,
+but spoke without any reserve of the scandalous piece of injustice which
+had been perpetrated in fitting out this armament against such
+well-deserving men as we had proved ourselves, and was so eloquent in
+the praise of Cortes and his companions in arms, that the feeling in our
+favour became almost universal in Narvaez's head-quarters. The meanness
+of the latter's disposition served to increase this feeling, who
+retained all the presents sent by Motecusuma entirely to himself,
+without offering any part of them either to his officers or men. Indeed,
+he even said haughtily to his steward, "Mind that not the smallest
+matter is taken away from these things; every article has been carefully
+noted down." When this conduct was compared with that pursued by Cortes
+towards his soldiers, his men almost broke out into open insurrection.
+
+Narvaez looked upon the auditor as the cause of all this bad feeling,
+and brought it so sensibly home to him that no one durst give him or his
+adherents the smallest morsel of the provisions which were sent by
+Motecusuma. This circumstance of itself caused a good deal of
+quarrelling among the troops; but when Narvaez's principal adherents,
+Salvatierra, whom I have above mentioned, and a certain Juan Bono, from
+Biscay, with a certain Gamarra, continually added fuel to the flame, he,
+relying on the mighty support of Fonseca, lost sight of every
+consideration, imprisoned the auditor, with his secretary and all his
+attendants, threw them on board a vessel, and so sent them off either to
+Spain or Cuba.
+
+His behaviour towards Gonzalo de Oblanco, a cavalier and a scholar, was
+even more severe,--when the latter boldly told him to his face that
+Cortes had proved himself a faithful servant to the emperor, that we all
+had merited a reward from his majesty, and that it was scandalous to
+brand us with the name of traitors, and great presumption to imprison
+one of his majesty's auditors, Narvaez instantly threw him into chains,
+and Oblanco, who was a high-spirited soul, was so hurt at this
+ill-treatment, that he died within the space of four days. Two other
+soldiers were thrown into prison merely because they had spoken well of
+Cortes; one of whom was Sancho de Barahona, who afterwards settled down
+in Guatimala.
+
+But to return to the auditor, who was to be sent prisoner to Spain; he
+was scarcely at sea, when he prevailed upon the captain and pilot, by
+means of good words, or threats to hang them immediately on their
+arrival in Spain, instead of paying them for the passage, to steer for
+St. Domingo.
+
+As soon as the auditor had arrived at St. Domingo, and the royal court
+of audience and viceroys there were informed of Narvaez's scandalous and
+presumptuous ill treatment of the licentiate Lucas Vazquez, they
+considered it in the light of an insult offered to themselves, and made
+heavy complaints to the supreme council of Castile. But as the bishop
+Fonseca was still president of that council, and, during his majesty's
+continued absence in Flanders, ruled affairs as he thought proper, no
+justice could be expected from Spain. The bishop had even the
+shamelessness openly to express his joy when he supposed that Narvaez
+had already subdued us. The bishop, himself, however, suffered from the
+consequences which ensued from this affair; for, when our agents in
+Flanders received intelligence of Velasquez's expedition, and found that
+it had been fitted out without his majesty's permission, and merely by
+authority of Fonseca, they drew great advantage from this illegal mode
+of proceeding during the investigation which was shortly after set on
+foot respecting Cortes and all of us.--The harsh treatment which the
+auditor Lucas Vazquez was subjected to had a bad effect upon Narvaez's
+troops, and many of his friends and relatives whom he regarded with a
+mistrustful eye, went over to Sandoval, lest they should experience
+similar treatment with Oblanco. Sandoval, as may well be imagined,
+received them with open arms, and learnt from them all that had passed
+in Narvaez's quarters; likewise that he contemplated sending men to Vera
+Cruz to take him prisoner.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXIV.
+
+    _Narvaez marches, with the whole of his troops, to Sempoalla; his
+    proceedings there; and how we in Mexico determine to march against
+    him._
+
+
+After Narvaez had sent off the auditor prisoner, he marched with the
+whole of his men, the baggage, and the cannon, to Sempoalla, and
+quartered himself in that town, which was then very thickly populated.
+His first act there was to take away from the fat cazique, as we termed
+him, the cotton stuffs, gold trinkets, and other fancy articles he
+possessed. He likewise took the Indian females forcibly away who had
+been presented to us by the caziques of Sempoalla, and whom we had left
+behind with their parents and relatives, as they were daughters of
+distinguished personages, and much too delicate to bear the fatigues of
+a campaign.
+
+The fat cazique had often warned Narvaez not to touch the women, or
+anything which Cortes had left behind in the shape of gold or cotton
+stuffs, as he would certainly be greatly incensed, hasten from Mexico,
+and not only cut off Narvaez, but also him, for suffering his property
+to be touched.
+
+All the complaints this cazique might make respecting the depredations
+committed by Narvaez's troops in Sempoalla were equally fruitless. And
+it was of no avail for him to repeat that Malinche and his men had never
+taken the smallest thing from them, and had proved themselves altogether
+kind-hearted teules; Narvaez and Salvatierra, whose conduct in general
+was the most heartless, merely mocked at the cazique, the latter often
+repeating to Narvaez and the other officers, "Only just imagine in what
+fear these caziques stand of that paltry little fellow Cortes!"
+
+May the good reader learn from this how wrong it is to speak evil of
+honest folks; for I am ready to swear that this very Salvatierra behaved
+in the most pitiable and cowardly manner when the battle was fought
+between Narvaez and us, and yet his build and bones were powerful enough
+to have defended himself right well; however, he was a mere braggadocio,
+and I believe he was a native of Burgos.
+
+We must now, however, return to Cortes, and acquaint the reader that
+Narvaez despatched his secretary, Alonso Meta, who subsequently settled
+in Puebla, with three other great personages, to Mexico, commanding us
+and our general, by virtue of the copies of his appointment by
+Velasquez, to submit to him.[75]
+
+Cortes, who received daily intelligence of what was going on in
+Narvaez's head-quarters and at Vera Cruz, was duly informed by Sandoval
+how Narvaez had thrown Vazquez de Aillon into chains, and sent him to
+Spain or Cuba, and that, owing to such violent proceedings, five of his
+principal officers had come over to him, who feared, since so little
+respect had been paid to the person of a royal auditor, they, as
+Aillon's relatives, might expect worse treatment. From them Sandoval
+learnt everything that was passing in Narvaez's head-quarters, and that
+it was his intention to march shortly in person to Mexico to take us all
+prisoners. Cortes, on receiving this intelligence, assembled his
+officers and all those whom he was accustomed to consult in matters of
+great moment, and were men entirely devoted to him. In this council it
+was determined we should anticipate Narvaez, and immediately march out
+against him. Pedro de Alvarado was to remain in Mexico, with all those
+who were not over-anxious to make this campaign, to guard the person of
+Motecusuma; and we likewise took care to leave all those behind who, as
+partisans of Velasquez, were not altogether to be trusted.
+
+Cortes had fortunately ordered a quantity of maise from Tlascalla
+previous to the arrival of Narvaez, for the harvest had altogether
+failed about Mexico, owing to a continued drought: we, indeed, required
+a great quantity of provisions for the numbers of Naborias[76] and
+Tlascallan troops we had with us. This and other necessaries of life,
+consisting in fowls, fruits, &c., arrived at the time appointed, and
+were given in charge of Alvarado. We likewise took the precaution of
+fortifying our quarters,--we mounted four pieces of heavy cannon on the
+most commanding point, and left Alvarado a few falconets and all the
+powder we could spare, with ten crossbow-men, fourteen musketeers, and
+seven horse soldiers; the latter were, indeed, more than he required, as
+the cavalry was of little use in the courtyards attached to our
+quarters. The number of soldiers we left behind in Mexico was altogether
+eighty-three.
+
+Motecusuma easily conjectured what our designs were against Narvaez;
+yet, though Cortes daily called upon him, he was equally upon his guard
+as Cortes was in not throwing out any hints of his (Motecusuma's)
+sending Narvaez gold and provisions. It was only at the very last that
+the monarch made some inquiries respecting our intended movements, which
+will be found in the chapter following.
+
+[75] This Alonso Mata, as we afterwards see, was met on his way to
+Mexico by Cortes. (p. 300.)
+
+[76] Naborias, Indian servants. (p. 301.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXV.
+
+    _How the powerful Motecusuma inquires of Cortes whether it was
+    really his intention to march out against Narvaez, though the
+    latter's troops were double the number of ours._
+
+
+The monarch, one day discoursing as usual with Cortes, spoke to him as
+follows: "Malinche! I have for some time past observed all your officers
+and soldiers going up and down in great uneasiness: even you yourself do
+not visit me so frequently as you were wont; and the page Orteguilla
+informs me that you are about to march against your brothers who have
+just arrived, and that you are going to leave Tonatio (so Alvarado was
+termed by the Mexicans) behind, to guard my person. Do tell me if there
+is any truth in all this? for if, in any way, I can be of service to you
+in this matter, it will be a great pleasure to me. I have great fears of
+your success, for your teules are too few in numbers in comparison to
+those just arrived. They have five times the number of troops you have;
+they also, as well as yourself, maintain to be Christians, and subjects
+of your emperor; they pay homage to the same image and cross, read the
+mass as you do, and everywhere spread the rumour that you have fled away
+from Spain from your emperor, and that he has sent them to take you back
+again, or put you to death. Really I scarcely know what to think of all
+this: one thing, however, I must tell you, to use great circumspection
+in what you are about to do."
+
+In reply to this, Cortes told the monarch, with the most cheerful
+countenance in the world, that he had studiously avoided mentioning
+anything of all this up to the present moment, from his great affection
+towards him, to spare him the anxiety he would feel on our account. It
+was very true, the newly arrived teules were also subjects of our
+emperor, and Christians; but it was a falsehood to assert that we had
+fled away from the territory of our emperor. On the contrary, our great
+monarch had expressly sent us out to visit him, Motecusuma, and make
+those disclosures to him, in his imperial name, which Motecusuma had
+heard. With regard to the numbers of those just arrived, we felt quite
+unconcerned, however great they might be in comparison to ours, as our
+Lord Jesus Christ and his blessed mother would lend us strength, and
+clothe us with superior power to those bad men who came with such evil
+designs. His emperor, continued Cortes, swayed the sceptre over so many
+countries and kingdoms, that the people who inhabited them were of
+various kinds, and differed in courage and manly spirit. We were born
+in the heart of Spain, which was termed Old Castile, and therefore bore
+the additional name of Castilians; those, on the other hand, who were
+now quartered at Sempoalla, came from another province called Biscay,
+where the inhabitants spoke a perfectly spurious language, in the same
+way as the Otomies do in Mexico. He need be in no apprehension about us,
+but might depend upon it we should very soon manage those fellows, and
+speedily return victorious to his metropolis. At present we merely
+begged of him to remain on terms of friendship with Tonatio, who would
+remain behind in Mexico with eighty men; and to prevent any insurrection
+from breaking out, and not to allow his generals and papas to disturb
+the peace; for, in case they did, he should be compelled to put them all
+to death on his return. He also desired he would furnish those who
+remained behind with the necessary provisions.
+
+After this explanation, Motecusuma and Cortes embraced each other twice
+successively, while the sly Doña Marina observed to the monarch that he
+ought to show some signs of grief at our departure: upon which he again
+commenced speaking, and offered to comply with any wish Cortes might
+express, and promised to give him 5000 of his troops to accompany us on
+our march. Cortes, who well knew they would not have been forthcoming,
+thanked him for his kind offer, and assured him we stood in no need of
+his assistance, as we found our true support in the Lord our God: but
+begged of him to see that the image of the holy Virgin and the cross
+were constantly decorated with green boughs; that the church was kept
+clean, and wax-lights burning night and day on the altar; and not to
+allow his papas to sacrifice any human beings; and in his compliance
+with these things we should best be able to convince ourselves of the
+sincerity of his friendship.
+
+After this Cortes told the monarch he must excuse him for breaking off
+the discourse now, as he had many things to regulate before commencing
+his march; he then once more embraced the monarch, and so they parted
+from each other.[77]
+
+Cortes now ordered Alvarado and all those who were to remain behind in
+Mexico into his presence. He desired them to observe the utmost
+vigilance, and not to give Motecusuma a chance of escaping out of their
+hands, and commanded the soldiers to pay the most implicit obedience to
+Alvarado, promising, if God were willing, to enrich them all.
+
+Among those who stayed with Alvarado was the priest Juan Diaz, and many
+others whom we suspected of ill will towards Cortes, whose names I do
+not choose to mention. We nevertheless embraced each other on leaving,
+and then marched out without any females or servants, with as little
+baggage as possible, and took the road to Cholulla. From this town
+Cortes sent to our friends Xicotencatl, Maxixcatzin, and the other
+caziques of Tlascalla, desiring them to send us immediately 4000 of
+their troops. To which they returned the answer, that if we were going
+to war with Indians as they were, they would gladly send us the required
+troops and many more; but if we intended fighting against teules, like
+unto ourselves, against cannon and horses, we were not to think ill of
+them if they refused our request. This answer was accompanied by as many
+fowls as twenty men could carry.
+
+Cortes then sent a courier with a letter to Sandoval, desiring the
+latter to join him as speedily as possible with all his men; we intended
+to march to within forty-eight miles of Sempoalla, in the neighbourhood
+of the provinces of Tampanicita[78] and Mitalaguita, which are at
+present comprehended in the commendary of Pedro Moreno Mediana, who
+resides at Puebla; he particularly cautioned him to keep out of the way
+of Narvaez, and carefully to avoid coming to any engagement with any
+part of his troops.
+
+We ourselves marched forward with every military precaution, and were
+ready for action at a moment's notice. Two of our most trustworthy men
+who were remarkably swift of foot and unwearied pedestrians, were
+constantly a couple of day's march in advance, and lurked along the
+byways, where the cavalry could not penetrate, to gain information of
+the Indians respecting Narvaez. Besides these we had always immediately
+in advance of us a small detachment of sharp-shooters, to seize any of
+the men who strolled from Narvaez's camp, and if possible the latter
+himself. It was not long before they came up with a certain Alonso Mata,
+who termed himself a royal secretary, and was commissioned, he said, by
+Narvaez, to show us the copy of his appointment. This Mata was
+accompanied by four others, who were to act as witnesses on this
+occasion. When these people had arrived near enough they greeted Cortes
+and all of us in the most humble manner possible, and our general
+dismounted when he learnt who they were.
+
+Alonso Mata began immediately to read his documents to us, but Cortes
+interrupted him, and asked him whether he was a royal secretary, and he
+replying in the affirmative, Cortes desired him to produce his
+appointment. If this was all regular, he added, he was at liberty to
+fulfil his commission, and he should know himself what was due from him
+as a servant of the emperor. But, if it was not, it was useless for him
+to read his papers; besides which, it was requisite the papers should
+contain the original appointment signed by the emperor himself, if he
+wished him to acknowledge his authority.
+
+Mata was not a little staggered at being thus addressed, for he himself
+was well aware that he was no royal secretary. He was therefore unable
+to utter a single word, and those who accompanied him remained equally
+mute. Cortes excused their embarrassment, and desired some victuals to
+be set before them; and we halted for a few moments, when Cortes
+informed them we were marching to the township of Tampanicita, in the
+vicinity of Narvaez's head-quarters, where, if the latter had any
+further communications to make, he was to be found. During the whole of
+this discourse Cortes showed such self-command, that he never so much as
+uttered a single reproachful word against Narvaez; he had also a private
+discourse with them, and thrust a few pieces of gold into their hands;
+so that they left us highly delighted, and on their return to Narvaez
+they could scarcely say sufficient in praise of Cortes and of us all.
+
+While these men were still with us, many of our soldiers, for the sake
+of ostentation, had decorated themselves with gold chains and jewels,
+which spread a vast idea of our splendour. All this produced such a
+favorable impression in Narvaez's head-quarters, that many of his chief
+officers desired that peace might be brought about between both
+generals.
+
+In the meantime we continued our march, and arrived in Tampanicita,
+where Sandoval the day following likewise appeared with his small
+detachment, consisting of sixty men; the old and infirm of the garrison,
+as I have above mentioned, having been previously quartered among our
+allies, the Papalote Indians. He likewise brought along with him the
+five friends and relatives of Aillon, who had deserted from Narvaez, and
+had long desired to pay their respects to Cortes, who gave them the most
+friendly reception, and then entered into a private conversation with
+Sandoval, who related to him all the particulars respecting the affair
+with the furious priest Guevara and his companion Vergara. Sandoval
+likewise told him how he had sent two Spanish soldiers into Narvaez's
+head-quarters disguised as Indians. They had the exact appearance of
+natives, took each a basket of cherries with them, and did as if they
+were desirous of selling them. They soon met with a purchaser, in the
+person of the braggadocio Salvatierra, who gave them a string of glass
+beads for their fruit, and fully believing they were Indians, sent them
+to cut some grass for his horse. It was about the hour of Ave-Maria,
+when they returned with a load of grass, and carried it to the shed,
+where the horse was tied up. They then cowered down, after the fashion
+of Indians, near Salvatierra's quarters, and overheard a discourse
+between him and several others of Narvaez's officers. Among other things
+they heard Salvatierra exclaim, "O! at what a fortunate time we have
+arrived in this country, just as the traitor Cortes has collected above
+700,000 pesos! We shall all become wealthy; for his officers and
+soldiers all together cannot have a much less sum than that in their
+pockets."
+
+They listened to many similar fine speeches till a late hour at night,
+when they stole off silently to the shed where Salvatierra's horse was
+fastened up, which they very quietly saddled and bridled, and so rode
+off with it. In the same way they managed to capture a second horse on
+their road home, and brought them both safely to Sandoval.
+
+Cortes was very desirous to see those horses, but Sandoval told him he
+had left them with the invalid soldiers in Papalote, as he had marched
+along a very steep and rugged road over the mountains, where horses
+could not pass, which he had done that he might not fall in with
+Narvaez's troops.
+
+Cortes was vastly pleased with the trick which had been played off upon
+Salvatierra, and the manner in which he had lost his horse, and
+exclaimed, "He will now threaten us with more vengeance than ever!" The
+following morning, we were told, when he found the two Indians, who sold
+him the cherries had decamped with his horse, saddle, and bridle, he
+threw out language really laughable, particularly when he discovered
+they had been disguised Spaniards belonging to Cortes' troops.
+
+[77] According to Torquemada, Motecusuma, accompanied by a distinguished
+suite, conducted the Spaniards as far as Iztapalapan. (p. 303.)
+
+[78] Probably Topaniqueta, which sounds more like an Indian name. (p.
+304.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXVI.
+
+    _How we determined once more to despatch father Olmedo to Narvaez's
+    head-quarters, and what we commissioned him to say._
+
+
+As soon as all our troops had arrived at Tampanicita, we determined to
+despatch father Olmedo, who was a remarkably shrewd man, to Narvaez with
+a letter, which, after expressing the usual courtesies, ran nearly as
+follows:
+
+We all rejoiced at his arrival in this country, as we were confident
+that, in conjunction with such a valiant captain as he was, we should be
+able to render important services to God and to our emperor. It was true
+he had not only neglected to answer our previous letter, but had even
+branded us, his majesty's faithful subjects, with the name of traitors;
+and, by means of the message he had conveyed to Motecusuma, the whole
+country was about to burst out into open insurrection. We hereby begged
+of him to select that province which he fancied most for himself and
+troops; we were very willing to make room for him, and to act in every
+respect as beseemed faithful servants of the emperor. We had likewise
+requested him to forward us the original papers of his appointment, if
+he possessed any such, that we might convince ourselves they were signed
+by his majesty. However, he had not even listened to this request, but
+had thrown out abusive language against us, and incited the inhabitants
+of the country to revolt. We now again begged of him, in the name of
+God, and the emperor our master, to forward us his papers within the
+space of three days by a royal secretary, that he might read them to us;
+as we were ready, and also promised to act up strictly to his majesty's
+commands, if his documents were correct. For this purpose we had
+expressly come to Tampanicita, to be near his person. If he was unable
+to produce any such appointment direct from his majesty, and he was
+again desirous of returning to Cuba, he was at liberty to do so; we
+merely desired him to desist from stirring up the inhabitants into open
+insurrection, or we should consider ourselves bound to treat him as an
+enemy, take him prisoner, and send him in chains to the emperor, without
+whose authority he had commenced war upon us, and revolutionised all the
+towns of the country. Every drop of blood that was spilt, all
+destruction of property which would ensue from fire or otherwise, he
+would himself have to answer for.
+
+Our reason for communicating these things to him by letter only was,
+because no royal secretary durst venture to convey them in person,
+fearing he might share a similar fate with the auditor Aillon; and we
+were astonished how he durst presume to act so daringly. Cortes
+considered himself bound in honour and justice to his majesty not to
+allow such a heavy offence to pass by unpunished; and he hereby summoned
+him, by virtue of his office as captain-general and chief-justice of New
+Spain, to appear before him and answer the charge preferred against him
+of _criminis læsæ majestatis_. Lastly, he earnestly begged of him to
+return the cotton stuffs and gold trinkets he had forcibly taken away
+from the fat cazique; to deliver up to their parents again the Indian
+females who had been presented to us; and to command his men in no way
+to touch the property of the inhabitants.
+
+This letter, which closed with the usual courteous expressions, was
+signed by Cortes, the officers, and other soldiers, among whom was
+myself. With this letter father Olmedo, accompanied by one of our men,
+named Bartolome de Usagre, who had a brother serving in Narvaez's
+artillery, went off to the latter's head-quarters. What kind of
+reception they met with will be found in the chapter following.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXVII.
+
+    _How father Olmedo arrived in Narvaez's head-quarters at Sempoalla,
+    and what he did there._
+
+
+As soon as father Olmedo had arrived at Narvaez's head-quarters, he
+began to fulfil the orders which Cortes had given him. He made secret
+disclosures in Cortes' name to a number of cavaliers in Narvaez's corps,
+also to the artillerymen Rodrigo, Mino, and Usagre; and gave them the
+bars of gold which our general had destined for them. He likewise
+proposed to Andreas de Duero to pay a visit to our camp, and then called
+upon Narvaez himself.
+
+Although Olmedo comported himself particularly humble in presence of
+Narvaez, yet the latter's confidants had their suspicions, and advised
+their general to throw the father into prison, which was just about
+being carried into effect, when Duero, private secretary to Velasquez,
+was secretly apprized of it.
+
+Duero was a native of Tudela, on the Duero, and Narvaez came from the
+neighbourhood of Valladolid, or from the town itself, and they were not
+only countrymen, but also related to each other. This Duero had vast
+influence, stood high in the estimation of the men, and durst take more
+upon himself than others; he therefore called upon Narvaez, and told him
+he had been informed of his intention to imprison father Olmedo; and he
+considered himself called upon to observe, that no good could flow from
+such a step; for though there might be sufficient grounds for supposing
+he was intriguing for Cortes, yet, as a messenger from him, he ought not
+to be ill treated; the more so, because Cortes had honorably received
+all those whom Narvaez had despatched to him, and dismissed them with
+presents. Ever since father Olmedo had been here, he had himself
+frequently discoursed with him; but from all he had uttered could only
+conclude that Cortes, with the whole of his officers, was desirous of
+being on friendly terms with Narvaez. He ought likewise to remember that
+Cortes took every opportunity of speaking in his praise; indeed Cortes,
+as well as all his men, never pronounced the name of Narvaez but with
+profound respect, and it would be a small piece of heroism to seize upon
+the person of a priest; and the other man, who had come with him, was
+brother to the artilleryman Usagre; it would be therefore better in
+every respect if they received polite treatment; and he would advise him
+to ask the father to dinner, when he could himself fish out from him
+what the views of Cortes were.
+
+With these and such like kind-words, Duero succeeded in softening down
+Narvaez's anger; upon which the former immediately communicated to
+father Olmedo all that had transpired. Narvaez then sent for the father
+to dine with him, and received him most courteously.
+
+Father Olmedo, who was a remarkably judicious and shrewd man, requested
+Narvaez, with a pleasing smile, to grant him a private interview; and
+they walked up and down together in the courtyard, when Olmedo addressed
+him to the following effect: "I am well aware that your excellency had
+the intention to take me prisoner; though I can assure you there is not
+a person belonging to your staff more devoted to you than I am. I am
+likewise convinced that several cavaliers and officers in Cortes' troops
+would gladly see the latter in your power; indeed I am altogether
+convinced that we shall all soon stand under your commands. In order to
+make the necessary preparations for such a step, they have written you a
+letter full of extravagant expressions, and got it signed by several of
+our men. This letter I was ordered to hand over to your excellency; but,
+on account of its contents, I could not make up my mind to do so, but
+felt more inclined to throw it into the river."
+
+Narvaez then expressed a desire to see this letter, and father Olmedo
+told him he had left it in his room, but would go for it, and left
+Narvaez for that purpose. In the meantime Salvatierra, the braggadocio,
+had come up to the latter; while Olmedo hastened to Duero, requesting
+him to be present when he handed over the letter to Narvaez, and bring
+with him as many other soldiers as possible, that its contents might be
+made known to all. Olmedo now returned to Narvaez, and presented him
+Cortes' letter, with these words: "Your excellency must not feel
+astonished if in this letter you find Cortes speaking out a little at
+random; however, notwithstanding all this, I can assure you, if you
+express yourself in kind terms to him, he will submit to you, with the
+whole of his troops."
+
+All the bystanders now pressed Narvaez to read the letter; some were
+greatly annoyed, but Narvaez and Salvatierra merely laughed, and made
+game of the contents. Duero, however, said: "Really I am unable to make
+anything out of all this! The reverend father has assured me, that
+Cortes and the whole of his men are ready to join our standard, and yet
+they presume to write such nonsense to our general." Augustin Bermudez,
+who was a captain and alguacil-major of Narvaez's camp, followed in the
+same strain and said: "Father Olmedo has likewise assured me privately,
+that it merely required some little mediation between them, and Cortes
+would himself wait upon our general and join his standard with the
+whole of his men. As he is encamped not far from here, we could
+certainly do no better than despatch Señor Salvatierra and Señor Duero
+thither, and I will accompany them myself." This Bermudez merely said to
+see what Salvatierra would say, who immediately declared that he felt no
+inclination to visit a traitor.
+
+Do not speak quite so rashly, Señor Salvatierra, said father Olmedo; for
+by showing a little more moderation you will be able, in a few days, to
+have him in your power.
+
+However it was resolved that Duero should be despatched to Cortes, and
+Narvaez held a private conference with him and three other officers,
+desiring them to try and persuade Cortes to meet him at an Indian
+village on the road between the two encampments, where they might come
+to an understanding with each other respecting the division of the
+country and the boundaries of their respective territories. Narvaez was
+quite earnest in this matter, and had expressed himself to that effect
+to about twenty of his men, who were particularly devoted to him. This
+circumstance soon came to the ears of father Olmedo and Duero, who
+immediately apprized Cortes of it.
+
+We must now, for a time, leave father Olmedo in Narvaez's camp, where he
+soon became very intimate with Salvatierra, as the latter was a native
+of Burgos and he himself of Olmedo, and he dined with him every day. In
+the meantime we will likewise allow Duero to make preparations for his
+journey, on which he was accompanied by Usagre, that Narvaez might not
+fish anything out of him. We must now see what took place in our own
+camp during this interval.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXVIII.
+
+    _How Cortes reviews the whole of his troops, and we are supplied
+    with two hundred and fifty very long new lances, by the
+    Tchinantecs._
+
+
+As soon as Cortes was apprized of Narvaez's arrival in New Spain, and
+had received every information respecting the magnitude of his armament,
+he despatched a soldier who had served in the Italian campaigns, and who
+possessed an extensive knowledge of weapons and of the best method of
+fixing points to lances, into the province of the Tchinantecs,[78*] where
+some of our men had gone in search of gold mines. The Tchinantecs were
+deadly enemies to the Mexicans, and had only a few days previously made
+an alliance with us. This people used a species of lance, which was
+much longer than our Spanish lances, and furnished with a sharp
+double-edged point made of flint.[79]
+
+Cortes had heard of this weapon, and sent word to the Tchinantecs to
+forward him three hundred of such lances, from which however he desired
+they would take off the flint points and substitute a double one of
+metal, as they had abundance of copper in their country. The soldier who
+was despatched with these orders took a pattern of the point required
+with him. Cortes' wishes were readily complied with, and as the
+inhabitants of every township of that province set diligently to work,
+the lances were soon finished and they turned out most satisfactory.
+Besides this, Cortes desired the soldier Tovilla to ask the Tchinantecs
+to send 2000 of their warriors, all armed with similar lances, on Easter
+day, into the district of Panguenequita,[80] and there make inquiries
+for our camp. The caziques willingly complied with our request, and they
+also gave Tovilla above 200 of their warriors, all armed with the same
+lances, to accompany him now on his return to our camp. The rest were to
+follow with another of our men, called Barrientos, who had been
+despatched into their country in search of mines, and he may have been
+from forty to forty-eight miles further inland. The lances which Tovilla
+brought with him proved most excellent, and he immediately taught us how
+to use them, particularly against the cavalry.
+
+Upon this Cortes reviewed the whole of his troops, and we found,
+including all the officers, drummers and pipers, without father Olmedo,
+our numbers amounted to 260 men, among whom were five cavalrymen, a few
+crossbow-men, less musketeers, and two artillerymen. Considering the
+smallness of our numbers we reposed our greatest hopes in the use we
+intended making of our lances, in which fortunately we were not
+disappointed, as will afterwards be seen.
+
+[78*] The real name of this province was Chinantla, but our author calls
+the inhabitants Chichinatecas. (p. 310.)
+
+[79] Hierro is the Spanish word for iron, and Bernal Diaz always uses
+Hierro for the point of a lance; otherwise one would suppose,--when he
+says of the Chinantecs, "Hizíeron los hierros muy mas perfetamente,"
+etc., i.e. "they made the irons (points) much more perfect;"--that the
+working of iron was known in the country long before the arrival of the
+Spaniards; but it is evident, from what he says four lines below, that
+these points were made of copper. (p. 311.)
+
+[80] Panguenequita, probably another name for Tapanigueta. (p. 311.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXIX.
+
+    _How Duero, with the soldier Usagre and two of his Indian servants
+    from Cuba arrived in our camp; who this Duero was, and the reason of
+    his visit, &c._
+
+
+I must now trouble the reader to turn back to the first part of this
+history where I explained how Cortes obtained the appointment of
+commander-in-chief through the instrumentality of Duero and Amador de
+Lares: both of whom were on the most confidential terms with Diego
+Velasquez; the former as his private secretary, the second as royal
+treasurer. They had by their joint exertions procured Cortes the
+appointment, who, on his part, again promised to divide with them all
+the gold, silver, and jewels which should fall to his share.
+
+When Duero arrived in our camp he was convinced, from what he saw, of
+the vast riches and power of Cortes, and he came not merely to bring
+about a good understanding between both generals, but also to take
+possession of his share of the acquired riches; as Amador de Lares had
+died.
+
+Cortes, who was a cunning and far-sighted man, promised Duero not only
+vast treasures but a command, which would give him the same importance
+with himself, and he would bestow a vast extent of territory upon him.
+In consideration of which the latter was to engage to gain Augustin
+Bermudez, and other chief officers, whose names I will not mention; who
+were to swear upon their life and honour to oppose Narvaez in every way,
+and thwart him in all his designs upon us. If Narvaez was killed or
+taken prisoner, and his army defeated, all the gold and the townships of
+New Spain were to be divided among the three. To this Bermudez was to be
+bound down by affixing his signature to these conditions. In order,
+however, to strengthen the number of their party, Duero took along with
+him as much gold as two men could carry, besides a quantity of other
+valuable things, for Bermudez, the two priests, Guevara and Juan de
+Leon, and other chief personages who were to be let into the secret.
+Cortes and Duero then carefully talked over how the matter was to be
+carried out.
+
+Duero arrived in our quarters on the eve of Easter day, and stayed until
+the evening following. During this time he had several private
+conversations with Cortes, and before mounting his horse he again called
+upon the latter, who was heard to say on taking leave of him: "Well,
+Señor Duero, may God bless you. Remember to abide by all you have
+promised! Before three days have passed I shall be with my troops in
+your head-quarters; if, however, I find you have not remained true to
+your word, upon my conscience, (an oath he often used,) you will be the
+first my lance shall pierce."
+
+To which Duero answered smilingly: "You need be under no apprehension, I
+assure you. Nothing shall be omitted on my part to further your ends."
+
+Duero then mounted his horse and returned to Narvaez with the most
+satisfactory accounts, and assured him that Cortes and all of us desired
+nothing more ardently than to stand under his command. As soon as Duero
+had left, Cortes sent for Juan Velasquez de Leon, one of his chief
+officers, a man who had great authority, and although a near relative to
+the governor of Cuba, was entirely devoted to Cortes. Cortes had also
+gained him over to his interest by valuable presents and promises of an
+important command in New Spain, even to raise him as high in command as
+himself; and, indeed, Velasquez always evinced the most honest
+attachment to our general, and was unremitting in his services to him,
+as will sufficiently be seen hereafter.
+
+When Velasquez de Leon came into Cortes' presence, and inquired his
+commands, the latter said to him with a pleasing smile on his
+countenance, "I have sent for you, Velasquez, because Duero had assured
+me it is rumoured among Narvaez's officers that you and I have
+quarrelled, and that you intend siding with their party. I am,
+therefore, resolved that you shall ride on your powerful gray mare to
+Narvaez's head-quarters, taking with you all your gold, besides your
+_fanfarrona_, (so Velasquez termed a heavy gold chain he possessed,) and
+other valuable matters I shall give you, among which there will be a
+fanfarrona double the weight of yours. When there, you must try to fish
+out what Narvaez's intentions are. After you, Ordas shall likewise
+repair thither, as if he came to pay his respects to Narvaez in his
+capacity of house-steward to the governor of Cuba."
+
+To this Juan Velasquez answered, that he would gladly fulfil his
+commands, but must refuse either to take his gold or his chain with him.
+If he were desirous of furnishing him with any valuable trinkets for
+some other persons, he would promise to deliver them safely; where he
+went himself, he thought, he would be better able to serve him by his
+proper wits than with all the gold and jewels put together. "Of this,"
+replied Cortes, "I am also fully convinced, which is the reason I made
+choice of you; but if you refuse to take all your gold and valuables
+with you, you had much better remain here."
+
+Juan Velasquez still refused to comply for some time, when Cortes took
+him aside, and spoke a few words to him in private; Velasquez then
+yielded to his request, and set out on his journey, accompanied by Juan
+del Rio, one of Cortes' servants.
+
+As soon as Velasquez, whom Cortes had merely despatched to Narvaez to
+annoy the latter, had departed, he issued orders to the drummer
+Canillas, and our piper Benito, to sound their instruments, and desired
+Sandoval to draw up the troops in marching order, and we moved briskly
+forward to Sempoalla. On our road we killed two musk swine,[81] which
+our soldiers construed into a token of victory. The night following, we
+encamped on the slope of a hill near to a brook, made, as was our
+custom, bolsters of large stones, carefully posted our sentinels, and
+ordered the patrols.
+
+The next morning we marched forward in a straight line, and arrived
+towards midday at that river on whose banks the town of Vera Cruz at
+present stands, and goods are landed which arrive from Spain. At that
+time we found merely a few Indian huts and straggling trees there, under
+which we rested ourselves for a considerable time, as we found the heat
+very oppressive. We must now return to Juan Velasquez, and see what
+befel him in Narvaez's camp.
+
+[81] Respecting this animal, see note 5, p. 22. (p. 313.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXX.
+
+    _How Juan Velasquez arrives in Narvaez's head-quarters, and what
+    took place there._
+
+
+Juan Velasquez travelled so fast that he arrived at Sempoalla towards
+daybreak. He alighted at the house of the fat cazique; as the servant
+whom Cortes had sent with him had no horse, he therefore walked on foot
+to Narvaez's quarters. The Indians of Sempoalla all recognized him, and
+were highly pleased to see and converse with him again. When, however,
+some of Narvaez's men, who were quartered in the cazique's house, heard
+the Indians say that it was Velasquez de Leon, one of Malinche's
+officers, they hastened to Narvaez, and told him they brought a piece of
+news for which they might expect a reward. And before Leon had arrived
+at the latter's quarters, Narvaez, who was highly delighted to hear of
+his arrival, hastened out, accompanied by several of his officers, to
+meet him, and received him with a hearty embrace. After they had entered
+his abode, he requested Velasquez to take a chair, (for in this
+expedition they had even furnished themselves with such things,) and
+reproached him in a friendly tone for not having alighted at his
+quarters, and immediately sent some of his men for his horse and
+baggage, as he would not hear of his staying in any house but his own.
+Velasquez, however, observed, that he could not stay long, as he had
+merely come to pay his respects to him and his officers, and try if
+peace and friendship could not be brought about between his excellency
+and Cortes.
+
+Narvaez's blood rose to his cheeks at this expression, and he asked
+Velasquez how he could talk of peace and friendship with a man who had,
+like a traitor, run away with the whole armament of his own cousin, the
+governor of Cuba?
+
+Juan Velasquez replied, in an equally sharp tone of voice, that Cortes
+was not a traitor, but a faithful servant to his emperor; that such
+services as he had rendered to the crown could not be termed the
+actions of a traitor, and he must beg of him not again to make use of
+such expressions in his presence.
+
+Upon this Narvaez assumed a different tone, and made Velasquez vast
+promises if he would remain with him; even promised him, and sealed it
+with an oath, that he would elevate him to second in command to himself,
+if he would manage to induce Cortes' troops to join his standard of
+their own free will. Velasquez, however, assured him he should consider
+himself the vilest of traitors if he deserted a general to whom he had
+sworn fidelity, and of whom he was convinced that everything he had done
+in New Spain was for the emperor's best interest. On the contrary, he
+was determined to remain as faithful and true to Cortes as to the
+emperor himself, and he earnestly begged of him not to touch upon that
+string again.
+
+During this conversation, Narvaez's chief officers had, by degrees, all
+arrived to pay their respects to Velasquez, which they did with every
+show of courtesy, as Velasquez was a man of elegant carriage and
+powerful stature, and had a winning countenance; his beard looked
+majestic, a heavy gold chain hung from his shoulder in graceful folds,
+and sat well on this courageous and spirited officer. After this
+discourse with Narvaez, Velasquez turned to the other officers, and
+entered into private conversation with father Olmedo, Duero, and
+Bermudez.
+
+Narvaez's party, however, were of a different opinion with respect to
+Velasquez, and some of the officers, among whom were Gamarra, Juan
+Yuste, Juan Bono de Quexo, and the braggadocio Salvatierra, pressed
+Narvaez very hard to throw him into chains, as he was secretly striving
+to gain over his men in favour of Cortes. This Narvaez was very willing
+to do, and had already issued orders to that purpose, when Bermudez,
+Duero, and several others who favored our general, received intimation
+thereof, and remonstrated with Narvaez as to the policy of such a step,
+and the benefit he would derive from it, as Cortes, though he had an
+additional hundred officers such as Velasquez, would be unable to cope
+with him. He should also bear in mind how Cortes had received all those
+who visited his camp; how well he had treated every one, and presented
+them so plentifully with jewels and other matters, that every one, up to
+the present moment, had left him laden like bees returning to their
+hives. It was equally in Cortes' power to have detained Duero, the
+priest Guevara, and others; this, however, he had not done, but, on the
+contrary, had shown them every possible respect. It would certainly be
+more to Narvaez's advantage to behave courteously to Velasquez in
+return, and invite him to dinner on the following day.
+
+Narvaez was fully convinced of the truth of these arguments, and
+requested Velasquez, in the kindest terms, to become mediator between
+Cortes and himself, and try if he could not succeed to induce the former
+and his troops to join his standard; and then invited him to dinner on
+the next day. Velasquez promised to make the attempt, but, at the same
+time, stated that he entertained few hopes of success, as Cortes was
+very determined on that head. The best method of settling the matter, in
+his opinion, was, by a division of the provinces between both generals,
+and Cortes would gladly leave the choice to him.
+
+Velasquez, however, merely made this observation to make Narvaez a
+little more tractable. During this discourse, father Olmedo stepped up,
+and, as one of Narvaez's confidential friends and advisers, (for thus
+far he had succeeded with him,) proposed, that he should draw out the
+whole of his troops, with the cavalry and artillery, before Velasquez
+and his servant Juan, to show them the powerful army he commanded, and
+that they might relate what they had seen to Cortes, which would
+certainly produce the desired effect, and convince him he could not do
+better than submit to him. Narvaez followed this counsel, which Olmedo
+had merely advised to vex all his cavaliers and soldiers. The alarm was
+accordingly sounded, and the whole of the troops were thus obliged to
+march out before Velasquez, his servant Juan, and father Olmedo.
+
+After Velasquez had gazed upon the troops for some time, he said to
+Narvaez, "Certainly, your excellency's power is considerable, and may
+God grant you a further increase of it!"
+
+"Well," replied Narvaez, "are you now not fully convinced that it would
+merely cost me a day's march to overthrow Cortes and the whole of you?"
+
+"I will not say anything about that," said Velasquez; "but you may
+depend upon it we should not sell our lives cheaply."
+
+The following day Velasquez was to dine with Narvaez. At table he
+likewise met a nephew of the governor of Cuba, who bore the same name,
+and had the command of a company. During dinner-time, the conversation
+turned upon Cortes' obstinacy, and the letter he had written to Narvaez;
+and, one word leading to another, Diego Velasquez asserted, at length,
+that Cortes and all those who sided with him were traitors for not
+submitting to Narvaez.
+
+At this expression, Juan Velasquez rose up from his seat, and said, with
+much warmth, "General Narvaez, I have once previously begged of you not
+to allow such language in my presence against Cortes or any man of his
+troops. It is really scandalous to speak ill of us who have served his
+majesty so faithfully."
+
+"And I," interrupted Diego Velasquez, in an angry tone, "maintain that I
+have merely spoken the truth in calling you traitors. You are a traitor,
+and all the rest of you, and you are unworthy the name of Velasquez
+which you bear."
+
+Leon now laid hand on his sword, and called Diego a liar; swearing he
+was a better nobleman than he or his uncle, and that the house of
+Velasquez to which he belonged was a very different one to Diego's or
+his uncle's. Of this he would give instant proof if General Narvaez
+would allow him.
+
+As many of Narvaez's officers and a few of Cortes' were present during
+this scene, they interfered and prevented any open violence, as Leon was
+just about to draw his sword against his opponent.
+
+The other officers now advised Narvaez to order Juan Velasquez, his
+servant, and father Olmedo to quit their camp without any further
+ceremony, as their stay there would only cause worse blood. Orders to
+this effect were accordingly issued, and our men delayed not an instant
+to hasten their departure. Leon was seated on his fine mare, and clad in
+his coat of mail, which he scarcely ever put off, and had his helmet on,
+when he once more called upon Narvaez to take leave. Young Diego
+Velasquez was standing next to the latter at the time, and when Leon
+inquired of Narvaez if he had any message to Cortes, he replied, in
+great ill humour, "I beg of you to leave this instant, and it would have
+been much better if you had stayed away altogether." Young Velasquez
+then opened his mouth, and threw out most abusive language against him.
+Leon, in return, assured him his insolence would meet with its due
+reward, and a few days would show whether the bravery of his arm
+corresponded with the boldness of his tongue. As they were continually
+growing more bitter in their expressions, five or six of Cortes'
+adherents among Narvaez's officers, who intended to escort Leon, came
+up, and told him, rather harshly, it was time to be moving, and no
+longer to spend his breath in useless words. They merely assumed this
+tone to get him as quickly out of the way as possible, for they
+afterwards told him that Narvaez had already issued orders for seizing
+his person; indeed, he had every reason to make haste, for a numerous
+body of cavalry was already hard at his heels when he arrived at the
+river above mentioned.--We were just taking our midday's nap when our
+outpost brought information that two or three men on horseback were
+approaching our camp, and we immediately concluded it must be Leon, his
+servant Juan, and father Olmedo.
+
+Cortes and all of us were delighted to see them safely returned. Leon
+then related what the reader has just heard, and how he had secretly
+distributed the presents as Cortes had desired. We were particularly
+amused with what father Olmedo related as to the manner in which he had
+flattered Narvaez, and in mockery advised him to sound an alarm and
+sally out with his heavy guns; and also with the cunning he had employed
+to introduce Cortes' letter. But when he came to Salvatierra, and drew a
+picture of what had taken place between the latter and himself, how he
+had made out that they were relations, and the intimate friendship which
+grew up between them, and the bold language Salvatierra had presumed to
+throw out when he spoke of taking Cortes and all of us prisoners, and
+how he swore to revenge himself upon the soldiers who had run off with
+his and another officer's horse, we really laughed and rejoiced as if
+nothing but mirth and pleasure awaited us, and we no longer gave it a
+thought we should have to fight a battle next day, and measure our
+strength with five times our numbers, no other choice being left us but
+victory or death.
+
+When the heat of the day had somewhat cooled, we continued our march to
+Sempoalla, and encamped for the night near a brook about four miles from
+the town, at a spot where, at that time, there was a bridge, and, at
+present, a farm-house is built.
+
+I must again, however, return to Narvaez's head-quarters, and relate
+what happened there after the departure of Leon and father Olmedo.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXI.
+
+    _What took place in Narvaez's quarters after the return to our camp
+    of the ambassadors we had sent there._
+
+
+The effect of Leon's and father Olmedo's visit to Narvaez's camp soon
+showed itself. Several of the officers who had got some hints of the
+valuable presents which Cortes had sent to be distributed among some of
+them, found that a party was forming in his favour, and advised that the
+utmost vigilance should be observed; orders were therefore issued that
+both foot and horse should always hold themselves ready for action.
+
+The fat cazique whom I have so often mentioned was in great fear for
+having delivered up to Narvaez the women, cotton stuffs, and gold of
+which we had given him charge. For this reason only, therefore, he would
+have acted as a spy upon our movements had Narvaez even not strictly
+commanded him to do so.
+
+When his spies brought him intelligence that we were advancing towards
+Sempoalla, he said to Narvaez, "How can you remain so quiet and
+careless? Do you imagine that Malinche and his teules are people like
+yourselves? I assure you, if you don't keep a sharp look out, he will
+some time or other fall upon you unawares, and destroy you all."
+
+Narvaez and his partisans, though they could not help laughing at these
+warnings of the fat cazique, nevertheless thought it necessary to adopt
+some decisive step. He first formally declared open war against us with
+fire and sword. This we learnt from a soldier named Galleguillo, who had
+deserted to us from Narvaez during the night, or perhaps had been
+secretly sent to apprize us of it by Duero.
+
+Narvaez then encamped with the whole of his troops, taking the cannon
+and all with him, at about a mile from Sempoalla, in order the better to
+watch our movements and not to allow any of our men to pass without
+killing or taking them prisoners. But as it rained heavily just about
+this time, his men soon got tired of standing in the water to await our
+arrival, and Narvaez's officers, who were neither accustomed to dampness
+nor the fatigues of war in general, and imagined it would be an easy
+matter to overcome us, advised him to return with the troops to their
+former quarters. They likewise pretended it would be a reproach to them
+if they all marched out against a handful of men as we were, and
+considered it sufficient if they placed their artillery, which consisted
+of eighteen heavy guns, in front of their camp. Forty of the cavalry
+would be sufficient at night to guard the road leading to Sempoalla,
+along which we should be compelled to advance: besides which, pickets of
+cavalry and light-armed foot could watch the spot where we should have
+to pass the river, to give notice of our approach; and another twenty of
+the cavalry were always to stand in readiness during night-time in the
+courtyard adjoining Narvaez's quarters.
+
+All this his officers merely advised to return to their former
+comfortable quarters again. "Do you, then," continued they to Narvaez,
+"stand in such awe of Cortes as to believe, on the assertion of the fat
+cazique, that he will dare to push forward to our very quarters with his
+paltry numbers? Only let him come, we will give him the reception he
+merits."
+
+Narvaez allowed himself to be convinced by these arguments, and returned
+with the whole of his troops to the former quarters. He then made known
+that he who brought him Cortes or Sandoval dead or alive, should receive
+the reward of 2000 pesos.
+
+The command of the small detachment at the river he gave to a certain
+Hurtado and Gonzalo Carrasco, who is now living at Puebla. The
+watch-word of Narvaez's men, during the battle, was to be Santa Maria!
+Santa Maria! It was also regulated that a strong body of men should be
+posted in his quarters during night-time, and like divisions in those of
+Salvatierra, Gamarra, and Juan Bono.
+
+These were Narvaez's preparations; we must now see what was going on in
+our camp.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXII.
+
+    _The order of our march against Narvaez; the speech Cortes made to
+    us; and our reply to it._
+
+
+After we had arrived at the above-mentioned brook, about four miles from
+Sempoalla, we halted in a beautiful meadow by which it was skirted, and
+posted our sentinels, consisting entirely of men on whom we could place
+implicit reliance. Cortes, seated on horseback, ordered all the officers
+and men to assemble around him; he then craved a few moments' silence,
+and addressed us in a speech replete with flattering expressions and
+vast promises.
+
+He began with our departure from Cuba, mentioned all the fatigues we had
+undergone up to that moment, and then continued: "You are perfectly
+aware, gentlemen, that the governor of Cuba did appoint me
+captain-general of the armament, though many cavaliers among you were
+equally deserving of it; you must also remember that you left Cuba with
+the supposition you were going to found a colony in this country. It was
+under this pretence that the public were invited to join the expedition,
+and yet it afterwards appeared that the armament was merely fitted out
+for commercial speculation. I was preparing to act up to the
+instructions I had received, and was ready to return to Cuba, in order
+to render Diego Velasquez a full account of all our proceedings, when
+you desired me,--yes, you compelled me, to form a settlement here in the
+name of our emperor, in which we, with God's assistance, have indeed so
+far succeeded. You then elected me captain-general and chief justice of
+New Spain, to continue vested with such power until we should know his
+majesty's pleasure on that head. Once, subsequently, there indeed again
+arose a dispute respecting the necessity of returning to Cuba; but this
+I need not mention, as it is still fresh in every one's memory; however,
+it became afterwards our universal conviction, that the determination we
+had come to, to remain in this country, had met with grace in the sight
+of God, and he has blessed all our endeavours in his holy cause, and
+granted us success in our undertakings in the emperor's service. Above
+all, however, I must put you in mind of the promise we made the emperor
+when we forwarded him a full account of our great deeds, with a
+description of the country. We begged his majesty not to confer the
+government of this country on any one before our agents had obtained a
+hearing, as we had all reason to fear that the powerful bishop of Burgos
+would strive to obtain that appointment for Diego Velasquez, or for one
+of his friends or relatives. We assured his majesty that this country
+was of such vast extent as to merit being governed by an infante or
+grandee of his empire, and that we were only awaiting his most gracious
+commands which we should obey with the deepest veneration, and would not
+acknowledge any appointment unless it came from his majesty himself.
+With this account we sent our monarch all the gold, silver, jewels, and
+other valuable things we had collected. These had been, up to that time,
+our only remuneration for the many fatigues we had undergone; and how
+often had not death stood before our eyes in the battles we had fought!
+what various kinds of hardships we have suffered! we have slept on the
+bare ground both in the rain and snow, and never lay our arms aside.
+When we reflect on all these hardships, it really sends a thrill through
+the heart. In the several battles we have fought, we have lost above
+fifty of our men, and we are all covered with wounds, and many a one
+still suffers severely from them. First we had to brave all the dangers
+of the sea; then followed the battles of Tabasco, Almeria, Cingapacinga,
+with the ambushes which were laid for us in the mountains, defiles, and
+the villages. How nigh we were being totally worsted in the battles of
+Tlascalla! We had scarcely time allowed us to take breath, when the
+affair at Cholulla awaited us, where the pots stood ready in which our
+flesh was to be cooked for the inhabitants to feast on! None of us can
+ever forget our march through the mountain passes, where Motecusuma had
+posted the whole of his troops, and blocked up the road by a heavy fall
+of trees, intending that none of us should escape death! Notwithstanding
+all this, we march into Mexico, and quarter ourselves in the very heart
+of that city; but how oft there again has death not stood before our
+eyes! Really no human being could have imagined such a series of
+dangers! And yet there are many among us who have even experienced
+additional fatigues, those I mean who have twice before visited these
+coasts, under Cordoba and Grijalva. In these voyages of discovery they
+suffered hardships of various natures, lost numbers of their companions,
+were themselves covered with wounds, and lost everything they possessed.
+But it would be impossible to enumerate all the miseries that have been
+suffered; nor have I any time, if I could, for night is fast
+approaching; and now, after we have undergone all this, Pamfilo Narvaez
+comes tearing along, like a mad dog, to destroy us all; calls us
+villains and traitors, and makes disclosures to Motecusuma, not like a
+prudent general, but with the spirit of a rebel; he has even presumed to
+throw one of the emperor's auditors into chains--of itself a criminal
+act; and to sum up, has declared a war of extermination against us, just
+as if we had been a troop of Moors."
+
+Upon this Cortes launched out in praise of the courage we had shown in
+every battle: "Up to this moment," he continued, "we have fought to
+defend our lives, but now we shall have to fight valiantly for our lives
+and our honour. Our enemies have nothing less in contemplation than to
+take us all prisoners, and rob us of our property. No one could tell
+whether Narvaez was commissioned by the emperor himself; all this was
+merely done at the instigation of our most deadly enemy, the bishop of
+Burgos. If we were subdued by Narvaez, which God forbid, all the
+services we had rendered to the Almighty and our emperor would be
+construed into as many crimes. An investigation would be set on foot
+against us, and we should be accused of murder, of rapine, and of having
+revolutionised the country, though the real guilty person would be
+Narvaez; and the things which would be considered meritorious in him
+would be construed as criminal in us. As all this must be evident to
+you," said Cortes, in conclusion, "and we, as honest cavaliers, are
+bound to defend the honour of his imperial majesty, as well as our own,
+and all our property, I have marched out from Mexico, reposing my trust
+in God and your assistance, to bid defiance to such injustice."
+
+Several of our officers and soldiers then answered, in the name of the
+rest, that he might rely upon our determination either to conquer or to
+die.
+
+Cortes was excessively rejoiced at our reply, and said he had not
+expected less. We should find no cause for regret, as wealth and honour
+would be the reward of our courage and our valour. He then once more
+begged our attention, and reminded us that, in battle and time of war,
+prudence and experience accomplished more than the utmost bravery. He
+was well aware of our great courage, and how every man among us strove
+who should be the first to dash among the enemy's ranks. At present the
+first object must be to capture the eighteen pieces of ordnance which
+Narvaez had arranged in front of his camp. For this purpose he selected
+sixty of our youngest men, of which number I also was, and placed them
+under the command of Pizarro, who at that time was a daring young
+fellow, but in those days as little known to the world as Peru itself.
+As soon as we should have captured these cannon, we were to storm
+Narvaez's quarters, which were on the summit of a very high temple.
+Sandoval, with other sixty men, was ordered to seize Narvaez's person,
+and his commands were exactly as follow: "Gonzalo de Sandoval,
+alguacil-major of New Spain, I hereby command you to seize the person of
+Pamfilo Narvaez, and to kill him in case he will not surrender. This we
+are called upon to do as faithful servants of God and the emperor, and
+in revenge for the ill-treatment he, the said Narvaez, presumed to
+exercise against one of his majesty's auditors. Given at our
+head-quarters. Signed, Hernando Cortes; and countersigned, Pedro
+Hernandez, secretary."
+
+Cortes at the same time promised a reward of 3000 pesos to the first man
+who should lay hands on Narvaez, 2000 to the second, and 1000 to the
+third.
+
+Leon likewise received the command of sixty men, with instructions to
+seize the person of Diego Velasquez, with whom he had had such high
+words. Cortes himself retained twenty men around his person, to render
+assistance wherever it might be most required; his principal object,
+however, was to get the persons of Narvaez and Salvatierra into his
+power.
+
+After Cortes had issued these commands in writing to his principal
+officers, he said: "I am fully aware that Narvaez has four times the men
+we have; but most of them are not accustomed to arms. A great number are
+adverse to their general, many are sick, and we shall fall upon them
+unawares. All opposition on their part will be fruitless, and I am fully
+confident the Almighty will grant us the victory. Narvaez's men also
+know they will lose nothing by the change, and would fare better in
+every respect by being with us than with him. Thus, gentlemen, after
+God, our lives and honour entirely depend upon the valour of our arms.
+The praise of future generations lies in our hands, and it is more
+honorable to die on the field of battle than to lead a life of
+dishonour." With this Cortes ended, as it was beginning to rain and
+getting late.
+
+I have often subsequently, when thinking of this speech of Cortes,
+wondered that he did not mention a single word of the secret
+understanding he had with some of Narvaez's officers, but merely
+impressed upon our minds the necessity of employing our utmost courage.
+By degrees, however, it became obvious to me that by that very
+circumstance he had shown the prudence of a great general, for by making
+us believe that our only hope was in God and our own bravery, he
+compelled us to exercise the utmost of our power.
+
+The most dangerous part of the work was assigned to us, who were to
+capture the cannon, under the command of Pizarro: we had to commence the
+attack and storm up against the cannons' mouths. Pizarro, therefore,
+gave us very strict commands, and showed us how we were to push forward
+with our lances lowered, and fight on boldly until we had taken the
+cannon, when the artillerymen, Mesa and Amenga, were immediately to load
+the guns with the balls at hand, and fire away at Salvatierra's
+quarters.
+
+We were altogether in want of defensive armour, and on that night many
+of us would have given all we possessed for a cuirass, helmet, or steel
+gorget.
+
+Our watch-word was: _Espiritu Santo! Espiritu Santo!_ for such words in
+time of war are given to soldiers in secret, in order that the men may
+recognize each other. That of Narvaez's men was: _Santa Maria! Santa
+Maria!_
+
+As I stood in great favour with Sandoval, he begged of me, when we had
+captured the cannon, should my life be spared, instantly to repair to
+him and not leave his side; which I promised and fulfilled, as will be
+seen.
+
+We remained in our camp during the first part of the night, and spent
+our time in making preparations, and thinking on the arduous task which
+awaited us; for it was useless to think of any supper, as we had not a
+morsel of food with us. We sent out the pickets and posted our
+sentinels, of which I happened to be one. I had not stood long when one
+of our outposts came up and asked me whether I had not heard a noise? To
+which I answered no, and immediately after one of our corporals
+approached and told me that Galleguillo, who had deserted from Narvaez
+to us, was nowhere to be found, and that he must have been a spy; and as
+it was certain he had by this time betrayed our approach to the enemy,
+Cortes had given orders for our immediate advance upon Sempoalla. An
+instant after I heard the drum and pipe, and we all marched forward.
+Galleguillo, however, was found a few minutes after fast asleep under
+some cloaks he had thrown over him, as damp and cold were two things to
+which the poor devil was wholly unaccustomed.
+
+Cortes now ordered the drum and pipe to be silenced, and we marched
+steadily forward, until we arrived at the river where, as I have above
+mentioned, Carrasco and Hurtado were posted with a detachment of the
+enemy. This, our sudden visit, was the last thing they could have
+thought of, and we succeeded in capturing the former, but the other
+escaped and ran to give the alarm.
+
+I shall never forget our crossing this river, how it was swoln by the
+rain, and the difficulty we experienced in passing over the stones which
+had become loosened and were very slippery; while, at the same time, we
+were greatly incommoded by our weapons which we had slung to our backs.
+I well remember Carrasco, when he was taken prisoner, crying out aloud:
+"Mind what you are about Señor Cortes, for Narvaez has marched out with
+all his troops to receive you." As Hurtado had already ran off to give
+the alarm, it mattered very little whether Carrasco thus strove to
+inform his general of our approach by his loud cries. Cortes gave him in
+charge of his secretary Hernandez, and commanded us to the attack. We
+immediately lowered the points of our lances and made so violent a rush
+at the cannon, that the artillerymen had scarcely sufficient time to
+fire off four pieces, every ball of which passed over our heads,
+excepting one, which killed three of our men. At the same moment our
+respective officers, with their men, forced their way up under the sound
+of our drum and pipe. Several of Narvaez's cavalry certainly offered
+some resistance, but for a short time only, while six or seven of their
+number lay stretched on the field of battle. We, under Pizarro, had the
+good fortune to capture all the cannon, but durst not leave them in
+charge of our artillerymen alone, as Narvaez continued to shower down
+arrows and musket-balls upon us from the top of the temple. Sandoval now
+likewise came up with his detachment, and though Narvaez bid a powerful
+resistance, he nevertheless continued advancing up the steps of the
+building, and broke through the pikes and lances of his opponents.
+Seeing this, and that the enemy had given up all attempts to recover the
+cannon, we gave them in charge of our artillerymen, and flew under the
+command of Pizarro to Sandoval's assistance. We just arrived at the
+moment when Narvaez had beaten him back down five or six of the steps;
+our arrival turned the scale against the enemy, and Sandoval now pushed
+forward again with renewed vigour. Indeed we had some hard work to do
+with our long lances before we could clear our way through the enemy's
+ranks; all at once I heard some one, and it must have been Narvaez, cry
+out in a loud voice:--"Assist me, oh blessed Virgin! I am a dead man!
+One of my eyes has been thrust out!" At the same moment we all cried
+out, "_Victory! Victory!_ for those of the watch-word _Espiritu Santo!
+Narvaez is fallen!_" Yet we were unable for some time to gain entire
+possession of the temple, not until Martin Lopez, who built the
+brigantines, hit upon the thought of setting fire to the straw that lay
+on the top of the temple, which he immediately set about with his gaunt
+figure. Narvaez's men now came rolling down the steps one after the
+other, and he himself was taken prisoner. A certain Pedro Sanchez Farsan
+was the first to lay hold of him, and I mentioned this to Sandoval and
+several of Narvaez's officers, who were standing by at the time. In an
+instant a thousand voices filled the air with cries of: "_Long live the
+emperor and general Cortes, in his imperial name!_ Victory, victory!
+Narvaez is dead!"
+
+The battle, however, was still continued at various points, as several
+of Narvaez's officers maintained their positions on the tops of other
+temples. Cortes, however, with his accustomed forethought, sent round a
+herald to summons Narvaez's men, under pain of death, immediately to
+join the imperial standard. This, with the firing of the cannon, our
+hurrahing, and the belief that Narvaez was dead, had the desired effect,
+and only the troops of young Diego Velasquez and of Salvatierra, who had
+taken up a position with the troops under their command, on the summit
+of a very high temple, where it was difficult to get at them, refused to
+submit. Sandoval, however, was not to be deterred by their advantageous
+position. He took the half of his men with him, while the rest remained
+below, and we attacked them so vigorously with our swords, that at last
+they surrendered, and we took Salvatierra and Diego Velasquez prisoners.
+
+In the hurry of the moment we had merely fastened fetters around
+Narvaez's legs; but Sandoval now, ordered him to be better secured.
+Cortes happened to come up at the time, when Leon, with Ordas, brought
+in Salvatierra, Diego Velasquez, and other chief officers prisoners; he
+was still in full armour, and had heated himself to such a degree by
+riding up and down, the weather besides being very hot, that the
+perspiration literally dropped from him, and he could scarcely breathe
+from over-exertion; he twice said to Sandoval, who was unable to catch
+his words at first, "Where is Narvaez? Where is Narvaez?" "Here he is!
+here he is!" cried Sandoval, "and quite safe." "That is all right, my
+son Sandoval," said Cortes in a voice still somewhat feeble; "do not
+leave this spot for the present, nor suffer any of your men to stir
+away, and keep a strong guard over the officers you have taken prisoners;
+I will see now how the battle is going on at the other points."
+
+With these words Cortes rode off, and as he still found Narvaez's men
+offered resistance, he again sent round a herald to summon them to
+surrender, and to deliver up their arms to the alguacil.
+
+All this took place during night-time, and it rained at intervals. When
+we first forced our way into the town it was as dark as pitch, and it
+rained heavily, the moon did not rise until some time after; but even
+the darkness itself favoured us, for in the midst of darkness numbers
+of shining beetles[82] kept continually flying about, which Narvaez's
+men mistook for the lighted matches of our firearms,[83] and this gave
+them a vast idea of the number of our matchlocks.
+
+Narvaez having lost an eye and being otherwise dangerously wounded, he
+begged of Sandoval to allow the surgeon he had brought with him to dress
+his and the other officers' wounds. This the latter unhesitatingly
+complied with, and while the surgeon was dressing Narvaez's wounds,
+Cortes stepped up, as he imagined unknown, to see what was going
+forward. Some one, however, remarked to Narvaez that Cortes was standing
+near; when the former turned round and said: "Indeed, general, you have
+reason to be proud of this victory, and of my being taken prisoner!"
+
+"I am," replied Cortes, "every way thankful to God for it, and likewise
+for the brave companions he has given me; but I can assure you that this
+victory is the least brilliant we have yet gained in New Spain."
+
+With this Cortes broke off the conversation, and again cautioned
+Sandoval to guard the prisoners well. As I have above remarked, we had
+merely thrown fetters about Narvaez's legs, but we now secured him
+better, and placed a strong guard over him. I was among the latter, and
+Sandoval gave me secret orders not to allow any of his men to see him
+until next morning, when Cortes would make further arrangements
+respecting his person. We did not feel quite safe yet; for the reader
+will remember that Narvaez had detached forty of his cavalry to oppose
+our crossing the river. This body was still hovering about, and we
+feared would fall upon us unawares and release both Narvaez and the
+other officers again. We therefore kept a sharp look out, while Cortes
+despatched Oli and Ordas to persuade them, by enticing promises, to
+surrender quietly. For this purpose these officers were obliged to take
+a couple of horses of Narvaez's troops, as ours had been left at the
+back of a rising ground near Sempoalla.
+
+When Oli and Ordas came up with them, they said so many fine things, and
+made such vast promises in Cortes' name, that they speedily came to
+terms, and surrendered themselves.[84]
+
+Daylight in the meantime had broken forth, when this detachment reached
+our camp again; and the drummers and pipers of Narvaez's corps, without
+instructions from Cortes or from any one else, suddenly sounded their
+instruments, and cried out, "Long live these brave Romans, who, though
+small in numbers, have gained the victory over Narvaez and his troops!"
+And another merry-making fellow, called Guidela, a negro, cried out at
+the top of his voice, "Hark ye! the Romans themselves could never boast
+of so brilliant a victory as this!" Whatever we might say, we were
+unable to stop their hurrahing or their instruments, until Cortes had
+ordered one of the drummers, named Tepia, who was half mad, to be
+seized.
+
+At this moment Oli and Diego de Ordas made their appearance with the
+detachment of cavalry, accompanied by Duero, Bermudez, and several other
+friends of our general. These now all came in a body to pay their
+respects to Cortes, who had taken off his armour, and was seated in an
+arm-chair, dressed in a wide orange-coloured surtout. It was really a
+most interesting sight to behold the serenity and joy which sat upon his
+countenance as he welcomed each, and amusing to hear the fine things he
+told them. He had indeed every reason to be proud of the power and the
+greatness he had so suddenly acquired!
+
+After these officers had thus paid their respects to him, they repaired
+to their respective quarters. And now we must look over the list of the
+dead and wounded on both sides. Among the former was Narvaez's
+standard-bearer, named Fuentes, of a noble family of Seville; and three
+of his chief officers, one of whom was named Rojas, a native of Old
+Castile. One of the three soldiers, named Carretero, who deserted to the
+enemy, was likewise killed; and the number of their wounded was very
+great.
+
+On our side we lost four killed, and had several wounded; the fat
+cazique himself being of this number; who, when he heard that we were in
+the vicinity of Sempoalla, had fled to Narvaez's quarters, and was
+wounded there. Cortes ordered his wound to be dressed, then sent him
+home, and desired that no one should molest him.
+
+Cervantes and Escalona, who had deserted to Narvaez, derived very little
+benefit from their treachery; the latter had been dangerously wounded,
+and the other Cortes ordered to be well whipped.
+
+Here I must also not forget the braggadocio Salvatierra, whose cowardice
+his own men declared was beyond all belief. They all swore never in the
+course of their lives to have witnessed such extreme fear as he evinced
+when he first heard the clashing of our arms at a distance; and when he
+heard the cry of _Victory! Victory! Narvaez is fallen!_ he became quite
+ill, and threw down his arms.
+
+Diego Velasquez had almost escaped my memory! He was also wounded, and,
+as had been previously settled, was taken prisoner by Leon, with whom he
+had quarrelled at Narvaez's dinner table. The victor, however, acted
+magnanimously; he took him to his own quarters, had his wounds dressed,
+and treated him with great respect.
+
+Such is the history of our battle with Narvaez, and now we must see what
+further took place.
+
+[82] The clater nocturnus. (p. 327.)
+
+[83] It need scarcely be remarked that the Spanish guns at that time
+were fired by means of matches, which were made of hempen tow, boiled in
+the lees of old wine, and when dry and once lighted they burn on until
+consumed. (p. 327.)
+
+[84] Bernal Diaz has forgotten some circumstances relative to this
+battle. Three hundred of Narvaez's troops defended themselves bravely
+for a length of time on one of the temples, nor did they surrender until
+all their powder was spent. (p. 327.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXIII.
+
+    _How the 2000 Indians of Chinantla, whom Cortes had demanded of the
+    caziques there, arrived at Sempoalla after Narvaez's defeat._
+
+
+Late in the evening of the same day on which we had gained the victory
+over Narvaez, the 2000 Indian troops arrived which Cortes had requested
+the caziques of Chinantla to send us. They came under the command of
+their caziques, and one of our soldiers named Barrientos, and marched
+into Sempoalla in the best military order possible, two abreast. They
+were all tall and powerful men, armed with their immense-sized lances
+and huge shields; every lancer was followed by a bowman. In this manner,
+under the sound of drums and trumpets, they marched in, with their
+feathers waving on their head and their colours flying, and continually
+cried out, "_Long live the emperor! long live Cortes!_" They made such a
+grand show, that though they were only 2000 in number, one would have
+thought at first sight there had been 3000. Narvaez's men were not a
+little astonished when they beheld these men, and remarked to each other
+that they would have fared worse if they had had to encounter these
+people, or if they had joined us in the attack.
+
+Cortes received the Chinantlan chiefs most kindly, thanked them for the
+trouble they had put themselves to, and desired them to return to their
+homes, after presenting them with various things of Spanish manufacture.
+Barrientos likewise returned with them, and Cortes particularly
+admonished him not to allow these Indians to commit any depredations in
+the townships they passed through.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXIV.
+
+    _How Cortes despatches Francisco de Lugo, with two men who had
+    formerly been ship-builders, to the harbour where Narvaez's flotilla
+    lay, to bring all the captains and pilots of the vessels to
+    Sempoalla._
+
+
+After the whole of Narvaez's troops had been disarmed, Cortes despatched
+Francisco de Lugo to the harbour where the flotilla lay, in order to
+bring all the captains and pilots of the eighteen vessels to Sempoalla.
+He was likewise to convey on shore all the sails, rudders, and
+compasses, so as to render it impossible for the governor of Cuba to
+gain any information respecting the fate of his armament. Whoever
+refused to submit to Lugo was immediately to be thrown into chains.
+Cortes likewise ordered the latter to bring along with him a certain
+Sancho de Barahona, whom Narvaez had imprisoned along with some other
+soldiers. This Barahona was a man of great wealth, and had settled in
+Guatimala. He was in very ill health when he arrived in Cortes'
+quarters, who desired that every attention should be paid him.
+
+When the captains and pilots of the several vessels appeared in Cortes'
+presence, he made them take a solemn oath to obey his commands in all
+matters. A certain Pedro Caballero, captain of one of Narvaez's vessels,
+he appointed admiral of the flotilla. This man, it was rumoured, had
+been bribed with some bars of gold to favour Cortes' party. Caballero
+received instructions not to allow any vessel to leave the harbour, and
+if any others should arrive there from Cuba--for Cortes had received
+information that there were two other ships fitting out there for this
+harbour--he was to seize them, send their sails, rudders, compasses on
+shore, and await further orders. This, as we shall afterwards see,
+Caballero punctually obeyed.
+
+In our head-quarters the following important arrangements were made:
+Leon was to be sent to subdue the province of Panuco, and to make a
+settlement there; for which purpose 120 men were placed under his
+command, of whom 100 were of Narvaez's troops, the rest being made up of
+our own, who were better acquainted with the mode of warfare in this
+country. To this detachment were likewise added two vessels, in order
+more thoroughly to explore the coast and the river Panuco.
+
+A similar commission, with an equal number of troops, composed as the
+former, and also to be accompanied by two vessels, was given to Diego de
+Ordas, to form a settlement on the river Guacasualco. He was likewise to
+despatch some of his men to the island of Jamaica to purchase cows,
+horses, pigs, goats, sheep, and Spanish fowls, for breeding; the
+province of Guacasualco being particularly adapted for the breed of
+cattle.
+
+Cortes now ordered all Narvaez's officers and soldiers to be liberated,
+with the exception of Salvatierra, who feigned to be taken suddenly ill
+during the late battle. When their arms were to be returned to them, it
+occasioned a good deal of ill blood, for many of our men had taken
+possession of their horses, swords, and other matters, and no one felt
+inclined to return what he had once taken. When Cortes, therefore,
+issued orders that every one was to receive his own again, it caused
+great discontent among our troops; for we maintained we were justified
+in retaining what we had taken, as Narvaez had declared a war of
+extermination against us; had literally come with the intention to
+destroy us, and rob us of all our property; besides that, we, the
+well-deserving servants of the emperor, had been branded by him with the
+name of traitors. Cortes, however, was determined upon this point, and
+as we had elected him our captain-general, we could not do less than
+obey him. I myself had taken possession of two swords, three daggers,
+and a target, all of which I had to return.
+
+Alonso de Avila, who was a captain, and one who durst speak out boldly
+to Cortes, privately reproached him, in conjunction with father Olmedo,
+for acting thus; and remarked to him, that he was performing the part of
+Alexander the Macedonian, who, whenever he gained a splendid victory,
+rewarded and honoured the vanquished instead of the officers and
+soldiers who had procured him the victory. They had every reason to make
+this observation, as we had to look quietly on and see Cortes give all
+the provisions and valuable matters, which the Indians of the
+surrounding country brought in as presents, to the officers of the
+vanquished general, and leave us unnoticed. This they maintained was not
+acting justly, and had every appearance of ingratitude towards them, who
+by their valour had raised him to the proud position in which he then
+stood.
+
+Cortes, who was never wanting for an answer, replied, that for all he
+possessed he was indebted to us; but under existing circumstances he
+could not act otherwise. It was for the advantage of all to gain the
+troops of Narvaez by fair words, presents, and promises; their numbers
+were too great in comparison to ours; and if they were once to rise up
+in anger, they might easily put us all to the sword.
+
+To this Avila replied in a very haughty manner, which obliged Cortes to
+exclaim, "Those who do not feel inclined to obey are at liberty to leave
+my standard; Spanish women bring forth sufficient children into the
+world, and every son is a soldier in Spain!"
+
+"That is very true," answered Avila, rather disrespectfully; "and among
+these sons there are also numbers of generals and governors as well as
+soldiers."
+
+As matters then stood, Cortes was compelled to put on the best
+countenance he could to this reproof, and to silence this open-hearted
+man by promises and presents; for the determined and bold character of
+Avila was too well known to him, and he feared his resentment. He
+therefore suppressed his injured feelings, and from that moment took
+every opportunity of sending him to some distance on one or other
+important commission; so he despatched him some after to St. Domingo,
+and subsequently to Spain, to present the garderobe and the treasure of
+Motecusuma to the emperor. This latter voyage, however, terminated very
+unfortunately, for Avila, with the whole of those treasures, was
+captured by the redoubted French pirate Jean Florin, as we shall see in
+the proper place.
+
+But to return to Narvaez. He happened to have a negro servant with him
+ill with the smallpox, through whom this terrific disease, which,
+according to the accounts of the inhabitants, was previously unknown in
+the country, spread itself through New Spain, where it created the
+greater devastation, from the poor Indians, in their ignorance, solely
+applying cold water as a remedy, with which they constantly bathed
+themselves; so that vast numbers were cut off before they had the
+blessing of being received into the bosom of the Christian church.[85]
+
+It was also about this time that the garrison of Vera Cruz demanded the
+portion of the gold which fell to their share in the division at Mexico.
+These men maintained, that, though they had not made the campaign of
+Mexico with us, they had shown themselves no less deserving in the cause
+of God and the emperor than ourselves, as they had guarded the coast and
+built a fortress; and that many of them who had fought at the battle of
+Almeria were still suffering from their wounds, while others again had
+been taken prisoners by Narvaez, who had treated them with great
+severity: they concluded, therefore, they were justly entitled to a
+share of the treasure found in Mexico.
+
+Cortes acknowledged the justness of their claim, and requested them to
+despatch two of the principal men from among them to take charge of
+their respective share, and, if I am not mistaken, he added that it had
+been deposited for safe keeping in Tlascalla: at least, they immediately
+after sent two of their numbers there to take possession of it, of whom
+Juan de Alcantara the elder was one. We shall, however, soon see what
+became of Alcantara with all the gold; how quickly the wheel of fortune
+turned against us, and trouble and sorrow followed peace and joy; for we
+received intelligence that all Mexico had risen up in arms, that
+Alvarado was besieged in his quarters, and that the Mexicans were
+attempting to set fire to the new fortifications at every point. Seven
+of our men had already been killed, many were wounded, and immediate
+assistance was required.
+
+This information was first brought us by two Tlascallans, and that
+without any letter from Alvarado. Soon after, however, two other
+Tlascallans arrived with a letter from him confirmatory of this bad
+news. God knows how shocked we were at this intelligence! We immediately
+resolved to hasten to Mexico by forced marches. Narvaez and Salvatierra
+were sent under escort to Vera Cruz, where Rodrigo Rangel, whom Cortes
+had just appointed commandant of that place, was made responsible for
+the safe custody of their persons. Besides these, Rangel took along with
+him several of Narvaez's men, who were suffering from ill-health.
+
+Just as we were about to commence our march to Mexico, four
+distinguished personages arrived from that town, who had been sent by
+Motecusuma to complain to our general of the conduct of Alvarado. They
+told us, with tears in their eyes, that he had, without any provocation,
+sallied out with the whole of his troops, and fallen unawares upon their
+chiefs and caziques while they were celebrating a feast in honour of
+their gods Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipuca, Alvarado himself having
+previously given his consent to the celebration of that feast. Many of
+their chief personages had been killed and wounded, so that, at last,
+they were compelled to defend themselves, and six Spaniards were killed
+in the affray. To this and other complaints against Alvarado, Cortes
+told them, with a dark frown on his brow, that he would repair
+immediately in person to Mexico, and look into the matter. With this
+message the Indians returned to their monarch, who, it is said, was
+anything but pleased with it. Cortes, at the same time, wrote word to
+Alvarado that we were advancing by forced marches upon Mexico, and
+particularly cautioned him not to let Motecusuma escape out of his
+hands. He likewise informed him of the victory we had gained over
+Narvaez, though he had no doubt already been apprized of this, for it
+was known to Motecusuma.
+
+[85] Of this dreadful disease Gomara says, that it spread from Sempoalla
+through the whole of New Spain, and that in the greater part of the
+townships half of the inhabitants were carried off by it. It was a
+custom among the inhabitants to go immediately from a hot bath into a
+cold one, so that it was a wonder any escaped death. Those that survived
+could not help scratching themselves, which naturally left large scars,
+and rendered them hideous to look at. Torquemada agrees with Gomara, but
+adds, from the authority of the Indians, that this and other
+pestilential diseases spread at certain times through the whole of the
+country; and Bernal Diaz, in describing the person of the younger
+Xicotencatl, says his face was pitted as if with the smallpox. (p. 332.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXV.
+
+    _How we all, including Narvaez's troops, hasten to Mexico by forced
+    marches._
+
+
+On receiving the intelligence that Mexico was in rebellion, and Alvarado
+besieged in his quarters, the plan of forming settlements in Panuco and
+Guacasualco was for the present abandoned, and Leon and Ordas were again
+ordered to join the main body.
+
+Cortes soon found that Narvaez's troops were very unwilling to join us
+in the Mexican campaign; but he desired them, in a most kind manner, to
+forget the old enmity which had existed between Narvaez and himself, and
+assured them that their only way to wealth and eminence was to join us
+in this campaign; by so doing they would enter into a country where they
+would be able to render services unto God and the emperor; and this,
+too, was an opportunity which perhaps would not so readily present
+itself again. In short, he told them so many fine things, that they one
+and all agreed to accompany us: if, however, they had had any idea of
+Mexico's vast power, not one of them would have been so ready to join
+us.
+
+We now broke up our quarters, and marched forward with all expedition.
+In Tlascalla, we were informed that the Mexicans had continued their
+hostilities against Alvarado as long as Motecusuma and his generals
+believed we were at war with Narvaez. They had killed seven of our men
+and burned down a portion of our quarters there, and had not stayed
+hostilities until they heard of the recent victory we had gained: they
+still, however, refused to supply Alvarado with either water or food.
+This information was received in Tlascalla the moment we arrived there.
+
+Cortes now reviewed the whole of his troops, which amounted to 1300 men,
+96 horses, 80 crossbow-men, and a like number of musketeers. This body
+of troops Cortes considered sufficiently strong to venture fearlessly
+into Mexico with, particularly as the caziques of Tlascalla had
+furnished us with 2000 of their warriors.
+
+We now continued our march with the same briskness until we came to
+Tezcuco. It was in this large town we began to discover the ill-feeling
+that was abroad against us. Not the slightest mark of respect was shown
+us here, nor did any of the chiefs call upon us. It was on St. John's
+day, in the month of June of the year 1520, we, for the second time,
+entered the city of Mexico. No cazique, none of the principal officers,
+none of our Mexican friends made their appearance, and the houses were
+deserted. It was not until we had arrived in front of our quarters that
+Motecusuma came out into the courtyard to welcome Cortes, and
+congratulate him on his victory over Narvaez. Our general, however, was
+flushed with the recent victory, and would not listen to him, so that
+the monarch returned pensive and sad to his apartments.
+
+We soldiers again took possession of our old quarters, and Narvaez's men
+were provided with similar ones. Alvarado's men and ours, who had just
+arrived, now began to relate what had taken place during this interval
+of separation. The former related how they had been attacked by the
+Mexicans, and the terrible resistance they had been forced to make. Then
+we followed, and related how we had defeated Narvaez's troops, and taken
+him prisoner.
+
+The next thing Cortes did was to inquire into the real cause of the
+insurrection of the Mexicans. Several soldiers, who were displeased
+with Alvarado, affirmed that Motecusuma had evinced excessive grief on
+account of these troubles, and they were quite confident that not a
+single one of the men under Alvarado would have been spared alive if
+Motecusuma had been in secret understanding with his subjects; on the
+contrary, he continually strove to quiet them, and to put down the
+insurrection. Alvarado, on his part, represented all this to our general
+in a very different light. According to his assurances, the Mexicans had
+risen up in arms to liberate their monarch, and to take revenge upon us,
+by the express command of their god Huitzilopochtli, for our having
+erected a cross and the image of the holy Virgin on his temple. Several
+Mexicans, he added, had tried to remove the holy image from the altar on
+which it is raised, but they had not been able to do so. Even the
+inhabitants themselves had looked upon this circumstance as a great
+wonder, and had mentioned it to Motecusuma, who then issued orders that
+it should not be touched. It was, however, not true, continued Alvarado,
+that Narvaez had sent word to the monarch he was coming to release him
+from his confinement, and lead us all away in chains: on the contrary,
+after Motecusuma found that though we were in possession of a sufficient
+number of vessels, but made no preparation for embarking, he well
+foresaw we never intended to leave the country again, but that more of
+us would continually arrive, and that we should return to Mexico
+accompanied by Narvaez's troops.
+
+Upon this it was resolved they should put Alvarado with the whole of his
+men to the sword, and liberate the monarch. The less doubt they had
+entertained of Narvaez's being able to defeat us, the more sure they
+made of carrying out their plan successfully. This Alvarado considered
+sufficient to justify the conduct he had pursued. Cortes then wished to
+know why he had fallen upon the Mexican chiefs while they were
+celebrating a feast? Because, replied Alvarado, he had been assured by
+two of the principal men of the town, by one of the papas, and by other
+of the inhabitants, that the Mexicans intended falling upon him
+immediately after the feast had ended.
+
+But the Mexicans, interrupted Cortes, maintain that they had asked your
+permission to celebrate the feast, and that you granted their request!
+
+Alvarado could certainly not deny this, but assured him he had selected
+that opportunity to punish them that it might come the more
+unexpectedly, and strike the greater terror among them, and to
+anticipate them in their premeditated attack upon him.
+
+These statements were by no means satisfactory to Cortes, and he told
+Alvarado, rather sharply, that he saw very little truth in all this,
+but a good deal of irregularity hurtful to the Spanish cause: "For it is
+very certain," added Cortes, "if the Almighty did not allow Motecusuma
+to regain his liberty, it was because his idols might not construe it
+into their own merit." Herewith Cortes turned his back upon him, and
+desired him to say nothing further on the subject.
+
+Besides this, Alvarado related many other things which happened during
+the interval we had been absent from Mexico; one time, for instance,
+when he sallied out upon the Mexicans, who were rushing forward in vast
+numbers to set fire to his quarters, he ordered a cannon, heavily laden
+with ball and small shot, to be fired against them; this piece, however,
+did not go off until he had fought his way into the thickest of the
+enemy, who were forcing him back to his quarters again: it then went off
+of itself, and committed terrible havoc among the advancing foe.
+Alvarado assured us, that, without this wonderful assistance, he would
+certainly have been cut to pieces with all his men; as it was, he lost
+only two of his soldiers, whom the Mexicans carried off alive. This and
+many other circumstances were related by Alvarado: the following,
+however, was told me by several of his men. At one time they were
+entirely without any water to drink; they dug a well in the yard
+adjoining their quarters, and behold! they found sweet water, whereas in
+every other place where wells had been sunk in Mexico, nothing but salt
+water was to be found. The hand of Providence was certainly often
+stretched out to our aid; yet I must observe, in behalf of truth, that
+there was another well in the town, which often, and, indeed, almost
+always, contained fresh water.
+
+For the rest, there were men who asserted that Alvarado merely made this
+murderous attack upon the Mexicans from avaricious motives, to possess
+himself of the splendid garments, the gold, and the jewels which they
+wore at such festivals. This I do not believe, nor did I ever hear such
+a thing mentioned at the time, although this and many other
+circumstances were asserted by the bishop de las Casas, in which,
+however, there is not a syllable of truth. For myself, I am convinced
+that Alvarado merely struck this blow to terrify the Mexicans, and to
+follow up the old saying, "He who attacks first gains the victory." The
+consequences were certainly different to what he had expected, and bad
+became worse.[86]
+
+We have, however, obtained satisfactory proof that no guilt can be
+imputed to Motecusuma respecting the hostilities which subsequently
+burst out: on the contrary, he commanded the Mexicans not to attack
+Alvarado, but they replied that they could no longer endure to see him
+kept in confinement, and their countrymen murdered in the midst of
+their festivities. They were determined to set him at liberty, and to
+kill every teule who resisted them.
+
+These and many other facts I learnt from credible persons who were
+present with Alvarado all the time. I have now, however, to speak of the
+terrible battles which we fought in this city.
+
+[86] A formal inquiry was made into this circumstance, by order of
+Charles the Fifth. The excellent Bartholomew de las Casas gave judgment,
+and he pronounced the Mexicans entirely innocent of having had any
+intention to massacre the troops under Alvarado, but that the latter had
+massacred the Mexicans without any provocation, merely for the purpose
+of striking terror among them. In pronouncing this judgment, however,
+Las Casas may have been carried away by his excessive zeal for humanity
+towards the Indians. Herrera (Historia de las Indias occidentales,
+decade ii, b. x,) says: "The fact, however, is, that the Mexicans
+intended to have murdered all the Spaniards on this occasion; for which
+purpose they had concealed their arms in the buildings adjoining the
+temple. This was told the Spaniards by the women, from whom they always
+learnt the truth." (p. 336.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXVI.
+
+    _How the Mexicans made war upon us, and the battles we fought with
+    them._
+
+
+Cortes, on his march to Mexico, had often bragged to his officers of the
+great authority and power he then possessed. They should see how the
+inhabitants would come out from all parts to meet him, and receive him
+with every splendour; that he was now complete master of Mexico, and
+Motecusuma and his grandees would not dare to dispute his commands
+henceforth, but would bring him gold in abundance.
+
+But when Cortes found how the aspect of affairs had changed at Tezcuco,
+that no one stirred a foot to give the splendid reception he had boasted
+of, that none of the principal personages showed themselves, that even
+the worst of provisions were brought him with great reluctance, and
+found this ill feeling towards us show itself even more strongly in
+Mexico, and that although he had returned with additional troops, the
+inhabitants no longer furnished him with provisions, his pride turned
+into moroseness and anger, so much so that when Motecusuma sent two of
+his grandees to announce that he was desirous of paying Cortes a visit,
+as he had something to communicate to him, he said, "He might go to the
+devil! since he would not allow any weekly markets to be held, nor any
+provisions to be sent us."
+
+When our other chief officers, Leon, Oli, Avila, and Lugo heard this,
+they said to him, "Moderate your anger, general, and remember what great
+honours this monarch has heaped upon us, the kindnesses we have received
+from him, and how amiable his disposition is: for, had he not existed,
+the Mexicans would long ago have feasted on our bodies; nor ought you to
+forget that he has sought your alliance by offering you his daughter in
+marriage."
+
+These words carried with them the idea of a reproach, and, consequently,
+only served the more to embitter his feelings, and he burst out as
+follows: "Why should I stand upon any further ceremony with this dog?
+Did he not secretly connive with Narvaez, and now refuses us
+provisions?"
+
+"Our opinion is," returned the other officers, "that he does nothing
+more than his present situation would prompt him to do, and that he acts
+most prudently."
+
+Cortes, however, relied upon the strength of his troops, and would not
+allow his anger to be pacified in any way, but commissioned the two
+Mexican grandees to tell their master that he must issue immediate
+orders for the re-opening of the markets, otherwise he should find
+himself obliged to take other steps. Both these Mexicans had understood
+the reviling language used by Cortes against their monarch, and also how
+our other officers had remonstrated with him on that account. They knew
+these officers well; for they had by turns been captains of the guard
+which was placed over their monarch's person, and knew they were greatly
+attached to him. They therefore repaired, either in the bitterness of
+their hearts, or because the attack upon us had already been determined
+upon, and related to Motecusuma what they had heard; and scarcely a
+quarter of an hour had elapsed before one of our men came running up
+heavily wounded. He had been at Tlacupa, a town near Mexico, to fetch
+thence some women belonging to Cortes' household, and the daughter of
+Motecusuma, whom Cortes had given in charge of the king of Tlacupa, her
+relative, when we marched against Narvaez. This man also related that he
+had found the town of Tlacupa and the high road filled with warriors.
+They took the women away and wounded him in two different places. If he
+had not escaped out of their hands, they would have thrown him into a
+canoe, and have sacrificed him to their gods. They had also destroyed
+one of the bridges over the causeway.
+
+When Cortes and some of us soldiers heard this, we began to look very
+serious, for those among us who had been several times engaged with the
+Indians knew, from experience, with what vast crowds they always entered
+the field of battle, and, although our numbers had been greatly
+augmented, and that there was little doubt but we should defend
+ourselves courageously, yet we were well aware of our dangerous
+position. We soldiers also knew that we should run great risk of losing
+our lives either from hunger or from the advantages which the enemy
+would have over us in such a strongly fortified city. Cortes, after
+questioning the man who had come from Tlacupa, despatched Ordas with 400
+men, mostly armed with crossbows and muskets, and a few horse, to see
+what truth there was in his statement. He recommended him, however, to
+avoid, if possible, all hostilities, and to settle the affair amicably.
+Ordas had scarcely reached half-way down the causeway when he was met by
+a vast body of Mexicans, who, with those posted on the tops of the
+houses, attacked him so furiously that eight of his men were killed at
+the first onset, and most of them wounded, Ordas himself in three
+several places. He found it impossible to move on any further, and he
+therefore gradually retreated to our quarters. On his retreat he lost
+another excellent soldier named Lezcano, who had done wonders with his
+broadsword.
+
+If the body of warriors was vast which had fallen upon Ordas, that which
+at the same instant attacked our quarters was by far more so; and so
+vigorously did they assail us with lances, arrows, and stones, that, in
+an instant, forty of our men were wounded, twelve of whom subsequently
+died. The numbers who attacked us in front, from behind, and from the
+tops of the houses, were so vast that Ordas was unable, for a length of
+time, to cut his way through. Our cannon, muskets, crossbows, and
+lances, did, certainly, great havoc among the enemy's ranks, who, in
+fact, rushed in upon our weapons; yet they continued the combat with the
+same fury, and closed their ranks more firmly, nor could we drive them
+back a single inch. It was only after a good deal of hard fighting that
+Diego and his men were able to regain our quarters, though with
+twenty-three soldiers less than when he had left it, and the rest all
+wounded: add to which, the enemy's numbers were every moment increasing;
+nor did they spare abusive language, calling us old women, ragged
+scoundrels, and such like beautiful names. But the loss we sustained at
+present was nothing to what we subsequently suffered. They even carried
+their audacity so far as to throw fire into our quarters, while one body
+attacked us in front and another from behind, so that we should soon
+have been suffocated by the flames and smoke if we had not succeeded in
+putting out the fire by throwing quantities of earth on it, and by
+pulling down the apartments from which the fire was spreading.
+
+The combat continued the whole day until late at night, during which
+time they continued to throw such quantities of stones and lances into
+our quarters, that the place was literally covered with them. In the
+meantime we had to dress our wounds, to repair the damage done to our
+buildings, and get some rest till the next morning. As soon as day began
+to dawn, Cortes determined to sally out with the whole of his troops,
+including those of Narvaez and the cannon, either to beat the enemy out
+of the field altogether, or at least to give them a greater proof of our
+power than we had been able to do on the previous day. The Mexicans, it
+seemed, had also determined to do their utmost, and they not only
+fought with uncommon bravery but came in overwhelming numbers, so that
+every instant they poured in fresh men to the attack. Indeed ten
+thousand Trojan Hectors, and as many Rolands, would in vain have tried
+to break through the enemy's ranks! At this moment even, that battle is
+fresh in my memory; but no words can describe the unyielding
+stubbornness of the foe. All the volleys from our heavy guns and muskets
+were to no purpose; it was in vain we rushed forward upon them, and
+killed from thirty to forty of their numbers at a time; their ranks
+still remained firmly closed, while their courage seemed to increase
+with every loss. Whenever we did drive them back into the streets to
+some distance, they had merely retreated in order that we should follow
+them, and by so doing be drawn further away from our quarters, when they
+hoped more easily to surround us, and so render our escape impossible.
+And sure enough by these retrograde movements they invariably made the
+greatest destruction among our ranks. Neither did it avail us anything
+whenever we set fire to any of the houses; for, as I have above
+mentioned, it was only possible to pass from one house to another by
+means of wooden drawbridges. If the latter were drawn up we had to wade
+through deep water to gain another house. But our men suffered most from
+those of the enemy's troops who pelted them with stones and lances from
+the housetops. Indeed I cannot imagine how I thus coolly relate all that
+passed. Three or four of our men who had previously served in the
+Italian wars, swore over and over again that they had never witnessed
+such furious fighting, neither in the wars with the king of France, nor
+even in those with the grand Turk himself. Indeed it was no easy matter
+for us to retreat to our head-quarters, so desperately did they assail
+us under the most horrible sound of drums, pipes and trumpets,
+accompanied by the most obscene and abusive language. This day we lost
+ten or twelve men, and none of us escaped without a wound. We passed the
+night in deliberations and in preparing for another attack. We now
+resolved that after the lapse of two days as many of us as were healthy
+should sally out with two moving towers. These we had strongly put
+together of wood, and were so constructed, that under each of them
+twenty-five of our men could stand to move them along. These towers
+contained loopholes, from which our heavy guns could be fired; besides
+that there was space enough for a number of musketeers and crossbow-men.
+At the side of these towers marched a strong body of musketeers and
+crossbow-men, as also the whole of our horse, who were from time to time
+to charge the enemy at full gallop. The construction of these towers
+and the repairing of several small breaches which the enemy had made in
+our quarters, occupied us the whole of the following day, so that we
+could not sally out till the next.
+
+The enemy, however, continued their attacks upon our quarters, not
+merely from ten or twelve, but from twenty different points at once; so
+that what with the constructing of the towers, repairing the breaches,
+and beating off our assailants who had fixed ladders to our quarters, we
+had enough to do. The whole of us, they cried out, were to be sacrificed
+to their gods, our hearts were to be torn from our bodies, the blood was
+to be drawn from our veins, and our arms and legs were to be eaten up at
+their festivals. The remaining parts of our bodies would be thrown to
+the tigers, lions and serpents, which they kept in cages; these had not
+been fed for these two days, in order that they might devour our flesh
+the more greedily. Our gold and other things would be their booty, and
+they told the Tlascallans they should be locked up in cages where they
+fattened people for their sacrifices. Only deliver us up our monarch
+Motecusuma,--added they with great vehemence; while their noise and
+their attacks continued through the whole night.
+
+As soon as day had fully broken forth, we commended ourselves to the
+Almighty, and sallied out with our war-towers. This time again we killed
+a great number of the enemy; but with all our fighting we could not
+force them to yield ground, and if they had fought courageously the two
+previous days, they stood the more firm this time, and fought
+desperately. We however determined, if it were even to cost us all our
+lives, to push forward to the great temple of Huitzilopochtli. I will
+not detail the severe struggle we had against one house in particular,
+which was very strongly fortified, nor the critical position our horse
+were placed in. For whenever our cavalry galloped in upon the enemy's
+ranks, our horses were assailed by so many arrows, stones and lances,
+that they were immediately covered with wounds; while their riders,
+however courageously they fought, could make but little impression upon
+the foe. If they pushed further on, the Mexicans either jumped into the
+canals or into the lake, where the cavalry could not follow them, and
+where a whole forest of lances stared them in the face: equally
+fruitless were all our attempts to set fire to their houses, or pull
+them down, as they stood, in the midst of the water, and were connected
+to each other by drawbridges only. If at times we did succeed in firing
+a house, it took a whole day in burning down, nor did the fire spread,
+from the buildings being at too great distance from each other, and
+their being surrounded by water, so that all our efforts that way
+completely failed. At last we succeeded in fighting our way up to the
+foot of the great temple, but at that instant a body of above four
+thousand of the enemy rushed up the steps for its defence; besides that,
+other troops were already stationed on the top of this building, armed
+with long lances, stones and arrows. For a length of time the guns of
+our towers and the attacks of our cavalry could make no impression on
+the enemy, while our horses were scarcely able to step firmly on the
+smooth pavement of the court yards, but every moment slipped out and
+fell down. Though our cannon mowed down ten or fifteen of the enemy at a
+time, and a great many others were cut down by our sabres, yet their
+numbers were so vast that we could not beat them back, we therefore now
+determined to quit our towers, which were almost broken into pieces; and
+leaving them at the foot of the temple, we began fighting our way up the
+steps of the building.
+
+Here Cortes displayed astonishing courage, though this, I may say, was
+never wanting in him. What a bloody and terrific conflict was this! The
+reader should have seen how we were covered with blood and wounds! Above
+forty of our men lay dead at our feet; but at last, with the aid of
+Providence, we succeeded in reaching the point where we had erected the
+image of the holy Virgin. It was, however, no longer there; for
+Motecusuma, as we subsequently learnt, had either, out of veneration or
+fear, taken it away, and put it carefully by. We now set fire to the
+Mexican idols, and part of the chapel was on this occasion burnt down,
+with Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca. While we were occupied with this
+work, the battle on the platform continued without intermission; for
+here stood a number of priests, and more than three or four thousand of
+the principal Mexicans, who fell upon us with great fury, and even beat
+us back again down the steps of the temple. Nor was it these alone who
+here set upon us; but numbers of warriors also annoyed us from the
+landings and battlements of this building, so that we scarcely knew
+which way to turn our arms.
+
+We had now made every possible exertion, and undergone the greatest
+perils. Our towers were smashed to pieces, the whole of us were covered
+with wounds, and forty-six of our men had been killed. We therefore
+determined to retreat to our quarters in the best way we could. But our
+position for the moment was not bettered by this step; for the Mexicans
+now fell upon us in terrific crowds both in our rear and in our flanks:
+it is impossible to imagine the sight unless one had seen it. Neither
+have I at all mentioned the numbers who attacked our quarters after we
+had sallied out, and the difficulty our men had who were left behind to
+prevent the enemy from setting fire to them. In this battle we took two
+chief papas prisoners, whom Cortes ordered to be kept in close custody.
+
+I have seen many pictures among the Mexicans and Tlascallans which
+represented our storming this great temple. In their eye it was
+considered a piece of astonishing heroism. In these pictures they had
+not omitted to depict our killed, and how great numbers of us were
+wounded, with the blood streaming from our bodies. And indeed it was no
+trifling matter, after our towers had been destroyed, to storm this
+great building, and set fire to the idols, considering that it was
+defended so vigorously by large bodies of the enemy, both from the
+platform and from the landings, and by those who were stationed in the
+open space below.
+
+The retreat to our quarters was no less perilous; and if the multitude
+through which we had to cut our way was vast, that in front of our
+quarters was no less so. We just arrived in time, for the enemy had
+already made breaches in the walls, and a good many had forced their way
+through them into the rooms. Our arrival certainly put a stop to their
+dangerous progress, but they did not discontinue, during the rest of the
+day and all night, to annoy us with their lances, stones, and arrows,
+under the most terrible yells. Notwithstanding all this, we had during
+the night to assist our wounded, to bury our dead, repair the breaches,
+and take repose for the next day's battle. We also held a council of
+war, to deliberate what mode of attack we should next adopt, that we
+might not sustain so great a loss of men; but every plan that was
+proposed seemed insufficient. To all our calamities was added the bad
+disposition of Narvaez's soldiers, who cursed Cortes, and even the
+governor of Cuba in every possible manner, who they said had torn them
+away from the delightful repose and security which they enjoyed on their
+respective farms, to be harassed to death in this country. These fellows
+seemed altogether to have lost their senses, and they lent a deaf ear to
+everything that was said to them.
+
+After lengthened deliberations, we came to the determination of suing
+the Mexicans for peace, and asking their permission to quit the city.
+But daylight had scarcely broken forth when our quarters were again
+attacked at all points by innumerable bodies of the enemy. Their
+excessive fury in attack, their stubborn firmness, their desperate
+thrusts and yells, were all more terrific than on the previous days;
+while our cannon and other firearms seemed to make no impression on
+them.
+
+In this moment of danger Cortes determined that Motecusuma should
+address the infuriated multitude from the top of the building, and
+desire them to stay hostilities, as we had determined to leave the city.
+When this offer was made known to Motecusuma in the name of Cortes, he
+is said to have exclaimed, in the height of grief, "Why does Malinche
+now turn to me?--to me, who am tired of life, and who could wish never
+again to hear his name mentioned, for it is he who has plunged me into
+all this misery!" Motecusuma obstinately refused to comply with Cortes'
+request, and is said to have further exclaimed, "I will neither see nor
+hear anything more of this man. I put no longer any faith in his
+deceitful words, his promises, and his specious lies."
+
+Upon this father Olmedo and Oli went and spoke to him in the most
+affectionate terms, to persuade him to alter his determination. "Alas!"
+replied the monarch, "for all this, it is now too late. I am convinced
+that the Mexicans, whatever my wishes might be, will not grant any
+cessation of arms. They have already raised another cazique to the
+throne, and are fully determined that none of you shall leave this place
+alive. For myself, I am convinced you will every one of you meet with
+your death in this city."
+
+In the end, however, Motecusuma was prevailed upon to accompany them.
+Under cover of a strong division of our troops he advanced to the
+battlements of our quarters, and began to address the Mexicans in the
+most affectionate manner, desiring them to put a stop to their
+hostilities, for the teules were going to leave the city. The instant
+the Mexican generals recognized their king they ordered their men to
+cease firing. Four of them advanced to a spot where they could easily
+discourse with the monarch; and thus, with tears in their eyes, they
+addressed him: "Alas! great king, your own misfortune, and that of your
+children and your relatives, afflicts us sorely. But we dare not hide
+from you that we have raised one of your cousins to the throne of this
+country."
+
+Here they named the new monarch. It was the king of Iztapalapan,
+Cuitlahuatzin, and not Quauhtemoctzin, for he did not ascend the throne
+until two months after. "They were forced," continued they, "to
+prosecute the war, for they had promised their gods to do so, and had
+sworn to them not to desist until every one of the teules was killed.
+They had daily in vain prayed to their gods Huitzilopochtli and
+Tetzcatlipuca to deliver him out of the enemy's power, and they would
+hold him in greater veneration than before; and they hoped he would
+pardon their present conduct."
+
+Several of our men had covered Motecusuma with their shields while he
+was addressing the enemy; but as the attack was now momentarily
+suspended, they were not so very particular in shielding his person.
+Unfortunately, the hostilities immediately again commenced, and before
+it could be prevented he was struck by an arrow, and three stones from a
+sling, by which he was wounded in the arm, leg, and in his head; so that
+the unhappy monarch was forced to be carried back to his apartment. We
+were immediately going to bandage up his wounds, and begged of him to
+take something strengthening; but he refused everything, and, contrary
+to all expectation, we soon heard that he had expired. Cortes, his
+officers, and all of us, shed tears for this unfortunate monarch; indeed
+many of our men, who had been in constant attendance on him, mourned for
+him as if they had lost a parent. Even father Olmedo himself, who never
+for a moment left his side, and who, notwithstanding all his efforts,
+had not been able to convert him to Christianity, could not refrain from
+shedding tears. And no one will feel surprised at this who knew what a
+very kind-hearted person Motecusuma was.
+
+He was said to have reigned seventeen years up to the day of his death.
+Mexico never had a better monarch; and, with regard to his personal
+courage, he had fought three several duels respecting some disputed
+territory, and had each time come off victorious.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXVII.
+
+    _Cortes determines to announce Motecusuma's death to the Mexican
+    generals and chiefs who are at war with us._
+
+
+After various deliberations on our present critical position, Cortes
+determined that one of the distinguished Mexicans and one of the papas
+whom we had taken prisoners should be despatched to the cazique of
+Cuitlahuatzin, whom the Mexicans had raised to the throne, to announce
+to him and his officers the death of Motecusuma, and explain to them the
+manner in which it had taken place; they were to assure them that they
+themselves had not only witnessed his death, but that his own subjects
+were guilty of it, and that we were deeply distressed at the melancholy
+circumstance. We also desired they would take charge of his body, to pay
+it the last honours, and to place the crown on the head of that cousin
+of Motecusuma who was staying with us, and who was entitled to it by
+right of inheritance; or to elect one of his sons, as the prince they
+had raised to the throne had no real claim to it. For the rest, we were
+ready to make a treaty of peace with them, and quit Mexico; they should
+not allow this opportunity of concluding peace with us to pass by, for,
+up to the present moment, we had refrained from destroying the city
+merely from our love and respect of the deceased monarch. If, however,
+they compelled us to the combat, we would burn down all their houses and
+cause no end of destruction. Upon this we handed over the corpse of
+Motecusuma to six other Mexican chiefs and a large body of papas whom we
+had taken prisoners. All these men had been present when the monarch
+expired, and they informed Cuitlahuatzin faithfully of every
+circumstance connected with it; how the Mexicans themselves had caused
+his death by the shot of an arrow and three stones from a sling.
+
+As soon as the Mexicans espied the dead body of their monarch, they
+broke out into loud lamentations, and moaned bitterly; but still
+continued the attack upon us, and that with increased fury. "Now," they
+hollowed out, "we will make you pay dearly for the death of our monarch,
+and the insult you have offered to our gods! Is it now you beg peace of
+us? Only come out, and we will show you what terms we mean to make with
+you!" Many such like insulting speeches they threw out against us, and
+added, that they had now selected a monarch whose heart was placed in
+the right spot, and whom we should not so easily deceive with our lies
+as we had the good-natured Motecusuma. "Don't trouble yourselves,"
+continued they, "about his burial, but think of your own graves, for, in
+a couple of days, not a single one of you will be left alive!"
+
+Under such like threats, and vehement yells, they attempted to fire our
+quarters at various points. As it was very evident to us that we could
+not hold out much longer, it was determined, in a council of war, that
+we should abandon the metropolis, and continue the war outside on the
+main land, where we could destroy the plantations.
+
+In this our proposed retreat, the cavalry was to form the vanguard, and
+at all stakes to break through the enemy's ranks, or drive them into the
+lake, even if we were to sacrifice all our horses in the attempt.
+Previous to taking this step, we determined on making such dreadful
+havoc among the Mexican troops, that they might allow us to depart in
+peace from the fear of still greater losses. This resolve was carried
+out the day following with unshaken bravery. We mowed down great numbers
+of the enemy, set fire to about twenty houses, and had fought our way
+almost up to the main land; but though we suffered much, and purchased
+this partial success with above twenty killed, it availed us nothing,
+for we could not gain possession of any of the bridges, which, besides
+being half burnt down, were defended by strong bodies of the enemy. Even
+those places where the horse might have found a way through the water,
+the enemy had now rendered impassable by sharp stakes which they had
+driven in. Thus we were beset on all sides by perils of various natures.
+In this last sally of our cavalry, which happened on a Thursday, there
+were, besides Sandoval, Lares, Dominiguez, Leon, Morla, and other brave
+cavalry officers, many of Narvaez's horse, who, however, showed the
+utmost fear, as they had not yet experienced, as we old soldiers of
+Cortes had, what it was to fight against Indians.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXVIII.
+
+    _How we come to the determination of leaving Mexico secretly at
+    night; and what further happened._
+
+
+In this way our strength daily diminished, while that of the enemy
+increased. Several of our men had been killed, and most of us were
+wounded. Our courage was of no avail against such vast crowds, who kept
+up a constant attack upon us both during day and night time. Our powder
+was fast diminishing,[87] and provisions and water were beginning to
+fail. Motecusuma was gone, and the peace we solicited was refused. All
+the bridges on the causeways, along which we had to make good our
+retreat, had been destroyed by the enemy; in short death was staring at
+us on every hand. It was, therefore, at last determined, in a council of
+war, that we should leave the city, and choose the night-time to effect
+our purpose, when the enemy was generally less vigilant. To make more
+sure, we resolved to despatch one of the chief papas we had taken with
+many other prisoners, to the Mexicans on the evening preceding the night
+we contemplated making our retreat, to request of them to allow us to
+march quietly out of the city within the space of eight days, as we
+intended to leave them all the gold we possessed.
+
+On this our determination one of the soldiers named Botello had had
+great influence. This man was an Italian by birth, and was remarkable
+for his honesty and great intelligence. He had been at Rome, and many
+believed he could conjure up the dead; some said he had a _spiritus
+familiaris_, and many of us commonly called him the astrologer.
+
+Botello had, four days previously, announced, that, by means of his
+secret art, he had discovered that every one of us would be killed if we
+did not leave Mexico on a certain night. He had likewise prophesied of
+Cortes that great misfortunes awaited him; he would lose his property
+and honour, but again rise to eminence and riches. Similar horoscopes
+drawn by him were frequently mentioned by our men.
+
+As we shall again have to mention this Botello, we must now see what
+preparations were going on for our retreat; the first and most important
+of which was, the construction of a moveable bridge, out of strong
+beams, which was to serve in passing the canals where the former bridges
+had been burnt down by the enemy. Four hundred Tlascallans, assisted by
+150 of our men, were to take charge of this bridge; were to fix it in
+the proper place each time it was required, then remove it again, and so
+on, until the whole of us with our baggage and cannon had passed the
+several openings. The transport of our heavy guns was intrusted to 250
+Tlascallans and fifty of our men. Sandoval, Lugo, Ordas, and Tapia,
+formed the vanguard; these were to clear the streets of the enemy, and
+for that purpose were reinforced by eight or ten of Narvaez's officers,
+whose names I will not mention, and 100 of our strongest and most nimble
+young soldiers. Cortes himself was to take his station, supported by
+Oli, Avila, Bernardino de Tapia, besides other officers and fifty
+soldiers, between the baggage, our Indian female servants and the
+prisoners, in order to render assistance wherever it was most required.
+The rear-guard was to be commanded by Leon and Alvarado, consisting of
+the main body of the cavalry, 100 foot, and the greater part of
+Narvaez's troops. Doña Marina and Doña Luisa, with the prisoners, were
+to be guarded by 300 Tlascallans and thirty Spaniards.
+
+After these arrangements had been made, and night was fast approaching,
+Cortes ordered his chamberlain Christobal de Guzman to see that all the
+gold, silver, and other valuable matters were brought together in one
+apartment. The royal treasurers, Alonso Avila and Gonzalo Mexia, were
+then desired to deduct the emperor's portion, and load eight of our
+wounded horses and eighty Tlascallans with it. The greater part of the
+treasure consisted of broad bars of gold, with which the horses and men
+were as heavily laden as possible.
+
+Cortes then called his private secretary Pedro Hernandez, and the other
+royal secretaries, and spoke to them as follows: "Put down in writing
+and bear witness that I have done all which lay in my power to save this
+treasure, which is valued at 700,000 pesos. You see it is impossible to
+load any more of it on the Indian porters and the eight horses; I will,
+therefore, allow the soldiers to take as much away with them as they can
+conveniently carry, that this treasure may not fall into the hands of
+these Mexican dogs."
+
+As soon as Narvaez's men and many of our old soldiers heard this, they
+stowed away as much as they could. For myself, whose failing had never
+been to covet gold, I took four chalchihuis stones out of a small box,
+and secreted them between my cuirass. Cortes soon after gave this box in
+safe keeping to his steward, and I do think he would have demanded the
+said four chalchihuis stones back again of me if I had not quickly
+secreted them. This small treasure proved afterwards of the greatest
+value to me towards the curing of my wounds, and in procuring myself
+food.
+
+All matters being now properly ordered, and the mode of our retreat
+settled, we began to move forward. It was about the hour of midnight,
+and rather dark, a thin mist hung over the town, and a gentle rain was
+falling.
+
+The moment we began to move forward in the above-mentioned order, the
+rear-guard being already in motion, and our moveable bridge fixed, and
+Sandoval, with his body of horse, and Cortes, with those under his
+command, and many other soldiers, had passed across, the wild war music
+and loud yells of the Mexicans suddenly burst forth. "Up, up,
+Tlatelulco!" they cried; "out with your canoes! The teules are running
+away: cut off their retreat over the bridges!"
+
+And before we had time to look about us, we were attacked by vast bodies
+of the enemy, and the whole lake was instantly covered with canoes, so
+that we were unable to move on any further, although many of our men had
+already passed the moveable bridge. Now the most obstinate conflict
+ensued for the possession of this, and, as misfortunes never come
+singly, it happened that two of our horses should slide out on the wet
+planks, become unmanageable, and roll over into the lake. This caused
+the bridge itself to overbalance and fall down. A number of Mexicans
+that instant fell furiously on us, and, though we exerted ourselves to
+the utmost, and cut down numbers of the enemy, we were unable to recover
+the bridge. As, however, those behind, kept continually pushing on those
+in front, the opening in the canal was speedily filled up with dead
+horses and their riders, who were inevitably lost if they were unable to
+swim. The unmerciful enemy now attacked us from all sides. A number of
+Tlascallans and our Indian female servants were carried off, with the
+baggage and cannon; numbers of our men were drowned, and no less a
+number, who were trying to save themselves by swimming, were taken
+prisoners by those in the canoes. It was heart-rending to behold this
+scene of misery, and to hear the moans and pitiful cries for assistance.
+"Help! help! I am drowning," cried one here: "help me, they are killing
+me!" cried another there. Here one called upon the name of the Virgin
+Mary for assistance; and there another upon Santiago de Compostella!
+Here another, who had managed to get to the water's edge, implored us to
+lift him out; yonder, again, was another clambering over the dead
+bodies. Many, when they had reached the high road, imagined themselves
+safe, but here they only met with denser crowds of the foe. Does any
+believe that there was a man amongst us who still observed the order of
+retreat as it was first regulated? That man would, indeed, have been a
+fool who had thought of anything else but of his own safety! Cortes,
+with the officers and soldiers who were with him, acted similarly, and
+dashed away, unmindful of the men, at full gallop, over the bridge, and
+strove to gain the main land: besides which, it must be acknowledged
+that our cavalry was quite useless here. Exposed on every side to the
+enemy's arrows and lances, pelted with stones from the housetops, they
+had also to encounter a forest of our own swords, which the enemy had
+captured and fixed to their long lances, so that it was a wonder each
+time a horse with its rider escaped. Neither could we defend ourselves
+in the water, as the wet had rendered our muskets and crossbows totally
+useless, while the darkness of the night made every movement uncertain.
+All our attempts to keep together were fruitless. What did it avail us
+if, at times, thirty or forty of us managed to make a stand, and boldly
+faced about? By this means we certainly advanced forward a little, yet
+none of us would have escaped alive, if, in the end, every one had not
+strove to save his own life. Thus sadly did we fare in that night, and
+had it been day we should have fared much worse. Indeed, if the Almighty
+had not lent us extraordinary powers, every man of us would have been
+killed! It was really terrific to see the immense crowds which fell upon
+us from all sides, and the number of canoes which were merely waiting
+for the moment to carry off the prisoners, all of whom were destined to
+be sacrificed to their gods! It was a fearful sight indeed!
+
+I shall never forget how at one time about fifty of us had got together,
+and the Mexicans, while they fell upon us, constantly cried out, "O, O,
+Luilones!" meaning thereby, You wish to live, do you, you varlets? It
+was only by dint of heavy blows and hard fighting we were able to cut
+our way through.
+
+At last, as we were approaching the main land near Tlacupa, where the
+vanguard, under Sandoval, with a large body of the cavalry and of our
+foot had arrived, we recognized the voices of Oli, Morla, and Sandoval,
+who were thus addressing Cortes: "Only consider for a moment, general,
+we are here indeed on safe ground, but there are still such numbers of
+our men in the streets behind the bridges, who will be inevitably lost
+unless we hurry back to their assistance. Up to this moment but few have
+been able to cut their way through, and these are all covered with
+wounds."
+
+To which Cortes gave the sorrowful answer, "That it was a real wonder
+every time one of us escaped; if, however, they turned back to the
+bridges, they would certainly be lost with horses and all."
+
+Nevertheless Cortes, Oli, Avila, Sandoval, Morla, and Dominiguez, turned
+back and took with them six or seven of the cavalry and a few of the
+foot who had escaped without a wound. They had not advanced far before
+they came up with Alvarado. He had lost his brown mare and was coming on
+limping with one foot, heavily wounded, with lance in hand, having only
+seven of his Spanish soldiers and eight Tlascallans left, all dripping
+with blood.
+
+Cortes and those who had accompanied him now returned, and we took up a
+position close to Tlacupa. But even here the Mexicans had by this time
+arrived, and were stirring up the inhabitants of this town, of
+Escapuzalco, and of Tenayuacan against us.
+
+Here again the Mexicans, who had fastened on our swords to their long
+pikes, set hard upon us, and we had enough to do to maintain our ground.
+
+When Cortes came up with Alvarado and his few followers, and learnt the
+fate of those left behind, tears flowed from his eyes; for Alvarado and
+Leon had had above twenty horse and more than one hundred foot with them
+in the rear-guard. All these, with nearly the whole of the cavalry, and
+above one hundred and fifty other men of the old and new troops, had
+perished with Leon. Alvarado related, that after he and his men had all
+lost their horses, he managed to get together about eighty men, and with
+these he succeeded in passing over the first opening by clambering over
+the baggage, dead men and horses. Although I am not sure whether he said
+that he passed the opening by stepping over the dead bodies, I know that
+at this bridge more than 200 men, with Leon at their head, were cut to
+pieces by the enemy, notwithstanding all their courageous fighting. At
+the second bridge again, it was merely through God's mercy that Alvarado
+had saved himself, as all the canals and streets were crowded by the
+enemy.
+
+It was also at this bridge of sorrows that the well-known leap of
+Alvarado was said to have taken place. At that time, indeed, none of us
+took notice whether he leaped well or not; for every one had enough to
+do to escape from the hands of the merciless enemy. I am, however,
+inclined to believe that this leap was nothing more than what Alvarado
+told Cortes himself, how he had made his bridge over the canal by
+clambering over the baggage, dead bodies, and drowned horses; for the
+water was too deep in that place for him to have swung across the
+opening by means of his lance, and the width of the canal too great,
+however nimble Alvarado may have been, for him to have leaped across. It
+would have been an impossibility I am sure to have crossed it by means
+of his lance or by leaping. I myself can speak from eyewitness; for the
+following year when we marched against Mexico, and surrounded the town
+on all sides, I often came in contact with the enemy at that bridge
+which now bears the name of Alvarado's leap. At that time the Mexicans
+had blocked up the passage with palisade and breastwork, and I very
+frequently spoke with my fellow-soldiers about the circumstance, but
+none of them ever thought such a leap possible. What people thought of
+it at the time itself the reader will see from the following anecdote.
+
+Among Garay's troops there was a certain Ocampo who came to Mexico: this
+man possessed much wit and was always writing pasquils, or libelling
+some one or other. Among other things he wrote a good deal of scandal
+and falsehood respecting our officers, and accused Alvarado, that he had
+left Leon with upwards of 200 men and the whole of our cavalry which
+composed the rear-guard, in the lurch, and that in order to save his own
+life he had taken the Alvarado's leap indeed, in accordance with the old
+proverb: Leap and save your life![88]
+
+As I have above mentioned, we had certainly reached Tlacupa, but had not
+escaped all danger there, for here again great numbers of Mexicans, with
+the troops of Tlacupa, Escapuzalco, Tenayuacan, and of the surrounding
+districts, continually assailed us; but it was from the maise
+plantations they did us most injury, and here we lost three more of our
+men, who had been previously wounded. The best thing we could therefore
+do was to quit this terrible neighbourhood as soon as possible. Some few
+of the Tlascallans knew a bye-road to Tlascalla, and they safely
+conducted us to a row of houses which stood on a rising ground, and here
+we quartered ourselves in a temple, which had also the appearance of a
+fortress. During the whole of this march the Mexicans continually
+harassed our troops, and greatly annoyed us with their arrows, slings,
+and lances. The reader must not be displeased if I am forced to depict
+the same miserable scenes over again.
+
+It was not until we had reached this temple that we were able to defend
+ourselves successfully. Here we lighted several fires, and dressed our
+wounds.
+
+After the conquest of Mexico, we turned this building into a church,
+and dedicated it to our dear lady _de los remedios_. This church in
+course of time became very celebrated, and to this day numerous people
+make pilgrimages to that place, particularly females, from Mexico.
+
+We found, however, nothing to eat here, and it was grievous indeed to
+see with what miserable rags we were obliged to dress our wounds, which
+had become chilled by the cold, and this increased their severity. But
+what grieved us most was the great loss of horses, and of so many of our
+brave companions. Of our old troops there were missing Leon, Salcedo,
+Morla, the brave lancer Lares, and several others. And yet I merely
+mention these few; for if I wished to mention the names of all those
+whom we had to mourn, I should not finish so easily. Most of Narvaez's
+men met with their death at the bridges, from the weight of the gold
+with which they had overburdened themselves. The Tlascallans, who had
+charge of the crown treasures, shared a similar fate. The astrologer
+Botello[89] found no protection in all his art, and perished with many
+others. Even Motecusuma's sons,[90] and other princes we had taken
+prisoners, met with their deaths in that dreadful night.[91]
+
+Before coming to any determination as to what our next step should be,
+we proceeded to consider our present condition. The whole of us were
+wounded, and only twenty-three horses had escaped alive; our cannon were
+all lost, and we had not a grain of powder left; there were but few
+crossbows remaining, though these, with the arrows, might speedily be
+replaced. Besides all this, the enemy were day and night at our heels,
+and we no longer knew on what footing we stood with our friends of
+Tlascalla. Nevertheless, we resolved to continue our march towards that
+country, and we set out at midnight. Our guides, with the Tlascallans,
+marched in advance; those who were more severely wounded, and obliged to
+use the support of a stick, were placed in the centre; and those who
+were not capable of moving at all were bound fast to the horses of those
+who were unable to fight. All who could bear arms were stationed in the
+flanks, and had some of the cavalry to support them; while the
+rear-guard was composed of the remaining horse. The Tlascallans who were
+wounded likewise marched in the centre, and those who were still capable
+of defending themselves joined our ranks, that we might be ready to
+receive an attack at any point, as the Mexicans were still close at our
+heels, yelling most hideously, and crying out from time to time, "Go on!
+go on! not one of you will escape alive!" At that moment we did not
+exactly understand what they meant, but soon after we discovered it, as
+we shall presently see.
+
+I must not, however, forget to mention how greatly rejoiced we were to
+find that Doña Marina and Doña Luisa, who had left Mexico with the
+vanguard, were quite safe; but the greater part of our other Indian
+females, who had been presented to us by the Mexicans and Tlascallans,
+had not been so fortunate; almost the whole of these perished at the
+bridges.
+
+On this day's march we arrived at a considerable township, named
+Quauhtitlan, once the property of Alonso de Avila; there likewise we
+were received with reviling language, stones, and arrows, all of which
+we patiently endured. We fared no better in the numerous other small
+villages we passed through, while the pursuing Mexicans were continually
+increasing in numbers. They strove to lock us in on all sides, and sent
+forth so many stones, arrows, and lances upon us, while we were passing
+through a narrow defile, that two more of our men were killed who had
+been dangerously wounded in the last conflict, and also one of our
+horses; besides that, numbers of us were wounded. We certainly destroyed
+some of the enemy in return, but the number was small.
+
+This night we quartered ourselves in a few straggling houses, and supped
+off the horse which had been killed.[92] The next morning early we
+continued our route, and marched in closer order than on the day
+previous, the half of our cavalry being always in advance. We had
+marched to the distance of about four miles along an open plain, where
+we considered ourselves in safety, when three of our horse came
+galloping up to inform us that the fields were covered with Mexicans,
+who were lying in wait for us. We were not a little dismayed at this
+intelligence; however, our courage did not flag so far as to prevent us
+from making immediate preparations for battle, and we determined to
+defend ourselves to the last. We halted for a few moments, and Cortes
+gave instructions for the cavalry to dash in a body full gallop upon the
+enemy, to aim at the face, and break their line. Our infantry were to
+direct their blows and thrusts at the enemy's lower quarters. In this
+way it was said we should be certain to revenge our dead and wounded, if
+it pleased the Almighty to spare our lives in the approaching battle.
+
+We then commended ourselves to God and the holy Virgin, and boldly
+rushed forth upon the enemy, under the cry of _Santiago! Santiago!_ Our
+cavalry charged the enemy's line five abreast, and broke it, we rushing
+in after them close at their heels. What a terrific battle and
+remarkable victory was this! How we fought man to man! and those dogs
+like the very furies themselves! and many of our men did they kill and
+wound with their pikes and huge broad swords.[93]
+
+The level ground, however, was uncommonly favorable for the manoeuvres
+of our horse, which every now and then gallopped at full speed in upon
+the enemy, and then retired, to watch another favorable opportunity.
+Although both horse and rider were severely wounded, yet they continued
+to fight most valiantly. It seemed as if we who formed the cavalry had
+double our usual strength; for, though we were covered with wounds, and
+each moment received fresh ones, yet we never gave them thought, but
+kept dashing in upon the foe without intermission. Cortes, Oli, Alvarado
+(who had borrowed a horse from one of Narvaez's men), and Sandoval,
+though all covered with wounds, were always present where the danger was
+greatest. Neither did Cortes omit to cheer us on by the most animating
+words, and to bring under our notice what a fine booty we should make of
+the enemy's rich apparel and ornamental weapons. But it was above all
+glorious to hear the brave and spirited Sandoval cry out, "On, my
+fellow-soldiers? this day the victory must be ours! Our trust is in God!
+We shall not lose our lives here, for God has destined us for better
+things!"
+
+In this way we continued fighting courageously, for God and the blessed
+Virgin strengthened us, and St. Santiago de Compostella certainly came
+to our assistance; and one of Quauhtemoctzin's chief officers, who was
+present at the battle, beheld him with his own eyes, as he afterwards
+affirmed. At this moment it pleased the Almighty that Cortes' attention
+should be drawn to that part of the enemy's troops where the Mexican
+general-in-chief was stationed with the flying standard, clothed in the
+richest armour, shining with gold, and a penache of large white feathers
+on his head. As soon as Cortes espied him among his glittering retinue,
+he cried out to Alvarado, Sandoval, Oli, Avila, and many other officers,
+"Follow me, my brave companions; these are the men we must attack!" The
+words were scarcely out of his mouth, when they commended themselves to
+God, and gallopped among the enemy; Cortes poised his lance, and made a
+rush at the Mexican commander-in-chief, who dropped the standard; our
+other officers at the same moment cutting down the other chiefs, by whom
+he was immediately surrounded.[94]
+
+The Mexican generalissimo was about to snatch up the standard again and
+flee; but Juan de Salamanca, a native of Ontiveras, gallopped after him
+on his splendid horse, and brought him to the ground, wrested the
+standard from his hand, and the rich bunch of feathers from his head,
+and presented both to Cortes, who had made the first run at the chief.
+Salamanca was subsequently rewarded for this piece of heroism; for a few
+years afterwards the emperor allowed him to assume a bunch of feathers
+in his coat of arms, which his descendants bear to this day.
+
+After the Mexican chief had fallen and the royal standard was lost, and
+numbers of the enemy killed, they began to give way, and then fled. Our
+cavalry, however, kept close at their heels, and punished them severely.
+Now, indeed, we no longer felt our wounds, nor hunger, nor thirst, and
+it appeared to us all as if we were beginning the attack with renewed
+vigour! Our friends of Tlascalla had likewise changed into real lions,
+and hacked in furiously among the enemy with, the broad swords they had
+captured.
+
+After our cavalry had returned from the pursuit, we offered up thanks
+unto the Almighty for this victory, and our escape from the hands of so
+numerous an enemy; for the Spaniards had never before in India
+encountered so vast an army as on this occasion. It was composed of the
+flower of the joint armies of Mexico, Tezcuco, and of Xaltocan; while
+every Indian had entered the battle with the determination that not a
+soul of us should escape alive. It was also evident, from the richness
+of their arms and apparel, that a greater portion were officers and men
+of distinction.
+
+Near to the place where this terrible and bloody battle was fought lay
+the township of Otumpan, by which name this battle will be known through
+all times to come. The Mexicans and Tlascallans have given a faithful
+representation of it in their numerous paintings of the battles we
+fought up to the conquest of Mexico.
+
+For memory's sake, I must here note down that we marched into Mexico on
+the 24th of June, 1520, to Alvarado's assistance, with an army of nearly
+1400 men, among which there were seventy-nine horse, eighty
+crossbow-men, and a like number of musketeers, with above 2000
+Tlascallan troops, and a fine park of artillery. On the 10th[95] of July
+following we commenced our retreat, and on the 14th we fought the battle
+of Otumpan.
+
+I must now likewise recount the loss we sustained in that time. In five
+days, including the battle of Otumpan, we lost in killed, and those who
+were taken prisoners, above 870 of our troops, and above 1200
+Tlascallans; to which must be added 72 men and five Spanish females, all
+of Narvaez's division, whom the Mexicans put to death in Tustepec. About
+the same time the Mexicans likewise murdered old Juan de Alcantara, and
+three others, who were on their road from Vera Cruz to Mexico to receive
+their share of the gold. Thus these persons not only lost their gold,
+but their lives also. Indeed, if it be well considered, it will be found
+that none of us derived any blessings from the gold the Indians gave us.
+The reason why Narvaez's troops suffered more at the bridges than those
+of Cortes', was from their having overloaded themselves with gold, the
+weight of which prevented them from swimming, and otherwise encumbered
+their movements.
+
+After this splendid victory, we dined off some gourds which grew in the
+fields, and joyfully continued our march to Tlascalla. We carefully
+avoided passing through any villages, as our enemies still continued at
+a distance to fly their arrows at us, and to pour out abusive language.
+It was not until the approach of evening that we resolved to enter a
+Mexican township, because it contained a temple and a large building, in
+which we could fortify ourselves. Here we quartered our troops for the
+night, dressed our wounds, and enjoyed a little repose. The Mexicans had
+certainly followed us, but without venturing too nigh, and it was
+visible in their countenances what they would say: "A good journey to
+you, you will now quickly have passed our boundaries!" Soon after we had
+left this place, the range of hills near Tlascalla came into view, and
+we felt equal joy at beholding these as if our native country had been
+there; yet we could not tell what the present feeling of that people
+towards us might be, or whether they had remained faithful! And we were
+also quite ignorant as to how matters stood at Vera Cruz, where the
+enemy might also have cut the garrison to pieces.
+
+Our whole strength now merely consisted in 440 men, twenty horses,
+twelve crossbows, and seven muskets; besides that, we were all
+excessively weak, and covered with wounds; our cannon, with our store of
+powder lost; we were at present, therefore, doubly vigilant, and
+returned fervent thanks to God for having so miraculously rescued us out
+of the enemy's hand. Our troops, Cortes said, were now dwindled down
+again to the same number of men with which we had first set sail from
+Cuba, and entered the city of Mexico. We should therefore be
+particularly cautious not to give the Tlascallans any reason of
+complaint. This was especially intended for Narvaez's men, who were not
+so accustomed to subordination as we were. For the rest, continued
+Cortes, he hoped to God we should find the Tlascallans as faithful and
+true to us as before. If, however, they should have turned against us,
+we were not therefore to lose courage, but to trust in our strong arm,
+which had the power to overcome any foe.
+
+We now continued our march with every military precaution, and arrived
+at a fountain on the slope of a hill, near to which were standing the
+walls and inclosures of ancient temples. These the Tlascallans said
+formed the boundaries between their territory and the Mexican empire.
+Here therefore we felt in greater safety, washed ourselves, and ate some
+little food. After we had sufficiently rested from our fatigues, we
+again marched forward, and arrived at a township called Gualiopar,[96]
+situated in the Tlascallan territory, where the inhabitants allowed us
+to quarter, and furnished us with food; but we were obliged to give them
+small pieces of gold or chalchihuis in exchange. In this spot we
+remained a whole day, to dress our wounds and those of our horses.
+
+When the news of our arrival was received in the metropolis of
+Tlascalla, Maxixcatzin, the old Xicotencatl, and Chichimeclatecl,
+accompanied by the principal inhabitants of that town, and those of
+Huexotzinco, immediately set out to welcome us. They gave us the most
+hearty reception, and several of the chiefs wept aloud. "Alas! Malinche,
+Malinche," cried they, "how deeply we take your misfortune to heart, and
+lament the death of so many of your brothers, and of our countrymen, who
+have perished with them! How oft have we not warned you not to trust to
+the Mexicans, and told you they would certainly, one time or other, fall
+suddenly upon you; but you would not believe us. However, what has
+happened cannot be recalled; the only thing you must think of at present
+is, to cure your wounds and strengthen yourselves with good food. Do,
+therefore, just as if you were at home in your own country. Rest
+yourselves a little and then proceed to our town, where we will find you
+quarters. For the rest, Malinche, you may look upon it as no small piece
+of heroism that you fought your way out of that strong city after the
+bridges had been destroyed; and if we previously looked upon you as men
+of extraordinary courage, we do so now in a much wider sense. We are
+well aware that numbers of men and women of this country have to mourn
+the loss of their sons, their husbands and their brothers, but let not
+this be matter of too much grief to you. You have likewise great reason
+to be thankful to your gods who have conducted you here in safety, and
+who gave you power to gain the victory over that vast army, which we
+were well aware had been lying four days in wait for you at Otumpan. It
+was our intention to have come to your assistance with 30,000 men, but
+we were unable to collect such a body of troops in sufficient time."
+
+Cortes, with the whole of the officers and soldiers embraced these
+excellent men in the most affectionate manner, and we made them a
+present in gold and jewels, to which every man among us was glad to
+contribute his mite. They were also extremely rejoiced to find that Doña
+Marina and Doña Luisa had escaped the carnage; but their joy soon turned
+into lamentations when they discovered what numbers of their countrymen
+were missing; and Maxixcatzin evinced excessive grief at the loss of
+Doña Elvira his daughter, and of Leon, to whom he had presented her.
+
+We now, in company of all the caziques marched into the metropolis of
+Tlascalla. Cortes was quartered in the house of Maxixcatzin, and
+Alvarado in that of Xicotencatl. We dressed our wounds with great care,
+and patiently awaited their cure; four of our men, however, soon after
+died, and many others suffered for a length of time before they were
+completely restored.
+
+[87] The daily allowance of a soldier during this time was only fifty
+grains of maise! (p. 347.)
+
+[88] According to other accounts, it certainly appears that Alvarado
+made this astonishing leap. (Monarchia In., iv, c. 71.) We find that
+Alvarado was distinguished from his brother by the surname of _Alvarado
+of the leap_. Humboldt, in his interesting work on New Spain, has
+thought it worth his while to rescue the honour of this brave officer
+with regard to this leap. Even to the present day there is a small
+bridge near Bonavista, called Salto de Alvarado. (p. 352.)
+
+[89] According to other accounts Cortes put great faith in the secret
+art of this man. It was upon Botello's advice that he also attacked
+Narvaez in the night time. He had likewise advised the retreat from
+Mexico in the night time, although he knew, he said, that neither
+himself, his brother, nor several others of his company would escape
+alive. (p. 353.)
+
+[90] During this retreat three of Motecusuma's sons lost their lives;
+but there were two other sons of this monarch who survived the fall of
+their house and became the founders of the distinguished grandee
+families of Spain, the earls of Montezuma and Tula; one was called Cano
+and the other Andrada Montezuma. (p. 353.)
+
+[91] One circumstance Bernal Diaz has omitted to mention. After the
+enemy had taken possession of the bridges there were one hundred
+Spaniards, who, seeing no further chance of making good their retreat,
+fortified themselves on a teocalli or temple. Here these brave men
+maintained their position against the whole armed force of the town for
+three days, but hunger at length compelled them to surrender, and the
+whole of them were sacrificed to the idols. (p. 353.)
+
+[92] The hunger which the Spaniards suffered during these days must have
+been excessive; for Torquemada states it as a fact, that one of the
+soldiers had cut out the liver from the body of another and devoured it;
+for which Cortes was nearly going to hang the man. (p. 354.)
+
+[93] Torquemada says, "That the Spaniards stood like a small island in
+the midst of the ocean, against which the rolling billows beat on every
+side." When Cortes decided the fate of the day by his courageous attack
+upon the Mexican commander, the battle had lasted five hours. (p. 354.)
+
+[94] The Mexican general's name was Cihuacatzin; he was the
+Matlaxopilli, commander-in-chief, and carried the imperial standard,
+called Tlahuizmatlaxopilli, being a golden net ten palms in length. (p.
+355.)
+
+[95] Bernal Diaz errs here with respect to dates, for the disastrous
+retreat from Mexico, according to Cortes' despatches and other accounts,
+took place on the 1st of July, and thus la noche triste (the night of
+sorrows) was on the night between the 1st and 2d of July, and the battle
+of Otumpan took place on the 7th. There must either have been some
+mistake in the original manuscript or in the printing, for the years are
+also dated erroneously. (p. 356.)
+
+[96] This is certainly a corrupted name, for it is dissimilar in sound
+to all others, and terminates differently. (p. 358.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXIX.
+
+    _How we quartered ourselves in the metropolis of Tlascalla, and what
+    we did there._
+
+
+I have already mentioned that we rested a day at Gualiopar, where we
+were visited by the caziques of Tlascalla, who kindly offered us every
+assistance, which was the more praiseworthy in them when we take the
+time and circumstances into consideration.[97]
+
+As soon as we had arrived in the Tlascallan metropolis, Cortes made
+inquiries respecting the 40,000 pesos worth of gold which he had
+forwarded to the latter place for the garrison of Vera Cruz; when
+Maxixcatzin, Xicotencatl, and one of our soldiers who had remained behind
+in Tlascalla on account of ill health, informed him that a certain Juan
+de Alcantara, with two others of the garrison lying in Vera Cruz had
+arrived there and taken all the gold with them, as they had produced a
+written permission to that effect signed by Cortes, which he,
+Maxixcatzin, had carefully saved. Upon being questioned as to the time
+they had left with the gold, we found it must have been during the days
+we had the severe engagements with the Mexicans. Subsequently we learnt
+that Alcantara and his companions had been murdered and robbed of their
+treasure on their road to Vera Cruz. Cortes was sorely grieved at this
+loss, and was most anxious to know how matters stood in the latter
+place. He therefore despatched three Tlascallans to that town with a
+letter, in which he gave a full account of all that had transpired at
+Mexico, but very wisely omitted to mention the number of men we had lost
+there. He likewise admonished the garrison to observe the utmost
+vigilance, and to keep Salvatierra and Narvaez close prisoners. They
+were desired to send their sick to Tlascalla with all their store of
+powder and crossbows. He at the same time wrote to Caballero, and
+particularly cautioned him not to allow any vessel to depart for Cuba,
+and to see that Narvaez did not escape. If he considered the two
+vessels of Narvaez which lay in the harbour there unfit for use, he was
+to run them on shore, and immediately send him the sailors and as many
+arms as he could spare.
+
+These three messengers made all haste and soon returned with an answer
+from Vera Cruz, which gave us the good news that they had enjoyed the
+profoundest peace there, but had been apprized of our misfortune at
+Mexico by the fat cazique of Sempoalla. They also informed us that Juan
+de Alcantara and his companions had been murdered on their return.
+
+Pedro Caballero sent word that all Cortes' commands should be attended
+to. One of the two vessels was still in good condition, but with the
+other he would act as he had been ordered and send the men to us, though
+he had not over-sufficient hands, as many of the sailors were sick and
+several had died.
+
+All the reinforcement we received, on this occasion, consisted in seven
+men, of whom three were sailors. They arrived in Tlascalla under the
+command of a certain Lencero, to whom the tavern belonged, known to this
+day by the name of Venta de Lencero. Every one of these men were in bad
+health; five of them were covered with sore swellings, and the two
+others limped helplessly about with their bellies enormously swollen, so
+that the succours brought by Lencero became quite a byword among us.
+
+I must now, however, relate something of a more serious nature. The
+reader cannot have forgotten the younger Xicotencatl, who commanded the
+whole armed power of Tlascalla against us, and who had always shown his
+hatred of us. This feeling was again aroused in him when the news of our
+flight from Mexico, and of the number of troops we had lost arrived in
+Tlascalla; and how we were marching towards the latter place to seek
+protection and assistance. Xicotencatl now, therefore, assembled his
+relations and friends, with all those whom he thought would enter into
+his views, and proposed that they should select some favorable
+opportunity, either in the day or night-time to fall upon us unawares
+and destroy us all. "He would," he said, "form a friendly alliance with
+the Mexican monarch, for which the present moment was particularly
+favorable, as the Mexicans had just elected a new monarch in the person
+of Cuitlahuatzin. We had," he continued, "left quantities of cotton
+stuffs and gold behind us in Tlascalla, and had brought an additional
+quantity with us, and they would all become wealthy personages by such a
+booty."
+
+When the elder Xicotencatl received information of this rebellious
+movement, he grew excessively angry, and commanded his son to banish
+all such thoughts from his mind. Such a step as that, he said, would be
+altogether unjustifiable, and he might be sure, if Maxixcatzin and
+Chichimeclatecl got intelligence of it, they would certainly order him
+to be put to death, to which he himself would give his consent. Old
+Xicotencatl, however, might say what he liked, his son remained firm to
+his purpose, and set earnestly about to make the necessary preparations,
+when Chichimeclatecl, who was at enmity with the younger Xicotencatl,
+got secret information of his intentions, which he instantly
+communicated to Maxixcatzin, and both determined to call a meeting of
+the chief personages of the town, with the elder Xicotencatl and the
+caziques of Huexotzinco, and commanded the younger Xicotencatl to appear
+before them.
+
+After all had been assembled, Maxixcatzin addressed the meeting as
+follows: "I ask you, do you yourselves think, or have you ever heard
+others say that such riches or so much prosperity was ever known for the
+last hundred years in the land of Tlascalla as since the time these
+teules have appeared among us? Were we ever so much respected by all our
+neighbours? It is only since their arrival we possess abundance of gold
+and cotton stuffs; it is since that time only we eat salt again, of
+which we had been deprived for such a length of time. Wherever our
+troops have shown themselves with these teules, they have been treated
+with the utmost respect; and if many of our countrymen have lately
+perished in Mexico, they certainly fared no worse than the teules
+themselves. All of you must likewise bear in mind the ancient tradition
+handed down to us by our forefathers, that, at some period or other, a
+people would come from where the sun rises, to whom the dominion of
+these countries was destined. How dare Xicotencatl, taking all this into
+consideration, contemplate this horrible treachery, from which nothing
+can flow but war and our destruction? Is this not a crime which ought
+not to be pardoned? Is it not exactly in accordance with the evil
+designs with which this man's head always runs full? Now that misfortune
+has led these teules to us for protection, and that we may assist them
+with our troops to renew the war with Mexico, are we to act
+treacherously to these our friends?"
+
+To these reproaches, in which his own blind father joined, the younger
+Xicotencatl replied, that he persevered in his opinion that, under the
+present circumstances, it would be most politic to form an alliance with
+the Mexicans; and allowed himself many other impudent expressions, which
+so enraged the old chiefs that Maxixcatzin, Chichimeclatecl, and the
+elder Xicotencatl, notwithstanding his blindness, rose up from their
+seats, then fell upon the young man, and pushed him down the steps of
+the building, under the most abusive language. He would certainly have
+been killed on the spot, if respect for his aged father had not withheld
+them. In the meantime they imprisoned all those who had sided with him.
+To punish Xicotencatl himself, this was not exactly the time, and Cortes
+refused in any way to meddle in the matter. I have mentioned this
+circumstance to convince the reader how loyal and honest the Tlascallans
+were towards us, and how much we were indebted to them, particularly to
+the elder Xicotencatl, who, it is even said, had given orders for his
+son to be put to death, as soon as he had been informed of all his
+intrigues and treacherous designs.[98]
+
+We had now rested twenty-two days, and had patiently awaited the cure of
+our wounds; and Cortes now determined upon making an incursion into the
+neighbouring province of Tepeaca, where several of Narvaez's men and
+some of ours had been killed on their march to Mexico. He accordingly
+told our officers what his plan was; but when Narvaez's men heard of a
+new campaign, they became quite low-spirited. The latter were not
+accustomed to war, and had had a sufficient taste of it in our overthrow
+at Mexico, the carnage at the bridges, and in the battle of Otumpan; and
+were very clamorous in their requests to our general to return to their
+commendaries and their gold mines in Cuba. They peremptorily refused to
+obey him any longer, and declared they would take no further part in his
+conquests; and Duero, who, from the very beginning, had been in secret
+understanding with Cortes, protested most loudly against this
+contemplated invasion of Tepeaca. They cursed the gold Cortes had given
+them, which had all been lost again in their flight from Mexico, and
+assured him they were glad enough to have escaped with their lives from
+that terrific battle. They were unanimously determined to return to
+Cuba, and said they were not desirous of suffering any further losses
+than they already had in this expedition.
+
+Cortes, however, did not so soon give up all hopes of persuading them to
+join him in this campaign. He spoke to them in a very quiet and kind
+manner, and made many very excellent remarks, but all to no purpose; and
+when they found that Cortes persevered in his determination, they
+desired one of the royal secretaries to draw up a formal protest, in
+which they gave a circumstantial account of our present position, how we
+were in want of horses, muskets, crossbows, and even cords for the
+latter; in short, of everything necessary to carry on a war. They
+further went on to say, that the whole of us were covered with wounds,
+and that only 440 men remained of the united troops of Narvaez and
+Cortes; the Mexicans occupied every pass and every mountain, and the
+vessels would rot away with the worm if they lay any longer in the
+harbour; and so on.
+
+After they had presented this protest in form to our general, he
+altogether objected to it, and we others of his old troops begged of him
+most earnestly not to allow any of Narvaez's men to return to Cuba, as
+it would every way prove injurious to the cause of God and the interest
+of our emperor.
+
+When they found that all the steps they had taken were fruitless, and
+that we maintained they were imperatively called upon to remain, both
+for the service of God and of our emperor, they at last consented to
+stay, and declared their willingness to join us in the contemplated
+campaign; but Cortes was obliged to promise that he would allow them to
+depart for Cuba as soon as ever circumstances would permit. This,
+however, did not put an end to their murmurs. We heard nothing but
+complaints against Cortes and his conquests,--how dearly they had paid
+for all this, left comfortable homes, and peace and security, to serve
+in a country where they lived in constant danger of losing their lives.
+They likewise considered it would be unpardonable in us to commence a
+second war with the Mexicans, with whom we should never be able to cope
+in the open field for any length of time, after what we had seen of
+their vast power both in Mexico and at Otumpan. Cortes, they continued,
+would not relinquish his purpose as long as his ambition to command was
+satisfied, and we others merely stuck to him because we had nothing to
+lose but our lives. Many similar reproaches did they throw out against
+Cortes, who, under the present circumstances, thought it was best to
+leave them unnoticed; and he was glad, a few months after, to send them
+home, as will be related in the proper place.
+
+Here again I am bound to notice a number of errors in Gomara's history;
+in order, however, not to go too much into detail, I will confine myself
+to the following remarks.
+
+Respecting the above-mentioned protest against the projected campaign of
+Tepeaca, Gomara does not exactly state with which party it originated,
+whether from Cortes' old troops or those of Narvaez. Everything he
+relates concerning this matter merely goes to raise Cortes to the skies
+and to cast the rest of us in the shade. We, the true Conquistadores, on
+reading his work, soon discovered that Gomara had been bribed by
+presents to relate the circumstances in that way. Were we not the very
+men who supported Cortes in all the battles, and in every other matter?
+and yet Gomara has the impudence to consider this as nothing, and
+affirms that we protested against the further conquest of New Spain.
+Gomara likewise commits a terrible blunder when he makes Cortes say, in
+answer to this protest, in order to inspire us with courage, that he
+would recall Leon and Ordas, of whom one, he says, was engaged forming a
+settlement with 300 men in Panuco, and that the other, with a like
+detachment, had been sent for a similar purpose to the river
+Guacasualco. Every word of this is false; for, when we marched to
+Alvarado's assistance in Mexico, those projected settlements were
+relinquished, as I have above mentioned, and both these officers went
+along with us to Mexico. Leon even met with his death at one of the
+bridges, as we saw, and Ordas was severely wounded in three several
+places. What a great pity it is that Gomara does not write with equal
+veracity as he does beauty!
+
+I was likewise amazed to read what he says of the battle of Otumpan. He
+boldly asserts that we should have been defeated if Cortes had not been
+present, for he alone decided the fate of the day by his attack upon the
+Mexican commander-in-chief, who carried the royal standard. I should
+indeed be loth to do Cortes an injustice, and, as an excellent and brave
+general, I have the highest esteem for him; but certainly we have, above
+all, to thank the Almighty, who mercifully protected us in all the
+dangers we encountered, and who put under Cortes' commands such
+courageous officers and soldiers. The second praise is certainly due to
+us, whose valiant arms overcame every obstacle. We it were who firmly
+withstood the enemy's attack, who broke their line, and who punctually
+obeyed the commands of our general and his officers. And yet Cortes is
+said to have done all himself at the battle of Otumpan! Why does this
+Gomara not mention as well the heroic deeds of the officers and soldiers
+in that battle? But it is quite evident that all he relates in his book
+is intended for the praise of Cortes only, otherwise he could not have
+passed by all the rest of us in silence. He should have asked how often
+the brave Christobal de Olea had saved Cortes' life, until he met with
+his death in a similar attempt during the subsequent siege of Mexico?
+
+I had nearly forgotten to mention the battle near Sochimilco, where Olea
+again saved Cortes' life, but which had nearly cost him his own, for he
+was severely wounded.
+
+In order not to confound names, I must observe that we had among our
+troops a Christobal de Olea and a Christobal de Oli.
+
+Gomara is right when he says that Cortes made a run at the Mexican
+commander-in-chief, which caused the latter to drop the standard from
+his hands; but then it is also a fact that Juan Salamanca, of Ontiveras,
+who became alcalde mayor of Guacasualco after the fall of Mexico,
+killed that chief with a thrust of his lance, tore away the splendid
+crest of plumes which adorned his head, and presented it to Cortes; for
+which reason he was subsequently permitted to add a bunch of feathers to
+his armorial bearings.
+
+I do not mention these things to diminish Cortes' glory, for the praise
+and merit of all the victories we gained, and of the battles we fought,
+down to the total conquest of New Spain, are due to him, and he has
+deserved those honours with which the Castillians were wont to crown
+their generals after some splendid victories, and the triumphs which the
+Romans decreed to Pompey, Julius Cæsar, and the Scipios. Cortes, indeed,
+has merited greater honours than all these Romans!
+
+Gomara further relates that Cortes ordered the younger Xicotencatl to be
+secretly executed in Tlascalla as punishment for his treacherous designs
+against us; but this likewise is an untruth, for Cortes ordered him to
+be hung in a village near Tezcuco, as will be seen hereafter.
+
+In the same way Gomara sends so many thousands of Indians with us into
+the field of battle, that there is neither sense nor meaning in what he
+says; and he likewise gives a very exaggerated account of the numbers of
+cities, towns, and villages, of which not one fifth part ever existed;
+and if we sum up what he says of the population, we shall find there are
+more millions than there are villages in Spain. Wherever he speaks of
+80,000, we must really write down 1000. Everything certainly sounds very
+fine in his work, because he never at any time relates all that
+happened. When, therefore, the reader compares his account with mine, he
+must not allow himself to be blinded by the ornaments of his beautiful
+style, for mine is plain and rude, but truth supplies the place of art
+and eloquence. How much it is to be regretted that Dr. Illescas and Paul
+Jovio should have copied him so closely!
+
+I must, however, return to my history on the campaign of Tepeaca.
+
+[97] According to Torquemada, Cortes had left one of his officers, named
+Juan Perez, with eighty Spaniards in Tlascalla, when he first marched to
+Mexico. On learning from this officer that Maxixcatzin had offered to
+march at the head of 100,000 men to his assistance, he grew excessively
+angry with him, and reproached him in the severest terms for not having
+accepted of the offer. (p. 359.)
+
+[98] Torquemada throws more light on the reason of the younger
+Xicotencatl's wishing to form an alliance with Mexico. The Mexicans
+being aware that the Spaniards would derive great advantages by their
+alliance with Tlascalla, sent an embassy of six distinguished personages
+to draw this republic into an alliance with them. The matter was
+formally discussed by the Tlascallan chiefs in council, and though the
+Mexican ambassadors tried their utmost to persuade them into an
+alliance, the majority decided against it.
+
+At the head of the minority stood the younger Xicotencatl, and the
+debate was carried on with such asperity that the young hero, who had
+more penetration than the rest, was at length forcibly expelled the
+meeting. (p. 362.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXX.
+
+    _How we marched into the province of Tepeaca, what we did there, and
+    of other things which happened._
+
+
+Cortes had desired the caziques of Tlascalla to furnish him with 5000
+men to join him on his march into the province of Tepeaca, whose
+inhabitants he was going to punish for the murder of several Spaniards.
+It was the township of Tepeaca, Quauhquechola, and Tecalco, which lay
+from twenty-four to twenty-eight miles from Tlascalla, against which
+our arms were particularly bent. If our desire to be revenged upon them
+was great, that of Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl was more so, as
+the inhabitants of those places had done great damage to their
+plantations; four thousand Tlascallan warriors, therefore, stood ready
+equipped to join us. All the provinces, however, which we intended to
+invade were quite prepared to receive us; for when the inhabitants there
+learnt that we had met with a kind reception in Tlascalla after our
+overthrow in Mexico, they did not doubt for an instant that, after we
+had recruited our strength a little, we should invade their territories
+in conjunction with the armed force of the former republic. Mexican
+troops were therefore stationed everywhere on the confines, and Tepeaca
+itself was strongly garrisoned. Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl
+were well aware of this, and, consequently, not without their fears.
+Notwithstanding all this, we commenced our march thither, but without
+either cannon or matchlocks, for we had lost all these in our flight
+from Mexico: though we had saved a few of the latter, we could make no
+use of them as we had not a grain of powder left.
+
+Our small army now consisted of seventeen horse, six crossbow-men, and
+420 Spaniards, most of whom were only armed with swords and shields, and
+4000 Tlascallans. We merely took a single day's provision with us, as
+the provinces we were going to invade were very populous, and contained
+quantities of maise, fowls, and musk swine. We observed our usual good
+custom of sending out a few scouts in advance, and we quartered
+ourselves for the first night about twelve miles from Tepeaca. The
+inhabitants, upon the news of our approach, had everywhere fled away,
+and carried off everything they could with them, so that we only found
+six men and four women in a small settlement near Tepeaca. Cortes, who
+always observed the strictest justice and order in all matters,
+questioned these prisoners respecting the eighteen Spaniards who had
+been murdered without any cause, and for what reason such vast numbers
+of Mexican troops had arrived, and why the property of our friends the
+Tlascallans had been destroyed?
+
+He desired these prisoners whom he sent to Tepeaca to ask the
+inhabitants there these same questions, and they were to signify to them
+that they should send away the Mexicans who were there, and conclude a
+treaty with us, otherwise we should look upon them as rebels, murderers,
+and robbers, desolate their country with fire and sword, and carry off
+all the inhabitants into slavery.
+
+These prisoners fulfilled their commission faithfully, and returned with
+two Mexicans. If we had sent a haughty message to our enemies, they
+returned answer in a still haughtier tone. The two Mexicans came with
+perfect confidence, as they well knew it was our custom to treat all
+ambassadors with great courtesy, and even make them presents. In this
+they had certainly not deceived themselves; and, still puffed up with
+the recent victory, they spoke with terrible assurance. Cortes, after
+they had done speaking, presented each with a mantle, and sent them back
+with offers of peace, adding, at the same time, he was well aware they
+could not return him his Spaniards alive; but if they would sue for
+peace, he would pardon the past. With this message he likewise sent a
+letter containing the same offers, though we very well knew they could
+not read it, yet by this time they had learnt so much as to know it
+contained some command, and Cortes desired the ambassadors to return
+with an answer. This they speedily brought, and was to the following
+effect: "We were to return to where we had come from; and if we refused
+to do so immediately, they would fall upon us the next day, and procure
+themselves a more abundant repast from the flesh of our bodies than they
+had done at the bridges of Mexico and in the battle of Otumpan."
+
+On receiving this declaration Cortes called a council of war, in which
+the whole of these circumstances were taken down in writing by a royal
+secretary, and it was further resolved that whichsoever of the allies of
+the Mexicans had been found guilty of murdering Spaniards should be
+turned into slaves, since, after swearing allegiance to his majesty,
+they had rebelled, and caused us so great a loss of men and horses. This
+determination was likewise made known to the enemy, and they were again
+admonished to make peace with us; but we met with nothing but defiance
+in return; and if we did not quit the province they would march against
+us and put us all to death. Both sides thus made preparations for war,
+and a severe battle ensued the day after; but as the level ground, which
+consisted entirely of maise and maguey plantations, was particularly
+favorable for our manoeuvres, the bravery of our enemies availed them
+very little, and our few horse soon put them to the route. The rest of
+us likewise fell vigorously upon them, and our friends of Tlascalla
+behaved most valiantly, and pursued the enemy with great loss.
+Considerable numbers of Tepeacans and Mexicans were killed, while on our
+side we lost only three Tlascallans. Twelve Spaniards were slightly
+wounded, and one of our horses so severely that it died soon after. The
+consequence of this victory was, that numbers of women and children were
+brought in prisoners to us,--for the men we turned over to the
+Tlascallans, who made slaves of them all.
+
+The Tepeacans, seeing that the Mexican garrison was no protection to
+them, and that they would only become the victims of any further
+opposition, without so much as consulting the Mexicans, now sent
+messengers of peace to us, who were very kindly received by Cortes;
+these Tepeacans then, for the second time, took the oath of allegiance
+to our emperor, and sent off the Mexicans.
+
+We now, therefore, entered Tepeaca, and founded a town there, to which
+we gave the name of Villa de Segura de la Frontera, from its lying on
+the road to Vera Cruz, in a populous district, very productive of maise,
+and because it was covered by the close neighbourhood of Tlascalla.
+Alcaldes and regidors were appointed, and a regular government
+introduced.
+
+We likewise visited all the districts where Spaniards had been murdered,
+and we cast an iron mark, with the letter G, meaning _guerra_, (war,)
+with which those were to be branded whom we turned into slaves. In this
+way we severally visited the townships Quauhquechola, Tecalco, Las
+Guayavas, and others whose names I have forgotten. In the former place
+alone, fifteen Spaniards had been murdered in their quarters; we
+therefore spared this township least of all, and turned a vast number of
+its inhabitants into slaves.
+
+About this time another king had been raised to the throne of Mexico, as
+the former, who beat us out of the town, had died of the smallpox. The
+new monarch was a nephew, or, at least, a very near relative of
+Motecusuma, and was called Quauhtemoctzin. He was about twenty-five
+years of age, and a very well-bred man for an Indian. He was likewise a
+person of great courage, and soon made himself so greatly feared among
+his people that they trembled in his presence. His wife was one of
+Motecusuma's daughters, and passed for a great beauty among her
+countrywomen.
+
+When this new king received intelligence of the overthrow of his troops
+at Tepeaca, and of the consequent submission of that province to the
+emperor Charles the Fifth, he began to fear for his other provinces. He
+therefore despatched messengers to every township, commanding the
+inhabitants to hold themselves ready for action; and in order that he
+might make sure of their obedience to his commands, he sent one cazique
+a present, and another he freed from paying tribute. His most able
+generals were despatched with troops to protect the boundaries, and he
+admonished them to behave better than they had done at Tepeaca.
+
+That the reader may not confound the two names, I must take the
+opportunity to acquaint him that there was a Cachula and Guacachula. I
+must, however, defer for the present what I have to say about the
+last-mentioned place, to relate the news we received from Vera
+Cruz.[99]
+
+
+[99] According to Torquemada, these two townships were called
+Quauhquechulla and Quauhquechola. (p. 368.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXI.
+
+    _How a vessel, which had been sent by Diego Velasquez from Cuba,
+    arrived at Vera Cruz, commanded by the captain Pedro Barba, and the
+    manner in which Caballero captured her._
+
+
+We had scarcely punished these Tepeacans for the murder of our eighteen
+companions, and restored peace to the country, when letters arrived from
+Vera Cruz with the information that a vessel had run in there, commanded
+by a good friend of Cortes named Pedro Barba, who had been sub-governor
+of the Havannah under Velasquez. He had brought along with him thirteen
+soldiers and two horses, besides letters for Pamfilo Narvaez, whom
+Velasquez thought had by this time taken possession of New Spain in his
+name. In these letters, Velasquez desired Narvaez, if Cortes were yet
+alive, to transport him, with the whole of his principal officers, to
+Cuba, whence he would send them to Spain, for such were the commands of
+Don Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, bishop of Burgos, and archbishop of
+Rosano, and president of the council of India.
+
+As soon as Barba had entered the harbour and cast anchor, Caballero went
+on board to pay his respects to him. The boat he went in was well manned
+with sailors, and the arms they carried were carefully hidden from view.
+
+After both parties had welcomed each other, Caballero inquired after the
+health of the governor of Cuba, and Barba, on his side, asked after
+Narvaez, and what had become of Cortes. Caballero gave him the most
+favorable account of Narvaez, spoke about his power, wealth, and his
+vast authority in these countries; as for Cortes, he had escaped with
+twenty men, and was wandering about from place to place.
+
+Upon this, Caballero proposed to Barba that he should disembark at the
+next township, where he would meet with excellent quarters. This he
+readily agreed to, and stepped into Caballero's boat, which, by this
+time, had been joined by those of the other vessels, and so all went on
+shore; but he had scarcely set foot on land when Caballero exclaimed,
+"Sir, you are my prisoner, in the name of the captain-general Cortes!"
+One can easily imagine the astonishment of Barba and his men; however,
+they could do no better than patiently submit. The sails, compass, and
+rudder were immediately taken out of the vessel, and were all sent to
+Cortes' head-quarters at Tepeaca.
+
+Our joy was excessive when these succours arrived, and certainly they
+could not have come more opportunely, for we had not yet recovered from
+our wounds, or regained our usual strength. Every one of us suffered
+more or less from ill health, and as blood and dust had coagulated in
+our entrails, we consequently emitted nothing else. Add to all this, we
+were obliged to be under arms both night and day, and thus it may be
+imagined our condition was truly pitiable; and five of our men had died
+within the last fortnight of pleurisy.
+
+There likewise arrived with Barba a certain Francisco Lopez, who settled
+at Guatimala, and became regidor of that place.
+
+Cortes received Pedro Barba with every mark of distinction, and
+immediately gave him a company of crossbow-men. He likewise learnt from
+him that there was another smaller vessel at Cuba, which was taking in a
+cargo of provisions, and was also destined by the governor for New
+Spain. This vessel actually arrived at Vera Cruz eight days after, and
+was commanded by a cavalier, named Rodrigo Morejon. She had on board
+eight soldiers, a mare, six crossbows, and other kinds of ammunition.
+Morejon, with his vessel, was captured by Caballero in the same manner,
+and sent to Segura de la Frontera. Our joy at the arrival of these new
+guests was, if possible, greater than on the previous occasion. Cortes
+received them most kindly, gave each an appointment, and we thanked God
+most heartily for this reinforcement of men, arms, and horses.
+
+We must now, however, return to the Mexican troops, which lay on the
+confines of Quauhquechola.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXII.
+
+    _How the inhabitants of Quauhquechola called upon Cortes, and begged
+    of him to drive out the Mexican troops from their town, as they were
+    plundered and ill-used by them._
+
+
+The new king of Mexico had thrown strong garrisons into all the
+townships which lay on the boundaries, particularly into Quauhquechola
+and Ozucar,[100] which lay about twelve miles from each other, as he was
+sure we should enter his territories at those points. These garrisons
+allowed themselves excessive liberties under their new master, and
+committed so many atrocities against the inhabitants, that these were
+determined to bear it no longer. They not only complained of being
+robbed of their garments, their maise, their fowls, and their gold, but
+that the Mexicans likewise forcibly carried off their daughters and
+wives, if they were pretty, and violated them in the presence of their
+parents and their husbands.
+
+When the Quauhquechollans saw how peaceably and quiet the Cholullans
+lived ever since they had been without a Mexican garrison, and that the
+same happiness and security might be enjoyed in Tepeaca, Tecalco, and in
+Quauhquechola, they secretly despatched four distinguished personages to
+Cortes, begging of him to send them his teules, with their horses, to
+rid them of their oppressors. They themselves, with the inhabitants of
+the whole district, would assist us, and both together could easily
+overcome the Mexican troops. Cortes, on this representation, resolved to
+send thither, under Oli, a strong detachment, consisting of 300 men,
+with the greater part of our cavalry and crossbow-men, besides a
+numerous body of Tlascallans, who had greatly increased in numbers since
+the rich booty they had made in Tepeaca.
+
+Among the 300 of our own troops there were many of Narvaez's men who
+became quite terrified when they understood they were going to march
+against Indians; besides which, they had been informed that all the
+fields and houses were filled with Mexican troops, and that their
+numbers were even greater than at the battle of Otumpan, and that
+Quauhtemoctzin commanded in person. They had, indeed, from the beginning
+showed great unwillingness to join us in this new campaign, and all
+their thoughts were bent upon their return to Cuba. Now again all their
+late misfortunes, and the perils they had undergone, came forcibly to
+their minds: the lamentable flight out of Mexico, the terrible struggle
+at the bridges, and the battle of Otumpan. Such dangers, they said, they
+would not run the risk of encountering again, and they most earnestly
+begged of Oli to return to head-quarters, as this expedition could not
+fail to end more seriously than all the foregoing, and every man of them
+would perish. It was in vain that Oli expostulated with them, and told
+them they were bound to march forward, and were in every way a match for
+the Mexicans; that a retreat would inspire the enemy with fresh courage,
+and that the level country was remarkably favorable for the manoeuvres
+of the cavalry; they absolutely refused to advance another step. Cortes'
+old soldiers, however, were determined to march forward, saying they had
+braved greater dangers than this; that a merciful Providence had
+everywhere protected them, and brought them forth victorious. But all
+these arguments were fruitless, and at last they succeeded in persuading
+Oli, by their prayers and lamentations, to turn back; and he took the
+road to Cholulla, from whence he wrote Cortes word of the state of
+things.
+
+When the latter received this information he was greatly vexed, and he
+immediately despatched two crossbow-men with a letter to Oli, in which
+he expressed great surprise at his indetermination and weakness of mind;
+as on former occasions no arguments had ever been able to dissuade him
+from fulfilling the commands he had once received.
+
+When Oli had read this letter he became furious with chagrin, and
+bitterly reproached those who had advised the retreat, and thereby
+induced him to disobey his general's commands. He immediately issued
+orders for every one to join his standard, and those who refused should
+be sent back to our head-quarters, there to be punished by Cortes as
+cowards and deserters.
+
+The vexation which this matter occasioned Oli had converted him into a
+very lion, and in this mood he marched his men onwards to Quauhquechola.
+He had scarcely arrived to within four miles of this place, when he was
+met by the caziques, who pointed out to him the best mode of attacking
+the Mexicans, and assured him he would be assisted by the inhabitants.
+They had hardly done speaking, when the Mexicans, who had received
+intelligence of Oli's approach, marched boldly against him. The battle
+now soon commenced, and the Mexicans certainly fought courageously for a
+considerable time, wounded several Spaniards, killed two horses, and
+wounded eight others from out a species of fortification which they had
+constructed here; but after an hour's fighting they were completely
+beaten out of the field. The Tlascallans behaved with uncommon bravery,
+and killed many of the enemy, besides taking a great number of
+prisoners; and as they were joined by the inhabitants of the surrounding
+country, the carnage among the Mexican troops was very great. The latter
+now retreated, and fortified themselves in a township named Ozucar,[101]
+which had been garrisoned by another body of Mexicans. This place was
+even rendered strong by nature, and the enemy had burnt down a bridge,
+to prevent our cavalry from entering the town. But, as I have before
+stated, vexation had turned Oli into a very lion, and he was determined
+that nothing should obstruct his progress. He therefore marched, with
+all those who would follow him, immediately upon Ozucar, passed the
+river with his new allies of Quauhquechola, and fell so furiously upon
+the Mexicans, that they soon gave way, and fled in disorder. Here again
+two horses were killed, Oli himself wounded in two places, and his horse
+very severely.
+
+He remained two days at Ozucar, during which time the caziques of the
+whole surrounding country came to sue for peace, and declared
+themselves vassals of our emperor. After he had thus restored
+tranquillity to the whole country he returned to Villa Segura.
+
+I myself was not present at this battle, and I therefore merely relate
+what I learnt from others respecting it. Cortes and the whole of us
+marched out to meet the returning conquerors, and the rejoicings, as may
+be imagined, were very great on this occasion. The retreat to Cholulla
+was now turned into matter of ridicule. Oli himself could not help
+laughing at it, and observed, that many of his troops thought more of
+their mines in Cuba than of their arms, and he swore that he would never
+again command any of those rich followers of Narvaez on such occasions,
+but only take with him a few of the poor soldiers of Cortes.
+
+On this occasion Gomara relates, that Oli turned back in consequence of
+a mistake between the interpreters, and had feared there was some
+treachery on hand. This, however, is incorrect; for his return to
+Cholulla was entirely owing to the fear and anxiety of Narvaez's men,
+whom the Indians had crammed with all manner of fearful tales.
+
+Gomara likewise says, that Cortes commanded in person on this occasion,
+but this is an untruth, for it was Oli. It is equally erroneous when he
+says that it were the Huexotzincans who had alarmed Narvaez's men with
+the exaggerated account respecting the Mexicans, when the former passed
+through their town. This is a shocking blunder, for it would be equally
+absurd for any one who wished to go from Tepeaca to Quauhquechola, to
+turn back to Huexotzinco, as it would be in going from Medina del Campo
+to Salamanca, to take the road over Valladolid. In the meantime other
+news had arrived from Vera Cruz, which will be found in the following
+chapter.
+
+[100] Most probably Iztucan. (p. 370.)
+
+[101] Cortes, in his despatches, calls this place Izzucan; the same, no
+doubt, as Iztucan. (p. 372.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXIII.
+
+    _How one of the vessels which Francisco de Garay had fitted out for
+    the object of forming settlements on the river Panuco, put in at
+    Vera Cruz, and what further happened._
+
+
+While we were lying at Villa Segura, Cortes was informed by letter that
+one of the vessels which Garay had fitted out for the object of forming
+settlements on the river Panuco had arrived at Vera Cruz. This vessel
+was commanded by a certain Comargo, and had on board above sixty
+soldiers, but who were all in very bad health, with their stomachs
+largely swelled.
+
+This Comargo related how unfortunately Garay's expedition to the river
+Panuco had terminated. The Indians had massacred the commander-in-chief
+Alvarez Pinedo, with the whole of his troops and horses, and then set
+fire to his vessels. Comargo alone had been fortunate enough to escape
+with his men on board one of the vessels, and had steered for Vera Cruz,
+where they arrived half famished, for they had not been able to procure
+any provisions from the enemy. This Comargo, it was said, had taken the
+vows of the order of the Dominicans.
+
+Comargo and his men, by degrees, all arrived at Villa Segura; which
+indeed took a considerable time, for they were so weakened that they
+could scarcely move along. When Cortes saw in what a terrible condition
+they were, he recommended them to our care, and showed Comargo and all
+his men every possible kindness. If I remember rightly, Comargo died
+soon after, and also several of his men. We used to call them, jokingly,
+_verdigris bellies_, from the immense size to which the latter were
+swollen, and the death-like appearance of the men.
+
+In order not to break the thread of my history too frequently, I will
+take this opportunity of enumerating the different vessels of Garay's
+expedition which arrived by degrees in Vera Cruz.
+
+The first which came after Comargo was commanded by a native of Aragon,
+named Miguel Diaz, whom Garay had sent with succours to Alvarez Pinedo,
+who, he imagined, had run up the river Panuco. Diaz, however, meeting
+nowhere with any traces of him, had soon got into a conflict with the
+natives, by whom he was informed of the unfortunate termination of that
+expedition; he then again hoisted sail and made for Vera Cruz, where he
+disembarked his troops, consisting of upwards of fifty men and seven
+horses, with which he immediately repaired to Cortes' head-quarters.
+These were the most valuable succours we ever received, and certainly
+they could not have come more opportunely.
+
+This Miguel Diaz subsequently rendered our emperor the most signal
+services in the conquest of New Spain. He was for some time engaged in a
+lawsuit respecting the possession of half Mistitan, with a
+brother-in-law of Cortes, named Andreas de Barrios, of Seville, whom he
+commonly termed the dancer. This lawsuit terminated in his favour in
+this way, that he was to receive the whole of the yearly rents of that
+estate, amounting annually to above 2500 pesos; but he himself was
+prohibited from setting foot in that district for the space of two
+years, for having there, as well as in other townships belonging to him,
+put several Indians to death.
+
+A few days after this vessel another arrived in Vera Cruz, which Garay
+had likewise despatched for the protection of his armament in the river
+Panuco, where he thought all was going on prosperously. This vessel
+brought above forty men, ten horses, and various kinds of ammunition,
+and was commanded by an elderly man named Ramirez, whom we called the
+elder to distinguish him from another Ramirez, who served in our troops.
+In this way Garay lost one ship after another, and no one derived any
+advantage from them excepting Cortes and ourselves. All these troops
+arrived by degrees in Tepeaca, and respectively obtained some by-name or
+other from our men. Those of Diaz, who were all stout, fat fellows; were
+called the _stiff-backs_, and those of Ramirez, _pack-saddles_, because
+they all wore heavy cotton cuirasses, which no arrow could pierce. The
+officers, as the reader may imagine, received most distinguished
+treatment from Cortes.
+
+I have now, however, to speak of another expedition, of which Cortes
+gave the command to Sandoval, and was directed against the tribes of
+Xalatzinco and Zacatemi.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXIV.
+
+    _How Cortes despatches Sandoval with 200 men, among which were
+    twenty horse and twelve crossbow-men, to punish the tribes of
+    Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, for having put some Spaniards to death, and
+    to demand restitution of the gold they had robbed us of; and also
+    further to explore the country._
+
+
+After we had received these reinforcements, first the twenty-five men
+and three horses, which arrived in the two small vessels sent by Diego
+Velasquez, and then the 120 men, with the seventeen horses which arrived
+in Garay's vessels, we learnt that many of Narvaez's men on their
+retreat from Mexico had been murdered in the townships of Zacatemi and
+Xalatzinco; likewise that the inhabitants of these places had plundered
+and killed Juan de Alcantara and his two companions who were returning
+from Tlascalla with the gold above mentioned. Cortes, therefore, ordered
+Sandoval, a remarkably bold and clever officer, to march against them
+with 200 men, composed for the greater part of Cortes' old soldiers,
+among which there were twenty horse and twelve crossbow-men, to which
+was added a strong body of Tlascallans.
+
+Sandoval, on his march thither, received intelligence that the
+inhabitants were all under arms, and had put these towns in a good
+state of defence; and were, moreover, assisted by a powerful body of
+Mexicans. They well foresaw that we should equally chastise them for the
+Spaniards they had murdered, as we had the Tepeacans, Quauhquechollans,
+and Tecalcans.
+
+Sandoval placed his troops in the most advantageous manner, and
+explained to the cavalry how they were to break through the enemy's
+line. But previous to entering on the enemy's territory he sent
+messengers with offers of peace to them, and to demand the gold they had
+stolen, with promises that he would pardon the murder of the Spaniards.
+These messengers went several times to the enemy with these offers, but
+each time returned with the same answer, namely, that they would serve
+Sandoval and his soldiers in the same manner as they had those teules,
+respecting whom he now came to make inquiries. Sandoval then sent them
+word that he would treat them as traitors and highwaymen, and turn them
+all into slaves; they might therefore prepare for a struggle for life or
+death. He then fell upon them from two several points at the same time,
+and though the Mexicans, as well as the inhabitants, defended themselves
+with great bravery, he nevertheless soon put them to flight, and
+captured numbers of the commoner people, whom, however, he set at
+liberty again, for want of men to guard them. In one of the temples he
+found a quantity of clothes, arms, and horse-trappings, among which were
+two saddles; all of which the Indians had brought as offerings to their
+idols.
+
+In this place Sandoval stayed three days, during which time the caziques
+of the country came to beg pardon of him, and to take the oath of
+allegiance to his majesty; but he informed them they must return the
+stolen gold before he could think of granting their request. To which
+the caziques answered, that the Mexicans had taken away all the gold,
+and presented it to their new king. Upon this Sandoval referred them to
+Cortes himself, and he marched back to our head-quarters, with a great
+number of women and young men, whom he had taken prisoners, and marked
+with the iron.
+
+Cortes was highly delighted at beholding these troops return in so good
+a condition, though they had three horses killed and eight men heavily
+wounded, among whom was Sandoval himself, who had been struck by an
+arrow. For myself, I was not present in this expedition, for I was
+suffering severely at the time from fever and spitting of blood; but
+thank God I recovered, after frequent bleeding.
+
+The caziques of Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, besides several other chiefs of
+the neighbouring districts, now came to Cortes; they begged for peace,
+took the oath of allegiance to our emperor, and furnished us with
+provisions.
+
+This expedition was attended by many beneficial results; for the whole
+country was thereby tranquillized, while it spread a vast idea of
+Cortes' justice and bravery throughout the whole of New Spain; so that
+every one feared him, and particularly Quauhtemoctzin, the new king of
+Mexico. Indeed Cortes' authority rose at once to so great a height, that
+the inhabitants came from the most distant parts to lay their disputes
+before him, particularly respecting the election of caziques, right of
+tenure, and division of property and subjects. About this time thousands
+of people were carried off by the smallpox, and among them numbers of
+caziques; and Cortes, as though he had been lord of the whole country,
+appointed the new caziques, but made a point of nominating those who had
+the best claim.
+
+Such a case happened with a near relative of Motecusuma, who was married
+to the sovereign of Itztucan, by whom she had a son, who was
+acknowledged as nephew to Motecusuma; the point in dispute being who the
+heir was to that principality, this nephew, or some other grandee of the
+country. Cortes decided in favour of Motecusuma's nephew, and they
+adhered to his decision. Numerous similar disputes were brought for
+Cortes' arbitration, even from the most distant districts.
+
+About this time we also learnt that nine of our countrymen had been put
+to death in the township Cocotlan, called by us Castel Blanco, being
+about twenty-four miles from our head-quarters. Sandoval therefore was
+ordered thither, with thirty horse, one hundred foot, eight
+crossbow-men, five musketeers, and a strong body of Tlascallans, who
+always proved themselves faithful friends and brave warriors. Here again
+Sandoval sent five distinguished personages of Tepeaca to the Cocotlans
+with the usual offers of peace, accompanied by threats; but as there was
+a strong garrison of Mexicans lying in the town, they returned for
+answer that they had already a king in Quauhtemoctzin, and wanted no
+other; nor did they see any reason why they should send us ambassadors.
+They would meet us on the field of battle; their strength was as great
+now as it was in Mexico, at the bridges, and the canals; and how much
+our valour had availed us there they had sufficiently experienced.
+
+On receiving this answer, Sandoval regulated the order of attack, in
+which the instructions he gave the Tlascallans were remarkable, namely,
+that they should not rush in upon the enemy at the same moment with the
+Spaniards, for fear of shying our horses, and lest they should expose
+themselves to the fire of our muskets, as had often been the case on
+previous occasions. They were commanded to remain stationary until the
+enemy was routed, and then follow in pursuit.
+
+Having made these regulations, Sandoval marched towards the township. He
+had not advanced far before he came up with two bodies of the enemy, who
+had taken up a position in a hollow at the back of a barricade, which
+had been constructed of trees cut for the purpose. For a time the
+enemy's troops fought with desperate courage; but Sandoval kept up so
+sharp a fire upon them with the crossbows and muskets, that he soon was
+enabled to force a passage with the horse. In this attack four of his
+men and nine horses were wounded, one of which died soon after. Though
+the number of loose stones here were great obstacles to the cavalry, yet
+he succeeded in breaking through the enemy's ranks, and he advanced up
+to the town itself, in front of which stood a large building and
+fortification, besides several temples, in which other detachments of
+the enemy were stationed. Here Sandoval encountered a momentary and
+desperate resistance, but the Indians were again beaten, with seven
+killed. The Tlascallans now no longer waited the signal for pursuit, but
+rushed forward the more bravely, as this district lay near to their own
+territory. Numbers of females and people of the lower classes were taken
+prisoners.
+
+After this victory, Sandoval remained there two days, and despatched one
+of the Tepeacan chiefs to the caziques of the district to summon them
+into his presence. They were not long before they made their appearance,
+and begged forgiveness for the murder of the Spaniards. He told them
+this would be granted on condition they delivered up all the property
+they had found on those they had put to death. They answered, however,
+that this was out of their power, since everything had been burnt, but
+owned that the greater part of the Spaniards had been eaten up by
+themselves, and that five had been sent alive to Quauhtemoctzin in
+Mexico. They had now, they thought, received sufficient chastisement for
+those they had murdered by the losses they had sustained in this battle;
+they hoped, therefore, he would pardon them, and they would, in return,
+furnish us with excellent provisions, and also forward a large supply to
+Malinche's head-quarters. Sandoval, finding that nothing further was to
+be got out of them, granted their request, for which they appeared very
+grateful, and offered to do him all manner of good services. Sandoval
+now returned with his troops to Tepeaca, and met with a most hearty
+reception from us all.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXV.
+
+    _How all the slaves we had taken in Tepeaca, Quauhquechola, Tecalco,
+    and Castilblanco, were brought together in our head-quarters, and
+    branded with an iron, in his majesty's name._
+
+
+After peace had thus been restored to the whole province, and the
+inhabitants had submitted to the sceptre of his majesty, Cortes, finding
+there was nothing further to be done at present, determined, with the
+crown officers, to mark all the slaves with the iron, and set apart the
+fifth of them for his majesty. Notice was, therefore, given that every
+person was to come with his slaves to a certain house appointed for the
+purpose, that they might be marked with the red-hot iron. Every man,
+accordingly, brought the females and young men he had taken prisoners;
+for grown-up men were of no use to us, as they were so difficult to
+watch, and we cared not to admit them into our service, as we were well
+satisfied with the Tlascallans. After all the slaves had been brought
+together and severally marked with the letter G, the emperor's fifths
+and then Cortes' were deducted before we were aware of it; and, besides
+this, on the night preceding, the finest of the Indian females had been
+secretly set apart, so that when it came to a division among us
+soldiers, we found none left but old and ugly women. This occasioned
+excessive murmuring against Cortes and all those who had thus picked and
+chosen before us; and some of Narvaez's men told Cortes to his face that
+they were not aware, up to the present moment, there were two kings in
+the Spanish dominions, and that two royal fifths could be demanded. A
+certain Juan Bono, who was also loud in his complaints, added, that such
+proceedings should not be permitted in New Spain, and that he would send
+information of it to his majesty and the council of India. Another
+soldier asked Cortes if the division he had made of the gold in Mexico
+was not a sufficient imposition? for, at first, he had merely spoken of
+300,000 pesos, but when we were obliged to retreat from the city, it was
+estimated at 700,000 pesos. And now he was going to deprive the poor
+soldier, who had undergone so many hardships, and suffered from
+innumerable wounds, of this small remuneration, and not even allow him a
+pretty Indian female for a companion! When notice was given, continued
+he, that each person was to produce his prisoners, in order that they
+might be marked, it was thought they would have been valued, and that
+the emperor's fifths would have been deducted therefrom in money, and
+that no mention would have been made of fifths for Cortes.
+
+Similar and even severer speeches were in every one's mouth respecting
+Cortes' fifths, until the latter began to consider it high time to
+pacify these daring spirits. He stated, therefore, and swore upon his
+conscience, (for this was his usual oath,) that it should not happen in
+future, but that all the prisoners should be valued, and sold at their
+valuation, which would put a stop to all further discontent on that
+head. This resolution was subsequently adhered to, particularly after
+the conquest of Tezcuco, where we took a vast number of prisoners.
+
+If this circumstance had occasioned ill blood, another of a different
+nature occasioned worse. The reader will remember that, on the night of
+sorrows, after as much of the gold had been stowed away as could be,
+Cortes had given what remained as prize-money to the soldiers. Many of
+Narvaez's men and several of ours had dived deep into the gold, and most
+of those who had overloaded themselves with it lost their lives in the
+retreat. Several, however, had had the good fortune to escape with their
+treasures, but had paid dearly for it with severe wounds and the risk of
+their lives.
+
+When Cortes learnt that there were still a great many bars of gold among
+the men, and heavy gambling in consequence, (for, according to the old
+saying, gold and love cannot lie long concealed,) he made known, under
+threats of severe punishment, that every one should produce the gold he
+had obtained on the night of our retreat from Mexico, of which one third
+was to be returned to him; but that any one who refused to pay this,
+should have the whole taken from him. Many of our men refused downright
+to comply with this; yet Cortes managed to extort a good deal of it
+under the pretence of a loan: but, as most of the officers and crown
+officials had also well stocked themselves with gold on that occasion,
+Cortes suddenly dropped the question, and nothing further was heard of
+it. It is certain, however, that this circumstance injured him vastly in
+every one's opinion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXVI.
+
+    _How the chief officers and principal personages of Narvaez's troops
+    request leave to return to Cuba, which Cortes grants, and they
+    accordingly leave; also how our general sends ambassadors to Spain,
+    St. Domingo, and Jamaica._
+
+
+The officers of Narvaez's troops and those who had come from Jamaica in
+Garay's expedition, seeing that the whole province of Tepeaca was now
+tranquillized, begged Cortes would fulfil his promise, and allow them to
+depart for Cuba; who not only granted them their request, but promised
+them, and particularly Duero and Bermudez, that he would give them much
+more gold after the total conquest of New Spain and Mexico, than they
+had previously received. In the meantime he furnished them with
+provisions of the kinds we had, consisting in maise, salted dog's flesh,
+and fowls. He likewise gave them one of our best vessels, and sent by
+them letters to his wife Catalina Suarez de Mercayda, and to his
+brother-in-law Juan Suarez, who was then staying at Cuba. These letters
+were accompanied by a few bars of gold and some jewels, and contained,
+among other things, an account of our overthrow at Mexico.
+
+All those who left New Spain on that occasion had accumulated great
+riches, and I will give their names, as far as my memory permits. Duero,
+Bermudez, Bono, Bernardino Quesada, Francisco Velasquez, with the
+hunchback, a relation of the governor of Cuba; Carrasco, who afterwards
+returned to New Spain, and now lives at Puebla; Melchior de Velasco, of
+Guatimala; a certain Ximenes, who lives at Quaxaca, and was obliged to
+go to Cuba on account of his son; the accountant Leon de Cervantes, who
+made the same excuse to see his daughter there, for whom he concluded a
+most excellent match after the conquest of Mexico; Maldonado de Medellin
+was forced to leave on account of ill health; the other of that name,
+who was surnamed the proud, and was married to a lady named Maria Arias,
+likewise left us; further, a certain Vargas, of Trinidad, who, at Cuba,
+was commonly called the gallant; lastly, one of Cortes' old warriors,
+the pilot Cardenas, who said to one of his companions, "We soldiers may
+now take our repose, since New Spain has two kings." Cortes had
+presented him with 300 pesos, to induce him to return with his wife and
+family. Besides these men, there were many others whose names I have
+forgotten, which, indeed, is a good thing, for it prevents me from
+going too much into detail.
+
+As soon as Cortes had given them permission to leave, we asked him why
+he had allowed them to depart, as he knew there would be so few of us
+remaining? Cortes said he had done so to rid himself of their eternal
+complaints and solicitations. We likewise knew that many of them were
+not fit for service, and it was better to be alone than in bad company.
+
+Pedro de Alvarado was commissioned to see them safe on board, with
+orders to return immediately to head-quarters after they had left.
+
+About this time Cortes also despatched Ordas and Alonso de Mendoza on
+business to Spain, but for what particular purpose he never told us. We
+only heard that the bishop of Burgos told Ordas to his face that we were
+all villains and traitors, and that Ordas had boldly defended us. The
+latter, on this occasion, was made comptoir of Santiago, and received
+permission from the emperor to assume a burning mountain in his coat of
+arms. What he further did in Spain I will relate hereafter.
+
+Alonso de Avila, who was treasurer of New Spain, and Alvarez Chico,
+another thorough man of business, were despatched in another vessel to
+St. Domingo to render an account of all we had done to the royal court
+of audience there, and to the Hieronymite brothers, who were appointed
+viceroys over the whole of the islands, to gain their approbation of our
+proceedings against Narvaez, and their sanction of the manner in which
+we had enslaved and punished the inhabitants who had murdered the
+Spaniards and rebelled against his majesty: and their opinion as to
+whether Cortes should not similarly punish all those tribes who, as
+allies of the Mexicans, had been guilty of like offences. Lastly, Cortes
+begged of them to inform his majesty of all this, and of the great
+services we had rendered and still daily rendered to the crown; and
+requested them to favour our just cause against the bishop of Burgos,
+who was striving to work out our ruin.
+
+A third vessel was despatched by Cortes to Jamaica, to purchase horses
+there, the command of which was given to Solis, who was the son-in-law
+of the bachelor Ortega. Here the reader might be induced to ask whence
+Cortes obtained the money to do all this? In reply to which, I can only
+say that of the gold stowed away by Narvaez's and our own troops,
+particularly by the horse, a great quantity was certainly saved. Besides
+that, many of the eighty Tlascallans, who were loaded with the gold, and
+retreated from Mexico in the vanguard, got safely over the bridges. We
+poor soldiers, who had not to command but to obey, cared very little at
+that time whether there was plenty of gold or not, but were happy if we
+escaped alive and were able to cure our wounds. However, of the gold
+that was saved, Cortes received as much back as he could possibly lay
+his hands on; our men likewise suspected that he had put into his own
+pocket again the 40,000 pesos, being the share of the Mexican treasure
+belonging to the garrison of Vera Cruz. With this money he sent persons
+to Spain and St. Domingo on his own private business, and others to
+Jamaica to purchase horses.
+
+Perfect tranquillity being now again restored to the province of
+Tepeaca, Cortes marched back with his troops to Tlascalla, and left
+Francisco de Orozco behind, with twenty invalid soldiers, as commandant
+of Villa Segura.
+
+Cortes then ordered the necessary quantity of wood to be felled for
+building thirteen brigantines, with which another attack was to be made
+upon Mexico; for we were convinced we should not be able to make any
+impression upon that town without a small fleet, nor ever again be able
+to enter it by the causeways. Martin Lopez was appointed by Cortes to
+superintend the important business of constructing these brigantines,
+for he was not only a good soldier, but, upon the whole, rendered his
+majesty the greatest services in all our warlike operations. On this
+occasion again, he set to work with his usual assiduity, and it was very
+fortunate that this man had been with us from the beginning; for, if we
+had been forced to send for a ship-builder from Spain, we should have
+lost much valuable time, and we might not have found a man who suited so
+well.
+
+On our arrival in Tlascalla, we found that our old friend Maxixcatzin,
+one of his majesty's most faithful vassals, was no more, he having died
+of the smallpox. We were all sorely grieved at this loss, and Cortes
+himself, as he assured us, felt it as much as if he had lost his own
+father. We put on black cloaks in mourning for him, and paid the last
+honours to the remains of our departed friend, in conjunction with his
+sons and relations.
+
+A dispute having arisen in Tlascalla respecting the heir to the
+caziquedom, Cortes pronounced in favour of the deceased's son, in
+accordance with the last wishes of his late father. Maxixcatzin, on his
+death-bed, strongly advised his whole family to remain faithful to
+Malinche and his brothers; for they, he said, were certainly those
+people for whom the dominion of these countries had been predestined.
+
+However, let us leave the dead in peace, and turn to the living. The
+elder Xicotencatl, Chichimeclatecl, and the other caziques of
+Tlascalla, one and all gladly offered their assistance to Cortes in
+cutting wood for the building of the brigantines, and generally to aid
+in prosecuting the war against Mexico.
+
+Cortes gave them all a hearty embrace, and thanked them for their great
+kindness, especially Chichimeclatecl and Xicotencatl, the latter of whom
+eventually became a convert to Christianity, and was baptized by father
+Olmedo with every solemnity, and received the name of Don Lorenzo de
+Vargas.
+
+In the meantime the preparations for the building of our brigantines
+were going on very fast; the wood being soon felled and prepared for use
+with the assistance of the Indians; an excellent soldier named Andreas
+Nuñez, and Ramirez the elder, an old carpenter who had been lamed by a
+wound, rendering most efficient services. Matters being thus far
+advanced, Cortes sent for a quantity of ironwork, anchors, sails, and
+ropes, from the vessels which had been destroyed at Vera Cruz, and
+ordered all the smiths of that town to repair to Tlascalla. Above 1000
+Indians were despatched thither to transport these things. The cauldrons
+for boiling and preparing the tar were likewise brought from Vera Cruz,
+and we were now only in want of the materials for making it, the
+preparation of which was wholly unknown to the Indians; but here again
+Cortes was not at a loss, for he picked out four men from among the
+sailors who understood its preparation, and for that purpose sent them
+off to a forest of pine trees near Huexotzinco.
+
+Though it may, perhaps, be rather out of place here, I must answer a
+question which has been put to me by several cavaliers respecting Alonso
+de Avila, with whom they were well acquainted. They knew that this man,
+though treasurer of New Spain, was, at the same time, an excellent
+soldier, and felt more inclination for the life of a warrior than for
+business; they could not, therefore, imagine why Cortes should exactly
+have selected him to confer with the Hieronymite brothers at St.
+Domingo, and that he had not rather chosen some person of more
+business-like habits; as, for instance, Alonso de Grado, or Juan de
+Cacares, called the wealthy, or others whose names they mentioned to me.
+Cortes had no other motive than to get Avila out of the way, because he
+spoke his mind too freely, and took every occasion to side with us
+soldiers if he saw we were unjustly dealt with. To this was added, that
+the latter had fallen out with several of our officers, from a frankness
+of disposition displeasing to them. And, lastly, Cortes was desirous of
+conferring the command of a company on Andreas de Tapia, and of
+appointing Alonso de Grado treasurer, both of which were only possible
+by removing Avila.
+
+Cortes now determined to march, with the whole of his men, to Tezcuco,
+as the wood for constructing the brigantines was ready prepared, and we
+had got rid of Narvaez's men, who made difficulties in all our
+expeditions, and always argued against any attempt to besiege Mexico,
+maintaining we were not sufficiently numerous for that purpose; by which
+means they infected others with their cowardice. Previous to our leaving
+for Tezcuco, however, various deliberations took place as to which would
+be the most eligible spot for launching our brigantines. Some of our men
+maintained that Ayotzinco, near to Chalco, on account of its canals and
+harbour, was better adapted for this purpose; others, again, preferred
+Tezcuco, and were of opinion that, once having taken possession of that
+town, standing as it did in the midst of so many other populous
+townships, we should be better able to plan our operations against
+Mexico.
+
+We had scarcely decided in favour of the latter place, when three men
+arrived with the news from Vera Cruz that a large Spanish vessel had run
+in there from the Canaries, having on board a quantity of crossbows,
+muskets, powder, and other ammunition, besides three horses and thirteen
+soldiers. The owner of the cargo was a certain Juan de Burgos, and the
+captain of the vessel was named Francisco Medel.
+
+The reader may easily imagine our joy at this news; and if we had
+previously felt in good spirits for our intended expedition, we now felt
+the more so on hearing of the arrival of these timely succours. Cortes
+immediately bargained with Burgos for the whole of the ammunition and
+cargo, who himself, with Medel and all the passengers, came to our
+head-quarters, where they met with the kindest reception. Among the
+passengers there was a certain rich man, named Juan del Espinar, who
+once lived in Guatimala; further, a certain Sagredo, from Medellin; a
+Biscayan, named Monjaraz, uncle of the other two of that name serving
+among us. This Monjaraz had a very beautiful daughter, who subsequently
+came to Mexico, and was commonly called Monjaraza. But this Monjaraz did
+not accompany us in any of our expeditions, as he was always suffering
+from ill health. It was not until we had laid regular siege to Mexico
+that he came to us in good health, and told us he was desirous of seeing
+how we carried on this war, and our mode of attacking the Mexicans, of
+whose bravery he entertained a very mean opinion. On this occasion he
+mounted to the top of an Indian temple, which was shaped like a tower;
+from that moment, however, we never saw him again, nor did we ever learn
+how the Mexicans got at him, or what became of him. Many persons who
+had known him on the island of St. Domingo saw the hand of God in his
+sudden death: for they related that he had put his own wife, a most
+virtuous, excellent, and beautiful woman, to death, without any cause or
+provocation; and that he had escaped punishment for his crime by
+proving, through false witnesses, she had attempted to poison him. I
+must, however, leave these old tales, and begin earnestly to think of
+our march to Tezcuco.
+
+[Transcriber's Note: Notes to the First Volume, that is, endnotes at the
+end of this volume, have been included as footnotes under the relevant
+chapter.]
+
+END OF VOL. I.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal
+Diaz del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2), by Bernal Diaz del Castillo
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO, 1 OF 2 ***
+
+***** This file should be named 32474-8.txt or 32474-8.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/4/7/32474/
+
+Produced by Julia Miller, Jane Hyland and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/32474-8.zip b/32474-8.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6ad86da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/32474-8.zip
diff --git a/32474-h.zip b/32474-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b468570
--- /dev/null
+++ b/32474-h.zip
diff --git a/32474-h/32474-h.htm b/32474-h/32474-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2336ef0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/32474-h/32474-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,18900 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+    "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" />
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of the memoirs of the conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo
+written by himself, containing a true and full account of the discovery and conquest of Mexico
+and New Spain (vol. 1 of 2).
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css">
+
+    p {  margin-top: .75em;
+         text-align: justify;
+         margin-bottom: .75em;
+         }
+    h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {
+         text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
+         clear: both;
+         }
+    hr { width: 33%;
+	 margin-top: 2em;
+	 margin-bottom: 2em;
+         margin-left: auto;
+         margin-right: auto;
+         clear: both;
+       }
+
+    table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;}
+
+    body{margin-left: 10%;
+         margin-right: 10%;
+        }
+
+    .pagenum  { /* uncomment the next line to display page numbers */
+               /*visibility: hidden;*/
+                position: absolute;
+                left: 92%;
+                font-size: smaller;
+                text-align: right;
+              } /* page numbers */
+
+    .linenum  {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */
+    .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 90%;}
+    .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;}
+    .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em;
+               padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em;
+               float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em;
+               font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;}
+
+    .bb       {border-bottom: solid 2px;}
+    .bl       {border-left: solid 2px;}
+    .bt       {border-top: solid 2px;}
+    .br       {border-right: solid 2px;}
+    .bbox     {border: solid 2px;}
+
+    .center   {text-align: center;}
+    .smcap    {font-variant: small-caps;}
+    .u        {text-decoration: underline;}
+
+    .caption  {font-weight: bold;}
+
+    .figcenter   {margin: auto; text-align: center;}
+
+    .figleft     {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top:
+                 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;}
+
+    .figright    {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;
+                 margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;}
+
+    .footnotes        {border: dashed 1px;}
+    .footnote         {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;}
+    .footnote .label  {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;}
+    .fnanchor         {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;}
+
+    .poem             {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;}
+    .poem br          {display: none;}
+    .poem .stanza     {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;}
+    .poem span.i0     {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+    .poem span.i2     {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+    .poem span.i4     {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+       </style>
+  </head>
+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz
+del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2), by Bernal Diaz del Castillo
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2)
+       Written by Himself Containing a True and Full Account of
+              the Discovery and Conquest of Mexico and New Spain.
+
+Author: Bernal Diaz del Castillo
+
+Translator: John Ingram Lockhart
+
+Release Date: May 21, 2010 [EBook #32474]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO, 1 OF 2 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Julia Miller, Jane Hyland and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p>
+
+<h1>THE MEMOIRS</h1>
+<h5>OF THE</h5>
+<h1>CONQUISTADOR BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO</h1>
+
+<h5>WRITTEN BY HIMSELF</h5>
+
+<h4>CONTAINING A TRUE AND FULL ACCOUNT</h4>
+<h5>OF THE</h5>
+<h4>DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST</h4>
+<h5>OF</h5>
+<h1>MEXICO AND NEW SPAIN<br /><br /></h1>
+
+<h5>TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL SPANISH BY</h5>
+<h3>JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART, F.R.A.S.</h3>
+<h5>AUTHOR OF "ATTICA AND ATHENS"<br /><br /><br /><br /></h5>
+
+<h3>IN TWO VOLUMES</h3>
+<h1>VOL. I.</h1>
+
+<h4>LONDON<br />
+J. HATCHARD AND SON, 187, PICCADILLY</h4>
+<h5>MDCCCXLIV.</h5>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p>
+
+<h5>C. AND J. ADLARD, PRINTERS, BATHOLOMEW CLOSE.</h5>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The History of the Conquest of New Spain is a subject in
+which great interest is felt at the present day, and the English
+public will hail these memoirs, which contain the only true and
+complete account of that important transaction.</p>
+
+<p>The author of this original and charming production, to which
+he justly gives the title of 'The True History of the Conquest
+of New Spain,' was himself one of the Conquistadores; one who
+not only witnessed the transactions which he relates, but who
+also performed a glorious part in them; a soldier who, for impartiality
+and veracity, perhaps never had his equal. His account
+is acknowledged to be the only one on which we can place
+reliance, and it has been the magazine from which the most
+eloquent of the Spanish writers on the same subject, as well as
+those of other countries, have borrowed their best materials.
+Some historians have even transcribed whole pages, but have
+not had sufficient honesty to acknowledge it.</p>
+
+<p>The author, while living, was never rewarded for the great
+services he had rendered his country, and it is remarkable that,
+after his death, his very memoirs were pillaged by court historians,
+to raise a literary monument to themselves.</p>
+
+<p>Most of the other writers on the conquest, particularly the
+Spanish, have filled their works with exaggerations, to create
+astonishment and false interest; pages are filled with so termed
+philosophical remarks, which but ill supply the place of the intelligent
+reader's own reflections. Bernal Diaz differs widely
+from those writers, for he only states what he knows to be true.
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span>The British public, fond above all others of original productions,
+will peruse with interest and delight a work which has so long
+been the secret fountain from which all other accounts of the
+conquest, with the exception of those which are least faithful,
+have taken life.</p>
+
+<p>In respect of its originality, it may vie with any work of
+modern times, not excepting 'Don Quixote.' The author seems
+to have been born to show forth truth in all its beauty, and he
+raises it to a divinity in his mind. Can anything be more expressive
+of an honest conscience than what he says in his own preface:
+"You have only to read my history, and you see it is true."</p>
+
+<p>The reader may form a general idea of this work from the
+following critique, which Dr. Robertson, the historian, passes
+upon it: "Bernal Diaz's account bears all the marks of authenticity,
+and is accompanied with such pleasant na&iuml;vet&eacute;, with
+such interesting details, with such amusing vanity, and yet so
+pardonable in an old soldier, who had been, as he boasts, in a
+hundred and nineteen battles, as renders his book one of the
+most singular that is to be found in any language."</p>
+
+<p>One circumstance, and that very justly, he is most anxious
+to impress on your mind, namely, that all the merit of the conquest
+is not due to Cortes alone; for which reason he generally
+uses the expression "Cortes and all of us."</p>
+
+<p>This is an allowable feeling in our old soldier, and it must be
+remembered that the greater part of the men who joined Cortes
+were of good families, who, as usual on such expeditions, equipped
+themselves at their own expense, and went out as adventurers
+of their own free choice.</p>
+
+<p>With respect to our author's style of writing, it is chiefly
+characterized by plainness and simplicity, and yet there are
+numerous passages which are written with great force and eloquence,
+and which, as the Spanish editor says, "could not have
+been more forcibly expressed, nor with greater elegance." Some
+readers may at first feel inclined to censure our author for going
+into minute particulars in describing the fitting out of the expedition
+under Cortes; for instance, his describing the qualities
+and colours of the horses; but all this, it will be seen, was of the
+utmost importance to his history, and of the horses he was
+bound to take special notice, for they performed a conspicuous
+part in the conquest. The honest old soldier even devotes a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span>
+couple of his last chapters to the whole of his companions in
+arms, in which he mentions them all by name, describes their
+persons, their bravery, and the manner in which they died.</p>
+
+<p>To conclude these few remarks on this work, I must observe,
+that it not only surpasses Cortes' despatches in completeness,
+but also in truth and na&iuml;vet&eacute;. He represents the whole to
+you with a simplicity truly sublime; at times he astonishes with
+a power of expressing his sentiments peculiar to himself, and
+with a pathos that goes to the very heart.</p>
+
+<p>Bernal Diaz was of a respectable family, and born in Medina
+del Campo, a small town in the province of Leon. He was what
+in Spain is termed an hidalgo&mdash;though by this little more was
+signified than a descent from Christian forefathers, without any
+mixture of Jewish or Moorish blood. With respect to the precise
+year of his birth he has left us in the dark, but, according
+to his own account, he first left Castile, for the New World, in
+the year 1514; and as, on his first arrival in Mexico, in the year
+1519, he still calls himself a young man, we may safely conclude
+that he was born between 1495 and 1500. In the year 1568 he
+completed his work, at which time there were only six of the
+Conquistadores alive, and he must then have been about seventy
+years of age, but there is every reason for supposing that he
+reached the advanced age of eighty-six. Endowed with singular
+nobleness of mind, he had the happiness to enjoy an unblemished
+reputation.</p>
+
+<p>The excellent Torquemada, in speaking of him in his voluminous
+work entitled 'Monarchia Indiana,' says, "I saw and
+knew this same Bernal Diaz in the city of Guatimala; he was
+then a very aged man, and one who bore the best of reputations."
+Quoting him in another passage, he has, "Thus says Bernal
+Diaz del Castillo, a soldier on whose authority and honesty we
+can place reliance." He was a man devoted to his religion,
+and it must be particularly borne in mind that the Catholic
+faith was never stronger than at that time; yet we find him the
+least superstitious of all the Spanish historians on the Conquest,
+and, in the 34th Chapter, he has shown a mind superior to the
+times in which he lived.</p>
+
+<p>If we contemplate the period in which the conquest of New
+Spain took place, we can easily imagine that Cortes considered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span>
+it imperative on him to plant his religion among the Indians
+by the power of the sword, if he could not by kind remonstrances;
+and we are often reminded of Joshua in the Old
+Testament. The Spaniards themselves certainly entertained
+that idea; for in the edition of Cortes' despatches published at
+Mexico in 1770, his sword is termed, "Gladius Domini et
+Gideonis:" yet the Spaniards were not the cruel monsters they
+have generally been described during those times. As far as
+the conquest of New Spain is concerned, they were more
+humane than otherwise; and if at times they used severity, we
+find that it was caused by the horrible and revolting abominations
+which were practised by the natives. We can scarcely
+imagine kinder-hearted beings than the first priests and monks
+who went out to New Spain; they were men who spent their
+lives under every species of hardship to promote the happiness
+of the Indians. Who can picture to his mind a more amiable
+and noble disposition than that of father Olmedo? He was
+one of the finest characters, Dr. Robertson says, that ever went
+out as priest with an invading army!</p>
+
+<p>We may have become exceedingly partial to a work which
+has now been constantly before our eyes for the last two years,
+yet we can scarcely imagine that any one could take up a
+volume, whether a novel or a history, which he would peruse
+with more delight than these memoirs.</p>
+
+<p>With regard to the translation, which is from the old edition
+printed at Madrid in 1632, we have acted up to the author's
+desire, and have neither added nor taken anything away, and
+have attempted to follow the original as closely as possible.
+To the original there is not a single note, and particular care
+has been taken not to overburden the translation with them.
+In the spelling of the names of the Indian chiefs, the townships,
+and of the provinces, we have mostly followed Torquemada,
+who is considered more correct on this point, for he lived fifty
+years in New Spain, was perfect master of the Mexican language,
+and made the history of that country his peculiar study.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>AUTHOR'S PREFACE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>I, Bernal Diaz del Castillo, regidor of the town of
+Santiago, in Guatimala, author of this very true and faithful
+history, have now finished it, in order that it may be published
+to the world. It treats of the discovery and total conquest of
+New Spain; and how the great city of Mexico and several
+other towns were taken, up to the time when peace was concluded
+with the whole country; also of the founding of many
+Spanish cities and towns, by which we, as we were in duty
+bound, extended the dominion of our sovereign.</p>
+
+<p>In this history will be found many curious facts worthy of
+notice. It likewise points out the errors and blunders contained
+in a work written by Francisco de Gomara, who not only commits
+many errors himself in what he writes about New Spain, but
+he has also been the means of leading those two famous historians
+astray who followed his account, namely, Dr. Illescas and
+the bishop Paulo Jovio. What I have written in this book I
+declare and affirm to be strictly true. I myself was present at
+every battle and hostile encounter. Indeed, these are not old
+tales or romances of the seventh century; for, if I may so say,
+it happened but yesterday what is contained in my history.
+I relate how, where, and in what manner these things took
+place; as an accredited eyewitness of this I may mention our
+very spirited and valorous captain Don Hernando Cortes,
+marquis del Valle Oaxaca, who wrote an account of these
+occurrences from Mexico to his imperial majesty Don Carlos<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span>
+the Fifth, of glorious memory; and likewise the corresponding
+account of the viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza. But, besides
+this, you have only to read my history and you see it is true.</p>
+
+<p>I have now completed it this 26th day of February, 1568,
+from my day-book and memory, in this very loyal city of
+Guatimala, the seat of the royal court of audience. I also
+think of mentioning some other circumstances which are for
+the most part unknown to the public. I must beg of the
+printers not to take away from, nor add one single syllable to,
+the following narrative, etc.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+<h5>OF</h5>
+
+<h2>THE FIRST VOLUME.</h2>
+
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" width="85%" cellspacing="0" summary="toc">
+<tr><td align='left' style="width: 22%;"><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><span class="smcap">Chap. I.</span></a></td><td align='left' style="width: 70%;">The time of my departure from Castile, and what farther
+happened to me</td><td style="width: 10%;">1</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><span class="smcap">Chap. II.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Of the discovery of Yucatan, and the battle we fought there
+with the natives</td><td>3</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><span class="smcap">Chap. III.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Discovery of the coast of Campeachy</td><td>6</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><span class="smcap">Chap. IV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we landed in a bay close to some maise plantations, near
+the harbour of Potonchan, and of the attack that was made upon us there</td><td>9</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><span class="smcap">Chap. V.</span></a></td><td align='left'>We resolve to return to Cuba. The extreme thirst we suffered,
+and all the fatigues we underwent until our arrival in the port of Havannah</td><td>12</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><span class="smcap">Chap. VI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How twenty of us went on shore in the bay of Florida with the
+pilot Alaminos in search of water; the hostilities which the natives of
+this country commenced with us; and of all that further befel us on our
+passage to the Havannah</td><td>13</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><span class="smcap">Chap. VII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>The fatigues I had to undergo until my arrival in the town of
+Trinidad</td><td>17</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. VIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, sent out another
+armament to the country we had discovered</td><td>19</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><span class="smcap">Chap. IX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we landed at Champoton</td><td>23</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><span class="smcap">Chap. X.</span></a></td><td align='left'>We continued our course and ran into Terminos bay, as we named
+it</td><td>24</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we came into the Tabasco river, which we termed the
+Grijalva, and what happened to us there</td><td>25</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>We come in sight of the town of Aguajaluco, and give it the
+name of La Rambla</td><td>28</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we arrive on the Bandera stream and gain 1500 pesos</td><td>29</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XIV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we come into the harbour of San Juan de Ulua</td><td>32</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Diego Velasquez sends out a small vessel in quest of us</td><td>33</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XVI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>What befel us on our coasting voyage along the Tusta and
+Tuspa mountains</td><td>34</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XVII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Diego Velasquez despatches one of his officials to Spain</td><td>38</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XVIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Of some errors in the work of Francisco Lopez de Gomara</td><td>39</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. XIX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How another armament was fitted out for a voyage to the newly
+discovered countries; the command of which was given to Hernando Cortes,
+afterwards Marquis of the Vale of Oaxaca; also of the secret cabals
+which were formed to deprive him of it</td><td>42</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><span class="smcap">Chap. XX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Of the designs and plans of Hernando Cortes after he had obtained the
+appointment of captain</td><td>45</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Cortes' occupations at Trinidad, and of the cavaliers and
+warriors who there joined our expedition, and other matters</td><td>47</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the governor, Diego Velasquez, sends two of his
+officials in all haste to Trinidad, with full power and authority to
+deprive Cortes of his appointment of captain, and bring the squadron
+away, &amp;c.</td><td>49</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Cortes embarks with all his cavaliers and soldiers in order
+to sail along the south side of the island to the Havannah, and sends
+off one of the vessels to go around the north coast for the same port</td><td>51</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXIV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Diego Velasquez sends one of his officials, named Gaspar
+Garnica, with full authority to take Cortes prisoner, whatever might be
+the consequence; and what further happened</td><td>54</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Cortes sets sail with the whole squadron for the island of
+Cozumel, and what further took place</td><td>56</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXVI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Cortes reviews his troops, and what further happened</td><td>57</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXVII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Cortes receives information that two Spaniards are in the
+power of the Indians at the promontory of Cotoche: the steps he took
+upon this news</td><td>58</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXVIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>The manner in which Cortes divides the squadron. The
+officers whom he appointed to the command of the several vessels. His
+instructions to the pilots; the signals which were to be made with
+lanterns at night, &amp;c.</td><td>62</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXIX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the Spaniard Geronimo de Aguilar, who was in the power
+of the Indians, came to us when he learnt that we had again returned to
+the island of Cozumel, and what further happened</td><td>63</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we re-embark and sail for the river Grijalva, and what
+happened to us on our voyage there</td><td>66</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXXI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we arrive in the river Grijalva, called in the Indian
+language the Tabasco; the battle we fought there; and what further took
+place</td><td>68</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXXII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes despatches two of our principal officers, each
+with one hundred men, to explore the interior of the country, and what
+further took place</td><td>71</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXXIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Cortes issues orders that we should hold ourselves in
+readiness to march against the Indians on the following day; he also
+commands the horses to be brought on shore. How the battle terminates we
+fought with them</td><td>73</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXXIV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we are attacked by all the caziques of Tabasco, and the
+whole armed force of this province, and what further took place</td><td>74</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXXV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes assembles all the caziques of this province, and
+what further happened</td><td>77</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXXVI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How all the caziques and calachonis of the river Grijalva
+arrive with presents, and what happened after this</td><td>80</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXXVII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Do&ntilde;a Marina herself was a caziquess, and the
+daughter of distinguished personages; also a ruler over a people and
+several towns; and how she came to Tabasco</td><td>84</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXXVIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we arrive with our vessels in San Juan de Ulua, and
+what we did there</td><td>86</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. XXXIX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Teuthlille makes his
+report to Motecusuma, and gives him our presents; as also what further
+took place in our camp</td><td>90</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XL"><span class="smcap">Chap. XL.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes goes in search of another harbour and a good spot
+to found a colony, and what further happened</td><td>92</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XLI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XLI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>What happened on account of our bartering for gold, and of
+other things which took place in our camp</td><td>94</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XLII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XLII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we elected Hernando Cortes captain-general and chief
+justice until we should receive the emperor's commands on this head; and
+what further happened</td><td>97</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XLIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the partisans of Diego Velasquez would not acknowledge
+the power we had conferred upon Cortes, and what further took place</td><td>100</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XLIV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Pedro de Alvarado was ordered to make an excursion into
+the interior of the country, in order to procure maise and other
+provisions; and what further happened</td><td>101</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XLV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XLV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we marched into Sempoalla, which at that period was a
+very considerable township, and what we did there</td><td>104</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XLVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XLVI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we march into Quiahuitzlan, which was a town with
+fortifications, and were most friendly received</td><td>106</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XLVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XLVII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes ordered the five Mexican tax-gatherers to be
+rther obedience to be paid Motecusuma, nor tribute
+to be exacted; and of the rebellion which was now excited against this
+monarch</td><td>109</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XLVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XLVIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we resolved to found Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, and
+construct a fortress on the low meadows, in the neighbourhood of some
+salt springs and the harbour, where our vessels were anchored; and what
+further happened</td><td>111</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. XLIX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the fat cazique and other chief men of the country come
+and complain to Cortes that a garrison of Mexicans had been thrown into
+the strong fortress of Tzinpantzinco, committing great depredations; and
+what further took place</td><td>114</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_L"><span class="smcap">Chap. L.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How some of Diego Velasquez's adherents refused to take any
+further part in our proceedings, and declared their determination to
+return to Cuba, seeing that Cortes was earnestly bent upon founding a
+colony, and had already commenced to pacify the inhabitants</td><td>115</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LI"><span class="smcap">Chap. LI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>What happened to us at Tzinpantzinco, and how, on our return
+to Sempoalla, we destroyed all the idols; likewise of other matters</td><td>117</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes erects an altar, and places thereon the image of
+the blessed Virgin with a cross; after which mass was said, and the
+eight Indian females were baptized</td><td>121</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we arrived in our town of Vera Cruz, and what happened
+there</td><td>123</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. LIV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Concerning the account of our adventures, with the letter,
+which we sent his majesty the emperor, through Puertocarrero and
+Montejo, the letter being attested by some officers and soldiers</td><td>125</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LV"><span class="smcap">Chap. LV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Diego Velasquez is informed by his agents that we had sent
+messengers with letters and presents to our king, and what further took place</td><td>127</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. LVI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How our agents passed through the Bahama
+channel with the most favorable wind, and arrived in Castile after a
+short passage; and of our success at court</td><td>129</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LVII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>What took place in our camp after the departure of our
+agents to his majesty with the gold and the letters; and the instance of
+severity which Cortes was compelled to give</td><td>132</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LVIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we came to the resolution of marching to Mexico, and of
+destroying all our vessels, which was done with the sanction and by the
+advice of all Cortes' true adherents</td><td>133</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. LIX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Of the speech which Cortes made to us after our vessels were
+destroyed, and how we prepared for our march to Mexico</td><td>135</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LX"><span class="smcap">Chap. LX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes arrived with us at the spot where the vessel lay at
+anchor, and captured six soldiers and sailors of the said vessel who had
+stepped on shore; also what further took place</td><td>136</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXI"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we set out on our march to the city of Mexico, and, upon
+the advice of the caziques, take our road over Tlascalla. What took
+place here, and of the battles we fought</td><td>138</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we commenced our march upon Tlascalla, and sent
+messengers before us, to obtain the sanction of the inhabitants to pass
+through their country; how they took our messengers prisoners; and what
+further happened</td><td>143</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Of the terrible battles we fought with the Tlascallans, and
+what further happened</td><td>146</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXIV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we quartered ourselves in the township of Tehuacacinco,
+and what we did there</td><td>149</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXV"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Of the great battle we fought with the Tlascallans, and what
+further took place</td><td>150</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXVI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we sent a message next day to the caziques of Tlascalla
+to bring about peace between us, and the determination they came to upon this</td><td>153</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXVII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we again sent messengers to the caziques of Tlascalla
+em to make peace, and the resolution they came to
+upon this</td><td>157</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXVIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we came to the determination of marching to a township
+in the neighbourhood of our camp, and what happened upon this</td><td>158</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXIX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we found, on our return to our encampment, that new
+intrigues had been set on foot; and the answer Cortes gave to certain
+representations which were made to him</td><td>160</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXX"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the captain Xicotencatl assembled 20,000 chosen warriors
+to make an attack upon us in our camp, and what happened upon this</td><td>165</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXI"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How four chief personages arrived in our camp to negotiate
+terms of peace with us, and what further happened</td><td>167</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How ambassadors arrive in our camp from Motecusuma, and of
+the presents they brought with them</td><td>170</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the captain-general Xicotencatl arrives in our camp to
+negotiate terms of peace; the speech he made, and what further happened</td><td>171</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXIV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the old caziques of Tlascalla arrived in
+our camp and invited Cortes and all of us to visit their city, and what
+further happened</td><td>175</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXV"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we marched into the city of Tlascalla, and were received
+by the old caziques; of the present they made us, and how they brought
+us their daughters and nieces; and what further happened</td><td>176</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXVI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How mass was said in the presence of a great number of
+caziques, and of the present the latter brought us</td><td>178</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXVII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the caziques presented their daughters to Cortes and
+all of us, and what further happened</td><td>180</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXVIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes gained some information respecting Mexico from
+Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin</td><td>183</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXIX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How our captain Hernando Cortes and all our officers and
+soldiers determine to march to Mexico</td><td>187</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXX"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the great Motecusuma despatched four ambassadors to us,
+rity, with presents in gold and cotton stuffs, and
+what they said to our captains</td><td>190</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXI"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXXI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the inhabitants of Cholulla despatched four Indians to
+tinction, to apologise for not having visited us in
+Tlascalla, and what further happened</td><td>192</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXXII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we arrived in the town of Cholulla, and the brilliant
+reception we met with</td><td>193</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXXIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the inhabitants of Cholulla concerted a plan, at the
+instigation of Motecusuma, to murder us all, and what further happened</td><td>195</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXXIV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>The negotiations we set on foot with the great Motecusuma,
+and the ambassadors we sent him</td><td>208</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXV"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXXV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the powerful Motecusuma sends a valuable present in
+essage which accompanied it, and how we all agree
+to commence our march upon Mexico; and what further happened</td><td>210</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXXVI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we set out on our march to Mexico; what happened to us
+on our route; and the message Motecusuma sent us</td><td>212</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXXVII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the powerful Motecusuma again sends ambassadors to us
+d and cotton stuffs: that monarch's message to
+Cortes, and the answer he returns</td><td>216</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXXVIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>The magnificent and pompous reception which the powerful
+rtes and all of us, on our entrance into the great
+city of Mexico</td><td>220</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_LXXXIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. LXXXIX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Motecusuma, accompanied by several caziques, pays us a
+, and of the discourse that passed between him and
+our general</td><td>223</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XC"><span class="smcap">Chap. XC.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How our general, the day following, paid a visit to
+Motecusuma, and of the discourse that passed between them</td><td>225</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XCI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XCI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Of Motecusuma's person, disposition, habits, and of his great
+power</td><td>228</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XCII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XCII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Our general takes a walk through Mexico, and views the
+Tlatelulco, (the great square,) and the chief temple of Huitzilopochtli</td><td>235</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XCIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XCIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we erect a chapel and altar in our quarters with a
+cross on the outside; discover the treasure of Motecusuma's father; and
+determine to seize the monarch's person and imprison him in our quarters</td><td>244</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XCIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XCIV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Of the battle which the Mexican generals fought
+with Escalante and the Totonaque tribes</td><td>247</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XCV"><span class="smcap">Chap. XCV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Of the imprisonment of Motecusuma, and what further happened</td><td>249</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XCVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. XCVI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How our general appoints Alonso Grado lieutenant of Vera
+Cruz, and Sandoval alguacil-major of the same place</td><td>255</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XCVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XCVII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we entertained and amused Motecusuma during his
+confinement, and granted him permission to visit his temple</td><td>258</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XCVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. XCVIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes orders two large brigantines to be built for
+the navigation of the lake of Mexico; Motecusuma begs permission to
+visit his temples to offer up his prayers there; and what Cortes said to
+him when he granted this permission</td><td>261</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_XCIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. XCIX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How our two brigantines are launched, and Motecusuma,
+go a hunting, sails in one of these vessels to a
+river where he usually went for that purpose</td><td>263</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_C"><span class="smcap">Chap. C.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the nephews of Motecusuma assembled the principal
+personages of the empire, and formed a conspiracy to rescue the monarch
+from confinement, and beat us out of the city</td><td>265</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CI"><span class="smcap">Chap. CI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the powerful Motecusuma, with several caziques and chief
+personages of the country, declare themselves vassals of our emperor;
+and of other occurrences which happened then</td><td>271</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes sends out some of our men to explore the gold
+mines and those rivers which wash down gold; also the harbours from the
+Panuco to the Tabasco, but particularly the river Guacasualco</td><td>273</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the officers whom Cortes had despatched to the gold
+mines and the river Guacasualco returned to Mexico</td><td>274</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. CIV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes desired the powerful Motecusuma to order all the
+caziques of the empire to bring in the tribute of gold due to our
+emperor</td><td>277</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CV"><span class="smcap">Chap. CV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How all the gold presented by Motecusuma, and collected from
+ps, was divided; and what happened to one of our
+soldiers on the occasion</td><td>280</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. CVI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Of the high words which arose between Velasquez de Leon and
+our treasurer Gonzalo Mexia on account of the gold which was missing
+from the heap, and how Cortes put an end to that dispute</td><td>282</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CVII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Motecusuma offers one of his daughters in marriage to
+Cortes, who accepts her, and pays her the attention due to her high
+station</td><td>284</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CVIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the powerful Motecusuma acquaints Cortes that it is
+requisite for his safety to quit Mexico, with the whole of his men, as
+all the caziques and papas were upon the point of rising up in arms to
+destroy us all, in compliance with the advice given them by their gods:
+the steps which Cortes took upon this news</td><td>286</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. CIX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the governor of Cuba, Velasquez, in all haste fits out an
+armament against us, the command of which he gives to Pamfilo de
+Narvaez, who was accompanied by the licentiate Lucas Vazquez de Aillon,
+auditor of the royal court of audience at St. Domingo</td><td>289</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CX"><span class="smcap">Chap. CX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Narvaez arrives with the whole of his flotilla in the
+harbour of San Juan de Ulua, and what happened upon this</td><td>290</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXI"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Pamfilo Narvaez despatches five persons to Sandoval, the
+commandant of Vera Cruz, with summons to surrender up the town to him</td><td>293</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes, after he had gained every
+information respecting the armament, wrote to Narvaez, and several of
+his acquaintances who had come with him, and particularly to Andreas du
+Duero, private secretary to Velasquez; and of other events</td><td>296</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>The high words which arose between the auditor Vazquez de
+Aillon and Narvaez, who orders him to be seized and sent back prisoner
+to Spain</td><td>298</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXIV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Narvaez marches, with the whole of his troops, to Sempoalla;
+his proceedings there; and how we in Mexico determine to march against
+him</td><td>300</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXV"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the powerful Motecusuma inquires of Cortes whether it was
+really his intention to march out against Narvaez, though the latter's
+troops were double the number of ours</td><td>302</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXVI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we determined once more to despatch father Olmedo to
+Narvaez's head-quarters, and what we commissioned him to say</td><td>306</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXVII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How father Olmedo arrived in Narvaez's head-quarters at
+Sempoalla, and what he did there</td><td>308</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXVIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes reviews the whole of his troops, and we are
+supplied with two hundred and fifty very long new lances, by the
+Tchinantecs</td><td>310</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXIX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Duero, with the soldier Usagre and two of his Indian
+servants from Cuba, arrived in our camp; who this Duero was, and the
+reason of his visit, &amp;c.</td><td>311</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXX"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Juan Velasquez arrives in Narvaez's head-quarters, and
+what took place there</td><td>314</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXI"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>What took place in Narvaez's quarters after the return to
+our camp of the ambassadors we had sent there</td><td>318</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>The order of our march against Narvaez; the speech Cortes
+made to us; and our reply to it</td><td>320</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the 2000 Indians of Chinantla, whom Cortes had
+demanded of the caziques there, arrived at Sempoalla after Narvaez's
+defeat</td><td>329</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXIV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes despatches Francisco de Lugo, with two men who
+had formerly been ship-builders, to the harbour where Narvaez's flotilla
+lay, to bring all the captains and pilots of the vessels to Sempoalla</td><td>329</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXV"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we all, including Narvaez's troops, hasten to Mexico by
+forced marches</td><td>333</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXVI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the Mexicans made war upon us, and the battles we
+fought with them</td><td>337</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXVII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXVII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>Cortes determines to announce Motecusuma's death to the
+Mexican generals and chiefs who are at war with us</td><td>345</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXVIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXVIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we come to the determination of leaving Mexico
+secretly at night; and what further happened</td><td>347</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXIX"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXIX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we quartered ourselves in the metropolis of Tlascalla,
+and what we did there</td><td>359</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXX"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXX.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How we marched into the province of Tepeaca, what we did
+there, and of other things which happened</td><td>365</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXXI"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXXI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How a vessel, which had been sent by Diego Velasquez from
+Cuba, arrived at Vera Cruz, commanded by the captain Pedro Barba, and
+the manner in which Caballero captured her</td><td>369</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXXII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXXII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the inhabitants of Quauhquechola called upon Cortes, and begged of
+him to drive out the Mexican troops from their town, as they were
+plundered and ill-used by them</td><td>370</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXXIII"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXXIII.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How one of the vessels which Francisco de Garay had
+fitted out for the object of forming settlements on the river Panuco,
+put in at Vera Cruz, and what further happened</td><td>373</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXXIV"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXXIV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How Cortes despatches Sandoval with 200 men, among which
+were twenty horse and twelve crossbow-men, to punish the tribes of
+Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, for having put some Spaniards to death, and to
+demand restitution of the gold they had robbed us of; and also further
+to explore the country</td><td>375</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXXV"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXXV.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How all the slaves we had taken in Tepeaca, Quauhquechola,
+Tecalco, and Castilblanco, were brought together in our head-quarters,
+and branded with an iron, in his majesty's name</td><td>379</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_CXXXVI"><span class="smcap">Chap. CXXXVI.</span></a></td><td align='left'>How the chief officers and principal personages of
+Narvaez's troops request leave to return to Cuba, which Cortes grants,
+and they accordingly leave; also how our general sends ambassadors to
+Spain, St. Domingo, and Jamaica</td><td>381</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#NOTES"><span class="smcap">Notes</span></a></td><td>&nbsp;</td><td>387</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p><br /></p>
+<div class="mynote"><p class="left"><span>Transcriber's note: The errata below have been corrected in the text. Footnote
+[24] also has been moved in the text to its correct position.</span></p>
+</div>
+
+
+<h3>ERRATA.</h3>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">P.  17, <i>l.</i>  3, <i>for</i> Fronseca, <i>read</i> Fonseca.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">17,&nbsp; &nbsp; 24, <i>for</i> dubbloons, <i>read</i> doubloons.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">20,&nbsp; &nbsp; 18, <i>for</i> Chaopa, <i>read</i> Chiapa.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">20,&nbsp; &nbsp; 26, <i>for</i> Mautanzas, <i>read</i> Matanza.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">31,&nbsp; &nbsp;  8, <i>for</i> this, <i>read</i> their.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">31,&nbsp; &nbsp; 28, <i>for</i> surrounded, <i>read</i> surmounted.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">51,&nbsp; &nbsp; 17, <i>for</i> his, <i>read</i> its</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">P.  53, <i>l.</i> 19, <i>read</i> whom the king Quauhtemoctzin took.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">126,&nbsp; &nbsp;  2, <i>for</i> which, <i>read</i> whom.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">230,&nbsp; &nbsp; 22, <i>for</i> were, <i>read</i> was.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">355,&nbsp; &nbsp;  9, <i>for</i> when, <i>read</i> where.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">365,&nbsp; &nbsp; 33, <i>for</i> were the townships, <i>read</i> was the township.</span><br />
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CONQUEST</h2>
+
+<h5>OF</h5>
+
+<h2>MEXICO AND NEW SPAIN.</h2>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The time of my departure from Castile, and what further happened to me.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>In the year 1514 I departed from Castile in the suite of Pedro Arias
+de Avila, who had just then been appointed governor of Terra Firma.
+At sea we had sometimes bad and sometimes good weather, until we
+arrived at Nombre Dios, where the plague was raging: of this we
+lost many of our men, and most of us got terrible sores on our legs,
+and were otherwise ill. Soon after our arrival, dissensions arose
+between the governor and a certain wealthy cavalier, named Vasco
+Nu&ntilde;ez de Balboa, who had brought this province to subjection, and
+was married to one of the daughters of Avila. As, however, suspicion
+had been excited against him, owing to a plan he had formed of making
+a voyage to the South Sea at his own expense, for which he required
+a considerable body of troops, his own father-in-law deposed him and
+afterwards sentenced him to decapitation.</p>
+
+<p>While we were spectators of all this, and saw, moreover, how other
+soldiers rebelled against their superior officers, we learnt that the island
+of Cuba had just been conquered, and that a nobleman of Quellar,
+named Diego Velasquez, was appointed governor there. Upon this
+news some of us met together, cavaliers and soldiers, all persons of
+quality who had come with Pedro Arias de Avila, and asked his permission
+to proceed to the island of Cuba: this he readily granted,
+not having sufficient employment for so great a number of men as he
+had brought with him from Spain. Neither was there any further
+conquest to be made in these parts; all was in profound peace, so
+thoroughly had his son-in-law Balboa subdued the country, besides
+which it was but small in extent and thinly populated. As soon,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>
+therefore, as we had obtained leave, we embarked in a good vessel and
+took our departure. Our voyage was most prosperous, so that we
+speedily arrived at Cuba. The first thing we did was to pay our respects
+to the governor, who received us with great kindness, and made us a
+promise of the first Indians that might be discharged. Three years,
+however, passed away since our first arrival in Terra Firma and stay
+at Cuba, still living in the expectation of the Indians which had been
+promised us, but in vain. During the whole of this time we had accomplished
+nothing worthy of notice: we therefore, the 110 who had
+come from Terra Firma, with some others of Cuba, who were also without
+any Indians, met together to concert measures with a rich cavalier
+named Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, who, besides being a person
+of wealth, possessed great numbers of Indians on the island. This
+gentleman we chose for our captain; he was to lead us out on voyages
+for the discovery of new countries, where we might find sufficient
+employment.</p>
+
+<p>We purchased three vessels, two of which were of considerable
+burden; the third was given us by the governor, Diego Velasquez, on
+condition namely, that we should first invade the Guanajas islands,
+which lie between Cuba and the Honduras, and bring him thence three
+cargoes of Indians, whom he wanted for slaves; this he would consider
+as payment for the vessel. We were, however, fully aware that it was
+an act of injustice which Diego Velasquez thus required at our hands,
+and gave him for answer: that neither God nor the king had commanded
+us to turn a free people into slaves. When he learnt our determination,
+he confessed that our project for the discovery of new
+countries was more praiseworthy, and he furnished us with provisions
+for our voyage.</p>
+
+<p>We had now three vessels and a sufficient supply of cassave bread,
+as it is there made from the juca root. We also purchased some pigs,
+which cost us three pesos a piece; for at that time there were neither
+cows nor sheep on the island of Cuba: to this I must also add a scanty
+supply of other provisions; while every soldier took with him some glass
+beads for barter. We had three pilots; of whom the principal one, who
+had the chief command of our vessels, was called Anton de Alaminos,
+a native of Palos; the two others were, Camacho de Triana, and Juan
+Alvarez el Manquillo of Huelva. In the same way we hired sailors,
+and furnished ourselves with ropes, anchors, water-casks, and other
+necessaries for our voyage, all at our own expense and personal risk.</p>
+
+<p>After we had met together, in all 110, we departed for a harbour on
+the north coast of Cuba, called by the natives Ajaruco. The distance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>
+from this place to the town of San Christoval, then recently built, was
+twenty-four miles; for the Havannah had then only been two years in
+our possession. In order that our squadron might not want for anything
+really useful, we engaged a priest at the town of San Christoval.
+His name was Alonso Gonzalez, and by fair words and promises we
+persuaded him to join us. We also appointed, in the name of his
+majesty, a treasurer, called Beruardino Miguez, a native of Saint Domingo
+de la Calzada. This was done in order that if it pleased God
+we should discover any new countries, where either gold, silver, or
+pearls were to be found, there might be amongst us a qualified person
+to take charge of the fifths for the Emperor.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> After everything had
+been thus properly ordered and we had heard mass said, we commended
+ourselves to God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the virgin Mary
+his blessed mother, and set out on our voyage, as I shall further relate.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Of the Discovery of Yucatan, and the battle we fought there with
+the Natives.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>We sailed in the year 1517 from the harbour of Jaruco and left the
+Havannah. This harbour lies on the north coast of Cuba, and is so
+called by the natives. After twelve days' sail we had passed the coast of
+Saint Antonius, which in Cuba is called the country of the Guanatavies,
+a wild tribe of Indians. We now made for the wide ocean, steering
+continually towards the west, totally ignorant of the shoals and currents
+or of the winds which predominate in this latitude. Certainly most
+hazardous on our part, and indeed we were very soon visited by a
+terrible storm, which continued two days and two nights, in which the
+whole of us had nigh perished.</p>
+
+<p>After the storm had abated and we had changed our course, we
+came in sight of land on the twenty-first day after our departure from
+Cuba, which filled every heart with joy and thanks towards God. This
+country had never been discovered before, nor had any one ever heard
+of it. From our ships we could perceive a considerable sized town,
+which lay about six miles from the sea shore. On account of its magnitude,
+and because it was larger than any town in Cuba, we gave it
+the name of <i>Grand Cairo</i>.</p>
+
+<p>We resolved that our smallest vessel should near the shore as much
+as possible, to learn the nature of the spot and look out for a good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>
+anchorage. One morning, the 5th of March, we perceived five large
+canoes full of men coming towards us as swift as their paddles and
+sails could bring them from the town just mentioned. These canoes
+were hollowed out of the trunks of large trees, after the manner of
+our kneading troughs. Many of them were big enough to hold from
+forty to fifty Indians.</p>
+
+<p>As these Indians approached us in their canoes, we made signs of
+peace and friendship, beckoning at the same time to them with our
+hands and cloaks to come up to us that we might speak with them;
+for at that time there was nobody amongst us who understood the language
+of Yucatan or Mexico. They now came along side of us without
+evincing the least fear, and more than thirty of them climbed on board
+of our principal ship. We gave them bacon and cassave bread to eat,
+and presented each with a necklace of green glass beads. After they
+had for some time minutely examined the ship, the chief, who was a
+cazique, gave us to understand, by signs, that he wished to get down
+again into his canoe and return home, but that he would come the
+next day with many more canoes in order to take us on shore. These
+Indians wore a kind of cloak made of cotton, and a small sort of apron
+which hung from their hips half-way down to the knee, which they
+termed a maltates. We found them more intelligent than the Indians
+of Cuba, where only the women wear a similar species of apron made
+of cotton, which hangs down over their thighs, and is called by them
+a nagua.</p>
+
+<p>But to continue my narrative. Very early the morning following,
+our cazique again called upon us: this time he brought with him
+twelve large canoes and a number of rowers. He made known to our
+captain, by signs, that we were good friends and might come to his
+town: he would give us plenty to eat with everything we wanted, and
+could go on shore in his twelve canoes. I shall never forget how
+he said, in his language, <i>con escotoch</i>, <i>con escotoch</i>, which means, come
+with me to my houses yonder. We therefore called the spot Punta de
+Cotoche, under which name it stands on the sea charts.</p>
+
+<p>In consideration of all these friendly invitations from the cazique to
+accompany him to his village, our captain held a short consultation
+with us, when we came to the resolution to lower our boats, take the
+smallest of our vessels with us, and so proceed together with the twelve
+canoes all at once on shore, as the coast was crowded with Indians
+from the above-mentioned village. This was accordingly done, and
+we all arrived there at the same time. The cazique seeing us now
+landed, but that we made no signs of going to his village, again gave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span>
+our captain to understand, by signs, that we should follow him to his
+habitation, making at the same time so many demonstrations of friendship,
+that a second consultation was held as to whether we should accompany
+him or not. This was carried in the affirmative, but we
+took every precaution to be upon our guard, marching in close order
+with our arms ready for action. We took fifteen crossbows with a
+like number of matchlocks, and followed the cazique, who was accompanied
+by a great number of Indians.</p>
+
+<p>As we were thus marching along, and had arrived in the vicinity of
+several rocky mountains, the cazique all at once raised his voice, calling
+aloud to his warriors, who it seemed were lying wait in ambush, to fall
+upon us and destroy us all. The cazique had no sooner given the
+signal, than out rushed with terrible fury great numbers of armed
+warriors, greeting us with such a shower of arrows, that fifteen of our
+men were immediately wounded. These Indians were clad in a kind
+of cuirass made of cotton, and armed with lances, shields, bows, and
+slings; with each a tuft of feathers stuck on his head. As soon as they
+had let fly their arrows, they rushed forward and attacked us man to
+man, setting furiously to with their lances, which they held in both
+hands. When, however, they began to feel the sharp edge of our
+swords, and saw what destruction our crossbows and matchlocks made
+among them, they speedily began to give way. Fifteen of their number
+lay dead on the field.</p>
+
+<p>At some distance from the spot where they had so furiously attacked
+us was a small place in which stood three houses built of stone and
+lime. These were temples in which were found many idols made of
+clay which were of a pretty good size; some had the countenances of
+devils, others those of females: some again had even more horrible
+shapes, and appeared to represent Indians committing horrible offences.
+In these temples we also found small wooden boxes containing other
+of their gods with hellish faces, several small shells, some ornaments,
+three crowns, and other trinkets, some in the shape of fish, others in
+the shape of ducks, all worked out of an inferior kind of gold.
+Seeing all this, the gold, and the good architectural style of the
+temples, we felt overjoyed at the discovery of this country; for Peru
+was not discovered till sixteen years after. While we were fighting
+with the Indians, the priest Gonzalez ordered the gold and small idols
+to be removed to our ships by two Indians whom we had brought
+with us from Cuba. During the skirmish we took two of the natives
+prisoners, who subsequently allowed themselves to be baptised and
+became Christians. One was named Melchior and the other Julian;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>
+both were tattooed about the eyes. The combat with the natives now
+being at an end, we resolved to re-embark, and prosecute our voyage
+of discovery further along the coast towards the west. Having dressed
+the wounds of our men we again set sail.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Discovery of the Coast of Campeachy.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Continuing the course we had previously determined upon, more
+westward along the coast, we discovered many promontories, bays, reefs,
+and shallows. We all considered this country to be an island, because
+our pilot, Anton de Alaminos, persisted in it. During daytime we
+proceeded with all caution, but lay to at nights. After sailing in this
+way for fourteen days, we perceived another village which appeared to
+us of considerable magnitude. Here was a bay with an inner harbour,
+and it appeared to us that there might also be some river or small
+stream where we could take in fresh water, which latter had become
+very scarce, as our supply in the casks, which were none of the best,
+was fast diminishing; for, as the expedition was fitted out solely by
+persons in poor circumstances, we had not been able to purchase good
+ones. It happened to be Sunday Lazari when we landed, and we
+therefore named this place in honour of this day, although we were well
+aware that the Indians called it the land of <i>Campeachy</i>.</p>
+
+<p>In order that the whole of us might land at the same time, we determined
+to go on shore in our smallest vessel and three boats, all of
+us well armed, to be ready in case we should meet with a similar
+rencontre as at the cape of Cotoche. The sea in these bays and roads
+is very shallow, so that our vessels were forced to anchor at more than
+three miles distance from the shore. Thus precautious we landed near
+the village, but were still a good way from the place were we intended
+to fill our casks. From this spot the natives also had their water; for
+we now found that there was no rivulet in the neighbourhood.</p>
+
+<p>When we had brought our casks on shore, filled them with water,
+and were about to embark again, about fifty Indians from the village
+came up to us. They all wore stately mantels made of cotton, appeared
+friendly disposed, and to be caziques. They asked us, by signs,
+what our business was there? We told them to take in water, and
+that we were about to re-embark. They further pointed with their
+hands to the rising of the sun, and asked us whether we came from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>
+that quarter, at the same time pronouncing the word <i>Castilan</i>, <i>Castilan</i>;
+but at that moment we did not pay any particular attention to the
+word Castilan. In the course of this interview, however, they gave
+us to understand that we might go with them to their village.</p>
+
+<p>We held a consultation amongst ourselves as to whether we should
+accept the invitation, and at length unanimously agreed to follow them,
+but to use the utmost circumspection. They took us to some large
+edifices, which were strongly put together, of stone and lime, and had
+otherwise a good appearance. These were temples, the walls of which
+were covered with figures representing snakes and all manner of gods.
+Round about a species of altar we perceived several fresh spots of blood.
+On some of the idols there were figures like crosses, with other paintings
+representing groups of Indians. All this astonished us greatly as we
+had neither seen nor heard, of such things before. It appeared to us
+that the inhabitants had just been sacrificing some Indians to their
+gods, to obtain from them the power to overcome us.</p>
+
+<p>There were great numbers of Indians with their wives who received
+us with pleasing smiles, and otherwise made every show of friendship;
+but their numbers gradually increasing we began to entertain fears
+that it would end in the same hostile manner as at Cape Cotoche.
+While we were thus looking on, a number of Indians approached us
+clad in tattered cloaks, each carrying a bundle of dried reeds, which
+they arranged in order on the ground. Among them we also perceived
+two troops of men armed with bows, lances, shields, slings, and stones,
+having their cotton cuirasses on. At the head of these, and at some
+distance from us stood the chiefs. At this moment ten Indians came
+running out of another temple, all dressed in long white robes, while
+the thick hair of their heads was so entangled and clotted with blood
+that it would have been an impossibility to have combed or put it in
+order without cutting it off. These personages were priests, and in
+New Spain are commonly termed <i>Papas</i>.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> I repeat it, that in New
+Spain they are termed papas, and I will therefore in future call them
+by that name. These papas brought with them a kind of incense,
+which looked like resin, and is termed by them copal. They had
+pans made of clay filled with glowing embers, and with these they
+perfumed us. They also gave us to understand, by signs, that we
+should leave their country before the bundles of reeds, which had been
+brought and were going to be set fire to, should be consumed, otherwise
+they would attack and kill us every man.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this they ordered the bundles to be lighted, and as soon as they
+began to burn, all were silent, nor did they utter another syllable.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>
+Those, on the contrary, who had ranged themselves in order of battle,
+began to play on their pipes, blow their twisted shells, and beat their
+drums. When we saw what their real intentions were, and how confident
+they appeared, it of course reminded us that our wounds which
+we had received at Cape Cotoche were not yet healed; that two of our
+men had died of the consequences, whom we had been obliged to throw
+overboard. As the number of Indians continued to increase, we became
+alarmed, and resolved to retreat to the shore in the best order we
+could. In this way we marched along the coast until we arrived at that
+spot where our boats and the small vessels lay with the water-casks.
+Not far distant from this place stood a rock in the midst of the sea;
+for, on account of the vast numbers of Indians, we durst not venture
+to re-embark where we had at first landed, as they would no doubt have
+fallen upon us while we were getting into our boats.</p>
+
+<p>After we had thus managed to get our water safe on board and re-embark
+at the small harbour which the bay here forms, we continued
+our course for six days and six nights without interruption, the weather
+being very fine. But now the wind suddenly veered round to the north
+and brought stormy weather, as is always the case with a north wind
+on this coast. The storm lasted twenty-four hours, and indeed we had
+nearly all of us met with a watery grave, so boisterous was the sea. In
+order to save ourselves from total destruction we cast anchor near the
+shore. The safety of our ship now depended upon two ropes, and had
+they given way we should have been cast on shore. Oh, in what a
+perilous situation we were then placed! had we been torn away from
+our anchors we must have been wrecked off the coast! But it was the
+will of Providence that our old ropes and cables should preserve us.
+When the storm had abated we continued our course along the coast
+and kept in as much as possible, that we might take in water when required.
+For, as I have before stated, our casks were old and leaky;
+nor was the best economy used with the water, for we thought by going
+on shore we should be certain either to meet with some spring or obtain
+it by digging wells. Thus coasting along we espied a village from our
+ships, and about three miles further on there was a kind of inner
+harbour, at the head of which it appeared to us there might be some
+river or brook; we therefore resolved to land here.</p>
+
+<p>The water, as I have above mentioned, being uncommonly shallow
+along this coast, we were compelled to anchor our two larger vessels
+at about three miles distance from the shore, fearing they might otherwise
+run aground. We then proceeded with our smallest vessel and all
+our boats in order to land at the above-mentioned inner harbour. We<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>
+were, however, quite upon our guard, and carried along with us, besides
+the water-casks, our arms, crossbows, and muskets.</p>
+
+<p>It was about midday when we landed. The distance from here to
+the village, which was called Potonchan, might be three miles. Here
+we found some wells, maise plantations, and stone buildings. Our
+water-casks were soon filled, but we could not succeed to get them into
+our boats on account of an attack made upon us by great numbers of
+the inhabitants. I will, however, break off here and relate the battle
+we fought, in the next chapter.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we landed in a bay close to some maise plantations, near the
+harbour of Potonchan, and of the attack that was made upon us there.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>While we were busy taking in water, near the above-mentioned
+houses and maise plantations, great numbers of Indians were making
+towards us from the village of Potonchan, as it is termed by the natives.
+They had all their cotton cuirasses on, which reached to their knees,
+and were armed with bows, lances, shields, and swords. The latter
+were shaped like our broadswords, and are wielded with both hands.
+They also had slings and stones, their bunches of feathers on, and their
+whole bodies painted with white, brown, and black colours. They approached
+us in profound silence, as if they came with the most peaceable
+intentions, and inquired of us by signs if we came from the rising
+of the sun, thereby pronouncing the very same words which the inhabitants
+of St. Lazaro had used: namely, <i>Castilan, Castilan</i>. We told
+them, likewise by signs, that we indeed came from the rising of the sun.
+We certainly did not understand what they meant; nevertheless it was
+something for us to reflect on, while it at the same time gave rise to a
+variety of conjectures, since the natives of St. Lazaro had used the
+identical words.</p>
+
+<p>It was about the hour of Ave Maria, when the Indians approached
+us in this manner. A few country houses were scattered round about
+the neighbourhood. We took the precaution to post watches in different
+quarters, and upon the whole kept a sharp look out, as the manner in
+which the natives were assembling seemed to forebode very little good.
+When we had closed our ranks and taken every necessary precaution,
+our ears were assailed by the cries and yells of large bodies of Indians
+who were advancing from different quarters. As they were all armed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>
+for battle we could no longer doubt that some evil design was lurking
+behind; we therefore held a consultation with our captain as to the course
+we should adopt. Many were of opinion that the best we could do
+would be to re-embark ourselves in all haste; but, as is always the case
+in critical moments, one advised this and another that, and so this proposal
+was overruled as unadvisable, for the vast numbers of Indians
+would certainly fall upon us while we were getting into our boats and
+we should all stand in danger of being killed. Others again, among
+which number I also was, were of opinion that the enemy should be
+attacked that very night; for, according to the old saying, he who
+strikes the first blow remains master of the field; but we might make
+up our minds that each of us singly would have to encounter thirty
+Indians at least.</p>
+
+<p>Day now began to dawn, and we emboldened each other to meet the
+coming severe conflict by putting our trust in God and commending our
+cause to him, while every one was determined to defend himself to the
+utmost. As soon as daylight had fully broken forth, we perceived
+more troops of armed natives moving towards the coast with flying
+colours. They had on their feather-knots, and were provided with
+drums, bows, lances, shields, and joined themselves to the others who
+had arrived in the night. They divided themselves into different bodies,
+surrounded us on all sides, and commenced pouring forth such showers
+of arrows, lances, and stones, that more than eighty of our men were
+wounded at the first onset. They next rushed furiously forward and
+attacked us man to man: some with their lances, others with their
+swords and arrows, and all this with such terrible fury that we were
+compelled also to show them earnest. We dealt many a good thrust
+and blow amongst them, keeping up at the same time an incessant fire
+with our muskets and crossbows; for while some loaded others fired.
+At last, by dint of heavy blows and thrusts we forced them to give way;
+but they did not retreat further than was necessary, in order that they
+might still continue to hem us in in all safety; constantly crying out in
+their language, <i>Al calachoni, al calachoni</i>; which signifies, kill the
+chief! And sure enough our captain was wounded in no less than
+twelve different places by their arrows. I myself had three; one of
+which was in my left side and very dangerous, the arrow having pierced
+to the very bone. Others of our men were wounded by the enemy's
+lances, and two were carried off alive; of whom, one was called Alonzo
+Bote, the other was an old Portuguese.</p>
+
+<p>Perceiving how closely we were hemmed in on all sides by the enemy,
+who not only kept constantly pouring in fresh troops but were copiously<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>
+supplied on the field of battle with meat, drink, and quantities of arrows,
+we soon concluded that all our courageous fighting would not advance
+us a step. The whole of us were wounded, many shot through the
+neck, and more than fifty of our men were killed. In this critical
+situation we determined to cut our way manfully through the enemy's
+ranks and make for the boats, which fortunately lay on the coast near
+at hand. We therefore firmly closed our ranks and broke through the
+enemy. At that moment you should have heard the whizzing of their
+arrows, the horrible yell they set up, and how the Indians provoked
+each other to the combat, at the same time making desperate thrusts
+with their lances. But a still more serious misfortune awaited us; for
+as we made a simultaneous rush to our boats, they soon sunk or capsized,
+so that we were forced to cling to them as well as we could; and
+in this manner by swimming we strove to make the best of our way to
+the small vessel, which was now in all haste coming up to our assistance.
+Many of our men were even wounded while climbing into the
+vessel, but more particularly those who clung to its side; for the Indians
+pursued us in their canoes and attacked us without intermission. With
+the greatest exertions and help of God we thus got out of the hands of
+this people.</p>
+
+<p>After we had gained our vessels we found that fifty-seven of our
+men were missing, besides the two whom the Indians had carried off
+alive, and five whom we had thrown overboard, who had died in consequence
+of their wounds and extreme thirst. The battle lasted a little
+longer than half an hour. The spot where it took place was certainly
+called Potonchan. Our seamen, however, gave it the name of Bahea
+de mala Pelea, (the bay of the disastrous engagement,) as it stands on
+the maps. As soon as we found ourselves in safety we returned thanks
+to Almighty God for the preservation of our lives. Our wounded, however,
+had still great sufferings to undergo, as we had nothing but salt
+water to wash their wounds with, which caused them to swell very
+much. Some of our men swore most bitterly against our chief pilot
+Alaminos, and the conduct he had pursued; he having steadfastly
+maintained that this was an island and not a continent. I must,
+however, break off here, and relate what further happened to us, in the
+next chapter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>We resolve to return to Cuba. The extreme thirst we suffered, and all
+the fatigues we underwent until our arrival in the port of Havannah.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After we had got into our vessels, as above related, and returned
+thanks to God for our preservation, we commenced dressing our wounds.
+None of us had escaped without two, three, or four wounds. Our
+captain had as many as twelve, and there was only one single soldier
+who came off whole. We therefore determined to return to Cuba; but as
+most of the sailors who had accompanied us on shore were also wounded,
+we had not sufficient hands to work the sails, we were therefore forced
+to set fire to our smallest vessel and leave it to the mercy of the waves,
+after taking out all the ropes, sails, and anchors, and distributing the
+sailors, who were not wounded equally among the two other vessels.
+We had, however, to struggle with another far greater evil. This was
+our great want of fresh water; for although we had filled our barrels
+and casks near Potonchan, we did not succeed to bring them off,
+owing to the furious attack of the natives and the hurry we were in
+to get on board: thus we had been compelled to leave them behind
+and return without a single drop of water. We suffered most intensely
+from thirst, and the only way we could in some measure
+refresh our parched tongues was to hold the edges of our axes between
+our lips. Oh, what a fearful undertaking it is to venture out on the
+discovery of new countries, and place one's life in danger, as we were
+obliged to do! Those alone can form any idea of it who have gone
+through the hard school of experience.</p>
+
+<p>We now kept as close into the shore as possible, to look out for some
+stream or creek where we might meet with fresh water. After thus
+continuing our course for three days we espied an inlet or mouth of
+some river as we thought, and sent a few hands on shore in the hopes
+of meeting with water. These were fifteen sailors who had remained on
+board during the battle at Potonchan, and three soldiers who had been
+only slightly wounded. They carried along with them pickaxes and three
+small casks. But the water in the inlet was salt, and wherever they dug
+wells it was equally bad. They nevertheless filled the casks with it, but
+it was so bitter and salty as to be unfit for use. Two soldiers who
+drank of it became ill of the consequences. The water here swarmed
+with lizards; we therefore gave this place the name of Lizard Bay,
+under which name it stands on the sea charts.</p>
+
+<p>But, to continue my history, I must not forget to mention that while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>
+our boats were on shore in search of water, there suddenly arose such
+a violent tempest from the north-east, that our ships were nigh being
+cast on shore. For, as we were forced to lay to, the wind blowing
+hard from the north and north-east, our position was extremely dangerous,
+from a scarcity of ropes.</p>
+
+<p>When the men who had gone on shore with our boats perceived the
+danger we were in, they hastened to our assistance, and cast out additional
+anchors and cables. In this way we lay for two days and two
+nights. After the expiration of that time we again heaved our anchors
+and steered in the direction of Cuba. Our pilot Alaminos here held a
+consultation with the two others, when they concluded that the best
+plan would be to get, if possible, into the latitude of Florida, which,
+according to their charts and furthest measurement, could not be more
+than 210 miles distant; for they assured us if we could get into the
+latitude of Florida, we should have a better and speedier sail to the
+Havannah. It turned out exactly as they had said; for Alaminos had
+been in these parts before, having accompanied Juan de Leon when
+he discovered Florida, about ten or twelve years previously. After
+four days' sail we crossed this gulf and came in sight of Florida.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How twenty of us went on shore in the bay of Florida with the pilot
+Alaminos in search of water; the hostilities which the natives of this
+country commenced with us; and of all that further befel us on our
+passage to the Havannah.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>As soon as we had arrived off the coast of Florida we determined
+that twenty of our men, who had almost recovered from their wounds,
+should go on shore. Among the number was myself and the pilot,
+Alaminos. We each took a mattock and a small cask, being, moreover,
+well armed with crossbows and muskets. Our captain, who was dangerously
+wounded and very much weakened by the extreme thirst he
+suffered, begged of us, in the name of God, to bring him some sweet
+water, as he was almost dying of thirst. Indeed, the water, as I have
+before said, which we then had was quite salty and not drinkable. We
+landed in a creek, and our pilot again recognized this coast, which he
+had visited ten or twelve years previously with Ponce de Leon, when
+he discovered these countries. They had here fought a battle with the
+natives, and lost many of their men.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>We therefore took every precaution lest the natives should also fall
+upon us unawares. We posted two sentinels at a spot where the
+stream had a considerable breadth. We then dug deep wells where
+we thought fresh water was likely to be found. The sea was just
+ebbing, and it pleased God that we should find sweet water there.</p>
+
+<p>With joyful hearts we then took our fill of the refreshing beverage,
+and washed the bandages of our wounded. A good hour's time was
+spent in this, and as we were on the point of re-embarking with the
+casks of water, quite overjoyed at our success, one of the men whom
+we had placed sentinel on the coast came running towards us in all
+haste, crying aloud, "To arms! to arms! numbers of Indians are approaching,
+both by land and sea." And indeed the Indians came up
+to us almost at the same time with the sentinel.</p>
+
+<p>They had immense sized bows with sharp arrows, lances, and spears&mdash;among
+these some were shaped like swords&mdash;while their large powerful
+bodies were covered with skins of wild beasts. They made straightways
+to us, let fly their arrows, and wounded six of our men at the first
+onset. I was also slightly wounded in my right arm. We, however,
+received our enemies with such well-directed blows and musket-shots
+that they very soon quitted us who had been digging the wells, and
+turned towards the creek to assist their companions who in their
+canoes were attacking those left behind in the boat. The latter had been
+forced to fight man to man, and had already lost the boat, which the
+Indians were towing off behind their canoes. Four of the sailors had
+been wounded, and the pilot, Alaminos, himself severely so in the
+throat. We, however, courageously faced our enemy, went up to our
+middles in the water, and soon compelled them, by dint of our swords,
+to jump out of the boat again. Twenty-two of the enemy lay dead on
+the shore; three others, who were slightly wounded, we took on board
+with us, but they died soon after.</p>
+
+<p>After this skirmish was ended, we questioned the soldier who had
+stood sentinel as to what had become of his companion, Berrio. He
+related that his comrade had left him with an axe in his hand, in order
+to go and cut down a palm-tree, and that this was near the inlet where
+the Indians first made their appearance. He had also heard him cry
+out in Spanish, upon which he himself had immediately hastened to
+give us the information. His companion, no doubt, had been murdered
+by the Indians. Singular that this man should have lost his
+life here, he being the only one who escaped without a wound at the
+battle of Potonchan. We made every search for him, and followed the
+track of the Indians who had just attacked us; this indeed led us to a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>
+palm-tree which had been recently cut, around which were numerous
+foot-marks. We could, however, discover no marks of blood; and
+concluded, therefore, that the Indians had carried off the man alive.
+After we had fruitlessly searched for him in every quarter for upwards
+of an hour, and repeatedly called out aloud to him, without receiving
+any answer, we returned to our boat, and brought the water on board.
+The joy of our men was as great as if we had brought them new life;
+and one of the soldiers, from excessive thirst, leaped from the vessel
+into the boat, seized one of the small casks, and poured such an abundance
+of water into his body, that he instantaneously swelled out and
+expired.</p>
+
+<p>Having brought the water on board our vessels, hauled in our boats,
+we hoisted our sails and stood direct for the Havannah. The day and
+following night the weather was most beautiful as we passed the Martyr
+Islands and sand-banks of the same name. We had only four fathoms
+water, where the sea was deepest; our principal ship consequently
+struck against the rocks and became very leaky, so that all hands were
+engaged at the pumps, without then being able to get the water under,
+while we every moment feared the vessel would go down. I never
+shall forget the answer which some sailors from the Levant, who were
+among the crew, made when we cried out to them: "Come on, my
+boys, help us to pump out the water, or we shall all be lost! you see
+how our wounds and hard labour have debilitated us." "That's
+your own look out," said they; "we get no pay, suffer both from
+hunger and thirst, and have, in the bargain, to share your fatigues and
+wounds." Nothing now remained but to drive them to the pumps by
+main force; and in this way we had alternately to work the sails and
+the pumps, however distasteful to us, until the Lord Jesus brought us
+into the port of Carena, where now the town of Havannah stands, the
+latter being previously called Puerto de Carenas, and not the Havannah.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we had set foot on shore we returned thanks to the
+Almighty for our safe return, and got the water out of our principal
+ship, in which a Portuguese diver, who happened to be on board
+another vessel, greatly assisted us. We also immediately wrote to the
+governor, Diego Velasquez, giving him an account of the countries we
+discovered with large townships and houses built of stone, whose inhabitants
+were clad in cotton, and wore maltates; likewise of the gold
+and the regular maise-plantations of the country. Our captain journeyed
+overland to Santispiritus, where he had his Indian commendary:
+he died, however, ten days after his arrival there, from his wounds.
+The rest of our men became dispersed through the island, and three
+more of our men died of their wounds at the Havannah.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Our vessels were taken to Santiago de Cuba, where the governor
+resided. Here the two Indians were brought on shore whom we had
+taken with us from the Punta de Cotoche, as above related, called
+Melchorillo and Julianillo. When, however, we brought forth the box
+with the crowns, the golden ducks, the fish, and the idols, more noise
+was made about them than they really merited, so that they became
+the common topics of conversation throughout the islands of St.
+Domingo and Cuba; indeed the fame thereof even reached Spain.
+There it was said that none of the countries which had hitherto been
+discovered were as rich as this, and in none had there been found
+houses built of stone. The earthen gods, it was said, were the remains
+of the ancient heathen times; others again went so far as to affirm that
+they were descendants of the Jews whom Titus and Vespasian had
+driven from Jerusalem, who had been shipwrecked off this coast.
+Peru, indeed, was not then known, and in so far the countries we had
+discovered were justly considered of the greatest importance. Diego
+Velasquez closely questioned the two Indians as to whether there were
+any gold mines in their country. They answered in the affirmative;
+and when they were shown some of the gold-dust found in the island
+of Cuba, they said there was abundance of it in their country. In this
+they told an untruth, as it is very well known there are neither goldmines
+on the Punta de Cotoche nor even in whole Yucatan. They
+were likewise shown the beds in which the seeds of that plant are sown
+from whose root the cassave bread is made, and in Cuba called yuca:
+they assured us that the same plant grew in their country, and was
+called by them tale. As the cassave-root at Cuba is called yuca, and
+the ground in which it is planted by the Indians tale, so from these
+two words arose the name of the country, Yucatan; for the Spaniards
+who were standing around the governor at the time he was speaking to
+the two Indians said, "You see, sir, they call their country Yucatan."
+And from this circumstance the country retained the name of Yucatan,
+although the natives call it otherwise.</p>
+
+<p>In this beautiful voyage of discovery we had spent our all, and returned
+to Cuba covered with wounds, and as poor as beggars; yet we
+had reason to congratulate ourselves that it had not been equally disastrous
+to us all as to many of our companions who had lost their lives.
+Our captain, as I have already mentioned, died soon after his return;
+and all of us suffered for a considerable time after from our wounds.
+Our whole loss amounted to seventy men, which was all we had gained
+by this voyage of discovery.</p>
+
+<p>Concerning all this the governor Diego Velasquez wrote to those
+gentlemen in Spain who at that time managed the affairs of India, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>
+boasted of the discoveries <i>he</i> had made, and of the vast expense it had
+put <i>him</i> to. This actually obtained credit, and the bishop of Burgos,
+Don Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, who also bore the title of archbishop
+of Rosano, and was president of Indian affairs, wrote in that strain to
+his majesty, in Flanders, vastly extolling the merit of Diego Velasquez,
+at the same time not as much as even mentioning the names of any of
+us who had really discovered the country.</p>
+
+<p>I will, however, break off here, and relate in the following chapter
+what further fatigues I and three more of my companions in arms had
+to undergo.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The fatigues I had to undergo, until my arrival in the town
+of Trinidad.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>I have already above related that I with some other soldiers who
+had not quite recovered from our wounds remained behind in the
+Havannah. As soon as the latter began to heal a little we three made
+up our minds to go in company with a certain Pedro d'Avila, an
+inhabitant of the Havannah, to the town of Trinidad. This man was
+going to make a voyage in a canoe along the south coast, and had
+taken a lading of cotton shirts, which he intended to dispose of in
+Trinidad. As I have above stated, these canoes are hollowed out of
+the trunks of trees, after the manner of our bakers' troughs: in this
+country they are used for coasting; and we had to pay Pedro d'Avila
+ten doubloons for the voyage.</p>
+
+<p>As we were coasting along, sometimes rowing, sometimes sailing,
+we arrived after the eleventh day in sight of an Indian village, subject
+to the Spaniards, and called Cannareon; there arose at night-time
+such a terrible gale of wind, that, although we rowed with all our
+strength, we could not keep the sea any longer. Notwithstanding
+every exertion of Pedro d'Avila, of some Indians from the Havannah,
+and several other good rowers we had with us, nothing at last remained
+but to run the canoe aground between the steep rocks. The canoe
+was dashed to pieces, the whole lading of Pedro d'Avila went to the
+bottom, and we made the best of our way on shore, naked as the day
+we were born, our bodies cut and bruised all over by clambering over
+the rocks, for we had stripped ourselves of our clothes in order to be
+the better able to swim, and also, if possible, to save the canoe. As<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>
+we had only escaped with our lives among these rocks, none other
+choice was left us than to continue our road over them to Trinidad,
+which lay along the coast through a barren country full of rugged
+rocks, where our feet soon became blistered and wounded; as to think
+of getting anything to eat was quite out of the question; while we had
+continually to struggle with a terrific gale of wind and the sea breaking
+over the rocks. Although we had not neglected to cover our bodies
+as much as possible with leaves and herbs, we nevertheless got sore
+boils between our legs, which bled very much. At last we could
+proceed no further; for the sharp stones had covered our feet with
+wounds: we managed, however, with considerable trouble to reach
+a more elevated spot. None of us having his sword left, we contrived
+by means of sharp stones to loosen the bark of some trees and bind it
+as well as we could under the soles of our feet, with the tendrils of
+climbers, which grew among the wood. And in this way, after suffering
+great fatigues we reached a sandy district on the coast, whence in a
+couple of days we arrived in the Indian village Yeguarama, at that time
+the property of Bartholomeus de las Casas,<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> who was a priest. I
+knew him afterwards when he belonged to the order of the Dominicans,
+and became bishop of Chiopia. Here the Indians gave us to eat, and
+on the following day we arrived at another village, called Chipiona,
+which was the joint property of Alonso de Avila, and of Sandoval, but
+this was not the captain of the same name who gained such vast
+renown in New Spain. From this place we at last came to Trinidad,
+where I had an acquaintance, by name Antonio de Medina, who provided
+me with a suit of clothes as they were worn in that town; my
+comrades were similarly provided by other of the inhabitants. Quite
+worn out by fatigue and miserably poor, I set off for Santiago de
+Cuba, where the governor Diego Velasquez resided. He was just then
+busily engaged fitting out another squadron, and was highly delighted
+at seeing me again when I called upon him, for we were related to
+each other: and as one word led to another, he asked me if my
+wounds were sufficiently healed to make another trip to Yucatan? I
+could not help smiling at this and said, who gave the country that
+name? for the natives do not call it so. "So Melchior, whom you
+brought with you, calls it," resumed he. "Call it rather, (said I,) the
+land where they killed one half of our men and wounded the other."
+"Well, (said he,) if you have undergone many fatigues, you have only
+shared the same fate with all others who have ventured out on the discovery
+of new countries. But, on the other hand, you will not fail to
+be highly honoured and rewarded by his majesty the king, to whom I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>
+will transmit a faithful account of all this. Therefore, my friend, you
+may in all safety join yourself to the squadron I am now fitting out,
+and I will take care that you shall have an honorable post."
+What further happened I will next relate.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, sent out another armament
+to the country we had discovered.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>It was in the year of our Lord 1518, after Diego Velasquez had
+learnt the good account we gave of the newly-discovered country,
+called Yucatan, that he determined to send thither another expedition.
+For this purpose he selected four vessels, among which were the two
+in which we warriors had accompanied Cordoba on our recent voyage
+to Yucatan, purchased at our own expense. At the time this squadron
+was fitting out there were staying at Santiago de Cuba, Juan de
+Grijalva, Pedro de Alvarado, Francisco de Montejo, and Alonso de
+Avila; who had commendaries of Indians in these islands, and had
+come to transact business with the governor. As these were all men
+of courage and energy, Velasquez soon made arrangements with them
+to take part in this expedition, on the following terms: that Juan de
+Grijalva, who was related to him, should have the chief command of
+the whole expedition as captain-general, while Pedro de Alvarado,
+Francisco de Montejo, and Alonso de Avila, should be appointed to
+the command of the three other ships. They had also to furnish the
+vessels with provisions of cassave bread and pickled meat; Diego
+Velasquez had, on the other hand, to procure the four vessels, furnish
+the necessary crossbows, muskets, goods for barter, and other matters
+of less importance. Our account that the houses in the newly-discovered
+country were built of stone and lime, had spread a vast idea
+of its riches, added to which the Indian Melchorejo had given to
+understand by signs that it abounded in gold mines. All this created
+a great desire among the inhabitants and soldiers throughout the
+island, who possessed no commendaries of Indians, to go in quest of
+such a rich country; consequently, in a very short time, we mustered
+220. Each person, moreover, furnished himself with additional provisions,
+arms, and other matters which might be useful.</p>
+
+<p>Thus I again took my departure for that country, under the same
+commanders I subsequently once more visited it. The instructions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>
+which our commanders received from Diego Velasquez, were to this
+effect, that they should barter for as much gold and silver as they
+could get, and if they deemed it advisable settle colonies, but left this
+entirely to their own judgment. A person of the name of Penolosa
+accompanied us in the capacity of comptroller; for priest we had a
+certain Juan Diaz. We had also the same three pilots who accompanied
+us on our former voyage; and a fourth, whose name I do not
+remember. Each had charge of one of the vessels; but the first in
+command, as chief pilot, was Anton de Alaminos.</p>
+
+<p>But before I proceed with my narrative, I must here remark, that
+it is not for want of deference on my part, that I barely give the
+names of the noblemen who were our commanding officers, without
+adding their titles and describing their several escutcheons, but shall
+simply call them thus, Pedro de Alvarado, Francisco de Montejo, and
+Alonso de Avila. I therefore now take this opportunity of saying,
+that Pedro de Alvarado was a bold cavalier, who, subsequent to the
+conquest of New Spain, became governor and chief justice of the
+provinces of Guatimala, Honduras, and Chaopo, and comptoir of
+Santiago. In like manner Francisco de Montejo, a man of great
+courage, subsequently was governor and chief justice of Yucatan. I
+shall merely call them by their proper names, up to that time when
+his majesty conferred on them honorary titles and sovereign authority.</p>
+
+<p>But to return to my subject, our four vessels lay in the harbour
+of Matanza on the north coast, not far from the old Havannah,
+which at that time was not built where it now stands. In this harbour,
+or at least in its neighbourhood, most of the inhabitants had their
+stores of cassave bread and pickled meat. Here consequently our
+vessels were provided with everything they further required. This
+place moreover had been appointed the rendezvous for all the officers
+and men.</p>
+
+<p>But, before I continue my narrative, I will explain how this harbour
+obtained the name of Matanza,<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> though it may seem rather out
+of place here; yet, as so many persons have asked me how it originated,
+there is some excuse.</p>
+
+<p>Some time ago, when Cuba was not quite subdued, it happened
+that a vessel, bound from the island of St. Domingo to the Luccas,
+during a heavy storm, was wrecked off the coast. This took place
+near the river and harbour of Matanza; there were thirty Spaniards
+and two Spanish ladies on board. In order to convey them across the
+river, numbers of Indians had collected together from the Havannah
+and other districts. They appeared most friendly inclined, and offered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>
+to carry the shipwrecked across in their canoes and take them to their
+habitations, where they would give them to eat. The Spaniards
+accepted this offer; when the Indians, however, had arrived in the
+midst of the stream, they upset their canoes and drowned them all,
+save three of the men and one of the females. The men were allotted
+to the other Indians, but the female, a very beautiful woman, was
+given to the most powerful of the caziques, the person who had concocted
+this piece of treachery. From this circumstance it was that
+the harbour got the name of Matanza.</p>
+
+<p>I was personally acquainted with the female whose misfortune I
+have just related. After the total conquest of Cuba, she left the
+cazique in whose power she then was, and married a citizen of Trinidad,
+by name Pedro Sanchez Farsan.</p>
+
+<p>I was also acquainted with the three Spaniards whose lives had been
+spared. One was Gonzalo Mexia, an old man, and native of Xeres;
+the other, Juan de Santiste-ban, from Madrigal; and the third was
+Cascorro, a sailor and fisherman, of Huelva. The cazique in whose
+power he was, had given him his daughter in marriage, and bored holes
+through his ears and nose, after the Indian fashion.</p>
+
+<p>Having thus detained the reader for a while with these old stories,
+it is time I return to the thread of my narrative.</p>
+
+<p>On the 5th of April, 1518, all of us having met together, the officers
+and soldiers, the pilots made acquainted with the signals, and the hour
+of departure fixed, we attended mass with fervent devotion, and
+weighed anchor. After ten days' sail, we passed the cape of Guaniguanico,
+called by the sailors San Anton. Eight days after, we came
+in sight of the island of Cozumel; it happened to be the feast of the
+Holy Cross. This time our ships were carried further off by the currents
+than the time before under Cordoba; the consequence was that
+we now landed on the south coast of the island. We here espied a
+village, and found a good anchorage near it, perfectly free from all
+rocks. Our commander-in-chief, therefore, went on shore here with a
+good body of soldiers. The inhabitants, who had never witnessed
+such a sight before, immediately took to flight when they saw our
+vessels approaching, so that not a single one of them had remained in
+the village. At length we discovered two Indians among the recently
+cut maise plants, who had not been able to get off quick enough. We
+brought them into the presence of our captain, who spoke to them
+with the help of Julianillo and Melchorejo, whom we had captured at
+the Punta de Cotoche, and who understood their language. The distance
+between their countries was only four hours' sail, which accounts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>
+for the inhabitants of Cozumel speaking the same language. Our
+commander was very kind to them, gave each some green glass beads,
+and sent them away to bring the Calachoni of the district, (so the
+caziques are termed here;) they, however, never returned. While we
+were still waiting for them, an Indian woman came towards us, comely
+in appearance, and who spoke the language of Jamaica. She told us
+that the Indians had fled, out of fear, to the mountains. As I myself
+and many others among us understood her language, which is the
+same as that of the island of Cuba, we were quite astonished at the
+circumstance, and inquired of her how she had got here.</p>
+
+<p>She told us that, two years ago, she had left Jamaica with ten
+Indians, in a large canoe, in order to go fishing among the islands in
+this neighbourhood, but had been driven on shore by the currents,
+when the inhabitants killed her husband with most of her companions,
+and sacrificed them to their gods.</p>
+
+<p>It struck our commander, as soon as he had learnt this, that the
+woman might be employed as a negotiator. He therefore desired her
+to go and fetch the inhabitants and cazique of the district, and gave
+her two days to return in. We durst not send Melchorejo and Julianillo
+with her, lest they should run away and return to their own
+country.</p>
+
+<p>The day following, the Indian woman returned, but informed us
+that, notwithstanding all her representations, she could neither persuade
+the Indians nor their wives to accompany her. We called this
+place Santa Cruz, because we had discovered it four or five days before
+the feast of the Holy Cross. In this neighbourhood there was plenty
+of honey, manioc, patates, and large herds of musk swine, which have
+their navels on their backs.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> This island contains three poor villages,
+of which the one I am now speaking of is the largest; the two
+smaller ones were both situated on a promontory at about six miles
+distance from each other. Our commander Grijalva, perceiving that
+it was mere loss of time to make any further stay here, gave orders
+for re-embarking. The Indian woman of Jamaica went along with
+us, and we continued our voyage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we landed at Champoton.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>From this point we sailed in the same direction we had taken under
+Cordoba, and arrived after eight days' sail off the coast of Champoton,
+the place where the Indians had so ill used us, as has been related in
+the proper place. The sea being very shallow in these parts we dropt
+our anchor at about three miles distance from the shore, and immediately
+landed in all our boats with half of our men, as near to the village
+as possible. The inhabitants and other Indians in the neighbourhood
+gathered themselves together as they had the time before, when they
+killed fifty-six of our men and wounded all the rest of us. From their
+bearing and proud demeanour we could easily perceive that they had
+not forgotten their victory. They were all well armed according to
+their fashion, with bows, lances, shields, and broadswords, which
+they wield with both hands. Added to all this they had slings, cotton
+cuirasses, drums and trumpets, while most of them had their faces
+painted black and white. They had arranged themselves along the
+sea shore in order to fall upon us as soon as we landed. But, as our
+previous loss had taught us prudence, we took with us this time some
+falconets, and otherwise well armed ourselves with crossbows and
+matchlocks.</p>
+
+<p>When we were near enough they let fly such a shower of arrows
+and lances that the half of our men were speedily wounded. As
+soon, however, as we got on shore, we quickly gave them an evil
+return with our matchlocks and sabres. Nothing daunted by this
+they each selected their man, whom they particularly aimed at with
+their arrows, but we had taken the precaution to put on cotton
+cuirasses. They continued to combat with us for some time, until the
+arrival of another of our long boats, when we drove them back to the
+wells near the village. In this conflict we lost Juan de Quitera and
+many other soldiers. Our commander, Juan de Grijalva, got three
+arrow wounds and lost two of his teeth, and above sixty of our
+men were wounded. Immediately upon our putting the enemy to
+flight, we entered the village, dressed our wounds, and buried the
+dead. Not a single person had remained behind in the village, and
+even those whom we had driven back to the wells had merely staid
+there a sufficient time to carry off their property. In this skirmish
+we made three prisoners, one of whom was a person of rank. Our
+commander set them at liberty, desiring them to go and call the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>
+cazique of the district. He also presented them with green glass
+beads and small bells to distribute among the inhabitants, in order to
+gain their friendship. We treated the three prisoners upon the whole
+with every kindness, and gave them glass corals to encourage them
+and gain their good faith. They left us indeed, but took good care
+not to return; we thought it possible, however, that Julianillo and
+Melchorejo had misrepresented our commission to them. We staid
+four days in this place, and I shall never forget it on account of the
+immense sized locusts which we saw here. It was a stony spot on
+which the battle took place, and these creatures, while it lasted, kept
+continually flying in our faces; and as at the same moment we were
+greeted by a shower of arrows from the enemy, we also mistook these
+locusts for arrows. But, as soon as we had discovered our mistake,
+we deceived ourselves in another more direful way, for we now mistook
+arrows for locusts, and discontinued to shield ourselves against them.
+In this way we mistook locusts and arrows to our great sorrow, were
+severely wounded in consequence, and otherwise found ourselves in a
+very awkward predicament.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>We continued our course and ran into Terminos bay, as we named it.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>On our further voyage we came to an opening on the coast, which
+to us appeared to be the mouth of some broad and large river. It was,
+however, not a river as we had supposed, but a good harbour, which
+reached so far inland, and had such a considerable breadth, that it appeared
+like a sea; and our pilot Anton de Alaminos confidently asserted
+that this was an island whose two promontories reached nigh to
+the continent. We, therefore, termed this opening the Boca de
+Terminos, under which name it may be found on the sea charts.
+Our commander and the other officers went on shore here with the
+greater part of our men, among which number I also was. We remained
+three whole days in this place in order thoroughly to explore
+the opening and sail through it in all directions. We discovered, however,
+that it was no island, but a deep indented bay, formed by the
+continent, affording us a most commodious harbour. As we also found
+temples here built of stone and lime, full of idols made of wood or clay,
+with other figures, sometimes representing women, sometimes serpents,
+also horns of various kinds of wild animals, we concluded that an Indian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>
+village must be near at hand: we considered, moreover, that this
+would be a most excellent spot to found a colony. We had, however,
+deceived ourselves in one thing, the district being quite uninhabited.
+The temples most probably belonged to merchants and hunters, who on
+their journies most likely ran into this harbour and there made their
+sacrifices. Fallow deer and rabbits abounded in this neighbourhood,
+and with one greyhound only we killed ten of the former and great
+numbers of the latter. Our dog took such a liking to this spot that it
+ran away while we were busy reimbarking, nor did we see it again
+until we visited this place subsequently with Cortes, when it appeared
+in excellent condition, quite plump and sleeky.</p>
+
+<p>Having thoroughly explored Terminos harbour, and sounded it
+throughout, we pursued our course along the coast to the river
+Tabasco, which at present, after the name of its discoverer, is called
+the river Grijalva.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we came into the Tabasco river, which we termed the Grijalva,
+and what happened to us there.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>As we thus by day sailed along the coast of the continent, for at
+night we lay to on account of the shallows and rocks, we perceived on
+the third morning a very broad mouth of some river. We approached
+the shore as near as possible, thinking we should find a good harbour
+here. As we came closer to the mouth we saw that the waves broke
+over its shallows: we consequently lowered our boats to make
+soundings, and found that our two larger vessels could not come in
+here. It was therefore immediately resolved that they should anchor
+further out at sea, but that the two remaining vessels which did not
+draw so much water, with all our boats well manned, should proceed
+up the river. We could perceive in the canoes along the shore numbers
+of Indians with bows and arrows, and in other respects armed exactly
+like those of Champoton. We concluded from their numbers that a
+village could not be far off; we also found as we proceeded further up
+the river along the banks, basket kiddles put out, from two of which
+we took the fish and placed them in a boat a-stern of our principal
+ship.</p>
+
+<p>This river was previously called after the cazique of the district, the
+Tabasco; as we, however, discovered it during this expedition, we gave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>
+it the name of the Grijalva river, in honour of our chief commander,
+under which name it stands on the sea charts.</p>
+
+<p>We might still have been about two miles from the village when we
+distinctly heard the crackling noise of the felling of trees; for the
+Indians were constructing barricades and making other preparations
+of war against us, of the issue of which they entertained no doubts, as
+they had been duly advertised of the occurrence at Potonchan. As
+soon as we learnt this, we disembarked our men on a projecting point
+of land, about two miles from the village, where some palm trees were
+growing. As soon as they perceived this, about fifty canoes with
+Indians completely armed after their fashion made towards us, while
+many other canoes, manned in the same way, lay dispersed about the
+haven, at a greater distance, not daring to approach us so near as the
+first.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing how ready they were for action, we were just upon the point
+of firing off our great guns, and giving them a volley of musket-shots,
+when it entered our minds, through a merciful Providence, that
+we ought first to try if we could not gain their friendship. We therefore
+by means of Julianillo and Melchorejo, (who were natives of the
+Punta de Cotoche, and certainly understood the language spoken here,)
+told the chiefs they had nothing to fear from us: we were desirous
+of discoursing with them and had things to disclose, which, as soon as
+they had learnt, would make our arrival pleasing to them: they
+should come to us and we would gladly give them of the things we
+had brought.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this invitation four of the canoes approached us, containing
+thirty Indians, or thereabouts. We showed them necklaces of blue
+glass beads, small mirrors, and green imitation corals. At the sight of
+the latter they appeared quite delighted; for they thought them to be
+chalchihuis stones, which are highly esteemed in their country.</p>
+
+<p>Our captain then told them, by means of our interpreters, that we
+came from a distant country, and were the subjects of a great emperor,
+whose name was Don Carlos, who had numerous sovereigns and
+caziques among his vassals: they should likewise acknowledge this
+emperor as their lord and master, for then it would go well with them;&mdash;he
+further desired them to give us fowls in exchange for our glass
+beads.</p>
+
+<p>Two of the Indians, one of whom was the chief and the other a
+papa&mdash;this is a kind of priest, who performs the ceremonies in
+presence of their idols&mdash;answered and said, "they would bring the
+provisions we required and commence a trade of barter with us.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>&mdash;For
+the rest they had already a master, and could not help feeling
+astonished that we, who had but just arrived and knew nothing of
+them, should that instant wish to impose a master on them. We had
+better consider a bit before we commenced war with them, as we had
+with those at Potonchan. That already all the warriors of the
+country had been ordered out against us, and two armies, each composed
+of 8000 men were ready for action. They certainly had learnt
+that a few days ago we had killed and wounded 200 men; but they
+were more powerful than the inhabitants of that country, which was
+the reason why they first wished to know what our intentions were.
+Our declaration would be communicated to the caziques of the
+numerous districts, who had united themselves for war or for peace."</p>
+
+<p>Upon this they embraced our commander, in token of peace, who
+presented them with necklaces of glass beads, and desired them to return
+as quickly as possible with an answer; adding that if they did not
+return we would enter their town by main force, though we had no evil
+intentions whatever.</p>
+
+<p>These delegates communicated with the caziques and papas&mdash;the
+latter having also a voice in their councils,&mdash;and they declared that our
+offer of peace was acceptable to them. Provisions were ordered to be
+sent us, and all present agreed that they themselves with the neighbouring
+tribes should each contribute their quota in order to make us
+a present in gold to insure our good friendship, and obviate a recurrence
+of what had taken place at Potonchan. From what I subsequently
+learnt and witnessed I found that it was customary with the inhabitants
+of these countries to make each other presents whenever they were in
+treaty about peace.</p>
+
+<p>All I have been relating took place on the promontory where the
+palm trees stood. About thirty Indians soon arrived, laden with broiled
+fish, fowls, fruit, and maise-bread. They also brought pans filled with
+red-hot embers, on which they strewed incense, and perfumed us all.
+After this ceremony was ended they spread some mats on the ground,
+over which they laid a piece of cotton cloth; on this they put some
+trifling ornaments in gold in the shape of ducks and lizards, with three
+necklaces made of gold, which had been melted into the shape of round
+balls. All these things, however, were of an inferior kind of gold, not
+worth 200 pesos. They next presented us with some mantles and
+waistcoats, as they themselves wore, and begged of us to accept them
+in good kind; saying they had no more gold to give us, but that further
+on towards the setting of the sun there was a country where it
+was found in great abundance; hereby often repeating the word Culba,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>
+Culba, and Mexico, Mexico. We however did not understand what
+they meant. Although the presents they had brought us were of little
+value, we nevertheless rejoiced exceedingly on account of the certainty
+we had gained that there was gold in this country. Having handed
+over the presents to us with due formality they told us we might now
+continue our voyage. Our captain thanked them; presenting each at
+the same time with some green beads. We now determined to re-embark,
+for the vessels were in great danger on account of the north
+wind, which in our present situation was quite contrary. We had,
+moreover, to go in quest of the country, which, according to the
+assurances of the Indians, abounded in gold.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>We come in sight of the town of Aguajaluco, and give it the
+name of La Rambla.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Having again re-embarked we continued our course along the coast,
+and perceived on the second day a town close to the sea shore, called
+Aguajaluco. We could discern numbers of Indians hurrying to and
+fro with huge shields made out of large tortoise-shells, which glittered so
+beautifully in the sun, that some of our men believed they were made
+of an inferior species of gold. The inhabitants appeared to be walking
+up and down the shore in great consternation, which induced us to call
+the village La Rambla, under which name it stands on the sea charts.</p>
+
+<p>As we proceeded further along the coast we came to a bay, into which
+the river Tonola empties itself: it was this same river we entered on
+our subsequent voyage. We gave it the name of Sant Antonio, which
+it still retains on the maps. We next passed the mouth of the great
+river Guacasualco, and would gladly have run into the bay which it
+forms if contrary winds had not prevented us. We now came in sight
+of the great Snow Mountains&mdash;Sierras Nevadas. These are covered
+the whole year round with snow. There were also other mountains,
+nearer the coast, to which we gave the name of <i>Holy Martin</i>, because a
+soldier of the name of San Martino, a native of the Havannah, first
+descried them. One of the commanders, Pedro de Alvarado, whose
+vessel was the fastest sailer of the whole, being a great way ahead of
+the others, ran his ship up a river called by the natives Papalohuna:
+this we termed the Alvarado, after the name of the discoverer. Some
+Indian fishermen of the village Tlacotalpa gave him fish: we could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>
+perceive this, though at a great distance from him. Alvarado was
+followed by two more of our ships; we were therefore obliged to wait
+until they returned. This digression without the general's leave occasioned
+ill blood; and Grijalva forbade Alvarado in future to sail in advance
+of the squadron, fearing he might meet with some accident or
+other before the rest could possibly come up to his assistance. From
+this time the four vessels kept close together. We soon after arrived
+at the mouth of another river, which we termed the Bandera's Stream,
+(Flag Stream,) from the circumstance that the banks of the river were
+crowded with Indians bearing small flags of white cloth attached to
+their lances. They called out and invited us to come on shore: but I
+will relate in the next chapter what further took place here.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we arrive on the Bandera's Stream, and gain 1500 pesos.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>By this time the existence of the great city of Mexico must be known
+throughout the major part of the Spanish provinces and the greater
+part of Christendom: how, like Venice, it was built in the water; and
+of the mighty monarch who resided there, king of many provinces and
+lord of all these countries, which in extent were more than quadruple
+that of Spain. The name of this monarch was Motecusuma: his
+power was so great that he would gladly have extended it to places
+where it was impossible, and he wished to know things which he never
+could learn. He had, however, heard of our first visit under the command
+of Cordoba, and of our battle at Cotoche and Champoton, also of the second
+engagement we had had at the last-mentioned spot. He was moreover
+aware that we had been but a handful of men in comparison with the
+multitude of the inhabitants; and lastly, it had been made known to
+him that we gladly exchanged our goods for gold. All this information
+had, from time to time, been sent him by means of painted figures or
+signs, drawn, as is the custom with this people, on a thick kind of
+cloth manufactured from the maguey,<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> very much resembling our linen.
+Being also informed that we were continuing our course along the
+coast, he issued orders to the governors of the several districts that at
+every place where we landed they should exchange their gold for our
+glass beads, but particularly for the green ones, which so much resembled
+their chalchihuis stones; and further he commanded them to gain
+every information with respect to our intentions. What made him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>
+dwell more particularly upon the latter was the ancient tradition in the
+country, which spoke of a people that would come from the rising of
+the sun who would at some future period get the dominion of the
+country.</p>
+
+<p>For whatever purpose it may have been I will leave, but certain it
+is that the powerful Motecusuma had ordered sentinels to be posted
+along the banks of the river above mentioned. These sentinels had all
+small flags attached to the points of their lances, and called out aloud,
+inviting us to come to them. While we were contemplating from our
+vessels this, to us, so novel a sight, our commander-in-chief with the
+other officers and soldiers came to the determination to inquire their
+meaning. We therefore lowered two of our boats and manned them
+with twenty soldiers, well armed with crossbows and muskets. The
+command of this was given to Francisco de Montejo. I was likewise
+among the number. Our instructions were to send immediate information
+to the commander-in-chief if anything of a hostile nature should
+take place and in general to let him know how matters stood. It
+pleased God that the weather should be calm, which is seldom the case on
+these coasts. We all got safe on shore, and were met by three caziques,
+one of whom was a governor under Motecusuma. These were attended
+by great numbers of Indians, carrying fowls, maise-bread, pines, sapotas,
+and other provisions; they spread some mats in the shade of the trees,
+on which they invited us to sit down. All this was done by signs, as
+Julianillo did not understand their language. Next they brought pans
+made of clay, filled with glowing embers, on which they strewed a
+species of resin, smelling very much like our incense, with which they
+perfumed us.</p>
+
+<p>Francisco de Montejo sent information of all this to our commander-in-chief,
+who immediately resolved to run the whole squadron into the
+bay, and proceed on shore with all our men.</p>
+
+<p>When the caziques and the governor saw our general on shore, who,
+they had been given to understand, was our chief officer, they paid him
+in their way the greatest possible respect, and perfumed him most vehemently.
+We thanked them kindly, and in return made many protestations
+of friendship, also presenting each with white and green
+glass beads, desiring them at the same time to bring us gold in exchange
+for our commodities. Motecusuma's governor strongly advised the
+Indians to comply with our request; the consequence of which was
+that the inhabitants of the surrounding districts soon brought us every
+trinket they possessed in the shape of gold, and commenced a trade of
+barter with us. During the six days we stayed in this spot we obtained<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>
+upwards of 1500 pesos' worth of gold trinkets, of various workmanship,
+but of inferior quality. The historians Francisco Lopez de Gomara
+and Gonzalo Hernandez de Oviedo have also mentioned this circumstance
+in their works. They err, however, when they say it took place
+in the Tabasco or Grijalva river; for it is a well-authenticated fact that
+there is no gold found in the provinces which border on the river
+Grijalva, and, upon the whole, very few ornaments of gold. I will not,
+however, detain my reader with their account, but rather inform him
+that we took possession of this country for his imperial majesty the
+Emperor, in the name of Diego Velasquez, the governor of Cuba.
+This being done, our general told the Indians that he was now desirous
+of re-embarking, and presented them with some Spanish shirts. We
+took one of the Indians with us, who subsequently learnt our language
+and was converted to Christianity, when he took the name of Francisco.
+I met with him afterwards at Santa F&eacute;, where he had settled himself
+after the conquest of Mexico. Our commander, finding that the inhabitants
+brought no more gold, and considering that we had already
+been here six days, and that our present anchorage was rather dangerous
+on account of the contrary winds, gave orders for re-embarking. Pursuing
+our voyage, we came to an island which was quite covered with
+white sand, lying above nine miles from the main land. We gave it
+the name of Isla Blanca, as it stands on the sea charts. Not far from
+this lay another island, nearly five miles from the main land, which
+offered us a very commodious landing-place.</p>
+
+<p>Our general, therefore, ordered the boats to be lowered, and landed,
+with the greater portion of our men, in order to explore the island.
+We found two houses, which were strongly built of stone and lime;
+both were ascended by a flight of steps, and surmounted by a species
+of altar, on which stood several abominable idols, to whom, the previous
+evening, five Indians had been sacrificed. Their dead bodies still lay
+there, ripped open, with the arms and legs chopped off, while everything
+near was besmeared with blood. We contemplated this sight in
+utter astonishment, and gave this island the name of Isla de Sacrificios.
+Quitting this place, we landed on the neighbouring continent, where
+we constructed ourselves huts on one of the large downs, with some
+sails and the branches of trees. Numbers of Indians soon made their
+appearance, bringing with them small pieces of gold for barter, in the
+same way as at the Bandera stream, according to the commands of
+Motecusuma, as we subsequently learnt. The inhabitants, however,
+approached us in great fear, and what they brought with them was a
+mere trifle. Our captain, therefore, soon weighed anchor again. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>
+next place we landed at was in view of another island, which lay about
+two miles from the continent. This at present is considered the best
+harbour of the country. What happened to us in this place I will
+relate in the next chapter.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we came into the harbour of San Juan de Culua.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Having disembarked on a part of the coast where it was very sandy,
+we were annoyed by such multitudes of muschetoes that we were
+forced to construct ourselves huts on the great downs and in the tops
+of trees: this, being done, we carefully examined the harbour in our
+boats, and were fully satisfied that it contained a good anchorage, it
+being moreover sheltered against the north wind by the island, to which
+our general now proceeded with thirty men all well armed. Here we
+found a temple on which stood the great and abominable-looking god
+Tetzcatlipuca, surrounded by four Indians, dressed in wide black cloaks,
+and with flying hair, in the same way as our canons or Dominicans wear
+it. These were priests, who had that very day sacrificed two boys, whose
+bodies they had ripped up, and then offered their bleeding hearts to
+the horrible idol. They were going to perfume us in the same way
+they had done their gods; and though it smelt like our incense, we
+would not suffer them, so shocked were we at the sight of the two
+boys whom they had recently murdered, and disgusted with their
+abominations. Our captain questioned the Indian Francisco whom we
+had brought with us from the Bandera stream as to what was meant
+by all this, for he seemed rather an intelligent person; having, at that
+time, as I have already stated, no interpreter, our captain put these
+questions to him by means of signs. Francisco returned for answer
+that this sacrifice had been ordered by the people of Culua; but, as it
+was difficult for him to pronounce this latter word, he kept continually
+saying <i>Olua</i>, <i>Olua</i>. From the circumstance of our commander himself
+being present, and that his Christian name was Juan, and it happening
+to be the feast of St. John, we gave this small island the name of San
+Juan de Ulua. This harbour was ever after much frequented. Great
+numbers of ships have been refitted there, and all merchandise for
+Mexico and New Spain are here shipped or unladen. During the time
+we were encamped on these downs, numbers of Indians from the surrounding
+districts, brought us their gold trinkets in exchange for our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>
+goods; but there was so little of it, and that so very inferior in quality,
+that we scarcely troubled ourselves about it. We remained, nevertheless,
+seven days in the huts we had constructed, though we were
+constantly annoyed by swarms of muschetoes, which rendered our stay
+most uncomfortable. As we had now been so long at sea, and had
+fully convinced ourselves that it was no island, but a continent, we had
+discovered, containing considerable towns; as our cassave-bread was
+become quite mouldy and unfit for eating; considering, moreover, that
+our numbers were too small to think of making any settlement here,
+particularly as we had lost ten of our men in consequence of their
+wounds, besides having four others dangerously ill,&mdash;we determined to
+forward Diego Velasquez an account of the state of affairs, and desire
+him to send us succours; indeed Grijalva had a great mind to have
+founded a colony even with the few men we had to spare. Our captain
+had throughout shown a magnanimous spirit, and proved himself a
+brave soldier, let the historian Gomara say anything to the contrary
+he likes. Pedro de Alvarado was selected to go on this mission to
+Cuba, with the ship San Sebastian, which had become rather leaky:
+this vessel could be refitted there, and return with succours and provisions.
+He also took with him all the gold we had bartered for, the
+cotton stuffs presented us by the Indians, and our sick. Our principal
+officers, moreover, each sent Diego Velasquez a written account,
+according to their several views, of all we had seen. We will now
+leave Pedro de Alvarado to his own good fortune on his voyage to
+Cuba, and relate what happened to the vessel which Diego Velasquez
+sent in quest of us.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Diego Velasquez sends out a small vessel in quest of us.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>From the very moment in which Juan de Grijalva had quitted Cuba
+for the wide ocean, Diego Velasquez became downcast and thoughtful;
+he was constantly harassed by the idea that some misfortune would
+befall us. In the height of his impatience he at last sent out a small
+vessel, with seven men, in quest of us. The command of this was
+given to a certain Christobal de Oli, a man of great courage and
+energy. His instructions were to follow the same course in which
+Cordoba had sailed, until he should have met with us. It appears,
+however, that Christobal de Oli, while riding at anchor near the coast,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>
+was overtaken by a violent storm, and found himself compelled, in
+order to save his vessel from being cast ashore, to cut the cables; at
+least he had no anchor left on his return to Santiago de Cuba, nor had
+he been able to bring the governor any information respecting us.</p>
+
+<p>Diego Velasquez now despaired more than ever. The arrival of
+Pedro de Alvarado with the gold and other things, fortunately set his
+anxiety at rest, who, moreover, detailed to him the discoveries we had
+made. His joy was excessive when he saw the gold, and how it was
+worked into various shapes; from which very circumstance it appeared
+to him and others who happened to be present on business, of much
+greater value than it really was; nor were his majesty's officials, who
+had to take the fifth part, less astonished at the riches of the countries
+we had discovered. Pedro de Alvarado, who knew how to humour
+Diego Velasquez, afterwards related that the governor had continually
+embraced him,&mdash;that festivities and tournaments were celebrated for
+eight successive days. If the fame of the riches of these countries
+had been rumoured abroad before, it was now, on account of the gold
+we had sent, the more so; it soon spread through all the islands, and
+the whole of Spain.</p>
+
+<p>I shall have occasion to speak of this hereafter, and will also leave
+Diego Velasquez to his festivities, and return to our vessels at San
+Juan de Ulua.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>What befell us on our coasting voyage along the Tusta and Tuspa
+mountains.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After Pedro de Alvarado had set sail for Cuba, our general and
+other officers held a consultation with the pilots, when it was determined
+that we should continue our course along the coast, and push
+our discoveries as far as possible. As we sailed along, we first came
+in view of the Tusta, and, two days after, of the more elevated mountains
+of Tuspa, both of which take their names from two towns
+lying close to the foot of these mountains. On the whole, we saw
+numbers of towns lying from six to nine miles inland, now the
+province of Panuco. At last we arrived at a large stream, to which
+we gave the name of Canoe river, and dropped anchor at its mouth.</p>
+
+<p>While our vessels were lying at anchor here, and our men had
+become less careful than usual, sixteen large canoes full of Indians,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>
+all equipped for battle, with bows, arrows, and lances, came down the
+stream and made straight for our smallest vessel, commanded by Alonso
+de Avila, which lay nearest the shore. They greeted our men with a
+shower of arrows, wounding two of the soldiers, and then lay hold
+of the vessel as if they meant to carry her off, after they had cut one
+of the cables. We now hastened to the assistance of Alonso, who
+was still bravely repelling his assailants, and had capsized three of their
+canoes. We were well armed with crossbows and muskets, and very
+soon wounded at least above a third of our enemies, who speedily
+retreated to where they had come from, not exactly in the best of
+spirits. Upon this we weighed anchor and continued our course along
+the coast until we arrived at a wide projecting cape, which, on account
+of the strong currents, we found so difficult to double that we considered
+our further course now impeded. The chief pilot, Alaminos,
+here told our commander that it was no longer advisable to sail on at
+a venture, for which he gave us many plausible reasons. This matter
+being duly considered in council, it was unanimously agreed that we
+should return to Cuba.</p>
+
+<p>To this step we were, moreover, induced by the approach of winter,
+scarcity of provisions, and the bad condition of one of our vessels
+which had become very leaky. To this may also be added the disagreement
+between our commanders; for Juan de Grijalva persisted in
+his opinion that they should make an attempt to leave a colony behind,
+while Francisco de Montejo and Alonso de Avila, on the contrary,
+maintained that any such attempt would be fruitless, considering the
+multitude of warriors which inhabited these countries: to all this
+may be added that our men were heartily sick of the sea. We therefore
+turned our vessels about, hoisted all the sails, and arrived in a
+few days, being greatly assisted by the currents, in the wide waters of
+the Guacasualco river. We could not make any stay here on account
+of the boisterous state of the weather, and therefore continued our
+course along the coast until we arrived at the mouth of the river
+Tonala, to which we gave the name of St. Antonio. We ran up this
+river and careened the leaky vessel, which had struck there several
+times against the rocks.</p>
+
+<p>While we were busily engaged at this work, numbers of Indians came
+up to us from the harbour of Tonala, which lay about four miles from
+this place, bringing with them maise-bread, fish, and fruits, which they
+readily gave us. Our commander was particularly kind to them, and
+presented each with white and green glass beads, giving them at the
+same time to understand by signs that they should bring us gold in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>
+exchange for our goods. They soon complied with our wishes, but
+their gold was of a very inferior quality, for which they received imitation
+corals. As soon as the inhabitants of Guacasualco and the
+neighbouring districts had learnt that we offered our goods for barter,
+they brought us all their golden ornaments, and took in exchange
+green glass beads, on which they set a high value. Besides ornaments
+of gold, every Indian had with him a copper axe, which was very
+highly polished, with the handle curiously carved, as if to serve equally
+for an ornament as for the field of battle. At first we thought that
+these axes were made of an inferior kind of gold; we therefore commenced
+taking them in exchange, and, in the space of two days, had
+collected more than 600, with which we were no less rejoiced as long
+as we were ignorant of their real value, than the Indians with our
+glass beads. One of our sailors, who had by stealth bought seven of
+these axes and was secretly congratulating himself on this piece of
+good fortune, was betrayed to our commander-in-chief, who, ordering
+the man in his presence, commanded him to deliver up his treasure.
+Still of opinion that these axes were of gold, the poor fellow, though
+forced, reluctantly parted with them. This brings to my mind
+what befell one of our men, named Bartolome Prado: this fellow had
+managed to get inside of a temple, called by the Indians a cue,<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> which
+stood upon an elevated spot, and had found in it numerous idols, and
+some copal, which is the incense of the Indians; also knives made of
+hard flint, with which they cut their meat offerings, and otherwise
+make use of in their sacrifices. Besides these things, he found two
+small wooden boxes, filled with golden trinkets which are worn about
+the head and neck; also small idols, and other ornaments somewhat
+resembling our pearls. The idols he brought to his commander, but
+took care to keep the gold himself. It seems, however, that some one
+had been watching him all the time, who reported what he had seen
+to our captain. We all felt concerned at this, and spoke a good word
+for him, as he was a kind-hearted being: we begged hard of our
+commander that he might be allowed to retain his treasure, minus the
+fifth part claimed for the emperor, which being granted, the man had
+nigh upon eighty pesos left for himself. In this place I must also
+acquaint my readers how I sowed some orange seeds close to one of
+these temples. On account of the numbers of muschetoes which
+swarm along this river, I had, being tired, laid myself down to rest on
+the summit of a high temple: in gratitude for the quiet slumber I
+enjoyed there, I sowed, at the foot of this building, eight orange seeds
+which I had brought with me from Cuba. These seeds grew very fast,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>
+and when grown to small plants, were most probably watered and preserved
+from the ants by the papas, as soon as they perceived the new
+plant. I have merely related this in order to acquaint my reader that
+these were the first orange seeds that were planted in New Spain.
+Subsequent to the conquest of Mexico and friendly subjection of the
+Indian tribes on the Guacasualco, this province, being excellently
+situated, was considered of greater importance than any other, no less
+on account of its mines than for its beautiful harbour. The country,
+moreover, abounded in gold, and contained fine pastures for sheep,
+which was the reason why the most illustrious of the conquistadores<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a>
+of Mexico settled themselves there; among which number was myself,&mdash;and
+I did not forget to look for my orange trees, which, indeed, I
+transplanted, and they afterwards flourished uncommonly.</p>
+
+<p>I am well aware that it will be said, such old tales as these are quite
+out of character here; I will not, therefore, say another syllable on
+the subject, but merely acquaint the reader that the inhabitants of
+these districts were all very much pleased with us, and embraced us at
+our departure. We set sail for Cuba, and arrived there in the space
+of forty days, during which time the weather was sometimes favorable
+and sometimes boisterous. We were most friendly received by
+the governor Diego Velasquez, who was highly delighted with the
+additional gold we brought him. Altogether it was well worth 4000
+pesos; so that with the 16,000 brought over by Alvarado, the whole
+amounted to 20,000 pesos. Some make this sum greater, some less;
+but one thing is certain, the crown officials only took the fifths of the
+last-mentioned sum. When they were about to take this also of the
+Indian axes, which we had mistaken for gold, they grew excessively
+angry on finding them to be merely of a fine species of copper; nor
+did this circumstance fail to produce the usual laughter at the expense
+of our trade of barter. Diego Velasquez, however, appeared perfectly
+satisfied, though not so with his relative Grijalva. This was wrong
+on his part, for it originated solely in the misrepresentations of Alonso
+de Avila, a man of a bad disposition, who did all he could, backed by
+Montejo, to lower Grijalva in his eyes. All this&mdash;rumour spread&mdash;was
+done in order to fit out another armament, and select a new commander.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Diego Velasquez despatches one of his officials to Spain.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>My readers may perhaps think, that what I am now about to relate
+does not exactly belong to this history; but in the course of it they will
+readily perceive that I have been obliged to notice many circumstances
+before I could introduce them to the captain, Hernando Cortes. They
+ought also to bear in mind, that it often happens that two or three
+things take place at the same moment; in which case there only
+remains for the historian to treat of one circumstance after the other,
+and begin with that which lies nearest at hand. In this place the
+following comes first under our consideration.</p>
+
+<p>After the arrival of Pedro de Alvarado with the gold which we had
+made in the newly-discovered country, Diego Velasquez began to fear
+that some one at court, who might have received private information
+of all this, would anticipate him, in forwarding his imperial majesty
+the first news of our important discovery, and so rob him of the reward.
+He, therefore, despatched one of his chaplains, named Benito Martinez,
+a thorough man of business, to Spain, with letters and a few of the valuable
+things, to Don Juan Rodriguez Fonseca, bishop of Burgos, and
+archbishop of Rosano. He wrote at the same time to the licentiate
+Louis Zapata, and the secretary Lope Conchillos, who at that time had
+the conduct of all Indian affairs under the archbishop.</p>
+
+<p>Diego Velasquez was quite devoted to these gentlemen, and had
+presented them with considerable Indian villages in Cuba, with the
+inhabitants of which they worked their gold mines. But he took particular
+care to provide well for the archbishop, troubling himself very
+little about his majesty, who was at that time in Flanders.</p>
+
+<p>He sent moreover to these, his patrons, a great portion of the gold
+trinkets which Alvarado had brought with him; for everything that
+was determined in the imperial council of India depended upon these
+gentlemen. Diego Velasquez therefore sought, by means of his chaplain,
+to obtain unlimited permission to fit out armaments at any time
+he might think proper to make voyages of discovery, and to found
+colonies in the new countries as well as in those that might subsequently
+be discovered: in the accounts he transmitted to Spain, he
+spoke of the many thousands of gold-pesos which he had already spent
+in like undertakings; thereby giving such a favorable direction to the
+negotiations of his chaplain, Benito Martinez, that his expectations
+were more than fulfilled, who even obtained for him the additional<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>
+title of Adelantado of Cuba. This latter appointment, however, did not
+arrive until the new expedition under Cortes had left. I will not
+make any further remarks on these matters at present, but rather
+say a few words respecting Francisco Lopez de Gomara's History of
+the Conquest of New Spain and Mexico. His history fell into my
+hands while I was writing my own, and I soon foresaw that I should
+have to contradict him in many instances. My intention is to give a
+faithful account, and that in due order, of every circumstance; this
+will greatly differ from his narrative, which is quite at variance with
+truth.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Of some errors in the work of Francisco Lopez de Gomara.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>While busily engaged writing this narrative, the eloquent History
+of the Conquest of Mexico and New Spain, by Gomara, fell into my
+hands; and when I perceived the elegance of his style, and considered
+the rudeness of my own, I laid down my pen, ashamed at the very
+thoughts of its being read by men of distinction. With my spirits
+thus damped, I once more undertook to go through his history; it
+was then I, for the first time, discovered how mistaken this author
+was with respect to the occurrences which had really taken place in
+New Spain. He is equally bad whenever he writes about the magnitude
+of the towns and number of the inhabitants; in which, whenever
+it suits him, he does not, for instance, hesitate a moment to put 8000
+for eight. In the same way he mentions the extensive buildings we
+were stated to have commenced, though, in fact, we were only 400 in
+number when we first went out to war, and had sufficient work to
+defend ourselves and prevent the victory from going over to our enemies.
+Though the Indians may have been timid, we were, nevertheless,
+guiltless of such wholesale slaughter and other barbarities as
+Gomara would lay to our doors. On the contrary, such was our situation,
+and I hereby seal my words with an oath when I state, that we
+daily offered up our prayers to God and the Holy Virgin to preserve us
+from destruction.</p>
+
+<p>Alaric was certainly a most courageous monarch, and Attila a soldier
+whose excessive pride would not allow him to shrink back from anything;
+yet they never slaughtered such multitudes of human beings
+on the Catalonian plains as we do in the book of Gomara!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In the same way he mentions what numbers of towns and temples
+we either burnt or destroyed. I am speaking of the Indian temples,
+called by the inhabitants cues. This latter circumstance would certainly
+be most pleasing to his readers; but he never gave it a thought,
+when he was writing, that the conquistadores themselves, and those
+better informed, would detect his errors and falsehoods. Even in his
+other works, whenever he speaks about New Spain, he immediately
+commits blunders. In one place he praises a commander far above
+his merits, for which very reason he in another most unjustly diminishes
+that of a second. In another place again, he gives many a one
+a command who was not even in the army during the conquest: he
+gives, for instance, the chief command at the battle fought near the
+town afterwards called Almeria, to Pedro d'Irico, when, in fact, it
+was Juan de Escalante who commanded on that occasion, and was
+killed with seven of his men. Again he says, that Juan Velasquez de
+Leon founded the colony of Guacasualco, although it was Gonzalo de
+Sandoval, of Avila. There is as much truth in his account when he
+says that Cortes ordered the Indian Quezal Popoca, one of Motecusuma's
+chiefs, to be burnt, together with the village in which it was
+stated he had hid himself. Equal reliance may be placed in his description
+of our entry into the town and fortress of Anga Panga, where
+everything happened exactly contrary to what he has stated. In his
+narrative of our proceedings on the downs, when we had appointed
+Cortes captain-general and chief justice, he has allowed himself to be
+deceived by false information, while he has totally misrepresented our
+taking of the town Chamula, in the province of Chiapa. A still
+greater blunder he commits when he states that Cortes issued his
+orders secretly for the destruction of the eleven vessels which had
+brought us to New Spain, for it is perfectly well known that the ships
+were run on shore by our unanimous consent, and in presence of us
+all, in order that the sailors might also be armed and accompany us
+on our march.</p>
+
+<p>In like manner he lowers the merits of Juan de Grijalva, although
+he had proved himself such a worthy officer; while he passes by
+Hernandez de Cordoba in silence, though he was the first who discovered
+Yucatan: of Francisco de Garay he says, that he had accompanied
+us on the previous expedition under Grijalva, though he first visited
+New Spain during this last expedition. In the account he gives of
+the arrival of Narvaez, and the victory we gained over him, he is
+certainly more faithful, and has been well informed of all the circumstances;
+but, with respect to the battles with the Tlascallans, up to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>
+the time when peace was concluded with them, he has again diverged
+from the truth. Concerning the battle we fought in the city of
+Mexico itself, in which we were worsted and beaten back with the loss
+of 860 of our troops, of whom a great portion was sacrificed to the
+idols,&mdash;I repeat, where above 860 of our men were killed, for out of
+1300 soldiers who had marched into the town to the relief of Pedro
+de Alvarado, which made out the united forces of Narvaez and Cortes,
+only 440 escaped, and even these were all wounded,&mdash;of this great and
+important deed of arms he speaks as if it were a mere nothing. He
+says as little of the subsequent conquest we made of the great city of
+Mexico, or the manner in which we accomplished it, and omits to
+mention the number of our killed and wounded; as if this undertaking
+had merely been a jolly marriage-procession. But why should I continue
+to enumerate all these particularities one by one, it is a mere waste
+of ink and paper! I can only say that it is a great pity if Gomara
+pursues the same course in all his works; for in the beautiful style in
+which he writes, he ought to make truth perceptible, and distinguish
+himself therein. But enough of Gomara; I have sufficiently proved,
+to the sorrow of his readers, how far he has gone beside the truth. I
+will now return to my history, and strive to act up to the advice of wise
+men, who say that honesty and truth are the true ornaments to
+history. Indeed, my rude style of writing would be insupportable
+without truth, and therefore I was determined to put my trust in it,
+and continue my narrative in the way I had begun, that it might go to
+the press, and publish to the world the conquest of New Spain, as it
+really took place. In this way his imperial majesty will also learn the
+great services which we, the true conquistadores, have rendered to the
+crown; how small our numbers were when we first arrived in this
+country, under the command of our highly-favoured and faithful
+captain, Hernando Cortes; what dangers we had to brave; and, lastly,
+how we conquered this kingdom, which forms a great part of the New
+World, and for which reason his majesty, our most christian king and
+master, has so often ordered that we should be rewarded. However,
+I will not say anything further on this head, though much might be
+said. In resuming my pen I will, like a careful pilot who throws out
+the lead when he is in danger of shallows, search after truth, where
+the historian Gomara flies away from it. I will not, however, detain
+my readers by entering into minute particulars, but always keep the
+whole in view, in order that the costs of gathering the leasings may
+not amount to more than the value of the full vintage. If other
+historians should further swell out my narrative, and bestow on Cortes,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>
+our commander, and on the brave conquistadores in this great and
+holy expedition, their just measure of praise, I can at least say that I
+have witnessed for the truth. These, indeed, are not stories about
+strange countries, or dreams, or contradictory statements; everything
+I relate, if I may so say, happened but yesterday, and the whole of
+New Spain can test these representations, and judge how far those
+are correct who have written on the same subject. I will relate
+that of which I myself was an eyewitness, facts which I know to be
+true, and will pay no attention to the contradictory statements of
+those who merely write from hearsay, for truth is a sacred thing. I
+will therefore say no more on this head, though I could, if I liked, say
+a good deal; and merely add, that there are good grounds for believing
+that when Gomara was writing his history, he had been deceived
+by false information: with him, every circumstance is made to turn
+to the glory and honour of Cortes, while no mention is made of the
+other brave officers and soldiers; but, the partiality of this author
+is sufficiently seen from the circumstance of his having dedicated his
+work to the present Marquis del Valle, son of Cortes, and not to his
+majesty the king. But, alas! these untruths and errors are not peculiar
+to Francisco Lopez de Gomara, but have also been the means
+of leading many other writers and historians who had followed his
+work into like error, as for instance, Doctor Illescas and Paulo Jovio,
+who have exactly copied Gomara's account, without adding or taking
+away a single word. For all their blunders they are indebted to
+Gomara.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How another armament was fitted out for a voyage to the newly discovered
+countries. The command of which was given to Hernando
+Cortes, afterwards Marquis of the Vale of Oaxaca; also of the secret
+cabals which were formed to deprive him of it.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Immediately after the return of Juan de Grijalva from our last
+voyage of discovery, in the year 1518, Diego Velasquez issued orders
+for the fitting-out of a more considerable armament than the foregoing.
+For this purpose he had ten vessels lying in the harbour of
+Santiago de Cuba, at his disposal. Among these were the four vessels
+in which we had just returned with Grijalva, which had been immediately
+refitted and careened. The six others had been collected from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>
+the different ports of the island. The vessels were provided with sufficient
+provisions, consisting in cassave-bread, tobacco, and smoked
+bacon, to last us on our voyage to the Havannah, where they were to
+be fully equipped, for at that time there was neither beef nor mutton
+to be had in Cuba. In the meantime, however, Diego Velasquez
+could not make up his mind to whom he should intrust the command.
+Some cavaliers certainly mentioned Vasco Porcallo, a captain of great
+renown, and related to the earl of Feria, who, it was said, would
+shortly arrive to take the command. This man, however, did not suit
+Diego Velasquez; he feared his daring spirit, and was apprehensive
+that once having the armament under his command he would declare
+himself independent of him. Others again spoke of Augustin Bermudez,
+Antonio Velasquez Borrego, and Bernardino Velasquez, who were all
+three relatives of Velasquez. We soldiers, however, would not hear of
+any other than Juan de Grijalva, who, besides being a brave officer,
+bore an unblemished character; a man moreover who fully understood
+the art of commanding. While such like rumours were afloat, the
+affair was secretly settled, by two confidants of Diego Velasquez,
+Andreas de Duero, secretary to the governor, and Almador de Lares, the
+royal treasurer, with Hernando Cortes. Cortes was a cavalier of rank,
+a native of Medellin, and son of Martin Cortes de Monroy, and of
+Catalina Pizarro Altamirano, both descendants of two ancient noble
+families of Estremadura, though then in rather straitened circumstances.
+Cortes had an Indian commendary in Cuba, and had been
+recently married to Do&ntilde;a Catalina Suarez Pacheco, daughter of the
+late Diego Suarez Pacheco of Avila, and of Maria de Mercaida of
+Biscay; and sister to Juan Suarez Pacheco, who, subsequent to the
+conquest of New Spain, took up his abode in Mexico, where he had
+a commendary. This marriage proved very expensive to Cortes, and
+had even occasioned his imprisonment. Diego Velasquez favoured the
+family of Cortes's wife, who had been averse to the match: but I must
+leave this for others to expatiate upon, and rather confine myself to
+the principal subject in this place, which is, to acquaint my reader
+that the above-mentioned confidants of Diego Velasquez did all in their
+power to obtain the appointment of commander-in-chief for Cortes;
+who, on the other hand, had promised to share equally with them all
+the profits arising from the gold, silver, and jewels, which pending
+this expedition should fall to his share, which might turn out very considerable,
+since the real design of Diego Velasquez, in fitting-out this
+expedition, was not to make settlements, but that a trade of barter
+should be carried on with the natives. Duero and the royal treasurer,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>
+therefore, employed all their cunning with the governor. They took
+every opportunity of placing Cortes in the most favorable light&mdash;extolling
+his great courage, in a word, declared him to be the most
+proper person whom he could intrust with the command. In him he
+might place implicit confidence, the more so since he himself had been
+present as a witness at Cortes's marriage, and given the bride away,
+and was thus spiritually related to him. Their endeavours were indeed
+crowned with success, by Diego Velasquez conferring the appointment
+of captain-general of the expedition on that gentleman. The secretary
+Duero did not fail on this occasion, as the saying is, to write out the
+commission with the best of ink, to word it agreeably to Cortes's
+wishes, and finish it in all haste. When the appointment became
+known to the public, some approved of it and others not.</p>
+
+<p>On the Sunday following, as Diego Velasquez was on his way to
+church, accompanied by the principal personages in the town, as was
+due to him in his capacity of governor, it happened that he did Cortes
+the honour of placing him on his right side; on the road they were
+met by a jester, nick-named the fool Servantes: this fellow kept
+in front of the governor, cutting all manner of ridiculous figures and
+playing all sorts of pranks. "Well-a-day, friend Diego, (commenced
+this jack-pudding,) what manner of a captain-general have you appointed?
+He of Medellin and Estremadura! A captain who wants
+to try his fortune in no small way. I am afraid he will cut his sticks
+with your whole squadron; for he is a terrible fellow when he once
+begins, this you may read in his countenance." As he was chattering
+on in this strain for some time and growing more severe in his observations,
+Andreas de Duero, who was walking by the side of Cortes, hit
+him a good blow on the head, crying out at the same time, "begone you
+drunken fool! I am sure these scandalous pleasantries never emanated
+in your brain." The buffoon, however, took no notice of this, but
+commenced a-new. "Long live my friend Diego and the bold captain
+Cortes! Upon my life, master Diego, I must really go myself with
+Cortes to those rich countries, in order that you may not repent of the
+bargain you have made!" Nobody doubted for a moment that it was
+Velasquez, the governor's relative, who had feed the jester with a few
+pesos to utter these complaints, all emanating from a bad feeling.
+Everything this fool had predicted, however, took place to the very
+letter, and only proves that fools often speak the truth. It is nevertheless
+certain that the appointment of Hernando Cortes was pleasing
+in the eyes of God, a blessing to our holy religion, and of the first
+importance to his majesty, as will be clearly proved in the sequel.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Of the designs and plans of Hernando Cortes after he had obtained
+the appointment of captain.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After Hernando Cortes had thus been appointed captain, he immediately
+set about to collect all manner of arms and ammunition,
+consisting of matchlocks, crossbows, powder, and the like; in the
+same way he took care to provide a large stock of goods for barter, and
+other necessaries requisite for our expedition. He was now also most
+particular in adorning his outward person, more than ordinarily: he
+stuck a bunch of feathers in his cap, to which he fastened a golden
+medal, which gave him a very stately appearance. Notwithstanding
+all this he was at that time greatly pinched for money to purchase the
+things he required, being, in addition, head and ears in debt: for,
+though his commendary was a lucrative one, and his gold mines very
+productive, he required it all for his own person and the dress of his
+young wife. For the rest his countenance was most winning, his conversation
+agreeable, while he was beloved by every one. He had
+been twice Alcalde of Santiago de Boroco, where he resided, which is
+esteemed a great honour in these parts. When, therefore, his friends
+among the merchants, Jaime Tria and a certain Pedro de Xeres, heard
+of his appointment, they lent him 4000 gold pesos and other merchandise,
+upon the income arising from his commendary. With this
+money he bought a state robe with golden trains, ensigns bearing the
+arms of our sovereign the king, on each side of which was the figure
+of a cross, beneath this a Latin inscription, the meaning of which was:
+"Brothers, let us in true faith follow the cross, and the victory is
+ours!" He then made known by sound of drum and trumpet, in the
+name of his majesty and Diego Velasquez the governor, that all those
+who felt inclined to accompany him to the conquest and colonization
+of the newly-discovered countries, should have a share in the gold,
+silver, and jewels they might gain; also that, when any one settled
+himself there, he should be presented with an Indian commendary, the
+distribution of which his majesty had confided to Diego Velasquez.</p>
+
+<p>Although this proclamation was made previous to the return of the
+chaplain Benito Martinez, whom Diego had despatched to Spain to
+procure for him such authority and other powers, yet it made a deep
+impression among the inhabitants of the island. Cortes, also, at the
+same time wrote to all his friends, inviting them to join the expedition.
+Many there were who sold all they were possessed of, to buy themselves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>
+arms and a horse; others purchased stores of cassave-bread and salted
+bacon to provision the ships, and otherwise equipped themselves as
+well as they could. Our numbers had increased to 300 soldiers when
+we left Santiago de Cuba: we were even joined by some of the principal
+personages of Diego Velasquez's household; among the number
+was Diego de Ordas, his steward. To this he had certainly been
+advised by his master, to see that nothing was done opposed to his
+interests, as he did not altogether trust Cortes. There was also
+Francisco de Morla, Escobar, Herredia, Juan Ruano, Pedro Escudero,
+and Martin Ramos de Pares of Biscay, with many other friends and
+acquaintances of Velasquez. Myself I speak of last. Though I have
+merely enumerated these warriors as they came to my memory; without
+wishing, however, to give one any preference above the other. I
+intend hereafter to give the names of them all in the proper place.</p>
+
+<p>While Cortes was thus making every exertion to expedite the equipment
+of the vessels, the malice and envy of the relatives of Velasquez
+was not silent, who felt themselves most grievously neglected that the
+command should have been intrusted to Cortes. Velasquez had only
+shortly beforehand shown his hatred to Cortes on account of his marriage,
+and even persecuted him; they were therefore the more spiteful,
+and in every way strove to lower him in the eyes of the governor,
+hoping thereby to deprive him of the command. Cortes, who was
+fully acquainted with this, took care to be always at Velasquez's side.
+He took every opportunity of showing his attachment to him, and
+spoke of nothing but of the glory of this undertaking, and of the vast
+riches it could not fail, in a short time, to bring his patron Velasquez.
+Even Andreas de Duero urged Cortes by all means to hasten the embarkation,
+as the relatives of Velasquez had already succeeded in altering
+his sentiments with regard to Cortes. The latter therefore desired his
+wife to send him on board the provisions and other presents which
+women under such circumstances are accustomed to give their husbands.
+He made known to the masters and pilots of the different vessels the
+day and hour of departure, and ordered all the men to be on board by
+a certain day.</p>
+
+<p>Everything being now ready for his departure, and all the men on
+board, Cortes called upon the governor to take leave of him, and was
+accompanied on this occasion by his best friends and companions in
+arms, Andreas de Duero, the royal treasurer, Almador de Lares, and
+the principal inhabitants of the town. Velasquez and Cortes vowed
+eternal friendship, and did not part until they had several times embraced
+each other.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The next morning early we attended mass, after which we marched
+to our vessels accompanied by the governor and a number of cavaliers
+in honorable escort.</p>
+
+<p>The weather being very fine, we arrived, after a few days' sail, safely
+in the harbour of Trinidad, and landed there.</p>
+
+<p>From what has already been said, and will further be seen in the
+following chapter, the reader may easily imagine the various difficulties
+Cortes had to struggle with; though, when my narrative is
+confronted with that of Gomara, it will be found how greatly they
+differ. Gomara, for instance, will have that Andreas de Duero was a
+merchant, though, as private secretary to the governor, he had considerable
+weight in the island; and of Diego de Ordas, he says, that he
+accompanied the expedition under Grijalva, though he never went out
+until this time with Cortes. But I will leave Gomara and his miserable
+history, and relate our doings in the town of Trinidad.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Cortes's occupations at Trinidad, and of the cavaliers and warriors who
+there joined our expedition, and other matters.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>On the first notice of our arrival at Trinidad, the inhabitants came
+out to welcome us and our commander Cortes. Among the great
+body of cavaliers in this place, every one strove hardest to have Cortes
+for his guest. Cortes immediately planted his standard in front of his
+dwelling, and made the public acquainted with the particulars of the
+expedition in the same way as he had done at Santiago, and further
+collected whatever he could in the shape of firearms with other necessaries.
+Here we were also joined by the Alvarados, namely, Pedro,
+who has often been mentioned in this history, his brothers Gonzalo,
+Jorge, Gomez, and his natural brother the elder Juan Alvarado.
+Further we were here joined by Alonso de Avila of Avila, who had a
+command in the last expedition, under Grijalva; Juan de Escalante,
+Pedro Sanchez Farsan of Sevilla; Gonzalo Mexia, subsequently treasurer
+at Mexico; Vaena, Juanes de Fuentarabia, and Christobal de
+Oli, who had a command at the taking of Mexico, and in all the battles
+fought in New Spain. Further, Ortiz, the musician, and Gaspar
+Sanchez, nephew to the treasurer of Cuba; Diego de Pinedo, Alonzo
+Rodriguez, who possessed some lucrative gold mines, and Bartolome
+Garcia. To which may be added many other cavaliers whose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>
+names at present I cannot remember, all personages of influence and
+respectability. From this place Cortes also wrote letters to Santispiritus,
+fifty-four miles from Trinidad, and made our expedition known
+to the public there. He knew so well how to mix up his sentences
+with inviting expressions and great promises, that many of the first
+personages of that town were thereby induced to join us. These
+were Hernando Puertocarrero, cousin to the earl of Medellin, and
+Gonzalo de Sandoval, who had been eight months alguacil-major and
+governor, and was afterwards a commander in New Spain; also Juan
+Velasquez de Leon, a relation of Diego Velasquez; Rodrigo Rangel,
+Gonzalo Lopez de Ximena, with his brother Juan Lopez, and Juan
+Sede&ntilde;o. This latter gentleman was an inhabitant of Santispiritus,
+and had joined Cortes because of the two other Sede&ntilde;os who were
+among us. These gentlemen, who were all men of consequence, had
+arrived at the same time in Trinidad, when Cortes, accompanied by
+the whole of us, went out to meet them. Cannons were fired, and
+other rejoicings took place on this occasion, while professions of
+esteem and friendship were past from one party to the other. All
+these men possessed land in the neighbourhood of this town, where
+they ordered cassave-bread to be made, and bacon to be cured, and
+otherwise collected all the provisions they possibly could for our vessels.
+Here also we hired soldiers, and purchased some horses, which latter,
+at that time, were very scarce, and only to be had at exorbitant prices.
+Alonso Hernandez de Puertocarrero, whom I had previously known,
+had not sufficient money to purchase himself a horse; Cortes, therefore,
+bought one for him, and paid for it with the golden borders of
+the velvet robe he had procured at Santiago. About this time there also
+arrived in the port of Trinidad a vessel belonging to a certain Juan
+Sede&ntilde;o, of the Havannah, laden with cassave-bread and salted meat,
+which was destined for the mines of Santiago. This Sede&ntilde;o, who had
+called upon our commander to pay his respects, was soon persuaded,
+by the eloquence and address of Cortes, to sell him his ship with the
+lading and all, and himself to join the expedition. We had now eleven
+ships in all, and everything, thanks to Providence, was going on well,
+when letters arrived from Diego Velasquez with peremptory orders
+that Cortes was to be deprived of the command. But I will detail
+this matter in the following chapter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the governor Diego Velasquez sends two of his officials in all
+haste to Trinidad, with full power and authority to deprive Cortes
+of his appointment of captain, and bring the squadron away, &amp;c.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>I must now carry my narrative back a few days, in order to relate
+what happened at Santiago de Cuba after our departure. We had
+scarcely set sail when Diego Velasquez's friends left him not a moment's
+peace, harassing him until they had totally revolutionised his
+sentiments with regard to Cortes. They now plainly told him that he
+might consider Cortes as lost to his interests from his having so secretly
+sneaked away from the harbour. Neither had he made any secret of
+his determination to have the chief command of the armament, whether
+Diego might wish it or not; for which reason he had embarked
+his men at night-time, that if any attempt were made to deprive him
+of the squadron, he would resist it by main force. He, the governor,
+had been deceived by his private secretary Duero, and De Lares the
+royal treasurer, who had both made some previous agreement with
+Cortes to procure him the command. But in particular the relatives
+of Velasquez were constantly urging him to cancel the
+recent appointment of Cortes, in which they were backed by a certain
+old man, named Juan Millan, commonly termed the astrologer,
+who was considered by many not to be exactly in his proper senses.
+This old man repeatedly told the governor that Cortes would now revenge
+himself for his having, some time ago, thrown him into prison:
+"Sly and artful as he is, he will be the means of ruining you, if you are
+not upon your guard."</p>
+
+<p>These hints were not thrown away upon Velasquez; they brought
+about a revolution in his mind, which ended in his despatching two
+trustworthy persons out of his establishment, with private instructions to
+his brother-in-law Francisco de Verdugo, then alcalde major of Trinidad,
+by which he was peremptorily commanded, under all circumstances, to
+deprive Cortes of the squadron, whose appointment of captain had
+been withdrawn, and given to Vasco Porcallo. At the same time he
+wrote letters to Diego de Ordas, Francisco de Morla, and to his
+relations and friends, desiring them, at all events, to leave the
+squadron.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Cortes got information of this, he had a secret interview
+with Ordas and all those officers and inhabitants of Trinidad, who, he
+thought, might feel inclined to obey the orders of Velasquez. To<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>
+these he spoke so feelingly, and in such kind terms, accompanied by
+such great promises, that they were all soon gained over to his side.
+Diego de Ordas even undertook to advise the alcalde major Francisco
+de Verdugo not to put these commands immediately into execution,
+and to keep them secret; telling him, at the same time, he had seen
+nothing in Cortes which gave the slightest reasons for suspecting him
+of anything wrong; on the contrary, he had, on every occasion, given
+proofs of his adherence to the governor. He assured him, moreover,
+that it would be an impossibility to deprive Cortes of the command of
+the squadron, in which he had so many friends among the cavaliers,
+and Diego Velasquez so many enemies, who would not easily forgive
+him that he had neglected to bestow on them more profitable commendaries.
+Besides the number of friends Cortes had among the officers,
+he could rely upon most of the soldiers, and thus it would be useless
+to attempt anything against him. The whole town would become
+mixed up in the quarrel, which would be plundered by our men, and
+even worse consequences might follow. By these arguments, Ordas
+prevented all violent measures; and one of the above-mentioned
+officials, whom Diego had sent with despatches to his nephew, named
+Pedro Laso, even joined our expedition. The other, Cortes sent back
+with a letter to the governor, in which he made use of every kind sentiment,
+and expressed his utter astonishment at the resolution he had
+taken, particularly as he had no other design than to serve God, his
+majesty the king, and the governor. He earnestly advised him not to
+listen any further to his cousin Velasquez, nor to allow the kind feeling
+he entertained for him to be poisoned by such an old fool as Juan
+Millan. Cortes, at the same time, wrote to his other friends, and in
+particular to his two confederates, the private secretary and royal
+treasurer.</p>
+
+<p>The next step he took was to command his men to put their arms
+into good repair. Every smith in the town was set to work to fix
+points to our lances, and the gunners were ordered to search every
+magazine for arrows. He at last even persuaded the very smiths to
+join the armament.</p>
+
+<p>We remained altogether twelve days at Trinidad, and thence sailed
+for the Havannah. From the foregoing statement, the reader will
+readily perceive how differently all this has been related by Gomara,
+who even makes Velasquez confer the chief command on Ordas; the
+latter, he says, invited Cortes to dine with him on board his vessel,
+had him seized while at dinner, and taken off prisoner to Santiago. I
+could cite many similar errors from Gomara's history, and thereby<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>
+convince the reader that it is better to believe an eyewitness than an
+author who writes about things he never saw. However, enough of
+Gomara; let us return to our subject.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Cortes embarks with all his cavaliers and soldiers in order to sail along
+the south side of the island to the Havannah, and sends off one of
+the vessels to go around the north coast for the same port.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Cortes, finding that he had nothing further to do at Trinidad,
+acquainted his officers and men with the hour of departure, leaving it
+to each one's choice either to proceed to the Havannah by sea, or
+march thither overland, under the command of Pedro de Alvarado, who
+would be joined by some men from one of the colonies, on his road.
+Alvarado was a kind-hearted man, who knew best how to deal with
+soldiers; wherefore I myself, with fifty other military men, gladly
+joined him; our numbers were, moreover, increased by all our horse.
+Cortes also sent a vessel, under the command of Juan de Escalante,
+which was to shape its course around the north coast to the Havannah.
+Cortes then embarked, and proceeded, with the whole squadron, for
+the same port. The transport ships must, however, have missed the
+vessel of our commander-in-chief in the night, as they all arrived safe
+at the Havannah without it. The troops under Pedro de Alvarado
+also arrived in good time, and the vessel under the command of Escalante,
+which had sailed around the north coast.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes alone remained behind; nor could any one account for his
+delay, or what could possibly have detained him. Five days passed
+away without our obtaining the least tidings of him, and we already
+began to fear that he had been shipwrecked off the Jardines,<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> which
+lie from thirty to thirty-six miles from the Havannah, near the Pinos
+isles, where the sea is very shallow: we therefore determined to send
+out our three smaller vessels in quest of her; but what with the fitting-out
+of these vessels, added to the manifold opinions and advices, two
+more days elapsed, and Cortes still remained behind. All manner of
+artifices were now had recourse to, as to whom the command should be
+given, until some certainty was gained respecting the fate of Cortes,
+in which Diego de Ordas, in his capacity of steward over the household
+of Velasquez, and secret observer of our movements, was most
+active.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The following misfortune had befallen Cortes. When his vessel,
+which was of considerable tonnage, had arrived off the Pinos isles on
+the shallows of the Jardines, there was not sufficient depth of water to
+carry her, and she consequently got aground. The ship had now to
+be unladen, which was an easy matter, on account of the nearness of
+the shore. As soon as she was set afloat again and brought into deeper
+water she was reloaded and pursued her voyage to the Havannah. The
+joy among the officers and soldiers was very great as soon as she became
+visible in the horizon, to those excepted who had prized themselves
+with the command, to whose machinations, however, there was
+now an end. We accompanied Cortes to the house of Pedro Barba,
+Velasquez's lieutenant at Trinidad, where quarters had been got ready
+for his reception. He immediately hoisted his standard in front of his
+dwelling, and by public proclamation invited the inhabitants to join
+the expedition.</p>
+
+<p>It was here that Francisco de Montejo first joined us, of whom I
+shall often have to speak in the course of this history: subsequent to
+the conquest of Mexico he became adelantado and governor of
+Yucatan and the Honduras. Here we were also joined by Diego de
+Soto of Toro, namely, who afterwards was Cortes's steward in Mexico;
+further, Angula and Garci Caro, Sebastian Rodriguez, Pacheco,
+Gutierras, Royas (this is not he commonly called the wealthy); also
+by a young fellow of the name of Santaclara; the two brothers,
+Martinez del Frexenal and Juan de Najara&mdash;not the deaf one of the tennis-court
+at Mexico: all of whom were men of rank and quality. There
+were also other soldiers who joined us, whose names I have forgotten.</p>
+
+<p>When Cortes, therefore, beheld all these cavaliers together, his heart
+leaped with joy, and he sent off another ship for a further supply of
+provisions to the promontory of Guaniguanico, where Velasquez had
+landed property. Here was a village where cassave-bread was made,
+and quantities of swine's flesh cured. He gave the command of this
+vessel to Diego de Ordas, who, as Velasquez's steward, ordered matters
+on his master's property as he liked. Cortes wished to keep him out
+of the way, having learnt that Ordas had not spoken in very favorable
+terms of him during the dispute as to whom the command should be
+given, when he was detained off the Pinos isles. Ordas's instructions
+were to remain in the harbour of Guaniguanico, after he had taken in
+his lading, until the arrival there of the vessel which was to sail
+around the north coast, with which he was then to proceed to the
+island of Cozumel, provided he received no further instructions by
+Indian canoes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Francisco de Montejo and other cavaliers of the Havannah likewise
+furnished quantities of cassave-bread and cured bacon; there being no
+other kind of provisions to be had. In the meantime Cortes ordered
+all our heavy guns, consisting in ten copper cannons and a few falconets,
+to be brought on shore and given in charge of an artilleryman,
+named Mesa, a certain Arbenga who traded to the Levant, and Juan
+Catalan, to prove them, and otherwise put them into good repair; also
+to furnish for each the right-sized balls and proper quantity of powder.
+He also gave them an assistant, named Bartolome de Usagre, and
+furnished them with vinegar and wine to polish the copper pieces. In
+the same way all our crossbows were inspected, and their strength
+ascertained by shooting at the target. Cotton being very plentiful
+here we constructed ourselves cuirasses with it, which form the most
+efficient protection against Indian arrows, pikes, and slings. Here it
+was also that Cortes put his establishment on a much superior footing,
+and had himself served as a person of the first quality. He took for
+his butler a certain Guzman, who was subsequently killed by the
+Indians; he must not, however, be confounded with Christobal de
+Guzman, who afterwards became his steward, and was the man whom
+took the king Quauhtemoctzin prisoner, during the battle in the suburbs
+of Mexico. Rodrigo Rangel he appointed his chamberlain, and Juan
+de Caceres his house-steward, who after the conquest of Mexico was
+considered a man of great wealth. Having ordered all these things, he
+commanded us to hold ourselves in readiness for embarking, and to
+distribute the horses among the vessels, for which the necessary quantity
+of maise and hay had been provided.</p>
+
+<p>For memory's sake I will here likewise describe the horses and
+mares which we took with us on our expedition. Cortes had a
+dark chesnut stallion, which died afterwards at St. Juan de Ulua.
+Pedro de Alvarado and Hernando Lopez d'Avila had jointly an
+excellent brown mare, which had been broken-in for the field of battle
+as well as for tournaments. After our arrival in New Spain, Alvarado
+bought Lopez's share, or perhaps took forcible possession of it. Alonso
+Hernandez Puertocarrero had a grey-coloured mare, which Cortes had
+purchased for him with the golden borders of his state-robe, it was
+capitally trained for the field of battle. Juan Velasquez de Leon's
+mare was of the same colour, a noble and powerful animal, full of fire
+and eager for battle: we commonly termed it the "short tail."</p>
+
+<p>Christobal de Oli had a dark brown fine-spirited horse. Francisco
+de Montejo and Alonso de Avila had between them a sorel-coloured
+horse, but of little use in battle. Francisco de Morla had likewise a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>
+dark chesnut stallion, one full of fire and wonderfully swift. The
+light-coloured horse of Juan de Escalante was not worth much. The
+grey-coloured mare of Diego de Ordas, which would never foal, was
+neither very swift. Gonzalo Dominiguez had a small dark-brown nag,
+a very swift and noble animal. Also the brown-coloured horse of
+Pedro Gonzalez de Truxillo was a swift animal. Moron, who was a
+native of Vaimo, had a small horse which was pretty well trained.
+Vaena, of Trinidad, had a darkish-coloured horse, though a bad leaper.
+The light-coloured chesnut galloway of De Lares was, on the other
+hand, a splendid animal and a capital runner.</p>
+
+<p>Ortiz, the musician, and a certain Bartolome Garcia, who had
+applied himself to the art of mining, had between them a very good
+dark-coloured horse, which they named the Arriero (mule-driver,) and
+was one of the best animals of the whole corps. Juan Sede&ntilde;o, of the
+Havannah, had a fine chesnut mare, which foaled on board. This
+Sede&ntilde;o was considered to be the most wealthy man amongst us; for
+he had a ship of his own, a horse, a few negroes to attend upon him,
+and his own lading of cassave and cured bacon. Just about this time
+horses and negroes were only to be purchased for very high prices,
+which accounts for the small number of the former we had with us on
+this expedition.</p>
+
+<p>However, I will stop here, and relate in the next chapter what happened
+as we were just about to embark.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Diego Velasquez sends one of his officials, named Gaspar Garnica, with
+full authority to take Cortes prisoner, whatever might be the consequence;
+and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>In order that my history may be perfectly intelligible to my readers,
+I must sometimes recur to prior events. In this place I have to return
+to Diego Velasquez, who, when he learnt that his brother-in-law, Francisco
+Verdugo, sub-governor of Trinidad, had not only confirmed
+Cortes in his appointment over the squadron, but even, conjointly
+with Diego de Ordas, lent him every possible assistance, fell into such
+a rage that he roared like a wild beast. He accused his private secretary
+Andreas de Duero, and the royal treasurer Almador de Lares, of
+a conspiracy to cheat him, adding, that Cortes had run off with the
+whole squadron. Nor did Velasquez stop here, but despatched one of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>
+his officials with imperative commands to Pedro Barba, sub-governor
+of the Havannah, at the same time writing to all his relatives in that
+town, to De Ordas and to Juan Velasquez de Leon, who were his special
+confidants, requiring them to swear, by the friendship they bore him,
+not, under any pretence whatsoever, to allow the squadron to depart,
+but to send Cortes prisoner to Santiago. As soon as Garnica, the
+bearer of these despatches, arrived, it was immediately guessed for what
+purpose he came. Cortes was even apprized of it by means of the
+very bearer himself: for one of the brethren of Charity, who was
+much in company with Velasquez, and greatly in favour with him, had
+forwarded by this same Garnica a letter to a brother of the same order,
+named Bartolome de Olmedo, who had joined our expedition. By
+means of this letter, Cortes was apprized of the whole posture of affairs
+by those interested with him, Andreas de Duero and the royal treasurer.
+Ordas, as we have above seen, having been sent off in quest of
+provisions, Cortes had now only to fear opposition from Juan Velasquez
+de Leon; but even him he had half gained over to his side, not being
+on the best of terms with his relative the governor, who had only
+presented him with a very poor commendary. Thus it was that the
+design of Velasquez was frustrated by those very persons to whom he
+had written. Indeed, from that very moment, these personages only
+united themselves the closer to Cortes, particularly the sub-governor
+Pedro Barba, the Alvarados, Puertocarrero, Montejo, Christobal de
+Oli, Juan de Escalante, Andreas de Monjaraz, and his brother Gregorio,
+who, with all of us, were ready to stake our lives for Cortes. Had
+the orders of Velasquez been kept secret in Trinidad, they were now
+the more so in this place; and Pedro de Barba despatched Garnica to
+Diego Velasquez with the information that he durst not venture to
+take Cortes into custody, as he was too powerful and too much beloved
+by the soldiers; fearing, if he should make the attempt, that the town
+would be plundered, and the whole of the inhabitants forcibly dragged
+away. For the rest, he could assure Diego Velasquez that Cortes was
+quite devoted to him, and did nothing that could be said to militate
+against his interests. Cortes himself also wrote a letter couched in
+those smooth terms he so very well knew how to employ, assuring
+Velasquez of the unabated friendship he entertained for him, and that
+he was going to set sail the very next day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Cortes sets sail with the whole squadron for the island of Cozumel,
+and what further took place.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Cortes deferred the review of his troops until we should have
+arrived at the island of Cozumel, and gave orders for the embarking of
+our horses. Pedro de Alvarado, in the San Sebastian, which was a very
+fast sailer, was ordered to shape his course along the north coast, and
+his pilot received strict orders to steer direct for the cape of St. Antonio,
+where all the other vessels would meet and set sail for Cozumel: like
+instructions were forwarded to Diego de Ordas. Mass having been
+said, the nine remaining vessels set sail, in a southerly direction, on
+the 10th of February, 1519. There were sixty soldiers on board the
+San Sebastian, under Alvarado, among which number I was myself.
+Camacho, our pilot, took no notice of the orders he had received from
+Cortes, but shaped his course direct for Cozumel, so that we arrived
+two days earlier there than the rest. We landed our men in the same
+harbour I before mentioned in our expedition under Grijalva. Cortes
+had been detained on his passage by the breaking of the rudder of
+Francisco de Morla's vessel, which had to be replaced from what
+they had at hand.</p>
+
+<p>Our vessel, as I have stated above, arrived two days earlier at
+Cozumel than the rest, and the whole of the men proceeded on shore.
+We did not meet with a single Indian in the village of Cozumel, as all
+the inhabitants had fled away. Alvarado, therefore, ordered us to
+another village at about four miles distance from the latter. Here the
+inhabitants had likewise fled to the woods, without, however, being
+able to carry off all their property, so that we found numbers of fowls
+and other things; of the former, Alvarado would not permit us to
+take more than forty. Out of a temple near at hand we took several
+cotton mats, and a few small boxes containing a species of diadem,
+small idols, corals, with all manner of trinkets made of an inferior
+sort of gold. We also took two Indians and a female prisoners, after
+which we returned to the village near which we had landed.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime Cortes had arrived with the remaining vessels.
+He had scarcely stepped on shore when he ordered our pilot Camacho
+to be put in irons, for having followed a contrary course to what he
+had been ordered. But his displeasure was still greater when he learnt
+that the village was quite deserted, and that Alvarado had taken away,
+besides the fowls, the religious implements and other matters, though of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>
+little value, being half copper. Having shown no lenity to Camacho, he
+now also gave Alvarado an earnest reproof, telling him that it was not
+the way to gain the love of the inhabitants by beginning to rob them
+of their property. He then ordered the two Indians and the female
+whom we had taken prisoners to be brought into his presence, and
+put several questions to them. Melchorillo, whom we had captured
+at the promontory of Cotoche, (Julianillo had since died,) and taken
+with us, perfectly understood the language of this country, and interpreted
+on the occasion. Cortes sent the three Indians to the cazique
+and the inhabitants, desiring them to state that they had nothing
+to fear from us, and to return to their village. He also restored to
+them the religious implements, with the golden trinkets, and gave
+them glass beads in exchange for the fowls, which we had eaten:
+besides this, he presented each of them with a Spanish shirt. They
+faithfully executed Cortes's commission; for the very next day the
+cazique returned with the whole of the inhabitants, and so confidently
+did they converse with us as if they had known us all their lives:
+indeed, Cortes had given peremptory orders that they should in no
+wise be molested. It was here also that Cortes began strict discipline,
+and set to work with unremitting assiduity, to which Providence lent
+his blessing; for everything in which he concerned himself went well,
+particularly with regard to making peace with the tribes or inhabitants
+of these countries. This the reader will find fully confirmed in
+the course of my history.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Cortes reviews his troops, and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>On the third day after our arrival at Cozumel, Cortes reviewed the
+whole of his troops. Without counting the pilots and marines, our
+number amounted to 508 men. There were 109 sailors, and sixteen
+horses, which were trained equally for tournaments or for war. Our
+squadron consisted of eleven vessels of different tonnage; among these,
+one was a kind of brigantine, the property of a certain Gines Nortes.
+The number of crossbow men was thirty-three, and of musketeers
+thirteen: add to this our heavy guns and four falconets, a great quantity
+of powder and balls. As to the precise number of crossbow men
+I cannot exactly swear, though it matters not whether there were a
+few more or less.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>After this review, Cortes ordered the artillerymen Mesa, Bartolome
+de Usagre, Arbenga, and a certain Catalonier whose name I
+forget, to keep all our firearms bright and in good order, to see that
+each cannon had its right-sized ball, to prepare the cartridges, and
+distribute the powder properly. The chief care of our gun department
+he confided to a certain Francisco de Oroze, who had proved
+himself a brave soldier in the Italian wars. Juan Benitez and Pedro
+de Guzman had to inspect the crossbows, and see that they were
+supplied with two or three nuts and as many cords. They had also
+to superintend the exercise of shooting at the target, and the breaking-in
+of our horses, particularly to accustom them to the noise of our
+firearms. I have now said sufficient of our armament: indeed, Cortes
+was most particular with the merest trifles in these matters.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Cortes receives information that two Spaniards are in the power of the
+Indians at the promontory of Cotoche: the steps he took upon this
+news.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>As Cortes paid attention to every circumstance, he ordered myself
+and Martin Camos of Biscay into his presence, and asked us what
+our opinion was of the word <i>Castilan</i>, <i>Castilan</i>, which the Indians of
+Campeachy had so often repeated when we landed there, under the
+command of Hernandez de Cordoba.</p>
+
+<p>We again informed him of every circumstance that had there taken
+place. He said, he had often turned this matter over in his mind, and
+could not help thinking but that the inhabitants must have some
+Spaniards among them, and he thought it would not be amiss to
+question the caziques of Cozumel upon this head. This Cortes accordingly
+did, and desired Melchorejo, who by this time had gained
+some little knowledge of the Spanish, and perfectly understood the
+language of Cozumel, to question the chiefs about it. Their several
+accounts perfectly corresponded; and they satisfactorily proved that
+there were several Spaniards in the country, whom they had seen themselves;
+that they served the caziques, who lived two days' march inland,
+as slaves, and that it was only a few days ago some Indian merchants
+had spoken with them.</p>
+
+<p>We all felt overjoyed at this news. Cortes told these chiefs that he
+would send the Spaniards letters, which they call amales in their lan<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>guage,
+in which he would desire them to come to us. The cazique
+and other Indians who undertook to forward these letters were most
+kindly treated by Cortes, who gave them all kinds of presents, and
+promised them more on their return. Upon which the cazique remarked
+to Cortes, that it would be necessary to send a ransom to the
+chiefs whom the Spaniards served as slaves before they would let them
+go. Various kinds of glass beads were therefore given to the messengers
+for this purpose, and Cortes sent two of the smaller vessels, armed
+with twenty crossbow men and a few musketeers, under command of
+Diego de Ordas, to the coast of Cotoche, with orders to remain there
+for eight successive days with the larger of the two vessels, and to
+send him information from time to time by the other vessel, while the
+messengers brought letters to and fro; for the distance to the promontory
+of Cotoche from this place was only nine miles, the whole
+appearing, moreover, to form but one country. The following were
+the contents of the letter which Cortes wrote to the Spaniards:</p>
+
+<p>"Dear Sirs and Brothers,&mdash;Here, on the island of Cozumel, I
+received information that you are detained prisoners by a cazique.
+I beg of you to come here to me on the island of Cozumel. To this
+end I have sent out an armed ship, and ransom-money, should it be
+required by the Indians. I have ordered the vessel to remain stationary
+off the promontory of Cotoche for eight days, to wait for you.
+Come as speedily as possible; you may depend upon being honorably
+treated by me. I am here with eleven vessels armed with 500 soldiers,
+and intend, with the aid of the Almighty and your assistance, to proceed
+to a place called Tabasco, or Potonchon; etc."</p>
+
+<p>With this letter the two Indian merchants embarked on board our
+vessel, which passed this narrow gulf in three hours, when the messengers
+with the ransom-money were put on shore.</p>
+
+<p>After the lapse of a couple of days they actually handed over the
+letter to one of the Spaniards in question, who, as we afterwards learnt,
+was called Geronimo de Aguilar, and I shall therefore in future distinguish
+him by that name. When he had read the letter and received
+the ransom-money we had forwarded, he was exceedingly rejoiced, and
+took the latter to the cazique his master to beg for his liberation. The
+moment he had obtained this he went in quest of his comrade, Gonzalo
+Guerrero, and made him acquainted with all the circumstances;
+when Guerrero made the following reply:</p>
+
+<p>"Brother Aguilar,&mdash;I have united myself here to one of the females
+of this country, by whom I have three children; and am, during wartime,
+as good as cazique or chief. Go! and may God be with you: for
+myself, I could not appear again among my countrymen. My face<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>
+has already been disfigured, according to the Indian custom, and my
+ears have been pierced: what would my countrymen say if they saw
+me in this attire? Only look at my three children, what lovely little
+creatures they are; pray give me some of your glass beads for them,
+which I shall say my brethren sent them from my country."</p>
+
+<p>Gonzalo's Indian wife followed in the same strain, and was quite
+displeased with Aguilar's errand. "Only look at that slave there,
+(said she,) he is come here to take away my husband from me! Mind
+your own affairs, and do not trouble yourself about us."</p>
+
+<p>Aguilar, however, afterwards made another attempt to induce Gonzalo
+to leave, telling him to consider that he was a Christian, and that
+he ought not to risk the salvation of his soul for the sake of an Indian
+woman. Moreover, he might take her and the children with him if
+he could not make up his mind to separate himself from them. Aguilar,
+however, might say what he liked, it was all to no purpose; he could
+not persuade Gonzalo to accompany his heretofore companion in good
+and ill fortune. This Guerrero was most probably a sailor, and a
+native of Palos.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> He remained among the Indians, while Geronimo
+de Aguilar alone took his departure with the Indian messengers, and
+marched towards the coast where our ship was to have waited for them:
+but she had left; for De Ordas, after staying there the eight days, and
+another in addition, finding that no one appeared, again set sail for
+Cozumel. Aguilar was quite downcast when he found the ship was
+gone, and he again returned to his Indian master.</p>
+
+<p>Ordas, however, did not meet with the best of reception when he
+returned without the ransom-money or any information respecting the
+Spaniards, and even without the Indian messengers. Cortes said to
+him, with great vehemence, he expected he would have fulfilled his
+commission better than to return without the Spaniards, and even
+without bringing him any information respecting them, although well
+aware they were staying in that country. Cortes had, moreover, just
+that moment been greatly put out by another circumstance. A soldier,
+called Berrio, had accused some sailors of Gibraleon of having stolen
+from him a couple of sides of bacon, which they would not return.
+They positively denied that they had committed the robbery, and even
+took an oath to that effect; however, after a good search, the bacon
+was found among their clothes. There were seven sailors who had
+been concerned in the robbery, and Cortes, notwithstanding their
+officers interceded in their behalf, ordered them to be severely
+whipped.</p>
+
+<p>The island of Cozumel, it seems, was a place to which the Indians
+made pilgrimages; for the neighbouring tribes of the promontory of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>
+Cotoche and other districts of Yucatan, came thither in great numbers
+to sacrifice to some abominable idols, which stood in a temple there.
+One morning we perceived that the place where these horrible images
+stood was crowded with Indians and their wives. They burnt a species
+of resin, which very much resembled our incense, and as such a sight
+was so novel to us we paid particular attention to all that went forward.
+Upon this an old man, who had on a wide cloak and was a
+priest, mounted to the very top of the temple, and began preaching
+something to the Indians. We were all very curious to know what
+the purport of this sermon was, and Cortes desired Melchorejo to
+interpret it to him. Finding that all he had been saying tended to
+ungodliness, Cortes ordered the caziques, with the principal men
+among them and the priest, into his presence, giving them to understand,
+as well as he could by means of our interpreter, that if they
+were desirous of becoming our brethren they must give up sacrificing
+to these idols, which were no gods but evil beings, by which they were
+led into error and their souls sent to hell. He then presented them
+with the image of the Virgin Mary and a cross, which he desired them
+to put up instead. These would prove a blessing to them at all times,
+make their seeds grow and preserve their souls from eternal perdition.
+This and many other things respecting our holy religion, Cortes explained
+to them in a very excellent manner. The caziques and priests
+answered, that their forefathers had prayed to their idols before them,
+because they were good gods, and that they were determined to follow
+their example. Adding, that we should experience what power they
+possessed; as soon as we had left them, we should certainly all of us
+go to the bottom of the sea.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, however, took very little heed of their threats, but commanded
+the idols to be pulled down, and broken to pieces; which was
+accordingly done without any further ceremony. He then ordered a
+quantity of lime to be collected, which is here in abundance, and with
+the assistance of the Indian masons a very pretty altar was constructed,
+on which we placed the image of the holy Virgin. At the same time
+two of our carpenters, Alonso Ya&ntilde;ez and Alvaro Lopez made a cross
+of new wood which lay at hand, this was set up in a kind of chapel,
+which we built behind the altar. After all this was completed, father
+Juan Diaz said mass in front of the new altar, the caziques and priests
+looking on with the greatest attention.</p>
+
+<p>Before I close this chapter, I have to remark that the caziques on
+the island of Cozumel, like those on the land of Potonchan, are likewise
+termed Calachionies.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The manner in which Cortes divides the squadron. The officers whom
+he appointed to the command of the several vessels. His instructions
+to the pilots; the signals which were to be made with lanterns at
+night, &amp;c.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The following were the officers which commanded the several
+vessels.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes himself commanded, in the principal vessel, over the whole
+squadron. To the San Sebastian, which was a very capital sailer, he
+appointed Alvarado and his brother. The other vessels were severally
+commanded by Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero, Francisco de Montejo,
+Christobal de Oli, Diego de Ordas, Juan Velasquez de Leon, Juan de
+Escalante, Francisco de Morla, and Escobar the page. The smallest
+vessel, a kind of brigantine, was commanded by its owner, Gines
+Nortes.</p>
+
+<p>Every vessel had its own pilot, who received his instructions, and
+also the signals with the lanterns from Alaminos.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Cortes had ordered these matters he took leave of the
+caziques and priests, commended them most emphatically to the image
+of the holy Virgin and to the cross, desiring them to pray before it,
+not to damage either but continually to decorate them with green
+boughs. He assured them that thereby they would derive great benefit.
+They promised to comply with all his wishes, presented him with four
+more fowls and two jars of honey, and then took leave of us under the
+most friendly embraces. It was some day in the month of March,
+in the year 1519, when we again set sail; we were pursuing our course
+with the most favorable of winds, when on the very first day at ten
+o'clock in the morning, signals of distress were made on board one of
+our vessels, both by flags and the firing of guns. As soon as Cortes
+saw and heard this, he looked over the poop of his vessel, and found
+that the ship commanded by Juan de Escalante was making straight
+again for the island of Cozumel. What is the matter there? What
+does all this mean? cried out Cortes to the vessel nearest him. A
+soldier, named Zaragoza replied, that the vessel of Juan de Escalante,
+laden with cassave-bread, was sinking fast. God forbid! cried Cortes,
+that any misfortune should befall us here, and desired our chief pilot,
+Alaminos, to make signals for all the vessels to return to the island
+Cozumel. So we again put into the harbour we had just left: we
+unloaded the cassave-bread; and found, to our great joy, that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>
+image of the holy Virgin and cross were in the best condition, and
+that incense had been placed before them. It was not long before the
+caziques and priests again made their appearance, and asked what had
+caused us to return so speedily. Cortes told them that one of our
+vessels was leaky and had to be repaired, begging of them to assist us
+with their canoes in unloading our cassave-bread. This they most
+readily complied with, and it took us four more days to repair the
+vessel.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the Spaniard Geronimo de Aguilar, who was in the power of the
+Indians, came to us when he learnt that we had again returned to
+the island of Cozumel, and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>When the Spaniard, who was in the power of the Indians got certain
+information that we had again returned to the island Cozumel, he
+rejoiced exceedingly and thanked God with all his heart.</p>
+
+<p>He immediately hired a canoe, with six capital rowers, for himself
+and the Indians who had brought him the glass beads. The former
+being richly remunerated with these, so valuable in their estimation:
+they performed their work so well, that the channel between the
+island and mainland, a distance of about twelve miles, was soon
+crossed. After they had arrived off the island and stepped on shore,
+some soldiers who were returning from the chase of musk swine, informed
+Cortes that a large canoe had just arrived from the promontory
+of Cotoche. Cortes immediately despatched Andreas de Tapia with a
+few men to learn what news they had brought. As Tapia with his
+men approached the shore, the Indians, who had arrived with Geronimo,
+evinced great fear and ran back to their canoe in order to put off to
+sea again. Aguilar, however, told him in their language they need
+have no fear; for we were their brothers. Andreas de Tapia, who took
+Aguilar also for an Indian, for he had every appearance of one, sent
+to inform Cortes that the seven Indians who had arrived were inhabitants
+of Cozumel. It was not until they had come up to them and
+heard the Spaniard pronounce the words&mdash;God, holy Virgin, Sevilla,
+in broken Spanish, and ran up to Tapia to embrace him, that they
+recognized this strange-looking fellow. One of Tapia's men immediately
+ran off to inform Cortes that a Spaniard had arrived in the canoe,
+for which news he expected a handsome reward.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>We all greatly rejoiced at this information, and it was not long before
+Tapia himself arrived with the strange-looking Spaniard. As
+they passed by us many of our men still kept inquiring of Tapia which
+among them was the Spaniard? although he was walking at his very
+side, so much did his countenance resemble that of an Indian. His
+complexion was naturally of a brownish cast, added to which his hair
+had been shorn like that of an Indian slave: he carried a paddle
+across his shoulder, had one of his legs covered with an old tattered
+stocking; the other, which was not much better, being tied around his
+waist. An old ragged cloak hung over his shoulders, his maltatas was
+in a much worse condition. His prayerbook, which was very much
+torn, he had folded in the corner of his cloak.</p>
+
+<p>When Cortes beheld the man in this attire, he, as all the rest of us
+had done, asked Tapia where the Spaniard was? When Geronimo
+heard this, he cowered down after the Indian fashion, and said: "I am
+he." Upon this Cortes gave him a shirt, a coat, a pair of trousers, a
+cap and shoes, from our stores. He then desired him to give us an
+account of the adventures of his life, and explain how he had got into
+this country.</p>
+
+<p>He said, though still in broken Spanish, that his name was Geronimo
+d'Aguilar, and was a native of Ecija. About eight years ago he had
+been shipwrecked with fifteen men and two women, on a voyage between
+Darien and the island of St. Domingo, which they had undertaken
+on account of a lawsuit between a certain Enciso and a certain
+Valdivia. They had 10,000 pesos on board, and papers relating to the
+lawsuit. The ship struck against a rock, and they had not been able
+to get her off again. The whole of the crew then got into the boat, in
+the hopes of making the island of Cuba or Jamaica, but were driven
+on shore by the strong currents, where the Calachionies had taken
+them prisoners and distributed them among themselves. The most of
+his unfortunate companions had been sacrificed to their gods, and
+some had died of grief, of which also both the women pined away;
+being soon worn out by the hard labour of grinding, to which they
+had been forced by the Indians. He himself had also been doomed as
+a sacrifice to their idols, but made his escape during the night, and
+fled to the cazique, with whom he had last been staying, whose name,
+however, I cannot now remember. Of all his companions, he himself
+and a certain Gonzalo Guerrero, were only living. He had tried his
+best to induce him to leave, but in vain.</p>
+
+<p>When Cortes heard this, he returned thanks to the Almighty, and
+told the Spaniard that he hoped, with the blessing of God, he would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>
+never find reason to regret the determination he had taken. He then
+put some questions to him about the country and its inhabitants.
+Aguilar said he was not able to give him much information about
+either, as he had been treated like a slave, having been merely employed
+to fetch wood, water, and to work in the maise-plantations. It was only
+upon one occasion he was sent on some business to a distance of about
+twelve miles from his village, but, owing to a heavy burden he had
+to carry and the weak state of his body, he had not even been able to
+reach that distance; for the rest, he had been given to understand
+that the country was very thickly populated. With regard to his
+companion Alonso Guerrero, he had married an Indian woman, and
+was become the father of three children. He had in every respect
+adopted the Indian customs,&mdash;his cheeks were tattooed, his ears pierced,
+and his lips turned down. He was a sailor by profession, native of
+Palos, and was considered by the Indians to be a man of great strength.
+It might have been about a year ago that a squadron, consisting of
+three vessels, had touched at the promontory of Cotoche, (probably
+the expedition under Hernandez de Cordoba,) when Guerrero advised
+the inhabitants to commence hostilities, who, in common with the
+caziques of a large district, commanded on that occasion. Cortes here
+remarked, that he very much wished to get the man into his power,
+for his staying among the Indians would do us no good.</p>
+
+<p>The caziques of Cozumel showed Aguilar every possible friendship
+when they heard him speak in their language. Aguilar advised them
+always to do honour to the image of the holy Virgin and cross we had
+set up, as they would prove a blessing to them. It was also upon his
+advice they begged of Cortes to give them letters of recommendation
+to other Spaniards who might run into this harbour, in order that they
+might not be molested by them. Cortes readily complied with this
+request; and, after mutual protestations of friendship had passed
+between us, we weighed anchor, and set sail for the river Grijalva.</p>
+
+<p>For the rest, I can assure the reader that what I have related of
+Aguilar is all the man told us himself, although the historian Gomara
+gives a very different account; which, however, should not excite our
+surprise, as he merely thereby intended to divert his readers with some
+strange story.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we re-embark and sail for the river Grijalva, and what happened
+to us on our voyage there.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>On the 4th of March, 1519, the day after we had had the good
+fortune to obtain such an excellent and trustworthy interpreter, Cortes
+gave orders for re-embarking. This took place in the same way as
+before, and similar instructions were issued with regard to the night
+signals with the lanterns. For some time we had the most favorable
+weather imaginable; when, towards evening, it suddenly changed, the
+wind blowing most violently against us, so that all our vessels were in
+danger of being cast on shore. Towards midnight, it pleased God the
+wind should abate, and, when daylight broke forth, our vessels again
+joined each other; one only was missing, that namely of Velasquez de
+Leon, which occasioned a good deal of anxiety, for we concluded she
+had been wrecked off some of the shallows. We did not discover her
+loss until midday; and as night was now fast approaching, and the
+vessel still nowhere to be seen, Cortes told our principal pilot Alaminos
+that we ought not to continue our course without gaining some
+certain knowledge as to her fate: signals were, therefore, made for all
+the vessels to drop anchor, to give the missing ship time to come up
+with us, on the supposition it had been driven into some harbour and
+there retained by contrary winds. Alaminos, still finding she did not
+make her appearance, said to Cortes, "You may be sure, sir, that she
+has run into some harbour or inlet along this coast, where she is now
+wind-bound; for her pilot Manquillo has twice before visited these
+seas, once with Hernandez de Cordoba, the second time under
+Grijalva, and is acquainted with this bay." Upon this it was resolved
+that the whole squadron should return to the bay which Alaminos
+was speaking of, in search of the vessel: to our great joy we
+indeed found her riding there at anchor, and we all remained here for
+one day. During this time, Alaminos, with one of our principal
+officers named Francisco de Lugo, went on shore in two boats; they
+found the country inhabited, and saw several regular maise-plantations:
+they likewise met with places where salt was manufactured, and saw
+four cues, or large temples, with numerous figures, mostly in the shape
+of women, and of considerable height; whence this promontory was
+called <i>la punta de las Mujeres</i>, (the promontory of women.) Aguilar
+observed that this was the spot where he was once a slave among the
+Indians; here his master had found him sunk beneath the weight of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>
+the heavy burden which he had forced him to carry: neither was the
+township far off where Alonso Guerrero had settled himself. Every
+inhabitant possessed gold, but in small quantities; he would show
+us the way, if we were desirous of going there. To which Cortes
+said, laughingly, he had not gone out for the sake of such trifles, but
+to serve God and his king. In the meantime he despatched Escobar,
+one of our commanders, with a fast-sailing vessel of small tonnage, to
+the Terminos bay, there to examine the country and search for a
+secure spot to found a colony; also to inform us whether game really
+was so abundant there as had been represented. All this was done
+according to the advice of our chief pilot, to save the trouble of running
+in there with the whole fleet on our passing by. Escobar, when
+he had explored the harbour, was merely to leave some sign on both
+sides of the entrance, either by felling trees or by leaving something
+in writing, from which we should know that he had entered safely, or
+that, having fully explored the harbour, he was tacking about until
+we fell in with him again.</p>
+
+<p>With these instructions Escobar set sail, and ran into Terminos
+bay, where he executed the commands he had received: he likewise
+found the greyhound which had run away from us when we landed
+there with Grijalva. It was quite glossy and fat, and immediately
+knew the ship again as it entered the bay, wagging its tail, and
+jumping up against our men as it followed them on board. Escobar
+now quitted the bay, and intended laying-to until the rest of our
+vessels should come up, but was driven a considerable way out to sea
+by a strong south wind. We must now return to our squadron,
+which we left at the punta de las Mujeres. Having left this spot
+next morning with a stiffish breeze blowing from the land, we
+arrived at the entrance of Terminos bay, without, however, seeing
+anything of Escobar. Cortes ordered a boat to be lowered, armed
+with ten crossbow-men, to run into the bay, or search whether Escobar
+had left any sign or written paper as desired. Some trees were found
+cut down, and near them a small paper, on which was written, that
+both the bay and country round about were charming, that the
+spot abounded with game, and that they had found the dog. Our
+principal pilot here remarked to Cortes that it would be most advisable
+for us to continue our course, for the south wind had no doubt
+obliged Escobar to hold out to sea, though he could not be far off,
+as he must have sailed in a slanting direction. Cortes, however, still
+apprehended some accident must have befallen him: nevertheless,
+he ordered the sails to be set, and we very soon came up with Escobar,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>
+who related all he had seen, and explained what had prevented him
+from waiting for us. In this way we arrived in the waters off Potonchan,
+and Cortes ordered Alaminos to run into the inlet where Cordoba
+and Grijalva had met with such disastrous treatment. Alaminos, however,
+declared that it was a dangerous station for the vessels, as the
+waters were very shallow off the coast, and we should be forced to
+anchor six miles from the land. Cortes's intention was to punish the
+inhabitants severely, and many of us who had been present at those
+engagements begged of him to run in that we might revenge ourselves
+upon them. But Alaminos and the other pilots said we should lose
+more than three days by running in, and, if the weather became
+unfavorable, we might be detained there above eight: the wind,
+moreover, being now most favorable to reach the Tabasco river, which
+was our chief object, and where we might arrive in a couple of days.
+We accordingly put out to sea, and reached the Tabasco after three
+days' sail.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we arrive in the river Grijalva, called in the Indian language the
+Tabasco; the battle we fought there; and what further took place.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>On the 12th of March, 1519, we arrived with our whole squadron
+in the mouth of the Tabasco. As we had experienced, under the
+expedition with Grijalva, that no vessels of any considerable burden
+could enter the mouth of the river, our larger ones anchored out at
+sea, while the smaller ones only, followed by our boats, carrying the
+whole of our men, sailed up the river, in order to disembark at the
+promontory where the palm trees grew, about four miles from the
+town of Tabasco; the same spot where Grijalva had landed.</p>
+
+<p>We perceived numbers of Indians, all under arms, lurking between
+the almond trees along the shore. This circumstance greatly astonished
+those among us who were here before with Grijalva. Besides
+this, more than 12,000 men, all armed after their fashion, had assembled
+at the town itself in order to attack us. This town was very
+powerful at that time, many others being subject to it. These warlike
+preparations were occasioned by the following circumstances: The
+inhabitants of Potonchan, of Lazaro, and other neighbouring tribes,
+had accused the Tabascans of cowardice, for having given Grijalva their
+gold trinkets mentioned above: they reproached them the more because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>
+their population was more extensive, and their warriors much more
+numerous than those of the tribes just mentioned, who had courageously
+attacked and killed fifty-six of our men. It was owing to
+these reproaches that they now likewise took up arms against us.
+Cortes observing these preparations, desired our interpreter Aguilar,
+who perfectly understood the language of Tabasco, to ask some Indians
+who were passing by in a large canoe, what the meaning was of all
+this noise? we had not come to do them any harm; on the contrary,
+we were disposed to treat them as our brethren, and share our
+victuals with them: they should be careful how they went to war with
+us, for they would certainly have to repent it. This and many other
+things were told them by Aguilar, to incline them to peace, but the more
+he said the more insolent they became, threatening to destroy us all
+should we dare to set foot on their territory or in their town, which they
+had fortified by means of heavy trees felled for the purpose, and a
+strong stone wall. Aguilar, however, made another attempt to bring
+about peace, and obtain us permission to take in fresh water, barter
+for provisions, and incline them to listen to the disclosures we came
+to make in the name of our God. They, however, persisted we should
+not pass beyond the palm trees; if we did, they would kill us all.</p>
+
+<p>When Cortes found that all attempts to make peace were fruitless,
+he ordered the small vessels and boats to prepare for battle. Three
+pieces of cannon were put on board of each of the former, the crossbow-men
+and musketeers being equally distributed among them. We
+remembered, during the expedition under Grijalva, that a narrow road
+ran from the palm trees along some quagmires and wells to the town.
+Cortes here posted three sentinels to watch whether the Indians went
+home at night, if so, to send him immediate notice. Information
+was soon brought in the affirmative. The rest of the day was now
+spent in reconnoitring the territory, and fitting out the vessels. The
+next morning early, after we had attended mass and well armed ourselves,
+Cortes despatched Alonso de Avila with one hundred men, among
+whom were ten crossbow-men, along the narrow road above mentioned,
+leading to the town, which, as soon as he should hear the firing of
+cannon, he was to attack on one side, while we did the same from the
+other; Cortes himself, with the rest of our officers and men, moving
+up the river in the small vessels and our boats.</p>
+
+<p>When the Indians, who were standing under arms along the coast
+between the palm trees, saw us approaching, they leaped into their
+canoes and stationed themselves where we were going to land, in order
+to prevent us. The shore was covered with warriors armed with all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>
+kinds of weapons, while a terrible noise assailed our ears from their
+twisted shells, drums, and fifes. Cortes ordered us to halt for a few
+moments and not to fire as yet. As he was very particular in doing
+everything in proper form, he desired the royal secretary, who was
+with us, and Diego de Godoy, once more to request the inhabitants to
+allow us to come peaceably on shore to take in fresh water. Aguilar
+acted as interpreter. They were also to give them some notion, if
+possible, of the Lord God, and his imperial majesty, and explain to
+them, that if they attacked us, and we in defending ourselves killed
+any of their men, the guilt would be upon their heads, not ours. The
+Indians, however, continued their defiances, threatening to destroy us
+all if we came on shore. Indeed the battle now soon began, for immediately
+after they commenced pouring forth showers of arrows,
+the drummers to give signals for the other troops to fall upon us in a
+body, and in an instant they rushed bravely forward. They completely
+surrounded us with their canoes, and shot off their arrows so quickly,
+that many of us were soon wounded, we being moreover compelled for
+a length of time to fight up to our waists, and sometimes even higher
+in the water. The place where we were attempting to land was disadvantageous
+in another way, for the ground was composed of mud
+and clay, in which it was impossible to move very fast, particularly as
+at the same time we had to defend ourselves against the enemy's arrows
+and the thrusts of their lances. Cortes himself, while fighting in
+this way was obliged to leave one of his shoes sticking in the mud
+in order to get on firm land. We had all, indeed, hard work to do
+before we could gain the dry ground; but having once obtained
+this we fell so furiously upon our enemies, under the cry of our patron
+St. Jacob! that they began to retreat, but immediately again drew
+themselves up in order of battle behind the wood and the trees they
+had cut down. Here they made an obstinate resistance, until we likewise
+drove them from this place, having forced some passages leading
+to the town, which latter we entered fighting our way in. The battle
+now continued in the streets, until our progress was impeded by another
+barricade of fallen trees, defended by a fresh set of men. Here
+the conflict was continued with renewed obstinacy, the Indians incessantly
+crying out: <i>ala lala, al calachoni, al calachoni!</i> meaning in
+their language, kill the commander-in-chief. While we were thus
+busily engaged, Alonso de Avila appeared with his men, who had
+marched along from the palm-trees. He had been detained by the
+morass and pools of water which lay in his road. This delay now
+proved an advantage to us, as we had also lost time in striving to make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>
+peace with the enemy by means of our two parliamentaries, and the
+difficulty we had had to fight our way on shore. With our united troops
+we now beat the Indians from this strong post; though, like brave warriors,
+they set vigorously upon us with their arrows and lances, which
+latter had been hardened in the fire; nor did they turn their backs,
+until we had forced our way into a large courtyard, adjoining which
+were several spacious apartments and halls. Here also stood three temples,
+but the Indians had carried off all the religious implements with
+them.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy being now put to flight, Cortes ordered his men to
+halt, that we might take formal possession of the country, in the name
+of his majesty. He performed this ceremony by drawing his sword,
+and giving therewith two deep cuts into a large ceiba tree, which stood
+in the courtyard, crying out at the same time, that he would defend
+the possession of this country with sword and shield against any one
+who should dare dispute it. The whole of us who were present gave
+our assent to these proceedings, swearing we would support him in
+its defence; all of which was formally registered by the royal treasurer.
+The adherents of Diego Velasquez alone were not pleased because
+the name of the latter had not at all been mentioned therein.</p>
+
+<p>In this engagement fourteen of our men were wounded, I myself
+was of the number, being wounded by an arrow in the thigh, though
+not severely. The Indians lost, altogether, eighteen men. We passed
+the night in this spot, having taken the precaution to post sentinels in
+different places, so necessary did we deem it to be upon our guard here.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes despatches two of our principal officers, each with one
+hundred men, to explore the interior of the country, and what
+further took place.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The next day Cortes despatched Alvarado with one hundred men,
+among whom were fifteen crossbow-men and musketeers, to march six
+miles inland, in order to explore the country. He was to take along
+with him Melchorejo, of the punta de Cotoche, but he could nowhere
+be found. He had most probably gone off in a canoe the night before
+with the inhabitants of Tabasco. We conjectured this at least, because
+the day previous he had left all his Spanish clothes behind him hang<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>ing
+in a tree. Cortes was greatly vexed at his escape, as he might
+betray many things to the inhabitants that would do us no good.</p>
+
+<p>I will, however, leave the fugitive to his own fate, and continue my
+narrative.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes also sent out a second of our chief officers, named Francisco de
+Lugo, with another hundred men; among whom were twelve crossbow-men
+and musketeers, with similar instructions as to Alvarado, but to
+take another direction and return to head-quarters towards evening.</p>
+
+<p>Francisco de Lugo may have reached the distance of about four
+miles when he fell in with vast numbers of Indians, commanded
+by their several chiefs. They were armed as usual, immediately advanced
+towards our men, whom they surrounded on all sides, and
+began pouring forth a shower of arrows. The Indians, indeed, were
+in too great numbers for our small detachment. They first threw in
+their lances and the stones from their slings, then fell upon our men
+with sharp swords, which they wield with both hands. Though De
+Lugo and his men defended themselves bravely, they were unable to
+drive back such overwhelming numbers. They therefore began to retreat
+in the best order possible to our head-quarters, having first despatched
+an Indian of Cuba, who was a swift runner, to inform Cortes of their
+situation and beg of him to send a reinforcement. During all this
+time De Lugo and his troops, particularly the crossbow-men and musketeers
+bravely withstood the whole body of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime Alvarado had marched about four miles in the
+direction he was commanded to take, when he came to an inlet which
+he was unable to pass. Here the good Lord fortunately gave him the
+thought to return in a direction which led to the spot where De
+Lugo was fighting with the Indians. The firing of the muskets, the
+noise of the drums and trumpets, with the yelling of the Indians,
+soon convinced Alvarado that the latter had again commenced hostilities;
+he therefore marched in a direct line to the place whence the
+noise came, and found De Lugo in the heat of an engagement with the
+enemy, of whom five were already killed. Both detachments now fell
+with their united forces upon the Indians, who were speedily dispersed,
+yet they were unable to put them totally to the rout; on the contrary,
+they would certainly have followed us to our head-quarters, if Cortes
+had not come up with the rest of our troops, when, after some sharp
+firing and heavy blows, they were obliged to fall back. Cortes, on
+receiving information of De Lugo's dangerous position, had immediately
+repaired to his assistance with the whole of his men, and came
+up with the two commanders at about two miles from our head<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>-quarters.
+In this engagement we did not escape without some loss,
+for two of De Lugo's detachment were killed and eight wounded;
+Alvarado had only three of the latter. Having arrived at our head-quarters,
+we dressed the wounds of our men, buried the dead, and
+posted sentinels in proper places, that we might not be fallen upon
+unawares. In this battle, the enemy lost fifteen men killed, and
+three were taken prisoners, of whom one appeared to be a chief. Our
+interpreter Aguilar asked them what madness could have induced them
+to attack us? One of the Indians returned for answer, that Melchorejo,
+whom we brought with us from the punta de Cotoche, had come
+over to their camp the night previous, advising them to fall upon us,
+and continue to do so night and day, for, in the end, they would, no
+doubt, be able to conquer our small numbers: so that Cortes's apprehensions
+with respect to the flight of this fellow were verified.</p>
+
+<p>We now despatched one of our prisoners to the caziques with green
+glass beads, and offers of peace: this personage, however, never returned
+to bring any answer. We also learnt from our two other prisoners,
+who were closely questioned by Aguilar, that the day previous
+all the caziques of the neighbouring districts had been under arms to
+fall upon us, and that the next day they would return to storm our
+head-quarters. All this was likewise done by the advice of Melchorejo.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Cortes issues orders that we should hold ourselves in readiness to march
+against the Indians on the following day; he also commands the
+horses to be brought on shore. How the battle terminates we fought
+with them.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Cortes being now certain that the Indians would renew the attack,
+immediately ordered all our horses to be brought on shore, and every
+one, our wounded not excepted, to hold himself in readiness. When
+our horses, which had been such a length of time at sea, now stepped
+on firm ground again, they appeared very awkward and full of fear;
+however, the day following, they had regained their usual liveliness
+and agility. There were also six or seven of our men, all young and
+otherwise strong fellows, who were attacked with such severe pains in
+the groins that they could not walk without support. No one could
+guess the cause of this; it was only said they had lived too freely at
+Cuba, and that the pain was occasioned by the heat, and the weight of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>
+their arms; Cortes, therefore, ordered them again on board. The
+cavaliers, who were to fight on horseback, were commanded to hang
+bells around their horses' necks, and Cortes impressed on their minds
+not to rush at the Indians with their lances before they had been
+dispersed, and then even to aim at their faces only. The following
+men were selected to fight on horseback: Christobal de Oli, Pedro de
+Alvarado, Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero, and Juan de Escalante.
+Francisco de Montejo and Alonso de Avila were to use the horses of
+Ortiz the musician, and of a certain Bartolome Garcia, though neither
+were worth much. Further, there were Velasquez de Leon, Francisco
+de Morla, and one of the Lares, (for there was another excellent horseman
+among us of that name,) and Gonzalo Dominiguez, both superior horsemen;
+lastly, there were Moron de Bayamo and Pedro de Truxillo.
+Then comes Cortes, who placed himself at their head. Mesa had
+charge of the artillery, while the rest of our men were commanded by
+Diego de Ordas, who, though he knew nothing of the cavalry service,
+excelled as a crossbow-man and musketeer. The morning following,
+which was the day of annunciation to the holy Virgin, we attended
+mass very early, and arranged ourselves under our ensign Antonio de
+Villareal. We now put ourselves in motion, and marched towards
+some extensive bean fields, where Francisco de Lugo and Pedro de
+Alvarado had fought the previous battle. There was a village in this
+neighbourhood called Cintla, belonging to the Tabascans, which lay
+about four miles from our head-quarters. Cortes, on account of the
+bogs which our horse could not pass, was obliged to take a circuitous
+route. Our other troops, however, under Diego de Ordas, came up
+with the Indians near Cintla, where they had arranged themselves on
+the plain: if they felt equal ardour for the combat as we did, they
+could now satisfy themselves,&mdash;for this was a battle in every sense of
+the word which we here fought, fearful in the extreme, as will be
+seen.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we are attacked by all the caziques of Tabasco, and the whole
+armed force of this province, and what further took place.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The Indians were already moving forward in search of us, when
+we came up with them: every one had a large bunch of feathers on
+his head, a cotton cuirass on, and their faces were daubed with white,
+black, and red colours. Besides having drums and trumpets, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>
+were armed with huge bows and arrows, shields, lances, and large
+broadswords; they had also bodies of slingers, and others armed
+with poles hardened in the fire. The Indians were in such vast
+numbers that they completely filled the bean fields, and immediately
+fell upon us on all sides at once, like furious dogs. Their attack was
+so impetuous, so numerous were the arrows, stones, and lances with
+which they greeted us, that above seventy of our men were wounded
+in no time, and one named Salda&ntilde;a, was struck by an arrow in the
+ear, and instantly dropt down dead. With like fury they rushed at
+us with their pikes, at the same time pouring forth showers of arrows,
+and continually wounding our men. However, we fully repaid them
+with our crossbows, muskets, and heavy cannon, cutting right and left
+among them with our swords. By this means we forced them to give
+ground a little, but only that they might shower forth their arrows
+at a greater distance, where they thought themselves more secure from
+our arms. Even then our artilleryman Mesa made terrible havoc
+among them, standing as they did crowded together and within reach
+of the cannon, so that he could fire among them to his heart's content.
+Notwithstanding the destruction we made among their ranks,
+we could not put them to flight. I now remarked to our commander
+Diego de Ordas that we should rush forward upon the Indians and
+close with them. My motive for advising this was, because I saw that
+they merely retreated from fear of our swords, but still continued
+to annoy us at a distance with arrows, lances, and large stones. De
+Ordas, however, considered this not expedient, as the enemy's numbers
+were so vast that every single man of us would have had to encounter
+300 of the enemy at once.</p>
+
+<p>My advice, however, was at length followed up, and we fell so heavily
+upon them that they retreated as far as the wells. All this time
+Cortes still remained behind with the cavalry, though we so greatly
+longed for that reinforcement: we began to fear that some misfortune
+might also have befallen him. I shall never forget the piping and
+yelling which the Indians set up at every shot we fired, and how they
+sought to hide their loss from us by tossing up earth and straw into
+the air, making a terrible noise with their drums and trumpets, and
+their war-whoop <i>Ala lala</i>.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p>
+
+<p>In one of these moments Cortes came galloping up with the horse.
+Our enemies being still busily engaged with us, did not immediately
+observe this, so that our cavalry easily dashed in among them from
+behind. The nature of the ground was quite favorable for its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>
+man&oelig;uvres; and as it consisted of strong active fellows, most
+of the horses being, moreover, powerful and fiery animals, our small
+body of cavalry in every way made the best use of their weapons.
+When we, who were already hotly engaged with the enemy, espied our
+cavalry, we fought with renewed energy, while the latter, by attacking
+them in the rear at the same time, now obliged them to face about.
+The Indians, who had never seen any horses before, could not think
+otherwise than that horse and rider were one body. Quite astounded
+at this to them so novel a sight, they quitted the plain and retreated
+to a rising ground.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes now related why he had not come sooner. First, he had
+been delayed by the morass; then again he was obliged to fight his
+way through other bodies of the enemy whom he had met, in which
+five men and eight horses were wounded.</p>
+
+<p>Having somewhat rested from our fatigue under the trees which
+stood on the field of battle, we praised God and the holy Virgin,
+and thanked them with uplifted hands for the complete victory they
+had granted us: and, as it was the feast of the annunciation to the
+holy Virgin, the town which was subsequently built here in memory
+of this great victory, was named Santa Maria de la Vitoria. This was
+the first battle we fought under Cortes in New Spain.</p>
+
+<p>After this pious solemnity we bandaged the wounds of our men with
+linen, which was all we had for that purpose. Those of our horses we
+dressed with melted fat, which we cut from the dead bodies of the
+Indians. We likewise took this opportunity of counting the number
+of killed left by the enemy on the field of battle. We found above
+eight hundred, numbers still showing signs of life. Our swords had
+done the most carnage among them, though many were killed by
+our cannon. Wherever the cavalry made its appearance the enemy
+had most work to do. The fighting lasted about an hour; and our
+enemies maintained their ground so well, that they did not quit the
+field of battle until our horse broke in among them. There were two
+caziques among the five prisoners we made.</p>
+
+<p>As we were quite fatigued and hungry we returned to our quarters,
+buried the two soldiers, one of whom had been shot in the neck and
+the other in the ear, posted strong watches, then ate our supper and retired
+to rest.</p>
+
+<p>Francisco Lopez de Gomara, in his account of this battle, says, that
+previous to the arrival of Cortes with the cavalry, the holy apostle St.
+Jacob or St. Peter in person had galloped up on a gray-coloured horse to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>
+our assistance. I can only say, that for the exertion of our arms and this
+victory, we stand indebted to our Lord Jesus Christ; and that in this
+battle every individual man among us was set upon by such numbers
+of the enemy, that if each of them had merely thrown a handful of
+earth upon us we should have been buried beneath it. Certain it is,
+therefore, that God showed his mercy to us here, and it may, indeed,
+have been one of the two glorious apostles St. Jacob or St. Peter who
+thus came to our assistance. Perhaps on account of my sins I was
+not considered worthy of the good fortune to behold them; for I could
+only see Francisco de Morla on his brown horse galloping up with
+Cortes, and even at this very moment, while I am writing this, I can
+fancy I see all passing before my eyes just as I have related it; although
+I, an unworthy sinner, was not considered worthy of beholding one of
+the glorious apostles face to face: yet again I never heard any of the
+four hundred soldiers, nor ever Cortes himself, nor any of the many
+cavaliers, mention this wonder, or confirm its truth. We should certainly
+have built a church, and have called the town <i>Santiago</i>, or <i>San
+Pedro de la Vitoria</i>, and not <i>Santa Maria de la Vitoria</i>. If, therefore,
+what Gomara relates is true, then we must indeed have been
+bad Christians not to have paid greater respect to the assistance which
+God sent us in the person of his holy apostles, and for having omitted
+to thank him daily for it in his own church. Nevertheless, I should
+feel delighted if this historian has spoken the truth, although I must
+confess that I never heard this wonder mentioned before reading his
+book, nor have I ever heard any of the conquistadores speak of it who
+were present at the battle.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes assembles all the caziques of this province, and what further
+happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>I have above related that in this battle we took five prisoners,
+among whom were two chiefs. Aguilar, who understood their language,
+often discoursed with them, and from some remarks which they
+made, concluded that we might employ them as delegates to their
+countrymen. Having communicated his thoughts to Cortes, he proposed
+they should be set at liberty, and despatched with a message to
+the caziques and other inhabitants of the district. To this Cortes
+assented, ordering both the prisoners to be presented with blue glass
+beads, while Aguilar told them many things which he knew would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>
+please the inhabitants and prove advantageous to us. He assured
+them, that after this battle, which had been entirely of their own
+seeking, they had nothing further to fear from us, and commissioned
+them now to assemble all the caziques of the district, for
+we were very desirous of communicating with them. Everything
+Aguilar said was done with the view of inclining the Indians to make
+peace with us. The prisoners most willingly complied with our wishes,
+which they communicated to the caziques and principal personages
+among the inhabitants, telling them how we longed to become their
+friends. This message was in so far successful, that they resolved
+to send us fifteen of their Indian slaves with fowls, baked fish, and
+maise-bread. These slaves had their faces blackened, and were completely
+covered with ragged cloaks. When these personages appeared in
+the presence of Cortes he received them very friendly: Aguilar, on the
+contrary, asked them in an angry tone, why they had come with such
+painted faces&mdash;appearing rather to seek war than peace? If they were
+desirous of making peace, continued he, persons of rank should be
+deputed to us, not slaves. This they were to communicate to those
+who had sent them. We, however, treated these black faces very
+kindly, presenting them moreover with blue beads in token of peace,
+and in order to gain the good wishes of the inhabitants. And sure
+enough the very next day above thirty of the principal Indians, well
+dressed, appeared in our quarters, bringing with them, fowls, fruits, and
+maise-bread, and begged permission of Cortes to burn and bury the
+bodies of their fallen countrymen, in order that they might not create
+a pestilence in the air, or become a prey to the lions and tigers. This
+being granted, they brought along with them a great number of Indians
+to burn the bodies, and bury them according to their custom. Cortes
+himself went to watch their proceedings, when they assured him they
+had lost above 800 killed, without counting the wounded; adding,
+that at present they durst not enter into any treaty with us, as the day
+following all the chiefs and principal personages of the district would
+assemble to take our offers of peace into consideration.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, who profited by every circumstance, said smilingly to
+us: "It appears to me, gentlemen, that the Indians stand in great
+awe of our horses, and imagine that these and our guns alone fight
+the battle. A thought has just struck me which will further confirm
+them in this notion. You must bring here the mare of Juan Sede&ntilde;o
+which foaled on board a short time ago, and fasten her here where I
+am now standing. Then bring also the stallion of the musician Ortiz,
+which is a very fiery animal, and will quickly scent the mare. As soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>
+as you find this to be the case, lead both the horses to separate places,
+that the caziques may neither see the horses, nor hear them neigh,
+until I shall be in conversation with them." All this was accordingly
+done. He likewise ordered our largest cannon to be heavily loaded
+with gunpowder and ball.</p>
+
+<p>A little after midday, forty caziques arrived in great state and richly
+clothed according to their fashion. They saluted Cortes and all of us,
+perfumed us with their incense, begged forgiveness for what had happened,
+and promised to be friendly for the future. Cortes answered
+by our interpreter Aguilar, reminding them, with a very serious look,
+how often he had wished them to make peace with us, and how,
+owing to their obstinacy, we were almost upon the point of destroying
+them with the whole of the inhabitants of this district. We were
+vassals of the mighty king and lord the emperor Charles, he further
+added, who had sent us to this country with orders to favour and assist
+those who should submit to his imperial sway, which we would
+assuredly do if they were amicably inclined towards us. If, however,
+they were not so, the <i>tepustles</i> (so the Indians called our cannon)
+would be fired off, which were already embittered against them
+in some measure on account of the attack they had made upon
+us. Cortes, at this moment, gave the signal for firing our largest
+cannon. The report was like a sudden clap of thunder, the ball
+whizzing along the hills, which could be distinctly heard as it was
+midday and not a breath of air stirring. The caziques who had never
+seen this before appeared in dismay, and believed all Cortes had said;
+who, however, desired Aguilar to comfort and assure them he had
+given orders that no harm should be done them. At this moment the
+stallion was brought and fastened at a short distance from the spot
+where Cortes and the caziques were holding the conference: as the
+mare was likewise near at hand, the stallion immediately began to
+neigh, stamp the ground and rear itself, while its eyes were continually
+fixed on the Indians who stood in front of Cortes's tent, as the mare
+was placed behind it. The caziques, however, thought the animal was
+making all these movements against them and appeared greatly agitated.
+When Cortes found what effect this scene had made upon the Indians,
+he rose from his seat, and walking to the horse, took hold of the bridle,
+and desired his servant to lead it away. Aguilar, however, was to
+make the Indians believe that he had ordered the horse not to do them
+any injury.</p>
+
+<p>While all this was going on above thirty Indian porters (whom
+they term tamemes) arrived with fowls, baked fish, and various<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>
+fruits: these porters, on account of their loads, had perhaps not been
+able to follow the caziques fast enough. A lively discourse was now
+kept up between Cortes and the caziques, who in the end left us perfectly
+contented, with the assurance that the following day they would
+return with a present.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How all the caziques and calachonis of the river Grijalva arrive with
+presents, and what happened after this.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>On the following morning, it was one of the last days in March,
+1519, a number of caziques, with the principal personages of the Tabasco
+district and surrounding neighbourhood arrived. They paid us profound
+reverence, and brought a present, consisting in four diadems,
+some lizards, ear-rings, four ducks, figures like dogs, others with Indian
+faces, two sandals with golden soles, and various other trifling trinkets
+of gold,<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> whose value I have forgotten. There were also cloaks as the
+Indians wear them, which are very commodious. The present altogether
+was of little value, (most likely the province altogether possessed
+few riches,) and was certainly not to be compared to the twenty females
+with which they presented us, among whom one was a very fine
+woman, who subsequently became a convert to Christianity, and was
+named Do&ntilde;a Marina. Cortes was vastly pleased with this present, and
+held, by means of Aguilar, a long discourse with the caziques, telling
+them among other things, that their present was very acceptable; but
+he had something further to beg, namely, that they should again
+return to their dwellings with their wives and children. He should
+not consider the peace really concluded unless within the space of two
+days all the inhabitants had returned to the village. The caziques
+upon this issued the necessary orders, and in a couple of days all the
+families had returned. They showed the same readiness to comply
+with Cortes's wishes when he desired them to do away with their idols
+and human sacrifices. He likewise, as well as he could, gave them
+some idea of our holy Christian faith, and how we only adored one God.
+We also showed them a very pious figure, representing the mother of
+God holding her blessed Son in her arms, and explained to them how
+we paid reverence to this figure, and by it to the mother of God who
+was in heaven. Hereupon the caziques answered, that they were
+much pleased with this great <i>Tecleciguata</i>, and that they should much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>
+like to keep it in their village. In their language, <i>Tecleciguata</i>
+means a woman of distinction. Cortes promised them they should
+have it, and for this purpose ordered a pretty altar to be built. In the
+same way our carpenters, Alonso Ya&ntilde;ez and Alvaro Lopez, were desired
+to construct a very high cross.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes also further asked the caziques, why they had thus for the
+third time commenced war with us, though we had always sought to
+be at peace with them? They answered, that they were sorry enough
+for it, and we had forgiven them; for the rest it was at the instigation
+of their brother, the cazique of Champoton, who had previously accused
+them of cowardice for not having attacked us when we arrived off the
+coast with four ships under another commander, meaning most probably
+Grijalva. The same advice was also given them by our Indian
+interpreter, who had run away from us in the night-time, telling them
+not to leave us any peace day or night, as we were but few in number.
+Cortes desired that he should be delivered up to us, but they declared
+they did not know what had become of him, as on the unfortunate termination
+of the battle he had immediately took to flight. This, however,
+was an untruth, as we were well aware how dearly the poor devil had
+paid for his advice, as shortly after the battle he was seized and sacrificed
+to their gods.</p>
+
+<p>On being questioned as to where they got their gold and the trinkets,
+they answered from the country towards the setting of the sun, and
+pronounced the words <i>Culhua</i> and <i>Mexico</i>. As at that time we did
+not comprehend the meaning of these words, we paid little attention to
+them. We, however, questioned our other interpreter Francisco, who
+remained with us from our former expedition under Grijalva, but he
+knew very little of the Tabasco language, being only acquainted with
+the Culhuan, that is to say the Mexican. He told Cortes, partly by
+signs, that <i>Culhua</i> lay at a great distance before us, at the same time
+continually mentioning the word Mexico, Mexico. We were then still
+ignorant what he wished to convey to us.</p>
+
+<p>The day following the cross and altar were erected, and the figure of
+the holy Virgin being placed thereon: we all fell down upon our
+knees before it, while father Bartolome de Olmedo read mass. The
+caziques and chief Indians were present. On this occasion also the
+village of Tabasco was in all solemnity named Santa Maria de la
+Vitoria; and father Olmedo, with the assistance of Aguilar, said many
+excellent things to the twenty females who were presented to us, concerning
+our holy religion; that they should abandon their belief in
+idols, and no longer bring them sacrifices, for they were not gods but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>
+evil spirits; they had up to this moment lived in gross error, and
+should now adore Christ, our Lord. After this address the women
+were baptized, and she of whom I have already spoken was named
+Do&ntilde;a Marina. This was a lady of distinction, the daughter of a powerful
+cazique and a princess who had subjects of her own, which, indeed,
+you might see from her appearance. The circumstances which occasioned
+her being brought into our power I will relate hereafter. The
+names of the other Indian females who were baptized I cannot now bring
+to mind; but these were the first who were converted to Christianity in
+New Spain, and were distributed among Cortes's chief officers. Do&ntilde;a
+Marina, who was the prettiest, the most active and lively of the number,
+was given to Puertocarrero, who was a stout cavalier and cousin to the
+earl of Medellin. When he subsequently left for Spain, Cortes took
+Marina unto himself, and had a son by her, who was named Don Martin
+Cortes, and became Comptoir of Santiago.</p>
+
+<p>We remained five days in this spot, partly to cure our wounds, partly
+for the sake of those who suffered from pain in the groins, but who soon
+recovered here. Cortes employed these days in useful conversation with
+the caziques, and talked to them about the emperor, our master, of his
+numerous lordly vassals, and the advantage they would gain by having
+subjected themselves to him; as, for the future, in all their difficulties
+they would only have to apply to him, and wherever he might be he
+would come to their assistance.</p>
+
+<p>The caziques thanked him for this offer; they solemnly declared
+themselves to be vassals of our great emperor, and these were the first
+among the inhabitants of New Spain who subjected themselves to his
+majesty. As the day following was Palm Sunday, Cortes desired them
+to come early in the morning to pray before the holy mother of God
+and the cross. He also sent for six Indian carpenters to assist ours in
+making a cross on a high ceiba tree,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> near the village of Cintla, where
+the Lord had granted us the great victory. This cross was made in a
+manner so as to be very durable, for the bark of the tree, which always
+grows to again, was so cut as to form that figure. Lastly, Cortes desired
+the Indians to bring out all their canoes in order to assist us in
+re-embarking, for we were desirous of setting sail on that holy day, as,
+according to our pilots, our present station was not secure from the
+north winds.</p>
+
+<p>Early the next morning the caziques and the principal personages,
+all with their wives and children, made their appearance in the courtyard,
+where we had erected the altar and cross, and collected the palm
+branches for our procession. Upon this Cortes, with the officers and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>
+all our men, rose and made a solemn procession. Both our priests, the
+father Bartolome de Olmedo, belonging to the order of the charitable
+brethren, and Juan Dias, were dressed in their full canonicals, and read
+mass. We prayed before the cross and kissed it, the caziques and
+Indians all the while looking on. After the ceremony was finished the
+principal Indians brought ten fowls, baked fish, and all kinds of greens,
+which we enjoyed very much. We now took our leave, and Cortes
+repeatedly recommended them to take care of the image of the holy
+Virgin and the cross, and to hold the chapel in due reverence, in order
+that salvation and blessings might come upon them.</p>
+
+<p>We all embarked in the evening, and on Monday morning we set sail
+with a good wind. We always kept close to the shore, and steered in
+the direction of San Juan de Ulua. As we coasted along, the weather
+being most favorable, we who had been here with Grijalva, and were
+well acquainted with these parts, pointed out to Cortes La Rambla,
+which the Indians call Aguajaluco; further on, the coast of Tonala or
+San Antonio, the great river Guacasualco, the elevated snow mountains
+(sierras nevadas), and those of San Martin. We also showed him
+the split rock forming two points, which stretch out into the sea, and
+somewhat resemble the figure of a chair. We then showed him the
+river Alvarado; further on the river Banderas, where we made the
+16000 pesos; the Isla Blanca and Isla Verde, also the Isla di Sacrificios,
+where, under Grijalva, we found the idols with the Indians who had
+been recently sacrificed.</p>
+
+<p>In this way we pretty quickly arrived at San Juan de Ulua, which
+we reached on Holy Thursday about noon. I shall never forget how
+Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero just about this time remarked to
+Cortes: "Methinks we are now certainly arrived in that country, of
+which those gentlemen who have been here twice before, sung:<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">'Cata Francia, montesinos!<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Cata Paris, la Ciudad,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Cata las aguas de Duero,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Do van a dar en la mar!'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"I tell you, only look at this rich country, and keep strict command
+over us." Cortes, who well knew what he meant, said in return: "If
+God will only grant us that good fortune in arms which he gave to
+Roland, the Paladin, then with your assistance and that of the other
+gentlemen cavaliers, we shall succeed in everything else." This happened
+just at the moment when Cortes was entering the river Alvarado,
+which circumstance is also mentioned by Gomara.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Do&ntilde;a Marina herself was a caziquess, and the daughter of distinguished
+personages; also a ruler over a people and several towns,
+and how she came to Tabasco.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Previous to going into any details here respecting the powerful
+Motecusuma, his immense kingdom of Mexico, and its inhabitants, I
+must relate what I know of Do&ntilde;a Marina. She was born a ruler over
+a people and country,&mdash;for her parents had the dominion of a township
+called Painala, to which several other townships were subject,
+lying about twenty-four miles from the town of Guacasualco. Her
+father died when she was very young, and her mother married another
+young cazique. By him she had a son, of whom it appears they
+were both very fond, and to whom, after their death, they designed to
+leave their territories. In order, however, that the daughter of the
+first marriage might not stand in his way, she was conveyed secretly
+during night-time to an Indian family in Xicalango, they spreading
+the rumour she had died, which gained further belief from the circumstance
+that a daughter of one of her female slaves happened to
+die at the time. The Indians of Xicalango did not keep the young
+girl themselves, but gave her to the inhabitants of Tabasco, by whom
+she was presented to Cortes. I knew her mother and half-brother
+myself, the latter having already reached manhood, and governed the
+township jointly with his mother. When they were subsequently both
+converted to Christianity, the latter was named Martha and her son
+Lazaro. I was well acquainted with the whole of this circumstance;
+for in the year 1523, when Mexico and several other provinces had been
+subdued, and Christobal de Oli had rebelled in the Higueras, Cortes
+came to Guacasualco, and on that occasion visited Marina's birth-place.
+Most of the inhabitants of Guacasualco accompanied Cortes on this
+expedition; I myself was also among the number. As Do&ntilde;a Marina,
+in all the wars of New Spain, Tlascalla, and at the siege of Mexico,
+had rendered the greatest services in capacity of an interpretress,
+Cortes carried her everywhere with him. During this journey it also
+was that he married her to a cavalier of the township of Orizava,
+named Juan Xaramillo. Among others, there was present as a witness
+a certain Aranda of Tabasco, through whom this circumstance
+became immediately known. These are the true particulars of the
+whole case, not, however, as related by Gomara. For the rest, Marina<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>
+had the most extensive influence in New Spain, and did with the
+Indians what she pleased.</p>
+
+<p>While Cortes was staying in Guacasualco, he ordered all the caziques
+of the province to assemble, and advised them to adopt our holy
+religion. On this occasion the mother and brother of Do&ntilde;a Marina
+also made their appearance with the other caziques. They recognized
+each other immediately; the former, however, appeared to be in the
+greatest anxiety, thinking that they had merely been called there to
+be killed. Do&ntilde;a Marina, however, desired them to dry away their
+tears, and comforted them by saying they were unconscious of what
+they were doing when they had sent her away to the inhabitants of
+Xicalango, and that she freely forgave the past. By this means God
+certainly directed everything for her best, turned her away from the
+errors of heathenism, and converted her to Christianity.</p>
+
+<p>Thus destined, she likewise bore a son unto her master Cortes, and
+then married a cavalier named Juan Xaramillo. All this I consider of
+much greater importance than if she had been presented with the sole
+dominion of the whole of New Spain. She likewise gave presents to
+her relatives on their return home. What I have related is the strict
+truth, and can swear to it. Gomara's account respecting this is
+wholly erroneous, and he adds many other circumstances which I shall
+leave without comment. This, however, is certain, that the whole affair
+reminds one of the history of Joseph and his brethren in Egypt, when
+they came into his power. After this diversion into matters which
+subsequently took place, I must relate how we first managed to understand
+Do&ntilde;a Marina. She was conversant with the language of
+Guacasualco, which is the Mexican, and with that of Tabasco. Aguilar,
+however, merely understood the latter, which is spoken throughout
+the whole of Yucatan. Do&ntilde;a Marina had, therefore, first to make
+herself understood to Aguilar, who then translated what she said into
+Spanish. This woman was a valuable instrument to us in the conquest
+of New Spain. It was, through her only, under the protection
+of the Almighty, that many things<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> were accomplished by us: without
+her we never should have understood the Mexican language, and,
+upon the whole, have been unable to surmount many difficulties.</p>
+
+<p>Let this suffice respecting Do&ntilde;a Marina; I will now relate how we
+arrived in San Juan de Ulua.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we arrive with our vessels in San Juan de Ulua, and what
+we did there.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>On Holy Thursday, in the year of our Lord 1519, we arrived with
+our whole squadron in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua. As Alaminos
+well remembered this spot from the expedition under Grijalva,
+he brought our ships to anchor in a place where they were sheltered
+from the north wind. We had scarcely lain here half an hour when
+we espied two large canoes, which are called here pirogues, filled with
+a number of Indians, making straight for Cortes's vessel, which, from
+the large flag hanging from the mast-head, they recognized as our
+commander's ship. They climbed on board without any ceremony,
+and inquired for the <i>Tlatoan</i>, which, in their language, means master.
+Do&ntilde;a Marina understood their question, and pointed to Cortes; they,
+therefore, turned to him, paying him great reverence after the Indian
+fashion, and bid him welcome. Their master, they said, who was a
+servant of the great Motecusuma, had sent them in order to ascertain
+who we were and what we came to seek in his country. We had only
+to inform them of what we wanted for our ships, and they would see
+that it was provided.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes thanked them for their kindness, through Aguilar and Do&ntilde;a
+Marina, presented them with some blue glass beads, and ordered some
+meat and drink to be placed before them. After they had taken some
+refreshment, he told them we were merely come here to make their
+acquaintance, and open a trade with them: we had not the remotest
+intention of doing them an injury, nor need they apprehend anything
+from our arrival. The ambassadors now returned, well contented, to
+their homes. The following morning, Good Friday, we disembarked
+our horses and cannon near some sand-hills which here run along the
+whole coast. Our artilleryman Mesa placed the cannon on a very
+advantageous spot, and we erected an altar where mass was immediately
+performed: for Cortes and the other chief officers huts were constructed
+of green boughs; the rest of us likewise constructed huts, and slept
+three together: the horses also were well provided for. The whole of
+Good Friday was spent in this work; and on the Saturday many
+Indians arrived, who had been sent by a man of distinction, named
+Quitlalpitoc, governor under Motecusuma: this personage was afterwards
+christened Ovandillo. They had axes with them, and cut off an
+additional quantity of branches to make a better finish to Cortes's hut,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>
+which they then overhung with large pieces of cloth, to keep out the
+heat, which was already very great. They also brought along with
+them fowls, maise-bread, and plums, which were then nice and ripe;
+also, if I rightly recollect, they had with them some gold trinkets. All
+these things they handed over to Cortes, adding, that the governor
+himself would come the next day and bring with him a further supply
+of provisions. Cortes joyfully accepted of these presents, and ordered
+various kinds of toys we had brought for barter to be given them, with
+which they were uncommonly delighted. On Easter day, the governor
+indeed appeared in person, as had been assured us. His name was
+<i>Teuthlille</i>, and he was one of the farmer generals of the Mexican empire.
+He was accompanied by another person of distinction, called Quitlalpitoc.
+We subsequently learnt that both these personages were appointed
+governors over the provinces Cotastlan, Tustepec, Guazpaltepec,
+and Tlatateteclo, and other townships recently subdued. They were
+followed by a great number of Indians, carrying the presents, consisting
+of fowls and greens. Teuthlille having ordered the others to stand
+back a little, walked up to Cortes, and made him three most reverential
+bows, after the Indian fashion, which he repeated on turning to
+us who stood nearest. Cortes bid both welcome, then embraced them,
+and desired them to wait a little, as he would afterwards give them a
+more circumstantial answer. In the meantime he ordered the altar to
+be fitted up as prettily as possible. Francisco Bartolome and father
+Juan Diaz performed mass. Both the governors and the principal
+personages of their suite were present during the ceremony, after
+which Cortes sat down to dinner with them.</p>
+
+<p>After the table had been cleared, Cortes, with the assistance of
+Aguilar and Do&ntilde;a Marina, entered into conversation with the Mexican
+officials and the caziques, telling them we were Christians, and subjects
+of the greatest monarch of the world, whose name was emperor Charles,
+and that he had many great personages among his vassals and servants.
+We had come by his command to their country, of which and its
+powerful monarch who now reigned over it, his majesty had heard long
+ago. As far as regarded himself, he was desirous of becoming his
+friend, and had to disclose many things to him, in the name of his
+emperor, which he would listen to with delight. In order that a good
+understanding might be established between him and his subjects, they
+should acquaint him with the place where their monarch resided, that
+he might pay his respects to him, and make the necessary disclosures.
+To which Teuthlille answered in a rather imperious tone, "Since you
+are but just arrived, it would be more fitting that you, previous to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>
+your desiring an interview with my monarch, should accept this present,
+which we have brought you in his name, and disclose your wishes to
+me." He then brought forth, out of a species of box, a quantity of
+gold trinkets, of beautiful and skilful workmanship, besides more than
+twenty packages of stuffs very prettily worked of white cotton and
+feathers. These they presented to Cortes, with various other costly
+things, which, owing to the number of years which have since elapsed,
+I cannot now remember, besides provisions, consisting in quantities
+of fowls, fruits, and dried fish. Cortes accepted all this with a joyful
+countenance, presenting these gentlemen in return with glass beads
+resembling brilliants, and other things we brought from Spain. He
+begged of them to desire the inhabitants of the different districts to
+commence trading with us, as we possessed various articles which we
+were desirous of exchanging for gold; this they promised to do.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes then ordered an arm-chair to be brought, beautifully painted
+and adorned with inlaid work, some pieces of precious stones, wrapt
+in cotton cloth, perfumed with musk, a necklace of imitation pearls, a
+scarlet cap, with a medal, on which was represented the holy St. George
+on horseback, with lance in hand, killing the dragon. Cortes addressed
+Teuthlille, and said, that he presented this chair to his monarch
+Motecusuma, that he might sit in it when he should pay him a visit,
+and the string of pearls to wind around his head on the same occasion;
+all of which were presents from the emperor our master, who
+had sent these things to his monarch in token of friendship and as a
+proof of the esteem in which he held him: he ought now to inform
+us where and when he could personally wait upon him. Teuthlille
+accepted the presents, and said, in return, that his master Motecusuma,
+as he was also a great monarch, would on his side be equally delighted
+to learn something about our great emperor: he would hasten to lay
+the presents before him, and return with his answer.</p>
+
+<p>Teuthlille had with him very clever painters, for there were such in
+Mexico, and he ordered them to sketch the likeness and whole person
+of Cortes, with the dress he wore; also all the other chief officers,
+the soldiers, our vessels, horses, Do&ntilde;a Marina, and Aguilar; even our
+two dogs, the cannon, the balls; in short, everything they could fix
+their eyes on belonging to us: these paintings they took along with
+them to show to their monarch. In order, however, to convey to him
+a still greater idea of our power, Cortes ordered our cannon to be
+heavily laden with powder, so as to produce a very loud report, commanding
+also Alvarado and the other cavaliers to mount their horses,
+to hang bells around the necks of the latter, and to gallop up in full<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>
+speed in presence of Motecusuma's ambassadors. Cortes also mounted
+his horse, and said to the others, "It would be capital if we could
+gallop across these sand-hills at full speed; but, as we should so easily
+stick in the sand, it will be better for us to ride two and two along the
+sea-shore at low water." He then gave the command of the horse to
+Alvarado, whose brown mare was a spirited animal, and very swift.
+All this was done in presence of the Mexican ambassadors; but, that
+they might likewise see the cannon fired, Cortes, under the pretence of
+having something further to communicate, took them and several other
+principal personages to a spot where they might have a good view of
+it. The weather was perfectly calm; and when the cannon was fired,
+the stone balls flew with a tremendous crash along the sand-hills, re-echoing
+for a length of time. The Indians were terribly startled, and
+ordered their painters to represent this likewise, to them so novel a
+sight, that they might show it to Motecusuma.</p>
+
+<p>One of our men had on a casque, which was partly gilt; Teuthlille,
+who was much more enlightened than any of his companions, remarked,
+when his eye fell upon it, that it bore a great resemblance to
+a helmet which belonged to their most ancient forefathers, and now
+adorned the head of their warrior-god Huitzilopochtli. Motecusuma,
+he further added, would certainly be uncommonly pleased if he could
+likewise see this casque. Cortes, on hearing this, ordered the casque
+to be presented to him, thereby expressing the wish, that he should
+like to satisfy himself that the gold of this country was similar to
+what we find in our rivers. If they would send him the casque full
+of gold dust, he would send it to our great emperor. Upon this
+Teuthlille took leave of Cortes and all of us, promising to return
+speedily, while Cortes, under the most tender of embraces, made him
+every profession of friendship.</p>
+
+<p>After this personage had taken his departure, we learnt that he was
+not merely a distinguished statesman, but also the most nimble pedestrian
+at Motecusuma's court. He did, indeed, use the utmost expedition
+to bring his monarch information, and hand over to him the paintings
+and presents. The great Motecusuma was vastly astonished at everything
+he heard and saw, and yet he was pleased. But, when at
+last he espied the casque, and compared it with that of the idol
+Huitzilopochtli, he no longer doubted for an instant that we belonged
+to that people, whom his forefathers had prophesied would, one time
+or other, come and subdue the country.</p>
+
+<p>Concerning these things Gomara has adduced much of which he
+had been ill informed; I will not, however, detain myself by contradicting
+him, but continue my narrative.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Teuthlille makes his report to Motecusuma, and gives him our
+presents; as also what further took place in our camp.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After the departure of Teuthlille with the presents which Cortes
+sent to his monarch, Motecusuma; the other governor, Quitlalpitoc,
+remained behind in our camp. He took up his quarters in a kind of
+hut, at a distance from ours, and ordered Indians to bake maise-bread,
+procure the fowls, fruits, and fish, which the province had to furnish,
+for the table of Cortes and his officers. We other soldiers, if we wished
+to get our bellies full were compelled to catch shell and other fish ourselves.
+In the meantime numbers of Indians arrived from the above-mentioned
+provinces, over which the two officials sent by Motecusuma
+were governors, bringing with them some gold trinkets of small value,
+and fowls, which they gave us in exchange for our goods, consisting in
+glass pearls and such like; with which we were all provided, having
+experienced the value of these during the expedition under Grijalva.</p>
+
+<p>Six or seven days may have thus been spent, when Teuthlille returned
+in the morning with more than a hundred Indian porters, all heavily
+laden, accompanied by a great Mexican cazique, who both in countenance,
+stature, and deportment, greatly resembled Cortes, and on that
+account only had been selected by his monarch to accompany the deputation;
+for, as was related, when Teuthlille brought forth the picture
+representing Cortes, all the grandees who were present with their
+monarch Motecusuma, immediately observed that he resembled a person
+of distinction named Quintalbor. This was the same person who now
+accompanied Teuthlille, we therefore called one the Cortes of this
+place, and the other the Cortes of that place. We must now, however,
+learn what the ambassadors did when they came into the presence
+of Cortes. First of all they touched the ground at his feet with the
+hand, they then perfumed him and all the Spaniards who were present,
+with pans made of clay. Cortes gave them a most cordial
+reception, and desired them to sit down at his side. The cazique
+Quintalbor was commissioned to discuss matters jointly with Teuthlille.
+Both, therefore, told Cortes he was most welcome in their country; and
+after a good deal of talking on both sides, they produced the presents and
+spread them out on a mat, over which they had first thrown some cotton
+cloths. The first was a round plate, about the size of a waggon wheel,
+representing the sun, the whole of the finest gold, and of the most
+beautiful workmanship; a most extraordinary work of art, which, according
+to the account of those who weighed it, was worth above<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>
+20,000 gold pesos. The second was a round plate, even larger than
+the former, of massive silver, representing the moon, with rays and
+other figures on it, being of great value. The third was the casque,
+completely filled with pure grains of gold, as they are found in the
+mines, worth about 3000 pesos, which was more to us than if it had
+been ten times the value, as we now knew for certain there were rich
+gold mines in the country. Among other things there were also thirty
+golden ducks, exactly resembling the living bird, and of splendid workmanship;
+further figures resembling lions, tigers, dogs and apes;
+likewise ten chains with lockets, all of gold, and of the most costly
+workmanship; a bow with the string and twelve arrows, and two staffs
+five palms in length, like those used by the justices, all cast of the
+purest gold; further, they brought small cases containing the most
+beautiful green feathers, blended with gold and silver, and fans similarly
+worked; every species of game likewise cast in gold. In short
+such a number of objects, which from the many years since elapsed
+I cannot now altogether remember.<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> There were alone above thirty
+packages of cotton stuffs, variously manufactured and interworked with
+variegated feathers. When the great cazique Quintalbor and Teuthlille
+handed over these presents to Cortes, they begged of him to accept of
+them in the same friendly disposition with which their monarch sent
+them, and to distribute them among his Teules. Upon this they began
+to unfold what their monarch had in particular commissioned them to
+say, which was as follows: "He, Motecusuma, was delighted with the
+arrival of such courageous men in his states, as we, according to the
+accounts he had received and judging from the occurrence at Tabasco,
+certainly must be. He wished very much to see our great emperor,
+who was such a powerful monarch, of whom, although residing at
+such a vast distance, he had already gained some knowledge, and he
+would send him a present of some valuable stones. He was likewise
+ready to furnish us with everything we might require during our stay.
+But as for Cortes calling upon him, we had better give up all thoughts
+of that, as it was not necessary, and would be accompanied with great
+difficulties."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes thanked them most sincerely for their kindness, gave to each
+a couple of shirts made of holland, blue beads, and other trifles, begging
+of them to return to their great monarch Motecusuma, and tell
+him that our emperor and master would take it very unkind, after we
+had come from such distant countries and crossed such vast seas,
+merely with the intention of paying our respects to Motecusuma, if
+we returned without fulfilling this object. He wished, therefore, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>
+proceed to his residence and himself to receive his commands. The
+ambassadors answered, that they would mention all this to their
+monarch, but that any waiting upon him would be superfluous.
+Cortes upon this gave them out of our poverty a cup, of Florentine
+workmanship, gilt and surrounded with a quantity of relieved foliage,
+besides those shirts made of holland, and other things; all these were
+to be presented to Motecusuma, and he desired them to take his answer
+to him. Both the delegates then departed, while Quitlalpitoc remained
+alone behind in our camp, commissioned, it appeared, by the two other
+officials of Motecusuma, to provide provisions for us out of the neighbouring
+districts.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XL" id="CHAPTER_XL"></a>CHAPTER XL.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes goes in search of another harbour and a good spot to found
+a colony, and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After the Mexican ambassadors had again taken their departure,
+Cortes ordered two vessels to sail further on and explore the coast.
+The command of these was given to Francisco de Montejo, with orders
+to follow the same course taken by Grijalva. He was to sail on for the
+space of ten days, and search for a good harbour and convenient spot
+to form a settlement; for in the sandy region we were now staying it
+was impossible to live, on account of the gnats; the inhabited districts,
+moreover, being too far distant. Alaminos and el Manquillo who were
+already acquainted with these waters, piloted the vessels. Montejo
+departed and arrived in the waters of Rio Grande, near Panuco, as
+far as we had gone with Grijalva, but on account of the heavy currents
+there he could proceed no further; he, therefore, returned to San Juan
+de Ulua, bringing us no other news than that they had seen at a distance
+of about thirty-six miles further on a town, which to all appearance
+was fortified. This place was called Quiahuitzlan, having a harbour,
+which, according to the opinion of Alaminos, was secure from the
+north wind. Ten or twelve days were spent by Montejo in this
+expedition out and home. Quitlalpitoc, who had remained to furnish
+us with provisions, soon ceased to do so altogether, which, of
+course, created a great scarcity of food: our cassave-bread had likewise
+become quite mouldy and swarmed with worms, so that we had
+nothing to eat if we did not procure ourselves shellfish. In the commencement
+the Indians had certainly brought us gold and fowls for our
+goods, but now they no longer came in such great numbers as at first,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>
+and those who did come appeared quite shy and reserved. We, therefore,
+anxiously awaited the return of the two ambassadors from Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>After some days had elapsed Teuthlille indeed returned with a great
+number of Indians. They observed the same courteous behaviour as
+on the previous occasion, perfuming Cortes and all of us, and then
+brought forth their presents, consisting in ten packages of mantles,
+richly worked in feathers; further, four <i>chalchihuitls</i>, a species of
+green stone of uncommon value, which are held in higher estimation
+with them than the smaragdus<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> with us; lastly, there were also all
+kinds of gold trinkets, which I heard valued at 3000 pesos. The great
+cazique Quintalbor had fallen ill on the journey, and consequently remained
+behind. Teuthlille and Quitlalpitoc, therefore, alone fulfilled
+Motecusuma's commission, and assured us that he had most graciously
+accepted of our present. Regarding the four chalchihuitls they observed,
+that those were intended as a present to our emperor, as each of them
+was worth, more than a load of gold. For the rest it was unnecessary
+to send any more messengers to Mexico, neither was there any further
+mention to be made of a personal interview between their monarch and
+Cortes.</p>
+
+<p>Although, it was very unpleasant to the latter that his visit to
+Motecusuma should thus be declined in dry words, yet he thanked them
+most kindly; and added to some of us who were present: "Really this
+Motecusuma must be a great and rich gentleman; nevertheless, if God
+be willing, we shall one day visit him in his palace!" "We only wish,
+(returned we soldiers,) that we were once nicely engaged with him."</p>
+
+<p>All this took place just about the hour of Ave Maria; the bell, therefore,
+announced that we should assemble ourselves around the cross,
+which we had erected on an elevated sand-hill. While we were all on
+our knees before it, and repeating the Ave Maria, Teuthlille and
+Quitlalpitoc inquired why we thus humbled ourselves so greatly before
+that pole.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes immediately turned to Bartolome de Olmedo, and remarked
+to him: "This is a good opportunity, father, to give these people
+some notion of our holy religion through our interpreters." This
+father Olmedo accordingly did in a manner which would have done
+honour to the greatest of theologians. He first of all explained that
+we were Christians, and then expatiated on the whole substance of our
+belief; he then proved that their idols were useless things, evil spirits,
+which fled away from the presence of the cross. On such a cross, he
+continued, the Lord of heaven and earth suffered death, we believed in
+him only, and prayed to him as the only true God, Jesus Christ, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>
+suffered death for the salvation of the human race; who rose again on
+the third day, and ascended into heaven, that he would again appear
+to hold judgment over the living and the dead. Upon this followed
+everything that was edifying, which the Indians comprehended well,
+and which they assured us they would relate to their monarch.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes then explained to them, that among the many reasons which
+had induced our great emperor to send us here, one was that they
+should abandon for ever the religion of their cursed idols, abolish
+human sacrifices, and abstain from kidnapping. He, therefore, must
+beg of them to erect crosses like this in their towns and on their
+temples, and also the figure of the holy Virgin, with her most excellent
+Son, then God would bestow great blessings on them. In short, there
+were many expressions replete with excellent feeling, which I am unable
+wholly to report, and therefore will rather leave in my pen.</p>
+
+<p>Our men now commenced to barter with the Indians, who had arrived
+with Teuthlille for what they had brought, and obtained various
+kinds of things, all of inferior gold, which we gave to our sailors for
+catching us fish; this was the only means we had of stilling our hunger.
+Cortes was well aware of this, and secretly enjoyed the idea; however,
+the creatures of Diego Velasquez drew his attention to it, and thought
+he ought not to permit such a species of traffic. We shall further
+see what happened on this account.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLI" id="CHAPTER_XLI"></a>CHAPTER XLI.</h2>
+
+<p><i>What happened on account of our bartering for gold, and of other
+things which took place in our camp.</i></p>
+
+
+<p>This bartering for gold being continued with the Indians, the adherents
+of Diego Velasquez remonstrated with Cortes, and asked him how
+he could suffer such a thing? Diego Velasquez, they added, had not
+sent him hither, that the soldiers should put most of the gold in their
+pockets. It ought to be made known, that henceforth no one but
+Cortes himself should barter for gold, and that every one should render
+an account of the gold in his possession, in order that the emperor's
+fifths might be deducted therefrom. It was, moreover, necessary to
+appoint a treasurer. Cortes confessed they were in the right, and allowed
+them to choose a treasurer themselves. But, not until their
+choice had fallen on one Gonzalo Mexia, did he show what his real intentions
+were; then he said to them with a heavy frown on his brow:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>
+"Only consider, gentlemen, how hard our comrades have to fare, since
+provisions totally fail! In order that they might not hunger, I have
+up to this moment overlooked this system of bartering, and indeed it
+produces but a mere trifle. I hope, with the assistance of God, that
+our affairs will take a better turn by and bye. Everything has its two
+sides to be looked at, and as we have now, in compliance with your
+wishes, ordered that no more bartering for gold shall be allowed in
+future, we have to see whence we are henceforth to obtain provisions."</p>
+
+<p>Gomara is in the wrong, when he relates, that Cortes issued that
+order, on this occasion, to make Motecusuma believe we cared little
+about gold. This monarch knew very well how the matter stood on
+this point, from the time of our arrival under Grijalva in the Bandera
+stream; he might also easily guess what we were after, when we
+begged of him to send us the casque full of golden grains, and our
+daily bartering for that metal. The Mexicans, indeed, are not the
+kind of folks to be thus imposed upon.</p>
+
+<p>However this may be, one fine morning the Indians, who had resided
+near us in the huts and were accustomed to furnish us with provisions
+and bring gold for barter, had all secretly left with Quitlalpitoc.
+This, we subsequently learnt, was done by the commands of Motecusuma,
+who had forbidden all intercourse with Cortes, which he had been induced
+to do from his attachment to his idol-gods. These were named
+<i>Tetzcatlipuca</i> and <i>Huitzilopochtli</i>, the former being the god of hell and
+the latter the god of war, to whom Motecusuma daily sacrificed some
+young children, that they might disclose to him what he should do
+with us. His intention was to take us prisoners if we would not re-embark,
+and employ some to educate children, while others were to be
+sacrificed. For his idol-gods, as we afterwards discovered, advised
+him not to listen to Cortes, and to take no notice of what we had sent
+him word concerning the cross and the figure of the blessed Virgin.
+This was also the reason why his men had gone away so secretly.</p>
+
+<p>Affairs having assumed such a posture, we now daily expected that
+hostilities would break out, and were particularly on our guard. It
+was during one of these days that I was standing sentinel on the sand-hills
+with another soldier, when we espied five Indians approaching
+along the shore. Not to alarm our camp with such a trifle we allowed
+them to come up. They all appeared very good humoured, made their
+obeisance to us after their fashion, and begged of us, by signs, to conduct
+them to our camp. Upon which I said to my companion, I will
+take them there, while you remain where you are, for at that time my
+legs were not so infirm as they are now, in my old age. When I pre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>sented
+them to Cortes, they paid him the profoundest respect, and
+continually repeated the word, <i>Lopelucio</i>, <i>Lopelucio</i>, which in the
+Totonaque language means Lord, great God. In dress and language
+this people differed entirely from the Mexicans, whom Motecusuma
+had sent to our camp. They had large holes bored in their under-lips,
+in which they wore pieces of blue speckled stone, or thin plates
+of gold; the holes in their ears were still larger in size, and adorned
+with similar ornaments. Neither Aguilar nor Do&ntilde;a Marina understood
+their language; but the latter inquired of them whether there was any
+<i>Na&euml;yavatos</i>, or interpreter, among them? Upon which two of them
+answered that they understood the Mexican language, and now the discourse
+immediately commenced. They bid us welcome, and stated that
+their ruler had sent them hither to inquire who we were, and that he
+would be delighted to be of any use to such powerful men as we were.
+They would have waited upon us earlier if they had not shunned the
+people of Culhua, namely, the Mexicans (meaning as much as villains,)
+who had been with us. Most probably these people had heard of our
+battles at Tabasco and Potonchan; they at least knew that the Mexicans
+had secretly departed from us three days ago. Cortes learnt from
+them many things which were of the greatest importance to him, particularly
+respecting the enemies and opponents of Motecusuma: Cortes,
+therefore, was most friendly to these people, gave them various kinds
+of presents, and desired them to return to their ruler and acquaint him
+that he would visit him shortly in person. From this moment we
+called these Indians by no other name than Lopelucios. However, it
+was impossible for us to remain on these sand-hills, on account of the
+long-legged and small gnats, which they call chechenes, and are the
+worst of all: we could get no sleep for them. Moreover, we had no
+kind of provisions left; our cassave-bread was quite mouldy and uneatable,
+on account of the worms, with which it swarmed: it was,
+therefore, no wonder that several of our men, who had Indian possessions
+in the island of Cuba, should wish to return home, which was in
+particular the case with all the friends and creatures of Velasquez.
+Cortes, observing this disposition, gave orders for our departure to
+Quiahuitzlan, which had been seen by Montejo and Alaminos, and
+where the vessels would be secure from the north winds, being sheltered
+by the rock above mentioned.</p>
+
+<p>While preparations were making for our departure, the whole of
+Diego Velasquez's adherents united to remonstrate with Cortes. They
+asked him how he was to commence the march without provisions; it
+was, indeed, quite impossible to proceed further on by sea. Already<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>
+thirty-five of our men had died either of the wounds they received at
+Tabasco, of sickness, or of hunger. The country we were now in was
+extensive, the population numerous, and the inhabitants would, no
+doubt, attack us in a few days. It was, therefore, most advisable to
+return to Cuba, and render an account to Diego Velasquez of the gold
+we had bartered for, of which we possessed a good deal: to this
+might be added the presents sent by Motecusuma, the golden sun,
+silver moon, the casque full of gold dust, and all the other precious
+things, which I have above mentioned. To which Cortes answered,
+"that he did not consider it advisable to return without having even
+seen the country. Up to this moment we had no reason to complain
+of ill luck; on the contrary, God had everywhere lent us his support.
+If we had lost any of our men, such things were to be expected in
+warlike undertakings. We should first explore the country more
+thoroughly; and with regard to provisions, there was sufficient maise
+in the country, with which we must make a shift for the present."</p>
+
+<p>By these arguments Cortes succeeded in quieting the partisans of
+Diego Velasquez; yet it was of short duration, for they held secret
+meetings, and commenced setting all manner of intrigues on foot to
+bring about our return to Cuba: how far they succeeded we shall
+presently see.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLII" id="CHAPTER_XLII"></a>CHAPTER XLII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we elected Hernando Cortes captain-general and chief justice until
+we should receive the emperor's commands on this head; and what
+further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>I have already remarked how the relatives and friends of Diego
+Velasquez united to stop our further progress, and bring about our
+return to Cuba. Cortes, on his part, however, was no less active, and
+managed with his friends to get himself appointed our captain-general.
+In this the following personages acted the chief part: Alonso Hernandez
+Puertocarrero, Pedro de Alvarado, with his four brothers Jorge,
+Gonzalo, Gomez, and Juan; further, Christobal de Oli, Alonso de
+Avila, Juan de Escalante, Francisco de Lugo, myself, and many other
+cavaliers and officers.</p>
+
+<p>Francisco de Montejo soon perceived what our intentions were, and
+kept a sharp look-out upon everything that was going on. I was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>
+drawn into this affair in the following manner: at midnight, Puertocarrero,
+Escalante, and De Lugo, to whom I stood somewhat related,
+both of us, moreover, being born at the same place, called upon me in
+my quarters, and said, "Bernal Diaz del Castillo, take your arms and
+follow us: we are to accompany Cortes, who is going to make the
+rounds." When we had arrived at some distance from my hut, they
+again commenced, "We have something to tell you, sir, but you must
+keep it a secret, for it is of great importance, and those of Diego
+Velasquez's partisans who mess with you must know nothing about
+it. We are of opinion that Cortes does not act rightly towards us.
+At Cuba he made known that he was going out to found a colony, and
+now we hear that he was not empowered to do so, but was merely sent out
+to barter for gold, and then to return to Cuba with all we should make.
+If this takes place, we are altogether ruined men, and Diego Velasquez
+will himself comfortably pocket the gold, and keep it, as he has on
+previous occasions. Do but reflect, sir, that this is the third expedition
+of the kind which you have accompanied, that you have spent
+your whole in them, and undergone so many fatigues, risked your life,
+and suffered from wounds, all for nothing. This we cannot allow.
+We cavaliers are sufficient in number, your friends one and all, and we
+must insist that Cortes founds a colony here, in the name of his
+majesty; we must also find means to acquaint our sovereign immediately
+with this. Promise that you also will be one of us. We have
+united to elect Cortes our captain-general. It would, indeed, be
+rendering God and our king a great service."</p>
+
+<p>To all this I answered that I considered it equally inadvisable to
+return to Cuba, and that I was quite ready to give my consent towards
+electing Cortes captain-general and chief justice, until his
+imperial majesty should have communicated his wishes to us on that
+point. As this plan went round from one to another, the partisans of
+Diego Velasquez, who were much more numerous than we, soon got
+wind of it, and boldly asked Cortes what intrigues had been set on
+foot to form a colony here? and why he should shirk from rendering
+the account which was due to him by whom he had been appointed
+head of the expedition? Diego Velasquez would certainly be ill pleased
+with such proceedings: we could not do otherwise than re-embark:
+all his intrigues with the men were useless: to found a colony, we
+were in want both of provisions, men, and everything else to ensure
+success. Cortes, without showing the least irritability, answered, that
+he was quite of their opinion, and had not the remotest intention to
+act contrary to the instructions and wishes of Diego Velasquez, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>
+immediately issued orders that every one who had come with him
+should repair on board by the next day.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we others, who had confederated, heard this, we declared
+to Cortes that he was doing wrong in thus wishing to deceive us. At
+Cuba he had publicly announced that he was going out to found a
+colony, and now it appeared it was merely for the sake of trafficking.
+We begged of him, for the sake of God and our king, not to break
+his word, but to found a colony, as was required of us, to promote the
+interests of his majesty and the service of God. It would be impossible
+for us to return here at any future time, as the inhabitants
+would certainly not permit us to land: but, if a colony was once
+founded, soldiers from every island in these parts would come flocking
+hither in order to assist us. Diego Velasquez had deceived us when
+he falsely announced that he was empowered by his majesty to found
+colonies: we were, therefore, determined to found one, and left it to
+the choice of the others if they wished to return to Cuba. Cortes at
+first refused to comply, and only submitted after much begging and
+entreating; as the saying goes,</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">What you desire<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Is my wish.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>He, however, made the condition that we should nominate him chief
+justice and captain-general, and, what was worse, that a fifth part of
+the gold should fall to his share which remained after deducting the
+fifths for his majesty: concerning all which and everything else, the
+royal secretary Godoy was to draw up a formal deed. Upon this we
+resolved that a town should be built, and called <i>Villa Rica de la Vera
+Cruz</i>, as we arrived off this coast on Holy Thursday, and stepped on
+land on Good Friday. The addition of Villa Rica (rich town) was
+owing to what Puertocarrero had some time previous said to Cortes,
+"He might look upon these rich countries,&mdash;he would know how to
+govern them;" meaning to say thereby, that he wished Cortes to be
+appointed captain-general.</p>
+
+<p>After the ceremony of laying the first stone of the town was ended,
+we nominated the alcaldes and regidors. The chief alcaldes were
+Alonso Puertocarrero and Francisco de Montejo: Cortes purposely
+appointed the latter because he was not on the best terms with him.
+To give all the names of the regidors would be superfluous, and it
+must suffice to mention their names as they appear in the course of
+this narrative. We also erected a pillory inside the town, and a gallows
+outside. Pedro de Alvarado was appointed city-major; Christobal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>
+de Oli, colonel; Juan de Escalante, alguacil-major; treasurer, Gonzalo
+Mexi Mexia; book-keeper, Alonso de Avila; standard-bearer, a certain
+Corrar, as Villareal, who first filled this post, had got into disgrace with
+Cortes about an Indian female of Cuba, and was obliged to relinquish
+it. Achoa of Biscay and Alonso Romero were nominated alguacils of
+the camp.</p>
+
+<p>The reader will wonder that I have not yet mentioned the name of
+one of our principal men, Gonzalo de Sandoval, though he was
+such a renowned officer, being second to Cortes only, and particularly
+distinguished by our emperor himself. There is no other reason
+than that Sandoval was still very young, and that we did not make so
+much of him and other brave officers then as we did subsequently,
+when we saw all his real qualities developed in a manner that drew
+forth unbounded praise from Cortes and every soldier: indeed he was
+considered equal to Cortes himself.&mdash;Gomara has likewise related a
+good deal respecting these matters, of which he has been ill informed.
+I could not leave this unnoticed, however beautiful his style of writing
+may be, in which his strength really lies.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIII" id="CHAPTER_XLIII"></a>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the partisans of Diego Velasquez would not acknowledge the
+power we had conferred upon Cortes, and what further took place.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The partisans of Diego Velasquez, finding we had elected Cortes
+captain-general, and appointed the other officers just mentioned,
+were terribly annoyed and vexed. They armed themselves in small
+troops, and threw out the most insolent language against Cortes and
+those among us who had chosen him captain-general. All this they
+considered should not have been done without the consent of the whole
+of the officers and soldiers. Diego Velasquez had merely empowered
+Cortes to barter with the natives. In short, their dissatisfaction rose
+to such a pitch, that our party was afraid matters would be carried
+much farther, and end in hostilities. Cortes now secretly desired
+Juan de Escalante to intimate that we should demand the instructions
+to be produced which he had received from Velasquez. This
+was accordingly done, and Cortes pulled them out from under his
+waistcoat, handing them over to the royal secretary to be read aloud.
+And sure enough the words were, <i>After you have bartered for as many
+precious things as possible, you shall return home.</i> This document was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>
+signed by Velasquez, and countersigned by his private secretary Andreas
+de Duero. Upon this we desired of Cortes that these instructions
+should be entered into the appointment we had given him, and announced
+by a public crier, as had been done at Cuba, in order that his
+majesty might convince himself of the true state of things, and that
+everything was done to further his sovereign interest only. This
+step was most agreeable to our purpose, as the bishop of Burgos, Don
+Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, was wrongly informed respecting these
+proceedings, and only laboured to ruin us, as we subsequently learnt.
+The partisans of Diego Velasquez, however, were not to be silenced by
+this; and as the election had been made without their knowledge, they
+considered it illegal, and maintained that they were not called upon to
+obey his commands, but were determined to return to Cuba. Cortes
+answered, that he would not compel them to remain, but would discharge
+any one who might wish it, even if he himself should, in the
+end, remain alone behind. By this some were silenced. Juan Velasquez
+de Leon, (who was closely related to Velasquez,) Diego de Ordas, Escobar,
+(whom we commonly termed the page,) Pedro de Escudero, and
+others of Velasquez's party, still continued refractory, and things at
+last came to such a pass, that, in the end, they formally refused to
+obey Cortes. In such a state of affairs it was necessary to adopt some
+stronger measure, which was carried into execution with our consent.
+We seized the persons of the above-mentioned refractory officers, bound
+them in chains, and kept watch over them as if they had been prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>Respecting these circumstances Gomara has again been misinformed,
+and not a word is to be credited of anything he says on the subject.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIV" id="CHAPTER_XLIV"></a>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Pedro de Alvarado was ordered to make an excursion into the
+interior of the country, in order to procure maise and other provisions;
+and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>It was now resolved that Pedro de Alvarado should make an excursion
+into the interior to explore the country, gain further knowledge
+of some townships which we knew by name, and procure maise and
+other provisions, of which we were in the greatest want. For this
+purpose 100 men were selected, among whom were fifteen crossbow-men
+and six musketeers; above half, moreover, were adherents of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>
+Velasquez: the rest of us, on whom Cortes could fully depend, remained
+with him, in order that no conspiracy might be set on foot
+against him.</p>
+
+<p>Alvarado, during this expedition, visited some small townships which
+were subject to a greater one, called, in the Aculhua language, <i>Costatlan</i>.<a name="FNanchor_17_18" id="FNanchor_17_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_18" class="fnanchor">[17*]</a>
+This language is that of Mexico and Motecusuma; and when
+we speak of persons of Aculhua, we must always understand subjects of
+his empire. Alvarado nowhere met with any inhabitants, but found
+sufficient proofs in the temples that boys and full-grown people had
+very recently been sacrificed; for the altars and walls were covered with
+drops of fresh blood. The flint knives with which the unfortunate
+victim's breast is cut open to tear the heart away, and the large stones
+on which they are sacrificed, still lay in their proper places. Most of
+the bodies thus seen by our men were without arms or legs, which,
+according to the accounts of the Indians, had been devoured. Our
+men were perfectly horror-struck at such barbarities: however, I will
+not waste another word on the subject, for we found the same thing
+over again in every district we visited in this country. Alvarado found
+these districts well stocked with provisions, but so completely deserted
+by the inhabitants that he could only find two Indians to assist the
+men in carrying maise: every soldier, therefore, was compelled to take
+a load of greens and fowls, and in this way the detachment returned
+to our camp with a good supply of provisions, and without having encountered
+any disaster. This was all the damage our men did, although
+they had so many opportunities of doing more, Cortes having most
+strictly forbidden any wanton outrage, that there might not be a repetition
+of what happened on the island of Cozumel.</p>
+
+<p>We were overjoyed with the provisions; for when man can satisfy
+his appetite, he forgets half his sufferings. Gomara mentions another
+expedition in this place, which, he says, Cortes himself undertook,
+with 400 men, to explore the interior of the country: but here again
+he must have been misinformed; for there was no other made than
+the one I have just mentioned. In the meantime Cortes was not
+inactive, but did all in his power to gain the adherents of Diego
+Velasquez: one was presented with some of the gold we had made,&mdash;for
+with gold mountains are removed; another was silenced by considerable
+promises. He likewise set the whole of them at liberty,
+excepting Juan Velasquez de Leon and Diego de Ordas, who were
+lying bound in chains on board a vessel: however, both these were
+also shortly after released, and they became true friends to him, of
+which they subsequently gave sufficient proofs. Gold, indeed, was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>
+spared on this occasion, for they were only to be tamed by that means.
+As soon as greater union was thus restored, it was resolved that we
+should march for the township Quiahuitzlan, which I have above
+mentioned. Our vessels were also at the same time to set sail and
+run into the harbour, lying about four miles from the latter place.</p>
+
+<p>Our march lay along the coast, and on our route we killed a large
+fish which had been thrown on shore; we then came to a pretty deep
+river, on whose banks the town of Vera Cruz at present lies: this
+we crossed by means of some old canoes we found here, and by ferryboats;
+I, however, swam across. On the opposite bank of the river
+lay several small townships, subject to one more extensive called Sempoalla.
+This was the home of the five Indians who came to Cortes in
+the character of ambassadors, and who were called by us <i>Lopelucios</i>.
+We found the idol-temples stained with spots of blood, the apparatus
+for perfuming and sacrificing, a quantity of parrot feathers, and
+several packages of paper stitched one over the other, resembling our
+Spanish linen. We nowhere met any Indians; for as they had never
+before seen people like unto us, nor any horses, they had all run away
+from fear, so that we were forced to go hungry to bed. The next
+day we marched inland in an easterly direction: of course we had not
+the least knowledge of the road we were taking, and we turned at a
+venture into a beautiful meadow, where we found wild deer grazing.
+Pedro de Alvarado chased one of these on his brown mare, and managed
+to wound it with his lance; but the animal escaped over some heights.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime twelve Indians made their appearance, inhabitants
+of the district, where we were encamped for the night, bringing with
+them some fowls and maise-bread, which, they told Cortes, by means
+of our interpreter, had been sent us by their cazique, who had likewise
+desired we should visit his township, which lay at a distance of one
+sun, say a day's march, from our present station. Cortes returned
+them sincere thanks for their great kindness, and we marched on until
+we came to a small township, where a short time previous several
+human beings had been sacrificed. As the kind reader would be disgusted
+with hearing of the numbers of male and female Indians we
+found butchered along every road and in every village we passed
+through, I will be silent on that head, and merely add that a supper
+was provided for us in the small village where we had arrived. Here
+we also learnt that the road to Quiahuitzlan, which latter lay on a hill,
+passed through Sempoalla, where we next arrive.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLV" id="CHAPTER_XLV"></a>CHAPTER XLV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we marched into Sempoalla, which at that period was a very considerable
+township, and what we did there.</i></p></div>
+
+<p>After we had slept in the village, where the twelve Indians had
+quartered us, and accurately ascertained the road we were to take
+to Quiahuitzlan, we left very early in the morning for that place.
+Cortes sent six of the Indians before us to acquaint the caziques of
+Sempoalla that we were approaching, and to beg permission to visit
+them. The six other Indians remained behind as our guides. The
+whole of us marched forward in the best order, while our cannon and
+other arms were ready for use at a moment's notice; besides this sharp-shooters
+were always in advance, all strong active fellows, whom as well
+as the horse no one could elude.</p>
+
+<p>We were not further than three miles from Sempoalla, when we were
+met by twenty Indians who came to welcome us in the name of their
+cazique. These carried in their hands pine-apples, most deliciously
+scented, and of a deep red colour, which they presented to Cortes and
+the others who sat on horseback, adding that their ruler awaited us
+in his quarters, for on account of his corpulency he had been prevented
+from coming out to meet us himself. Cortes thanked them kindly
+for their attentions, and we marched forward. As we passed along the
+houses of the town we were greatly surprised, for a town of such
+magnitude we had not yet met with. And when we saw that all
+around had the appearance of a luxurious garden, and that the streets
+were filled with people of both sexes, we returned most fervent thanks
+to God for having allowed us to discover such a country. The vanguard
+of our horse was naturally very much in advance, and had arrived
+in the great square and up to the dwellings where our quarters were
+prepared. As the walls a few days previous had been newly plastered
+with lime, (which these Indians prepare uncommonly well,) and the
+sun was shining full upon them at the time, one of our horse soldiers
+came galloping up to Cortes at full speed to inform him that
+the walls here were built of silver. Aguilar and Do&ntilde;a Marina
+immediately saw that this was lime fresh laid on; which of course
+created abundance of laughter. We never omitted on subsequent
+occasions to remind the man of it, joking him that everything white
+appeared to him like silver.</p>
+
+<p>When we arrived at our quarters the fat cazique came out in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>
+courtyard to receive us. The man was, indeed, excessively corpulent,
+wherefore I shall always distinguish him thereby. He paid Cortes the
+greatest respect, and perfumed him according to the custom of the
+country, who then embraced him in return. After these welcomes
+we were shown into our quarters, which were very comfortable,
+and so spacious that there was sufficient room for us all. Food was
+next set before us, among which there was maise-bread and several
+basketsful of plums, of which there were great quantities, these being
+just then in season. As we were greatly famished, and had not for a
+length of time seen such quantities of provisions at once, some of us
+called the place Villariciosa (luxurious town), and others Sevilla.
+Cortes gave strict orders that the inhabitants should not be molested in
+the slightest degree, and also that none of us should leave our quarters.</p>
+
+<p>It being announced to the fat cazique that we had finished dining,
+he sent word to Cortes that he was desirous of paying him a visit, and
+immediately after he arrived with a considerable number of distinguished
+personages, who wore heavy golden ornaments and richly-worked
+mantles. Cortes rose to meet them at the entrance of our
+quarters, and received them most kindly. After the first compliments
+were passed the fat cazique handed a present to him which he had
+brought, consisting in golden trinkets and cotton stuffs, but of little
+value. The cazique constantly repeated: "Lopelucio, Lopelucio,
+accept this in favorable kind; if we had more to give we should
+have brought it."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes desired Do&ntilde;a Marina and Aguilar to acquaint him how grateful
+he was for so much kindness, and he had merely to inform him in what
+way he in return could be of service to him and his people. We were
+the vassals of the great emperor Charles, who had dominion over many
+kingdoms and countries, and who had sent us out to redress wrongs
+wherever we came, punish the bad, and make known his commands that
+human sacrifices should no longer be continued. To all this was
+added a good deal about our holy religion.</p>
+
+<p>After the fat cazique heard this he sighed deeply, and complained
+most bitterly about Motecusuma and his governors. It was not long
+ago that he had been subdued by the former, and robbed of all his
+golden trinkets. His sway was so excessively oppressive, that he durst
+not move without his orders; yet no one had sufficient courage to
+oppose him, as he possessed such vast towns and countries, such numbers
+of subjects and extensive armies. Cortes answered that he would
+relieve him of the oppression under which he groaned, but for the
+present moment he could not occupy himself with such matters.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>
+He had first of all to pay a visit to his <i>acales</i>, (so ships are termed in
+their language,) and prepare our quarters in Quiahuitzlan, where they
+would further talk the matter over. The fat cazique said he was
+perfectly satisfied with this, and the next morning we left Sempoalla.
+Four hundred Indian porters, who, in this district, are termed tamenes,
+were sent to accompany us. Each of these porters is capable of carrying
+a weight of fifty pounds to a distance of twenty miles. We were
+all highly delighted that each of us had a man a piece to carry our
+baggage; for previously every one had to carry his own knapsack, the
+five or six Cuba Indians we had with us being of little use. Do&ntilde;a
+Marina and Aguilar said that according to the custom of this country
+the caziques were bound in times of peace to lend their porters
+to any one who required them. From this moment we always
+demanded them wherever we came. After the first day's march we
+staid the night at a small township not far from Quiahuitzlan. It was
+wholly uninhabited, and the people of Sempoalla furnished us with
+food for supper. Gomara allows Cortes to pass several days at
+Sempoalla, and then form the confederacy and rebellion against
+Motecusuma. This, together with the account he gives of the number
+of Cuba Indians we were said to have brought with us, is wholly false;
+for, as I have stated, we left Sempoalla immediately on the following
+morning after our arrival. Where and what caused the different tribes
+to revolt I will afterwards relate. For the present we shall make our
+entry into Quiahuitzlan.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVI" id="CHAPTER_XLVI"></a>CHAPTER XLVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we march into Quiahuitzlan, which was a town with fortifications,
+and were most friendly received.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The next morning about ten o'clock we arrived in the principal
+township Quiahuitzlan, which is built on the steep declivity of a
+rock, and would certainly be difficult to take if defended. We put
+no trust in the peace which reigned through the country, and marched
+in the best order with the greatest precaution. Our troops were
+preceded by the cannon, that it might be ready at hand if required.
+Here it was that Alonso de Avila, a severe and haughty man, ran a
+soldier named Alonso of Villanueva, who had only one arm, through
+the empty sleeve of his coat, with the point of his lance, because he
+marched out of the ranks. From that moment we termed the man the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>
+one-armed of Villanueva. However, I shall likewise be accused of
+marching out of the ranks, if I relate such trifles: I cannot deny
+it, and will, therefore, immediately fall in again. We arrived in
+the midst of the town without meeting any one, and were not a
+little surprised at this circumstance, as the inhabitants had left that
+very morning, when they found we were approaching their dwellings.
+On the most elevated point of the fortress there was an open
+space in front of the cues and large houses of their idols; and
+here we first met with fifteen well-dressed Indians, who were carrying
+perfuming pans. With these they went up to Cortes, perfumed him
+and all who were near at the time, bid us welcome, and most humbly
+begged forgiveness for not having come out to meet us, and confessed
+that fear of ourselves and horses had prevented them, and that they
+had first wished to know who we were. We had now only to make
+ourselves comfortable, they added, and that very evening they would
+see that all the inhabitants returned to their houses.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes thanked them most kindly for their good reception, and told
+them many things about our holy religion and our great monarch, as
+was customary with us wherever we came. He also presented them
+with a few green glass beads and other trifles we had brought from
+Spain; they supplying us with fowls and maise-bread in return.</p>
+
+<p>While the first welcomings were going on it was announced to Cortes
+that the fat cazique of Sempoalla was approaching in a sedan, supported
+by numbers of distinguished Indians. Immediately upon his
+arrival he renewed his complaints against Motecusuma, in which he
+was joined by the cazique of this township and the other chief personages.
+He related so much of the cruelties and oppression they had
+to suffer, and thereby sobbed and sighed so bitterly that we could not
+help being affected. At the time when they were subdued, they
+had already been greatly ill used; Motecusuma then demanded annually
+a great number of their sons and daughters, a portion of whom were
+sacrificed to the idols, and the rest were employed in his household
+and for tilling his grounds. His tax-gatherers took their wives
+and daughters without any ceremony if they were handsome, merely to
+satisfy their lusts. The Totonaques, whose territory consisted of upwards
+of thirty townships, suffered like violence.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes consoled them as well as he could by means of our interpreters.
+He promised and assured them that he would put an end to
+such oppression and ill usage. It was particularly for this object
+that his majesty had sent us to their country; they should, therefore,
+keep up their spirits, and they would soon see what he was about to do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>
+for their good. This in some measure seemed to comfort them; though
+Cortes was unable wholly to allay the fear in which they stood of the
+great Motecusuma.</p>
+
+<p>We soon had proof of this on the very spot; for, during our discourse
+with these caziques, some Indians belonging to the district
+announced that just then five Mexican tax-gatherers had arrived. At
+this information the caziques turned quite pale with fear; they left
+Cortes and hastened to receive the unexpected guests, for whom an
+apartment was immediately cleared and dinner set on table. Cacao in
+great quantities was in particular served up to them, which is the
+principal beverage of the Indians. As the house of the cazique
+was in the neighbourhood, the Mexicans passed by our quarters; but
+behaved with such reserve and so haughtily, that they neither addressed
+Cortes nor any of us. They wore richly-worked mantles and maltatas
+similarly manufactured, which were then still in fashion among them.
+The hair of their head was combed out quite glossy and tied up
+in a knot in which were stuck some sweet scented roses. Every
+one carried a stick with a hook, and had an Indian slave with a
+fan to keep off the flies. They were accompanied by a great number
+of distinguished personages from the country of the Totonaques, who
+remained around them until they arrived in their quarters and had
+sat down to dinner. After this was finished they sent for the fat
+cazique and the other chiefs of the townships, and scolded them
+under severe threats for having received us. They had no business
+with us, added they; this was by no means the wish of their
+master Motecusuma, without whose command and permission they
+ought not to have provided us with quarters, nor given us any golden
+trinkets. They would have to pay dearly for all this; at present, however,
+they must find twenty Indians and an equal number of females,
+in order that by sacrificing them they might appease the gods for the
+evil service which had thus been rendered.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, who observed how restless every one appeared, desired Do&ntilde;a
+Marina and Aguilar to explain the reason of all this, and who the
+strange Indians were. Marina knew all that had passed, and told him
+accordingly; upon which he sent for the fat cazique, with the chiefs
+of the townships, and questioned them himself as to who the strangers
+were whom they treated so ceremoniously? They answered, that these
+were tax-gatherers of the great Motecusuma, who had remonstrated with
+them for having received us without his previous permission, and now
+required twenty persons, of both sexes, for a sacrifice to the god of
+war, in order that he should grant them the victory over us. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>
+had likewise been assured, that Motecusuma would take us prisoners
+and turn us into slaves.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this Cortes consoled and bid them take courage, assuring them
+he would punish the Mexicans for it, as both he himself and his troops
+were willing, and had the power to do so.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVII" id="CHAPTER_XLVII"></a>CHAPTER XLVII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes ordered the five Mexican tax-gatherers to be imprisoned, and
+no further obedience to be paid Motecusuma, nor tribute to be exacted;
+and of the rebellion which was now excited against this monarch.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Cortes further said to the caziques, they were aware he had already
+assured them that the emperor, our master, had specifically commissioned
+him to punish all those who did evil, and in particular, no
+longer to suffer kidnapping nor human sacrifices.</p>
+
+<p>As the Mexican tax-gatherers now required human beings of them
+for those sacrifices, he would take and keep them prisoners until
+Motecusuma should learn the reason why he had done so, and was
+made acquainted with the other violent measures they were accustomed
+to commit against them, their wives and daughters.</p>
+
+<p>The caziques were excessively alarmed that Cortes should require
+this at their hands, and durst not venture to lay hands on the tax-gatherers
+of the mighty Motecusuma. But Cortes exhorted them for
+such a length of time that they at last took courage, seized their
+persons, and fastened them, in their fashion, to long poles, by collars,
+which went round the neck, so that they could not even move themselves.
+One of them, who made resistance, was whipped into the
+bargain.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this Cortes commanded the caziques no longer to obey the
+mandates of Motecusuma, nor to pay him tribute, and to make these
+his wishes known to all those tribes with whom they were allied and
+friendly, adding that they should inform him, whether there were tax-gatherers
+in other districts, that he might also send to take them
+prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>The rumour of all this quickly spread through the whole country,
+as the fat cazique despatched messengers to that end, while the
+chiefs, who had accompanied the Mexican tax-gatherers, hastened
+back to their townships to relate the wonderful news. When the
+Indians learnt this astounding, and to them so important an oc<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>currence,
+they said to one another, that, such great things could not
+have been done by men, but only by <i>teules</i>, which sometimes mean
+gods, sometimes demons, here in the former sense; which was the
+reason they termed us teules, from that moment; and I beg the reader
+to observe, that whenever in future I speak of teules in affairs relating
+to us, that we are meant thereby.</p>
+
+<p>All the caziques were of opinion that we should sacrifice the prisoners,
+that they might not return to Mexico and relate what had
+befallen them. Cortes, however, strictly forbade this, and placed a
+strong watch over them. About midnight he ordered the sentinels
+into his presence, and said to them: "Pay particular attention to what
+I say. Take two of the most active of the prisoners, now in our
+hands, and bring them into my quarters. This must be done with
+great circumspection, so that the Indians of this township may know
+nothing of it."</p>
+
+<p>When the two men were brought before Cortes, he did as if he was
+unconscious they were Mexicans, and questioned them, by means of
+interpreters, as to whence they came, and why they had been taken
+prisoners? To which they answered, "that the caziques of Sempoalla,
+and of this township, had seized upon their persons in secret understanding
+with us." Cortes, however, positively assured them, that he
+was totally ignorant of the whole matter, and was very sorry it should
+have happened. He immediately ordered food to be given them, and
+otherwise to be kindly treated, and commissioned them to acquaint
+their monarch, Motecusuma, that we were all his sincerest friends and
+most devoted servants. That they might not suffer any further ill
+treatment, he added, they should be set at liberty and he would severely
+reprimand the caziques, by whom they had been imprisoned. He was
+ready to render them any service in his power, and he would likewise
+release their three companions; they themselves, however, had
+better get out of sight as quickly as possible, that they might not be
+retaken by the inhabitants and killed. Both the prisoners said, they
+should be very thankful for their liberty, but were afraid of falling
+again into their enemies' hands, as they were compelled to pass through
+their country. Cortes therefore ordered six sailors to take the Mexicans
+in a boat to a certain point on the coast, twelve miles distant, where
+they would be out of the Sempoallan territory. All this was dexterously
+managed, and when daylight appeared the caziques and other
+chiefs were not a little surprised to find only three prisoners remaining.
+These they insisted should be sacrificed, but Cortes feigned to
+be highly incensed at the escape of the two, and said he was deter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>mined
+to guard the others himself. To this end he ordered chains to
+be brought from our vessels, with which the prisoners were bound,
+and in that way taken on board, where their chains were taken off
+again. They received the kindest treatment, and were assured they
+would be sent back to Mexico in a very short time.</p>
+
+<p>The caziques of Sempoalla, Quiahuitzlan, and those from the country
+of the Totonaques, now assembled and explained the position in which
+they were placed at present, as no doubt Motecusuma, upon the first
+intelligence of the imprisonment of his tax-gatherers, would put his
+army in motion and fall upon them, the consequence of which would
+be their total extirpation.</p>
+
+<p>But Cortes assured them, with the most pleasing smile on his countenance,
+that he and his brothers who were with him would be their
+protection, and he who should dare to molest them, should forfeit his
+life. Upon this the caziques, one and all, promised to unite their
+whole armed force to ours against Motecusuma and his allies. On this
+occasion Diego de Godoy drew up a formal deed of their subjection to
+the sceptre of his majesty the emperor, and notice was sent of this to
+the different townships of the province. As there was no further talk
+of tribute, and tax-gatherers no longer made their appearance, these
+people were almost out of their senses for excessive joy in having
+shaken off the Mexican yoke.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLVIII" id="CHAPTER_XLVIII"></a>CHAPTER XLVIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>How we resolved to found Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz and construct
+a fortress on the low meadows, in the neighbourhood of some salt
+springs and the harbour, where our vessels were anchored; and
+what further happened.</p></div>
+
+
+<p>After we had thus formed an alliance with the thirty townships of
+the Totonaque mountains, which had revolted from Motecusuma and
+submitted of their own free will to the sceptre of our sovereign, we
+immediately hastened to profit by the circumstance and found Villa
+Rica de la Vera Cruz. The spot we made choice of lay at about two
+miles distance from the fortress of Quiahuitzlan, in the valley beneath.
+We first of all marked out the ground for the church, the market, the
+magazines and other public buildings belonging to a town. We then
+set off part of the ground to form a fortress, and nothing could exceed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>
+the assiduity with which the walls of the foundation were carried up,
+the woodwork completed, the turrets and loopholes constructed with
+the parapets. Cortes himself put the first hand to it, carried a basket
+filled with stones and earth on his shoulders, and worked at the
+foundations. The caziques and all of us followed his example, and
+every part of the work was carried on with like vigour. Some were
+mixing mortar, fetching water, burning chalk, baking bricks and
+tiles, others prepared the food and cut wood. The smiths hammered
+hard at the nails and other ironwork. In short, from the highest to
+the lowest showed the greatest activity, while the Indians lent us such
+efficacious aid, that in a short time the church and other buildings were
+quite finished, and the fortress nearly so.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime Motecusuma received the intelligence at Mexico,
+that his tax-gatherers had been imprisoned by our allies; that the
+latter had renounced obedience to him, and that all the Totonaque
+townships had revolted. He was excessively enraged against Cortes
+and the whole of us, and ordered one of his powerful chiefs to make
+war upon the tribes which had revolted, and extirpate them to a man.
+Against us he would march in person at the head of an immense army,
+commanded by many generals. While preparations for this purpose
+were being made, the two prisoners whom Cortes had liberated arrived
+in Mexico. When Motecusuma learnt that Cortes had restored them
+to liberty, and himself sent them to Mexico with the commission to offer
+his services to their monarch, the Almighty softened down the hardness
+of his heart, and he resolved to make inquiries as to what our intentions
+were. To this end he despatched two of his young nephews,
+accompanied by four aged men, who were caziques of distinction, to
+our quarters, sending with them a present consisting in gold and cotton
+stuffs. These men were commissioned to thank Cortes for the liberation
+of his two tax-gatherers, but at the same time to make heavy
+complaints respecting these tribes who had presumed to revolt from
+him, merely because we had taken them under our protection, and
+now refused all further obedience and to pay tribute. At present
+he was merely withheld from putting his threat into execution of exterminating
+them totally, out of consideration for us, since we inhabited
+their dwellings; for, in our persons he recognized that people whose
+arrival in this country had been foretold by his ancestors, and who
+were of the same lineage with himself. However, they would not long
+rejoice in their treachery, and he should know how to deal with them
+at some future period.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes received these messengers very kindly and accepted their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>
+present, which was worth above 2000 pesos. He assured them that
+he as well as all the rest of us were friendly disposed, and ready to
+serve Motecusuma, and that it was in this spirit we had taken the
+three other tax-gatherers under our protection, who were now immediately
+brought forth from our vessels, clothed and delivered up to the
+ambassadors. Neither did Cortes on his part suppress the complaints
+he had to make against Motecusuma, for he told them, that Quitlalpitoc,
+his governor, had passed a night in our quarters, and had been uncourteous
+enough not to call upon him. He was, certainly, convinced
+that such behaviour had not been commanded by Motecusuma, but
+had emanated from the natural ill-breeding of the man. Honorable
+treatment, however, had so much worth in our estimation, that for
+this reason only had we paid a visit to the townships where we now
+were. Motecusuma, therefore, ought to pardon the people for our
+sakes. But as to their complaints respecting the refusal to pay tribute,
+it was to be imagined that they could not serve two masters at once, as
+they had, during our stay here, sworn allegiance to our emperor. For
+the rest, he and his companions would shortly wait upon Motecusuma
+himself, when these matters could be altogether amicably adjusted.</p>
+
+<p>After this and other declarations, Cortes presented both these distinguished
+young personages and their four venerable companions,
+who were men of the first consequence, with blue and green coloured
+beads, paying them the greatest possible respect.</p>
+
+<p>As the meadows in this neighbourhood were well adapted for cavalry
+exercise, Cortes desired Alvarado, who had an excellent brown mare,
+and our other good riders, to go through the different man&oelig;uvres, by
+which we quite won the hearts of these messengers, who returned
+highly satisfied to Mexico. About this time Cortes lost his horse; for
+which reason Ortiz, the musician, and Bartolome Garcia, the mountaineer,
+gave up their dark brown horse to him, which was one of the
+best among the whole troop.</p>
+
+<p>For the rest, our allies in the mountains and the inhabitants of
+Sempoalla had stood in no little awe of Motecusuma, as they believed
+nothing less than that he would instantly invade their country with a
+great army to extirpate them. But, when they found that even several
+of his relatives arrived, bringing presents, and that they comported
+themselves so submissively to Cortes, they began more and more to
+fear us, and the caziques said to one another, these must necessarily
+be teules, as even Motecusuma himself stood in awe of us and sent us
+presents. If they had previously formed a great idea of our power, it
+was now vastly augmented by this unexpected circumstance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIX" id="CHAPTER_XLIX"></a>CHAPTER XLIX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the fat cazique and other chief men of the country come and
+complain to Cortes, that a garrison of Mexicans had been thrown
+into the strong fortress of Tzinpantzinco, committing great depredations;
+and what further took place.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After the Mexican messengers had taken their leave, the fat
+cazique with several other distinguished personages from among our
+allies called upon Cortes, and begged of him to repair to a township
+called Tzinpantzinco, two days' journey, or about from thirty-two to
+thirty-six miles from Sempoalla; as a number of Mexican warriors had
+assembled there, destroying their fields and plantations, falling upon
+their subjects, and doing all manner of mischief. Cortes manifested
+great sympathy for them, but scarcely knew what answer he should
+give, as he had promised them every assistance. He, therefore, desired
+them to retire, until he should have considered the matter a
+little.</p>
+
+<p>After he had bethought himself for a short time, he turned smilingly
+round to us who were standing near him and said: "Methinks, gentlemen,
+we already pass here for great heroes; indeed, after what has
+happened with the tax-gatherers these people must look upon us as
+gods, or a species of beings like their idols. Now, I am of opinion it
+is best to strengthen them in this notion; and that they may think
+that one single man of us is sufficient to dislodge the Mexicans from
+the fortress of Tzinpantzinco, we will send thither old Heredia of
+Biscay. The malignancy of his features, his huge beard, his half-mangled
+countenance, his squinting eyes and lame leg, constitute him
+the most fitting person for this object, besides which he is a musketeer."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes then sent for the man and said to him: "You must go with
+the caziques to the river which flows about a mile from this spot.
+When you have arrived there do as if you were thirsty, and wished to
+wash your hands; then fire off your musket. This shall be a signal
+for me to send some one after you, who will, in my name, desire
+you to return. All this is done in order that the Indians may suppose
+us to be deities, and as you have not one of the most pleasing countenances,
+I trust they will take you by preference to be some idol."</p>
+
+<p>Heredia, who had served many years in Italia, perfectly well knew
+how to perform his part, and gladly undertook this matter. Cortes
+now ordered the fat cazique, and the other chief Indians who were
+expecting succours from us, into his presence again, saying to them:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>
+"I send this my brother with you to drive the Mexicans out of the
+fortress, and to bring those whom he does not kill prisoners to me."</p>
+
+<p>When the caziques heard this they stood in utter amazement,
+not knowing whether Cortes was in earnest; but finding he did not
+change countenance, they began to convince themselves that this was
+really his intention, and marched away in company of Heredia. When
+he had arrived between the mountains he loaded his musket and shot
+it off in the air, that it might be heard by every Indian in the district.
+The caziques themselves sent notice to the different townships, that
+they had a teule with them, and were marching to Tzinpantzinco in
+order to kill the Mexicans there.</p>
+
+<p>I have mentioned this laughable circumstance, that the reader may
+see what artifices Cortes employed to throw dust into the eyes of the
+Indians. Of course, when Heredia arrived at the river he was recalled;
+the caziques returning with him, to whom Cortes said, he had formed
+a different plan. His friendship for them was so great, that he would
+accompany them himself with some of his brothers, in order to take a
+survey of the country and the fortress. They had only to furnish four
+hundred porters to convey the cannon, and to return to us next morning
+early. All this was accordingly done, and as soon as daylight had
+broken forth, we moved forward, four hundred in number, with fourteen
+horse and a sufficient number of matchlocks and arquebuses.</p>
+
+<p>On this occasion some of Diego Velasquez's adherents again began
+to murmur, declaring that Cortes might proceed further with those
+who wished to follow him; but as for themselves they were determined
+to return to Cuba.</p>
+
+<p>How this matter terminated we shall see in the following chapter.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_L" id="CHAPTER_L"></a>CHAPTER L.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How some of Diego Velasquez's adherents refused to take any further
+part in our proceedings, and declared their determination to return to
+Cuba, seeing that Cortes was earnestly bent upon founding a colony,
+and had already commenced to pacify the inhabitants.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Next morning when our petty officers went round to our different
+quarters and called upon the men to march out with their arms and
+horses, the partisans of Velasquez insolently answered, that they would
+take no further part in any expedition, but wished to return home to
+their possessions in Cuba. They had already lost enough, by allowing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>
+themselves to be led away by Cortes to join him in the first instance;
+they now, however, would desire him to fulfil the promise, which he
+had made in the camp on the downs, namely, to grant those their discharge
+who wished to return to Cuba, and provide them a vessel and
+the necessary provisions.</p>
+
+<p>Seven men now declared they were positively determined to return
+home; Cortes, therefore, desired they should be brought before him,
+and asked them, "Why they wished to play him such a vile trick?"
+They answered in rather an angry tone, "That they could not help
+feeling astonished, he should think of founding a colony with a
+handful of men in a country full of towns possessing many thousands
+of inhabitants. They were suffering from indisposition, quite tired of
+roving about, and desired to return to their settlements in Cuba; he
+ought, therefore, to grant them their discharge according to promise."</p>
+
+<p>To this Cortes answered, in the mildest manner possible, that he had
+made such promise indeed; but, that they would be acting in a manner
+forgetful of their duty to desert the standard of their captain at a
+time when he was meditating an expedition: at the same time he commanded
+them to embark themselves immediately, and provided them
+with a vessel, cassave-bread, a bottle of oil, a quantity of vegetables,
+and such things as ships generally take on distant voyages. One of
+these men, a certain Moron of Delbayamo, had a well-trained horse,
+and exchanged it most profitably with Juan Ruano for some valuable
+property the latter had at Cuba.</p>
+
+<p>When these men were about to set sail, the rest of our troops, headed
+by the alcaldes and regidors of the town of Vera Cruz, repaired to Cortes
+and begged of him to issue an order that no one should leave the
+country, an order which both the service of God and his majesty required,
+declaring that they considered every one merited death who
+could think of such a thing, surrounded as we were by such numerous
+enemies, nor could we look upon them in any other light than men
+who wished to desert their commander and his standard in the midst
+of battle and in the moment of the greatest danger. Cortes, nevertheless,
+did as if he was desirous of discharging the malcontents, but
+soon after countermanded this order. All they got for their pains was
+contempt and disgrace, while Moron in the bargain was done out of
+his horse, which Juan Ruano had no wish to return him. Upon this
+Cortes gave orders for our march, and we arrived without any accident
+in Tzinpantzinco.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LI" id="CHAPTER_LI"></a>CHAPTER LI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>What happened to us at Tzinpantzinco, and how, on our return to
+Sempoalla, we destroyed all the idols; likewise of other matters.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The first day we marched twenty miles, and arrived at Sempoalla,
+where we passed the night: here 2000 Indian warriors, divided into
+four troops, stood ready to join us. The second day, towards nightfall,
+we arrived at the plantations in front of Tzinpantzinco, and took the
+road leading into that fortress, which wound up between large and
+steep rocks. The inhabitants were most likely apprized of our approach;
+for immediately eight Indians of distinction and several papas came
+out to us, making signs of peace, and asked Cortes, with tears in their
+eyes, why we were going to kill them, as they had done nothing against
+us? We bore the character of doing good only wherever we might
+come, and of putting a stop to the oppression of nations, and for that
+reason had even imprisoned the tax-gatherers of Motecusuma: between
+the warriors of Sempoalla, who accompanied us, and themselves there
+existed an inimical feeling, already of ancient date, respecting a dispute
+of territory and boundaries, and these people had no other object in
+view than to plunder and destroy them, under our protection: there
+was, indeed, generally speaking, a Mexican garrison in their township,
+which, however, had returned home, upon the news that we had imprisoned
+the tax-gatherers; they, therefore, begged of us not to proceed
+any further, and to be merciful towards them.</p>
+
+<p>When these representations were made known to Cortes through our
+interpreters, he immediately ordered Alvarado and Christobal de Oli,
+with us who were nearest to him, to march off to the Sempoallans and
+command them not to advance any further. Though we used the
+utmost expedition to fulfil these orders, yet we already found them
+plundering the plantations. This made Cortes excessively angry;
+he ordered the chiefs of the Sempoallans into his presence, and severely
+remonstrated with them for such behaviour: he commanded them,
+with heavy threats, to bring him all the plunder, and not to set a foot
+into the town. They had trumped up a false story to us, he told
+them, merely to be enabled, under our protection, to plunder their
+neighbours and then to sacrifice them, whereby they had deserved death.
+Our emperor had not sent us to this country to commit such crimes,
+and they had better mind not again to fall into such guilt, as none of
+them would escape alive if it happened again.</p>
+
+<p>After this earnest reproof, the caziques and chiefs of Sempoalla<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>
+brought the prisoners and the turkey-fowls they had captured: the
+first, Cortes ordered to be set at liberty, and the latter were restored
+to their owners; upon which he commanded the Sempoallans, in a
+very angry tone, to return to their camp and there remain for the
+night.</p>
+
+<p>The caziques and papas of Tzinpantzinco, with other inhabitants of
+the surrounding neighbourhood, having witnessed this act of justice,
+and seeing altogether how friendly Cortes was disposed, and the good
+deeds which he manifested, were the more susceptible of the things he
+told them about our holy religion,&mdash;respecting the abolishment of
+their human sacrifices and kidnapping, the discontinuation of other
+abominations and obscenities, with other matters salutary to their
+well being. They appeared so well inclined that they assembled the
+inhabitants of the surrounding districts, and formally declared themselves
+vassals of the emperor, our master. On this occasion, likewise,
+numerous complaints were made against Motecusuma, which all terminated
+with instances of his oppression similar to what we had heard
+from the Sempoallans and Quiahuitzlans.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning very early Cortes sent for the chiefs and caziques
+of the Sempoallans. In fear and anxiety had they passed the while,
+in consequence of his anger for having attempted to deceive us with
+a pack of lies. He brought about a reconciliation and good understanding
+between them and the inhabitants of Tzinpantzinco, which
+was never afterwards interrupted. Upon this we again put ourselves
+in motion, and marched back to Sempoalla, but took a different route
+over two townships friendly with the Tzinpantzincans, where we rested
+ourselves, as we were greatly fatigued, and the sun was excessively hot.
+In one of these townships, a certain Mora, of Ciudad-Rodrigo, took
+some fowls out of an Indian hut, which so greatly incensed Cortes
+that he ordered a rope to be tied around the fellow's neck, and would
+have had him hung up if Alvarado, who was standing next to Cortes,
+had not cut the rope in two with his sword, and thus released the
+poor devil, who had the fear of death before his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>I have merely mentioned this trait to convince the curious reader
+how exemplary Cortes acted, and of the necessity of being strict under
+similar circumstances. Mora subsequently lost his life in a battle we
+fought on a mountain in the province of Guatimala. After we had
+left these two townships in peace, we found the fat cazique with the
+chiefs of Sempoalla in some huts which they had constructed for us,
+where they were waiting our arrival with various kinds of provisions
+which they had brought with them. Although Indians, they readily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>
+perceived what a good and holy thing is justice, and that Cortes'
+declaration of our having come into these countries to put an end to
+all oppression, perfectly agreed with his conduct on our entry into
+Tzinpantzinco; they, therefore, became the more united to us. We
+passed the night in these huts, and returned next morning, in company
+of our Indian friends, to Sempoalla. Indeed, the only wish of
+the Sempoallans was now, that we should never leave their country
+again, fearing Motecusuma would send an army about their ears;
+they, therefore, proposed to Cortes, since such a close and friendly
+alliance now subsisted between us, and we could look upon each other
+as brothers, that we should choose wives from among their daughters
+and relatives, that our posterity might descend from one and the same
+stock. In order that this more intimate connexion might be brought
+about, they immediately made a good beginning by presenting us with
+eight females, all daughters of caziques: one of these, the niece of the
+fat cazique, was given to Cortes, and Puertocarrero was presented
+with the daughter of another powerful cazique, whom they called
+Cuesco. All these young women were finely dressed out after the
+fashion of the country: they wore beautiful shifts, had golden chains
+about their necks, golden rings in their ears, and had other Indian
+females to wait upon them.</p>
+
+<p>When the fat cazique presented these, he said to Cortes, "<i>Tecle</i>,
+(which signifies sir, in their language,) these seven women are intended
+for your chief officers, and this my niece, who herself holds dominion
+over a country and a people, I have destined for you." Cortes joyfully
+accepted of the young women, and returned thanks to the chiefs, remarking,
+at the same time, that he should gladly recognize in these
+women, the bonds of brotherly union between us. But now they
+should likewise renounce their idols, and no longer bring them human
+sacrifices. It grieved him sorely whenever he reflected on the monstrous
+heresy in which they lived; henceforth he would neither see nor hear
+of these abominations, of human sacrifices and unnatural offences:
+then only could a permanent and brotherly union subsist between
+us. Above all things the women must be converted to Christianity,
+before we could think of taking them. Further, all unnatural crimes
+must be put a stop to, and young men must cease to go about in female
+garments, to make a livelihood by such cursed lewdness. Indeed,
+hardly a day passed by that these people did not sacrifice from three
+to four, and even five Indians, tearing the hearts out of their bodies,
+to present them to the idols and smear the blood on the walls of the
+temple. The arms and legs of these unfortunate beings were then cut<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>
+off and devoured, just in the same way we should fetch meat from a
+butcher's shop and eat it: indeed I even believe that human flesh is
+exposed for sale cut up, in their <i>tiangues</i>, or markets.</p>
+
+<p>"All these atrocities," added Cortes, "must cease from this moment;
+then only could our union be sincere, and should we be able to make
+them lords over additional countries." To this the caziques, the papas,
+and all the other personages answered, "That it would be impossible to
+abolish their idols and the human sacrifices: for everything that was
+good they received from these idols; they made their seeds grow and
+granted them all necessaries; but with regard to the unnatural crimes,
+they would strive in future to put an end to them."</p>
+
+<p>This unsatisfactory answer made a most disagreeable impression on
+Cortes and all of us; for, indeed, we could no longer bear to look upon
+their barbarities and the dissolute life which they led. Cortes spoke a
+long time to us upon the subject; he brought many holy and useful
+lessons to our mind, and observed "That we could do nothing which
+would be more beneficial to this people, and more to the glory of
+God, than to abolish this idolatry with its human sacrifices. It was
+certainly to be expected that the inhabitants would rise up in arms, if
+we proceeded to destroy their idols: we should, however, make the
+attempt, if even it were to cost us our lives."</p>
+
+<p>Upon this we all arrayed ourselves as if we were preparing for battle,
+and Cortes acquainted the caziques that we were now going out to destroy
+their idols. When the fat cazique heard this he ordered the
+other chiefs to call out the warriors in their defence, and when we
+were about to mount up a high temple where the sacrifices were made,&mdash;I
+forget now how many steps led to the top,&mdash;he and the other chiefs
+became outrageously furious. They went menacing up to Cortes, and
+asked him, "Why he was going to destroy their gods? such an insult
+they would not suffer; it would be their and our destruction."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes now also lost patience, and answered, "He had already told
+them several times they should not sacrifice to these monsters, who
+were nothing more than deceivers and liars. There was now, therefore,
+no alternative left him than to lay violent hands on them himself,
+and hurl them from their bases. He must look upon them as his worst
+enemies, and not as friends, since they would put no faith in his
+advice. He was well aware what design their chiefs and armed warriors
+had in hand; his forbearance was at last exhausted, and any
+opposition would cost them their lives."</p>
+
+<p>These threats were most intelligibly interpreted to the Indians by
+Do&ntilde;a Marina, who also put them in mind of Motecusuma's army,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>
+which every moment might fall upon them. They, therefore, turned
+the question another way, and declared, "That they were not worthy
+of laying hands on their gods. If we durst venture to do so, they supposed
+we must, for we could not resist the temptation; but they would
+never give their consent."</p>
+
+<p>They had scarcely done speaking when more than fifty of us began
+to mount the steps of the temple. We tore down the idols from their
+pediments, broke them to pieces, and flung them piecemeal down the
+steps. Some of these idols were shaped like furious dragons, and were
+about the size of young calves; others with half the human form;
+some again were shaped like large dogs, but all were horrible to look at.</p>
+
+<p>When the caziques and papas thus beheld these monsters lying
+crumbled on the ground, they set up a miserable howl, covered their
+faces, and begged forgiveness of the idols in the Totonaque language, as
+they were unable to protect them against the teules, nor durst they
+attack us for fear of Motecusuma. It did not, however, end here,
+for their armed warriors who had now come up began to fly their
+arrows at us. Finding matters had taken such a turn, we seized
+the fat cazique, six papas, and several of the chief personages; and
+Cortes declared to them, that if the attack was not instantly staid
+they should all forfeit their lives. Upon this the fat cazique commanded
+his men to desist, and when quiet was somewhat restored they began to
+negotiate about terms of peace, which was concluded as shall shortly be
+related.</p>
+
+<p>In this place I have only further to add, that our march to
+Tzinpantzinco was the first expedition Cortes made towards the interior
+of New Spain, and that it turned out greatly to our advantage.
+The historian Gomara here again tells his fables of the many thousands
+of human beings we destroyed at Tzinpantzinco; the curious reader,
+however, may sufficiently convince himself from my account what little
+faith is to be placed in his history, however beautiful the style may be
+in which it is written.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LII" id="CHAPTER_LII"></a>CHAPTER LII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes erects an altar, and places thereon the image of the blessed
+Virgin with a cross; after which mass was said, and the eight Indian
+females baptized.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After peace had been restored between us, the caziques, papas, and
+other chiefs, Cortes ordered the fragments of the idols we had destroyed
+to be carried away and burnt. These orders were executed by six<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>
+papas who came forth from a particular house, into which they carried
+the broken pieces and burnt them. The dress of these priests consisted
+in a long black cloak, white cassock, without sleeves, which
+hung down to the feet, and in a species of hood, which some wore
+greater, some less in size. Their dress was completely clogged
+together with blood, with which they were besmeared from head to
+foot, and impeded in their walk: they likewise smelt most offensively
+of sulphur and putrid flesh. We subsequently learnt that these
+papas were sons of distinguished personages. They were forbidden
+to marry, but were wholly given to unnatural offences, and fasted
+on certain days. Generally speaking, I never saw them eat anything
+else than the seeds of the cotton tree; they may, however,
+have partaken of other food for all I know.</p>
+
+<p>When the idols were burnt, Cortes said everything that was edifying
+to the Indians by means of our interpreters. "Now," he said, "we
+could look upon them as our true brothers, and lend them every
+powerful assistance against Motecusuma and the Mexicans, he having
+already acquainted the former that he was no longer to make war upon
+them, nor to exact tribute. Instead of their idols, he would give them
+our own blessed Virgin and Sainte, the mother of Jesus Christ, in whom
+we believed, and to whom we prayed, that she might intercede and
+protect them in heaven."</p>
+
+<p>The Indians listened with great good nature to this and many other
+things, which Cortes explained to them, concerning our holy religion.
+Every mason in the town was now set to work to bring chalk,
+which was in great abundance here, to clean away the blood from
+the walls of the cues, and plaster them well over. The day following
+this work was finished and an altar erected, which was covered with
+cotton cloth. The Indians were likewise ordered to bring a quantity
+of their splendid and sweet-scented roses with small branches of trees.
+Of these a garland was plaited, which was constantly to be renewed,
+that the place might remain pure and undefiled. Four papas were
+selected by Cortes to take charge of this; but their hair was previously
+shorn off, which they wore, as I have before remarked, very long and
+bristly; their dirty cloaks were taken off, and white ones put on, which,
+with the other part of their dress, they were in future to keep perfectly
+clean. In order, however, that they might have some one to look over
+them in their new occupation, Cortes nominated Juan de Torres, an old
+lame invalid of Cordova, to dwell near the altar, in the capacity of
+anchorite. The carpenters likewise made a cross which we erected on
+an elevated base, well plastered over with lime.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning early father Olmedo said mass. A regulation was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>
+also made that in future the copal of this country should be used instead
+of our usual incense, and the inhabitants were taught to make wax
+candles from the wax of the country; of which, up to this moment,
+they had made no manner of use: these candles were always to be kept
+burning on the altar. The principal caziques of the district and village
+attended mass. But the chief ornaments there were the eight
+Indian females, who in the meantime had remained with their parents
+and relatives. These were now baptized after an edifying
+discourse had preceded the ceremony. The niece of the fat cazique,
+a very ugly woman, was named Do&ntilde;a Catalina, and presented to Cortes,
+who accepted her with every appearance of delight. The daughter of
+Cuesco, on the other hand, was most beautiful for an Indian female,
+and received the name of Do&ntilde;a Francisca, and fell to the lot of
+Puertocarrero. The six remaining young women, whose names I have
+totally forgotten, were given to some other of our soldiers.</p>
+
+<p>The mass and baptismal ceremony being concluded, the caziques and
+principal personages took their leave, and from this moment the best
+feeling subsisted between us, for they were highly delighted that
+Cortes had accepted their daughter. We, therefore, returned to our
+new town Vera Cruz amidst the most joyous professions of friendship,
+and we shall soon see what happened there.</p>
+
+<p>The good reader, however, may feel assured that nothing of any consequence
+further took place at Sempoalla than what I have related, and
+that herein Gomara and the other historians have completely erred.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LIII" id="CHAPTER_LIII"></a>CHAPTER LIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we arrived in our town of Vera Cruz, and what happened there.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>We arrived at Vera Cruz, in company of the most distinguished personages
+of Sempoalla, on the same day that a ship had run in there
+from Cuba. The captain's name was Francisco de Saucedo, but we
+always called him the gallant, from his extravagance in beautifying
+his outward person, being altogether a perfect fop. He was said to
+have been at one time butler to the admiral of Castile, and was born at
+Medina de Rioseco. Along with him were ten soldiers, and a certain
+Luis Marin, a most distinguished officer, who afterwards became one of
+our chief commanders in the Mexican campaigns. Both the former
+had horses, one a stallion, and the other a mare. These men brought
+us intelligence that Diego Velasquez had obtained authority from Spain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>
+to trade and found colonies wherever he liked, and was appointed
+adelantado of Cuba. All this pleased his adherents excessively, in
+particular the latter preferment.</p>
+
+<p>The building of the fortress having solely occupied us for a length
+of time, and now in such a forward state that we could lay the
+woodwork, we began to grow tired of doing nothing. Almost the
+whole of us, therefore, addressed Cortes in a body: representing to
+him, that we had now been three months in this country, and high
+time we should just convince ourselves how much truth there was
+in the boasted power of Motecusuma, of which so much had been
+said: we would gladly risk our lives in it, and therefore begged he
+would make preparations for this expedition. But, previous to commencing
+our march, we ought first to give some proof of our most
+humble submission to his majesty our emperor, by forwarding him a
+complete account of everything that had befallen us since our departure
+from Cuba. We also proposed that all the gold we had bartered for, and
+the presents sent by Motecusuma, should be forwarded to his majesty.</p>
+
+<p>In answer to which Cortes said, that our ideas accorded exactly
+with his own, and that he had already spoken to the same effect to
+several of the cavaliers. There was merely one circumstance which
+caused him to hesitate, namely, that if each person took the portion
+of gold which fell to his share, too little would remain to be worthy
+of his majesty's acceptance. For this reason he commissioned Diego
+de Ordas and Francisco de Montejo, who were thorough men of business
+to see what they could make out of those men whom they might
+expect would demand their share. This was accordingly done, and they
+represented to every one that we were desirous of sending his majesty
+the emperor a present in gold, which, considering it was the first,
+ought indeed to be something valuable. In order, however, to make
+this possible, nothing remained but that each one should give up his
+share of the gold which had been made up to this moment. A great
+number of officers and soldiers had already signed their hands to that
+effect; yet every one was at liberty to act herein as he thought proper.
+Here was the paper, which every one who chose could put his hand to.</p>
+
+<p>Every one, without exception, signed his name to the document, and
+agents were chosen to be despatched to Spain. These were Alonso
+Puertocarrero and Francisco de Montejo, to whom Cortes himself had
+already given above two thousand pesos. The best vessel of our
+squadron, furnished with the necessary provisions and manned with
+fifteen sailors, was selected to convey them. The charge of the vessel
+was given to two pilots, one of whom was Anton de Alaminos, from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>
+his being so well acquainted with the passage through the Bahama
+channel, and the first who had ventured that road. Upon this all of
+us, in common, drew up an account of our adventures expressly for
+his majesty, relating everything that had happened to us, and Cortes
+himself, as he assured us, likewise wrote a very circumstantial narrative,
+which, however, was not given us to read.<a name="FNanchor_18_19" id="FNanchor_18_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_19" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> The account was
+signed by all the authorities of the new town and ten soldiers, of which
+I myself was one. But there was likewise another account drawn up
+by all the officers and soldiers, the contents of which will be fully explained
+in the following chapter.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LIV" id="CHAPTER_LIV"></a>CHAPTER LIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Concerning the account of our adventures, with the letter, which we sent
+his majesty the emperor, through Puertocarrero and Montejo, the
+letter being attested by some officers and soldiers.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>This account very properly opened with those distinguished
+marks of respect which were due to our great emperor and master.
+Then followed a complete account of our expedition, from the day of
+our departure from Cuba up to our arrival on the coast of Mexico, and
+the day the account was drawn up. We did not omit to state that we
+had merely been induced to join the expedition from a promise that
+we were going to found a colony, and how Diego Velasquez had given
+Cortes secret instructions merely to confine himself to the trade of
+barter. That Cortes, conformably to this, had indeed wished to return
+to Cuba with the gold we had made; that, however, we had compelled
+him to remain here and found a colony, for which purpose we had
+elected him captain-general and chief justice, until we should receive
+his most gracious majesty's pleasure on this head. We had, moreover,
+promised him a fifth part of all the gold that should remain after
+deducting the fifths for his majesty. We then mentioned the name
+of Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, as the first discoverer of this
+country; the expedition which followed upon that under Juan de
+Grijalva; of our landing on the island of Cozumel, and of our fortunate
+discovery of Geronimo de Aguilar, and other things. We described
+our negotiations with the great Motecusuma, mentioning his power
+and riches, of which the things he had given us to present to his
+majesty, consisting in the sun of gold and moon of silver, and the
+casque of gold dust, as it is found in the mines, as also the other
+articles of solid and manufactured gold, were small proofs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>After this we spoke about the extent of the country, its population,
+the arts, customs, and religion of the inhabitants, of whom we sent
+four as a sample, whom we had liberated from a wooden cage at Sempoalla,
+where they were being fattened for a sacrificial feast. We then
+mentioned something about ourselves; how we were in all 450 armed
+men in the midst of so many warlike tribes; how our expedition had
+merely for its object to serve God and his majesty; and, in the position
+we were now placed, how much depended upon a man being at our
+head who was acquainted with the country, and in whom we could
+repose all trust. We most humbly begged of his majesty not to confer
+the command of this country upon any one of his officers; from its
+extent and vast riches, it was worthy of being ruled by a royal prince
+or some other great personage. We all feared that the archbishop
+Don Rodriguez de Fonseca, whom his majesty had intrusted with the
+government of Indian affairs, had destined the command to one of
+his own creatures, namely, a certain Diego Velasquez, who was then
+viceroy of Cuba; this favour, however, was entirely owing to the presents
+which the bishop received from Velasquez, consisting in the most
+valuable townships of his imperial domains wherever any gold was to
+be found. As his majesty's most humble and faithful servants, we
+could not neglect to bring this under his imperial notice, and we had
+resolved to wait until our agents had thrown themselves at his majesty's
+feet to hand over our letters, and his majesty should have acquainted
+them with his imperial wishes, which we, whatever they might be,
+would honour in the very dust. If the archbishop Fonseca in the
+meantime sent any one to take the command, we should not obey
+him until we had informed his majesty of it, wherever he might be.
+We begged of his majesty, for the present, to confer the command
+on Cortes. This prayer we accompanied by such high-flown praise
+of Cortes,&mdash;how faithful and devoted he was to his majesty; that
+we elevated him to the very skies. This closed the letter, which
+was drawn up with great discernment, and divided into chapters.
+This letter was signed by all the officers and soldiers who belonged
+to Cortes' party. We also took the precaution of keeping other
+copies.</p>
+
+<p>After the letter was quite finished, Cortes desired to read it, and
+when he found how faithfully the account was drawn up, and himself
+so highly praised, he was vastly pleased, returned us hearty thanks,
+and promised us golden mountains. He, however, observed, that it
+would be better to make no allusion to the fifth part of the gold which
+we had promised him; also to suppress the names of the first dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>coverers
+of the country. Indeed, we subsequently learnt that Cortes,
+in his account, never mentioned a word either about Cordoba, or of
+Grijalva, but reserved all the honour and merit to himself.</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless the men were not wanting among us who answered
+the objections made by Cortes, saying it was our bounden duty to
+narrate every circumstance to his majesty as it had really taken place.</p>
+
+<p>Our agents took charge of the letters, and were bound down by a
+promise not to touch at the Havannah under any pretence whatever,
+nor run into the harbour of El Marien, where Francisco de Montejo
+had possessions. This was done that Velasquez might receive no intelligence
+of our doings. They certainly promised, but neglected to
+observe these orders, as will be seen.</p>
+
+<p>Everything being now ready for their departure, father Olmedo said
+mass, and we commended them to the guidance and protection of the
+Holy Ghost. On the 26th of July, 1519, they set sail from San Juan
+de Ulua, and arrived pretty soon at the Havannah. Here Francisco
+de Montejo left our chief pilot Alaminos no peace, persuading him to
+sail along the coast in the direction of his settlement, where he pretended
+he would take in a fresh supply of cassave-bread and bacon.
+Puertocarrero was greatly displeased with this conduct; however, the
+landing was effected. The night following a sailor swam secretly on
+shore, and forwarded Diego Velasquez letters from his adherents,
+giving him an account of all that had passed. We afterwards learnt
+that Montejo himself had sent this man, who, besides this, spread the
+news everywhere along the route he journeyed. We shall now see
+what steps Velasquez took upon this.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LV" id="CHAPTER_LV"></a>CHAPTER LV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Diego Velasquez is informed by his agents that we had sent messengers
+with letters and presents to our king, and what further took
+place.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Diego Velasquez received intelligence of everything we had done,
+partly by the letters which had been secretly conveyed to him, and
+were said to be of Montejo's own writing, and partly from the sailor,
+who swam on shore for that purpose. When he heard of the valuable
+present which we sent to his majesty, and of the agents we had selected
+for the purpose, he grew excessively angry, and threw out the most
+heavy curses against Cortes, against his own private secretary Duero,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>
+and the treasurer Almador de Lares. He then immediately ordered
+two small but very swift sailing vessels to be fitted out, and furnished
+with as great a number of men and firearms as could be got together
+at the moment. These vessels were given in command of two
+officers named Gabriel de Rojas and Guzman, who were ordered to
+repair to the Havannah, and to capture the vessel which conveyed our
+agents and the gold.</p>
+
+<p>Both vessels arrived, after two days' sail, in the Bahama roads, and
+made every inquiry of the fishermen and coasters whether they had
+seen a ship of considerable tonnage pass that way. All the accounts
+they received went to show that she must have left the roads, as the
+wind had constantly been favorable: they, therefore, tacked up and
+down a considerable time, but, discovering no trace of her, they returned
+to Santiago.</p>
+
+<p>If the first accounts had made Diego Velasquez dispirited, he was
+now the more so when he found the ship had escaped. His friends now
+advised him to send some one to Spain to lay his complaints before the
+president of Indian affairs, with whom he stood in great favour.
+Velasquez also laid a formal accusation against Cortes and all of us,
+in the royal court of audience at Santo Domingo, and also before the
+Hieronymite brethren, who were viceroys of that island. These brothers
+were then three in number, father Luis de Figueroa, father
+Alonso de Santo Domingo, and father Bernardino de Manca&ntilde;edo: they
+lived together in the cloister of Mejorada, eight miles from Medina del
+Campo. The answer they gave Diego Velasquez was not very consoling;
+for, when they found, from our papers, what great things we had
+done, they declared that no reproach could be made either to Cortes
+or his troops: we had merely addressed the emperor our master, and
+sent him a present of such considerable value as had not been seen in
+Spain for a length of time, (this they might say in all justice, for Peru
+was then still unknown;) on the contrary, we had merited a most
+noble remuneration at his majesty's hands.</p>
+
+<p>Besides coming to this decision, the Hieronymite brothers commissioned
+the licentiate Zuazo, who was either purposely sent to Cuba for
+this purpose, or at least had arrived there only a few months previous,
+to examine into this affair of Velasquez on the spot itself. The turn
+which this matter had taken completely prostrated his spirits for many
+days together. At last he again aroused himself, and gave orders to
+fit out every ship in the island, and to enlist officers and men: his
+intention was to send out such a powerful fleet as would soon overcome
+Cortes and the whole of us: indeed he spared no trouble; he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>
+travelled himself from place to place, and from one settlement to
+another, and where he could not call in person, he at least sent letters,
+and invited all his friends to join the armament. In this way he succeeded,
+after the space of eleven or twelve months, to fit out a fleet
+of eighteen sail, carrying 1300 soldiers and sailors: for, as the affair
+was carried on with great party spirit, his relations and every distinguished
+person of Cuba, as well as every one who had a commendary,
+considered themselves bound to take part in the undertaking. The
+command of this fleet was given to a cavalier named Pamfilo de Narvaez,
+a man of high stature and great bodily strength, with a voice
+amazingly powerful, and an imperious look in his countenance: he
+was a native of Valladolid, very wealthy, and had married a widow at
+Cuba named Maria de Valenzuela, who possessed several lucrative
+Indian townships.</p>
+
+<p>For the present, however, we will leave this expedition to itself, and
+turn to our agents, who had most favorable weather for their voyage,
+and arrived safe at the place of destination, as we shall see in the
+following chapter. The good reader will do me the justice to consider,
+with respect to the irregular mode of narrating which I appear to
+pursue, that I am bound to mention the occurrences in this my history
+in the order they follow each other.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LVI" id="CHAPTER_LVI"></a>CHAPTER LVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How our agents passed through the Bahama channel with the most
+favorable wind, and arrived in Castile after a short passage; and of
+our success at court.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Our agents had a most favorable voyage to the Havannah, and
+thence through the Bahama roads: their further course was equally
+prosperous, and they very soon arrived at the Tercera isles, and from
+there to Sevilla, where they hired a carriage and posted to the imperial
+court residence, at that time in Valladolid. Here the archbishop
+Fonseca governed at will, he being, moreover, president of Indian
+affairs, and the emperor then still very young, and residing in Flanders.</p>
+
+<p>Our agents waited upon the archbishop, in the full expectation of
+being well received with thanks. They handed over to him the letters with
+the details of our adventures, also the presents, with the valuable things,
+and begged of him to forward all this to his majesty by a courier,
+whom they would accompany themselves. However, instead of meeting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>
+with a kind reception, they were very coolly received, and dismissed
+with a few dry and harsh words. They begged of him to mention the
+great services which Cortes and his men had rendered his majesty, and
+repeatedly urged him to send the letters and presents to the emperor,
+that he might learn everything as it had really taken place. He,
+however, answered in a very haughty tone, desiring them not to give
+themselves any further trouble: he would fully inform his majesty of
+what had taken place; not, however, according to their story, but
+conformably to truth; that, namely, we had rebelled against Velasquez.
+This was followed by many other sharp rebukes.</p>
+
+<p>About this time also, Benito Martin, chaplain to Velasquez, arrived
+in Valladolid, preferring heavy accusations against Cortes and all of
+us, which set the archbishop more and more against us. Francisco de
+Montejo had not the courage to step forward and defend our cause;
+but Puertocarrero, as cousin to the earl of Medellin, durst presume the
+more: he therefore took up the question, and most urgently begged
+of the archbishop to give them a quiet hearing, and not to answer
+them so harshly. They demanded nothing further of him than to
+forward the presents to his majesty; they had a right to ask this, for
+we were servants of the crown, and merited a remuneration, but not
+the remarks he had allowed himself to make.</p>
+
+<p>These words so greatly incensed the archbishop, that he ordered
+Puertocarrero to be thrown into prison, on account of some previous
+affair which had come to his ears; he having, namely, three
+years ago, carried off a married woman, named Maria Rodriguez, of
+Medellin, and taken her to India. Such was the first reception which
+our presents and services met with in Spain, and nothing remained
+for our agents but to hold their tongues for the present, and wait
+until a more favorable time and opportunity should present itself.
+The archbishop now forwarded his account to the emperor, who was
+then in Flanders, in which he extolled the merits of his creature
+Velasquez to the very skies, saying everything that was bad of Cortes
+and all of us; nor did he mention one single word about our letters.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this Puertocarrero, Montejo, Martin Cortes, the father of our
+general, the licentiate Nu&ntilde;ez, who was reporter to the royal council,
+and a near relation to Cortes, determined to despatch a courier of
+their own to the emperor in Flanders. They fortunately possessed
+duplicates of all our despatches and letters, as also a list of all the
+presents we had destined for his majesty.</p>
+
+<p>With these papers they likewise sent a separate letter to the emperor
+with complaints against the archbishop and the whole of his doings<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>
+with Diego Velasquez. In this resolution they were backed by other
+cavaliers who were at variance with the archbishop, who, upon the
+whole, had many enemies on account of his haughty behaviour and
+the abuse he made of the important offices he filled. And as the
+great services we had rendered to God and his majesty, in whom
+we had alone reposed our trust, were looked upon in a favorable
+light, it also happened that his majesty made the strictest inquiries
+into the whole affair. His majesty was so highly pleased with what
+we had done, that the dukes, marquisses, earls, and other cavaliers,
+for days together spoke of nothing but Cortes, our courageous behaviour,
+our conquests, and of the riches we had sent over. It was
+owing to this as well as to the unfaithful and distorted account which
+the archbishop had drawn up respecting these matters, and particularly
+because he had not sent all the presents, but kept the major part to
+himself, that he fell from that moment into his majesty's displeasure.
+In the meantime the archbishop's agents in Flanders had sent him
+information of all that had passed, which vexed him in no small degree,
+and if previously he had blackened Cortes and all of us to his majesty,
+he now boldly accused us of high treason. But the Lord very soon
+bridled his rage; for two years after he received his dismissal, and then
+in his turn experienced the curse of malice and contempt. We, on the
+contrary, were looked upon as loyal men who had rendered services to
+the crown, as shall be mentioned in the proper place. For the present
+the emperor informed our agents, that he would himself shortly visit
+Spain to investigate the matter more closely and reward us. Our
+agents, therefore, awaited his majesty's arrival in Spain.</p>
+
+<p>Before I proceed any further with my narrative, I must answer
+one question, which several cavaliers have very justly put to me;
+namely, how it was possible for me to relate these things, as I
+was not present myself, but making the campaign in New Spain,
+when our agents were despatched with the letters and presents,
+and met with this ill treatment from the archbishop of Rosano?
+To which my answer is, that our agents forwarded to us, the true
+conquistadores, verbatim all that had passed between them and the
+latter, as also the favorable decision which the emperor came to in
+our behalf; of which Cortes sent copies to all the towns where we happened
+to be stationed, to show us how favorably everything had terminated,
+and what a great enemy we had in the archbishop. After
+this digression we will return to our quarters in New Spain, and see
+what happened there in the meantime.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LVII" id="CHAPTER_LVII"></a>CHAPTER LVII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>What took place in our camp after the departure of our agents to his
+majesty with the gold and the letters; and the instance of severity
+which Cortes was compelled to give.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The suspicions of Velasquez's adherents were again aroused at
+the departure of our agents, and the following occurrence took
+place a few days after. A conspiracy was set on foot by Pedro Escudero,
+Juan Corme&ntilde;o, Gonzalo de Umbria, a pilot, the priest Juan Diaz,
+Bernardino de Coria, (who afterwards became a citizen of Chiapa,
+and was father of a certain Centeno,) and some seamen of Gibraleon.
+All these were excessively embittered against Cortes; some because he
+had refused to grant them the promised discharge to return to Cuba;
+others because they had lost their share of the gold by the present
+which had been sent to the emperor; and the seamen because they
+could not forget the lashes which he had given them on the island of
+Cozumel for stealing the flitches of bacon. They had determined to
+seize upon one of our small vessels, to sail to Cuba, and acquaint the
+viceroy Diego Velasquez that he had merely to send to the Havannah
+and the possessions of Montejo in order to capture our agents with all
+the riches. We concluded from this that the conspirators had been
+counselled by persons of authority among our officers, since they knew
+that Montejo, notwithstanding the strict injunctions which he had received
+to the contrary, had landed at his commendary. The affair
+was already so far advanced that the conspirators had sent on board
+the necessary provisions of cassave-bread, oil, dried fish, water, and
+such like, and were about to set sail, when one of them, Bernardino de
+Coria, began to repent, called upon Cortes at midnight, and discovered
+the whole plot to him.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes first of all made an accurate inquiry into the names and
+number of the conspirators, as also into the reasons and the way they
+intended carrying out the plot; he then ordered the sails, the compass,
+and the rudder to be taken from the vessel which was to have conveyed
+them. Upon which he closely examined the conspirators, when they
+immediately made a full confession, and mentioned the names of others
+who were implicated. These names were for the present very prudently
+suppressed, and proceedings were merely taken against those
+who stood most prominent in the affair. A council of war having been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>
+held with all the usual formalities, Pedro Escudero and Juan Corme&ntilde;o<a name="FNanchor_19_20" id="FNanchor_19_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_20" class="fnanchor">[19]</a>
+were sentenced to be hung; the pilot Gonzalo de Umbria to have his
+feet cut off, and the sailors to receive two hundred lashes each. If
+father Juan had not been a priest he would likewise have shared a
+similar fate; as it was he merely suffered for a time the dread of suspense
+which indeed must have been terrible enough. I shall never
+forget how Cortes cried out, with a sigh, and deeply affected, at the
+moment he signed the death-warrants: "What a fortunate thing if I
+were unable to write; then should I neither be able to sign a death-warrant!"
+This same exclamation likewise frequently falls from judges
+who have to decide over life and death; in which expression, however,
+they merely repeat the words of the barbarous emperor Nero, when in
+the commencement of his reign he showed so goodly a disposition.</p>
+
+<p>The sentences being executed, Cortes immediately set out for
+Sempoalla, having previously ordered that 200 men, with all our
+horse, should follow him. The distance to this place was a good
+twenty miles. Pedro de Alvarado was absent during this time, having
+three days beforehand been sent with 200 men into the mountains in
+search of provisions, which were extremely scarce. Orders were,
+therefore, left behind for him to march to Sempoalla on his return,
+where arrangements would be made for our further route to Mexico.
+Alvarado, consequently, was not present when the executions took place.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LVIII" id="CHAPTER_LVIII"></a>CHAPTER LVIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we came to the resolution of marching to Mexico, and of destroying
+all our vessels, which was done with the sanction and by the advice of
+all Cortes' true adherents.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>While preparations were going on at Sempoalla for our march
+into the interior numerous consultations were held with Cortes
+respecting everything connected with it, we, his trustworthy adherents,
+proposed that all the vessels should be run on shore, in order at once
+to cut off all possibility of further mutiny, when we should have advanced
+far into the interior of the country. In which case, likewise,
+the pilots and sailors would be of greater use to us than by idling
+their time away in the harbour. I am well aware that the idea of destroying
+our vessels originated with Cortes himself, and that he merely
+shoved it on our shoulders for this reason, that if payment for the
+vessels should be demanded of him, he could throw the blame on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>
+us, and say that all was done at our own request; so that we both
+individually and collectively should have to assist in repaying the
+damages. This resolution was immediately adopted, and Cortes ordered
+the alguacil-major, Juan de Escalante, a young man of very
+great courage, and who was a close adherer to him, utterly hating
+Diego Velasquez because he had neglected to give him any considerable
+commendary in Cuba, to take all the anchors, ropes, sails,
+in short everything that might be of use to us out of the vessels, and
+run the latter all on shore, with the exception of the boats. The
+pilots, the old ships' masters, and those seamen who were unable
+to make the campaign with us, were to remain behind in the town,
+and employ themselves in catching fish with our two drag-nets in the
+harbour, where the former were in great abundance.</p>
+
+<p>Juan de Escalante punctually obeyed these orders, and arrived in
+Sempoalla with an additional company formed of the sailors, of whom
+several became very excellent soldiers. The next thing Cortes did was
+to call all the caziques of the mountain tribes together, who had
+revolted from Motecusuma, and formed an alliance with us. He
+gave them to understand that they were to assist in the building
+of the church, the fortresses, and houses of our new town. "This
+man," continued he, taking Juan de Escalante by the hand, "is my
+brother; him you must obey in everything; and to him you must
+apply if you require assistance against the Mexicans. He will himself
+at all times march out in your defence." The caziques in reply, said,
+"They were ready to obey him in everything," and perfumed Juan de
+Escalante after their fashion, which I can still well remember he
+unwillingly submitted to. For the rest he was a man you could
+trust in all matters, and who fully possessed the confidence of Cortes;
+for which reason the latter intrusted him with the command of the
+town and harbour, as one in whom he could place implicit reliance, in
+case, during his absence, Diego Velasquez should set anything on foot
+against him.</p>
+
+<p>Gomara here relates, that Cortes ordered the vessels to be sunk, and
+that he did not disclose his intentions to us of visiting the great
+Motecusuma himself at Mexico. But we Spaniards are, indeed, not
+the people who require so much pressing to move forward, or who
+desire to sit quietly down in a place where neither advantage nor military
+honour is to be gained. Gomara also says, that Pedro de Irico
+was the person left behind in command of Vera Cruz. This, however,
+is quite erroneous, for it was Juan de Escalante who was appointed
+commander and alguacil-major of New Spain. Pedro de Irico, indeed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>
+would scarcely have been intrusted with the command of a company,
+much less, therefore, with such an important post. Nothing should
+be given to a man that does not belong to him, and nothing should be
+taken from him to which he is entitled.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LIX" id="CHAPTER_LIX"></a>CHAPTER LIX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Of the speech which Cortes made to us after our vessels were destroyed,
+and how we prepared for our march to Mexico.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After the vessels had been run ashore before our eyes, and we the
+officers and soldiers were one morning after mass all standing around
+Cortes, the discourse turned upon various military topics, when he
+begged our attention for a few minutes, as he had some proposal to
+make to us. He then addressed us at great length, as near as possible,
+to the following effect. We already knew of the campaign which was
+in contemplation. It was of such a nature, that the aid of Jesus
+Christ, our Lord, only could bring us forth victorious from all the battles
+and engagements which awaited us; but, notwithstanding all the
+trust we reposed in God, we should not ourselves be wanting in courage
+and activity; should we be worsted, which Almighty God forbid,
+considering our small numbers we could expect no other assistance than
+from above, and that of our own arms, as we had no longer any vessels
+to return to Cuba. Cortes then adduced many beautiful comparisons
+from history, and mentioned several heroic deeds of the Romans. We
+answered him, one and all, that we would implicitly follow his orders,
+as the die had been cast, and we, with C&aelig;sar, when he had passed the
+Rubicon, had now no choice left; besides which, everything we did
+was for the glory of God and his majesty the emperor.</p>
+
+<p>After this speech, whose penetrating eloquence and charming powers
+I am unable to repeat, Cortes ordered the fat cazique into his presence,
+and reminded him of the care and reverence which was due
+from him to the church and the cross. For himself he was now about
+leaving for Mexico; he added, to oblige Motecusuma, for the future to
+abolish all robbery and the human sacrifices. He also told him he
+should require two hundred porters to transport our cannon, and fifty
+of his best warriors to accompany us.</p>
+
+<p>When we were about to put ourselves in motion a soldier arrived from
+Vera Cruz, whom Cortes had despatched there to fetch more men.
+He brought a letter from Juan de Escalante, announcing that a vessel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>
+had been seen off the coast, to which he had made various signals by
+means of smoke and other things; had hung out white flags and rode
+up and down the coast on horseback dressed in scarlet, to attract the
+attention of those on board. He did not doubt for an instant but all
+this had been observed by the men on-board, yet they made no signs
+of running into the harbour. He had made inquiries along the coast
+as to where the vessel had put in, and found she was lying at anchor
+in the mouth of a small river, at the distance of about nine miles; he
+therefore awaited Cortes' orders as to what further steps he was to
+take. As soon as Cortes had read the letter he gave the command of
+all the troops, then at Sempoalla, to Alvarado conjointly with Gonzalo
+de Sandoval. This was the first time Sandoval had been put in command,
+for those military qualities, by which he so greatly distinguished
+himself all the rest of his life, now began to develop themselves.
+Properly speaking, the command ought to have devolved upon
+Alonso de Avila, which therefore created ill blood between him and
+Sandoval. Upon this Cortes mounted horse, selected four of our
+cavalry, and fifty of the most nimble-footed men amongst us, and
+marched to Vera Cruz, where we arrived that very night.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LX" id="CHAPTER_LX"></a>CHAPTER LX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes arrived with us at the spot where the vessel lay at anchor,
+and captured six soldiers and sailors of the said vessel, who had
+stepped on shore; also what further took place.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>As soon as we had arrived at Vera Cruz, Juan de Escalante came up
+to Cortes and told him, it would be best to make off for the strange
+vessel that very night, otherwise she might heave anchor and steer for
+the wide ocean. Cortes himself might take his rest and allow him to
+manage the affair with twenty men.</p>
+
+<p>To this Cortes answered, he could not rest as long as there was any
+thing to be done, and he was determined to go in person with the men
+he had brought along with him. We accordingly set off on our march
+along the coast, without even tasting a morsel of food before we left.
+On our road we soon captured four Spaniards, who had been ordered
+to take possession of the country in the name of Francisco de Garay,
+viceroy of Jamaica. They had been sent on shore by an officer named
+Alonso Alvarez de Pinedo, who a few days previous had left a settlement
+on the banks of the Panuco. One of the four Spaniards, named<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>
+Guillan de la Loa, had drawn up a formal deed of having taken possession
+of the country, which was signed by the three others.</p>
+
+<p>After the prisoners had made this disclosure to Cortes, he inquired
+of them under what pretence Garay had sent them out to take possession
+of the country? To which they gave the following answer.
+In the year 1518, when the fame of our having discovered this country,
+under Cordoba and Grijalva, and of the twenty thousand pesos which
+it produced Diego Velasquez, had spread through the whole of the
+West Indies, Anton de Alaminos and another pilot who had made the
+voyage of discovery with us, persuaded Garay to petition his majesty,
+that the discovery of all the countries which might lie to the north of
+the river St. Peter and Paul might be granted to him. Trusting to
+the patrons he had at the court of Madrid, he despatched his house-steward,
+Torrolva, to Spain, who managed to obtain for him the appointment
+of adelantado, and vice-regent of all countries north of the
+river just mentioned. Garay, in consequence of this appointment,
+fitted out three vessels with two hundred and seventy men, besides
+horses and the necessary provisions. The command of these he intrusted
+to an officer named Alonso Alvarez Pinedo, who at present was
+lying at a distance of about 280 miles from this place, in the river
+Panuco, where he intended to found a colony. For the rest, added
+the prisoners, they had merely obeyed the commands of that officer,
+and were therefore not answerable for anything they had done. Cortes
+was very much pleased with these fellows, on account of the disclosure
+they had made; he tried to gain them over to his interest, and inquired
+of them, if it were possible to capture the vessel? Guillan de la Loa,
+the most distinguished of the prisoners, thought it might be done,
+and he, with his comrades, would hail the ship's shallop on shore.
+This they accordingly tried, but, notwithstanding all their shouting
+and signals, no one moved from the vessel. No doubt we must
+have been observed by them, for the captain knew all about us, and
+he had particularly cautioned his men to be upon their guard, not to
+fall into the hands of Cortes. We had now, therefore, no other
+course left than to try to entice the shallop on shore by some other
+stratagem. For this purpose Cortes desired the prisoners to take off
+their clothes, and four of our men to put them on, who were to remain
+behind. The rest of us marched back along the road we had
+come, and halted behind a mountain, as soon as we were out of sight
+of the vessel. Here we remained until midnight, when all was dark
+around; we then, without the least noise, put ourselves in motion, and
+made for the landing-place, in the neighbourhood of which we con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>cealed
+ourselves, so as to be invisible to any one excepting our four
+disguised soldiers.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as daylight had broken forth, the latter made signals to the
+vessel with their cloaks and hats; upon which the shallop put off with
+six sailors, two of whom had water-bottles in their hands, and immediately
+stepped on shore. We watched until the four others should
+have done the same. Our four disguised men were in the meantime
+washing their hands, and doing everything else to hide their faces.
+Those in the shallop cried out, "What the deuce are you about there?
+why don't you come on board?" One of our men then answered,
+"Come on shore for a few minutes, and see what the place is like!"
+They found, however, the voice to be that of a stranger, and put off
+with the shallop to the vessel again, notwithstanding all the signals
+our men were making. We others were very desirous of sending a few
+musket-shots after them, but Cortes would not permit us, saying, we
+ought to allow them to go off quietly, and he would communicate
+with their commander himself. All the prisoners we made, therefore,
+were the four above-mentioned, and the two who had stepped out of
+the shallop, and we returned to Vera Cruz without having tasted a
+morsel of food. Such are the true particulars of the whole matter,
+and not as Gomara relates, who even makes Garay himself present on
+this occasion, though he did not visit these parts in person until some
+time after, having sent the three officers with the vessels before him.
+I shall speak more particularly of this in the proper place.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXI" id="CHAPTER_LXI"></a>CHAPTER LXI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we set out on our march to the city of Mexico, and, upon the
+advice of the caziques, take our road over Tlascalla. What took
+place here, and of the battles we fought.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After we had got all in readiness for our march to Mexico, we held
+a consultation as to the route we should take. The chiefs of Sempoalla
+preferred the road through the province of Tlascalla, as the
+inhabitants were friendly with them and deadly enemies of the Mexicans.
+They had likewise equipped forty of their best warriors to
+accompany us, who, indeed, proved of the greatest utility to us on this
+journey. They also gave us 200 porters to convey our cannon; for,
+at that time, we poor soldiers had no other baggage than our weapons,
+with which in hand we stood, walked, and slept: we had not even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>
+any other covering to our feet than light shoes, but we were always
+ready for battle. It was about the middle of the month of August,
+1519, that we broke up our quarters at Sempoalla. During our march
+we observed the strictest order, while our sharp-shooters and a great
+number of our most active men were always in advance. On the
+first day we arrived in the township of Xalapa, and from there to
+Socochina, which is very strongly situated, the access to it being
+very dangerous, and surrounded by numerous trained vine trees.<a name="FNanchor_20_21" id="FNanchor_20_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_21" class="fnanchor">[20]</a>
+Do&ntilde;a Marina and Aguilar told the inhabitants a good deal about our
+holy religion, and how we were subjects of the emperor Don Carlos
+the Fifth, who sent us out to bring them back from kidnapping and
+sacrificing human beings. As they were in friendship with the Sempoallans,
+and paid no tribute to Motecusuma, we found them very well
+inclined towards us, and we received hospitable treatment. We erected
+a cross in every township, and explained its signification to the inhabitants,
+and what great veneration was due to it. From Socochina we
+marched over a high mountain, through a pass, to Texutla: here, likewise,
+the inhabitants were friendly to us, because they refused to pay
+any further tribute to Motecusuma. It was from this township that
+we first arrived into a rugged and wild mountain district; the population
+ceased, and, in the very first night, we had excessive cold, with
+hail showers; add to which, our provisions were totally gone, and the
+wind so keen which blew across the snow mountains, that we shook
+again with the frost: indeed, no one can wonder at this, for we had
+come so suddenly from the hot climate of Cuba, the town of Vera
+Cruz, and the neighbouring coast, into a cold country. Whatever
+calamity might befall us, we had only our weapons for protection, and
+were, moreover, totally unaccustomed to the cold. From this place
+we arrived at another mountain pass, where we found some houses and
+huge temples for human sacrifices; near these, heaps of wood were
+piled up for the use of the idol-worship. Neither did we here again
+meet with any food, the weather continuing bitterly cold.</p>
+
+<p>Our route now lay across the territory of the township Xocotlan.
+We sent before us two Indians of Sempoalla to the cazique, to acquaint
+him of our approach, and beg of him to give us an hospitable reception.
+As the inhabitants of this district were subject to Motecusuma,
+everything wore a different aspect, and we marched forward with
+the utmost precaution and in close array. For the rest, we were as
+much pleased with this spot as with many a Spanish town, on account
+of the numerous and beautifully whitewashed balconies, the dwellings
+of the caziques, and the elevated temples wholly built of stone and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>
+lime. We, therefore, called it Castilblanco, which name it still retains;
+for a Portuguese soldier, who was among our troops, assured us, the
+place was very like the town of Casteloblanco in Portugal. The
+cazique, on receiving information of our arrival, came out to meet us
+with the principal inhabitants. His name was Olintecle, and he led
+us into his habitation, where he gave us but little to eat, and that
+with bad will.</p>
+
+<p>After the repast, Cortes, by means of our interpreters, put all manner
+of questions to the cazique respecting the affairs of his monarch.
+Motecusuma, and we learnt a good deal about the great armies which
+were stationed in the conquered provinces, besides those on the boundaries
+themselves, and the provinces which bordered on them. He
+spoke of the great and strong city of Mexico, how it lay in the midst
+of the waters, and that it was only by means of bridges and canoes
+that a person could go from one house to another: every house was
+provided with a balcony at the top, and was so completely isolated by
+means of moats, that they might separately be considered as so many
+castles, and, as such, capable of defence. The town was approached
+by three roads, each of which was cut through in four or five several
+places, to admit the water; across these sections, wooden bridges were
+built: it was merely requisite to break down these bridges, and all
+access to Mexico was cut off. Lastly, the cazique also mentioned the
+great quantity of silver and gold, the numerous precious stones and
+great riches of Motecusuma; in fact, there was no end to the praises
+he bestowed upon his monarch.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes and all of us were vastly astonished at everything the man
+related of Motecusuma's power and greatness. However, instead of
+being thereby disheartened, we only the more earnestly desired to try
+our fortune against the fortresses and bridges, for such is the very
+spirit of a Spanish soldier; while the impossibility of which Olintecle
+spoke seemed to us a mere nothing. Mexico was, indeed, strongly
+fortified, and even more so than mentioned by the cazique: a person
+ought to have seen it himself to form an idea of it,&mdash;a description can
+convey none. For the rest, added the cazique, Motecusuma is accustomed
+to obedience from every one, and he feared Motecusuma's resentment
+when he should learn that we had entered the township without
+his permission, and had been provided with provisions.</p>
+
+<p>Upon which Cortes, by means of our interpreters, spoke to him as
+follows: "I give you to understand that we have come here from
+very distant countries, by command of our emperor and master Don
+Carlos, who has among his numerous vassals many powerful princes,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>
+to acquaint your great Motecusuma that he shall no longer permit kidnapping
+and human sacrifices, nor conquer any more territories, and
+that he must obey the commands of the emperor our master. In the
+same way I also declare to you Olintecle, and the other caziques now
+present that you must relinquish those human sacrifices, no longer eat
+human flesh, and abstain from committing unnatural offences and other
+abominations customary with you; for such are the commandments of
+the God in whom we believe, and whom we adore, from whom come
+life and death, and who will once receive us into his heaven."</p>
+
+<p>As the Indians made no answer to all this and many other things he
+said of our holy religion, Cortes turned to us, and said, "I think,
+gentlemen, we can do nothing further here than erect a cross:" to
+which father Olmedo answered, "I think, sir, that even this would be
+doing too much at present, for these people, as subjects of Motecusuma,
+are neither afraid nor shy of us, and would undoubtedly destroy the
+cross. What we have disclosed to them concerning our religion is
+sufficient until the time they shall be susceptible of understanding more
+of it."</p>
+
+<p>In compliance with this advice, no cross was erected here.</p>
+
+<p>On this expedition we had a large dog with us, the property of
+Francisco de Lugo. As the animal did nothing but bark the whole
+night, the caziques asked our friends of Sempoalla whether it was a
+lion or a tiger which we employed for the purpose of tearing the
+Indians to pieces? The Sempoallans answered that we indeed let it
+loose upon those who attacked us. They gave similar answers to
+questions concerning our cannon, telling them we loaded these with
+stones, and killed every one therewith at whom we shot: that our
+horses were as nimble as deer; that they galloped against whomsoever
+we desired. "Certainly these must be teules!" said Olintecle
+and the other chiefs. "That they are indeed as you see them now
+before you, (continued the Sempoallans,) therefore take great care
+not to arouse their displeasure. Whatever you may do, they are sure
+to know: they penetrate your very thoughts, and have even imprisoned
+the tax-gatherers of your great Motecusuma, and commanded
+the inhabitants of the mountains and us of Sempoalla not to pay any
+more tribute. They have likewise torn down our teules from the temples,
+and placed theirs there instead. The tribes of the Tabasco and
+Tzinpantzinco were conquered by them; and, however powerful Motecusuma
+may be, he nevertheless sent them presents. Now they have
+visited you, and you have given them nothing; therefore you cannot
+too speedily correct the mistake you have made."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>From this it may be seen that our confederates perfectly understood
+how to boast of us: nor was it long before the caziques brought us
+four chains, three neck ornaments, and a few lizards, all of gold,
+though of an inferior quality; besides this there was a package of
+cotton cloths, and four women to bake our bread. Cortes thanked
+them very kindly for these presents, and offered to render them services
+in return.</p>
+
+<p>One certain spot in this township I never shall forget, situated near
+the temple. Here a vast number of human skulls were piled up in
+the best order imaginable,&mdash;there must have been more than 100,000;
+I repeat, more than 100,000. In like manner you saw the remaining
+human bones piled up in order in another corner of the square;
+these it would have been impossible to count. Besides these, there
+were human heads hanging suspended from beams on both sides.
+Three papas stood sentinel on this place of skulls, for which purpose,
+it was told us, they were particularly appointed.<a name="FNanchor_21_22" id="FNanchor_21_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_22" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></p>
+
+<p>Similar horrible sights we saw towards the interior of the country in
+every township, and even in Tlascalla.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes inquired of the cazique Olintecle, which was the best and
+most easy road to Mexico. "That one," answered the cazique, "over
+Cholulla, which is a very large town." Our friends of Sempoalla,
+however, advised us not to take that road, as the inhabitants of
+Cholulla were a treacherous people, and Motecusuma had always a
+strong garrison in that town. We had better choose the road over
+Tlascalla was their opinion; for there the inhabitants were their
+friends, and sworn enemies to the Mexicans. This advice was followed
+by Cortes, and the Almighty blessed his choice. Before our departure we
+required an additional twenty of their best warriors to join our ranks,
+which were accordingly granted us by the cazique.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning we commenced our march to Tlascalla, and first
+arrived in the small township of Xacatcinco. From this place we sent
+before us to the Tlascallans two of the principal men of Sempoalla,
+who well knew how to blazon forth our praise, and were upon intimate
+terms of friendship with the latter. We gave them a letter to these,
+although we knew they could not read it, and a Flanders hat surmounted
+by a coloured feather, as they were worn at that time. I will
+relate in the following chapter what further took place.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXII" id="CHAPTER_LXII"></a>CHAPTER LXII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we commenced our march upon Tlascalla, and sent messengers
+before us, to obtain the sanction of the inhabitants to pass through
+their country; how they took our messengers prisoners, and what
+further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>On our march from Castilblanco we were, if possible, doubly precautious.
+Our sharp-shooters were always in advance, the cavalry kept
+surrounding our troops, our muskets were loaded, the matches lighted,
+and, in short, we were ready for action at a moment's notice.</p>
+
+<p>We first arrived in the small township of Xacatcinco, where the
+inhabitants presented us with a golden chain for the neck, some
+packages of cotton stuffs, and two Indian females. As above remarked,
+we despatched two distinguished personages of Sempoalla
+to Tlascalla, who were to announce our approach, and say we came as
+friends, and hoped they would receive us as such. We found it the
+more necessary to send this message, as we learnt in Xacatcinco, that
+the whole of Tlascalla was up in arms against us. They were already
+informed of our having left that place, and concluded from the number
+of warriors we had with us out of Sempoalla and Xocotlan, tributary
+to Motecusuma, that we came with hostile intentions. They had quite
+concluded we were going to act like the Mexicans, who always, under
+some fraudulent pretence or other, marched into their country when
+intent upon plunder.</p>
+
+<p>When, therefore, the messengers arrived with our letter and the
+Flanders hat, and were about to deliver our commission, they were
+even refused a hearing, and immediately thrown into prison. We
+awaited their return for two days, during which time Cortes explained
+to the inhabitants as usual, the nature of our holy religion, who our
+emperor was, the sinfulness of human sacrifices, and the other abominations
+they practised. He also demanded twenty of their warriors to
+accompany us.</p>
+
+<p>These they readily furnished us, and after we had commended ourselves
+to the protection of the Almighty, we broke up our quarters on
+the third day and marched for Tlascalla. On our route we were met by
+our two messengers, who had been secretly released by their friends.
+All Tlascalla was making warlike preparations against us. They
+appeared quite downcast, and durst scarcely inform us of what they
+had seen and heard. Having at last taken courage, they related how
+they had been immediately seized and thrown into prison, and what
+terrible threats had been thrown out against us and themselves. "Now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>
+we will rise up," it had been told them, "and destroy those whom yon
+term teules. We shall soon see whether they are so courageous as you
+have mentioned. We will devour both you and them together, for you
+are come under fraudulent pretences, and at the instigation and in the
+spirit of the traitor Motecusuma."</p>
+
+<p>The messengers might say what they liked in contradiction to this it
+was all to no purpose. When Cortes and we others heard this lofty
+language, and how they awaited us completely equipped for war, we did
+not think altogether so light of the matter; nevertheless, we one and
+all cried out, "Well, then, since it cannot be otherwise, forward! for
+good or ill luck." We commended ourselves to the protection of God,
+and unfurled our standard, which was borne by the ensign Corral. The
+inhabitants of the small township, where we passed the night, informed
+us, that the Tlascallans would march against us to prevent our entering
+into their country. Of this opinion were also our friends of Sempoalla.</p>
+
+<p>As we were marching along, our only discourse was how we should
+attack the enemy. Our cavalry was to gallop up three abreast, with
+lances fixed, and run the Indians full in the face. At the same time
+they were to be particularly upon their guard that the enemy did not
+lay hold of the lances with their hands; should such, however, be the
+case, the rider was to keep the tighter hold of his lance, give his horse
+the spur, and either by a sudden jerk wrest it out of the enemy's grasp,
+or drag him along with it.</p>
+
+<p>The reader will perhaps ask, why we took these precautions though
+we had not yet come in sight of the foe? I can answer this with
+Cortes' own words, who spoke to us as follows: "You are aware,
+gentlemen, of the smallness of our numbers, we must, therefore, be the
+more upon our guard, and fancy the enemy will each moment fall upon
+us. Nor is this sufficient, we must imagine ourselves already fighting,
+as if the battle was begun. Every soldier is fond of catching hold of
+the enemy's lance with his hand, but considering the smallness of our
+numbers, we must now particularly guard ourselves against it. For the
+rest, you are not in need of my advice, for I have always found that you
+do things much better than I am able to instruct you."</p>
+
+<p>Under similar discourses we had already advanced about eight miles,
+when we came up to an enormous entrenchment, built so strongly of
+stone, lime, and a kind of hard bitumen, that it would only have been
+possible to break it down by means of pickaxes, and if defended
+would have with difficulty been taken. We halted on purpose to
+inspect this fortification, and Cortes inquired of the Xocotlans, for
+what purpose it stood there. They told him that it was built by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>
+the Tlascallans, on whose territory we were now entering, against the
+great Motecusuma, with whom they were continually at war, to protect
+them against his hostile incursions.<a name="FNanchor_22_23" id="FNanchor_22_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_23" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></p>
+
+<p>After we had examined this structure for some time, and each expressed
+his opinion upon it, Cortes cried out, "Let us follow our
+standard, gentlemen! It bears the figure of the holy cross, and in
+that sign we shall conquer." To which we unanimously added:
+"Forward! whatever may happen; for God is our only strength."</p>
+
+<p>We now continued our march onwards in the cautious manner above
+mentioned, and had not proceeded far when our vanguard observed at
+no very great distance about thirty Indians, who had been sent out to
+reconnoitre; this was immediately communicated to us. They had
+broad swords, which are used with both hands, the edges of which are
+made of hard flint, and are sharper than our steel swords. They were
+also armed with shields, lances, and had feathers stuck in their hair.
+Cortes ordered some of our cavalry to go in among them, and try, if possible,
+to capture one, but not to inflict any wounds. These were followed
+at a distance by five others, to assist them should they fall into an
+ambush; the rest of our army marched direct for the narrow pass, but
+with the utmost circumspection, as our friends had assured us that we
+should undoubtedly meet with a large body of the enemy in some
+hiding place or other. When the thirty Indians above mentioned
+found our cavalry approaching them, and saw how they beckoned to
+them with their hands, they began to retreat slowly, and arranged
+themselves again in order, whenever our men attempted to take any
+of them prisoners. They defended themselves right valiantly with
+their swords and lances, wounding several of our horses. The blood
+of our men now also began to boil, who, in return, killed five of the
+Indians. At that moment a swarm of more than 3000 Tlascallans
+rushed furiously from an ambush, pouring forth a shower of arrows
+upon our cavalry, who now immediately closed their ranks. At the
+same time we fired among them with our cannon, and so at last
+we obliged the enemy to give ground, though they fought bravely and
+with a good deal of man&oelig;uvring. On our side we had four wounded,
+of whom one died a few days after, if I still remember rightly. Seventeen
+of the enemy lay dead, and the number of their wounded was very
+considerable. As it was growing very late they continued to retreat,
+and we to follow them.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we had passed over the mountain we came into a plain,
+and found numerous plantations of maise and maguey,<a name="FNanchor_23_24" id="FNanchor_23_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_24" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> from which
+the inhabitants make their wine. We took up our night's quarters<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>
+near a brook, and for want of oil we dressed the wounds of our men
+with the fat of a corpulent Indian who had been killed. We made our
+supper off young dogs, which we found here in great numbers; for,
+although the inhabitants had left all their plantations and taken the
+dogs with them, these animals during the night time had come back to
+their old places again; and we were thus able to catch a good many,
+and so procured ourselves some very delicious joints. The whole of
+this night we kept a most vigilant look-out. We placed outposts in all
+quarters; our horses stood ready saddled and bridled, and the rounds
+were regularly made. I will, however, break off here, and relate our
+further battles in the next chapter.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXIII" id="CHAPTER_LXIII"></a>CHAPTER LXIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Of the terrible battles we fought with the Tlascallans, and what
+further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The next morning, after we had commended ourselves to God in
+prayer, we broke up our quarters. Each company marched in close
+order, and our cavalry were to be particularly upon their guard;
+were either to advance suddenly, or fall back upon us, according as
+circumstances might be, and at all events to watch that our ranks were
+nowhere broken, and that no one strayed from his own company.</p>
+
+<p>After we had marched onwards for some time we came up with two
+large bodies of the enemy, amounting to about 6000 men. They set up a
+most terrific noise with their drums and trumpets, and yelled awfully.
+They then let fly their arrows, threw their lances at us, and upon the
+whole were most daringly valiant. Cortes now ordered us to halt, and
+despatched three Indians, whom we had made prisoners the day before,
+to the enemy, requesting them to stay hostilities, as we were very desirous
+of looking upon them as brothers and friends. At the same
+time he ordered one of our warriors, Diego de Godoy, who was the
+royal secretary, to pay particular attention to everything that should
+take place, in order that if any reproach were made us for having destroyed
+any of the Indians, he might give evidence, and be able to
+prove that we on our side had shown every disposition for peace.</p>
+
+<p>The prisoners went off with this message to the enemy, but not the
+slightest notice was taken of it; on the contrary, they attacked us so
+furiously that we could no longer look idly on. "Forward! St. Jacob
+is with us! On to the enemy!" cried Cortes; and in an instant we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>
+greeted the Indians so sharply with our firearms, that numbers were
+immediately killed and wounded; among the former three chiefs.
+After this first volley they fell back to about the distance of a musket-shot,
+where they took up their position. Here an army of above
+40,000 warriors, commanded by their general-in-chief Xicotencatl, lay
+in ambush. Their standards bore his colours, white and variegated.
+As the ground here was full of deep cavities our cavalry were completely
+useless, until by using the greatest precaution they managed to pass
+over these. This was not done without considerable risk, for the enemy
+plied their bows and lances with great dexterity, having, moreover, the
+advantage of the higher ground. The stones from their slings were no
+less annoying; but all this only lasted until we had gained the level
+ground. For now we richly rewarded them for their pains, and killed
+great numbers. Yet we durst not venture to open our ranks; for the instant
+any one stepped out to assist any other soldier or officer he was that
+moment dangerously wounded. We were, therefore, obliged to keep
+our ranks firmly closed, and by degrees had to contend with more than
+twenty different divisions, which was, indeed, pretty hot work. Besides
+all this the Indians kept continually throwing sand in our faces
+to blind us. Here, indeed, the great mercy of God alone could save us.
+The chief object of the enemy was to capture one of our horses, in which
+they did not altogether fail; for, as Pedro de Moron on his well-trained
+mare, attended by three others of our cavalry, was attempting to break
+through the enemy's ranks, the Indians wrenched the lance out of his
+hand, and fell furiously upon him with their broad swords, wounding
+him severely. They gave his mare such a terrific cut with the same
+weapon in the neck, that the animal instantly fell down dead. If
+Moron's three companions had not immediately hastened to his assistance,
+he would have shared his horse's fate; for this gave our whole
+company time to come up.</p>
+
+<p>I must again repeat, that the worst was, we had to keep ourselves
+so close together in order not to run the danger of being cut off, which
+of course greatly encumbered our movements. Nevertheless, we
+were obliged to open our ranks to rescue the mare and Moron whom
+they were already dragging off half dead. The mare we were obliged
+to relinquish, though we managed to cut the girth asunder in order at
+least to save the saddle. In this battle we had nine wounded. As for
+the enemy I believe on this occasion we killed four of their chiefs. We
+pushed forward shoulder to shoulder, and made considerable havoc
+with our swords. The enemy retreated, carrying off the dead mare,
+which was subsequently cut into pieces to be sent into every town<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>ship
+of Tlascalla. As we afterwards learnt, the horse's shoes, the
+Flanders hat, and the letter we sent them, were brought as an offering
+to their idols. The mare belonged to Juan Sede&ntilde;o, who, on the previous
+day, was wounded in three several places, and had, therefore,
+lent her to Moron. This Moron was a capital horse soldier, and died a
+few days after; at least, I do not remember to have seen him again
+after this battle.</p>
+
+<p>We had fought for a good hour, and our firearms must have done
+considerable destruction among the enemy who stood so crowded together.
+Every man among us did his duty, and we fought away like
+brave warriors, for in all truth we were placed in greater jeopardy
+this time than we had ever been before. Numbers of the Indians
+lay dead on the field of battle; among whom were eight of the
+principal chiefs, all sons of old caziques, who dwelt together in the
+chief town of the country. At last our enemies retreated in good
+order, which we were glad enough to see, for we could scarcely stand
+any longer from over-fatigue, nor durst we think of following the
+enemy. Add to which, the ground was greatly to our disadvantage,
+partly on account of the number of straggling houses, partly on account
+of a species of pits in which many of the inhabitants dwelt. This battle
+was fought on the first two days of September, 1519, near the village
+of Tehuacacinco, and we returned fervent thanks to God for having
+rescued us from such great peril and for the victory we had gained.</p>
+
+<p>After the battle, we fell back to some temples, which were very high,
+and large enough to serve us for castles. We dressed the wounds of
+our men with the fat of Indians, as we had done on previous occasions.
+Five of our horses were wounded, and fifteen men, of whom one subsequently
+died. Upon this we took our suppers, and made a good
+meal off the number of dogs and fowls which we found in the dwellings.
+Before, however, we lay down to rest, we posted our sentinels,
+and continually patrolled during the night: not before all these things
+were properly ordered did we lie down, and slept till morning.</p>
+
+<p>For the rest, we made fifteen prisoners, among whom were two of
+the most distinguished personages; but we could never discover how
+many we killed or wounded, as it was customary with the Tlascallans
+immediately to carry off the wounded and dead from the field of battle.
+<a name="FNanchor_24_25" id="FNanchor_24_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_25" class="fnanchor">[24]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXIV" id="CHAPTER_LXIV"></a>CHAPTER LXIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we quartered ourselves in the township of Tehuacacinco, and what
+we did there.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>As the battles we fought had greatly fatigued us, besides that several
+of our men and horses were wounded, we made a day of rest, repaired
+our crossbows, and supplied ourselves with arrows. The next morning
+Cortes said to us, "It would be no harm if our horse were to gallop
+up and down the country a little; the Tlascallans might otherwise
+think we had had enough of it in the last battle: we must show them
+that we are constantly at their heels." And indeed it was better that
+we began ourselves than wait until we should be attacked, that the
+enemy might not suppose we had been too greatly weakened, and had
+lost our courage. Besides this, the country round about was quite
+level, and thickly populated. We therefore ordered out seven horse,
+some crossbow-men, and several musketeers, in all 200 men, without
+including our confederates. Every possible precaution had been previously
+made to secure our camp. On our march through the townships
+we captured twenty Indians of both sexes, but in no way molested
+them. Our allies, however, who were barbarous characters, could not
+refrain from setting fire to many houses where they had found quantities
+of fowls and young dogs. After we had again returned to our
+quarters, Cortes ordered the fetters to be taken off the prisoners, and
+food to be given them. Do&ntilde;a Marina and Aguilar then addressed them
+very affectionately, and gave to each some glass beads, adding, at the
+same time, that in future they should not be so foolish, but make peace
+with us, as we were very desirous of looking upon them as brothers,
+and would protect them as such.</p>
+
+<p>We also set the first two Indians at liberty whom we had captured,
+and gave them a letter with the commission to tell the chief of the
+provinces that we were not come in any way to injure the Tlascallans,
+but merely wished to take the road through their country to Mexico,
+there to have an interview with Motecusuma.</p>
+
+<p>Both these delegates punctually followed our orders, and arrived at
+the head-quarters of Xicotencatl, which lay, if I remember rightly,
+about six miles from our camp, in the township of Tehuacinpacingo.
+Having, in the absence of the father, fulfilled our commission to the
+younger Xicotencatl, he told them, we had only to come to his father's
+township, there they would make peace, after they had satiated themselves
+with the flesh of our bodies, and had honoured their gods with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>
+the sacrifice of our blood and hearts. The next morning we should
+behold his answer with our own eyes.</p>
+
+<p>As the last battles were still fresh in our memories, we did not exactly
+relish the haughty answer with which our delegates returned. Cortes,
+nevertheless, received them most kindly, perceiving, from their return,
+that they no longer stood in awe of us; and with the view that
+they should once more be despatched as messengers of peace, he gave
+them some additional strings of beads. For the rest he made the most
+minute inquiries respecting the commander Xicotencatl, and the number
+of his troops, and found that the latter were much more numerous
+than in the last battle: he had now five chiefs under him, each of
+whom commanded 10,000 men. These troops were enumerated in the
+following manner: First of all came the 10,000 men of Xicotencatl's
+division; next a similar number under another powerful cazique called
+Maxixcatzin; then a like number under the distinguished cazique
+Chichimeclatecl; 10,000 under the cazique of Topoyanco, named
+Tecapaneca; and an equal number under the cazique Quaxobcin;&mdash;altogether
+thus 50,000 men. Each troop had its standard and arms,
+the latter being a large white bird, with outspread wings, as if preparing
+to fly, and resembled an ostrich.<a name="FNanchor_25_26" id="FNanchor_25_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_26" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> Besides this, every chief had his
+particular insignia of war and colours, in the same way as our Spanish
+dukes and earls. At first we did not believe anything of all this, but
+found afterwards that it was perfectly true; and since we were human
+beings, and feared death, we all confessed to father Olmedo and the
+priest Juan Diaz, which occupied them the whole of the night: neither
+did we fail to offer up fervent prayers to the Almighty to grant us
+victory. Under such like occupations the following day broke forth
+on which we were to fight the battle, of which I shall speak in the
+next chapter.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXV" id="CHAPTER_LXV"></a>CHAPTER LXV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Of the great battle we fought with the Tlascallans, and what further
+took place.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>It was the following morning, on the 5th of September, 1519, that
+we equipped ourselves for battle. Our horse were first arranged in
+order, then the foot soldiers, and even our wounded were forced to go
+along with us, if only to swell out our numbers, and do what lay in
+their power. The crossbow-men received orders that some were merely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>
+to load, while others fired, and this always in platoons. The musketeers
+received similar orders, and the remaining portion of our men,
+who were armed with swords and shields, were principally to strike at
+the enemy in the region of the belly, in order to stop them from venturing
+so near to us as they had the time before. Every one was
+also particularly cautioned not to leave the ranks. It was also the
+particular duty of our cavalry not to leave each other in the lurch,
+always to attack in full gallop, and only aim at the face and eyes. The
+ensign Corral received a guard of four men, and in this way we sallied
+forth from our camp, with our standard flying.</p>
+
+<p>We had scarcely proceeded a quarter of a mile when we found the
+fields covered with warriors; they had large feather-knots on their
+heads, waved their colours, and made a terrific noise with their horns
+and trumpets: indeed, the pen that would wish to describe everything
+we saw here, would not find it such an easy task! this was indeed a
+battle of as fearful and dubious an issue as well could be. In an
+instant we were surrounded on all sides by such vast numbers of
+Indians, that the plain, here six miles in breadth, seemed as if it contained
+but one vast body of the enemy, in the midst of which stood
+our small army of 400 men, the greater part wounded and knocked
+up with fatigue. We were also aware that the enemy had marched
+out to battle with the determination to spare none of us, excepting
+those who were to be sacrificed to their idols. When, therefore, the
+attack commenced, a real shower of arrows and stones was poured
+upon us; the whole ground was immediately covered with heaps of
+lances, whose points were provided with two edges, so very sharp that
+they pierced through every species of cuirass, and were particularly
+dangerous to the lower part of the body, which was in no way protected.
+They fell upon us like the very furies themselves, with the
+most horrible yells; we employed, however, our heavy guns, muskets,
+and crossbows, with so much effect, and received those who pressed
+eagerly upon us with such well-directed blows and thrusts, that considerable
+destruction was made among their ranks, nor did they allow us
+to approach so near to them as in the previous battle: our cavalry, in
+particular, showed great skill and bravery, so that they, next to the
+Almighty, were the principal means of saving us.</p>
+
+<p>Indeed our line was already half broken; all the commands of Cortes
+and our other officers to restore order and form again were fruitless,
+the Indians continually rushing upon us in such vast crowds that we
+could only make place with sword in hand to save our line from being
+broken. Our only safety was owing to the great number of the enemy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>
+itself; for they stood so closely crowded that each shot we fired must
+have done great execution among them. They left themselves altogether
+no room to man&oelig;uvre in, while many of the chiefs, with their
+men, were not even able to mix at all in the engagement. Besides
+this, disagreements and inimical feelings had arisen out of the previous
+battle between the commander-in-chief Xicotencatl and another chief,
+the son of Chichimeclatecl. Xicotencatl had accused the latter of not
+having done his duty, who, in reply, said, he had discharged it better
+than he; so that in this battle neither lent the other any assistance,
+and Chichimeclatecl had even commanded Huexotzinco not to take
+any part in the combat. To all this must be added, that the enemy
+had been taught in the former battle to fear our horse, cannon, swords,
+and crossbows, not to forget the courage we displayed. It must likewise
+be borne in mind that a merciful God had lent us extraordinary
+powers during the engagement. As Xicotencatl met with no obedience
+from two of his principal officers,&mdash;we, on the contrary, fighting on the
+more bravely, and killing great numbers of their men, who, as well as
+the wounded, were immediately hurried from the field of battle, so that
+we never came to see any of their killed,&mdash;the Indians at length grew
+exasperated against those two chiefs who had thus left them in the
+lurch, and now fought with less vigour. It is, however, probable that
+one of their chief commanders had fallen, for they retreated in good
+order: our cavalry, indeed, pursued them a short distance in full gallop,
+but were soon compelled to return, from fatigue.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as we had got rid of this vast crowd, we returned most
+fervent thanks to the Almighty. We had, however, only lost one man,
+but, on the other hand, sixty of us were wounded, with all our horses.
+I myself carried off two wounds, one of which was on my head from
+the stone of a sling, and the other by an arrow piercing my ankle;
+but neither of them were so bad as to compel me to leave the battle,
+or disable me from doing duty. This, however, was the same case
+with the majority of my comrades; for, if a wound was not dangerous,
+they still continued to perform duty, as the number of those who came
+off whole would have been too small to make head against the enemy.
+We now returned to our quarters, overjoyed at our victory, and offered
+up fervent thanks to God. We buried our dead in one of the subterranean
+dwellings, that the Indians might not discover us to be mortal
+as well as themselves, but still continue to fancy us gods: we, therefore,
+heaped up a quantity of earth over the spot, that even the stench of
+the decomposing body might not betray the dead. The fat of the
+Indians, as before, served us to dress our wounds. Oh, the distress<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>
+we suffered here! We had neither oil for our wounds nor salt to our
+food. To all this was added the misfortune of having nothing to
+shelter us from the keen wind, which blew across the Sierra Nevada,
+and made us shake again with cold. We, nevertheless, kept up our
+spirits, and this night we slept more soundly than on the previous one,
+as we had better regulated our outposts and the patrols.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXVI" id="CHAPTER_LXVI"></a>CHAPTER LXVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we sent a message next day to the caziques of Tlascalla to bring
+about peace between us, and the determination they came to upon
+this.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>In the last battle we had taken three distinguished personages
+prisoners. These Cortes sent with the two others whom we had
+previously taken, and once before despatched with a message to the
+caziques of Tlascalla, desiring them in our name to make peace with
+us, and allow us to march through their country to Mexico, as we had
+before requested of them. If they still refused, we would exterminate
+them all. It would, however, grieve us if they drove us to such extremities,
+as we were well inclined, and would gladly look upon them as
+brothers; nor should we have done thus much if they themselves had
+not driven us to it. Besides this, Cortes said many other kind things
+to gain their friendship.</p>
+
+<p>The delegates arrived betimes in the chief town of Tlascalla, and
+delivered their message in a full assembly of the caziques, whom they
+found conversing with several old men and papas. Every one still
+appeared very downcast on account of the unfavorable issue of the
+battle, the loss of their chiefs, their sons and relations who had
+fallen; and at first would not even listen to our messengers. At last
+they came to the resolution to consult all the astrologers, papas, and
+fortune-tellers, a species of conjurors whom they call <i>Tacalnaguas</i>.
+These being assembled, they were desired to discover by their witchcraft
+and enchantments, what sort of people we were, and whether it
+was possible to overcome us if they continued to harass us night and
+day. They were also to give a decisive answer as to whether we were
+really teules, that is to say evil spirits, as the inhabitants of Sempoalla
+had assured them; and lastly, what nourishment we took. All this
+they were most minutely to investigate.</p>
+
+<p>The soothsayers, conjurors, and papas, who were in great numbers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>
+immediately began their exorcisms and enchantments, after their
+fashion; and they pretended to have discovered, by means of their
+art, that we were human beings made of flesh and bone; that we ate
+dogs, fowls, bread and fruits, as they did, if we could get them; and
+that we did not devour the Indians, and much less the hearts of those
+we had slain. Our friends of Sempoalla, namely, had told them all
+manner of foolish things about us; not only that we were teules, but
+that we devoured the hearts of the Indians; that the flashes of our
+bombards, shot off like lightning; that our dog was a tiger or a lion,
+and that we let loose our horses upon the Indians when we wished to
+kill them. But the worst thing these soothsayers and papas affirmed
+was, its being impossible to conquer us excepting during the night-time,
+for we were helpless as soon as the sun, from which we received
+all our strength, had gone down.</p>
+
+<p>This affirmation seemed a capital hint to the caziques, they therefore
+sent orders to their captain-general, Xicotencatl, to fall upon us as
+soon as possible with a large force during night-time. This, Xicotencatl
+did not fail to do. He drew out ten thousand of his bravest troops,
+marched towards our quarters, and fell upon us from three several
+points at once, with the utmost fury. They made this attack with
+perfect assurance, believing they had merely to show themselves and
+they should be able to capture us immediately, and sacrifice us to their
+idols. But the Almighty had ordered things differently. For, however
+silently they approached, they found us perfectly upon our guard,
+as the outposts and patrols had come running in at the first noise they
+heard and given the alarm. As, moreover, we were accustomed to
+sleep in our clothes with our weapons in our hands, the horses always
+ready bridled and saddled, and our cannon loaded, we gave the enemy
+such a rough reception with our muskets and crossbows, and cut
+among them so vigorously with our swords, that they soon had enough
+of it and turned their backs. The country before us was quite level,
+and the moon shone bright, so that our cavalry were able to follow the
+flying enemy to a considerable distance. Next morning we found
+about twenty of them dead and wounded, so that their loss must have
+been considerable, and they experienced, no doubt, that this fighting
+at night-time was not exactly so pleasant. It is also said they were so
+exasperated against the soothsayers and papas, that two of them were
+butchered for a sacrifice. In this night's combat we lost one of our
+friends of Sempoalla, and two of our men besides a horse were
+wounded. The number of prisoners we made were four. The kind
+reader may well conceive that we were not a little overjoyed that this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>
+affair terminated so fortunately. We fervently thanked God for the
+assistance he had lent us, buried our friend of Sempoalla, dressed our
+wounds, and lay ourselves down to rest for the remaining part of the
+night; but not without previously taking every precaution to secure
+our camp as usual. It was only the following morning we were able
+to discover our true condition. There was not one among us who had
+not, up to this moment, received one, two, or three wounds, and all
+were more or less weakened by fatigues and hardships. Xicotencatl
+continued to hover around us, and we had already lost fifty-five of our
+men, some of whom were killed on the field of battle, others had died
+of disease and from excessive cold. Twelve of our men were knocked
+up with fatigue, and even our commander-in-chief himself and father
+Olmedo were suffering from fever. But no one can wonder at this;
+for among all the hardships we had to undergo, we never durst for
+one moment leave our heavy weapons out of our hands; to all these
+discomforts was added the severity of the weather, and particularly our
+great want of salt, which we could find no means of obtaining. It was
+also natural that we should begin to think what would be the final
+issue of this campaign, and if we once got out of the present snare
+where we were next to bend our steps; for the idea of penetrating into
+Mexico appeared to us perfectly laughable, when we considered the
+great power of that state. If even we succeeded in making the same
+good terms with the people of Tlascalla as we had done with the
+Sempoallans, what would become of us if we ever came to an engagement
+with the great armies of Motecusuma? We were totally ignorant
+as to how matters stood in our fortress at Vera Cruz, and our men there
+knew as little what had become of us. Certainly there were among us
+plenty of valiant cavaliers and soldiers of great courage in battle, who
+showed no less wisdom in our councils, nor did Cortes ever speak or
+do anything without previously consulting them. With the historian
+Gomara it is always thus: Cortes did this, Cortes did that, Cortes was
+there, Cortes left there; just as if all this had been a mere nothing.
+If even, as Gomara affirms, Cortes had had an iron frame, he could not
+possibly have been everywhere, and have done everything himself.
+What good is it to make use of such expressions? He could only
+say, that Cortes was an excellent captain, as indeed he was, and this
+would have been enough! I was forced to make this remark, for besides
+the protection which the Almighty lent us in all our undertakings,
+his blessing was upon the arm of us soldiers and the advice we
+gave Cortes, and it was only in this way all things could have terminated
+so well.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I will not, however, detain the reader with this preamble of great
+deeds, for it has little to do with the principal object of this history.
+I am more pleased to relate, that we unanimously swore to protect his
+person, and begged of him, that as God had rescued us out of such
+extreme danger and spared our lives, to set our prisoners at liberty and
+send them again to the caziques, and desire of them to conclude peace
+with us, adding, that we should pardon what had taken place, as also
+the death of the horse.</p>
+
+<p>Neither must I omit to mention the fine manly spirit which Do&ntilde;a
+Marina, though one of the daughters of the country, showed upon every
+occasion. We heard nothing the whole day long but of being butchered
+and devoured by the inhabitants; she had with her own eyes beheld
+how we had been completely surrounded by our enemies in the recent
+battles; how we were all wounded and suffering from disease; yet she
+never appeared disheartened; but, on the contrary, displayed a courage
+much beyond that of her sex. When the prisoners were about departing,
+again to make offers of peace to the enemy, she and Aguilar gave
+them every instruction as to what they were to say; that peace was to
+be concluded within the space of two days, otherwise we would march
+forward, lay waste the whole country, force our way into their towns,
+and put every living being to the sword. I must, however, again return
+to Gomara, who never mentions a single word about our killed and
+wounded, or the hardships we underwent; as if everything of itself
+turned to our advantage. Indeed, those who furnished him with the
+account must have been badly informed themselves. Did it never once
+occur to him, that his work would be highly interesting to all of us
+conquistadores, and that we would not repress the truth when we had
+read it?</p>
+
+<p>But to return to my narrative, our delegates went straightway to the
+chief town of Tlascalla, where the elder Xicotencatl abode. If I still
+remember rightly, we sent a letter with them, although we knew the
+Indians could not understand it; there was likewise an arrow with the
+letter. They found the two chief caziques in council with the other
+principal personages. I will give their answer in the following chapter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXVII" id="CHAPTER_LXVII"></a>CHAPTER LXVII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we again sent messengers to the caziques of Tlascalla in order to
+induce them to make peace, and the resolution they came to upon this.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The two chief caziques to whom our messengers addressed themselves
+were Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl, father of the captain-general
+of the same name, who was commonly termed the younger.
+They fulfilled their commission, and the caziques remained for a time
+silent and undecided, when the Almighty inclined their hearts to conclude
+a peace with us. They called a meeting of all the caziques and
+chief personages who had weight in the townships, as also of their friends
+from the province of Huexotzinco. All having met in the township
+of Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl, which held the first rank,
+the latter who were men of good understanding addressed the meeting
+to the following effect. Though we may not, perhaps, give the exact
+words, yet, from what we afterwards learnt, it was to this effect:
+"Brothers and friends! You yourselves know how often these teules,
+who are now in our country, ready to fight at a moment's notice, have
+offered us peace, and assured us that they have come as friends to our
+assistance. Nor can you have yet forgotten the numbers of prisoners they
+have taken, though they never do them any harm, but always restore
+them to liberty. Thrice have we attacked them with the whole of our
+forces, both by day and by night, but we have not been able to conquer
+them. On the contrary, they have killed many of our subjects, numbers
+of our sons, relations, and chiefs in these battles. They now
+again request us to come to terms of peace, and those of Sempoalla who
+are encamped with them, assure us they are enemies to Motecusuma
+and the Mexicans, and have commanded them and the tribes of the
+Totonaque mountains not to pay any more tribute to him. We all
+very well know that the Mexicans for a space of more than one hundred
+years have annually made incursions into our country. Indeed, they
+have completely shut us up within our own territory. We cannot get
+beyond to fetch salt for our victuals, nor cotton for our clothing. If
+any one of us ever ventures beyond the mountains, he very seldom
+returns home alive. The treacherous Mexicans and their allies kill all
+our people that fall into their hands, or at least make slaves of them.
+Our tacalnaguas, soothsayers, and papas have told us their opinion of
+these teules; that they are very powerful and courageous we have experienced
+ourselves. We feel, therefore, inclined to make peace with
+them. Whether they are men or teules, in both cases an alliance with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>
+them will be useful to us. Let us, therefore, despatch four of our chiefs
+to their camp with good provisions, and show them love and an inclination
+to make peace, that they may assist and protect us against our
+enemies. We will invite them into our country, and present them with
+females from among our countrywomen, that we may become one
+people with them; for, according to the assurance of the messengers
+whom they have sent to offer us peace, they have women with them."
+The caziques upon hearing this proposition all declared they were
+agreeable to it, and resolved that a treaty for peace should be set on
+foot, and the captain-general Xicotencatl and the other commanders
+should be ordered to stay all hostilities; for which end they instantly
+despatched messengers. The younger Xicotencatl, however, would by
+no means listen to these orders, but evinced excessive grief and used
+harsh language. "As affairs stood there was no need of sueing for
+peace," he said. "Many of the teules were already killed, besides
+one of their horses; he would fall upon us the night following and
+destroy us all."</p>
+
+<p>When the elder Xicotencatl, Maxixcatzin, and the other caziques received
+this answer, they were so exasperated, that they immediately
+sent orders round to all the officers and the whole army not to
+obey Xicotencatl in anything which related to an attack upon us, and
+altogether to stay all hostilities against us. Neither would Xicotencatl
+submit to these orders, so that it was found necessary to send the four
+old men, who were appointed to make a treaty of peace between us,
+the Tlascallans and inhabitants of Huexotzinco, to these refractory
+fellows in order to bring them to reason. These four men, however,
+stood in such awe of the young hothead that they neglected to fulfil
+their commission.</p>
+
+<p>As two or three different occurrences took place at the same time,
+I must relate what comes first in order, and give an account of our
+excursion to another township which lay in the neighbourhood.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXVIII" id="CHAPTER_LXVIII"></a>CHAPTER LXVIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we came to the determination of marching to a township in the
+neighbourhood of our camp, and what happened upon this.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After two days had passed by without our doing anything worthy
+of notice, we proposed to Cortes that we should make an excursion
+to a township situated about four miles from our encampment, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>
+the inhabitants of which we had fruitlessly made overtures of peace.
+We determined upon taking them by surprise during night-time; not
+with the intention of injuring, killing, wounding, or taking the inhabitants
+prisoners, but merely to procure provisions, frighten them a
+little, and make new offers of peace according as circumstances might
+be. This township was called Zumpanzingo, and was the chief of many
+smaller ones. The district Tecodcungapacingo, where we had taken up
+our quarters, stood likewise under it; the whole country round about
+moreover being covered with straggling houses and villages. Cortes
+fell in with this proposal, and we accordingly commenced our march
+shortly before daybreak with all our men who were best able to bear
+the fatigue, six of our cavalry, ten crossbow-men, and eight musketeers.
+The command was taken by Cortes himself, although he was suffering
+from the tertian ague. For the rest all necessary precautions were
+taken for our camp.</p>
+
+<p>We had marched to a distance of about six miles before daylight
+appeared, and the wind which blew across the snow mountains was so
+keen, that we shook again with cold. Our horses likewise felt the
+frost very sensibly. Two of them indeed got the gripes and trembled
+like aspen leaves, at which we were greatly concerned, for we thought
+they would have died. Cortes therefore ordered them back to our
+camp. We arrived in front of Zumpanzingo before sunrise. The inhabitants,
+having observed our approach, had fled from their dwellings.
+Their minds full of the most horrible ideas they had formed of us, they
+kept crying out to one another to beware of the teules. They kill all,
+it was said, and spare neither young nor old. Finding how greatly
+they feared us, we halted in a courtyard until daylight had fully broken
+forth, that we might not injure any of the people in the dark. On the
+summit of the highest temples in the township we observed some
+papas and other old men of distinction, who, when they found we remained
+quiet without doing the least harm, took courage and came
+down to Cortes. They commenced by making excuses for not having
+sent us provisions, or any one with offers of peace, though we had demanded
+both of them. They assured us that no one was to blame for
+all this but the commander Xicotencatl, who had forbidden them, and
+was at that moment stationed in the immediate neighbourhood. They
+could not help feeling afraid of this man, as he had all their warriors
+as well as all those out of the land of Tlascalla under his banners.
+Cortes answered them by means of our interpreters, Do&ntilde;a Marina and
+Aguilar, whom we carried along with us wherever we went. They
+were told to allay their fears, and desire the caziques of the chief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>
+township to come and make peace with us, as war would only bring
+misfortune down upon them.</p>
+
+<p>This was the message which the papas were to deliver; for we had
+not yet received any answer from the other ambassadors whom we had
+sent to the chiefs of Tlascalla, neither had their four distinguished personages
+yet arrived. Previous to their departure the papas, however,
+brought us more than forty fowls and turkeys, besides two women to
+bake our bread. Cortes thanked them very kindly for this present,
+and demanded twenty Indians to carry them to our camp. These immediately
+came forward without evincing any signs of fear, carried the
+provisions and remained with us until evening. After presenting them
+with a few trifles they returned highly delighted to their homes. As
+we did no one any injury, the inhabitants greatly extolled our kind
+behaviour; the papas and chief personages also informing the captain-general,
+Xicotencatl, that they had given us provisions and two females;
+which grieved him sorely. The same information was sent to the
+elder caziques, who were delighted when they learnt how we could
+have destroyed them all during the night, but that instead of doing
+any harm we had only made offers of peace. They, therefore, ordered
+provisions to be sent us daily, with everything else we might require.
+The orders to the four principal personages who were commissioned to
+make terms of peace with us were also renewed; they now no longer
+delayed, but repaired to our quarters and brought us provisions and
+other presents. We then returned to our camp, much pleased with
+the victuals and the Indian females.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXIX" id="CHAPTER_LXIX"></a>CHAPTER LXIX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we found on our return to our encampment that new intrigues had
+been set on foot; and the answer Cortes gave to certain representations
+which were made to him.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>On returning to our head-quarters from Zumpanzingo with a good
+supply of provisions, and delighted with the peace we had concluded
+with the inhabitants, we met with nothing but complaints and discontent.
+We heard of nothing else than the imminent dangers we were
+daily exposed to in this campaign; nor did our arrival mend matters.
+Foremost among the discontented were those again who possessed settlements
+and Indian commendaries at Cuba, nor did they confine themselves
+to murmuring in secret, but seven of them, whose names, for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>
+honour's sake, I will refrain from mentioning, confederated together,
+and repaired to the quarters of Cortes. One of them was chosen
+spokesman. He was a man eloquent in address, and perfect master of
+the subject he was about to speak on.</p>
+
+<p>He began in the kindly tone of giving advice, and desired Cortes
+to consider our wounds, how disabled and knocked up we were by the
+excessive hardships we had to undergo day and night, by constant battling,
+patrolling the country, standing at the outposts, and reconnoitring
+about. They had calculated, he said, that we had already
+lost fifty-five of our men since our departure from Cuba. Neither did
+we know how matters stood with our garrison at Vera Cruz. Though the
+Almighty had everywhere granted us victory, it was merely out of the
+abundance of his mercy towards us. It was not right to calculate too
+long upon his mercy and forbearance, for that would be tempting him.
+The pitcher goes to the well until it is broken, and one morning or
+other we should undoubtedly be sacrificed to the idols. God in his
+mercy might certainly avert this; but then also it was necessary we
+should return to Vera Cruz and there remain quiet, where we should be
+surrounded by our friends and allies, the tribes of the Totonaque
+mountains, until we had fitted out a vessel and sent to Diego Velasquez
+and to the islands for a fresh supply of men and other necessaries.
+What a good thing if our vessels had been preserved, or at least
+a couple, in case of accident. But, alas! he had followed the advice
+of men who did not consider the instability of fortune, and who
+had totally destroyed the last means of escape.</p>
+
+<p>"May God forbid," said they, "that you and those whose advice it
+was, may not yet have to rue it. The measure of our miseries is already
+full; our condition begins to be insupportable, and the life we lead
+is worse than that of beasts of burden. When these have gone their
+day's journey, their load is taken off, food is given them, and they are
+allowed to take rest; we, on the contrary, are always under arms, nor
+do we ever take our clothes off. He might compare the histories of
+the Romans, of Alexander the Great, and of the most celebrated
+generals," continued they, "and he would find that none of them ever
+destroyed a fleet, when similarly situated as we were, a mere handful of
+men amidst numerous and warlike tribes. He would have to answer
+for his own death and the destruction of us all. He should at least
+attempt to save ours and his own life, and march back to Vera Cruz,
+while we were still at peace with the country. They would gladly
+have mentioned all this earlier to him; but the vast numbers of the
+enemy by which we had been daily surrounded had given them no op<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>portunity;
+this, however, was now at last presented them by the quiet
+demeanour of the foe. For the rest, the enemy would certainly return,
+the three days which Xicotencatl had allowed to pass by was merely in
+expectation of a fresh supply of men. We could not think of coming
+to another trial of strength as we had done up to this moment."</p>
+
+<p>These and other representations they made to Cortes, and held up
+their heads pretty high the whole time. As, however, all was said
+under the guise of giving good advice, Cortes answered them very
+mildly, as nearly as possible in these words: "Much of what you have
+been representing to me has not escaped my own notice; but, what I
+have seen above all things, and of which I have gained the most convincing
+proofs, is this, that the whole world could not produce
+Spaniards who are so brave, and fight so courageously, and who could
+bear hardships as well as we do. Indeed, we should have been inevitably
+lost if we had not continually held our weapons in our hands, kept
+patrolling and watching day and night, and boldly encountered all
+weathers. We are indebted to our safety by having manfully borne
+these and other greater hardships. The Almighty certainly lent us
+his aid, yet I cannot imagine to myself a greater piece of heroism,
+when I bring back to my recollection the vast crowds of the enemy,
+how they locked us in on all sides with their troops, and fell upon us
+with their broad swords, particularly in that battle where they killed
+one of our horses. At that critical moment I learnt more of your
+noble character than on any former occasion. And since the Almighty
+rescued us out of that battle I have gained the hope that our future
+endeavours will be crowned with success. I can call you to witness,
+that I was never found for an instant to lack courage in any of the
+dangers I have shared with you; nor have you, I must add, ever
+proved unworthy of the trust I reposed in you."</p>
+
+<p>It was perfectly true what Cortes said of himself, for he was always
+found foremost in battle.</p>
+
+<p>"Neither must you forget, gentlemen," continued he, "that up
+to this moment the Almighty has lent us his protection, and we
+may confidently hope he will not desert us in future, for, from our
+first arrival in this country we have announced his holy religion to the
+different tribes according to the best of our abilities and destroyed the
+idols. We may also, in trusting to God and our mediator the holy
+apostle Peter, consider the war in this province at an end, since
+Xicotencatl and the other chiefs no longer show themselves, because
+they fear us on account of the destruction we made among their troops
+in the late battles, or it may be they are unable to rally their men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>
+again. The inhabitants of Zumpanzingo willingly furnish us with
+provisions, while the surrounding tribes continue peaceably in their
+villages. With regard to our vessels, it was, indeed, requisite they
+should be destroyed, and if I did not consult all of you on the
+occasion I had sufficient reason for pursuing that course after the
+occurrence on the downs, which, however, I will not enter into here.
+The course you advised me to adopt on the former occasion, and your
+present discontent, both emanate from the same bad feeling; but you
+should remember that there are several cavaliers among our troops
+who are not of the same opinion with yourselves, who request and
+counsel that we should continue as heretofore to repose our trust in
+God alone, and faithfully fulfil our duties in his holy service. You are,
+however, perfectly justified in saying that the most renowned generals
+of Rome even cannot boast of such military exploits as we can. Future
+historians will also have to relate, if God be willing, greater things of
+us than of them. We shall continually be reaping harvests of glory,
+because strict justice and christian feeling are everywhere our guides,
+and also because our endeavours are exerted in the service of God and
+of our emperor. You cannot, gentlemen, have weighed the matter
+well if you suppose we could save ourselves by a retreat: for the instant
+these people were to observe this, and though we should depart from
+them in profound peace, the very stones of the ground would be raised
+up against us. And in the same way the Indians now stare at us as if
+we were beings of a superior order, or rather gods, as they term us,
+they would then consider us cowards and poltroons. We might, you
+say, settle ourselves quietly down among our allies, the tribes of the
+Totonaque mountains! To which my answer is, that even they would
+rise up against us immediately they perceive we are turning back
+without marching on to Mexico; for if we leave them, and they refuse
+to pay tribute to Motecusuma as heretofore, he will send his armies
+against them not merely to subdue, but to compel them to declare war
+with us; and if they are not desirous of being annihilated, what other
+course could they pursue? In this way, where we had thought to
+have friends, we should be preparing ourselves enemies. What reflections
+would the powerful Motecusuma make, and what judgment would
+he pass upon our previous speeches and the messages we sent him if
+we were to turn back? He would think we had been jesting with
+him. Thus you see, gentlemen, it looks bad one way and worse another.
+The most prudent step we can take for the present is to maintain
+our ground here in this thickly populated valley where we can
+obtain provisions in abundance. To-day we have fowls, to-morrow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>
+dogs, and thus, thank God, we shall always have plenty of food. Salt
+and warmer clothing are really at present the only great privations we
+suffer. You further state, that we have lost fifty-five men since our
+departure from Cuba from famine, cold, fatigue, disease, and from
+wounds: that our numbers are very small, and all of us more or
+less suffering from ill health. But, on the other hand, you must
+remember that God has given us the power of numbers, and that
+war is ever accompanied by loss of men and horses. To-day we have
+provisions, the next day none. And you must also bear in mind that
+we are not come into this country to seek repose, but to fight valiantly
+about whenever it may be necessary. I, therefore, beg of you, gentlemen,
+who are cavaliers, and who have up to this moment behaved so
+courageously, and whom despondency so ill suits, to drive from your
+minds all remembrance of Cuba and everything you have left behind
+there. Show yourselves brave soldiers as you have hitherto, for next
+to God, who is our strength, all depends upon the valour of our arms."</p>
+
+<p>With this answer the deputies repaired to their partisans, who all
+declared they could not contradict anything our general had stated,
+and remarked that we had certainly departed from Vera Cruz with the
+full intention of marching to Mexico; but that at present we were
+better informed as to the strength of that city and its numerous troops.
+The Tlascallans themselves never mentioned the Mexican name but
+with terror. We said the Sempoallans were at peace with us, but we
+had as few certain proofs of that as of the state of affairs in Mexico.
+Up to this moment we had altogether suffered so much that if we were
+once again so furiously attacked as we had been in the late battles, we
+should be unable to stand against them. Suppose even they were to
+remain quiet for the present, our march to Mexico would, nevertheless,
+be a monstrous undertaking; and they were surprised at the man who
+could desire it and issue commands to that effect. To all this Cortes
+replied rather angrily: "Even then it is better to die like a brave warrior,
+as the poets say, than to live a coward!" We others who closely
+adhered to our general, and had consented to the destruction of our
+vessels, and appointed him captain-general, agreed with all he had said,
+and desired him in a loud voice not to trouble himself any further
+about their talk and complaints, but to order everything, with the aid
+of God, as circumstances might require, and to rely on our faithful
+assistance.</p>
+
+<p>Herewith an end was put to all their cabals. They certainly continued
+their murmurings against Cortes, and cursed us who adhered to
+him, and the Sempoallans for having proposed this route; making<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>
+altogether use of language which little beseemed them; but for the
+time being they remained quiet, and obeyed our general even to a
+wink.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime the elders of Tlascalla again sent peremptory orders
+to Xicotencatl not to attack us, but to send us provisions and repair to
+our camp in person to conclude a treaty of peace with us. This was
+the desire of all the caziques and principal personages of Huexotzinco
+and Tlascalla. A message was at the same time forwarded to each of
+his officers, commanding them not to obey him in anything which had
+not reference to a conclusion of peace. These orders were despatched
+no less than three successive times to Xicotencatl, information having
+been received that he was not only determined to lend a deaf ear to
+these injunctions, but to fall upon us the very next night, for which
+purpose he had assembled 20,000 warriors. Thus ever presumptuous
+and haughty, he now again refused to listen to their commands, and
+we shall see in the following chapter how this terminated.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXX" id="CHAPTER_LXX"></a>CHAPTER LXX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the captain Xicotencatl assembled 20,000 chosen warriors to make
+an attack upon us in our camp, and what happened upon this.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The caziques, Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl, with all the
+chief personages of the principal town of Tlascalla, had now for the
+fourth time issued orders to their captain-general not to approach our
+camp, and commanded the other officers not to accompany him unless
+he called upon us to make peace. Xicotencatl lay in our immediate
+neighbourhood, and was terribly exasperated at this; yet he determined
+to send us forty Indians with provisions, consisting in fowls,
+bread, and fruits.<a name="FNanchor_26_27" id="FNanchor_26_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_27" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> This present was also accompanied by four disgusting
+old Indian females and a quantity of copal and parrot feathers.</p>
+
+<p>We, of course, concluded that these people came with peaceable intentions.
+They perfumed Cortes when they were brought into his
+presence, and thus addressed him, without observing the courtesies
+customary among them: "These presents are sent you by the general
+Xicotencatl, that you may eat, in case you are teules, as the people of
+Sempoalla have assured us. If you require a sacrifice with them, kill
+these four women, and devour their flesh and their hearts. As we do
+not know what your wish is on this head we have not sacrificed them
+for you. But if you are human beings, be contented with the fruit and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>
+the fowls; and if you are kind-hearted teules, take the copal and the
+parrot feathers as an offering."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes answered, by means of our interpreters, that he was desirous
+of making peace, not war, which he had already made known to them.
+He was come into their country to beg of them, in the name of our Lord
+Jesus Christ, and of our great emperor Don Carlos, to abstain from
+human sacrifices. We were all human beings made of flesh and bone
+like themselves, and not teules, but Christians. We killed no one, excepting
+when we were attacked, then, indeed, we destroyed our enemies,
+whether it happened to be day or night. He was very thankful for
+the provisions, but now they should likewise have the good sense to
+send us messengers of peace.</p>
+
+<p>We readily perceived that these people whom Xicotencatl had despatched
+to us were spies, who came to gain the necessary information
+respecting the accesses to our camp, and the number of our troops, of
+the horses and the cannon, and everything else. They remained with
+us the whole day and following night. From time to time some returned
+to Xicotencatl, and others again arrived in their stead. All this greatly
+surprised our friends of Sempoalla, as it was not customary with them
+to stay night and day in an enemy's camp without some particular
+design. This accordingly aroused their suspicions, which were further
+confirmed by some hints which fell from two old men of Zumpanzingo
+that Xicotencatl stood ready with a large army to fall upon us unawares.
+At first they had laughed at the idea, thinking it a mere piece of bragging,
+and had, therefore, not mentioned it to Cortes. Do&ntilde;a Marina,
+to whom they had made this known, immediately brought the intelligence
+to our general, who, to fathom this matter more deeply, ordered
+two of the Tlascallans, who appeared to be honest fellows, to be seized,
+when they confessed that Xicotencatl had sent them as spies into our
+camp. These men were then liberated, and several others seized, who
+all gave the same answer, adding, that their commander Xicotencatl
+was merely waiting their information to fall upon us the following night
+with the whole of his troops.</p>
+
+<p>After Cortes had convinced himself of the true state of affairs, he
+commanded us to be upon our guard, and to hold ourselves ready for
+action; he also imprisoned seventeen other of the spies, some of whom
+he ordered to have their thumbs cut off, others the whole hand, and to
+be sent back in that condition to Xicotencatl, with the information,
+"That this was his mode of punishing such messengers. He might
+now come whenever he liked in the night or by daytime, we would
+wait for him here two whole days: if we had not been peaceably in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>clined,
+we should ourselves have attacked and annihilated both his
+army and himself long before this: it was now, however, high time he
+should desist from his folly, and send us a sincere token of peace."</p>
+
+<p>The unfortunate beings who had thus been dismembered, arrived in
+Xicotencatl's head-quarters just as he was on the point of marching off
+with his whole army to fall upon us in the dark. When he saw his
+spies before him in that condition, and learnt why they had been so
+treated, his pride and conceit fell at once. To this was added, that a
+certain chief, with whom he had quarrelled on account of the late
+battles, had left the camp with the men under his command.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXI" id="CHAPTER_LXXI"></a>CHAPTER LXXI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How four chief personages arrived in our camp to negotiate terms of
+peace with us, and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>We now despaired of concluding the peace we so greatly desired,
+and therefore began to prepare for battle. We cleaned and sharpened
+our weapons, provided ourselves with arrows, and were making other
+preparations for an engagement, when one of our outposts came suddenly
+running up with the tidings that a number of Indians of both
+sexes were advancing along the principal road of Tlascalla, straightway
+to our quarters, laden with packages. One of our horse had rode up
+to watch their movements more closely, and now also came galloping
+up with the news that the procession was fast approaching our camp,
+and merely halted from time to time to take a little rest.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes and all of us were highly delighted with this piece of news,
+for we hoped they were coming with tidings of peace, which, indeed,
+was really the case. He issued orders that no alarm should be sounded,
+and for all of us to remain quiet in our huts as if we were unconscious
+of their approach. When the Indians had arrived at our camp, four
+principal personages stepped forth from among the porters, who had
+been commissioned by the elder caziques to conclude a treaty of peace
+with us. They made the sign of peace, which consisted in bending
+the head forwards; they then walked straightway to the hut which
+Cortes inhabited. They first touched the ground with their hands,
+and then kissed it, bowed themselves three times, and perfumed with
+copal. They then began as follows: "All the caziques of Tlascalla,
+with their subjects, allies, friends, and confederates, make peace and
+friendship with Cortes and his brothers, the teules. They beg forgive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>ness
+for having commenced hostilities, instead of uniting in friendship
+with them, which had merely been done under the impression that we
+were friends of Motecusuma and the Mexicans, who had been their
+most deadly enemies from time immemorial; and what had strengthened
+them in this suspicion was, our being accompanied by such numbers
+of the tribes who were tributary to that monarch, who was accustomed
+to fall into their country under various pretences, and carry off
+their wives and children. They had this time again feared some foul
+stratagem was on hand, and therefore had put no faith in our ambassadors.
+They had not commenced the attack in the first instance when
+we marched into their country, neither was it done at their instigation
+or command, but assured us it was the Chontal-Otomies, a rude and
+wild mountain tribe, who imagined they would have been easily able
+to overcome our small numbers, carry us off prisoners, and send our
+hearts to the Tlascallan chiefs, in order to gain their good wishes. They
+now came to beg forgiveness, and would daily bring us a sufficient
+supply of provisions. They hoped we would accept of these they now
+brought with the same kind feeling in which they were offered. In
+the space of two days the chief commander Xicotencatl, with the other
+caziques, would call himself, and further prove how fervently the whole
+of Tlascalla desired to make peace and friendship with us."</p>
+
+<p>After the chiefs had done speaking, they again bowed themselves,
+touched the ground with their hands, and kissed it. Cortes, with great
+dignity and earnestness depicted in his countenance, returned them the
+following answer through our interpreters: "He had certainly great
+cause to refuse them a hearing, or to make any compact of friendship
+with them; for, upon our first entering into their country, he had
+offered them peace, and announced that he intended to assist them
+against their enemies the Mexicans; yet they would not believe him,
+and had even been upon the point of killing our ambassadors, and had
+made three murderous attacks upon us; and, by way of a finish, had
+also sent spies into our camp. In the battle we had fought with them,
+we could have killed many more of the troops; and we even grieved
+for those whose lives had thus been sacrificed, but we had been driven
+to it. He had resolved to carry the war into the very town where the
+old caziques dwelt; but as they now came to sue for peace, he was
+willing to receive them kindly in the name of our emperor, and was
+also pleased to accept of the provisions which they had brought. They
+should now tell their chiefs to repair hither in person, or send him
+some better warranty of peace. If they refused to come, he would
+put his army in motion, and attack them at their very doors. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>
+were, moreover, to approach our camp during daytime only, for if they
+came at night, we would put them all to the sword without mercy."</p>
+
+<p>After Cortes had given them this answer, he presented the messengers
+with blue beads for the caziques, in token of peace. They then
+took leave, and turned off to some Indian dwellings which lay in the
+neighbourhood, leaving there the Indian females whom they had brought
+along with them to prepare the bread, fowls, and a dinner for us;
+besides this there were twenty Indians who furnished the wood and
+water for cooking; and indeed they prepared us a most delicious meal.
+Being now convinced that they earnestly desired peace, we returned
+hearty thanks to God, who had thus ordered things: indeed it was
+high time, for we were all in a terrible state of exhaustion, and were
+sick of a war to which there seemed no end, as the good reader may
+well imagine.</p>
+
+<p>With respect to these proceedings, Gomara has again mixed up many
+untruths. One time he makes Cortes mount up to the top of a mountain,
+and thence look over the township of Zumpanzingo, and yet it
+lay quite close to our camp, and he must have been blind indeed who
+could not see it straight before him. He also relates that the soldiers
+said things which I will not repeat here, though he would make one
+believe he had all from good authority. There is not the slightest
+foundation for all his assertions. There never was a commander in
+this world who was so strictly obeyed as Cortes, nor will it ever again
+fall to the lot of any man to be so. No such thought ever entered the
+minds of our men, excepting on the occasion which I have related
+above. Even the representations which were made to Cortes, mentioned
+in the preceding chapter, were all given in the tone of advice.
+Those who made them did so with a good intention, and imagined they
+were in the right, and though they differed with him in opinion, they
+paid him strict obedience. Is it, then, any wonder that a general
+should listen to good advice from intelligent soldiers, particularly when
+his troops are so awkwardly situated as ours were? I am only sorry
+when I reflect that all Gomara's untruths will be credited, because his
+style of writing is so eloquent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXII" id="CHAPTER_LXXII"></a>CHAPTER LXXII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How ambassadors arrive in our camp from Motecusuma, and of the
+presents they brought with them.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After the Almighty, in his great mercy, had granted us the victory
+in the battles against the Tlascallans, our fame was spread to every
+district, and even reached the ears of the mighty Motecusuma, in the
+great city of Mexico. If we had been previously looked upon as
+teules, or a species of gods, their idea of our bravery now became the
+more exalted, and terror seized the whole country when we had broken
+the great power of the Tlascallans with such a handful of men, and
+compelled them to sue for peace.</p>
+
+<p>And so it also happened that the powerful king of Mexico, Motecusuma,
+either in the great goodness of his heart, or because he began
+to fear our approach to his metropolis, despatched five men of distinction
+to our camp in the land of Tlascalla to welcome us on our arrival, and
+to assure us of the excessive delight he felt at the great victories which
+we had gained over such numerous armies. This message was accompanied
+by a valuable present in gold trinkets of various workmanship,
+worth about 1000 pesos, and of packages of cotton stuffs as much as
+twenty men could carry. He likewise wished us to know that it was
+his desire to become a vassal of our emperor, and the great pleasure he
+felt to find that we were so near his metropolis, that he was every way
+well disposed towards Cortes and all the teules his brothers: he likewise
+wished to know from us what annual tribute in gold, silver, jewels,
+and cotton stuffs he was to forward to our great emperor, which would
+save us the trouble of coming to Mexico: he should, indeed, be pleased
+to see us, but our march there would be a terrible one, through a sterile
+and rocky country, and the fatigues which we should have to undergo
+grieved him the more when he considered the impossibility to remove
+those difficulties out of our way.</p>
+
+<p>To this Cortes answered, that he was very thankful for such kind
+feeling, as also for the presents, and the offer to pay tribute, but he
+must beg of the ambassadors not to leave again before we had reached
+the metropolis of Tlascalla, when he would deliver to them his answers
+for their monarch.</p>
+
+<p>The real fact was, he did not feel well enough just then, as the day
+previous he had taken a purgative of manzanilla,<a name="FNanchor_27_28" id="FNanchor_27_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_28" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> which latter is found
+on the island of Cuba, and is very wholesome when its use is rightly
+understood.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXIII" id="CHAPTER_LXXIII"></a>CHAPTER LXXIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the captain-general Xicotencatl arrives in our camp to negotiate
+terms of peace; the speech he made, and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Cortes was still discoursing with the ambassadors of Motecusuma,
+and about to dismiss them, to retire to rest, for the fit of ague was again
+coming upon him, when it was announced that the general Xicotencatl
+was approaching, with several caziques. They were clothed in cloaks,
+white and parti-coloured, that is, one half of the cloak was white and
+the other coloured, for these were their national colours in time of peace.
+The number of distinguished personages who accompanied Xicotencatl
+amounted altogether to about fifty. When they had arrived in Cortes'
+quarters, they paid him the most profound reverence, after their fashion,
+and burnt a quantity of copal before him. Cortes received them most
+friendly, and desired them to take place near him; upon which Xicotencatl
+said, "He came, in the name of his father, of Maxixcatzin, and
+of all the caziques of the republic of Tlascalla, to beg of us to admit
+them to our friendship: he, at the same time, in their name, came to
+do homage, and promise obedience to our emperor and master, and to
+beg forgiveness for having taken up arms against us. They had done
+this because they were ignorant as to who we were: indeed, they believed
+we had been sent by their enemy Motecusuma, who had often
+before used fraud and treachery to enter their country for the sake of
+plunder, and they now thought he contemplated another attack upon
+them: they, therefore, considered themselves bound to advance boldly
+into the field to protect their persons and their country. They were,
+however, very poor, and possessed neither gold, silver, jewels, nor
+cotton stuffs: they were in want of salt to savour their victuals, as
+Motecusuma would not allow them to stir out of their country to procure
+it. Their forefathers had certainly possessed some gold and precious
+stones, but this had from time to time been delivered up to Motecusuma,
+to prevent their total destruction. All this had happened a long
+time ago, and now they had nothing left wherewith to make us a present.
+It was not their fault, but their poverty, yet they were well disposed."</p>
+
+<p>After this preamble Xicotencatl brought various other accusations
+against Motecusuma and his allies. "The latter," he said, "were
+all hostile to their country, and left them no peace. They had certainly,
+up to this moment, defended themselves bravely at all times,
+but found that all their endeavours were fruitless against us, although
+they had renewed the conflict three several times; we were invincible.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>
+Hard experience at length taught them who we were, and they now
+desired to become our friends, and the vassals of the great emperor
+Don Carlos; for, they were convinced, that in alliance with us, they
+would be able to live in security and peace with their wives and children,
+and not be each moment exposed to the incursions of the
+treacherous Mexicans."</p>
+
+<p>Xicotencatl made various other offers of his services in the name of
+his country. This Xicotencatl was a tall man, broad shouldered, and
+well built, with a large fresh coloured face, full of scars, as if pitted
+with the smallpox. He may have been about thirty-five years of age,
+and was earnest and dignified in his deportment. Cortes thanked him
+most sincerely, saying, "he would acknowledge them as vassals of our
+emperor, and would, for the future, look upon them as our friends."</p>
+
+<p>Upon this Xicotencatl begged he would repair to the metropolis of
+his country, where all the caziques, elders, and papas were expecting
+us with impatience. Cortes answered, that he would comply with his
+request as soon as possible; for the present he had still some business
+to transact with the ambassadors of Motecusuma, and as soon as he
+had finished this he would visit them. He then continued to address
+them in a harsher tone of voice, and mentioned the repeated attacks
+they had made upon us. He would certainly bear them no malice,
+and freely forgave all the past, but they must sacredly observe the
+peace which he had granted them, and show no inconstancy in their
+conduct. If they did he would assuredly destroy their town and put
+all the inhabitants to the sword, and no longer listen to them, but
+carry on a war of extirpation to the very last. Xicotencatl, and all
+the distinguished personages who were with him, assured Cortes they
+would faithfully abide by their promise, and that they were ready to
+offer themselves as hostages in proof of their sincerity. Upon this
+followed various other discourses between Cortes, Xicotencatl, and the
+principal men of his suite. We presented them with blue beads for
+themselves, the elder Xicotencatl and most of the other caziques, with
+the assurance that we intended soon to visit their metropolis, which
+we desired they would announce to their countrymen.</p>
+
+<p>The Mexican ambassadors were present during the whole of this interview,
+and heard the friendly offers which the Tlascallans made us of
+their services; and were not at all pleased with the peace we had concluded,
+and easily foresaw it would prove disadvantageous for their
+country. When, therefore, Xicotencatl had taken his leave, they
+remarked rather smilingly to Cortes, that he should not repose any
+trust in their assurances of friendship and kind offers. All this was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>
+sheer deceit, and nothing but treachery was hidden in their sentiments.
+They merely wished thereby to entice us into their town, when they
+could fall upon us unawares and destroy us all. We should remember
+how often they had attacked us with their whole army, but finding
+open force of no avail, they now, after so many of their numbers had
+been killed and wounded, would try their chance with fine words and
+a pretended show of peace.</p>
+
+<p>To this Cortes answered with an air of determination, that he no
+way troubled himself about their intentions. If their suspicions proved
+true he would put the Tlascallans all to death. They might attack
+him by night or day, in the open field or in the town, it was all the
+same to him, and to convince himself as to how matters really stood he
+was determined to visit their metropolis. When the Mexican ambassadors
+found him thus determined, they begged of him to remain for
+at least another six days in his present quarters, that they might first
+send messengers to communicate with Motecusuma, and would return
+again with his answer in the time specified.</p>
+
+<p>To this Cortes consented, partly on account of his ague, partly because
+he thought the warnings the Mexicans had given him might not
+be altogether so unfounded as he imagined. In that time he could
+also gain more certain proofs of the real intentions of the Tlascallans.</p>
+
+<p>As everything now wore a peaceable aspect, and the whole country
+from the town of Vera Cruz up to our present quarters, was inhabited
+by friendly tribes and our allies, Cortes ventured to forward a letter to
+Juan de Escalante, who had remained behind there in garrison. He
+desired him to complete the buildings, and then gave him an account
+of the great victories we had gained since our arrival in Tlascalla, and
+how we had compelled the inhabitants to sue for peace. He also desired
+him to make a day of thanksgiving, and in every way to favour
+our allies of the Totonaque mountains. Lastly, he requested him to
+send two bottles of wine which he had buried in a certain corner of
+his quarters there, and some holy wafers, as we had none left. Escalante
+sent a speedy answer with the things Cortes required. It may easily
+be imagined how joyously this news was received at Vera Cruz, without
+my spending many words upon it.</p>
+
+<p>During these days we erected a majestic cross in our quarters, and
+Cortes had one of the temples in our neighbourhood cleansed and fresh
+plastered by the inhabitants of Zumpanzingo, and some other Indians.
+But, to return to our new friends, the caziques of Tlascalla; the postponement
+of our visit greatly distressed them, yet they continued to
+send us fowls and figs,<a name="FNanchor_28_29" id="FNanchor_28_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_29" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> which were now just in season, and a daily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>
+supply of provisions. This they did with the best of good will, nor
+would they ever take anything in return; on the contrary, they daily
+more earnestly begged of Cortes not to delay his visit any longer.
+Our general, however, was desirous of waiting the six days for the
+return of the Mexican ambassadors, and he each time put off the
+Tlascallans with some friendly excuse.</p>
+
+<p>The Mexicans faithfully kept their word, and at the expiration of
+the above-mentioned time six distinguished personages arrived from
+Mexico with a rich present from Motecusuma, in value above 3000
+pesos, consisting in gold trinkets of various workmanship, two hundred
+pieces of cotton stuffs, interwoven with feathers and other productions
+of Mexican art.</p>
+
+<p>When they handed over these presents to Cortes they informed him
+that Motecusuma was greatly delighted at the successful state of our
+affairs. For the rest he requested us most urgently not to bring any
+Tlascallans into his dominions, for whatever purpose it might be, and
+upon the whole not to trust them. They were merely watching to
+rob us of our gold and other valuables, as they were quite poverty-struck
+themselves, and possessed no fine cotton cloaks. This evil
+design they cherished the more fervently, as they knew that we were
+on friendly terms with them, and had received presents in gold and
+cotton stuffs. Cortes accepted these presents with every appearance
+of delight, and thanked them, with the assurance that he would render
+Motecusuma good services in return. If he should discover that the
+Tlascallans really bore treachery at heart they would have to pay very
+dearly for it. He, however, trusted that such thoughts were remote
+from their minds, and he would now repair thither in person to see
+how much truth there was in their statement.</p>
+
+<p>In the midst of this discourse several messengers arrived from
+Tlascalla, bringing Cortes information that all the old caziques of the
+country were on their road to pay us a visit, and conduct us into their
+city. On learning this, Cortes requested the Mexican ambassadors to
+stay with us three days before they departed again to their monarch
+with his answer; for that, at present, he was about to grant terms of
+peace to the Tlascallan chiefs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXIV" id="CHAPTER_LXXIV"></a>CHAPTER LXXIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the old caziques of Tlascalla arrived in our camp and invited
+Cortes, and all of us to visit their city, and what further
+happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The old caziques of Tlascalla finding that we did not arrive in their
+city, determined to call upon us themselves, and set out, some on foot
+and some in sedans and a species of hand-barrow. Besides those
+I mentioned above, (Maxixcatzin and the blind Xicotencatl, the
+elder,) there were Guaxolacima, Chichimeclatecl, and Tecapaneca of
+Topoyanco. Their suite was composed of several distinguished personages.
+When they arrived in presence of Cortes they paid him the
+profoundest respect, making him and us who stood around three deep
+bows. They likewise perfumed with copal, touched the ground with
+their hands, and kissed it.</p>
+
+<p>The elder Xicotencatl then addressed Cortes as follows:</p>
+
+<p>"Malinche! Malinche! often have we begged of you to forgive the
+hostile attacks we made upon you. We have already explained to you
+that we imagined you were in league with Motecusuma. Indeed, if
+we had known before what we now do, instead of refusing you admission,
+we would not only have marched out to meet you by the
+shortest route with a quantity of provisions, but have come to the very
+coast where your vessels lie, in order to conduct you hither. But, as
+you have now pardoned all this, I am come with all the caziques to
+beg of you to accompany us immediately to our city, and to construct
+in good part the reception which we intend to give you there according
+to the best of our abilities. Stay all other business for the present,
+Malinche, we beg of you, and go with us now. We greatly
+deplore that the Mexicans should have attempted to poison your mind
+with all manner of falsehoods respecting us, and that this should alone
+have withheld you from paying us a visit. We are quite accustomed
+to their slanders. You must not believe them, no, nor even listen to
+them, for all their actions and words are full of deceit."</p>
+
+<p>To which Cortes said, with serenity depicted on his countenance,
+"He knew years ago that we should one time visit this country. They
+were a brave people, and he was astonished they should have treated
+us as enemies. With regard to the Mexicans who were now present,
+they were merely waiting his commands to return to their monarch
+Motecusuma. He joyously accepted of their invitation to visit their
+city, and thanked them for the provisions they had sent, and also for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>
+all their other kind offers; they might depend upon our services in
+return. The reason why he had not visited them before this was
+solely owing to our want of men to transport the tepuzques," so they
+termed our cannon. When they heard this, they appeared exceedingly
+pleased, and immediately cried out, "How! was it nothing but this,
+and you would not tell us?" And, sure enough, scarcely half an hour
+elapsed before there were 500 porters on the spot, so that next morning
+early we were enabled to set out for the metropolis of Tlascalla. We
+marched forward as usual, with the heavy guns, the horse, the crossbow-men,
+and musketeers, in close order. Cortes had also requested
+the Mexican ambassadors to accompany us, in order that they might
+convince themselves that the people of Tlascalla were sincere. To
+allay their apprehensions, he assured them they should live in his own
+quarters, and not be molested.</p>
+
+<p>Before, however, I proceed with my narrative, I must explain how
+it happened that Cortes was termed Malinche by all the tribes through
+whose territories we had passed. I myself in future will call him by
+that name, excepting there where it would be improper. This name was
+given to him because our interpretress Do&ntilde;a Marina was always about
+his person, particularly when ambassadors arrived, and in our negotiations
+with the several caziques, as on those occasions she interpreted
+for both parties. They therefore called him the captain of Marina,
+and contracted that appellation in the word Malinche.<a name="FNanchor_29_30" id="FNanchor_29_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_30" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> This name
+was likewise given to Juan Perez de Artenga of Puebla, because he
+always accompanied Do&ntilde;a Marina, and to Geronimo de Aguilar for a
+similar reason. The former of these two even retained the name of
+Juan Perez Malinche. Our entry into the metropolis of Tlascalla took
+place twenty-four days after we had crossed the confines of the country,
+the 23d day of September, in the year of our Lord 1519.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXV" id="CHAPTER_LXXV"></a>CHAPTER LXXV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we marched into the city of Tlascalla, and were received by the
+old caziques; of the present they made us, and how they brought us
+their daughters and nieces; and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>When the caziques found that our baggage was moving forward,
+they hastened before us to make the necessary preparations for our
+reception, and to adorn our quarters with green boughs. We had
+arrived within a mile of their city when they again came out to meet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span>
+us, accompanied by their daughters, nieces, and other distinguished
+personages, in which those of the same kin or same family or tribe
+kept together. Without that of Topoyanco, which held the fifth
+degree, there were four tribes. The inhabitants of the other townships
+also kept flocking up, all distinguished by the national colours of their
+respective dresses, which, for want of cotton, were very prettily and
+neatly manufactured of coloured nequen. Next came the whole body
+of papas, of whom there were great numbers in the temple service.
+They carried the pans with glowing embers, and perfumed us. Some
+of them had on long white cloaks, after the fashion of surplices with
+capes, as worn by our canons. The hair of their heads was long and
+matted together, so that it would have been an impossibility to have put
+it in any shape or order without cutting it off: besides this, it was completely
+besmeared with blood, which trickled down over their ears,
+for they had been sacrificing that very day. The nails of their fingers
+were uncommonly long, and they held down their heads on approaching
+us, in token of humility. It was told us that these men were
+greatly revered for their religion. The principal personages now
+gathered themselves around Cortes' person, and formed a guard of
+honour. When we entered the town, the streets and balconies could
+scarcely contain the numbers of men and women who had come out
+to see us: delight was depicted on every countenance, and twenty
+baskets full of roses were brought us, of various colours and sweetly
+scented, which were presented to Cortes and the other soldiers whom
+they considered officers, and particularly to those who sat on horseback.
+In this way we gradually arrived to some spacious courtyards,
+where quarters had been prepared for us. Here Xicotencatl the elder
+and Maxixcatzin took Cortes by the hand and conducted him into his
+apartments. For each of us there was a separate bed, filled with a
+species of dried grass, and covered with cloaks of nequen. Our friends
+of Sempoalla and Xocotlan were quartered in our vicinity in a similar
+manner. Cortes then requested that the ambassadors of Motecusuma
+might lodge with him. We soon discovered that good-will and friendly
+feeling were universal towards us here, and we therefore somewhat
+relaxed in our ordinary precautions. The officer whose duty it was
+to post our sentinels and order the patrols, remarked to Cortes, that, as
+everything wore such a friendly aspect there, our usual watchfulness
+would not be required. "This may be very true," answered our
+general, "yet we will not relinquish that excellent custom. Though
+the people here may be very good, we must not trust too much to this
+peace, but always be upon our guard as if we expected each moment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>
+to be attacked. Many a general has been ruined by carelessness and
+over-confidence. We, who are a mere handful of men, and have been
+precautioned by Motecusuma himself, though he may not exactly have
+been in earnest, must be ready for action at a moment's notice."</p>
+
+<p>The two chief caziques, the elder Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin, were
+very much hurt at the military precautions we took, nor did they
+strive to hide their feelings from Cortes, but spoke to him as follows:
+"Malinche, if we are to draw a conclusion from the steps you are taking,
+you either look upon us as your enemies, or at least you place no confidence
+in us and the treaty of peace which has been concluded between
+us. You post sentinels and order your men to patrol the streets as
+formerly, when both armies stood in hostile array against each other.
+This you have not done of your own accord, Malinche, but because the
+Mexicans have secretly whispered to you fears of treachery, wishing
+thereby to estrange you from us. Believe us, you cannot put any faith
+in what they say. You are now in the midst of us; everything we
+have is at your service&mdash;our own persons and our children; and we
+are ready to suffer death for you. Ask for as many hostages as you
+like, and you shall have them."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes and all of us admired and were moved at the kind and graceful
+manner in which the old men expressed themselves. Our captain said
+he required no hostages; he had merely to make use of his eyes to
+convince himself that all was perfectly safe. These military precautions
+were ever customary with us, and they were not to take umbrage
+on that account. He thanked them for their kind intentions, and
+promised to render them great services in return.</p>
+
+<p>After this explanation, other persons of distinction arrived with a
+quantity of provisions, consisting of fowls, maise-bread, figs, and vegetables.
+We had, indeed, everything in the greatest abundance during
+the whole of the twenty days we lay in this town.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXVI" id="CHAPTER_LXXVI"></a>CHAPTER LXXVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How mass was said in the presence of a great number of caziques, and
+of the present the latter brought us.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The next morning early Cortes ordered an altar to be constructed,
+and mass to be said, as we now again had a supply of wine and holy
+wafers. Father Olmedo lying ill of the fever, which had greatly weak<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>ened
+him, the priest Juan Diaz officiated for him: Maxixcatzin, the
+elder Xicotencatl, and several other caziques were present.</p>
+
+<p>After mass, Cortes retired to his quarters. Those among us who
+were always about his person accompanied him: we were also followed
+by the old caziques and our interpreters, who were indispensable in
+such company. The elder Xicotencatl now informed Cortes that it
+was the general wish of the inhabitants to make him a present, if
+agreeable to him. Cortes answered that he should at all times be most
+happy to receive one: they accordingly spread some mats on the floor,
+and over these a few cloaks, upon which they arranged five or six
+small pieces of gold, a few stones of trifling value, and several parcels
+of manufactured nequen, altogether a very poor present, and not worth
+twenty pesos. The caziques, on presenting these things to Cortes, said
+to him, with a smile on their countenance, "Malinche! we can easily
+imagine that you will not exactly experience much joy on receiving a
+present of such wretched things as these; but we have told you before
+that we are poor, possessing neither gold nor other riches, as the
+deceitful Mexicans, with their present monarch Motecusuma, have by
+degrees despoiled us of everything we had. Do not look to the small
+value of these things, but accept them in all kindness, and as coming
+from your faithful friends and servants." These presents were at the
+same time accompanied by a quantity of provisions.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes accepted of all this with every appearance of delight, and
+assured the old men that, since these things came from them, and were
+given with such great good will, they had more value in his estimation
+than a whole house full of gold, and that he accepted of them in that
+light. These words he accompanied with numerous other kind sayings
+and assurances of the esteem he entertained for them.</p>
+
+<p>The caziques had also agreed among themselves to present us the
+most beautiful of their daughters and nieces. The old Xicotencatl,
+therefore, again addressed Cortes: "In order, Malinche, that you may
+have a still clearer proof of our good feeling towards you, and to show
+you how glad we are to do anything which we imagine may please you,
+we have resolved to give you our daughters in marriage, that they may
+have children by you. We should like to be completely fraternized
+with such good and brave men as you are. I myself have a daughter,
+who is very beautiful, and has never been married, whom I have destined
+for you."</p>
+
+<p>Maxixcatzin and most of the other caziques continued in the same
+strain, begging of us to take their daughters for our wives. These
+requests were accompanied by various other proffers of friendship, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>
+Maxixcatzin and Xicotencatl passed the whole day with us: the latter
+was blind with age; in order, therefore, to form to himself some idea
+of Cortes, he drew his hand over his hair, his face, his beard, and the
+whole of his body.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes answered, with respect to the women, that he himself and all
+of us were very grateful for them, and that we should take the first opportunity
+of rendering them a kindness in return.</p>
+
+<p>"What is your opinion," said Cortes, turning to father Olmedo,
+"would this not be the proper moment to desire these people to abolish
+their idols and the human sacrifices? From fear of the Mexicans, they
+will undoubtedly do anything we require of them." "It will be time
+enough," answered the priest, "when they bring us their daughters:
+then we shall have the best opportunity of telling them that we cannot
+accept of them until they have promised to abstain from their human
+sacrifices. If they comply, it is well; if they refuse, we know what
+our duty and our religion require of us."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXVII" id="CHAPTER_LXXVII"></a>CHAPTER LXXVII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the caziques presented their daughters to Cortes and all of us,
+and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The day following, the old caziques came and brought five young
+women with them, who, for Indian females, were in every sense handsome,
+and neatly dressed. Each had, in addition, a young woman as
+maid in waiting, and all were daughters of caziques. On this occasion,
+Xicotencatl thus spoke to Cortes: "Malinche, this is my daughter;
+she is still a virgin, and has never been married: take her to yourself,
+and give the others to your officers."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes received the young women from his hand, and appeared very
+pleased, declaring that he would now consider these females as our
+own, but desired that they should, for the present, remain with their
+fathers. The caziques inquired the reason of this, when Cortes replied:
+"I have no other reason than that I am bound first to fulfil my duty
+to the God whom we adore, and to the emperor our master, which is
+to require of you to abolish your idols, the human sacrifices, and other
+abominations practised among you, and exhort you to believe in him in
+whom we believe, who alone is the true God." Besides this, he told
+them many other things concerning our holy faith, which Do&ntilde;a Marina
+and Aguilar explained right well to them. Similar discourses took<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>
+place on every occasion: Cortes at the same time showed them the
+image of the holy Virgin, holding her inestimable Son in her arms, and
+he explained to them how that represented the blessed Virgin Mary: she
+was now high in the heavens above, and was the mother of our Lord
+Jesus Christ, whom she held in her arms, conceived by the Holy Ghost;
+that she was a virgin before, after, and during his birth. She was our
+mediator with her heavenly Son, our God.</p>
+
+<p>To this he added many other things concerning our holy religion,
+and concluded by saying: "If you are, indeed, our brothers, and you
+are really inclined to conclude a lasting peace with us, and if we are to
+take and keep your daughters as affectionate husbands should do, they
+must abandon their horrible idols, and believe in the Lord God whom
+we adore. They would soon discover the beneficial effect of this;
+blessings would be showered down upon them, the seasons would be
+fruitful, and all their undertakings would prosper; after death their
+souls would be transplanted to heaven, and partake of eternal glory;
+for, by the human sacrifices which they made to their idols, who were
+nothing but devils, they would be led to hell, where eternal fire would
+torment their souls." For the present Cortes said nothing further to
+them respecting their idols, as he had often before spoken to them
+concerning these.</p>
+
+<p>In answer to all this, they said to Cortes: "Malinche, we have heard
+all this from you on former occasions, and willingly believe that this
+your God and this illustrious woman are right good beings. But you
+should reflect how very recently you have arrived in our country, and
+you have but just entered our city. You should certainly give us time to
+learn more of your doings, manner of behaviour, and nature of your
+gods; and when we shall have satisfied ourselves respecting their
+qualities, we shall certainly make choice of those we consider best.
+How can you ask us to abandon our gods whom we have adored for so
+many years, and prayed and sacrificed to them? But if we should even
+do so to please you, what would our papas, our young men, yes, even
+our boys, say to it? Believe us, they would all rise up in arms. The
+papas, indeed, have already spoken to our teules, who have told them
+not to abolish our human sacrifices, nor any other of our ancient customs,
+otherwise they would destroy our whole country by famine,
+pestilence, and war."</p>
+
+<p>We might conclude from this straightforward and fearless answer,
+that it would be useless to insist any longer on this point, and that
+they would rather allow themselves to be killed than abolish their
+human sacrifices. Even father Olmedo, who was a profound theolo<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>gian,
+found himself compelled thus to address Cortes on the subject:
+"My opinion is, sir, that you should no longer urge this matter with
+these people. It is not acting right to force them to become Christians.
+I could likewise wish that we had not destroyed the idols at Sempoalla.
+This I am convinced ought not to be done until the people have gained
+some knowledge of our holy religion. What, indeed, do we gain by
+pulling down their idols from the temples? They have merely then to
+repair to another temple. But, on the other hand, we should never
+cease to exhort them with our pious lessons. In this way the time will
+certainly arrive, when they will find that our intentions and our advice
+are good."</p>
+
+<p>In this same strain the three cavaliers Alvarado, Leon, and Lugo
+likewise spoke to Cortes; assuring him that father Olmedo was in the
+right, and that they perfectly agreed with him, that it would be inadvisable
+again to touch upon this point with the caziques.</p>
+
+<p>Here, accordingly, the subject was dropped, and Cortes confined himself
+to ordering the idols to be taken down from a temple which had
+been recently built in the neighbourhood. The latter to be cleansed
+and fresh plastered, and the image of the blessed Virgin to be placed
+on it. To this the caziques readily consented, and when all was
+finished mass was said, and the daughters of the caziques were baptized.
+Xicotencatl's daughter was named Do&ntilde;a Louisa,&mdash;when Cortes took her
+by the hand and presented her to Alvarado, saying, at the same time,
+to Xicotencatl, that he to whom he had given her was his brother and a
+chief officer under him, who would certainly treat her well, and with
+whom she would live happily; to this Xicotencatl said he was perfectly
+agreeable.</p>
+
+<p>The niece or daughter of Maxixcatzin received the name of Do&ntilde;a
+Elvira. She was very beautiful, and was presented, if I still remember
+rightly, to Leon. The others were given to Oli, Sandoval, and Avila,
+who all subjoined their Christian names to theirs as if they had been
+young ladies of noble birth.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this it was also explained to the caziques why we always erected
+two crosses wherever we formed a camp and passed the night: assuring
+them amongst other things that their gods feared them. All this the
+caziques listened to with great attention. But before I continue my
+narrative I must add a few words about Xicotencatl's daughter, Do&ntilde;a
+Louisa, who was given to Alvarado.</p>
+
+<p>The whole of Tlascalla took the greatest interest in her welfare, and
+honored her as a woman invested with command. Alvarado, who was
+a bachelor, got a son by her, who was named Don Pedro; and also a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>
+daughter, Do&ntilde;a Leonora, who is now the wife of Don Francisco de
+la Cueva, a cavalier of distinction, and a relation of the duke of
+Albuquerque. She is already the mother of four or five sons, all
+valiant cavaliers. She is an excellent lady, and a daughter worthy of
+such a father, who, as every one knows, is comptoir of Santjago and
+chief justice and viceroy of Guatimala; nor is she less worthy of the
+house of Xicotencatl, for the latter ranked very high in Tlascalla, and
+was looked upon as a king.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_LXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER LXXVIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes gained some information respecting Mexico from
+Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Cortes one day took the caziques aside, and put several questions
+to them respecting the situation and affairs of Mexico. Xicotencatl,
+as the more intelligent and distinguished personage, answered his
+queries, and Maxixcatzin, who was likewise a man of high rank,
+assisted him from time to time.</p>
+
+<p>"Motecusuma," said Xicotencatl, "had such a vast army, that when
+he intended to conquer any large township, or of falling into any province,
+he invariably ordered 100,000 warriors into the field. They,
+the Tlascallans, had often experienced this in the many wars which
+they had waged with the Mexicans for upwards of 100 years."</p>
+
+<p>When Cortes here interrupted them with the question: "How they
+had managed to escape from being in the end subdued by such a vast
+army?" They replied, "That they had, indeed, often been worsted
+by the Mexicans, and lost many of their men, who were either killed in
+battle, or taken prisoners and sacrificed to the idols; but that they likewise
+had slain numbers of the enemy and taken many of them prisoners.
+Neither did the Mexicans ever approach so unobserved, but that they
+received some previous notice of their movements. In these cases they
+made every effort that lay in their power; could always depend on the
+assistance of the Huexotzincans; and, according to circumstances,
+either assailed the enemy or pursued a system of defence. Besides
+this, another circumstance was greatly in their favour, namely, that the
+Mexicans were excessively hated in all the provinces and among all the
+tribes which Motecusuma had subdued and plundered, and that the
+warriors who were forced to serve in his army fought with reluctance
+and with little courage. In this way, then, they defended their country<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>
+as well as they could. The greatest overthrow they ever experienced
+was from the Cholullans, whose town lay about a day's march from
+Tlascalla. The inhabitants there were a most deceitful set. In that
+town it was that Motecusuma usually assembled his troops, whence
+they generally commenced their march during night-time."</p>
+
+<p>Maxixcatzin here observed, "That Motecusuma had strong garrisons
+in every town, besides the warriors who marched out from the
+metropolis to the field of battle. Every province was compelled to pay
+him tribute, consisting in gold, silver, feathers, precious stones, cotton
+stuffs, as well as Indians of both sexes: some of whom he took into
+his service, and some were sacrificed. He was altogether such a
+powerful and wealthy monarch, that he accomplished and obtained
+everything he desired. His palaces were filled with riches and chalchihuis
+stones, on which he seized wherever he came. In short, all the
+wealth of the country was in his possession."</p>
+
+<p>They then gave such an account of the magnificence and splendour
+of his court, that if I here felt inclined to repeat what they told
+us, I should never finish; also of the number of his wives; some of
+whom he now and then gave in marriage to his relations; the great
+strength of his metropolis, how it lay in the midst of a lake, and the
+great depth of the latter. Several causeways, they added, led to this
+city, which were intersected in various places, over which wooden
+bridges were built, under which canoes could pass; but, if they were
+removed, the space between every two sections became an island, and
+all entrance to the town was completely cut off. Nearly the whole of
+the houses of the city were built in the water, and it was only possible
+to get from one building to another by means of drawbridges or
+canoes. Balconies were attached to each house, which were provided
+with a kind of breastwork, so that the inhabitants were able to defend
+themselves from the tops of the houses. Yet the whole town was well
+supplied with sweet water from the spring of Chapultepec, which lay
+about two miles from the town, whence the water was partly conveyed
+to the houses by means of pipes, partly in boats through the canals,
+and then retailed to the inhabitants.</p>
+
+<p>With respect to the weapons employed by this nation, they consisted
+in two-edged lances, which they threw by means of a thong, and would
+penetrate through any cuirass. They were likewise excellent shots with
+the bow and arrow, and carried pikes with blades made of flint, which
+were of very skilful workmanship and as sharp as razors. Besides
+these, they carried shields, and wore cotton cuirasses. They likewise
+employed a great number of slingers, who were provided with round<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>
+stones, long pikes, and sharp swords, which are used with both
+hands.</p>
+
+<p>To explain all this they brought forth large pieces of nequen, on
+which were depicted their battles and their art of warfare. When
+Cortes and we others considered we had gained sufficient information
+of these things, the discourse turned on subjects of greater importance.
+Our friends told us how and whence they came into this country, and
+how they had settled themselves there; how it came that, notwithstanding
+their vicinity to the Mexicans, they resembled each other so
+little, and lived in perpetual warfare with each other. The tradition
+was also handed down from their forefathers, that in ancient times
+there lived here a race of men and women who were of immense
+stature with heavy bones, and were a very bad and evil-disposed people,
+whom they had for the greater part exterminated by continual war, and
+the few that were left gradually died away.</p>
+
+<p>In order to give us a notion of the huge frame of this people, they
+dragged forth a bone, or rather a thigh bone, of one of those giants,
+which was very strong, and measured the length of a man of good
+stature. This bone was still entire from the knee to the hip joint. I
+measured it by my own person, and found it to be of my own length,
+although I am a man of considerable height. They showed us many
+similar pieces of bones, but they were all worm-eaten and decayed;
+we, however, did not doubt for an instant, that this country was once
+inhabited by giants. Cortes observed, that we ought to forward these
+bones to his majesty in Spain by the very first opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>The caziques also mentioned another tradition which had come down
+from their forefathers. A certain god, to whom they paid great
+honours, had informed them that there would one time come from the
+rising of the sun, out of distant countries, a people who would subject
+and rule over them. If we were that people they should feel delighted,
+for we were courageous and good-hearted. This old prophecy was
+also brought up when we were negotiating terms of peace with them,
+and they had chiefly offered us their daughters in order to bring about
+a relationship between us and themselves, and to obtain assistance
+against the Mexicans; this they had communicated to their idols.</p>
+
+<p>We were all greatly astonished at this account, and inquired of each
+other in amazement, whether all they told us could be true. Cortes
+said to them, "That we came, indeed, from the rising of the sun. The
+emperor, our master, had purposely sent us, that we might become
+their brothers, as he had had some previous knowledge respecting their
+country. May God in his mercy grant," continued Cortes, "that we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>
+may be the means of saving you from eternal perdition!" To which
+we all added, "Amen!"</p>
+
+<p>The good reader will now, no doubt, have heard sufficient of our
+discourses with the people of Tlascalla. And I myself shall be glad to
+cut them short here, as I have many other things to relate besides
+these.</p>
+
+<p>Among others, in particular, the burning mountain of Huexotzinco,
+which, at the time we were in Tlascalla, happened to be emitting more
+flames than usual, and Cortes and all of us, to whom a volcano was something
+new, regarded it in astonishment. Diego de Ordas, one of our
+chief officers, entertained the bold idea to inspect this wonder more minutely,
+and begged leave of our general to ascend the mountain, who
+granted this request.</p>
+
+<p>Ordas took two of our men with him, and desired some of the chief
+personages of Huexotzinco to accompany him. They certainly did
+not refuse, but tried to deter him by assuring him, that when he
+should have ascended the Popocatepetl, for so they termed this volcano,
+half way, he would not be able to advance further on account of the
+trembling of the earth, and the flames, stones and ashes which were
+emitted from the crater. They themselves never durst venture higher
+than to where some temples were built to the teules of Popocatepetl.
+And indeed they left Ordas when he arrived at that spot. The latter,
+however, boldly continued to ascend with our two soldiers until he had
+reached the summit.</p>
+
+<p>While they were still ascending, the volcano began to emit huge
+flames of fire, half burnt and perforated stones, with a quantity of
+ashes; and the whole mountain shook under their feet to the very foundation.
+They then halted for an hour, until they found that the smoke
+and fire gradually began to diminish and less ashes to fall; they then
+continued to ascend until they reached the crater, which was perfectly
+round and about a mile in diameter. From this elevation they could
+plainly discern the great city of Mexico, with the whole of its lake,
+and the surrounding townships; for this mountain only lies about
+forty-eight miles from Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>After Ordas had well viewed everything and sufficiently enjoyed
+and wondered at the sight of Mexico and its suburbs, he again
+returned with the two soldiers and the Indians of Huexotzinco to
+Tlascalla. The inhabitants there considered this undertaking to be
+extremely venturesome, and even we ourselves who had never seen a
+burning mountain before, were perfectly astonished at the account
+which Ordas gave Cortes of his hazardous enterprise. Indeed at that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>
+time it might well be termed hazardous! Subsequently, to be sure,
+several other Spaniards and Franciscan monks ascended to the mouth
+of this volcano, but Ordas was nevertheless the first who had ventured.
+When, therefore, he afterwards again returned to Spain, he begged
+permission of his majesty to bear a volcano in his coat of arms. These
+arms are at present borne by his nephew of the same name, living at
+Puebla. As long as we remained in this country we never again saw
+the mountain throw out so much fire, or heard of its making such a
+heavy rumbling noise, as on this occasion, and not until the year 1539
+did it burst out again.</p>
+
+<p>Enough, however, of this mountain; we now pretty well know what
+it is. Subsequently we saw many other volcanoes, as those of
+Nicaragua and Guatimala; after which that of Huexotzinco is scarcely
+worth noticing. I have still to mention that in Tlascalla we found
+houses built of wood, in the shape of cages, in which numbers of
+Indians, of both sexes, were confined, and fattened for their sacrifices
+and feasts. We never hesitated a single moment to break them down
+and liberate the prisoners. These unfortunate beings, however, never
+durst leave our side, and this was the only means of saving them from
+being butchered. From this moment Cortes gave orders to break
+open these cages wherever we came, for we found them in every township.
+We all showed our horror of these atrocities, and earnestly
+reproved the caziques for it, who then promised no longer to kill and
+devour human beings. I say they promised, but that was all, and if
+we were but an instant out of sight the same barbarities were committed.
+It is now, however, high time to think of our march to
+Mexico.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXIX" id="CHAPTER_LXXIX"></a>CHAPTER LXXIX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How our captain Hernando Cortes and all our officers and soldiers
+determine to march to Mexico.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>We had now been seventeen days in Tlascalla, and had heard so
+much during that time respecting the immense treasures of Motecusuma,
+and the splendour of his metropolis, that Cortes resolved to hold a
+consultation concerning our march to Mexico, with all those officers
+and soldiers amongst us whom he presumed were inclined to advance
+further on. In this council of war it was agreed that we should commence
+our march thither without delay; various opinions, however,
+were expressed on the occasion in our camp. Many maintained that
+it would be acting over-rashly to venture with a mere handful of men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>
+into a strongly fortified city, whose monarch had such vast numbers
+of warriors at his command. But Cortes declared that all arguing on
+this point was useless; we could not alter the resolution we had come
+to, and we had on every occasion expressed our desire to pay our respects
+personally to Motecusuma. When those who were averse to
+this step saw his determination, and that the majority of us warriors
+were devoted with our very hearts to him, crying out, "Forward, now
+or never!" they ceased to make any further opposition. Those who
+opposed us were those again who had possessions in the island of
+Cuba; we other poor soldiers were ready to sacrifice our very existence
+in battle, and to undergo all manner of fatigues for God and our
+sovereign. When Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin were convinced that it
+was our determination to march to Mexico, they grew anxious on our
+account. They urgently dissuaded Cortes from it, and warned him
+not to put the slightest trust in Motecusuma, nor altogether in any
+of the Mexicans,&mdash;to put no faith in his show of veneration, his courteous
+and humble talk. All their professions of friendship, said they,
+and even their very presents had treachery at the bottom; for what
+they give at one moment they take away at another. They advised
+us to be upon our guard night and day; for they were perfectly assured
+that the Mexicans would fall upon us when we were least prepared
+to defend ourselves. Neither were we to spare life to any of
+them, if it should come to a battle;&mdash;to the young man that he might
+not again take up arms against us, to the old man that he might not
+do us injury by his counsel.</p>
+
+<p>They gave us many similar precautions, and our captain assured
+them how grateful he was for it, and otherwise showed them every
+possible kindness, made them and the other caziques various presents,
+and divided among them a great portion of the fine stuffs which had
+been presented to him by Motecusuma. Cortes at the same time remarked
+to the caziques, that it would be the best possible thing if
+peace and friendship could be brought about between themselves and
+the Mexicans, that they might no longer continue in the disagreeable
+necessity of making shift with other things for want of cotton, salt,
+and other wares.</p>
+
+<p>To this Xicotencatl immediately replied, "That with the Mexicans
+a treaty of peace was a mere formality: enmity, nevertheless, always
+clung fast to their hearts. It was the characteristic of this people to
+plot the foulest treacheries under the semblance of profound peace.
+No reliance could be placed on their promises, their words were empty
+sounds, and he could not remind and beg of us too often to be upon
+our guard against the snares of this vile people."<a name="FNanchor_30_31" id="FNanchor_30_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_31" class="fnanchor">[30]</a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Next came into consideration the route we should take in our march
+to Mexico. Motecusuma's ambassadors, who still remained with us,
+and wished to act as our guides, maintained that the best and most
+level road lay through the town of Cholulla, whose inhabitants, as subjects
+of Motecusuma, would be ready to lend any assistance.</p>
+
+<p>We were also unanimously of opinion that this was the road we
+ought to take; but the caziques of Tlascalla, on the contrary, were
+quite downcast, when they learnt our determination, and maintained
+that we ought to march over Huexotzinco, whose inhabitants were
+their relatives and friends, and that we ought not to take our road
+through Cholulla, where Motecusuma was accustomed to form his vile
+stratagems. Their arguments, however, were of no avail: Cortes adhered
+to his resolution of marching over that town. His reason for taking that
+road was because this town, according to general report, was thickly
+populated, had many beautiful towers, and large cues and temples, and
+lay in a beautiful valley, surrounded by extensive townships well
+stocked with provisions. Indeed, at that time even, Cholulla, when
+viewed at a distance, had the appearance of our great city of Valladolid
+of Old Castile. At Cholulla, moreover, we should have our friends of
+Tlascalla in the immediate neighbourhood; we could not, therefore,
+select a more proper spot to form our plans of reaching the city of Mexico
+without coming into contact with the great body of its troops. For in
+all truth, if God had not mercifully assisted us with his heavenly arm,
+and lent us strength in the moment of need, it would not have been
+possible for us to have achieved what we did!</p>
+
+<p>After a long deliberation thus, the route over Cholulla was fixed upon,
+and Cortes sent to acquaint the inhabitants with our intentions, more
+particularly as, notwithstanding they dwelt so near, they had despatched
+no ambassadors to us, nor shown any of those attentions which were
+due to us who came in the name of our great monarch, who, he added,
+had the good of the people of Cholulla at heart. He at the same time
+desired that all the caziques and papas of the town should repair to our
+quarters, and swear allegiance to our sovereign and master, otherwise
+he should look upon them as our enemies.</p>
+
+<p>While Cortes was despatching this message, and making other arrangements,
+it was announced to him that four ambassadors had arrived
+with presents in gold from the powerful Motecusuma, who, indeed,
+never despatched any messengers from his court if not provided with
+presents by him. He would have considered it an insult offered to us
+if he had not done so. I will relate in the following chapter what
+message these ambassadors brought.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXX" id="CHAPTER_LXXX"></a>CHAPTER LXXX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the great Motecusuma despatched four ambassadors to us, all men
+in high authority, with presents in gold and cotton stuffs, and what
+they said to our captains.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>When Cortes admitted the four ambassadors into his presence they
+paid him and we other warriors, who stood around his person, the
+most profound respect, and placed before him the presents, consisting
+of valuable gold trinkets of various workmanship, worth about 10,000
+pesos; and in ten packages of cotton stuffs, most beautifully interwoven
+with feathers: all of which our general received with a friendly
+smile. They then said that their monarch could not help feeling
+astonished that we had made such a long stay among a poor and uncivilized
+people, who were even not fit for slaves, but at the same time
+so viciously disposed, so treacherous and thievish, that some day or
+night when we least expected it they would murder us merely for the
+sake of plunder. Motecusuma begged of us rather to visit his town,
+where, at least, we might enjoy the good things it offered, though even
+these should be below our deserts, and not equal to what he could
+wish. We should be regularly supplied with the necessary provisions,
+though these had all to be brought into their city from other parts.</p>
+
+<p>These expressions of friendship were merely sent by Motecusuma in
+order to entice us from Tlascalla, being aware that we stood in close
+friendship with its inhabitants, and that the caziques to strengthen the
+union had given their daughters to Malinche and his officers. For he
+would easily conjecture that nothing good could ensue to the Mexicans
+from our alliance with them, and this was the reason why he baited us
+with gold and other presents that we might enter into his territory, or
+that we should, at least, quit the country of the Tlascallans.</p>
+
+<p>The Tlascallans were personally acquainted with these ambassadors,
+and they told our captain that all of them were great personages and
+landed proprietors, who had subjects of their own. These ambassadors
+Motecusuma employed on the most important matters only. Cortes
+returned them many thanks, in the most flattering manner, for their
+civilities and the expressions of friendship they made in the name of
+their monarch, and he desired them to say that in a short time he would
+pay his respects to him. He then invited them to pass some time
+amongst us.</p>
+
+<p>About this time Cortes also sent two of our chief officers in advance
+to communicate with Motecusuma and view the great city of Mexico,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>
+and inspect its strong fortifications and other works of defence. These
+officers were Alvarado and Vazquez de Tapia. They set out on their
+march, and the four ambassadors who had brought the last present
+remained with us as hostages. Our two officers were accompanied by
+the other messengers who had previously arrived. At that time I was
+suffering from a severe wound, accompanied by fever, and could procure
+no medicine to relieve my sufferings, so that I cannot now recall to my
+memory how far these two officers proceeded on their journey: this,
+however, I have not forgotten, that as soon as it was known that Cortes
+had sent these cavaliers at a venture to Mexico, it met with universal
+disapprobation, and we desired that they might be recalled from their
+journey, as nothing could ensue from this but a mere view of that city;
+and a despatch was accordingly sent after them, with orders for their
+immediate return to our camp. They were not long returning, as Tapia
+had been attacked by fever on the road. When the ambassadors who
+accompanied them related this to Motecusuma, he was very curious to
+know something about the features and the height of these two teules,
+who had been on their way to Mexico, and whether they were officers.
+These ambassadors, it appears, informed him, that Alvarado was a man
+whose countenance was particularly graceful and noble, shone like the
+sun, and that he was an officer. They had indeed taken a faithful
+likeness of him, and gave him the name of <i>Tonatio</i>,<a name="FNanchor_31_32" id="FNanchor_31_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_32" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> which he retained
+ever after among them, and signifies the <i>Sun, son of the Sun</i>. Of
+Tapia, that he was a man of a very stately deportment, powerful, and
+likewise a chief officer. Motecusuma was sorely grieved to hear of
+their return; his ambassadors, however, had correctly delineated their
+physiognomies and stature: for Alvarado was in every sense beautifully
+proportioned in body, noble in his gait, had very pleasing features, and
+an amiable manner of expressing himself, so that there always appeared
+a smile on his countenance; in the same way Tapia, notwithstanding
+a certain expression of bodily strength which he had about him, had
+great nobleness in his carriage.</p>
+
+<p>For the rest, we were not a little delighted when they reappeared in
+our quarters; nor did we make a secret of our opinion, that their
+mission had not exactly been the most prudent of Cortes' resolves.
+But I will say nothing further of this matter, as it has little to do with
+my history.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXI" id="CHAPTER_LXXXI"></a>CHAPTER LXXXI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the inhabitants of Cholulla despatched four Indians to us, all men
+of no distinction, to apologise for not having visited us in Tlascalla,
+and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>I mentioned in the preceding chapter that our captain had sent a
+message to Cholulla, inviting the inhabitants of that town to visit us
+in Tlascalla. When the caziques there received this message, they
+merely thought proper to send us four Indians of mean rank, and
+apologised for not appearing themselves, on account of indisposition.
+These messengers neither brought any provisions nor anything else
+with them, but in a few dry words offered the excuse just mentioned.</p>
+
+<p>The caziques of Tlascalla who were present when these messengers
+arrived, were struck with their appearance, and remarked to Cortes
+that this message was a real insult to him and all of us, since these
+messengers were <i>Macehuales</i>,<a name="FNanchor_32_33" id="FNanchor_32_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_33" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> and people of mean condition.</p>
+
+<p>This circumstance induced Cortes to despatch four Indians of Sempoalla
+to Cholulla, telling them to acquaint the inhabitants there that
+he should expect an embassy from them within the space of three
+days, consisting of men of rank and authority. The distance between
+them and him was merely twenty miles, and if no one appeared within
+the stated time, he should consider the town of Cholulla in rebellion
+against us. If, however, the embassy he required did make its appearance,
+it was his intention to reveal matters of importance to them, for
+the salvation of their souls, and salutary to their whole existence; he
+would then also look upon them as friends and brothers, in the same
+way as he considered their neighbours the Tlascallans. If, however,
+our proposals met with their entire disapprobation, and if they did not
+consider our friendship worthy of acceptance, we should be far from
+troubling them with our presence.</p>
+
+<p>When the inhabitants of Cholulla were made acquainted with this
+friendly declaration, they sent word that the reason why they could
+not come to Tlascalla was, because they were at enmity with the inhabitants,
+and were well aware how they and their ruler Motecusuma had
+been slandered by them: we had merely to quit the town of Tlascalla
+and the boundaries of that province, and if then they did not do their
+duty towards us, we might look upon them in the light we had threatened,
+and treat them accordingly.</p>
+
+<p>Our captain considered this excuse perfectly reasonable, and we
+therefore resolved upon marching to Cholulla. When the caziques of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>
+Tlascalla saw that our determination was fixed, they thus addressed
+Cortes: "Then you rather put your trust in what the Mexicans say,
+than in us who are your friends? We have often impressed on
+your mind how particularly you should be upon your guard with the
+people of Cholulla, and against the power of Mexico in general; however,
+in order that you may have assistance in case of need, we have
+armed 10,000 of our warriors to accompany you."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes expressed his thanks to these excellent men for their good
+wishes, and deliberated with us as to the policy of entering with such
+a large army into a country whose friendship we were desirous of
+gaining. After mature consideration, we came to the conclusion that
+2000 men would be a sufficient number to join us, and Cortes accordingly
+begged our friends for so many, and the rest were thus forced to
+remain at home.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXII" id="CHAPTER_LXXXII"></a>CHAPTER LXXXII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we arrived in the town of Cholulla, and the brilliant reception
+we met with.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Early one morning we broke up our quarters, and left for the
+town of Cholulla. We marched onward in the best order possible;
+for, as I have before remarked, we were always doubly on our guard
+wherever we suspected hostilities. The first day's march brought us
+to a river which flows about four miles this side of Cholulla, and we
+took up our night's quarters at a spot where now a stone bridge is built
+across the river. Here, huts and messrooms had been erected for our
+accommodation.</p>
+
+<p>This same night ambassadors arrived from the caziques of Cholulla,
+all personages of the first rank, to bid us welcome in their territory.
+They brought us provisions, consisting of fowls and maise-bread, and
+announced to us that all the caziques and papas would call to give us
+a friendly reception, and begged we would excuse them for not having
+come out immediately. Cortes returned them thanks through Do&ntilde;a
+Marina and Aguilar for the provisions and their kind intentions; we
+then laid ourselves down to rest, after we had posted the necessary
+sentinels and ordered the patrols.</p>
+
+<p>With break of day we put ourselves in motion, and marched
+direct for the town, within a short distance of which we were met
+by the caziques, papas, and numbers of other Indians who had come<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>
+out to welcome us. Most of them were clad in a species of cotton
+cloak, similar in shape to our marlotas.<a name="FNanchor_33_34" id="FNanchor_33_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_34" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> These cloaks are also worn
+by the Capotecas Indians. They all appeared friendly, and well-disposed
+towards us. The papas carried along with them earthern censors,
+with which they perfumed our officers and those soldiers who
+stood nearest.</p>
+
+<p>When the papas and other chief Indians saw the Tlascallans who
+had accompanied us, they begged of Do&ntilde;a Marina to remind Cortes
+that it was not proper for their enemies to enter into the town with
+weapons in their hands. Cortes then ordered the officers and the
+whole of us to halt, and spoke to us as follows: "I am of opinion,
+gentlemen, that, previous to our entering into Cholulla, we should, by
+kind words, elicit from these papas and caziques what their real intentions
+are. They seem hurt that these our friends the Tlascallans should
+have accompanied us, and are, indeed, perfectly right in what they say;
+wherefore it is my intention to acquaint them, in a mild manner, with
+our reasons for visiting their city. You know already, from the Tlascallans,
+that these people are treacherous by nature; it is, therefore,
+most prudent we should first desire them to take an oath of allegiance
+to our sovereign."</p>
+
+<p>He then desired Do&ntilde;a Marina to call the caziques and papas around
+him where he sat on horseback, all of us being close at his side. Three
+of the principal caziques and two papas immediately appeared in Cortes'
+presence, and addressed him thus: "Malinche, you must not harbour
+any suspicion against us for not having come to Tlascalla to pay our
+respects to you there, and because we did not send you any provisions.
+We were not wanting in good wishes towards you, but Maxixcatzin,
+Xicotencatl, and the whole of Tlascalla are at enmity with us. They
+have too grossly slandered us and our great monarch, and now they
+no longer abide by words, but have the audacity to be upon the point
+of entering, all armed, into our city, under your protection. We earnestly
+beg you will tell them to return to their own country, or at
+least command them to remain outside in the fields, and not to march
+into our city in such a manner. The rest of you are at liberty to enter
+at any time, and are perfectly welcome."</p>
+
+<p>As soon as our captain was informed of this their reasonable request
+he sent for Alvarado and Oli, and commissioned them to beg of the
+Tlascallans to erect themselves huts and barracks outside the town, and
+not to follow us there except those of them who transported our heavy
+guns, and our friends of Sempoalla. These officers were, at the same
+time, to inform them what had occasioned these orders, and the great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>
+fear in which all the caziques and papas stood of them; that they
+should be duly informed of the day when we commenced our march
+through Cholulla to Mexico; lastly, they were desired not to grieve on
+account of this change.</p>
+
+<p>When the inhabitants of Cholulla perceived the arrangements which
+Cortes had made respecting the Tlascallans, they appeared more easy;
+upon which Cortes acquainted them that our sovereign and master,
+whose subjects we were, was a powerful monarch, who had under his
+command many great kings and caziques. We were sent by him into
+this country to acquaint them, in his name, that, in future, they were
+no longer to worship idols, make human sacrifices, eat human flesh, and
+were to abstain from committing unnatural crimes, and all other abominations.
+We had come to their town because the road to Mexico lay
+through it, whither we were going to hold a conference with the great
+Motecusuma; and we were also desirous of considering them as brothers.
+Cortes further said that other great caziques had already sworn obedience
+and submission to our sovereign, and he hoped they would follow
+their example.</p>
+
+<p>In answer to this, they said that we really demanded too much; we
+had scarcely seen them before we required of them to abolish their
+teules, which they could not think of complying with; but as regarded
+doing homage to our sovereign, in so far they would yield to our wishes.
+They accordingly made a verbal promise of allegiance, but not with
+the usual formalities, in presence of a royal notary; upon this we made
+our entry into the city of Cholulla. The tops of the houses and streets
+were everywhere crowded with people to gaze upon us. And who can
+wonder? They had never before seen men like ourselves, nor any
+horses! Through this mass of people we were conducted to our quarters,
+consisting of several large apartments, in which all of us, with our
+friends of Sempoalla and the Tlascallans who transported our baggage,
+found plenty of room, and we were immediately supplied with abundance
+of good victuals.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXIII" id="CHAPTER_LXXXIII"></a>CHAPTER LXXXIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the inhabitants of Cholulla concerted a plan, at the instigation of
+Motecusuma, to murder us all, and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The splendid reception we met with at Cholulla was certainly well
+meant and honest on the part of the inhabitants, yet a most rapid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>
+change took place. Motecusuma, namely, through his ambassadors,
+had concocted a plan with the inhabitants to murder us all. The
+latter were ordered to arm themselves in all secrecy, and act in concert
+with 20,000 of his troops, who were already on their road, and
+would enter Cholulla by stealth, when they were to fall upon us unawares
+in a body, harass us day and night, take as many of us prisoners
+as they could, and send us bound to Mexico. These orders were
+accompanied with great promises and presents of jewels, and other
+precious things,&mdash;among them a golden drum. The papas also received
+instructions to sacrifice twenty of us to their idols.</p>
+
+<p>All this was nicely planned, and ready to burst forth. Motecusuma's
+troops lay for a part hid among the woods, about two miles from Cholulla;
+another portion had been secretly admitted into the dwellings of
+the Cholullans. All were well armed, and the balconies of the houses
+had been strengthened by breastworks, the streets barricaded by heaps
+of earth, and intersected by deep holes, so as to render our horse useless.
+Some houses had even been filled with neck-straps, ropes made of
+twisted hides, and long poles, to which we were to be bound and transported
+to Mexico. But the Almighty had willed this otherwise, and all
+their designs were frustrated, as the kind reader will shortly see.</p>
+
+<p>For the present we were lodged in good quarters, and received a
+regular and plentiful supply of provisions during the first days; and
+though all seemed in profound peace, we did not relax in our excellent
+custom of keeping a sharp look-out: and, indeed, a visible change was
+taking place, for, on the third day, provisions were no longer brought
+us, nor did any cazique or papa make his appearance among us: if any
+Indian did approach our quarters from curiosity, he merely came with
+derisive smiles, as if to convey that something unexpected was going to
+befall us. Cortes, perceiving this, desired the ambassadors of Motecusuma,
+who still remained with us, to order the caziques to send us
+provisions as usual. Some wood and water was now indeed brought
+us, but the old man who came with it assured us that there was no
+more maise left in Cholulla. That very day even other ambassadors
+had arrived from Motecusuma, who joined those staying with us, and
+delivered their monarch's message to Cortes without any show of courtesy,
+and in an impudent tone of voice, saying that their monarch
+desired we should not come to his city, as he could not provide for our
+sustenance there. To this they required an immediate answer, they
+being in a hurry to return with our reply to Mexico. As soon as Cortes
+saw what a sad turn affairs had taken, he spoke with much reserve, and
+answered the ambassadors in the most courteous manner possible, telling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>
+them how greatly he was astonished that so powerful a monarch as
+Motecusuma should so often change his mind: in the meantime he
+begged of them to postpone their return until the following day, when
+he would be able to say in how far we could comply with their monarch's
+wishes.</p>
+
+<p>If my memory is correct, he likewise presented them with a few
+strings of glass pearls. It is, however, certain that they promised to
+remain until the morrow.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as this conference had ended, Cortes called us all together,
+and told us to be particularly upon our guard, as the inhabitants, no
+doubt, had some evil design in hand. He then sent for the principal
+cazique, whose name has slipped my memory, and desired him, if he
+could not come in person, to send some one else; but received an
+answer that he was indisposed, and that neither he nor any other of
+the chiefs could come.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, perceiving this unfavorable aspect of affairs, ordered two
+papas to be brought into his presence from a large cu<a name="FNanchor_34_35" id="FNanchor_34_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_35" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> adjoining our
+quarters, where several other papas had assembled together. This was
+accordingly done with every mark of respect due to their persons.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes commenced by presenting each with a chalchihuis, a stone
+which they prize as much as we do a smaragdus. He then, in a most
+affectionate manner, inquired of them what had caused the fear which
+had seized the caziques, the other chiefs, and the papas, and why they
+no longer called upon us, though we had sent them invitations? One
+of these papas appeared to hold a superior rank, as of a bishop, above the
+others; all the cues of the town stood under him, and the inhabitants
+paid him the profoundest veneration. This personage stated, in reply
+to Cortes, that the papas did not entertain any fear for us: if the
+cazique and other chief personages would not make their appearance,
+he was very willing to call upon them, and he doubted not for an instant
+but that they would immediately repair to our quarters.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes desired him accordingly to go and call them; in the meantime
+he would detain the other papa. It was not long before this chief
+priest reappeared in our quarters, bringing along with him the caziques
+and the other principal personages of the district. Cortes inquired of
+them what cause they had had to fear us, and why they no longer sent
+us anything to eat? adding, that if our stay in their town was burdensome
+to them, we would leave the very next morning for Mexico, to pay
+our respects to their monarch Motecusuma: they had merely to furnish
+us with a requisite number of their porters to convey our baggage and
+the tepuzques, (that is, our cannon,) and to send us provisions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The cazique was so embarrassed at what Cortes had said, that he
+scarcely durst open his mouth; but at length promised us the provisions
+we required, although he had been, he added, commanded by
+Motecusuma, his sovereign, to withhold them, and not to allow us to
+proceed any further on our march.</p>
+
+<p>During this conference, three of our Sempoallan friends entered, and
+secretly acquainted Cortes that they had found deep holes in the streets
+adjoining our quarters, which were thinly covered over with sticks and
+earth, so as to be imperceptible to the eye, unless by close inspection;
+they had the curiosity to remove the earth from off one of these holes,
+and found, sticking up at the bottom, numbers of short stakes sharply
+pointed, and no doubt placed there to wound our horse when they fell
+into the holes: heaps of stones had been gathered on the tops of the
+houses, and the latter strengthened by breastworks made of burnt
+bricks. Every preparation had been made for an attack, and another
+street was strongly barricaded by large wooden beams. At this same
+moment eight Tlascallans also arrived from their quarters outside the
+town, and said to Cortes, "Are you ignorant, Malinche, of the treacherous
+designs which are going on in this town? We have been given
+to understand that the Cholullans last night sacrificed seven persons to
+their god of war, among them five children, in order to obtain from
+him a promise of victory over you. And we also know that all their
+goods, wives, and children have been sent out of the town."</p>
+
+<p>On learning this piece of news, Cortes desired these men to return
+to their quarters and tell their chiefs to hold themselves in readiness to
+fall into the town at a moment's notice. Then, turning to the cazique,
+papas, and chiefs of Cholulla, he told them to allay their fears; to remain
+true to the promise they had made with respect to our monarch,
+otherwise he should find himself obliged to punish them severely: he
+had already acquainted them that, on the following morning, he intended
+to take his departure for Mexico, and he should require 2000 of
+their warriors to join his army, a like number having been furnished by
+the Tlascallans.</p>
+
+<p>The chiefs, in reply, assured Cortes of their willingness to comply
+with his wishes; they would find him the number of warriors and
+porters he required; they then took their leave to make the necessary
+preparations, and appeared perfectly confident, for they thought we
+should not be able to stand against their warriors and the army of
+Motecusuma, which lay in ambush in the defiles, and that they should
+be able either to kill us or take us prisoners, as we should be unable to
+use our horses on account of the deep holes. They likewise ordered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>
+their men to block up all the outlets of the town, and so inclose us in
+the narrow streets, as we intended leaving next morning. Every one
+was to be particularly on his guard, and to perform his part at the
+right time. They would also send 2000 men in advance, and as we
+did not dream of what was going to take place, they would make easy
+work with us, take us prisoners without danger, and carry us off bound
+to Mexico. There was no doubt as to their success, for they had sacrificed
+to their god of war, and obtained a promise of victory from him.</p>
+
+<p>While they were thus making sure of victory, Cortes made every
+effort to discover their plans, and commissioned Do&ntilde;a Marina to present
+the two papas, he had first spoken to, with additional chalchihuis
+stones, and acquaint them that Malinche was very desirous of having
+a second interview with them. Do&ntilde;a Marina was quite an adept in
+such matters, and succeeded by means of the presents, to induce them
+to accompany her into our general's quarters, who then desired them
+to disclose everything faithfully to him, which, as priests and men of
+rank, who would disgrace themselves by telling lies, they were doubly
+bound to do. He also assured them that the trust they reposed in
+him should not be betrayed, particularly as we were going to leave next
+day; and in order to give more weight to his words, he made them
+considerable promises. The papas then confessed that their sovereign
+Motecusuma could come to no resolution with himself as to whether he
+ought to allow us to march towards his metropolis, and that he changed
+his mind several times in one day. At one time he sent orders, that when
+we should arrive in Cholulla, we were to be treated in the most respectful
+manner, and they were to accompany us to his city; at another
+time he sent word that our march to Mexico was contrary to his
+wishes; and now his gods, Tetzcatlipuca and Huitzilopochtli, in whom
+he reposed all confidence, had advised him to kill us, or have us taken
+prisoners in Cholulla. The day before he had sent 20,000 warriors to
+this place, of whom one half was already secreted in the town, the
+other among the mountain defiles in the neighbourhood. These troops
+had been informed of our intended departure, and of the mode in which
+the attack was to be made upon us, as also of the 2000 men of Cholulla
+who were to accompany us, and how twenty of our men were to be
+sacrificed to the idols of Cholulla.</p>
+
+<p>After Cortes had elicited all this from them, he presented both the
+papas with several of the most beautiful cloaks, enjoining them to
+betray nothing of what had passed between him and themselves, if
+they did they should certainly forfeit their lives on his return from
+Mexico. That very night our general called a council of war, consist<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>ing
+of the most sensible and experienced soldiers of our small army, to
+deliberate what our next step should be. Opinion, as generally happens
+under such circumstances, was much divided. Some proposed
+that we should change our route altogether and take the road over
+Huexotzinco. Others were of opinion that we should preserve peace
+at any sacrifice and return to Tlascalla. We others, however, maintained,
+that if we left the contemplated treachery of the Cholullans
+unpunished, the Mexicans would play us worse tricks in other places,
+and as we had once gained a footing in this vast territory, it would be
+better for hostilities to break out here, where, besides that, provisions
+were plentiful, we could do more execution than in the open field;
+and immediately to acquaint the Tlascallans with our determination,
+that they might join us in the combat.</p>
+
+<p>This plan, in the end, received unanimous consent, and the following
+morning was fixed on for the day of our departure. We therefore
+fastened up our knapsacks, which indeed was no great trouble, as
+we had very little baggage with us. Our attack upon the Indians was
+to be made in the spacious square adjoining our quarters, which was
+surrounded by high walls, here we should be able to pay them out according
+to their deserts. As to the ambassadors of Motecusuma, we
+merely told them, that some villains of Cholulla had formed a conspiracy
+against us, and had attempted to lay it all to the door of their
+sovereign Motecusuma and his ambassadors; but that we could not for
+a moment give credence to this, though for the present we must beg
+of them not again to leave our general's head-quarters, and to break off
+all further intercourse with the inhabitants of the town, in order to
+erase from our minds all suspicion of an understanding between the
+latter and themselves; they could also act as our guides on our march
+to Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>The ambassadors assured us that neither their sovereign Motecusuma,
+nor they, were aware of anything we had mentioned to them. We,
+however, placed a guard over their persons, fearing they might depart
+without our knowledge, and relate to Motecusuma how we had discovered
+the conspiracy.</p>
+
+<p>During the whole of this night we were particularly on our guard
+and all under arms, the horses were ready saddled and bridled, strong
+watches were posted in various places, and one patrol followed the
+other, as we were sure we should be attacked that night by the united
+forces of Mexico and Cholulla. Of this we obtained further certainty
+from an old Indian female, the wife of a cazique, who taking compassion
+on the youth and good looks of Do&ntilde;a Marina, knowing at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>
+same time that she possessed many fine things, had induced her to
+follow her home to save her from the impending carnage; for, according
+to her account, we were all to be killed that night or the day
+following. This woman assured her that Motecusuma had issued
+the most peremptory orders to this effect, and had therefore sent an
+army of Mexicans, who were to join the Cholullans and spare none of
+us alive, excepting those they could make prisoners, who were to be
+sent bound to Mexico. On hearing this, the old woman added, she
+was induced from a compassionate feeling to disclose it to her. She
+advised her to pack up her goods in all haste and come and live in
+her house. She should have her second son for husband, the brother
+of the young man then present.</p>
+
+<p>Do&ntilde;a Marina, who was altogether very shrewd, thus answered the old
+woman: "I am thankful indeed, good mother, for your kind warning;
+I would go with you this instant if I could find any one to carry away
+my mantles and gold trinkets, for I have a pretty good quantity of
+both. Wherefore I beg of you, good mother, wait a few moments
+here with your son, and we will leave together during the night; for
+these teules have their ears and eyes everywhere."</p>
+
+<p>The old woman placed perfect confidence in what she had said, and
+continued chatting with her for some time. Do&ntilde;a Marina then put
+several other questions to her, as to the manner in which we were to
+be killed? How and when the plan had been formed? The answers
+which the old woman returned perfectly agreed with the account of
+the two papas. Marina then questioned her as to how she had come
+to the knowledge of that, which the Cholullans had thought to keep
+so secret? "I know all this from my husband," returned she, "who
+is the chief of one of the quarters of this town, and who has already
+joined the men under his command, to make the necessary preparations,
+and join the troops of Mexico in the mountain defiles. Both
+armies will meet and cut down all the teules. All this I have known
+three days ago, for my husband has been presented with a golden
+drum, and the three other chiefs with splendid cloaks and gold
+trinkets, with orders to take all the teules prisoners and send them
+to Mexico."</p>
+
+<p>Do&ntilde;a Marina artfully concealed the real impression all this made
+upon her mind, and said to the old woman: "How delighted am I to
+learn that your son, to whom you intend to marry me, is a man of
+high rank! We have now been discoursing about matters which were
+intended to be kept a secret. I will now go and pack up my things;
+in the meantime you wait for me here, for I cannot carry all my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>
+goods alone; you, your son, my future brother, must assist me to
+decamp."</p>
+
+<p>The old woman swallowed all this, and stationed herself at some
+particular spot with her son. In the meantime Do&ntilde;a Marina related to
+our general the whole of the discourse she had had with the old woman.
+Cortes immediately ordered the latter into his presence, and put further
+questions to her respecting the plans of the treacherous Cholullans.
+Everything she related corresponded with the account of the two papas;
+Cortes then ordered her to be detained in close custody that she might
+not return and disclose anything to her companions.</p>
+
+<p>When morning arrived it was quite amusing to behold the air of contempt
+and the confidence which was depicted in the countenances of
+the caziques, the papas, and of the Indians in general. They appeared
+as if they had already caught us in a snare. They sent a larger body
+of their troops than we had demanded of them; yet there was sufficient
+room to hold all these besides our own men in the square adjoining our
+quarters, which may be seen to this hour as a memento of that bloody
+day. Though it was very early when the troops of Cholulla arrived in
+our quarters, yet they found us quite ready for the day's work.</p>
+
+<p>The largest gate of this inclosed square was occupied by that portion
+of our troops who were armed with swords and shields, who
+were ordered not to allow egress to any Indian who bore arms. Our
+general had mounted his horse, surrounded by several of us as a guard
+to his person, and when he saw how early all the caziques, papas, and
+warriors had assembled in the morning, he cried out in a loud voice:
+"How impatient these treacherous people are to get us among the
+defiles and satiate themselves with our flesh: but the Almighty will
+order things differently from what they expect!"</p>
+
+<p>He then inquired for the two papas who had disclosed the plot to
+him; and was informed that they were waiting outside with other
+caziques, and wished to be admitted; upon which Cortes sent our interpreter,
+Aguilar, to desire them to return home, as he had no occasion
+for them at that moment. This was done that no harm might befall
+them when we should fall upon the Indians, and as a recompense
+for the services they had rendered us.</p>
+
+<p>Our general, seated on horseback, with Do&ntilde;a Marina at his side, then
+severely upbraided the caziques and papas. "Why had they," said
+he to them, "wished to murder us all the preceding night, though we
+had not done them the smallest injury? Had we said or done anything
+to justify this treacherous movement? Had he done anything
+more than exhorted them, as he had all the different tribes through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>
+whose territories he had passed, to abolish their human sacrifices and
+abstain from eating human flesh, to commit no unnatural crimes, and
+to lead a better life than they had hitherto? He had, further, merely
+spoken to them about our holy religion, and certainly thereby done
+them no violence. For what purpose had they collected all those long
+poles with the nooses and ropes in the house adjoining the large cue?
+Why had they during the last three days barricaded the streets, intersected
+the latter by deep holes, and fortified the tops of their houses
+with breastworks? Why had they sent away from the town their
+wives, children, and all their goods? All this sufficiently proved their
+treacherous designs, which were no longer to be concealed; they had
+even refused to provide us food, and in mockery had sent us merely
+wood and water, as if to make us believe they had no maise left. He
+was perfectly aware that large troops of warriors had secreted themselves
+in the defiles near the town, laying in wait for us when we
+should be on our road to Mexico. During the past night they had
+been joined by several other troops. In reward for our having looked
+upon them as brothers, and announced what our God and our sovereign
+had commissioned us to reveal to them, they wished to murder us, and
+eat our flesh, for which purpose they had already prepared the dishes,
+the salt, the pepper, and the tomates. If they intended to kill us,
+why did they not attack us boldly in the open field as beseemed brave
+warriors, as their neighbours the Tlascallans had done? He was fully
+acquainted with all their designs, how they had promised to sacrifice
+twenty of us to their god of war; and that they had sacrificed seven
+Indians three nights ago to him, that he might grant them victory
+over us. But all his promises were full of lies and deceit. Their gods
+had no power whatever over us, and their evil deeds, with all their
+treachery, would recoil upon themselves."</p>
+
+<p>When the caziques, papas, and the other principal personages heard
+this, all of which Do&ntilde;a Marina most intelligibly interpreted to them,
+they confessed that what Cortes had said was perfectly correct, but
+added, that they were not the guilty persons, everything having been
+done at the instigation of Motecusuma's ambassadors, in accordance with
+his commands. To which Cortes answered, "That the Spanish laws
+did not allow such treachery to pass by unpunished, and that they would
+be punished for it with the loss of their lives." At this moment he
+ordered a cannon to be fired, which was the signal for us to fall upon
+them.</p>
+
+<p>A great number of these people were put to the sword, and some
+were burnt alive, to prove the deceitfulness of their false gods. Before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>
+a couple of hours had elapsed our friends of Tlascalla came storming
+out of their camp into the town, and fought courageously with the
+troops of Cholulla in the streets, who strove to drive them back. They
+then dispersed themselves about the town for the sake of plunder, and
+taking prisoners; nor were we able to prevent them. The following
+day more troops arrived from Tlascalla, who committed worse depredations,
+so deeply rooted was their hatred against Cholulla. At length
+our compassion was aroused, and we ordered the Tlascallans to stay all
+further hostilities, and Cortes commanded all the chiefs into his presence,
+when he addressed them at some length, and requested them to
+return to their camp, which they accordingly complied with, the
+Sempoallans alone remaining within the town.<a name="FNanchor_35_36" id="FNanchor_35_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_36" class="fnanchor">[35]</a></p>
+
+<p>While all this was going on, several caziques and papas arrived from
+other quarters of the town, who were said to have taken no part in this
+treacherous movement; which may, indeed, have been the case, as in
+this large town every quarter had its own regiment and peculiar regulations.
+These people begged Cortes and all of us to pardon them, as
+the real traitors had now received their deserved punishment. In this
+prayer they were joined by our friends, the two papas, who had first
+discovered the plot to us, and the old wife of the Indian chief, who was
+to have been Do&ntilde;a Marina's mother-in-law.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes at first appeared very little disposed to listen to their prayers;
+but at length he sent for the two ambassadors of Motecusuma, whom
+we had kept in close confinement. He began by telling them, that
+though the whole town, with all its inhabitants, had merited total destruction,
+he would, nevertheless, substitute mercy for justice in consideration
+of their monarch Motecusuma, whose subjects they were;
+but he expected they would in future show a better disposition towards
+us, and give us no further cause to renew such a scene as had just
+taken place, otherwise they would undoubtedly forfeit their lives. He
+next sent for the caziques of the Tlascallan camp, and ordered them to
+liberate the prisoners they had taken, as they had now sufficiently revenged
+themselves. It was with difficulty we could persuade the
+Tlascallans to comply with this, for they maintained that the Cholullans
+had deserved a good deal more at their hands for the many times they
+had suffered from them; however, as it was Cortes' wish, they liberated
+a great number of their captives; but carried off a great deal of
+booty, consisting in gold, cloaks, cotton, salt, and other matters.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes then brought about a reconciliation between these two tribes,
+and as far as I know, the good understanding which grew up between
+them was never after disturbed. He then desired the caziques and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>
+papas to order all the inhabitants into the town again, and to open the
+tiangues<a name="FNanchor_36_37" id="FNanchor_36_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_37" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> or markets, at the same time assuring them that no further
+harm should befall them. The chiefs accordingly promised that all
+the inhabitants should return to the town within the space of five days,
+as most of them had fled to the woods; and added, that they feared
+Cortes would elect a cazique to whom they might be averse in the
+room of him who had been killed in the recent attack. Our general,
+however, merely inquired who the rightful successor was according to
+their laws; and on being informed the late cazique's brother, he appointed
+him governor.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the town was again filled with people, and the markets
+frequented as usual, Cortes assembled the papas, chiefs, and the principal
+inhabitants, and explained to them the nature of our holy religion,
+and showed them the necessity of abolishing their idolatry and human
+sacrifices, and their other abominations. He likewise showed them the
+delusion they lived under with respect to their idols, which were nothing
+but evil spirits from whom they could expect nothing but falsehood.
+They should remember how these had lately promised them the victory
+over us, and how all their promises had terminated. They should, therefore,
+pull down and destroy those lying and deceitful idols, or leave
+that work to us, if they declined doing it themselves. At present he
+desired they would clear and fresh plaster one of their temples, that we
+might fit it up for a chapel and erect a cross there. These words
+seemed to cheer them up a little, and they gave a solemn promise to
+destroy their idols, but continually postponed the fulfilment whenever
+we put them in mind of it. On this matter father Olmedo set Cortes'
+mind at ease, by assuring him it would be of little use if even the
+Indians did abolish their idols, unless they had previously received
+some notion of our religion and faith. We ought first to see what
+impression our march into Mexico would make upon them. Time
+alone could be our surest guide as to our further proceedings. For
+the present we had done sufficient by admonishing them to piety,
+and by erecting a cross there.</p>
+
+<p>Respecting the town of Cholulla, I have further to remark; that it
+lay in a valley, and was surrounded by the townships Tepeaca, Tlascalla,
+Chalco, Tecamachalco, Huexotzinco, and so many others that I
+am unable to enumerate them all. The country furnished quantities
+of maise and various leguminous plants, and particularly maguey,
+from the sap of which the inhabitants make their wine.<a name="FNanchor_37_38" id="FNanchor_37_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_38" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> In the town
+itself various kinds of earthenware pots are made, embellished with
+black and white colours, which are burnt in; with these it supplies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>
+Mexico and the neighbouring provinces. In this respect Cholulla is
+equally celebrated in this country, as the towns Talavera and Valencia
+are in Spain. At that time Cholulla had above a hundred very high
+towers, the whole of which were cues or temples, on which the human
+sacrifices were made and their idols stood. The principal cu here was
+even higher than that of Mexico, though the latter was, indeed, magnificent
+and very high.<a name="FNanchor_38_39" id="FNanchor_38_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_39" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> It is said to have contained one hundred courts,
+and an idol of enormous dimensions, (the name of which I have forgotten,)
+which stood in great repute, and people came from various
+parts to sacrifice human beings to it and bring offerings for the dead.<a name="FNanchor_39_40" id="FNanchor_39_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_40" class="fnanchor">[39]</a>
+I well remember when we first entered this town, and looking up to the
+elevated white temples, how the whole place put us completely in mind
+of Valladolid.</p>
+
+<p>I must now say a few words respecting the troops which Motecusuma
+had despatched here. These lay in ambush in the immediate vicinity
+of the town, and had planted stakes in the ground, and dug deep
+holes to render our cavalry incapable of acting. But when they were
+informed of what had taken place there, they immediately returned to
+Mexico to bring the intelligence to Motecusuma. However rapidly
+their departure may have been, we, nevertheless, were immediately apprized
+of it by the two distinguished personages who were with us.
+Motecusuma was excessively vexed and grieved at the news, and instantly
+ordered a number of Indians to be sacrificed to his warrior
+god Huitzilopochtli, that he might reveal to him whether he should
+obstruct our march to Mexico, or allow us peaceable entrance into his
+metropolis. Two whole days did he spend with his papas in devotional
+exercises, and in sacrificing human beings to his idols, and at length
+was advised by them to send us ambassadors to apologise for the occurrence
+at Cholulla. He was further to allow us to march into Mexico,
+under every show of friendship; but when we had entered the town to
+deny us provisions and water, break down the bridges, shut us in, and
+put us all to the sword. If they attacked us in a body, and from all
+sides at once, not one of us could escape. Not till then were the great
+sacrifices to be instituted, as well in honour of the warrior-god
+Huitzilopochtli, who had given the oracle, as in that of the god of hell,
+Tetzcatlipuca. Our legs, thighs, and arms were to be eaten at their
+feast, and our entrails, with the remaining part of our bodies, were to
+be thrown to the serpents and tigers, which they kept confined in
+wooden cages, as will be mentioned in the proper place.</p>
+
+<p>It may well be imagined that the chastisement we gave the inhabitants
+of Cholulla spread like wildfire through the whole of New Spain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>
+If, previously, the battles of Potonchan, Tabasco, Cingapacinga, and
+Tlascalla, had spread the fame of our invincible courage, and obtained
+for us the name of teules or gods of a fearful nature, we were now
+looked upon as divinities of a superior order, from whom nothing could
+be kept a secret, and the greatest veneration was consequently paid
+to us.</p>
+
+<p>The kind reader has now, no doubt, heard enough of this occurrence
+at Cholulla, and I myself would gladly break off here, but must add a
+word or two about the wooden cages we saw in this town. These were
+constructed of heavy timber, and filled with grown-up men and little
+boys, who were fattening there for the sacrifices and feasts. These
+diabolical cages Cortes ordered to be pulled down, and sent the prisoners
+each to their several homes. He likewise made the chiefs and papas
+promise him, under severe threats, never again to fasten up human
+beings in that way, and totally to abstain from eating human flesh.
+But what was the use of promises which they never intended to keep?</p>
+
+<p>These are, among others, those abominable monstrosities which the
+bishop of Chiapa, Las Casas, can find no end in enumerating. But he
+is wrong when he asserts that we gave the Cholullans the above-mentioned
+chastisement without any provocation, and merely for pastime.
+I can, however, produce as witnesses to the contrary the pious Franciscan
+friars who were the first monks our emperor despatched thither
+after the conquest of New Spain. These venerable men were purposely
+sent to Cholulla to make the minutest investigation into this affair.
+They gained all their information from the elders and papas of the
+town itself, and they were fully convinced that everything had really
+taken place as I have related above: and, indeed, if we had not made
+an example here, we should have lived in constant alarm, as we were
+completely surrounded by Mexican and Cholullan troops, who were
+everywhere lying in ambush. If we had been destroyed at that time,
+New Spain would certainly not have been so speedily conquered; a
+second armament would not so easily have found its way there; and if
+it had, there would have been hard work with the Indians who defended
+the coasts; and they would have continued in their idolatrous worship.
+I have myself heard the very pious Franciscan brother Toribio
+Motelmea<a name="FNanchor_40_41" id="FNanchor_40_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_41" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> say that it would certainly have been better if we could
+have avoided spilling so much blood, and the Indians had not given us
+the cause to do so; but it had this good effect, that all the inhabitants
+of New Spain became convinced that their idols were nothing but deceitful
+demons, and they experienced how much happier they were when
+they discontinued to worship them or sacrifice to them; and it is a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>
+fact, that the inhabitants of Cholulla, from that moment, cared very
+little about their idols: they took down the large one from the principal
+cu, and either hid it somewhere or destroyed it altogether: we,
+at least, never saw that one again, and they placed another there in its
+stead.<a name="FNanchor_41_42" id="FNanchor_41_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_42" class="fnanchor">[41]</a></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXIV" id="CHAPTER_LXXXIV"></a>CHAPTER LXXXIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The negotiations we set on foot with the great Motecusuma, and the
+ambassadors we sent him.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>We had now lain a fortnight in Cholulla, and any further stay there
+would have been waste of time. All the inhabitants had returned to
+their dwellings, and the markets were again filled with goods and
+merchants; peace had been concluded between them and their neighbours
+the Tlascallans; a cross erected, and much of our holy faith
+explained to the inhabitants. Besides this, we discovered that Motecusuma
+had sent spies into our quarters to gain intelligence as to our
+future plans, and whether we really intended marching to his metropolis.
+His two ambassadors, who were still with us, also forwarded
+him due information, from time to time, of all that was going on.</p>
+
+<p>Our captain now called a council of war of those officers and soldiers
+in whom he could place implicit confidence, and of whose wisdom
+and courage he entertained the highest respect. In this council it was
+resolved we should despatch a most friendly and flattering message to
+Motecusuma, as near as possible to the following effect: "We had now,
+in compliance with the commands of our sovereign, journeyed over
+many seas, and through far distant countries, solely for the object of
+paying our personal respects to him, the monarch of Mexico, and of
+disclosing things to him which would prove of the greatest advantage
+to him. We chose the road over Cholulla because his ambassadors
+had proposed that route, and had assured us that the inhabitants were
+his subjects. We met with the best of receptions, and were well treated
+during the first two days of our stay there, when we discovered that a
+vile conspiracy had been set on foot to destroy us all; which, however,
+could not prove otherwise than a failure, as we were endowed with the
+faculty of knowing things beforehand, and it was utterly impossible to
+do anything without our knowledge: we had, therefore, punished a
+number of those who had concocted that treacherous movement, but
+we had, at the same time, abstained from punishing all those who had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>
+taken part in it, in consideration that the Cholullans were his subjects,
+and from the deep veneration we entertained for his person, and the
+great friendship we bore him. It was, however, to be regretted that
+the caziques and papas should have unanimously declared that all had
+been done at his commands, and planned by his own ambassadors. Of
+this, however, we had not believed a single word, as it seemed impossible
+to us that so great a monarch, who always styled himself our
+friend, could have consented thereto. On the contrary, we expected
+from him that, in case his gods had whispered to him to treat us hostilely,
+he would have attacked us in the open field, although it was all
+the same to us whether we were to fight about in a town or in the open
+field, or during night or daytime, as we easily overthrew those who
+ventured to attack us. As we were fully convinced of his friendship,
+and were very desirous to make his personal acquaintance, and to discourse
+with him, we intended marching to Mexico to lay our monarch's
+commission before him."</p>
+
+<p>When Motecusuma received this message, and found that we in no
+way considered him implicated in the occurrence which had taken place
+at Cholulla, he again, as we were told, began to fast with his papas,
+and to sacrifice to his gods, of whom he wished to know whether he
+was to admit us into his metropolis or not. They pronounced in the
+affirmative, as, when we were once there, he would be able to slay us
+at his pleasure. His chief officers and papas were of the same opinion,
+and thought that, if he did not admit us into the city, we might commence
+hostilities against his subjects, and call in the assistance of the
+Tlascallans, the Totonaque, and other tribes who were at enmity with
+the Mexicans, and in alliance with us. To obviate all this, the surest
+way would be to follow the wise counsel which Huitzilopochtli had
+given.</p>
+
+<p>The day had now arrived which had been fixed for our departure,
+and, just as we were about to break up our quarters, other ambassadors
+arrived, with presents from Motecusuma.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXV" id="CHAPTER_LXXXV"></a>CHAPTER LXXXV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the powerful Motecusuma sends a valuable present in gold to us,
+and the message which accompanied it, and how we all agree to commence
+our march upon Mexico; and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>When Motecusuma was made acquainted with what we said concerning
+our friendship towards him, and the confident manner in which
+we had expressed ourselves, he again felt embarrassed, and was
+amazed at the idea that nothing could be concealed from us, and that
+he might attack us whenever he liked, within the city walls or in the
+open field, by day or by night, it was all the same to us. He thought
+of our war with the Tlascallans, of the battles we had fought at
+Potonchon, Tabasco, Cingapacinga, and Cholulla, and grew quite
+perplexed and dispirited. He several times altered his resolutions,
+until at last he determined upon sending us six of his principal courtiers
+with a present in gold and trinkets of various workmanship, worth
+altogether above 2000 pesos, besides several packages of cotton stuffs
+most beautifully manufactured.</p>
+
+<p>When these messengers were introduced into Cortes' presence, they
+touched the ground with their hands, and kissed it, and thus addressed
+our general, with signs of the deepest veneration: "Malinche! our
+ruler and monarch, the mighty Motecusuma, sends you this present,
+and begs you will accept of it with the same kind feeling he bears you
+and your brothers: he at the same time desires us to express his regret
+for the late occurrence at Cholulla, and to assure you it would be
+pleasing to him if you would castigate that evil-minded and lying
+people more severely, since they had wished to heap the infamy of
+their vile proceedings upon him and his ambassadors. We might
+(they continued) rest assured of his friendship, and repair to his metropolis
+as soon as we should think proper. Being as we were men of
+vast courage, and the ambassadors of so great a monarch, he would
+receive us with due honours, and only regretted that, owing to the situation
+of his metropolis in the midst of a lake, he should not be able
+to furnish our table with the victuals he otherwise could wish. The
+greatest respect would everywhere be paid us, and he had also sent
+orders to the different townships we should pass through to furnish us
+with everything we required." Besides these, there were many other
+civilities they mentioned in their monarch's name.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, to whom our interpreters had explained this message, accepted
+the present with every appearance of delight. He embraced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>
+the ambassadors, and presented them with various articles of cut glass.
+Every officer and soldier amongst us congratulated himself upon this
+favorable turn which affairs had taken, and at the monarch's invitation
+to visit Mexico,&mdash;for our desire to see that city daily grew upon us,
+particularly upon those who had no possessions in Cuba, and had
+accompanied the previous expeditions under Cordoba and Grijalva.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes returned the ambassadors a kind answer to all they had said,
+and arranged that three of them should remain with us to show us the
+road, while the others were despatched to Mexico, to acquaint their
+monarch that we had already set out on our march thither.</p>
+
+<p>When the two old caziques of Tlascalla found that Cortes was earnestly
+bent on marching to Mexico, they appeared excessively grieved,
+and reminded Cortes how frequently they had warned him, and could
+not do so too often, to dissuade him from marching into a town of
+such vast extent and power, and which possessed various means of
+carrying on a murderous war. The Mexicans would certainly, one
+day or other, fall upon us unawares, and it would be a wonder if we
+escaped alive out of their hands. To convince us how well they were
+inclined towards us, they would, however, gladly furnish us with
+10,000 of their warriors, under the command of their most able generals,
+with a sufficient supply of provisions.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes thanked them for their kind offers, and explained to them
+that it would not be proper to enter Mexico at the head of so large an
+army, particularly as the hatred between themselves and the Mexicans
+was so excessive. One thousand men was all he required to transport
+our cannon and baggage, and clear the road before us.</p>
+
+<p>These 1000 men were immediately upon the spot, all strong and
+fine young fellows, and we were just upon the point of commencing our
+march when the caziques and chiefs of Sempoalla, who had remained with
+us all this time, and rendered us such valuable services, called upon
+Cortes and hoped he would return with them to Sempoalla. They were
+determined, they said, not to march over Cholulla to Mexico, as they
+were quite convinced it would be ours and their destruction; theirs,
+because they were the most distinguished personages of Sempoalla,
+who had not only been the chief means of inducing their countrymen
+to refuse all further obedience and to pay tribute to Motecusuma, but
+also of seizing his tax-gatherers.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, in answer to this, desired them to allay their fears; he was
+sure no harm would befall them, for, if they marched along in our
+company, who would dare to molest either? He therefore begged of
+them to alter their determination, and remain with us, and promised<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>
+them all manner of riches. But all his entreaties, added to Marina's
+friendly advice, were fruitless, and they refused to accompany us: upon
+which Cortes cried out, "God forbid that we should force these people,
+who have rendered us such valuable services, to go with us against
+their inclination!" He then ordered several packages of the very
+finest cotton stuffs to be divided among them, and likewise sent the
+fat cazique two packages for himself and his nephew Cuesco, who was
+also a powerful cazique. He wrote, at the same time, to his lieutenant
+Juan de Escalante, who was alguacil-major of Vera Cruz, mentioning
+all that had befallen us, and that we were on our march to Mexico.
+He particularly cautioned him to keep a sharp look out upon the inhabitants
+of the country, desired him by all means to hasten the completion
+of the fortress, and to take the inhabitants there under his protection
+against the Mexicans, and also not to suffer our men to molest
+them in any way. This letter was given in charge of the Sempoallans,
+and we then commenced our march forward with every military precaution.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXVI" id="CHAPTER_LXXXVI"></a>CHAPTER LXXXVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we set out on our march to Mexico; what happened to us on our
+route; and the message Motecusuma sent us.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>On our march from Cholulla, we adopted our usual precautions. A
+few of our cavalry were always in advance to explore the territory, and
+these were closely followed by a number of our best foot to assist them
+in case of an ambush, and to clear any obstruction from the road.
+Our cannon and muskets were ready loaded, while our cavalry rode
+three and three together on the flanks of our troops to lend immediate
+assistance should anything occur, all the rest of our men marching in
+close order. I am very particular in mentioning all this that my
+readers may convince themselves of the great precautions we observed
+on this march.</p>
+
+<p>On the first day we arrived at a spot where there were a few scattered
+dwellings on a rising ground, subject to Huexotzinco, and, if I
+mistake not, bear the name of Iscalpan, and lie about nine miles from
+Cholulla. Here we found all the caziques and papas of Huexotzinco
+assembled, who were friendly with the Tlascallans. They had brought
+along with them other tribes from the neighbourhood of the volcano,
+and presented Cortes with a quantity of provisions and a few
+trinkets of gold, begging him, at the same time, not to consider the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>
+small worth of the latter, but the good will with which they were given.
+They then one and all dissuaded him from marching to Mexico, representing
+to him the strength of the city, the vast numbers of warriors
+there, and all the dangers we should be exposed to. Seeing, however,
+that they could not alter our determination, they instructed us as to
+the road we should take, and told us that, as soon as we had laid back
+the mountain pass, we should come to two broad roads, one of which
+led to Chalco, the other to Tlalmanalco, both of which townships were
+subject to the Mexican empire. One of these roads was in excellent
+condition, and passable, and in so far it would be the best we could
+take; the other had been rendered impassable by numbers of large
+pine and other trees which had been felled and thrown across the road
+to prevent our marching that way. A little way further up the mountain,
+the good road along which it was supposed we would march had
+been intersected and palisaded, and Mexican troops were lying in ambush
+there, and others had been stationed in this pass to fall upon us
+and put us to the sword. They therefore advised us to leave the good
+road, and turn into the one leading to Tlalmanalco, which had been
+rendered impassable by the fallen trees. They would lend us sufficient
+hands to clear away the latter, in which they would be assisted by the
+Tlascallans who were with us.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes returned them many thanks for their present and good advice,
+assuring them he was determined, with the assistance of Providence,
+to continue his march, and would take the road they had pointed out.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning very early we again moved forward, and, towards
+noon we reached the summit of the mountain, where we found the
+two roads exactly as described by the inhabitants of Huexotzinco.
+Here we halted for a short time to reconsider what had been told us
+respecting the Mexican troops which we should find stationed in the
+pass. Cortes then inquired of the two Mexican ambassadors which of
+the two roads they would advise him to turn into,&mdash;the one which had
+been blocked up by a fall of timber, or the smooth road? They told
+him into the latter, because it led to Chalco, a town of considerable
+magnitude, where we should meet with a good reception, as it was
+subject to Motecusuma; the other road, blocked up by the trees, was
+very dangerous in places, and was rather round about, leading, moreover,
+to a township much inferior to Chalco. Cortes, however, determined
+for the other road, and we marched through the mountains in
+the closest possible order. Our Indian friends set diligently to work
+to clear away the heavy trees, and even to this day many of the latter
+are still to be seen lying on the roadside. When we had reached the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>
+summit of the mountain, it began to snow so fast that the ground was
+soon covered with it. We now began to descend, and we took up our
+night's quarters in some scattered huts, which had the appearance of
+taverns for the accommodation of Indian merchants. We likewise
+found abundance of food here, and, notwithstanding the severity of the
+weather, we posted our sentinels as usual, and made regular patrols.<a name="FNanchor_42_43" id="FNanchor_42_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_43" class="fnanchor">[42]</a></p>
+
+<p>The next morning we broke up our quarters, and arrived, about the
+hour of high mass, in the township of Tlalmanalco, where we met
+with very kind and hospitable treatment. Immediately upon the news
+of our arrival, numbers of people gathered about us from the neighbouring
+townships of Chalco, Amoquemecan, Ayotzinco, and from
+various other small places whose names I have forgotten. The last-mentioned
+town has a harbour, where canoes ply up and down. These
+tribes made us a present in common, consisting in gold, worth about 150
+pesos, two packages of cotton stuffs, and eight females. "Malinche,"
+said they, in handing these over to Cortes, "may it please you to accept
+of the present we have here brought you, and from this moment we
+hope you will look upon us as your friends!"</p>
+
+<p>Cortes received it with every appearance of delight, and promised to assist
+them whenever they might require his aid. While we were thus standing
+around him, he desired father Olmedo to give them some notion of the
+Christian religion, and to admonish them to abolish their idol-worship,
+with which the father complied, and made similar disclosures to them
+as we had done to the inhabitants of the other townships we had visited.
+They acknowledged that all was very good which he told them, and
+that they would consider that matter more maturely at some future period.
+We likewise spoke to them about the vast power of our emperor, and
+how he had sent us to this country to put an end to all robbery and
+oppression.</p>
+
+<p>We had scarcely touched this string when they began to throw out
+bitter accusations against Motecusuma and his tax-gatherers, but out
+of the hearing of the Mexican ambassadors. The Mexicans, they said,
+robbed them of everything they possessed; abused the chastity of their
+wives and daughters, before their eyes, if they were handsome, and
+carried them forcibly away to toil hard in base servitude. They themselves
+were compelled to transport wood, stones, and maise, both by
+water and by land, to the monarch's extensive maise plantations, and
+to relinquish the produce of their own land for the maintenance of the
+great temple: in short, their complaints knew no end, and, owing to
+the many years which have since elapsed, I cannot now remember
+them all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Cortes, in the most affectionate manner, gave them every consolation
+in his power, which Do&ntilde;a Marina interpreted to them exceedingly well,
+adding, however, that, at present, our general could not redress their
+wrongs. They would have to bear with these hardships for some time
+yet, when they would certainly be released from this state of oppression.
+He then requested two of their principal personages to repair in all
+secrecy, with four of our friends from Tlascalla, to the spot where the
+other road had been intersected, mentioned by the inhabitants of
+Huexotzinco, to ascertain how matters stood, and if any troops were
+stationed there. But the caziques assured our general that it was not
+necessary to repair thither for that purpose, as all the palisades had
+been taken away, and the hole filled up again. The Mexicans had,
+indeed, cut through a dangerous pass some six days ago, and stationed
+a strong body of troops there to prevent our passing that way; but,
+since that time, they had been advised by their god of war to allow us
+to march forward unmolested, and not to attack us until we should be
+within the city, and then to kill us all. The caziques likewise begged
+of us to remain with them, and they would provide us with everything
+we might require. "Believe us," they added, "you must not go to
+Mexico, for we know how great the strength of that city is, and what
+large bodies of troops are there: if you once enter that city, you will
+all be put to death."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes replied to this well-meant advice with the serenest countenance
+in the world, and assured them that neither the Mexicans nor
+any other people had the power to deprive us of life,&mdash;this was in the
+hands of the God in whom we believed. We had to fulfil our commission
+to Motecusuma, to all the caziques and papas, and were therefore
+determined to march straightway to Mexico. We should only
+require twenty of their men to accompany us. He would do his utmost
+for them, and, immediately upon his arrival there, demand justice for
+them; and that neither Motecusuma nor his tax-gatherers should
+oppress them as heretofore.</p>
+
+<p>These promises spread an expression of joy over the countenance of
+every Indian present, and the twenty men whom Cortes required, instantly
+joined us; and, just as we were about to leave, other ambassadors
+arrived from Motecusuma, whose message I will relate in the
+next chapter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXVII" id="CHAPTER_LXXXVII"></a>CHAPTER LXXXVII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the powerful Motecusuma again sends ambassadors to us with a
+present of gold and cotton stuffs: that monarch's message to Cortes,
+and the answer he returns.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>As I have before said, we were about to continue our march, when
+four distinguished Mexicans arrived in our quarters, with a message
+from Motecusuma, accompanied by a present in gold and cotton stuffs,
+and thus addressed Cortes, after they had shown the usual signs of
+veneration: "Malinche! our sovereign, the mighty Motecusuma, sends
+you this present. He desires us to express his sorrow for the many
+hardships which you have been compelled to undergo on your tedious
+journey from such distant countries to behold his person. He now
+likewise, again renews the offer to pay you a quantity of gold, silver,
+and chalchihuis stones, in shape of tribute to your monarch, and as a
+present to you and the other teules who are with you; but, at the
+same time, he again begs of you not to advance any further, but to
+return from whence you came. He promises to send abundance of
+gold, silver, and jewels, for your emperor, to the harbour on the sea
+coast; he will present you with four loads of gold, and your companions
+with one each:<a name="FNanchor_43_44" id="FNanchor_43_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_44" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> but he altogether forbids you to enter into
+Mexico, as all his troops are under arms to oppose you; add to which,
+the only access to the metropolis is by one narrow causeway, and we
+could not supply you with provisions there."<a name="FNanchor_44_45" id="FNanchor_44_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_45" class="fnanchor">[44]</a></p>
+
+<p>Besides these, the ambassadors offered many other reasons in order
+to dissuade us from advancing any further. However unpleasant this
+disclosure might sound in his ears, Cortes, nevertheless, embraced the
+ambassadors most affectionately, and accepted the presents, the value
+of which I cannot now remember. I must also remark that Motecusuma
+never sent any message to us which was not accompanied by some
+present in gold.</p>
+
+<p>On this occasion Cortes again told the ambassadors that he was
+surprised how their master, who had styled himself our friend so very
+many times, and was so powerful a monarch, could so often change
+his mind. Desire a thing one day, to countermand it the next. With
+respect to his offer of the gold for our emperor and ourselves, we were
+thankful for his kind intentions, as also for the presents they now
+brought with them, and he would certainly some day render him valuable
+services in return. He would ask them himself if it would be
+acting right after we had advanced within such a short distance of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span>
+metropolis, to turn back without fulfilling our monarch's commission?
+Motecusuma should place himself in our position and consider, if he
+had sent ambassadors to a monarch of his own rank, how he would
+like it, if they returned home after arriving almost at his palace,
+without once seeing that monarch or fulfilling their commission to
+him? How would he receive these ambassadors when they appeared
+before him? Would he not look upon them as cowards and spiritless
+beings? Our emperor, at least, would not look upon us in any
+other light, and treat us accordingly if we returned so to his court.
+We had now no choice left, and we must get into his metropolis one
+way or other. In future, therefore, we begged their monarch would
+not send any more ambassadors with such messages. He, Cortes, was
+determined to see and speak to Motecusuma himself personally, to
+acquaint him with the object of our mission. All we required of him was
+merely an audience, for the moment our stay in his metropolis became
+irksome to him we would leave and return to the place whence we had
+come. With regard to the alleged scarcity of provisions, we were
+accustomed to content ourselves with little. He had better, therefore,
+make up his mind to receive our visit, as we could not possibly
+relinquish our purpose of seeing Mexico. With this answer Cortes sent
+the ambassadors back to their monarch, and we continued our march.
+As we had been so often warned by the people of Huexotzinco and
+Chalco, and we were aware that Motecusuma had been advised by his
+idols and papas to allow us to enter the city and then fall upon us, we
+became more thoughtful, for we were likewise mortals and feared death.
+We were now, therefore, doubly upon our guard, more particularly as
+the country was thickly populated; and we made short days' marches.
+We arranged the manner in which we were to enter the city, and commended
+ourselves to the protection of God, and we felt confident
+hopes, that as the Lord Jesus had up to this moment watched over us
+in all our perils, he would also shield us against the power of Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>We took up our night's quarters in Iztapalapan, where we found an
+excellent supper awaiting us. This town lay half in the water and
+half on the dry land, on the slope of a small hill, where, at present, a
+public-house is built.</p>
+
+<p>After Motecusuma had learnt our answer to his message, he despatched
+his nephew Cacamatzin, prince of Tezcuco to us, in great pomp,
+to bid us welcome. The first intimation of this prince's approach was
+brought in by our outposts, who announced to our general that a great
+number of Mexicans were advancing, arrayed in their most splendid
+mantles and showed signs of peace. It was still early in the day, just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>
+as we were about to break up our quarters, and Cortes consequently
+ordered us to halt, until we should learn the purport of this visit.</p>
+
+<p>At this moment four distinguished personages came up to him, and
+made signs of the profoundest veneration, and announced to him that
+Cacamatzin, prince of Tezcuco, and nephew to Motecusuma, was approaching,
+and they begged that Cortes would await his arrival, as he
+would come almost immediately. It was indeed not long before this
+prince made his appearance in such splendour and magnificence as we
+had not yet seen in any of the Mexican chiefs. He was seated in a
+beautiful sedan, which was decorated with silver, green feathers, and
+branches made of gold, from which hung quantities of precious stones.
+This sedan was supported on the shoulders of eight distinguished personages,
+who, we were assured, were likewise caziques over townships.</p>
+
+<p>When the procession had arrived in front of Cortes' quarters, they
+assisted the prince out of the sedan, and swept clean every inch of
+ground before him, and then introduced him into the presence of our
+commander. After the usual compliments, Cacamatzin addressed Cortes
+as follows: "Malinche! I and these chiefs are come here to wait upon
+you, and to provide all those things for you and your companions
+which you may require, and to conduct you to the quarters we have
+prepared for you in our city. All this is done at the command of our
+monarch, the powerful Motecusuma."</p>
+
+<p>When we contemplated the splendour and majesty of these caziques,
+and particularly of the nephew of Motecusuma, we could not help remarking
+to each other, if these appear in so much splendour what must
+not the power and majesty of the mighty Motecusuma himself be!<a name="FNanchor_45_46" id="FNanchor_45_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_46" class="fnanchor">[45]</a></p>
+
+<p>When Cacamatzin had done speaking, Cortes embraced him, and
+said many fine things to this prince and the great personages around
+him, and presented the former with three pieces of polished stone, of
+a pearly hue, containing various figures in different colours;<a name="FNanchor_46_47" id="FNanchor_46_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_47" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> and the
+other chiefs with blue glass beads. He then again thanked him for
+the attentions which Motecusuma had thus far shown him, and inquired
+what day he should be able to thank Motecusuma in person?</p>
+
+<p>This conference being ended, we continued our march; we were
+accompanied by the caziques who had come out to meet us and their
+numerous suite, with all the inhabitants of the surrounding neighbourhood,
+so that we could scarcely move along for the vast crowds of
+people.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning we reached the broad high road of Iztapalapan,
+whence we for the first time beheld the numbers of towns and villages
+built in the lake, and the still greater number of large townships on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>
+the mainland, with the level causeway which ran in a straight line into
+Mexico. Our astonishment was indeed raised to the highest pitch,
+and we could not help remarking to each other, that all these buildings
+resembled the fairy castles we read of in Amadis de Gaul; so high,
+majestic, and splendid did the temples, towers, and houses of the
+town, all built of massive stone and lime, rise up out of the midst of
+the lake. Indeed, many of our men believed what they saw was a
+mere dream. And the reader must not feel surprised at the manner
+in which I have expressed myself, for it is impossible to speak coolly of
+things which we had never seen nor heard of, nor even could have
+dreamt of, beforehand.</p>
+
+<p>When we approached near to Iztapalapan, two other caziques came
+out in great pomp to receive us: one was the prince of Cuitlahuac,
+and the other of Cojohuacan; both were near relatives of Motecusuma.
+We now entered the town of Iztapalapan, where we were indeed quartered
+in palaces, of large dimensions, surrounded by spacious courts,
+and built of hewn stone, cedar and other sweet-scented wood. All
+the apartments were hung round with cotton cloths.</p>
+
+<p>After we had seen all this, we paid a visit to the gardens adjoining
+these palaces, which were really astonishing, and I could not gratify
+my desire too much by walking about in them and contemplating the
+numbers of trees which spread around the most delicious odours; the
+rose bushes, the different flower beds, and the fruit trees which stood
+along the paths. There was likewise a basin of sweet water, which
+was connected with the lake by means of a small canal. It was constructed
+of stone of various colours, and decorated with numerous
+figures, and was wide enough to hold their largest canoes. In this
+basin various kinds of water-fowls were swimming up and down,
+and everything was so charming and beautiful that we could find
+no words to express our astonishment. Indeed I do not believe a
+country was ever discovered which was equal in splendour to this;
+for Peru was not known at that time. But, at the present moment,
+there is not a vestige of all this remaining, and not a stone of this
+beautiful town is now standing.<a name="FNanchor_47_48" id="FNanchor_47_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_48" class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p>
+
+<p>We had not been long here before the caziques of this town, and of
+Cojohuacan arrived with a present, worth about 2000 pesos, for which
+Cortes returned them many thanks, and showed the caziques every
+possible kindness, and explained, by means of our interpreters, many
+important things to them relative to our holy religion, and the great
+power of our emperor.</p>
+
+<p>Iztapalapan was at that time a town of considerable magnitude,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>
+built half in the water and half on dry land. The spot where it stood
+is at present all dry land; and where vessels once sailed up and down,
+seeds are sown and harvests gathered. In fact, the whole face of the
+country is so completely changed that he who had not seen these parts
+previously, would scarcely believe that waves had ever rolled over the
+spot where now fertile maise plantations extend themselves to all sides;
+so wonderfully has everything changed here in a short space of time!</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_LXXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER LXXXVIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The magnificent and pompous reception which the powerful Motecusuma
+gave to Cortes and all of us, on our entrance into the great city of
+Mexico.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The following morning we left Iztapalapan accompanied by all the
+principal caziques above mentioned. The road along which we marched
+was eight paces in breadth, and if I still remember ran in a perfectly
+straight line to Mexico. Notwithstanding the breadth, it was much too
+narrow to hold the vast crowds of people who continually kept arriving
+from different parts to gaze upon us, and we could scarcely move
+along. Besides this, the tops of all the temples and towers were
+crowded, while the lake beneath was completely covered with canoes
+filled with Indians, for all were curious to catch a glimpse of us. And
+who can wonder at this, as neither men like unto ourselves, nor
+horses, had ever been seen here before!</p>
+
+<p>When we gazed upon all this splendour at once, we scarcely knew
+what to think, and we doubted whether all that we beheld was real.
+A series of large towns stretched themselves along the banks of the
+lake, out of which still larger ones rose magnificently above the waters.
+Innumerable crowds of canoes were plying everywhere around us; at
+regular distances we continually passed over new bridges, and before
+us lay the great city of Mexico in all its splendour.</p>
+
+<p>And we who were gazing upon all this, passing through innumerable
+crowds of human beings, were a mere handful of men, in all
+450, our minds still full of the warnings which the inhabitants of
+Huexotzinco, Tlascalla, and Tlalmanalco, with the caution they had
+given us not to expose our lives to the treachery of the Mexicans. I
+may safely ask the kind reader to ponder a moment, and say whether
+he thinks any men in this world ever ventured so bold a stroke as this?</p>
+
+<p>When we had arrived at a spot where another narrow causeway led<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>
+towards Cojohuacan we were met by a number of caziques and distinguished
+personages, all attired in their most splendid garments. They
+had been despatched by Motecusuma to meet us and bid us welcome in
+his name; and in token of peace they touched the ground with their
+hands and kissed it. Here we halted for a few minutes, while the
+princes of Tetzcuco, Iztapalapan, Tlacupa, and Cojohuacan hastened
+in advance to meet Motecusuma, who was slowly approaching us, surrounded
+by other grandees of the kingdom, seated in a sedan of uncommon
+splendour. When we had arrived at a place not far from the
+town, where several small towers rose together, the monarch raised
+himself in his sedan, and the chief caziques supported him under the
+arms, and held over his head a canopy of exceedingly great value, decorated
+with green feathers, gold, silver, chalchihuis stones, and pearls,
+which hung down from a species of bordering, altogether curious to
+look at.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma himself, according to his custom, was sumptuously
+attired, had on a species of half boot, richly set with jewels, and whose
+soles were made of solid gold. The four grandees who supported
+him were also richly attired, which they must have put on somewhere
+on the road, in order to wait upon Motecusuma; they were not so
+sumptuously dressed when they first came out to meet us. Besides
+these distinguished caziques, there were many other grandees around
+the monarch, some of whom held the canopy over his head, while
+others again occupied the road before him, and spread cotton cloths
+on the ground that his feet might not touch the bare earth. No one
+of his suite ever looked at him full in the face; every one in his presence
+stood with eyes downcast, and it was only his four nephews and
+cousins who supported him that durst look up.</p>
+
+<p>When it was announced to Cortes that Motecusuma himself was
+approaching, he alighted from his horse and advanced to meet him.
+Many compliments were now passed on both sides. Motecusuma bid
+Cortes welcome, who, through Marina, said, in return, he hoped his
+majesty was in good health. If I still remember rightly, Cortes, who
+had Marina next to him, wished to concede the place of honour
+to the monarch, who, however, would not accept of it, but conceded
+it to Cortes, who now brought forth a necklace of precious
+stones, of the most beautiful colours and shapes, strung upon gold
+wire, and perfumed with musk, which he hung about the neck of
+Motecusuma. Our commander was then going to embrace him, but the
+grandees by whom he was surrounded held back his arms, as they
+considered it improper. Our general then desired Marina to tell the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>
+monarch how exceedingly he congratulated himself upon his good
+fortune of having seen such a powerful monarch face to face, and of
+the honour he had done us by coming out to meet us himself. To
+all this Motecusuma answered in very appropriate terms, and ordered
+his two nephews, the princes of Tetzcuco and Cojohuacan, to conduct
+us to our quarters. He himself returned to the city, accompanied by
+his two other relatives, the princes of Cuitlahuac and Tlacupa, with
+the other grandees of his numerous suite. As they passed by, we
+perceived how all those who composed his majesty's retinue held their
+heads bent forward, no one daring to lift up his eyes in his presence;
+and altogether what deep veneration was paid him.</p>
+
+<p>The road before us now became less crowded, and yet who would
+have been able to count the vast numbers of men, women, and children
+who filled the streets, crowded the balconies, and the canoes in the
+canals, merely to gaze upon us? Indeed, at the moment I am writing
+this, everything comes as lively to my eyes as if it had happened yesterday;
+and I daily become more sensible of the great mercy of our
+Lord Jesus Christ, that he lent us sufficient strength and courage to
+enter this city: for my own person, I have particular reason to be
+thankful that he spared my life in so many perils, as the reader will
+sufficiently see in the course of this history: indeed I cannot sufficiently
+praise him that I have been allowed to live thus long to narrate
+these adventures, although they may not turn out so perfect as
+I myself could wish.</p>
+
+<p>We were quartered in a large building where there was room enough
+for us all, and which had been occupied by Axayacatl, father of Motecusuma,
+during his life-time. Here the latter had likewise a secret room
+full of treasures, and where the gold he had inherited from his father
+was hid, which he had never touched up to this moment. Near this
+building there were temples and Mexican idols, and this place had
+been purposely selected for us because we were termed teules, or were
+thought to be such, and that we might dwell among the latter as
+among our equals. The apartments and halls were very spacious,
+and those set apart for our general were furnished with carpets. There
+were separate beds for each of us, which could not have been better
+fitted up for a gentleman of the first rank. Every place was swept
+clean, and the walls had been newly plastered and decorated.<a name="FNanchor_48_49" id="FNanchor_48_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_49" class="fnanchor">[48]</a></p>
+
+<p>When we had arrived in the great courtyard adjoining this palace,
+Motecusuma came up to Cortes, and, taking him by the hand, conducted
+him himself into the apartments where he was to lodge, which
+had been beautifully decorated after the fashion of the country. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>
+then hung about his neck a chaste necklace of gold, most curiously
+worked with figures all representing crabs. The Mexican grandees
+were greatly astonished at all these uncommon favours which their
+monarch bestowed upon our general.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes returned the monarch many thanks for so much kindness,
+and the latter took leave of him with these words: "Malinche, you
+and your brothers must now do as if you were at home, and take some
+rest after the fatigues of the journey," then returned to his own palace,
+which was close at hand.</p>
+
+<p>We allotted the apartments according to the several companies, placed
+our cannon in an advantageous position, and made such arrangements
+that our cavalry, as well as the infantry, might be ready at a moment's
+notice. We then sat down to a plentiful repast, which had been previously
+spread out for us, and made a sumptuous meal.</p>
+
+<p>This our bold and memorable entry into the large city of Temixtitlan-Mexico<a name="FNanchor_49_50" id="FNanchor_49_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_50" class="fnanchor">[49]</a>
+took place on the 8th of November, 1519. Praise be to
+the Lord Jesus Christ for all this. If, however, I have not exactly
+related every circumstance that transpired at the moment, the reader
+must pardon me for the present.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_LXXXIX" id="CHAPTER_LXXXIX"></a>CHAPTER LXXXIX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Motecusuma, accompanied by several caziques, pays us a visit in
+our quarters, and of the discourse that passed between him and our general.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After Motecusuma had dined, and was informed that we had
+likewise left table, he set out from his palace in great pomp, accompanied
+by a number of his grandees and all his relations, to pay us a visit.
+Cortes, being apprized of his approach, advanced to the middle of the
+apartment to receive him. Motecusuma took him by the hand, while
+others brought in a species of chair of great value, decorated, according
+to Mexican fashion, with gold beautifully worked into various shapes;
+the monarch then invited our general to seat himself next to him.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma then began a very excellent discourse, and, first of all,
+expressed his delight to entertain in his kingdom and city such courageous
+cavaliers as Cortes and all of us were. A couple of years ago
+he had received intelligence that some other officer had made his appearance
+in the province of Champoton; and a year later, of a second,
+who had been off the coast with four vessels. He had long desired to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>
+see Cortes, and, since his wishes were now fulfilled, he was ready to
+render us any services, and provide us with everything we might require.
+He was now convinced that we were those people of whom his
+earliest forefathers had spoken,&mdash;a people that would come from the
+rising of the sun and conquer these countries. After the battles we
+had fought at Potonchan, Tabasco, and those against the Tlascallans,
+which had been represented to him by pictures, all further doubt had
+vanished from his mind.<a name="FNanchor_50_51" id="FNanchor_50_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_51" class="fnanchor">[50]</a></p>
+
+<p>To which Cortes answered, that we should never be able to repay
+him for all the kindnesses he had shown us. We indeed came from
+the rising of the sun, and were servants and subjects of a powerful
+monarch, called Don Carlos, who had numerous distinguished princes
+among his vassals. Our monarch had received intelligence of him,
+Motecusuma, and of his great power, and had expressly sent us to his
+country to beg of him and his subjects to become converts to the
+Christian faith, for the salvation of their souls; and that we only adored
+one true God, as he had previously, in some degree, explained on the
+downs to his ambassadors Teuthlille, Cuitalpitoc, and Quintalbor, all
+of which, however, would be more fully explained to him at some
+future period. When this discourse was ended, Motecusuma presented
+to our general various kinds of valuable gold trinkets, and a smaller
+portion of the same kind to each of our officers, with three packages
+of cotton stuffs, splendidly interwoven with feathers; and to every
+soldier two similar packages. All this he gave with every appearance
+of delight, and in all he did he showed his excellent breeding. He
+likewise inquired, after the presents had been distributed, whether we
+were all brothers, and subjects of our great emperor? To which Cortes
+replied in the affirmative, assuring him we were all united in love and
+friendship towards each other. In this way a pleasant discourse was
+kept up between Motecusuma and Cortes, though it was of short
+duration, as this was the monarch's first visit, and he was unwilling to
+be too troublesome thus early. He then ordered his house steward to
+provide us the necessary provisions, consisting in maise, fowls, and
+fruits, and also grass for our horses; to furnish women to grind our
+corn with stones, and bake the bread: after which the monarch took
+leave of us with great courtesy, Cortes and all of us conducting him
+to the door.</p>
+
+<p>Our general now issued strict commands that no one should stir from
+head-quarters until we had gained some certain knowledge as to how
+matters really stood.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XC" id="CHAPTER_XC"></a>CHAPTER XC.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How our general, the day following, paid a visit to Motecusuma, and
+of the discourse that passed between them.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The next day Cortes determined to visit Motecusuma in his own
+palace. He therefore first sent to inquire after his health, and whether
+it would be agreeable to the monarch to receive a visit from him. Our
+general took with him four of our principal officers, namely, Alvarado,
+Leon, Ordas, and Sandoval, besides five soldiers, of whom I was one.</p>
+
+<p>When our arrival was announced to Motecusuma, he advanced to
+the middle of the apartment to meet us, being solely attended by his
+nephew, as the other grandees were only allowed to enter his apartments
+upon very important occasions. After the first compliments had
+passed between the monarch and our general, they shook hands, and
+Motecusuma conducted Cortes to an elevated seat, and placed him at
+his right hand. The rest of us were also desired to sit down on chairs
+which were brought in for us. Cortes then, by means of our interpreters,
+addressed Motecusuma at considerable length: "He said that
+all his and our wishes were now fulfilled, as he had reached the end of
+his journey, and obeyed the commands of our great emperor. There
+only now remained to disclose to him the commandments of our God.
+We were Christians, believing in one true God only, Jesus Christ, who
+suffered and died for our salvation. We prayed to the cross as an
+emblem of that cross on which our Lord and Saviour was crucified.
+By his death the whole human race was saved. He rose on the third
+day, and was received into heaven. By him, heaven, earth, and sea,
+and every living creature was formed: and nothing existed but by his
+divine will. Those figures, on the contrary, which he considered as
+gods, were no gods, but devils, which were evil spirits. It was very
+evident how powerless and what miserable things they were, since in
+all those places where we had planted the cross, those gods no longer
+durst make their appearance. Of this his ambassadors were fully convinced,
+and he himself would, in the course of time, be convinced of
+this truth. He begged he would also pay particular attention to something
+else he had to communicate." Here Cortes very intelligently
+explained to him how the world was created, how all people were
+brothers, and sons of one father and mother, called Adam and Eve;
+and how grieved our emperor was to think that so many human souls
+should be lost, and sent to hell by those false idols, where they would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>
+be tormented by everlasting fire; for this reason he had sent us hither
+to put an end to so much misery, and to exhort the inhabitants of this
+country no longer to adore such gods, nor sacrifice human beings to
+them; and also to abstain from robbery and committing unnatural
+offences. In a very short time our emperor would send to this country
+men of great piety and virtue, of whom there were numbers in our
+country, and who would explain these things more fully to them. Of
+all this we were merely the first messengers, and could only beg of
+them to support us in our labours, and assist us in their completion.</p>
+
+<p>As Motecusuma was about to answer, Cortes stopped short, and,
+turning to us, said, "Verily, I am determined they shall comply with
+this, and let this be the commencement of our work!"</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma, in reply, expressed himself as follows: "Malinche!
+What you have just been telling me of your God has, indeed, been
+mentioned to me before by my servants, to whom you made similar
+disclosures immediately upon your arrival off the coast. Neither am I
+ignorant of what you have stated concerning the cross and everything
+else in the towns you passed through. We, however, maintained
+silence, as the gods we adore were adored in bygone ages by our ancestors.
+We have, once for all, acknowledged them as good deities, in
+the same way as you have yours, and therefore let us talk no further on
+this subject. Respecting the creation of the world, we likewise believe
+it was created many ages ago. We likewise believe that you are those
+people whom our ancestors prophecied would come from the rising of
+the sun, and I feel myself indebted to your great emperor, to whom I
+will send a present of the most valuable things I possess. It is now two
+years ago that I received the first intelligence of him by some vessels
+which appeared off my coast belonging to your country, the people on
+board of which likewise called themselves subjects of your great emperor.
+Tell me, now, do you really all belong to the same people?"</p>
+
+<p>Cortes assured him we were all servants of the same great emperor;
+that those vessels were merely sent out in advance to explore the seas
+and the harbours, to make the necessary preparations for our present
+expedition.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma likewise remarked that then even he had contemplated
+allowing some of those men to penetrate into the interior of his country,
+from his great desire to see them, and had intended to pay them great
+honours. Since the gods had now fulfilled his greatest desires, and
+we now inhabited his dwellings, which we might look upon as our
+own, we could rest from our fatigues, and enjoy ourselves, and we should
+not want for anything. Although he had sometimes sent us word not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>
+to repair to his metropolis, he had done so with great reluctance. He
+had been forced to act so on account of his subjects, who stood in
+great awe of us, and believed that we whirled fire and lightning around
+us, and killed numbers of men with our horses; that we were wild
+and unruly teules, and such like nonsense: as he had now gained personal
+knowledge of us, and convinced himself that we were likewise
+formed of flesh and bone, and men of great understanding, with great
+courage, he entertained even a more elevated opinion of us than he
+had previously, and was ready to share all he possessed with us.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this, Cortes assured him that we felt ourselves vastly indebted
+to him for the very kind feeling he evinced on our behalf.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma, who was always of a merry disposition, though never,
+for an instant, forgetful of his high station, now continued in a more
+humorous style, as follows: "I am perfectly well aware, Malinche,
+what the people of Tlascalla, with whom you are so closely allied,
+have been telling you respecting myself. They have made you believe
+that I am a species of god, or teule, and that my palaces are
+filled with gold, silver, and jewels. I do not think, for an instant,
+that reasonable men as you are can put any faith in all their talk, but
+that you look upon all this as nonsense: besides which, you can now
+convince yourself, Malinche, that I am made of flesh and bone as you
+are, and that my palaces are built of stone, lime, and wood. I am,
+to be sure, a powerful monarch; it is likewise true that I have inherited
+vast treasures from my ancestors; but with regard to anything
+else they may have told you respecting me, it is all nonsense. You
+must just think of that as I think of the lightning and burning flames
+which you are said to whirl about in all directions."</p>
+
+<p>To this Cortes answered, likewise laughingly, "We knew, from old
+experience, that enemies neither tell the truth nor speak well of each
+other. We had, however, long ago convinced ourselves that there was
+not another such a noble-minded and illustrious monarch as himself
+in this quarter of the world, and that the great idea our emperor had
+formed of him was well founded."</p>
+
+<p>During this discourse, Motecusuma secretly desired his nephew to
+order his house-steward to bring in some gold trinkets and ten packages
+of fine stuffs, which he divided among Cortes and the four officers who
+were present. We five soldiers obtained each two gold chains for the
+neck, in value about ten pesos each, besides two packages of cotton
+stuffs.</p>
+
+<p>The gold which Motecusuma gave away upon this occasion was estimated
+at above 1000 pesos. But what was more, everything he gave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>
+away was given with the best of good will, and with an air of dignity
+which you might expect in so great a monarch.<a name="FNanchor_51_52" id="FNanchor_51_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_52" class="fnanchor">[51]</a></p>
+
+<p>As it was already past noon, Cortes began to fear that any longer
+stay might be troublesome to the monarch, and said to him, in rising
+from his seat, "We are daily becoming more and more indebted to your
+majesty for so many kindnesses; at present it is time to think of
+dinner."</p>
+
+<p>The monarch, in return, thanked us for our visit, and we took leave
+of each other in the most courteous manner imaginable. We now returned
+to our quarters, and acquainted our fellow-soldiers with the
+kind reception the monarch had given us.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XCI" id="CHAPTER_XCI"></a>CHAPTER XCI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Of Motecusuma's person, disposition, habits, and of his great power.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The mighty Motecusuma may have been about this time in the
+fortieth year of his age. He was tall of stature, of slender make, and
+rather thin, but the symmetry of his body was beautiful. His complexion
+was not very brown, merely approaching to that of the inhabitants
+in general. The hair of his head was not very long, excepting
+where it hung thickly down over his ears, which were quite hidden by
+it. His black beard, though thin, looked handsome. His countenance
+was rather of an elongated form, but cheerful; and his fine eyes had
+the expression of love or severity, at the proper moments. He was
+particularly clean in his person, and took a bath every evening. Besides
+a number of concubines, who were all daughters of persons of rank
+and quality, he had two lawful wives of royal extraction, whom, however,
+he visited secretly without any one daring to observe it, save his
+most confidential servants. He was perfectly innocent of any unnatural
+crimes. The dress he had on one day was not worn again until
+four days had elapsed. In the halls adjoining his own private apartments
+there was always a guard of 2000 men of quality, in waiting:
+with whom, however, he never held any conversation unless to give
+them orders or to receive some intelligence from them. Whenever for
+this purpose they entered his apartment, they had first to take off
+their rich costumes and put on meaner garments, though these were
+always neat and clean; and were only allowed to enter into his presence
+barefooted, with eyes cast down. No person durst look at him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>
+full in the face, and during the three prostrations which they were
+obliged to make before they could approach him, they pronounced
+these words: "Lord! my Lord! sublime Lord!" Everything that
+was communicated to him was to be said in few words, the eyes of the
+speaker being constantly cast down, and on leaving the monarch's
+presence he walked backwards out of the room. I also remarked that
+even princes and other great personages who come to Mexico respecting
+lawsuits, or on other business from the interior of the country,
+always took off their shoes and changed their whole dress for one of a
+meaner appearance when they entered his palace. Neither were they
+allowed to enter the palace straightway, but had to show themselves
+for a considerable time outside the doors; as it would have been considered
+want of respect to the monarch if this had been omitted.</p>
+
+<p>Above 300 kinds of dishes were served up for Motecusuma's
+dinner from his kitchen, underneath which were placed pans of porcelain
+filled with fire, to keep them warm. Three hundred dishes of
+various kinds were served up for him alone, and above 1000 for the
+persons in waiting. He sometimes, but very seldom, accompanied by
+the chief officers of his household, ordered the dinner himself, and desired
+that the best dishes and various kinds of birds should be called
+over to him. We were told that the flesh of young children, as a very
+dainty bit, was also set before him sometimes by way of a relish.
+Whether there was any truth in this we could not possibly discover;
+on account of the great variety of dishes, consisting in fowls, turkeys,
+pheasants, partridges, quails, tame and wild geese, venison, musk
+swine, pigeons, hares, rabbits, and of numerous other birds and beasts;
+besides which there were various other kinds of provisions, indeed it
+would have been no easy task to call them all over by name. This I
+know, however, for certain, that after Cortes had reproached him for
+the human sacrifices and the eating of human flesh, he issued orders
+that no dishes of that nature should again be brought to his table.
+I will, however, drop this subject, and rather relate how the monarch
+was waited on while he sat at dinner. If the weather was cold a large
+fire was made with a kind of charcoal made of the bark of trees, which
+emitted no smoke, but threw out a delicious perfume; and that his
+majesty might not feel any inconvenience from too great a heat, a
+screen was placed between his person and the fire, made of gold, and
+adorned with all manner of figures of their gods. The chair on which
+he sat was rather low, but supplied with soft cushions, and was beautifully
+carved; the table was very little higher than this, but perfectly corresponded
+with his seat. It was covered with white cloths, and one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>
+of a larger size. Four very neat and pretty young women held before
+the monarch a species of round pitcher, called by them Xicales, filled
+with water to wash his hands in. The water was caught in other
+vessels, and then the young women presented him with towels to dry
+his hands. Two other women brought him maise-bread baked with
+eggs. Before, however, Motecusuma began his dinner, a kind of
+wooden screen, strongly gilt, was placed before him, that no one
+might see him while eating, and the young women stood at a distance.
+Next four elderly men, of high rank, were admitted to his table; whom
+he addressed from time to time, or put some questions to them.
+Sometimes he would offer them a plate of some of his viands, which
+was considered a mark of great favour. These grey-headed old men,
+who were so highly honoured, were, as we subsequently learnt, his
+nearest relations, most trustworthy counsellors and chief justices.
+Whenever he ordered any victuals to be presented them, they ate it
+standing, in the deepest veneration, though without daring to look at
+him full in the face. The dishes in which the dinner was served up
+were of variegated and black porcelain, made at Cholulla. While the
+monarch was at table, his courtiers, and those who were in waiting in
+the halls adjoining, had to maintain strict silence.</p>
+
+<p>After the hot dishes had been removed, every kind of fruit which
+the country produced was set on the table; of which, however,
+Motecusuma ate very little. Every now and then was handed to him
+a golden pitcher filled with a kind of liquor made from the cacao,
+which is of a very exciting nature.<a name="FNanchor_52_53" id="FNanchor_52_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_53" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> Though we did not pay any particular
+attention to the circumstance at the time, yet I saw about fifty
+large pitchers filled with the same liquor brought in all frothy. This
+beverage was also presented to the monarch by women, but all with
+the profoundest veneration.</p>
+
+<p>Sometimes during dinner time, he would have ugly Indian humpbacked
+dwarfs, who acted as buffoons and performed antics for his
+amusement. At another time he would have jesters to enliven him
+with their witticisms. Others again danced and sung before him.
+Motecusuma took great delight in these entertainments, and ordered
+the broken victuals and pitchers of cacao liquor to be distributed
+among these performers. As soon as he had finished his dinner the
+four women cleared the cloths and brought him water to wash his
+hands. During this interval he discoursed a little with the four old
+men, and then left table to enjoy his afternoon's nap.</p>
+
+<p>After the monarch had dined, dinner was served up for the men on
+duty and the other officers of his household, and I have often counted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span>
+more than 1000 dishes on the table, of the kinds above mentioned. These
+were then followed, according to the Mexican custom, by the frothing
+jugs of cacao liquor; certainly 2000 of them, after which came different
+kinds of fruit in great abundance.</p>
+
+<p>Next the women dined, who superintended the baking department;
+and those who made the cacao liquor, with the young women who
+waited upon the monarch. Indeed, the daily expense of these dinners
+alone must have been very great!</p>
+
+<p>Besides these servants there were numerous butlers, house-stewards,
+treasurers, cooks, and superintendents of maise-magazines. Indeed
+there is so much to be said about these that I scarcely knew where to
+commence, and we could not help wondering that everything was done
+with such perfect order. I had almost forgotten to mention, that
+during dinner-time, two other young women of great beauty brought
+the monarch small cakes, as white as snow, made of eggs and other
+very nourishing ingredients, on plates covered with clean napkins;
+also a kind of long-shaped bread, likewise made of very substantial
+things, and some pachol, which is a kind of wafer-cake. They then
+presented him with three beautifully painted and gilt tubes, which
+were filled with liquid amber, and a herb called by the Indians tabaco.
+After the dinner had been cleared away and the singing and dancing
+done, one of these tubes was lighted, and the monarch took the smoke
+into his mouth, and after he had done this a short time, he fell asleep.<a name="FNanchor_53_54" id="FNanchor_53_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_54" class="fnanchor">[53]</a></p>
+
+<p>About this time a celebrated cazique, whom we called Tapia, was
+Motecusuma's chief steward: he kept an account of the whole of
+Motecusuma's revenue, in large books of paper which the Mexicans
+call <i>Amatl</i>. A whole house was filled with such large books of
+accounts.<a name="FNanchor_54_55" id="FNanchor_54_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_55" class="fnanchor">[54]</a></p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma had also two arsenals filled with arms of every description,
+of which many were ornamented with gold and precious stones.
+These arms consisted in shields of different sizes, sabres, and a species
+of broadsword, which is wielded with both hands, the edge furnished
+with flint stones, so extremely sharp that they cut much better than
+our Spanish swords:<a name="FNanchor_55_56" id="FNanchor_55_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_56" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> further, lances of greater length than ours, with
+spikes at their end, full one fathom in length, likewise furnished with
+several sharp flint stones. The pikes are so very sharp and hard that
+they will pierce the strongest shield, and cut like a razor; so that the
+Mexicans even shave themselves with these stones. Then there were
+excellent bows and arrows, pikes with single and double points, and
+the proper thongs to throw them with; slings with round stones purposely
+made for them; also a species of large shield, so ingeniously<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>
+constructed that it could be rolled up when not wanted: they are
+only unrolled on the field of battle, and completely cover the whole
+body from the head to the feet. Further, we saw here a great variety
+of cuirasses made of quilted cotton, which were outwardly adorned
+with soft feathers of different colours, and looked like uniforms;
+morions and helmets constructed of wood and bones, likewise adorned
+with feathers. There were always artificers at work, who continually
+augmented this store of arms; and the arsenals were under the care of
+particular personages, who also superintended the works.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma had likewise a variety of aviaries, and it is indeed with
+difficulty that I constrain myself from going into too minute a detail
+respecting these. I will confine myself by stating that we saw here every
+kind of eagle, from the king's eagle to the smallest kind included, and
+every species of bird, from the largest known to the little colibris, in
+their full splendour of plumage. Here were also to be seen those birds
+from which the Mexicans take the green-coloured feathers of which
+they manufacture their beautiful feathered stuffs. These last-mentioned
+birds very much resemble our Spanish jays, and are called by the Indians
+quezales. The species of sparrows were particularly curious, having
+five distinct colours in their plumage&mdash;green, red, white, yellow, and
+blue; I have, however, forgotten their Mexican name. There were
+such vast numbers of parrots, and such a variety of species, that I
+cannot remember all their names; and geese of the richest plumage,
+and other large birds. These were, at stated periods, stripped of their
+feathers, in order that new ones might grow in their place. All these
+birds had appropriate places to breed in, and were under the care of
+several Indians of both sexes, who had to keep the nests clean, give to
+each kind its proper food, and set the birds for breeding. In the courtyard
+belonging to this building, there was a large basin of sweet water,
+in which, besides other water fowls, there was a particularly beautiful
+bird, with long legs, its body, wings, and tail variously coloured, and
+is called at Cuba, where it is also found, the ipiris.</p>
+
+<p>In another large building, numbers of idols were erected, and these,
+it is said, were the most terrible of all their gods. Near these were
+kept all manner of beautiful animals, tigers, lions of two different
+kinds, of which one had the shape of a wolf, and was called a jackal;
+there were also foxes, and other small beasts of prey. Most of these
+animals had been bred here, and were fed with wild deers' flesh, turkeys,
+dogs, and sometimes, as I have been assured, with the offal of
+human beings.</p>
+
+<p>Respecting the abominable human sacrifices of these people, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>
+following was communicated to us: The breast of the unhappy
+victim destined to be sacrificed was ripped open with a knife made
+of sharp flint; the throbbing heart was then torn out, and immediately
+offered to the idol-god in whose honour the sacrifice had been
+instituted. After this, the head, arms, and legs were cut off and eaten
+at their banquets, with the exception of the head, which was saved,
+and hung to a beam appropriated for that purpose. No other part of
+the body was eaten, but the remainder was thrown to the beasts which
+were kept in those abominable dens, in which there were also vipers
+and other poisonous serpents, and, among the latter in particular, a
+species at the end of whose tail there was a kind of rattle. This
+last-mentioned serpent, which is the most dangerous, was kept in a
+cabin of a diversified form, in which a quantity of feathers had been
+strewed: here it laid its eggs, and it was fed with the flesh of dogs and
+of human beings who had been sacrificed. We were positively told
+that, after we had been beaten out of the city of Mexico, and had lost
+850 of our men, these horrible beasts were fed for many successive
+days with the bodies of our unfortunate countrymen. Indeed, when
+all the tigers and lions roared together, with the howlings of the jackals
+and foxes, and hissing of the serpents, it was quite fearful, and you
+could not suppose otherwise than that you were in hell.</p>
+
+<p>I will now, however, turn to another subject, and rather acquaint
+my readers with the skilful arts practised among the Mexicans: among
+which I will first mention the sculptors, and the gold and silversmiths,
+who were clever in working and smelting gold, and would have
+astonished the most celebrated of our Spanish goldsmiths: the number
+of these was very great, and the most skilful lived at a place called
+Escapuzalco, about four miles from Mexico. After these came the very
+skilful masters in cutting and polishing precious stones, and the chalchihuis,
+which resemble the emerald. Then follow the great masters in
+painting, and decorators in feathers, and the wonderful sculptors. Even
+at this day there are living in Mexico three Indian artists, named Marcos
+de Aguino, Juan de la Cruz, and El Crespello, who have severally reached
+to such great proficiency in the art of painting and sculpture, that they
+may be compared to an Apelles, or our contemporaries Michael Angelo
+and Berruguete.<a name="FNanchor_56_57" id="FNanchor_56_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_57" class="fnanchor">[56]</a></p>
+
+<p>The women were particularly skilful in weaving and embroidery, and
+they manufactured quantities of the finest stuffs, interwoven with
+feathers. The commoner stuffs, for daily use, came from some townships
+in the province of Costatlan, which lay on the north coast, not
+far from Vera Cruz, where we first landed with Cortes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The concubines in the palace of Motecusuma, who were all daughters
+of distinguished men, were employed in manufacturing the most beautiful
+stuffs, interwoven with feathers. Similar manufactures were made
+by certain kind of women who dwelt secluded in cloisters, as our nuns
+do. Of these nuns there were great numbers, and they lived in the
+neighbourhood of the great temple of Huitzilopochtli. Fathers sometimes
+brought their daughters from a pious feeling, or in honour of
+some female idol, the protectress of marriage, into these habitations,
+where they remained until they were married.</p>
+
+<p>The powerful Motecusuma had also a number of dancers and clowns:
+some danced in stilts, tumbled, and performed a variety of other antics
+for the monarch's entertainment: a whole quarter of the city was inhabited
+by these performers, and their only occupation consisted in such
+like performances. Lastly, Motecusuma had in his service great numbers
+of stone-cutters, masons, and carpenters, who were solely employed in
+the royal palaces.<a name="FNanchor_57_58" id="FNanchor_57_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_58" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> Above all, I must not forget to mention here his
+gardens for the culture of flowers, trees, and vegetables, of which there
+were various kinds. In these gardens were also numerous baths, wells,
+basins, and ponds full of limpid water, which regularly ebbed and
+flowed. All this was enlivened by endless varieties of small birds, which
+sang among the trees. Also the plantations of medical plants and
+vegetables are well worthy of our notice: these were kept in proper
+order by a large body of gardeners. All the baths, wells, ponds, and
+buildings were substantially constructed of stonework, as also the
+theatres where the singers and dancers performed. There were upon
+the whole so many remarkable things for my observation in these gardens
+and throughout the whole town, that I can scarcely find words
+to express the astonishment I felt at the pomp and splendour of the
+Mexican monarch.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, I am become as tired in noting down these things
+as the kind reader will be in perusing them: I will, therefore, close
+this chapter, and acquaint the reader how our general, accompanied by
+many of his officers, went to view the Tlatelulco, or great square of
+Mexico; on which occasion we also ascended the great temple, where
+stood the idols Tetzcatlipuca and Huitzilopochtli. This was the first
+time Cortes left his head-quarters to perambulate the city.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XCII" id="CHAPTER_XCII"></a>CHAPTER XCII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Our general takes a walk through Mexico, and views the Tlatelulco, (the
+great square,) and the chief temple of Huitzilopochtli.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>We had already been four days in the city of Mexico, and neither
+our commander nor any of us had, during that time, left our quarters,
+excepting to visit the gardens and buildings adjoining the palace.
+Cortes now, therefore, determined to view the city, and visit the great
+market, and the chief temple of Huitzilopochtli: he accordingly sent
+Geronimo Aguilar, Do&ntilde;a Marina, and one of his pages named Orteguilla,
+who, by this time, understood a little of the Mexican language,
+to Motecusuma, to request his permission to view the different buildings
+of the city. Motecusuma, in his answer to this, certainly granted
+us permission to go where we pleased, yet he was apprehensive we might
+commit some outrage to one or other of his idols: he, therefore, resolved
+to accompany us himself, with some of his principal officers,
+and, for this purpose, left his palace with a pompous retinue. Having
+arrived at a spot about half way between his palace and a temple, he
+stepped out of his sedan, as he would have deemed it a want of respect
+towards his gods to approach them any otherwise than on foot. He
+leant upon the arms of the principal officers of his court; others walked
+before him, holding up on high two rods, having the appearance of
+sceptres, which was a sign that the monarch was approaching. He
+himself, whenever he was carried in his sedan, held a short staff in
+his hand, one half of gold, the other of wood, very much like that
+used by our judges. In this way he came up to the temple, which he
+ascended, in company with many papas. On reaching the summit he
+immediately began to perfume Huitzilopochtli, and to perform other
+ceremonies.</p>
+
+<p>Our commander, attended by the greater part of our cavalry and
+foot, all well armed, as, indeed, we were at all times, had proceeded to
+the Tlatelulco: by command of Motecusuma, a number of caziques had
+come to meet us on our road there. The moment we arrived in this
+immense market, we were perfectly astonished at the vast numbers of
+people, the profusion of merchandise which was there exposed for sale,
+and at the good police and order that reigned throughout. The grandees
+who accompanied us drew our attention to the smallest circumstance,
+and gave us full explanation of all we saw. Every species of merchandise
+had a separate spot for its sale. We first of all visited those divisions
+of the market appropriated for the sale of gold and silver wares,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>
+of jewels, of cloths interwoven with feathers, and of other manufactured
+goods; besides slaves of both sexes. This slave market was upon
+as great a scale as the Portuguese market for negro slaves at Guinea.
+To prevent these from running away, they were fastened with halters
+about their neck, though some were allowed to walk at large. Next to
+these came the dealers in coarser wares&mdash;cotton, twisted thread, and
+cacao. In short, every species of goods which New Spain produces
+were here to be found; and everything put me in mind of my native
+town Medina del Campo during fair time, where every merchandise
+has a separate street assigned for its sale. In one place were sold the
+stuffs manufactured of nequen; ropes, and sandals; in another place,
+the sweet maguey root, ready cooked, and various other things made
+from this plant. In another division of the market were exposed the
+skins of tigers, lions, jackals, otters, red deer, wild cats, and of other
+beasts of prey, some of which were tanned. In another place were
+sold beans and sage, with other herbs and vegetables. A particular
+market was assigned for the merchants in fowls, turkeys, ducks, rabbits,
+hares, deer, and dogs; also for fruit-sellers, pastry-cooks, and tripe-sellers.
+Not far from these were exposed all manner of earthenware,
+from the large earthen cauldron to the smallest pitchers. Then came
+the dealers in honey and honey-cakes, and other sweetmeats. Next to
+these, the timber-merchants, furniture-dealers, with their stores of
+tables, benches, cradles, and all sorts of wooden implements, all separately
+arranged. What can I further add? If I am to note everything
+down, I must also mention human excrements, which were exposed for
+sale in canoes lying in the canals near this square, and is used for the
+tanning of leather; for, according to the assurances of the Mexicans,
+it is impossible to tan well without it. I can easily imagine that many
+of my readers will laugh at this; however, what I have stated is a fact,
+and, as further proof of this, I must acquaint the reader that along
+every road accommodations were built of reeds, straw, or grass, by
+which those who made use of them were hidden from the view of the
+passers-by, so that great care was taken that none of the last-mentioned
+treasures should be lost. But why should I so minutely detail every
+article exposed for sale in this great market? If I had to enumerate
+everything singly, I should not so easily get to the end. And yet I
+have not mentioned the paper, which in this country is called amatl;
+the tubes filled with liquid amber and tobacco; the various sweet-scented
+salves, and similar things; nor the various seeds which were
+exposed for sale in the porticoes of this market, nor the medicinal
+herbs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>In this market-place there were also courts of justice, to which three
+judges and several constables were appointed, who inspected the goods
+exposed for sale. I had almost forgotten to mention the salt, and those
+who made the flint knives; also the fish, and a species of bread made
+of a kind of mud or slime collected from the surface of this lake, and
+eaten in that form, and has a similar taste to our cheese.<a name="FNanchor_58_59" id="FNanchor_58_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_59" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> Further,
+instruments of brass, copper, and tin; cups, and painted pitchers of
+wood: indeed, I wish I had completed the enumeration of all this profusion
+of merchandise. The variety was so great that it would occupy
+more space than I can well spare to note them down in; besides which,
+the market was so crowded with people, and the thronging so excessive
+in the porticoes, that it was quite impossible to see all in one day.</p>
+
+<p>On our proceeding to the great temple, and passing the courtyards
+adjoining the market, we observed numbers of other merchants, who
+dealt in gold dust as it is dug out of the mines, which was exposed to
+sale in tubes made of the bones of large geese, which had been worked
+to such a thin substance, and were so white that the gold shone through
+them. The value of these tubes of gold was estimated according to
+their length and thickness, and were taken in exchange, for instance,
+for so many mantles, xiquipiles<a name="FNanchor_59_60" id="FNanchor_59_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_60" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> of cacao<a name="FNanchor_60_61" id="FNanchor_60_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_61" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> nuts, slaves, or other merchandise.</p>
+
+<p>On quitting the market, we entered the spacious yards which surround
+the chief temple. These appeared to encompass more ground
+than the market-place at Salamanca, and were surrounded by a double
+wall, constructed of stone and lime: these yards were paved with large
+white flag-stones, extremely smooth; and where these were wanting,
+a kind of brown plaster had been used instead, and all was kept so very
+clean that there was not the smallest particle of dust or straw to be seen
+anywhere.</p>
+
+<p>Before we mounted the steps of the great temple, Motecusuma, who
+was sacrificing on the top to his idols, sent six papas and two of his
+principal officers to conduct Cortes up the steps. There were 114
+steps to the summit, and, as they feared that Cortes would experience
+the same fatigue in mounting as Motecusuma had, they were going to
+assist him by taking hold of his arms. Cortes, however, would not
+accept of their proffered aid. When we had reached the summit of
+the temple, we walked across a platform where many large stones were
+lying, on which those who were doomed for sacrifice were stretched
+out. Near these stood a large idol, in the shape of a dragon, surrounded
+by various other abominable figures, with a quantity of fresh
+blood lying in front of it. Motecusuma himself stepped out of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>
+chapel, in which his cursed gods were standing, accompanied by two
+papas, and received Cortes and the whole of us very courteously.
+"Ascending this temple, Malinche," said he to our commander, "must
+certainly have fatigued you!" Cortes, however, assured him, through
+our interpreters, that it was not possible for anything to tire us. Upon
+this the monarch took hold of his hand and invited him to look down
+and view his vast metropolis, with the towns which were built in the
+lake, and the other towns which surrounded the city. Motecusuma
+also observed, that from this place we should have a better view of
+the great market.</p>
+
+<p>Indeed, this infernal temple, from its great height, commanded a
+view of the whole surrounding neighbourhood. From this place we
+could likewise see the three causeways which led into Mexico,&mdash;that
+from Iztapalapan, by which we had entered the city four days ago; that
+from Tlacupa, along which we took our flight eight months after, when
+we were beaten out of the city by the new monarch Cuitlahuatzin;
+the third was that of Tepeaquilla. We also observed the aqueduct which
+ran from Chapultepec, and provided the whole town with sweet water.
+We could also distinctly see the bridges across the openings, by which
+these causeways were intersected, and through which the waters of the
+lake ebbed and flowed. The lake itself was crowded with canoes, which
+were bringing provisions, manufactures, and other merchandise to the
+city. From here we also discovered that the only communication of
+the houses in this city, and of all the other towns built in the lake, was
+by means of drawbridges or canoes. In all these towns the beautiful
+white plastered temples rose above the smaller ones, like so many towers
+and castles in our Spanish towns, and this, it may be imagined, was a
+splendid sight.</p>
+
+<p>After we had sufficiently gazed upon this magnificent picture, we
+again turned our eyes toward the great market, and beheld the vast
+numbers of buyers and sellers who thronged there. The bustle and
+noise occasioned by this multitude of human beings was so great that
+it could be heard at a distance of more than four miles. Some of our
+men, who had been at Constantinople and Rome, and travelled through
+the whole of Italy, said that they never had seen a market-place of
+such large dimensions,<a name="FNanchor_61_62" id="FNanchor_61_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_62" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> or which was so well regulated, or so crowded
+with people as this one at Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>On this occasion Cortes said to father Olmedo, who had accompanied
+us: "I have just been thinking that we should take this opportunity,
+and apply to Motecusuma for permission to build a church
+here."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>To which father Olmedo replied, that it would, no doubt, be an excellent
+thing if the monarch would grant this; but that it would be
+acting overhasty to make a proposition of that nature to him now,
+whose consent would not easily be gained at any time.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes then turned to Motecusuma, and said to him, by means of
+our interpretress, Do&ntilde;a Marina: "Your majesty is, indeed, a great
+monarch, and you merit to be still greater! It has been a real delight
+to us to view all your cities. I have now one favour to beg of you,
+that you would allow us to see your gods and teules."</p>
+
+<p>To which Motecusuma answered, that he must first consult his
+chief papas, to whom he then addressed a few words. Upon this, we
+were led into a kind of small tower, with one room, in which we saw
+two basements resembling altars, decked with coverings of extreme
+beauty. On each of these basements stood a gigantic, fat-looking
+figure, of which the one on the right hand represented the god of war
+Huitzilopochtli. This idol had a very broad face, with distorted and
+furious-looking eyes, and was covered all over with jewels, gold, and
+pearls, which were stuck to it by means of a species of paste, which,
+in this country, is prepared from a certain root. Large serpents, likewise,
+covered with gold and precious stones, wound round the body of
+this monster, which held in one hand a bow, and in the other a bunch
+of arrows. Another small idol which stood by its side, representing
+its page, carried this monster's short spear, and its golden shield
+studded with precious stones. Around Huitzilopochtli's neck were
+figures representing human faces and hearts made of gold and silver,
+and decorated with blue stones. In front of him stood several perfuming
+pans with copal, the incense of the country; also the hearts of
+three Indians, who had that day been slaughtered, were now consuming
+before him as a burnt-offering. Every wall of this chapel and the
+whole floor had become almost black with human blood, and the stench
+was abominable.</p>
+
+<p>On the left hand stood another figure of the same size as Huitzilopochtli.
+Its face was very much like that of a bear, its shining eyes
+were made of tetzcat, the looking-glass of the country. This idol,
+like its brother Huitzilopochtli, was completely covered with precious
+stones, and was called <i>Tetzcatlipuca</i>. This was the god of hell, and
+the souls of the dead Mexicans stood under him.<a name="FNanchor_62_63" id="FNanchor_62_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_63" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> A circle of figures
+wound round its body, resembling diminutive devils with serpents' tails.
+The walls and floor around this idol were also besmeared with blood,
+and the stench was worse than in a Spanish slaughter-house. Five
+human hearts had that day been sacrificed to him. On the very top<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span>
+of this temple stood another chapel, the woodwork of which was uncommonly
+well finished, and richly carved. In this chapel there was
+also another idol, half man and half lizard, completely covered with
+precious stones; half of this figure was hidden from view. We were
+told that the hidden half was covered with the seeds of every plant of
+this earth, for this was the god of the seeds and fruits: I have, however,
+forgotten its name, but note that here also everything was besmeared
+with blood, and the stench so offensive that we could not have staid
+there much longer. In this place was kept a drum of enormous dimensions,
+the tone of which, when struck, was so deep and melancholy
+that it has very justly been denominated the drum of hell. The drum-skin
+was made out of that of an enormous serpent; its sound could
+be heard at a distance of more than eight miles. This platform was
+altogether covered with a variety of hellish objects,&mdash;large and small
+trumpets, huge slaughtering knives, and burnt hearts of Indians who
+had been sacrificed: everything clotted with coagulated blood, cursed
+to the sight, and creating horror in the mind. Besides all this, the
+stench was everywhere so abominable that we scarcely knew how soon
+to get away from this spot of horrors. Our commander here said,
+smilingly, to Motecusuma: "I cannot imagine that such a powerful
+and wise monarch as you are, should not have yourself discovered by
+this time that these idols are not divinities, but evil spirits, called
+devils. In order that you may be convinced of this, and that your
+papas may satisfy themselves of this truth, allow me to erect a cross
+on the summit of this temple; and, in the chapel, where stand your
+Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca, give us a small space that I may
+place there the image of the holy Virgin; then you will see what terror
+will seize these idols by which you have been so long deluded."<a name="FNanchor_63_64" id="FNanchor_63_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_64" class="fnanchor">[63]</a></p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma knew what the image of the Virgin Mary was, yet he
+was very much displeased with Cortes' offer, and replied, in presence
+of two papas, whose anger was not less conspicuous, "Malinche, could
+I have conjectured that you would have used such reviling language as
+you have just done, I would certainly not have shown you my gods.
+In our eyes these are good divinities: they preserve our lives, give us
+nourishment, water, and good harvests, healthy and growing weather,
+and victory whenever we pray to them for it. Therefore we offer up
+our prayers to them, and make them sacrifices. I earnestly beg of you
+not to say another word to insult the profound veneration in which we
+hold these gods."</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Cortes heard these words and perceived the great excitement
+under which they were pronounced, he said nothing in return,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>
+but merely remarked to the monarch with a cheerful smile: "It is
+time for us both to depart hence." To which Motecusuma answered,
+that he would not detain him any longer, but he himself was now
+obliged to stay some time to atone to his gods by prayer and sacrifice
+for having committed <i>gratlatlacol</i>, by allowing us to ascend the great
+temple, and thereby occasioning the affronts which we had offered
+them.</p>
+
+<p>"If that is the case," returned Cortes, "I beg your pardon, great
+monarch." Upon this we descended the 114 steps, which very much
+distressed many of our soldiers, who were suffering from swellings in
+their groins.<a name="FNanchor_64_65" id="FNanchor_64_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_65" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> The following is all I can communicate with respect
+to the size or circumference of this temple; but previously reckon
+upon the reader's kind indulgence, if I should make any misstatement;
+for at the time when all these things were going on, I was thinking of
+anything but writing a book, but rather how best to fulfil my duty as
+a soldier, and to act up to the commands of our general Cortes.
+However, if I remember rightly, this temple occupied a space of
+ground on which we should erect six of the largest buildings, as they
+are commonly found in our country.<a name="FNanchor_65_66" id="FNanchor_65_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_66" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> The whole building ran up in
+rather a pyramidical form, on the summit of which was the small
+tower with the idols. From the middle of the temple up to the platform
+there were five landings, after the manner of barbacans, but
+without any breastworks. A perfect idea of the form of this temple
+may be gained from the pictures which are in the possession of several
+of the Conquistadores, (I have one myself,) which every one must have
+seen by this time. The following is what I learnt respecting the
+building of this temple. Every inhabitant had contributed his mite
+of gold, silver, pearls and precious stones thereto. These gifts were
+then buried in the foundations, and the ground sprinkled with the
+blood of a number of prisoners of war, and strewed with the seeds of
+every plant growing in the country. This was done in order that the
+gods might grant the country conquest, riches, and abundant harvests.
+The reader will here naturally ask the question: how we got to know
+that its foundations were thus filled with gold, pearls, silver, precious
+stones, seeds, and sprinkled with human blood, as this building had
+stood there for the space of one thousand years? To this I answer,
+that subsequent to the conquest of this large and strongly fortified
+city, we found it to be a positive fact; for when new buildings were
+being erected on the place where this temple stood, a great part of
+the space was fixed upon for the new church dedicated to our patron
+Saint Santiago, and the workmen, on digging up the old foundations to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>
+give more stability to the new ones, found a quantity of gold, silver,
+pearls, chalchihuis stones, and other valuable things. A similar discovery
+was made by a citizen of Mexico, to whom also a portion of
+this space had been allotted for building-ground, but the treasure was
+claimed for his majesty; and parties went so far as to commence a
+lawsuit about it, I cannot however now recollect how it terminated.
+Besides all this, the accounts of the caziques and grandees of Mexico,
+and even of Quauhtemoctzin himself, who was alive at that time, all
+correspond with my statement. Lastly, it is also mentioned in the
+books and paintings which contain the history of the country.<a name="FNanchor_66_67" id="FNanchor_66_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_67" class="fnanchor">[66]</a></p>
+
+<p>With respect to the extensive and splendid courtyards belonging to
+this temple I have said sufficient above. I cannot, however, pass by
+in silence a kind of small tower standing in its immediate vicinity,
+likewise containing idols. I should term it a temple of hell; for at
+one of its doors stood an open-mouthed dragon armed with huge teeth,
+resembling a dragon of the infernal regions, the devourer of souls.
+There also stood near this same door other figures resembling devils
+and serpents, and not far from this an altar encrusted with blood
+grown black, and some that had recently been spilt. In a building
+adjoining this we perceived a quantity of dishes and basins, of various
+shapes. These were filled with water and served to cook the flesh in of
+the unfortunate beings who had been sacrificed; which flesh was eaten
+by the papas. Near to the altar were lying several daggers, and wooden
+blocks similar to those used by our butchers for hacking meat on.
+At a pretty good distance from this house of horrors were piles of wood,
+and a large reservoir of water, which was filled and emptied at stated
+times, and received its supply through pipes underground from the
+aqueduct of Chapultepec. I could find no better name for this dwelling
+than the house of satan!</p>
+
+<p>I will now introduce my reader into another temple, in which the
+grandees of Mexico were buried. The doors of which were of a different
+form, and the idols were of a totally different nature, but the
+blood and stench were the same.</p>
+
+<p>Next to this temple was another in which human skulls and bones
+were piled up, though both apart; their numbers were endless.
+This place had also its appropriate idols; and in all these temples,
+we found priests clad in long black mantles, with hoods shaped
+like those worn by the Dominican friars and choristers; their ears
+were pierced and the hair of their head was long and stuck together
+with coagulated blood. Lastly, I have to mention another temple
+at no great distance from this place of skulls, containing another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>
+species of idol, who were said to be the protectors of the marriage
+rights of the men, to whom likewise those abominable human sacrifices
+were made. Round about this large courtyard stood a great
+number of small houses in which the papas dwelt, who were appointed
+over the ceremonies of the idol-worship. Near to the chief temple we
+also saw an exceedingly large basin or pond, filled with the purest water,
+which was solely adapted for the worship of Huitzilopochtli and
+Tetzcatlipuca, being also supplied by pipes underground from the
+aqueduct of Chapultepec. There were also other large buildings in
+this neighbourhood, after the manner of cloisters, in which great
+numbers of the young women of Mexico lived secluded, like nuns,
+until they were married. These had also two appropriate idols in
+the shape of females, who protected the marriage rights of the women,
+and to whom they prayed and sacrificed in order to obtain from them
+good husbands.</p>
+
+<p>Although this temple on the Tlatelulco, of which I have given such
+a lengthened description, was the largest in Mexico, yet it was by no
+means the only one; for there were numbers of other splendid temples
+in this city, all of which I am unable to describe. I have to remark,
+however, that the chief temple at Cholulla was higher than that of
+Mexico, and was ascended by 120 steps: also the idol at Cholulla stood
+in greater repute; for pilgrimages were made to it from all parts of New
+Spain, to obtain forgiveness of sins. The architecture of this building
+was also different, but with respect to the yards and double walls
+they were alike. The temple of the town of Tetzcuco was also of considerable
+height, being ascended by 117 steps, and had broad and
+beautiful courtyards, equal to those of the two last mentioned, but
+differently constructed. It seems indeed quite laughable that each
+province and every town should have its own peculiar idols, which,
+however, never interfered with each other, and the inhabitants severally
+sacrificed to them.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, and the whole of us at last grew tired at the sight of so
+many idols and implements used for these sacrifices, and we returned
+to our quarters accompanied by a great number of chief personages
+and caziques, whom Motecusuma had sent for that purpose.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XCIII" id="CHAPTER_XCIII"></a>CHAPTER XCIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we erect a chapel and altar in our quarters with a cross on the
+outside; discover the treasure of Motecusuma's father; and determine
+to seize the monarch's person and imprison him in our quarters.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Our general and father Olmedo readily perceived that Motecusuma
+would never give his consent to our erecting a cross on his chief
+temple, nor that we should build a chapel there. We had, upon
+our arrival in Mexico, fitted up some tables as an altar; but we
+were not satisfied with this, and therefore begged of Motecusuma's
+house-steward to order his masons to build us a church in our quarters,
+who referred us to the monarch himself, upon which Cortes sent
+him with our interpretress and the page Orteguilla to Motecusuma,
+who immediately gave his consent and issued orders accordingly.<a name="FNanchor_67_68" id="FNanchor_67_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_68" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p>
+
+<p>In three days our church was finished, and a cross planted in front
+of our quarters. Mass was now regularly said every day as long as
+our wine lasted, which indeed was very short, as Cortes and father
+Olmedo, during their illness in Tlascalla, had used the wine destined for
+the mass. Nevertheless we went daily to church and prayed on our
+knees in front of the altar and before the holy images; because it
+was our Christian duty, and that Motecusuma and his grandees
+might notice it, and become accustomed to these holy things, from
+seeing us kneel down in devotion before them, particularly when we
+repeated the Ave Maria.</p>
+
+<p>Wherever we went it was our custom to examine everything about
+us, and consequently we searched every corner and nook in our
+quarters; and so it happened, as we were looking for a proper spot
+to erect our altar, that two of our men, one of whom was Yañez our
+carpenter, found the traces of a doorway in the wall of one of the
+apartments, which had been carefully walled up and neatly plastered
+over; and as we all very well knew that the treasure of Motecusuma's
+father was secreted somewhere in our quarters, these two men soon
+conjectured that this doorway might be the entrance to the treasury.
+Yañez communicated his suspicions to the chief officers, Leon and
+Lugo, who were relatives of mine; and at last it got to the ears of
+Cortes. The consequence was, that the doorway was in all secrecy
+broken open, and Cortes, with some of our officers, entered the hidden
+apartment.</p>
+
+<p>Their expectations were fully realized; for they found here such a
+vast quantity of trinkets, thick and thin plates of gold, chalchihuis,
+and other precious things heaped up together, that they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>
+perfectly astounded and were almost speechless at the sight of such
+immense riches. This matter soon became known to all of our men,
+who now also paid a visit to this secret treasure. I also followed their
+example, and as at that time I was still a young man, and had never
+before beheld such vast treasures, I concluded that the whole of the
+remaining part of the world, put together, could not produce such a
+vast collection of riches. However, all our officers and soldiers unanimously
+agreed to leave everything untouched, and that the doorway
+should be walled up again as before, nor was Motecusuma to be informed
+of our discovery.</p>
+
+<p>As all of us, officers as well as privates, were men of experience, full
+of energy and very determined, who never lost sight that the Lord Jesus
+Christ had assisted us with his divine hand in all our undertakings, we
+deputed four officers and twelve of our most trustworthy and faithful
+soldiers, myself being among the number, to Cortes, and represented to
+him how we were cooped up in this strong city, as if we had been
+caught in a net or cage. We begged of him to remember the bridges
+and causeways, how we had been cautioned in every town we passed
+through against Motecusuma, and were assured that Huitzilopochtli had
+advised him to allow us to enter the city quietly, and when once there
+to fall upon us unawares and destroy us all. He ought to remember the
+inconstancy of the human mind in general, and of the Indians in particular;
+and not trust to the kindness and friendship which Motecusuma
+showed us. All this might change in an instant, and if Motecusuma did
+not exactly fall upon us with sword in hand, he had merely to cut off
+our supply of provisions and water, or break down some of the bridges,
+and we should be lost. He, Cortes, ought to consider what a large
+body of warriors always surrounded the monarch, and how powerless
+we should be and ill able to defend ourselves, since all the houses
+stood in the water. We could not count upon the assistance of our
+friends the Tlascallans, as they would be totally cut off from us.</p>
+
+<p>Taking all this into consideration our opinion was, that we had no
+other resource left by which we could place our own lives in safety
+than by seizing the monarch's person without delay. All the gold this
+monarch had given us, all we had seen in the treasury of his father,
+and all the fine provisions he had set before us, could not induce us to
+hide our sentiments. These reflections harassed us night and day, and
+if some of our men did appear heedless as to our present position,
+these were merely a few narrow-minded folks, who, on account of the
+vast quantity of gold after which their mouths watered, were unable
+to see the death which stood before them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Cortes, in reply to their representations said: "Do not imagine,
+gentlemen, that I either sleep so peaceably, or that what you have
+just been stating has not also caused me much anxiety. But we ought
+first to weigh well whether you think we are sufficiently strong in
+numbers for so bold an attempt as to take this mighty monarch
+prisoner in his own palace, amidst his body-guard and other warriors.
+I cannot see how we can manage this matter without running the risk
+of being attacked by his troops."</p>
+
+<p>Our four officers, namely, Leon, Ordas, Sandoval, and Alvarado,
+said, that the only way would be by some means or other to entice
+the monarch out of his palace, then to conduct him to our quarters,
+and then inform him that he was our prisoner. If he offered any resistance
+or made any noise, then to knock him down at once. If
+Cortes himself objected to have any hand in it, they begged he would
+give them permission to carry it out themselves. There was as much
+danger on one side as on the other; but it was certainly more advisable
+to take the monarch prisoner than to wait until he made war upon us;
+for what chance of escape should we then have?</p>
+
+<p>To all this was added, that several of us had of late remarked, that
+Motecusuma's house-steward appeared to become haughty in his manners,
+and that he did not supply our table so abundantly as on the
+first few days. Lastly, our friends of Tlascalla had secretly informed
+Aguilar that the Mexicans, for the last two days, appeared to have
+some evil design on hand.</p>
+
+<p>One hour was thus spent in deliberating as to whether we should
+take Motecusuma prisoner, and the manner in which it was to be
+done. At last we came to the resolution of seizing the monarch's
+person on the following day, and Cortes gave his full consent. The
+whole of that night was spent in prayer with father Olmedo, to ask
+the Almighty's support in this holy cause.</p>
+
+<p>The following morning two Tlascallans arrived secretly in our quarters,
+with a letter from Vera Cruz, announcing to Cortes that Juan de
+Escalante had been slain with six other Spaniards in an engagement
+with the Mexicans. A horse had likewise been killed, and all the
+Totonaques who had joined him had been slain. All the mountain
+tribes as well as the Sempoallans had turned against us. They would
+neither any longer furnish the town with provisions nor assist in
+building the fortifications, and the garrison scarcely knew what to be
+about in its present distress.</p>
+
+<p>After this overthrow, the belief that the Spaniards were teules had
+altogether vanished. The Totonaque tribes, as well as the Mexicans,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>
+began to throw out threats, and the profound veneration in which
+they before held us was now changed for utter contempt.</p>
+
+<p>God only knows what a terrible sensation this news created among
+us. It was the first defeat we had sustained in New Spain, and the
+good reader may easily see from this how rapidly the wheel of fortune
+turns from good to bad. She had but just seen us enter this
+great metropolis, and meet with a splendid and triumphant reception.
+We already believed we were on the sure road to wealth, from the
+many presents which Motecusuma gave us daily. We had had a peep
+into Axayacatl's treasure; we had, up to this moment, been regarded
+as teules who could not fail to come off victorious in battle. This delusion
+had now flown all at once. We appeared, like all other men,
+vincible, and the Indians had already began to be insolent and haughty
+in their demeanour towards us.</p>
+
+<p>We had now the more reason to strike some determined blow, and
+we therefore resolved to get possession of Motecusuma's person some
+how or other, if we were even to forfeit all our lives in the attempt.</p>
+
+<p>I will, however, first relate the battle in which Escalante and the
+six other Spaniards lost their lives.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XCIV" id="CHAPTER_XCIV"></a>CHAPTER XCIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Of the battle which the Mexican generals fought with Escalante and
+the Totonaque tribes.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The reader will remember, some chapters back, how we lay quartered
+in the township of Quiahuitzlan, and that several of the confederate
+tribes, friendly with Sempoalla, assembled around us there.
+Above thirty townships, on this occasion, at the command of Cortes,
+refused to pay any further tribute to Motecusuma, and threw off
+his yoke. It was during that time also that the Mexican tax-gatherers
+were imprisoned by the Sempoallans, at our instigation. After all
+this had taken place we broke up our quarters at Sempoalla and began
+our march towards Mexico, leaving Juan de Escalante behind, as
+governor of Vera Cruz, who received particular instructions to protect
+our allies.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma had garrisons in every province of his empire, which
+were always stationed on the confines. Such garrisons, for instance,
+lay in Xoconoctico, for the protection of Guatimala and Chiapa, another
+in Coatzagualco, a third in Mechoacan, and a fourth on the con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>fines
+of Panuco, between Tuzapan and a township lying on the north
+coast, which was called Almeria.<a name="FNanchor_68_69" id="FNanchor_68_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_69" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> When the garrison of the latter
+place demanded the tribute of Indians with the provisions from the
+neighbouring townships, they refused to pay it, (as they were in alliance
+with Sempoalla, and had assisted Escalante in the building of the
+fortress,) and gave for reason that Malinche had so commanded it, and
+that the powerful Motecusuma had consented thereto.</p>
+
+<p>The Mexican chiefs, however, were not to be put off with this answer,
+and declared they would destroy every township which refused
+to pay the tribute, and carry off the inhabitants as slaves, as they were
+bound to obey the commands which Motecusuma had recently issued.</p>
+
+<p>On hearing these threats the Totonaque tribes applied to Escalante
+for assistance against the Mexicans, who were coming to plunder
+them. Escalante accordingly sent off messengers to the Mexican
+chiefs, commanding them to leave those tribes at peace, as that was
+the wish of their monarch, Motecusuma, with whom we stood on very
+friendly terms; and if they refused compliance with his commands he
+would march into the field against them in person, and treat them as
+enemies.</p>
+
+<p>The Mexicans received these threats with utter contempt, and returned
+the haughty answer, "that they would meet him on the field of battle!"
+Escalante, who was a man of great courage, and very prompt in what
+he did, issued orders to our mountain allies to equip themselves for
+battle, and he selected those from among his own men who were in the
+best health, and most able to bear fatigue.</p>
+
+<p>In this way he marched out against the Mexicans, with two cannon,
+a small supply of powder, three crossbow-men, two musketeers,
+besides forty Spanish soldiers and above 2000 Totonaques. The
+Mexicans were double the number of our Totonaque auxiliaries, who,
+besides this, had become intimidated by former battles; so that they
+left Escalante in the lurch after the very first attack. Escalante now
+forced his way to Almeria, which he set fire to. Here he halted for a
+short time, as he was dangerously wounded. In the several engagements
+which here took place Escalante lost one horse, and one of his
+men, named Arguello, a young man of amazing bodily strength, with a
+wild-looking countenance, a large head, and black curly beard, who
+was carried off alive by the Mexicans. Six others of his men were
+likewise dangerously wounded; the only alternative, therefore, which
+Escalante had left was to return to Vera Cruz, where he and six others
+of his men died three days after their arrival.</p>
+
+<p>This is exactly what took place at Almeria; and not as Gomara<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span>
+relates, who says, that all this happened under Pedro de Ircio, who had
+marched out on this occasion with a few men to Panuco, in order to
+found a colony there; though we had scarcely sufficient troops in Vera
+Cruz to place the necessary sentinels; how much less, therefore, could
+the thought have entered our mind to send out a colony to Panuco?
+Besides which, Ircio was not an officer at that time; no, nor even a
+corporal; had altogether nothing to do with the whole affair, being at
+the time with us in Mexico. In the same way Gomara tells his tales
+about our imprisoning Motecusuma, without for a moment reflecting
+that several of the Conquistadores were still alive; who, when they had
+perused his work, would be able to say so and so such a thing happened,
+and not otherwise.</p>
+
+<p>We must now turn to the Mexican generals, and relate how they
+announced their victory to Motecusuma, and sent him the head of
+Arguello, who most likely died on the road of his wounds. We afterwards
+learnt that Motecusuma was quite horror-struck at the sight of
+this enormous head with the thick curly beard. He could not bear to
+look at it, and would not allow the head to be brought near any of the
+temples in Mexico, but ordered it to be presented to the idols of some
+other town; yet he inquired how it came that his troops, which had
+been many thousands in number, had not been able to overthrow such
+a handful of teules? His captains replied, that notwithstanding all
+their courageous fighting they had not been able to make the Spaniards
+give way, because a great Spanish <i>tecleciguata</i><a name="FNanchor_69_70" id="FNanchor_69_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_70" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> had stood at their
+head, who had filled the Mexicans with fear, and animated the teules
+by her speeches.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma was convinced that this illustrious warrior was the
+Virgin Mary, who, we had told him, with her heavenly Son, whom she
+held in her arms, was our strong rock.</p>
+
+<p>This wonderful apparition I did not behold with mine own eyes, as
+I was at the time in Mexico. However, several of the Conquistadores
+spoke of it as a fact; and may it please God that it was so. It is,
+however, certainly true that the blessing of the Virgin Mary was always
+upon us.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XCV" id="CHAPTER_XCV"></a>CHAPTER XCV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Of the imprisonment of Motecusuma, and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After we had come to the determination of seizing the person of
+Motecusuma, and had been on our knees the whole night in prayer, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>
+supplicate the Almighty's assistance in this bold attempt, and that it
+might redound to the glory of his holy religion, we made the necessary
+arrangements when morning came for that purpose.</p>
+
+<p>Every one received orders to be ready to march out at a moment's notice,
+and the horses were to be kept saddled. It is not necessary for me
+to repeat here that our arms were always in readiness; for they were
+never out of our hands either day or night; while our alpargates, the
+only covering we had to our feet, were never taken off.</p>
+
+<p>Our general now sallied forth, accompanied by our five chief officers,
+Alvarado, Sandoval, Lugo, Leon, and Avila; besides our interpreters,
+Marina, and Aguilar. Cortes and his officers were completely armed;
+yet this would not appear strange to Motecusuma, as he had never
+seen them otherwise whenever they paid him a visit. Cortes, as on
+the former occasion, sent some one before him to announce his approach,
+that Motecusuma might not perceive any change in our
+behaviour, and feel no uneasiness at our unexpected visit. His conscience,
+however, was not altogether easy, on account of the affair
+which had taken place at Almeria, and he had a misgiving that it would
+bring down evil upon him. Yet he sent word that our visit would be
+agreeable to him.</p>
+
+<p>After Cortes had entered his apartment, and the usual compliments
+had been passed, he thus addressed Motecusuma: "I am greatly astonished
+that a prince of such power, who styles himself our friend,
+should have commanded his troops, which lie on the coast near Tuzapan,
+to take up arms against my Spanish troops, and presume to
+demand a certain number of men and women for the sacrifices from
+those townships which have put themselves under the protection of
+our emperor. But this is not all; they have plundered those places,
+and even killed one of my brothers, and a horse."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes very prudently omitted to mention the death of Escalante
+and the six others; for Motecusuma at that time knew as little of that
+as his generals who had commanded on the occasion.</p>
+
+<p>"How very differently we acted on our side!" continued Cortes.
+"I had put implicit reliance in your friendship, and desired my officers
+in every way to comply with your wishes. You, on the contrary, have
+commanded your officers the very opposite. You once likewise sent a
+large body of troops to Cholulla to destroy us all there. At that time,
+from the friendship I bore you, I would not notice to you that I was
+aware of that. At the present moment your generals have the audacity
+to plot in secret to put us all to death. However, notwithstanding all
+this treachery, I will refrain from making war upon you, which would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>
+only end in the total destruction of this city; but in order that peace may
+be maintained between us, you must make a small sacrifice, which is,
+to follow us quietly into our quarters, and take up your abode there.
+There you will receive the same attention, and be treated with the same
+respect as if you were in your own palace. But if you make any alarm
+now, or call out to your attendants, you are a dead man; and it is for
+this reason only that I have this time brought these officers with me."</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma was seized with such sudden terror at these words, that
+he remained speechless for some time. At length, however, he took
+courage, and declared he had never given any one orders to take up
+arms against us. He would that instant send for his generals, and
+learn from them the truth of the whole matter, and give exemplary
+punishment. For this purpose, he loosened the seal and mark of
+Huitzilopochtli, which he always wore around his wrist. This he only
+did when he issued orders of the first importance, and that those who
+had the seal might be immediately obeyed. He was quite astonished,
+he said, we should presume to take him prisoner, and lead him away
+out of his palace against his wishes. No one had a right to demand
+that of him, he added; and altogether he felt no inclination to comply
+with our request.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, in answer to this, gave him very good reasons for our having
+come to this determination; but Motecusuma continually brought in
+stronger reasons why he should not comply; and was resolved not to
+leave his palace.</p>
+
+<p>As this dispute had now lasted above half an hour, our officers
+began to lose all patience, and said to Cortes with great warmth,
+"What is the use of throwing away so many words? He must
+either quietly follow us, or we will cut him down at once. Be so
+good as to tell him this; for on this depends the safety of our lives.
+We must show determination, or we are inevitably lost."</p>
+
+<p>These words were uttered by Juan Velasquez in a loud and harsh
+tone of voice. When, therefore, Motecusuma heard this, and perceived
+the dark looks of the officers, he asked Marina what the man
+had said who spoke so loud.</p>
+
+<p>Marina, who was uncommonly shrewd, and well knew how to help
+us out with a good answer, said, "Great monarch, if I may be allowed
+to give you advice, make no further difficulties, but immediately follow
+them to their quarters. I am confident they will pay you every
+respect, and treat you as becomes a powerful monarch. But if you
+continue to refuse, they will cut you down on the spot."</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma then turned to Cortes, and said: "Malinche, since<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>
+then you repose no trust in me, take my son and my two legitimate
+daughters as hostages; only do not disgrace me, by demanding
+my person. What will the grandees of my empire say, if they see
+me taken prisoner?"</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, however, said that his own person would be the only guarantee
+of our safety, and that there was no other means of quieting
+our fears. At last Motecusuma, after a good deal of altercation, made
+up his mind to go quietly with us.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as he had declared this his intention, our officers showed
+him every possible civility, and hoped that he would excuse the grief
+they had occasioned him, and desired him to acquaint his generals
+and his body-guard that he had chosen, of his own free will, to take
+up his abode in our quarters; and also upon the advice of Huitzilopochtli
+and his papas, who considered it necessary for his health,
+and for the safety of his life.</p>
+
+<p>His rich and splendid sedan was then brought in, which he commonly
+used when he left his palace with his whole suite, and he followed
+us to our quarters, where we took every precaution to secure
+his person. Every one of us strove hardest to make him happy,
+and procured him every entertainment we could think of, to make
+his confinement as pleasant as we could.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly afterwards all the Mexican grandees, with his nephew, called
+upon him, to inquire the reason of his imprisonment, and ask him
+if they should commence hostilities against us? But Motecusuma
+told them he wished to do himself the pleasure of passing a few
+days with us, and that this change of abode was of his own free choice.
+He would make his wishes known to them as soon as he found reason
+to complain. They might allay their fears, and keep the metropolis
+quiet, and not trouble themselves any further about him. The determination
+he had thus taken was fully consented to by Huitzilopochtli,
+as many priests, who had purposely consulted him, had admitted.</p>
+
+<p>These are the true circumstances relative to the imprisonment of
+Motecusuma. He was always surrounded by the whole of his household,
+and had all his wives with him, and continued to bathe himself
+daily, as he had been accustomed to, in his own palace. He was
+likewise always attended by twenty of his generals and counsellors,
+nor did he show the least signs of grief on account of his confinement.
+Disputes from the most distant parts were laid before him,
+as usual, for his decision; the tribute was collected, and he continued
+to attend to the most important affairs of state as before. His subjects
+paid the same veneration to his person, and the most distinguished<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>
+princes who waited on him, or came upon business, always took off
+their fine garments, to put on a meaner dress of nequen cloth, and
+came so, barefoot, into his presence. Neither did they enter at the
+principal gate, but sought for some side door, and approached with
+eyes downcast, and made three prostrations, and pronounced the words
+Lord, my lord, great lord! They then acquainted him with their
+business, by means of pictures drawn on nequen cloth; and made use of
+thin sticks, with which they pointed to the different objects, to explain
+what they wanted, or the nature of the lawsuit they came about.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma had constantly two old distinguished caziques at his
+side, who, as judges, gave their opinion in every case, after due deliberation;
+and the monarch then, in few words, gave his decision. The
+parties then, without uttering a syllable, or turning their backs to him,
+left the apartment with three deep bows; and on arriving outside, they
+again put on their fine garments, and took a stroll in the metropolis.</p>
+
+<p>After some time had elapsed, the generals who had fought against
+Escalante were brought in prisoners to the monarch. What he told
+them on this occasion I do not know; but he sent them to Cortes to
+pronounce judgment on them himself. These unfortunate men confessed
+they had merely acted up to the commands of their monarch,
+which was, to levy the tribute by force of arms; and if the teules
+should protect the rebels, to attack them also, and put them to the
+sword.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes acquainted Motecusuma with what these men had said, but
+declared that the monarch had sufficiently exculpated himself from any
+guilt in the affair. According to the laws of our emperor, that man
+suffered death who had killed another, whether he deserved killing or
+not; however, his love for Motecusuma was so great, that he would
+rather take the responsibility of this matter upon himself than allow
+it to rest with him; but as he still seemed anxious about it, our
+general made no further ceremony with these Mexicans, but sentenced
+them to death, and they were burnt alive in front of Motecusuma's
+palace.<a name="FNanchor_69_71" id="FNanchor_69_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_71" class="fnanchor">[69*]</a></p>
+
+<p>And that no impediment might be thrown in the way while these
+sentences were being put into execution, Cortes ordered chains to be
+put on Motecusuma. At first he certainly did not approve of this at
+all, but, in the end, quietly submitted, and grew even the more tractable
+afterwards. When the executions had taken place, Cortes approached
+him, with five of our officers, and himself took off his chains
+again, with the assurance that he loved him more than a brother. He
+likewise told him, however great a monarch he might be at present,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>
+that additional countries should be annexed to his empire, and he was
+at liberty to visit any of his other palaces whenever he felt inclined.</p>
+
+<p>At these words Motecusuma became affected, and big tears rolled
+down his cheeks; and though he felt that all was mere empty sound
+he had heard, he nevertheless thanked Cortes for his kindness, adding,
+that at present he felt no inclination to go anywhere.</p>
+
+<p>His nephews, relations, and grandees daily stormed him with petitions
+to allow them to make war upon us, and release him from confinement.
+And, indeed, it required all his persuasion to prevent them
+from rising up in arms immediately. If he were once, said they,
+outside of our quarters, they would take forcible possession of his
+person. The whole of the inhabitants in his metropolis would rise up
+in arms, and if then he would not join them, they would care little
+about him, and elect a new king. Motecusuma, however, succeeded
+in silencing them by the assurance that Huitzilopochtli had himself
+advised him to bear with his confinement.</p>
+
+<p>To account for Motecusuma thus quietly submitting to his confinement,
+I must here remark that Cortes ordered Aguilar to acquaint him
+secretly that if even our general himself gave his consent to his liberation,
+it would be of no avail, as all our officers and soldiers would oppose
+it. Cortes feigned to be unconscious of all this, and embraced the
+monarch under the assurances of sincere friendship. He likewise
+gave him his page Orteguilla, who had already gained some knowledge
+of the Mexican language, the monarch having expressed a wish
+to have a Spanish attendant. This young man was of the greatest
+utility both to Motecusuma and ourselves, the monarch learning many
+things from him relating to Spain, and we again a good deal of the
+discourses which passed between the former and his generals: he was
+in every way attentive to the monarch, who became exceedingly fond
+of him. On the whole, Motecusuma appeared perfectly content with
+the civilities we showed him, and he continually felt greater delight in
+our company; for whenever any one of us passed by him, he immediately
+entered into discourse with us: we were quite at our ease with
+him, even when Cortes was present, and took off our helmets in his
+presence, which, as well as our weapons, we never laid aside; and the
+monarch always treated us with great respect.</p>
+
+<p>The severe example which Cortes had made of the Mexican generals
+had had its full effect. The news thereof ran like wildfire through the
+whole of New Spain; the tribes along the coast, by whom our troops
+of Vera Cruz had been defeated, were seized with terror, and again
+offered their services to the garrison there.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I must now beg the kind reader to pause a moment upon the heroic
+deeds we performed, and consider their magnitude! First of all, we
+destroy all our vessels, and thereby cut off all hopes of escaping from
+this country. We then venture to march into this strong city, though
+we were warned against it on all sides, and assured we should merely
+be allowed a peaceable entrance to be the more easily destroyed. We
+then have the audacity to imprison the monarch of this vast empire,
+the powerful Motecusuma, in his own metropolis, in his very palace,
+amidst his numerous troops. At last, we even fearlessly burn some of
+his generals to death in front of his own palace, and throw the monarch
+himself in chains while this was being executed! Even now, in my old
+age, the heroic deeds we then accomplished come vividly to my memory.
+I imagine I see all passing before me now, but must also acknowledge
+that, although we had our hands full, we were aided by Divine
+Providence. When again on earth will be found such a handful of
+soldiers, in all scarcely 550, who would dare to penetrate, at a distance
+of above 6000 miles from their native country, into the heart of such
+a strong city, larger than Venice, take its very monarch prisoner, and
+execute his generals in his very presence? These things, indeed, ought
+to be deeply pondered on, and not mentioned so briefly as I here have
+done! But it is time I should continue my history.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XCVI" id="CHAPTER_XCVI"></a>CHAPTER XCVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How our general appoints Alonso Grado lieutenant of Vera Cruz, and
+Sandoval alguacil-major of the same place.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After the execution of the Mexican generals, and Motecusuma had
+become pacified again, Cortes despatched one of our officers, named
+Alonso de Grado, a very active, handsome, and sensible man, to Vera
+Cruz, with the appointment of lieutenant, who, besides being an excellent
+musician, was a capital penman.</p>
+
+<p>This Grado was one of those who had always opposed our march to
+Mexico, and particularly on the occasion when the intrigues were set
+on foot by the discontented during our stay in Tlascalla: he then insisted
+on our return to Vera Cruz, and, upon the whole, spoke in severe
+terms against our general. He was very expert in various matters, and
+was successful in his undertakings, and hence again obtained the command
+of Vera Cruz, though he was not a very good soldier. Cortes,
+well acquainted with the man's character, that he was not one of the
+most courageous, said to him, in giving him the appointment, rather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span>
+jokingly, "Your desire of going to Vera Cruz, Alonso de Grado, is
+about to be fulfilled. There you must continue the building of the
+fortress with assiduity; but have nothing to do with any warlike movements:
+it might end equally disastrous for you as it did for Juan de
+Escalante!"</p>
+
+<p>While Cortes was thus addressing him, he winked his eye to those
+who were present, as much as to say if he were required on the
+field of battle, we should have to drag him there by the hair of his
+head.</p>
+
+<p>When Grado's appointment and instructions were about to be drawn
+up, he likewise begged Cortes to confer on him the appointment of
+alguacil-major, which Escalante had enjoyed with that of lieutenant.
+Our commander, however, told him it had already been conferred upon
+Sandoval, but, in a short time, he would give him some further appointment.
+He particularly desired him to watch over the interests of the
+inhabitants of Vera Cruz as a father, and not allow any harsh measures
+to be practised against the Indian population. Lastly, he desired him
+to order the smith at Vera Cruz to make two heavy iron chains, and to
+forward them, with the anchors we had taken out of our vessels, immediately
+to Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>Alonso de Grado's conduct, however, very little corresponded with
+the instructions he had received. His behaviour towards the Spanish
+garrison at Vera Cruz was haughty to a degree. He required the men
+to wait upon him, as if he had been a grandee, and demanded golden
+trinkets and beautiful females from the thirty surrounding tribes which
+were friendly with us. He no way troubled himself about completing
+the fortress, and spent all his time in feasting and gambling. He went
+even further than this, and gave way to his former ill-will towards
+Cortes, by seeking to gain his friends and others over to the interest of
+Diego Velasquez, and proposed that if the latter himself, or any one
+sent by him, should appear off the coast, to make common cause with
+him, and deliver up possession of the country to him.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes was duly apprized of all this, and sadly repented in the choice
+of this man, whose character and artful disposition, however, he had
+known beforehand.</p>
+
+<p>As Cortes was still afraid that Diego Velasquez might somehow or
+other obtain information of the purport of our mission to the emperor,
+and not merely frustrate our designs, but also send out an armament
+against us, he considered it necessary to send a trustworthy man to
+Vera Cruz. His choice fell upon Sandoval, who became alguacil-major
+of the town after the death of Escalante. Sandoval was accompanied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span>
+by Ircio, the same who, Gomara affirms, founded a settlement in
+Panuco. This Ircio had been groom to the earl of Ure&ntilde;a, and likewise
+to Don Pedro Giron, and knew well how to entertain Sandoval with
+the various adventures of his life: hereby he succeeded in gaining the
+intimate friendship of this excellent man, who was innocence itself,
+and, by degrees, he obtained a captaincy. He, however, repaid him
+with ingratitude, and calumniated him so grossly that he might have
+been punished according to law, but Sandoval contented himself by
+giving him a severe reprimand.</p>
+
+<p>I will, however, leave this subject, and relate that Sandoval, immediately
+upon his arrival at Vera Cruz, fulfilled Cortes' orders, took
+Grado prisoner, and sent him under a strong escort of Indian auxiliaries
+to Mexico. Sandoval very soon gained the good wishes of the whole
+garrison, for he began his work by providing food for the sick, and
+treating the inhabitants with every possible kindness, and was most
+particular in promoting the interests of the surrounding townships
+which were friendly with us. In the same way he set diligently about
+the completion of the fortress, and every way proved himself an active
+and vigilant commander, who afterwards, as will be seen, rendered vast
+services to Cortes and all of us.</p>
+
+<p>I must now return to Grado, who soon arrived at Mexico in custody
+of our Indian auxiliaries. His request to obtain a hearing from Cortes
+was not only refused, but he was thrown into a wooden cage which had
+just been constructed. I can still well remember that the wood of
+this cage smelt strongly of garlic and onions. However, our prisoner
+was obliged to pass two whole days in it; yet, like a clever fellow,
+who is never at a loss, he found means to soften Cortes' resentment by
+making him solemn promises of future obedience, and not only obtained
+his liberty again, but, from that moment, as I witnessed myself, became
+very intimate with our general, who, however, never again intrusted
+him with any military command, but employed him in matters which
+suited his talents. Subsequently he appointed him auditor of the army
+accounts, which Avila had previously filled, and whom Cortes had despatched,
+as his attorney, to St. Domingo, as will subsequently be seen.</p>
+
+<p>Before I close this chapter, I have to observe that Cortes desired
+Sandoval, on his arrival at Vera Cruz, to send him the two smiths of
+that town, with all their apparatus, a quantity of iron, besides the two
+heavy iron chains which were already finished; and likewise a supply
+of sails, some rigging, pitch, and a compass; all of which Cortes required
+for the brigantines which he intended building to navigate the
+lake of Mexico.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XCVII" id="CHAPTER_XCVII"></a>CHAPTER XCVII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we entertained and amused Motecusuma during his confinement,
+and granted him permission to visit his temple.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Our general was a man who thought of everything, and strove as
+much as possible to enliven the monarch in his confinement, that he
+might not feel the weight of his misfortune too deeply. Cortes, therefore,
+every morning after we had said prayers, visited the monarch with
+four of our principal officers, to inquire after his health and after his
+wants, and otherwise to amuse him in every way; in which they succeeded
+so well that Motecusuma one day himself declared his confinement
+was not irksome to him, as our gods had given us the power to
+take him prisoner, and Huitzilopochtli had allowed it.</p>
+
+<p>Sometimes also Motecusuma played at a certain game with Cortes,
+which the Mexicans call the game of <i>totoloc</i>: it is played with small
+round glossy balls, which here were made of gold, and are pitched at
+a certain mark, also of the same metal: five throws finished the game,
+and the stakes were for valuable gold trinkets and jewels. I still
+remember once when Motecusuma and Cortes were playing at this
+game, Alvarado scoring for Cortes, and a distinguished cazique (his
+nephew) for the monarch, that Alvarado continually scored one too
+many for Cortes. This was observed by Motecusuma, who said, with
+a pleasing smile, that he was not exactly pleased when <i>Tonatio</i> (so they
+termed Alvarado) marked the game for Cortes, for he was guilty of
+<i>Ixoxol</i> in scoring, which means that he scored falsely, by continually
+marking one more than he ought.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, and we others who happened to be on duty at the time in
+the apartment, could not resist laughing at the observation of the
+monarch. And why, it will be asked, did we find that expression so
+amusing? Because Alvarado, notwithstanding the handsome and refined
+man he was, could not resist the temptation of scoring falsely,
+and had been discovered. However, all the gain was divided among
+those present; for what Cortes won he presented to the monarch's
+nephew and his servants; Motecusuma dividing his gains among those
+who happened to be on duty at the time.<a name="FNanchor_70_72" id="FNanchor_70_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_72" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> And not a day passed that
+he did not present Velasquez de Leon, who was very kind to him, and
+was captain of the guard, and those who were on duty, with valuable
+gold trinkets and manufactured stuffs.</p>
+
+<p>One night a sailor, named Truxillo, stood sentinel in the monarch's
+apartment. This fellow was very stout and strongly-built; he hap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>pened
+to forget himself, for a moment, in a way which, out of respect
+for the reader, I will not describe more minutely here. Motecusuma,
+who was a monarch of refined manners, happened to hear it at the
+moment, and considered himself grossly insulted. He inquired of his
+page Orteguilla who the low-bred fellow was? Orteguilla replied that
+the man was a sailor, and that such persons were little acquainted with
+good manners. It was upon this occasion also that Orteguilla explained
+to him the rank of every individual soldier, who were cavaliers and
+who were not, and many other things the monarch wished to know.
+Motecusuma, however, had not forgotten the insult which the sailor
+had offered to his person, for daylight had scarcely broken forth when
+he sent for him, and reproached him for his disrespectful behaviour,
+and advised him to mend his manners for the future; but sweetened
+down this lecture by presenting him with some gold trinkets, worth
+about five pesos. This kind treatment, however, had little effect on
+the rough sailor, who repeated his filthy conduct the following night,
+in the hopes of getting a second present when morning came. Motecusuma,
+however, disdained speaking to him any more, but complained
+to the captain of the guard, and desired that the fellow might be
+severely reprimanded and never allowed again to stand sentinel there.</p>
+
+<p>Something similar happened to a soldier named Lopez, who was an
+excellent crossbow-man, and had a fine figure, though otherwise a man
+of little understanding. As he was one night on duty in the monarch's
+apartment, and the corporal came to make the rounds, he remarked to
+the latter, "A curse upon this dog, I am sure this standing sentinel
+at night will be my death!"</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma heard these words, and considered his feelings deeply
+wounded. When, therefore, Cortes came in the morning to pay the
+monarch his usual visit, he complained bitterly to him about the insult
+that had been offered him. Cortes was exceedingly vexed, and was so
+enraged with Lopez that he ordered him to be whipped. From that
+day every one who stood sentinel in the monarch's apartment maintained
+a respectful silence; though, as far as regarded myself and
+others of my companions who often stood sentinel in the same apartment,
+we needed no instructions as to how we were to behave in the
+presence of such a great monarch, who soon got to know all our names
+and peculiarities, was exceedingly kind towards us, and often distributed
+gold trinkets among us, besides manufactured cottons and pretty
+females. At that time I was yet a young fellow, and whenever I stood
+sentinel in the monarch's apartment, I always behaved with the greatest
+respect, and uncovered my head on passing by him. This drew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>
+his attention towards me, and, on inquiring who I was, Orteguilla informed
+him that I had accompanied the two former voyages of discovery
+to these parts. When, therefore, Orteguilla, at my desire, hinted to him
+that I should be much pleased with a pretty Mexican female, he sent
+for me, and said, "I understand, Bernal Diaz del Castillo, that you
+have abundance of gold and cotton stuffs, wherefore I will now give
+you a pretty young female. Treat her well, for she is the daughter of
+distinguished parents, who will, besides, give you more gold and cotton
+stuffs with her."</p>
+
+<p>I very respectfully thanked the monarch for his kindness, and hoped
+God would bless him for it. When the page interpreted my answer,
+he said, "Bernal Diaz appears to me to have the true feelings of a well-bred
+man," and ordered three small plates of gold and two additional
+packages of cotton stuffs to be given me.</p>
+
+<p>With respect to Motecusuma's mode of life, it was his custom to say
+his prayers the first thing in the morning, and sacrifice to his gods:
+he then partook of a little breakfast, which consisted not in meat, but
+solely in <i>agi</i>.<a name="FNanchor_71_73" id="FNanchor_71_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_73" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> This being finished, he gave an hour's audience to the
+caziques, who came from distant parts in great numbers to lay before
+him certain disputes, and obtain his judgment. The remaining part
+of the day was then spent in amusement, particularly with his concubines,
+of whom he had a great number; some of these, at times, he
+gave in marriage to his generals, principal favorites, and likewise to us
+soldiers; as I, for instance, obtained Do&ntilde;a Francisca, whom you might
+well see was a woman of distinction. Now and then the monarch
+would laugh, and then again he was pensive, and seemed to reflect on
+his confinement.</p>
+
+<p>I must once more return to the soldier whom Cortes had so severely
+punished for calling Motecusuma a dog. Many to whom I have related
+this were surprised at the severity of his punishment, as the man
+had not said it to the monarch's face; besides that, our numbers were
+so small, and that the Mexicans would be sure to hear of it. My reply
+to this is, that all of us, even Cortes himself, paid Motecusuma the
+most profound respect, and no one passed by him without uncovering
+his head: add to all this, he was so very kind, and so courteous in his
+behaviour towards us, that we should have considered ourselves bound
+to pay his person and good breeding every possible respect, though he
+had not been the monarch of New Spain.</p>
+
+<p>Lastly, it must be remembered that our lives were in his hands; for,
+at his very wink, his subjects would have flown to his rescue. When
+we saw how he was continually surrounded by so many distinguished<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span>
+personages, and the numbers of princes who came to wait upon him
+from distant parts of his empire, in the same way as if he had still
+been at liberty in his own palace, can we at all feel surprised, then,
+that Cortes should so severely have punished on the spot an insult
+offered to this monarch? Assuredly he did nothing more than the circumstances
+of the moment required!</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XCVIII" id="CHAPTER_XCVIII"></a>CHAPTER XCVIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes orders two large brigantines to be built for the navigation
+of the lake of Mexico; Motecusuma begs permission to visit his
+temples to offer up his prayers there; and what Cortes said to him
+when he granted this permission.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After the necessary materials had arrived for constructing the two
+brigantines, Cortes informed Motecusuma that he intended to build
+two small pleasure yachts to navigate the lake of Mexico, and requested
+him to allow his carpenters to cut wood for the purpose, and assist our
+ship carpenters, Martin Lopez and Alonso Nu&ntilde;ez, in the building of the
+vessels.</p>
+
+<p>There was plenty of wood at a distance of about sixteen miles from
+the town, which could easily be transported hither. The building of
+these vessels went on very fast, as our men were assisted by numbers
+of Indians. These brigantines, therefore, were very soon completed
+and rigged; besides which, each was provided with an awning to keep
+out the heat of the sun. Both vessels turned out very good, and sailed
+uncommonly fast.</p>
+
+<p>This Lopez was not only an excellent soldier, but also a very clever
+man in his profession, and subsequently built the thirteen brigantines
+which were of the most valuable assistance to us in the conquest of
+Mexico, as will be seen in the proper place.</p>
+
+<p>About this time, Motecusuma expressed a wish to visit his temple,
+in order to make his devotions there, and sacrifice to his idols. His
+motive for wishing this he declared was not merely to fulfil his religious
+duties, but also to convince his generals, his courtiers, and particularly
+some of his relatives, who daily begged he would allow them to rescue
+him from his confinement, and commence hostilities with us, that it
+was his own choice to dwell with us, to which Huitzilopochtli had given
+his consent.</p>
+
+<p>In answer to this request, Cortes said, he was afraid it would cost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>
+him his life, as his generals and papas might suddenly form the idea of
+taking forcible possession of his person on the occasion, and fall upon
+us, and his life would become endangered in the struggle. He was,
+however, no way inclined to oppose his wishes, and he might repair
+there early in the morning, but was not to sacrifice any human beings,
+as that was a great sin against the only true God, whom we had made
+known to him. Neither could he help remarking that it would be much
+more profitable to him to make his devotions before our altars and the
+image of the holy Virgin.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma then assured Cortes he would not permit any human
+sacrifices to take place. The monarch then, with Cortes' permission,
+made a procession to the temple, dressed in his splendid garments, and
+surrounded by his most distinguished courtiers, with the usual display
+of pomp, preceded by the staff of honour, to announce the monarch's
+approach. Four of our principal officers, Leon, Alvarado, Avila, and
+Lugo, with 150 soldiers, accompanied him as a guard, and father Olmedo
+to restrain the monarch from instituting any human sacrifices.</p>
+
+<p>When Motecusuma had arrived at the cursed temple of Huitzilopochtli,
+he was assisted out of the sedan by his nephews and other caziques.
+As the procession moved along, all the Mexican grandees kept their
+eyes fixed to the ground, not daring to look up in the monarch's face.
+At the foot of the temple he was met by a number of papas who assisted
+him in mounting the steps. The night previous, they had sacrificed
+four Indians; for, notwithstanding all Cortes and father Olmedo
+might say, they were not to be deterred, and continued those abominations.
+At that time, indeed, all we could do was to feign ignorance
+of their having taken place; for Mexico and other great towns had
+already been aroused into rebellion by Motecusuma's nephews, as will
+be presently seen.</p>
+
+<p>The monarch having finished his devotions, which were of short
+duration, again returned with us to our quarters. He appeared now
+in better spirits, and presented each of us who had accompanied the
+procession with trinkets of gold.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XCIX" id="CHAPTER_XCIX"></a>CHAPTER XCIX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How our two brigantines are launched, and Motecusuma, expressing a
+wish to go a hunting, sails in one of these vessels to a river where he
+usually went for that purpose.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>When both our brigantines were launched, and completely rigged
+and manned with sailors, Motecusuma expressed a wish to take a trip
+by water to a river where he was accustomed to go for the purpose of
+hunting, situated at the foot of a mountain along the banks of the
+lake. No one, not even his principal officers, durst visit this spot for
+the sake of killing game, under pain of death. Cortes answered, that,
+as far as regarded himself, he in no way objected, but again impressed
+upon his mind what he had told him on his visit to the temple: and
+he would advise him to make use of one of the brigantines on the
+occasion, which were much more safe than the canoes or pirogues.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma was vastly pleased with this offer, and went on board
+the better of the two, with a great number of his principal officers: the
+other brigantine conveyed a son of the monarch, attended by numbers
+of caziques; and the royal huntsmen followed in the canoes of the
+country. Cortes took along with him Leon, Alvarado, Oli, and Avila,
+besides 200 of our troops, bidding them to pay particular attention to
+everything that passed, and narrowly watch the person of Motecusuma.
+Besides this, four cannon were brought on board, with the necessary
+powder, and our artillerymen; so that every precaution was taken.
+A stiffish breeze fortunately rose just as the brigantines were leaving,
+so that we were able to make the best use of the sails, and the monarch
+was greatly delighted at thus, as it were, flying across the lake: nor
+could the canoes, filled with the huntsmen and other Mexican chiefs,
+notwithstanding the number of their rowers, any way keep up with
+us, which amused the monarch uncommonly, and he said it showed
+great skill thus to be able to unite the power of the sails and the oars.</p>
+
+<p>The desired river, therefore, which was not very far distant, was soon
+reached. Here Motecusuma created terrible destruction among the
+deer, hares, and rabbits, and returned highly delighted to his metropolis.
+When we had arrived near to Mexico, he begged our officers to fire the
+cannon, which gave him a new pleasure; and as we found that he
+was open and frank, we experienced a real pleasure in paying him the
+same respect as was shown him by his own grandees. But if I were
+to attempt a description of his grandeur, and the perfect submission
+and deep veneration which every prince of New Spain and other pro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>vinces
+evinced towards his person, I should, perhaps, find no end. He
+had merely to say the word, and everything was brought he desired, as
+the following instance will prove. One day, as many of us officers and
+soldiers were with Motecusuma, a hawk pounced upon a quail, which,
+with others, and numbers of pigeons, was kept by his Indian major
+domo, whose business it was to see that our quarters were always clean
+and tidy. This hawk succeeded in seizing its prey, and flew off with
+it. As we were all looking on, one of our men, Francisco de Azenedo,
+cried out, "O! what a fine bird! how beautifully it flies away with its
+prey!" We were all of the same opinion, and remarked, that this
+country altogether abounded with birds that might be capitally trained
+for hawking.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma, observing how lively we were discoursing together, was
+curious to know what it was, and inquired the reason of his page Orteguilla,
+who told him we were admiring the hawk which had pounced
+upon the quail, and added, that if we had such a bird in our power, we
+could teach it to fly from the hand, and attack a bird of any size and
+kill it.</p>
+
+<p>Then, returned Motecusuma, I will have this same hawk caught, and
+we shall see whether they can teach it all they say. Upon which, we
+all took our caps off and thanked him for his kindness. Motecusuma
+then sent for his birdcatchers, and commanded them to bring him the
+hawk above mentioned. These immediately set to work, and before
+the hour of Ave Maria they actually caught the bird, and presented it
+to Azenedo, who immediately recognized, by the plumage, that it was
+the identical one we had seen. We saw many similar instances, and
+even stronger proofs of the punctuality with which this monarch's
+orders were fulfilled. Even now, in his confinement, his subjects not
+only continued to bring him tribute from the most distant parts of
+New Spain, but they likewise obeyed his commands implicitly, and
+stood in such great awe of him, that even the birds which flew in the
+skies above were brought down for him if he expressed a wish that
+way.</p>
+
+<p>It is now, however, time to relate how suddenly the wheel of fortune
+turned against us, by a conspiracy, which was set on foot by the inhabitants,
+to put us all to death.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_C" id="CHAPTER_C"></a>CHAPTER C.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the nephews of Motecusuma assembled the principal personages
+of the empire, and formed a conspiracy to rescue the monarch from
+confinement, and beat us out of the city.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>When Cacamatzin, the prince of Tezcuco, which, next to Mexico,
+was the largest town of all New Spain, was informed of his uncle
+Motecusuma's imprisonment, and that we seized everything we could
+lay our hands on,&mdash;that we had even opened the treasure of his ancestor
+Axayacatl, though left it entire as yet,&mdash;he determined to put an end to
+our dominion before we should likewise take him prisoner.</p>
+
+<p>For this reason he assembled all the chiefs of Tezcuco, and with them
+the prince of Cojohuacan, who was his cousin, and nephew to Motecusuma;
+likewise the princes of Tlacupa and Iztapalapan, and another
+powerful cazique, prince of Matlaltzinco, a man of great courage, and
+so nearly related to Motecusuma, that many even believed the crown
+of right should have devolved upon him.</p>
+
+<p>These powerful caziques accordingly, with other Mexican generals,
+fixed a day when all their warriors were to meet and fall upon us with
+their united forces. It appeared, that the prince of Matlaltzinco, who
+was considered to be the most courageous man in the kingdom, and
+who had such great pretensions to the crown, had only consented to
+join the conspiracy, on condition that he should be elevated to the
+throne. He would himself, first of all, force his way into Mexico
+with the whole of his army, drive us out of the city, or put us all to
+the sword. Cacamatzin, however, it is said, had declared that the
+crown would sooner devolve upon him, as nephew of Motecusuma,
+and that he should be able to overcome us without paying so dearly
+for the prince Matlaltzinco's assistance. It is nevertheless certain,
+that Cacamatzin, and the before-mentioned princes, agreed to meet
+on a certain day before Mexico, and that the troops there should, at a
+certain signal, rise up in arms and admit them into the city.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma received due intelligence of all this, through the prince
+of Matlaltzinco, who had disagreed with Cacamatzin. The former to
+gain surer proofs of the whole affair, summoned all the grandees of
+Mexico into his presence; who then confessed that Cacamatzin had
+gained them over by presents and promises to join him in the attack
+upon us, and to liberate the monarch his uncle.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma, who was extremely prudent and not willing that his
+metropolis should be the scene of rebellion and bloodshed, informed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span>
+Cortes of the conspiracy. Our commander, however, as well as every
+soldier among us, was perfectly aware of what was going on, though
+perhaps not of all the particulars. He, therefore, proposed to Motecusuma
+that he should put all his troops under his command, when in
+concert with ours he would fall upon Tezcuco, destroy the town and
+lay waste the whole province.</p>
+
+<p>But as Motecusuma was unwilling to fall in with this advice, Cortes
+sent word to Cacamatzin, that if he commenced hostilities against us it
+would be his death; that it was our wish to live in friendship with
+him and to render him good services.</p>
+
+<p>Cacamatzin, however, was a young hothead, and supported in his
+views by a great number of chiefs, who constantly kept urging him
+on to fall upon us. He, therefore, sent word to Cortes that he had
+already heard too much of his smooth words, and desired he would
+send him no more of his messages; it would be quite time enough to
+talk with each other when their armies stood one against the other
+in the field of battle.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, however, sent him a second warning, and desired him to
+pause a little before he insulted our emperor in our persons. He
+would have dearly to pay for such presumptuous behaviour, and certainly
+be put to death.</p>
+
+<p>To which this prince returned the haughty answer: He knew nothing
+of our emperor, and wished also he had never known anything of
+Cortes, since he had so grossly deceived his uncle with his vile flattery.</p>
+
+<p>When Cortes received this answer he begged Motecusuma to use his
+own authority against the rebels, observing at the same time, that in
+Tezcuco there were many powerful men and relatives of his, who bore
+Cacamatzin ill blood, on account of his persecution and haughty behaviour
+towards them, and that he himself harboured one of his
+brothers, a young man of great promise, who had fled from Tezcuco
+to evade death, with which Cacamatzin had threatened him; for he
+could not forgive him the hopes he entertained of succeeding to the
+throne. He should therefore, continued Cortes to the monarch, issue
+orders to the grandees of Tezcuco to take Cacamatzin prisoner, or by
+some means or other try to entice him to Mexico, where he could be
+seized and kept in confinement until his reason had returned. He
+should also transfer the sovereign power over Tezcuco upon the brother,
+who had fled for protection to Mexico. Moreover, Cacamatzin had
+already forfeited all right to sovereign power, as he had attempted to
+revolutionize the whole of New Spain, and by that means to make
+himself master of Motecusuma's throne.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The monarch now no longer hesitated, and promised to send for
+him, expressing, however, his doubts as to whether he would make his
+appearance; but if he did he would order his officers to seize his person.
+Cortes returned him many thanks for his ready compliance, and said:
+"Great monarch, if you should feel desirous of returning to your
+palace I myself would willingly let you go, for I now see how upright
+your intentions are towards us; I feel such an excess of friendship for
+you, that I would long ago have conducted you back to your palace
+with every magnificence, if it had depended solely upon me, and you
+yourself did not consider it good policy to stay with us, that you may
+not be hurried into the rebellious movement which your nephews have
+set on foot. Indeed, I myself should never have deprived you of
+your liberty if I had not been compelled to give way to my officers on
+that point, who think they see a guarantee of our own safety in detaining
+possession of your person." Motecusuma was now the more
+inclined to give Cortes credit for his good wishes towards him, and
+considered himself greatly indebted to him, and more so since Orteguilla
+had likewise assured him, that his imprisonment was entirely owing
+to our officers, and that Cortes would not be able to act according to
+his own wishes in this matter. Motecusuma, therefore, answered
+Cortes, "that he in every way preferred staying with us, until he
+should have gained more certain intelligence as to the real designs
+of his nephews." He now sent some trustworthy personages to
+Cacamatzin to invite him to Mexico, under the pretence that he
+was desirous of becoming reconciled to him. He told him, at the
+same time, not to feel any solicitude on account of his confinement,
+for it depended upon himself to leave our quarters whenever he
+thought proper; and Malinche himself had twice invited him to take
+up his abode in his own palace again. But he had refused to do so,
+that he might not go against the commandments of his gods, who had
+told him, through his priests, to continue our prisoner for a certain
+space of time, if he was desirous of preserving his life. It was therefore
+his interest to remain on good terms with Malinche and his
+brothers.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma also sent similar messages to the other chiefs of
+Tezcuco, adding, that he had invited his nephew to Mexico, to bring
+about friendship between him and us again. They were therefore to
+thwart all attempts the young hothead might make of commencing
+war upon us. On the receipt of this message, Cacamatzin with his
+principal adherents met to consult what steps they should take. He
+opened the assembly with a haughty and turbulent speech, assuring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>
+them he would destroy us all within the space of four days. His
+uncle was a faint-hearted old woman for not having fallen upon us as
+he had been advised on our descending the mountain of Chalco, and
+when all their warriors stood in readiness. Motecusuma, indeed, had
+invited us into the city as if we were going to do him some good. He
+gave us all the gold that was collected by tribute, and we had even broken
+open the secret treasury of his ancestor Axayacatl. We detained the
+monarch himself in prison, and continually admonished him to abolish
+his gods and adopt ours in their stead. The injury we had done was
+already great, but in order to put a stop to this, and that such injustice
+might not remain unpunished, he begged of them to lend him
+their powerful aid. All he had been stating they knew to be true,
+and had beheld with their own eyes how Motecusuma's generals were
+burnt at the stake: nothing now remained but to fall upon us in good
+earnest.</p>
+
+<p>These representations were accompanied, not only by promises when
+he should have ascended the Mexican throne of raising them all to
+great dignity, but he likewise presented them on the spot with all
+kinds of valuable things; assuring them he was in perfect understanding
+with the princes of Cojohuacan, Iztapalapan, Tlacupa, and other
+places, who would all join him with their troops. Even in Mexico
+itself he had drawn over a large number of the principal personages to
+his side, who would rise up in arms to assist him at a moment's
+notice. Nothing would be easier than to force their way into Mexico.
+Some of the troops were to march along the causeways, but the main
+body would be conveyed thither by canoes and pirogues. They would
+nowhere meet with any opposition, for his uncle was in confinement,
+and could issue no orders to the inhabitants of Mexico. There was no
+reason to fear us, for his uncle's generals had a few days ago killed
+several of the teules and one of their horses, near Almeria. Both the
+dead horse and head of one of the former had been shown to every
+one in Mexico. In the short space of one hour they would be able to
+capture the whole of us and feast sumptuously off our flesh.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Cacamatzin had done speaking, the generals stood gazing at
+each other in silence, each one waiting to hear his neighbour's answer first.
+At last four or five of the most distinguished personages broke silence,
+declaring, if they were to commence hostilities in the very metropolis
+of their monarch, without his command, it was their duty, first of all,
+to apprize him of it. If he gave his consent, they would join him heart
+and soul; but would consider themselves traitors, if they acted contrary
+to his wishes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>This answer displeased Cacamatzin uncommonly, and in the heat of his
+anger he threw three of the generals who thus opposed him into prison.
+As there were a great number of his relatives, and boisterous young men,
+like himself, at the meeting, the majority was for supporting him until
+death. Cacamatzin, therefore, sent the following answer to Motecusuma:
+"He might have spared himself the trouble of exhorting him
+to make friendship with people who had insulted him, Motecusuma, so
+greatly, by keeping him prisoner. They could only account for the
+conduct he had pursued from our being enchanters, who had bound
+down both his mind and energies by witchcraft, or that our gods, and
+the great Spanish woman, whom we termed our protectress, gave us
+power to accomplish everything we might wish."</p>
+
+<p>Herein Cacamatzin was certainly right; for the great mercy of God
+and of the blessed Virgin was certainly our greatest support. This
+message of Cacamatzin closed thus: "It was his intention to pay both
+his uncle and us a visit, to our sorrow, and speak words of death
+to us."</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma was highly incensed at this impudent answer, and that
+instant sent for six of his most trustworthy generals, handed over to
+them his seal, with various other valuable things, and commissioned
+them to repair to Tezcuco, and secretly show his signet to all his relations,
+and those chiefs of the city whom they knew were ill inclined
+towards Cacamatzin, on account of his haughty behaviour, and command
+them to seize him, and those who supported him, and bring
+them to Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>These officers accordingly set out immediately for Tezcuco, and fulfilled
+their orders so promptly, that they seized Cacamatzin in his own
+palace amidst his adherents, five of whom were also taken. They were
+bound hand and foot, thrown into canoes, which were lying ready, well
+manned, and so brought to Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>When the officers had arrived there with the prisoners, they allowed
+Cacamatzin to mount his royal sedan, and so conducted him, with every
+respect due to his station, into the presence of Motecusuma.</p>
+
+<p>In his discourse with Motecusuma, Cacamatzin showed even more
+audacity than before; and when the monarch learnt from the other five
+prisoners that he had designed to deprive him of the crown, and place
+it on his own head, he grew terribly exasperated. He ordered the five
+other prisoners to be released, but Cacamatzin to be conducted into
+the presence of Cortes, that the latter might take him into his own
+custody.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this, Cortes repaired to the monarch, thanked him for this great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span>
+proof of his friendship, and, with the approbation of Motecusuma, raised
+the brother of Cacamatzin, who, as above related, had fled for protection
+to Motecusuma, to the throne of Tezcuco. This was done with
+great pomp and ceremony, and the election of this new king was hailed
+by the inhabitants of that great city, and all the influential men of the
+province. The young king of Tezcuco received the name of Don
+Carlos.<a name="FNanchor_71_74" id="FNanchor_71_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_74" class="fnanchor">[71*]</a></p>
+
+<p>After the other nephews of Motecusuma, the princes of Cojohuacan,
+Iztapalapan, and Tlacupa, had learnt the fate of Cacamatzin, they naturally
+concluded that Motecusuma was informed of their having joined
+in the conspiracy, and they durst not come, as usual, to pay their court
+to him; but the former, in understanding with Cortes, likewise
+ordered them to be seized; and scarcely eight days had elapsed before
+we had the satisfaction of seeing them all securely locked in chains in
+our quarters.</p>
+
+<p>The reader may well imagine from all this that our lives hung, as it
+were, by a short thread, and we heard of nothing on all sides than how
+we should be cut off to a man, and our bodies devoured. Here a merciful
+Providence was our only protection. To him we are alone indebted
+that the excellent Motecusuma himself should have furthered
+all our designs, and that his subjects, even in his confinement, should
+have paid implicit obedience to all his commands. We therefore every
+way strove to show the monarch our gratitude for his great kindness;
+we took every possible means to amuse him; no one was allowed for
+one moment to treat him with disrespect; and Cortes himself even
+never sat down in his presence unless he desired him to do so. We
+not only treated him with profound respect, but we really loved him;
+for in all his actions he indeed proved himself a great monarch. Father
+Olmedo from time to time would also speak to him about our holy
+religion. We also acquainted him with the great power of our emperor,
+and the immense extent of his territories. All of this he would listen
+to with delight; then again he would play a game at totoloc with
+Cortes, and always divided his gains among us; for liberality was a
+leading feature in his character.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CI" id="CHAPTER_CI"></a>CHAPTER CI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the powerful Motecusuma, with several caziques and chief personages
+of the country, declare themselves vassals of our emperor;
+and of other occurrences which happened then.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>As peace was again restored to the country after the imprisonment
+of the petty kings, Cortes reminded Motecusuma of the offers he had
+made, previously to our entering Mexico, to pay tribute to our emperor;
+observing at the same time that he must now be sufficiently convinced
+of the power and the vast extent of his empire, the number of his
+vassals, among whom even there were distinguished sovereigns. It
+would be good, therefore, if he, with all his subjects, likewise acknowledged
+themselves vassals of our emperor; and it was customary for
+this act of submission to be preceded by payment of tribute.</p>
+
+<p>In answer to this, Motecusuma said he was quite willing to assemble
+all the grandees of his empire, and deliberate the matter with them:
+and after the space of ten days the greater part of the caziques from
+the surrounding districts assembled together, with the exception, however,
+of the cazique of Matlaltzinco, who was a near relation of Motecusuma,
+and considered a man of uncommon bravery; at least his demeanour
+and bodily frame fully bespoke it, and he was looked upon as
+Motecusuma's successor to the throne of Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>But even this man, it would appear, was seized with terror; for he
+sent Motecusuma word from Tula, where he was then staying, that it
+was impossible for him to be present at the meeting, and he was
+unable to pay tribute; indeed scarcely able to live himself on what his
+province produced him.</p>
+
+<p>Enraged at this unexpected answer, Motecusuma despatched some of
+his generals to take the refractory prince prisoner. But as he was a very
+powerful cazique, he had, of course, numerous adherers, who sent him
+intelligence of the steps Motecusuma had determined to take against
+him; so that he had sufficient time to retreat into the interior of the
+country, where he was quite out of his monarch's reach.</p>
+
+<p>The other chiefs, however, duly assembled at their monarch's bidding;
+but neither Cortes nor any of us were present at the meeting, save the
+page Orteguilla, from whom we learnt what follows:&mdash;Motecusuma
+opened the assembly by reminding the caziques of the ancient tradition
+of their forefathers, written down in their historical records, of a people
+that would one time come from the quarter where the sun rose, who
+were destined to rule this country, and put an end to the Mexican<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span>
+empire. That tradition referred to us, as he concluded, from the declarations
+of his gods. The priests of Huitzilopochtli had expressly
+demanded an oracle of that god on this point, and had instituted sacrifices
+for that purpose; but the god, contrary to his usual custom, had
+refused the oracle, and merely referred them to his previous declaration;
+wherefore they had not dared to put any further questions. We may
+therefore conclude, continued Motecusuma, that Huitzilopochtli meant
+to say we were even to take the oath of allegiance to the king of
+Spain, whose subjects the teules are. For the present we cannot do
+otherwise than act accordingly: we must wait to see if our gods will
+give a better response some time hence, we can then act as circumstances
+require. He therefore desired and commanded them, for their
+own good, cheerfully to give some proof of their allegiance to the
+Spanish monarch. Malinche had been importunate on this point, and
+it would not be well to refuse him. For the eight or ten years he had
+ruled over them they had obeyed him like faithful servants; for which
+reason he had enriched them, enlarged their territories, and elevated
+them to high dignities. They were to consider his present confinement
+as the will of Huitzilopochtli, who had particularly advised him to it,
+as he had so often assured them on other occasions.</p>
+
+<p>After this reasoning and statement of Motecusuma, all present declared
+themselves willing to comply with his wishes, but broke out into
+tears, and sighed deeply, Motecusuma himself being most vehemently
+affected. He then immediately despatched one of his principal officers
+to Cortes with the information that the day following they would again
+meet, and take the oath of allegiance to the emperor.</p>
+
+<p>The next day accordingly this was done in the presence of Cortes,
+of our officers, and the greater part of the soldiers. All the Mexicans
+seemed deeply grieved, and Motecusuma himself could not refrain from
+shedding tears. Even we ourselves, from the great affection we bore
+this monarch, became quite affected at the sight of his tears, and many
+of us wept as much as the monarch himself. We therefore strove, if
+possible, to redouble our attention towards him, and Cortes, with Father
+Olmedo, who was a man of great intelligence, scarcely left him for a
+moment; and while we employed every means to cheer him, we never
+lost an opportunity of exhorting him to abolish his false gods.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CII" id="CHAPTER_CII"></a>CHAPTER CII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes sends out some of our men to explore the gold mines and
+those rivers which wash down gold; also the harbours from the Panuco
+to the Tabasco, but particularly the river Guacasualco.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Cortes one day, as usual, sitting with Motecusuma, the discourse,
+among other things, turned upon mining, and he inquired of the monarch
+where the gold mines and those rivers were situated where gold
+dust was found, and what method they pursued to collect the same,
+as he intended sending out two of his men for that purpose, who were
+great proficients in the art of mining.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma answered, that gold was found in three different parts
+of the country; but more abundantly in the province of Zacatula, from
+ten to twelve days' journey south of Mexico. There the earth which
+contained the gold was washed in wooden vessels, and the gold dust
+sunk to the bottom. At present gold was likewise brought from the
+northern province of Tustepec, near to where we had landed. There it
+was collected from the beds of the rivers; and very productive gold
+mines were also worked in this province by the Chinantecs and Tzapotecs,
+two tribes which were not subject to him. If Cortes was desirous
+of sending some of his men there, he was very willing himself to despatch
+several distinguished officers with them.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes accepted of this offer, and thanked Motecusuma for his kindness,
+and sent off our pilot Gonzalo de Umbria, with two miners, to
+Zacatula. This Umbria was the same person whom Cortes sentenced
+to have his feet cut off, while we were staying at San Juan de Ulua.<a name="FNanchor_72_75" id="FNanchor_72_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_75" class="fnanchor">[72]</a>
+He and his companions were to return within the space of forty days.
+To the mines in the north he despatched an officer, named Pizarro, a
+young man twenty-five years of age, whom he treated as one of his
+own relations.</p>
+
+<p>At that time Peru was still unknown, and the name of Pizarro not
+thought of. This young officer was accompanied by four miners and
+an equal number of distinguished Mexicans. A space of forty days was
+likewise allowed him to return to Mexico, as he had to travel a distance
+of 320 miles.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma on that occasion likewise presented Cortes with a piece
+of nequen cloth, on which all the rivers and indentures along the coast
+running northwards of Panuco to Tabasco, a distance of 560 miles, were
+very accurately described and drawn. By this chart our observation
+was drawn to the river Guacasualco, and as we were well acquainted with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span>
+all the harbours and indentures there noted down, from our voyage
+under Grijalva, but knew nothing of that river, which the Mexicans
+described as very broad and deep, Cortes determined also to send some
+one there to make soundings at its mouth, and further explore the
+country; Diego de Ordas, a man of great intelligence and courage,
+offered himself for this purpose, if two of our men, and some Mexicans,
+might accompany him.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes was at first very loth to part with him, as he was so useful to
+him in various ways, but at last gave his consent, to keep him in good
+humour. Motecusuma likewise expressed his fears about this journey,
+as the land of Guacasualco was not subject to him, and inhabited by
+a very warlike people. He cautioned Ordas to be particularly on his
+guard, and hoped that no reproach would be made him if any harm befel
+him. But if Ordas should think proper, he would order a sufficient
+number of his troops, which lay on the confines, to accompany him
+into Guacasualco. Cortes and Ordas returned Motecusuma many
+thanks for his kindness, and the latter then set out on his journey, accompanied
+by two of our men and several distinguished Mexicans.</p>
+
+<p>Here again the historian Gomara commits another blunder similar to
+the one he previously made, respecting Pedro de Ircio, whom he sends to
+Panuco; for here he despatches Juan Velasquez with 100 men to form
+a colony in Guacasualco. In the next chapter I will give an account of
+what these officers saw, and the samples of gold they brought with them.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CIII" id="CHAPTER_CIII"></a>CHAPTER CIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the officers whom Cortes had despatched to the gold mines and the
+river Guacasualco<a name="FNanchor_73_76" id="FNanchor_73_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_76" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> returned to Mexico.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The first who returned to Mexico was Gonzalo de Umbria, with his
+companions. He brought with him about 300 pesos worth of gold dust,
+which they had collected in the township of Zacatula. There, he related,
+the caziques of the province employed numbers of the inhabitants
+at the rivers to wash gold out of the sand in small troughs.
+There were two rivers from which gold dust was collected, and if clever
+miners were set to work there, and the mining carried out in the same
+way as at St. Domingo and Cuba, they would prove very profitable.</p>
+
+<p>Four distinguished chiefs of that province had accompanied Umbria to
+Mexico, with a present in gold trinkets for our emperor, valued at about
+200 pesos. Cortes was as much pleased with this small quantity of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span>
+gold as if it had been worth 3000 pesos, as he now knew for a certainty
+that there were rich mines in those parts. He treated the caziques
+who brought this present very kindly, gave them glass beads, and promised
+them all manner of good things; so that they returned home
+highly delighted.</p>
+
+<p>Besides this, Umbria spoke about many other large townships in the
+neighbourhood of Mexico, and of a province on the confines, called
+Matlaltzinco. We could well perceive that Umbria and his companions
+had not forgotten themselves, for they had well stuffed their pockets
+with gold. This Cortes had readily foreseen, and purposely selected
+Umbria for that journey, to regain his friendship, and that he might
+forget the severe sentence which he had passed upon him.</p>
+
+<p>Neither did Diego de Ordas, who had been sent to the river Guacasualco,
+return with empty hands. He had likewise passed through large
+townships, all of which he mentioned by name, and had everywhere been
+received with great respect. Every town he came to he had met with
+endless complaints from the inhabitants respecting the depredations
+and cruelties exercised upon them by the Mexican troops stationed on
+the confines. Ordas, and the distinguished Mexicans who accompanied
+him, had severely reprimanded the officers who commanded these troops,
+and threatened to acquaint Motecusuma with every circumstance, who
+would certainly send for and punish them with equal severity as he had
+Quauhpopoca for similar misconduct. These remonstrances had the
+desired effect, and on his further journey Ordas was only accompanied
+by one of his Mexican fellow-travellers. Tochel, cazique of the province
+of Guacasualco, having received information of Ordas's approach, sent
+out several distinguished personages to meet him. Everywhere he met
+with the kindest reception, for the inhabitants had learnt to know what
+kind of people we were, from the expedition under Grijalva.</p>
+
+<p>In order to assist him in exploring this river, the cazique Tochel not
+only lent him several large canoes, but himself, accompanied by a
+number of his officers, had accompanied him to the river Guacasualco.
+At the mouth of this river Ordas found a depth of three fathoms, but
+higher up the river became gradually deeper, and was navigable for
+large vessels; and near a certain Indian village there was depth enough
+to carry a Spanish carack. In this village the inhabitants presented
+Ordas with some gold trinkets and a pretty Indian female. They likewise
+declared themselves vassals of our emperor, and complained bitterly
+of Motecusuma, and the cruelties exercised by his troops. It was only
+a short time ago they had fought a battle against the latter, and slain
+great numbers of them; for which reason they had named the small<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span>
+village where the engagement took place <i>Cuitlonemiqui</i>, which in
+their language means the <i>spot where the Mexican beasts fell</i>. Ordas
+thanked them very kindly for the great respect they had shown him,
+and presented them with some glass beads. He likewise said that the
+country was well adapted for the breeding of cattle, and the harbour
+excellently situated for trading with Cuba, St. Domingo, and Jamaica,
+but too far distant from Mexico; and, what was worse, full of shallows;
+which was the reason we seldom made use of this harbour for
+commerce, or transporting goods from Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>With respect to Pizarro, he returned, with only one of the Spaniards
+who accompanied him to Tustepec, but he had been more fortunate in
+the discovery of gold, of which he brought with him dust of that metal
+to the value of 1000 pesos. He related that he had himself commenced
+washing for gold dust in the provinces of Tustepec and Malinaltepec,
+and neighbouring districts; for which purpose he had employed a considerable
+number of Indians, whom he remunerated for their labour
+with two thirds of the gold they found. He had likewise visited other
+provinces higher up in the mountains, called the country of the Chinantecs.
+Here he was met by a number of Indians, armed with bows,
+arrows, shields, and lances, of much greater length than ours. They
+declared that no Mexican should set foot in their territory, under pain
+of death, but that the teules were very welcome. The Mexicans consequently
+remained behind, and Pizarro pursued his journey with the
+Spaniards only. The Chinantec caziques then ordered a number of
+the inhabitants to repair to the river, to wash the gold dust from the
+sand. The gold dust here found is of a curly shape, and the inhabitants
+said that the mines, where the metal was found in that shape, were
+much more productive and the metal more solid. Pizarro was likewise
+accompanied by two caziques of that country, who, in the name of the
+inhabitants, came to make friendship with us, and declare themselves
+vassals of our emperor. They also brought a present in gold, and complained
+bitterly of the Mexicans, who were held in such utter abhorrence
+by them, on account of their lust after plunder, that they could not
+endure the sight of a Mexican, or bear to hear their name pronounced.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes received Pizarro and the caziques with every possible kindness,
+and returned the latter many thanks for their present, assuring
+them of our friendship, and readiness to serve them at all times, and
+then dismissed them. That, however, they might travel in safety
+through the Mexican territories, he desired two distinguished Mexicans
+to accompany them to the confines, for which they were very thankful.
+Cortes then inquired of Pizarro what had become of the other Spaniards<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span>
+who had accompanied him. Pizarro replied, that he had ordered them
+to remain behind there, as the soil seemed so rich, and abounded in
+gold mines, and the inhabitants so peaceably inclined. He had desired
+them to form a small settlement there, and lay out extensive grounds
+for cacao, maise, and cotton plantations; also to promote the breed of
+cattle, and explore the gold mines of the country. Cortes greatly disapproved
+of his having exceeded his commands, and upbraided him
+severely in private, telling him that it betrayed a low disposition instantly
+to begin thinking of speculation in cacao plantations and breeding
+of cattle. Cortes then despatched a soldier, named Alonso Luis, to
+the Spaniards left behind, with orders for their immediate return to
+Mexico.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CIV" id="CHAPTER_CIV"></a>CHAPTER CIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes desired the powerful Motecusuma to order all the caziques
+of the empire to bring in the tribute of gold due to our emperor.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>As Diego de Ordas and the other officers whom Cortes had sent out
+for the discovery of gold mines had all returned with samples of that
+metal, and brought the most satisfactory accounts concerning the wealth
+of the country, our general, after long deliberation with his officers
+and several of the soldiers, resolved that Motecusuma should now be
+desired to send round to all his caziques, and to every township of his
+empire, and require them to bring in tribute to our emperor, and that
+he himself, as the most wealthy of his vassals, should pay the same
+from his own private treasures.</p>
+
+<p>In answer to this request, Motecusuma said that he would forward
+the necessary orders for this purpose to every township; but he was
+compelled to inform us that many of them would be unable to fulfil
+those commands, who could merely contribute some trifling trinkets in
+gold which they had inherited from their forefathers.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma then sent several of his principal officers to the districts
+where there were gold mines, desiring the inhabitants of such places
+to forward him the usual weight and number of gold bars they were
+accustomed to pay as tribute, and forwarded them two bars as a sample.
+He despatched similar orders to the province which stood under his
+relative, who behaved so refractory. This prince, however, sent him
+word that he would neither send any gold nor pay any attention to
+Motecusuma's commands, and that he had as much right to the throne
+of Mexico as he who thus dared to demand tribute of him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The monarch was so incensed at this answer that he instantly despatched
+some of his most active officers, with his seal, to seize the
+rebel and bring him to Mexico. These officers were more successful
+than the former had been, and brought in the rebel prince prisoner.
+When he was led into the presence of Motecusuma, he not only evinced
+no fear, but was impudent to a degree, and expressed himself so disrespectfully
+that his conduct could only be accounted for by madness,
+as he, it was said, was subject to fits of insanity. Cortes, who received
+information that Motecusuma had given orders for his execution, begged
+the latter he might be sent to him, that he might take him into his own
+custody. The former complied with this request, and when the prince
+was brought into our general's presence, he spoke very kindly to him,
+and begged of him not to act the madman with his monarch, and
+assured him he would obtain his liberty again. But Motecusuma was
+of a very different opinion, and desired he might be heavily chained,
+as the other princes had been.</p>
+
+<p>After the lapse of twenty days, all the officers whom Motecusuma
+had sent out into the provinces to collect the tribute, had returned to
+Mexico. He then sent for Cortes, his officers, and several of us who
+had been accustomed to stand sentinel in his apartment, and spoke to
+us as follows: "Malinche, and you other officers and soldiers, I consider
+myself greatly indebted to your emperor for his having thought it
+worth his while to send from such distant countries to make inquiries
+after me; but what more deeply occupies my thoughts is the tradition
+of our ancestors, which has been fully confirmed by the oracles of our
+gods, that, namely, the dominion of these countries was destined to
+devolve upon him. Receive, therefore, this gold for him; I have no
+more at present, as the notice to collect it was too short. With regard
+to myself, I have destined the whole of my father's treasure for him as
+my share of the tribute, which lies secreted in your quarters. I am
+well aware that you have inspected it, but closed up the opening as
+before. When, however, you transmit this treasure to your emperor,
+you must say in your letter, this is sent you by your faithful vassal
+Motecusuma. To this I will also add a few chalchihuis, of such enormous
+value that I would not consent to give them to any one save to
+such a powerful emperor as yours: each of these stones are worth two
+loads of gold. I further think of sending him three crossbows, with
+the small balls, and bag which contains them, all richly ornamented
+with jewels, which will certainly please him much. I should like to
+give him all I possess; now I have very little left, as I have from time
+to time given you the greater portion of my gold and jewels."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Cortes and all of us were astonished at this generosity and great
+goodness of the monarch, and we took off our caps very respectfully, and
+thanked him. Cortes, at the same time, assured him he would send
+our majesty an accurate description of all these splendid presents.
+Motecusuma did not delay one instant to fulfil his promise, for that
+very same hour his house-stewards arrived to hand us over all the treasures
+contained in the secret chamber. There was such a vast heap of
+it that we were occupied three days in taking all out of the different
+corners of this secret room, and in looking them over; we were even
+obliged to send for Motecusuma's goldsmiths from Escapuzalco to assist
+us. The reader may form some notion of this treasure when I tell
+him that, when all the articles were set apart in three heaps and weighed,
+the gold alone, not counting the silver and other precious things, was
+found to be worth above 600,000 pesos: in this are not included the
+gold plates, bars, and the gold dust contributed by the other provinces.
+All this treasure we ordered the goldsmiths of Escapuzalco to smelt
+into bars measuring three inches square.</p>
+
+<p>Besides all this, Motecusuma brought another present, consisting in
+gold and jewels of enormous value. There were also chalchihuis stones
+of extreme beauty and size, which were considered of immense value
+among the caziques of the country. Further, there were three crossbows,
+with their cases set in jewels and pearls, besides a number of
+pictures made of feathers and small pearls, all of great value: indeed,
+it would be no easy task to describe all these splendid things one by one.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this Cortes ordered an iron stamp to be made, about the size of
+a Spanish real, bearing the arms of Spain, with which the royal treasurers
+were to mark all the gold, with the exception of that set in
+jewels, which we were loth to pull to pieces. As we possessed neither
+scales nor weights, we cast the latter in iron, from twenty-five pounds
+to half a pound weight, and to four ounces; for we cared very little to
+weigh to a nicety of half an ounce or so. When the gold, without
+including the silver and jewels, was weighed, we found, as I have before
+stated, that it amounted to 600,000 pesos, though many of our men
+valued it at much more.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing now remained but to deduct the emperor's fifths therefrom,
+and divide the remainder among the officers and soldiers, including
+those left behind at Vera Cruz. Cortes, however, was of opinion that
+the division should be postponed until our stock should be further increased,
+but most of our officers and soldiers desired that it might take
+place forthwith, for they asserted that above one third had already disappeared
+since the three heaps had been first collected together. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span>
+greatly suspected that Cortes and his principal officers had secretly
+taken away the greater part. The weighing of the gold, consequently,
+was commenced immediately, that the division might take place on
+the following day. In what way this was done, and how most of it
+fell into the hands of Cortes and others, I will relate in the following
+chapter.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CV" id="CHAPTER_CV"></a>CHAPTER CV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How all the gold presented by Motecusuma, and collected from the
+different townships, was divided; and what happened to one of our
+soldiers on the occasion.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>First of all, one fifth of the treasure was set apart for the crown,
+and a second for Cortes, as had been promised him when we elected
+him captain-general and chief justice. After this had been deducted,
+Cortes brought in the expenses of fitting out the armament at Cuba;
+then the sum due to Velasquez for the vessels we had destroyed, and,
+lastly, the travelling expenses of our agents whom we sent to Spain.
+Next were deducted the several shares due to the garrison at Vera Cruz,
+which consisted of seventy men; then the value of the two horses
+which had been killed, one in the engagement with the Tlascallans, the
+other at Almeria.</p>
+
+<p>Not until all this had been deducted were the rest of our men allowed
+to take their shares. Double shares were also set apart for the two
+priests, the officers, and the cavalry, likewise for the musketeers and
+crossbow-men. After these and other nibblings, there remained, for
+the greater part of our men, who could only claim one share, such a
+mere trifle, that many of them would not even accept of it, which
+Cortes then took himself. At that time, indeed, we thought it best to
+say nothing about this unjust division; for what would it have availed
+us had we demanded justice? Besides which, Cortes had secretly
+bribed some with presents and large promises, and many of the most
+noisy he presented with a hundred pesos to stop their mouths.</p>
+
+<p>The portion belonging to the garrison at Vera Cruz was forwarded
+to Tlascalla for safe keeping. Most of our officers employed Motecusuma's
+goldsmiths of Escapuzalco to make them heavy chains of the
+gold; and Cortes, among other things, ordered a grand dinner service.
+Several of our soldiers, who had learnt how to fill their pockets, had
+other things made; and it was not long before a number of the stamped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span>
+bars and trinkets came into circulation; for gambling was now commenced
+to a great extent, after a certain Pedro Valenciano had managed
+to manufacture playing cards from parchment, which were as well
+painted and as beautiful to the eye as those manufactured in Spain.</p>
+
+<p>I will, however, show what impression this unfair division of the
+gold made upon our men. Among our troops there was a man named
+Cardenas, a sailor by profession, who had left behind him in Spain a
+wife and children in great want, and had the ill-luck, with many of us,
+to continue in poverty.</p>
+
+<p>When this man beheld the great heap of gold piled up in bars, plates,
+besides the gold dust, and found his share of the spoil was a mere
+hundred pesos, he became excessively low-spirited. One of his friends,
+who had observed this, asked him the cause of his grief and heavy
+sighs? He answered, "Why, how the devil can I do otherwise, when
+I see the gold which we have so hardly earned find its way into Cortes'
+pockets, with his fifths, monies laid out for horses, vessels, and other
+such like vile trickeries, while my wife and children are perishing at
+home for want of food? I could even have sent them a little help
+when our agents went to Spain, for there was sufficient gold at that
+time to have divided it among us." "What gold are you speaking of?"
+inquired his friend. "Why," answered Cardenas, "of that which our
+agents took with them to Spain. If Cortes had granted me my share
+of that, my wife and children would not have wanted: but he employed
+every species of artifice to persuade us to send the whole treasure as a
+present to the emperor, with the exception, however, of above 6000
+pesos to Martin Cortes, his father: I will not even mention the gold
+which he has secretly stowed away. We others who have fought about
+courageously night and day at Tabasco, Tlascalla, Zinpantzinco, and
+Cholulla; we who at present live in continual fear, with almost certain
+death before our eyes as soon as the inhabitants of this great city get
+it into their heads to rise up against us,&mdash;we all remain, as before,
+poverty-stricken, and all our remonstrances are in vain! Cortes, on the
+contrary, acts as if he were the emperor himself, and runs away with a
+fifth of our hard earnings!"</p>
+
+<p>In this strain the poor fellow continued his complaints, and was of
+opinion that we should not have allowed Cortes to deduct a fifth for
+himself; and that we required no other sovereign than our own emperor.</p>
+
+<p>"And are you really," returned the other, "going to embitter your
+happiness with such thoughts? All this will avail you nothing. You
+know we fare equally bad with respect to provisions, for Cortes and his
+officers nearly eat up all themselves; but it is of no use for us to complain,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span>
+therefore drive away, all such melancholy thoughts from your mind,
+and pray to the Almighty that we may not meet with our total destruction
+in this city."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes was duly apprized of all this and similar complaints; and as
+the discontent among the men respecting the unfair division of the
+gold became pretty general, he ordered the whole of us into his presence,
+and addressed us in a speech abounding with the sweetest sentences
+imaginable. He was indebted, he said, for all he had to us;
+that he had not required the fifth part, but the share which was promised
+him when we elected him captain-general, and he was quite
+ready to bestow something on those who stood in need. The gold we
+had collected up to this moment, he continued, was a trifle to that which
+was to come. We ought to remember what great cities were dispersed
+through the country, and the rich mines which were in our possession;
+these certainly would enrich every man in his army. In this way he
+continued for some time, and spoke feelingly to the heart! but, finding
+all this had no effect, he employed other means. Many he secretly
+silenced with gold, and others by great promises, and the provisions
+sent us by Motecusuma's orders were from this moment justly divided,
+so that every man among us had an equal share of food with himself.
+He likewise took Cardenas aside, and quieted him with a present of
+300 pesos, and the promise that he would allow him to return home
+to his family with the first vessel that left for Spain. This Cardenas
+I shall have occasion to mention on some future occasion, for he did
+Cortes considerable injury in Spain during the subsequent complaints
+which were laid before the emperor against him.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CVI" id="CHAPTER_CVI"></a>CHAPTER CVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Of the high words which arose between Velasquez de Leon and our
+treasurer Gonzalo Mexia on account of the gold which was missing
+from the heap, and how Cortes put an end to that dispute.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Since gold, generally speaking, is the great desire of man, and that
+the more he possesses of it the more avaricious he grows, it also happened
+here that many pieces of gold were missing from the heaps,
+which I have mentioned above; and as one of our officers named Leon
+had ordered Motecusuma's goldsmiths to make him heavy gold chains
+and other ornaments, the royal treasurer Gonzalo Mexia suspected
+something wrong, and secretly observed to him that the emperor's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span>
+fifths had not been deducted from several of the bars he had sent to
+be smelted. Leon, who stood in high favour with Cortes, answered,
+that it was not his intention to return anything. The gold he possessed
+he had not taken himself, but had received all from Cortes before
+it had ever been smelted.</p>
+
+<p>The royal treasurer, however, was not to be silenced by this, but
+affirmed, that, besides the gold Cortes had secretly taken away, and of
+which he had deprived his companions in arms, there was a good deal
+elsewhere from which the royal fifths had not been deducted, and that,
+in his capacity of royal treasurer, he could not suffer the emperor's interest
+to be thus prejudiced.</p>
+
+<p>This, consequently, led to high words between both parties, so that
+they drew swords, and would certainly have killed each other if we had
+not instantly parted them; for both were high-spirited men and excellent
+swordsmen, and each had already wounded his antagonist.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Cortes was informed of this affair, he ordered both to be
+arrested and heavily chained. As, however, he always had been heart
+in hand with Leon, many were of opinion that all this was a mere blind
+to make us believe that he preferred justice to friendship; besides
+which it was whispered that he secretly visited him during his arrest,
+and assured him that he should not be confined beyond a couple of
+days, when he and Mexia would again be set at liberty. But all this
+did not go to quiet our suspicions, and now Mexia, in his turn, was
+reproached for not having fulfilled the duties of royal treasurer, and he
+was compelled by the soldiers to inquire of Cortes what had become of
+the missing gold?</p>
+
+<p>I will, however, cut this matter short here, and return to Leon, who
+was confined in a room not far from the apartments occupied by Motecusuma.
+When Leon, therefore, who was a tall powerful man, paced
+up and down his room, his heavy chains dragged along the floor, so
+that the monarch could plainly hear the jingling noise, and he inquired
+of Orteguilla who the prisoner was? His page then told him that it
+was Leon, who had previously been captain of the guard, an appointment
+now filled by Oli, and told him that the reason of his confinement
+was on account of some gold that was missing.</p>
+
+<p>When Cortes that day, as usual, paid his visit to the monarch, and
+the first compliments had passed between them, the latter inquired of
+our general how it came that such a distinguished officer as Leon should
+have been thrown into chains? To which Cortes answered, jokingly,
+that all was not as it should be with him, he having threatened, because
+he had not received sufficient gold, to travel around to the different<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span>
+towns, and demand gold of the caziques. Fearing, therefore, he might
+put his threats into execution, and kill one or other chief, he had thrown
+him into prison. Motecusuma, on hearing this, begged Cortes to set
+him at liberty again, and promised he would soon drive such thoughts
+from his mind by presenting him with gold from his own private
+treasure.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes feigned great unwillingness to grant the monarch's request,
+but at length assured him he would comply merely on account of the
+affection he bore him, Motecusuma. Leon was, consequently, released,
+and Cortes brought about a reconciliation between him and Mexia;
+then despatched him with some of Motecusuma's principal officers to
+raise gold at Cholulla, from which place he did not return till the end
+of six days, and now he had more gold than ever. Mexia, however,
+never forgot this affair, and a coolness ever after existed between him
+and our general.</p>
+
+<p>I have related this story, though foreign to my narrative, to show
+the reader what artful devices Cortes was accustomed to set on foot,
+and what a show he made of justice to make us fear him.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CVII" id="CHAPTER_CVII"></a>CHAPTER CVII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Motecusuma offers one of his daughters in marriage to Cortes,
+who accepts her, and pays her the attentions due to her high station.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>I have often related how we strove, in every possible manner, to amuse
+Motecusuma in his confinement, and daily visited him in his apartments.
+It was on one of these occasions that the monarch said to our
+general, "Malinche! in order to prove the great affection I have for
+you, I must acquaint you that it is my intention to give you one of my
+prettiest daughters in marriage."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes took his cap off, and thanked him for the honour he was going
+to confer upon him, and said he was already married, and that the
+religion and laws of our country would not allow a man to have more
+than one wife; but that he would accept her and treat her with the
+respect due to her high rank, and it was requisite she should become
+converted to Christianity, as the daughters of many of his grandees had
+been.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma readily agreed to this, as he did in everything else we
+desired, save the sacrificing of human beings, which nothing could
+induce him to abolish; day after day were those abominations com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span>mitted:
+Cortes remonstrated with him in every possible way, but with
+so little effect, that at last he deemed it proper to take some decided
+step in the matter. But the great difficulty was to adopt a measure by
+which neither the inhabitants nor the priesthood would be induced to
+rise up in arms. We, however, came to the determination, in a meeting
+called for the purpose, to throw down the idols from the top of Huitzilopochtli's
+temple; and should the Mexicans rise up in arms for their
+defence, then to content ourselves by demanding permission to build an
+altar on one side of the platform, and erect thereon the image of the
+holy Virgin with the cross.</p>
+
+<p>Thus determined, Cortes, accompanied by seven officers and soldiers,
+repaired to Motecusuma, and spoke to him as follows: "Great monarch,
+I have already so many times begged of you to abolish those false idols
+by whom you are so terribly deluded, and no longer to sacrifice human
+beings to them; and yet these abominations are continued daily: I
+have, therefore, come to you now, with these officers, to beg permission
+of you to take away these idols from the temple, and place in their stead
+the holy Virgin and the cross. The whole of my men feel determined
+to pull down your idols, even should you be averse to it; and you may
+well suppose that one or other of your papas will become the victim."</p>
+
+<p>When Motecusuma heard this, and saw how determined our officers
+were, he said to Cortes, "Alas, Malinche! why is it you wish to compel
+me to bring down total destruction on this town? Our gods are
+already angry with us, and who can tell what revenge they contemplate
+against you? I will, however, assemble all the papas, to know their
+opinion."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes made a sign with his hand for the other officers to retire, and
+begged of Motecusuma to grant him and father Olmedo a private audience.
+Cortes then told the monarch he only knew one way of saving
+the town from open rebellion, and the idols from destruction, namely,
+by our being allowed to erect an altar, with the cross and Virgin Mary,
+on the top of the great temple. He would then pledge himself to
+silence the murmurs of his men, and the Mexicans themselves would
+soon be convinced how greatly such a change would benefit their souls,
+what great blessings would be showered down upon them, and how
+abundant their harvests would be.</p>
+
+<p>To this Motecusuma likewise answered, with a deep sigh, and a countenance
+full of sorrow, that he would discuss the matter with his papas.
+At length, after a good deal of arguing between the papas and himself,
+we were allowed to erect an altar, with the cross and holy Virgin, on
+the top of the temple, opposite the cursed idol Huitzilopochtli. We<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>
+returned heartfelt thanks to the Almighty, and father Olmedo, assisted
+by the priest Juan Diaz, and many of our soldiers, celebrated high
+mass.<a name="FNanchor_74_77" id="FNanchor_74_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_77" class="fnanchor">[74]</a></p>
+
+<p>Cortes appointed an old soldier to keep watch over this altar, and
+begged, at the same time, of Motecusuma to order his papas not to
+obstruct the man in his duty, which was to keep the place clean, burn
+incense before the altar, keep the candles lighted there night and day,
+and decorate it from time to time with fresh branches and flowers.</p>
+
+<p>I must, however, break off here, and relate something we little expected.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CVIII" id="CHAPTER_CVIII"></a>CHAPTER CVIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the powerful Motecusuma acquaints Cortes that it is requisite for
+his safety to quit Mexico, with the whole of his men, as all the caziques
+and papas were upon the point of rising up in arms to destroy us all,
+in compliance with the advice given them by their gods: the steps
+which Cortes took upon this news.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>From the very moment we had erected this altar and cross on the
+great temple, and had celebrated high mass there, a storm began to
+gather over our heads.</p>
+
+<p>About this time Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca are said to have
+addressed the papas, and acquainted them they were desirous of leaving
+the country, as the teules had treated them with such great contempt,
+and that it was impossible for them to dwell in the same spot with that
+image and cross. If they were desirous they should remain in Mexico,
+they were to kill us all. These were the last words they should utter;
+they were to be communicated to Motecusuma and his grandees, and
+the papas were at the same time to put them in mind how we had
+melted all the gold into bars, with which previously the gods had been
+honoured; how we ordered things as if we had been lords of the country,
+and kept five powerful princes bound in chains.</p>
+
+<p>All this was faithfully reported to Motecusuma, who then sent word
+to Cortes he should like to see him, as he had things of the utmost
+importance to disclose to him.</p>
+
+<p>The page Orteguilla, who had been despatched to Cortes for this
+purpose, informed the latter that Motecusuma appeared quite changed
+and spiritless; that, the day previous, several papas and distinguished
+officers had had secret interviews with him, and they uttered words of
+which he had not understood one syllable.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Upon this, Cortes, accompanied by Oli, four other officers, and our
+two interpreters, immediately called upon the monarch, and, after the
+usual courtesies had passed between them, the latter broke out as follows:
+"Alas! Malinche and you other officers, how grieved I am at
+the commands which our gods have imparted to our papas, myself, and
+my chief officers!</p>
+
+<p>"They most earnestly demand of us that we shall commence hostilities
+with you, and put you to death, or drive you away from this
+country by some other means. My advice is, that you had better leave
+of your own accord, than allow hostilities to commence.</p>
+
+<p>"This, Malinche, I could not help disclosing to you, that you might
+come to some determination or other. For myself, I have no doubt
+that all your lives are at stake here."</p>
+
+<p>The reader may easily imagine that Cortes and his officers did not
+treat all this so very lightly, and that they were not a little surprised at
+this disclosure. No one could have suspected that affairs would have
+taken such a turn; but the monarch had spoken in such a positive
+tone as to leave no doubt on our minds that we lived in imminent
+danger. Cortes, however, hid his fears from the monarch, and thanked
+him for his information, adding, that he was sorry we had no vessels
+left in which we could leave the country; and that if we even did leave
+it, we must take him, the monarch, along with us, that he might be
+presented to our emperor: he therefore begged of him to amuse his
+priests and officers until we should have constructed three vessels on
+the sea-coast. And if they commenced war with us, they would undoubtedly
+all be killed. And that Motecusuma might convince himself
+that he would fulfil his promise, he desired he would despatch two of
+his chief officers with our carpenters to the coast to cut wood for the
+building of the vessels.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma was now more dispirited than ever when he heard Cortes
+say that he himself must accompany us; that he was to issue the necessary
+orders to his carpenters, and act and not talk. Our general
+also desired him to call the papas and officers to acquaint them that it
+was unnecessary to raise the town into open rebellion; they might, for
+the present, appease the gods by offerings, but we forbade any sacrifice
+of human beings.</p>
+
+<p>After this important disclosure Cortes left the monarch, and we now
+lived in constant fear of hostilities breaking out. Cortes, however,
+fulfilled his promise, and sent for Martin Lopez and Andreas Nu&ntilde;ez,
+described to them the size of the three vessels he wished them to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span>
+build, and to march to Vera Cruz with the Mexican carpenters, where
+all the necessary materials, consisting in iron, rigging, tar and tow
+would be found. These orders were promptly obeyed. The necessary
+quantity of wood was cut on the coast of Vera Cruz, and the
+building of the vessels was commenced with all assiduity. Whether
+Cortes gave Lopez any secret instructions I do not know; but I cannot
+pass by this circumstance in silence, as Gomara mentions it likewise
+in his history, and maintains that all this building of the vessels was
+mere artifice to amuse Motecusuma. May those who know more
+about this matter publish the truth. There are certainly numbers of
+our men alive who would be able to give a true account of this. All
+I know is that Lopez told me in confidence, that the building of the
+vessels was really commenced, and that the three vessels were actually
+lying on the staples.</p>
+
+<p>At present, however, we will leave them quietly there, and acquaint
+the reader that we grew much alarmed at our situation in this great
+city, and momentarily expected an attack upon our friends of Tlascalla,
+as Do&ntilde;a Marina had informed our general to that effect. The page,
+Orteguilla, shed tears all day long, and we others narrowly watched
+the monarch's person. I must here for the last time acquaint the
+reader, that whether night or day, we never took off our gorgets or
+our armour, while our arms were never for a moment out of our
+hands. A bundle of straw and a mat formed a couch; our horses
+stood ready saddled, and in short every soldier was ready for action at
+a moment's notice.</p>
+
+<p>At night we also took the precaution of posting such numbers of
+sentinels, that each of us in turn, had at least one watch every night.
+I do not mention this in praise of myself; but I grew so accustomed
+to being armed night and day, as it were living in armour, that after
+the conquest of New Spain I could not accustom myself for a length
+of time to undress on going to lie down, or make use of a bed, but
+slept better in soldier fashion than on the softest down. Even at
+the present day, in my old age, I never take a bed with me when I
+visit the townships belonging to my commendary; and if I do take
+one, it is merely because the cavaliers who accompany me may not
+think I take no bed with me, because I have no good one. From continued
+watching at night it has become quite natural to me to sleep
+for a short time together only, and get up at intervals to gaze upon
+the heavens and the stars, and take a couple of turns in the open air.
+Neither do I wear a nightcap or wind a kerchief around my head; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span>
+thanks be to God! this has become so natural to me, that I never
+feel any inconvenience from it. I have merely mentioned all this to
+convince the reader how we, the true Conquistadores, were always
+obliged to be upon our guard, and what hardships we had to undergo.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CIX" id="CHAPTER_CIX"></a>CHAPTER CIX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the governor of Cuba, Velasquez, in all haste fits out an armament
+against us, the command of which he gives to Pamfilo de Narvaez,
+who was accompanied by the licentiate Lucas Vazquez de Aillon,
+auditor of the royal court of audience at St. Domingo.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>In order to explain what I am now about to relate I must refer to
+prior events.</p>
+
+<p>I have already mentioned, in the proper chapter, that Diego Velasquez
+got information of our having sent agents to our emperor with all the
+gold and presents we had received; and also of the bad reception they
+had met with from the bishop of Burgos; who not only favoured
+Velasquez in various ways, but even commanded him to fit out an
+armament against us, for which he himself would be responsible to
+the emperor.</p>
+
+<p>The governor of Cuba accordingly used the utmost exertions and
+assembled a flotilla, consisting of nineteen sail, on board of which were
+1400 soldiers, above forty cannon, with a quantity of powder, balls,
+and gun-flints, besides two artillerymen, who, with the artillery stood
+under the immediate command of the captain Rodrigo Martin. To
+this was added eighty horse, ninety crossbow-men, and seventy musketeers.
+Fat and corpulent as he was, Velasquez had, nevertheless, in
+the height of his passion, visited every township in Cuba, to hasten
+the equipment of the flotilla, and invited every inhabitant who had
+either Indians, relations, or friends who could manage their estates, to
+join the standard of Pamfilo Narvaez, and share the honour of taking
+Cortes and all of us prisoners, or at least to blow out our brains. He
+had even advanced as far as the promontory of Guaniguanico, in the
+height of his zeal, though that promontory was above 240 miles from
+the Havannah.</p>
+
+<p>Before this armament quitted the harbour, the royal court of audience
+at St. Domingo, and the Hieronymite brothers, who were viceroys
+there, were determined to look into the matter a little; as the licentiate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span>
+Suazo, who was their agent in Cuba, had sent them information of
+the extensiveness of the armament.</p>
+
+<p>As the great and valuable services which we had rendered God and
+his majesty were very well known at St. Domingo, as also the fact of
+our having sent valuable presents to our emperor, it was considered
+there that Velasquez was not justified in fitting out an armament to
+revenge himself upon us, but that his only way was to pursue us in a
+court of law. These impartial men well foresaw how this armament
+would impede the conquest of New Spain. They therefore despatched
+the licentiate Lucas Vazquez de Aillon, who was auditor of the court
+of audience at St. Domingo, to Cuba, with peremptory commands to
+Velasquez not to allow the flotilla to leave the harbour.</p>
+
+<p>The auditor punctually fulfilled these commands, and in due form
+protested against the flotilla leaving the harbour; but Diego Velasquez,
+who had spent all his property in fitting out this armament, relied
+upon the good favour of the bishop of Burgos, and took no notice of
+the protest. Upon this Vazquez de Aillon determined upon embarking
+himself on board one of the vessels, to try at least if he could not
+prevent hostilities between Narvaez and Cortes. Many even maintained
+that he came to Mexico with the secret intention to side with our party,
+or, if we could not succeed in defeating Narvaez, himself to take possession
+of the country in the name of our emperor. At all events he
+embarked with Narvaez and arrived in the harbour of San Juan de
+Ulua, of which we shall hear more presently.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CX" id="CHAPTER_CX"></a>CHAPTER CX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Narvaez arrives with the whole of his flotilla in the harbour of
+San Juan de Ulua, and what happened upon this.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>When Narvaez had arrived with the flotilla off the mountains of
+San Martin, a north wind arose, which is always dangerous on these
+coasts. One of the vessels commanded by a cavalier, named Christobal
+de Morante, of Medina del Campo, was wrecked during night-time off
+the coast, and the greater part of the men perished. The other vessels,
+however, arrived safely in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua.</p>
+
+<p>This armament, which may indeed be considered extensive, considering
+it was fitted out at Cuba, was first of all seen by some soldiers
+whom Cortes had sent out in search of gold mines. Three of these,
+Cervantes, Escalona, and Alonso Carretero, did not hesitate a moment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>
+to go on board the commander's ship, and are said, as soon as they
+stepped on board to have praised the Almighty for having rescued
+them out of the hands of Cortes and the great city of Mexico, where
+death stood daily before their eyes.</p>
+
+<p>Narvaez ordered meat and drink to be set before them, and as their
+glasses were abundantly filled, they said to one another in his presence:
+"This is indeed leading a different sort of life with a glass of
+good wine in one's hand, when compared to the slavery under Cortes,
+who allows a person no rest either night or day; where a person dares
+scarcely say a word, and death is always staring him in the face."</p>
+
+<p>Cervantes, however, who was a low buffoon, even addressed Narvaez
+himself, and exclaimed: "O Narvaez! Narvaez, what a fortunate
+man you are, that you just arrive at the moment when the traitor
+Cortes has heaped together above 700,000 pesos, and the whole of his
+men are so enraged with him for his having cheated them out of the
+greater part of the gold, that many even disdain to accept of their
+shares."</p>
+
+<p>Such was the language which these low-minded and worthless fellows
+uttered, and they told Narvaez more than he was desirous of knowing.
+They likewise informed him that thirty-two miles further on he would
+come to a town we had built, called Vera Cruz, which had a garrison
+of sixty men, all invalids, under an officer named Sandoval, and he
+had merely to show himself with a few men there and they would
+immediately deliver up the town to him.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma was immediately apprized of the arrival of this flotilla,
+and without saying a single word to Cortes despatched several of his
+chief officers to Narvaez, with a present in gold and other things; and
+commanded the inhabitants to furnish him with provisions.</p>
+
+<p>Narvaez, in his message to Motecusuma, calumniated Cortes and all
+of us, telling him we were nothing but a parcel of thieves and vagabonds,
+who had fled from Spain without the knowledge of our emperor,
+but his imperial majesty having been informed that we were in this
+country committing all manner of depredations, and that we had even
+imprisoned its monarch, had ordered him to repair hither with his
+flotilla and troops, to put an end to these disorders and liberate the
+monarch. He had likewise received orders to put Cortes and all his
+men to the sword, or take them alive and send them prisoners to Spain,
+where death awaited them. This sober language the three soldiers,
+who understood the Mexican language were to translate to Motecusuma's
+messengers, to whom Narvaez at the same time sent a present of some
+Spanish goods.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma was not a little delighted with this message, particularly
+when he learnt the number of Narvaez's vessels, of his cannon,
+and his 1300 soldiers. He, of course, thought it would be an easy
+matter for Narvaez to overcome us, and as his messengers had seen
+the three treacherous rascals who had deserted to Narvaez, he found
+the more reason to believe all the scandal the latter had said concerning
+Cortes. Besides which he received an accurate description of the
+whole armament from his artists, who had immediately depicted on
+cotton cloth everything they saw. He therefore sent a second message,
+accompanied by more valuable presents in gold and cotton stuffs
+to Narvaez, with strict commands to the inhabitants of the coast to
+supply him with plenty of provisions.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma had received intelligence of the arrival of the flotilla
+off the coast three days before Cortes. When the latter, as usual, one
+day paid a visit to the monarch he found him in particular good
+spirits, and asked him what had occasioned it? Motecusuma replied,
+that he found himself in better health than he had done for some
+time past.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, who was very much surprised at this sudden change in the
+monarch, called upon him a second time that day, and now the latter
+began to fear our general was cognizant of the arrival of the flotilla.
+To remove all suspicion from his mind, therefore, he thought it better
+to break the news to him himself. "I have just this moment, Malinche,"
+said he, "received the information that an armament of eighteen
+vessels, with a great number of soldiers and horses, has arrived in the
+harbour where you landed. Pictures of the whole armament have
+been transmitted to me. This, no doubt, is no news to you, and I
+thought from your second visit to me this day, you came to bring me
+the intelligence yourself, and that now there was no need for you to
+build new vessels. Though I may have felt hurt that you wished to
+keep all this a secret from me, yet, on the other hand, I am delighted
+at the arrival of your brothers, with whom you can now return to
+Spain; which thus removes all difficulties at once."</p>
+
+<p>When Cortes heard this and saw the painting which the Mexicans
+had made of all the vessels, he exclaimed in the excess of his delight:
+"Praise be to God, whose assistance always comes at the right time!"
+Indeed the whole of us greatly rejoiced at this news, we galloped about
+on our horses, and fired salute after salute.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, however, began to consider it in a more serious light than
+he had done in the first moments, as he now plainly saw that this
+armament was sent out against us by Velasquez; and he communicated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span>
+his suspicions to us all, and by great presents and promises he made
+us pledge ourselves not to act any way against his interests; which we
+did the more readily, as the commander of this new armament was
+totally unknown to us. Our joy was now excessive, not only on account
+of the gold which Cortes gave us from his private purse, but at
+the arrival of this flotilla, which we saw the Almighty had sent to us
+in our distress.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXI" id="CHAPTER_CXI"></a>CHAPTER CXI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Pamfilo Narvaez despatches five persons to Sandoval, the commandant
+of Vera Cruz, with summons to surrender up the town to
+him.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After Narvaez had received every information about Vera Cruz
+from the three deserters, he determined to despatch thither a priest
+named Guevara, who was a capital hand at talking, and a certain
+Amaya, a man of great distinction, and a relative of Velasquez; besides
+a secretary named Vergara and three witnesses, whose names I have
+forgotten. These gentlemen were to announce his arrival, and summon
+the town to surrender; and, to make sure work, were provided
+with a copy of Narvaez appointment.</p>
+
+<p>Sandoval had already been apprized of the arrival of Narvaez by the
+inhabitants. But as he was a man who was always upon the alert,
+and possessed of great penetration, he immediately guessed that the
+armament was fitted out by Velasquez, and that his object was to gain
+possession of Vera Cruz; he therefore instantly adopted every precaution,
+and commenced by sending all the invalid soldiers to the Indian
+township Papalote, merely retaining those who were in good health.
+He then posted watches along the road leading to Sempoalla, which
+Narvaez would be obliged to take if he marched to Vera Cruz. Sandoval
+also made his men promise him neither to surrender the town to
+Velasquez nor any one else, and that none of his men might forget
+their promise he ordered a gallows to be erected on an elevated spot
+outside the town.</p>
+
+<p>When the outposts brought Sandoval information that six Spaniards
+were approaching the town, he retired into his own house to await their
+arrival; for he was determined not to go out to receive these guests, and
+had also issued orders to his men not to quit their quarters, nor exchange
+a single word with the strangers.</p>
+
+<p>When, therefore, the priest Guevara and his companions arrived<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>
+in the town, they only saw some Indians, who were working at the
+fortifications, but not a Spaniard to speak to; they walked straightway
+into the church to pray, and then repaired to Sandoval's house, which
+they recognized from its being the largest one in the town.</p>
+
+<p>After the first greetings had passed between them, the priest began
+his discourse by stating to Sandoval what large sums of money Velasquez
+had expended on the armament which went out under the command
+of Cortes, who, with the whole of the men, had turned traitors
+to the governor; and concluded by saying, that he came to summon
+him in the name of Narvaez, whom Velasquez had appointed captain-general,
+to deliver up the town to him.</p>
+
+<p>When Sandoval heard this, and the expressions which reflected dishonour
+on Cortes, he could scarcely speak, from downright vexation;
+at length he replied: "Venerable sir, you are wrong to term men traitors
+who have proved themselves better servants to our emperor than
+Velasquez has, or your commander; and that I do not now this instant
+punish you for this affront, is merely owing to your being a priest.
+Go, therefore, in the name of God, to Mexico; there you will find
+Cortes, who is captain-general, and chief justice of New Spain. He will
+answer you himself; here you had better not lose another word."</p>
+
+<p>At this moment the priest, with much bravado, ordered the secretary
+Vergara to produce the appointment of Narvaez, and read it to
+Sandoval, and the others present. Sandoval, however, desired the
+secretary to leave his papers quietly where they were, as it was impossible
+for him to say whether the appointment was a lawful one or not.
+But as the secretary still persisted in producing his papers, Sandoval
+cried out to him: "Mind what you are about, Vergara! I have already
+told you to keep your papers in your pocket; go with them to Mexico!
+I promise you, the moment you proceed to read a single syllable from
+them, 100 good lashes on the spot. How can I tell whether you are a
+royal secretary or not? First show me your appointment; and if I find
+you are, I will listen to your papers. But, even then, who can prove
+to me whether your papers are true or false?"</p>
+
+<p>The priest, who was a very haughty man, then cried out, "Why do
+you stand upon any ceremony with these traitors? Pull out your papers,
+and read the contents to them!"</p>
+
+<p>To which Sandoval answered: "You lie, you infamous priest!" and
+ordered his men immediately to seize those gentlemen, and carry them
+off to Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>He had hardly spoken, when they were seized by a number of Indians
+employed at the fortifications, bound hand and foot, and thrown upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span>
+the backs of porters. In this way they were transported to Mexico,
+where they arrived in the space of four days; the Indian porters being
+constantly relieved by others on the road.</p>
+
+<p>These gentlemen were not a little surprised at this rough treatment;
+but the deeper they advanced into the country, the more astonished
+they grew, at the sight of the large towns and villages, where they
+stopped to take refreshment. They were, it is said, very doubtful within
+themselves whether all was not enchantment, or merely a dream.</p>
+
+<p>Sandoval had sent Pedro de Solis, Ordu&ntilde;a's son-in-law, as alguacil,
+to accompany the escort; and he likewise informed Cortes, by letter,
+of everything that was going on at the coast, and of the name of the
+captain who commanded the flotilla. The letter even arrived before the
+prisoners in Mexico; so that Cortes was apprized of their approach
+when they were still at some distance from the town.</p>
+
+<p>He immediately despatched some men with a quantity of the best
+provisions, and three horses, for the most distinguished of the prisoners,
+with orders that they should be immediately released from their fetters.
+He likewise wrote them a letter, in which he expressed his regret that
+they should have met with such harsh treatment from Sandoval, and
+that he would give them the most honorable reception. Indeed he
+even went out to meet them himself, and escorted them into the town.</p>
+
+<p>The priest and his companions&mdash;after they became acquainted with
+the vast extent of Mexico, and the number of other towns built in the
+lake, saw the quantity of gold which every one of us possessed, and the
+noble and open countenance of Cortes&mdash;were quite enchanted; and they
+had not been above a couple of days with us before Cortes succeeded so
+well to tame them, by kind words, fair promises, jewels, and bars of
+gold, that they, who had come like furious lions, now returned back to
+Narvaez as harmless as lambs, and offered to render our general every
+service in their power. Indeed, when they had arrived in Sempoalla,
+and given Narvaez an account of all they had seen, they spoke of
+nothing else to his men than of the policy to make common cause
+with us.</p>
+
+<p>I will, however, break off here, and acquaint the reader with the
+letter which Cortes wrote to Narvaez.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXII" id="CHAPTER_CXII"></a>CHAPTER CXII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes, after he had gained every information respecting the
+armament, wrote to Narvaez, and several of his acquaintances who
+had come with him, and particularly to Andreas du Duero, private
+secretary to Velasquez; and of other events.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Cortes was a man who never allowed the smallest advantage to
+escape; and whatever difficulty he might be in, he managed to get out
+of it. But it must also be remembered, that he had the good fortune
+to command officers and soldiers on whom he could place every reliance
+under all circumstances, who not only lent a powerful arm in battle,
+but likewise assisted him with their prudent counsel. In this way,
+then, it was unanimously resolved in council, that a letter should be despatched
+by Indian couriers to Narvaez, written in the most affectionate
+tone, with offers of our services to him, and begging of him not to excite
+a rebellion in the country, which would certainly be the case if the
+Indians observed we were at enmity with each other. This letter was to
+be delivered to Narvaez before the return there of Guevara. We expressly
+wrote in this friendly tone, as our numbers were so very small
+in comparison to his, and because we were first desirous of knowing
+how he was inclined. Besides this, we employed other means to gain
+friends among Narvaez's officers, which seemed no great difficulty, as
+Guevara had assured Cortes that the latter were not on the best terms
+with their commander, and that a few bars of gold, with a few chains of
+the same metal, would soon pave the way. In this letter Cortes informed
+Narvaez how both he and all his men were rejoiced at his arrival
+here; in particular himself, as they were old friends. He also desired
+he would not connive at the liberation of Motecusuma, as the consequences
+would be a rebellion in the city, and throughout the whole
+country, which would be the destruction of both his troops and ours, as
+we should be overwhelmed by numbers. He could not help drawing his
+particular attention to this circumstance, as Motecusuma of late seemed
+greatly changed in his behaviour towards him, and the inhabitants were
+upon the point of rising up in arms, from the message which Motecusuma
+had received in Narvaez's name; but he was convinced that he
+was too prudent and sensible a man, and would not have sent such a
+dangerous message at such a critical period, if he had not been misled
+by the three scoundrels who had run over to him. To make a good
+finish to the letter, he begged to say that Narvaez was at liberty to dispose
+of his person and of his purse, and he would await his commands.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Cortes at the same time wrote to Andreas de Duero and Vazquez de
+Aillon, and accompanied these letters with some gold for themselves
+and his other friends. Aillon, besides this, privately received some other
+gold bars and chains. He also despatched father Olmedo to Narvaez's
+head-quarters with a good stock of these persuasive articles, consisting
+in various trinkets of gold and precious stones of great value.</p>
+
+<p>The first letter which Cortes had sent by the Indian courier reached
+Narvaez's quarters before Guevara had returned there. This Narvaez
+read aloud to his officers, and kept the whole time making merry at the
+expense of Cortes and all of us. One of his officers, named Salvatierra,
+even blamed him for reading the letter of such a traitor as Cortes was,
+to his men. Narvaez, continued he, should immediately march out
+against us, and put us all to death. He himself, he swore, would cut
+off Cortes' ears, broil them, and eat them up; and all such like folly.
+He said the letter ought not to be answered, and he did not care a snap
+of the fingers for us.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime the priest, Guevara, and his companions, had returned,
+and the latter gave Narvaez a circumstantial account of Cortes,
+showing him what an excellent cavalier he was, and what a faithful servant
+he had proved himself to our emperor. He spoke about the great
+power of Motecusuma, and the number of towns through which he had
+journeyed, and that Cortes would gladly submit to him. He also added,
+that it was for the advantage of both to remain on friendly terms with
+each other. New Spain was large enough to afford room for them both,
+and Narvaez might choose which part of the country he would occupy
+with his troops.</p>
+
+<p>These statements, which Amaya and Guevara had accompanied by
+some good advice, so greatly incensed Narvaez, that he would neither
+see nor speak to them from that moment. The impression, however,
+it produced on the troops was various; for when they saw the gold these
+two men returned with, and heard so much good of Cortes and all of
+us, and heard them speak of the wondrous things they had seen, and
+the vast quantity of gold, and how we played at cards for gold only,
+many of them longed to join our corps.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly after this, father Olmedo likewise arrived in Narvaez's quarters
+with bars of gold and secret instructions. When he called upon
+him to pay him Cortes' respects, and said how ready he was to obey
+Narvaez's commands, and remain on terms of peace with him, the latter
+grew more enraged than before. He even refused to listen to him, and
+called Cortes and all of us traitors; and when Olmedo denied this, and
+told him we were the most faithful of the emperor's servants, he grossly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span>
+insulted him. All this, however, did not deter Olmedo from fulfilling
+his secret mission, and distributing the bars of gold and golden chains
+among those for whom Cortes had destined them; and he strove in every
+way to draw over Narvaez's principal officers to our side.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXIII" id="CHAPTER_CXIII"></a>CHAPTER CXIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The high words which arose between the auditor Vazquez de Aillon and
+Narvaez, who orders him to be seized and sent back prisoner to Spain.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The auditor Aillon, as I have before mentioned, was most favorably
+inclined towards Cortes, and had purposely come to New Spain with
+instructions from the royal court of audience at St. Domingo and the
+Hieronymite brothers, who were aware of the great and important services
+we had rendered to God and the emperor, to promote our cause
+in every possible manner. After he had carefully perused Cortes' letters,
+and received the bars of gold, he no longer made a secret of his sentiments,
+but spoke without any reserve of the scandalous piece of injustice
+which had been perpetrated in fitting out this armament against
+such well-deserving men as we had proved ourselves, and was so eloquent
+in the praise of Cortes and his companions in arms, that the
+feeling in our favour became almost universal in Narvaez's head-quarters.
+The meanness of the latter's disposition served to increase this feeling,
+who retained all the presents sent by Motecusuma entirely to himself,
+without offering any part of them either to his officers or men. Indeed,
+he even said haughtily to his steward, "Mind that not the smallest
+matter is taken away from these things; every article has been carefully
+noted down." When this conduct was compared with that pursued
+by Cortes towards his soldiers, his men almost broke out into
+open insurrection.</p>
+
+<p>Narvaez looked upon the auditor as the cause of all this bad feeling,
+and brought it so sensibly home to him that no one durst give him or
+his adherents the smallest morsel of the provisions which were sent by
+Motecusuma. This circumstance of itself caused a good deal of quarrelling
+among the troops; but when Narvaez's principal adherents,
+Salvatierra, whom I have above mentioned, and a certain Juan Bono,
+from Biscay, with a certain Gamarra, continually added fuel to the
+flame, he, relying on the mighty support of Fonseca, lost sight of every
+consideration, imprisoned the auditor, with his secretary and all his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span>
+attendants, threw them on board a vessel, and so sent them off either
+to Spain or Cuba.</p>
+
+<p>His behaviour towards Gonzalo de Oblanco, a cavalier and a scholar,
+was even more severe,&mdash;when the latter boldly told him to his face that
+Cortes had proved himself a faithful servant to the emperor, that we
+all had merited a reward from his majesty, and that it was scandalous
+to brand us with the name of traitors, and great presumption to imprison
+one of his majesty's auditors, Narvaez instantly threw him
+into chains, and Oblanco, who was a high-spirited soul, was so hurt at
+this ill-treatment, that he died within the space of four days. Two
+other soldiers were thrown into prison merely because they had spoken
+well of Cortes; one of whom was Sancho de Barahona, who afterwards
+settled down in Guatimala.</p>
+
+<p>But to return to the auditor, who was to be sent prisoner to Spain;
+he was scarcely at sea, when he prevailed upon the captain and pilot,
+by means of good words, or threats to hang them immediately on their
+arrival in Spain, instead of paying them for the passage, to steer for
+St. Domingo.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the auditor had arrived at St. Domingo, and the royal
+court of audience and viceroys there were informed of Narvaez's scandalous
+and presumptuous ill treatment of the licentiate Lucas Vazquez,
+they considered it in the light of an insult offered to themselves, and
+made heavy complaints to the supreme council of Castile. But as the
+bishop Fonseca was still president of that council, and, during his
+majesty's continued absence in Flanders, ruled affairs as he thought
+proper, no justice could be expected from Spain. The bishop had even
+the shamelessness openly to express his joy when he supposed that
+Narvaez had already subdued us. The bishop, himself, however, suffered
+from the consequences which ensued from this affair; for, when
+our agents in Flanders received intelligence of Velasquez's expedition,
+and found that it had been fitted out without his majesty's permission,
+and merely by authority of Fonseca, they drew great advantage from
+this illegal mode of proceeding during the investigation which was
+shortly after set on foot respecting Cortes and all of us.&mdash;The harsh
+treatment which the auditor Lucas Vazquez was subjected to had a bad
+effect upon Narvaez's troops, and many of his friends and relatives whom
+he regarded with a mistrustful eye, went over to Sandoval, lest they
+should experience similar treatment with Oblanco. Sandoval, as may
+well be imagined, received them with open arms, and learnt from them
+all that had passed in Narvaez's quarters; likewise that he contemplated
+sending men to Vera Cruz to take him prisoner.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXIV" id="CHAPTER_CXIV"></a>CHAPTER CXIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Narvaez marches, with the whole of his troops, to Sempoalla; his proceedings
+there; and how we in Mexico determine to march against
+him.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After Narvaez had sent off the auditor prisoner, he marched with
+the whole of his men, the baggage, and the cannon, to Sempoalla, and
+quartered himself in that town, which was then very thickly populated.
+His first act there was to take away from the fat cazique, as we termed
+him, the cotton stuffs, gold trinkets, and other fancy articles he possessed.
+He likewise took the Indian females forcibly away who had
+been presented to us by the caziques of Sempoalla, and whom we had
+left behind with their parents and relatives, as they were daughters of
+distinguished personages, and much too delicate to bear the fatigues of
+a campaign.</p>
+
+<p>The fat cazique had often warned Narvaez not to touch the women,
+or anything which Cortes had left behind in the shape of gold or cotton
+stuffs, as he would certainly be greatly incensed, hasten from Mexico,
+and not only cut off Narvaez, but also him, for suffering his property
+to be touched.</p>
+
+<p>All the complaints this cazique might make respecting the depredations
+committed by Narvaez's troops in Sempoalla were equally fruitless.
+And it was of no avail for him to repeat that Malinche and his men
+had never taken the smallest thing from them, and had proved themselves
+altogether kind-hearted teules; Narvaez and Salvatierra, whose
+conduct in general was the most heartless, merely mocked at the cazique,
+the latter often repeating to Narvaez and the other officers, "Only just
+imagine in what fear these caziques stand of that paltry little fellow
+Cortes!"</p>
+
+<p>May the good reader learn from this how wrong it is to speak evil of
+honest folks; for I am ready to swear that this very Salvatierra behaved
+in the most pitiable and cowardly manner when the battle was fought
+between Narvaez and us, and yet his build and bones were powerful
+enough to have defended himself right well; however, he was a mere
+braggadocio, and I believe he was a native of Burgos.</p>
+
+<p>We must now, however, return to Cortes, and acquaint the reader
+that Narvaez despatched his secretary, Alonso Meta, who subsequently
+settled in Puebla, with three other great personages, to Mexico, commanding
+us and our general, by virtue of the copies of his appointment
+by Velasquez, to submit to him.<a name="FNanchor_75_78" id="FNanchor_75_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_78" class="fnanchor">[75]</a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Cortes, who received daily intelligence of what was going on in
+Narvaez's head-quarters and at Vera Cruz, was duly informed by Sandoval
+how Narvaez had thrown Vazquez de Aillon into chains, and sent
+him to Spain or Cuba, and that, owing to such violent proceedings, five
+of his principal officers had come over to him, who feared, since so
+little respect had been paid to the person of a royal auditor, they, as
+Aillon's relatives, might expect worse treatment. From them Sandoval
+learnt everything that was passing in Narvaez's head-quarters, and that
+it was his intention to march shortly in person to Mexico to take us all
+prisoners. Cortes, on receiving this intelligence, assembled his officers
+and all those whom he was accustomed to consult in matters of great
+moment, and were men entirely devoted to him. In this council it was
+determined we should anticipate Narvaez, and immediately march out
+against him. Pedro de Alvarado was to remain in Mexico, with all
+those who were not over-anxious to make this campaign, to guard the
+person of Motecusuma; and we likewise took care to leave all those
+behind who, as partisans of Velasquez, were not altogether to be trusted.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes had fortunately ordered a quantity of maise from Tlascalla
+previous to the arrival of Narvaez, for the harvest had altogether failed
+about Mexico, owing to a continued drought: we, indeed, required a
+great quantity of provisions for the numbers of Naborias<a name="FNanchor_76_79" id="FNanchor_76_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_79" class="fnanchor">[76]</a> and Tlascallan
+troops we had with us. This and other necessaries of life, consisting
+in fowls, fruits, &amp;c., arrived at the time appointed, and were
+given in charge of Alvarado. We likewise took the precaution of fortifying
+our quarters,&mdash;we mounted four pieces of heavy cannon on the
+most commanding point, and left Alvarado a few falconets and all the
+powder we could spare, with ten crossbow-men, fourteen musketeers,
+and seven horse soldiers; the latter were, indeed, more than he required,
+as the cavalry was of little use in the courtyards attached to
+our quarters. The number of soldiers we left behind in Mexico was
+altogether eighty-three.</p>
+
+<p>Motecusuma easily conjectured what our designs were against Narvaez;
+yet, though Cortes daily called upon him, he was equally upon
+his guard as Cortes was in not throwing out any hints of his (Motecusuma's)
+sending Narvaez gold and provisions. It was only at the very
+last that the monarch made some inquiries respecting our intended
+movements, which will be found in the chapter following.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXV" id="CHAPTER_CXV"></a>CHAPTER CXV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the powerful Motecusuma inquires of Cortes whether it was really
+his intention to march out against Narvaez, though the latter's troops
+were double the number of ours.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The monarch, one day discoursing as usual with Cortes, spoke to
+him as follows: "Malinche! I have for some time past observed all
+your officers and soldiers going up and down in great uneasiness: even
+you yourself do not visit me so frequently as you were wont; and the
+page Orteguilla informs me that you are about to march against your
+brothers who have just arrived, and that you are going to leave Tonatio
+(so Alvarado was termed by the Mexicans) behind, to guard my person.
+Do tell me if there is any truth in all this? for if, in any way, I can be
+of service to you in this matter, it will be a great pleasure to me. I have
+great fears of your success, for your teules are too few in numbers in
+comparison to those just arrived. They have five times the number of
+troops you have; they also, as well as yourself, maintain to be Christians,
+and subjects of your emperor; they pay homage to the same
+image and cross, read the mass as you do, and everywhere spread the
+rumour that you have fled away from Spain from your emperor, and
+that he has sent them to take you back again, or put you to death.
+Really I scarcely know what to think of all this: one thing, however,
+I must tell you, to use great circumspection in what you are about
+to do."</p>
+
+<p>In reply to this, Cortes told the monarch, with the most cheerful
+countenance in the world, that he had studiously avoided mentioning
+anything of all this up to the present moment, from his great affection
+towards him, to spare him the anxiety he would feel on our account.
+It was very true, the newly arrived teules were also subjects of our
+emperor, and Christians; but it was a falsehood to assert that we had
+fled away from the territory of our emperor. On the contrary, our
+great monarch had expressly sent us out to visit him, Motecusuma, and
+make those disclosures to him, in his imperial name, which Motecusuma
+had heard. With regard to the numbers of those just arrived, we felt
+quite unconcerned, however great they might be in comparison to ours,
+as our Lord Jesus Christ and his blessed mother would lend us strength,
+and clothe us with superior power to those bad men who came with
+such evil designs. His emperor, continued Cortes, swayed the sceptre
+over so many countries and kingdoms, that the people who inhabited
+them were of various kinds, and differed in courage and manly spirit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span>
+We were born in the heart of Spain, which was termed Old Castile, and
+therefore bore the additional name of Castilians; those, on the other
+hand, who were now quartered at Sempoalla, came from another province
+called Biscay, where the inhabitants spoke a perfectly spurious
+language, in the same way as the Otomies do in Mexico. He need be
+in no apprehension about us, but might depend upon it we should
+very soon manage those fellows, and speedily return victorious to his
+metropolis. At present we merely begged of him to remain on terms
+of friendship with Tonatio, who would remain behind in Mexico with
+eighty men; and to prevent any insurrection from breaking out, and
+not to allow his generals and papas to disturb the peace; for, in case
+they did, he should be compelled to put them all to death on his return.
+He also desired he would furnish those who remained behind with the
+necessary provisions.</p>
+
+<p>After this explanation, Motecusuma and Cortes embraced each other
+twice successively, while the sly Do&ntilde;a Marina observed to the monarch
+that he ought to show some signs of grief at our departure: upon
+which he again commenced speaking, and offered to comply with any
+wish Cortes might express, and promised to give him 5000 of his
+troops to accompany us on our march. Cortes, who well knew they
+would not have been forthcoming, thanked him for his kind offer, and
+assured him we stood in no need of his assistance, as we found our
+true support in the Lord our God: but begged of him to see that the
+image of the holy Virgin and the cross were constantly decorated with
+green boughs; that the church was kept clean, and wax-lights burning
+night and day on the altar; and not to allow his papas to sacrifice any
+human beings; and in his compliance with these things we should
+best be able to convince ourselves of the sincerity of his friendship.</p>
+
+<p>After this Cortes told the monarch he must excuse him for breaking
+off the discourse now, as he had many things to regulate before
+commencing his march; he then once more embraced the monarch,
+and so they parted from each other.<a name="FNanchor_77_80" id="FNanchor_77_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_80" class="fnanchor">[77]</a></p>
+
+<p>Cortes now ordered Alvarado and all those who were to remain behind
+in Mexico into his presence. He desired them to observe the
+utmost vigilance, and not to give Motecusuma a chance of escaping
+out of their hands, and commanded the soldiers to pay the most implicit
+obedience to Alvarado, promising, if God were willing, to enrich
+them all.</p>
+
+<p>Among those who stayed with Alvarado was the priest Juan Diaz,
+and many others whom we suspected of ill will towards Cortes, whose
+names I do not choose to mention. We nevertheless embraced each<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span>
+other on leaving, and then marched out without any females or servants,
+with as little baggage as possible, and took the road to Cholulla. From
+this town Cortes sent to our friends Xicotencatl, Maxixcatzin, and the
+other caziques of Tlascalla, desiring them to send us immediately 4000
+of their troops. To which they returned the answer, that if we were
+going to war with Indians as they were, they would gladly send us the
+required troops and many more; but if we intended fighting against
+teules, like unto ourselves, against cannon and horses, we were not to
+think ill of them if they refused our request. This answer was accompanied
+by as many fowls as twenty men could carry.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes then sent a courier with a letter to Sandoval, desiring the
+latter to join him as speedily as possible with all his men; we intended
+to march to within forty-eight miles of Sempoalla, in the neighbourhood
+of the provinces of Tampanicita<a name="FNanchor_78_81" id="FNanchor_78_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_81" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> and Mitalaguita, which are
+at present comprehended in the commendary of Pedro Moreno Mediana,
+who resides at Puebla; he particularly cautioned him to keep out of
+the way of Narvaez, and carefully to avoid coming to any engagement
+with any part of his troops.</p>
+
+<p>We ourselves marched forward with every military precaution, and
+were ready for action at a moment's notice. Two of our most trustworthy
+men who were remarkably swift of foot and unwearied pedestrians,
+were constantly a couple of day's march in advance, and lurked
+along the byways, where the cavalry could not penetrate, to gain information
+of the Indians respecting Narvaez. Besides these we had
+always immediately in advance of us a small detachment of sharp-shooters,
+to seize any of the men who strolled from Narvaez's camp,
+and if possible the latter himself. It was not long before they came
+up with a certain Alonso Mata, who termed himself a royal secretary,
+and was commissioned, he said, by Narvaez, to show us the copy of
+his appointment. This Mata was accompanied by four others, who
+were to act as witnesses on this occasion. When these people had arrived
+near enough they greeted Cortes and all of us in the most
+humble manner possible, and our general dismounted when he learnt
+who they were.</p>
+
+<p>Alonso Mata began immediately to read his documents to us, but
+Cortes interrupted him, and asked him whether he was a royal secretary,
+and he replying in the affirmative, Cortes desired him to produce
+his appointment. If this was all regular, he added, he was at liberty
+to fulfil his commission, and he should know himself what was due
+from him as a servant of the emperor. But, if it was not, it was useless
+for him to read his papers; besides which, it was requisite the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span>
+papers should contain the original appointment signed by the emperor
+himself, if he wished him to acknowledge his authority.</p>
+
+<p>Mata was not a little staggered at being thus addressed, for he
+himself was well aware that he was no royal secretary. He was
+therefore unable to utter a single word, and those who accompanied
+him remained equally mute. Cortes excused their embarrassment,
+and desired some victuals to be set before them; and we halted for
+a few moments, when Cortes informed them we were marching to
+the township of Tampanicita, in the vicinity of Narvaez's head-quarters,
+where, if the latter had any further communications to make, he was
+to be found. During the whole of this discourse Cortes showed such
+self-command, that he never so much as uttered a single reproachful
+word against Narvaez; he had also a private discourse with them,
+and thrust a few pieces of gold into their hands; so that they left
+us highly delighted, and on their return to Narvaez they could scarcely
+say sufficient in praise of Cortes and of us all.</p>
+
+<p>While these men were still with us, many of our soldiers, for the
+sake of ostentation, had decorated themselves with gold chains and
+jewels, which spread a vast idea of our splendour. All this produced
+such a favorable impression in Narvaez's head-quarters, that many of
+his chief officers desired that peace might be brought about between
+both generals.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime we continued our march, and arrived in Tampanicita,
+where Sandoval the day following likewise appeared with his
+small detachment, consisting of sixty men; the old and infirm of the
+garrison, as I have above mentioned, having been previously quartered
+among our allies, the Papalote Indians. He likewise brought along
+with him the five friends and relatives of Aillon, who had deserted from
+Narvaez, and had long desired to pay their respects to Cortes, who gave
+them the most friendly reception, and then entered into a private conversation
+with Sandoval, who related to him all the particulars respecting
+the affair with the furious priest Guevara and his companion Vergara.
+Sandoval likewise told him how he had sent two Spanish soldiers into
+Narvaez's head-quarters disguised as Indians. They had the exact appearance
+of natives, took each a basket of cherries with them, and did
+as if they were desirous of selling them. They soon met with a purchaser,
+in the person of the braggadocio Salvatierra, who gave them a
+string of glass beads for their fruit, and fully believing they were
+Indians, sent them to cut some grass for his horse. It was about the
+hour of Ave-Maria, when they returned with a load of grass, and carried
+it to the shed, where the horse was tied up. They then cowered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span>
+down, after the fashion of Indians, near Salvatierra's quarters, and
+overheard a discourse between him and several others of Narvaez's
+officers. Among other things they heard Salvatierra exclaim, "O! at
+what a fortunate time we have arrived in this country, just as the
+traitor Cortes has collected above 700,000 pesos! We shall all become
+wealthy; for his officers and soldiers all together cannot have
+a much less sum than that in their pockets."</p>
+
+<p>They listened to many similar fine speeches till a late hour at night,
+when they stole off silently to the shed where Salvatierra's horse was
+fastened up, which they very quietly saddled and bridled, and so rode
+off with it. In the same way they managed to capture a second horse
+on their road home, and brought them both safely to Sandoval.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes was very desirous to see those horses, but Sandoval told him
+he had left them with the invalid soldiers in Papalote, as he had marched
+along a very steep and rugged road over the mountains, where horses
+could not pass, which he had done that he might not fall in with Narvaez's
+troops.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes was vastly pleased with the trick which had been played off
+upon Salvatierra, and the manner in which he had lost his horse, and
+exclaimed, "He will now threaten us with more vengeance than ever!"
+The following morning, we were told, when he found the two Indians,
+who sold him the cherries had decamped with his horse, saddle, and
+bridle, he threw out language really laughable, particularly when he
+discovered they had been disguised Spaniards belonging to Cortes' troops.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXVI" id="CHAPTER_CXVI"></a>CHAPTER CXVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we determined once more to despatch father Olmedo to Narvaez's
+head-quarters, and what we commissioned him to say.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>As soon as all our troops had arrived at Tampanicita, we determined
+to despatch father Olmedo, who was a remarkably shrewd man, to Narvaez
+with a letter, which, after expressing the usual courtesies, ran nearly
+as follows:</p>
+
+<p>We all rejoiced at his arrival in this country, as we were confident that,
+in conjunction with such a valiant captain as he was, we should be able
+to render important services to God and to our emperor. It was true
+he had not only neglected to answer our previous letter, but had even
+branded us, his majesty's faithful subjects, with the name of traitors;
+and, by means of the message he had conveyed to Motecusuma, the
+whole country was about to burst out into open insurrection. We<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span>
+hereby begged of him to select that province which he fancied most for
+himself and troops; we were very willing to make room for him, and
+to act in every respect as beseemed faithful servants of the emperor.
+We had likewise requested him to forward us the original papers of his
+appointment, if he possessed any such, that we might convince ourselves
+they were signed by his majesty. However, he had not even listened to
+this request, but had thrown out abusive language against us, and incited
+the inhabitants of the country to revolt. We now again begged of him,
+in the name of God, and the emperor our master, to forward us his
+papers within the space of three days by a royal secretary, that he might
+read them to us; as we were ready, and also promised to act up strictly
+to his majesty's commands, if his documents were correct. For this
+purpose we had expressly come to Tampanicita, to be near his person.
+If he was unable to produce any such appointment direct from his majesty,
+and he was again desirous of returning to Cuba, he was at liberty
+to do so; we merely desired him to desist from stirring up the inhabitants
+into open insurrection, or we should consider ourselves bound to
+treat him as an enemy, take him prisoner, and send him in chains to
+the emperor, without whose authority he had commenced war upon us,
+and revolutionised all the towns of the country. Every drop of blood
+that was spilt, all destruction of property which would ensue from fire
+or otherwise, he would himself have to answer for.</p>
+
+<p>Our reason for communicating these things to him by letter only was,
+because no royal secretary durst venture to convey them in person,
+fearing he might share a similar fate with the auditor Aillon; and we
+were astonished how he durst presume to act so daringly. Cortes considered
+himself bound in honour and justice to his majesty not to allow
+such a heavy offence to pass by unpunished; and he hereby summoned
+him, by virtue of his office as captain-general and chief-justice of New
+Spain, to appear before him and answer the charge preferred against
+him of <i>criminis l&aelig;s&aelig; majestatis</i>. Lastly, he earnestly begged of him
+to return the cotton stuffs and gold trinkets he had forcibly taken away
+from the fat cazique; to deliver up to their parents again the Indian
+females who had been presented to us; and to command his men in no
+way to touch the property of the inhabitants.</p>
+
+<p>This letter, which closed with the usual courteous expressions, was
+signed by Cortes, the officers, and other soldiers, among whom was myself.
+With this letter father Olmedo, accompanied by one of our men,
+named Bartolome de Usagre, who had a brother serving in Narvaez's
+artillery, went off to the latter's head-quarters. What kind of reception
+they met with will be found in the chapter following.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXVII" id="CHAPTER_CXVII"></a>CHAPTER CXVII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How father Olmedo arrived in Narvaez's head-quarters at Sempoalla,
+and what he did there.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>As soon as father Olmedo had arrived at Narvaez's head-quarters,
+he began to fulfil the orders which Cortes had given him. He made
+secret disclosures in Cortes' name to a number of cavaliers in Narvaez's
+corps, also to the artillerymen Rodrigo, Mino, and Usagre; and gave
+them the bars of gold which our general had destined for them. He
+likewise proposed to Andreas de Duero to pay a visit to our camp, and
+then called upon Narvaez himself.</p>
+
+<p>Although Olmedo comported himself particularly humble in presence
+of Narvaez, yet the latter's confidants had their suspicions, and advised
+their general to throw the father into prison, which was just about being
+carried into effect, when Duero, private secretary to Velasquez, was
+secretly apprized of it.</p>
+
+<p>Duero was a native of Tudela, on the Duero, and Narvaez came from
+the neighbourhood of Valladolid, or from the town itself, and they
+were not only countrymen, but also related to each other. This
+Duero had vast influence, stood high in the estimation of the men, and
+durst take more upon himself than others; he therefore called upon
+Narvaez, and told him he had been informed of his intention to imprison
+father Olmedo; and he considered himself called upon to observe,
+that no good could flow from such a step; for though there
+might be sufficient grounds for supposing he was intriguing for Cortes,
+yet, as a messenger from him, he ought not to be ill treated; the more
+so, because Cortes had honorably received all those whom Narvaez had
+despatched to him, and dismissed them with presents. Ever since
+father Olmedo had been here, he had himself frequently discoursed
+with him; but from all he had uttered could only conclude that
+Cortes, with the whole of his officers, was desirous of being on friendly
+terms with Narvaez. He ought likewise to remember that Cortes took
+every opportunity of speaking in his praise; indeed Cortes, as well as
+all his men, never pronounced the name of Narvaez but with profound
+respect, and it would be a small piece of heroism to seize upon the person
+of a priest; and the other man, who had come with him, was brother
+to the artilleryman Usagre; it would be therefore better in every respect
+if they received polite treatment; and he would advise him to ask the
+father to dinner, when he could himself fish out from him what the
+views of Cortes were.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>With these and such like kind-words, Duero succeeded in softening
+down Narvaez's anger; upon which the former immediately communicated
+to father Olmedo all that had transpired. Narvaez then sent for
+the father to dine with him, and received him most courteously.</p>
+
+<p>Father Olmedo, who was a remarkably judicious and shrewd man,
+requested Narvaez, with a pleasing smile, to grant him a private interview;
+and they walked up and down together in the courtyard, when
+Olmedo addressed him to the following effect: "I am well aware that
+your excellency had the intention to take me prisoner; though I can
+assure you there is not a person belonging to your staff more devoted
+to you than I am. I am likewise convinced that several cavaliers and
+officers in Cortes' troops would gladly see the latter in your power;
+indeed I am altogether convinced that we shall all soon stand under
+your commands. In order to make the necessary preparations for such
+a step, they have written you a letter full of extravagant expressions,
+and got it signed by several of our men. This letter I was ordered to
+hand over to your excellency; but, on account of its contents, I could
+not make up my mind to do so, but felt more inclined to throw it into
+the river."</p>
+
+<p>Narvaez then expressed a desire to see this letter, and father Olmedo
+told him he had left it in his room, but would go for it, and left Narvaez
+for that purpose. In the meantime Salvatierra, the braggadocio,
+had come up to the latter; while Olmedo hastened to Duero, requesting
+him to be present when he handed over the letter to Narvaez, and
+bring with him as many other soldiers as possible, that its contents
+might be made known to all. Olmedo now returned to Narvaez, and
+presented him Cortes' letter, with these words: "Your excellency must
+not feel astonished if in this letter you find Cortes speaking out a little
+at random; however, notwithstanding all this, I can assure you, if
+you express yourself in kind terms to him, he will submit to you, with
+the whole of his troops."</p>
+
+<p>All the bystanders now pressed Narvaez to read the letter; some
+were greatly annoyed, but Narvaez and Salvatierra merely laughed,
+and made game of the contents. Duero, however, said: "Really I am
+unable to make anything out of all this! The reverend father has
+assured me, that Cortes and the whole of his men are ready to join
+our standard, and yet they presume to write such nonsense to our
+general." Augustin Bermudez, who was a captain and alguacil-major
+of Narvaez's camp, followed in the same strain and said: "Father
+Olmedo has likewise assured me privately, that it merely required some
+little mediation between them, and Cortes would himself wait upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span>
+our general and join his standard with the whole of his men. As he
+is encamped not far from here, we could certainly do no better than
+despatch Se&ntilde;or Salvatierra and Se&ntilde;or Duero thither, and I will accompany
+them myself." This Bermudez merely said to see what Salvatierra
+would say, who immediately declared that he felt no inclination to
+visit a traitor.</p>
+
+<p>Do not speak quite so rashly, Se&ntilde;or Salvatierra, said father Olmedo;
+for by showing a little more moderation you will be able, in a few
+days, to have him in your power.</p>
+
+<p>However it was resolved that Duero should be despatched to Cortes,
+and Narvaez held a private conference with him and three other officers,
+desiring them to try and persuade Cortes to meet him at an Indian
+village on the road between the two encampments, where they might
+come to an understanding with each other respecting the division of
+the country and the boundaries of their respective territories. Narvaez
+was quite earnest in this matter, and had expressed himself to that
+effect to about twenty of his men, who were particularly devoted to
+him. This circumstance soon came to the ears of father Olmedo and
+Duero, who immediately apprized Cortes of it.</p>
+
+<p>We must now, for a time, leave father Olmedo in Narvaez's camp,
+where he soon became very intimate with Salvatierra, as the latter was
+a native of Burgos and he himself of Olmedo, and he dined with him
+every day. In the meantime we will likewise allow Duero to make
+preparations for his journey, on which he was accompanied by Usagre,
+that Narvaez might not fish anything out of him. We must now see
+what took place in our own camp during this interval.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXVIII" id="CHAPTER_CXVIII"></a>CHAPTER CXVIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes reviews the whole of his troops, and we are supplied with
+two hundred and fifty very long new lances, by the Tchinantecs.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>As soon as Cortes was apprized of Narvaez's arrival in New Spain,
+and had received every information respecting the magnitude of his
+armament, he despatched a soldier who had served in the Italian campaigns,
+and who possessed an extensive knowledge of weapons and of
+the best method of fixing points to lances, into the province of the
+Tchinantecs,<a name="FNanchor_78_82" id="FNanchor_78_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_82" class="fnanchor">[78*]</a> where some of our men had gone in search of gold
+mines. The Tchinantecs were deadly enemies to the Mexicans, and
+had only a few days previously made an alliance with us. This people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span>
+used a species of lance, which was much longer than our Spanish
+lances, and furnished with a sharp double-edged point made of flint.<a name="FNanchor_79_83" id="FNanchor_79_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_83" class="fnanchor">[79]</a></p>
+
+<p>Cortes had heard of this weapon, and sent word to the Tchinantecs
+to forward him three hundred of such lances, from which however he
+desired they would take off the flint points and substitute a double
+one of metal, as they had abundance of copper in their country. The
+soldier who was despatched with these orders took a pattern of the
+point required with him. Cortes' wishes were readily complied with,
+and as the inhabitants of every township of that province set diligently
+to work, the lances were soon finished and they turned out most satisfactory.
+Besides this, Cortes desired the soldier Tovilla to ask the
+Tchinantecs to send 2000 of their warriors, all armed with similar
+lances, on Easter day, into the district of Panguenequita,<a name="FNanchor_80_84" id="FNanchor_80_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_84" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> and there
+make inquiries for our camp. The caziques willingly complied with
+our request, and they also gave Tovilla above 200 of their warriors, all
+armed with the same lances, to accompany him now on his return to
+our camp. The rest were to follow with another of our men, called
+Barrientos, who had been despatched into their country in search of
+mines, and he may have been from forty to forty-eight miles further inland.
+The lances which Tovilla brought with him proved most excellent,
+and he immediately taught us how to use them, particularly
+against the cavalry.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this Cortes reviewed the whole of his troops, and we found,
+including all the officers, drummers and pipers, without father Olmedo,
+our numbers amounted to 260 men, among whom were five cavalrymen,
+a few crossbow-men, less musketeers, and two artillerymen.
+Considering the smallness of our numbers we reposed our greatest
+hopes in the use we intended making of our lances, in which fortunately
+we were not disappointed, as will afterwards be seen.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXIX" id="CHAPTER_CXIX"></a>CHAPTER CXIX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Duero, with the soldier Usagre and two of his Indian servants
+from Cuba arrived in our camp; who this Duero was, and the reason
+of his visit, &amp;c.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>I must now trouble the reader to turn back to the first part of this
+history where I explained how Cortes obtained the appointment of
+commander-in-chief through the instrumentality of Duero and Amador
+de Lares: both of whom were on the most confidential terms with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span>
+Diego Velasquez; the former as his private secretary, the second as
+royal treasurer. They had by their joint exertions procured Cortes
+the appointment, who, on his part, again promised to divide with them
+all the gold, silver, and jewels which should fall to his share.</p>
+
+<p>When Duero arrived in our camp he was convinced, from what he
+saw, of the vast riches and power of Cortes, and he came not merely
+to bring about a good understanding between both generals, but also
+to take possession of his share of the acquired riches; as Amador de
+Lares had died.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, who was a cunning and far-sighted man, promised Duero
+not only vast treasures but a command, which would give him the
+same importance with himself, and he would bestow a vast extent of
+territory upon him. In consideration of which the latter was to engage
+to gain Augustin Bermudez, and other chief officers, whose names
+I will not mention; who were to swear upon their life and honour to
+oppose Narvaez in every way, and thwart him in all his designs upon
+us. If Narvaez was killed or taken prisoner, and his army defeated,
+all the gold and the townships of New Spain were to be divided
+among the three. To this Bermudez was to be bound down by affixing
+his signature to these conditions. In order, however, to strengthen
+the number of their party, Duero took along with him as much gold
+as two men could carry, besides a quantity of other valuable things,
+for Bermudez, the two priests, Guevara and Juan de Leon, and other
+chief personages who were to be let into the secret. Cortes and Duero
+then carefully talked over how the matter was to be carried out.</p>
+
+<p>Duero arrived in our quarters on the eve of Easter day, and stayed
+until the evening following. During this time he had several private
+conversations with Cortes, and before mounting his horse he again
+called upon the latter, who was heard to say on taking leave of him:
+"Well, Se&ntilde;or Duero, may God bless you. Remember to abide by all
+you have promised! Before three days have passed I shall be with
+my troops in your head-quarters; if, however, I find you have not remained
+true to your word, upon my conscience, (an oath he often
+used,) you will be the first my lance shall pierce."</p>
+
+<p>To which Duero answered smilingly: "You need be under no apprehension,
+I assure you. Nothing shall be omitted on my part to
+further your ends."</p>
+
+<p>Duero then mounted his horse and returned to Narvaez with the
+most satisfactory accounts, and assured him that Cortes and all of us
+desired nothing more ardently than to stand under his command. As
+soon as Duero had left, Cortes sent for Juan Velasquez de Leon, one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span>
+of his chief officers, a man who had great authority, and although a
+near relative to the governor of Cuba, was entirely devoted to Cortes.
+Cortes had also gained him over to his interest by valuable presents and
+promises of an important command in New Spain, even to raise him
+as high in command as himself; and, indeed, Velasquez always evinced
+the most honest attachment to our general, and was unremitting in
+his services to him, as will sufficiently be seen hereafter.</p>
+
+<p>When Velasquez de Leon came into Cortes' presence, and inquired
+his commands, the latter said to him with a pleasing smile on his countenance,
+"I have sent for you, Velasquez, because Duero had assured
+me it is rumoured among Narvaez's officers that you and I have quarrelled,
+and that you intend siding with their party. I am, therefore,
+resolved that you shall ride on your powerful gray mare to Narvaez's
+head-quarters, taking with you all your gold, besides your <i>fanfarrona</i>,
+(so Velasquez termed a heavy gold chain he possessed,) and other valuable
+matters I shall give you, among which there will be a fanfarrona
+double the weight of yours. When there, you must try to fish out what
+Narvaez's intentions are. After you, Ordas shall likewise repair thither,
+as if he came to pay his respects to Narvaez in his capacity of house-steward
+to the governor of Cuba."</p>
+
+<p>To this Juan Velasquez answered, that he would gladly fulfil his
+commands, but must refuse either to take his gold or his chain with
+him. If he were desirous of furnishing him with any valuable trinkets
+for some other persons, he would promise to deliver them safely; where
+he went himself, he thought, he would be better able to serve him by
+his proper wits than with all the gold and jewels put together. "Of
+this," replied Cortes, "I am also fully convinced, which is the reason
+I made choice of you; but if you refuse to take all your gold and
+valuables with you, you had much better remain here."</p>
+
+<p>Juan Velasquez still refused to comply for some time, when Cortes
+took him aside, and spoke a few words to him in private; Velasquez
+then yielded to his request, and set out on his journey, accompanied
+by Juan del Rio, one of Cortes' servants.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Velasquez, whom Cortes had merely despatched to Narvaez
+to annoy the latter, had departed, he issued orders to the drummer
+Canillas, and our piper Benito, to sound their instruments, and desired
+Sandoval to draw up the troops in marching order, and we moved
+briskly forward to Sempoalla. On our road we killed two musk swine,<a name="FNanchor_81_85" id="FNanchor_81_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_85" class="fnanchor">[81]</a>
+which our soldiers construed into a token of victory. The night following,
+we encamped on the slope of a hill near to a brook, made, as
+was our custom, bolsters of large stones, carefully posted our sentinels,
+and ordered the patrols.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The next morning we marched forward in a straight line, and arrived
+towards midday at that river on whose banks the town of Vera Cruz
+at present stands, and goods are landed which arrive from Spain. At
+that time we found merely a few Indian huts and straggling trees there,
+under which we rested ourselves for a considerable time, as we found
+the heat very oppressive. We must now return to Juan Velasquez, and
+see what befel him in Narvaez's camp.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXX" id="CHAPTER_CXX"></a>CHAPTER CXX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Juan Velasquez arrives in Narvaez's head-quarters, and what
+took place there.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Juan Velasquez travelled so fast that he arrived at Sempoalla
+towards daybreak. He alighted at the house of the fat cazique; as
+the servant whom Cortes had sent with him had no horse, he therefore
+walked on foot to Narvaez's quarters. The Indians of Sempoalla all
+recognized him, and were highly pleased to see and converse with him
+again. When, however, some of Narvaez's men, who were quartered
+in the cazique's house, heard the Indians say that it was Velasquez de
+Leon, one of Malinche's officers, they hastened to Narvaez, and told
+him they brought a piece of news for which they might expect a reward.
+And before Leon had arrived at the latter's quarters, Narvaez,
+who was highly delighted to hear of his arrival, hastened out, accompanied
+by several of his officers, to meet him, and received him with a
+hearty embrace. After they had entered his abode, he requested
+Velasquez to take a chair, (for in this expedition they had even furnished
+themselves with such things,) and reproached him in a friendly
+tone for not having alighted at his quarters, and immediately sent some
+of his men for his horse and baggage, as he would not hear of his
+staying in any house but his own. Velasquez, however, observed, that
+he could not stay long, as he had merely come to pay his respects to
+him and his officers, and try if peace and friendship could not be
+brought about between his excellency and Cortes.</p>
+
+<p>Narvaez's blood rose to his cheeks at this expression, and he asked
+Velasquez how he could talk of peace and friendship with a man who
+had, like a traitor, run away with the whole armament of his own
+cousin, the governor of Cuba?</p>
+
+<p>Juan Velasquez replied, in an equally sharp tone of voice, that Cortes
+was not a traitor, but a faithful servant to his emperor; that such ser<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span>vices
+as he had rendered to the crown could not be termed the actions
+of a traitor, and he must beg of him not again to make use of such expressions
+in his presence.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this Narvaez assumed a different tone, and made Velasquez
+vast promises if he would remain with him; even promised him, and
+sealed it with an oath, that he would elevate him to second in command
+to himself, if he would manage to induce Cortes' troops to join his
+standard of their own free will. Velasquez, however, assured him he
+should consider himself the vilest of traitors if he deserted a general
+to whom he had sworn fidelity, and of whom he was convinced that
+everything he had done in New Spain was for the emperor's best interest.
+On the contrary, he was determined to remain as faithful and
+true to Cortes as to the emperor himself, and he earnestly begged of
+him not to touch upon that string again.</p>
+
+<p>During this conversation, Narvaez's chief officers had, by degrees, all
+arrived to pay their respects to Velasquez, which they did with every
+show of courtesy, as Velasquez was a man of elegant carriage and powerful
+stature, and had a winning countenance; his beard looked majestic,
+a heavy gold chain hung from his shoulder in graceful folds, and sat
+well on this courageous and spirited officer. After this discourse with
+Narvaez, Velasquez turned to the other officers, and entered into private
+conversation with father Olmedo, Duero, and Bermudez.</p>
+
+<p>Narvaez's party, however, were of a different opinion with respect
+to Velasquez, and some of the officers, among whom were Gamarra,
+Juan Yuste, Juan Bono de Quexo, and the braggadocio Salvatierra,
+pressed Narvaez very hard to throw him into chains, as he was secretly
+striving to gain over his men in favour of Cortes. This Narvaez was
+very willing to do, and had already issued orders to that purpose, when
+Bermudez, Duero, and several others who favored our general, received
+intimation thereof, and remonstrated with Narvaez as to the policy of
+such a step, and the benefit he would derive from it, as Cortes, though
+he had an additional hundred officers such as Velasquez, would be unable
+to cope with him. He should also bear in mind how Cortes had received
+all those who visited his camp; how well he had treated every one, and
+presented them so plentifully with jewels and other matters, that every
+one, up to the present moment, had left him laden like bees returning to
+their hives. It was equally in Cortes' power to have detained Duero,
+the priest Guevara, and others; this, however, he had not done, but, on
+the contrary, had shown them every possible respect. It would certainly
+be more to Narvaez's advantage to behave courteously to Velasquez in
+return, and invite him to dinner on the following day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Narvaez was fully convinced of the truth of these arguments, and
+requested Velasquez, in the kindest terms, to become mediator between
+Cortes and himself, and try if he could not succeed to induce the former
+and his troops to join his standard; and then invited him to dinner on
+the next day. Velasquez promised to make the attempt, but, at the
+same time, stated that he entertained few hopes of success, as Cortes
+was very determined on that head. The best method of settling the
+matter, in his opinion, was, by a division of the provinces between both
+generals, and Cortes would gladly leave the choice to him.</p>
+
+<p>Velasquez, however, merely made this observation to make Narvaez
+a little more tractable. During this discourse, father Olmedo stepped
+up, and, as one of Narvaez's confidential friends and advisers, (for thus
+far he had succeeded with him,) proposed, that he should draw out the
+whole of his troops, with the cavalry and artillery, before Velasquez
+and his servant Juan, to show them the powerful army he commanded,
+and that they might relate what they had seen to Cortes, which would
+certainly produce the desired effect, and convince him he could not do
+better than submit to him. Narvaez followed this counsel, which Olmedo
+had merely advised to vex all his cavaliers and soldiers. The alarm
+was accordingly sounded, and the whole of the troops were thus obliged
+to march out before Velasquez, his servant Juan, and father Olmedo.</p>
+
+<p>After Velasquez had gazed upon the troops for some time, he said to
+Narvaez, "Certainly, your excellency's power is considerable, and may
+God grant you a further increase of it!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well," replied Narvaez, "are you now not fully convinced that it
+would merely cost me a day's march to overthrow Cortes and the whole
+of you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I will not say anything about that," said Velasquez; "but you may
+depend upon it we should not sell our lives cheaply."</p>
+
+<p>The following day Velasquez was to dine with Narvaez. At table
+he likewise met a nephew of the governor of Cuba, who bore the same
+name, and had the command of a company. During dinner-time, the
+conversation turned upon Cortes' obstinacy, and the letter he had
+written to Narvaez; and, one word leading to another, Diego Velasquez
+asserted, at length, that Cortes and all those who sided with him were
+traitors for not submitting to Narvaez.</p>
+
+<p>At this expression, Juan Velasquez rose up from his seat, and said,
+with much warmth, "General Narvaez, I have once previously begged
+of you not to allow such language in my presence against Cortes or
+any man of his troops. It is really scandalous to speak ill of us who
+have served his majesty so faithfully."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And I," interrupted Diego Velasquez, in an angry tone, "maintain
+that I have merely spoken the truth in calling you traitors. You are
+a traitor, and all the rest of you, and you are unworthy the name of
+Velasquez which you bear."</p>
+
+<p>Leon now laid hand on his sword, and called Diego a liar; swearing
+he was a better nobleman than he or his uncle, and that the house of
+Velasquez to which he belonged was a very different one to Diego's or
+his uncle's. Of this he would give instant proof if General Narvaez
+would allow him.</p>
+
+<p>As many of Narvaez's officers and a few of Cortes' were present
+during this scene, they interfered and prevented any open violence, as
+Leon was just about to draw his sword against his opponent.</p>
+
+<p>The other officers now advised Narvaez to order Juan Velasquez, his
+servant, and father Olmedo to quit their camp without any further
+ceremony, as their stay there would only cause worse blood. Orders
+to this effect were accordingly issued, and our men delayed not an
+instant to hasten their departure. Leon was seated on his fine mare,
+and clad in his coat of mail, which he scarcely ever put off, and had
+his helmet on, when he once more called upon Narvaez to take leave.
+Young Diego Velasquez was standing next to the latter at the time, and
+when Leon inquired of Narvaez if he had any message to Cortes, he
+replied, in great ill humour, "I beg of you to leave this instant, and
+it would have been much better if you had stayed away altogether."
+Young Velasquez then opened his mouth, and threw out most abusive
+language against him. Leon, in return, assured him his insolence
+would meet with its due reward, and a few days would show whether
+the bravery of his arm corresponded with the boldness of his tongue.
+As they were continually growing more bitter in their expressions, five
+or six of Cortes' adherents among Narvaez's officers, who intended to
+escort Leon, came up, and told him, rather harshly, it was time to be
+moving, and no longer to spend his breath in useless words. They
+merely assumed this tone to get him as quickly out of the way as possible,
+for they afterwards told him that Narvaez had already issued
+orders for seizing his person; indeed, he had every reason to make
+haste, for a numerous body of cavalry was already hard at his heels
+when he arrived at the river above mentioned.&mdash;We were just taking
+our midday's nap when our outpost brought information that two or
+three men on horseback were approaching our camp, and we immediately
+concluded it must be Leon, his servant Juan, and father Olmedo.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes and all of us were delighted to see them safely returned.
+Leon then related what the reader has just heard, and how he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>
+secretly distributed the presents as Cortes had desired. We were particularly
+amused with what father Olmedo related as to the manner in
+which he had flattered Narvaez, and in mockery advised him to sound
+an alarm and sally out with his heavy guns; and also with the cunning
+he had employed to introduce Cortes' letter. But when he came to
+Salvatierra, and drew a picture of what had taken place between the
+latter and himself, how he had made out that they were relations, and
+the intimate friendship which grew up between them, and the bold
+language Salvatierra had presumed to throw out when he spoke of
+taking Cortes and all of us prisoners, and how he swore to revenge
+himself upon the soldiers who had run off with his and another officer's
+horse, we really laughed and rejoiced as if nothing but mirth and pleasure
+awaited us, and we no longer gave it a thought we should have to
+fight a battle next day, and measure our strength with five times our
+numbers, no other choice being left us but victory or death.</p>
+
+<p>When the heat of the day had somewhat cooled, we continued our
+march to Sempoalla, and encamped for the night near a brook about
+four miles from the town, at a spot where, at that time, there was a
+bridge, and, at present, a farm-house is built.</p>
+
+<p>I must again, however, return to Narvaez's head-quarters, and relate
+what happened there after the departure of Leon and father Olmedo.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXI" id="CHAPTER_CXXI"></a>CHAPTER CXXI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>What took place in Narvaez's quarters after the return to our camp of
+the ambassadors we had sent there.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The effect of Leon's and father Olmedo's visit to Narvaez's camp soon
+showed itself. Several of the officers who had got some hints of the
+valuable presents which Cortes had sent to be distributed among some
+of them, found that a party was forming in his favour, and advised that
+the utmost vigilance should be observed; orders were therefore issued
+that both foot and horse should always hold themselves ready for action.</p>
+
+<p>The fat cazique whom I have so often mentioned was in great fear
+for having delivered up to Narvaez the women, cotton stuffs, and gold
+of which we had given him charge. For this reason only, therefore,
+he would have acted as a spy upon our movements had Narvaez even
+not strictly commanded him to do so.</p>
+
+<p>When his spies brought him intelligence that we were advancing
+towards Sempoalla, he said to Narvaez, "How can you remain so quiet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span>
+and careless? Do you imagine that Malinche and his teules are people
+like yourselves? I assure you, if you don't keep a sharp look out, he
+will some time or other fall upon you unawares, and destroy you all."</p>
+
+<p>Narvaez and his partisans, though they could not help laughing at
+these warnings of the fat cazique, nevertheless thought it necessary to
+adopt some decisive step. He first formally declared open war against
+us with fire and sword. This we learnt from a soldier named Galleguillo,
+who had deserted to us from Narvaez during the night, or perhaps
+had been secretly sent to apprize us of it by Duero.</p>
+
+<p>Narvaez then encamped with the whole of his troops, taking the
+cannon and all with him, at about a mile from Sempoalla, in order the
+better to watch our movements and not to allow any of our men to pass
+without killing or taking them prisoners. But as it rained heavily
+just about this time, his men soon got tired of standing in the water
+to await our arrival, and Narvaez's officers, who were neither accustomed
+to dampness nor the fatigues of war in general, and imagined it
+would be an easy matter to overcome us, advised him to return with
+the troops to their former quarters. They likewise pretended it would
+be a reproach to them if they all marched out against a handful of men
+as we were, and considered it sufficient if they placed their artillery,
+which consisted of eighteen heavy guns, in front of their camp. Forty
+of the cavalry would be sufficient at night to guard the road leading
+to Sempoalla, along which we should be compelled to advance: besides
+which, pickets of cavalry and light-armed foot could watch the spot
+where we should have to pass the river, to give notice of our approach;
+and another twenty of the cavalry were always to stand in readiness
+during night-time in the courtyard adjoining Narvaez's quarters.</p>
+
+<p>All this his officers merely advised to return to their former comfortable
+quarters again. "Do you, then," continued they to Narvaez,
+"stand in such awe of Cortes as to believe, on the assertion of the fat
+cazique, that he will dare to push forward to our very quarters with
+his paltry numbers? Only let him come, we will give him the reception
+he merits."</p>
+
+<p>Narvaez allowed himself to be convinced by these arguments, and
+returned with the whole of his troops to the former quarters. He then
+made known that he who brought him Cortes or Sandoval dead or alive,
+should receive the reward of 2000 pesos.</p>
+
+<p>The command of the small detachment at the river he gave to a certain
+Hurtado and Gonzalo Carrasco, who is now living at Puebla. The
+watch-word of Narvaez's men, during the battle, was to be Santa Maria!
+Santa Maria! It was also regulated that a strong body of men should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span>
+be posted in his quarters during night-time, and like divisions in those
+of Salvatierra, Gamarra, and Juan Bono.</p>
+
+<p>These were Narvaez's preparations; we must now see what was going
+on in our camp.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXII" id="CHAPTER_CXXII"></a>CHAPTER CXXII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The order of our march against Narvaez; the speech Cortes made to
+us; and our reply to it.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After we had arrived at the above-mentioned brook, about four
+miles from Sempoalla, we halted in a beautiful meadow by which it
+was skirted, and posted our sentinels, consisting entirely of men on
+whom we could place implicit reliance. Cortes, seated on horseback,
+ordered all the officers and men to assemble around him; he then
+craved a few moments' silence, and addressed us in a speech replete
+with flattering expressions and vast promises.</p>
+
+<p>He began with our departure from Cuba, mentioned all the fatigues
+we had undergone up to that moment, and then continued: "You are
+perfectly aware, gentlemen, that the governor of Cuba did appoint me
+captain-general of the armament, though many cavaliers among you
+were equally deserving of it; you must also remember that you left
+Cuba with the supposition you were going to found a colony in this
+country. It was under this pretence that the public were invited to
+join the expedition, and yet it afterwards appeared that the armament
+was merely fitted out for commercial speculation. I was preparing to
+act up to the instructions I had received, and was ready to return
+to Cuba, in order to render Diego Velasquez a full account of all
+our proceedings, when you desired me,&mdash;yes, you compelled me, to form
+a settlement here in the name of our emperor, in which we, with God's
+assistance, have indeed so far succeeded. You then elected me captain-general
+and chief justice of New Spain, to continue vested with such
+power until we should know his majesty's pleasure on that head.
+Once, subsequently, there indeed again arose a dispute respecting the
+necessity of returning to Cuba; but this I need not mention, as it is
+still fresh in every one's memory; however, it became afterwards our
+universal conviction, that the determination we had come to, to remain
+in this country, had met with grace in the sight of God, and he has
+blessed all our endeavours in his holy cause, and granted us success in
+our undertakings in the emperor's service. Above all, however, I must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span>
+put you in mind of the promise we made the emperor when we forwarded
+him a full account of our great deeds, with a description of the
+country. We begged his majesty not to confer the government of this
+country on any one before our agents had obtained a hearing, as we
+had all reason to fear that the powerful bishop of Burgos would strive
+to obtain that appointment for Diego Velasquez, or for one of his friends
+or relatives. We assured his majesty that this country was of such vast
+extent as to merit being governed by an infante or grandee of his
+empire, and that we were only awaiting his most gracious commands
+which we should obey with the deepest veneration, and would not acknowledge
+any appointment unless it came from his majesty himself.
+With this account we sent our monarch all the gold, silver, jewels, and
+other valuable things we had collected. These had been, up to that
+time, our only remuneration for the many fatigues we had undergone;
+and how often had not death stood before our eyes in the battles we
+had fought! what various kinds of hardships we have suffered! we
+have slept on the bare ground both in the rain and snow, and never lay
+our arms aside. When we reflect on all these hardships, it really sends
+a thrill through the heart. In the several battles we have fought, we
+have lost above fifty of our men, and we are all covered with wounds,
+and many a one still suffers severely from them. First we had to brave
+all the dangers of the sea; then followed the battles of Tabasco,
+Almeria, Cingapacinga, with the ambushes which were laid for us in the
+mountains, defiles, and the villages. How nigh we were being totally
+worsted in the battles of Tlascalla! We had scarcely time allowed us
+to take breath, when the affair at Cholulla awaited us, where the pots
+stood ready in which our flesh was to be cooked for the inhabitants to
+feast on! None of us can ever forget our march through the mountain
+passes, where Motecusuma had posted the whole of his troops, and
+blocked up the road by a heavy fall of trees, intending that none of us
+should escape death! Notwithstanding all this, we march into Mexico,
+and quarter ourselves in the very heart of that city; but how oft there
+again has death not stood before our eyes! Really no human being
+could have imagined such a series of dangers! And yet there are many
+among us who have even experienced additional fatigues, those I
+mean who have twice before visited these coasts, under Cordoba and
+Grijalva. In these voyages of discovery they suffered hardships of
+various natures, lost numbers of their companions, were themselves
+covered with wounds, and lost everything they possessed. But it would
+be impossible to enumerate all the miseries that have been suffered;
+nor have I any time, if I could, for night is fast approaching; and now,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span>
+after we have undergone all this, Pamfilo Narvaez comes tearing along,
+like a mad dog, to destroy us all; calls us villains and traitors, and
+makes disclosures to Motecusuma, not like a prudent general, but with
+the spirit of a rebel; he has even presumed to throw one of the emperor's
+auditors into chains&mdash;of itself a criminal act; and to sum up, has
+declared a war of extermination against us, just as if we had been a troop
+of Moors."</p>
+
+<p>Upon this Cortes launched out in praise of the courage we had shown
+in every battle: "Up to this moment," he continued, "we have fought
+to defend our lives, but now we shall have to fight valiantly for our lives
+and our honour. Our enemies have nothing less in contemplation than
+to take us all prisoners, and rob us of our property. No one could tell
+whether Narvaez was commissioned by the emperor himself; all this
+was merely done at the instigation of our most deadly enemy, the bishop
+of Burgos. If we were subdued by Narvaez, which God forbid, all the
+services we had rendered to the Almighty and our emperor would be
+construed into as many crimes. An investigation would be set on foot
+against us, and we should be accused of murder, of rapine, and of having
+revolutionised the country, though the real guilty person would be
+Narvaez; and the things which would be considered meritorious in him
+would be construed as criminal in us. As all this must be evident to
+you," said Cortes, in conclusion, "and we, as honest cavaliers, are bound
+to defend the honour of his imperial majesty, as well as our own, and
+all our property, I have marched out from Mexico, reposing my trust
+in God and your assistance, to bid defiance to such injustice."</p>
+
+<p>Several of our officers and soldiers then answered, in the name of
+the rest, that he might rely upon our determination either to conquer
+or to die.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes was excessively rejoiced at our reply, and said he had not
+expected less. We should find no cause for regret, as wealth and honour
+would be the reward of our courage and our valour. He then once
+more begged our attention, and reminded us that, in battle and time
+of war, prudence and experience accomplished more than the utmost
+bravery. He was well aware of our great courage, and how every
+man among us strove who should be the first to dash among the
+enemy's ranks. At present the first object must be to capture the
+eighteen pieces of ordnance which Narvaez had arranged in front of
+his camp. For this purpose he selected sixty of our youngest men,
+of which number I also was, and placed them under the command
+of Pizarro, who at that time was a daring young fellow, but in those
+days as little known to the world as Peru itself. As soon as we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span>
+should have captured these cannon, we were to storm Narvaez's quarters,
+which were on the summit of a very high temple. Sandoval,
+with other sixty men, was ordered to seize Narvaez's person, and his
+commands were exactly as follow: "Gonzalo de Sandoval, alguacil-major
+of New Spain, I hereby command you to seize the person of
+Pamfilo Narvaez, and to kill him in case he will not surrender. This we
+are called upon to do as faithful servants of God and the emperor, and
+in revenge for the ill-treatment he, the said Narvaez, presumed to exercise
+against one of his majesty's auditors. Given at our head-quarters.
+Signed, Hernando Cortes; and countersigned, Pedro Hernandez,
+secretary."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes at the same time promised a reward of 3000 pesos to the
+first man who should lay hands on Narvaez, 2000 to the second, and
+1000 to the third.</p>
+
+<p>Leon likewise received the command of sixty men, with instructions
+to seize the person of Diego Velasquez, with whom he had had such
+high words. Cortes himself retained twenty men around his person,
+to render assistance wherever it might be most required; his principal
+object, however, was to get the persons of Narvaez and Salvatierra into
+his power.</p>
+
+<p>After Cortes had issued these commands in writing to his principal
+officers, he said: "I am fully aware that Narvaez has four times the
+men we have; but most of them are not accustomed to arms. A great
+number are adverse to their general, many are sick, and we shall fall
+upon them unawares. All opposition on their part will be fruitless,
+and I am fully confident the Almighty will grant us the victory.
+Narvaez's men also know they will lose nothing by the change, and
+would fare better in every respect by being with us than with him.
+Thus, gentlemen, after God, our lives and honour entirely depend
+upon the valour of our arms. The praise of future generations lies in
+our hands, and it is more honorable to die on the field of battle than
+to lead a life of dishonour." With this Cortes ended, as it was beginning
+to rain and getting late.</p>
+
+<p>I have often subsequently, when thinking of this speech of Cortes,
+wondered that he did not mention a single word of the secret understanding
+he had with some of Narvaez's officers, but merely impressed
+upon our minds the necessity of employing our utmost courage. By
+degrees, however, it became obvious to me that by that very circumstance
+he had shown the prudence of a great general, for by making
+us believe that our only hope was in God and our own bravery, he
+compelled us to exercise the utmost of our power.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The most dangerous part of the work was assigned to us, who
+were to capture the cannon, under the command of Pizarro: we
+had to commence the attack and storm up against the cannons'
+mouths. Pizarro, therefore, gave us very strict commands, and showed
+us how we were to push forward with our lances lowered, and fight on
+boldly until we had taken the cannon, when the artillerymen, Mesa
+and Amenga, were immediately to load the guns with the balls at
+hand, and fire away at Salvatierra's quarters.</p>
+
+<p>We were altogether in want of defensive armour, and on that night
+many of us would have given all we possessed for a cuirass, helmet, or
+steel gorget.</p>
+
+<p>Our watch-word was: <i>Espiritu Santo! Espiritu Santo!</i> for such
+words in time of war are given to soldiers in secret, in order that the
+men may recognize each other. That of Narvaez's men was: <i>Santa
+Maria! Santa Maria!</i></p>
+
+<p>As I stood in great favour with Sandoval, he begged of me, when
+we had captured the cannon, should my life be spared, instantly to
+repair to him and not leave his side; which I promised and fulfilled,
+as will be seen.</p>
+
+<p>We remained in our camp during the first part of the night, and
+spent our time in making preparations, and thinking on the arduous
+task which awaited us; for it was useless to think of any supper, as
+we had not a morsel of food with us. We sent out the pickets and
+posted our sentinels, of which I happened to be one. I had not stood
+long when one of our outposts came up and asked me whether I had
+not heard a noise? To which I answered no, and immediately after
+one of our corporals approached and told me that Galleguillo, who had
+deserted from Narvaez to us, was nowhere to be found, and that he
+must have been a spy; and as it was certain he had by this time betrayed
+our approach to the enemy, Cortes had given orders for our
+immediate advance upon Sempoalla. An instant after I heard the
+drum and pipe, and we all marched forward. Galleguillo, however,
+was found a few minutes after fast asleep under some cloaks he had
+thrown over him, as damp and cold were two things to which the poor
+devil was wholly unaccustomed.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes now ordered the drum and pipe to be silenced, and we
+marched steadily forward, until we arrived at the river where, as I
+have above mentioned, Carrasco and Hurtado were posted with a
+detachment of the enemy. This, our sudden visit, was the last thing
+they could have thought of, and we succeeded in capturing the former,
+but the other escaped and ran to give the alarm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I shall never forget our crossing this river, how it was swoln by the
+rain, and the difficulty we experienced in passing over the stones which
+had become loosened and were very slippery; while, at the same time,
+we were greatly incommoded by our weapons which we had slung to
+our backs. I well remember Carrasco, when he was taken prisoner,
+crying out aloud: "Mind what you are about Se&ntilde;or Cortes, for Narvaez
+has marched out with all his troops to receive you." As Hurtado had
+already ran off to give the alarm, it mattered very little whether
+Carrasco thus strove to inform his general of our approach by his loud
+cries. Cortes gave him in charge of his secretary Hernandez, and
+commanded us to the attack. We immediately lowered the points of
+our lances and made so violent a rush at the cannon, that the artillerymen
+had scarcely sufficient time to fire off four pieces, every ball of
+which passed over our heads, excepting one, which killed three of our
+men. At the same moment our respective officers, with their men,
+forced their way up under the sound of our drum and pipe. Several
+of Narvaez's cavalry certainly offered some resistance, but for a short
+time only, while six or seven of their number lay stretched on the field
+of battle. We, under Pizarro, had the good fortune to capture all the
+cannon, but durst not leave them in charge of our artillerymen alone,
+as Narvaez continued to shower down arrows and musket-balls upon us
+from the top of the temple. Sandoval now likewise came up with his
+detachment, and though Narvaez bid a powerful resistance, he nevertheless
+continued advancing up the steps of the building, and broke
+through the pikes and lances of his opponents. Seeing this, and that
+the enemy had given up all attempts to recover the cannon, we gave
+them in charge of our artillerymen, and flew under the command of
+Pizarro to Sandoval's assistance. We just arrived at the moment
+when Narvaez had beaten him back down five or six of the steps; our
+arrival turned the scale against the enemy, and Sandoval now pushed
+forward again with renewed vigour. Indeed we had some hard work
+to do with our long lances before we could clear our way through the
+enemy's ranks; all at once I heard some one, and it must have been
+Narvaez, cry out in a loud voice:&mdash;"Assist me, oh blessed Virgin!
+I am a dead man! One of my eyes has been thrust out!" At the
+same moment we all cried out, "<i>Victory! Victory!</i> for those of the
+watch-word <i>Espiritu Santo! Narvaez is fallen!</i>" Yet we were unable
+for some time to gain entire possession of the temple, not until Martin
+Lopez, who built the brigantines, hit upon the thought of setting fire
+to the straw that lay on the top of the temple, which he immediately
+set about with his gaunt figure. Narvaez's men now came rolling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span>
+down the steps one after the other, and he himself was taken prisoner.
+A certain Pedro Sanchez Farsan was the first to lay hold of him, and
+I mentioned this to Sandoval and several of Narvaez's officers, who
+were standing by at the time. In an instant a thousand voices filled
+the air with cries of: "<i>Long live the emperor and general Cortes, in his
+imperial name!</i> Victory, victory! Narvaez is dead!"</p>
+
+<p>The battle, however, was still continued at various points, as several
+of Narvaez's officers maintained their positions on the tops of other
+temples. Cortes, however, with his accustomed forethought, sent
+round a herald to summons Narvaez's men, under pain of death, immediately
+to join the imperial standard. This, with the firing of the
+cannon, our hurrahing, and the belief that Narvaez was dead, had
+the desired effect, and only the troops of young Diego Velasquez and
+of Salvatierra, who had taken up a position with the troops under
+their command, on the summit of a very high temple, where it was difficult
+to get at them, refused to submit. Sandoval, however, was not
+to be deterred by their advantageous position. He took the half of his
+men with him, while the rest remained below, and we attacked them
+so vigorously with our swords, that at last they surrendered, and we
+took Salvatierra and Diego Velasquez prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>In the hurry of the moment we had merely fastened fetters around
+Narvaez's legs; but Sandoval now, ordered him to be better secured.
+Cortes happened to come up at the time, when Leon, with Ordas,
+brought in Salvatierra, Diego Velasquez, and other chief officers prisoners;
+he was still in full armour, and had heated himself to such a
+degree by riding up and down, the weather besides being very hot,
+that the perspiration literally dropped from him, and he could scarcely
+breathe from over-exertion; he twice said to Sandoval, who was unable
+to catch his words at first, "Where is Narvaez? Where is Narvaez?"
+"Here he is! here he is!" cried Sandoval, "and quite safe." "That is all
+right, my son Sandoval," said Cortes in a voice still somewhat feeble;
+"do not leave this spot for the present, nor suffer any of your men to
+stir away, and keep a strong guard over the officers you have taken prisoners;
+I will see now how the battle is going on at the other points."</p>
+
+<p>With these words Cortes rode off, and as he still found Narvaez's
+men offered resistance, he again sent round a herald to summon them
+to surrender, and to deliver up their arms to the alguacil.</p>
+
+<p>All this took place during night-time, and it rained at intervals.
+When we first forced our way into the town it was as dark as pitch,
+and it rained heavily, the moon did not rise until some time after;
+but even the darkness itself favoured us, for in the midst of darkness<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span>
+numbers of shining beetles<a name="FNanchor_82_86" id="FNanchor_82_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_86" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> kept continually flying about, which
+Narvaez's men mistook for the lighted matches of our firearms,<a name="FNanchor_83_87" id="FNanchor_83_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_87" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> and
+this gave them a vast idea of the number of our matchlocks.</p>
+
+<p>Narvaez having lost an eye and being otherwise dangerously wounded,
+he begged of Sandoval to allow the surgeon he had brought with him
+to dress his and the other officers' wounds. This the latter unhesitatingly
+complied with, and while the surgeon was dressing Narvaez's
+wounds, Cortes stepped up, as he imagined unknown, to see what was
+going forward. Some one, however, remarked to Narvaez that Cortes
+was standing near; when the former turned round and said: "Indeed,
+general, you have reason to be proud of this victory, and of my being
+taken prisoner!"</p>
+
+<p>"I am," replied Cortes, "every way thankful to God for it, and likewise
+for the brave companions he has given me; but I can assure you
+that this victory is the least brilliant we have yet gained in New Spain."</p>
+
+<p>With this Cortes broke off the conversation, and again cautioned
+Sandoval to guard the prisoners well. As I have above remarked, we
+had merely thrown fetters about Narvaez's legs, but we now secured
+him better, and placed a strong guard over him. I was among the
+latter, and Sandoval gave me secret orders not to allow any of his
+men to see him until next morning, when Cortes would make further
+arrangements respecting his person. We did not feel quite safe yet;
+for the reader will remember that Narvaez had detached forty of his
+cavalry to oppose our crossing the river. This body was still hovering
+about, and we feared would fall upon us unawares and release both
+Narvaez and the other officers again. We therefore kept a sharp look
+out, while Cortes despatched Oli and Ordas to persuade them, by
+enticing promises, to surrender quietly. For this purpose these officers
+were obliged to take a couple of horses of Narvaez's troops, as ours
+had been left at the back of a rising ground near Sempoalla.</p>
+
+<p>When Oli and Ordas came up with them, they said so many fine
+things, and made such vast promises in Cortes' name, that they speedily
+came to terms, and surrendered themselves.<a name="FNanchor_84_88" id="FNanchor_84_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_88" class="fnanchor">[84]</a></p>
+
+<p>Daylight in the meantime had broken forth, when this detachment
+reached our camp again; and the drummers and pipers of Narvaez's
+corps, without instructions from Cortes or from any one else, suddenly
+sounded their instruments, and cried out, "Long live these brave
+Romans, who, though small in numbers, have gained the victory over
+Narvaez and his troops!" And another merry-making fellow, called
+Guidela, a negro, cried out at the top of his voice, "Hark ye! the
+Romans themselves could never boast of so brilliant a victory as this!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span>
+Whatever we might say, we were unable to stop their hurrahing or
+their instruments, until Cortes had ordered one of the drummers, named
+Tepia, who was half mad, to be seized.</p>
+
+<p>At this moment Oli and Diego de Ordas made their appearance with
+the detachment of cavalry, accompanied by Duero, Bermudez, and several
+other friends of our general. These now all came in a body to
+pay their respects to Cortes, who had taken off his armour, and was
+seated in an arm-chair, dressed in a wide orange-coloured surtout. It
+was really a most interesting sight to behold the serenity and joy which
+sat upon his countenance as he welcomed each, and amusing to hear
+the fine things he told them. He had indeed every reason to be proud
+of the power and the greatness he had so suddenly acquired!</p>
+
+<p>After these officers had thus paid their respects to him, they repaired
+to their respective quarters. And now we must look over the list of
+the dead and wounded on both sides. Among the former was Narvaez's
+standard-bearer, named Fuentes, of a noble family of Seville; and three
+of his chief officers, one of whom was named Rojas, a native of Old
+Castile. One of the three soldiers, named Carretero, who deserted to
+the enemy, was likewise killed; and the number of their wounded was
+very great.</p>
+
+<p>On our side we lost four killed, and had several wounded; the fat
+cazique himself being of this number; who, when he heard that we
+were in the vicinity of Sempoalla, had fled to Narvaez's quarters, and
+was wounded there. Cortes ordered his wound to be dressed, then
+sent him home, and desired that no one should molest him.</p>
+
+<p>Cervantes and Escalona, who had deserted to Narvaez, derived very
+little benefit from their treachery; the latter had been dangerously
+wounded, and the other Cortes ordered to be well whipped.</p>
+
+<p>Here I must also not forget the braggadocio Salvatierra, whose cowardice
+his own men declared was beyond all belief. They all swore never
+in the course of their lives to have witnessed such extreme fear as he
+evinced when he first heard the clashing of our arms at a distance; and
+when he heard the cry of <i>Victory! Victory! Narvaez is fallen!</i> he
+became quite ill, and threw down his arms.</p>
+
+<p>Diego Velasquez had almost escaped my memory! He was also
+wounded, and, as had been previously settled, was taken prisoner by
+Leon, with whom he had quarrelled at Narvaez's dinner table. The
+victor, however, acted magnanimously; he took him to his own quarters,
+had his wounds dressed, and treated him with great respect.</p>
+
+<p>Such is the history of our battle with Narvaez, and now we must see
+what further took place.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXIII" id="CHAPTER_CXXIII"></a>CHAPTER CXXIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the 2000 Indians of Chinantla, whom Cortes had demanded of
+the caziques there, arrived at Sempoalla after Narvaez's defeat.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Late in the evening of the same day on which we had gained the
+victory over Narvaez, the 2000 Indian troops arrived which Cortes had
+requested the caziques of Chinantla to send us. They came under the
+command of their caziques, and one of our soldiers named Barrientos,
+and marched into Sempoalla in the best military order possible, two
+abreast. They were all tall and powerful men, armed with their immense-sized
+lances and huge shields; every lancer was followed by a
+bowman. In this manner, under the sound of drums and trumpets,
+they marched in, with their feathers waving on their head and their
+colours flying, and continually cried out, "<i>Long live the emperor! long
+live Cortes!</i>" They made such a grand show, that though they were
+only 2000 in number, one would have thought at first sight there had
+been 3000. Narvaez's men were not a little astonished when they beheld
+these men, and remarked to each other that they would have fared worse
+if they had had to encounter these people, or if they had joined us in
+the attack.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes received the Chinantlan chiefs most kindly, thanked them for
+the trouble they had put themselves to, and desired them to return to
+their homes, after presenting them with various things of Spanish manufacture.
+Barrientos likewise returned with them, and Cortes particularly
+admonished him not to allow these Indians to commit any depredations
+in the townships they passed through.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXIV" id="CHAPTER_CXXIV"></a>CHAPTER CXXIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes despatches Francisco de Lugo, with two men who had formerly
+been ship-builders, to the harbour where Narvaez's flotilla lay,
+to bring all the captains and pilots of the vessels to Sempoalla.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After the whole of Narvaez's troops had been disarmed, Cortes
+despatched Francisco de Lugo to the harbour where the flotilla lay, in
+order to bring all the captains and pilots of the eighteen vessels to
+Sempoalla. He was likewise to convey on shore all the sails, rudders,
+and compasses, so as to render it impossible for the governor of Cuba
+to gain any information respecting the fate of his armament. Whoever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span>
+refused to submit to Lugo was immediately to be thrown into chains.
+Cortes likewise ordered the latter to bring along with him a certain
+Sancho de Barahona, whom Narvaez had imprisoned along with some
+other soldiers. This Barahona was a man of great wealth, and had
+settled in Guatimala. He was in very ill health when he arrived in
+Cortes' quarters, who desired that every attention should be paid him.</p>
+
+<p>When the captains and pilots of the several vessels appeared in Cortes'
+presence, he made them take a solemn oath to obey his commands in
+all matters. A certain Pedro Caballero, captain of one of Narvaez's
+vessels, he appointed admiral of the flotilla. This man, it was rumoured,
+had been bribed with some bars of gold to favour Cortes' party. Caballero
+received instructions not to allow any vessel to leave the harbour,
+and if any others should arrive there from Cuba&mdash;for Cortes had received
+information that there were two other ships fitting out there for
+this harbour&mdash;he was to seize them, send their sails, rudders, compasses
+on shore, and await further orders. This, as we shall afterwards
+see, Caballero punctually obeyed.</p>
+
+<p>In our head-quarters the following important arrangements were
+made: Leon was to be sent to subdue the province of Panuco, and to
+make a settlement there; for which purpose 120 men were placed under
+his command, of whom 100 were of Narvaez's troops, the rest being
+made up of our own, who were better acquainted with the mode of warfare
+in this country. To this detachment were likewise added two vessels,
+in order more thoroughly to explore the coast and the river Panuco.</p>
+
+<p>A similar commission, with an equal number of troops, composed as
+the former, and also to be accompanied by two vessels, was given to
+Diego de Ordas, to form a settlement on the river Guacasualco. He
+was likewise to despatch some of his men to the island of Jamaica to
+purchase cows, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, and Spanish fowls, for
+breeding; the province of Guacasualco being particularly adapted for
+the breed of cattle.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes now ordered all Narvaez's officers and soldiers to be liberated,
+with the exception of Salvatierra, who feigned to be taken suddenly
+ill during the late battle. When their arms were to be returned to
+them, it occasioned a good deal of ill blood, for many of our men had
+taken possession of their horses, swords, and other matters, and no one
+felt inclined to return what he had once taken. When Cortes, therefore,
+issued orders that every one was to receive his own again, it caused
+great discontent among our troops; for we maintained we were justified
+in retaining what we had taken, as Narvaez had declared a war of
+extermination against us; had literally come with the intention to de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span>stroy
+us, and rob us of all our property; besides that, we, the well-deserving
+servants of the emperor, had been branded by him with the
+name of traitors. Cortes, however, was determined upon this point,
+and as we had elected him our captain-general, we could not do less
+than obey him. I myself had taken possession of two swords, three
+daggers, and a target, all of which I had to return.</p>
+
+<p>Alonso de Avila, who was a captain, and one who durst speak out
+boldly to Cortes, privately reproached him, in conjunction with father
+Olmedo, for acting thus; and remarked to him, that he was performing
+the part of Alexander the Macedonian, who, whenever he gained a
+splendid victory, rewarded and honoured the vanquished instead of the
+officers and soldiers who had procured him the victory. They had
+every reason to make this observation, as we had to look quietly on
+and see Cortes give all the provisions and valuable matters, which the
+Indians of the surrounding country brought in as presents, to the officers
+of the vanquished general, and leave us unnoticed. This they
+maintained was not acting justly, and had every appearance of ingratitude
+towards them, who by their valour had raised him to the proud
+position in which he then stood.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, who was never wanting for an answer, replied, that for all he
+possessed he was indebted to us; but under existing circumstances he
+could not act otherwise. It was for the advantage of all to gain the
+troops of Narvaez by fair words, presents, and promises; their numbers
+were too great in comparison to ours; and if they were once to
+rise up in anger, they might easily put us all to the sword.</p>
+
+<p>To this Avila replied in a very haughty manner, which obliged Cortes
+to exclaim, "Those who do not feel inclined to obey are at liberty to
+leave my standard; Spanish women bring forth sufficient children into
+the world, and every son is a soldier in Spain!"</p>
+
+<p>"That is very true," answered Avila, rather disrespectfully; "and
+among these sons there are also numbers of generals and governors as
+well as soldiers."</p>
+
+<p>As matters then stood, Cortes was compelled to put on the best countenance
+he could to this reproof, and to silence this open-hearted man
+by promises and presents; for the determined and bold character of
+Avila was too well known to him, and he feared his resentment. He
+therefore suppressed his injured feelings, and from that moment took
+every opportunity of sending him to some distance on one or other
+important commission; so he despatched him some after to St.
+Domingo, and subsequently to Spain, to present the garderobe and the
+treasure of Motecusuma to the emperor. This latter voyage, however,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span>
+terminated very unfortunately, for Avila, with the whole of those treasures,
+was captured by the redoubted French pirate Jean Florin, as we
+shall see in the proper place.</p>
+
+<p>But to return to Narvaez. He happened to have a negro servant
+with him ill with the smallpox, through whom this terrific disease,
+which, according to the accounts of the inhabitants, was previously
+unknown in the country, spread itself through New Spain, where it
+created the greater devastation, from the poor Indians, in their ignorance,
+solely applying cold water as a remedy, with which they constantly
+bathed themselves; so that vast numbers were cut off before
+they had the blessing of being received into the bosom of the Christian
+church.<a name="FNanchor_85_89" id="FNanchor_85_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_89" class="fnanchor">[85]</a></p>
+
+<p>It was also about this time that the garrison of Vera Cruz demanded
+the portion of the gold which fell to their share in the division at
+Mexico. These men maintained, that, though they had not made the
+campaign of Mexico with us, they had shown themselves no less deserving
+in the cause of God and the emperor than ourselves, as they
+had guarded the coast and built a fortress; and that many of them
+who had fought at the battle of Almeria were still suffering from their
+wounds, while others again had been taken prisoners by Narvaez, who
+had treated them with great severity: they concluded, therefore, they
+were justly entitled to a share of the treasure found in Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes acknowledged the justness of their claim, and requested them
+to despatch two of the principal men from among them to take charge
+of their respective share, and, if I am not mistaken, he added that it had
+been deposited for safe keeping in Tlascalla: at least, they immediately
+after sent two of their numbers there to take possession of it, of whom
+Juan de Alcantara the elder was one. We shall, however, soon see what
+became of Alcantara with all the gold; how quickly the wheel of fortune
+turned against us, and trouble and sorrow followed peace and joy;
+for we received intelligence that all Mexico had risen up in arms, that
+Alvarado was besieged in his quarters, and that the Mexicans were attempting
+to set fire to the new fortifications at every point. Seven of
+our men had already been killed, many were wounded, and immediate
+assistance was required.</p>
+
+<p>This information was first brought us by two Tlascallans, and that
+without any letter from Alvarado. Soon after, however, two other
+Tlascallans arrived with a letter from him confirmatory of this bad
+news. God knows how shocked we were at this intelligence! We
+immediately resolved to hasten to Mexico by forced marches. Narvaez
+and Salvatierra were sent under escort to Vera Cruz, where Rodrigo<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span>
+Rangel, whom Cortes had just appointed commandant of that place,
+was made responsible for the safe custody of their persons. Besides
+these, Rangel took along with him several of Narvaez's men, who were
+suffering from ill-health.</p>
+
+<p>Just as we were about to commence our march to Mexico, four distinguished
+personages arrived from that town, who had been sent by
+Motecusuma to complain to our general of the conduct of Alvarado.
+They told us, with tears in their eyes, that he had, without any provocation,
+sallied out with the whole of his troops, and fallen unawares
+upon their chiefs and caziques while they were celebrating a feast in
+honour of their gods Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipuca, Alvarado himself
+having previously given his consent to the celebration of that feast.
+Many of their chief personages had been killed and wounded, so that,
+at last, they were compelled to defend themselves, and six Spaniards
+were killed in the affray. To this and other complaints against Alvarado,
+Cortes told them, with a dark frown on his brow, that he would
+repair immediately in person to Mexico, and look into the matter.
+With this message the Indians returned to their monarch, who, it is
+said, was anything but pleased with it. Cortes, at the same time, wrote
+word to Alvarado that we were advancing by forced marches upon
+Mexico, and particularly cautioned him not to let Motecusuma escape
+out of his hands. He likewise informed him of the victory we had
+gained over Narvaez, though he had no doubt already been apprized of
+this, for it was known to Motecusuma.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXV" id="CHAPTER_CXXV"></a>CHAPTER CXXV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we all, including Narvaez's troops, hasten to Mexico by forced
+marches.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>On receiving the intelligence that Mexico was in rebellion, and
+Alvarado besieged in his quarters, the plan of forming settlements in
+Panuco and Guacasualco was for the present abandoned, and Leon and
+Ordas were again ordered to join the main body.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes soon found that Narvaez's troops were very unwilling to join
+us in the Mexican campaign; but he desired them, in a most kind
+manner, to forget the old enmity which had existed between Narvaez
+and himself, and assured them that their only way to wealth and eminence
+was to join us in this campaign; by so doing they would enter
+into a country where they would be able to render services unto God<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span>
+and the emperor; and this, too, was an opportunity which perhaps
+would not so readily present itself again. In short, he told them so
+many fine things, that they one and all agreed to accompany us: if,
+however, they had had any idea of Mexico's vast power, not one of
+them would have been so ready to join us.</p>
+
+<p>We now broke up our quarters, and marched forward with all expedition.
+In Tlascalla, we were informed that the Mexicans had continued
+their hostilities against Alvarado as long as Motecusuma and his
+generals believed we were at war with Narvaez. They had killed seven
+of our men and burned down a portion of our quarters there, and
+had not stayed hostilities until they heard of the recent victory we
+had gained: they still, however, refused to supply Alvarado with either
+water or food. This information was received in Tlascalla the moment
+we arrived there.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes now reviewed the whole of his troops, which amounted to
+1300 men, 96 horses, 80 crossbow-men, and a like number of musketeers.
+This body of troops Cortes considered sufficiently strong to
+venture fearlessly into Mexico with, particularly as the caziques of
+Tlascalla had furnished us with 2000 of their warriors.</p>
+
+<p>We now continued our march with the same briskness until we came
+to Tezcuco. It was in this large town we began to discover the ill-feeling
+that was abroad against us. Not the slightest mark of respect
+was shown us here, nor did any of the chiefs call upon us. It was on
+St. John's day, in the month of June of the year 1520, we, for the
+second time, entered the city of Mexico. No cazique, none of the
+principal officers, none of our Mexican friends made their appearance,
+and the houses were deserted. It was not until we had arrived in front
+of our quarters that Motecusuma came out into the courtyard to welcome
+Cortes, and congratulate him on his victory over Narvaez. Our
+general, however, was flushed with the recent victory, and would not
+listen to him, so that the monarch returned pensive and sad to his
+apartments.</p>
+
+<p>We soldiers again took possession of our old quarters, and Narvaez's
+men were provided with similar ones. Alvarado's men and ours, who
+had just arrived, now began to relate what had taken place during this
+interval of separation. The former related how they had been attacked
+by the Mexicans, and the terrible resistance they had been forced to
+make. Then we followed, and related how we had defeated Narvaez's
+troops, and taken him prisoner.</p>
+
+<p>The next thing Cortes did was to inquire into the real cause of the
+insurrection of the Mexicans. Several soldiers, who were displeased<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span>
+with Alvarado, affirmed that Motecusuma had evinced excessive grief
+on account of these troubles, and they were quite confident that not a
+single one of the men under Alvarado would have been spared alive if
+Motecusuma had been in secret understanding with his subjects; on
+the contrary, he continually strove to quiet them, and to put down the
+insurrection. Alvarado, on his part, represented all this to our general
+in a very different light. According to his assurances, the Mexicans
+had risen up in arms to liberate their monarch, and to take revenge
+upon us, by the express command of their god Huitzilopochtli, for
+our having erected a cross and the image of the holy Virgin on his
+temple. Several Mexicans, he added, had tried to remove the holy
+image from the altar on which it is raised, but they had not been able
+to do so. Even the inhabitants themselves had looked upon this circumstance
+as a great wonder, and had mentioned it to Motecusuma,
+who then issued orders that it should not be touched. It was, however,
+not true, continued Alvarado, that Narvaez had sent word to the monarch
+he was coming to release him from his confinement, and lead us all
+away in chains: on the contrary, after Motecusuma found that though
+we were in possession of a sufficient number of vessels, but made no
+preparation for embarking, he well foresaw we never intended to leave
+the country again, but that more of us would continually arrive, and
+that we should return to Mexico accompanied by Narvaez's troops.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this it was resolved they should put Alvarado with the whole of
+his men to the sword, and liberate the monarch. The less doubt they
+had entertained of Narvaez's being able to defeat us, the more sure
+they made of carrying out their plan successfully. This Alvarado considered
+sufficient to justify the conduct he had pursued. Cortes then
+wished to know why he had fallen upon the Mexican chiefs while they
+were celebrating a feast? Because, replied Alvarado, he had been assured
+by two of the principal men of the town, by one of the papas,
+and by other of the inhabitants, that the Mexicans intended falling
+upon him immediately after the feast had ended.</p>
+
+<p>But the Mexicans, interrupted Cortes, maintain that they had
+asked your permission to celebrate the feast, and that you granted their
+request!</p>
+
+<p>Alvarado could certainly not deny this, but assured him he had selected
+that opportunity to punish them that it might come the more
+unexpectedly, and strike the greater terror among them, and to anticipate
+them in their premeditated attack upon him.</p>
+
+<p>These statements were by no means satisfactory to Cortes, and he
+told Alvarado, rather sharply, that he saw very little truth in all this,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span>
+but a good deal of irregularity hurtful to the Spanish cause: "For it
+is very certain," added Cortes, "if the Almighty did not allow Motecusuma
+to regain his liberty, it was because his idols might not construe
+it into their own merit." Herewith Cortes turned his back upon him,
+and desired him to say nothing further on the subject.</p>
+
+<p>Besides this, Alvarado related many other things which happened
+during the interval we had been absent from Mexico; one time, for
+instance, when he sallied out upon the Mexicans, who were rushing
+forward in vast numbers to set fire to his quarters, he ordered a cannon,
+heavily laden with ball and small shot, to be fired against them; this
+piece, however, did not go off until he had fought his way into the
+thickest of the enemy, who were forcing him back to his quarters again:
+it then went off of itself, and committed terrible havoc among the
+advancing foe. Alvarado assured us, that, without this wonderful assistance,
+he would certainly have been cut to pieces with all his men;
+as it was, he lost only two of his soldiers, whom the Mexicans carried
+off alive. This and many other circumstances were related by Alvarado:
+the following, however, was told me by several of his men. At one
+time they were entirely without any water to drink; they dug a well in
+the yard adjoining their quarters, and behold! they found sweet water,
+whereas in every other place where wells had been sunk in Mexico,
+nothing but salt water was to be found. The hand of Providence was
+certainly often stretched out to our aid; yet I must observe, in behalf
+of truth, that there was another well in the town, which often, and,
+indeed, almost always, contained fresh water.</p>
+
+<p>For the rest, there were men who asserted that Alvarado merely made
+this murderous attack upon the Mexicans from avaricious motives, to
+possess himself of the splendid garments, the gold, and the jewels
+which they wore at such festivals. This I do not believe, nor did I
+ever hear such a thing mentioned at the time, although this and many
+other circumstances were asserted by the bishop de las Casas, in which,
+however, there is not a syllable of truth. For myself, I am convinced
+that Alvarado merely struck this blow to terrify the Mexicans, and to
+follow up the old saying, "He who attacks first gains the victory." The
+consequences were certainly different to what he had expected, and bad
+became worse.<a name="FNanchor_86_90" id="FNanchor_86_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_90" class="fnanchor">[86]</a></p>
+
+<p>We have, however, obtained satisfactory proof that no guilt can be
+imputed to Motecusuma respecting the hostilities which subsequently
+burst out: on the contrary, he commanded the Mexicans not to attack
+Alvarado, but they replied that they could no longer endure to see him
+kept in confinement, and their countrymen murdered in the midst of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span>
+their festivities. They were determined to set him at liberty, and to
+kill every teule who resisted them.</p>
+
+<p>These and many other facts I learnt from credible persons who were
+present with Alvarado all the time. I have now, however, to speak of
+the terrible battles which we fought in this city.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXVI" id="CHAPTER_CXXVI"></a>CHAPTER CXXVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the Mexicans made war upon us, and the battles we fought
+with them.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Cortes, on his march to Mexico, had often bragged to his officers
+of the great authority and power he then possessed. They should see
+how the inhabitants would come out from all parts to meet him, and
+receive him with every splendour; that he was now complete master
+of Mexico, and Motecusuma and his grandees would not dare to dispute
+his commands henceforth, but would bring him gold in abundance.</p>
+
+<p>But when Cortes found how the aspect of affairs had changed at
+Tezcuco, that no one stirred a foot to give the splendid reception he
+had boasted of, that none of the principal personages showed themselves,
+that even the worst of provisions were brought him with great
+reluctance, and found this ill feeling towards us show itself even more
+strongly in Mexico, and that although he had returned with additional
+troops, the inhabitants no longer furnished him with provisions,
+his pride turned into moroseness and anger, so much so that when
+Motecusuma sent two of his grandees to announce that he was desirous
+of paying Cortes a visit, as he had something to communicate to him,
+he said, "He might go to the devil! since he would not allow any
+weekly markets to be held, nor any provisions to be sent us."</p>
+
+<p>When our other chief officers, Leon, Oli, Avila, and Lugo heard this,
+they said to him, "Moderate your anger, general, and remember what
+great honours this monarch has heaped upon us, the kindnesses we
+have received from him, and how amiable his disposition is: for, had
+he not existed, the Mexicans would long ago have feasted on our bodies;
+nor ought you to forget that he has sought your alliance by offering you
+his daughter in marriage."</p>
+
+<p>These words carried with them the idea of a reproach, and, consequently,
+only served the more to embitter his feelings, and he burst out
+as follows: "Why should I stand upon any further ceremony with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span>
+this dog? Did he not secretly connive with Narvaez, and now refuses
+us provisions?"</p>
+
+<p>"Our opinion is," returned the other officers, "that he does nothing
+more than his present situation would prompt him to do, and that he
+acts most prudently."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, however, relied upon the strength of his troops, and would
+not allow his anger to be pacified in any way, but commissioned the
+two Mexican grandees to tell their master that he must issue immediate
+orders for the re-opening of the markets, otherwise he should find himself
+obliged to take other steps. Both these Mexicans had understood
+the reviling language used by Cortes against their monarch, and also
+how our other officers had remonstrated with him on that account.
+They knew these officers well; for they had by turns been captains of
+the guard which was placed over their monarch's person, and knew they
+were greatly attached to him. They therefore repaired, either in the
+bitterness of their hearts, or because the attack upon us had already
+been determined upon, and related to Motecusuma what they had heard;
+and scarcely a quarter of an hour had elapsed before one of our men
+came running up heavily wounded. He had been at Tlacupa, a town
+near Mexico, to fetch thence some women belonging to Cortes' household,
+and the daughter of Motecusuma, whom Cortes had given in
+charge of the king of Tlacupa, her relative, when we marched against
+Narvaez. This man also related that he had found the town of Tlacupa
+and the high road filled with warriors. They took the women away
+and wounded him in two different places. If he had not escaped out
+of their hands, they would have thrown him into a canoe, and have
+sacrificed him to their gods. They had also destroyed one of the
+bridges over the causeway.</p>
+
+<p>When Cortes and some of us soldiers heard this, we began to look
+very serious, for those among us who had been several times engaged
+with the Indians knew, from experience, with what vast crowds they
+always entered the field of battle, and, although our numbers had been
+greatly augmented, and that there was little doubt but we should defend
+ourselves courageously, yet we were well aware of our dangerous
+position. We soldiers also knew that we should run great risk of
+losing our lives either from hunger or from the advantages which the
+enemy would have over us in such a strongly fortified city. Cortes,
+after questioning the man who had come from Tlacupa, despatched
+Ordas with 400 men, mostly armed with crossbows and muskets, and
+a few horse, to see what truth there was in his statement. He recommended
+him, however, to avoid, if possible, all hostilities, and to settle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span>
+the affair amicably. Ordas had scarcely reached half-way down the
+causeway when he was met by a vast body of Mexicans, who, with
+those posted on the tops of the houses, attacked him so furiously that
+eight of his men were killed at the first onset, and most of them
+wounded, Ordas himself in three several places. He found it impossible
+to move on any further, and he therefore gradually retreated to
+our quarters. On his retreat he lost another excellent soldier named
+Lezcano, who had done wonders with his broadsword.</p>
+
+<p>If the body of warriors was vast which had fallen upon Ordas, that
+which at the same instant attacked our quarters was by far more so;
+and so vigorously did they assail us with lances, arrows, and stones,
+that, in an instant, forty of our men were wounded, twelve of whom
+subsequently died. The numbers who attacked us in front, from behind,
+and from the tops of the houses, were so vast that Ordas was unable,
+for a length of time, to cut his way through. Our cannon, muskets,
+crossbows, and lances, did, certainly, great havoc among the enemy's
+ranks, who, in fact, rushed in upon our weapons; yet they continued
+the combat with the same fury, and closed their ranks more firmly, nor
+could we drive them back a single inch. It was only after a good deal
+of hard fighting that Diego and his men were able to regain our quarters,
+though with twenty-three soldiers less than when he had left it,
+and the rest all wounded: add to which, the enemy's numbers were
+every moment increasing; nor did they spare abusive language, calling
+us old women, ragged scoundrels, and such like beautiful names. But
+the loss we sustained at present was nothing to what we subsequently
+suffered. They even carried their audacity so far as to throw fire into
+our quarters, while one body attacked us in front and another from
+behind, so that we should soon have been suffocated by the flames and
+smoke if we had not succeeded in putting out the fire by throwing
+quantities of earth on it, and by pulling down the apartments from
+which the fire was spreading.</p>
+
+<p>The combat continued the whole day until late at night, during
+which time they continued to throw such quantities of stones and
+lances into our quarters, that the place was literally covered with
+them. In the meantime we had to dress our wounds, to repair the
+damage done to our buildings, and get some rest till the next morning.
+As soon as day began to dawn, Cortes determined to sally out
+with the whole of his troops, including those of Narvaez and the
+cannon, either to beat the enemy out of the field altogether, or at least
+to give them a greater proof of our power than we had been able to
+do on the previous day. The Mexicans, it seemed, had also deter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span>mined
+to do their utmost, and they not only fought with uncommon
+bravery but came in overwhelming numbers, so that every instant they
+poured in fresh men to the attack. Indeed ten thousand Trojan
+Hectors, and as many Rolands, would in vain have tried to break
+through the enemy's ranks! At this moment even, that battle is fresh
+in my memory; but no words can describe the unyielding stubbornness
+of the foe. All the volleys from our heavy guns and muskets
+were to no purpose; it was in vain we rushed forward upon them, and
+killed from thirty to forty of their numbers at a time; their ranks still
+remained firmly closed, while their courage seemed to increase with
+every loss. Whenever we did drive them back into the streets to some
+distance, they had merely retreated in order that we should follow
+them, and by so doing be drawn further away from our quarters, when
+they hoped more easily to surround us, and so render our escape impossible.
+And sure enough by these retrograde movements they invariably
+made the greatest destruction among our ranks. Neither did
+it avail us anything whenever we set fire to any of the houses; for, as
+I have above mentioned, it was only possible to pass from one house
+to another by means of wooden drawbridges. If the latter were drawn
+up we had to wade through deep water to gain another house. But
+our men suffered most from those of the enemy's troops who pelted
+them with stones and lances from the housetops. Indeed I cannot
+imagine how I thus coolly relate all that passed. Three or four of our
+men who had previously served in the Italian wars, swore over and
+over again that they had never witnessed such furious fighting, neither
+in the wars with the king of France, nor even in those with the grand
+Turk himself. Indeed it was no easy matter for us to retreat to our
+head-quarters, so desperately did they assail us under the most horrible
+sound of drums, pipes and trumpets, accompanied by the most
+obscene and abusive language. This day we lost ten or twelve men,
+and none of us escaped without a wound. We passed the night in
+deliberations and in preparing for another attack. We now resolved
+that after the lapse of two days as many of us as were healthy should
+sally out with two moving towers. These we had strongly put together
+of wood, and were so constructed, that under each of them
+twenty-five of our men could stand to move them along. These towers
+contained loopholes, from which our heavy guns could be fired; besides
+that there was space enough for a number of musketeers and
+crossbow-men. At the side of these towers marched a strong body of
+musketeers and crossbow-men, as also the whole of our horse, who
+were from time to time to charge the enemy at full gallop. The con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span>struction
+of these towers and the repairing of several small breaches
+which the enemy had made in our quarters, occupied us the whole of
+the following day, so that we could not sally out till the next.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy, however, continued their attacks upon our quarters,
+not merely from ten or twelve, but from twenty different points at
+once; so that what with the constructing of the towers, repairing the
+breaches, and beating off our assailants who had fixed ladders to our
+quarters, we had enough to do. The whole of us, they cried out,
+were to be sacrificed to their gods, our hearts were to be torn from our
+bodies, the blood was to be drawn from our veins, and our arms and
+legs were to be eaten up at their festivals. The remaining parts of
+our bodies would be thrown to the tigers, lions and serpents, which
+they kept in cages; these had not been fed for these two days, in
+order that they might devour our flesh the more greedily. Our gold
+and other things would be their booty, and they told the Tlascallans
+they should be locked up in cages where they fattened people for their
+sacrifices. Only deliver us up our monarch Motecusuma,&mdash;added they
+with great vehemence; while their noise and their attacks continued
+through the whole night.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as day had fully broken forth, we commended ourselves to
+the Almighty, and sallied out with our war-towers. This time again
+we killed a great number of the enemy; but with all our fighting we
+could not force them to yield ground, and if they had fought courageously
+the two previous days, they stood the more firm this time,
+and fought desperately. We however determined, if it were even
+to cost us all our lives, to push forward to the great temple of
+Huitzilopochtli. I will not detail the severe struggle we had against
+one house in particular, which was very strongly fortified, nor the
+critical position our horse were placed in. For whenever our cavalry
+galloped in upon the enemy's ranks, our horses were assailed by so
+many arrows, stones and lances, that they were immediately covered
+with wounds; while their riders, however courageously they fought,
+could make but little impression upon the foe. If they pushed further
+on, the Mexicans either jumped into the canals or into the lake, where
+the cavalry could not follow them, and where a whole forest of lances
+stared them in the face: equally fruitless were all our attempts to set
+fire to their houses, or pull them down, as they stood, in the midst of
+the water, and were connected to each other by drawbridges only.
+If at times we did succeed in firing a house, it took a whole day in
+burning down, nor did the fire spread, from the buildings being at too
+great distance from each other, and their being surrounded by water,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span>
+so that all our efforts that way completely failed. At last we succeeded
+in fighting our way up to the foot of the great temple, but at that instant
+a body of above four thousand of the enemy rushed up the steps
+for its defence; besides that, other troops were already stationed on
+the top of this building, armed with long lances, stones and arrows.
+For a length of time the guns of our towers and the attacks of our
+cavalry could make no impression on the enemy, while our horses were
+scarcely able to step firmly on the smooth pavement of the court yards,
+but every moment slipped out and fell down. Though our cannon
+mowed down ten or fifteen of the enemy at a time, and a great many
+others were cut down by our sabres, yet their numbers were so vast
+that we could not beat them back, we therefore now determined to
+quit our towers, which were almost broken into pieces; and leaving
+them at the foot of the temple, we began fighting our way up the steps
+of the building.</p>
+
+<p>Here Cortes displayed astonishing courage, though this, I may say, was
+never wanting in him. What a bloody and terrific conflict was this!
+The reader should have seen how we were covered with blood and
+wounds! Above forty of our men lay dead at our feet; but at last,
+with the aid of Providence, we succeeded in reaching the point where we
+had erected the image of the holy Virgin. It was, however, no longer
+there; for Motecusuma, as we subsequently learnt, had either, out of
+veneration or fear, taken it away, and put it carefully by. We now
+set fire to the Mexican idols, and part of the chapel was on this occasion
+burnt down, with Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca. While we were
+occupied with this work, the battle on the platform continued without
+intermission; for here stood a number of priests, and more than three
+or four thousand of the principal Mexicans, who fell upon us with great
+fury, and even beat us back again down the steps of the temple. Nor
+was it these alone who here set upon us; but numbers of warriors also
+annoyed us from the landings and battlements of this building, so that
+we scarcely knew which way to turn our arms.</p>
+
+<p>We had now made every possible exertion, and undergone the greatest
+perils. Our towers were smashed to pieces, the whole of us were covered
+with wounds, and forty-six of our men had been killed. We therefore
+determined to retreat to our quarters in the best way we could. But
+our position for the moment was not bettered by this step; for the
+Mexicans now fell upon us in terrific crowds both in our rear and in
+our flanks: it is impossible to imagine the sight unless one had seen it.
+Neither have I at all mentioned the numbers who attacked our quarters
+after we had sallied out, and the difficulty our men had who were left<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span>
+behind to prevent the enemy from setting fire to them. In this battle
+we took two chief papas prisoners, whom Cortes ordered to be kept in
+close custody.</p>
+
+<p>I have seen many pictures among the Mexicans and Tlascallans which
+represented our storming this great temple. In their eye it was considered
+a piece of astonishing heroism. In these pictures they had not
+omitted to depict our killed, and how great numbers of us were wounded,
+with the blood streaming from our bodies. And indeed it was no trifling
+matter, after our towers had been destroyed, to storm this great building,
+and set fire to the idols, considering that it was defended so vigorously
+by large bodies of the enemy, both from the platform and from the
+landings, and by those who were stationed in the open space below.</p>
+
+<p>The retreat to our quarters was no less perilous; and if the multitude
+through which we had to cut our way was vast, that in front of our quarters
+was no less so. We just arrived in time, for the enemy had already
+made breaches in the walls, and a good many had forced their way
+through them into the rooms. Our arrival certainly put a stop to their
+dangerous progress, but they did not discontinue, during the rest of
+the day and all night, to annoy us with their lances, stones, and arrows,
+under the most terrible yells. Notwithstanding all this, we had during
+the night to assist our wounded, to bury our dead, repair the breaches,
+and take repose for the next day's battle. We also held a council of
+war, to deliberate what mode of attack we should next adopt, that we
+might not sustain so great a loss of men; but every plan that was
+proposed seemed insufficient. To all our calamities was added the bad
+disposition of Narvaez's soldiers, who cursed Cortes, and even the
+governor of Cuba in every possible manner, who they said had torn them
+away from the delightful repose and security which they enjoyed on
+their respective farms, to be harassed to death in this country. These
+fellows seemed altogether to have lost their senses, and they lent a deaf
+ear to everything that was said to them.</p>
+
+<p>After lengthened deliberations, we came to the determination of suing
+the Mexicans for peace, and asking their permission to quit the city.
+But daylight had scarcely broken forth when our quarters were again
+attacked at all points by innumerable bodies of the enemy. Their
+excessive fury in attack, their stubborn firmness, their desperate thrusts
+and yells, were all more terrific than on the previous days; while our
+cannon and other firearms seemed to make no impression on them.</p>
+
+<p>In this moment of danger Cortes determined that Motecusuma should
+address the infuriated multitude from the top of the building, and desire
+them to stay hostilities, as we had determined to leave the city. When<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span>
+this offer was made known to Motecusuma in the name of Cortes, he is
+said to have exclaimed, in the height of grief, "Why does Malinche
+now turn to me?&mdash;to me, who am tired of life, and who could wish never
+again to hear his name mentioned, for it is he who has plunged me into
+all this misery!" Motecusuma obstinately refused to comply with Cortes'
+request, and is said to have further exclaimed, "I will neither see nor
+hear anything more of this man. I put no longer any faith in his
+deceitful words, his promises, and his specious lies."</p>
+
+<p>Upon this father Olmedo and Oli went and spoke to him in the most
+affectionate terms, to persuade him to alter his determination. "Alas!"
+replied the monarch, "for all this, it is now too late. I am convinced
+that the Mexicans, whatever my wishes might be, will not grant any
+cessation of arms. They have already raised another cazique to the
+throne, and are fully determined that none of you shall leave this place
+alive. For myself, I am convinced you will every one of you meet with
+your death in this city."</p>
+
+<p>In the end, however, Motecusuma was prevailed upon to accompany
+them. Under cover of a strong division of our troops he advanced to
+the battlements of our quarters, and began to address the Mexicans in
+the most affectionate manner, desiring them to put a stop to their
+hostilities, for the teules were going to leave the city. The instant the
+Mexican generals recognized their king they ordered their men to cease
+firing. Four of them advanced to a spot where they could easily discourse
+with the monarch; and thus, with tears in their eyes, they
+addressed him: "Alas! great king, your own misfortune, and that of
+your children and your relatives, afflicts us sorely. But we dare not
+hide from you that we have raised one of your cousins to the throne of
+this country."</p>
+
+<p>Here they named the new monarch. It was the king of Iztapalapan,
+Cuitlahuatzin, and not Quauhtemoctzin, for he did not ascend the throne
+until two months after. "They were forced," continued they, "to
+prosecute the war, for they had promised their gods to do so, and had
+sworn to them not to desist until every one of the teules was killed.
+They had daily in vain prayed to their gods Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca
+to deliver him out of the enemy's power, and they would hold
+him in greater veneration than before; and they hoped he would pardon
+their present conduct."</p>
+
+<p>Several of our men had covered Motecusuma with their shields while
+he was addressing the enemy; but as the attack was now momentarily
+suspended, they were not so very particular in shielding his person.
+Unfortunately, the hostilities immediately again commenced, and before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span>
+it could be prevented he was struck by an arrow, and three stones from
+a sling, by which he was wounded in the arm, leg, and in his head; so
+that the unhappy monarch was forced to be carried back to his apartment.
+We were immediately going to bandage up his wounds, and
+begged of him to take something strengthening; but he refused everything,
+and, contrary to all expectation, we soon heard that he had
+expired. Cortes, his officers, and all of us, shed tears for this unfortunate
+monarch; indeed many of our men, who had been in constant
+attendance on him, mourned for him as if they had lost a parent. Even
+father Olmedo himself, who never for a moment left his side, and who,
+notwithstanding all his efforts, had not been able to convert him to
+Christianity, could not refrain from shedding tears. And no one will
+feel surprised at this who knew what a very kind-hearted person
+Motecusuma was.</p>
+
+<p>He was said to have reigned seventeen years up to the day of his
+death. Mexico never had a better monarch; and, with regard to his
+personal courage, he had fought three several duels respecting some
+disputed territory, and had each time come off victorious.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXVII" id="CHAPTER_CXXVII"></a>CHAPTER CXXVII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Cortes determines to announce Motecusuma's death to the Mexican
+generals and chiefs who are at war with us.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After various deliberations on our present critical position, Cortes
+determined that one of the distinguished Mexicans and one of the papas
+whom we had taken prisoners should be despatched to the cazique of
+Cuitlahuatzin, whom the Mexicans had raised to the throne, to announce
+to him and his officers the death of Motecusuma, and explain to them
+the manner in which it had taken place; they were to assure them that
+they themselves had not only witnessed his death, but that his own
+subjects were guilty of it, and that we were deeply distressed at the
+melancholy circumstance. We also desired they would take charge of
+his body, to pay it the last honours, and to place the crown on the
+head of that cousin of Motecusuma who was staying with us, and
+who was entitled to it by right of inheritance; or to elect one of his
+sons, as the prince they had raised to the throne had no real claim to
+it. For the rest, we were ready to make a treaty of peace with them,
+and quit Mexico; they should not allow this opportunity of concluding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span>
+peace with us to pass by, for, up to the present moment, we had refrained
+from destroying the city merely from our love and respect of the
+deceased monarch. If, however, they compelled us to the combat, we
+would burn down all their houses and cause no end of destruction.
+Upon this we handed over the corpse of Motecusuma to six other
+Mexican chiefs and a large body of papas whom we had taken prisoners.
+All these men had been present when the monarch expired,
+and they informed Cuitlahuatzin faithfully of every circumstance connected
+with it; how the Mexicans themselves had caused his death by
+the shot of an arrow and three stones from a sling.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the Mexicans espied the dead body of their monarch, they
+broke out into loud lamentations, and moaned bitterly; but still continued
+the attack upon us, and that with increased fury. "Now," they
+hollowed out, "we will make you pay dearly for the death of our
+monarch, and the insult you have offered to our gods! Is it now you
+beg peace of us? Only come out, and we will show you what terms we
+mean to make with you!" Many such like insulting speeches they
+threw out against us, and added, that they had now selected a monarch
+whose heart was placed in the right spot, and whom we should not so
+easily deceive with our lies as we had the good-natured Motecusuma.
+"Don't trouble yourselves," continued they, "about his burial, but
+think of your own graves, for, in a couple of days, not a single one of
+you will be left alive!"</p>
+
+<p>Under such like threats, and vehement yells, they attempted to fire
+our quarters at various points. As it was very evident to us that we
+could not hold out much longer, it was determined, in a council of
+war, that we should abandon the metropolis, and continue the war outside
+on the main land, where we could destroy the plantations.</p>
+
+<p>In this our proposed retreat, the cavalry was to form the vanguard,
+and at all stakes to break through the enemy's ranks, or drive them
+into the lake, even if we were to sacrifice all our horses in the attempt.
+Previous to taking this step, we determined on making such dreadful
+havoc among the Mexican troops, that they might allow us to depart
+in peace from the fear of still greater losses. This resolve was carried
+out the day following with unshaken bravery. We mowed down great
+numbers of the enemy, set fire to about twenty houses, and had fought
+our way almost up to the main land; but though we suffered much,
+and purchased this partial success with above twenty killed, it availed
+us nothing, for we could not gain possession of any of the bridges,
+which, besides being half burnt down, were defended by strong bodies
+of the enemy. Even those places where the horse might have found a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span>
+way through the water, the enemy had now rendered impassable by
+sharp stakes which they had driven in. Thus we were beset on all
+sides by perils of various natures. In this last sally of our cavalry,
+which happened on a Thursday, there were, besides Sandoval, Lares,
+Dominiguez, Leon, Morla, and other brave cavalry officers, many of
+Narvaez's horse, who, however, showed the utmost fear, as they had
+not yet experienced, as we old soldiers of Cortes had, what it was to
+fight against Indians.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_CXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER CXXVIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we come to the determination of leaving Mexico secretly at night;
+and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>In this way our strength daily diminished, while that of the enemy
+increased. Several of our men had been killed, and most of us were
+wounded. Our courage was of no avail against such vast crowds, who
+kept up a constant attack upon us both during day and night time.
+Our powder was fast diminishing,<a name="FNanchor_87_91" id="FNanchor_87_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_91" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> and provisions and water were beginning
+to fail. Motecusuma was gone, and the peace we solicited was
+refused. All the bridges on the causeways, along which we had to
+make good our retreat, had been destroyed by the enemy; in short
+death was staring at us on every hand. It was, therefore, at last determined,
+in a council of war, that we should leave the city, and choose
+the night-time to effect our purpose, when the enemy was generally less
+vigilant. To make more sure, we resolved to despatch one of the chief
+papas we had taken with many other prisoners, to the Mexicans on the
+evening preceding the night we contemplated making our retreat, to
+request of them to allow us to march quietly out of the city within the
+space of eight days, as we intended to leave them all the gold we possessed.</p>
+
+<p>On this our determination one of the soldiers named Botello had
+had great influence. This man was an Italian by birth, and was remarkable
+for his honesty and great intelligence. He had been at Rome,
+and many believed he could conjure up the dead; some said he had a
+<i>spiritus familiaris</i>, and many of us commonly called him the astrologer.</p>
+
+<p>Botello had, four days previously, announced, that, by means of his
+secret art, he had discovered that every one of us would be killed if we
+did not leave Mexico on a certain night. He had likewise prophesied
+of Cortes that great misfortunes awaited him; he would lose his pro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span>perty
+and honour, but again rise to eminence and riches. Similar horoscopes
+drawn by him were frequently mentioned by our men.</p>
+
+<p>As we shall again have to mention this Botello, we must now see
+what preparations were going on for our retreat; the first and most
+important of which was, the construction of a moveable bridge, out of
+strong beams, which was to serve in passing the canals where the former
+bridges had been burnt down by the enemy. Four hundred Tlascallans,
+assisted by 150 of our men, were to take charge of this bridge; were
+to fix it in the proper place each time it was required, then remove it
+again, and so on, until the whole of us with our baggage and cannon
+had passed the several openings. The transport of our heavy guns was
+intrusted to 250 Tlascallans and fifty of our men. Sandoval, Lugo,
+Ordas, and Tapia, formed the vanguard; these were to clear the streets
+of the enemy, and for that purpose were reinforced by eight or ten of
+Narvaez's officers, whose names I will not mention, and 100 of our
+strongest and most nimble young soldiers. Cortes himself was to take
+his station, supported by Oli, Avila, Bernardino de Tapia, besides other
+officers and fifty soldiers, between the baggage, our Indian female servants
+and the prisoners, in order to render assistance wherever it was
+most required. The rear-guard was to be commanded by Leon and
+Alvarado, consisting of the main body of the cavalry, 100 foot, and
+the greater part of Narvaez's troops. Do&ntilde;a Marina and Do&ntilde;a Luisa,
+with the prisoners, were to be guarded by 300 Tlascallans and thirty
+Spaniards.</p>
+
+<p>After these arrangements had been made, and night was fast approaching,
+Cortes ordered his chamberlain Christobal de Guzman to see that
+all the gold, silver, and other valuable matters were brought together
+in one apartment. The royal treasurers, Alonso Avila and Gonzalo
+Mexia, were then desired to deduct the emperor's portion, and load
+eight of our wounded horses and eighty Tlascallans with it. The
+greater part of the treasure consisted of broad bars of gold, with which
+the horses and men were as heavily laden as possible.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes then called his private secretary Pedro Hernandez, and the
+other royal secretaries, and spoke to them as follows: "Put down in
+writing and bear witness that I have done all which lay in my power
+to save this treasure, which is valued at 700,000 pesos. You see it is
+impossible to load any more of it on the Indian porters and the eight
+horses; I will, therefore, allow the soldiers to take as much away with
+them as they can conveniently carry, that this treasure may not fall
+into the hands of these Mexican dogs."</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Narvaez's men and many of our old soldiers heard this,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span>
+they stowed away as much as they could. For myself, whose failing
+had never been to covet gold, I took four chalchihuis stones out of a
+small box, and secreted them between my cuirass. Cortes soon after
+gave this box in safe keeping to his steward, and I do think he would
+have demanded the said four chalchihuis stones back again of me if
+I had not quickly secreted them. This small treasure proved afterwards
+of the greatest value to me towards the curing of my wounds,
+and in procuring myself food.</p>
+
+<p>All matters being now properly ordered, and the mode of our retreat
+settled, we began to move forward. It was about the hour of midnight,
+and rather dark, a thin mist hung over the town, and a gentle rain
+was falling.</p>
+
+<p>The moment we began to move forward in the above-mentioned order,
+the rear-guard being already in motion, and our moveable bridge
+fixed, and Sandoval, with his body of horse, and Cortes, with those
+under his command, and many other soldiers, had passed across, the
+wild war music and loud yells of the Mexicans suddenly burst forth.
+"Up, up, Tlatelulco!" they cried; "out with your canoes! The teules
+are running away: cut off their retreat over the bridges!"</p>
+
+<p>And before we had time to look about us, we were attacked by vast
+bodies of the enemy, and the whole lake was instantly covered with canoes,
+so that we were unable to move on any further, although many of our
+men had already passed the moveable bridge. Now the most obstinate
+conflict ensued for the possession of this, and, as misfortunes never
+come singly, it happened that two of our horses should slide out on
+the wet planks, become unmanageable, and roll over into the lake.
+This caused the bridge itself to overbalance and fall down. A number
+of Mexicans that instant fell furiously on us, and, though we exerted
+ourselves to the utmost, and cut down numbers of the enemy, we were
+unable to recover the bridge. As, however, those behind, kept continually
+pushing on those in front, the opening in the canal was speedily
+filled up with dead horses and their riders, who were inevitably lost if
+they were unable to swim. The unmerciful enemy now attacked us from
+all sides. A number of Tlascallans and our Indian female servants
+were carried off, with the baggage and cannon; numbers of our men
+were drowned, and no less a number, who were trying to save themselves
+by swimming, were taken prisoners by those in the canoes. It
+was heart-rending to behold this scene of misery, and to hear the
+moans and pitiful cries for assistance. "Help! help! I am drowning,"
+cried one here: "help me, they are killing me!" cried another there.
+Here one called upon the name of the Virgin Mary for assistance;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span>
+and there another upon Santiago de Compostella! Here another, who
+had managed to get to the water's edge, implored us to lift him out;
+yonder, again, was another clambering over the dead bodies. Many,
+when they had reached the high road, imagined themselves safe, but
+here they only met with denser crowds of the foe. Does any believe
+that there was a man amongst us who still observed the order of retreat
+as it was first regulated? That man would, indeed, have been a fool
+who had thought of anything else but of his own safety! Cortes, with
+the officers and soldiers who were with him, acted similarly, and dashed
+away, unmindful of the men, at full gallop, over the bridge, and strove
+to gain the main land: besides which, it must be acknowledged that
+our cavalry was quite useless here. Exposed on every side to the enemy's
+arrows and lances, pelted with stones from the housetops, they had
+also to encounter a forest of our own swords, which the enemy had
+captured and fixed to their long lances, so that it was a wonder each
+time a horse with its rider escaped. Neither could we defend ourselves
+in the water, as the wet had rendered our muskets and crossbows totally
+useless, while the darkness of the night made every movement uncertain.
+All our attempts to keep together were fruitless. What did it
+avail us if, at times, thirty or forty of us managed to make a stand,
+and boldly faced about? By this means we certainly advanced forward
+a little, yet none of us would have escaped alive, if, in the end, every
+one had not strove to save his own life. Thus sadly did we fare in that
+night, and had it been day we should have fared much worse. Indeed,
+if the Almighty had not lent us extraordinary powers, every man of us
+would have been killed! It was really terrific to see the immense crowds
+which fell upon us from all sides, and the number of canoes which
+were merely waiting for the moment to carry off the prisoners, all of
+whom were destined to be sacrificed to their gods! It was a fearful
+sight indeed!</p>
+
+<p>I shall never forget how at one time about fifty of us had got together,
+and the Mexicans, while they fell upon us, constantly cried out,
+"O, O, Luilones!" meaning thereby, You wish to live, do you, you
+varlets? It was only by dint of heavy blows and hard fighting we
+were able to cut our way through.</p>
+
+<p>At last, as we were approaching the main land near Tlacupa, where
+the vanguard, under Sandoval, with a large body of the cavalry and
+of our foot had arrived, we recognized the voices of Oli, Morla, and
+Sandoval, who were thus addressing Cortes: "Only consider for a
+moment, general, we are here indeed on safe ground, but there are still
+such numbers of our men in the streets behind the bridges, who will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span>
+be inevitably lost unless we hurry back to their assistance. Up to this
+moment but few have been able to cut their way through, and these are
+all covered with wounds."</p>
+
+<p>To which Cortes gave the sorrowful answer, "That it was a real
+wonder every time one of us escaped; if, however, they turned back
+to the bridges, they would certainly be lost with horses and all."</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless Cortes, Oli, Avila, Sandoval, Morla, and Dominiguez,
+turned back and took with them six or seven of the cavalry and a few
+of the foot who had escaped without a wound. They had not advanced
+far before they came up with Alvarado. He had lost his brown mare
+and was coming on limping with one foot, heavily wounded, with lance
+in hand, having only seven of his Spanish soldiers and eight Tlascallans
+left, all dripping with blood.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes and those who had accompanied him now returned, and we
+took up a position close to Tlacupa. But even here the Mexicans had
+by this time arrived, and were stirring up the inhabitants of this town,
+of Escapuzalco, and of Tenayuacan against us.</p>
+
+<p>Here again the Mexicans, who had fastened on our swords to their
+long pikes, set hard upon us, and we had enough to do to maintain
+our ground.</p>
+
+<p>When Cortes came up with Alvarado and his few followers, and
+learnt the fate of those left behind, tears flowed from his eyes; for
+Alvarado and Leon had had above twenty horse and more than one
+hundred foot with them in the rear-guard. All these, with nearly
+the whole of the cavalry, and above one hundred and fifty other men
+of the old and new troops, had perished with Leon. Alvarado related,
+that after he and his men had all lost their horses, he managed to get
+together about eighty men, and with these he succeeded in passing
+over the first opening by clambering over the baggage, dead men and
+horses. Although I am not sure whether he said that he passed the
+opening by stepping over the dead bodies, I know that at this bridge
+more than 200 men, with Leon at their head, were cut to pieces
+by the enemy, notwithstanding all their courageous fighting. At the
+second bridge again, it was merely through God's mercy that Alvarado
+had saved himself, as all the canals and streets were crowded by the
+enemy.</p>
+
+<p>It was also at this bridge of sorrows that the well-known leap of
+Alvarado was said to have taken place. At that time, indeed, none of
+us took notice whether he leaped well or not; for every one had enough
+to do to escape from the hands of the merciless enemy. I am, however,
+inclined to believe that this leap was nothing more than what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span>
+Alvarado told Cortes himself, how he had made his bridge over the
+canal by clambering over the baggage, dead bodies, and drowned
+horses; for the water was too deep in that place for him to have swung
+across the opening by means of his lance, and the width of the canal
+too great, however nimble Alvarado may have been, for him to have
+leaped across. It would have been an impossibility I am sure to have
+crossed it by means of his lance or by leaping. I myself can speak
+from eyewitness; for the following year when we marched against
+Mexico, and surrounded the town on all sides, I often came in contact
+with the enemy at that bridge which now bears the name of Alvarado's
+leap. At that time the Mexicans had blocked up the passage with
+palisade and breastwork, and I very frequently spoke with my fellow-soldiers
+about the circumstance, but none of them ever thought such
+a leap possible. What people thought of it at the time itself the
+reader will see from the following anecdote.</p>
+
+<p>Among Garay's troops there was a certain Ocampo who came to
+Mexico: this man possessed much wit and was always writing pasquils,
+or libelling some one or other. Among other things he wrote a good
+deal of scandal and falsehood respecting our officers, and accused
+Alvarado, that he had left Leon with upwards of 200 men and the
+whole of our cavalry which composed the rear-guard, in the lurch, and
+that in order to save his own life he had taken the Alvarado's leap indeed,
+in accordance with the old proverb: Leap and save your life!<a name="FNanchor_88_92" id="FNanchor_88_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_92" class="fnanchor">[88]</a></p>
+
+<p>As I have above mentioned, we had certainly reached Tlacupa, but
+had not escaped all danger there, for here again great numbers of Mexicans,
+with the troops of Tlacupa, Escapuzalco, Tenayuacan, and of the
+surrounding districts, continually assailed us; but it was from the maise
+plantations they did us most injury, and here we lost three more of our
+men, who had been previously wounded. The best thing we could
+therefore do was to quit this terrible neighbourhood as soon as possible.
+Some few of the Tlascallans knew a bye-road to Tlascalla, and they
+safely conducted us to a row of houses which stood on a rising ground,
+and here we quartered ourselves in a temple, which had also the appearance
+of a fortress. During the whole of this march the Mexicans
+continually harassed our troops, and greatly annoyed us with their
+arrows, slings, and lances. The reader must not be displeased if I am
+forced to depict the same miserable scenes over again.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until we had reached this temple that we were able to
+defend ourselves successfully. Here we lighted several fires, and dressed
+our wounds.</p>
+
+<p>After the conquest of Mexico, we turned this building into a church,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span>
+and dedicated it to our dear lady <i>de los remedios</i>. This church in course
+of time became very celebrated, and to this day numerous people make
+pilgrimages to that place, particularly females, from Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>We found, however, nothing to eat here, and it was grievous indeed
+to see with what miserable rags we were obliged to dress our wounds,
+which had become chilled by the cold, and this increased their
+severity. But what grieved us most was the great loss of horses,
+and of so many of our brave companions. Of our old troops there
+were missing Leon, Salcedo, Morla, the brave lancer Lares, and several
+others. And yet I merely mention these few; for if I wished to
+mention the names of all those whom we had to mourn, I should
+not finish so easily. Most of Narvaez's men met with their death at
+the bridges, from the weight of the gold with which they had overburdened
+themselves. The Tlascallans, who had charge of the crown
+treasures, shared a similar fate. The astrologer Botello<a name="FNanchor_89_93" id="FNanchor_89_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_93" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> found no protection
+in all his art, and perished with many others. Even Motecusuma's
+sons,<a name="FNanchor_90_94" id="FNanchor_90_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_94" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> and other princes we had taken prisoners, met with
+their deaths in that dreadful night.<a name="FNanchor_91_95" id="FNanchor_91_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_95" class="fnanchor">[91]</a></p>
+
+<p>Before coming to any determination as to what our next step should
+be, we proceeded to consider our present condition. The whole of us
+were wounded, and only twenty-three horses had escaped alive; our
+cannon were all lost, and we had not a grain of powder left; there were
+but few crossbows remaining, though these, with the arrows, might
+speedily be replaced. Besides all this, the enemy were day and night
+at our heels, and we no longer knew on what footing we stood with our
+friends of Tlascalla. Nevertheless, we resolved to continue our march
+towards that country, and we set out at midnight. Our guides, with
+the Tlascallans, marched in advance; those who were more severely
+wounded, and obliged to use the support of a stick, were placed in the
+centre; and those who were not capable of moving at all were bound
+fast to the horses of those who were unable to fight. All who could
+bear arms were stationed in the flanks, and had some of the cavalry to
+support them; while the rear-guard was composed of the remaining
+horse. The Tlascallans who were wounded likewise marched in the
+centre, and those who were still capable of defending themselves joined
+our ranks, that we might be ready to receive an attack at any point, as
+the Mexicans were still close at our heels, yelling most hideously, and
+crying out from time to time, "Go on! go on! not one of you will
+escape alive!" At that moment we did not exactly understand what
+they meant, but soon after we discovered it, as we shall presently see.</p>
+
+<p>I must not, however, forget to mention how greatly rejoiced we were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span>
+to find that Do&ntilde;a Marina and Do&ntilde;a Luisa, who had left Mexico with the
+vanguard, were quite safe; but the greater part of our other Indian
+females, who had been presented to us by the Mexicans and Tlascallans,
+had not been so fortunate; almost the whole of these perished at
+the bridges.</p>
+
+<p>On this day's march we arrived at a considerable township, named
+Quauhtitlan, once the property of Alonso de Avila; there likewise we
+were received with reviling language, stones, and arrows, all of which
+we patiently endured. We fared no better in the numerous other small
+villages we passed through, while the pursuing Mexicans were continually
+increasing in numbers. They strove to lock us in on all sides, and
+sent forth so many stones, arrows, and lances upon us, while we were
+passing through a narrow defile, that two more of our men were killed
+who had been dangerously wounded in the last conflict, and also one
+of our horses; besides that, numbers of us were wounded. We certainly
+destroyed some of the enemy in return, but the number was small.</p>
+
+<p>This night we quartered ourselves in a few straggling houses, and
+supped off the horse which had been killed.<a name="FNanchor_92_96" id="FNanchor_92_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_96" class="fnanchor">[92]</a> The next morning early
+we continued our route, and marched in closer order than on the day
+previous, the half of our cavalry being always in advance. We had
+marched to the distance of about four miles along an open plain, where
+we considered ourselves in safety, when three of our horse came galloping
+up to inform us that the fields were covered with Mexicans, who
+were lying in wait for us. We were not a little dismayed at this intelligence;
+however, our courage did not flag so far as to prevent us from
+making immediate preparations for battle, and we determined to defend
+ourselves to the last. We halted for a few moments, and Cortes gave
+instructions for the cavalry to dash in a body full gallop upon the enemy,
+to aim at the face, and break their line. Our infantry were to direct
+their blows and thrusts at the enemy's lower quarters. In this way it
+was said we should be certain to revenge our dead and wounded, if it
+pleased the Almighty to spare our lives in the approaching battle.</p>
+
+<p>We then commended ourselves to God and the holy Virgin, and boldly
+rushed forth upon the enemy, under the cry of <i>Santiago! Santiago!</i>
+Our cavalry charged the enemy's line five abreast, and broke it, we
+rushing in after them close at their heels. What a terrific battle and
+remarkable victory was this! How we fought man to man! and those
+dogs like the very furies themselves! and many of our men did they kill
+and wound with their pikes and huge broad swords.<a name="FNanchor_93_97" id="FNanchor_93_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_97" class="fnanchor">[93]</a></p>
+
+<p>The level ground, however, was uncommonly favorable for the
+man&oelig;uvres of our horse, which every now and then gallopped at full<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span>
+speed in upon the enemy, and then retired, to watch another favorable
+opportunity. Although both horse and rider were severely wounded,
+yet they continued to fight most valiantly. It seemed as if we who
+formed the cavalry had double our usual strength; for, though we were
+covered with wounds, and each moment received fresh ones, yet we
+never gave them thought, but kept dashing in upon the foe without
+intermission. Cortes, Oli, Alvarado (who had borrowed a horse from
+one of Narvaez's men), and Sandoval, though all covered with wounds,
+were always present where the danger was greatest. Neither did Cortes
+omit to cheer us on by the most animating words, and to bring under
+our notice what a fine booty we should make of the enemy's rich
+apparel and ornamental weapons. But it was above all glorious to hear
+the brave and spirited Sandoval cry out, "On, my fellow-soldiers? this
+day the victory must be ours! Our trust is in God! We shall not lose
+our lives here, for God has destined us for better things!"</p>
+
+<p>In this way we continued fighting courageously, for God and the
+blessed Virgin strengthened us, and St. Santiago de Compostella certainly
+came to our assistance; and one of Quauhtemoctzin's chief officers,
+who was present at the battle, beheld him with his own eyes, as
+he afterwards affirmed. At this moment it pleased the Almighty that
+Cortes' attention should be drawn to that part of the enemy's troops
+where the Mexican general-in-chief was stationed with the flying standard,
+clothed in the richest armour, shining with gold, and a penache
+of large white feathers on his head. As soon as Cortes espied him
+among his glittering retinue, he cried out to Alvarado, Sandoval, Oli,
+Avila, and many other officers, "Follow me, my brave companions;
+these are the men we must attack!" The words were scarcely out of
+his mouth, when they commended themselves to God, and gallopped
+among the enemy; Cortes poised his lance, and made a rush at the
+Mexican commander-in-chief, who dropped the standard; our other
+officers at the same moment cutting down the other chiefs, by whom
+he was immediately surrounded.<a name="FNanchor_94_98" id="FNanchor_94_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_98" class="fnanchor">[94]</a></p>
+
+<p>The Mexican generalissimo was about to snatch up the standard again
+and flee; but Juan de Salamanca, a native of Ontiveras, gallopped after
+him on his splendid horse, and brought him to the ground, wrested
+the standard from his hand, and the rich bunch of feathers from his
+head, and presented both to Cortes, who had made the first run at
+the chief. Salamanca was subsequently rewarded for this piece of
+heroism; for a few years afterwards the emperor allowed him to assume
+a bunch of feathers in his coat of arms, which his descendants bear to
+this day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>After the Mexican chief had fallen and the royal standard was lost,
+and numbers of the enemy killed, they began to give way, and then
+fled. Our cavalry, however, kept close at their heels, and punished
+them severely. Now, indeed, we no longer felt our wounds, nor hunger,
+nor thirst, and it appeared to us all as if we were beginning the attack
+with renewed vigour! Our friends of Tlascalla had likewise changed
+into real lions, and hacked in furiously among the enemy with, the broad
+swords they had captured.</p>
+
+<p>After our cavalry had returned from the pursuit, we offered up thanks
+unto the Almighty for this victory, and our escape from the hands of
+so numerous an enemy; for the Spaniards had never before in India
+encountered so vast an army as on this occasion. It was composed of
+the flower of the joint armies of Mexico, Tezcuco, and of Xaltocan;
+while every Indian had entered the battle with the determination that
+not a soul of us should escape alive. It was also evident, from the
+richness of their arms and apparel, that a greater portion were officers
+and men of distinction.</p>
+
+<p>Near to the place where this terrible and bloody battle was fought
+lay the township of Otumpan, by which name this battle will be known
+through all times to come. The Mexicans and Tlascallans have given
+a faithful representation of it in their numerous paintings of the battles
+we fought up to the conquest of Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>For memory's sake, I must here note down that we marched into
+Mexico on the 24th of June, 1520, to Alvarado's assistance, with an
+army of nearly 1400 men, among which there were seventy-nine horse,
+eighty crossbow-men, and a like number of musketeers, with above 2000
+Tlascallan troops, and a fine park of artillery. On the 10th<a name="FNanchor_95_99" id="FNanchor_95_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_99" class="fnanchor">[95]</a> of July
+following we commenced our retreat, and on the 14th we fought the
+battle of Otumpan.</p>
+
+<p>I must now likewise recount the loss we sustained in that time. In
+five days, including the battle of Otumpan, we lost in killed, and those
+who were taken prisoners, above 870 of our troops, and above 1200
+Tlascallans; to which must be added 72 men and five Spanish females,
+all of Narvaez's division, whom the Mexicans put to death in Tustepec.
+About the same time the Mexicans likewise murdered old Juan de
+Alcantara, and three others, who were on their road from Vera Cruz to
+Mexico to receive their share of the gold. Thus these persons not only
+lost their gold, but their lives also. Indeed, if it be well considered,
+it will be found that none of us derived any blessings from the gold the
+Indians gave us. The reason why Narvaez's troops suffered more at
+the bridges than those of Cortes', was from their having overloaded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span>
+themselves with gold, the weight of which prevented them from swimming,
+and otherwise encumbered their movements.</p>
+
+<p>After this splendid victory, we dined off some gourds which grew in
+the fields, and joyfully continued our march to Tlascalla. We carefully
+avoided passing through any villages, as our enemies still continued
+at a distance to fly their arrows at us, and to pour out abusive
+language. It was not until the approach of evening that we resolved
+to enter a Mexican township, because it contained a temple and a large
+building, in which we could fortify ourselves. Here we quartered our
+troops for the night, dressed our wounds, and enjoyed a little repose.
+The Mexicans had certainly followed us, but without venturing too
+nigh, and it was visible in their countenances what they would say:
+"A good journey to you, you will now quickly have passed our boundaries!"
+Soon after we had left this place, the range of hills near
+Tlascalla came into view, and we felt equal joy at beholding these as if
+our native country had been there; yet we could not tell what the
+present feeling of that people towards us might be, or whether they
+had remained faithful! And we were also quite ignorant as to how
+matters stood at Vera Cruz, where the enemy might also have cut the
+garrison to pieces.</p>
+
+<p>Our whole strength now merely consisted in 440 men, twenty horses,
+twelve crossbows, and seven muskets; besides that, we were all excessively
+weak, and covered with wounds; our cannon, with our store of
+powder lost; we were at present, therefore, doubly vigilant, and
+returned fervent thanks to God for having so miraculously rescued us
+out of the enemy's hand. Our troops, Cortes said, were now dwindled
+down again to the same number of men with which we had first set sail
+from Cuba, and entered the city of Mexico. We should therefore be
+particularly cautious not to give the Tlascallans any reason of complaint.
+This was especially intended for Narvaez's men, who were not so accustomed
+to subordination as we were. For the rest, continued Cortes,
+he hoped to God we should find the Tlascallans as faithful and true to
+us as before. If, however, they should have turned against us, we were
+not therefore to lose courage, but to trust in our strong arm, which had
+the power to overcome any foe.</p>
+
+<p>We now continued our march with every military precaution, and
+arrived at a fountain on the slope of a hill, near to which were standing
+the walls and inclosures of ancient temples. These the Tlascallans said
+formed the boundaries between their territory and the Mexican empire.
+Here therefore we felt in greater safety, washed ourselves, and ate some
+little food. After we had sufficiently rested from our fatigues, we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span>
+again marched forward, and arrived at a township called Gualiopar,<a name="FNanchor_96_100" id="FNanchor_96_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_100" class="fnanchor">[96]</a>
+situated in the Tlascallan territory, where the inhabitants allowed
+us to quarter, and furnished us with food; but we were obliged to
+give them small pieces of gold or chalchihuis in exchange. In this
+spot we remained a whole day, to dress our wounds and those of our
+horses.</p>
+
+<p>When the news of our arrival was received in the metropolis of
+Tlascalla, Maxixcatzin, the old Xicotencatl, and Chichimeclatecl, accompanied
+by the principal inhabitants of that town, and those of
+Huexotzinco, immediately set out to welcome us. They gave us the
+most hearty reception, and several of the chiefs wept aloud. "Alas!
+Malinche, Malinche," cried they, "how deeply we take your misfortune
+to heart, and lament the death of so many of your brothers, and
+of our countrymen, who have perished with them! How oft have we
+not warned you not to trust to the Mexicans, and told you they would
+certainly, one time or other, fall suddenly upon you; but you would
+not believe us. However, what has happened cannot be recalled; the
+only thing you must think of at present is, to cure your wounds and
+strengthen yourselves with good food. Do, therefore, just as if you
+were at home in your own country. Rest yourselves a little and then
+proceed to our town, where we will find you quarters. For the rest,
+Malinche, you may look upon it as no small piece of heroism that
+you fought your way out of that strong city after the bridges had been
+destroyed; and if we previously looked upon you as men of extraordinary
+courage, we do so now in a much wider sense. We are well aware
+that numbers of men and women of this country have to mourn the
+loss of their sons, their husbands and their brothers, but let not this
+be matter of too much grief to you. You have likewise great reason
+to be thankful to your gods who have conducted you here in safety,
+and who gave you power to gain the victory over that vast army, which
+we were well aware had been lying four days in wait for you at
+Otumpan. It was our intention to have come to your assistance with
+30,000 men, but we were unable to collect such a body of troops in
+sufficient time."</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, with the whole of the officers and soldiers embraced these
+excellent men in the most affectionate manner, and we made them a
+present in gold and jewels, to which every man among us was glad to
+contribute his mite. They were also extremely rejoiced to find that
+Do&ntilde;a Marina and Do&ntilde;a Luisa had escaped the carnage; but their joy
+soon turned into lamentations when they discovered what numbers of
+their countrymen were missing; and Maxixcatzin evinced excessive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span>
+grief at the loss of Do&ntilde;a Elvira his daughter, and of Leon, to whom
+he had presented her.</p>
+
+<p>We now, in company of all the caziques marched into the metropolis
+of Tlascalla. Cortes was quartered in the house of Maxixcatzin,
+and Alvarado in that of Xicotencatl. We dressed our wounds with
+great care, and patiently awaited their cure; four of our men, however,
+soon after died, and many others suffered for a length of time
+before they were completely restored.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXIX" id="CHAPTER_CXXIX"></a>CHAPTER CXXIX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we quartered ourselves in the metropolis of Tlascalla, and what
+we did there.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>I have already mentioned that we rested a day at Gualiopar, where
+we were visited by the caziques of Tlascalla, who kindly offered us
+every assistance, which was the more praiseworthy in them when we
+take the time and circumstances into consideration.<a name="FNanchor_97_101" id="FNanchor_97_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_101" class="fnanchor">[97]</a></p>
+
+<p>As soon as we had arrived in the Tlascallan metropolis, Cortes made
+inquiries respecting the 40,000 pesos worth of gold which he had
+forwarded to the latter place for the garrison of Vera Cruz; when
+Maxixcatzin, Xicotencatl, and one of our soldiers who had remained behind
+in Tlascalla on account of ill health, informed him that a certain
+Juan de Alcantara, with two others of the garrison lying in Vera Cruz
+had arrived there and taken all the gold with them, as they had produced
+a written permission to that effect signed by Cortes, which he,
+Maxixcatzin, had carefully saved. Upon being questioned as to the
+time they had left with the gold, we found it must have been during
+the days we had the severe engagements with the Mexicans. Subsequently
+we learnt that Alcantara and his companions had been murdered
+and robbed of their treasure on their road to Vera Cruz. Cortes
+was sorely grieved at this loss, and was most anxious to know how
+matters stood in the latter place. He therefore despatched three
+Tlascallans to that town with a letter, in which he gave a full account
+of all that had transpired at Mexico, but very wisely omitted to mention
+the number of men we had lost there. He likewise admonished
+the garrison to observe the utmost vigilance, and to keep Salvatierra
+and Narvaez close prisoners. They were desired to send their sick to
+Tlascalla with all their store of powder and crossbows. He at the
+same time wrote to Caballero, and particularly cautioned him not to
+allow any vessel to depart for Cuba, and to see that Narvaez did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span>
+escape. If he considered the two vessels of Narvaez which lay in the
+harbour there unfit for use, he was to run them on shore, and immediately
+send him the sailors and as many arms as he could spare.</p>
+
+<p>These three messengers made all haste and soon returned with an
+answer from Vera Cruz, which gave us the good news that they had
+enjoyed the profoundest peace there, but had been apprized of our
+misfortune at Mexico by the fat cazique of Sempoalla. They also informed
+us that Juan de Alcantara and his companions had been
+murdered on their return.</p>
+
+<p>Pedro Caballero sent word that all Cortes' commands should be
+attended to. One of the two vessels was still in good condition, but
+with the other he would act as he had been ordered and send the men
+to us, though he had not over-sufficient hands, as many of the sailors
+were sick and several had died.</p>
+
+<p>All the reinforcement we received, on this occasion, consisted in
+seven men, of whom three were sailors. They arrived in Tlascalla
+under the command of a certain Lencero, to whom the tavern belonged,
+known to this day by the name of Venta de Lencero. Every one of
+these men were in bad health; five of them were covered with sore
+swellings, and the two others limped helplessly about with their
+bellies enormously swollen, so that the succours brought by Lencero
+became quite a byword among us.</p>
+
+<p>I must now, however, relate something of a more serious nature.
+The reader cannot have forgotten the younger Xicotencatl, who commanded
+the whole armed power of Tlascalla against us, and who had
+always shown his hatred of us. This feeling was again aroused in
+him when the news of our flight from Mexico, and of the number of
+troops we had lost arrived in Tlascalla; and how we were marching towards
+the latter place to seek protection and assistance. Xicotencatl
+now, therefore, assembled his relations and friends, with all those
+whom he thought would enter into his views, and proposed that they
+should select some favorable opportunity, either in the day or night-time
+to fall upon us unawares and destroy us all. "He would," he
+said, "form a friendly alliance with the Mexican monarch, for which
+the present moment was particularly favorable, as the Mexicans had
+just elected a new monarch in the person of Cuitlahuatzin. We had,"
+he continued, "left quantities of cotton stuffs and gold behind us in
+Tlascalla, and had brought an additional quantity with us, and they
+would all become wealthy personages by such a booty."</p>
+
+<p>When the elder Xicotencatl received information of this rebellious
+movement, he grew excessively angry, and commanded his son to banish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span>
+all such thoughts from his mind. Such a step as that, he said, would
+be altogether unjustifiable, and he might be sure, if Maxixcatzin and
+Chichimeclatecl got intelligence of it, they would certainly order him
+to be put to death, to which he himself would give his consent. Old
+Xicotencatl, however, might say what he liked, his son remained firm
+to his purpose, and set earnestly about to make the necessary preparations,
+when Chichimeclatecl, who was at enmity with the younger Xicotencatl,
+got secret information of his intentions, which he instantly
+communicated to Maxixcatzin, and both determined to call a meeting
+of the chief personages of the town, with the elder Xicotencatl and
+the caziques of Huexotzinco, and commanded the younger Xicotencatl
+to appear before them.</p>
+
+<p>After all had been assembled, Maxixcatzin addressed the meeting as
+follows: "I ask you, do you yourselves think, or have you ever heard
+others say that such riches or so much prosperity was ever known for
+the last hundred years in the land of Tlascalla as since the time these
+teules have appeared among us? Were we ever so much respected
+by all our neighbours? It is only since their arrival we possess
+abundance of gold and cotton stuffs; it is since that time only we eat
+salt again, of which we had been deprived for such a length of time.
+Wherever our troops have shown themselves with these teules, they
+have been treated with the utmost respect; and if many of our countrymen
+have lately perished in Mexico, they certainly fared no worse
+than the teules themselves. All of you must likewise bear in mind the
+ancient tradition handed down to us by our forefathers, that, at some
+period or other, a people would come from where the sun rises, to whom
+the dominion of these countries was destined. How dare Xicotencatl,
+taking all this into consideration, contemplate this horrible treachery,
+from which nothing can flow but war and our destruction? Is this
+not a crime which ought not to be pardoned? Is it not exactly in
+accordance with the evil designs with which this man's head always
+runs full? Now that misfortune has led these teules to us for protection,
+and that we may assist them with our troops to renew the war
+with Mexico, are we to act treacherously to these our friends?"</p>
+
+<p>To these reproaches, in which his own blind father joined, the younger
+Xicotencatl replied, that he persevered in his opinion that, under the
+present circumstances, it would be most politic to form an alliance with
+the Mexicans; and allowed himself many other impudent expressions,
+which so enraged the old chiefs that Maxixcatzin, Chichimeclatecl, and
+the elder Xicotencatl, notwithstanding his blindness, rose up from their
+seats, then fell upon the young man, and pushed him down the steps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span>
+of the building, under the most abusive language. He would certainly
+have been killed on the spot, if respect for his aged father had not
+withheld them. In the meantime they imprisoned all those who had
+sided with him. To punish Xicotencatl himself, this was not exactly
+the time, and Cortes refused in any way to meddle in the matter.
+I have mentioned this circumstance to convince the reader how loyal
+and honest the Tlascallans were towards us, and how much we were
+indebted to them, particularly to the elder Xicotencatl, who, it is even
+said, had given orders for his son to be put to death, as soon as he had
+been informed of all his intrigues and treacherous designs.<a name="FNanchor_98_102" id="FNanchor_98_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_102" class="fnanchor">[98]</a></p>
+
+<p>We had now rested twenty-two days, and had patiently awaited the
+cure of our wounds; and Cortes now determined upon making an incursion
+into the neighbouring province of Tepeaca, where several of
+Narvaez's men and some of ours had been killed on their march to
+Mexico. He accordingly told our officers what his plan was; but when
+Narvaez's men heard of a new campaign, they became quite low-spirited.
+The latter were not accustomed to war, and had had a sufficient taste
+of it in our overthrow at Mexico, the carnage at the bridges, and in
+the battle of Otumpan; and were very clamorous in their requests to
+our general to return to their commendaries and their gold mines in
+Cuba. They peremptorily refused to obey him any longer, and declared
+they would take no further part in his conquests; and Duero, who,
+from the very beginning, had been in secret understanding with Cortes,
+protested most loudly against this contemplated invasion of Tepeaca.
+They cursed the gold Cortes had given them, which had all been lost
+again in their flight from Mexico, and assured him they were glad
+enough to have escaped with their lives from that terrific battle. They
+were unanimously determined to return to Cuba, and said they were
+not desirous of suffering any further losses than they already had in
+this expedition.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes, however, did not so soon give up all hopes of persuading
+them to join him in this campaign. He spoke to them in a very quiet
+and kind manner, and made many very excellent remarks, but all to no
+purpose; and when they found that Cortes persevered in his determination,
+they desired one of the royal secretaries to draw up a formal protest,
+in which they gave a circumstantial account of our present position,
+how we were in want of horses, muskets, crossbows, and even cords
+for the latter; in short, of everything necessary to carry on a war.
+They further went on to say, that the whole of us were covered with
+wounds, and that only 440 men remained of the united troops of Narvaez
+and Cortes; the Mexicans occupied every pass and every moun<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span>tain,
+and the vessels would rot away with the worm if they lay any
+longer in the harbour; and so on.</p>
+
+<p>After they had presented this protest in form to our general, he altogether
+objected to it, and we others of his old troops begged of him
+most earnestly not to allow any of Narvaez's men to return to Cuba, as
+it would every way prove injurious to the cause of God and the interest
+of our emperor.</p>
+
+<p>When they found that all the steps they had taken were fruitless,
+and that we maintained they were imperatively called upon to remain,
+both for the service of God and of our emperor, they at last consented
+to stay, and declared their willingness to join us in the contemplated
+campaign; but Cortes was obliged to promise that he would allow
+them to depart for Cuba as soon as ever circumstances would permit.
+This, however, did not put an end to their murmurs. We heard
+nothing but complaints against Cortes and his conquests,&mdash;how dearly
+they had paid for all this, left comfortable homes, and peace and security,
+to serve in a country where they lived in constant danger of
+losing their lives. They likewise considered it would be unpardonable
+in us to commence a second war with the Mexicans, with whom we
+should never be able to cope in the open field for any length of time,
+after what we had seen of their vast power both in Mexico and at
+Otumpan. Cortes, they continued, would not relinquish his purpose
+as long as his ambition to command was satisfied, and we others merely
+stuck to him because we had nothing to lose but our lives. Many
+similar reproaches did they throw out against Cortes, who, under the
+present circumstances, thought it was best to leave them unnoticed;
+and he was glad, a few months after, to send them home, as will be
+related in the proper place.</p>
+
+<p>Here again I am bound to notice a number of errors in Gomara's
+history; in order, however, not to go too much into detail, I will confine
+myself to the following remarks.</p>
+
+<p>Respecting the above-mentioned protest against the projected campaign
+of Tepeaca, Gomara does not exactly state with which party it
+originated, whether from Cortes' old troops or those of Narvaez. Everything
+he relates concerning this matter merely goes to raise Cortes to
+the skies and to cast the rest of us in the shade. We, the true Conquistadores,
+on reading his work, soon discovered that Gomara had
+been bribed by presents to relate the circumstances in that way.
+Were we not the very men who supported Cortes in all the battles, and
+in every other matter? and yet Gomara has the impudence to consider
+this as nothing, and affirms that we protested against the further con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span>quest
+of New Spain. Gomara likewise commits a terrible blunder
+when he makes Cortes say, in answer to this protest, in order to inspire
+us with courage, that he would recall Leon and Ordas, of whom one,
+he says, was engaged forming a settlement with 300 men in Panuco,
+and that the other, with a like detachment, had been sent for a similar
+purpose to the river Guacasualco. Every word of this is false; for,
+when we marched to Alvarado's assistance in Mexico, those projected
+settlements were relinquished, as I have above mentioned, and both
+these officers went along with us to Mexico. Leon even met with his
+death at one of the bridges, as we saw, and Ordas was severely wounded
+in three several places. What a great pity it is that Gomara does not
+write with equal veracity as he does beauty!</p>
+
+<p>I was likewise amazed to read what he says of the battle of Otumpan.
+He boldly asserts that we should have been defeated if Cortes had not
+been present, for he alone decided the fate of the day by his attack
+upon the Mexican commander-in-chief, who carried the royal standard.
+I should indeed be loth to do Cortes an injustice, and, as an excellent
+and brave general, I have the highest esteem for him; but certainly we
+have, above all, to thank the Almighty, who mercifully protected us in
+all the dangers we encountered, and who put under Cortes' commands
+such courageous officers and soldiers. The second praise is certainly
+due to us, whose valiant arms overcame every obstacle. We it were
+who firmly withstood the enemy's attack, who broke their line, and
+who punctually obeyed the commands of our general and his officers.
+And yet Cortes is said to have done all himself at the battle of Otumpan!
+Why does this Gomara not mention as well the heroic deeds of the
+officers and soldiers in that battle? But it is quite evident that all he
+relates in his book is intended for the praise of Cortes only, otherwise
+he could not have passed by all the rest of us in silence. He should
+have asked how often the brave Christobal de Olea had saved Cortes'
+life, until he met with his death in a similar attempt during the subsequent
+siege of Mexico?</p>
+
+<p>I had nearly forgotten to mention the battle near Sochimilco, where
+Olea again saved Cortes' life, but which had nearly cost him his own,
+for he was severely wounded.</p>
+
+<p>In order not to confound names, I must observe that we had among
+our troops a Christobal de Olea and a Christobal de Oli.</p>
+
+<p>Gomara is right when he says that Cortes made a run at the Mexican
+commander-in-chief, which caused the latter to drop the standard from
+his hands; but then it is also a fact that Juan Salamanca, of Ontiveras,
+who became alcalde mayor of Guacasualco after the fall of Mexico,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span>
+killed that chief with a thrust of his lance, tore away the splendid crest
+of plumes which adorned his head, and presented it to Cortes; for
+which reason he was subsequently permitted to add a bunch of feathers
+to his armorial bearings.</p>
+
+<p>I do not mention these things to diminish Cortes' glory, for the
+praise and merit of all the victories we gained, and of the battles we
+fought, down to the total conquest of New Spain, are due to him, and
+he has deserved those honours with which the Castillians were wont to
+crown their generals after some splendid victories, and the triumphs
+which the Romans decreed to Pompey, Julius C&aelig;sar, and the Scipios.
+Cortes, indeed, has merited greater honours than all these Romans!</p>
+
+<p>Gomara further relates that Cortes ordered the younger Xicotencatl
+to be secretly executed in Tlascalla as punishment for his treacherous
+designs against us; but this likewise is an untruth, for Cortes ordered
+him to be hung in a village near Tezcuco, as will be seen hereafter.</p>
+
+<p>In the same way Gomara sends so many thousands of Indians with
+us into the field of battle, that there is neither sense nor meaning in
+what he says; and he likewise gives a very exaggerated account of the
+numbers of cities, towns, and villages, of which not one fifth part ever
+existed; and if we sum up what he says of the population, we shall
+find there are more millions than there are villages in Spain. Wherever
+he speaks of 80,000, we must really write down 1000. Everything
+certainly sounds very fine in his work, because he never at any time
+relates all that happened. When, therefore, the reader compares his
+account with mine, he must not allow himself to be blinded by the
+ornaments of his beautiful style, for mine is plain and rude, but truth
+supplies the place of art and eloquence. How much it is to be regretted
+that Dr. Illescas and Paul Jovio should have copied him so closely!</p>
+
+<p>I must, however, return to my history on the campaign of Tepeaca.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXX" id="CHAPTER_CXXX"></a>CHAPTER CXXX.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How we marched into the province of Tepeaca, what we did there,
+and of other things which happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>Cortes had desired the caziques of Tlascalla to furnish him with
+5000 men to join him on his march into the province of Tepeaca, whose
+inhabitants he was going to punish for the murder of several Spaniards.
+It was the township of Tepeaca, Quauhquechola, and Tecalco, which
+lay from twenty-four to twenty-eight miles from Tlascalla, against which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span>
+our arms were particularly bent. If our desire to be revenged upon
+them was great, that of Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl was more
+so, as the inhabitants of those places had done great damage to their
+plantations; four thousand Tlascallan warriors, therefore, stood ready
+equipped to join us. All the provinces, however, which we intended
+to invade were quite prepared to receive us; for when the inhabitants
+there learnt that we had met with a kind reception in Tlascalla after
+our overthrow in Mexico, they did not doubt for an instant that, after
+we had recruited our strength a little, we should invade their territories
+in conjunction with the armed force of the former republic. Mexican
+troops were therefore stationed everywhere on the confines, and Tepeaca
+itself was strongly garrisoned. Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl
+were well aware of this, and, consequently, not without their fears.
+Notwithstanding all this, we commenced our march thither, but without
+either cannon or matchlocks, for we had lost all these in our flight
+from Mexico: though we had saved a few of the latter, we could make
+no use of them as we had not a grain of powder left.</p>
+
+<p>Our small army now consisted of seventeen horse, six crossbow-men,
+and 420 Spaniards, most of whom were only armed with swords and
+shields, and 4000 Tlascallans. We merely took a single day's provision
+with us, as the provinces we were going to invade were very populous,
+and contained quantities of maise, fowls, and musk swine. We observed
+our usual good custom of sending out a few scouts in advance,
+and we quartered ourselves for the first night about twelve miles from
+Tepeaca. The inhabitants, upon the news of our approach, had everywhere
+fled away, and carried off everything they could with them, so
+that we only found six men and four women in a small settlement near
+Tepeaca. Cortes, who always observed the strictest justice and order
+in all matters, questioned these prisoners respecting the eighteen
+Spaniards who had been murdered without any cause, and for what
+reason such vast numbers of Mexican troops had arrived, and why the
+property of our friends the Tlascallans had been destroyed?</p>
+
+<p>He desired these prisoners whom he sent to Tepeaca to ask the inhabitants
+there these same questions, and they were to signify to them
+that they should send away the Mexicans who were there, and conclude
+a treaty with us, otherwise we should look upon them as rebels,
+murderers, and robbers, desolate their country with fire and sword, and
+carry off all the inhabitants into slavery.</p>
+
+<p>These prisoners fulfilled their commission faithfully, and returned
+with two Mexicans. If we had sent a haughty message to our enemies,
+they returned answer in a still haughtier tone. The two Mexicans<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span>
+came with perfect confidence, as they well knew it was our custom to
+treat all ambassadors with great courtesy, and even make them presents.
+In this they had certainly not deceived themselves; and, still
+puffed up with the recent victory, they spoke with terrible assurance.
+Cortes, after they had done speaking, presented each with a mantle,
+and sent them back with offers of peace, adding, at the same time, he
+was well aware they could not return him his Spaniards alive; but if
+they would sue for peace, he would pardon the past. With this message
+he likewise sent a letter containing the same offers, though we
+very well knew they could not read it, yet by this time they had learnt
+so much as to know it contained some command, and Cortes desired
+the ambassadors to return with an answer. This they speedily brought,
+and was to the following effect: "We were to return to where we had
+come from; and if we refused to do so immediately, they would fall
+upon us the next day, and procure themselves a more abundant repast
+from the flesh of our bodies than they had done at the bridges of
+Mexico and in the battle of Otumpan."</p>
+
+<p>On receiving this declaration Cortes called a council of war, in which
+the whole of these circumstances were taken down in writing by a royal
+secretary, and it was further resolved that whichsoever of the allies of
+the Mexicans had been found guilty of murdering Spaniards should be
+turned into slaves, since, after swearing allegiance to his majesty, they
+had rebelled, and caused us so great a loss of men and horses. This
+determination was likewise made known to the enemy, and they were
+again admonished to make peace with us; but we met with nothing
+but defiance in return; and if we did not quit the province they would
+march against us and put us all to death. Both sides thus made preparations
+for war, and a severe battle ensued the day after; but as the
+level ground, which consisted entirely of maise and maguey plantations,
+was particularly favorable for our man&oelig;uvres, the bravery of our
+enemies availed them very little, and our few horse soon put them to
+the route. The rest of us likewise fell vigorously upon them, and our
+friends of Tlascalla behaved most valiantly, and pursued the enemy
+with great loss. Considerable numbers of Tepeacans and Mexicans
+were killed, while on our side we lost only three Tlascallans. Twelve
+Spaniards were slightly wounded, and one of our horses so severely that
+it died soon after. The consequence of this victory was, that numbers
+of women and children were brought in prisoners to us,&mdash;for the men
+we turned over to the Tlascallans, who made slaves of them all.</p>
+
+<p>The Tepeacans, seeing that the Mexican garrison was no protection
+to them, and that they would only become the victims of any further<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span>
+opposition, without so much as consulting the Mexicans, now sent
+messengers of peace to us, who were very kindly received by Cortes;
+these Tepeacans then, for the second time, took the oath of allegiance
+to our emperor, and sent off the Mexicans.</p>
+
+<p>We now, therefore, entered Tepeaca, and founded a town there, to
+which we gave the name of Villa de Segura de la Frontera, from its
+lying on the road to Vera Cruz, in a populous district, very productive
+of maise, and because it was covered by the close neighbourhood of
+Tlascalla. Alcaldes and regidors were appointed, and a regular government
+introduced.</p>
+
+<p>We likewise visited all the districts where Spaniards had been murdered,
+and we cast an iron mark, with the letter G, meaning <i>guerra</i>,
+(war,) with which those were to be branded whom we turned into
+slaves. In this way we severally visited the townships Quauhquechola,
+Tecalco, Las Guayavas, and others whose names I have forgotten. In
+the former place alone, fifteen Spaniards had been murdered in their
+quarters; we therefore spared this township least of all, and turned a
+vast number of its inhabitants into slaves.</p>
+
+<p>About this time another king had been raised to the throne of Mexico,
+as the former, who beat us out of the town, had died of the smallpox.
+The new monarch was a nephew, or, at least, a very near relative of
+Motecusuma, and was called Quauhtemoctzin. He was about twenty-five
+years of age, and a very well-bred man for an Indian. He was
+likewise a person of great courage, and soon made himself so greatly
+feared among his people that they trembled in his presence. His wife
+was one of Motecusuma's daughters, and passed for a great beauty
+among her countrywomen.</p>
+
+<p>When this new king received intelligence of the overthrow of his
+troops at Tepeaca, and of the consequent submission of that province
+to the emperor Charles the Fifth, he began to fear for his other provinces.
+He therefore despatched messengers to every township, commanding
+the inhabitants to hold themselves ready for action; and in
+order that he might make sure of their obedience to his commands, he
+sent one cazique a present, and another he freed from paying tribute.
+His most able generals were despatched with troops to protect the
+boundaries, and he admonished them to behave better than they had
+done at Tepeaca.</p>
+
+<p>That the reader may not confound the two names, I must take the
+opportunity to acquaint him that there was a Cachula and Guacachula.
+I must, however, defer for the present what I have to say about the
+last-mentioned place, to relate the news we received from Vera Cruz.<a name="FNanchor_99_103" id="FNanchor_99_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_103" class="fnanchor">[99]</a>
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXXI" id="CHAPTER_CXXXI"></a>CHAPTER CXXXI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How a vessel, which had been sent by Diego Velasquez from Cuba,
+arrived at Vera Cruz, commanded by the captain Pedro Barba, and
+the manner in which Caballero captured her.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>We had scarcely punished these Tepeacans for the murder of our
+eighteen companions, and restored peace to the country, when letters
+arrived from Vera Cruz with the information that a vessel had run in
+there, commanded by a good friend of Cortes named Pedro Barba, who
+had been sub-governor of the Havannah under Velasquez. He had
+brought along with him thirteen soldiers and two horses, besides letters
+for Pamfilo Narvaez, whom Velasquez thought had by this time taken
+possession of New Spain in his name. In these letters, Velasquez
+desired Narvaez, if Cortes were yet alive, to transport him, with the
+whole of his principal officers, to Cuba, whence he would send them to
+Spain, for such were the commands of Don Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca,
+bishop of Burgos, and archbishop of Rosano, and president of the
+council of India.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Barba had entered the harbour and cast anchor, Caballero
+went on board to pay his respects to him. The boat he went in was
+well manned with sailors, and the arms they carried were carefully
+hidden from view.</p>
+
+<p>After both parties had welcomed each other, Caballero inquired after
+the health of the governor of Cuba, and Barba, on his side, asked after
+Narvaez, and what had become of Cortes. Caballero gave him the
+most favorable account of Narvaez, spoke about his power, wealth, and
+his vast authority in these countries; as for Cortes, he had escaped
+with twenty men, and was wandering about from place to place.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this, Caballero proposed to Barba that he should disembark at
+the next township, where he would meet with excellent quarters. This
+he readily agreed to, and stepped into Caballero's boat, which, by this
+time, had been joined by those of the other vessels, and so all went on
+shore; but he had scarcely set foot on land when Caballero exclaimed,
+"Sir, you are my prisoner, in the name of the captain-general Cortes!"
+One can easily imagine the astonishment of Barba and his men; however,
+they could do no better than patiently submit. The sails, compass,
+and rudder were immediately taken out of the vessel, and were all
+sent to Cortes' head-quarters at Tepeaca.</p>
+
+<p>Our joy was excessive when these succours arrived, and certainly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span>
+they could not have come more opportunely, for we had not yet recovered
+from our wounds, or regained our usual strength. Every one
+of us suffered more or less from ill health, and as blood and dust had
+coagulated in our entrails, we consequently emitted nothing else. Add
+to all this, we were obliged to be under arms both night and day, and
+thus it may be imagined our condition was truly pitiable; and five of
+our men had died within the last fortnight of pleurisy.</p>
+
+<p>There likewise arrived with Barba a certain Francisco Lopez, who
+settled at Guatimala, and became regidor of that place.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes received Pedro Barba with every mark of distinction, and
+immediately gave him a company of crossbow-men. He likewise learnt
+from him that there was another smaller vessel at Cuba, which was
+taking in a cargo of provisions, and was also destined by the governor
+for New Spain. This vessel actually arrived at Vera Cruz eight days
+after, and was commanded by a cavalier, named Rodrigo Morejon.
+She had on board eight soldiers, a mare, six crossbows, and other kinds
+of ammunition. Morejon, with his vessel, was captured by Caballero
+in the same manner, and sent to Segura de la Frontera. Our joy at
+the arrival of these new guests was, if possible, greater than on the
+previous occasion. Cortes received them most kindly, gave each an
+appointment, and we thanked God most heartily for this reinforcement
+of men, arms, and horses.</p>
+
+<p>We must now, however, return to the Mexican troops, which lay on
+the confines of Quauhquechola.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXXII" id="CHAPTER_CXXXII"></a>CHAPTER CXXXII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the inhabitants of Quauhquechola called upon Cortes, and begged
+of him to drive out the Mexican troops from their town, as they were
+plundered and ill-used by them.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The new king of Mexico had thrown strong garrisons into all the
+townships which lay on the boundaries, particularly into Quauhquechola
+and Ozucar,<a name="FNanchor_100_104" id="FNanchor_100_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_104" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> which lay about twelve miles from each other, as
+he was sure we should enter his territories at those points. These garrisons
+allowed themselves excessive liberties under their new master,
+and committed so many atrocities against the inhabitants, that these
+were determined to bear it no longer. They not only complained of
+being robbed of their garments, their maise, their fowls, and their gold,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span>
+but that the Mexicans likewise forcibly carried off their daughters and
+wives, if they were pretty, and violated them in the presence of their
+parents and their husbands.</p>
+
+<p>When the Quauhquechollans saw how peaceably and quiet the Cholullans
+lived ever since they had been without a Mexican garrison, and that the
+same happiness and security might be enjoyed in Tepeaca, Tecalco, and in
+Quauhquechola, they secretly despatched four distinguished personages
+to Cortes, begging of him to send them his teules, with their horses, to
+rid them of their oppressors. They themselves, with the inhabitants
+of the whole district, would assist us, and both together could easily
+overcome the Mexican troops. Cortes, on this representation, resolved
+to send thither, under Oli, a strong detachment, consisting of 300 men,
+with the greater part of our cavalry and crossbow-men, besides a numerous
+body of Tlascallans, who had greatly increased in numbers since
+the rich booty they had made in Tepeaca.</p>
+
+<p>Among the 300 of our own troops there were many of Narvaez's
+men who became quite terrified when they understood they were going
+to march against Indians; besides which, they had been informed that
+all the fields and houses were filled with Mexican troops, and that their
+numbers were even greater than at the battle of Otumpan, and that
+Quauhtemoctzin commanded in person. They had, indeed, from the
+beginning showed great unwillingness to join us in this new campaign,
+and all their thoughts were bent upon their return to Cuba. Now
+again all their late misfortunes, and the perils they had undergone,
+came forcibly to their minds: the lamentable flight out of Mexico, the
+terrible struggle at the bridges, and the battle of Otumpan. Such
+dangers, they said, they would not run the risk of encountering again,
+and they most earnestly begged of Oli to return to head-quarters, as
+this expedition could not fail to end more seriously than all the foregoing,
+and every man of them would perish. It was in vain that Oli
+expostulated with them, and told them they were bound to march forward,
+and were in every way a match for the Mexicans; that a retreat
+would inspire the enemy with fresh courage, and that the level country
+was remarkably favorable for the man&oelig;uvres of the cavalry; they
+absolutely refused to advance another step. Cortes' old soldiers, however,
+were determined to march forward, saying they had braved greater
+dangers than this; that a merciful Providence had everywhere protected
+them, and brought them forth victorious. But all these arguments
+were fruitless, and at last they succeeded in persuading Oli, by
+their prayers and lamentations, to turn back; and he took the road
+to Cholulla, from whence he wrote Cortes word of the state of things.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>When the latter received this information he was greatly vexed,
+and he immediately despatched two crossbow-men with a letter to
+Oli, in which he expressed great surprise at his indetermination and
+weakness of mind; as on former occasions no arguments had ever
+been able to dissuade him from fulfilling the commands he had once
+received.</p>
+
+<p>When Oli had read this letter he became furious with chagrin,
+and bitterly reproached those who had advised the retreat, and thereby
+induced him to disobey his general's commands. He immediately
+issued orders for every one to join his standard, and those who refused
+should be sent back to our head-quarters, there to be punished by
+Cortes as cowards and deserters.</p>
+
+<p>The vexation which this matter occasioned Oli had converted him
+into a very lion, and in this mood he marched his men onwards to
+Quauhquechola. He had scarcely arrived to within four miles of this
+place, when he was met by the caziques, who pointed out to him the
+best mode of attacking the Mexicans, and assured him he would be
+assisted by the inhabitants. They had hardly done speaking, when
+the Mexicans, who had received intelligence of Oli's approach, marched
+boldly against him. The battle now soon commenced, and the Mexicans
+certainly fought courageously for a considerable time, wounded
+several Spaniards, killed two horses, and wounded eight others from
+out a species of fortification which they had constructed here; but
+after an hour's fighting they were completely beaten out of the field.
+The Tlascallans behaved with uncommon bravery, and killed many of
+the enemy, besides taking a great number of prisoners; and as they
+were joined by the inhabitants of the surrounding country, the carnage
+among the Mexican troops was very great. The latter now retreated,
+and fortified themselves in a township named Ozucar,<a name="FNanchor_101_105" id="FNanchor_101_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_105" class="fnanchor">[101]</a> which had been
+garrisoned by another body of Mexicans. This place was even rendered
+strong by nature, and the enemy had burnt down a bridge, to prevent
+our cavalry from entering the town. But, as I have before stated,
+vexation had turned Oli into a very lion, and he was determined that
+nothing should obstruct his progress. He therefore marched, with all
+those who would follow him, immediately upon Ozucar, passed the river
+with his new allies of Quauhquechola, and fell so furiously upon the
+Mexicans, that they soon gave way, and fled in disorder. Here again
+two horses were killed, Oli himself wounded in two places, and his
+horse very severely.</p>
+
+<p>He remained two days at Ozucar, during which time the caziques
+of the whole surrounding country came to sue for peace, and declared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span>
+themselves vassals of our emperor. After he had thus restored tranquillity
+to the whole country he returned to Villa Segura.</p>
+
+<p>I myself was not present at this battle, and I therefore merely relate
+what I learnt from others respecting it. Cortes and the whole of
+us marched out to meet the returning conquerors, and the rejoicings,
+as may be imagined, were very great on this occasion. The retreat
+to Cholulla was now turned into matter of ridicule. Oli himself could
+not help laughing at it, and observed, that many of his troops thought
+more of their mines in Cuba than of their arms, and he swore that he
+would never again command any of those rich followers of Narvaez on
+such occasions, but only take with him a few of the poor soldiers
+of Cortes.</p>
+
+<p>On this occasion Gomara relates, that Oli turned back in consequence
+of a mistake between the interpreters, and had feared there
+was some treachery on hand. This, however, is incorrect; for his return
+to Cholulla was entirely owing to the fear and anxiety of Narvaez's
+men, whom the Indians had crammed with all manner of fearful tales.</p>
+
+<p>Gomara likewise says, that Cortes commanded in person on this
+occasion, but this is an untruth, for it was Oli. It is equally erroneous
+when he says that it were the Huexotzincans who had alarmed Narvaez's
+men with the exaggerated account respecting the Mexicans, when the
+former passed through their town. This is a shocking blunder, for it
+would be equally absurd for any one who wished to go from Tepeaca
+to Quauhquechola, to turn back to Huexotzinco, as it would be in
+going from Medina del Campo to Salamanca, to take the road over
+Valladolid. In the meantime other news had arrived from Vera Cruz,
+which will be found in the following chapter.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXXIII" id="CHAPTER_CXXXIII"></a>CHAPTER CXXXIII.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How one of the vessels which Francisco de Garay had fitted out for the
+object of forming settlements on the river Panuco, put in at Vera
+Cruz, and what further happened.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>While we were lying at Villa Segura, Cortes was informed by letter
+that one of the vessels which Garay had fitted out for the object of
+forming settlements on the river Panuco had arrived at Vera Cruz.
+This vessel was commanded by a certain Comargo, and had on board
+above sixty soldiers, but who were all in very bad health, with their
+stomachs largely swelled.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>This Comargo related how unfortunately Garay's expedition to the
+river Panuco had terminated. The Indians had massacred the commander-in-chief
+Alvarez Pinedo, with the whole of his troops and
+horses, and then set fire to his vessels. Comargo alone had been fortunate
+enough to escape with his men on board one of the vessels, and
+had steered for Vera Cruz, where they arrived half famished, for they
+had not been able to procure any provisions from the enemy. This
+Comargo, it was said, had taken the vows of the order of the Dominicans.</p>
+
+<p>Comargo and his men, by degrees, all arrived at Villa Segura; which
+indeed took a considerable time, for they were so weakened that they
+could scarcely move along. When Cortes saw in what a terrible condition
+they were, he recommended them to our care, and showed
+Comargo and all his men every possible kindness. If I remember
+rightly, Comargo died soon after, and also several of his men. We
+used to call them, jokingly, <i>verdigris bellies</i>, from the immense size
+to which the latter were swollen, and the death-like appearance of
+the men.</p>
+
+<p>In order not to break the thread of my history too frequently, I will
+take this opportunity of enumerating the different vessels of Garay's
+expedition which arrived by degrees in Vera Cruz.</p>
+
+<p>The first which came after Comargo was commanded by a native of
+Aragon, named Miguel Diaz, whom Garay had sent with succours to
+Alvarez Pinedo, who, he imagined, had run up the river Panuco.
+Diaz, however, meeting nowhere with any traces of him, had soon got
+into a conflict with the natives, by whom he was informed of the unfortunate
+termination of that expedition; he then again hoisted sail
+and made for Vera Cruz, where he disembarked his troops, consisting
+of upwards of fifty men and seven horses, with which he immediately
+repaired to Cortes' head-quarters. These were the most valuable
+succours we ever received, and certainly they could not have come
+more opportunely.</p>
+
+<p>This Miguel Diaz subsequently rendered our emperor the most signal
+services in the conquest of New Spain. He was for some time engaged
+in a lawsuit respecting the possession of half Mistitan, with a brother-in-law
+of Cortes, named Andreas de Barrios, of Seville, whom he commonly
+termed the dancer. This lawsuit terminated in his favour in
+this way, that he was to receive the whole of the yearly rents of that
+estate, amounting annually to above 2500 pesos; but he himself was
+prohibited from setting foot in that district for the space of two years,
+for having there, as well as in other townships belonging to him, put
+several Indians to death.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>A few days after this vessel another arrived in Vera Cruz, which
+Garay had likewise despatched for the protection of his armament in
+the river Panuco, where he thought all was going on prosperously.
+This vessel brought above forty men, ten horses, and various kinds of
+ammunition, and was commanded by an elderly man named Ramirez,
+whom we called the elder to distinguish him from another Ramirez, who
+served in our troops. In this way Garay lost one ship after another,
+and no one derived any advantage from them excepting Cortes and
+ourselves. All these troops arrived by degrees in Tepeaca, and respectively
+obtained some by-name or other from our men. Those of
+Diaz, who were all stout, fat fellows; were called the <i>stiff-backs</i>, and
+those of Ramirez, <i>pack-saddles</i>, because they all wore heavy cotton
+cuirasses, which no arrow could pierce. The officers, as the reader
+may imagine, received most distinguished treatment from Cortes.</p>
+
+<p>I have now, however, to speak of another expedition, of which
+Cortes gave the command to Sandoval, and was directed against the
+tribes of Xalatzinco and Zacatemi.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXXIV" id="CHAPTER_CXXXIV"></a>CHAPTER CXXXIV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How Cortes despatches Sandoval with 200 men, among which were
+twenty horse and twelve crossbow-men, to punish the tribes of
+Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, for having put some Spaniards to death,
+and to demand restitution of the gold they had robbed us of; and
+also further to explore the country.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After we had received these reinforcements, first the twenty-five
+men and three horses, which arrived in the two small vessels sent by
+Diego Velasquez, and then the 120 men, with the seventeen horses
+which arrived in Garay's vessels, we learnt that many of Narvaez's men
+on their retreat from Mexico had been murdered in the townships of
+Zacatemi and Xalatzinco; likewise that the inhabitants of these places
+had plundered and killed Juan de Alcantara and his two companions
+who were returning from Tlascalla with the gold above mentioned.
+Cortes, therefore, ordered Sandoval, a remarkably bold and clever
+officer, to march against them with 200 men, composed for the greater
+part of Cortes' old soldiers, among which there were twenty horse
+and twelve crossbow-men, to which was added a strong body of
+Tlascallans.</p>
+
+<p>Sandoval, on his march thither, received intelligence that the inha<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span>bitants
+were all under arms, and had put these towns in a good state
+of defence; and were, moreover, assisted by a powerful body of Mexicans.
+They well foresaw that we should equally chastise them for the
+Spaniards they had murdered, as we had the Tepeacans, Quauhquechollans,
+and Tecalcans.</p>
+
+<p>Sandoval placed his troops in the most advantageous manner, and
+explained to the cavalry how they were to break through the enemy's
+line. But previous to entering on the enemy's territory he sent messengers
+with offers of peace to them, and to demand the gold they had
+stolen, with promises that he would pardon the murder of the Spaniards.
+These messengers went several times to the enemy with these offers,
+but each time returned with the same answer, namely, that they would
+serve Sandoval and his soldiers in the same manner as they had those
+teules, respecting whom he now came to make inquiries. Sandoval
+then sent them word that he would treat them as traitors and highwaymen,
+and turn them all into slaves; they might therefore prepare
+for a struggle for life or death. He then fell upon them from two
+several points at the same time, and though the Mexicans, as well as
+the inhabitants, defended themselves with great bravery, he nevertheless
+soon put them to flight, and captured numbers of the commoner people,
+whom, however, he set at liberty again, for want of men to guard
+them. In one of the temples he found a quantity of clothes, arms,
+and horse-trappings, among which were two saddles; all of which the
+Indians had brought as offerings to their idols.</p>
+
+<p>In this place Sandoval stayed three days, during which time the
+caziques of the country came to beg pardon of him, and to take the
+oath of allegiance to his majesty; but he informed them they must
+return the stolen gold before he could think of granting their request.
+To which the caziques answered, that the Mexicans had taken away all
+the gold, and presented it to their new king. Upon this Sandoval
+referred them to Cortes himself, and he marched back to our head-quarters,
+with a great number of women and young men, whom he had
+taken prisoners, and marked with the iron.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes was highly delighted at beholding these troops return in so
+good a condition, though they had three horses killed and eight men
+heavily wounded, among whom was Sandoval himself, who had been
+struck by an arrow. For myself, I was not present in this expedition,
+for I was suffering severely at the time from fever and spitting of blood;
+but thank God I recovered, after frequent bleeding.</p>
+
+<p>The caziques of Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, besides several other chiefs
+of the neighbouring districts, now came to Cortes; they begged for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span>
+peace, took the oath of allegiance to our emperor, and furnished us
+with provisions.</p>
+
+<p>This expedition was attended by many beneficial results; for the
+whole country was thereby tranquillized, while it spread a vast idea of
+Cortes' justice and bravery throughout the whole of New Spain; so
+that every one feared him, and particularly Quauhtemoctzin, the new
+king of Mexico. Indeed Cortes' authority rose at once to so great a
+height, that the inhabitants came from the most distant parts to lay their
+disputes before him, particularly respecting the election of caziques,
+right of tenure, and division of property and subjects. About this
+time thousands of people were carried off by the smallpox, and among
+them numbers of caziques; and Cortes, as though he had been lord of
+the whole country, appointed the new caziques, but made a point of
+nominating those who had the best claim.</p>
+
+<p>Such a case happened with a near relative of Motecusuma, who was
+married to the sovereign of Itztucan, by whom she had a son, who was
+acknowledged as nephew to Motecusuma; the point in dispute being
+who the heir was to that principality, this nephew, or some other
+grandee of the country. Cortes decided in favour of Motecusuma's
+nephew, and they adhered to his decision. Numerous similar disputes
+were brought for Cortes' arbitration, even from the most distant
+districts.</p>
+
+<p>About this time we also learnt that nine of our countrymen had been
+put to death in the township Cocotlan, called by us Castel Blanco, being
+about twenty-four miles from our head-quarters. Sandoval therefore
+was ordered thither, with thirty horse, one hundred foot, eight crossbow-men,
+five musketeers, and a strong body of Tlascallans, who always proved
+themselves faithful friends and brave warriors. Here again Sandoval sent
+five distinguished personages of Tepeaca to the Cocotlans with the usual
+offers of peace, accompanied by threats; but as there was a strong garrison
+of Mexicans lying in the town, they returned for answer that
+they had already a king in Quauhtemoctzin, and wanted no other; nor
+did they see any reason why they should send us ambassadors. They
+would meet us on the field of battle; their strength was as great now
+as it was in Mexico, at the bridges, and the canals; and how much our
+valour had availed us there they had sufficiently experienced.</p>
+
+<p>On receiving this answer, Sandoval regulated the order of attack, in
+which the instructions he gave the Tlascallans were remarkable, namely,
+that they should not rush in upon the enemy at the same moment with
+the Spaniards, for fear of shying our horses, and lest they should expose
+themselves to the fire of our muskets, as had often been the case on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span>
+previous occasions. They were commanded to remain stationary until
+the enemy was routed, and then follow in pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>Having made these regulations, Sandoval marched towards the township.
+He had not advanced far before he came up with two bodies of
+the enemy, who had taken up a position in a hollow at the back of a
+barricade, which had been constructed of trees cut for the purpose.
+For a time the enemy's troops fought with desperate courage; but Sandoval
+kept up so sharp a fire upon them with the crossbows and muskets,
+that he soon was enabled to force a passage with the horse. In
+this attack four of his men and nine horses were wounded, one of which
+died soon after. Though the number of loose stones here were great
+obstacles to the cavalry, yet he succeeded in breaking through the
+enemy's ranks, and he advanced up to the town itself, in front of which
+stood a large building and fortification, besides several temples, in which
+other detachments of the enemy were stationed. Here Sandoval
+encountered a momentary and desperate resistance, but the Indians
+were again beaten, with seven killed. The Tlascallans now no longer
+waited the signal for pursuit, but rushed forward the more bravely, as
+this district lay near to their own territory. Numbers of females and
+people of the lower classes were taken prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>After this victory, Sandoval remained there two days, and despatched
+one of the Tepeacan chiefs to the caziques of the district to
+summon them into his presence. They were not long before they
+made their appearance, and begged forgiveness for the murder of the
+Spaniards. He told them this would be granted on condition they
+delivered up all the property they had found on those they had put to
+death. They answered, however, that this was out of their power,
+since everything had been burnt, but owned that the greater part of
+the Spaniards had been eaten up by themselves, and that five had been
+sent alive to Quauhtemoctzin in Mexico. They had now, they thought,
+received sufficient chastisement for those they had murdered by the
+losses they had sustained in this battle; they hoped, therefore, he
+would pardon them, and they would, in return, furnish us with excellent
+provisions, and also forward a large supply to Malinche's head-quarters.
+Sandoval, finding that nothing further was to be got out of them,
+granted their request, for which they appeared very grateful, and offered
+to do him all manner of good services. Sandoval now returned with
+his troops to Tepeaca, and met with a most hearty reception from us all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXXV" id="CHAPTER_CXXXV"></a>CHAPTER CXXXV.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How all the slaves we had taken in Tepeaca, Quauhquechola, Tecalco,
+and Castilblanco, were brought together in our head-quarters, and
+branded with an iron, in his majesty's name.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>After peace had thus been restored to the whole province, and the
+inhabitants had submitted to the sceptre of his majesty, Cortes, finding
+there was nothing further to be done at present, determined, with the
+crown officers, to mark all the slaves with the iron, and set apart the
+fifth of them for his majesty. Notice was, therefore, given that every
+person was to come with his slaves to a certain house appointed for
+the purpose, that they might be marked with the red-hot iron. Every
+man, accordingly, brought the females and young men he had taken
+prisoners; for grown-up men were of no use to us, as they were so
+difficult to watch, and we cared not to admit them into our service, as
+we were well satisfied with the Tlascallans. After all the slaves had
+been brought together and severally marked with the letter G, the emperor's
+fifths and then Cortes' were deducted before we were aware of
+it; and, besides this, on the night preceding, the finest of the Indian
+females had been secretly set apart, so that when it came to a division
+among us soldiers, we found none left but old and ugly women. This
+occasioned excessive murmuring against Cortes and all those who had
+thus picked and chosen before us; and some of Narvaez's men told Cortes
+to his face that they were not aware, up to the present moment, there
+were two kings in the Spanish dominions, and that two royal fifths
+could be demanded. A certain Juan Bono, who was also loud in his
+complaints, added, that such proceedings should not be permitted in
+New Spain, and that he would send information of it to his majesty
+and the council of India. Another soldier asked Cortes if the division
+he had made of the gold in Mexico was not a sufficient imposition?
+for, at first, he had merely spoken of 300,000 pesos, but when we
+were obliged to retreat from the city, it was estimated at 700,000 pesos.
+And now he was going to deprive the poor soldier, who had undergone
+so many hardships, and suffered from innumerable wounds, of this
+small remuneration, and not even allow him a pretty Indian female for
+a companion! When notice was given, continued he, that each person
+was to produce his prisoners, in order that they might be marked, it
+was thought they would have been valued, and that the emperor's fifths
+would have been deducted therefrom in money, and that no mention
+would have been made of fifths for Cortes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Similar and even severer speeches were in every one's mouth respecting
+Cortes' fifths, until the latter began to consider it high time
+to pacify these daring spirits. He stated, therefore, and swore upon
+his conscience, (for this was his usual oath,) that it should not happen
+in future, but that all the prisoners should be valued, and sold at their
+valuation, which would put a stop to all further discontent on that
+head. This resolution was subsequently adhered to, particularly after
+the conquest of Tezcuco, where we took a vast number of prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>If this circumstance had occasioned ill blood, another of a different
+nature occasioned worse. The reader will remember that, on the night
+of sorrows, after as much of the gold had been stowed away as could be,
+Cortes had given what remained as prize-money to the soldiers. Many
+of Narvaez's men and several of ours had dived deep into the gold, and
+most of those who had overloaded themselves with it lost their lives in
+the retreat. Several, however, had had the good fortune to escape with
+their treasures, but had paid dearly for it with severe wounds and the
+risk of their lives.</p>
+
+<p>When Cortes learnt that there were still a great many bars of gold
+among the men, and heavy gambling in consequence, (for, according
+to the old saying, gold and love cannot lie long concealed,) he made
+known, under threats of severe punishment, that every one should
+produce the gold he had obtained on the night of our retreat from
+Mexico, of which one third was to be returned to him; but that any
+one who refused to pay this, should have the whole taken from him.
+Many of our men refused downright to comply with this; yet Cortes
+managed to extort a good deal of it under the pretence of a loan: but,
+as most of the officers and crown officials had also well stocked themselves
+with gold on that occasion, Cortes suddenly dropped the question,
+and nothing further was heard of it. It is certain, however, that this
+circumstance injured him vastly in every one's opinion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_CXXXVI" id="CHAPTER_CXXXVI"></a>CHAPTER CXXXVI.</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>How the chief officers and principal personages of Narvaez's troops
+request leave to return to Cuba, which Cortes grants, and they
+accordingly leave; also how our general sends ambassadors to Spain,
+St. Domingo, and Jamaica.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<p>The officers of Narvaez's troops and those who had come from
+Jamaica in Garay's expedition, seeing that the whole province of
+Tepeaca was now tranquillized, begged Cortes would fulfil his promise,
+and allow them to depart for Cuba; who not only granted them their
+request, but promised them, and particularly Duero and Bermudez, that
+he would give them much more gold after the total conquest of New
+Spain and Mexico, than they had previously received. In the meantime
+he furnished them with provisions of the kinds we had, consisting in
+maise, salted dog's flesh, and fowls. He likewise gave them one of
+our best vessels, and sent by them letters to his wife Catalina Suarez de
+Mercayda, and to his brother-in-law Juan Suarez, who was then staying
+at Cuba. These letters were accompanied by a few bars of gold and
+some jewels, and contained, among other things, an account of our
+overthrow at Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>All those who left New Spain on that occasion had accumulated great
+riches, and I will give their names, as far as my memory permits.
+Duero, Bermudez, Bono, Bernardino Quesada, Francisco Velasquez,
+with the hunchback, a relation of the governor of Cuba; Carrasco,
+who afterwards returned to New Spain, and now lives at Puebla;
+Melchior de Velasco, of Guatimala; a certain Ximenes, who lives at
+Quaxaca, and was obliged to go to Cuba on account of his son; the
+accountant Leon de Cervantes, who made the same excuse to see his
+daughter there, for whom he concluded a most excellent match after
+the conquest of Mexico; Maldonado de Medellin was forced to leave
+on account of ill health; the other of that name, who was surnamed
+the proud, and was married to a lady named Maria Arias, likewise left
+us; further, a certain Vargas, of Trinidad, who, at Cuba, was commonly
+called the gallant; lastly, one of Cortes' old warriors, the pilot Cardenas,
+who said to one of his companions, "We soldiers may now take our
+repose, since New Spain has two kings." Cortes had presented him
+with 300 pesos, to induce him to return with his wife and family.
+Besides these men, there were many others whose names I have for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span>gotten,
+which, indeed, is a good thing, for it prevents me from going
+too much into detail.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Cortes had given them permission to leave, we asked him
+why he had allowed them to depart, as he knew there would be so few
+of us remaining? Cortes said he had done so to rid himself of their
+eternal complaints and solicitations. We likewise knew that many of
+them were not fit for service, and it was better to be alone than in bad
+company.</p>
+
+<p>Pedro de Alvarado was commissioned to see them safe on board, with
+orders to return immediately to head-quarters after they had left.</p>
+
+<p>About this time Cortes also despatched Ordas and Alonso de Mendoza
+on business to Spain, but for what particular purpose he never
+told us. We only heard that the bishop of Burgos told Ordas to his
+face that we were all villains and traitors, and that Ordas had boldly
+defended us. The latter, on this occasion, was made comptoir of Santiago,
+and received permission from the emperor to assume a burning
+mountain in his coat of arms. What he further did in Spain I will
+relate hereafter.</p>
+
+<p>Alonso de Avila, who was treasurer of New Spain, and Alvarez Chico,
+another thorough man of business, were despatched in another vessel
+to St. Domingo to render an account of all we had done to the royal
+court of audience there, and to the Hieronymite brothers, who were
+appointed viceroys over the whole of the islands, to gain their approbation
+of our proceedings against Narvaez, and their sanction of the
+manner in which we had enslaved and punished the inhabitants who
+had murdered the Spaniards and rebelled against his majesty: and
+their opinion as to whether Cortes should not similarly punish all those
+tribes who, as allies of the Mexicans, had been guilty of like offences.
+Lastly, Cortes begged of them to inform his majesty of all this, and of
+the great services we had rendered and still daily rendered to the crown;
+and requested them to favour our just cause against the bishop of
+Burgos, who was striving to work out our ruin.</p>
+
+<p>A third vessel was despatched by Cortes to Jamaica, to purchase
+horses there, the command of which was given to Solis, who was the
+son-in-law of the bachelor Ortega. Here the reader might be induced
+to ask whence Cortes obtained the money to do all this? In reply
+to which, I can only say that of the gold stowed away by Narvaez's
+and our own troops, particularly by the horse, a great quantity was
+certainly saved. Besides that, many of the eighty Tlascallans, who
+were loaded with the gold, and retreated from Mexico in the vanguard,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span>
+got safely over the bridges. We poor soldiers, who had not to command
+but to obey, cared very little at that time whether there was plenty of
+gold or not, but were happy if we escaped alive and were able to cure
+our wounds. However, of the gold that was saved, Cortes received as
+much back as he could possibly lay his hands on; our men likewise
+suspected that he had put into his own pocket again the 40,000 pesos,
+being the share of the Mexican treasure belonging to the garrison of Vera
+Cruz. With this money he sent persons to Spain and St. Domingo on
+his own private business, and others to Jamaica to purchase horses.</p>
+
+<p>Perfect tranquillity being now again restored to the province of
+Tepeaca, Cortes marched back with his troops to Tlascalla, and left
+Francisco de Orozco behind, with twenty invalid soldiers, as commandant
+of Villa Segura.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes then ordered the necessary quantity of wood to be felled for
+building thirteen brigantines, with which another attack was to be
+made upon Mexico; for we were convinced we should not be able to
+make any impression upon that town without a small fleet, nor ever
+again be able to enter it by the causeways. Martin Lopez was appointed
+by Cortes to superintend the important business of constructing these
+brigantines, for he was not only a good soldier, but, upon the whole,
+rendered his majesty the greatest services in all our warlike operations.
+On this occasion again, he set to work with his usual assiduity, and it
+was very fortunate that this man had been with us from the beginning;
+for, if we had been forced to send for a ship-builder from Spain, we
+should have lost much valuable time, and we might not have found a
+man who suited so well.</p>
+
+<p>On our arrival in Tlascalla, we found that our old friend Maxixcatzin,
+one of his majesty's most faithful vassals, was no more, he having died
+of the smallpox. We were all sorely grieved at this loss, and Cortes
+himself, as he assured us, felt it as much as if he had lost his own
+father. We put on black cloaks in mourning for him, and paid the
+last honours to the remains of our departed friend, in conjunction with
+his sons and relations.</p>
+
+<p>A dispute having arisen in Tlascalla respecting the heir to the caziquedom,
+Cortes pronounced in favour of the deceased's son, in accordance
+with the last wishes of his late father. Maxixcatzin, on his death-bed,
+strongly advised his whole family to remain faithful to Malinche and
+his brothers; for they, he said, were certainly those people for whom
+the dominion of these countries had been predestined.</p>
+
+<p>However, let us leave the dead in peace, and turn to the living. The
+elder Xicotencatl, Chichimeclatecl, and the other caziques of Tlascalla,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span>
+one and all gladly offered their assistance to Cortes in cutting wood for
+the building of the brigantines, and generally to aid in prosecuting the
+war against Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>Cortes gave them all a hearty embrace, and thanked them for their
+great kindness, especially Chichimeclatecl and Xicotencatl, the latter
+of whom eventually became a convert to Christianity, and was baptized
+by father Olmedo with every solemnity, and received the name of Don
+Lorenzo de Vargas.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime the preparations for the building of our brigantines
+were going on very fast; the wood being soon felled and prepared for
+use with the assistance of the Indians; an excellent soldier named
+Andreas Nu&ntilde;ez, and Ramirez the elder, an old carpenter who had been
+lamed by a wound, rendering most efficient services. Matters being
+thus far advanced, Cortes sent for a quantity of ironwork, anchors,
+sails, and ropes, from the vessels which had been destroyed at Vera
+Cruz, and ordered all the smiths of that town to repair to Tlascalla.
+Above 1000 Indians were despatched thither to transport these things.
+The cauldrons for boiling and preparing the tar were likewise brought
+from Vera Cruz, and we were now only in want of the materials for
+making it, the preparation of which was wholly unknown to the
+Indians; but here again Cortes was not at a loss, for he picked out
+four men from among the sailors who understood its preparation, and
+for that purpose sent them off to a forest of pine trees near Huexotzinco.</p>
+
+<p>Though it may, perhaps, be rather out of place here, I must answer
+a question which has been put to me by several cavaliers respecting
+Alonso de Avila, with whom they were well acquainted. They knew
+that this man, though treasurer of New Spain, was, at the same time,
+an excellent soldier, and felt more inclination for the life of a warrior
+than for business; they could not, therefore, imagine why Cortes
+should exactly have selected him to confer with the Hieronymite brothers
+at St. Domingo, and that he had not rather chosen some person of more
+business-like habits; as, for instance, Alonso de Grado, or Juan de
+Cacares, called the wealthy, or others whose names they mentioned to
+me. Cortes had no other motive than to get Avila out of the way,
+because he spoke his mind too freely, and took every occasion to side
+with us soldiers if he saw we were unjustly dealt with. To this was
+added, that the latter had fallen out with several of our officers, from
+a frankness of disposition displeasing to them. And, lastly, Cortes
+was desirous of conferring the command of a company on Andreas de
+Tapia, and of appointing Alonso de Grado treasurer, both of which
+were only possible by removing Avila.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Cortes now determined to march, with the whole of his men, to
+Tezcuco, as the wood for constructing the brigantines was ready prepared,
+and we had got rid of Narvaez's men, who made difficulties
+in all our expeditions, and always argued against any attempt to besiege
+Mexico, maintaining we were not sufficiently numerous for that purpose;
+by which means they infected others with their cowardice.
+Previous to our leaving for Tezcuco, however, various deliberations took
+place as to which would be the most eligible spot for launching our
+brigantines. Some of our men maintained that Ayotzinco, near to
+Chalco, on account of its canals and harbour, was better adapted for
+this purpose; others, again, preferred Tezcuco, and were of opinion
+that, once having taken possession of that town, standing as it did in
+the midst of so many other populous townships, we should be better
+able to plan our operations against Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>We had scarcely decided in favour of the latter place, when three
+men arrived with the news from Vera Cruz that a large Spanish vessel
+had run in there from the Canaries, having on board a quantity of
+crossbows, muskets, powder, and other ammunition, besides three
+horses and thirteen soldiers. The owner of the cargo was a certain
+Juan de Burgos, and the captain of the vessel was named Francisco
+Medel.</p>
+
+<p>The reader may easily imagine our joy at this news; and if we had
+previously felt in good spirits for our intended expedition, we now felt
+the more so on hearing of the arrival of these timely succours. Cortes
+immediately bargained with Burgos for the whole of the ammunition
+and cargo, who himself, with Medel and all the passengers, came to
+our head-quarters, where they met with the kindest reception. Among
+the passengers there was a certain rich man, named Juan del Espinar,
+who once lived in Guatimala; further, a certain Sagredo, from Medellin;
+a Biscayan, named Monjaraz, uncle of the other two of that name
+serving among us. This Monjaraz had a very beautiful daughter, who
+subsequently came to Mexico, and was commonly called Monjaraza.
+But this Monjaraz did not accompany us in any of our expeditions, as
+he was always suffering from ill health. It was not until we had laid
+regular siege to Mexico that he came to us in good health, and told us
+he was desirous of seeing how we carried on this war, and our mode of
+attacking the Mexicans, of whose bravery he entertained a very
+mean opinion. On this occasion he mounted to the top of an Indian
+temple, which was shaped like a tower; from that moment, however,
+we never saw him again, nor did we ever learn how the Mexicans got at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</a></span>
+him, or what became of him. Many persons who had known him on
+the island of St. Domingo saw the hand of God in his sudden death:
+for they related that he had put his own wife, a most virtuous, excellent,
+and beautiful woman, to death, without any cause or provocation; and
+that he had escaped punishment for his crime by proving, through
+false witnesses, she had attempted to poison him. I must, however,
+leave these old tales, and begin earnestly to think of our march to
+Tezcuco.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="NOTES"></a>NOTES TO THE FIRST VOLUME.</h2>
+
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> During the first conquests of the Spaniards in New Spain, one half of the profits
+arising from the gold mines was paid to the crown; but the ill effects of this exorbitant
+demand soon began to show themselves, and it was reduced to one third, and
+then to a fifth, called the real quinto, which continued for a length of time, until it
+was further reduced. I must take this opportunity of observing, that the Spanish
+"peso" is equal to about 4s. 6d. of our money. (p. <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Bernal Diaz is thus particular in laying stress on this remarkable circumstance,
+because the pope of Rome, in Spanish, is termed p&aacute;pa. (p. <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> This is the celebrated Las Casas, the protector of the rights of the Indians. (p. <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Puerto de Matanza, the harbour of the massacre. (p. <a href="#Page_20">20</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> The sus tajassu, pecary, or Mexican musk hog; but what our old soldier, with
+other writers, mistook for a navel, is an open gland on the lower part of the back,
+which discharges a fetid ichorous liquor.  (p. <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> The author sometimes also calls this nequen, of which the garments of the
+poorer classes were manufactured. The maguey is the well-known agava Americana,
+the sap of which formed the national drink of the Indians, and the Mexicans were
+accustomed to write most of their hieroglyphics on the cloth manufactured from
+the leaves. (p. <a href="#Page_29">29</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> According to Humboldt, the word cue was imported by the Spanish into New
+Spain from Cuba. The great temple of Mexico was called by the Indians teocalli; a
+word which Torquemada (Monarchia Indiana) thus explains: "Que es come decir,
+templo, u casas de Dios;" i.e. "As much as to say, a temple, or house of God." (p. <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> So those Spaniards, who made the first conquests in New Spain, termed themselves,
+by way of preference, which name they ever after retained as an honorary title. Even
+to this day in Spain it is considered very distinguishing to be descended from one of
+the Conquistadores, and some of the first families there date all their greatness from
+one of these bold adventurers. (p. <a href="#Page_37">37</a>.)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</a></span></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Jardines, or the Caribbee islands, lying along the south coast of Cuba, better
+known as the Windward and Leeward islands. (p. <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Palos, a small town of Spain, lying on the river Tinto. This port produced the
+best Spanish sailors during the early voyages of discovery, and here also the expedition
+under Columbus was fitted out. (p. <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Ala lala. What a striking similarity there is between this cry and the Turkish
+Alla il Allah, of which, as Byron says, in one of his notes to the 'Bride of Abydos,'
+the Turks are very profuse in battle! (p. <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> This passage is very important, as it shows to what degree of civilization the
+inhabitants of this district had arrived, and that they were at least skilful in the
+working of gold. The Spanish words are: "Quatro diademas, unas lagartijas, y dos
+como perillos, y orejeras, y cinco anades, y dos figuras de caras de Indios, y dos
+Suelas de Oro, como de sus Cotoras."
+</p><p>
+The Caras de Indios (faces of Indians) were most probably shaped like masks, for
+similar ones, made of clay, are found to this day in the vale of Mexico. "Suelas de
+Oro, como de sus Cotoras," we have ventured to translate "Sandals with golden
+soles," particularly as Bernal Diaz, in a subsequent chapter, expressly remarks that
+Motecusuma wore a kind of half-boot with soles of gold. (p. <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> The bombax ceiba of Linn&aelig;us, and one of the tallest trees growing in America.
+The fruit produces a very fine cotton, resembling silk, used for stuffing bolsters and
+chair seats. (p. <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> Cata Francia, Montesinos, &amp;c. This is the first strophe of an old Spanish
+romance, in which Montesinos the father desires his son to revenge him of his
+mortal enemy Tomillas:
+</p>
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"Montesinos cast a glance<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">On your lands, the soil of France;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">See how the Duro's sportive motion<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Carries its waters to the ocean!" (p. <a href="#Page_83">83</a>.)></span>
+</div></div>
+</div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> On this woman the captain Cadahalso, in his 'Cartas Marruecas,' passes the
+following encomium: "Primera muger, que no ha prejudicado en uno exercito;"
+i.e. "The first woman who ever accompanied an army without being a prejudice to
+it." (p. <a href="#Page_85">85</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> These remarkable presents have all been enumerated by Torquemada, (Monarchia
+Indiana, i, iv, c. 17;) and we cannot do better than give his minute description
+of them here: "The ambassador of Motecusuma ordered mats to be spread on
+the ground before Cortes, and over them some cotton cloths, on which he arranged
+the presents, consisting of large quantities of cotton shirts and other cotton stuffs,
+beautifully manufactured, and interwoven with feathers of the most splendid colours;
+bucklers made of the purest white staffs, decorated with feathers, gold, silver, and
+pearls, surpassing everything in beauty and skilfulness of workmanship that was
+ever seen. There was also a helmet, tastefully carved out of wood, filled with grains<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</a></span>
+of gold; a casque, made of thin plates of gold, decorated with tassels and stones,
+resembling the smaragdus; numerous large bunches of feathers of diversified colours,
+fastened in silver and gold; fans for keeping off flies, made of the rarest feathers; a
+thousand lockets of gold and silver, of the most curious and beautiful workmanship;
+bracelets and military decorations of gold and silver, splendidly embossed with green
+and bright yellow feathers; leather made of deer skin, curried and coloured in the
+best possible manner; shoes and sandals of the same leather, sewn with thin gold
+wire, and the soles made of splendid white and blue stone. There were other kinds
+of shoes, most tastefully manufactured of cotton; mirrors of marcasite, globular
+shaped, of the size of a fist, and most ingeniously set in gold, the small frame
+itself being very valuable, and worthy of the acceptance of any crowned head;
+coverings and curtains to beds, manufactured of various coloured cotton, more glossy
+and of finer texture than silk; a number of other gold and silver trinkets; a necklace
+of gold, decorated with upwards of a hundred emeralds, rubies, and various
+other ornaments of gold; a second necklace, consisting of numbers of large pearls
+and emeralds, all of the most exquisite workmanship; numerous other gold trinkets
+in the shape of frogs and animals; jewels in the form of medals, the shrines being
+even more valuable than the precious stones they contained; a quantity of large and
+small grains of gold. The most valuable of these presents, however, were two round
+plates, one of gold, on which was a sun with rays and the zodiac; this weighed above
+one hundred marks: the other was of silver, which in a similar manner represented
+the moon, weighing above fifty marks: both were massive, and of the thickness of
+the Spanish coin of four silver reals, and as large as a waggon wheel. Those who
+saw these splendid presents said that, without considering the beautiful workmanship,
+the value of the gold and silver alone amounted to 25,000 castellanos de oro;
+so that the whole together may well be estimated at 50,000 ducats." (p. <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> Chalchihuitls; Bernal Diaz calls these Chalchuites. This stone is of a light
+green colour, at first held in great estimation by the Spaniards, but Torquemada, a
+contemporary of our author, remarks, (Monarchia, Ind. i, p. 462,) it is a stone on
+which the Indians set a high value, but not so the Spaniards. He calls it a kind of
+smaragdus, "the polishing of which the Indians say was taught them by the god
+Quetzalcohuatl." Bustamente (Historia de la Conquista de Mexico escrita, por Fr.
+Bernardino Sahagun, Mexico, 1829,) calls it, "Piedra jaspe, mui verde, o sea
+esmeralda ordinaria," i.e. "A jasper of a very green colour, or a common smaragdus."
+</p><p>
+This stone represented among the Mexicans everything that was excellent in its
+kind, for which reason they put such a stone in the mouth of the distinguished chiefs
+who died. (p. <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_18" id="Footnote_17_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_18"><span class="label">[17*]</span></a> Costatlan, Bernal Diaz also adds here, "Y este nombre de Culua es en aquella
+tierra, como si dixessen los Romanos hallados." As this passage is rather obscure,
+we thought it best to insert it here. The literal translation is: "And this appellation
+of Culua, in this country, means as much as when one would say, 'the merry
+Romans.'" In the 31st chapter he makes a similar remark. (p. <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_19" id="Footnote_18_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_19"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Most probably Cortes' despatches of the 16th of July, 1519, which were lost. (p. <a href="#Page_125">125</a>.)
+<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</a></span></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_20" id="Footnote_19_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_20"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> Torquemada (Mon., Ind. i, iv, c. 25) gives some additional circumstances respecting
+this conspiracy; among other things he says, that the pilot Cermeno was so
+remarkably nimble, that if two of the tallest men held up a lance as high as they
+could horizontally, he would bound over it with ease by means of another lance.
+Also that his sense of smelling was so acute that he could scent the land at a distance
+of sixty miles when at sea; but adds, "aunque no olio esta muerte;" yet he could
+not smell the nature of his death. (p. <a href="#Page_133">133</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_21" id="Footnote_20_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_21"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> It may appear astonishing to some that grape trees should have been found
+here, as it is well known that this tree was introduced from Europe into the West
+Indies; yet it is certainly true that the Spaniards found the wild vine growing in the
+New World. Oviedo, in his valuable work entitled 'Historia general y natural de las
+Indias,' says, "These wild vines bear good black grapes, and I have often eaten them
+myself. I say good, for considering the wild state in which they grow, they are
+really good. These grapes are found throughout the whole of the West Indies, and
+I do believe that all other vines have originated from these wild trees." (p. <a href="#Page_133">133</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_22" id="Footnote_21_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_22"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Of the township of Xocotlan, Torquemada gives some further account, from
+which we learn more of the condition of the country at the time of the conquest.
+Olintecl, he says, was lord of 20,000 subjects, and he had thirty wives, who were attended
+upon by one hundred female servants. The township contained thirteen
+temples, full of various shaped idols made of stone, to whom were sacrificed men,
+women, children, pigeons, and quails. Here the Mexican monarch had a garrison of
+5000 men, and couriers were stationed at particular distances from each other all the
+way from the town to the city of Mexico. These nimble pedestrians were always in
+pairs, that all news might be conveyed to the metropolis with the utmost speed.
+(p. <a href="#Page_142">142</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_23" id="Footnote_22_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_23"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Of this fortification Torquemada gives a different account. He says it was a
+wall of twenty feet in thickness, that it could be defended from the top; had only
+one entrance, defended by other works within, and was built by a cazique of the
+country, whom he calls Yztacmixtitlan, to protect the boundaries of his country against
+the incursions of the Tlascallans. (p. <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_24" id="Footnote_23_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_24"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Agava Americana. (p. <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_25" id="Footnote_24_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_25"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> (This note refers to the last sentence of the chapter.) To this custom of the
+Tlascallans of carrying off their killed and wounded from the field of battle, the historian
+de Solis partially attributes Cortes' great success in these battles; for as a
+great number of the enemy were constantly occupied in this work, they naturally
+offered a less formidable front, and considerable openings were made in their ranks.
+(p. <a href="#Page_147">147</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_26" id="Footnote_25_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_26"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> This is a very remarkable observation of Bernal Diaz, for the ostrich with outspread
+wings is also found on the ancient Persian monuments; and this bird, it is
+well known, is not common to the New World. If we add to this circumstance the
+repeated questions which were put to the Spaniards by the inhabitants of New Spain,
+as to whether they came from the region where the sun rises, there is reason for supposing
+that the tradition which came down to them from their forefathers was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</a></span>
+altogether vague; namely, that a people would come from the east and take possession
+of their country. (p. <a href="#Page_150">150</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_27" id="Footnote_26_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_27"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> During this war the Tlascallans frequently sent provisions to Cortes' troops.
+This they did partly out of pride, that it might not be said they conquered the
+Spaniards by famine; partly that the latter might not become meagre in body, but
+that their flesh might taste savoury when they sacrificed them to their gods, so sure
+were these brave warriors of victory! (p. <a href="#Page_165">165</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_28" id="Footnote_27_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_28"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> This name Oviedo gives to the fruit of a tree, which he calls macanna, growing
+in Cuba. (Hippomane Mancinella of Linn.) From the same fruit, according to this
+historian, the inhabitants prepare the deadly poison in which they dip the points of
+their arrows. (p. <a href="#Page_170">170</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_29" id="Footnote_28_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_29"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> These figs, Bernal Diaz calls Tuna, which is the Cactus Tuna of Linn&aelig;us. (p. <a href="#Page_173">173</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_30" id="Footnote_29_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_30"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> For Marina, as appears from several passages in Torquemada and other writers,
+was called by the inhabitants Malintziu. (p. <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_31" id="Footnote_30_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_31"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> In all the conferences which Cortes had with the Tlascallan chiefs, they showed
+an excessive hatred to the Mexicans, from which the Spaniards derived great advantages:
+Gomara, however, would make it appear that the Mexicans could at any
+time have given the Tlascallans a total overthrow if they had felt so inclined, but
+that they considered it better policy to attack them from time to time, when they
+wanted victims for their sacrifices; and then also the younger warriors of Mexico
+could have frequent opportunities of learning the art of war near to the metropolis,
+without marching to the distant boundaries of the empire for that purpose. This
+supposition of Gomara, however, is not founded on anything like fact. (p. <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_32" id="Footnote_31_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_32"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> The name which the Mexicans gave to Alvarado was Tonatiuh, the sun. It
+may naturally be supposed that when the Spaniards first arrived in New Spain, they
+did not catch the true sound of names. Torquemada, who spent nearly the whole
+of his life in New Spain, is considered the most correct in this respect. (p. <a href="#Page_191">191</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_33" id="Footnote_32_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_33"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> Bernal Diaz writes, incorrectly, Macegales. By this word the Mexicans denoted
+the country people, who formed the great mass of the population, who also tilled the
+ground, and paid to the landowners a third part of the produce. Landed proprietors
+in Greece, at the present day, are not so generous, for they take two thirds of the
+produce and allow the tenant only one. (p. <a href="#Page_192">192</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_34" id="Footnote_33_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_34"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> A small kind of cloak, a part of the old Moorish dress, still worn in Spain
+during festivals. (p. <a href="#Page_194">194</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_35" id="Footnote_34_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_35"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> A temple where human beings were sacrificed to idols. (p. <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_36" id="Footnote_35_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_36"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> Cortes, in his despatches to the emperor, mentions that three thousand Cholullans
+were killed on this occasion; but Torquemada gives double the number, which
+is nearer the truth, particularly as Gomara agrees with him.
+</p><p>
+Respecting this massacre, Torquemada gives the following remarkable account:
+The Cholullans, he says, expected that their god Quetzalcohuatl would come to their
+assistance with some miracle. They believed that at any time, by removing part of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</a></span>
+the white plaster from the temple, a strong flood of water would instantly burst out,
+and they were therefore very particular in repairing any little damage that might
+happen in this way to the temple, by means of chalk mixed with the blood of children
+two and three years of age, killed for the purpose. It was on this temple that
+the Cholullans defended themselves with the greatest obstinacy; but the victory
+soon declaring in favour of the Spaniards, the inhabitants began to loosen the plaster
+off the outside, firmly believing that a deluge of water would instantly burst forth,
+and drown the assailants; when finding themselves disappointed in their expectations,
+they complained bitterly to their god for not rendering them any assistance; refused,
+however, to capitulate; and numbers flung themselves headlong from the top of the
+temple, to seek death that way. (p. <a href="#Page_204">204</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_37" id="Footnote_36_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_37"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> Torquemada sometimes writes this word Tianquitz, sometimes Tiangues, but we
+find it also written Tianquiztli. By the terminating syllable most likely some particular
+market is meant; for it is peculiar to the Mexican language to modify the
+meaning of words in that manner. (p. <a href="#Page_205">205</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_38" id="Footnote_37_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_38"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> Termed by the inhabitants Pulque. (p. <a href="#Page_205">205</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_39" id="Footnote_38_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_39"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> An interesting account of this remarkable building, of which considerable remains
+are still to be seen, is given by Humboldt, in the 'Atlas Pittoresque.' (p. <a href="#Page_206">206</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_40" id="Footnote_39_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_40"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> It was the god Quetzalcoatl, of whom also an account will be found in the
+above-mentioned work of Humboldt. (p. <a href="#Page_206">206</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_41" id="Footnote_40_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_41"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> The name is correctly written Motolinia. This was the excellent brother
+Toribio Benavente, who so greatly exerted himself in converting the Indians to
+Christianity. He adopted the name of Motolinia on his arrival in New Spain, and
+the word means, <i>O! the poor man!</i> which the Indians exclaimed when they first
+beheld the meanness of his attire. (p. <a href="#Page_207">207</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_42" id="Footnote_41_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_42"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> Respecting the castigation of the inhabitants of Cholulla, Las Casas, (Brevissima
+Relacion de la destrucyon de las Indias) asserts, though merely from hearsay,
+that Cortes, while cutting down the Indians, repeated this verse:
+</p>
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Miro Nero de Tarpeya,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">A Roma como se ardia,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Gritos dan Ni&ntilde;os y' viejos,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Y el de nada se dolia.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>A translation of these lines will be found in a subsequent note. (p. <a href="#Page_208">208</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_43" id="Footnote_42_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_43"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> It was here probably that Cortes was nigh being shot by one of his own sentinels.
+Late at night he visited the outposts himself, and one of the sentinels was
+just upon the point of firing at him, when Cortes fortunately made himself known.
+(p. <a href="#Page_214">214</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_44" id="Footnote_43_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_44"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> Clavigero says, that a Mexican load was equal in weight to fifty Spanish
+pounds, or eight hundred ounces, and values the gold which Motecusuma offered to
+Cortes on this occasion at above three millions of ducats!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</a></span> (p. <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_45" id="Footnote_44_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_45"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> Torquemada (Monarch. Ind. lib. iv) gives many reasons why Motecusuma
+was so undecided as to whether he should allow the Spaniards to enter his metropolis. (p. <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.)
+</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_46" id="Footnote_45_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_46"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> Other writers say, that several of the Spaniards could not be persuaded for a
+length of time that it was not the monarch himself. (p. <a href="#Page_218">218</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_47" id="Footnote_46_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_47"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> Bernal Diaz says, "Tres piedras que se llaman margaritas." Margarita is Spanish
+for a pearl; yet it is evident our old soldier is not speaking of pearls here, and most
+likely what he calls stones were nothing more than coloured Venetian glass, which
+was formerly held in great estimation; for in the next chapter he further describes
+these stones by "piedras de vidrio," stones of glass. (p. <a href="#Page_218">218</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_48" id="Footnote_47_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_48"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> Cortes, in his despatches, gives even a more glowing description of this charming
+spot; a strong proof that Bernal Diaz has not said too much of it. (p. <a href="#Page_219">219</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_49" id="Footnote_48_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_49"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> Of this building Torquemada says, it contained apartments in which one hundred
+and fifty Spaniards slept, each in a separate bed; and that, notwithstanding the
+magnitude of the building, every place was kept remarkably clean; the floors were
+covered with mats, and the walls were hung with tapestry of cotton decorated with
+feathers, and in every room there was a fire, which threw out a delightful perfume.
+(p. <a href="#Page_222">222</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_50" id="Footnote_49_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_50"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> The real name was Tenuchtitlan, and it was not known by any other name when
+Cortes first visited the country; for Mexico was a more modern name for this city.
+(p. <a href="#Page_223">223</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_51" id="Footnote_50_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_51"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> Cortes, in his despatches to the emperor, says that the monarch spoke as follows
+to him: "We have long known, from the historical books of our forefathers, that
+neither I, nor the inhabitants of this country, originally belonged to it, but that our
+forefathers came from distant countries. We also know that the tribe we belong to
+was brought hither by a monarch to whom it was subject; but this king returned to
+his own country, nor did he return to visit his people till several years had elapsed,
+after they had married the daughters of the land, and got large families by them.
+The monarch came with the view of leading them back to their old country again;
+however, they not only refused to accompany them, but would no longer acknowledge
+him as their king. We have always firmly believed that descendants of this
+monarch would one time or other make their appearance among us, and obtain the
+dominion of the country. As you, according to your assurances, come from the
+rising of the sun, we doubt not, after what you have told us of your great monarch,
+who sent you here, that he is our rightful sovereign; and we have the more reason
+to believe this, since you tell us that he had some previous knowledge of us." (p. <a href="#Page_224">224</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_52" id="Footnote_51_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_52"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> Torquemada relates that the monarch had made minute inquiries of the interpreters
+respecting the rank of each Spaniard, and that the value of the presents he
+intended to give them was to be according to their respective ranks. (p. <a href="#Page_228">228</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_53" id="Footnote_52_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_53"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> This was something like our chocolate, and prepared in the same way, but with
+this difference, that it was mixed with the boiled dough of maise, and was drunk cold.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</a></span> (p. <a href="#Page_230">230</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_54" id="Footnote_53_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_54"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> Respecting the custom of smoking among the Mexicans, Humboldt gives the
+following, in his work on New Spain: "The Mexicans called tobacco <i>yetl</i>, which
+they not only considered a remedy against toothach, cold in the head, and bowel
+complaints, but they likewise used it as a luxury, by smoking and snuffing it. At
+Motecusuma's court it was used as a narcotic, not only after dinner, but also after
+breakfast, to produce a comfortable nap, as is still the custom in many districts of
+America. The leaves were rolled together like cigars, and then stuck in tubes made
+of silver, wood, or of shell." (p. <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_55" id="Footnote_54_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_55"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> The revenue of Motecusuma we know consisted of the natural products of the
+country, and what was produced by the industry of his subjects. Respecting the
+payment of tribute, we find the following story in Torquemada: "During the abode
+of Motecusuma among the Spaniards, in the palace of his father, Alonso de Ojeda
+one day espied in a certain apartment of the building a number of small bags tied
+up. He imagined at first that they were filled with gold dust, but on opening one of
+them, what was his astonishment to find it quite full of lice? Ojeda, greatly surprised
+at the discovery he had made, immediately communicated what he had seen
+to Cortes, who then asked Marina and Aguilar for some explanation. They informed
+him that the Mexicans had such a sense of their duty to pay tribute to their monarch,
+that the poorest and meanest of the inhabitants, if they possessed nothing better to
+present to their king, daily cleaned their persons, and saved all the lice they caught,
+and that when they had a good store of these, they laid them in bags at the feet of
+their monarch. Torquemada further remarks, that his reader might think these bags
+were filled with small worms (gasanillos), and not with lice; but appeals to Alonso
+de Ojeda, and another of Cortes' soldiers, named Alonso de Mata, who were eyewitnesses
+of the fact."
+</p><p>
+This story, no doubt, is founded on something like truth, and most probably these
+bags were filled with the coccus cacti, the famous cochineal insect, then unknown to
+the Spaniards, who might easily have mistaken them in a dried state for lice. (p. <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_56" id="Footnote_55_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_56"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> This weapon, called by the Mexicans maquahuitl, was much dreaded by the
+Spaniards; and the historian Acosta relates that the Mexicans would cut off the
+head of a horse with it at one blow. (p. <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_57" id="Footnote_56_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_57"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> Alonso Berruguete, a Spanish artist, who rose to great eminence in painting,
+architecture, and sculpture. He received great protection from Charles the Fifth,
+who employed him in considerable works in the Alhambra of Granada and elsewhere.
+(p. <a href="#Page_233">233</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_58" id="Footnote_57_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_58"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> Bernal Diaz, unfortunately, gives no description of Motecusuma's palace; we
+will therefore give Torquemada's account of this remarkable building. He himself,
+however, never saw it, but chiefly gained his information from the Mexicans themselves,
+who may have exaggerated a little: Motecusuma's palace had twenty doors,
+which either opened into the large square or into the principal streets of the city; it
+had three large courts, and in one of them was a tank, supplied with water by the
+aqueduct of Chapultepec. The palace contained a number of halls, and a hundred
+rooms twenty-five feet long and as many broad, each provided with a bath. Everything
+was built of stone and lime. The walls were covered with beautiful stones,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</a></span> marble, jasper,
+porphyry, and a block stone, which is so highly polished that you
+might use it for a looking-glass; besides these, there was a white stone, almost
+transparent. All the woodwork was made of white cedar, palm, cypress, pine, and
+other fine woods, adorned with beautiful carved-work. In one of the apartments,
+which was one hundred and fifty feet long and fifty broad, was Motecusuma's chapel,
+which was covered with plates of gold and silver almost the thickness of a finger,
+besides that it was decorated with innumerable emeralds, rubies, topaz, and other
+precious stones. (p. <a href="#Page_235">235</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_59" id="Footnote_58_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_59"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> This slimy substance the Mexicans called tecuitlatl, or excrement of stone. It
+was made into various shapes, and dried in the sun. (p. <a href="#Page_237">237</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_60" id="Footnote_59_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_60"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> According to Torquemada, this word expressed the number 8000 of anything,
+whether of cacao beans, troops, or other matters. (p. <a href="#Page_237">237</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_61" id="Footnote_60_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_61"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> Cacao nuts should be cacao beans; they were used by the Mexicans as small
+coin, and even to this day, according to Humboldt, they form the smallest coin
+among the inhabitants of New Spain. (p. <a href="#Page_238">238</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_62" id="Footnote_61_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_62"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> In the large work of Ramusio, entitled 'Raccolta delle Navigazioni e Viaggi,'
+there is a very interesting account of the city of Mexico. There we find that this
+market was about three times larger than the one at Salamanca, and surrounded by
+porticos. Every five days was a great market day, and from forty to fifty thousand
+people come to buy and sell there. (p. <a href="#Page_238">238</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_63" id="Footnote_62_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_63"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> With regard to Mexican mythology, Bernal Diaz is, perhaps, not quite so correct
+in general. The abb&eacute; F.S. Clavigero, who wrote a history of Mexico, in two
+volumes quarto, is more intelligent in this respect. (p. <a href="#Page_239">239</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_64" id="Footnote_63_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_64"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> This note refers to the idol, half hidden from view, of which Bernal Diaz has
+forgotten the name; it was probably the goddess Centeotl, sometimes called Tonacajohua. (p. <a href="#Page_240">240</a>.)
+</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_65" id="Footnote_64_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_65"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> The Spanish is, "Estavan malos de bubas &oacute; humores, les dolieron los muslas de
+baxar!" bubas I have everywhere translated by the general term of swellings in the
+groin, though it is quite evident, from the 68th letter of Petrus Martyr ab Angleria,
+(De Rebus Oceanicis el Novo orbe decades tres) that this disease was the syphilis,
+which was then spreading so dreadfully. (p. <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_66" id="Footnote_65_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_66"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> The best-informed writers agree with Bernal Diaz as to the vast extent of this
+temple. It was so extensive, says Torquemada, that an arrow shot from a crossbow
+would not reach the length of one of its sides. A few lines lower he says, that each
+of these sides was three hundred and sixty feet long! The wall which surrounded this
+huge temple was entirely built of hewn stone. (p. <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_67" id="Footnote_66_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_67"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> Bernal Diaz is here speaking of the Mexican picture writing or hieroglyphics. (p. <a href="#Page_242">242</a>.)
+</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_68" id="Footnote_67_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_68"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> This passage fully proves the kind disposition of the monarch, for he even overcame
+his religious scruples to please the very men who came to take his kingdom
+from him. (p. <a href="#Page_244">244</a>.)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</a></span></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_69" id="Footnote_68_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_69"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> The Mexican name of this township was Nauhtlan. (p. <a href="#Page_248">248</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_70" id="Footnote_69_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_70"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> The Mexican name for goddess. (p. <a href="#Page_249">249</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_71" id="Footnote_69_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_71"><span class="label">[69*]</span></a> Bernal Diaz only mentions three of these generals by name: Quetzalpopoca,
+Coatl, and Quiahuitle, which we thought better to insert here. When Quetzalpopoca,
+says Torquemada, was brought into the presence of the Spaniards, and asked whether
+he was a vassal of Motecusuma, he replied: "Is it possible in this world to be the
+vassal of any other monarch." (p. <a href="#Page_253">253</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_72" id="Footnote_70_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_72"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> Alvarado, who sometimes also played a game with Motecusuma, showed little
+generosity, according to other writers. If he lost, he paid with chalchihuis stones; if
+he won, he was paid with bars of gold, each worth at least fifty ducats. Motecusuma
+frequently lost in one evening from forty to fifty of such gold bars to Alvarado; but
+the more he lost, the more good-humoured he appeared. (p. <a href="#Page_258">258</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_73" id="Footnote_71_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_73"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> A kind of soup or broth, of which the so termed Spanish pepper formed the
+chief ingredient. (p. <a href="#Page_260">260</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_74" id="Footnote_71_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_74"><span class="label">[71*]</span></a> The name of the prince was Cuicuitzcatl. (p. <a href="#Page_270">270</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_75" id="Footnote_72_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_75"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> According to Torquemada, Umbria was only scourged, which appears more
+probable. (p. <a href="#Page_273">273</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_76" id="Footnote_73_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_76"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> At the present day even this river is known in New Spain by the name of
+Huasacualco, and even Guacasualco. (p. <a href="#Page_274">274</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_77" id="Footnote_74_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_77"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> For a further account of what happened after the building of this altar, I must
+refer the reader to the oft-quoted work of Torquemada (Monarchia, Ind. iv, 53.) (p. <a href="#Page_286">286</a>.)
+</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_78" id="Footnote_75_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_78"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> This Alonso Mata, as we afterwards see, was met on his way to Mexico by
+Cortes. (p. <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_79" id="Footnote_76_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_79"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> Naborias, Indian servants. (p. <a href="#Page_301">301</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_80" id="Footnote_77_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_80"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> According to Torquemada, Motecusuma, accompanied by a distinguished suite,
+conducted the Spaniards as far as Iztapalapan. (p. <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_81" id="Footnote_78_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_81"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> Probably Topaniqueta, which sounds more like an Indian name. (p. <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_82" id="Footnote_78_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_82"><span class="label">[78*]</span></a> The real name of this province was Chinantla, but our author calls the inhabitants
+Chichinatecas. (p. <a href="#Page_310">310</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_83" id="Footnote_79_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_83"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> Hierro is the Spanish word for iron, and Bernal Diaz always uses Hierro for
+the point of a lance; otherwise one would suppose,&mdash;when he says of the Chinantecs,
+"Hiz&iacute;eron los hierros muy mas perfetamente," etc., i.e. "they made the irons
+(points) much more perfect;"&mdash;that the working of iron was known in the country
+long before the arrival of the Spaniards; but it is evident, from what he says four
+lines below, that these points were made of copper. (p. <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_84" id="Footnote_80_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_84"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> Panguenequita, probably another name for Tapanigueta.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</a></span> (p. <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_85" id="Footnote_81_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_85"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> Respecting this animal, see note 5, p. <a href="#Page_22">22</a>. (p. <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_86" id="Footnote_82_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_86"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> The clater nocturnus. (p. <a href="#Page_327">327</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_87" id="Footnote_83_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_87"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> It need scarcely be remarked that the Spanish guns at that time were fired
+by means of matches, which were made of hempen tow, boiled in the lees of old
+wine, and when dry and once lighted they burn on until consumed. (p. <a href="#Page_327">327</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_88" id="Footnote_84_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_88"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> Bernal Diaz has forgotten some circumstances relative to this battle. Three
+hundred of Narvaez's troops defended themselves bravely for a length of time on one
+of the temples, nor did they surrender until all their powder was spent. (p. <a href="#Page_327">327</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_89" id="Footnote_85_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_89"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> Of this dreadful disease Gomara says, that it spread from Sempoalla through
+the whole of New Spain, and that in the greater part of the townships half of the
+inhabitants were carried off by it. It was a custom among the inhabitants to go
+immediately from a hot bath into a cold one, so that it was a wonder any escaped
+death. Those that survived could not help scratching themselves, which naturally
+left large scars, and rendered them hideous to look at. Torquemada agrees with
+Gomara, but adds, from the authority of the Indians, that this and other pestilential
+diseases spread at certain times through the whole of the country; and Bernal Diaz,
+in describing the person of the younger Xicotencatl, says his face was pitted as if
+with the smallpox. (p. <a href="#Page_332">332</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_90" id="Footnote_86_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_90"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> A formal inquiry was made into this circumstance, by order of Charles the
+Fifth. The excellent Bartholomew de las Casas gave judgment, and he pronounced
+the Mexicans entirely innocent of having had any intention to massacre the troops
+under Alvarado, but that the latter had massacred the Mexicans without any provocation,
+merely for the purpose of striking terror among them. In pronouncing this
+judgment, however, Las Casas may have been carried away by his excessive zeal for
+humanity towards the Indians. Herrera (Historia de las Indias occidentales,
+decade ii, b. x,) says: "The fact, however, is, that the Mexicans intended to have
+murdered all the Spaniards on this occasion; for which purpose they had concealed
+their arms in the buildings adjoining the temple. This was told the Spaniards by
+the women, from whom they always learnt the truth." (p. <a href="#Page_336">336</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_91" id="Footnote_87_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_91"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> The daily allowance of a soldier during this time was only fifty grains of maise!
+(p. <a href="#Page_347">347</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_92" id="Footnote_88_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_92"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> According to other accounts, it certainly appears that Alvarado made this astonishing
+leap. (Monarchia In., iv, c. 71.) We find that Alvarado was distinguished
+from his brother by the surname of <i>Alvarado of the leap</i>. Humboldt, in his interesting
+work on New Spain, has thought it worth his while to rescue the honour of this
+brave officer with regard to this leap. Even to the present day there is a small
+bridge near Bonavista, called Salto de Alvarado. (p. <a href="#Page_352">352</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_93" id="Footnote_89_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_93"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> According to other accounts Cortes put great faith in the secret art of this man.
+It was upon Botello's advice that he also attacked Narvaez in the night time. He
+had likewise advised the retreat from Mexico in the night time, although he knew,
+he said, that neither himself, his brother, nor several others of his company would
+escape alive. (p. <a href="#Page_353">353</a>.)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</a></span></p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_94" id="Footnote_90_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_94"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> During this retreat three of Motecusuma's sons lost their lives; but there were
+two other sons of this monarch who survived the fall of their house and became the
+founders of the distinguished grandee families of Spain, the earls of Montezuma and
+Tula; one was called Cano and the other Andrada Montezuma. (p. <a href="#Page_353">353</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_95" id="Footnote_91_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_95"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> One circumstance Bernal Diaz has omitted to mention. After the enemy had
+taken possession of the bridges there were one hundred Spaniards, who, seeing no
+further chance of making good their retreat, fortified themselves on a teocalli or
+temple. Here these brave men maintained their position against the whole armed
+force of the town for three days, but hunger at length compelled them to surrender,
+and the whole of them were sacrificed to the idols. (p. <a href="#Page_353">353</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_96" id="Footnote_92_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_96"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> The hunger which the Spaniards suffered during these days must have been excessive;
+for Torquemada states it as a fact, that one of the soldiers had cut out the
+liver from the body of another and devoured it; for which Cortes was nearly going to
+hang the man. (p. <a href="#Page_354">354</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_97" id="Footnote_93_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_97"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> Torquemada says, "That the Spaniards stood like a small island in the midst
+of the ocean, against which the rolling billows beat on every side." When Cortes
+decided the fate of the day by his courageous attack upon the Mexican commander,
+the battle had lasted five hours. (p. <a href="#Page_354">354</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_98" id="Footnote_94_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_98"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> The Mexican general's name was Cihuacatzin; he was the Matlaxopilli, commander-in-chief,
+and carried the imperial standard, called Tlahuizmatlaxopilli, being
+a golden net ten palms in length. (p. <a href="#Page_355">355</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_99" id="Footnote_95_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_99"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> Bernal Diaz errs here with respect to dates, for the disastrous retreat from
+Mexico, according to Cortes' despatches and other accounts, took place on the 1st of
+July, and thus la noche triste (the night of sorrows) was on the night between the
+1st and 2d of July, and the battle of Otumpan took place on the 7th. There must
+either have been some mistake in the original manuscript or in the printing, for the
+years are also dated erroneously. (p. <a href="#Page_356">356</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_100" id="Footnote_96_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_100"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> This is certainly a corrupted name, for it is dissimilar in sound to all others,
+and terminates differently. (p. <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_101" id="Footnote_97_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_101"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> According to Torquemada, Cortes had left one of his officers, named Juan Perez,
+with eighty Spaniards in Tlascalla, when he first marched to Mexico. On learning
+from this officer that Maxixcatzin had offered to march at the head of 100,000 men
+to his assistance, he grew excessively angry with him, and reproached him in the
+severest terms for not having accepted of the offer. (p. <a href="#Page_359">359</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_102" id="Footnote_98_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_102"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> Torquemada throws more light on the reason of the younger Xicotencatl's
+wishing to form an alliance with Mexico. The Mexicans being aware that the
+Spaniards would derive great advantages by their alliance with Tlascalla, sent an embassy
+of six distinguished personages to draw this republic into an alliance with them.
+The matter was formally discussed by the Tlascallan chiefs in council, and though the
+Mexican ambassadors tried their utmost to persuade them into an alliance, the majority
+decided against it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</a></span>
+</p><p>
+At the head of the minority stood the younger Xicotencatl, and the debate was
+carried on with such asperity that the young hero, who had more penetration than
+the rest, was at length forcibly expelled the meeting. (p. <a href="#Page_362">362</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_103" id="Footnote_99_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_103"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> According to Torquemada, these two townships were called Quauhquechulla
+and Quauhquechola. (p. <a href="#Page_368">368</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_104" id="Footnote_100_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_104"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> Most probably Iztucan. (p. <a href="#Page_370">370</a>.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_105" id="Footnote_101_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_105"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> Cortes, in his despatches, calls this place Izzucan; the same, no doubt, as
+Iztucan. (p. <a href="#Page_372">372</a>.)</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>END OF VOL. I.</h3>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal
+Diaz del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2), by Bernal Diaz del Castillo
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO, 1 OF 2 ***
+
+***** This file should be named 32474-h.htm or 32474-h.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/4/7/32474/
+
+Produced by Julia Miller, Jane Hyland and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+
+
+</pre>
+
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/32474.txt b/32474.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0c55eca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/32474.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,18597 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz
+del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2), by Bernal Diaz del Castillo
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2)
+       Written by Himself Containing a True and Full Account of
+       the Discovery and Conquest of Mexico and New Spain.
+
+Author: Bernal Diaz del Castillo
+
+Translator: John Ingram Lockhart
+
+Release Date: May 21, 2010 [EBook #32474]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO, 1 OF 2 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Julia Miller, Jane Hyland and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MEMOIRS
+OF THE
+CONQUISTADOR BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO
+
+WRITTEN BY HIMSELF
+
+CONTAINING A TRUE AND FULL ACCOUNT
+OF THE
+DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST
+OF
+MEXICO AND NEW SPAIN
+
+TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL SPANISH BY
+JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART, F.R.A.S.
+AUTHOR OF "ATTICA AND ATHENS"
+
+IN TWO VOLUMES
+VOL. I
+
+LONDON
+J. HATCHARD AND SON, 187, PICCADILLY
+MDCCCXLIV.
+
+C. AND J. ADLARD, PRINTERS, BATHOLOMEW CLOSE.
+
+
+
+
+TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
+
+
+The History of the Conquest of New Spain is a subject in which great
+interest is felt at the present day, and the English public will hail
+these memoirs, which contain the only true and complete account of that
+important transaction.
+
+The author of this original and charming production, to which he justly
+gives the title of 'The True History of the Conquest of New Spain,' was
+himself one of the Conquistadores; one who not only witnessed the
+transactions which he relates, but who also performed a glorious part in
+them; a soldier who, for impartiality and veracity, perhaps never had
+his equal. His account is acknowledged to be the only one on which we
+can place reliance, and it has been the magazine from which the most
+eloquent of the Spanish writers on the same subject, as well as those of
+other countries, have borrowed their best materials. Some historians
+have even transcribed whole pages, but have not had sufficient honesty
+to acknowledge it.
+
+The author, while living, was never rewarded for the great services he
+had rendered his country, and it is remarkable that, after his death,
+his very memoirs were pillaged by court historians, to raise a literary
+monument to themselves.
+
+Most of the other writers on the conquest, particularly the Spanish,
+have filled their works with exaggerations, to create astonishment and
+false interest; pages are filled with so termed philosophical remarks,
+which but ill supply the place of the intelligent reader's own
+reflections. Bernal Diaz differs widely from those writers, for he only
+states what he knows to be true. The British public, fond above all
+others of original productions, will peruse with interest and delight a
+work which has so long been the secret fountain from which all other
+accounts of the conquest, with the exception of those which are least
+faithful, have taken life.
+
+In respect of its originality, it may vie with any work of modern times,
+not excepting 'Don Quixote.' The author seems to have been born to show
+forth truth in all its beauty, and he raises it to a divinity in his
+mind. Can anything be more expressive of an honest conscience than what
+he says in his own preface: "You have only to read my history, and you
+see it is true."
+
+The reader may form a general idea of this work from the following
+critique, which Dr. Robertson, the historian, passes upon it: "Bernal
+Diaz's account bears all the marks of authenticity, and is accompanied
+with such pleasant naivete, with such interesting details, with such
+amusing vanity, and yet so pardonable in an old soldier, who had been,
+as he boasts, in a hundred and nineteen battles, as renders his book one
+of the most singular that is to be found in any language."
+
+One circumstance, and that very justly, he is most anxious to impress on
+your mind, namely, that all the merit of the conquest is not due to
+Cortes alone; for which reason he generally uses the expression "Cortes
+and all of us."
+
+This is an allowable feeling in our old soldier, and it must be
+remembered that the greater part of the men who joined Cortes were of
+good families, who, as usual on such expeditions, equipped themselves at
+their own expense, and went out as adventurers of their own free choice.
+
+With respect to our author's style of writing, it is chiefly
+characterized by plainness and simplicity, and yet there are numerous
+passages which are written with great force and eloquence, and which, as
+the Spanish editor says, "could not have been more forcibly expressed,
+nor with greater elegance." Some readers may at first feel inclined to
+censure our author for going into minute particulars in describing the
+fitting out of the expedition under Cortes; for instance, his describing
+the qualities and colours of the horses; but all this, it will be seen,
+was of the utmost importance to his history, and of the horses he was
+bound to take special notice, for they performed a conspicuous part in
+the conquest. The honest old soldier even devotes a couple of his last
+chapters to the whole of his companions in arms, in which he mentions
+them all by name, describes their persons, their bravery, and the manner
+in which they died.
+
+To conclude these few remarks on this work, I must observe, that it not
+only surpasses Cortes' despatches in completeness, but also in truth and
+naivete. He represents the whole to you with a simplicity truly sublime;
+at times he astonishes with a power of expressing his sentiments
+peculiar to himself, and with a pathos that goes to the very heart.
+
+Bernal Diaz was of a respectable family, and born in Medina del Campo, a
+small town in the province of Leon. He was what in Spain is termed an
+hidalgo--though by this little more was signified than a descent from
+Christian forefathers, without any mixture of Jewish or Moorish blood.
+With respect to the precise year of his birth he has left us in the
+dark, but, according to his own account, he first left Castile, for the
+New World, in the year 1514; and as, on his first arrival in Mexico, in
+the year 1519, he still calls himself a young man, we may safely
+conclude that he was born between 1495 and 1500. In the year 1568 he
+completed his work, at which time there were only six of the
+Conquistadores alive, and he must then have been about seventy years of
+age, but there is every reason for supposing that he reached the
+advanced age of eighty-six. Endowed with singular nobleness of mind, he
+had the happiness to enjoy an unblemished reputation.
+
+The excellent Torquemada, in speaking of him in his voluminous work
+entitled 'Monarchia Indiana,' says, "I saw and knew this same Bernal
+Diaz in the city of Guatimala; he was then a very aged man, and one who
+bore the best of reputations." Quoting him in another passage, he has,
+"Thus says Bernal Diaz del Castillo, a soldier on whose authority and
+honesty we can place reliance." He was a man devoted to his religion,
+and it must be particularly borne in mind that the Catholic faith was
+never stronger than at that time; yet we find him the least
+superstitious of all the Spanish historians on the Conquest, and, in the
+34th Chapter, he has shown a mind superior to the times in which he
+lived.
+
+If we contemplate the period in which the conquest of New Spain took
+place, we can easily imagine that Cortes considered it imperative on
+him to plant his religion among the Indians by the power of the sword,
+if he could not by kind remonstrances; and we are often reminded of
+Joshua in the Old Testament. The Spaniards themselves certainly
+entertained that idea; for in the edition of Cortes' despatches
+published at Mexico in 1770, his sword is termed, "Gladius Domini et
+Gideonis:" yet the Spaniards were not the cruel monsters they have
+generally been described during those times. As far as the conquest of
+New Spain is concerned, they were more humane than otherwise; and if at
+times they used severity, we find that it was caused by the horrible and
+revolting abominations which were practised by the natives. We can
+scarcely imagine kinder-hearted beings than the first priests and monks
+who went out to New Spain; they were men who spent their lives under
+every species of hardship to promote the happiness of the Indians. Who
+can picture to his mind a more amiable and noble disposition than that
+of father Olmedo? He was one of the finest characters, Dr. Robertson
+says, that ever went out as priest with an invading army!
+
+We may have become exceedingly partial to a work which has now been
+constantly before our eyes for the last two years, yet we can scarcely
+imagine that any one could take up a volume, whether a novel or a
+history, which he would peruse with more delight than these memoirs.
+
+With regard to the translation, which is from the old edition printed at
+Madrid in 1632, we have acted up to the author's desire, and have
+neither added nor taken anything away, and have attempted to follow the
+original as closely as possible. To the original there is not a single
+note, and particular care has been taken not to overburden the
+translation with them. In the spelling of the names of the Indian
+chiefs, the townships, and of the provinces, we have mostly followed
+Torquemada, who is considered more correct on this point, for he lived
+fifty years in New Spain, was perfect master of the Mexican language,
+and made the history of that country his peculiar study.
+
+
+
+
+AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
+
+
+I, Bernal Diaz del Castillo, regidor of the town of Santiago, in
+Guatimala, author of this very true and faithful history, have now
+finished it, in order that it may be published to the world. It treats
+of the discovery and total conquest of New Spain; and how the great city
+of Mexico and several other towns were taken, up to the time when peace
+was concluded with the whole country; also of the founding of many
+Spanish cities and towns, by which we, as we were in duty bound,
+extended the dominion of our sovereign.
+
+In this history will be found many curious facts worthy of notice. It
+likewise points out the errors and blunders contained in a work written
+by Francisco de Gomara, who not only commits many errors himself in what
+he writes about New Spain, but he has also been the means of leading
+those two famous historians astray who followed his account, namely, Dr.
+Illescas and the bishop Paulo Jovio. What I have written in this book I
+declare and affirm to be strictly true. I myself was present at every
+battle and hostile encounter. Indeed, these are not old tales or
+romances of the seventh century; for, if I may so say, it happened but
+yesterday what is contained in my history. I relate how, where, and in
+what manner these things took place; as an accredited eyewitness of this
+I may mention our very spirited and valorous captain Don Hernando
+Cortes, marquis del Valle Oaxaca, who wrote an account of these
+occurrences from Mexico to his imperial majesty Don Carlos the Fifth,
+of glorious memory; and likewise the corresponding account of the
+viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza. But, besides this, you have only to read
+my history and you see it is true.
+
+I have now completed it this 26th day of February, 1568, from my
+day-book and memory, in this very loyal city of Guatimala, the seat of
+the royal court of audience. I also think of mentioning some other
+circumstances which are for the most part unknown to the public. I must
+beg of the printers not to take away from, nor add one single syllable
+to, the following narrative, etc.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+OF
+
+THE FIRST VOLUME.
+
+
+                                                                       PAGE
+
+  CHAP. I. The time of my departure from Castile, and what farther
+  happened to me                                                          1
+
+  CHAP. II. Of the discovery of Yucatan, and the battle we fought there
+  with the natives                                                        3
+
+  CHAP. III. Discovery of the coast of Campeachy                          6
+
+  CHAP. IV. How we landed in a bay close to some maise plantations, near
+  the harbour of Potonchan, and of the attack that was made upon us
+  there                                                                   9
+
+  CHAP. V. We resolve to return to Cuba. The extreme thirst we suffered,
+  and all the fatigues we underwent until our arrival in the port of
+  Havannah                                                               12
+
+  CHAP. VI. How twenty of us went on shore in the bay of Florida with the
+  pilot Alaminos in search of water; the hostilities which the natives of
+  this country commenced with us; and of all that further befel us on our
+  passage to the Havannah                                                13
+
+  CHAP. VII. The fatigues I had to undergo until my arrival in the town of
+  Trinidad                                                               17
+
+  CHAP. VIII. How Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, sent out another
+  armament to the country we had discovered                              19
+
+  CHAP. IX. How we landed at Champoton                                   23
+
+  CHAP. X. We continued our course and ran into Terminos bay, as we named
+  it                                                                     24
+
+  CHAP. XI. How we came into the Tabasco river, which we termed the
+  Grijalva, and what happened to us there                                25
+
+  CHAP. XII. We come in sight of the town of Aguajaluco, and give it the
+  name of La Rambla                                                      28
+
+  CHAP. XIII. How we arrive on the Bandera stream and gain 1500 pesos    29
+
+  CHAP. XIV. How we come into the harbour of San Juan de Ulua            32
+
+  CHAP. XV. Diego Velasquez sends out a small vessel in quest of us      33
+
+  CHAP. XVI. What befel us on our coasting voyage along the Tusta and
+  Tuspa mountains                                                        34
+
+  CHAP. XVII. Diego Velasquez despatches one of his officials to Spain   38
+
+  CHAP. XVIII. Of some errors in the work of Francisco Lopez de Gomara   39
+
+  CHAP. XIX. How another armament was fitted out for a voyage to the newly
+  discovered countries; the command of which was given to Hernando Cortes,
+  afterwards Marquis of the Vale of Oaxaca; also of the secret cabals
+  which were formed to deprive him of it                                 42
+
+  CHAP. XX. Of the designs and plans of Hernando Cortes after he had
+  obtained the appointment of captain                                    45
+
+  CHAP. XXI. Cortes' occupations at Trinidad, and of the cavaliers and
+  warriors who there joined our expedition, and other matters            47
+
+  CHAP. XXII. How the governor, Diego Velasquez, sends two of his
+  officials in all haste to Trinidad, with full power and authority to
+  deprive Cortes of his appointment of captain, and bring the squadron
+  away, &c.                                                              49
+
+  CHAP. XXIII. Cortes embarks with all his cavaliers and soldiers in order
+  to sail along the south side of the island to the Havannah, and sends
+  off one of the vessels to go around the north coast for the same port  51
+
+  CHAP. XXIV. Diego Velasquez sends one of his officials, named Gaspar
+  Garnica, with full authority to take Cortes prisoner, whatever might be
+  the consequence; and what further happened                             54
+
+  CHAP. XXV. Cortes sets sail with the whole squadron for the island of
+  Cozumel, and what further took place                                   56
+
+  CHAP. XXVI. Cortes reviews his troops, and what further happened       57
+
+  CHAP. XXVII. Cortes receives information that two Spaniards are in the
+  power of the Indians at the promontory of Cotoche: the steps he took
+  upon this news                                                         58
+
+  CHAP. XXVIII. The manner in which Cortes divides the squadron. The
+  officers whom he appointed to the command of the several vessels. His
+  instructions to the pilots; the signals which were to be made with
+  lanterns at night, &c.                                                 62
+
+  CHAP. XXIX. How the Spaniard Geronimo de Aguilar, who was in the power
+  of the Indians, came to us when he learnt that we had again returned to
+  the island of Cozumel, and what further happened                       63
+
+  CHAP. XXX. How we re-embark and sail for the river Grijalva, and what
+  happened to us on our voyage there                                     66
+
+  CHAP. XXXI. How we arrive in the river Grijalva, called in the Indian
+  language the Tabasco; the battle we fought there; and what further took
+  place                                                                  68
+
+  CHAP. XXXII. How Cortes despatches two of our principal officers, each
+  with one hundred men, to explore the interior of the country, and what
+  further took place                                                     71
+
+  CHAP. XXXIII. Cortes issues orders that we should hold ourselves in
+  readiness to march against the Indians on the following day; he also
+  commands the horses to be brought on shore. How the battle terminates we
+  fought with them                                                       73
+
+  CHAP. XXXIV. How we are attacked by all the caziques of Tabasco, and the
+  whole armed force of this province, and what further took place        74
+
+  CHAP. XXXV. How Cortes assembles all the caziques of this province, and
+  what further happened                                                  77
+
+  CHAP. XXXVI. How all the caziques and calachonis of the river Grijalva
+  arrive with presents, and what happened after this                     80
+
+  CHAP. XXXVII. How Dona Marina herself was a caziquess, and the daughter
+  of distinguished personages; also a ruler over a people and several
+  towns; and how she came to Tabasco                                     84
+
+  CHAP. XXXVIII. How we arrive with our vessels in San Juan de Ulua, and
+  what we did there                                                      86
+
+  CHAP. XXXIX. How Teuthlille makes his report to Motecusuma, and gives
+  him our presents; as also what further took place in our camp          90
+
+  CHAP. XL. How Cortes goes in search of another harbour and a good spot
+  to found a colony, and what further happened                           92
+
+  CHAP. XLI. What happened on account of our bartering for gold, and of
+  other things which took place in our camp                              94
+
+  CHAP. XLII. How we elected Hernando Cortes captain-general and chief
+  justice until we should receive the emperor's commands on this head; and
+  what further happened                                                  97
+
+  CHAP. XLIII. How the partisans of Diego Velasquez would not acknowledge
+  the power we had conferred upon Cortes, and what further took place   100
+
+  CHAP. XLIV. How Pedro de Alvarado was ordered to make an excursion into
+  the interior of the country, in order to procure maise and other
+  provisions; and what further happened                                 101
+
+  CHAP. XLV. How we marched into Sempoalla, which at that period was a
+  very considerable township, and what we did there                     104
+
+  CHAP. XLVI. How we march into Quiahuitzlan, which was a town with
+  fortifications, and were most friendly received                       106
+
+  CHAP. XLVII. How Cortes ordered the five Mexican tax-gatherers to be
+  imprisoned, and no further obedience to be paid Motecusuma, nor tribute
+  to be exacted; and of the rebellion which was now excited against this
+  monarch                                                               109
+
+  CHAP. XLVIII. How we resolved to found Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, and
+  construct a fortress on the low meadows, in the neighbourhood of some
+  salt springs and the harbour, where our vessels were anchored; and what
+  further happened                                                      111
+
+  CHAP. XLIX. How the fat cazique and other chief men of the country come
+  and complain to Cortes that a garrison of Mexicans had been thrown into
+  the strong fortress of Tzinpantzinco, committing great depredations; and
+  what further took place                                               114
+
+  CHAP. L. How some of Diego Velasquez's adherents refused to take any
+  further part in our proceedings, and declared their determination to
+  return to Cuba, seeing that Cortes was earnestly bent upon founding a
+  colony, and had already commenced to pacify the inhabitants           115
+
+  CHAP. LI. What happened to us at Tzinpantzinco, and how, on our return
+  to Sempoalla, we destroyed all the idols; likewise of other matters   117
+
+  CHAP. LII. How Cortes erects an altar, and places thereon the image of
+  the blessed Virgin with a cross; after which mass was said, and the
+  eight Indian females were baptized                                    121
+
+  CHAP. LIII. How we arrived in our town of Vera Cruz, and what happened
+  there                                                                 123
+
+  CHAP. LIV. Concerning the account of our adventures, with the letter,
+  which we sent his majesty the emperor, through Puertocarrero and
+  Montejo, the letter being attested by some officers and soldiers      125
+
+  CHAP. LV. How Diego Velasquez is informed by his agents that we had sent
+  messengers with letters and presents to our king, and what further took
+  place                                                                 127
+
+  CHAP. LVI. How our agents passed through the Bahama channel with the
+  most favorable wind, and arrived in Castile after a short passage; and
+  of our success at court                                               129
+
+  CHAP. LVII. What took place in our camp after the departure of our
+  agents to his majesty with the gold and the letters; and the instance of
+  severity which Cortes was compelled to give                           132
+
+  CHAP. LVIII. How we came to the resolution of marching to Mexico, and of
+  destroying all our vessels, which was done with the sanction and by the
+  advice of all Cortes' true adherents                                  133
+
+  CHAP. LIX. Of the speech which Cortes made to us after our vessels were
+  destroyed, and how we prepared for our march to Mexico                135
+
+  CHAP. LX. How Cortes arrived with us at the spot where the vessel lay at
+  anchor, and captured six soldiers and sailors of the said vessel who had
+  stepped on shore; also what further took place                        136
+
+  CHAP. LXI. How we set out on our march to the city of Mexico, and, upon
+  the advice of the caziques, take our road over Tlascalla. What took
+  place here, and of the battles we fought                              138
+
+  CHAP. LXII. How we commenced our march upon Tlascalla, and sent
+  messengers before us, to obtain the sanction of the inhabitants to pass
+  through their country; how they took our messengers prisoners; and what
+  further happened                                                      143
+
+  CHAP. LXIII. Of the terrible battles we fought with the Tlascallans, and
+  what further happened                                                 146
+
+  CHAP. LXIV. How we quartered ourselves in the township of Tehuacacinco,
+  and what we did there                                                 149
+
+  CHAP. LXV. Of the great battle we fought with the Tlascallans, and what
+  further took place                                                    150
+
+  CHAP. LXVI. How we sent a message next day to the caziques of Tlascalla
+  to bring about peace between us, and the determination they came to upon
+  this                                                                  153
+
+  CHAP. LXVII. How we again sent messengers to the caziques of Tlascalla
+  in order to induce them to make peace, and the resolution they came to
+  upon this                                                             157
+
+  CHAP. LXVIII. How we came to the determination of marching to a township
+  in the neighbourhood of our camp, and what happened upon this         158
+
+  CHAP. LXIX. How we found, on our return to our encampment, that new
+  intrigues had been set on foot; and the answer Cortes gave to certain
+  representations which were made to him                                160
+
+  CHAP. LXX. How the captain Xicotencatl assembled 20,000 chosen warriors
+  to make an attack upon us in our camp, and what happened upon this    165
+
+  CHAP. LXXI. How four chief personages arrived in our camp to negotiate
+  terms of peace with us, and what further happened                     167
+
+  CHAP. LXXII. How ambassadors arrive in our camp from Motecusuma, and of
+  the presents they brought with them                                   170
+
+  CHAP. LXXIII. How the captain-general Xicotencatl arrives in our camp to
+  negotiate terms of peace; the speech he made, and what further happened
+                                                                        171
+
+  CHAP. LXXIV. How the old caziques of Tlascalla arrived in our camp and
+  invited Cortes and all of us to visit their city, and what further
+  happened                                                              175
+
+  CHAP. LXXV. How we marched into the city of Tlascalla, and were received
+  by the old caziques; of the present they made us, and how they brought
+  us their daughters and nieces; and what further happened              176
+
+  CHAP. LXXVI. How mass was said in the presence of a great number of
+  caziques, and of the present the latter brought us                    178
+
+  CHAP. LXXVII. How the caziques presented their daughters to Cortes and
+  all of us, and what further happened                                  180
+
+  CHAP. LXXVIII. How Cortes gained some information respecting Mexico from
+  Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin                                           183
+
+  CHAP. LXXIX. How our captain Hernando Cortes and all our officers and
+  soldiers determine to march to Mexico                                 187
+
+  CHAP. LXXX. How the great Motecusuma despatched four ambassadors to us,
+  all men in high authority, with presents in gold and cotton stuffs, and
+  what they said to our captains                                        190
+
+  CHAP. LXXXI. How the inhabitants of Cholulla despatched four Indians to
+  us, all men of no distinction, to apologise for not having visited us in
+  Tlascalla, and what further happened                                  192
+
+  CHAP. LXXXII. How we arrived in the town of Cholulla, and the brilliant
+  reception we met with                                                 193
+
+  CHAP. LXXXIII. How the inhabitants of Cholulla concerted a plan, at the
+  instigation of Motecusuma, to murder us all, and what further happened
+                                                                        195
+
+  CHAP. LXXXIV. The negotiations we set on foot with the great Motecusuma,
+  and the ambassadors we sent him                                       208
+
+  CHAP. LXXXV. How the powerful Motecusuma sends a valuable present in
+  gold to us, and the message which accompanied it, and how we all agree
+  to commence our march upon Mexico; and what further happened          210
+
+  CHAP. LXXXVI. How we set out on our march to Mexico; what happened to us
+  on our route; and the message Motecusuma sent us                      212
+
+  CHAP. LXXXVII. How the powerful Motecusuma again sends ambassadors to us
+  with a present of gold and cotton stuffs: that monarch's message to
+  Cortes, and the answer he returns                                     216
+
+  CHAP. LXXXVIII. The magnificent and pompous reception which the powerful
+  Motecusuma gave to Cortes and all of us, on our entrance into the great
+  city of Mexico                                                        220
+
+  CHAP. LXXXIX. How Motecusuma, accompanied by several caziques, pays us a
+  visit in our quarters, and of the discourse that passed between him and
+  our general                                                           223
+
+  CHAP. XC. How our general, the day following, paid a visit to
+  Motecusuma, and of the discourse that passed between them             225
+
+  CHAP. XCI. Of Motecusuma's person, disposition, habits, and of his great
+  power                                                                 228
+
+  CHAP. XCII. Our general takes a walk through Mexico, and views the
+  Tlatelulco, (the great square,) and the chief temple of Huitzilopochtli
+                                                                        235
+
+  CHAP. XCIII. How we erect a chapel and altar in our quarters with a
+  cross on the outside; discover the treasure of Motecusuma's father; and
+  determine to seize the monarch's person and imprison him in our quarters
+                                                                        244
+
+  CHAP. XCIV. Of the battle which the Mexican generals fought with
+  Escalante and the Totonaque tribes                                    247
+
+  CHAP. XCV. Of the imprisonment of Motecusuma, and what further happened
+                                                                        249
+
+  CHAP. XCVI. How our general appoints Alonso Grado lieutenant of Vera
+  Cruz, and Sandoval alguacil-major of the same place                   255
+
+  CHAP. XCVII. How we entertained and amused Motecusuma during his
+  confinement, and granted him permission to visit his temple           258
+
+  CHAP. XCVIII. How Cortes orders two large brigantines to be built for
+  the navigation of the lake of Mexico; Motecusuma begs permission to
+  visit his temples to offer up his prayers there; and what Cortes said to
+  him when he granted this permission                                   261
+
+  CHAP. XCIX. How our two brigantines are launched, and Motecusuma,
+  expressing a wish to go a hunting, sails in one of these vessels to a
+  river where he usually went for that purpose                          263
+
+  CHAP. C. How the nephews of Motecusuma assembled the principal
+  personages of the empire, and formed a conspiracy to rescue the monarch
+  from confinement, and beat us out of the city                         265
+
+  CHAP. CI. How the powerful Motecusuma, with several caziques and chief
+  personages of the country, declare themselves vassals of our emperor;
+  and of other occurrences which happened then                          271
+
+  CHAP. CII. How Cortes sends out some of our men to explore the gold
+  mines and those rivers which wash down gold; also the harbours from the
+  Panuco to the Tabasco, but particularly the river Guacasualco         273
+
+  CHAP. CIII. How the officers whom Cortes had despatched to the gold
+  mines and the river Guacasualco returned to Mexico                    274
+
+  CHAP. CIV. How Cortes desired the powerful Motecusuma to order all the
+  caziques of the empire to bring in the tribute of gold due to our
+  emperor                                                               277
+
+  CHAP. CV. How all the gold presented by Motecusuma, and collected from
+  the different townships, was divided; and what happened to one of our
+  soldiers on the occasion                                              280
+
+  CHAP. CVI. Of the high words which arose between Velasquez de Leon and
+  our treasurer Gonzalo Mexia on account of the gold which was missing
+  from the heap, and how Cortes put an end to that dispute              282
+
+  CHAP. CVII. How Motecusuma offers one of his daughters in marriage to
+  Cortes, who accepts her, and pays her the attention due to her high
+  station                                                               284
+
+  CHAP. CVIII. How the powerful Motecusuma acquaints Cortes that it is
+  requisite for his safety to quit Mexico, with the whole of his men, as
+  all the caziques and papas were upon the point of rising up in arms to
+  destroy us all, in compliance with the advice given them by their gods:
+  the steps which Cortes took upon this news                            286
+
+  CHAP. CIX. How the governor of Cuba, Velasquez, in all haste fits out an
+  armament against us, the command of which he gives to Pamfilo de
+  Narvaez, who was accompanied by the licentiate Lucas Vazquez de Aillon,
+  auditor of the royal court of audience at St. Domingo                 289
+
+  CHAP. CX. How Narvaez arrives with the whole of his flotilla in the
+  harbour of San Juan de Ulua, and what happened upon this              290
+
+  CHAP. CXI. How Pamfilo Narvaez despatches five persons to Sandoval, the
+  commandant of Vera Cruz, with summons to surrender up the town to him
+                                                                        293
+
+  CHAP. CXII. How Cortes, after he had gained every information respecting
+  the armament, wrote to Narvaez, and several of his acquaintances who had
+  come with him, and particularly to Andreas du Duero, private secretary
+  to Velasquez; and of other events                                     296
+
+  CHAP. CXIII. The high words which arose between the auditor Vazquez de
+  Aillon and Narvaez, who orders him to be seized and sent back prisoner
+  to Spain                                                              298
+
+  CHAP. CXIV. Narvaez marches, with the whole of his troops, to Sempoalla;
+  his proceedings there; and how we in Mexico determine to march against
+  him                                                                   300
+
+  CHAP. CXV. How the powerful Motecusuma inquires of Cortes whether it was
+  really his intention to march out against Narvaez, though the latter's
+  troops were double the number of ours                                 302
+
+  CHAP. CXVI. How we determined once more to despatch father Olmedo to
+  Narvaez's head-quarters, and what we commissioned him to say          306
+
+  CHAP. CXVII. How father Olmedo arrived in Narvaez's head-quarters at
+  Sempoalla, and what he did there                                      308
+
+  CHAP. CXVIII. How Cortes reviews the whole of his troops, and we are
+  supplied with two hundred and fifty very long new lances, by the
+  Tchinantecs                                                           310
+
+  CHAP. CXIX. How Duero, with the soldier Usagre and two of his Indian
+  servants from Cuba, arrived in our camp; who this Duero was, and the
+  reason of his visit, &c.                                              311
+
+  CHAP. CXX. How Juan Velasquez arrives in Narvaez's head-quarters, and
+  what took place there                                                 314
+
+  CHAP. CXXI. What took place in Narvaez's quarters after the return to
+  our camp of the ambassadors we had sent there                         318
+
+  CHAP. CXXII. The order of our march against Narvaez; the speech Cortes
+  made to us; and our reply to it                                       320
+
+  CHAP. CXXIII. How the 2000 Indians of Chinantla, whom Cortes had
+  demanded of the caziques there, arrived at Sempoalla after Narvaez's
+  defeat                                                                329
+
+  CHAP. CXXIV. How Cortes despatches Francisco de Lugo, with two men who
+  had formerly been ship-builders, to the harbour where Narvaez's flotilla
+  lay, to bring all the captains and pilots of the vessels to Sempoalla
+                                                                        329
+
+  CHAP. CXXV. How we all, including Narvaez's troops, hasten to Mexico by
+  forced marches                                                        333
+
+  CHAP. CXXVI. How the Mexicans made war upon us, and the battles we
+  fought with them                                                      337
+
+  CHAP. CXXVII. Cortes determines to announce Motecusuma's death to the
+  Mexican generals and chiefs who are at war with us                    345
+
+  CHAP. CXXVIII. How we come to the determination of leaving Mexico
+  secretly at night; and what further happened                          347
+
+  CHAP. CXXIX. How we quartered ourselves in the metropolis of Tlascalla,
+  and what we did there 359
+
+  CHAP. CXXX. How we marched into the province of Tepeaca, what we did
+  there, and of other things which happened                             365
+
+  CHAP. CXXXI. How a vessel, which had been sent by Diego Velasquez from
+  Cuba, arrived at Vera Cruz, commanded by the captain Pedro Barba, and
+  the manner in which Caballero captured her                            369
+
+  CHAP. CXXXII. How the inhabitants of Quauhquechola called upon Cortes,
+  and begged of him to drive out the Mexican troops from their town, as
+  they were plundered and ill-used by them                              370
+
+  CHAP. CXXXIII. How one of the vessels which Francisco de Garay had
+  fitted out for the object of forming settlements on the river Panuco,
+  put in at Vera Cruz, and what further happened                        373
+
+  CHAP. CXXXIV. How Cortes despatches Sandoval with 200 men, among which
+  were twenty horse and twelve crossbow-men, to punish the tribes of
+  Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, for having put some Spaniards to death, and to
+  demand restitution of the gold they had robbed us of; and also further
+  to explore the country                                                375
+
+  CHAP. CXXXV. How all the slaves we had taken in Tepeaca, Quauhquechola,
+  Tecalco, and Castilblanco, were brought together in our head-quarters,
+  and branded with an iron, in his majesty's name                       379
+
+  CHAP. CXXXVI. How the chief officers and principal personages of
+  Narvaez's troops request leave to return to Cuba, which Cortes grants,
+  and they accordingly leave; also how our general sends ambassadors to
+  Spain, St. Domingo, and Jamaica                                       381
+
+NOTES                                                                 387
+
+
+[Transcriber's Notes: The errata below have been corrected in the
+text. Footnote 24 has also been moved to its correct position in the text.]
+
+
+ERRATA.
+
+    P.  17, _l._  3, _for_ Fronseca, _read_ Fonseca.
+        17,      24, _for_ dubbloons, _read_ doubloons.
+        20,      18, _for_ Chaopa, _read_ Chiapa.
+        20,      26, _for_ Mautanzas, _read_ Matanza.
+        31,       8, _for_ this, _read_ their.
+        31,      28, _for_ surrounded, _read_ surmounted.
+        51,      17, _for_ his, _read_ its
+    P.  53, _l._ 19, _read_ whom the king Quauhtemoctzin took.
+       126,       2, _for_ which, _read_ whom.
+       230,      22, _for_ were, _read_ was.
+       355,       9, _for_ when, _read_ where.
+       365,      33, _for_ were the townships, _read_ was the township.
+
+
+
+
+CONQUEST
+
+OF
+
+MEXICO AND NEW SPAIN.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+    _The time of my departure from Castile, and what further happened to
+    me._
+
+
+In the year 1514 I departed from Castile in the suite of Pedro Arias de
+Avila, who had just then been appointed governor of Terra Firma. At sea
+we had sometimes bad and sometimes good weather, until we arrived at
+Nombre Dios, where the plague was raging: of this we lost many of our
+men, and most of us got terrible sores on our legs, and were otherwise
+ill. Soon after our arrival, dissensions arose between the governor and
+a certain wealthy cavalier, named Vasco Nunez de Balboa, who had brought
+this province to subjection, and was married to one of the daughters of
+Avila. As, however, suspicion had been excited against him, owing to a
+plan he had formed of making a voyage to the South Sea at his own
+expense, for which he required a considerable body of troops, his own
+father-in-law deposed him and afterwards sentenced him to decapitation.
+
+While we were spectators of all this, and saw, moreover, how other
+soldiers rebelled against their superior officers, we learnt that the
+island of Cuba had just been conquered, and that a nobleman of Quellar,
+named Diego Velasquez, was appointed governor there. Upon this news some
+of us met together, cavaliers and soldiers, all persons of quality who
+had come with Pedro Arias de Avila, and asked his permission to proceed
+to the island of Cuba: this he readily granted, not having sufficient
+employment for so great a number of men as he had brought with him from
+Spain. Neither was there any further conquest to be made in these parts;
+all was in profound peace, so thoroughly had his son-in-law Balboa
+subdued the country, besides which it was but small in extent and thinly
+populated. As soon, therefore, as we had obtained leave, we embarked in
+a good vessel and took our departure. Our voyage was most prosperous, so
+that we speedily arrived at Cuba. The first thing we did was to pay our
+respects to the governor, who received us with great kindness, and made
+us a promise of the first Indians that might be discharged. Three years,
+however, passed away since our first arrival in Terra Firma and stay at
+Cuba, still living in the expectation of the Indians which had been
+promised us, but in vain. During the whole of this time we had
+accomplished nothing worthy of notice: we therefore, the 110 who had
+come from Terra Firma, with some others of Cuba, who were also without
+any Indians, met together to concert measures with a rich cavalier named
+Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, who, besides being a person of wealth,
+possessed great numbers of Indians on the island. This gentleman we
+chose for our captain; he was to lead us out on voyages for the
+discovery of new countries, where we might find sufficient employment.
+
+We purchased three vessels, two of which were of considerable burden;
+the third was given us by the governor, Diego Velasquez, on condition
+namely, that we should first invade the Guanajas islands, which lie
+between Cuba and the Honduras, and bring him thence three cargoes of
+Indians, whom he wanted for slaves; this he would consider as payment
+for the vessel. We were, however, fully aware that it was an act of
+injustice which Diego Velasquez thus required at our hands, and gave him
+for answer: that neither God nor the king had commanded us to turn a
+free people into slaves. When he learnt our determination, he confessed
+that our project for the discovery of new countries was more
+praiseworthy, and he furnished us with provisions for our voyage.
+
+We had now three vessels and a sufficient supply of cassave bread, as it
+is there made from the juca root. We also purchased some pigs, which
+cost us three pesos a piece; for at that time there were neither cows
+nor sheep on the island of Cuba: to this I must also add a scanty supply
+of other provisions; while every soldier took with him some glass beads
+for barter. We had three pilots; of whom the principal one, who had the
+chief command of our vessels, was called Anton de Alaminos, a native of
+Palos; the two others were, Camacho de Triana, and Juan Alvarez el
+Manquillo of Huelva. In the same way we hired sailors, and furnished
+ourselves with ropes, anchors, water-casks, and other necessaries for
+our voyage, all at our own expense and personal risk.
+
+After we had met together, in all 110, we departed for a harbour on the
+north coast of Cuba, called by the natives Ajaruco. The distance from
+this place to the town of San Christoval, then recently built, was
+twenty-four miles; for the Havannah had then only been two years in our
+possession. In order that our squadron might not want for anything
+really useful, we engaged a priest at the town of San Christoval. His
+name was Alonso Gonzalez, and by fair words and promises we persuaded
+him to join us. We also appointed, in the name of his majesty, a
+treasurer, called Beruardino Miguez, a native of Saint Domingo de la
+Calzada. This was done in order that if it pleased God we should
+discover any new countries, where either gold, silver, or pearls were to
+be found, there might be amongst us a qualified person to take charge of
+the fifths for the Emperor.[1] After everything had been thus properly
+ordered and we had heard mass said, we commended ourselves to God, our
+Lord Jesus Christ, and the virgin Mary his blessed mother, and set out
+on our voyage, as I shall further relate.
+
+[1] During the first conquests of the Spaniards in New Spain, one half
+of the profits arising from the gold mines was paid to the crown; but
+the ill effects of this exorbitant demand soon began to show themselves,
+and it was reduced to one third, and then to a fifth, called the real
+quinto, which continued for a length of time, until it was further
+reduced. I must take this opportunity of observing, that the Spanish
+"peso" is equal to about 4s. 6d. of our money. (p. 3.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+    _Of the Discovery of Yucatan, and the battle we fought there with
+    the Natives._
+
+
+We sailed in the year 1517 from the harbour of Jaruco and left the
+Havannah. This harbour lies on the north coast of Cuba, and is so called
+by the natives. After twelve days' sail we had passed the coast of Saint
+Antonius, which in Cuba is called the country of the Guanatavies, a wild
+tribe of Indians. We now made for the wide ocean, steering continually
+towards the west, totally ignorant of the shoals and currents or of the
+winds which predominate in this latitude. Certainly most hazardous on
+our part, and indeed we were very soon visited by a terrible storm,
+which continued two days and two nights, in which the whole of us had
+nigh perished.
+
+After the storm had abated and we had changed our course, we came in
+sight of land on the twenty-first day after our departure from Cuba,
+which filled every heart with joy and thanks towards God. This country
+had never been discovered before, nor had any one ever heard of it. From
+our ships we could perceive a considerable sized town, which lay about
+six miles from the sea shore. On account of its magnitude, and because
+it was larger than any town in Cuba, we gave it the name of _Grand
+Cairo_.
+
+We resolved that our smallest vessel should near the shore as much as
+possible, to learn the nature of the spot and look out for a good
+anchorage. One morning, the 5th of March, we perceived five large canoes
+full of men coming towards us as swift as their paddles and sails could
+bring them from the town just mentioned. These canoes were hollowed out
+of the trunks of large trees, after the manner of our kneading troughs.
+Many of them were big enough to hold from forty to fifty Indians.
+
+As these Indians approached us in their canoes, we made signs of peace
+and friendship, beckoning at the same time to them with our hands and
+cloaks to come up to us that we might speak with them; for at that time
+there was nobody amongst us who understood the language of Yucatan or
+Mexico. They now came along side of us without evincing the least fear,
+and more than thirty of them climbed on board of our principal ship. We
+gave them bacon and cassave bread to eat, and presented each with a
+necklace of green glass beads. After they had for some time minutely
+examined the ship, the chief, who was a cazique, gave us to understand,
+by signs, that he wished to get down again into his canoe and return
+home, but that he would come the next day with many more canoes in order
+to take us on shore. These Indians wore a kind of cloak made of cotton,
+and a small sort of apron which hung from their hips half-way down to
+the knee, which they termed a maltates. We found them more intelligent
+than the Indians of Cuba, where only the women wear a similar species of
+apron made of cotton, which hangs down over their thighs, and is called
+by them a nagua.
+
+But to continue my narrative. Very early the morning following, our
+cazique again called upon us: this time he brought with him twelve large
+canoes and a number of rowers. He made known to our captain, by signs,
+that we were good friends and might come to his town: he would give us
+plenty to eat with everything we wanted, and could go on shore in his
+twelve canoes. I shall never forget how he said, in his language, _con
+escotoch_, _con escotoch_, which means, come with me to my houses yonder.
+We therefore called the spot Punta de Cotoche, under which name it
+stands on the sea charts.
+
+In consideration of all these friendly invitations from the cazique to
+accompany him to his village, our captain held a short consultation with
+us, when we came to the resolution to lower our boats, take the smallest
+of our vessels with us, and so proceed together with the twelve canoes
+all at once on shore, as the coast was crowded with Indians from the
+above-mentioned village. This was accordingly done, and we all arrived
+there at the same time. The cazique seeing us now landed, but that we
+made no signs of going to his village, again gave our captain to
+understand, by signs, that we should follow him to his habitation,
+making at the same time so many demonstrations of friendship, that a
+second consultation was held as to whether we should accompany him or
+not. This was carried in the affirmative, but we took every precaution
+to be upon our guard, marching in close order with our arms ready for
+action. We took fifteen crossbows with a like number of matchlocks, and
+followed the cazique, who was accompanied by a great number of Indians.
+
+As we were thus marching along, and had arrived in the vicinity of
+several rocky mountains, the cazique all at once raised his voice,
+calling aloud to his warriors, who it seemed were lying wait in ambush,
+to fall upon us and destroy us all. The cazique had no sooner given the
+signal, than out rushed with terrible fury great numbers of armed
+warriors, greeting us with such a shower of arrows, that fifteen of our
+men were immediately wounded. These Indians were clad in a kind of
+cuirass made of cotton, and armed with lances, shields, bows, and
+slings; with each a tuft of feathers stuck on his head. As soon as they
+had let fly their arrows, they rushed forward and attacked us man to
+man, setting furiously to with their lances, which they held in both
+hands. When, however, they began to feel the sharp edge of our swords,
+and saw what destruction our crossbows and matchlocks made among them,
+they speedily began to give way. Fifteen of their number lay dead on the
+field.
+
+At some distance from the spot where they had so furiously attacked us
+was a small place in which stood three houses built of stone and lime.
+These were temples in which were found many idols made of clay which
+were of a pretty good size; some had the countenances of devils, others
+those of females: some again had even more horrible shapes, and appeared
+to represent Indians committing horrible offences. In these temples we
+also found small wooden boxes containing other of their gods with
+hellish faces, several small shells, some ornaments, three crowns, and
+other trinkets, some in the shape of fish, others in the shape of ducks,
+all worked out of an inferior kind of gold. Seeing all this, the gold,
+and the good architectural style of the temples, we felt overjoyed at
+the discovery of this country; for Peru was not discovered till sixteen
+years after. While we were fighting with the Indians, the priest
+Gonzalez ordered the gold and small idols to be removed to our ships by
+two Indians whom we had brought with us from Cuba. During the skirmish
+we took two of the natives prisoners, who subsequently allowed
+themselves to be baptised and became Christians. One was named Melchior
+and the other Julian; both were tattooed about the eyes. The combat
+with the natives now being at an end, we resolved to re-embark, and
+prosecute our voyage of discovery further along the coast towards the
+west. Having dressed the wounds of our men we again set sail.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+    _Discovery of the Coast of Campeachy._
+
+
+Continuing the course we had previously determined upon, more westward
+along the coast, we discovered many promontories, bays, reefs, and
+shallows. We all considered this country to be an island, because our
+pilot, Anton de Alaminos, persisted in it. During daytime we proceeded
+with all caution, but lay to at nights. After sailing in this way for
+fourteen days, we perceived another village which appeared to us of
+considerable magnitude. Here was a bay with an inner harbour, and it
+appeared to us that there might also be some river or small stream where
+we could take in fresh water, which latter had become very scarce, as
+our supply in the casks, which were none of the best, was fast
+diminishing; for, as the expedition was fitted out solely by persons in
+poor circumstances, we had not been able to purchase good ones. It
+happened to be Sunday Lazari when we landed, and we therefore named this
+place in honour of this day, although we were well aware that the
+Indians called it the land of _Campeachy_.
+
+In order that the whole of us might land at the same time, we determined
+to go on shore in our smallest vessel and three boats, all of us well
+armed, to be ready in case we should meet with a similar rencontre as at
+the cape of Cotoche. The sea in these bays and roads is very shallow, so
+that our vessels were forced to anchor at more than three miles distance
+from the shore. Thus precautious we landed near the village, but were
+still a good way from the place were we intended to fill our casks. From
+this spot the natives also had their water; for we now found that there
+was no rivulet in the neighbourhood.
+
+When we had brought our casks on shore, filled them with water, and were
+about to embark again, about fifty Indians from the village came up to
+us. They all wore stately mantels made of cotton, appeared friendly
+disposed, and to be caziques. They asked us, by signs, what our business
+was there? We told them to take in water, and that we were about to
+re-embark. They further pointed with their hands to the rising of the
+sun, and asked us whether we came from that quarter, at the same time
+pronouncing the word _Castilan_, _Castilan_; but at that moment we did not
+pay any particular attention to the word Castilan. In the course of this
+interview, however, they gave us to understand that we might go with
+them to their village.
+
+We held a consultation amongst ourselves as to whether we should accept
+the invitation, and at length unanimously agreed to follow them, but to
+use the utmost circumspection. They took us to some large edifices,
+which were strongly put together, of stone and lime, and had otherwise a
+good appearance. These were temples, the walls of which were covered
+with figures representing snakes and all manner of gods. Round about a
+species of altar we perceived several fresh spots of blood. On some of
+the idols there were figures like crosses, with other paintings
+representing groups of Indians. All this astonished us greatly as we had
+neither seen nor heard, of such things before. It appeared to us that
+the inhabitants had just been sacrificing some Indians to their gods, to
+obtain from them the power to overcome us.
+
+There were great numbers of Indians with their wives who received us
+with pleasing smiles, and otherwise made every show of friendship; but
+their numbers gradually increasing we began to entertain fears that it
+would end in the same hostile manner as at Cape Cotoche. While we were
+thus looking on, a number of Indians approached us clad in tattered
+cloaks, each carrying a bundle of dried reeds, which they arranged in
+order on the ground. Among them we also perceived two troops of men
+armed with bows, lances, shields, slings, and stones, having their
+cotton cuirasses on. At the head of these, and at some distance from us
+stood the chiefs. At this moment ten Indians came running out of another
+temple, all dressed in long white robes, while the thick hair of their
+heads was so entangled and clotted with blood that it would have been an
+impossibility to have combed or put it in order without cutting it off.
+These personages were priests, and in New Spain are commonly termed
+_Papas_.[2] I repeat it, that in New Spain they are termed papas, and I
+will therefore in future call them by that name. These papas brought
+with them a kind of incense, which looked like resin, and is termed by
+them copal. They had pans made of clay filled with glowing embers, and
+with these they perfumed us. They also gave us to understand, by signs,
+that we should leave their country before the bundles of reeds, which
+had been brought and were going to be set fire to, should be consumed,
+otherwise they would attack and kill us every man.
+
+Upon this they ordered the bundles to be lighted, and as soon as they
+began to burn, all were silent, nor did they utter another syllable.
+Those, on the contrary, who had ranged themselves in order of battle,
+began to play on their pipes, blow their twisted shells, and beat their
+drums. When we saw what their real intentions were, and how confident
+they appeared, it of course reminded us that our wounds which we had
+received at Cape Cotoche were not yet healed; that two of our men had
+died of the consequences, whom we had been obliged to throw overboard.
+As the number of Indians continued to increase, we became alarmed, and
+resolved to retreat to the shore in the best order we could. In this way
+we marched along the coast until we arrived at that spot where our boats
+and the small vessels lay with the water-casks. Not far distant from
+this place stood a rock in the midst of the sea; for, on account of the
+vast numbers of Indians, we durst not venture to re-embark where we had
+at first landed, as they would no doubt have fallen upon us while we
+were getting into our boats.
+
+After we had thus managed to get our water safe on board and re-embark
+at the small harbour which the bay here forms, we continued our course
+for six days and six nights without interruption, the weather being very
+fine. But now the wind suddenly veered round to the north and brought
+stormy weather, as is always the case with a north wind on this coast.
+The storm lasted twenty-four hours, and indeed we had nearly all of us
+met with a watery grave, so boisterous was the sea. In order to save
+ourselves from total destruction we cast anchor near the shore. The
+safety of our ship now depended upon two ropes, and had they given way
+we should have been cast on shore. Oh, in what a perilous situation we
+were then placed! had we been torn away from our anchors we must have
+been wrecked off the coast! But it was the will of Providence that our
+old ropes and cables should preserve us. When the storm had abated we
+continued our course along the coast and kept in as much as possible,
+that we might take in water when required. For, as I have before stated,
+our casks were old and leaky; nor was the best economy used with the
+water, for we thought by going on shore we should be certain either to
+meet with some spring or obtain it by digging wells. Thus coasting along
+we espied a village from our ships, and about three miles further on
+there was a kind of inner harbour, at the head of which it appeared to
+us there might be some river or brook; we therefore resolved to land
+here.
+
+The water, as I have above mentioned, being uncommonly shallow along
+this coast, we were compelled to anchor our two larger vessels at about
+three miles distance from the shore, fearing they might otherwise run
+aground. We then proceeded with our smallest vessel and all our boats in
+order to land at the above-mentioned inner harbour. We were, however,
+quite upon our guard, and carried along with us, besides the
+water-casks, our arms, crossbows, and muskets.
+
+It was about midday when we landed. The distance from here to the
+village, which was called Potonchan, might be three miles. Here we found
+some wells, maise plantations, and stone buildings. Our water-casks were
+soon filled, but we could not succeed to get them into our boats on
+account of an attack made upon us by great numbers of the inhabitants. I
+will, however, break off here and relate the battle we fought, in the
+next chapter.
+
+[2] Bernal Diaz is thus particular in laying stress on this remarkable
+circumstance, because the pope of Rome, in Spanish, is termed papa. (p.
+7.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+    _How we landed in a bay close to some maise plantations, near the
+    harbour of Potonchan, and of the attack that was made upon us
+    there._
+
+
+While we were busy taking in water, near the above-mentioned houses and
+maise plantations, great numbers of Indians were making towards us from
+the village of Potonchan, as it is termed by the natives. They had all
+their cotton cuirasses on, which reached to their knees, and were armed
+with bows, lances, shields, and swords. The latter were shaped like our
+broadswords, and are wielded with both hands. They also had slings and
+stones, their bunches of feathers on, and their whole bodies painted
+with white, brown, and black colours. They approached us in profound
+silence, as if they came with the most peaceable intentions, and
+inquired of us by signs if we came from the rising of the sun, thereby
+pronouncing the very same words which the inhabitants of St. Lazaro had
+used: namely, _Castilan, Castilan_. We told them, likewise by signs,
+that we indeed came from the rising of the sun. We certainly did not
+understand what they meant; nevertheless it was something for us to
+reflect on, while it at the same time gave rise to a variety of
+conjectures, since the natives of St. Lazaro had used the identical
+words.
+
+It was about the hour of Ave Maria, when the Indians approached us in
+this manner. A few country houses were scattered round about the
+neighbourhood. We took the precaution to post watches in different
+quarters, and upon the whole kept a sharp look out, as the manner in
+which the natives were assembling seemed to forebode very little good.
+When we had closed our ranks and taken every necessary precaution, our
+ears were assailed by the cries and yells of large bodies of Indians who
+were advancing from different quarters. As they were all armed for
+battle we could no longer doubt that some evil design was lurking
+behind; we therefore held a consultation with our captain as to the
+course we should adopt. Many were of opinion that the best we could do
+would be to re-embark ourselves in all haste; but, as is always the case
+in critical moments, one advised this and another that, and so this
+proposal was overruled as unadvisable, for the vast numbers of Indians
+would certainly fall upon us while we were getting into our boats and we
+should all stand in danger of being killed. Others again, among which
+number I also was, were of opinion that the enemy should be attacked
+that very night; for, according to the old saying, he who strikes the
+first blow remains master of the field; but we might make up our minds
+that each of us singly would have to encounter thirty Indians at least.
+
+Day now began to dawn, and we emboldened each other to meet the coming
+severe conflict by putting our trust in God and commending our cause to
+him, while every one was determined to defend himself to the utmost. As
+soon as daylight had fully broken forth, we perceived more troops of
+armed natives moving towards the coast with flying colours. They had on
+their feather-knots, and were provided with drums, bows, lances,
+shields, and joined themselves to the others who had arrived in the
+night. They divided themselves into different bodies, surrounded us on
+all sides, and commenced pouring forth such showers of arrows, lances,
+and stones, that more than eighty of our men were wounded at the first
+onset. They next rushed furiously forward and attacked us man to man:
+some with their lances, others with their swords and arrows, and all
+this with such terrible fury that we were compelled also to show them
+earnest. We dealt many a good thrust and blow amongst them, keeping up
+at the same time an incessant fire with our muskets and crossbows; for
+while some loaded others fired. At last, by dint of heavy blows and
+thrusts we forced them to give way; but they did not retreat further
+than was necessary, in order that they might still continue to hem us in
+in all safety; constantly crying out in their language, _Al calachoni,
+al calachoni_; which signifies, kill the chief! And sure enough our
+captain was wounded in no less than twelve different places by their
+arrows. I myself had three; one of which was in my left side and very
+dangerous, the arrow having pierced to the very bone. Others of our men
+were wounded by the enemy's lances, and two were carried off alive; of
+whom, one was called Alonzo Bote, the other was an old Portuguese.
+
+Perceiving how closely we were hemmed in on all sides by the enemy, who
+not only kept constantly pouring in fresh troops but were copiously
+supplied on the field of battle with meat, drink, and quantities of
+arrows, we soon concluded that all our courageous fighting would not
+advance us a step. The whole of us were wounded, many shot through the
+neck, and more than fifty of our men were killed. In this critical
+situation we determined to cut our way manfully through the enemy's
+ranks and make for the boats, which fortunately lay on the coast near at
+hand. We therefore firmly closed our ranks and broke through the enemy.
+At that moment you should have heard the whizzing of their arrows, the
+horrible yell they set up, and how the Indians provoked each other to
+the combat, at the same time making desperate thrusts with their lances.
+But a still more serious misfortune awaited us; for as we made a
+simultaneous rush to our boats, they soon sunk or capsized, so that we
+were forced to cling to them as well as we could; and in this manner by
+swimming we strove to make the best of our way to the small vessel,
+which was now in all haste coming up to our assistance. Many of our men
+were even wounded while climbing into the vessel, but more particularly
+those who clung to its side; for the Indians pursued us in their canoes
+and attacked us without intermission. With the greatest exertions and
+help of God we thus got out of the hands of this people.
+
+After we had gained our vessels we found that fifty-seven of our men
+were missing, besides the two whom the Indians had carried off alive,
+and five whom we had thrown overboard, who had died in consequence of
+their wounds and extreme thirst. The battle lasted a little longer than
+half an hour. The spot where it took place was certainly called
+Potonchan. Our seamen, however, gave it the name of Bahea de mala Pelea,
+(the bay of the disastrous engagement,) as it stands on the maps. As
+soon as we found ourselves in safety we returned thanks to Almighty God
+for the preservation of our lives. Our wounded, however, had still great
+sufferings to undergo, as we had nothing but salt water to wash their
+wounds with, which caused them to swell very much. Some of our men swore
+most bitterly against our chief pilot Alaminos, and the conduct he had
+pursued; he having steadfastly maintained that this was an island and
+not a continent. I must, however, break off here, and relate what
+further happened to us, in the next chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+    _We resolve to return to Cuba. The extreme thirst we suffered, and
+    all the fatigues we underwent until our arrival in the port of
+    Havannah._
+
+
+After we had got into our vessels, as above related, and returned thanks
+to God for our preservation, we commenced dressing our wounds. None of
+us had escaped without two, three, or four wounds. Our captain had as
+many as twelve, and there was only one single soldier who came off
+whole. We therefore determined to return to Cuba; but as most of the
+sailors who had accompanied us on shore were also wounded, we had not
+sufficient hands to work the sails, we were therefore forced to set fire
+to our smallest vessel and leave it to the mercy of the waves, after
+taking out all the ropes, sails, and anchors, and distributing the
+sailors, who were not wounded equally among the two other vessels. We
+had, however, to struggle with another far greater evil. This was our
+great want of fresh water; for although we had filled our barrels and
+casks near Potonchan, we did not succeed to bring them off, owing to the
+furious attack of the natives and the hurry we were in to get on board:
+thus we had been compelled to leave them behind and return without a
+single drop of water. We suffered most intensely from thirst, and the
+only way we could in some measure refresh our parched tongues was to
+hold the edges of our axes between our lips. Oh, what a fearful
+undertaking it is to venture out on the discovery of new countries, and
+place one's life in danger, as we were obliged to do! Those alone can
+form any idea of it who have gone through the hard school of experience.
+
+We now kept as close into the shore as possible, to look out for some
+stream or creek where we might meet with fresh water. After thus
+continuing our course for three days we espied an inlet or mouth of some
+river as we thought, and sent a few hands on shore in the hopes of
+meeting with water. These were fifteen sailors who had remained on board
+during the battle at Potonchan, and three soldiers who had been only
+slightly wounded. They carried along with them pickaxes and three small
+casks. But the water in the inlet was salt, and wherever they dug wells
+it was equally bad. They nevertheless filled the casks with it, but it
+was so bitter and salty as to be unfit for use. Two soldiers who drank
+of it became ill of the consequences. The water here swarmed with
+lizards; we therefore gave this place the name of Lizard Bay, under
+which name it stands on the sea charts.
+
+But, to continue my history, I must not forget to mention that while
+our boats were on shore in search of water, there suddenly arose such a
+violent tempest from the north-east, that our ships were nigh being cast
+on shore. For, as we were forced to lay to, the wind blowing hard from
+the north and north-east, our position was extremely dangerous, from a
+scarcity of ropes.
+
+When the men who had gone on shore with our boats perceived the danger
+we were in, they hastened to our assistance, and cast out additional
+anchors and cables. In this way we lay for two days and two nights.
+After the expiration of that time we again heaved our anchors and
+steered in the direction of Cuba. Our pilot Alaminos here held a
+consultation with the two others, when they concluded that the best plan
+would be to get, if possible, into the latitude of Florida, which,
+according to their charts and furthest measurement, could not be more
+than 210 miles distant; for they assured us if we could get into the
+latitude of Florida, we should have a better and speedier sail to the
+Havannah. It turned out exactly as they had said; for Alaminos had been
+in these parts before, having accompanied Juan de Leon when he
+discovered Florida, about ten or twelve years previously. After four
+days' sail we crossed this gulf and came in sight of Florida.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+    _How twenty of us went on shore in the bay of Florida with the pilot
+    Alaminos in search of water; the hostilities which the natives of
+    this country commenced with us; and of all that further befel us on
+    our passage to the Havannah._
+
+
+As soon as we had arrived off the coast of Florida we determined that
+twenty of our men, who had almost recovered from their wounds, should go
+on shore. Among the number was myself and the pilot, Alaminos. We each
+took a mattock and a small cask, being, moreover, well armed with
+crossbows and muskets. Our captain, who was dangerously wounded and very
+much weakened by the extreme thirst he suffered, begged of us, in the
+name of God, to bring him some sweet water, as he was almost dying of
+thirst. Indeed, the water, as I have before said, which we then had was
+quite salty and not drinkable. We landed in a creek, and our pilot again
+recognized this coast, which he had visited ten or twelve years
+previously with Ponce de Leon, when he discovered these countries. They
+had here fought a battle with the natives, and lost many of their men.
+
+We therefore took every precaution lest the natives should also fall
+upon us unawares. We posted two sentinels at a spot where the stream had
+a considerable breadth. We then dug deep wells where we thought fresh
+water was likely to be found. The sea was just ebbing, and it pleased
+God that we should find sweet water there.
+
+With joyful hearts we then took our fill of the refreshing beverage, and
+washed the bandages of our wounded. A good hour's time was spent in
+this, and as we were on the point of re-embarking with the casks of
+water, quite overjoyed at our success, one of the men whom we had placed
+sentinel on the coast came running towards us in all haste, crying
+aloud, "To arms! to arms! numbers of Indians are approaching, both by
+land and sea." And indeed the Indians came up to us almost at the same
+time with the sentinel.
+
+They had immense sized bows with sharp arrows, lances, and spears--among
+these some were shaped like swords--while their large powerful bodies
+were covered with skins of wild beasts. They made straightways to us,
+let fly their arrows, and wounded six of our men at the first onset. I
+was also slightly wounded in my right arm. We, however, received our
+enemies with such well-directed blows and musket-shots that they very
+soon quitted us who had been digging the wells, and turned towards the
+creek to assist their companions who in their canoes were attacking
+those left behind in the boat. The latter had been forced to fight man
+to man, and had already lost the boat, which the Indians were towing off
+behind their canoes. Four of the sailors had been wounded, and the
+pilot, Alaminos, himself severely so in the throat. We, however,
+courageously faced our enemy, went up to our middles in the water, and
+soon compelled them, by dint of our swords, to jump out of the boat
+again. Twenty-two of the enemy lay dead on the shore; three others, who
+were slightly wounded, we took on board with us, but they died soon
+after.
+
+After this skirmish was ended, we questioned the soldier who had stood
+sentinel as to what had become of his companion, Berrio. He related that
+his comrade had left him with an axe in his hand, in order to go and cut
+down a palm-tree, and that this was near the inlet where the Indians
+first made their appearance. He had also heard him cry out in Spanish,
+upon which he himself had immediately hastened to give us the
+information. His companion, no doubt, had been murdered by the Indians.
+Singular that this man should have lost his life here, he being the only
+one who escaped without a wound at the battle of Potonchan. We made
+every search for him, and followed the track of the Indians who had just
+attacked us; this indeed led us to a palm-tree which had been recently
+cut, around which were numerous foot-marks. We could, however, discover
+no marks of blood; and concluded, therefore, that the Indians had
+carried off the man alive. After we had fruitlessly searched for him in
+every quarter for upwards of an hour, and repeatedly called out aloud to
+him, without receiving any answer, we returned to our boat, and brought
+the water on board. The joy of our men was as great as if we had brought
+them new life; and one of the soldiers, from excessive thirst, leaped
+from the vessel into the boat, seized one of the small casks, and poured
+such an abundance of water into his body, that he instantaneously
+swelled out and expired.
+
+Having brought the water on board our vessels, hauled in our boats, we
+hoisted our sails and stood direct for the Havannah. The day and
+following night the weather was most beautiful as we passed the Martyr
+Islands and sand-banks of the same name. We had only four fathoms water,
+where the sea was deepest; our principal ship consequently struck
+against the rocks and became very leaky, so that all hands were engaged
+at the pumps, without then being able to get the water under, while we
+every moment feared the vessel would go down. I never shall forget the
+answer which some sailors from the Levant, who were among the crew, made
+when we cried out to them: "Come on, my boys, help us to pump out the
+water, or we shall all be lost! you see how our wounds and hard labour
+have debilitated us." "That's your own look out," said they; "we get no
+pay, suffer both from hunger and thirst, and have, in the bargain, to
+share your fatigues and wounds." Nothing now remained but to drive them
+to the pumps by main force; and in this way we had alternately to work
+the sails and the pumps, however distasteful to us, until the Lord Jesus
+brought us into the port of Carena, where now the town of Havannah
+stands, the latter being previously called Puerto de Carenas, and not
+the Havannah.
+
+As soon as we had set foot on shore we returned thanks to the Almighty
+for our safe return, and got the water out of our principal ship, in
+which a Portuguese diver, who happened to be on board another vessel,
+greatly assisted us. We also immediately wrote to the governor, Diego
+Velasquez, giving him an account of the countries we discovered with
+large townships and houses built of stone, whose inhabitants were clad
+in cotton, and wore maltates; likewise of the gold and the regular
+maise-plantations of the country. Our captain journeyed overland to
+Santispiritus, where he had his Indian commendary: he died, however, ten
+days after his arrival there, from his wounds. The rest of our men
+became dispersed through the island, and three more of our men died of
+their wounds at the Havannah.
+
+Our vessels were taken to Santiago de Cuba, where the governor resided.
+Here the two Indians were brought on shore whom we had taken with us
+from the Punta de Cotoche, as above related, called Melchorillo and
+Julianillo. When, however, we brought forth the box with the crowns, the
+golden ducks, the fish, and the idols, more noise was made about them
+than they really merited, so that they became the common topics of
+conversation throughout the islands of St. Domingo and Cuba; indeed the
+fame thereof even reached Spain. There it was said that none of the
+countries which had hitherto been discovered were as rich as this, and
+in none had there been found houses built of stone. The earthen gods, it
+was said, were the remains of the ancient heathen times; others again
+went so far as to affirm that they were descendants of the Jews whom
+Titus and Vespasian had driven from Jerusalem, who had been shipwrecked
+off this coast. Peru, indeed, was not then known, and in so far the
+countries we had discovered were justly considered of the greatest
+importance. Diego Velasquez closely questioned the two Indians as to
+whether there were any gold mines in their country. They answered in the
+affirmative; and when they were shown some of the gold-dust found in the
+island of Cuba, they said there was abundance of it in their country. In
+this they told an untruth, as it is very well known there are neither
+goldmines on the Punta de Cotoche nor even in whole Yucatan. They were
+likewise shown the beds in which the seeds of that plant are sown from
+whose root the cassave bread is made, and in Cuba called yuca: they
+assured us that the same plant grew in their country, and was called by
+them tale. As the cassave-root at Cuba is called yuca, and the ground in
+which it is planted by the Indians tale, so from these two words arose
+the name of the country, Yucatan; for the Spaniards who were standing
+around the governor at the time he was speaking to the two Indians said,
+"You see, sir, they call their country Yucatan." And from this
+circumstance the country retained the name of Yucatan, although the
+natives call it otherwise.
+
+In this beautiful voyage of discovery we had spent our all, and returned
+to Cuba covered with wounds, and as poor as beggars; yet we had reason
+to congratulate ourselves that it had not been equally disastrous to us
+all as to many of our companions who had lost their lives. Our captain,
+as I have already mentioned, died soon after his return; and all of us
+suffered for a considerable time after from our wounds. Our whole loss
+amounted to seventy men, which was all we had gained by this voyage of
+discovery.
+
+Concerning all this the governor Diego Velasquez wrote to those
+gentlemen in Spain who at that time managed the affairs of India, and
+boasted of the discoveries _he_ had made, and of the vast expense it had
+put _him_ to. This actually obtained credit, and the bishop of Burgos,
+Don Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, who also bore the title of archbishop of
+Rosano, and was president of Indian affairs, wrote in that strain to his
+majesty, in Flanders, vastly extolling the merit of Diego Velasquez, at
+the same time not as much as even mentioning the names of any of us who
+had really discovered the country.
+
+I will, however, break off here, and relate in the following chapter
+what further fatigues I and three more of my companions in arms had to
+undergo.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+    _The fatigues I had to undergo, until my arrival in the town of
+    Trinidad._
+
+
+I have already above related that I with some other soldiers who had not
+quite recovered from our wounds remained behind in the Havannah. As soon
+as the latter began to heal a little we three made up our minds to go in
+company with a certain Pedro d'Avila, an inhabitant of the Havannah, to
+the town of Trinidad. This man was going to make a voyage in a canoe
+along the south coast, and had taken a lading of cotton shirts, which he
+intended to dispose of in Trinidad. As I have above stated, these canoes
+are hollowed out of the trunks of trees, after the manner of our bakers'
+troughs: in this country they are used for coasting; and we had to pay
+Pedro d'Avila ten doubloons for the voyage.
+
+As we were coasting along, sometimes rowing, sometimes sailing, we
+arrived after the eleventh day in sight of an Indian village, subject to
+the Spaniards, and called Cannareon; there arose at night-time such a
+terrible gale of wind, that, although we rowed with all our strength, we
+could not keep the sea any longer. Notwithstanding every exertion of
+Pedro d'Avila, of some Indians from the Havannah, and several other good
+rowers we had with us, nothing at last remained but to run the canoe
+aground between the steep rocks. The canoe was dashed to pieces, the
+whole lading of Pedro d'Avila went to the bottom, and we made the best
+of our way on shore, naked as the day we were born, our bodies cut and
+bruised all over by clambering over the rocks, for we had stripped
+ourselves of our clothes in order to be the better able to swim, and
+also, if possible, to save the canoe. As we had only escaped with our
+lives among these rocks, none other choice was left us than to continue
+our road over them to Trinidad, which lay along the coast through a
+barren country full of rugged rocks, where our feet soon became
+blistered and wounded; as to think of getting anything to eat was quite
+out of the question; while we had continually to struggle with a
+terrific gale of wind and the sea breaking over the rocks. Although we
+had not neglected to cover our bodies as much as possible with leaves
+and herbs, we nevertheless got sore boils between our legs, which bled
+very much. At last we could proceed no further; for the sharp stones had
+covered our feet with wounds: we managed, however, with considerable
+trouble to reach a more elevated spot. None of us having his sword left,
+we contrived by means of sharp stones to loosen the bark of some trees
+and bind it as well as we could under the soles of our feet, with the
+tendrils of climbers, which grew among the wood. And in this way, after
+suffering great fatigues we reached a sandy district on the coast,
+whence in a couple of days we arrived in the Indian village Yeguarama,
+at that time the property of Bartholomeus de las Casas,[3] who was a
+priest. I knew him afterwards when he belonged to the order of the
+Dominicans, and became bishop of Chiopia. Here the Indians gave us to
+eat, and on the following day we arrived at another village, called
+Chipiona, which was the joint property of Alonso de Avila, and of
+Sandoval, but this was not the captain of the same name who gained such
+vast renown in New Spain. From this place we at last came to Trinidad,
+where I had an acquaintance, by name Antonio de Medina, who provided me
+with a suit of clothes as they were worn in that town; my comrades were
+similarly provided by other of the inhabitants. Quite worn out by
+fatigue and miserably poor, I set off for Santiago de Cuba, where the
+governor Diego Velasquez resided. He was just then busily engaged
+fitting out another squadron, and was highly delighted at seeing me
+again when I called upon him, for we were related to each other: and as
+one word led to another, he asked me if my wounds were sufficiently
+healed to make another trip to Yucatan? I could not help smiling at this
+and said, who gave the country that name? for the natives do not call it
+so. "So Melchior, whom you brought with you, calls it," resumed he.
+"Call it rather, (said I,) the land where they killed one half of our
+men and wounded the other." "Well, (said he,) if you have undergone many
+fatigues, you have only shared the same fate with all others who have
+ventured out on the discovery of new countries. But, on the other hand,
+you will not fail to be highly honoured and rewarded by his majesty the
+king, to whom I will transmit a faithful account of all this.
+Therefore, my friend, you may in all safety join yourself to the
+squadron I am now fitting out, and I will take care that you shall have
+an honorable post." What further happened I will next relate.
+
+[3] This is the celebrated Las Casas, the protector of the rights of the
+Indians. (p. 18.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    _How Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, sent out another armament to
+    the country we had discovered._
+
+
+It was in the year of our Lord 1518, after Diego Velasquez had learnt
+the good account we gave of the newly-discovered country, called
+Yucatan, that he determined to send thither another expedition. For this
+purpose he selected four vessels, among which were the two in which we
+warriors had accompanied Cordoba on our recent voyage to Yucatan,
+purchased at our own expense. At the time this squadron was fitting out
+there were staying at Santiago de Cuba, Juan de Grijalva, Pedro de
+Alvarado, Francisco de Montejo, and Alonso de Avila; who had
+commendaries of Indians in these islands, and had come to transact
+business with the governor. As these were all men of courage and energy,
+Velasquez soon made arrangements with them to take part in this
+expedition, on the following terms: that Juan de Grijalva, who was
+related to him, should have the chief command of the whole expedition as
+captain-general, while Pedro de Alvarado, Francisco de Montejo, and
+Alonso de Avila, should be appointed to the command of the three other
+ships. They had also to furnish the vessels with provisions of cassave
+bread and pickled meat; Diego Velasquez had, on the other hand, to
+procure the four vessels, furnish the necessary crossbows, muskets,
+goods for barter, and other matters of less importance. Our account that
+the houses in the newly-discovered country were built of stone and lime,
+had spread a vast idea of its riches, added to which the Indian
+Melchorejo had given to understand by signs that it abounded in gold
+mines. All this created a great desire among the inhabitants and
+soldiers throughout the island, who possessed no commendaries of
+Indians, to go in quest of such a rich country; consequently, in a very
+short time, we mustered 220. Each person, moreover, furnished himself
+with additional provisions, arms, and other matters which might be
+useful.
+
+Thus I again took my departure for that country, under the same
+commanders I subsequently once more visited it. The instructions which
+our commanders received from Diego Velasquez, were to this effect, that
+they should barter for as much gold and silver as they could get, and if
+they deemed it advisable settle colonies, but left this entirely to
+their own judgment. A person of the name of Penolosa accompanied us in
+the capacity of comptroller; for priest we had a certain Juan Diaz. We
+had also the same three pilots who accompanied us on our former voyage;
+and a fourth, whose name I do not remember. Each had charge of one of
+the vessels; but the first in command, as chief pilot, was Anton de
+Alaminos.
+
+But before I proceed with my narrative, I must here remark, that it is
+not for want of deference on my part, that I barely give the names of
+the noblemen who were our commanding officers, without adding their
+titles and describing their several escutcheons, but shall simply call
+them thus, Pedro de Alvarado, Francisco de Montejo, and Alonso de Avila.
+I therefore now take this opportunity of saying, that Pedro de Alvarado
+was a bold cavalier, who, subsequent to the conquest of New Spain,
+became governor and chief justice of the provinces of Guatimala,
+Honduras, and Chaopo, and comptoir of Santiago. In like manner Francisco
+de Montejo, a man of great courage, subsequently was governor and chief
+justice of Yucatan. I shall merely call them by their proper names, up
+to that time when his majesty conferred on them honorary titles and
+sovereign authority.
+
+But to return to my subject, our four vessels lay in the harbour of
+Matanza on the north coast, not far from the old Havannah, which at that
+time was not built where it now stands. In this harbour, or at least in
+its neighbourhood, most of the inhabitants had their stores of cassave
+bread and pickled meat. Here consequently our vessels were provided with
+everything they further required. This place moreover had been appointed
+the rendezvous for all the officers and men.
+
+But, before I continue my narrative, I will explain how this harbour
+obtained the name of Matanza,[4] though it may seem rather out of place
+here; yet, as so many persons have asked me how it originated, there is
+some excuse.
+
+Some time ago, when Cuba was not quite subdued, it happened that a
+vessel, bound from the island of St. Domingo to the Luccas, during a
+heavy storm, was wrecked off the coast. This took place near the river
+and harbour of Matanza; there were thirty Spaniards and two Spanish
+ladies on board. In order to convey them across the river, numbers of
+Indians had collected together from the Havannah and other districts.
+They appeared most friendly inclined, and offered to carry the
+shipwrecked across in their canoes and take them to their habitations,
+where they would give them to eat. The Spaniards accepted this offer;
+when the Indians, however, had arrived in the midst of the stream, they
+upset their canoes and drowned them all, save three of the men and one
+of the females. The men were allotted to the other Indians, but the
+female, a very beautiful woman, was given to the most powerful of the
+caziques, the person who had concocted this piece of treachery. From
+this circumstance it was that the harbour got the name of Matanza.
+
+I was personally acquainted with the female whose misfortune I have just
+related. After the total conquest of Cuba, she left the cazique in whose
+power she then was, and married a citizen of Trinidad, by name Pedro
+Sanchez Farsan.
+
+I was also acquainted with the three Spaniards whose lives had been
+spared. One was Gonzalo Mexia, an old man, and native of Xeres; the
+other, Juan de Santiste-ban, from Madrigal; and the third was Cascorro,
+a sailor and fisherman, of Huelva. The cazique in whose power he was,
+had given him his daughter in marriage, and bored holes through his ears
+and nose, after the Indian fashion.
+
+Having thus detained the reader for a while with these old stories, it
+is time I return to the thread of my narrative.
+
+On the 5th of April, 1518, all of us having met together, the officers
+and soldiers, the pilots made acquainted with the signals, and the hour
+of departure fixed, we attended mass with fervent devotion, and weighed
+anchor. After ten days' sail, we passed the cape of Guaniguanico, called
+by the sailors San Anton. Eight days after, we came in sight of the
+island of Cozumel; it happened to be the feast of the Holy Cross. This
+time our ships were carried further off by the currents than the time
+before under Cordoba; the consequence was that we now landed on the
+south coast of the island. We here espied a village, and found a
+good anchorage near it, perfectly free from all rocks. Our
+commander-in-chief, therefore, went on shore here with a good body of
+soldiers. The inhabitants, who had never witnessed such a sight before,
+immediately took to flight when they saw our vessels approaching, so
+that not a single one of them had remained in the village. At length we
+discovered two Indians among the recently cut maise plants, who had not
+been able to get off quick enough. We brought them into the presence of
+our captain, who spoke to them with the help of Julianillo and
+Melchorejo, whom we had captured at the Punta de Cotoche, and who
+understood their language. The distance between their countries was only
+four hours' sail, which accounts for the inhabitants of Cozumel
+speaking the same language. Our commander was very kind to them, gave
+each some green glass beads, and sent them away to bring the Calachoni
+of the district, (so the caziques are termed here;) they, however, never
+returned. While we were still waiting for them, an Indian woman came
+towards us, comely in appearance, and who spoke the language of Jamaica.
+She told us that the Indians had fled, out of fear, to the mountains. As
+I myself and many others among us understood her language, which is the
+same as that of the island of Cuba, we were quite astonished at the
+circumstance, and inquired of her how she had got here.
+
+She told us that, two years ago, she had left Jamaica with ten Indians,
+in a large canoe, in order to go fishing among the islands in this
+neighbourhood, but had been driven on shore by the currents, when the
+inhabitants killed her husband with most of her companions, and
+sacrificed them to their gods.
+
+It struck our commander, as soon as he had learnt this, that the woman
+might be employed as a negotiator. He therefore desired her to go and
+fetch the inhabitants and cazique of the district, and gave her two days
+to return in. We durst not send Melchorejo and Julianillo with her, lest
+they should run away and return to their own country.
+
+The day following, the Indian woman returned, but informed us that,
+notwithstanding all her representations, she could neither persuade the
+Indians nor their wives to accompany her. We called this place Santa
+Cruz, because we had discovered it four or five days before the feast of
+the Holy Cross. In this neighbourhood there was plenty of honey, manioc,
+patates, and large herds of musk swine, which have their navels on their
+backs.[5] This island contains three poor villages, of which the one I
+am now speaking of is the largest; the two smaller ones were both
+situated on a promontory at about six miles distance from each other.
+Our commander Grijalva, perceiving that it was mere loss of time to make
+any further stay here, gave orders for re-embarking. The Indian woman of
+Jamaica went along with us, and we continued our voyage.
+
+[4] Puerto de Matanza, the harbour of the massacre. (p. 20.)
+
+[5] The sus tajassu, pecary, or Mexican musk hog; but what our old
+soldier, with other writers, mistook for a navel, is an open gland on
+the lower part of the back, which discharges a fetid ichorous liquor.
+(p. 22.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+    _How we landed at Champoton._
+
+
+From this point we sailed in the same direction we had taken under
+Cordoba, and arrived after eight days' sail off the coast of Champoton,
+the place where the Indians had so ill used us, as has been related in
+the proper place. The sea being very shallow in these parts we dropt our
+anchor at about three miles distance from the shore, and immediately
+landed in all our boats with half of our men, as near to the village as
+possible. The inhabitants and other Indians in the neighbourhood
+gathered themselves together as they had the time before, when they
+killed fifty-six of our men and wounded all the rest of us. From their
+bearing and proud demeanour we could easily perceive that they had not
+forgotten their victory. They were all well armed according to their
+fashion, with bows, lances, shields, and broadswords, which they wield
+with both hands. Added to all this they had slings, cotton cuirasses,
+drums and trumpets, while most of them had their faces painted black and
+white. They had arranged themselves along the sea shore in order to fall
+upon us as soon as we landed. But, as our previous loss had taught us
+prudence, we took with us this time some falconets, and otherwise well
+armed ourselves with crossbows and matchlocks.
+
+When we were near enough they let fly such a shower of arrows and lances
+that the half of our men were speedily wounded. As soon, however, as we
+got on shore, we quickly gave them an evil return with our matchlocks
+and sabres. Nothing daunted by this they each selected their man, whom
+they particularly aimed at with their arrows, but we had taken the
+precaution to put on cotton cuirasses. They continued to combat with us
+for some time, until the arrival of another of our long boats, when we
+drove them back to the wells near the village. In this conflict we lost
+Juan de Quitera and many other soldiers. Our commander, Juan de
+Grijalva, got three arrow wounds and lost two of his teeth, and above
+sixty of our men were wounded. Immediately upon our putting the enemy to
+flight, we entered the village, dressed our wounds, and buried the dead.
+Not a single person had remained behind in the village, and even those
+whom we had driven back to the wells had merely staid there a sufficient
+time to carry off their property. In this skirmish we made three
+prisoners, one of whom was a person of rank. Our commander set them at
+liberty, desiring them to go and call the cazique of the district. He
+also presented them with green glass beads and small bells to distribute
+among the inhabitants, in order to gain their friendship. We treated the
+three prisoners upon the whole with every kindness, and gave them glass
+corals to encourage them and gain their good faith. They left us indeed,
+but took good care not to return; we thought it possible, however, that
+Julianillo and Melchorejo had misrepresented our commission to them. We
+staid four days in this place, and I shall never forget it on account of
+the immense sized locusts which we saw here. It was a stony spot on
+which the battle took place, and these creatures, while it lasted, kept
+continually flying in our faces; and as at the same moment we were
+greeted by a shower of arrows from the enemy, we also mistook these
+locusts for arrows. But, as soon as we had discovered our mistake, we
+deceived ourselves in another more direful way, for we now mistook
+arrows for locusts, and discontinued to shield ourselves against them.
+In this way we mistook locusts and arrows to our great sorrow, were
+severely wounded in consequence, and otherwise found ourselves in a very
+awkward predicament.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+    _We continued our course and ran into Terminos bay, as we named it._
+
+
+On our further voyage we came to an opening on the coast, which to us
+appeared to be the mouth of some broad and large river. It was, however,
+not a river as we had supposed, but a good harbour, which reached so far
+inland, and had such a considerable breadth, that it appeared like a
+sea; and our pilot Anton de Alaminos confidently asserted that this was
+an island whose two promontories reached nigh to the continent. We,
+therefore, termed this opening the Boca de Terminos, under which name it
+may be found on the sea charts. Our commander and the other officers
+went on shore here with the greater part of our men, among which number
+I also was. We remained three whole days in this place in order
+thoroughly to explore the opening and sail through it in all directions.
+We discovered, however, that it was no island, but a deep indented bay,
+formed by the continent, affording us a most commodious harbour. As we
+also found temples here built of stone and lime, full of idols made of
+wood or clay, with other figures, sometimes representing women,
+sometimes serpents, also horns of various kinds of wild animals, we
+concluded that an Indian village must be near at hand: we considered,
+moreover, that this would be a most excellent spot to found a colony. We
+had, however, deceived ourselves in one thing, the district being quite
+uninhabited. The temples most probably belonged to merchants and
+hunters, who on their journies most likely ran into this harbour and
+there made their sacrifices. Fallow deer and rabbits abounded in this
+neighbourhood, and with one greyhound only we killed ten of the former
+and great numbers of the latter. Our dog took such a liking to this spot
+that it ran away while we were busy reimbarking, nor did we see it again
+until we visited this place subsequently with Cortes, when it appeared
+in excellent condition, quite plump and sleeky.
+
+Having thoroughly explored Terminos harbour, and sounded it throughout,
+we pursued our course along the coast to the river Tabasco, which at
+present, after the name of its discoverer, is called the river Grijalva.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+    _How we came into the Tabasco river, which we termed the Grijalva,
+    and what happened to us there._
+
+
+As we thus by day sailed along the coast of the continent, for at night
+we lay to on account of the shallows and rocks, we perceived on the
+third morning a very broad mouth of some river. We approached the shore
+as near as possible, thinking we should find a good harbour here. As we
+came closer to the mouth we saw that the waves broke over its shallows:
+we consequently lowered our boats to make soundings, and found that our
+two larger vessels could not come in here. It was therefore immediately
+resolved that they should anchor further out at sea, but that the two
+remaining vessels which did not draw so much water, with all our boats
+well manned, should proceed up the river. We could perceive in the
+canoes along the shore numbers of Indians with bows and arrows, and in
+other respects armed exactly like those of Champoton. We concluded from
+their numbers that a village could not be far off; we also found as we
+proceeded further up the river along the banks, basket kiddles put out,
+from two of which we took the fish and placed them in a boat a-stern of
+our principal ship.
+
+This river was previously called after the cazique of the district, the
+Tabasco; as we, however, discovered it during this expedition, we gave
+it the name of the Grijalva river, in honour of our chief commander,
+under which name it stands on the sea charts.
+
+We might still have been about two miles from the village when we
+distinctly heard the crackling noise of the felling of trees; for the
+Indians were constructing barricades and making other preparations of
+war against us, of the issue of which they entertained no doubts, as
+they had been duly advertised of the occurrence at Potonchan. As soon as
+we learnt this, we disembarked our men on a projecting point of land,
+about two miles from the village, where some palm trees were growing. As
+soon as they perceived this, about fifty canoes with Indians completely
+armed after their fashion made towards us, while many other canoes,
+manned in the same way, lay dispersed about the haven, at a greater
+distance, not daring to approach us so near as the first.
+
+Seeing how ready they were for action, we were just upon the point of
+firing off our great guns, and giving them a volley of musket-shots,
+when it entered our minds, through a merciful Providence, that we ought
+first to try if we could not gain their friendship. We therefore by
+means of Julianillo and Melchorejo, (who were natives of the Punta de
+Cotoche, and certainly understood the language spoken here,) told the
+chiefs they had nothing to fear from us: we were desirous of discoursing
+with them and had things to disclose, which, as soon as they had learnt,
+would make our arrival pleasing to them: they should come to us and we
+would gladly give them of the things we had brought.
+
+Upon this invitation four of the canoes approached us, containing thirty
+Indians, or thereabouts. We showed them necklaces of blue glass beads,
+small mirrors, and green imitation corals. At the sight of the latter
+they appeared quite delighted; for they thought them to be chalchihuis
+stones, which are highly esteemed in their country.
+
+Our captain then told them, by means of our interpreters, that we came
+from a distant country, and were the subjects of a great emperor, whose
+name was Don Carlos, who had numerous sovereigns and caziques among his
+vassals: they should likewise acknowledge this emperor as their lord and
+master, for then it would go well with them;--he further desired them to
+give us fowls in exchange for our glass beads.
+
+Two of the Indians, one of whom was the chief and the other a papa--this
+is a kind of priest, who performs the ceremonies in presence of their
+idols--answered and said, "they would bring the provisions we required
+and commence a trade of barter with us.--For the rest they had already
+a master, and could not help feeling astonished that we, who had but
+just arrived and knew nothing of them, should that instant wish to
+impose a master on them. We had better consider a bit before we
+commenced war with them, as we had with those at Potonchan. That already
+all the warriors of the country had been ordered out against us, and two
+armies, each composed of 8000 men were ready for action. They certainly
+had learnt that a few days ago we had killed and wounded 200 men; but
+they were more powerful than the inhabitants of that country, which was
+the reason why they first wished to know what our intentions were. Our
+declaration would be communicated to the caziques of the numerous
+districts, who had united themselves for war or for peace."
+
+Upon this they embraced our commander, in token of peace, who presented
+them with necklaces of glass beads, and desired them to return as
+quickly as possible with an answer; adding that if they did not return
+we would enter their town by main force, though we had no evil
+intentions whatever.
+
+These delegates communicated with the caziques and papas--the latter
+having also a voice in their councils,--and they declared that our offer
+of peace was acceptable to them. Provisions were ordered to be sent us,
+and all present agreed that they themselves with the neighbouring tribes
+should each contribute their quota in order to make us a present in gold
+to insure our good friendship, and obviate a recurrence of what had
+taken place at Potonchan. From what I subsequently learnt and witnessed
+I found that it was customary with the inhabitants of these countries to
+make each other presents whenever they were in treaty about peace.
+
+All I have been relating took place on the promontory where the palm
+trees stood. About thirty Indians soon arrived, laden with broiled fish,
+fowls, fruit, and maise-bread. They also brought pans filled with
+red-hot embers, on which they strewed incense, and perfumed us all.
+After this ceremony was ended they spread some mats on the ground, over
+which they laid a piece of cotton cloth; on this they put some trifling
+ornaments in gold in the shape of ducks and lizards, with three
+necklaces made of gold, which had been melted into the shape of round
+balls. All these things, however, were of an inferior kind of gold, not
+worth 200 pesos. They next presented us with some mantles and
+waistcoats, as they themselves wore, and begged of us to accept them in
+good kind; saying they had no more gold to give us, but that further on
+towards the setting of the sun there was a country where it was found in
+great abundance; hereby often repeating the word Culba, Culba, and
+Mexico, Mexico. We however did not understand what they meant. Although
+the presents they had brought us were of little value, we nevertheless
+rejoiced exceedingly on account of the certainty we had gained that
+there was gold in this country. Having handed over the presents to us
+with due formality they told us we might now continue our voyage. Our
+captain thanked them; presenting each at the same time with some green
+beads. We now determined to re-embark, for the vessels were in great
+danger on account of the north wind, which in our present situation was
+quite contrary. We had, moreover, to go in quest of the country, which,
+according to the assurances of the Indians, abounded in gold.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+    _We come in sight of the town of Aguajaluco, and give it the name of
+    La Rambla._
+
+
+Having again re-embarked we continued our course along the coast, and
+perceived on the second day a town close to the sea shore, called
+Aguajaluco. We could discern numbers of Indians hurrying to and fro with
+huge shields made out of large tortoise-shells, which glittered so
+beautifully in the sun, that some of our men believed they were made of
+an inferior species of gold. The inhabitants appeared to be walking up
+and down the shore in great consternation, which induced us to call the
+village La Rambla, under which name it stands on the sea charts.
+
+As we proceeded further along the coast we came to a bay, into which the
+river Tonola empties itself: it was this same river we entered on our
+subsequent voyage. We gave it the name of Sant Antonio, which it still
+retains on the maps. We next passed the mouth of the great river
+Guacasualco, and would gladly have run into the bay which it forms if
+contrary winds had not prevented us. We now came in sight of the great
+Snow Mountains--Sierras Nevadas. These are covered the whole year round
+with snow. There were also other mountains, nearer the coast, to which
+we gave the name of _Holy Martin_, because a soldier of the name of San
+Martino, a native of the Havannah, first descried them. One of the
+commanders, Pedro de Alvarado, whose vessel was the fastest sailer of
+the whole, being a great way ahead of the others, ran his ship up a
+river called by the natives Papalohuna: this we termed the Alvarado,
+after the name of the discoverer. Some Indian fishermen of the village
+Tlacotalpa gave him fish: we could perceive this, though at a great
+distance from him. Alvarado was followed by two more of our ships; we
+were therefore obliged to wait until they returned. This digression
+without the general's leave occasioned ill blood; and Grijalva forbade
+Alvarado in future to sail in advance of the squadron, fearing he might
+meet with some accident or other before the rest could possibly come up
+to his assistance. From this time the four vessels kept close together.
+We soon after arrived at the mouth of another river, which we termed the
+Bandera's Stream, (Flag Stream,) from the circumstance that the banks of
+the river were crowded with Indians bearing small flags of white cloth
+attached to their lances. They called out and invited us to come on
+shore: but I will relate in the next chapter what further took place
+here.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+    _How we arrive on the Bandera's Stream, and gain 1500 pesos._
+
+
+By this time the existence of the great city of Mexico must be known
+throughout the major part of the Spanish provinces and the greater part
+of Christendom: how, like Venice, it was built in the water; and of the
+mighty monarch who resided there, king of many provinces and lord of all
+these countries, which in extent were more than quadruple that of Spain.
+The name of this monarch was Motecusuma: his power was so great that he
+would gladly have extended it to places where it was impossible, and he
+wished to know things which he never could learn. He had, however, heard
+of our first visit under the command of Cordoba, and of our battle at
+Cotoche and Champoton, also of the second engagement we had had at the
+last-mentioned spot. He was moreover aware that we had been but a
+handful of men in comparison with the multitude of the inhabitants; and
+lastly, it had been made known to him that we gladly exchanged our goods
+for gold. All this information had, from time to time, been sent him by
+means of painted figures or signs, drawn, as is the custom with this
+people, on a thick kind of cloth manufactured from the maguey,[6] very
+much resembling our linen. Being also informed that we were continuing
+our course along the coast, he issued orders to the governors of the
+several districts that at every place where we landed they should
+exchange their gold for our glass beads, but particularly for the green
+ones, which so much resembled their chalchihuis stones; and further he
+commanded them to gain every information with respect to our intentions.
+What made him dwell more particularly upon the latter was the ancient
+tradition in the country, which spoke of a people that would come from
+the rising of the sun who would at some future period get the dominion
+of the country.
+
+For whatever purpose it may have been I will leave, but certain it is
+that the powerful Motecusuma had ordered sentinels to be posted along
+the banks of the river above mentioned. These sentinels had all small
+flags attached to the points of their lances, and called out aloud,
+inviting us to come to them. While we were contemplating from our
+vessels this, to us, so novel a sight, our commander-in-chief with the
+other officers and soldiers came to the determination to inquire their
+meaning. We therefore lowered two of our boats and manned them with
+twenty soldiers, well armed with crossbows and muskets. The command of
+this was given to Francisco de Montejo. I was likewise among the number.
+Our instructions were to send immediate information to the
+commander-in-chief if anything of a hostile nature should take place and
+in general to let him know how matters stood. It pleased God that the
+weather should be calm, which is seldom the case on these coasts. We all
+got safe on shore, and were met by three caziques, one of whom was a
+governor under Motecusuma. These were attended by great numbers of
+Indians, carrying fowls, maise-bread, pines, sapotas, and other
+provisions; they spread some mats in the shade of the trees, on which
+they invited us to sit down. All this was done by signs, as Julianillo
+did not understand their language. Next they brought pans made of clay,
+filled with glowing embers, on which they strewed a species of resin,
+smelling very much like our incense, with which they perfumed us.
+
+Francisco de Montejo sent information of all this to our
+commander-in-chief, who immediately resolved to run the whole squadron
+into the bay, and proceed on shore with all our men.
+
+When the caziques and the governor saw our general on shore, who, they
+had been given to understand, was our chief officer, they paid him in
+their way the greatest possible respect, and perfumed him most
+vehemently. We thanked them kindly, and in return made many
+protestations of friendship, also presenting each with white and green
+glass beads, desiring them at the same time to bring us gold in exchange
+for our commodities. Motecusuma's governor strongly advised the Indians
+to comply with our request; the consequence of which was that the
+inhabitants of the surrounding districts soon brought us every trinket
+they possessed in the shape of gold, and commenced a trade of barter
+with us. During the six days we stayed in this spot we obtained upwards
+of 1500 pesos' worth of gold trinkets, of various workmanship, but of
+inferior quality. The historians Francisco Lopez de Gomara and Gonzalo
+Hernandez de Oviedo have also mentioned this circumstance in their
+works. They err, however, when they say it took place in the Tabasco or
+Grijalva river; for it is a well-authenticated fact that there is no
+gold found in the provinces which border on the river Grijalva, and,
+upon the whole, very few ornaments of gold. I will not, however, detain
+my reader with their account, but rather inform him that we took
+possession of this country for his imperial majesty the Emperor, in the
+name of Diego Velasquez, the governor of Cuba. This being done, our
+general told the Indians that he was now desirous of re-embarking, and
+presented them with some Spanish shirts. We took one of the Indians with
+us, who subsequently learnt our language and was converted to
+Christianity, when he took the name of Francisco. I met with him
+afterwards at Santa Fe, where he had settled himself after the conquest
+of Mexico. Our commander, finding that the inhabitants brought no more
+gold, and considering that we had already been here six days, and that
+our present anchorage was rather dangerous on account of the contrary
+winds, gave orders for re-embarking. Pursuing our voyage, we came to an
+island which was quite covered with white sand, lying above nine miles
+from the main land. We gave it the name of Isla Blanca, as it stands on
+the sea charts. Not far from this lay another island, nearly five miles
+from the main land, which offered us a very commodious landing-place.
+
+Our general, therefore, ordered the boats to be lowered, and landed,
+with the greater portion of our men, in order to explore the island. We
+found two houses, which were strongly built of stone and lime; both were
+ascended by a flight of steps, and surmounted by a species of altar, on
+which stood several abominable idols, to whom, the previous evening,
+five Indians had been sacrificed. Their dead bodies still lay there,
+ripped open, with the arms and legs chopped off, while everything near
+was besmeared with blood. We contemplated this sight in utter
+astonishment, and gave this island the name of Isla de Sacrificios.
+Quitting this place, we landed on the neighbouring continent, where we
+constructed ourselves huts on one of the large downs, with some sails
+and the branches of trees. Numbers of Indians soon made their
+appearance, bringing with them small pieces of gold for barter, in the
+same way as at the Bandera stream, according to the commands of
+Motecusuma, as we subsequently learnt. The inhabitants, however,
+approached us in great fear, and what they brought with them was a mere
+trifle. Our captain, therefore, soon weighed anchor again. The next
+place we landed at was in view of another island, which lay about two
+miles from the continent. This at present is considered the best harbour
+of the country. What happened to us in this place I will relate in the
+next chapter.
+
+[6] The author sometimes also calls this nequen, of which the garments
+of the poorer classes were manufactured. The maguey is the well-known
+agava Americana, the sap of which formed the national drink of the
+Indians, and the Mexicans were accustomed to write most of their
+hieroglyphics on the cloth manufactured from the leaves. (p. 29.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+    _How we came into the harbour of San Juan de Culua._
+
+
+Having disembarked on a part of the coast where it was very sandy, we
+were annoyed by such multitudes of muschetoes that we were forced to
+construct ourselves huts on the great downs and in the tops of trees:
+this, being done, we carefully examined the harbour in our boats, and
+were fully satisfied that it contained a good anchorage, it being
+moreover sheltered against the north wind by the island, to which our
+general now proceeded with thirty men all well armed. Here we found a
+temple on which stood the great and abominable-looking god
+Tetzcatlipuca, surrounded by four Indians, dressed in wide black cloaks,
+and with flying hair, in the same way as our canons or Dominicans wear
+it. These were priests, who had that very day sacrificed two boys, whose
+bodies they had ripped up, and then offered their bleeding hearts to the
+horrible idol. They were going to perfume us in the same way they had
+done their gods; and though it smelt like our incense, we would not
+suffer them, so shocked were we at the sight of the two boys whom they
+had recently murdered, and disgusted with their abominations. Our
+captain questioned the Indian Francisco whom we had brought with us from
+the Bandera stream as to what was meant by all this, for he seemed
+rather an intelligent person; having, at that time, as I have already
+stated, no interpreter, our captain put these questions to him by means
+of signs. Francisco returned for answer that this sacrifice had been
+ordered by the people of Culua; but, as it was difficult for him to
+pronounce this latter word, he kept continually saying _Olua_, _Olua_.
+From the circumstance of our commander himself being present, and that
+his Christian name was Juan, and it happening to be the feast of St.
+John, we gave this small island the name of San Juan de Ulua. This
+harbour was ever after much frequented. Great numbers of ships have been
+refitted there, and all merchandise for Mexico and New Spain are here
+shipped or unladen. During the time we were encamped on these downs,
+numbers of Indians from the surrounding districts, brought us their gold
+trinkets in exchange for our goods; but there was so little of it, and
+that so very inferior in quality, that we scarcely troubled ourselves
+about it. We remained, nevertheless, seven days in the huts we had
+constructed, though we were constantly annoyed by swarms of muschetoes,
+which rendered our stay most uncomfortable. As we had now been so long
+at sea, and had fully convinced ourselves that it was no island, but a
+continent, we had discovered, containing considerable towns; as our
+cassave-bread was become quite mouldy and unfit for eating; considering,
+moreover, that our numbers were too small to think of making any
+settlement here, particularly as we had lost ten of our men in
+consequence of their wounds, besides having four others dangerously
+ill,--we determined to forward Diego Velasquez an account of the state
+of affairs, and desire him to send us succours; indeed Grijalva had a
+great mind to have founded a colony even with the few men we had to
+spare. Our captain had throughout shown a magnanimous spirit, and proved
+himself a brave soldier, let the historian Gomara say anything to the
+contrary he likes. Pedro de Alvarado was selected to go on this mission
+to Cuba, with the ship San Sebastian, which had become rather leaky:
+this vessel could be refitted there, and return with succours and
+provisions. He also took with him all the gold we had bartered for, the
+cotton stuffs presented us by the Indians, and our sick. Our principal
+officers, moreover, each sent Diego Velasquez a written account,
+according to their several views, of all we had seen. We will now leave
+Pedro de Alvarado to his own good fortune on his voyage to Cuba, and
+relate what happened to the vessel which Diego Velasquez sent in quest
+of us.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+    _Diego Velasquez sends out a small vessel in quest of us._
+
+
+From the very moment in which Juan de Grijalva had quitted Cuba for the
+wide ocean, Diego Velasquez became downcast and thoughtful; he was
+constantly harassed by the idea that some misfortune would befall us. In
+the height of his impatience he at last sent out a small vessel, with
+seven men, in quest of us. The command of this was given to a certain
+Christobal de Oli, a man of great courage and energy. His instructions
+were to follow the same course in which Cordoba had sailed, until he
+should have met with us. It appears, however, that Christobal de Oli,
+while riding at anchor near the coast, was overtaken by a violent
+storm, and found himself compelled, in order to save his vessel from
+being cast ashore, to cut the cables; at least he had no anchor left on
+his return to Santiago de Cuba, nor had he been able to bring the
+governor any information respecting us.
+
+Diego Velasquez now despaired more than ever. The arrival of Pedro de
+Alvarado with the gold and other things, fortunately set his anxiety at
+rest, who, moreover, detailed to him the discoveries we had made. His
+joy was excessive when he saw the gold, and how it was worked into
+various shapes; from which very circumstance it appeared to him and
+others who happened to be present on business, of much greater value
+than it really was; nor were his majesty's officials, who had to take
+the fifth part, less astonished at the riches of the countries we had
+discovered. Pedro de Alvarado, who knew how to humour Diego Velasquez,
+afterwards related that the governor had continually embraced him,--that
+festivities and tournaments were celebrated for eight successive days.
+If the fame of the riches of these countries had been rumoured abroad
+before, it was now, on account of the gold we had sent, the more so; it
+soon spread through all the islands, and the whole of Spain.
+
+I shall have occasion to speak of this hereafter, and will also leave
+Diego Velasquez to his festivities, and return to our vessels at San
+Juan de Ulua.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+    _What befell us on our coasting voyage along the Tusta and Tuspa
+    mountains._
+
+
+After Pedro de Alvarado had set sail for Cuba, our general and other
+officers held a consultation with the pilots, when it was determined
+that we should continue our course along the coast, and push our
+discoveries as far as possible. As we sailed along, we first came in
+view of the Tusta, and, two days after, of the more elevated mountains
+of Tuspa, both of which take their names from two towns lying close to
+the foot of these mountains. On the whole, we saw numbers of towns lying
+from six to nine miles inland, now the province of Panuco. At last we
+arrived at a large stream, to which we gave the name of Canoe river, and
+dropped anchor at its mouth.
+
+While our vessels were lying at anchor here, and our men had become less
+careful than usual, sixteen large canoes full of Indians, all equipped
+for battle, with bows, arrows, and lances, came down the stream and made
+straight for our smallest vessel, commanded by Alonso de Avila, which
+lay nearest the shore. They greeted our men with a shower of arrows,
+wounding two of the soldiers, and then lay hold of the vessel as if they
+meant to carry her off, after they had cut one of the cables. We now
+hastened to the assistance of Alonso, who was still bravely repelling
+his assailants, and had capsized three of their canoes. We were well
+armed with crossbows and muskets, and very soon wounded at least above a
+third of our enemies, who speedily retreated to where they had come
+from, not exactly in the best of spirits. Upon this we weighed anchor
+and continued our course along the coast until we arrived at a wide
+projecting cape, which, on account of the strong currents, we found so
+difficult to double that we considered our further course now impeded.
+The chief pilot, Alaminos, here told our commander that it was no longer
+advisable to sail on at a venture, for which he gave us many plausible
+reasons. This matter being duly considered in council, it was
+unanimously agreed that we should return to Cuba.
+
+To this step we were, moreover, induced by the approach of winter,
+scarcity of provisions, and the bad condition of one of our vessels
+which had become very leaky. To this may also be added the disagreement
+between our commanders; for Juan de Grijalva persisted in his opinion
+that they should make an attempt to leave a colony behind, while
+Francisco de Montejo and Alonso de Avila, on the contrary, maintained
+that any such attempt would be fruitless, considering the multitude of
+warriors which inhabited these countries: to all this may be added that
+our men were heartily sick of the sea. We therefore turned our vessels
+about, hoisted all the sails, and arrived in a few days, being greatly
+assisted by the currents, in the wide waters of the Guacasualco river.
+We could not make any stay here on account of the boisterous state of
+the weather, and therefore continued our course along the coast until we
+arrived at the mouth of the river Tonala, to which we gave the name of
+St. Antonio. We ran up this river and careened the leaky vessel, which
+had struck there several times against the rocks.
+
+While we were busily engaged at this work, numbers of Indians came up to
+us from the harbour of Tonala, which lay about four miles from this
+place, bringing with them maise-bread, fish, and fruits, which they
+readily gave us. Our commander was particularly kind to them, and
+presented each with white and green glass beads, giving them at the same
+time to understand by signs that they should bring us gold in exchange
+for our goods. They soon complied with our wishes, but their gold was of
+a very inferior quality, for which they received imitation corals. As
+soon as the inhabitants of Guacasualco and the neighbouring districts
+had learnt that we offered our goods for barter, they brought us all
+their golden ornaments, and took in exchange green glass beads, on which
+they set a high value. Besides ornaments of gold, every Indian had with
+him a copper axe, which was very highly polished, with the handle
+curiously carved, as if to serve equally for an ornament as for the
+field of battle. At first we thought that these axes were made of an
+inferior kind of gold; we therefore commenced taking them in exchange,
+and, in the space of two days, had collected more than 600, with which
+we were no less rejoiced as long as we were ignorant of their real
+value, than the Indians with our glass beads. One of our sailors, who
+had by stealth bought seven of these axes and was secretly
+congratulating himself on this piece of good fortune, was betrayed to
+our commander-in-chief, who, ordering the man in his presence, commanded
+him to deliver up his treasure. Still of opinion that these axes were of
+gold, the poor fellow, though forced, reluctantly parted with them. This
+brings to my mind what befell one of our men, named Bartolome Prado:
+this fellow had managed to get inside of a temple, called by the Indians
+a cue,[7] which stood upon an elevated spot, and had found in it
+numerous idols, and some copal, which is the incense of the Indians;
+also knives made of hard flint, with which they cut their meat
+offerings, and otherwise make use of in their sacrifices. Besides these
+things, he found two small wooden boxes, filled with golden trinkets
+which are worn about the head and neck; also small idols, and other
+ornaments somewhat resembling our pearls. The idols he brought to his
+commander, but took care to keep the gold himself. It seems, however,
+that some one had been watching him all the time, who reported what he
+had seen to our captain. We all felt concerned at this, and spoke a good
+word for him, as he was a kind-hearted being: we begged hard of our
+commander that he might be allowed to retain his treasure, minus the
+fifth part claimed for the emperor, which being granted, the man had
+nigh upon eighty pesos left for himself. In this place I must also
+acquaint my readers how I sowed some orange seeds close to one of these
+temples. On account of the numbers of muschetoes which swarm along this
+river, I had, being tired, laid myself down to rest on the summit of a
+high temple: in gratitude for the quiet slumber I enjoyed there, I
+sowed, at the foot of this building, eight orange seeds which I had
+brought with me from Cuba. These seeds grew very fast, and when grown
+to small plants, were most probably watered and preserved from the ants
+by the papas, as soon as they perceived the new plant. I have merely
+related this in order to acquaint my reader that these were the first
+orange seeds that were planted in New Spain. Subsequent to the conquest
+of Mexico and friendly subjection of the Indian tribes on the
+Guacasualco, this province, being excellently situated, was considered
+of greater importance than any other, no less on account of its mines
+than for its beautiful harbour. The country, moreover, abounded in gold,
+and contained fine pastures for sheep, which was the reason why the most
+illustrious of the conquistadores[8] of Mexico settled themselves there;
+among which number was myself,--and I did not forget to look for my
+orange trees, which, indeed, I transplanted, and they afterwards
+flourished uncommonly.
+
+I am well aware that it will be said, such old tales as these are quite
+out of character here; I will not, therefore, say another syllable on
+the subject, but merely acquaint the reader that the inhabitants of
+these districts were all very much pleased with us, and embraced us at
+our departure. We set sail for Cuba, and arrived there in the space of
+forty days, during which time the weather was sometimes favorable and
+sometimes boisterous. We were most friendly received by the governor
+Diego Velasquez, who was highly delighted with the additional gold we
+brought him. Altogether it was well worth 4000 pesos; so that with the
+16,000 brought over by Alvarado, the whole amounted to 20,000 pesos.
+Some make this sum greater, some less; but one thing is certain, the
+crown officials only took the fifths of the last-mentioned sum. When
+they were about to take this also of the Indian axes, which we had
+mistaken for gold, they grew excessively angry on finding them to be
+merely of a fine species of copper; nor did this circumstance fail to
+produce the usual laughter at the expense of our trade of barter. Diego
+Velasquez, however, appeared perfectly satisfied, though not so with his
+relative Grijalva. This was wrong on his part, for it originated solely
+in the misrepresentations of Alonso de Avila, a man of a bad
+disposition, who did all he could, backed by Montejo, to lower Grijalva
+in his eyes. All this--rumour spread--was done in order to fit out
+another armament, and select a new commander.
+
+[7] According to Humboldt, the word cue was imported by the Spanish into
+New Spain from Cuba. The great temple of Mexico was called by the
+Indians teocalli; a word which Torquemada (Monarchia Indiana) thus
+explains: "Que es come decir, templo, u casas de Dios;" i.e. "As much as
+to say, a temple, or house of God." (p. 36.)
+
+[8] So those Spaniards, who made the first conquests in New Spain,
+termed themselves, by way of preference, which name they ever after
+retained as an honorary title. Even to this day in Spain it is
+considered very distinguishing to be descended from one of the
+Conquistadores, and some of the first families there date all their
+greatness from one of these bold adventurers. (p. 37.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+    _Diego Velasquez despatches one of his officials to Spain._
+
+
+My readers may perhaps think, that what I am now about to relate does
+not exactly belong to this history; but in the course of it they will
+readily perceive that I have been obliged to notice many circumstances
+before I could introduce them to the captain, Hernando Cortes. They
+ought also to bear in mind, that it often happens that two or three
+things take place at the same moment; in which case there only remains
+for the historian to treat of one circumstance after the other, and
+begin with that which lies nearest at hand. In this place the following
+comes first under our consideration.
+
+After the arrival of Pedro de Alvarado with the gold which we had made
+in the newly-discovered country, Diego Velasquez began to fear that some
+one at court, who might have received private information of all this,
+would anticipate him, in forwarding his imperial majesty the first news
+of our important discovery, and so rob him of the reward. He, therefore,
+despatched one of his chaplains, named Benito Martinez, a thorough man
+of business, to Spain, with letters and a few of the valuable things, to
+Don Juan Rodriguez Fonseca, bishop of Burgos, and archbishop of Rosano.
+He wrote at the same time to the licentiate Louis Zapata, and the
+secretary Lope Conchillos, who at that time had the conduct of all
+Indian affairs under the archbishop.
+
+Diego Velasquez was quite devoted to these gentlemen, and had presented
+them with considerable Indian villages in Cuba, with the inhabitants of
+which they worked their gold mines. But he took particular care to
+provide well for the archbishop, troubling himself very little about his
+majesty, who was at that time in Flanders.
+
+He sent moreover to these, his patrons, a great portion of the gold
+trinkets which Alvarado had brought with him; for everything that was
+determined in the imperial council of India depended upon these
+gentlemen. Diego Velasquez therefore sought, by means of his chaplain,
+to obtain unlimited permission to fit out armaments at any time he might
+think proper to make voyages of discovery, and to found colonies in the
+new countries as well as in those that might subsequently be discovered:
+in the accounts he transmitted to Spain, he spoke of the many thousands
+of gold-pesos which he had already spent in like undertakings; thereby
+giving such a favorable direction to the negotiations of his chaplain,
+Benito Martinez, that his expectations were more than fulfilled, who
+even obtained for him the additional title of Adelantado of Cuba. This
+latter appointment, however, did not arrive until the new expedition
+under Cortes had left. I will not make any further remarks on these
+matters at present, but rather say a few words respecting Francisco
+Lopez de Gomara's History of the Conquest of New Spain and Mexico. His
+history fell into my hands while I was writing my own, and I soon
+foresaw that I should have to contradict him in many instances. My
+intention is to give a faithful account, and that in due order, of every
+circumstance; this will greatly differ from his narrative, which is
+quite at variance with truth.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+    _Of some errors in the work of Francisco Lopez de Gomara._
+
+
+While busily engaged writing this narrative, the eloquent History of the
+Conquest of Mexico and New Spain, by Gomara, fell into my hands; and
+when I perceived the elegance of his style, and considered the rudeness
+of my own, I laid down my pen, ashamed at the very thoughts of its being
+read by men of distinction. With my spirits thus damped, I once more
+undertook to go through his history; it was then I, for the first time,
+discovered how mistaken this author was with respect to the occurrences
+which had really taken place in New Spain. He is equally bad whenever he
+writes about the magnitude of the towns and number of the inhabitants;
+in which, whenever it suits him, he does not, for instance, hesitate a
+moment to put 8000 for eight. In the same way he mentions the extensive
+buildings we were stated to have commenced, though, in fact, we were
+only 400 in number when we first went out to war, and had sufficient
+work to defend ourselves and prevent the victory from going over to our
+enemies. Though the Indians may have been timid, we were, nevertheless,
+guiltless of such wholesale slaughter and other barbarities as Gomara
+would lay to our doors. On the contrary, such was our situation, and I
+hereby seal my words with an oath when I state, that we daily offered up
+our prayers to God and the Holy Virgin to preserve us from destruction.
+
+Alaric was certainly a most courageous monarch, and Attila a soldier
+whose excessive pride would not allow him to shrink back from anything;
+yet they never slaughtered such multitudes of human beings on the
+Catalonian plains as we do in the book of Gomara!
+
+In the same way he mentions what numbers of towns and temples we either
+burnt or destroyed. I am speaking of the Indian temples, called by the
+inhabitants cues. This latter circumstance would certainly be most
+pleasing to his readers; but he never gave it a thought, when he was
+writing, that the conquistadores themselves, and those better informed,
+would detect his errors and falsehoods. Even in his other works,
+whenever he speaks about New Spain, he immediately commits blunders. In
+one place he praises a commander far above his merits, for which very
+reason he in another most unjustly diminishes that of a second. In
+another place again, he gives many a one a command who was not even in
+the army during the conquest: he gives, for instance, the chief command
+at the battle fought near the town afterwards called Almeria, to Pedro
+d'Irico, when, in fact, it was Juan de Escalante who commanded on that
+occasion, and was killed with seven of his men. Again he says, that Juan
+Velasquez de Leon founded the colony of Guacasualco, although it was
+Gonzalo de Sandoval, of Avila. There is as much truth in his account
+when he says that Cortes ordered the Indian Quezal Popoca, one of
+Motecusuma's chiefs, to be burnt, together with the village in which it
+was stated he had hid himself. Equal reliance may be placed in his
+description of our entry into the town and fortress of Anga Panga, where
+everything happened exactly contrary to what he has stated. In his
+narrative of our proceedings on the downs, when we had appointed Cortes
+captain-general and chief justice, he has allowed himself to be deceived
+by false information, while he has totally misrepresented our taking of
+the town Chamula, in the province of Chiapa. A still greater blunder he
+commits when he states that Cortes issued his orders secretly for the
+destruction of the eleven vessels which had brought us to New Spain, for
+it is perfectly well known that the ships were run on shore by our
+unanimous consent, and in presence of us all, in order that the sailors
+might also be armed and accompany us on our march.
+
+In like manner he lowers the merits of Juan de Grijalva, although he had
+proved himself such a worthy officer; while he passes by Hernandez de
+Cordoba in silence, though he was the first who discovered Yucatan: of
+Francisco de Garay he says, that he had accompanied us on the previous
+expedition under Grijalva, though he first visited New Spain during this
+last expedition. In the account he gives of the arrival of Narvaez, and
+the victory we gained over him, he is certainly more faithful, and has
+been well informed of all the circumstances; but, with respect to the
+battles with the Tlascallans, up to the time when peace was concluded
+with them, he has again diverged from the truth. Concerning the battle
+we fought in the city of Mexico itself, in which we were worsted and
+beaten back with the loss of 860 of our troops, of whom a great portion
+was sacrificed to the idols,--I repeat, where above 860 of our men were
+killed, for out of 1300 soldiers who had marched into the town to the
+relief of Pedro de Alvarado, which made out the united forces of Narvaez
+and Cortes, only 440 escaped, and even these were all wounded,--of this
+great and important deed of arms he speaks as if it were a mere nothing.
+He says as little of the subsequent conquest we made of the great city
+of Mexico, or the manner in which we accomplished it, and omits to
+mention the number of our killed and wounded; as if this undertaking had
+merely been a jolly marriage-procession. But why should I continue to
+enumerate all these particularities one by one, it is a mere waste of
+ink and paper! I can only say that it is a great pity if Gomara pursues
+the same course in all his works; for in the beautiful style in which he
+writes, he ought to make truth perceptible, and distinguish himself
+therein. But enough of Gomara; I have sufficiently proved, to the sorrow
+of his readers, how far he has gone beside the truth. I will now return
+to my history, and strive to act up to the advice of wise men, who say
+that honesty and truth are the true ornaments to history. Indeed, my
+rude style of writing would be insupportable without truth, and
+therefore I was determined to put my trust in it, and continue my
+narrative in the way I had begun, that it might go to the press, and
+publish to the world the conquest of New Spain, as it really took place.
+In this way his imperial majesty will also learn the great services
+which we, the true conquistadores, have rendered to the crown; how small
+our numbers were when we first arrived in this country, under the
+command of our highly-favoured and faithful captain, Hernando Cortes;
+what dangers we had to brave; and, lastly, how we conquered this
+kingdom, which forms a great part of the New World, and for which reason
+his majesty, our most christian king and master, has so often ordered
+that we should be rewarded. However, I will not say anything further on
+this head, though much might be said. In resuming my pen I will, like a
+careful pilot who throws out the lead when he is in danger of shallows,
+search after truth, where the historian Gomara flies away from it. I
+will not, however, detain my readers by entering into minute
+particulars, but always keep the whole in view, in order that the costs
+of gathering the leasings may not amount to more than the value of the
+full vintage. If other historians should further swell out my narrative,
+and bestow on Cortes, our commander, and on the brave conquistadores in
+this great and holy expedition, their just measure of praise, I can at
+least say that I have witnessed for the truth. These, indeed, are not
+stories about strange countries, or dreams, or contradictory statements;
+everything I relate, if I may so say, happened but yesterday, and the
+whole of New Spain can test these representations, and judge how far
+those are correct who have written on the same subject. I will relate
+that of which I myself was an eyewitness, facts which I know to be true,
+and will pay no attention to the contradictory statements of those who
+merely write from hearsay, for truth is a sacred thing. I will therefore
+say no more on this head, though I could, if I liked, say a good deal;
+and merely add, that there are good grounds for believing that when
+Gomara was writing his history, he had been deceived by false
+information: with him, every circumstance is made to turn to the glory
+and honour of Cortes, while no mention is made of the other brave
+officers and soldiers; but, the partiality of this author is
+sufficiently seen from the circumstance of his having dedicated his work
+to the present Marquis del Valle, son of Cortes, and not to his majesty
+the king. But, alas! these untruths and errors are not peculiar to
+Francisco Lopez de Gomara, but have also been the means of leading many
+other writers and historians who had followed his work into like error,
+as for instance, Doctor Illescas and Paulo Jovio, who have exactly
+copied Gomara's account, without adding or taking away a single word.
+For all their blunders they are indebted to Gomara.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+    _How another armament was fitted out for a voyage to the newly
+    discovered countries. The command of which was given to Hernando
+    Cortes, afterwards Marquis of the Vale of Oaxaca; also of the secret
+    cabals which were formed to deprive him of it._
+
+
+Immediately after the return of Juan de Grijalva from our last voyage of
+discovery, in the year 1518, Diego Velasquez issued orders for the
+fitting-out of a more considerable armament than the foregoing. For this
+purpose he had ten vessels lying in the harbour of Santiago de Cuba, at
+his disposal. Among these were the four vessels in which we had just
+returned with Grijalva, which had been immediately refitted and
+careened. The six others had been collected from the different ports of
+the island. The vessels were provided with sufficient provisions,
+consisting in cassave-bread, tobacco, and smoked bacon, to last us on
+our voyage to the Havannah, where they were to be fully equipped, for at
+that time there was neither beef nor mutton to be had in Cuba. In the
+meantime, however, Diego Velasquez could not make up his mind to whom
+he should intrust the command. Some cavaliers certainly mentioned Vasco
+Porcallo, a captain of great renown, and related to the earl of Feria,
+who, it was said, would shortly arrive to take the command. This man,
+however, did not suit Diego Velasquez; he feared his daring spirit, and
+was apprehensive that once having the armament under his command he
+would declare himself independent of him. Others again spoke of Augustin
+Bermudez, Antonio Velasquez Borrego, and Bernardino Velasquez, who were
+all three relatives of Velasquez. We soldiers, however, would not hear
+of any other than Juan de Grijalva, who, besides being a brave officer,
+bore an unblemished character; a man moreover who fully understood the
+art of commanding. While such like rumours were afloat, the affair was
+secretly settled, by two confidants of Diego Velasquez, Andreas de
+Duero, secretary to the governor, and Almador de Lares, the royal
+treasurer, with Hernando Cortes. Cortes was a cavalier of rank, a native
+of Medellin, and son of Martin Cortes de Monroy, and of Catalina Pizarro
+Altamirano, both descendants of two ancient noble families of
+Estremadura, though then in rather straitened circumstances. Cortes had
+an Indian commendary in Cuba, and had been recently married to Dona
+Catalina Suarez Pacheco, daughter of the late Diego Suarez Pacheco of
+Avila, and of Maria de Mercaida of Biscay; and sister to Juan Suarez
+Pacheco, who, subsequent to the conquest of New Spain, took up his abode
+in Mexico, where he had a commendary. This marriage proved very
+expensive to Cortes, and had even occasioned his imprisonment. Diego
+Velasquez favoured the family of Cortes's wife, who had been averse to
+the match: but I must leave this for others to expatiate upon, and
+rather confine myself to the principal subject in this place, which is,
+to acquaint my reader that the above-mentioned confidants of Diego
+Velasquez did all in their power to obtain the appointment of
+commander-in-chief for Cortes; who, on the other hand, had promised to
+share equally with them all the profits arising from the gold, silver,
+and jewels, which pending this expedition should fall to his share,
+which might turn out very considerable, since the real design of Diego
+Velasquez, in fitting-out this expedition, was not to make settlements,
+but that a trade of barter should be carried on with the natives. Duero
+and the royal treasurer, therefore, employed all their cunning with the
+governor. They took every opportunity of placing Cortes in the most
+favorable light--extolling his great courage, in a word, declared him to
+be the most proper person whom he could intrust with the command. In him
+he might place implicit confidence, the more so since he himself had
+been present as a witness at Cortes's marriage, and given the bride
+away, and was thus spiritually related to him. Their endeavours were
+indeed crowned with success, by Diego Velasquez conferring the
+appointment of captain-general of the expedition on that gentleman. The
+secretary Duero did not fail on this occasion, as the saying is, to
+write out the commission with the best of ink, to word it agreeably to
+Cortes's wishes, and finish it in all haste. When the appointment became
+known to the public, some approved of it and others not.
+
+On the Sunday following, as Diego Velasquez was on his way to church,
+accompanied by the principal personages in the town, as was due to him
+in his capacity of governor, it happened that he did Cortes the honour
+of placing him on his right side; on the road they were met by a jester,
+nick-named the fool Servantes: this fellow kept in front of the
+governor, cutting all manner of ridiculous figures and playing all sorts
+of pranks. "Well-a-day, friend Diego, (commenced this jack-pudding,)
+what manner of a captain-general have you appointed? He of Medellin and
+Estremadura! A captain who wants to try his fortune in no small way. I
+am afraid he will cut his sticks with your whole squadron; for he is a
+terrible fellow when he once begins, this you may read in his
+countenance." As he was chattering on in this strain for some time and
+growing more severe in his observations, Andreas de Duero, who was
+walking by the side of Cortes, hit him a good blow on the head, crying
+out at the same time, "begone you drunken fool! I am sure these
+scandalous pleasantries never emanated in your brain." The buffoon,
+however, took no notice of this, but commenced a-new. "Long live my
+friend Diego and the bold captain Cortes! Upon my life, master Diego, I
+must really go myself with Cortes to those rich countries, in order that
+you may not repent of the bargain you have made!" Nobody doubted for a
+moment that it was Velasquez, the governor's relative, who had feed the
+jester with a few pesos to utter these complaints, all emanating from a
+bad feeling. Everything this fool had predicted, however, took place to
+the very letter, and only proves that fools often speak the truth. It is
+nevertheless certain that the appointment of Hernando Cortes was
+pleasing in the eyes of God, a blessing to our holy religion, and of the
+first importance to his majesty, as will be clearly proved in the
+sequel.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+    _Of the designs and plans of Hernando Cortes after he had obtained
+    the appointment of captain._
+
+
+After Hernando Cortes had thus been appointed captain, he immediately
+set about to collect all manner of arms and ammunition, consisting of
+matchlocks, crossbows, powder, and the like; in the same way he took
+care to provide a large stock of goods for barter, and other necessaries
+requisite for our expedition. He was now also most particular in
+adorning his outward person, more than ordinarily: he stuck a bunch of
+feathers in his cap, to which he fastened a golden medal, which gave him
+a very stately appearance. Notwithstanding all this he was at that time
+greatly pinched for money to purchase the things he required, being, in
+addition, head and ears in debt: for, though his commendary was a
+lucrative one, and his gold mines very productive, he required it all
+for his own person and the dress of his young wife. For the rest his
+countenance was most winning, his conversation agreeable, while he was
+beloved by every one. He had been twice Alcalde of Santiago de Boroco,
+where he resided, which is esteemed a great honour in these parts. When,
+therefore, his friends among the merchants, Jaime Tria and a certain
+Pedro de Xeres, heard of his appointment, they lent him 4000 gold pesos
+and other merchandise, upon the income arising from his commendary. With
+this money he bought a state robe with golden trains, ensigns bearing
+the arms of our sovereign the king, on each side of which was the figure
+of a cross, beneath this a Latin inscription, the meaning of which was:
+"Brothers, let us in true faith follow the cross, and the victory is
+ours!" He then made known by sound of drum and trumpet, in the name of
+his majesty and Diego Velasquez the governor, that all those who felt
+inclined to accompany him to the conquest and colonization of the
+newly-discovered countries, should have a share in the gold, silver, and
+jewels they might gain; also that, when any one settled himself there,
+he should be presented with an Indian commendary, the distribution of
+which his majesty had confided to Diego Velasquez.
+
+Although this proclamation was made previous to the return of the
+chaplain Benito Martinez, whom Diego had despatched to Spain to procure
+for him such authority and other powers, yet it made a deep impression
+among the inhabitants of the island. Cortes, also, at the same time
+wrote to all his friends, inviting them to join the expedition. Many
+there were who sold all they were possessed of, to buy themselves arms
+and a horse; others purchased stores of cassave-bread and salted bacon
+to provision the ships, and otherwise equipped themselves as well as
+they could. Our numbers had increased to 300 soldiers when we left
+Santiago de Cuba: we were even joined by some of the principal
+personages of Diego Velasquez's household; among the number was Diego de
+Ordas, his steward. To this he had certainly been advised by his master,
+to see that nothing was done opposed to his interests, as he did not
+altogether trust Cortes. There was also Francisco de Morla, Escobar,
+Herredia, Juan Ruano, Pedro Escudero, and Martin Ramos de Pares of
+Biscay, with many other friends and acquaintances of Velasquez. Myself I
+speak of last. Though I have merely enumerated these warriors as they
+came to my memory; without wishing, however, to give one any preference
+above the other. I intend hereafter to give the names of them all in the
+proper place.
+
+While Cortes was thus making every exertion to expedite the equipment of
+the vessels, the malice and envy of the relatives of Velasquez was not
+silent, who felt themselves most grievously neglected that the command
+should have been intrusted to Cortes. Velasquez had only shortly
+beforehand shown his hatred to Cortes on account of his marriage, and
+even persecuted him; they were therefore the more spiteful, and in every
+way strove to lower him in the eyes of the governor, hoping thereby to
+deprive him of the command. Cortes, who was fully acquainted with this,
+took care to be always at Velasquez's side. He took every opportunity of
+showing his attachment to him, and spoke of nothing but of the glory of
+this undertaking, and of the vast riches it could not fail, in a short
+time, to bring his patron Velasquez. Even Andreas de Duero urged Cortes
+by all means to hasten the embarkation, as the relatives of Velasquez
+had already succeeded in altering his sentiments with regard to Cortes.
+The latter therefore desired his wife to send him on board the
+provisions and other presents which women under such circumstances are
+accustomed to give their husbands. He made known to the masters and
+pilots of the different vessels the day and hour of departure, and
+ordered all the men to be on board by a certain day.
+
+Everything being now ready for his departure, and all the men on board,
+Cortes called upon the governor to take leave of him, and was
+accompanied on this occasion by his best friends and companions in arms,
+Andreas de Duero, the royal treasurer, Almador de Lares, and the
+principal inhabitants of the town. Velasquez and Cortes vowed eternal
+friendship, and did not part until they had several times embraced each
+other.
+
+The next morning early we attended mass, after which we marched to our
+vessels accompanied by the governor and a number of cavaliers in
+honorable escort.
+
+The weather being very fine, we arrived, after a few days' sail, safely
+in the harbour of Trinidad, and landed there.
+
+From what has already been said, and will further be seen in the
+following chapter, the reader may easily imagine the various
+difficulties Cortes had to struggle with; though, when my narrative is
+confronted with that of Gomara, it will be found how greatly they
+differ. Gomara, for instance, will have that Andreas de Duero was a
+merchant, though, as private secretary to the governor, he had
+considerable weight in the island; and of Diego de Ordas, he says, that
+he accompanied the expedition under Grijalva, though he never went out
+until this time with Cortes. But I will leave Gomara and his miserable
+history, and relate our doings in the town of Trinidad.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+    _Cortes's occupations at Trinidad, and of the cavaliers and warriors
+    who there joined our expedition, and other matters._
+
+
+On the first notice of our arrival at Trinidad, the inhabitants came out
+to welcome us and our commander Cortes. Among the great body of
+cavaliers in this place, every one strove hardest to have Cortes for his
+guest. Cortes immediately planted his standard in front of his dwelling,
+and made the public acquainted with the particulars of the expedition in
+the same way as he had done at Santiago, and further collected whatever
+he could in the shape of firearms with other necessaries. Here we were
+also joined by the Alvarados, namely, Pedro, who has often been
+mentioned in this history, his brothers Gonzalo, Jorge, Gomez, and his
+natural brother the elder Juan Alvarado. Further we were here joined by
+Alonso de Avila of Avila, who had a command in the last expedition,
+under Grijalva; Juan de Escalante, Pedro Sanchez Farsan of Sevilla;
+Gonzalo Mexia, subsequently treasurer at Mexico; Vaena, Juanes de
+Fuentarabia, and Christobal de Oli, who had a command at the taking of
+Mexico, and in all the battles fought in New Spain. Further, Ortiz, the
+musician, and Gaspar Sanchez, nephew to the treasurer of Cuba; Diego de
+Pinedo, Alonzo Rodriguez, who possessed some lucrative gold mines, and
+Bartolome Garcia. To which may be added many other cavaliers whose
+names at present I cannot remember, all personages of influence and
+respectability. From this place Cortes also wrote letters to
+Santispiritus, fifty-four miles from Trinidad, and made our expedition
+known to the public there. He knew so well how to mix up his sentences
+with inviting expressions and great promises, that many of the first
+personages of that town were thereby induced to join us. These were
+Hernando Puertocarrero, cousin to the earl of Medellin, and Gonzalo de
+Sandoval, who had been eight months alguacil-major and governor, and was
+afterwards a commander in New Spain; also Juan Velasquez de Leon, a
+relation of Diego Velasquez; Rodrigo Rangel, Gonzalo Lopez de Ximena,
+with his brother Juan Lopez, and Juan Sedeno. This latter gentleman was
+an inhabitant of Santispiritus, and had joined Cortes because of the two
+other Sedenos who were among us. These gentlemen, who were all men of
+consequence, had arrived at the same time in Trinidad, when Cortes,
+accompanied by the whole of us, went out to meet them. Cannons were
+fired, and other rejoicings took place on this occasion, while
+professions of esteem and friendship were past from one party to the
+other. All these men possessed land in the neighbourhood of this town,
+where they ordered cassave-bread to be made, and bacon to be cured, and
+otherwise collected all the provisions they possibly could for our
+vessels. Here also we hired soldiers, and purchased some horses, which
+latter, at that time, were very scarce, and only to be had at exorbitant
+prices. Alonso Hernandez de Puertocarrero, whom I had previously known,
+had not sufficient money to purchase himself a horse; Cortes, therefore,
+bought one for him, and paid for it with the golden borders of the
+velvet robe he had procured at Santiago. About this time there also
+arrived in the port of Trinidad a vessel belonging to a certain Juan
+Sedeno, of the Havannah, laden with cassave-bread and salted meat, which
+was destined for the mines of Santiago. This Sedeno, who had called upon
+our commander to pay his respects, was soon persuaded, by the eloquence
+and address of Cortes, to sell him his ship with the lading and all, and
+himself to join the expedition. We had now eleven ships in all, and
+everything, thanks to Providence, was going on well, when letters
+arrived from Diego Velasquez with peremptory orders that Cortes was to
+be deprived of the command. But I will detail this matter in the
+following chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+    _How the governor Diego Velasquez sends two of his officials in all
+    haste to Trinidad, with full power and authority to deprive Cortes
+    of his appointment of captain, and bring the squadron away, &c._
+
+
+I must now carry my narrative back a few days, in order to relate what
+happened at Santiago de Cuba after our departure. We had scarcely set
+sail when Diego Velasquez's friends left him not a moment's peace,
+harassing him until they had totally revolutionised his sentiments with
+regard to Cortes. They now plainly told him that he might consider
+Cortes as lost to his interests from his having so secretly sneaked away
+from the harbour. Neither had he made any secret of his determination to
+have the chief command of the armament, whether Diego might wish it or
+not; for which reason he had embarked his men at night-time, that if any
+attempt were made to deprive him of the squadron, he would resist it by
+main force. He, the governor, had been deceived by his private secretary
+Duero, and De Lares the royal treasurer, who had both made some previous
+agreement with Cortes to procure him the command. But in particular the
+relatives of Velasquez were constantly urging him to cancel the recent
+appointment of Cortes, in which they were backed by a certain old man,
+named Juan Millan, commonly termed the astrologer, who was considered by
+many not to be exactly in his proper senses. This old man repeatedly
+told the governor that Cortes would now revenge himself for his having,
+some time ago, thrown him into prison: "Sly and artful as he is, he will
+be the means of ruining you, if you are not upon your guard."
+
+These hints were not thrown away upon Velasquez; they brought about a
+revolution in his mind, which ended in his despatching two trustworthy
+persons out of his establishment, with private instructions to his
+brother-in-law Francisco de Verdugo, then alcalde major of Trinidad, by
+which he was peremptorily commanded, under all circumstances, to deprive
+Cortes of the squadron, whose appointment of captain had been withdrawn,
+and given to Vasco Porcallo. At the same time he wrote letters to Diego
+de Ordas, Francisco de Morla, and to his relations and friends, desiring
+them, at all events, to leave the squadron.
+
+As soon as Cortes got information of this, he had a secret interview
+with Ordas and all those officers and inhabitants of Trinidad, who, he
+thought, might feel inclined to obey the orders of Velasquez. To these
+he spoke so feelingly, and in such kind terms, accompanied by such great
+promises, that they were all soon gained over to his side. Diego de
+Ordas even undertook to advise the alcalde major Francisco de Verdugo
+not to put these commands immediately into execution, and to keep them
+secret; telling him, at the same time, he had seen nothing in Cortes
+which gave the slightest reasons for suspecting him of anything wrong;
+on the contrary, he had, on every occasion, given proofs of his
+adherence to the governor. He assured him, moreover, that it would be an
+impossibility to deprive Cortes of the command of the squadron, in which
+he had so many friends among the cavaliers, and Diego Velasquez so many
+enemies, who would not easily forgive him that he had neglected to
+bestow on them more profitable commendaries. Besides the number of
+friends Cortes had among the officers, he could rely upon most of the
+soldiers, and thus it would be useless to attempt anything against him.
+The whole town would become mixed up in the quarrel, which would be
+plundered by our men, and even worse consequences might follow. By these
+arguments, Ordas prevented all violent measures; and one of the
+above-mentioned officials, whom Diego had sent with despatches to his
+nephew, named Pedro Laso, even joined our expedition. The other, Cortes
+sent back with a letter to the governor, in which he made use of every
+kind sentiment, and expressed his utter astonishment at the resolution
+he had taken, particularly as he had no other design than to serve God,
+his majesty the king, and the governor. He earnestly advised him not to
+listen any further to his cousin Velasquez, nor to allow the kind
+feeling he entertained for him to be poisoned by such an old fool as
+Juan Millan. Cortes, at the same time, wrote to his other friends, and
+in particular to his two confederates, the private secretary and royal
+treasurer.
+
+The next step he took was to command his men to put their arms into good
+repair. Every smith in the town was set to work to fix points to our
+lances, and the gunners were ordered to search every magazine for
+arrows. He at last even persuaded the very smiths to join the armament.
+
+We remained altogether twelve days at Trinidad, and thence sailed for
+the Havannah. From the foregoing statement, the reader will readily
+perceive how differently all this has been related by Gomara, who even
+makes Velasquez confer the chief command on Ordas; the latter, he says,
+invited Cortes to dine with him on board his vessel, had him seized
+while at dinner, and taken off prisoner to Santiago. I could cite many
+similar errors from Gomara's history, and thereby convince the reader
+that it is better to believe an eyewitness than an author who writes
+about things he never saw. However, enough of Gomara; let us return to
+our subject.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+    _Cortes embarks with all his cavaliers and soldiers in order to sail
+    along the south side of the island to the Havannah, and sends off
+    one of the vessels to go around the north coast for the same port._
+
+
+Cortes, finding that he had nothing further to do at Trinidad,
+acquainted his officers and men with the hour of departure, leaving it
+to each one's choice either to proceed to the Havannah by sea, or march
+thither overland, under the command of Pedro de Alvarado, who would be
+joined by some men from one of the colonies, on his road. Alvarado was a
+kind-hearted man, who knew best how to deal with soldiers; wherefore I
+myself, with fifty other military men, gladly joined him; our numbers
+were, moreover, increased by all our horse. Cortes also sent a vessel,
+under the command of Juan de Escalante, which was to shape its course
+around the north coast to the Havannah. Cortes then embarked, and
+proceeded, with the whole squadron, for the same port. The transport
+ships must, however, have missed the vessel of our commander-in-chief in
+the night, as they all arrived safe at the Havannah without it. The
+troops under Pedro de Alvarado also arrived in good time, and the vessel
+under the command of Escalante, which had sailed around the north coast.
+
+Cortes alone remained behind; nor could any one account for his delay,
+or what could possibly have detained him. Five days passed away without
+our obtaining the least tidings of him, and we already began to fear
+that he had been shipwrecked off the Jardines,[9] which lie from thirty
+to thirty-six miles from the Havannah, near the Pinos isles, where the
+sea is very shallow: we therefore determined to send out our three
+smaller vessels in quest of her; but what with the fitting-out of these
+vessels, added to the manifold opinions and advices, two more days
+elapsed, and Cortes still remained behind. All manner of artifices were
+now had recourse to, as to whom the command should be given, until some
+certainty was gained respecting the fate of Cortes, in which Diego de
+Ordas, in his capacity of steward over the household of Velasquez, and
+secret observer of our movements, was most active.
+
+The following misfortune had befallen Cortes. When his vessel, which was
+of considerable tonnage, had arrived off the Pinos isles on the shallows
+of the Jardines, there was not sufficient depth of water to carry her,
+and she consequently got aground. The ship had now to be unladen, which
+was an easy matter, on account of the nearness of the shore. As soon as
+she was set afloat again and brought into deeper water she was reloaded
+and pursued her voyage to the Havannah. The joy among the officers and
+soldiers was very great as soon as she became visible in the horizon, to
+those excepted who had prized themselves with the command, to whose
+machinations, however, there was now an end. We accompanied Cortes to
+the house of Pedro Barba, Velasquez's lieutenant at Trinidad, where
+quarters had been got ready for his reception. He immediately hoisted
+his standard in front of his dwelling, and by public proclamation
+invited the inhabitants to join the expedition.
+
+It was here that Francisco de Montejo first joined us, of whom I shall
+often have to speak in the course of this history: subsequent to the
+conquest of Mexico he became adelantado and governor of Yucatan and the
+Honduras. Here we were also joined by Diego de Soto of Toro, namely, who
+afterwards was Cortes's steward in Mexico; further, Angula and Garci
+Caro, Sebastian Rodriguez, Pacheco, Gutierras, Royas (this is not he
+commonly called the wealthy); also by a young fellow of the name of
+Santaclara; the two brothers, Martinez del Frexenal and Juan de
+Najara--not the deaf one of the tennis-court at Mexico: all of whom were
+men of rank and quality. There were also other soldiers who joined us,
+whose names I have forgotten.
+
+When Cortes, therefore, beheld all these cavaliers together, his heart
+leaped with joy, and he sent off another ship for a further supply of
+provisions to the promontory of Guaniguanico, where Velasquez had landed
+property. Here was a village where cassave-bread was made, and
+quantities of swine's flesh cured. He gave the command of this vessel to
+Diego de Ordas, who, as Velasquez's steward, ordered matters on his
+master's property as he liked. Cortes wished to keep him out of the way,
+having learnt that Ordas had not spoken in very favorable terms of him
+during the dispute as to whom the command should be given, when he was
+detained off the Pinos isles. Ordas's instructions were to remain in the
+harbour of Guaniguanico, after he had taken in his lading, until the
+arrival there of the vessel which was to sail around the north coast,
+with which he was then to proceed to the island of Cozumel, provided he
+received no further instructions by Indian canoes.
+
+Francisco de Montejo and other cavaliers of the Havannah likewise
+furnished quantities of cassave-bread and cured bacon; there being no
+other kind of provisions to be had. In the meantime Cortes ordered all
+our heavy guns, consisting in ten copper cannons and a few falconets, to
+be brought on shore and given in charge of an artilleryman, named Mesa,
+a certain Arbenga who traded to the Levant, and Juan Catalan, to prove
+them, and otherwise put them into good repair; also to furnish for each
+the right-sized balls and proper quantity of powder. He also gave them
+an assistant, named Bartolome de Usagre, and furnished them with vinegar
+and wine to polish the copper pieces. In the same way all our crossbows
+were inspected, and their strength ascertained by shooting at the
+target. Cotton being very plentiful here we constructed ourselves
+cuirasses with it, which form the most efficient protection against
+Indian arrows, pikes, and slings. Here it was also that Cortes put his
+establishment on a much superior footing, and had himself served as a
+person of the first quality. He took for his butler a certain Guzman,
+who was subsequently killed by the Indians; he must not, however, be
+confounded with Christobal de Guzman, who afterwards became his steward,
+and was the man whom took the king Quauhtemoctzin prisoner, during the
+battle in the suburbs of Mexico. Rodrigo Rangel he appointed his
+chamberlain, and Juan de Caceres his house-steward, who after the
+conquest of Mexico was considered a man of great wealth. Having ordered
+all these things, he commanded us to hold ourselves in readiness for
+embarking, and to distribute the horses among the vessels, for which the
+necessary quantity of maise and hay had been provided.
+
+For memory's sake I will here likewise describe the horses and mares
+which we took with us on our expedition. Cortes had a dark chesnut
+stallion, which died afterwards at St. Juan de Ulua. Pedro de Alvarado
+and Hernando Lopez d'Avila had jointly an excellent brown mare, which
+had been broken-in for the field of battle as well as for tournaments.
+After our arrival in New Spain, Alvarado bought Lopez's share, or
+perhaps took forcible possession of it. Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero
+had a grey-coloured mare, which Cortes had purchased for him with the
+golden borders of his state-robe, it was capitally trained for the field
+of battle. Juan Velasquez de Leon's mare was of the same colour, a noble
+and powerful animal, full of fire and eager for battle: we commonly
+termed it the "short tail."
+
+Christobal de Oli had a dark brown fine-spirited horse. Francisco de
+Montejo and Alonso de Avila had between them a sorel-coloured horse, but
+of little use in battle. Francisco de Morla had likewise a dark chesnut
+stallion, one full of fire and wonderfully swift. The light-coloured
+horse of Juan de Escalante was not worth much. The grey-coloured mare of
+Diego de Ordas, which would never foal, was neither very swift. Gonzalo
+Dominiguez had a small dark-brown nag, a very swift and noble animal.
+Also the brown-coloured horse of Pedro Gonzalez de Truxillo was a swift
+animal. Moron, who was a native of Vaimo, had a small horse which was
+pretty well trained. Vaena, of Trinidad, had a darkish-coloured horse,
+though a bad leaper. The light-coloured chesnut galloway of De Lares
+was, on the other hand, a splendid animal and a capital runner.
+
+Ortiz, the musician, and a certain Bartolome Garcia, who had applied
+himself to the art of mining, had between them a very good dark-coloured
+horse, which they named the Arriero (mule-driver,) and was one of the
+best animals of the whole corps. Juan Sedeno, of the Havannah, had a
+fine chesnut mare, which foaled on board. This Sedeno was considered to
+be the most wealthy man amongst us; for he had a ship of his own, a
+horse, a few negroes to attend upon him, and his own lading of cassave
+and cured bacon. Just about this time horses and negroes were only to be
+purchased for very high prices, which accounts for the small number of
+the former we had with us on this expedition.
+
+However, I will stop here, and relate in the next chapter what happened
+as we were just about to embark.
+
+[9] Jardines, or the Caribbee islands, lying along the south coast of
+Cuba, better known as the Windward and Leeward islands. (p. 51.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+    _Diego Velasquez sends one of his officials, named Gaspar Garnica,
+    with full authority to take Cortes prisoner, whatever might be the
+    consequence; and what further happened._
+
+
+In order that my history may be perfectly intelligible to my readers, I
+must sometimes recur to prior events. In this place I have to return to
+Diego Velasquez, who, when he learnt that his brother-in-law, Francisco
+Verdugo, sub-governor of Trinidad, had not only confirmed Cortes in his
+appointment over the squadron, but even, conjointly with Diego de Ordas,
+lent him every possible assistance, fell into such a rage that he roared
+like a wild beast. He accused his private secretary Andreas de Duero,
+and the royal treasurer Almador de Lares, of a conspiracy to cheat him,
+adding, that Cortes had run off with the whole squadron. Nor did
+Velasquez stop here, but despatched one of his officials with
+imperative commands to Pedro Barba, sub-governor of the Havannah, at the
+same time writing to all his relatives in that town, to De Ordas and to
+Juan Velasquez de Leon, who were his special confidants, requiring them
+to swear, by the friendship they bore him, not, under any pretence
+whatsoever, to allow the squadron to depart, but to send Cortes prisoner
+to Santiago. As soon as Garnica, the bearer of these despatches,
+arrived, it was immediately guessed for what purpose he came. Cortes was
+even apprized of it by means of the very bearer himself: for one of the
+brethren of Charity, who was much in company with Velasquez, and greatly
+in favour with him, had forwarded by this same Garnica a letter to a
+brother of the same order, named Bartolome de Olmedo, who had joined our
+expedition. By means of this letter, Cortes was apprized of the whole
+posture of affairs by those interested with him, Andreas de Duero and
+the royal treasurer. Ordas, as we have above seen, having been sent off
+in quest of provisions, Cortes had now only to fear opposition from Juan
+Velasquez de Leon; but even him he had half gained over to his side, not
+being on the best of terms with his relative the governor, who had only
+presented him with a very poor commendary. Thus it was that the design
+of Velasquez was frustrated by those very persons to whom he had
+written. Indeed, from that very moment, these personages only united
+themselves the closer to Cortes, particularly the sub-governor Pedro
+Barba, the Alvarados, Puertocarrero, Montejo, Christobal de Oli, Juan
+de Escalante, Andreas de Monjaraz, and his brother Gregorio, who, with
+all of us, were ready to stake our lives for Cortes. Had the orders of
+Velasquez been kept secret in Trinidad, they were now the more so in
+this place; and Pedro de Barba despatched Garnica to Diego Velasquez
+with the information that he durst not venture to take Cortes into
+custody, as he was too powerful and too much beloved by the soldiers;
+fearing, if he should make the attempt, that the town would be
+plundered, and the whole of the inhabitants forcibly dragged away. For
+the rest, he could assure Diego Velasquez that Cortes was quite devoted
+to him, and did nothing that could be said to militate against his
+interests. Cortes himself also wrote a letter couched in those smooth
+terms he so very well knew how to employ, assuring Velasquez of the
+unabated friendship he entertained for him, and that he was going to set
+sail the very next day.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+    _Cortes sets sail with the whole squadron for the island of Cozumel,
+    and what further took place._
+
+
+Cortes deferred the review of his troops until we should have arrived at
+the island of Cozumel, and gave orders for the embarking of our horses.
+Pedro de Alvarado, in the San Sebastian, which was a very fast sailer,
+was ordered to shape his course along the north coast, and his pilot
+received strict orders to steer direct for the cape of St. Antonio,
+where all the other vessels would meet and set sail for Cozumel: like
+instructions were forwarded to Diego de Ordas. Mass having been said,
+the nine remaining vessels set sail, in a southerly direction, on the
+10th of February, 1519. There were sixty soldiers on board the San
+Sebastian, under Alvarado, among which number I was myself. Camacho, our
+pilot, took no notice of the orders he had received from Cortes, but
+shaped his course direct for Cozumel, so that we arrived two days
+earlier there than the rest. We landed our men in the same harbour I
+before mentioned in our expedition under Grijalva. Cortes had been
+detained on his passage by the breaking of the rudder of Francisco de
+Morla's vessel, which had to be replaced from what they had at hand.
+
+Our vessel, as I have stated above, arrived two days earlier at Cozumel
+than the rest, and the whole of the men proceeded on shore. We did not
+meet with a single Indian in the village of Cozumel, as all the
+inhabitants had fled away. Alvarado, therefore, ordered us to another
+village at about four miles distance from the latter. Here the
+inhabitants had likewise fled to the woods, without, however, being able
+to carry off all their property, so that we found numbers of fowls and
+other things; of the former, Alvarado would not permit us to take more
+than forty. Out of a temple near at hand we took several cotton mats,
+and a few small boxes containing a species of diadem, small idols,
+corals, with all manner of trinkets made of an inferior sort of gold. We
+also took two Indians and a female prisoners, after which we returned to
+the village near which we had landed.
+
+In the meantime Cortes had arrived with the remaining vessels. He had
+scarcely stepped on shore when he ordered our pilot Camacho to be put in
+irons, for having followed a contrary course to what he had been
+ordered. But his displeasure was still greater when he learnt that the
+village was quite deserted, and that Alvarado had taken away, besides
+the fowls, the religious implements and other matters, though of little
+value, being half copper. Having shown no lenity to Camacho, he now also
+gave Alvarado an earnest reproof, telling him that it was not the way to
+gain the love of the inhabitants by beginning to rob them of their
+property. He then ordered the two Indians and the female whom we had
+taken prisoners to be brought into his presence, and put several
+questions to them. Melchorillo, whom we had captured at the promontory
+of Cotoche, (Julianillo had since died,) and taken with us, perfectly
+understood the language of this country, and interpreted on the
+occasion. Cortes sent the three Indians to the cazique and the
+inhabitants, desiring them to state that they had nothing to fear from
+us, and to return to their village. He also restored to them the
+religious implements, with the golden trinkets, and gave them glass
+beads in exchange for the fowls, which we had eaten: besides this, he
+presented each of them with a Spanish shirt. They faithfully executed
+Cortes's commission; for the very next day the cazique returned with the
+whole of the inhabitants, and so confidently did they converse with us
+as if they had known us all their lives: indeed, Cortes had given
+peremptory orders that they should in no wise be molested. It was here
+also that Cortes began strict discipline, and set to work with
+unremitting assiduity, to which Providence lent his blessing; for
+everything in which he concerned himself went well, particularly with
+regard to making peace with the tribes or inhabitants of these
+countries. This the reader will find fully confirmed in the course of my
+history.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+    _Cortes reviews his troops, and what further happened._
+
+
+On the third day after our arrival at Cozumel, Cortes reviewed the whole
+of his troops. Without counting the pilots and marines, our number
+amounted to 508 men. There were 109 sailors, and sixteen horses, which
+were trained equally for tournaments or for war. Our squadron consisted
+of eleven vessels of different tonnage; among these, one was a kind of
+brigantine, the property of a certain Gines Nortes. The number of
+crossbow men was thirty-three, and of musketeers thirteen: add to this
+our heavy guns and four falconets, a great quantity of powder and balls.
+As to the precise number of crossbow men I cannot exactly swear, though
+it matters not whether there were a few more or less.
+
+After this review, Cortes ordered the artillerymen Mesa, Bartolome de
+Usagre, Arbenga, and a certain Catalonier whose name I forget, to keep
+all our firearms bright and in good order, to see that each cannon had
+its right-sized ball, to prepare the cartridges, and distribute the
+powder properly. The chief care of our gun department he confided to a
+certain Francisco de Oroze, who had proved himself a brave soldier in
+the Italian wars. Juan Benitez and Pedro de Guzman had to inspect the
+crossbows, and see that they were supplied with two or three nuts and as
+many cords. They had also to superintend the exercise of shooting at the
+target, and the breaking-in of our horses, particularly to accustom them
+to the noise of our firearms. I have now said sufficient of our
+armament: indeed, Cortes was most particular with the merest trifles in
+these matters.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+    _Cortes receives information that two Spaniards are in the power of
+    the Indians at the promontory of Cotoche: the steps he took upon
+    this news._
+
+
+As Cortes paid attention to every circumstance, he ordered myself and
+Martin Camos of Biscay into his presence, and asked us what our opinion
+was of the word _Castilan_, _Castilan_, which the Indians of Campeachy
+had so often repeated when we landed there, under the command of
+Hernandez de Cordoba.
+
+We again informed him of every circumstance that had there taken place.
+He said, he had often turned this matter over in his mind, and could not
+help thinking but that the inhabitants must have some Spaniards among
+them, and he thought it would not be amiss to question the caziques of
+Cozumel upon this head. This Cortes accordingly did, and desired
+Melchorejo, who by this time had gained some little knowledge of the
+Spanish, and perfectly understood the language of Cozumel, to question
+the chiefs about it. Their several accounts perfectly corresponded; and
+they satisfactorily proved that there were several Spaniards in the
+country, whom they had seen themselves; that they served the caziques,
+who lived two days' march inland, as slaves, and that it was only a few
+days ago some Indian merchants had spoken with them.
+
+We all felt overjoyed at this news. Cortes told these chiefs that he
+would send the Spaniards letters, which they call amales in their
+language, in which he would desire them to come to us. The cazique and
+other Indians who undertook to forward these letters were most kindly
+treated by Cortes, who gave them all kinds of presents, and promised
+them more on their return. Upon which the cazique remarked to Cortes,
+that it would be necessary to send a ransom to the chiefs whom the
+Spaniards served as slaves before they would let them go. Various kinds
+of glass beads were therefore given to the messengers for this purpose,
+and Cortes sent two of the smaller vessels, armed with twenty crossbow
+men and a few musketeers, under command of Diego de Ordas, to the coast
+of Cotoche, with orders to remain there for eight successive days with
+the larger of the two vessels, and to send him information from time to
+time by the other vessel, while the messengers brought letters to and
+fro; for the distance to the promontory of Cotoche from this place was
+only nine miles, the whole appearing, moreover, to form but one country.
+The following were the contents of the letter which Cortes wrote to the
+Spaniards:
+
+"Dear Sirs and Brothers,--Here, on the island of Cozumel, I received
+information that you are detained prisoners by a cazique. I beg of you
+to come here to me on the island of Cozumel. To this end I have sent out
+an armed ship, and ransom-money, should it be required by the Indians. I
+have ordered the vessel to remain stationary off the promontory of
+Cotoche for eight days, to wait for you. Come as speedily as possible;
+you may depend upon being honorably treated by me. I am here with eleven
+vessels armed with 500 soldiers, and intend, with the aid of the
+Almighty and your assistance, to proceed to a place called Tabasco, or
+Potonchon; etc."
+
+With this letter the two Indian merchants embarked on board our vessel,
+which passed this narrow gulf in three hours, when the messengers with
+the ransom-money were put on shore.
+
+After the lapse of a couple of days they actually handed over the letter
+to one of the Spaniards in question, who, as we afterwards learnt, was
+called Geronimo de Aguilar, and I shall therefore in future distinguish
+him by that name. When he had read the letter and received the
+ransom-money we had forwarded, he was exceedingly rejoiced, and took the
+latter to the cazique his master to beg for his liberation. The moment
+he had obtained this he went in quest of his comrade, Gonzalo Guerrero,
+and made him acquainted with all the circumstances; when Guerrero made
+the following reply:
+
+"Brother Aguilar,--I have united myself here to one of the females of
+this country, by whom I have three children; and am, during wartime, as
+good as cazique or chief. Go! and may God be with you: for myself, I
+could not appear again among my countrymen. My face has already been
+disfigured, according to the Indian custom, and my ears have been
+pierced: what would my countrymen say if they saw me in this attire?
+Only look at my three children, what lovely little creatures they are;
+pray give me some of your glass beads for them, which I shall say my
+brethren sent them from my country."
+
+Gonzalo's Indian wife followed in the same strain, and was quite
+displeased with Aguilar's errand. "Only look at that slave there, (said
+she,) he is come here to take away my husband from me! Mind your own
+affairs, and do not trouble yourself about us."
+
+Aguilar, however, afterwards made another attempt to induce Gonzalo to
+leave, telling him to consider that he was a Christian, and that he
+ought not to risk the salvation of his soul for the sake of an Indian
+woman. Moreover, he might take her and the children with him if he could
+not make up his mind to separate himself from them. Aguilar, however,
+might say what he liked, it was all to no purpose; he could not persuade
+Gonzalo to accompany his heretofore companion in good and ill fortune.
+This Guerrero was most probably a sailor, and a native of Palos.[10] He
+remained among the Indians, while Geronimo de Aguilar alone took his
+departure with the Indian messengers, and marched towards the coast
+where our ship was to have waited for them: but she had left; for De
+Ordas, after staying there the eight days, and another in addition,
+finding that no one appeared, again set sail for Cozumel. Aguilar was
+quite downcast when he found the ship was gone, and he again returned to
+his Indian master.
+
+Ordas, however, did not meet with the best of reception when he returned
+without the ransom-money or any information respecting the Spaniards,
+and even without the Indian messengers. Cortes said to him, with great
+vehemence, he expected he would have fulfilled his commission better
+than to return without the Spaniards, and even without bringing him any
+information respecting them, although well aware they were staying in
+that country. Cortes had, moreover, just that moment been greatly put
+out by another circumstance. A soldier, called Berrio, had accused some
+sailors of Gibraleon of having stolen from him a couple of sides of
+bacon, which they would not return. They positively denied that they had
+committed the robbery, and even took an oath to that effect; however,
+after a good search, the bacon was found among their clothes. There were
+seven sailors who had been concerned in the robbery, and Cortes,
+notwithstanding their officers interceded in their behalf, ordered them
+to be severely whipped.
+
+The island of Cozumel, it seems, was a place to which the Indians made
+pilgrimages; for the neighbouring tribes of the promontory of Cotoche
+and other districts of Yucatan, came thither in great numbers to
+sacrifice to some abominable idols, which stood in a temple there. One
+morning we perceived that the place where these horrible images stood
+was crowded with Indians and their wives. They burnt a species of resin,
+which very much resembled our incense, and as such a sight was so novel
+to us we paid particular attention to all that went forward. Upon this
+an old man, who had on a wide cloak and was a priest, mounted to the
+very top of the temple, and began preaching something to the Indians. We
+were all very curious to know what the purport of this sermon was, and
+Cortes desired Melchorejo to interpret it to him. Finding that all he
+had been saying tended to ungodliness, Cortes ordered the caziques, with
+the principal men among them and the priest, into his presence, giving
+them to understand, as well as he could by means of our interpreter,
+that if they were desirous of becoming our brethren they must give up
+sacrificing to these idols, which were no gods but evil beings, by which
+they were led into error and their souls sent to hell. He then presented
+them with the image of the Virgin Mary and a cross, which he desired
+them to put up instead. These would prove a blessing to them at all
+times, make their seeds grow and preserve their souls from eternal
+perdition. This and many other things respecting our holy religion,
+Cortes explained to them in a very excellent manner. The caziques and
+priests answered, that their forefathers had prayed to their idols
+before them, because they were good gods, and that they were determined
+to follow their example. Adding, that we should experience what power
+they possessed; as soon as we had left them, we should certainly all of
+us go to the bottom of the sea.
+
+Cortes, however, took very little heed of their threats, but commanded
+the idols to be pulled down, and broken to pieces; which was accordingly
+done without any further ceremony. He then ordered a quantity of lime to
+be collected, which is here in abundance, and with the assistance of the
+Indian masons a very pretty altar was constructed, on which we placed
+the image of the holy Virgin. At the same time two of our carpenters,
+Alonso Yanez and Alvaro Lopez made a cross of new wood which lay at
+hand, this was set up in a kind of chapel, which we built behind the
+altar. After all this was completed, father Juan Diaz said mass in front
+of the new altar, the caziques and priests looking on with the greatest
+attention.
+
+Before I close this chapter, I have to remark that the caziques on the
+island of Cozumel, like those on the land of Potonchan, are likewise
+termed Calachionies.
+
+[10] Palos, a small town of Spain, lying on the river Tinto. This port
+produced the best Spanish sailors during the early voyages of discovery,
+and here also the expedition under Columbus was fitted out. (p. 60.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+    _The manner in which Cortes divides the squadron. The officers whom
+    he appointed to the command of the several vessels. His instructions
+    to the pilots; the signals which were to be made with lanterns at
+    night, &c._
+
+
+The following were the officers which commanded the several vessels.
+
+Cortes himself commanded, in the principal vessel, over the whole
+squadron. To the San Sebastian, which was a very capital sailer, he
+appointed Alvarado and his brother. The other vessels were severally
+commanded by Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero, Francisco de Montejo,
+Christobal de Oli, Diego de Ordas, Juan Velasquez de Leon, Juan de
+Escalante, Francisco de Morla, and Escobar the page. The smallest
+vessel, a kind of brigantine, was commanded by its owner, Gines Nortes.
+
+Every vessel had its own pilot, who received his instructions, and also
+the signals with the lanterns from Alaminos.
+
+As soon as Cortes had ordered these matters he took leave of the
+caziques and priests, commended them most emphatically to the image of
+the holy Virgin and to the cross, desiring them to pray before it, not
+to damage either but continually to decorate them with green boughs. He
+assured them that thereby they would derive great benefit. They promised
+to comply with all his wishes, presented him with four more fowls and
+two jars of honey, and then took leave of us under the most friendly
+embraces. It was some day in the month of March, in the year 1519, when
+we again set sail; we were pursuing our course with the most favorable
+of winds, when on the very first day at ten o'clock in the morning,
+signals of distress were made on board one of our vessels, both by flags
+and the firing of guns. As soon as Cortes saw and heard this, he looked
+over the poop of his vessel, and found that the ship commanded by Juan
+de Escalante was making straight again for the island of Cozumel. What
+is the matter there? What does all this mean? cried out Cortes to the
+vessel nearest him. A soldier, named Zaragoza replied, that the vessel
+of Juan de Escalante, laden with cassave-bread, was sinking fast. God
+forbid! cried Cortes, that any misfortune should befall us here, and
+desired our chief pilot, Alaminos, to make signals for all the vessels
+to return to the island Cozumel. So we again put into the harbour we had
+just left: we unloaded the cassave-bread; and found, to our great joy,
+that the image of the holy Virgin and cross were in the best condition,
+and that incense had been placed before them. It was not long before the
+caziques and priests again made their appearance, and asked what had
+caused us to return so speedily. Cortes told them that one of our
+vessels was leaky and had to be repaired, begging of them to assist us
+with their canoes in unloading our cassave-bread. This they most readily
+complied with, and it took us four more days to repair the vessel.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+    _How the Spaniard Geronimo de Aguilar, who was in the power of the
+    Indians, came to us when he learnt that we had again returned to the
+    island of Cozumel, and what further happened._
+
+
+When the Spaniard, who was in the power of the Indians got certain
+information that we had again returned to the island Cozumel, he
+rejoiced exceedingly and thanked God with all his heart.
+
+He immediately hired a canoe, with six capital rowers, for himself and
+the Indians who had brought him the glass beads. The former being richly
+remunerated with these, so valuable in their estimation: they performed
+their work so well, that the channel between the island and mainland, a
+distance of about twelve miles, was soon crossed. After they had arrived
+off the island and stepped on shore, some soldiers who were returning
+from the chase of musk swine, informed Cortes that a large canoe had
+just arrived from the promontory of Cotoche. Cortes immediately
+despatched Andreas de Tapia with a few men to learn what news they had
+brought. As Tapia with his men approached the shore, the Indians, who
+had arrived with Geronimo, evinced great fear and ran back to their
+canoe in order to put off to sea again. Aguilar, however, told him in
+their language they need have no fear; for we were their brothers.
+Andreas de Tapia, who took Aguilar also for an Indian, for he had every
+appearance of one, sent to inform Cortes that the seven Indians who had
+arrived were inhabitants of Cozumel. It was not until they had come up
+to them and heard the Spaniard pronounce the words--God, holy Virgin,
+Sevilla, in broken Spanish, and ran up to Tapia to embrace him, that
+they recognized this strange-looking fellow. One of Tapia's men
+immediately ran off to inform Cortes that a Spaniard had arrived in the
+canoe, for which news he expected a handsome reward.
+
+We all greatly rejoiced at this information, and it was not long before
+Tapia himself arrived with the strange-looking Spaniard. As they passed
+by us many of our men still kept inquiring of Tapia which among them was
+the Spaniard? although he was walking at his very side, so much did his
+countenance resemble that of an Indian. His complexion was naturally of
+a brownish cast, added to which his hair had been shorn like that of an
+Indian slave: he carried a paddle across his shoulder, had one of his
+legs covered with an old tattered stocking; the other, which was not
+much better, being tied around his waist. An old ragged cloak hung over
+his shoulders, his maltatas was in a much worse condition. His
+prayerbook, which was very much torn, he had folded in the corner of his
+cloak.
+
+When Cortes beheld the man in this attire, he, as all the rest of us had
+done, asked Tapia where the Spaniard was? When Geronimo heard this, he
+cowered down after the Indian fashion, and said: "I am he." Upon this
+Cortes gave him a shirt, a coat, a pair of trousers, a cap and shoes,
+from our stores. He then desired him to give us an account of the
+adventures of his life, and explain how he had got into this country.
+
+He said, though still in broken Spanish, that his name was Geronimo
+d'Aguilar, and was a native of Ecija. About eight years ago he had been
+shipwrecked with fifteen men and two women, on a voyage between Darien
+and the island of St. Domingo, which they had undertaken on account of a
+lawsuit between a certain Enciso and a certain Valdivia. They had 10,000
+pesos on board, and papers relating to the lawsuit. The ship struck
+against a rock, and they had not been able to get her off again. The
+whole of the crew then got into the boat, in the hopes of making the
+island of Cuba or Jamaica, but were driven on shore by the strong
+currents, where the Calachionies had taken them prisoners and
+distributed them among themselves. The most of his unfortunate
+companions had been sacrificed to their gods, and some had died of
+grief, of which also both the women pined away; being soon worn out by
+the hard labour of grinding, to which they had been forced by the
+Indians. He himself had also been doomed as a sacrifice to their idols,
+but made his escape during the night, and fled to the cazique, with whom
+he had last been staying, whose name, however, I cannot now remember. Of
+all his companions, he himself and a certain Gonzalo Guerrero, were only
+living. He had tried his best to induce him to leave, but in vain.
+
+When Cortes heard this, he returned thanks to the Almighty, and told the
+Spaniard that he hoped, with the blessing of God, he would never find
+reason to regret the determination he had taken. He then put some
+questions to him about the country and its inhabitants. Aguilar said he
+was not able to give him much information about either, as he had been
+treated like a slave, having been merely employed to fetch wood, water,
+and to work in the maise-plantations. It was only upon one occasion he
+was sent on some business to a distance of about twelve miles from his
+village, but, owing to a heavy burden he had to carry and the weak state
+of his body, he had not even been able to reach that distance; for the
+rest, he had been given to understand that the country was very thickly
+populated. With regard to his companion Alonso Guerrero, he had married
+an Indian woman, and was become the father of three children. He had in
+every respect adopted the Indian customs,--his cheeks were tattooed, his
+ears pierced, and his lips turned down. He was a sailor by profession,
+native of Palos, and was considered by the Indians to be a man of great
+strength. It might have been about a year ago that a squadron,
+consisting of three vessels, had touched at the promontory of Cotoche,
+(probably the expedition under Hernandez de Cordoba,) when Guerrero
+advised the inhabitants to commence hostilities, who, in common with the
+caziques of a large district, commanded on that occasion. Cortes here
+remarked, that he very much wished to get the man into his power, for
+his staying among the Indians would do us no good.
+
+The caziques of Cozumel showed Aguilar every possible friendship when
+they heard him speak in their language. Aguilar advised them always to
+do honour to the image of the holy Virgin and cross we had set up, as
+they would prove a blessing to them. It was also upon his advice they
+begged of Cortes to give them letters of recommendation to other
+Spaniards who might run into this harbour, in order that they might not
+be molested by them. Cortes readily complied with this request; and,
+after mutual protestations of friendship had passed between us, we
+weighed anchor, and set sail for the river Grijalva.
+
+For the rest, I can assure the reader that what I have related of
+Aguilar is all the man told us himself, although the historian Gomara
+gives a very different account; which, however, should not excite our
+surprise, as he merely thereby intended to divert his readers with some
+strange story.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+    _How we re-embark and sail for the river Grijalva, and what happened
+    to us on our voyage there._
+
+
+On the 4th of March, 1519, the day after we had had the good fortune to
+obtain such an excellent and trustworthy interpreter, Cortes gave orders
+for re-embarking. This took place in the same way as before, and similar
+instructions were issued with regard to the night signals with the
+lanterns. For some time we had the most favorable weather imaginable;
+when, towards evening, it suddenly changed, the wind blowing most
+violently against us, so that all our vessels were in danger of being
+cast on shore. Towards midnight, it pleased God the wind should abate,
+and, when daylight broke forth, our vessels again joined each other; one
+only was missing, that namely of Velasquez de Leon, which occasioned a
+good deal of anxiety, for we concluded she had been wrecked off some of
+the shallows. We did not discover her loss until midday; and as night
+was now fast approaching, and the vessel still nowhere to be seen,
+Cortes told our principal pilot Alaminos that we ought not to continue
+our course without gaining some certain knowledge as to her fate:
+signals were, therefore, made for all the vessels to drop anchor, to
+give the missing ship time to come up with us, on the supposition it had
+been driven into some harbour and there retained by contrary winds.
+Alaminos, still finding she did not make her appearance, said to Cortes,
+"You may be sure, sir, that she has run into some harbour or inlet along
+this coast, where she is now wind-bound; for her pilot Manquillo has
+twice before visited these seas, once with Hernandez de Cordoba, the
+second time under Grijalva, and is acquainted with this bay." Upon this
+it was resolved that the whole squadron should return to the bay which
+Alaminos was speaking of, in search of the vessel: to our great joy we
+indeed found her riding there at anchor, and we all remained here for
+one day. During this time, Alaminos, with one of our principal officers
+named Francisco de Lugo, went on shore in two boats; they found the
+country inhabited, and saw several regular maise-plantations: they
+likewise met with places where salt was manufactured, and saw four cues,
+or large temples, with numerous figures, mostly in the shape of women,
+and of considerable height; whence this promontory was called _la punta
+de las Mujeres_, (the promontory of women.) Aguilar observed that this
+was the spot where he was once a slave among the Indians; here his
+master had found him sunk beneath the weight of the heavy burden which
+he had forced him to carry: neither was the township far off where
+Alonso Guerrero had settled himself. Every inhabitant possessed gold,
+but in small quantities; he would show us the way, if we were desirous
+of going there. To which Cortes said, laughingly, he had not gone out
+for the sake of such trifles, but to serve God and his king. In the
+meantime he despatched Escobar, one of our commanders, with a
+fast-sailing vessel of small tonnage, to the Terminos bay, there to
+examine the country and search for a secure spot to found a colony; also
+to inform us whether game really was so abundant there as had been
+represented. All this was done according to the advice of our chief
+pilot, to save the trouble of running in there with the whole fleet on
+our passing by. Escobar, when he had explored the harbour, was merely to
+leave some sign on both sides of the entrance, either by felling trees
+or by leaving something in writing, from which we should know that he
+had entered safely, or that, having fully explored the harbour, he was
+tacking about until we fell in with him again.
+
+With these instructions Escobar set sail, and ran into Terminos bay,
+where he executed the commands he had received: he likewise found the
+greyhound which had run away from us when we landed there with Grijalva.
+It was quite glossy and fat, and immediately knew the ship again as it
+entered the bay, wagging its tail, and jumping up against our men as it
+followed them on board. Escobar now quitted the bay, and intended
+laying-to until the rest of our vessels should come up, but was driven a
+considerable way out to sea by a strong south wind. We must now return
+to our squadron, which we left at the punta de las Mujeres. Having left
+this spot next morning with a stiffish breeze blowing from the land, we
+arrived at the entrance of Terminos bay, without, however, seeing
+anything of Escobar. Cortes ordered a boat to be lowered, armed with ten
+crossbow-men, to run into the bay, or search whether Escobar had left
+any sign or written paper as desired. Some trees were found cut down,
+and near them a small paper, on which was written, that both the bay and
+country round about were charming, that the spot abounded with game, and
+that they had found the dog. Our principal pilot here remarked to Cortes
+that it would be most advisable for us to continue our course, for the
+south wind had no doubt obliged Escobar to hold out to sea, though he
+could not be far off, as he must have sailed in a slanting direction.
+Cortes, however, still apprehended some accident must have befallen him:
+nevertheless, he ordered the sails to be set, and we very soon came up
+with Escobar, who related all he had seen, and explained what had
+prevented him from waiting for us. In this way we arrived in the waters
+off Potonchan, and Cortes ordered Alaminos to run into the inlet where
+Cordoba and Grijalva had met with such disastrous treatment. Alaminos,
+however, declared that it was a dangerous station for the vessels, as
+the waters were very shallow off the coast, and we should be forced to
+anchor six miles from the land. Cortes's intention was to punish the
+inhabitants severely, and many of us who had been present at those
+engagements begged of him to run in that we might revenge ourselves upon
+them. But Alaminos and the other pilots said we should lose more than
+three days by running in, and, if the weather became unfavorable, we
+might be detained there above eight: the wind, moreover, being now most
+favorable to reach the Tabasco river, which was our chief object, and
+where we might arrive in a couple of days. We accordingly put out to
+sea, and reached the Tabasco after three days' sail.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+    _How we arrive in the river Grijalva, called in the Indian language
+    the Tabasco; the battle we fought there; and what further took
+    place._
+
+
+On the 12th of March, 1519, we arrived with our whole squadron in the
+mouth of the Tabasco. As we had experienced, under the expedition with
+Grijalva, that no vessels of any considerable burden could enter the
+mouth of the river, our larger ones anchored out at sea, while the
+smaller ones only, followed by our boats, carrying the whole of our men,
+sailed up the river, in order to disembark at the promontory where the
+palm trees grew, about four miles from the town of Tabasco; the same
+spot where Grijalva had landed.
+
+We perceived numbers of Indians, all under arms, lurking between the
+almond trees along the shore. This circumstance greatly astonished those
+among us who were here before with Grijalva. Besides this, more than
+12,000 men, all armed after their fashion, had assembled at the town
+itself in order to attack us. This town was very powerful at that time,
+many others being subject to it. These warlike preparations were
+occasioned by the following circumstances: The inhabitants of Potonchan,
+of Lazaro, and other neighbouring tribes, had accused the Tabascans of
+cowardice, for having given Grijalva their gold trinkets mentioned
+above: they reproached them the more because their population was more
+extensive, and their warriors much more numerous than those of the
+tribes just mentioned, who had courageously attacked and killed
+fifty-six of our men. It was owing to these reproaches that they now
+likewise took up arms against us. Cortes observing these preparations,
+desired our interpreter Aguilar, who perfectly understood the language
+of Tabasco, to ask some Indians who were passing by in a large canoe,
+what the meaning was of all this noise? we had not come to do them any
+harm; on the contrary, we were disposed to treat them as our brethren,
+and share our victuals with them: they should be careful how they went
+to war with us, for they would certainly have to repent it. This and
+many other things were told them by Aguilar, to incline them to peace,
+but the more he said the more insolent they became, threatening to
+destroy us all should we dare to set foot on their territory or in their
+town, which they had fortified by means of heavy trees felled for the
+purpose, and a strong stone wall. Aguilar, however, made another attempt
+to bring about peace, and obtain us permission to take in fresh water,
+barter for provisions, and incline them to listen to the disclosures we
+came to make in the name of our God. They, however, persisted we should
+not pass beyond the palm trees; if we did, they would kill us all.
+
+When Cortes found that all attempts to make peace were fruitless, he
+ordered the small vessels and boats to prepare for battle. Three pieces
+of cannon were put on board of each of the former, the crossbow-men and
+musketeers being equally distributed among them. We remembered, during
+the expedition under Grijalva, that a narrow road ran from the palm
+trees along some quagmires and wells to the town. Cortes here posted
+three sentinels to watch whether the Indians went home at night, if so,
+to send him immediate notice. Information was soon brought in the
+affirmative. The rest of the day was now spent in reconnoitring the
+territory, and fitting out the vessels. The next morning early, after we
+had attended mass and well armed ourselves, Cortes despatched Alonso de
+Avila with one hundred men, among whom were ten crossbow-men, along the
+narrow road above mentioned, leading to the town, which, as soon as he
+should hear the firing of cannon, he was to attack on one side, while we
+did the same from the other; Cortes himself, with the rest of our
+officers and men, moving up the river in the small vessels and our
+boats.
+
+When the Indians, who were standing under arms along the coast between
+the palm trees, saw us approaching, they leaped into their canoes and
+stationed themselves where we were going to land, in order to prevent
+us. The shore was covered with warriors armed with all kinds of
+weapons, while a terrible noise assailed our ears from their twisted
+shells, drums, and fifes. Cortes ordered us to halt for a few moments
+and not to fire as yet. As he was very particular in doing everything in
+proper form, he desired the royal secretary, who was with us, and Diego
+de Godoy, once more to request the inhabitants to allow us to come
+peaceably on shore to take in fresh water. Aguilar acted as interpreter.
+They were also to give them some notion, if possible, of the Lord God,
+and his imperial majesty, and explain to them, that if they attacked us,
+and we in defending ourselves killed any of their men, the guilt would
+be upon their heads, not ours. The Indians, however, continued their
+defiances, threatening to destroy us all if we came on shore. Indeed the
+battle now soon began, for immediately after they commenced pouring
+forth showers of arrows, the drummers to give signals for the other
+troops to fall upon us in a body, and in an instant they rushed bravely
+forward. They completely surrounded us with their canoes, and shot off
+their arrows so quickly, that many of us were soon wounded, we being
+moreover compelled for a length of time to fight up to our waists, and
+sometimes even higher in the water. The place where we were attempting
+to land was disadvantageous in another way, for the ground was composed
+of mud and clay, in which it was impossible to move very fast,
+particularly as at the same time we had to defend ourselves against the
+enemy's arrows and the thrusts of their lances. Cortes himself, while
+fighting in this way was obliged to leave one of his shoes sticking in
+the mud in order to get on firm land. We had all, indeed, hard work to
+do before we could gain the dry ground; but having once obtained this we
+fell so furiously upon our enemies, under the cry of our patron St.
+Jacob! that they began to retreat, but immediately again drew themselves
+up in order of battle behind the wood and the trees they had cut down.
+Here they made an obstinate resistance, until we likewise drove them
+from this place, having forced some passages leading to the town, which
+latter we entered fighting our way in. The battle now continued in the
+streets, until our progress was impeded by another barricade of fallen
+trees, defended by a fresh set of men. Here the conflict was continued
+with renewed obstinacy, the Indians incessantly crying out: _ala lala,
+al calachoni, al calachoni!_ meaning in their language, kill the
+commander-in-chief. While we were thus busily engaged, Alonso de Avila
+appeared with his men, who had marched along from the palm-trees. He had
+been detained by the morass and pools of water which lay in his road.
+This delay now proved an advantage to us, as we had also lost time in
+striving to make peace with the enemy by means of our two
+parliamentaries, and the difficulty we had had to fight our way on
+shore. With our united troops we now beat the Indians from this strong
+post; though, like brave warriors, they set vigorously upon us with
+their arrows and lances, which latter had been hardened in the fire; nor
+did they turn their backs, until we had forced our way into a large
+courtyard, adjoining which were several spacious apartments and halls.
+Here also stood three temples, but the Indians had carried off all the
+religious implements with them.
+
+The enemy being now put to flight, Cortes ordered his men to halt, that
+we might take formal possession of the country, in the name of his
+majesty. He performed this ceremony by drawing his sword, and giving
+therewith two deep cuts into a large ceiba tree, which stood in the
+courtyard, crying out at the same time, that he would defend the
+possession of this country with sword and shield against any one who
+should dare dispute it. The whole of us who were present gave our assent
+to these proceedings, swearing we would support him in its defence; all
+of which was formally registered by the royal treasurer. The adherents
+of Diego Velasquez alone were not pleased because the name of the latter
+had not at all been mentioned therein.
+
+In this engagement fourteen of our men were wounded, I myself was of the
+number, being wounded by an arrow in the thigh, though not severely. The
+Indians lost, altogether, eighteen men. We passed the night in this
+spot, having taken the precaution to post sentinels in different places,
+so necessary did we deem it to be upon our guard here.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+    _How Cortes despatches two of our principal officers, each with one
+    hundred men, to explore the interior of the country, and what
+    further took place._
+
+
+The next day Cortes despatched Alvarado with one hundred men, among whom
+were fifteen crossbow-men and musketeers, to march six miles inland, in
+order to explore the country. He was to take along with him Melchorejo,
+of the punta de Cotoche, but he could nowhere be found. He had most
+probably gone off in a canoe the night before with the inhabitants of
+Tabasco. We conjectured this at least, because the day previous he had
+left all his Spanish clothes behind him hanging in a tree. Cortes was
+greatly vexed at his escape, as he might betray many things to the
+inhabitants that would do us no good.
+
+I will, however, leave the fugitive to his own fate, and continue my
+narrative.
+
+Cortes also sent out a second of our chief officers, named Francisco de
+Lugo, with another hundred men; among whom were twelve crossbow-men and
+musketeers, with similar instructions as to Alvarado, but to take
+another direction and return to head-quarters towards evening.
+
+Francisco de Lugo may have reached the distance of about four miles when
+he fell in with vast numbers of Indians, commanded by their several
+chiefs. They were armed as usual, immediately advanced towards our men,
+whom they surrounded on all sides, and began pouring forth a shower of
+arrows. The Indians, indeed, were in too great numbers for our small
+detachment. They first threw in their lances and the stones from their
+slings, then fell upon our men with sharp swords, which they wield with
+both hands. Though De Lugo and his men defended themselves bravely, they
+were unable to drive back such overwhelming numbers. They therefore
+began to retreat in the best order possible to our head-quarters, having
+first despatched an Indian of Cuba, who was a swift runner, to inform
+Cortes of their situation and beg of him to send a reinforcement. During
+all this time De Lugo and his troops, particularly the crossbow-men and
+musketeers bravely withstood the whole body of the enemy.
+
+In the meantime Alvarado had marched about four miles in the direction
+he was commanded to take, when he came to an inlet which he was unable
+to pass. Here the good Lord fortunately gave him the thought to return
+in a direction which led to the spot where De Lugo was fighting with the
+Indians. The firing of the muskets, the noise of the drums and trumpets,
+with the yelling of the Indians, soon convinced Alvarado that the latter
+had again commenced hostilities; he therefore marched in a direct line
+to the place whence the noise came, and found De Lugo in the heat of an
+engagement with the enemy, of whom five were already killed. Both
+detachments now fell with their united forces upon the Indians, who were
+speedily dispersed, yet they were unable to put them totally to the
+rout; on the contrary, they would certainly have followed us to our
+head-quarters, if Cortes had not come up with the rest of our troops,
+when, after some sharp firing and heavy blows, they were obliged to fall
+back. Cortes, on receiving information of De Lugo's dangerous position,
+had immediately repaired to his assistance with the whole of his men,
+and came up with the two commanders at about two miles from our
+head-quarters. In this engagement we did not escape without some loss,
+for two of De Lugo's detachment were killed and eight wounded; Alvarado
+had only three of the latter. Having arrived at our head-quarters, we
+dressed the wounds of our men, buried the dead, and posted sentinels in
+proper places, that we might not be fallen upon unawares. In this
+battle, the enemy lost fifteen men killed, and three were taken
+prisoners, of whom one appeared to be a chief. Our interpreter Aguilar
+asked them what madness could have induced them to attack us? One of the
+Indians returned for answer, that Melchorejo, whom we brought with us
+from the punta de Cotoche, had come over to their camp the night
+previous, advising them to fall upon us, and continue to do so night and
+day, for, in the end, they would, no doubt, be able to conquer our small
+numbers: so that Cortes's apprehensions with respect to the flight of
+this fellow were verified.
+
+We now despatched one of our prisoners to the caziques with green glass
+beads, and offers of peace: this personage, however, never returned to
+bring any answer. We also learnt from our two other prisoners, who were
+closely questioned by Aguilar, that the day previous all the caziques of
+the neighbouring districts had been under arms to fall upon us, and that
+the next day they would return to storm our head-quarters. All this was
+likewise done by the advice of Melchorejo.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+    _Cortes issues orders that we should hold ourselves in readiness to
+    march against the Indians on the following day; he also commands the
+    horses to be brought on shore. How the battle terminates we fought
+    with them._
+
+
+Cortes being now certain that the Indians would renew the attack,
+immediately ordered all our horses to be brought on shore, and every
+one, our wounded not excepted, to hold himself in readiness. When our
+horses, which had been such a length of time at sea, now stepped on firm
+ground again, they appeared very awkward and full of fear; however, the
+day following, they had regained their usual liveliness and agility.
+There were also six or seven of our men, all young and otherwise strong
+fellows, who were attacked with such severe pains in the groins that
+they could not walk without support. No one could guess the cause of
+this; it was only said they had lived too freely at Cuba, and that the
+pain was occasioned by the heat, and the weight of their arms; Cortes,
+therefore, ordered them again on board. The cavaliers, who were to fight
+on horseback, were commanded to hang bells around their horses' necks,
+and Cortes impressed on their minds not to rush at the Indians with
+their lances before they had been dispersed, and then even to aim at
+their faces only. The following men were selected to fight on horseback:
+Christobal de Oli, Pedro de Alvarado, Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero,
+and Juan de Escalante. Francisco de Montejo and Alonso de Avila were to
+use the horses of Ortiz the musician, and of a certain Bartolome Garcia,
+though neither were worth much. Further, there were Velasquez de Leon,
+Francisco de Morla, and one of the Lares, (for there was another
+excellent horseman among us of that name,) and Gonzalo Dominiguez, both
+superior horsemen; lastly, there were Moron de Bayamo and Pedro de
+Truxillo. Then comes Cortes, who placed himself at their head. Mesa had
+charge of the artillery, while the rest of our men were commanded by
+Diego de Ordas, who, though he knew nothing of the cavalry service,
+excelled as a crossbow-man and musketeer. The morning following, which
+was the day of annunciation to the holy Virgin, we attended mass very
+early, and arranged ourselves under our ensign Antonio de Villareal. We
+now put ourselves in motion, and marched towards some extensive bean
+fields, where Francisco de Lugo and Pedro de Alvarado had fought the
+previous battle. There was a village in this neighbourhood called
+Cintla, belonging to the Tabascans, which lay about four miles from our
+head-quarters. Cortes, on account of the bogs which our horse could not
+pass, was obliged to take a circuitous route. Our other troops, however,
+under Diego de Ordas, came up with the Indians near Cintla, where they
+had arranged themselves on the plain: if they felt equal ardour for the
+combat as we did, they could now satisfy themselves,--for this was a
+battle in every sense of the word which we here fought, fearful in the
+extreme, as will be seen.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+    _How we are attacked by all the caziques of Tabasco, and the whole
+    armed force of this province, and what further took place._
+
+
+The Indians were already moving forward in search of us, when we came up
+with them: every one had a large bunch of feathers on his head, a cotton
+cuirass on, and their faces were daubed with white, black, and red
+colours. Besides having drums and trumpets, they were armed with huge
+bows and arrows, shields, lances, and large broadswords; they had also
+bodies of slingers, and others armed with poles hardened in the fire.
+The Indians were in such vast numbers that they completely filled the
+bean fields, and immediately fell upon us on all sides at once, like
+furious dogs. Their attack was so impetuous, so numerous were the
+arrows, stones, and lances with which they greeted us, that above
+seventy of our men were wounded in no time, and one named Saldana, was
+struck by an arrow in the ear, and instantly dropt down dead. With like
+fury they rushed at us with their pikes, at the same time pouring forth
+showers of arrows, and continually wounding our men. However, we fully
+repaid them with our crossbows, muskets, and heavy cannon, cutting right
+and left among them with our swords. By this means we forced them to
+give ground a little, but only that they might shower forth their arrows
+at a greater distance, where they thought themselves more secure from
+our arms. Even then our artilleryman Mesa made terrible havoc among
+them, standing as they did crowded together and within reach of the
+cannon, so that he could fire among them to his heart's content.
+Notwithstanding the destruction we made among their ranks, we could not
+put them to flight. I now remarked to our commander Diego de Ordas that
+we should rush forward upon the Indians and close with them. My motive
+for advising this was, because I saw that they merely retreated from
+fear of our swords, but still continued to annoy us at a distance with
+arrows, lances, and large stones. De Ordas, however, considered this not
+expedient, as the enemy's numbers were so vast that every single man of
+us would have had to encounter 300 of the enemy at once.
+
+My advice, however, was at length followed up, and we fell so heavily
+upon them that they retreated as far as the wells. All this time Cortes
+still remained behind with the cavalry, though we so greatly longed for
+that reinforcement: we began to fear that some misfortune might also
+have befallen him. I shall never forget the piping and yelling which the
+Indians set up at every shot we fired, and how they sought to hide their
+loss from us by tossing up earth and straw into the air, making a
+terrible noise with their drums and trumpets, and their war-whoop _Ala
+lala_.[11]
+
+In one of these moments Cortes came galloping up with the horse. Our
+enemies being still busily engaged with us, did not immediately observe
+this, so that our cavalry easily dashed in among them from behind. The
+nature of the ground was quite favorable for its manoeuvres; and as it
+consisted of strong active fellows, most of the horses being, moreover,
+powerful and fiery animals, our small body of cavalry in every way made
+the best use of their weapons. When we, who were already hotly engaged
+with the enemy, espied our cavalry, we fought with renewed energy, while
+the latter, by attacking them in the rear at the same time, now obliged
+them to face about. The Indians, who had never seen any horses before,
+could not think otherwise than that horse and rider were one body. Quite
+astounded at this to them so novel a sight, they quitted the plain and
+retreated to a rising ground.
+
+Cortes now related why he had not come sooner. First, he had been
+delayed by the morass; then again he was obliged to fight his way
+through other bodies of the enemy whom he had met, in which five men and
+eight horses were wounded.
+
+Having somewhat rested from our fatigue under the trees which stood on
+the field of battle, we praised God and the holy Virgin, and thanked
+them with uplifted hands for the complete victory they had granted us:
+and, as it was the feast of the annunciation to the holy Virgin, the
+town which was subsequently built here in memory of this great victory,
+was named Santa Maria de la Vitoria. This was the first battle we fought
+under Cortes in New Spain.
+
+After this pious solemnity we bandaged the wounds of our men with linen,
+which was all we had for that purpose. Those of our horses we dressed
+with melted fat, which we cut from the dead bodies of the Indians. We
+likewise took this opportunity of counting the number of killed left by
+the enemy on the field of battle. We found above eight hundred, numbers
+still showing signs of life. Our swords had done the most carnage among
+them, though many were killed by our cannon. Wherever the cavalry made
+its appearance the enemy had most work to do. The fighting lasted about
+an hour; and our enemies maintained their ground so well, that they did
+not quit the field of battle until our horse broke in among them. There
+were two caziques among the five prisoners we made.
+
+As we were quite fatigued and hungry we returned to our quarters, buried
+the two soldiers, one of whom had been shot in the neck and the other in
+the ear, posted strong watches, then ate our supper and retired to rest.
+
+Francisco Lopez de Gomara, in his account of this battle, says, that
+previous to the arrival of Cortes with the cavalry, the holy apostle St.
+Jacob or St. Peter in person had galloped up on a gray-coloured horse
+to our assistance. I can only say, that for the exertion of our arms
+and this victory, we stand indebted to our Lord Jesus Christ; and that
+in this battle every individual man among us was set upon by such
+numbers of the enemy, that if each of them had merely thrown a handful
+of earth upon us we should have been buried beneath it. Certain it is,
+therefore, that God showed his mercy to us here, and it may, indeed,
+have been one of the two glorious apostles St. Jacob or St. Peter who
+thus came to our assistance. Perhaps on account of my sins I was not
+considered worthy of the good fortune to behold them; for I could only
+see Francisco de Morla on his brown horse galloping up with Cortes, and
+even at this very moment, while I am writing this, I can fancy I see all
+passing before my eyes just as I have related it; although I, an
+unworthy sinner, was not considered worthy of beholding one of the
+glorious apostles face to face: yet again I never heard any of the four
+hundred soldiers, nor ever Cortes himself, nor any of the many
+cavaliers, mention this wonder, or confirm its truth. We should
+certainly have built a church, and have called the town _Santiago_, or
+_San Pedro de la Vitoria_, and not _Santa Maria de la Vitoria_. If,
+therefore, what Gomara relates is true, then we must indeed have been
+bad Christians not to have paid greater respect to the assistance which
+God sent us in the person of his holy apostles, and for having omitted
+to thank him daily for it in his own church. Nevertheless, I should feel
+delighted if this historian has spoken the truth, although I must
+confess that I never heard this wonder mentioned before reading his
+book, nor have I ever heard any of the conquistadores speak of it who
+were present at the battle.
+
+[11] Ala lala. What a striking similarity there is between this cry and
+the Turkish Alla il Allah, of which, as Byron says, in one of his notes
+to the 'Bride of Abydos,' the Turks are very profuse in battle! (p. 75.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+    _How Cortes assembles all the caziques of this province, and what
+    further happened._
+
+
+I have above related that in this battle we took five prisoners, among
+whom were two chiefs. Aguilar, who understood their language, often
+discoursed with them, and from some remarks which they made, concluded
+that we might employ them as delegates to their countrymen. Having
+communicated his thoughts to Cortes, he proposed they should be set at
+liberty, and despatched with a message to the caziques and other
+inhabitants of the district. To this Cortes assented, ordering both the
+prisoners to be presented with blue glass beads, while Aguilar told them
+many things which he knew would please the inhabitants and prove
+advantageous to us. He assured them, that after this battle, which had
+been entirely of their own seeking, they had nothing further to fear
+from us, and commissioned them now to assemble all the caziques of the
+district, for we were very desirous of communicating with them.
+Everything Aguilar said was done with the view of inclining the Indians
+to make peace with us. The prisoners most willingly complied with our
+wishes, which they communicated to the caziques and principal personages
+among the inhabitants, telling them how we longed to become their
+friends. This message was in so far successful, that they resolved to
+send us fifteen of their Indian slaves with fowls, baked fish, and
+maise-bread. These slaves had their faces blackened, and were completely
+covered with ragged cloaks. When these personages appeared in the
+presence of Cortes he received them very friendly: Aguilar, on the
+contrary, asked them in an angry tone, why they had come with such
+painted faces--appearing rather to seek war than peace? If they were
+desirous of making peace, continued he, persons of rank should be
+deputed to us, not slaves. This they were to communicate to those who
+had sent them. We, however, treated these black faces very kindly,
+presenting them moreover with blue beads in token of peace, and in order
+to gain the good wishes of the inhabitants. And sure enough the very
+next day above thirty of the principal Indians, well dressed, appeared
+in our quarters, bringing with them, fowls, fruits, and maise-bread, and
+begged permission of Cortes to burn and bury the bodies of their fallen
+countrymen, in order that they might not create a pestilence in the air,
+or become a prey to the lions and tigers. This being granted, they
+brought along with them a great number of Indians to burn the bodies,
+and bury them according to their custom. Cortes himself went to watch
+their proceedings, when they assured him they had lost above 800 killed,
+without counting the wounded; adding, that at present they durst not
+enter into any treaty with us, as the day following all the chiefs and
+principal personages of the district would assemble to take our offers
+of peace into consideration.
+
+Cortes, who profited by every circumstance, said smilingly to us: "It
+appears to me, gentlemen, that the Indians stand in great awe of our
+horses, and imagine that these and our guns alone fight the battle. A
+thought has just struck me which will further confirm them in this
+notion. You must bring here the mare of Juan Sedeno which foaled on
+board a short time ago, and fasten her here where I am now standing.
+Then bring also the stallion of the musician Ortiz, which is a very
+fiery animal, and will quickly scent the mare. As soon as you find this
+to be the case, lead both the horses to separate places, that the
+caziques may neither see the horses, nor hear them neigh, until I shall
+be in conversation with them." All this was accordingly done. He
+likewise ordered our largest cannon to be heavily loaded with gunpowder
+and ball.
+
+A little after midday, forty caziques arrived in great state and richly
+clothed according to their fashion. They saluted Cortes and all of us,
+perfumed us with their incense, begged forgiveness for what had
+happened, and promised to be friendly for the future. Cortes answered by
+our interpreter Aguilar, reminding them, with a very serious look, how
+often he had wished them to make peace with us, and how, owing to their
+obstinacy, we were almost upon the point of destroying them with the
+whole of the inhabitants of this district. We were vassals of the mighty
+king and lord the emperor Charles, he further added, who had sent us to
+this country with orders to favour and assist those who should submit to
+his imperial sway, which we would assuredly do if they were amicably
+inclined towards us. If, however, they were not so, the _tepustles_ (so
+the Indians called our cannon) would be fired off, which were already
+embittered against them in some measure on account of the attack they
+had made upon us. Cortes, at this moment, gave the signal for firing our
+largest cannon. The report was like a sudden clap of thunder, the ball
+whizzing along the hills, which could be distinctly heard as it was
+midday and not a breath of air stirring. The caziques who had never seen
+this before appeared in dismay, and believed all Cortes had said; who,
+however, desired Aguilar to comfort and assure them he had given orders
+that no harm should be done them. At this moment the stallion was
+brought and fastened at a short distance from the spot where Cortes and
+the caziques were holding the conference: as the mare was likewise near
+at hand, the stallion immediately began to neigh, stamp the ground and
+rear itself, while its eyes were continually fixed on the Indians who
+stood in front of Cortes's tent, as the mare was placed behind it. The
+caziques, however, thought the animal was making all these movements
+against them and appeared greatly agitated. When Cortes found what
+effect this scene had made upon the Indians, he rose from his seat, and
+walking to the horse, took hold of the bridle, and desired his servant
+to lead it away. Aguilar, however, was to make the Indians believe that
+he had ordered the horse not to do them any injury.
+
+While all this was going on above thirty Indian porters (whom they term
+tamemes) arrived with fowls, baked fish, and various fruits: these
+porters, on account of their loads, had perhaps not been able to follow
+the caziques fast enough. A lively discourse was now kept up between
+Cortes and the caziques, who in the end left us perfectly contented,
+with the assurance that the following day they would return with a
+present.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+    _How all the caziques and calachonis of the river Grijalva arrive
+    with presents, and what happened after this._
+
+
+On the following morning, it was one of the last days in March, 1519, a
+number of caziques, with the principal personages of the Tabasco
+district and surrounding neighbourhood arrived. They paid us profound
+reverence, and brought a present, consisting in four diadems, some
+lizards, ear-rings, four ducks, figures like dogs, others with Indian
+faces, two sandals with golden soles, and various other trifling
+trinkets of gold,[12] whose value I have forgotten. There were also
+cloaks as the Indians wear them, which are very commodious. The present
+altogether was of little value, (most likely the province altogether
+possessed few riches,) and was certainly not to be compared to the
+twenty females with which they presented us, among whom one was a very
+fine woman, who subsequently became a convert to Christianity, and was
+named Dona Marina. Cortes was vastly pleased with this present, and
+held, by means of Aguilar, a long discourse with the caziques, telling
+them among other things, that their present was very acceptable; but he
+had something further to beg, namely, that they should again return to
+their dwellings with their wives and children. He should not consider
+the peace really concluded unless within the space of two days all the
+inhabitants had returned to the village. The caziques upon this issued
+the necessary orders, and in a couple of days all the families had
+returned. They showed the same readiness to comply with Cortes's wishes
+when he desired them to do away with their idols and human sacrifices.
+He likewise, as well as he could, gave them some idea of our holy
+Christian faith, and how we only adored one God. We also showed them a
+very pious figure, representing the mother of God holding her blessed
+Son in her arms, and explained to them how we paid reverence to this
+figure, and by it to the mother of God who was in heaven. Hereupon the
+caziques answered, that they were much pleased with this great
+_Tecleciguata_, and that they should much like to keep it in their
+village. In their language, _Tecleciguata_ means a woman of distinction.
+Cortes promised them they should have it, and for this purpose ordered a
+pretty altar to be built. In the same way our carpenters, Alonso Yanez
+and Alvaro Lopez, were desired to construct a very high cross.
+
+Cortes also further asked the caziques, why they had thus for the third
+time commenced war with us, though we had always sought to be at peace
+with them? They answered, that they were sorry enough for it, and we had
+forgiven them; for the rest it was at the instigation of their brother,
+the cazique of Champoton, who had previously accused them of cowardice
+for not having attacked us when we arrived off the coast with four ships
+under another commander, meaning most probably Grijalva. The same advice
+was also given them by our Indian interpreter, who had run away from us
+in the night-time, telling them not to leave us any peace day or night,
+as we were but few in number. Cortes desired that he should be delivered
+up to us, but they declared they did not know what had become of him, as
+on the unfortunate termination of the battle he had immediately took to
+flight. This, however, was an untruth, as we were well aware how dearly
+the poor devil had paid for his advice, as shortly after the battle he
+was seized and sacrificed to their gods.
+
+On being questioned as to where they got their gold and the trinkets,
+they answered from the country towards the setting of the sun, and
+pronounced the words _Culhua_ and _Mexico_. As at that time we did not
+comprehend the meaning of these words, we paid little attention to them.
+We, however, questioned our other interpreter Francisco, who remained
+with us from our former expedition under Grijalva, but he knew very
+little of the Tabasco language, being only acquainted with the Culhuan,
+that is to say the Mexican. He told Cortes, partly by signs, that
+_Culhua_ lay at a great distance before us, at the same time continually
+mentioning the word Mexico, Mexico. We were then still ignorant what he
+wished to convey to us.
+
+The day following the cross and altar were erected, and the figure of
+the holy Virgin being placed thereon: we all fell down upon our knees
+before it, while father Bartolome de Olmedo read mass. The caziques and
+chief Indians were present. On this occasion also the village of Tabasco
+was in all solemnity named Santa Maria de la Vitoria; and father Olmedo,
+with the assistance of Aguilar, said many excellent things to the twenty
+females who were presented to us, concerning our holy religion; that
+they should abandon their belief in idols, and no longer bring them
+sacrifices, for they were not gods but evil spirits; they had up to
+this moment lived in gross error, and should now adore Christ, our Lord.
+After this address the women were baptized, and she of whom I have
+already spoken was named Dona Marina. This was a lady of distinction,
+the daughter of a powerful cazique and a princess who had subjects of
+her own, which, indeed, you might see from her appearance. The
+circumstances which occasioned her being brought into our power I will
+relate hereafter. The names of the other Indian females who were
+baptized I cannot now bring to mind; but these were the first who were
+converted to Christianity in New Spain, and were distributed among
+Cortes's chief officers. Dona Marina, who was the prettiest, the most
+active and lively of the number, was given to Puertocarrero, who was a
+stout cavalier and cousin to the earl of Medellin. When he subsequently
+left for Spain, Cortes took Marina unto himself, and had a son by her,
+who was named Don Martin Cortes, and became Comptoir of Santiago.
+
+We remained five days in this spot, partly to cure our wounds, partly
+for the sake of those who suffered from pain in the groins, but who soon
+recovered here. Cortes employed these days in useful conversation with
+the caziques, and talked to them about the emperor, our master, of his
+numerous lordly vassals, and the advantage they would gain by having
+subjected themselves to him; as, for the future, in all their
+difficulties they would only have to apply to him, and wherever he might
+be he would come to their assistance.
+
+The caziques thanked him for this offer; they solemnly declared
+themselves to be vassals of our great emperor, and these were the first
+among the inhabitants of New Spain who subjected themselves to his
+majesty. As the day following was Palm Sunday, Cortes desired them to
+come early in the morning to pray before the holy mother of God and the
+cross. He also sent for six Indian carpenters to assist ours in making a
+cross on a high ceiba tree,[13] near the village of Cintla, where the
+Lord had granted us the great victory. This cross was made in a manner
+so as to be very durable, for the bark of the tree, which always grows
+to again, was so cut as to form that figure. Lastly, Cortes desired the
+Indians to bring out all their canoes in order to assist us in
+re-embarking, for we were desirous of setting sail on that holy day, as,
+according to our pilots, our present station was not secure from the
+north winds.
+
+Early the next morning the caziques and the principal personages, all
+with their wives and children, made their appearance in the courtyard,
+where we had erected the altar and cross, and collected the palm
+branches for our procession. Upon this Cortes, with the officers and
+all our men, rose and made a solemn procession. Both our priests, the
+father Bartolome de Olmedo, belonging to the order of the charitable
+brethren, and Juan Dias, were dressed in their full canonicals, and read
+mass. We prayed before the cross and kissed it, the caziques and Indians
+all the while looking on. After the ceremony was finished the principal
+Indians brought ten fowls, baked fish, and all kinds of greens, which we
+enjoyed very much. We now took our leave, and Cortes repeatedly
+recommended them to take care of the image of the holy Virgin and the
+cross, and to hold the chapel in due reverence, in order that salvation
+and blessings might come upon them.
+
+We all embarked in the evening, and on Monday morning we set sail with a
+good wind. We always kept close to the shore, and steered in the
+direction of San Juan de Ulua. As we coasted along, the weather being
+most favorable, we who had been here with Grijalva, and were well
+acquainted with these parts, pointed out to Cortes La Rambla, which the
+Indians call Aguajaluco; further on, the coast of Tonala or San Antonio,
+the great river Guacasualco, the elevated snow mountains (sierras
+nevadas), and those of San Martin. We also showed him the split rock
+forming two points, which stretch out into the sea, and somewhat
+resemble the figure of a chair. We then showed him the river Alvarado;
+further on the river Banderas, where we made the 16000 pesos; the Isla
+Blanca and Isla Verde, also the Isla di Sacrificios, where, under
+Grijalva, we found the idols with the Indians who had been recently
+sacrificed.
+
+In this way we pretty quickly arrived at San Juan de Ulua, which we
+reached on Holy Thursday about noon. I shall never forget how Alonso
+Hernandez Puertocarrero just about this time remarked to Cortes:
+"Methinks we are now certainly arrived in that country, of which those
+gentlemen who have been here twice before, sung:[14]
+
+    'Cata Francia, montesinos!
+    Cata Paris, la Ciudad,
+    Cata las aguas de Duero,
+    Do van a dar en la mar!'
+
+"I tell you, only look at this rich country, and keep strict command
+over us." Cortes, who well knew what he meant, said in return: "If God
+will only grant us that good fortune in arms which he gave to Roland,
+the Paladin, then with your assistance and that of the other gentlemen
+cavaliers, we shall succeed in everything else." This happened just at
+the moment when Cortes was entering the river Alvarado, which
+circumstance is also mentioned by Gomara.
+
+[12] This passage is very important, as it shows to what degree of
+civilization the inhabitants of this district had arrived, and that they
+were at least skilful in the working of gold. The Spanish words are:
+"Quatro diademas, unas lagartijas, y dos como perillos, y orejeras, y
+cinco anades, y dos figuras de caras de Indios, y dos Suelas de Oro,
+como de sus Cotoras."
+
+The Caras de Indios (faces of Indians) were most probably shaped like
+masks, for similar ones, made of clay, are found to this day in the vale
+of Mexico. "Suelas de Oro, como de sus Cotoras," we have ventured to
+translate "Sandals with golden soles," particularly as Bernal Diaz, in a
+subsequent chapter, expressly remarks that Motecusuma wore a kind of
+half-boot with soles of gold. (p. 80.)
+
+[13] The bombax ceiba of Linnaeus, and one of the tallest trees growing
+in America. The fruit produces a very fine cotton, resembling silk, used
+for stuffing bolsters and chair seats. (p. 82.)
+
+[14] Cata Francia, Montesinos, &c. This is the first strophe of an old
+Spanish romance, in which Montesinos the father desires his son to
+revenge him of his mortal enemy Tomillas:
+
+"Montesinos cast a glance On your lands, the soil of France; See how the
+Duro's sportive motion Carries its waters to the ocean!" (p. 83.)
+
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+    _How Dona Marina herself was a caziquess, and the daughter of
+    distinguished personages; also a ruler over a people and several
+    towns, and how she came to Tabasco._
+
+
+Previous to going into any details here respecting the powerful
+Motecusuma, his immense kingdom of Mexico, and its inhabitants, I must
+relate what I know of Dona Marina. She was born a ruler over a people
+and country,--for her parents had the dominion of a township called
+Painala, to which several other townships were subject, lying about
+twenty-four miles from the town of Guacasualco. Her father died when she
+was very young, and her mother married another young cazique. By him she
+had a son, of whom it appears they were both very fond, and to whom,
+after their death, they designed to leave their territories. In order,
+however, that the daughter of the first marriage might not stand in his
+way, she was conveyed secretly during night-time to an Indian family in
+Xicalango, they spreading the rumour she had died, which gained further
+belief from the circumstance that a daughter of one of her female slaves
+happened to die at the time. The Indians of Xicalango did not keep the
+young girl themselves, but gave her to the inhabitants of Tabasco, by
+whom she was presented to Cortes. I knew her mother and half-brother
+myself, the latter having already reached manhood, and governed the
+township jointly with his mother. When they were subsequently both
+converted to Christianity, the latter was named Martha and her son
+Lazaro. I was well acquainted with the whole of this circumstance; for
+in the year 1523, when Mexico and several other provinces had been
+subdued, and Christobal de Oli had rebelled in the Higueras, Cortes came
+to Guacasualco, and on that occasion visited Marina's birth-place. Most
+of the inhabitants of Guacasualco accompanied Cortes on this expedition;
+I myself was also among the number. As Dona Marina, in all the wars of
+New Spain, Tlascalla, and at the siege of Mexico, had rendered the
+greatest services in capacity of an interpretress, Cortes carried her
+everywhere with him. During this journey it also was that he married her
+to a cavalier of the township of Orizava, named Juan Xaramillo. Among
+others, there was present as a witness a certain Aranda of Tabasco,
+through whom this circumstance became immediately known. These are the
+true particulars of the whole case, not, however, as related by Gomara.
+For the rest, Marina had the most extensive influence in New Spain, and
+did with the Indians what she pleased.
+
+While Cortes was staying in Guacasualco, he ordered all the caziques of
+the province to assemble, and advised them to adopt our holy religion.
+On this occasion the mother and brother of Dona Marina also made their
+appearance with the other caziques. They recognized each other
+immediately; the former, however, appeared to be in the greatest
+anxiety, thinking that they had merely been called there to be killed.
+Dona Marina, however, desired them to dry away their tears, and
+comforted them by saying they were unconscious of what they were doing
+when they had sent her away to the inhabitants of Xicalango, and that
+she freely forgave the past. By this means God certainly directed
+everything for her best, turned her away from the errors of heathenism,
+and converted her to Christianity.
+
+Thus destined, she likewise bore a son unto her master Cortes, and then
+married a cavalier named Juan Xaramillo. All this I consider of much
+greater importance than if she had been presented with the sole dominion
+of the whole of New Spain. She likewise gave presents to her relatives
+on their return home. What I have related is the strict truth, and can
+swear to it. Gomara's account respecting this is wholly erroneous, and
+he adds many other circumstances which I shall leave without comment.
+This, however, is certain, that the whole affair reminds one of the
+history of Joseph and his brethren in Egypt, when they came into his
+power. After this diversion into matters which subsequently took place,
+I must relate how we first managed to understand Dona Marina. She was
+conversant with the language of Guacasualco, which is the Mexican, and
+with that of Tabasco. Aguilar, however, merely understood the latter,
+which is spoken throughout the whole of Yucatan. Dona Marina had,
+therefore, first to make herself understood to Aguilar, who then
+translated what she said into Spanish. This woman was a valuable
+instrument to us in the conquest of New Spain. It was, through her only,
+under the protection of the Almighty, that many things[15] were
+accomplished by us: without her we never should have understood the
+Mexican language, and, upon the whole, have been unable to surmount many
+difficulties.
+
+Let this suffice respecting Dona Marina; I will now relate how we
+arrived in San Juan de Ulua.
+
+[15] On this woman the captain Cadahalso, in his 'Cartas Marruecas,'
+passes the following encomium: "Primera muger, que no ha prejudicado en
+uno exercito;" i.e. "The first woman who ever accompanied an army
+without being a prejudice to it." (p. 85.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+    _How we arrive with our vessels in San Juan de Ulua, and what we did
+    there._
+
+
+On Holy Thursday, in the year of our Lord 1519, we arrived with our
+whole squadron in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua. As Alaminos well
+remembered this spot from the expedition under Grijalva, he brought our
+ships to anchor in a place where they were sheltered from the north
+wind. We had scarcely lain here half an hour when we espied two large
+canoes, which are called here pirogues, filled with a number of Indians,
+making straight for Cortes's vessel, which, from the large flag hanging
+from the mast-head, they recognized as our commander's ship. They
+climbed on board without any ceremony, and inquired for the _Tlatoan_,
+which, in their language, means master. Dona Marina understood their
+question, and pointed to Cortes; they, therefore, turned to him, paying
+him great reverence after the Indian fashion, and bid him welcome. Their
+master, they said, who was a servant of the great Motecusuma, had sent
+them in order to ascertain who we were and what we came to seek in his
+country. We had only to inform them of what we wanted for our ships, and
+they would see that it was provided.
+
+Cortes thanked them for their kindness, through Aguilar and Dona Marina,
+presented them with some blue glass beads, and ordered some meat and
+drink to be placed before them. After they had taken some refreshment,
+he told them we were merely come here to make their acquaintance, and
+open a trade with them: we had not the remotest intention of doing them
+an injury, nor need they apprehend anything from our arrival. The
+ambassadors now returned, well contented, to their homes. The following
+morning, Good Friday, we disembarked our horses and cannon near some
+sand-hills which here run along the whole coast. Our artilleryman Mesa
+placed the cannon on a very advantageous spot, and we erected an altar
+where mass was immediately performed: for Cortes and the other chief
+officers huts were constructed of green boughs; the rest of us likewise
+constructed huts, and slept three together: the horses also were well
+provided for. The whole of Good Friday was spent in this work; and on
+the Saturday many Indians arrived, who had been sent by a man of
+distinction, named Quitlalpitoc, governor under Motecusuma: this
+personage was afterwards christened Ovandillo. They had axes with them,
+and cut off an additional quantity of branches to make a better finish
+to Cortes's hut, which they then overhung with large pieces of cloth,
+to keep out the heat, which was already very great. They also brought
+along with them fowls, maise-bread, and plums, which were then nice and
+ripe; also, if I rightly recollect, they had with them some gold
+trinkets. All these things they handed over to Cortes, adding, that the
+governor himself would come the next day and bring with him a further
+supply of provisions. Cortes joyfully accepted of these presents, and
+ordered various kinds of toys we had brought for barter to be given
+them, with which they were uncommonly delighted. On Easter day, the
+governor indeed appeared in person, as had been assured us. His name was
+_Teuthlille_, and he was one of the farmer generals of the Mexican
+empire. He was accompanied by another person of distinction, called
+Quitlalpitoc. We subsequently learnt that both these personages were
+appointed governors over the provinces Cotastlan, Tustepec,
+Guazpaltepec, and Tlatateteclo, and other townships recently subdued.
+They were followed by a great number of Indians, carrying the presents,
+consisting of fowls and greens. Teuthlille having ordered the others to
+stand back a little, walked up to Cortes, and made him three most
+reverential bows, after the Indian fashion, which he repeated on turning
+to us who stood nearest. Cortes bid both welcome, then embraced them,
+and desired them to wait a little, as he would afterwards give them a
+more circumstantial answer. In the meantime he ordered the altar to be
+fitted up as prettily as possible. Francisco Bartolome and father Juan
+Diaz performed mass. Both the governors and the principal personages of
+their suite were present during the ceremony, after which Cortes sat
+down to dinner with them.
+
+After the table had been cleared, Cortes, with the assistance of Aguilar
+and Dona Marina, entered into conversation with the Mexican officials
+and the caziques, telling them we were Christians, and subjects of the
+greatest monarch of the world, whose name was emperor Charles, and that
+he had many great personages among his vassals and servants. We had come
+by his command to their country, of which and its powerful monarch who
+now reigned over it, his majesty had heard long ago. As far as regarded
+himself, he was desirous of becoming his friend, and had to disclose
+many things to him, in the name of his emperor, which he would listen to
+with delight. In order that a good understanding might be established
+between him and his subjects, they should acquaint him with the place
+where their monarch resided, that he might pay his respects to him, and
+make the necessary disclosures. To which Teuthlille answered in a rather
+imperious tone, "Since you are but just arrived, it would be more
+fitting that you, previous to your desiring an interview with my
+monarch, should accept this present, which we have brought you in his
+name, and disclose your wishes to me." He then brought forth, out of a
+species of box, a quantity of gold trinkets, of beautiful and skilful
+workmanship, besides more than twenty packages of stuffs very prettily
+worked of white cotton and feathers. These they presented to Cortes,
+with various other costly things, which, owing to the number of years
+which have since elapsed, I cannot now remember, besides provisions,
+consisting in quantities of fowls, fruits, and dried fish. Cortes
+accepted all this with a joyful countenance, presenting these gentlemen
+in return with glass beads resembling brilliants, and other things we
+brought from Spain. He begged of them to desire the inhabitants of the
+different districts to commence trading with us, as we possessed various
+articles which we were desirous of exchanging for gold; this they
+promised to do.
+
+Cortes then ordered an arm-chair to be brought, beautifully painted and
+adorned with inlaid work, some pieces of precious stones, wrapt in
+cotton cloth, perfumed with musk, a necklace of imitation pearls, a
+scarlet cap, with a medal, on which was represented the holy St. George
+on horseback, with lance in hand, killing the dragon. Cortes addressed
+Teuthlille, and said, that he presented this chair to his monarch
+Motecusuma, that he might sit in it when he should pay him a visit, and
+the string of pearls to wind around his head on the same occasion; all
+of which were presents from the emperor our master, who had sent these
+things to his monarch in token of friendship and as a proof of the
+esteem in which he held him: he ought now to inform us where and when he
+could personally wait upon him. Teuthlille accepted the presents, and
+said, in return, that his master Motecusuma, as he was also a great
+monarch, would on his side be equally delighted to learn something about
+our great emperor: he would hasten to lay the presents before him, and
+return with his answer.
+
+Teuthlille had with him very clever painters, for there were such in
+Mexico, and he ordered them to sketch the likeness and whole person of
+Cortes, with the dress he wore; also all the other chief officers, the
+soldiers, our vessels, horses, Dona Marina, and Aguilar; even our two
+dogs, the cannon, the balls; in short, everything they could fix their
+eyes on belonging to us: these paintings they took along with them to
+show to their monarch. In order, however, to convey to him a still
+greater idea of our power, Cortes ordered our cannon to be heavily laden
+with powder, so as to produce a very loud report, commanding also
+Alvarado and the other cavaliers to mount their horses, to hang bells
+around the necks of the latter, and to gallop up in full speed in
+presence of Motecusuma's ambassadors. Cortes also mounted his horse, and
+said to the others, "It would be capital if we could gallop across these
+sand-hills at full speed; but, as we should so easily stick in the sand,
+it will be better for us to ride two and two along the sea-shore at low
+water." He then gave the command of the horse to Alvarado, whose brown
+mare was a spirited animal, and very swift. All this was done in
+presence of the Mexican ambassadors; but, that they might likewise see
+the cannon fired, Cortes, under the pretence of having something further
+to communicate, took them and several other principal personages to a
+spot where they might have a good view of it. The weather was perfectly
+calm; and when the cannon was fired, the stone balls flew with a
+tremendous crash along the sand-hills, re-echoing for a length of time.
+The Indians were terribly startled, and ordered their painters to
+represent this likewise, to them so novel a sight, that they might show
+it to Motecusuma.
+
+One of our men had on a casque, which was partly gilt; Teuthlille, who
+was much more enlightened than any of his companions, remarked, when his
+eye fell upon it, that it bore a great resemblance to a helmet which
+belonged to their most ancient forefathers, and now adorned the head of
+their warrior-god Huitzilopochtli. Motecusuma, he further added, would
+certainly be uncommonly pleased if he could likewise see this casque.
+Cortes, on hearing this, ordered the casque to be presented to him,
+thereby expressing the wish, that he should like to satisfy himself that
+the gold of this country was similar to what we find in our rivers. If
+they would send him the casque full of gold dust, he would send it to
+our great emperor. Upon this Teuthlille took leave of Cortes and all of
+us, promising to return speedily, while Cortes, under the most tender of
+embraces, made him every profession of friendship.
+
+After this personage had taken his departure, we learnt that he was not
+merely a distinguished statesman, but also the most nimble pedestrian at
+Motecusuma's court. He did, indeed, use the utmost expedition to bring
+his monarch information, and hand over to him the paintings and
+presents. The great Motecusuma was vastly astonished at everything he
+heard and saw, and yet he was pleased. But, when at last he espied the
+casque, and compared it with that of the idol Huitzilopochtli, he no
+longer doubted for an instant that we belonged to that people, whom his
+forefathers had prophesied would, one time or other, come and subdue the
+country.
+
+Concerning these things Gomara has adduced much of which he had been ill
+informed; I will not, however, detain myself by contradicting him, but
+continue my narrative.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+    _How Teuthlille makes his report to Motecusuma, and gives him our
+    presents; as also what further took place in our camp._
+
+
+After the departure of Teuthlille with the presents which Cortes sent to
+his monarch, Motecusuma; the other governor, Quitlalpitoc, remained
+behind in our camp. He took up his quarters in a kind of hut, at a
+distance from ours, and ordered Indians to bake maise-bread, procure the
+fowls, fruits, and fish, which the province had to furnish, for the
+table of Cortes and his officers. We other soldiers, if we wished to get
+our bellies full were compelled to catch shell and other fish ourselves.
+In the meantime numbers of Indians arrived from the above-mentioned
+provinces, over which the two officials sent by Motecusuma were
+governors, bringing with them some gold trinkets of small value, and
+fowls, which they gave us in exchange for our goods, consisting in glass
+pearls and such like; with which we were all provided, having
+experienced the value of these during the expedition under Grijalva.
+
+Six or seven days may have thus been spent, when Teuthlille returned in
+the morning with more than a hundred Indian porters, all heavily laden,
+accompanied by a great Mexican cazique, who both in countenance,
+stature, and deportment, greatly resembled Cortes, and on that account
+only had been selected by his monarch to accompany the deputation; for,
+as was related, when Teuthlille brought forth the picture representing
+Cortes, all the grandees who were present with their monarch Motecusuma,
+immediately observed that he resembled a person of distinction named
+Quintalbor. This was the same person who now accompanied Teuthlille, we
+therefore called one the Cortes of this place, and the other the Cortes
+of that place. We must now, however, learn what the ambassadors did when
+they came into the presence of Cortes. First of all they touched the
+ground at his feet with the hand, they then perfumed him and all the
+Spaniards who were present, with pans made of clay. Cortes gave them a
+most cordial reception, and desired them to sit down at his side. The
+cazique Quintalbor was commissioned to discuss matters jointly with
+Teuthlille. Both, therefore, told Cortes he was most welcome in their
+country; and after a good deal of talking on both sides, they produced
+the presents and spread them out on a mat, over which they had first
+thrown some cotton cloths. The first was a round plate, about the size
+of a waggon wheel, representing the sun, the whole of the finest gold,
+and of the most beautiful workmanship; a most extraordinary work of art,
+which, according to the account of those who weighed it, was worth
+above 20,000 gold pesos. The second was a round plate, even larger than
+the former, of massive silver, representing the moon, with rays and
+other figures on it, being of great value. The third was the casque,
+completely filled with pure grains of gold, as they are found in the
+mines, worth about 3000 pesos, which was more to us than if it had been
+ten times the value, as we now knew for certain there were rich gold
+mines in the country. Among other things there were also thirty golden
+ducks, exactly resembling the living bird, and of splendid workmanship;
+further figures resembling lions, tigers, dogs and apes; likewise ten
+chains with lockets, all of gold, and of the most costly workmanship; a
+bow with the string and twelve arrows, and two staffs five palms in
+length, like those used by the justices, all cast of the purest gold;
+further, they brought small cases containing the most beautiful green
+feathers, blended with gold and silver, and fans similarly worked; every
+species of game likewise cast in gold. In short such a number of
+objects, which from the many years since elapsed I cannot now altogether
+remember.[16] There were alone above thirty packages of cotton stuffs,
+variously manufactured and interworked with variegated feathers. When
+the great cazique Quintalbor and Teuthlille handed over these presents
+to Cortes, they begged of him to accept of them in the same friendly
+disposition with which their monarch sent them, and to distribute them
+among his Teules. Upon this they began to unfold what their monarch had
+in particular commissioned them to say, which was as follows: "He,
+Motecusuma, was delighted with the arrival of such courageous men in his
+states, as we, according to the accounts he had received and judging
+from the occurrence at Tabasco, certainly must be. He wished very much
+to see our great emperor, who was such a powerful monarch, of whom,
+although residing at such a vast distance, he had already gained some
+knowledge, and he would send him a present of some valuable stones. He
+was likewise ready to furnish us with everything we might require during
+our stay. But as for Cortes calling upon him, we had better give up all
+thoughts of that, as it was not necessary, and would be accompanied with
+great difficulties."
+
+Cortes thanked them most sincerely for their kindness, gave to each a
+couple of shirts made of holland, blue beads, and other trifles, begging
+of them to return to their great monarch Motecusuma, and tell him that
+our emperor and master would take it very unkind, after we had come from
+such distant countries and crossed such vast seas, merely with the
+intention of paying our respects to Motecusuma, if we returned without
+fulfilling this object. He wished, therefore, to proceed to his
+residence and himself to receive his commands. The ambassadors answered,
+that they would mention all this to their monarch, but that any waiting
+upon him would be superfluous. Cortes upon this gave them out of our
+poverty a cup, of Florentine workmanship, gilt and surrounded with a
+quantity of relieved foliage, besides those shirts made of holland, and
+other things; all these were to be presented to Motecusuma, and he
+desired them to take his answer to him. Both the delegates then
+departed, while Quitlalpitoc remained alone behind in our camp,
+commissioned, it appeared, by the two other officials of Motecusuma, to
+provide provisions for us out of the neighbouring districts.
+
+[16] These remarkable presents have all been enumerated by Torquemada,
+(Monarchia Indiana, i, iv, c. 17;) and we cannot do better than give his
+minute description of them here: "The ambassador of Motecusuma ordered
+mats to be spread on the ground before Cortes, and over them some cotton
+cloths, on which he arranged the presents, consisting of large
+quantities of cotton shirts and other cotton stuffs, beautifully
+manufactured, and interwoven with feathers of the most splendid colours;
+bucklers made of the purest white staffs, decorated with feathers, gold,
+silver, and pearls, surpassing everything in beauty and skilfulness of
+workmanship that was ever seen. There was also a helmet, tastefully
+carved out of wood, filled with grains of gold; a casque, made of thin
+plates of gold, decorated with tassels and stones, resembling the
+smaragdus; numerous large bunches of feathers of diversified colours,
+fastened in silver and gold; fans for keeping off flies, made of the
+rarest feathers; a thousand lockets of gold and silver, of the most
+curious and beautiful workmanship; bracelets and military decorations of
+gold and silver, splendidly embossed with green and bright yellow
+feathers; leather made of deer skin, curried and coloured in the best
+possible manner; shoes and sandals of the same leather, sewn with thin
+gold wire, and the soles made of splendid white and blue stone. There
+were other kinds of shoes, most tastefully manufactured of cotton;
+mirrors of marcasite, globular shaped, of the size of a fist, and most
+ingeniously set in gold, the small frame itself being very valuable, and
+worthy of the acceptance of any crowned head; coverings and curtains to
+beds, manufactured of various coloured cotton, more glossy and of finer
+texture than silk; a number of other gold and silver trinkets; a
+necklace of gold, decorated with upwards of a hundred emeralds, rubies,
+and various other ornaments of gold; a second necklace, consisting of
+numbers of large pearls and emeralds, all of the most exquisite
+workmanship; numerous other gold trinkets in the shape of frogs and
+animals; jewels in the form of medals, the shrines being even more
+valuable than the precious stones they contained; a quantity of large
+and small grains of gold. The most valuable of these presents, however,
+were two round plates, one of gold, on which was a sun with rays and the
+zodiac; this weighed above one hundred marks: the other was of silver,
+which in a similar manner represented the moon, weighing above fifty
+marks: both were massive, and of the thickness of the Spanish coin of
+four silver reals, and as large as a waggon wheel. Those who saw these
+splendid presents said that, without considering the beautiful
+workmanship, the value of the gold and silver alone amounted to 25,000
+castellanos de oro; so that the whole together may well be estimated at
+50,000 ducats." (p. 91.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+    _How Cortes goes in search of another harbour and a good spot to
+    found a colony, and what further happened._
+
+
+After the Mexican ambassadors had again taken their departure, Cortes
+ordered two vessels to sail further on and explore the coast. The
+command of these was given to Francisco de Montejo, with orders to
+follow the same course taken by Grijalva. He was to sail on for the
+space of ten days, and search for a good harbour and convenient spot to
+form a settlement; for in the sandy region we were now staying it was
+impossible to live, on account of the gnats; the inhabited districts,
+moreover, being too far distant. Alaminos and el Manquillo who were
+already acquainted with these waters, piloted the vessels. Montejo
+departed and arrived in the waters of Rio Grande, near Panuco, as far as
+we had gone with Grijalva, but on account of the heavy currents there he
+could proceed no further; he, therefore, returned to San Juan de Ulua,
+bringing us no other news than that they had seen at a distance of about
+thirty-six miles further on a town, which to all appearance was
+fortified. This place was called Quiahuitzlan, having a harbour, which,
+according to the opinion of Alaminos, was secure from the north wind.
+Ten or twelve days were spent by Montejo in this expedition out and
+home. Quitlalpitoc, who had remained to furnish us with provisions, soon
+ceased to do so altogether, which, of course, created a great scarcity
+of food: our cassave-bread had likewise become quite mouldy and swarmed
+with worms, so that we had nothing to eat if we did not procure
+ourselves shellfish. In the commencement the Indians had certainly
+brought us gold and fowls for our goods, but now they no longer came in
+such great numbers as at first, and those who did come appeared quite
+shy and reserved. We, therefore, anxiously awaited the return of the two
+ambassadors from Mexico.
+
+After some days had elapsed Teuthlille indeed returned with a great
+number of Indians. They observed the same courteous behaviour as on the
+previous occasion, perfuming Cortes and all of us, and then brought
+forth their presents, consisting in ten packages of mantles, richly
+worked in feathers; further, four _chalchihuitls_, a species of green
+stone of uncommon value, which are held in higher estimation with them
+than the smaragdus[17] with us; lastly, there were also all kinds of
+gold trinkets, which I heard valued at 3000 pesos. The great cazique
+Quintalbor had fallen ill on the journey, and consequently remained
+behind. Teuthlille and Quitlalpitoc, therefore, alone fulfilled
+Motecusuma's commission, and assured us that he had most graciously
+accepted of our present. Regarding the four chalchihuitls they observed,
+that those were intended as a present to our emperor, as each of them
+was worth, more than a load of gold. For the rest it was unnecessary to
+send any more messengers to Mexico, neither was there any further
+mention to be made of a personal interview between their monarch and
+Cortes.
+
+Although, it was very unpleasant to the latter that his visit to
+Motecusuma should thus be declined in dry words, yet he thanked them
+most kindly; and added to some of us who were present: "Really this
+Motecusuma must be a great and rich gentleman; nevertheless, if God be
+willing, we shall one day visit him in his palace!" "We only wish,
+(returned we soldiers,) that we were once nicely engaged with him."
+
+All this took place just about the hour of Ave Maria; the bell,
+therefore, announced that we should assemble ourselves around the cross,
+which we had erected on an elevated sand-hill. While we were all on our
+knees before it, and repeating the Ave Maria, Teuthlille and
+Quitlalpitoc inquired why we thus humbled ourselves so greatly before
+that pole.
+
+Cortes immediately turned to Bartolome de Olmedo, and remarked to him:
+"This is a good opportunity, father, to give these people some notion of
+our holy religion through our interpreters." This father Olmedo
+accordingly did in a manner which would have done honour to the greatest
+of theologians. He first of all explained that we were Christians, and
+then expatiated on the whole substance of our belief; he then proved
+that their idols were useless things, evil spirits, which fled away from
+the presence of the cross. On such a cross, he continued, the Lord of
+heaven and earth suffered death, we believed in him only, and prayed to
+him as the only true God, Jesus Christ, who suffered death for the
+salvation of the human race; who rose again on the third day, and
+ascended into heaven, that he would again appear to hold judgment over
+the living and the dead. Upon this followed everything that was
+edifying, which the Indians comprehended well, and which they assured us
+they would relate to their monarch.
+
+Cortes then explained to them, that among the many reasons which had
+induced our great emperor to send us here, one was that they should
+abandon for ever the religion of their cursed idols, abolish human
+sacrifices, and abstain from kidnapping. He, therefore, must beg of them
+to erect crosses like this in their towns and on their temples, and also
+the figure of the holy Virgin, with her most excellent Son, then God
+would bestow great blessings on them. In short, there were many
+expressions replete with excellent feeling, which I am unable wholly to
+report, and therefore will rather leave in my pen.
+
+Our men now commenced to barter with the Indians, who had arrived with
+Teuthlille for what they had brought, and obtained various kinds of
+things, all of inferior gold, which we gave to our sailors for catching
+us fish; this was the only means we had of stilling our hunger. Cortes
+was well aware of this, and secretly enjoyed the idea; however, the
+creatures of Diego Velasquez drew his attention to it, and thought he
+ought not to permit such a species of traffic. We shall further see what
+happened on this account.
+
+[17] Chalchihuitls; Bernal Diaz calls these Chalchuites. This stone is
+of a light green colour, at first held in great estimation by the
+Spaniards, but Torquemada, a contemporary of our author, remarks,
+(Monarchia, Ind. i, p. 462,) it is a stone on which the Indians set a
+high value, but not so the Spaniards. He calls it a kind of smaragdus,
+"the polishing of which the Indians say was taught them by the god
+Quetzalcohuatl." Bustamente (Historia de la Conquista de Mexico escrita,
+por Fr. Bernardino Sahagun, Mexico, 1829,) calls it, "Piedra jaspe, mui
+verde, o sea esmeralda ordinaria," i.e. "A jasper of a very green
+colour, or a common smaragdus."
+
+This stone represented among the Mexicans everything that was excellent
+in its kind, for which reason they put such a stone in the mouth of the
+distinguished chiefs who died. (p. 93.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+
+_What happened on account of our bartering for gold, and of other things
+which took place in our camp._
+
+
+This bartering for gold being continued with the Indians, the adherents
+of Diego Velasquez remonstrated with Cortes, and asked him how he could
+suffer such a thing? Diego Velasquez, they added, had not sent him
+hither, that the soldiers should put most of the gold in their pockets.
+It ought to be made known, that henceforth no one but Cortes himself
+should barter for gold, and that every one should render an account of
+the gold in his possession, in order that the emperor's fifths might be
+deducted therefrom. It was, moreover, necessary to appoint a treasurer.
+Cortes confessed they were in the right, and allowed them to choose a
+treasurer themselves. But, not until their choice had fallen on one
+Gonzalo Mexia, did he show what his real intentions were; then he said
+to them with a heavy frown on his brow: "Only consider, gentlemen, how
+hard our comrades have to fare, since provisions totally fail! In order
+that they might not hunger, I have up to this moment overlooked this
+system of bartering, and indeed it produces but a mere trifle. I hope,
+with the assistance of God, that our affairs will take a better turn by
+and bye. Everything has its two sides to be looked at, and as we have
+now, in compliance with your wishes, ordered that no more bartering for
+gold shall be allowed in future, we have to see whence we are henceforth
+to obtain provisions."
+
+Gomara is in the wrong, when he relates, that Cortes issued that order,
+on this occasion, to make Motecusuma believe we cared little about gold.
+This monarch knew very well how the matter stood on this point, from the
+time of our arrival under Grijalva in the Bandera stream; he might also
+easily guess what we were after, when we begged of him to send us the
+casque full of golden grains, and our daily bartering for that metal.
+The Mexicans, indeed, are not the kind of folks to be thus imposed upon.
+
+However this may be, one fine morning the Indians, who had resided near
+us in the huts and were accustomed to furnish us with provisions and
+bring gold for barter, had all secretly left with Quitlalpitoc. This, we
+subsequently learnt, was done by the commands of Motecusuma, who had
+forbidden all intercourse with Cortes, which he had been induced to do
+from his attachment to his idol-gods. These were named _Tetzcatlipuca_
+and _Huitzilopochtli_, the former being the god of hell and the latter
+the god of war, to whom Motecusuma daily sacrificed some young children,
+that they might disclose to him what he should do with us. His intention
+was to take us prisoners if we would not re-embark, and employ some to
+educate children, while others were to be sacrificed. For his idol-gods,
+as we afterwards discovered, advised him not to listen to Cortes, and to
+take no notice of what we had sent him word concerning the cross and the
+figure of the blessed Virgin. This was also the reason why his men had
+gone away so secretly.
+
+Affairs having assumed such a posture, we now daily expected that
+hostilities would break out, and were particularly on our guard. It was
+during one of these days that I was standing sentinel on the sand-hills
+with another soldier, when we espied five Indians approaching along the
+shore. Not to alarm our camp with such a trifle we allowed them to come
+up. They all appeared very good humoured, made their obeisance to us
+after their fashion, and begged of us, by signs, to conduct them to our
+camp. Upon which I said to my companion, I will take them there, while
+you remain where you are, for at that time my legs were not so infirm as
+they are now, in my old age. When I presented them to Cortes, they paid
+him the profoundest respect, and continually repeated the word,
+_Lopelucio_, _Lopelucio_, which in the Totonaque language means Lord,
+great God. In dress and language this people differed entirely from the
+Mexicans, whom Motecusuma had sent to our camp. They had large holes
+bored in their under-lips, in which they wore pieces of blue speckled
+stone, or thin plates of gold; the holes in their ears were still larger
+in size, and adorned with similar ornaments. Neither Aguilar nor Dona
+Marina understood their language; but the latter inquired of them
+whether there was any _Naeyavatos_, or interpreter, among them? Upon
+which two of them answered that they understood the Mexican language,
+and now the discourse immediately commenced. They bid us welcome, and
+stated that their ruler had sent them hither to inquire who we were, and
+that he would be delighted to be of any use to such powerful men as we
+were. They would have waited upon us earlier if they had not shunned the
+people of Culhua, namely, the Mexicans (meaning as much as villains,)
+who had been with us. Most probably these people had heard of our
+battles at Tabasco and Potonchan; they at least knew that the Mexicans
+had secretly departed from us three days ago. Cortes learnt from them
+many things which were of the greatest importance to him, particularly
+respecting the enemies and opponents of Motecusuma: Cortes, therefore,
+was most friendly to these people, gave them various kinds of presents,
+and desired them to return to their ruler and acquaint him that he would
+visit him shortly in person. From this moment we called these Indians by
+no other name than Lopelucios. However, it was impossible for us to
+remain on these sand-hills, on account of the long-legged and small
+gnats, which they call chechenes, and are the worst of all: we could get
+no sleep for them. Moreover, we had no kind of provisions left; our
+cassave-bread was quite mouldy and uneatable, on account of the worms,
+with which it swarmed: it was, therefore, no wonder that several of our
+men, who had Indian possessions in the island of Cuba, should wish to
+return home, which was in particular the case with all the friends and
+creatures of Velasquez. Cortes, observing this disposition, gave orders
+for our departure to Quiahuitzlan, which had been seen by Montejo and
+Alaminos, and where the vessels would be secure from the north winds,
+being sheltered by the rock above mentioned.
+
+While preparations were making for our departure, the whole of Diego
+Velasquez's adherents united to remonstrate with Cortes. They asked him
+how he was to commence the march without provisions; it was, indeed,
+quite impossible to proceed further on by sea. Already thirty-five of
+our men had died either of the wounds they received at Tabasco, of
+sickness, or of hunger. The country we were now in was extensive, the
+population numerous, and the inhabitants would, no doubt, attack us in a
+few days. It was, therefore, most advisable to return to Cuba, and
+render an account to Diego Velasquez of the gold we had bartered for, of
+which we possessed a good deal: to this might be added the presents sent
+by Motecusuma, the golden sun, silver moon, the casque full of gold
+dust, and all the other precious things, which I have above mentioned.
+To which Cortes answered, "that he did not consider it advisable to
+return without having even seen the country. Up to this moment we had no
+reason to complain of ill luck; on the contrary, God had everywhere lent
+us his support. If we had lost any of our men, such things were to be
+expected in warlike undertakings. We should first explore the country
+more thoroughly; and with regard to provisions, there was sufficient
+maise in the country, with which we must make a shift for the present."
+
+By these arguments Cortes succeeded in quieting the partisans of Diego
+Velasquez; yet it was of short duration, for they held secret meetings,
+and commenced setting all manner of intrigues on foot to bring about our
+return to Cuba: how far they succeeded we shall presently see.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+
+    _How we elected Hernando Cortes captain-general and chief justice
+    until we should receive the emperor's commands on this head; and
+    what further happened._
+
+
+I have already remarked how the relatives and friends of Diego Velasquez
+united to stop our further progress, and bring about our return to Cuba.
+Cortes, on his part, however, was no less active, and managed with his
+friends to get himself appointed our captain-general. In this the
+following personages acted the chief part: Alonso Hernandez
+Puertocarrero, Pedro de Alvarado, with his four brothers Jorge, Gonzalo,
+Gomez, and Juan; further, Christobal de Oli, Alonso de Avila, Juan de
+Escalante, Francisco de Lugo, myself, and many other cavaliers and
+officers.
+
+Francisco de Montejo soon perceived what our intentions were, and kept a
+sharp look-out upon everything that was going on. I was drawn into this
+affair in the following manner: at midnight, Puertocarrero, Escalante,
+and De Lugo, to whom I stood somewhat related, both of us, moreover,
+being born at the same place, called upon me in my quarters, and said,
+"Bernal Diaz del Castillo, take your arms and follow us: we are to
+accompany Cortes, who is going to make the rounds." When we had arrived
+at some distance from my hut, they again commenced, "We have something
+to tell you, sir, but you must keep it a secret, for it is of great
+importance, and those of Diego Velasquez's partisans who mess with you
+must know nothing about it. We are of opinion that Cortes does not act
+rightly towards us. At Cuba he made known that he was going out to found
+a colony, and now we hear that he was not empowered to do so, but was
+merely sent out to barter for gold, and then to return to Cuba with all
+we should make. If this takes place, we are altogether ruined men, and
+Diego Velasquez will himself comfortably pocket the gold, and keep it,
+as he has on previous occasions. Do but reflect, sir, that this is the
+third expedition of the kind which you have accompanied, that you have
+spent your whole in them, and undergone so many fatigues, risked your
+life, and suffered from wounds, all for nothing. This we cannot allow.
+We cavaliers are sufficient in number, your friends one and all, and we
+must insist that Cortes founds a colony here, in the name of his
+majesty; we must also find means to acquaint our sovereign immediately
+with this. Promise that you also will be one of us. We have united to
+elect Cortes our captain-general. It would, indeed, be rendering God and
+our king a great service."
+
+To all this I answered that I considered it equally inadvisable to
+return to Cuba, and that I was quite ready to give my consent towards
+electing Cortes captain-general and chief justice, until his imperial
+majesty should have communicated his wishes to us on that point. As this
+plan went round from one to another, the partisans of Diego Velasquez,
+who were much more numerous than we, soon got wind of it, and boldly
+asked Cortes what intrigues had been set on foot to form a colony here?
+and why he should shirk from rendering the account which was due to him
+by whom he had been appointed head of the expedition? Diego Velasquez
+would certainly be ill pleased with such proceedings: we could not do
+otherwise than re-embark: all his intrigues with the men were useless:
+to found a colony, we were in want both of provisions, men, and
+everything else to ensure success. Cortes, without showing the least
+irritability, answered, that he was quite of their opinion, and had not
+the remotest intention to act contrary to the instructions and wishes of
+Diego Velasquez, and immediately issued orders that every one who had
+come with him should repair on board by the next day.
+
+As soon as we others, who had confederated, heard this, we declared to
+Cortes that he was doing wrong in thus wishing to deceive us. At Cuba he
+had publicly announced that he was going out to found a colony, and now
+it appeared it was merely for the sake of trafficking. We begged of him,
+for the sake of God and our king, not to break his word, but to found a
+colony, as was required of us, to promote the interests of his majesty
+and the service of God. It would be impossible for us to return here at
+any future time, as the inhabitants would certainly not permit us to
+land: but, if a colony was once founded, soldiers from every island in
+these parts would come flocking hither in order to assist us. Diego
+Velasquez had deceived us when he falsely announced that he was
+empowered by his majesty to found colonies: we were, therefore,
+determined to found one, and left it to the choice of the others if they
+wished to return to Cuba. Cortes at first refused to comply, and only
+submitted after much begging and entreating; as the saying goes,
+
+    What you desire
+    Is my wish.
+
+He, however, made the condition that we should nominate him chief
+justice and captain-general, and, what was worse, that a fifth part of
+the gold should fall to his share which remained after deducting the
+fifths for his majesty: concerning all which and everything else, the
+royal secretary Godoy was to draw up a formal deed. Upon this we
+resolved that a town should be built, and called _Villa Rica de la Vera
+Cruz_, as we arrived off this coast on Holy Thursday, and stepped on
+land on Good Friday. The addition of Villa Rica (rich town) was owing to
+what Puertocarrero had some time previous said to Cortes, "He might look
+upon these rich countries,--he would know how to govern them;" meaning
+to say thereby, that he wished Cortes to be appointed captain-general.
+
+After the ceremony of laying the first stone of the town was ended, we
+nominated the alcaldes and regidors. The chief alcaldes were Alonso
+Puertocarrero and Francisco de Montejo: Cortes purposely appointed the
+latter because he was not on the best terms with him. To give all the
+names of the regidors would be superfluous, and it must suffice to
+mention their names as they appear in the course of this narrative. We
+also erected a pillory inside the town, and a gallows outside. Pedro de
+Alvarado was appointed city-major; Christobal de Oli, colonel; Juan de
+Escalante, alguacil-major; treasurer, Gonzalo Mexi Mexia; book-keeper,
+Alonso de Avila; standard-bearer, a certain Corrar, as Villareal, who
+first filled this post, had got into disgrace with Cortes about an
+Indian female of Cuba, and was obliged to relinquish it. Achoa of Biscay
+and Alonso Romero were nominated alguacils of the camp.
+
+The reader will wonder that I have not yet mentioned the name of one of
+our principal men, Gonzalo de Sandoval, though he was such a renowned
+officer, being second to Cortes only, and particularly distinguished by
+our emperor himself. There is no other reason than that Sandoval was
+still very young, and that we did not make so much of him and other
+brave officers then as we did subsequently, when we saw all his real
+qualities developed in a manner that drew forth unbounded praise from
+Cortes and every soldier: indeed he was considered equal to Cortes
+himself.--Gomara has likewise related a good deal respecting these
+matters, of which he has been ill informed. I could not leave this
+unnoticed, however beautiful his style of writing may be, in which his
+strength really lies.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+    _How the partisans of Diego Velasquez would not acknowledge the
+    power we had conferred upon Cortes, and what further took place._
+
+
+The partisans of Diego Velasquez, finding we had elected Cortes
+captain-general, and appointed the other officers just mentioned, were
+terribly annoyed and vexed. They armed themselves in small troops, and
+threw out the most insolent language against Cortes and those among us
+who had chosen him captain-general. All this they considered should not
+have been done without the consent of the whole of the officers and
+soldiers. Diego Velasquez had merely empowered Cortes to barter with the
+natives. In short, their dissatisfaction rose to such a pitch, that our
+party was afraid matters would be carried much farther, and end in
+hostilities. Cortes now secretly desired Juan de Escalante to intimate
+that we should demand the instructions to be produced which he had
+received from Velasquez. This was accordingly done, and Cortes pulled
+them out from under his waistcoat, handing them over to the royal
+secretary to be read aloud. And sure enough the words were, _After you
+have bartered for as many precious things as possible, you shall return
+home._ This document was signed by Velasquez, and countersigned by his
+private secretary Andreas de Duero. Upon this we desired of Cortes that
+these instructions should be entered into the appointment we had given
+him, and announced by a public crier, as had been done at Cuba, in order
+that his majesty might convince himself of the true state of things, and
+that everything was done to further his sovereign interest only. This
+step was most agreeable to our purpose, as the bishop of Burgos, Don
+Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, was wrongly informed respecting these
+proceedings, and only laboured to ruin us, as we subsequently learnt.
+The partisans of Diego Velasquez, however, were not to be silenced by
+this; and as the election had been made without their knowledge, they
+considered it illegal, and maintained that they were not called upon to
+obey his commands, but were determined to return to Cuba. Cortes
+answered, that he would not compel them to remain, but would discharge
+any one who might wish it, even if he himself should, in the end, remain
+alone behind. By this some were silenced. Juan Velasquez de Leon, (who
+was closely related to Velasquez,) Diego de Ordas, Escobar, (whom we
+commonly termed the page,) Pedro de Escudero, and others of Velasquez's
+party, still continued refractory, and things at last came to such a
+pass, that, in the end, they formally refused to obey Cortes. In such a
+state of affairs it was necessary to adopt some stronger measure, which
+was carried into execution with our consent. We seized the persons of
+the above-mentioned refractory officers, bound them in chains, and kept
+watch over them as if they had been prisoners.
+
+Respecting these circumstances Gomara has again been misinformed, and
+not a word is to be credited of anything he says on the subject.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+    _How Pedro de Alvarado was ordered to make an excursion into the
+    interior of the country, in order to procure maise and other
+    provisions; and what further happened._
+
+
+It was now resolved that Pedro de Alvarado should make an excursion into
+the interior to explore the country, gain further knowledge of some
+townships which we knew by name, and procure maise and other provisions,
+of which we were in the greatest want. For this purpose 100 men were
+selected, among whom were fifteen crossbow-men and six musketeers; above
+half, moreover, were adherents of Velasquez: the rest of us, on whom
+Cortes could fully depend, remained with him, in order that no
+conspiracy might be set on foot against him.
+
+Alvarado, during this expedition, visited some small townships which
+were subject to a greater one, called, in the Aculhua language,
+_Costatlan_.[17*] This language is that of Mexico and Motecusuma; and
+when we speak of persons of Aculhua, we must always understand subjects
+of his empire. Alvarado nowhere met with any inhabitants, but found
+sufficient proofs in the temples that boys and full-grown people had
+very recently been sacrificed; for the altars and walls were covered
+with drops of fresh blood. The flint knives with which the unfortunate
+victim's breast is cut open to tear the heart away, and the large stones
+on which they are sacrificed, still lay in their proper places. Most of
+the bodies thus seen by our men were without arms or legs, which,
+according to the accounts of the Indians, had been devoured. Our men
+were perfectly horror-struck at such barbarities: however, I will not
+waste another word on the subject, for we found the same thing over
+again in every district we visited in this country. Alvarado found these
+districts well stocked with provisions, but so completely deserted by
+the inhabitants that he could only find two Indians to assist the men in
+carrying maise: every soldier, therefore, was compelled to take a load
+of greens and fowls, and in this way the detachment returned to our camp
+with a good supply of provisions, and without having encountered any
+disaster. This was all the damage our men did, although they had so many
+opportunities of doing more, Cortes having most strictly forbidden any
+wanton outrage, that there might not be a repetition of what happened on
+the island of Cozumel.
+
+We were overjoyed with the provisions; for when man can satisfy his
+appetite, he forgets half his sufferings. Gomara mentions another
+expedition in this place, which, he says, Cortes himself undertook, with
+400 men, to explore the interior of the country: but here again he must
+have been misinformed; for there was no other made than the one I have
+just mentioned. In the meantime Cortes was not inactive, but did all in
+his power to gain the adherents of Diego Velasquez: one was presented
+with some of the gold we had made,--for with gold mountains are removed;
+another was silenced by considerable promises. He likewise set the whole
+of them at liberty, excepting Juan Velasquez de Leon and Diego de Ordas,
+who were lying bound in chains on board a vessel: however, both these
+were also shortly after released, and they became true friends to him,
+of which they subsequently gave sufficient proofs. Gold, indeed, was
+not spared on this occasion, for they were only to be tamed by that
+means. As soon as greater union was thus restored, it was resolved that
+we should march for the township Quiahuitzlan, which I have above
+mentioned. Our vessels were also at the same time to set sail and run
+into the harbour, lying about four miles from the latter place.
+
+Our march lay along the coast, and on our route we killed a large fish
+which had been thrown on shore; we then came to a pretty deep river, on
+whose banks the town of Vera Cruz at present lies: this we crossed by
+means of some old canoes we found here, and by ferryboats; I, however,
+swam across. On the opposite bank of the river lay several small
+townships, subject to one more extensive called Sempoalla. This was the
+home of the five Indians who came to Cortes in the character of
+ambassadors, and who were called by us _Lopelucios_. We found the
+idol-temples stained with spots of blood, the apparatus for perfuming
+and sacrificing, a quantity of parrot feathers, and several packages of
+paper stitched one over the other, resembling our Spanish linen. We
+nowhere met any Indians; for as they had never before seen people like
+unto us, nor any horses, they had all run away from fear, so that we
+were forced to go hungry to bed. The next day we marched inland in an
+easterly direction: of course we had not the least knowledge of the road
+we were taking, and we turned at a venture into a beautiful meadow,
+where we found wild deer grazing. Pedro de Alvarado chased one of these
+on his brown mare, and managed to wound it with his lance; but the
+animal escaped over some heights.
+
+In the meantime twelve Indians made their appearance, inhabitants of the
+district, where we were encamped for the night, bringing with them some
+fowls and maise-bread, which, they told Cortes, by means of our
+interpreter, had been sent us by their cazique, who had likewise desired
+we should visit his township, which lay at a distance of one sun, say a
+day's march, from our present station. Cortes returned them sincere
+thanks for their great kindness, and we marched on until we came to a
+small township, where a short time previous several human beings had
+been sacrificed. As the kind reader would be disgusted with hearing of
+the numbers of male and female Indians we found butchered along every
+road and in every village we passed through, I will be silent on that
+head, and merely add that a supper was provided for us in the small
+village where we had arrived. Here we also learnt that the road to
+Quiahuitzlan, which latter lay on a hill, passed through Sempoalla,
+where we next arrive.
+
+[17*] Costatlan, Bernal Diaz also adds here, "Y este nombre de Culua es
+en aquella tierra, como si dixessen los Romanos hallados." As this
+passage is rather obscure, we thought it best to insert it here. The
+literal translation is: "And this appellation of Culua, in this country,
+means as much as when one would say, 'the merry Romans.'" In the 31st
+chapter he makes a similar remark. (p. 102.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+
+    _How we marched into Sempoalla, which at that period was a very
+    considerable township, and what we did there._
+
+After we had slept in the village, where the twelve Indians had
+quartered us, and accurately ascertained the road we were to take to
+Quiahuitzlan, we left very early in the morning for that place. Cortes
+sent six of the Indians before us to acquaint the caziques of Sempoalla
+that we were approaching, and to beg permission to visit them. The six
+other Indians remained behind as our guides. The whole of us marched
+forward in the best order, while our cannon and other arms were ready
+for use at a moment's notice; besides this sharp-shooters were always in
+advance, all strong active fellows, whom as well as the horse no one
+could elude.
+
+We were not further than three miles from Sempoalla, when we were met by
+twenty Indians who came to welcome us in the name of their cazique.
+These carried in their hands pine-apples, most deliciously scented, and
+of a deep red colour, which they presented to Cortes and the others who
+sat on horseback, adding that their ruler awaited us in his quarters,
+for on account of his corpulency he had been prevented from coming out
+to meet us himself. Cortes thanked them kindly for their attentions, and
+we marched forward. As we passed along the houses of the town we were
+greatly surprised, for a town of such magnitude we had not yet met with.
+And when we saw that all around had the appearance of a luxurious
+garden, and that the streets were filled with people of both sexes, we
+returned most fervent thanks to God for having allowed us to discover
+such a country. The vanguard of our horse was naturally very much in
+advance, and had arrived in the great square and up to the dwellings
+where our quarters were prepared. As the walls a few days previous had
+been newly plastered with lime, (which these Indians prepare uncommonly
+well,) and the sun was shining full upon them at the time, one of our
+horse soldiers came galloping up to Cortes at full speed to inform him
+that the walls here were built of silver. Aguilar and Dona Marina
+immediately saw that this was lime fresh laid on; which of course
+created abundance of laughter. We never omitted on subsequent occasions
+to remind the man of it, joking him that everything white appeared to
+him like silver.
+
+When we arrived at our quarters the fat cazique came out in the
+courtyard to receive us. The man was, indeed, excessively corpulent,
+wherefore I shall always distinguish him thereby. He paid Cortes the
+greatest respect, and perfumed him according to the custom of the
+country, who then embraced him in return. After these welcomes we were
+shown into our quarters, which were very comfortable, and so spacious
+that there was sufficient room for us all. Food was next set before us,
+among which there was maise-bread and several basketsful of plums, of
+which there were great quantities, these being just then in season. As
+we were greatly famished, and had not for a length of time seen such
+quantities of provisions at once, some of us called the place
+Villariciosa (luxurious town), and others Sevilla. Cortes gave strict
+orders that the inhabitants should not be molested in the slightest
+degree, and also that none of us should leave our quarters.
+
+It being announced to the fat cazique that we had finished dining, he
+sent word to Cortes that he was desirous of paying him a visit, and
+immediately after he arrived with a considerable number of distinguished
+personages, who wore heavy golden ornaments and richly-worked mantles.
+Cortes rose to meet them at the entrance of our quarters, and received
+them most kindly. After the first compliments were passed the fat
+cazique handed a present to him which he had brought, consisting in
+golden trinkets and cotton stuffs, but of little value. The cazique
+constantly repeated: "Lopelucio, Lopelucio, accept this in favorable
+kind; if we had more to give we should have brought it."
+
+Cortes desired Dona Marina and Aguilar to acquaint him how grateful he
+was for so much kindness, and he had merely to inform him in what way he
+in return could be of service to him and his people. We were the vassals
+of the great emperor Charles, who had dominion over many kingdoms and
+countries, and who had sent us out to redress wrongs wherever we came,
+punish the bad, and make known his commands that human sacrifices should
+no longer be continued. To all this was added a good deal about our holy
+religion.
+
+After the fat cazique heard this he sighed deeply, and complained most
+bitterly about Motecusuma and his governors. It was not long ago that he
+had been subdued by the former, and robbed of all his golden trinkets.
+His sway was so excessively oppressive, that he durst not move without
+his orders; yet no one had sufficient courage to oppose him, as he
+possessed such vast towns and countries, such numbers of subjects and
+extensive armies. Cortes answered that he would relieve him of the
+oppression under which he groaned, but for the present moment he could
+not occupy himself with such matters. He had first of all to pay a
+visit to his _acales_, (so ships are termed in their language,) and
+prepare our quarters in Quiahuitzlan, where they would further talk the
+matter over. The fat cazique said he was perfectly satisfied with this,
+and the next morning we left Sempoalla. Four hundred Indian porters,
+who, in this district, are termed tamenes, were sent to accompany us.
+Each of these porters is capable of carrying a weight of fifty pounds to
+a distance of twenty miles. We were all highly delighted that each of us
+had a man a piece to carry our baggage; for previously every one had to
+carry his own knapsack, the five or six Cuba Indians we had with us
+being of little use. Dona Marina and Aguilar said that according to the
+custom of this country the caziques were bound in times of peace to lend
+their porters to any one who required them. From this moment we always
+demanded them wherever we came. After the first day's march we staid the
+night at a small township not far from Quiahuitzlan. It was wholly
+uninhabited, and the people of Sempoalla furnished us with food for
+supper. Gomara allows Cortes to pass several days at Sempoalla, and then
+form the confederacy and rebellion against Motecusuma. This, together
+with the account he gives of the number of Cuba Indians we were said to
+have brought with us, is wholly false; for, as I have stated, we left
+Sempoalla immediately on the following morning after our arrival. Where
+and what caused the different tribes to revolt I will afterwards relate.
+For the present we shall make our entry into Quiahuitzlan.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+    _How we march into Quiahuitzlan, which was a town with
+    fortifications, and were most friendly received._
+
+
+The next morning about ten o'clock we arrived in the principal township
+Quiahuitzlan, which is built on the steep declivity of a rock, and would
+certainly be difficult to take if defended. We put no trust in the peace
+which reigned through the country, and marched in the best order with
+the greatest precaution. Our troops were preceded by the cannon, that it
+might be ready at hand if required. Here it was that Alonso de Avila, a
+severe and haughty man, ran a soldier named Alonso of Villanueva, who
+had only one arm, through the empty sleeve of his coat, with the point
+of his lance, because he marched out of the ranks. From that moment we
+termed the man the one-armed of Villanueva. However, I shall likewise
+be accused of marching out of the ranks, if I relate such trifles: I
+cannot deny it, and will, therefore, immediately fall in again. We
+arrived in the midst of the town without meeting any one, and were not a
+little surprised at this circumstance, as the inhabitants had left that
+very morning, when they found we were approaching their dwellings. On
+the most elevated point of the fortress there was an open space in front
+of the cues and large houses of their idols; and here we first met with
+fifteen well-dressed Indians, who were carrying perfuming pans. With
+these they went up to Cortes, perfumed him and all who were near at the
+time, bid us welcome, and most humbly begged forgiveness for not having
+come out to meet us, and confessed that fear of ourselves and horses had
+prevented them, and that they had first wished to know who we were. We
+had now only to make ourselves comfortable, they added, and that very
+evening they would see that all the inhabitants returned to their
+houses.
+
+Cortes thanked them most kindly for their good reception, and told them
+many things about our holy religion and our great monarch, as was
+customary with us wherever we came. He also presented them with a few
+green glass beads and other trifles we had brought from Spain; they
+supplying us with fowls and maise-bread in return.
+
+While the first welcomings were going on it was announced to Cortes that
+the fat cazique of Sempoalla was approaching in a sedan, supported by
+numbers of distinguished Indians. Immediately upon his arrival he
+renewed his complaints against Motecusuma, in which he was joined by the
+cazique of this township and the other chief personages. He related so
+much of the cruelties and oppression they had to suffer, and thereby
+sobbed and sighed so bitterly that we could not help being affected. At
+the time when they were subdued, they had already been greatly ill used;
+Motecusuma then demanded annually a great number of their sons and
+daughters, a portion of whom were sacrificed to the idols, and the rest
+were employed in his household and for tilling his grounds. His
+tax-gatherers took their wives and daughters without any ceremony if
+they were handsome, merely to satisfy their lusts. The Totonaques, whose
+territory consisted of upwards of thirty townships, suffered like
+violence.
+
+Cortes consoled them as well as he could by means of our interpreters.
+He promised and assured them that he would put an end to such oppression
+and ill usage. It was particularly for this object that his majesty had
+sent us to their country; they should, therefore, keep up their spirits,
+and they would soon see what he was about to do for their good. This in
+some measure seemed to comfort them; though Cortes was unable wholly to
+allay the fear in which they stood of the great Motecusuma.
+
+We soon had proof of this on the very spot; for, during our discourse
+with these caziques, some Indians belonging to the district announced
+that just then five Mexican tax-gatherers had arrived. At this
+information the caziques turned quite pale with fear; they left Cortes
+and hastened to receive the unexpected guests, for whom an apartment was
+immediately cleared and dinner set on table. Cacao in great quantities
+was in particular served up to them, which is the principal beverage of
+the Indians. As the house of the cazique was in the neighbourhood, the
+Mexicans passed by our quarters; but behaved with such reserve and so
+haughtily, that they neither addressed Cortes nor any of us. They wore
+richly-worked mantles and maltatas similarly manufactured, which were
+then still in fashion among them. The hair of their head was combed out
+quite glossy and tied up in a knot in which were stuck some sweet
+scented roses. Every one carried a stick with a hook, and had an Indian
+slave with a fan to keep off the flies. They were accompanied by a great
+number of distinguished personages from the country of the Totonaques,
+who remained around them until they arrived in their quarters and had
+sat down to dinner. After this was finished they sent for the fat
+cazique and the other chiefs of the townships, and scolded them under
+severe threats for having received us. They had no business with us,
+added they; this was by no means the wish of their master Motecusuma,
+without whose command and permission they ought not to have provided us
+with quarters, nor given us any golden trinkets. They would have to pay
+dearly for all this; at present, however, they must find twenty Indians
+and an equal number of females, in order that by sacrificing them they
+might appease the gods for the evil service which had thus been
+rendered.
+
+Cortes, who observed how restless every one appeared, desired Dona
+Marina and Aguilar to explain the reason of all this, and who the
+strange Indians were. Marina knew all that had passed, and told him
+accordingly; upon which he sent for the fat cazique, with the chiefs of
+the townships, and questioned them himself as to who the strangers were
+whom they treated so ceremoniously? They answered, that these were
+tax-gatherers of the great Motecusuma, who had remonstrated with them
+for having received us without his previous permission, and now required
+twenty persons, of both sexes, for a sacrifice to the god of war, in
+order that he should grant them the victory over us. They had likewise
+been assured, that Motecusuma would take us prisoners and turn us into
+slaves.
+
+Upon this Cortes consoled and bid them take courage, assuring them he
+would punish the Mexicans for it, as both he himself and his troops were
+willing, and had the power to do so.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+
+    _How Cortes ordered the five Mexican tax-gatherers to be imprisoned,
+    and no further obedience to be paid Motecusuma, nor tribute to be
+    exacted; and of the rebellion which was now excited against this
+    monarch._
+
+
+Cortes further said to the caziques, they were aware he had already
+assured them that the emperor, our master, had specifically commissioned
+him to punish all those who did evil, and in particular, no longer to
+suffer kidnapping nor human sacrifices.
+
+As the Mexican tax-gatherers now required human beings of them for those
+sacrifices, he would take and keep them prisoners until Motecusuma
+should learn the reason why he had done so, and was made acquainted with
+the other violent measures they were accustomed to commit against them,
+their wives and daughters.
+
+The caziques were excessively alarmed that Cortes should require this at
+their hands, and durst not venture to lay hands on the tax-gatherers of
+the mighty Motecusuma. But Cortes exhorted them for such a length of
+time that they at last took courage, seized their persons, and fastened
+them, in their fashion, to long poles, by collars, which went round the
+neck, so that they could not even move themselves. One of them, who made
+resistance, was whipped into the bargain.
+
+Upon this Cortes commanded the caziques no longer to obey the mandates
+of Motecusuma, nor to pay him tribute, and to make these his wishes
+known to all those tribes with whom they were allied and friendly,
+adding that they should inform him, whether there were tax-gatherers in
+other districts, that he might also send to take them prisoners.
+
+The rumour of all this quickly spread through the whole country, as the
+fat cazique despatched messengers to that end, while the chiefs, who had
+accompanied the Mexican tax-gatherers, hastened back to their townships
+to relate the wonderful news. When the Indians learnt this astounding,
+and to them so important an occurrence, they said to one another, that,
+such great things could not have been done by men, but only by _teules_,
+which sometimes mean gods, sometimes demons, here in the former sense;
+which was the reason they termed us teules, from that moment; and I beg
+the reader to observe, that whenever in future I speak of teules in
+affairs relating to us, that we are meant thereby.
+
+All the caziques were of opinion that we should sacrifice the prisoners,
+that they might not return to Mexico and relate what had befallen them.
+Cortes, however, strictly forbade this, and placed a strong watch over
+them. About midnight he ordered the sentinels into his presence, and
+said to them: "Pay particular attention to what I say. Take two of the
+most active of the prisoners, now in our hands, and bring them into my
+quarters. This must be done with great circumspection, so that the
+Indians of this township may know nothing of it."
+
+When the two men were brought before Cortes, he did as if he was
+unconscious they were Mexicans, and questioned them, by means of
+interpreters, as to whence they came, and why they had been taken
+prisoners? To which they answered, "that the caziques of Sempoalla, and
+of this township, had seized upon their persons in secret understanding
+with us." Cortes, however, positively assured them, that he was totally
+ignorant of the whole matter, and was very sorry it should have
+happened. He immediately ordered food to be given them, and otherwise to
+be kindly treated, and commissioned them to acquaint their monarch,
+Motecusuma, that we were all his sincerest friends and most devoted
+servants. That they might not suffer any further ill treatment, he
+added, they should be set at liberty and he would severely reprimand the
+caziques, by whom they had been imprisoned. He was ready to render them
+any service in his power, and he would likewise release their three
+companions; they themselves, however, had better get out of sight as
+quickly as possible, that they might not be retaken by the inhabitants
+and killed. Both the prisoners said, they should be very thankful for
+their liberty, but were afraid of falling again into their enemies'
+hands, as they were compelled to pass through their country. Cortes
+therefore ordered six sailors to take the Mexicans in a boat to a
+certain point on the coast, twelve miles distant, where they would be
+out of the Sempoallan territory. All this was dexterously managed, and
+when daylight appeared the caziques and other chiefs were not a little
+surprised to find only three prisoners remaining. These they insisted
+should be sacrificed, but Cortes feigned to be highly incensed at the
+escape of the two, and said he was determined to guard the others
+himself. To this end he ordered chains to be brought from our vessels,
+with which the prisoners were bound, and in that way taken on board,
+where their chains were taken off again. They received the kindest
+treatment, and were assured they would be sent back to Mexico in a very
+short time.
+
+The caziques of Sempoalla, Quiahuitzlan, and those from the country of
+the Totonaques, now assembled and explained the position in which they
+were placed at present, as no doubt Motecusuma, upon the first
+intelligence of the imprisonment of his tax-gatherers, would put his
+army in motion and fall upon them, the consequence of which would be
+their total extirpation.
+
+But Cortes assured them, with the most pleasing smile on his
+countenance, that he and his brothers who were with him would be their
+protection, and he who should dare to molest them, should forfeit his
+life. Upon this the caziques, one and all, promised to unite their whole
+armed force to ours against Motecusuma and his allies. On this occasion
+Diego de Godoy drew up a formal deed of their subjection to the sceptre
+of his majesty the emperor, and notice was sent of this to the different
+townships of the province. As there was no further talk of tribute, and
+tax-gatherers no longer made their appearance, these people were almost
+out of their senses for excessive joy in having shaken off the Mexican
+yoke.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+
+    How we resolved to found Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz and construct a
+    fortress on the low meadows, in the neighbourhood of some salt
+    springs and the harbour, where our vessels were anchored; and what
+    further happened.
+
+
+After we had thus formed an alliance with the thirty townships of the
+Totonaque mountains, which had revolted from Motecusuma and submitted of
+their own free will to the sceptre of our sovereign, we immediately
+hastened to profit by the circumstance and found Villa Rica de la Vera
+Cruz. The spot we made choice of lay at about two miles distance from
+the fortress of Quiahuitzlan, in the valley beneath. We first of all
+marked out the ground for the church, the market, the magazines and
+other public buildings belonging to a town. We then set off part of the
+ground to form a fortress, and nothing could exceed the assiduity with
+which the walls of the foundation were carried up, the woodwork
+completed, the turrets and loopholes constructed with the parapets.
+Cortes himself put the first hand to it, carried a basket filled with
+stones and earth on his shoulders, and worked at the foundations. The
+caziques and all of us followed his example, and every part of the work
+was carried on with like vigour. Some were mixing mortar, fetching
+water, burning chalk, baking bricks and tiles, others prepared the food
+and cut wood. The smiths hammered hard at the nails and other ironwork.
+In short, from the highest to the lowest showed the greatest activity,
+while the Indians lent us such efficacious aid, that in a short time the
+church and other buildings were quite finished, and the fortress nearly
+so.
+
+In the meantime Motecusuma received the intelligence at Mexico, that
+his tax-gatherers had been imprisoned by our allies; that the latter had
+renounced obedience to him, and that all the Totonaque townships had
+revolted. He was excessively enraged against Cortes and the whole of us,
+and ordered one of his powerful chiefs to make war upon the tribes which
+had revolted, and extirpate them to a man. Against us he would march in
+person at the head of an immense army, commanded by many generals. While
+preparations for this purpose were being made, the two prisoners whom
+Cortes had liberated arrived in Mexico. When Motecusuma learnt that
+Cortes had restored them to liberty, and himself sent them to Mexico
+with the commission to offer his services to their monarch, the Almighty
+softened down the hardness of his heart, and he resolved to make
+inquiries as to what our intentions were. To this end he despatched two
+of his young nephews, accompanied by four aged men, who were caziques of
+distinction, to our quarters, sending with them a present consisting in
+gold and cotton stuffs. These men were commissioned to thank Cortes for
+the liberation of his two tax-gatherers, but at the same time to make
+heavy complaints respecting these tribes who had presumed to revolt from
+him, merely because we had taken them under our protection, and now
+refused all further obedience and to pay tribute. At present he was
+merely withheld from putting his threat into execution of exterminating
+them totally, out of consideration for us, since we inhabited their
+dwellings; for, in our persons he recognized that people whose arrival
+in this country had been foretold by his ancestors, and who were of the
+same lineage with himself. However, they would not long rejoice in their
+treachery, and he should know how to deal with them at some future
+period.
+
+Cortes received these messengers very kindly and accepted their
+present, which was worth above 2000 pesos. He assured them that he as
+well as all the rest of us were friendly disposed, and ready to serve
+Motecusuma, and that it was in this spirit we had taken the three other
+tax-gatherers under our protection, who were now immediately brought
+forth from our vessels, clothed and delivered up to the ambassadors.
+Neither did Cortes on his part suppress the complaints he had to make
+against Motecusuma, for he told them, that Quitlalpitoc, his governor,
+had passed a night in our quarters, and had been uncourteous enough not
+to call upon him. He was, certainly, convinced that such behaviour had
+not been commanded by Motecusuma, but had emanated from the natural
+ill-breeding of the man. Honorable treatment, however, had so much worth
+in our estimation, that for this reason only had we paid a visit to the
+townships where we now were. Motecusuma, therefore, ought to pardon the
+people for our sakes. But as to their complaints respecting the refusal
+to pay tribute, it was to be imagined that they could not serve two
+masters at once, as they had, during our stay here, sworn allegiance to
+our emperor. For the rest, he and his companions would shortly wait upon
+Motecusuma himself, when these matters could be altogether amicably
+adjusted.
+
+After this and other declarations, Cortes presented both these
+distinguished young personages and their four venerable companions, who
+were men of the first consequence, with blue and green coloured beads,
+paying them the greatest possible respect.
+
+As the meadows in this neighbourhood were well adapted for cavalry
+exercise, Cortes desired Alvarado, who had an excellent brown mare, and
+our other good riders, to go through the different manoeuvres, by which
+we quite won the hearts of these messengers, who returned highly
+satisfied to Mexico. About this time Cortes lost his horse; for which
+reason Ortiz, the musician, and Bartolome Garcia, the mountaineer, gave
+up their dark brown horse to him, which was one of the best among the
+whole troop.
+
+For the rest, our allies in the mountains and the inhabitants of
+Sempoalla had stood in no little awe of Motecusuma, as they believed
+nothing less than that he would instantly invade their country with a
+great army to extirpate them. But, when they found that even several of
+his relatives arrived, bringing presents, and that they comported
+themselves so submissively to Cortes, they began more and more to fear
+us, and the caziques said to one another, these must necessarily be
+teules, as even Motecusuma himself stood in awe of us and sent us
+presents. If they had previously formed a great idea of our power, it
+was now vastly augmented by this unexpected circumstance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+
+    _How the fat cazique and other chief men of the country come and
+    complain to Cortes, that a garrison of Mexicans had been thrown into
+    the strong fortress of Tzinpantzinco, committing great depredations;
+    and what further took place._
+
+
+After the Mexican messengers had taken their leave, the fat cazique with
+several other distinguished personages from among our allies called upon
+Cortes, and begged of him to repair to a township called Tzinpantzinco,
+two days' journey, or about from thirty-two to thirty-six miles from
+Sempoalla; as a number of Mexican warriors had assembled there,
+destroying their fields and plantations, falling upon their subjects,
+and doing all manner of mischief. Cortes manifested great sympathy for
+them, but scarcely knew what answer he should give, as he had promised
+them every assistance. He, therefore, desired them to retire, until he
+should have considered the matter a little.
+
+After he had bethought himself for a short time, he turned smilingly
+round to us who were standing near him and said: "Methinks, gentlemen,
+we already pass here for great heroes; indeed, after what has happened
+with the tax-gatherers these people must look upon us as gods, or a
+species of beings like their idols. Now, I am of opinion it is best to
+strengthen them in this notion; and that they may think that one single
+man of us is sufficient to dislodge the Mexicans from the fortress of
+Tzinpantzinco, we will send thither old Heredia of Biscay. The
+malignancy of his features, his huge beard, his half-mangled
+countenance, his squinting eyes and lame leg, constitute him the most
+fitting person for this object, besides which he is a musketeer."
+
+Cortes then sent for the man and said to him: "You must go with the
+caziques to the river which flows about a mile from this spot. When you
+have arrived there do as if you were thirsty, and wished to wash your
+hands; then fire off your musket. This shall be a signal for me to send
+some one after you, who will, in my name, desire you to return. All this
+is done in order that the Indians may suppose us to be deities, and as
+you have not one of the most pleasing countenances, I trust they will
+take you by preference to be some idol."
+
+Heredia, who had served many years in Italia, perfectly well knew how to
+perform his part, and gladly undertook this matter. Cortes now ordered
+the fat cazique, and the other chief Indians who were expecting succours
+from us, into his presence again, saying to them: "I send this my
+brother with you to drive the Mexicans out of the fortress, and to bring
+those whom he does not kill prisoners to me."
+
+When the caziques heard this they stood in utter amazement, not knowing
+whether Cortes was in earnest; but finding he did not change
+countenance, they began to convince themselves that this was really his
+intention, and marched away in company of Heredia. When he had arrived
+between the mountains he loaded his musket and shot it off in the air,
+that it might be heard by every Indian in the district. The caziques
+themselves sent notice to the different townships, that they had a teule
+with them, and were marching to Tzinpantzinco in order to kill the
+Mexicans there.
+
+I have mentioned this laughable circumstance, that the reader may see
+what artifices Cortes employed to throw dust into the eyes of the
+Indians. Of course, when Heredia arrived at the river he was recalled;
+the caziques returning with him, to whom Cortes said, he had formed a
+different plan. His friendship for them was so great, that he would
+accompany them himself with some of his brothers, in order to take a
+survey of the country and the fortress. They had only to furnish four
+hundred porters to convey the cannon, and to return to us next morning
+early. All this was accordingly done, and as soon as daylight had broken
+forth, we moved forward, four hundred in number, with fourteen horse and
+a sufficient number of matchlocks and arquebuses.
+
+On this occasion some of Diego Velasquez's adherents again began to
+murmur, declaring that Cortes might proceed further with those who
+wished to follow him; but as for themselves they were determined to
+return to Cuba.
+
+How this matter terminated we shall see in the following chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER L.
+
+    _How some of Diego Velasquez's adherents refused to take any further
+    part in our proceedings, and declared their determination to return
+    to Cuba, seeing that Cortes was earnestly bent upon founding a
+    colony, and had already commenced to pacify the inhabitants._
+
+
+Next morning when our petty officers went round to our different
+quarters and called upon the men to march out with their arms and
+horses, the partisans of Velasquez insolently answered, that they would
+take no further part in any expedition, but wished to return home to
+their possessions in Cuba. They had already lost enough, by allowing
+themselves to be led away by Cortes to join him in the first instance;
+they now, however, would desire him to fulfil the promise, which he had
+made in the camp on the downs, namely, to grant those their discharge
+who wished to return to Cuba, and provide them a vessel and the
+necessary provisions.
+
+Seven men now declared they were positively determined to return home;
+Cortes, therefore, desired they should be brought before him, and asked
+them, "Why they wished to play him such a vile trick?" They answered in
+rather an angry tone, "That they could not help feeling astonished, he
+should think of founding a colony with a handful of men in a country
+full of towns possessing many thousands of inhabitants. They were
+suffering from indisposition, quite tired of roving about, and desired
+to return to their settlements in Cuba; he ought, therefore, to grant
+them their discharge according to promise."
+
+To this Cortes answered, in the mildest manner possible, that he had
+made such promise indeed; but, that they would be acting in a manner
+forgetful of their duty to desert the standard of their captain at a
+time when he was meditating an expedition: at the same time he commanded
+them to embark themselves immediately, and provided them with a vessel,
+cassave-bread, a bottle of oil, a quantity of vegetables, and such
+things as ships generally take on distant voyages. One of these men, a
+certain Moron of Delbayamo, had a well-trained horse, and exchanged it
+most profitably with Juan Ruano for some valuable property the latter
+had at Cuba.
+
+When these men were about to set sail, the rest of our troops, headed by
+the alcaldes and regidors of the town of Vera Cruz, repaired to Cortes
+and begged of him to issue an order that no one should leave the
+country, an order which both the service of God and his majesty
+required, declaring that they considered every one merited death who
+could think of such a thing, surrounded as we were by such numerous
+enemies, nor could we look upon them in any other light than men who
+wished to desert their commander and his standard in the midst of battle
+and in the moment of the greatest danger. Cortes, nevertheless, did as
+if he was desirous of discharging the malcontents, but soon after
+countermanded this order. All they got for their pains was contempt and
+disgrace, while Moron in the bargain was done out of his horse, which
+Juan Ruano had no wish to return him. Upon this Cortes gave orders for
+our march, and we arrived without any accident in Tzinpantzinco.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LI.
+
+    _What happened to us at Tzinpantzinco, and how, on our return to
+    Sempoalla, we destroyed all the idols; likewise of other matters._
+
+
+The first day we marched twenty miles, and arrived at Sempoalla, where
+we passed the night: here 2000 Indian warriors, divided into four
+troops, stood ready to join us. The second day, towards nightfall, we
+arrived at the plantations in front of Tzinpantzinco, and took the road
+leading into that fortress, which wound up between large and steep
+rocks. The inhabitants were most likely apprized of our approach; for
+immediately eight Indians of distinction and several papas came out to
+us, making signs of peace, and asked Cortes, with tears in their eyes,
+why we were going to kill them, as they had done nothing against us? We
+bore the character of doing good only wherever we might come, and of
+putting a stop to the oppression of nations, and for that reason had
+even imprisoned the tax-gatherers of Motecusuma: between the warriors of
+Sempoalla, who accompanied us, and themselves there existed an inimical
+feeling, already of ancient date, respecting a dispute of territory and
+boundaries, and these people had no other object in view than to plunder
+and destroy them, under our protection: there was, indeed, generally
+speaking, a Mexican garrison in their township, which, however, had
+returned home, upon the news that we had imprisoned the tax-gatherers;
+they, therefore, begged of us not to proceed any further, and to be
+merciful towards them.
+
+When these representations were made known to Cortes through our
+interpreters, he immediately ordered Alvarado and Christobal de Oli,
+with us who were nearest to him, to march off to the Sempoallans and
+command them not to advance any further. Though we used the utmost
+expedition to fulfil these orders, yet we already found them plundering
+the plantations. This made Cortes excessively angry; he ordered the
+chiefs of the Sempoallans into his presence, and severely remonstrated
+with them for such behaviour: he commanded them, with heavy threats, to
+bring him all the plunder, and not to set a foot into the town. They had
+trumped up a false story to us, he told them, merely to be enabled,
+under our protection, to plunder their neighbours and then to sacrifice
+them, whereby they had deserved death. Our emperor had not sent us to
+this country to commit such crimes, and they had better mind not again
+to fall into such guilt, as none of them would escape alive if it
+happened again.
+
+After this earnest reproof, the caziques and chiefs of Sempoalla
+brought the prisoners and the turkey-fowls they had captured: the first,
+Cortes ordered to be set at liberty, and the latter were restored to
+their owners; upon which he commanded the Sempoallans, in a very angry
+tone, to return to their camp and there remain for the night.
+
+The caziques and papas of Tzinpantzinco, with other inhabitants of the
+surrounding neighbourhood, having witnessed this act of justice, and
+seeing altogether how friendly Cortes was disposed, and the good deeds
+which he manifested, were the more susceptible of the things he told
+them about our holy religion,--respecting the abolishment of their human
+sacrifices and kidnapping, the discontinuation of other abominations and
+obscenities, with other matters salutary to their well being. They
+appeared so well inclined that they assembled the inhabitants of the
+surrounding districts, and formally declared themselves vassals of the
+emperor, our master. On this occasion, likewise, numerous complaints
+were made against Motecusuma, which all terminated with instances of his
+oppression similar to what we had heard from the Sempoallans and
+Quiahuitzlans.
+
+The next morning very early Cortes sent for the chiefs and caziques of
+the Sempoallans. In fear and anxiety had they passed the while, in
+consequence of his anger for having attempted to deceive us with a pack
+of lies. He brought about a reconciliation and good understanding
+between them and the inhabitants of Tzinpantzinco, which was never
+afterwards interrupted. Upon this we again put ourselves in motion, and
+marched back to Sempoalla, but took a different route over two townships
+friendly with the Tzinpantzincans, where we rested ourselves, as we were
+greatly fatigued, and the sun was excessively hot. In one of these
+townships, a certain Mora, of Ciudad-Rodrigo, took some fowls out of an
+Indian hut, which so greatly incensed Cortes that he ordered a rope to
+be tied around the fellow's neck, and would have had him hung up if
+Alvarado, who was standing next to Cortes, had not cut the rope in two
+with his sword, and thus released the poor devil, who had the fear of
+death before his eyes.
+
+I have merely mentioned this trait to convince the curious reader how
+exemplary Cortes acted, and of the necessity of being strict under
+similar circumstances. Mora subsequently lost his life in a battle we
+fought on a mountain in the province of Guatimala. After we had left
+these two townships in peace, we found the fat cazique with the chiefs
+of Sempoalla in some huts which they had constructed for us, where they
+were waiting our arrival with various kinds of provisions which they had
+brought with them. Although Indians, they readily perceived what a good
+and holy thing is justice, and that Cortes' declaration of our having
+come into these countries to put an end to all oppression, perfectly
+agreed with his conduct on our entry into Tzinpantzinco; they,
+therefore, became the more united to us. We passed the night in these
+huts, and returned next morning, in company of our Indian friends, to
+Sempoalla. Indeed, the only wish of the Sempoallans was now, that we
+should never leave their country again, fearing Motecusuma would send an
+army about their ears; they, therefore, proposed to Cortes, since such a
+close and friendly alliance now subsisted between us, and we could look
+upon each other as brothers, that we should choose wives from among
+their daughters and relatives, that our posterity might descend from one
+and the same stock. In order that this more intimate connexion might be
+brought about, they immediately made a good beginning by presenting us
+with eight females, all daughters of caziques: one of these, the niece
+of the fat cazique, was given to Cortes, and Puertocarrero was presented
+with the daughter of another powerful cazique, whom they called Cuesco.
+All these young women were finely dressed out after the fashion of the
+country: they wore beautiful shifts, had golden chains about their
+necks, golden rings in their ears, and had other Indian females to wait
+upon them.
+
+When the fat cazique presented these, he said to Cortes, "_Tecle_,
+(which signifies sir, in their language,) these seven women are intended
+for your chief officers, and this my niece, who herself holds dominion
+over a country and a people, I have destined for you." Cortes joyfully
+accepted of the young women, and returned thanks to the chiefs,
+remarking, at the same time, that he should gladly recognize in these
+women, the bonds of brotherly union between us. But now they should
+likewise renounce their idols, and no longer bring them human
+sacrifices. It grieved him sorely whenever he reflected on the monstrous
+heresy in which they lived; henceforth he would neither see nor hear of
+these abominations, of human sacrifices and unnatural offences: then
+only could a permanent and brotherly union subsist between us. Above all
+things the women must be converted to Christianity, before we could
+think of taking them. Further, all unnatural crimes must be put a stop
+to, and young men must cease to go about in female garments, to make a
+livelihood by such cursed lewdness. Indeed, hardly a day passed by that
+these people did not sacrifice from three to four, and even five
+Indians, tearing the hearts out of their bodies, to present them to the
+idols and smear the blood on the walls of the temple. The arms and legs
+of these unfortunate beings were then cut off and devoured, just in the
+same way we should fetch meat from a butcher's shop and eat it: indeed I
+even believe that human flesh is exposed for sale cut up, in their
+_tiangues_, or markets.
+
+"All these atrocities," added Cortes, "must cease from this moment; then
+only could our union be sincere, and should we be able to make them
+lords over additional countries." To this the caziques, the papas, and
+all the other personages answered, "That it would be impossible to
+abolish their idols and the human sacrifices: for everything that was
+good they received from these idols; they made their seeds grow and
+granted them all necessaries; but with regard to the unnatural crimes,
+they would strive in future to put an end to them."
+
+This unsatisfactory answer made a most disagreeable impression on Cortes
+and all of us; for, indeed, we could no longer bear to look upon their
+barbarities and the dissolute life which they led. Cortes spoke a long
+time to us upon the subject; he brought many holy and useful lessons to
+our mind, and observed "That we could do nothing which would be more
+beneficial to this people, and more to the glory of God, than to abolish
+this idolatry with its human sacrifices. It was certainly to be expected
+that the inhabitants would rise up in arms, if we proceeded to destroy
+their idols: we should, however, make the attempt, if even it were to
+cost us our lives."
+
+Upon this we all arrayed ourselves as if we were preparing for battle,
+and Cortes acquainted the caziques that we were now going out to destroy
+their idols. When the fat cazique heard this he ordered the other chiefs
+to call out the warriors in their defence, and when we were about to
+mount up a high temple where the sacrifices were made,--I forget now how
+many steps led to the top,--he and the other chiefs became outrageously
+furious. They went menacing up to Cortes, and asked him, "Why he was
+going to destroy their gods? such an insult they would not suffer; it
+would be their and our destruction."
+
+Cortes now also lost patience, and answered, "He had already told them
+several times they should not sacrifice to these monsters, who were
+nothing more than deceivers and liars. There was now, therefore, no
+alternative left him than to lay violent hands on them himself, and hurl
+them from their bases. He must look upon them as his worst enemies, and
+not as friends, since they would put no faith in his advice. He was well
+aware what design their chiefs and armed warriors had in hand; his
+forbearance was at last exhausted, and any opposition would cost them
+their lives."
+
+These threats were most intelligibly interpreted to the Indians by Dona
+Marina, who also put them in mind of Motecusuma's army, which every
+moment might fall upon them. They, therefore, turned the question
+another way, and declared, "That they were not worthy of laying hands on
+their gods. If we durst venture to do so, they supposed we must, for we
+could not resist the temptation; but they would never give their
+consent."
+
+They had scarcely done speaking when more than fifty of us began to
+mount the steps of the temple. We tore down the idols from their
+pediments, broke them to pieces, and flung them piecemeal down the
+steps. Some of these idols were shaped like furious dragons, and were
+about the size of young calves; others with half the human form; some
+again were shaped like large dogs, but all were horrible to look at.
+
+When the caziques and papas thus beheld these monsters lying crumbled on
+the ground, they set up a miserable howl, covered their faces, and
+begged forgiveness of the idols in the Totonaque language, as they were
+unable to protect them against the teules, nor durst they attack us for
+fear of Motecusuma. It did not, however, end here, for their armed
+warriors who had now come up began to fly their arrows at us. Finding
+matters had taken such a turn, we seized the fat cazique, six papas, and
+several of the chief personages; and Cortes declared to them, that if
+the attack was not instantly staid they should all forfeit their lives.
+Upon this the fat cazique commanded his men to desist, and when quiet
+was somewhat restored they began to negotiate about terms of peace,
+which was concluded as shall shortly be related.
+
+In this place I have only further to add, that our march to
+Tzinpantzinco was the first expedition Cortes made towards the interior
+of New Spain, and that it turned out greatly to our advantage. The
+historian Gomara here again tells his fables of the many thousands of
+human beings we destroyed at Tzinpantzinco; the curious reader, however,
+may sufficiently convince himself from my account what little faith is
+to be placed in his history, however beautiful the style may be in which
+it is written.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LII.
+
+    _How Cortes erects an altar, and places thereon the image of the
+    blessed Virgin with a cross; after which mass was said, and the
+    eight Indian females baptized._
+
+
+After peace had been restored between us, the caziques, papas, and other
+chiefs, Cortes ordered the fragments of the idols we had destroyed to be
+carried away and burnt. These orders were executed by six papas who
+came forth from a particular house, into which they carried the broken
+pieces and burnt them. The dress of these priests consisted in a long
+black cloak, white cassock, without sleeves, which hung down to the
+feet, and in a species of hood, which some wore greater, some less in
+size. Their dress was completely clogged together with blood, with which
+they were besmeared from head to foot, and impeded in their walk: they
+likewise smelt most offensively of sulphur and putrid flesh. We
+subsequently learnt that these papas were sons of distinguished
+personages. They were forbidden to marry, but were wholly given to
+unnatural offences, and fasted on certain days. Generally speaking, I
+never saw them eat anything else than the seeds of the cotton tree; they
+may, however, have partaken of other food for all I know.
+
+When the idols were burnt, Cortes said everything that was edifying to
+the Indians by means of our interpreters. "Now," he said, "we could look
+upon them as our true brothers, and lend them every powerful assistance
+against Motecusuma and the Mexicans, he having already acquainted the
+former that he was no longer to make war upon them, nor to exact
+tribute. Instead of their idols, he would give them our own blessed
+Virgin and Sainte, the mother of Jesus Christ, in whom we believed, and
+to whom we prayed, that she might intercede and protect them in heaven."
+
+The Indians listened with great good nature to this and many other
+things, which Cortes explained to them, concerning our holy religion.
+Every mason in the town was now set to work to bring chalk, which was in
+great abundance here, to clean away the blood from the walls of the
+cues, and plaster them well over. The day following this work was
+finished and an altar erected, which was covered with cotton cloth. The
+Indians were likewise ordered to bring a quantity of their splendid and
+sweet-scented roses with small branches of trees. Of these a garland was
+plaited, which was constantly to be renewed, that the place might remain
+pure and undefiled. Four papas were selected by Cortes to take charge of
+this; but their hair was previously shorn off, which they wore, as I
+have before remarked, very long and bristly; their dirty cloaks were
+taken off, and white ones put on, which, with the other part of their
+dress, they were in future to keep perfectly clean. In order, however,
+that they might have some one to look over them in their new occupation,
+Cortes nominated Juan de Torres, an old lame invalid of Cordova, to
+dwell near the altar, in the capacity of anchorite. The carpenters
+likewise made a cross which we erected on an elevated base, well
+plastered over with lime.
+
+The next morning early father Olmedo said mass. A regulation was also
+made that in future the copal of this country should be used instead of
+our usual incense, and the inhabitants were taught to make wax candles
+from the wax of the country; of which, up to this moment, they had made
+no manner of use: these candles were always to be kept burning on the
+altar. The principal caziques of the district and village attended mass.
+But the chief ornaments there were the eight Indian females, who in the
+meantime had remained with their parents and relatives. These were now
+baptized after an edifying discourse had preceded the ceremony. The
+niece of the fat cazique, a very ugly woman, was named Dona Catalina,
+and presented to Cortes, who accepted her with every appearance of
+delight. The daughter of Cuesco, on the other hand, was most beautiful
+for an Indian female, and received the name of Dona Francisca, and fell
+to the lot of Puertocarrero. The six remaining young women, whose names
+I have totally forgotten, were given to some other of our soldiers.
+
+The mass and baptismal ceremony being concluded, the caziques and
+principal personages took their leave, and from this moment the best
+feeling subsisted between us, for they were highly delighted that Cortes
+had accepted their daughter. We, therefore, returned to our new town
+Vera Cruz amidst the most joyous professions of friendship, and we shall
+soon see what happened there.
+
+The good reader, however, may feel assured that nothing of any
+consequence further took place at Sempoalla than what I have related,
+and that herein Gomara and the other historians have completely erred.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIII.
+
+    _How we arrived in our town of Vera Cruz, and what happened there._
+
+
+We arrived at Vera Cruz, in company of the most distinguished personages
+of Sempoalla, on the same day that a ship had run in there from Cuba.
+The captain's name was Francisco de Saucedo, but we always called him
+the gallant, from his extravagance in beautifying his outward person,
+being altogether a perfect fop. He was said to have been at one time
+butler to the admiral of Castile, and was born at Medina de Rioseco.
+Along with him were ten soldiers, and a certain Luis Marin, a most
+distinguished officer, who afterwards became one of our chief commanders
+in the Mexican campaigns. Both the former had horses, one a stallion,
+and the other a mare. These men brought us intelligence that Diego
+Velasquez had obtained authority from Spain to trade and found colonies
+wherever he liked, and was appointed adelantado of Cuba. All this
+pleased his adherents excessively, in particular the latter preferment.
+
+The building of the fortress having solely occupied us for a length of
+time, and now in such a forward state that we could lay the woodwork, we
+began to grow tired of doing nothing. Almost the whole of us, therefore,
+addressed Cortes in a body: representing to him, that we had now been
+three months in this country, and high time we should just convince
+ourselves how much truth there was in the boasted power of Motecusuma,
+of which so much had been said: we would gladly risk our lives in it,
+and therefore begged he would make preparations for this expedition.
+But, previous to commencing our march, we ought first to give some proof
+of our most humble submission to his majesty our emperor, by forwarding
+him a complete account of everything that had befallen us since our
+departure from Cuba. We also proposed that all the gold we had bartered
+for, and the presents sent by Motecusuma, should be forwarded to his
+majesty.
+
+In answer to which Cortes said, that our ideas accorded exactly with his
+own, and that he had already spoken to the same effect to several of the
+cavaliers. There was merely one circumstance which caused him to
+hesitate, namely, that if each person took the portion of gold which
+fell to his share, too little would remain to be worthy of his majesty's
+acceptance. For this reason he commissioned Diego de Ordas and Francisco
+de Montejo, who were thorough men of business to see what they could
+make out of those men whom they might expect would demand their share.
+This was accordingly done, and they represented to every one that we
+were desirous of sending his majesty the emperor a present in gold,
+which, considering it was the first, ought indeed to be something
+valuable. In order, however, to make this possible, nothing remained but
+that each one should give up his share of the gold which had been made
+up to this moment. A great number of officers and soldiers had already
+signed their hands to that effect; yet every one was at liberty to act
+herein as he thought proper. Here was the paper, which every one who
+chose could put his hand to.
+
+Every one, without exception, signed his name to the document, and
+agents were chosen to be despatched to Spain. These were Alonso
+Puertocarrero and Francisco de Montejo, to whom Cortes himself had
+already given above two thousand pesos. The best vessel of our squadron,
+furnished with the necessary provisions and manned with fifteen sailors,
+was selected to convey them. The charge of the vessel was given to two
+pilots, one of whom was Anton de Alaminos, from his being so well
+acquainted with the passage through the Bahama channel, and the first
+who had ventured that road. Upon this all of us, in common, drew up an
+account of our adventures expressly for his majesty, relating everything
+that had happened to us, and Cortes himself, as he assured us, likewise
+wrote a very circumstantial narrative, which, however, was not given us
+to read.[18] The account was signed by all the authorities of the new
+town and ten soldiers, of which I myself was one. But there was likewise
+another account drawn up by all the officers and soldiers, the contents
+of which will be fully explained in the following chapter.
+
+[18] Most probably Cortes' despatches of the 16th of July, 1519, which
+were lost. (p. 125.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIV.
+
+    _Concerning the account of our adventures, with the letter, which we
+    sent his majesty the emperor, through Puertocarrero and Montejo, the
+    letter being attested by some officers and soldiers._
+
+
+This account very properly opened with those distinguished marks of
+respect which were due to our great emperor and master. Then followed a
+complete account of our expedition, from the day of our departure from
+Cuba up to our arrival on the coast of Mexico, and the day the account
+was drawn up. We did not omit to state that we had merely been induced
+to join the expedition from a promise that we were going to found a
+colony, and how Diego Velasquez had given Cortes secret instructions
+merely to confine himself to the trade of barter. That Cortes,
+conformably to this, had indeed wished to return to Cuba with the gold
+we had made; that, however, we had compelled him to remain here and
+found a colony, for which purpose we had elected him captain-general and
+chief justice, until we should receive his most gracious majesty's
+pleasure on this head. We had, moreover, promised him a fifth part of
+all the gold that should remain after deducting the fifths for his
+majesty. We then mentioned the name of Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba,
+as the first discoverer of this country; the expedition which followed
+upon that under Juan de Grijalva; of our landing on the island of
+Cozumel, and of our fortunate discovery of Geronimo de Aguilar, and
+other things. We described our negotiations with the great Motecusuma,
+mentioning his power and riches, of which the things he had given us to
+present to his majesty, consisting in the sun of gold and moon of
+silver, and the casque of gold dust, as it is found in the mines, as
+also the other articles of solid and manufactured gold, were small
+proofs.
+
+After this we spoke about the extent of the country, its population, the
+arts, customs, and religion of the inhabitants, of whom we sent four as
+a sample, whom we had liberated from a wooden cage at Sempoalla, where
+they were being fattened for a sacrificial feast. We then mentioned
+something about ourselves; how we were in all 450 armed men in the midst
+of so many warlike tribes; how our expedition had merely for its object
+to serve God and his majesty; and, in the position we were now placed,
+how much depended upon a man being at our head who was acquainted with
+the country, and in whom we could repose all trust. We most humbly
+begged of his majesty not to confer the command of this country upon any
+one of his officers; from its extent and vast riches, it was worthy of
+being ruled by a royal prince or some other great personage. We all
+feared that the archbishop Don Rodriguez de Fonseca, whom his majesty
+had intrusted with the government of Indian affairs, had destined the
+command to one of his own creatures, namely, a certain Diego Velasquez,
+who was then viceroy of Cuba; this favour, however, was entirely owing
+to the presents which the bishop received from Velasquez, consisting in
+the most valuable townships of his imperial domains wherever any gold
+was to be found. As his majesty's most humble and faithful servants, we
+could not neglect to bring this under his imperial notice, and we had
+resolved to wait until our agents had thrown themselves at his majesty's
+feet to hand over our letters, and his majesty should have acquainted
+them with his imperial wishes, which we, whatever they might be, would
+honour in the very dust. If the archbishop Fonseca in the meantime sent
+any one to take the command, we should not obey him until we had
+informed his majesty of it, wherever he might be. We begged of his
+majesty, for the present, to confer the command on Cortes. This prayer
+we accompanied by such high-flown praise of Cortes,--how faithful and
+devoted he was to his majesty; that we elevated him to the very skies.
+This closed the letter, which was drawn up with great discernment, and
+divided into chapters. This letter was signed by all the officers and
+soldiers who belonged to Cortes' party. We also took the precaution of
+keeping other copies.
+
+After the letter was quite finished, Cortes desired to read it, and when
+he found how faithfully the account was drawn up, and himself so highly
+praised, he was vastly pleased, returned us hearty thanks, and promised
+us golden mountains. He, however, observed, that it would be better to
+make no allusion to the fifth part of the gold which we had promised
+him; also to suppress the names of the first discoverers of the
+country. Indeed, we subsequently learnt that Cortes, in his account,
+never mentioned a word either about Cordoba, or of Grijalva, but
+reserved all the honour and merit to himself.
+
+Nevertheless the men were not wanting among us who answered the
+objections made by Cortes, saying it was our bounden duty to narrate
+every circumstance to his majesty as it had really taken place.
+
+Our agents took charge of the letters, and were bound down by a promise
+not to touch at the Havannah under any pretence whatever, nor run into
+the harbour of El Marien, where Francisco de Montejo had possessions.
+This was done that Velasquez might receive no intelligence of our
+doings. They certainly promised, but neglected to observe these orders,
+as will be seen.
+
+Everything being now ready for their departure, father Olmedo said mass,
+and we commended them to the guidance and protection of the Holy Ghost.
+On the 26th of July, 1519, they set sail from San Juan de Ulua, and
+arrived pretty soon at the Havannah. Here Francisco de Montejo left our
+chief pilot Alaminos no peace, persuading him to sail along the coast in
+the direction of his settlement, where he pretended he would take in a
+fresh supply of cassave-bread and bacon. Puertocarrero was greatly
+displeased with this conduct; however, the landing was effected. The
+night following a sailor swam secretly on shore, and forwarded Diego
+Velasquez letters from his adherents, giving him an account of all that
+had passed. We afterwards learnt that Montejo himself had sent this man,
+who, besides this, spread the news everywhere along the route he
+journeyed. We shall now see what steps Velasquez took upon this.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LV.
+
+    _How Diego Velasquez is informed by his agents that we had sent
+    messengers with letters and presents to our king, and what further
+    took place._
+
+
+Diego Velasquez received intelligence of everything we had done, partly
+by the letters which had been secretly conveyed to him, and were said to
+be of Montejo's own writing, and partly from the sailor, who swam on
+shore for that purpose. When he heard of the valuable present which we
+sent to his majesty, and of the agents we had selected for the purpose,
+he grew excessively angry, and threw out the most heavy curses against
+Cortes, against his own private secretary Duero, and the treasurer
+Almador de Lares. He then immediately ordered two small but very swift
+sailing vessels to be fitted out, and furnished with as great a number
+of men and firearms as could be got together at the moment. These
+vessels were given in command of two officers named Gabriel de Rojas and
+Guzman, who were ordered to repair to the Havannah, and to capture the
+vessel which conveyed our agents and the gold.
+
+Both vessels arrived, after two days' sail, in the Bahama roads, and
+made every inquiry of the fishermen and coasters whether they had seen a
+ship of considerable tonnage pass that way. All the accounts they
+received went to show that she must have left the roads, as the wind had
+constantly been favorable: they, therefore, tacked up and down a
+considerable time, but, discovering no trace of her, they returned to
+Santiago.
+
+If the first accounts had made Diego Velasquez dispirited, he was now
+the more so when he found the ship had escaped. His friends now advised
+him to send some one to Spain to lay his complaints before the president
+of Indian affairs, with whom he stood in great favour. Velasquez also
+laid a formal accusation against Cortes and all of us, in the royal
+court of audience at Santo Domingo, and also before the Hieronymite
+brethren, who were viceroys of that island. These brothers were then
+three in number, father Luis de Figueroa, father Alonso de Santo
+Domingo, and father Bernardino de Mancanedo: they lived together in the
+cloister of Mejorada, eight miles from Medina del Campo. The answer they
+gave Diego Velasquez was not very consoling; for, when they found, from
+our papers, what great things we had done, they declared that no
+reproach could be made either to Cortes or his troops: we had merely
+addressed the emperor our master, and sent him a present of such
+considerable value as had not been seen in Spain for a length of time,
+(this they might say in all justice, for Peru was then still unknown;)
+on the contrary, we had merited a most noble remuneration at his
+majesty's hands.
+
+Besides coming to this decision, the Hieronymite brothers commissioned
+the licentiate Zuazo, who was either purposely sent to Cuba for this
+purpose, or at least had arrived there only a few months previous, to
+examine into this affair of Velasquez on the spot itself. The turn which
+this matter had taken completely prostrated his spirits for many days
+together. At last he again aroused himself, and gave orders to fit out
+every ship in the island, and to enlist officers and men: his intention
+was to send out such a powerful fleet as would soon overcome Cortes and
+the whole of us: indeed he spared no trouble; he travelled himself from
+place to place, and from one settlement to another, and where he could
+not call in person, he at least sent letters, and invited all his
+friends to join the armament. In this way he succeeded, after the space
+of eleven or twelve months, to fit out a fleet of eighteen sail,
+carrying 1300 soldiers and sailors: for, as the affair was carried on
+with great party spirit, his relations and every distinguished person of
+Cuba, as well as every one who had a commendary, considered themselves
+bound to take part in the undertaking. The command of this fleet was
+given to a cavalier named Pamfilo de Narvaez, a man of high stature and
+great bodily strength, with a voice amazingly powerful, and an imperious
+look in his countenance: he was a native of Valladolid, very wealthy,
+and had married a widow at Cuba named Maria de Valenzuela, who possessed
+several lucrative Indian townships.
+
+For the present, however, we will leave this expedition to itself, and
+turn to our agents, who had most favorable weather for their voyage, and
+arrived safe at the place of destination, as we shall see in the
+following chapter. The good reader will do me the justice to consider,
+with respect to the irregular mode of narrating which I appear to
+pursue, that I am bound to mention the occurrences in this my history in
+the order they follow each other.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVI.
+
+    _How our agents passed through the Bahama channel with the most
+    favorable wind, and arrived in Castile after a short passage; and of
+    our success at court._
+
+
+Our agents had a most favorable voyage to the Havannah, and thence
+through the Bahama roads: their further course was equally prosperous,
+and they very soon arrived at the Tercera isles, and from there to
+Sevilla, where they hired a carriage and posted to the imperial court
+residence, at that time in Valladolid. Here the archbishop Fonseca
+governed at will, he being, moreover, president of Indian affairs, and
+the emperor then still very young, and residing in Flanders.
+
+Our agents waited upon the archbishop, in the full expectation of being
+well received with thanks. They handed over to him the letters with the
+details of our adventures, also the presents, with the valuable things,
+and begged of him to forward all this to his majesty by a courier, whom
+they would accompany themselves. However, instead of meeting with a
+kind reception, they were very coolly received, and dismissed with a few
+dry and harsh words. They begged of him to mention the great services
+which Cortes and his men had rendered his majesty, and repeatedly urged
+him to send the letters and presents to the emperor, that he might learn
+everything as it had really taken place. He, however, answered in a very
+haughty tone, desiring them not to give themselves any further trouble:
+he would fully inform his majesty of what had taken place; not, however,
+according to their story, but conformably to truth; that, namely, we had
+rebelled against Velasquez. This was followed by many other sharp
+rebukes.
+
+About this time also, Benito Martin, chaplain to Velasquez, arrived in
+Valladolid, preferring heavy accusations against Cortes and all of us,
+which set the archbishop more and more against us. Francisco de Montejo
+had not the courage to step forward and defend our cause; but
+Puertocarrero, as cousin to the earl of Medellin, durst presume the
+more: he therefore took up the question, and most urgently begged of the
+archbishop to give them a quiet hearing, and not to answer them so
+harshly. They demanded nothing further of him than to forward the
+presents to his majesty; they had a right to ask this, for we were
+servants of the crown, and merited a remuneration, but not the remarks
+he had allowed himself to make.
+
+These words so greatly incensed the archbishop, that he ordered
+Puertocarrero to be thrown into prison, on account of some previous
+affair which had come to his ears; he having, namely, three years ago,
+carried off a married woman, named Maria Rodriguez, of Medellin, and
+taken her to India. Such was the first reception which our presents and
+services met with in Spain, and nothing remained for our agents but to
+hold their tongues for the present, and wait until a more favorable time
+and opportunity should present itself. The archbishop now forwarded his
+account to the emperor, who was then in Flanders, in which he extolled
+the merits of his creature Velasquez to the very skies, saying
+everything that was bad of Cortes and all of us; nor did he mention one
+single word about our letters.
+
+Upon this Puertocarrero, Montejo, Martin Cortes, the father of our
+general, the licentiate Nunez, who was reporter to the royal council,
+and a near relation to Cortes, determined to despatch a courier of their
+own to the emperor in Flanders. They fortunately possessed duplicates of
+all our despatches and letters, as also a list of all the presents we
+had destined for his majesty.
+
+With these papers they likewise sent a separate letter to the emperor
+with complaints against the archbishop and the whole of his doings with
+Diego Velasquez. In this resolution they were backed by other cavaliers
+who were at variance with the archbishop, who, upon the whole, had many
+enemies on account of his haughty behaviour and the abuse he made of the
+important offices he filled. And as the great services we had rendered
+to God and his majesty, in whom we had alone reposed our trust, were
+looked upon in a favorable light, it also happened that his majesty made
+the strictest inquiries into the whole affair. His majesty was so highly
+pleased with what we had done, that the dukes, marquisses, earls, and
+other cavaliers, for days together spoke of nothing but Cortes, our
+courageous behaviour, our conquests, and of the riches we had sent over.
+It was owing to this as well as to the unfaithful and distorted account
+which the archbishop had drawn up respecting these matters, and
+particularly because he had not sent all the presents, but kept the
+major part to himself, that he fell from that moment into his majesty's
+displeasure. In the meantime the archbishop's agents in Flanders had
+sent him information of all that had passed, which vexed him in no small
+degree, and if previously he had blackened Cortes and all of us to his
+majesty, he now boldly accused us of high treason. But the Lord very
+soon bridled his rage; for two years after he received his dismissal,
+and then in his turn experienced the curse of malice and contempt. We,
+on the contrary, were looked upon as loyal men who had rendered services
+to the crown, as shall be mentioned in the proper place. For the present
+the emperor informed our agents, that he would himself shortly visit
+Spain to investigate the matter more closely and reward us. Our agents,
+therefore, awaited his majesty's arrival in Spain.
+
+Before I proceed any further with my narrative, I must answer one
+question, which several cavaliers have very justly put to me; namely,
+how it was possible for me to relate these things, as I was not present
+myself, but making the campaign in New Spain, when our agents were
+despatched with the letters and presents, and met with this ill
+treatment from the archbishop of Rosano? To which my answer is, that our
+agents forwarded to us, the true conquistadores, verbatim all that had
+passed between them and the latter, as also the favorable decision which
+the emperor came to in our behalf; of which Cortes sent copies to all
+the towns where we happened to be stationed, to show us how favorably
+everything had terminated, and what a great enemy we had in the
+archbishop. After this digression we will return to our quarters in New
+Spain, and see what happened there in the meantime.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVII.
+
+    _What took place in our camp after the departure of our agents to
+    his majesty with the gold and the letters; and the instance of
+    severity which Cortes was compelled to give._
+
+
+The suspicions of Velasquez's adherents were again aroused at the
+departure of our agents, and the following occurrence took place a few
+days after. A conspiracy was set on foot by Pedro Escudero, Juan
+Cormeno, Gonzalo de Umbria, a pilot, the priest Juan Diaz, Bernardino de
+Coria, (who afterwards became a citizen of Chiapa, and was father of a
+certain Centeno,) and some seamen of Gibraleon. All these were
+excessively embittered against Cortes; some because he had refused to
+grant them the promised discharge to return to Cuba; others because they
+had lost their share of the gold by the present which had been sent to
+the emperor; and the seamen because they could not forget the lashes
+which he had given them on the island of Cozumel for stealing the
+flitches of bacon. They had determined to seize upon one of our small
+vessels, to sail to Cuba, and acquaint the viceroy Diego Velasquez that
+he had merely to send to the Havannah and the possessions of Montejo in
+order to capture our agents with all the riches. We concluded from this
+that the conspirators had been counselled by persons of authority among
+our officers, since they knew that Montejo, notwithstanding the strict
+injunctions which he had received to the contrary, had landed at his
+commendary. The affair was already so far advanced that the conspirators
+had sent on board the necessary provisions of cassave-bread, oil, dried
+fish, water, and such like, and were about to set sail, when one of
+them, Bernardino de Coria, began to repent, called upon Cortes at
+midnight, and discovered the whole plot to him.
+
+Cortes first of all made an accurate inquiry into the names and number
+of the conspirators, as also into the reasons and the way they intended
+carrying out the plot; he then ordered the sails, the compass, and the
+rudder to be taken from the vessel which was to have conveyed them. Upon
+which he closely examined the conspirators, when they immediately made a
+full confession, and mentioned the names of others who were implicated.
+These names were for the present very prudently suppressed, and
+proceedings were merely taken against those who stood most prominent in
+the affair. A council of war having been held with all the usual
+formalities, Pedro Escudero and Juan Cormeno[19] were sentenced to be
+hung; the pilot Gonzalo de Umbria to have his feet cut off, and the
+sailors to receive two hundred lashes each. If father Juan had not been
+a priest he would likewise have shared a similar fate; as it was he
+merely suffered for a time the dread of suspense which indeed must have
+been terrible enough. I shall never forget how Cortes cried out, with a
+sigh, and deeply affected, at the moment he signed the death-warrants:
+"What a fortunate thing if I were unable to write; then should I neither
+be able to sign a death-warrant!" This same exclamation likewise
+frequently falls from judges who have to decide over life and death; in
+which expression, however, they merely repeat the words of the barbarous
+emperor Nero, when in the commencement of his reign he showed so goodly
+a disposition.
+
+The sentences being executed, Cortes immediately set out for Sempoalla,
+having previously ordered that 200 men, with all our horse, should
+follow him. The distance to this place was a good twenty miles. Pedro de
+Alvarado was absent during this time, having three days beforehand been
+sent with 200 men into the mountains in search of provisions, which were
+extremely scarce. Orders were, therefore, left behind for him to march
+to Sempoalla on his return, where arrangements would be made for our
+further route to Mexico. Alvarado, consequently, was not present when
+the executions took place.
+
+[19] Torquemada (Mon., Ind. i, iv, c. 25) gives some additional
+circumstances respecting this conspiracy; among other things he says,
+that the pilot Cermeno was so remarkably nimble, that if two of the
+tallest men held up a lance as high as they could horizontally, he would
+bound over it with ease by means of another lance. Also that his sense
+of smelling was so acute that he could scent the land at a distance of
+sixty miles when at sea; but adds, "aunque no olio esta muerte;" yet he
+could not smell the nature of his death. (p. 133.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVIII.
+
+    _How we came to the resolution of marching to Mexico, and of
+    destroying all our vessels, which was done with the sanction and by
+    the advice of all Cortes' true adherents._
+
+
+While preparations were going on at Sempoalla for our march into the
+interior numerous consultations were held with Cortes respecting
+everything connected with it, we, his trustworthy adherents, proposed
+that all the vessels should be run on shore, in order at once to cut off
+all possibility of further mutiny, when we should have advanced far into
+the interior of the country. In which case, likewise, the pilots and
+sailors would be of greater use to us than by idling their time away in
+the harbour. I am well aware that the idea of destroying our vessels
+originated with Cortes himself, and that he merely shoved it on our
+shoulders for this reason, that if payment for the vessels should be
+demanded of him, he could throw the blame on us, and say that all was
+done at our own request; so that we both individually and collectively
+should have to assist in repaying the damages. This resolution was
+immediately adopted, and Cortes ordered the alguacil-major, Juan de
+Escalante, a young man of very great courage, and who was a close
+adherer to him, utterly hating Diego Velasquez because he had neglected
+to give him any considerable commendary in Cuba, to take all the
+anchors, ropes, sails, in short everything that might be of use to us
+out of the vessels, and run the latter all on shore, with the exception
+of the boats. The pilots, the old ships' masters, and those seamen who
+were unable to make the campaign with us, were to remain behind in the
+town, and employ themselves in catching fish with our two drag-nets in
+the harbour, where the former were in great abundance.
+
+Juan de Escalante punctually obeyed these orders, and arrived in
+Sempoalla with an additional company formed of the sailors, of whom
+several became very excellent soldiers. The next thing Cortes did was to
+call all the caziques of the mountain tribes together, who had revolted
+from Motecusuma, and formed an alliance with us. He gave them to
+understand that they were to assist in the building of the church, the
+fortresses, and houses of our new town. "This man," continued he, taking
+Juan de Escalante by the hand, "is my brother; him you must obey in
+everything; and to him you must apply if you require assistance against
+the Mexicans. He will himself at all times march out in your defence."
+The caziques in reply, said, "They were ready to obey him in
+everything," and perfumed Juan de Escalante after their fashion, which I
+can still well remember he unwillingly submitted to. For the rest he was
+a man you could trust in all matters, and who fully possessed the
+confidence of Cortes; for which reason the latter intrusted him with the
+command of the town and harbour, as one in whom he could place implicit
+reliance, in case, during his absence, Diego Velasquez should set
+anything on foot against him.
+
+Gomara here relates, that Cortes ordered the vessels to be sunk, and
+that he did not disclose his intentions to us of visiting the great
+Motecusuma himself at Mexico. But we Spaniards are, indeed, not the
+people who require so much pressing to move forward, or who desire to
+sit quietly down in a place where neither advantage nor military honour
+is to be gained. Gomara also says, that Pedro de Irico was the person
+left behind in command of Vera Cruz. This, however, is quite erroneous,
+for it was Juan de Escalante who was appointed commander and
+alguacil-major of New Spain. Pedro de Irico, indeed, would scarcely
+have been intrusted with the command of a company, much less, therefore,
+with such an important post. Nothing should be given to a man that does
+not belong to him, and nothing should be taken from him to which he is
+entitled.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIX.
+
+    _Of the speech which Cortes made to us after our vessels were
+    destroyed, and how we prepared for our march to Mexico._
+
+
+After the vessels had been run ashore before our eyes, and we the
+officers and soldiers were one morning after mass all standing around
+Cortes, the discourse turned upon various military topics, when he
+begged our attention for a few minutes, as he had some proposal to make
+to us. He then addressed us at great length, as near as possible, to the
+following effect. We already knew of the campaign which was in
+contemplation. It was of such a nature, that the aid of Jesus Christ,
+our Lord, only could bring us forth victorious from all the battles and
+engagements which awaited us; but, notwithstanding all the trust we
+reposed in God, we should not ourselves be wanting in courage and
+activity; should we be worsted, which Almighty God forbid, considering
+our small numbers we could expect no other assistance than from above,
+and that of our own arms, as we had no longer any vessels to return to
+Cuba. Cortes then adduced many beautiful comparisons from history, and
+mentioned several heroic deeds of the Romans. We answered him, one and
+all, that we would implicitly follow his orders, as the die had been
+cast, and we, with Caesar, when he had passed the Rubicon, had now no
+choice left; besides which, everything we did was for the glory of God
+and his majesty the emperor.
+
+After this speech, whose penetrating eloquence and charming powers I am
+unable to repeat, Cortes ordered the fat cazique into his presence, and
+reminded him of the care and reverence which was due from him to the
+church and the cross. For himself he was now about leaving for Mexico;
+he added, to oblige Motecusuma, for the future to abolish all robbery
+and the human sacrifices. He also told him he should require two hundred
+porters to transport our cannon, and fifty of his best warriors to
+accompany us.
+
+When we were about to put ourselves in motion a soldier arrived from
+Vera Cruz, whom Cortes had despatched there to fetch more men. He
+brought a letter from Juan de Escalante, announcing that a vessel had
+been seen off the coast, to which he had made various signals by means
+of smoke and other things; had hung out white flags and rode up and down
+the coast on horseback dressed in scarlet, to attract the attention of
+those on board. He did not doubt for an instant but all this had been
+observed by the men on-board, yet they made no signs of running into the
+harbour. He had made inquiries along the coast as to where the vessel
+had put in, and found she was lying at anchor in the mouth of a small
+river, at the distance of about nine miles; he therefore awaited Cortes'
+orders as to what further steps he was to take. As soon as Cortes had
+read the letter he gave the command of all the troops, then at
+Sempoalla, to Alvarado conjointly with Gonzalo de Sandoval. This was the
+first time Sandoval had been put in command, for those military
+qualities, by which he so greatly distinguished himself all the rest of
+his life, now began to develop themselves. Properly speaking, the
+command ought to have devolved upon Alonso de Avila, which therefore
+created ill blood between him and Sandoval. Upon this Cortes mounted
+horse, selected four of our cavalry, and fifty of the most nimble-footed
+men amongst us, and marched to Vera Cruz, where we arrived that very
+night.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LX.
+
+    _How Cortes arrived with us at the spot where the vessel lay at
+    anchor, and captured six soldiers and sailors of the said vessel,
+    who had stepped on shore; also what further took place._
+
+
+As soon as we had arrived at Vera Cruz, Juan de Escalante came up to
+Cortes and told him, it would be best to make off for the strange vessel
+that very night, otherwise she might heave anchor and steer for the wide
+ocean. Cortes himself might take his rest and allow him to manage the
+affair with twenty men.
+
+To this Cortes answered, he could not rest as long as there was any
+thing to be done, and he was determined to go in person with the men he
+had brought along with him. We accordingly set off on our march along
+the coast, without even tasting a morsel of food before we left. On our
+road we soon captured four Spaniards, who had been ordered to take
+possession of the country in the name of Francisco de Garay, viceroy of
+Jamaica. They had been sent on shore by an officer named Alonso Alvarez
+de Pinedo, who a few days previous had left a settlement on the banks of
+the Panuco. One of the four Spaniards, named Guillan de la Loa, had
+drawn up a formal deed of having taken possession of the country, which
+was signed by the three others.
+
+After the prisoners had made this disclosure to Cortes, he inquired of
+them under what pretence Garay had sent them out to take possession of
+the country? To which they gave the following answer. In the year 1518,
+when the fame of our having discovered this country, under Cordoba and
+Grijalva, and of the twenty thousand pesos which it produced Diego
+Velasquez, had spread through the whole of the West Indies, Anton de
+Alaminos and another pilot who had made the voyage of discovery with us,
+persuaded Garay to petition his majesty, that the discovery of all the
+countries which might lie to the north of the river St. Peter and Paul
+might be granted to him. Trusting to the patrons he had at the court of
+Madrid, he despatched his house-steward, Torrolva, to Spain, who managed
+to obtain for him the appointment of adelantado, and vice-regent of all
+countries north of the river just mentioned. Garay, in consequence of
+this appointment, fitted out three vessels with two hundred and seventy
+men, besides horses and the necessary provisions. The command of these
+he intrusted to an officer named Alonso Alvarez Pinedo, who at present
+was lying at a distance of about 280 miles from this place, in the river
+Panuco, where he intended to found a colony. For the rest, added the
+prisoners, they had merely obeyed the commands of that officer, and were
+therefore not answerable for anything they had done. Cortes was very
+much pleased with these fellows, on account of the disclosure they had
+made; he tried to gain them over to his interest, and inquired of them,
+if it were possible to capture the vessel? Guillan de la Loa, the most
+distinguished of the prisoners, thought it might be done, and he, with
+his comrades, would hail the ship's shallop on shore. This they
+accordingly tried, but, notwithstanding all their shouting and signals,
+no one moved from the vessel. No doubt we must have been observed by
+them, for the captain knew all about us, and he had particularly
+cautioned his men to be upon their guard, not to fall into the hands of
+Cortes. We had now, therefore, no other course left than to try to
+entice the shallop on shore by some other stratagem. For this purpose
+Cortes desired the prisoners to take off their clothes, and four of our
+men to put them on, who were to remain behind. The rest of us marched
+back along the road we had come, and halted behind a mountain, as soon
+as we were out of sight of the vessel. Here we remained until midnight,
+when all was dark around; we then, without the least noise, put
+ourselves in motion, and made for the landing-place, in the
+neighbourhood of which we concealed ourselves, so as to be invisible to
+any one excepting our four disguised soldiers.
+
+As soon as daylight had broken forth, the latter made signals to the
+vessel with their cloaks and hats; upon which the shallop put off with
+six sailors, two of whom had water-bottles in their hands, and
+immediately stepped on shore. We watched until the four others should
+have done the same. Our four disguised men were in the meantime washing
+their hands, and doing everything else to hide their faces. Those in the
+shallop cried out, "What the deuce are you about there? why don't you
+come on board?" One of our men then answered, "Come on shore for a few
+minutes, and see what the place is like!" They found, however, the voice
+to be that of a stranger, and put off with the shallop to the vessel
+again, notwithstanding all the signals our men were making. We others
+were very desirous of sending a few musket-shots after them, but Cortes
+would not permit us, saying, we ought to allow them to go off quietly,
+and he would communicate with their commander himself. All the prisoners
+we made, therefore, were the four above-mentioned, and the two who had
+stepped out of the shallop, and we returned to Vera Cruz without having
+tasted a morsel of food. Such are the true particulars of the whole
+matter, and not as Gomara relates, who even makes Garay himself present
+on this occasion, though he did not visit these parts in person until
+some time after, having sent the three officers with the vessels before
+him. I shall speak more particularly of this in the proper place.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXI.
+
+    _How we set out on our march to the city of Mexico, and, upon the
+    advice of the caziques, take our road over Tlascalla. What took
+    place here, and of the battles we fought._
+
+
+After we had got all in readiness for our march to Mexico, we held a
+consultation as to the route we should take. The chiefs of Sempoalla
+preferred the road through the province of Tlascalla, as the inhabitants
+were friendly with them and deadly enemies of the Mexicans. They had
+likewise equipped forty of their best warriors to accompany us, who,
+indeed, proved of the greatest utility to us on this journey. They also
+gave us 200 porters to convey our cannon; for, at that time, we poor
+soldiers had no other baggage than our weapons, with which in hand we
+stood, walked, and slept: we had not even any other covering to our
+feet than light shoes, but we were always ready for battle. It was about
+the middle of the month of August, 1519, that we broke up our quarters
+at Sempoalla. During our march we observed the strictest order, while
+our sharp-shooters and a great number of our most active men were always
+in advance. On the first day we arrived in the township of Xalapa, and
+from there to Socochina, which is very strongly situated, the access to
+it being very dangerous, and surrounded by numerous trained vine
+trees.[20] Dona Marina and Aguilar told the inhabitants a good deal
+about our holy religion, and how we were subjects of the emperor Don
+Carlos the Fifth, who sent us out to bring them back from kidnapping and
+sacrificing human beings. As they were in friendship with the
+Sempoallans, and paid no tribute to Motecusuma, we found them very well
+inclined towards us, and we received hospitable treatment. We erected a
+cross in every township, and explained its signification to the
+inhabitants, and what great veneration was due to it. From Socochina we
+marched over a high mountain, through a pass, to Texutla: here,
+likewise, the inhabitants were friendly to us, because they refused to
+pay any further tribute to Motecusuma. It was from this township that we
+first arrived into a rugged and wild mountain district; the population
+ceased, and, in the very first night, we had excessive cold, with hail
+showers; add to which, our provisions were totally gone, and the wind so
+keen which blew across the snow mountains, that we shook again with the
+frost: indeed, no one can wonder at this, for we had come so suddenly
+from the hot climate of Cuba, the town of Vera Cruz, and the
+neighbouring coast, into a cold country. Whatever calamity might befall
+us, we had only our weapons for protection, and were, moreover, totally
+unaccustomed to the cold. From this place we arrived at another mountain
+pass, where we found some houses and huge temples for human sacrifices;
+near these, heaps of wood were piled up for the use of the idol-worship.
+Neither did we here again meet with any food, the weather continuing
+bitterly cold.
+
+Our route now lay across the territory of the township Xocotlan. We sent
+before us two Indians of Sempoalla to the cazique, to acquaint him of
+our approach, and beg of him to give us an hospitable reception. As the
+inhabitants of this district were subject to Motecusuma, everything wore
+a different aspect, and we marched forward with the utmost precaution
+and in close array. For the rest, we were as much pleased with this spot
+as with many a Spanish town, on account of the numerous and beautifully
+whitewashed balconies, the dwellings of the caziques, and the elevated
+temples wholly built of stone and lime. We, therefore, called it
+Castilblanco, which name it still retains; for a Portuguese soldier, who
+was among our troops, assured us, the place was very like the town of
+Casteloblanco in Portugal. The cazique, on receiving information of our
+arrival, came out to meet us with the principal inhabitants. His name
+was Olintecle, and he led us into his habitation, where he gave us but
+little to eat, and that with bad will.
+
+After the repast, Cortes, by means of our interpreters, put all manner
+of questions to the cazique respecting the affairs of his monarch.
+Motecusuma, and we learnt a good deal about the great armies which were
+stationed in the conquered provinces, besides those on the boundaries
+themselves, and the provinces which bordered on them. He spoke of the
+great and strong city of Mexico, how it lay in the midst of the waters,
+and that it was only by means of bridges and canoes that a person could
+go from one house to another: every house was provided with a balcony at
+the top, and was so completely isolated by means of moats, that they
+might separately be considered as so many castles, and, as such, capable
+of defence. The town was approached by three roads, each of which was
+cut through in four or five several places, to admit the water; across
+these sections, wooden bridges were built: it was merely requisite to
+break down these bridges, and all access to Mexico was cut off. Lastly,
+the cazique also mentioned the great quantity of silver and gold, the
+numerous precious stones and great riches of Motecusuma; in fact, there
+was no end to the praises he bestowed upon his monarch.
+
+Cortes and all of us were vastly astonished at everything the man
+related of Motecusuma's power and greatness. However, instead of being
+thereby disheartened, we only the more earnestly desired to try our
+fortune against the fortresses and bridges, for such is the very spirit
+of a Spanish soldier; while the impossibility of which Olintecle spoke
+seemed to us a mere nothing. Mexico was, indeed, strongly fortified, and
+even more so than mentioned by the cazique: a person ought to have seen
+it himself to form an idea of it,--a description can convey none. For
+the rest, added the cazique, Motecusuma is accustomed to obedience from
+every one, and he feared Motecusuma's resentment when he should learn
+that we had entered the township without his permission, and had been
+provided with provisions.
+
+Upon which Cortes, by means of our interpreters, spoke to him as
+follows: "I give you to understand that we have come here from very
+distant countries, by command of our emperor and master Don Carlos, who
+has among his numerous vassals many powerful princes, to acquaint your
+great Motecusuma that he shall no longer permit kidnapping and human
+sacrifices, nor conquer any more territories, and that he must obey the
+commands of the emperor our master. In the same way I also declare to
+you Olintecle, and the other caziques now present that you must
+relinquish those human sacrifices, no longer eat human flesh, and
+abstain from committing unnatural offences and other abominations
+customary with you; for such are the commandments of the God in whom we
+believe, and whom we adore, from whom come life and death, and who will
+once receive us into his heaven."
+
+As the Indians made no answer to all this and many other things he said
+of our holy religion, Cortes turned to us, and said, "I think,
+gentlemen, we can do nothing further here than erect a cross:" to which
+father Olmedo answered, "I think, sir, that even this would be doing too
+much at present, for these people, as subjects of Motecusuma, are
+neither afraid nor shy of us, and would undoubtedly destroy the cross.
+What we have disclosed to them concerning our religion is sufficient
+until the time they shall be susceptible of understanding more of it."
+
+In compliance with this advice, no cross was erected here.
+
+On this expedition we had a large dog with us, the property of Francisco
+de Lugo. As the animal did nothing but bark the whole night, the
+caziques asked our friends of Sempoalla whether it was a lion or a tiger
+which we employed for the purpose of tearing the Indians to pieces? The
+Sempoallans answered that we indeed let it loose upon those who attacked
+us. They gave similar answers to questions concerning our cannon,
+telling them we loaded these with stones, and killed every one therewith
+at whom we shot: that our horses were as nimble as deer; that they
+galloped against whomsoever we desired. "Certainly these must be
+teules!" said Olintecle and the other chiefs. "That they are indeed as
+you see them now before you, (continued the Sempoallans,) therefore take
+great care not to arouse their displeasure. Whatever you may do, they
+are sure to know: they penetrate your very thoughts, and have even
+imprisoned the tax-gatherers of your great Motecusuma, and commanded the
+inhabitants of the mountains and us of Sempoalla not to pay any more
+tribute. They have likewise torn down our teules from the temples, and
+placed theirs there instead. The tribes of the Tabasco and Tzinpantzinco
+were conquered by them; and, however powerful Motecusuma may be, he
+nevertheless sent them presents. Now they have visited you, and you have
+given them nothing; therefore you cannot too speedily correct the
+mistake you have made."
+
+From this it may be seen that our confederates perfectly understood how
+to boast of us: nor was it long before the caziques brought us four
+chains, three neck ornaments, and a few lizards, all of gold, though of
+an inferior quality; besides this there was a package of cotton cloths,
+and four women to bake our bread. Cortes thanked them very kindly for
+these presents, and offered to render them services in return.
+
+One certain spot in this township I never shall forget, situated near
+the temple. Here a vast number of human skulls were piled up in the best
+order imaginable,--there must have been more than 100,000; I repeat,
+more than 100,000. In like manner you saw the remaining human bones
+piled up in order in another corner of the square; these it would have
+been impossible to count. Besides these, there were human heads hanging
+suspended from beams on both sides. Three papas stood sentinel on this
+place of skulls, for which purpose, it was told us, they were
+particularly appointed.[21]
+
+Similar horrible sights we saw towards the interior of the country in
+every township, and even in Tlascalla.
+
+Cortes inquired of the cazique Olintecle, which was the best and most
+easy road to Mexico. "That one," answered the cazique, "over Cholulla,
+which is a very large town." Our friends of Sempoalla, however, advised
+us not to take that road, as the inhabitants of Cholulla were a
+treacherous people, and Motecusuma had always a strong garrison in that
+town. We had better choose the road over Tlascalla was their opinion;
+for there the inhabitants were their friends, and sworn enemies to the
+Mexicans. This advice was followed by Cortes, and the Almighty blessed
+his choice. Before our departure we required an additional twenty of
+their best warriors to join our ranks, which were accordingly granted us
+by the cazique.
+
+The next morning we commenced our march to Tlascalla, and first arrived
+in the small township of Xacatcinco. From this place we sent before us
+to the Tlascallans two of the principal men of Sempoalla, who well knew
+how to blazon forth our praise, and were upon intimate terms of
+friendship with the latter. We gave them a letter to these, although we
+knew they could not read it, and a Flanders hat surmounted by a coloured
+feather, as they were worn at that time. I will relate in the following
+chapter what further took place.
+
+[20] It may appear astonishing to some that grape trees should have been
+found here, as it is well known that this tree was introduced from
+Europe into the West Indies; yet it is certainly true that the Spaniards
+found the wild vine growing in the New World. Oviedo, in his valuable
+work entitled 'Historia general y natural de las Indias,' says, "These
+wild vines bear good black grapes, and I have often eaten them myself. I
+say good, for considering the wild state in which they grow, they are
+really good. These grapes are found throughout the whole of the West
+Indies, and I do believe that all other vines have originated from these
+wild trees." (p. 133.)
+
+[21] Of the township of Xocotlan, Torquemada gives some further account,
+from which we learn more of the condition of the country at the time of
+the conquest. Olintecl, he says, was lord of 20,000 subjects, and he had
+thirty wives, who were attended upon by one hundred female servants. The
+township contained thirteen temples, full of various shaped idols made
+of stone, to whom were sacrificed men, women, children, pigeons, and
+quails. Here the Mexican monarch had a garrison of 5000 men, and couriers
+were stationed at particular distances from each other all the way from
+the town to the city of Mexico. These nimble pedestrians were always in
+pairs, that all news might be conveyed to the metropolis with the utmost
+speed. (p. 142.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXII.
+
+    _How we commenced our march upon Tlascalla, and sent messengers
+    before us, to obtain the sanction of the inhabitants to pass through
+    their country; how they took our messengers prisoners, and what
+    further happened._
+
+
+On our march from Castilblanco we were, if possible, doubly precautious.
+Our sharp-shooters were always in advance, the cavalry kept surrounding
+our troops, our muskets were loaded, the matches lighted, and, in short,
+we were ready for action at a moment's notice.
+
+We first arrived in the small township of Xacatcinco, where the
+inhabitants presented us with a golden chain for the neck, some packages
+of cotton stuffs, and two Indian females. As above remarked, we
+despatched two distinguished personages of Sempoalla to Tlascalla, who
+were to announce our approach, and say we came as friends, and hoped
+they would receive us as such. We found it the more necessary to send
+this message, as we learnt in Xacatcinco, that the whole of Tlascalla
+was up in arms against us. They were already informed of our having left
+that place, and concluded from the number of warriors we had with us out
+of Sempoalla and Xocotlan, tributary to Motecusuma, that we came with
+hostile intentions. They had quite concluded we were going to act like
+the Mexicans, who always, under some fraudulent pretence or other,
+marched into their country when intent upon plunder.
+
+When, therefore, the messengers arrived with our letter and the Flanders
+hat, and were about to deliver our commission, they were even refused a
+hearing, and immediately thrown into prison. We awaited their return for
+two days, during which time Cortes explained to the inhabitants as
+usual, the nature of our holy religion, who our emperor was, the
+sinfulness of human sacrifices, and the other abominations they
+practised. He also demanded twenty of their warriors to accompany us.
+
+These they readily furnished us, and after we had commended ourselves to
+the protection of the Almighty, we broke up our quarters on the third
+day and marched for Tlascalla. On our route we were met by our two
+messengers, who had been secretly released by their friends. All
+Tlascalla was making warlike preparations against us. They appeared
+quite downcast, and durst scarcely inform us of what they had seen and
+heard. Having at last taken courage, they related how they had been
+immediately seized and thrown into prison, and what terrible threats had
+been thrown out against us and themselves. "Now we will rise up," it
+had been told them, "and destroy those whom yon term teules. We shall
+soon see whether they are so courageous as you have mentioned. We will
+devour both you and them together, for you are come under fraudulent
+pretences, and at the instigation and in the spirit of the traitor
+Motecusuma."
+
+The messengers might say what they liked in contradiction to this it was
+all to no purpose. When Cortes and we others heard this lofty language,
+and how they awaited us completely equipped for war, we did not think
+altogether so light of the matter; nevertheless, we one and all cried
+out, "Well, then, since it cannot be otherwise, forward! for good or ill
+luck." We commended ourselves to the protection of God, and unfurled our
+standard, which was borne by the ensign Corral. The inhabitants of the
+small township, where we passed the night, informed us, that the
+Tlascallans would march against us to prevent our entering into their
+country. Of this opinion were also our friends of Sempoalla.
+
+As we were marching along, our only discourse was how we should attack
+the enemy. Our cavalry was to gallop up three abreast, with lances
+fixed, and run the Indians full in the face. At the same time they were
+to be particularly upon their guard that the enemy did not lay hold of
+the lances with their hands; should such, however, be the case, the
+rider was to keep the tighter hold of his lance, give his horse the
+spur, and either by a sudden jerk wrest it out of the enemy's grasp, or
+drag him along with it.
+
+The reader will perhaps ask, why we took these precautions though we had
+not yet come in sight of the foe? I can answer this with Cortes' own
+words, who spoke to us as follows: "You are aware, gentlemen, of the
+smallness of our numbers, we must, therefore, be the more upon our
+guard, and fancy the enemy will each moment fall upon us. Nor is this
+sufficient, we must imagine ourselves already fighting, as if the battle
+was begun. Every soldier is fond of catching hold of the enemy's lance
+with his hand, but considering the smallness of our numbers, we must now
+particularly guard ourselves against it. For the rest, you are not in
+need of my advice, for I have always found that you do things much
+better than I am able to instruct you."
+
+Under similar discourses we had already advanced about eight miles, when
+we came up to an enormous entrenchment, built so strongly of stone,
+lime, and a kind of hard bitumen, that it would only have been possible
+to break it down by means of pickaxes, and if defended would have with
+difficulty been taken. We halted on purpose to inspect this
+fortification, and Cortes inquired of the Xocotlans, for what purpose it
+stood there. They told him that it was built by the Tlascallans, on
+whose territory we were now entering, against the great Motecusuma, with
+whom they were continually at war, to protect them against his hostile
+incursions.[22]
+
+After we had examined this structure for some time, and each expressed
+his opinion upon it, Cortes cried out, "Let us follow our standard,
+gentlemen! It bears the figure of the holy cross, and in that sign we
+shall conquer." To which we unanimously added: "Forward! whatever may
+happen; for God is our only strength."
+
+We now continued our march onwards in the cautious manner above
+mentioned, and had not proceeded far when our vanguard observed at no
+very great distance about thirty Indians, who had been sent out to
+reconnoitre; this was immediately communicated to us. They had broad
+swords, which are used with both hands, the edges of which are made of
+hard flint, and are sharper than our steel swords. They were also armed
+with shields, lances, and had feathers stuck in their hair. Cortes
+ordered some of our cavalry to go in among them, and try, if possible,
+to capture one, but not to inflict any wounds. These were followed at a
+distance by five others, to assist them should they fall into an ambush;
+the rest of our army marched direct for the narrow pass, but with the
+utmost circumspection, as our friends had assured us that we should
+undoubtedly meet with a large body of the enemy in some hiding place or
+other. When the thirty Indians above mentioned found our cavalry
+approaching them, and saw how they beckoned to them with their hands,
+they began to retreat slowly, and arranged themselves again in order,
+whenever our men attempted to take any of them prisoners. They defended
+themselves right valiantly with their swords and lances, wounding
+several of our horses. The blood of our men now also began to boil, who,
+in return, killed five of the Indians. At that moment a swarm of more
+than 3000 Tlascallans rushed furiously from an ambush, pouring forth a
+shower of arrows upon our cavalry, who now immediately closed their
+ranks. At the same time we fired among them with our cannon, and so at
+last we obliged the enemy to give ground, though they fought bravely and
+with a good deal of manoeuvring. On our side we had four wounded, of
+whom one died a few days after, if I still remember rightly. Seventeen
+of the enemy lay dead, and the number of their wounded was very
+considerable. As it was growing very late they continued to retreat, and
+we to follow them.
+
+As soon as we had passed over the mountain we came into a plain, and
+found numerous plantations of maise and maguey,[23] from which the
+inhabitants make their wine. We took up our night's quarters near a
+brook, and for want of oil we dressed the wounds of our men with the fat
+of a corpulent Indian who had been killed. We made our supper off young
+dogs, which we found here in great numbers; for, although the
+inhabitants had left all their plantations and taken the dogs with them,
+these animals during the night time had come back to their old places
+again; and we were thus able to catch a good many, and so procured
+ourselves some very delicious joints. The whole of this night we kept a
+most vigilant look-out. We placed outposts in all quarters; our horses
+stood ready saddled and bridled, and the rounds were regularly made. I
+will, however, break off here, and relate our further battles in the
+next chapter.
+
+[22] Of this fortification Torquemada gives a different account. He says
+it was a wall of twenty feet in thickness, that it could be defended
+from the top; had only one entrance, defended by other works within, and
+was built by a cazique of the country, whom he calls Yztacmixtitlan, to
+protect the boundaries of his country against the incursions of the
+Tlascallans. (p. 145.)
+
+[23] Agava Americana. (p. 145.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIII.
+
+    _Of the terrible battles we fought with the Tlascallans, and what
+    further happened._
+
+
+The next morning, after we had commended ourselves to God in prayer, we
+broke up our quarters. Each company marched in close order, and our
+cavalry were to be particularly upon their guard; were either to advance
+suddenly, or fall back upon us, according as circumstances might be, and
+at all events to watch that our ranks were nowhere broken, and that no
+one strayed from his own company.
+
+After we had marched onwards for some time we came up with two large
+bodies of the enemy, amounting to about 6000 men. They set up a most
+terrific noise with their drums and trumpets, and yelled awfully. They
+then let fly their arrows, threw their lances at us, and upon the whole
+were most daringly valiant. Cortes now ordered us to halt, and
+despatched three Indians, whom we had made prisoners the day before, to
+the enemy, requesting them to stay hostilities, as we were very desirous
+of looking upon them as brothers and friends. At the same time he
+ordered one of our warriors, Diego de Godoy, who was the royal
+secretary, to pay particular attention to everything that should take
+place, in order that if any reproach were made us for having destroyed
+any of the Indians, he might give evidence, and be able to prove that we
+on our side had shown every disposition for peace.
+
+The prisoners went off with this message to the enemy, but not the
+slightest notice was taken of it; on the contrary, they attacked us so
+furiously that we could no longer look idly on. "Forward! St. Jacob is
+with us! On to the enemy!" cried Cortes; and in an instant we greeted
+the Indians so sharply with our firearms, that numbers were immediately
+killed and wounded; among the former three chiefs. After this first
+volley they fell back to about the distance of a musket-shot, where they
+took up their position. Here an army of above 40,000 warriors, commanded
+by their general-in-chief Xicotencatl, lay in ambush. Their standards
+bore his colours, white and variegated. As the ground here was full of
+deep cavities our cavalry were completely useless, until by using the
+greatest precaution they managed to pass over these. This was not done
+without considerable risk, for the enemy plied their bows and lances
+with great dexterity, having, moreover, the advantage of the higher
+ground. The stones from their slings were no less annoying; but all this
+only lasted until we had gained the level ground. For now we richly
+rewarded them for their pains, and killed great numbers. Yet we durst
+not venture to open our ranks; for the instant any one stepped out to
+assist any other soldier or officer he was that moment dangerously
+wounded. We were, therefore, obliged to keep our ranks firmly closed,
+and by degrees had to contend with more than twenty different divisions,
+which was, indeed, pretty hot work. Besides all this the Indians kept
+continually throwing sand in our faces to blind us. Here, indeed, the
+great mercy of God alone could save us. The chief object of the enemy
+was to capture one of our horses, in which they did not altogether fail;
+for, as Pedro de Moron on his well-trained mare, attended by three
+others of our cavalry, was attempting to break through the enemy's
+ranks, the Indians wrenched the lance out of his hand, and fell
+furiously upon him with their broad swords, wounding him severely. They
+gave his mare such a terrific cut with the same weapon in the neck, that
+the animal instantly fell down dead. If Moron's three companions had not
+immediately hastened to his assistance, he would have shared his horse's
+fate; for this gave our whole company time to come up.
+
+I must again repeat, that the worst was, we had to keep ourselves so
+close together in order not to run the danger of being cut off, which of
+course greatly encumbered our movements. Nevertheless, we were obliged
+to open our ranks to rescue the mare and Moron whom they were already
+dragging off half dead. The mare we were obliged to relinquish, though
+we managed to cut the girth asunder in order at least to save the
+saddle. In this battle we had nine wounded. As for the enemy I believe
+on this occasion we killed four of their chiefs. We pushed forward
+shoulder to shoulder, and made considerable havoc with our swords. The
+enemy retreated, carrying off the dead mare, which was subsequently cut
+into pieces to be sent into every township of Tlascalla. As we
+afterwards learnt, the horse's shoes, the Flanders hat, and the letter
+we sent them, were brought as an offering to their idols. The mare
+belonged to Juan Sedeno, who, on the previous day, was wounded in three
+several places, and had, therefore, lent her to Moron. This Moron was a
+capital horse soldier, and died a few days after; at least, I do not
+remember to have seen him again after this battle.
+
+We had fought for a good hour, and our firearms must have done
+considerable destruction among the enemy who stood so crowded together.
+Every man among us did his duty, and we fought away like brave warriors,
+for in all truth we were placed in greater jeopardy this time than we
+had ever been before. Numbers of the Indians lay dead on the field of
+battle; among whom were eight of the principal chiefs, all sons of old
+caziques, who dwelt together in the chief town of the country. At last
+our enemies retreated in good order, which we were glad enough to see,
+for we could scarcely stand any longer from over-fatigue, nor durst we
+think of following the enemy. Add to which, the ground was greatly to
+our disadvantage, partly on account of the number of straggling houses,
+partly on account of a species of pits in which many of the inhabitants
+dwelt. This battle was fought on the first two days of September, 1519,
+near the village of Tehuacacinco, and we returned fervent thanks to God
+for having rescued us from such great peril and for the victory we had
+gained.
+
+After the battle, we fell back to some temples, which were very high,
+and large enough to serve us for castles. We dressed the wounds of our
+men with the fat of Indians, as we had done on previous occasions. Five
+of our horses were wounded, and fifteen men, of whom one subsequently
+died. Upon this we took our suppers, and made a good meal off the number
+of dogs and fowls which we found in the dwellings. Before, however, we
+lay down to rest, we posted our sentinels, and continually patrolled
+during the night: not before all these things were properly ordered did
+we lie down, and slept till morning.
+
+For the rest, we made fifteen prisoners, among whom were two of the most
+distinguished personages; but we could never discover how many we killed
+or wounded, as it was customary with the Tlascallans immediately to
+carry off the wounded and dead from the field of battle.[24]
+
+[24] (This note refers to the last sentence of the chapter.) To this
+custom of the Tlascallans of carrying off their killed and wounded from
+the field of battle, the historian de Solis partially attributes Cortes'
+great success in these battles; for as a great number of the enemy were
+constantly occupied in this work, they naturally offered a less
+formidable front, and considerable openings were made in their ranks.
+(p. 147.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIV.
+
+    _How we quartered ourselves in the township of Tehuacacinco, and
+    what we did there._
+
+
+As the battles we fought had greatly fatigued us, besides that several
+of our men and horses were wounded, we made a day of rest, repaired our
+crossbows, and supplied ourselves with arrows. The next morning Cortes
+said to us, "It would be no harm if our horse were to gallop up and down
+the country a little; the Tlascallans might otherwise think we had had
+enough of it in the last battle: we must show them that we are
+constantly at their heels." And indeed it was better that we began
+ourselves than wait until we should be attacked, that the enemy might
+not suppose we had been too greatly weakened, and had lost our courage.
+Besides this, the country round about was quite level, and thickly
+populated. We therefore ordered out seven horse, some crossbow-men, and
+several musketeers, in all 200 men, without including our confederates.
+Every possible precaution had been previously made to secure our camp.
+On our march through the townships we captured twenty Indians of both
+sexes, but in no way molested them. Our allies, however, who were
+barbarous characters, could not refrain from setting fire to many houses
+where they had found quantities of fowls and young dogs. After we had
+again returned to our quarters, Cortes ordered the fetters to be taken
+off the prisoners, and food to be given them. Dona Marina and Aguilar
+then addressed them very affectionately, and gave to each some glass
+beads, adding, at the same time, that in future they should not be so
+foolish, but make peace with us, as we were very desirous of looking
+upon them as brothers, and would protect them as such.
+
+We also set the first two Indians at liberty whom we had captured, and
+gave them a letter with the commission to tell the chief of the
+provinces that we were not come in any way to injure the Tlascallans,
+but merely wished to take the road through their country to Mexico,
+there to have an interview with Motecusuma.
+
+Both these delegates punctually followed our orders, and arrived at the
+head-quarters of Xicotencatl, which lay, if I remember rightly, about
+six miles from our camp, in the township of Tehuacinpacingo. Having, in
+the absence of the father, fulfilled our commission to the younger
+Xicotencatl, he told them, we had only to come to his father's township,
+there they would make peace, after they had satiated themselves with the
+flesh of our bodies, and had honoured their gods with the sacrifice of
+our blood and hearts. The next morning we should behold his answer with
+our own eyes.
+
+As the last battles were still fresh in our memories, we did not exactly
+relish the haughty answer with which our delegates returned. Cortes,
+nevertheless, received them most kindly, perceiving, from their return,
+that they no longer stood in awe of us; and with the view that they
+should once more be despatched as messengers of peace, he gave them some
+additional strings of beads. For the rest he made the most minute
+inquiries respecting the commander Xicotencatl, and the number of his
+troops, and found that the latter were much more numerous than in the
+last battle: he had now five chiefs under him, each of whom commanded
+10,000 men. These troops were enumerated in the following manner: First
+of all came the 10,000 men of Xicotencatl's division; next a similar
+number under another powerful cazique called Maxixcatzin; then a like
+number under the distinguished cazique Chichimeclatecl; 10,000 under the
+cazique of Topoyanco, named Tecapaneca; and an equal number under the
+cazique Quaxobcin;--altogether thus 50,000 men. Each troop had its
+standard and arms, the latter being a large white bird, with outspread
+wings, as if preparing to fly, and resembled an ostrich.[25] Besides
+this, every chief had his particular insignia of war and colours, in the
+same way as our Spanish dukes and earls. At first we did not believe
+anything of all this, but found afterwards that it was perfectly true;
+and since we were human beings, and feared death, we all confessed to
+father Olmedo and the priest Juan Diaz, which occupied them the whole of
+the night: neither did we fail to offer up fervent prayers to the
+Almighty to grant us victory. Under such like occupations the following
+day broke forth on which we were to fight the battle, of which I shall
+speak in the next chapter.
+
+[25] This is a very remarkable observation of Bernal Diaz, for the
+ostrich with outspread wings is also found on the ancient Persian
+monuments; and this bird, it is well known, is not common to the New
+World. If we add to this circumstance the repeated questions which were
+put to the Spaniards by the inhabitants of New Spain, as to whether they
+came from the region where the sun rises, there is reason for supposing
+that the tradition which came down to them from their forefathers was
+not altogether vague; namely, that a people would come from the east and
+take possession of their country. (p. 150.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXV.
+
+    _Of the great battle we fought with the Tlascallans, and what
+    further took place._
+
+
+It was the following morning, on the 5th of September, 1519, that we
+equipped ourselves for battle. Our horse were first arranged in order,
+then the foot soldiers, and even our wounded were forced to go along
+with us, if only to swell out our numbers, and do what lay in their
+power. The crossbow-men received orders that some were merely to load,
+while others fired, and this always in platoons. The musketeers received
+similar orders, and the remaining portion of our men, who were armed
+with swords and shields, were principally to strike at the enemy in the
+region of the belly, in order to stop them from venturing so near to us
+as they had the time before. Every one was also particularly cautioned
+not to leave the ranks. It was also the particular duty of our cavalry
+not to leave each other in the lurch, always to attack in full gallop,
+and only aim at the face and eyes. The ensign Corral received a guard of
+four men, and in this way we sallied forth from our camp, with our
+standard flying.
+
+We had scarcely proceeded a quarter of a mile when we found the fields
+covered with warriors; they had large feather-knots on their heads,
+waved their colours, and made a terrific noise with their horns and
+trumpets: indeed, the pen that would wish to describe everything we saw
+here, would not find it such an easy task! this was indeed a battle of
+as fearful and dubious an issue as well could be. In an instant we were
+surrounded on all sides by such vast numbers of Indians, that the plain,
+here six miles in breadth, seemed as if it contained but one vast body
+of the enemy, in the midst of which stood our small army of 400 men, the
+greater part wounded and knocked up with fatigue. We were also aware
+that the enemy had marched out to battle with the determination to spare
+none of us, excepting those who were to be sacrificed to their idols.
+When, therefore, the attack commenced, a real shower of arrows and
+stones was poured upon us; the whole ground was immediately covered with
+heaps of lances, whose points were provided with two edges, so very
+sharp that they pierced through every species of cuirass, and were
+particularly dangerous to the lower part of the body, which was in no
+way protected. They fell upon us like the very furies themselves, with
+the most horrible yells; we employed, however, our heavy guns, muskets,
+and crossbows, with so much effect, and received those who pressed
+eagerly upon us with such well-directed blows and thrusts, that
+considerable destruction was made among their ranks, nor did they allow
+us to approach so near to them as in the previous battle: our cavalry,
+in particular, showed great skill and bravery, so that they, next to the
+Almighty, were the principal means of saving us.
+
+Indeed our line was already half broken; all the commands of Cortes and
+our other officers to restore order and form again were fruitless, the
+Indians continually rushing upon us in such vast crowds that we could
+only make place with sword in hand to save our line from being broken.
+Our only safety was owing to the great number of the enemy itself; for
+they stood so closely crowded that each shot we fired must have done
+great execution among them. They left themselves altogether no room to
+manoeuvre in, while many of the chiefs, with their men, were not even
+able to mix at all in the engagement. Besides this, disagreements and
+inimical feelings had arisen out of the previous battle between the
+commander-in-chief Xicotencatl and another chief, the son of
+Chichimeclatecl. Xicotencatl had accused the latter of not having done
+his duty, who, in reply, said, he had discharged it better than he; so
+that in this battle neither lent the other any assistance, and
+Chichimeclatecl had even commanded Huexotzinco not to take any part in
+the combat. To all this must be added, that the enemy had been taught in
+the former battle to fear our horse, cannon, swords, and crossbows, not
+to forget the courage we displayed. It must likewise be borne in mind
+that a merciful God had lent us extraordinary powers during the
+engagement. As Xicotencatl met with no obedience from two of his
+principal officers,--we, on the contrary, fighting on the more bravely,
+and killing great numbers of their men, who, as well as the wounded,
+were immediately hurried from the field of battle, so that we never came
+to see any of their killed,--the Indians at length grew exasperated
+against those two chiefs who had thus left them in the lurch, and now
+fought with less vigour. It is, however, probable that one of their
+chief commanders had fallen, for they retreated in good order: our
+cavalry, indeed, pursued them a short distance in full gallop, but were
+soon compelled to return, from fatigue.
+
+As soon as we had got rid of this vast crowd, we returned most fervent
+thanks to the Almighty. We had, however, only lost one man, but, on the
+other hand, sixty of us were wounded, with all our horses. I myself
+carried off two wounds, one of which was on my head from the stone of a
+sling, and the other by an arrow piercing my ankle; but neither of them
+were so bad as to compel me to leave the battle, or disable me from
+doing duty. This, however, was the same case with the majority of my
+comrades; for, if a wound was not dangerous, they still continued to
+perform duty, as the number of those who came off whole would have been
+too small to make head against the enemy. We now returned to our
+quarters, overjoyed at our victory, and offered up fervent thanks to
+God. We buried our dead in one of the subterranean dwellings, that the
+Indians might not discover us to be mortal as well as themselves, but
+still continue to fancy us gods: we, therefore, heaped up a quantity of
+earth over the spot, that even the stench of the decomposing body might
+not betray the dead. The fat of the Indians, as before, served us to
+dress our wounds. Oh, the distress we suffered here! We had neither oil
+for our wounds nor salt to our food. To all this was added the
+misfortune of having nothing to shelter us from the keen wind, which
+blew across the Sierra Nevada, and made us shake again with cold. We,
+nevertheless, kept up our spirits, and this night we slept more soundly
+than on the previous one, as we had better regulated our outposts and
+the patrols.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVI.
+
+    _How we sent a message next day to the caziques of Tlascalla to
+    bring about peace between us, and the determination they came to
+    upon this._
+
+
+In the last battle we had taken three distinguished personages
+prisoners. These Cortes sent with the two others whom we had previously
+taken, and once before despatched with a message to the caziques of
+Tlascalla, desiring them in our name to make peace with us, and allow us
+to march through their country to Mexico, as we had before requested of
+them. If they still refused, we would exterminate them all. It would,
+however, grieve us if they drove us to such extremities, as we were well
+inclined, and would gladly look upon them as brothers; nor should we
+have done thus much if they themselves had not driven us to it. Besides
+this, Cortes said many other kind things to gain their friendship.
+
+The delegates arrived betimes in the chief town of Tlascalla, and
+delivered their message in a full assembly of the caziques, whom they
+found conversing with several old men and papas. Every one still
+appeared very downcast on account of the unfavorable issue of the
+battle, the loss of their chiefs, their sons and relations who had
+fallen; and at first would not even listen to our messengers. At last
+they came to the resolution to consult all the astrologers, papas, and
+fortune-tellers, a species of conjurors whom they call _Tacalnaguas_.
+These being assembled, they were desired to discover by their witchcraft
+and enchantments, what sort of people we were, and whether it was
+possible to overcome us if they continued to harass us night and day.
+They were also to give a decisive answer as to whether we were really
+teules, that is to say evil spirits, as the inhabitants of Sempoalla had
+assured them; and lastly, what nourishment we took. All this they were
+most minutely to investigate.
+
+The soothsayers, conjurors, and papas, who were in great numbers,
+immediately began their exorcisms and enchantments, after their fashion;
+and they pretended to have discovered, by means of their art, that we
+were human beings made of flesh and bone; that we ate dogs, fowls, bread
+and fruits, as they did, if we could get them; and that we did not
+devour the Indians, and much less the hearts of those we had slain. Our
+friends of Sempoalla, namely, had told them all manner of foolish things
+about us; not only that we were teules, but that we devoured the hearts
+of the Indians; that the flashes of our bombards, shot off like
+lightning; that our dog was a tiger or a lion, and that we let loose our
+horses upon the Indians when we wished to kill them. But the worst thing
+these soothsayers and papas affirmed was, its being impossible to
+conquer us excepting during the night-time, for we were helpless as soon
+as the sun, from which we received all our strength, had gone down.
+
+This affirmation seemed a capital hint to the caziques, they therefore
+sent orders to their captain-general, Xicotencatl, to fall upon us as
+soon as possible with a large force during night-time. This, Xicotencatl
+did not fail to do. He drew out ten thousand of his bravest troops,
+marched towards our quarters, and fell upon us from three several points
+at once, with the utmost fury. They made this attack with perfect
+assurance, believing they had merely to show themselves and they should
+be able to capture us immediately, and sacrifice us to their idols. But
+the Almighty had ordered things differently. For, however silently they
+approached, they found us perfectly upon our guard, as the outposts and
+patrols had come running in at the first noise they heard and given the
+alarm. As, moreover, we were accustomed to sleep in our clothes with our
+weapons in our hands, the horses always ready bridled and saddled, and
+our cannon loaded, we gave the enemy such a rough reception with our
+muskets and crossbows, and cut among them so vigorously with our swords,
+that they soon had enough of it and turned their backs. The country
+before us was quite level, and the moon shone bright, so that our
+cavalry were able to follow the flying enemy to a considerable distance.
+Next morning we found about twenty of them dead and wounded, so that
+their loss must have been considerable, and they experienced, no doubt,
+that this fighting at night-time was not exactly so pleasant. It is also
+said they were so exasperated against the soothsayers and papas, that
+two of them were butchered for a sacrifice. In this night's combat we
+lost one of our friends of Sempoalla, and two of our men besides a horse
+were wounded. The number of prisoners we made were four. The kind reader
+may well conceive that we were not a little overjoyed that this affair
+terminated so fortunately. We fervently thanked God for the assistance
+he had lent us, buried our friend of Sempoalla, dressed our wounds, and
+lay ourselves down to rest for the remaining part of the night; but not
+without previously taking every precaution to secure our camp as usual.
+It was only the following morning we were able to discover our true
+condition. There was not one among us who had not, up to this moment,
+received one, two, or three wounds, and all were more or less weakened
+by fatigues and hardships. Xicotencatl continued to hover around us, and
+we had already lost fifty-five of our men, some of whom were killed on
+the field of battle, others had died of disease and from excessive cold.
+Twelve of our men were knocked up with fatigue, and even our
+commander-in-chief himself and father Olmedo were suffering from fever.
+But no one can wonder at this; for among all the hardships we had to
+undergo, we never durst for one moment leave our heavy weapons out of
+our hands; to all these discomforts was added the severity of the
+weather, and particularly our great want of salt, which we could find no
+means of obtaining. It was also natural that we should begin to think
+what would be the final issue of this campaign, and if we once got out
+of the present snare where we were next to bend our steps; for the idea
+of penetrating into Mexico appeared to us perfectly laughable, when we
+considered the great power of that state. If even we succeeded in making
+the same good terms with the people of Tlascalla as we had done with the
+Sempoallans, what would become of us if we ever came to an engagement
+with the great armies of Motecusuma? We were totally ignorant as to how
+matters stood in our fortress at Vera Cruz, and our men there knew as
+little what had become of us. Certainly there were among us plenty of
+valiant cavaliers and soldiers of great courage in battle, who showed no
+less wisdom in our councils, nor did Cortes ever speak or do anything
+without previously consulting them. With the historian Gomara it is
+always thus: Cortes did this, Cortes did that, Cortes was there, Cortes
+left there; just as if all this had been a mere nothing. If even, as
+Gomara affirms, Cortes had had an iron frame, he could not possibly have
+been everywhere, and have done everything himself. What good is it to
+make use of such expressions? He could only say, that Cortes was an
+excellent captain, as indeed he was, and this would have been enough! I
+was forced to make this remark, for besides the protection which the
+Almighty lent us in all our undertakings, his blessing was upon the arm
+of us soldiers and the advice we gave Cortes, and it was only in this
+way all things could have terminated so well.
+
+I will not, however, detain the reader with this preamble of great
+deeds, for it has little to do with the principal object of this
+history. I am more pleased to relate, that we unanimously swore to
+protect his person, and begged of him, that as God had rescued us out of
+such extreme danger and spared our lives, to set our prisoners at
+liberty and send them again to the caziques, and desire of them to
+conclude peace with us, adding, that we should pardon what had taken
+place, as also the death of the horse.
+
+Neither must I omit to mention the fine manly spirit which Dona Marina,
+though one of the daughters of the country, showed upon every occasion.
+We heard nothing the whole day long but of being butchered and devoured
+by the inhabitants; she had with her own eyes beheld how we had been
+completely surrounded by our enemies in the recent battles; how we were
+all wounded and suffering from disease; yet she never appeared
+disheartened; but, on the contrary, displayed a courage much beyond that
+of her sex. When the prisoners were about departing, again to make
+offers of peace to the enemy, she and Aguilar gave them every
+instruction as to what they were to say; that peace was to be concluded
+within the space of two days, otherwise we would march forward, lay
+waste the whole country, force our way into their towns, and put every
+living being to the sword. I must, however, again return to Gomara, who
+never mentions a single word about our killed and wounded, or the
+hardships we underwent; as if everything of itself turned to our
+advantage. Indeed, those who furnished him with the account must have
+been badly informed themselves. Did it never once occur to him, that his
+work would be highly interesting to all of us conquistadores, and that
+we would not repress the truth when we had read it?
+
+But to return to my narrative, our delegates went straightway to the
+chief town of Tlascalla, where the elder Xicotencatl abode. If I still
+remember rightly, we sent a letter with them, although we knew the
+Indians could not understand it; there was likewise an arrow with the
+letter. They found the two chief caziques in council with the other
+principal personages. I will give their answer in the following
+chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVII.
+
+    _How we again sent messengers to the caziques of Tlascalla in order
+    to induce them to make peace, and the resolution they came to upon
+    this._
+
+
+The two chief caziques to whom our messengers addressed themselves were
+Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl, father of the captain-general of
+the same name, who was commonly termed the younger. They fulfilled their
+commission, and the caziques remained for a time silent and undecided,
+when the Almighty inclined their hearts to conclude a peace with us.
+They called a meeting of all the caziques and chief personages who had
+weight in the townships, as also of their friends from the province of
+Huexotzinco. All having met in the township of Maxixcatzin and the elder
+Xicotencatl, which held the first rank, the latter who were men of good
+understanding addressed the meeting to the following effect. Though we
+may not, perhaps, give the exact words, yet, from what we afterwards
+learnt, it was to this effect: "Brothers and friends! You yourselves
+know how often these teules, who are now in our country, ready to fight
+at a moment's notice, have offered us peace, and assured us that they
+have come as friends to our assistance. Nor can you have yet forgotten
+the numbers of prisoners they have taken, though they never do them any
+harm, but always restore them to liberty. Thrice have we attacked them
+with the whole of our forces, both by day and by night, but we have not
+been able to conquer them. On the contrary, they have killed many of our
+subjects, numbers of our sons, relations, and chiefs in these battles.
+They now again request us to come to terms of peace, and those of
+Sempoalla who are encamped with them, assure us they are enemies to
+Motecusuma and the Mexicans, and have commanded them and the tribes of
+the Totonaque mountains not to pay any more tribute to him. We all very
+well know that the Mexicans for a space of more than one hundred years
+have annually made incursions into our country. Indeed, they have
+completely shut us up within our own territory. We cannot get beyond to
+fetch salt for our victuals, nor cotton for our clothing. If any one of
+us ever ventures beyond the mountains, he very seldom returns home
+alive. The treacherous Mexicans and their allies kill all our people
+that fall into their hands, or at least make slaves of them. Our
+tacalnaguas, soothsayers, and papas have told us their opinion of these
+teules; that they are very powerful and courageous we have experienced
+ourselves. We feel, therefore, inclined to make peace with them. Whether
+they are men or teules, in both cases an alliance with them will be
+useful to us. Let us, therefore, despatch four of our chiefs to their
+camp with good provisions, and show them love and an inclination to make
+peace, that they may assist and protect us against our enemies. We will
+invite them into our country, and present them with females from among
+our countrywomen, that we may become one people with them; for,
+according to the assurance of the messengers whom they have sent to
+offer us peace, they have women with them." The caziques upon hearing
+this proposition all declared they were agreeable to it, and resolved
+that a treaty for peace should be set on foot, and the captain-general
+Xicotencatl and the other commanders should be ordered to stay all
+hostilities; for which end they instantly despatched messengers. The
+younger Xicotencatl, however, would by no means listen to these orders,
+but evinced excessive grief and used harsh language. "As affairs stood
+there was no need of sueing for peace," he said. "Many of the teules
+were already killed, besides one of their horses; he would fall upon us
+the night following and destroy us all."
+
+When the elder Xicotencatl, Maxixcatzin, and the other caziques received
+this answer, they were so exasperated, that they immediately sent orders
+round to all the officers and the whole army not to obey Xicotencatl in
+anything which related to an attack upon us, and altogether to stay all
+hostilities against us. Neither would Xicotencatl submit to these
+orders, so that it was found necessary to send the four old men, who
+were appointed to make a treaty of peace between us, the Tlascallans and
+inhabitants of Huexotzinco, to these refractory fellows in order to
+bring them to reason. These four men, however, stood in such awe of the
+young hothead that they neglected to fulfil their commission.
+
+As two or three different occurrences took place at the same time, I
+must relate what comes first in order, and give an account of our
+excursion to another township which lay in the neighbourhood.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVIII.
+
+    _How we came to the determination of marching to a township in the
+    neighbourhood of our camp, and what happened upon this._
+
+
+After two days had passed by without our doing anything worthy of
+notice, we proposed to Cortes that we should make an excursion to a
+township situated about four miles from our encampment, to the
+inhabitants of which we had fruitlessly made overtures of peace. We
+determined upon taking them by surprise during night-time; not with the
+intention of injuring, killing, wounding, or taking the inhabitants
+prisoners, but merely to procure provisions, frighten them a little, and
+make new offers of peace according as circumstances might be. This
+township was called Zumpanzingo, and was the chief of many smaller ones.
+The district Tecodcungapacingo, where we had taken up our quarters,
+stood likewise under it; the whole country round about moreover being
+covered with straggling houses and villages. Cortes fell in with this
+proposal, and we accordingly commenced our march shortly before daybreak
+with all our men who were best able to bear the fatigue, six of our
+cavalry, ten crossbow-men, and eight musketeers. The command was taken
+by Cortes himself, although he was suffering from the tertian ague. For
+the rest all necessary precautions were taken for our camp.
+
+We had marched to a distance of about six miles before daylight
+appeared, and the wind which blew across the snow mountains was so keen,
+that we shook again with cold. Our horses likewise felt the frost very
+sensibly. Two of them indeed got the gripes and trembled like aspen
+leaves, at which we were greatly concerned, for we thought they would
+have died. Cortes therefore ordered them back to our camp. We arrived in
+front of Zumpanzingo before sunrise. The inhabitants, having observed
+our approach, had fled from their dwellings. Their minds full of the
+most horrible ideas they had formed of us, they kept crying out to one
+another to beware of the teules. They kill all, it was said, and spare
+neither young nor old. Finding how greatly they feared us, we halted in
+a courtyard until daylight had fully broken forth, that we might not
+injure any of the people in the dark. On the summit of the highest
+temples in the township we observed some papas and other old men of
+distinction, who, when they found we remained quiet without doing the
+least harm, took courage and came down to Cortes. They commenced by
+making excuses for not having sent us provisions, or any one with offers
+of peace, though we had demanded both of them. They assured us that no
+one was to blame for all this but the commander Xicotencatl, who had
+forbidden them, and was at that moment stationed in the immediate
+neighbourhood. They could not help feeling afraid of this man, as he had
+all their warriors as well as all those out of the land of Tlascalla
+under his banners. Cortes answered them by means of our interpreters,
+Dona Marina and Aguilar, whom we carried along with us wherever we went.
+They were told to allay their fears, and desire the caziques of the
+chief township to come and make peace with us, as war would only bring
+misfortune down upon them.
+
+This was the message which the papas were to deliver; for we had not yet
+received any answer from the other ambassadors whom we had sent to the
+chiefs of Tlascalla, neither had their four distinguished personages yet
+arrived. Previous to their departure the papas, however, brought us more
+than forty fowls and turkeys, besides two women to bake our bread.
+Cortes thanked them very kindly for this present, and demanded twenty
+Indians to carry them to our camp. These immediately came forward
+without evincing any signs of fear, carried the provisions and remained
+with us until evening. After presenting them with a few trifles they
+returned highly delighted to their homes. As we did no one any injury,
+the inhabitants greatly extolled our kind behaviour; the papas and chief
+personages also informing the captain-general, Xicotencatl, that they
+had given us provisions and two females; which grieved him sorely. The
+same information was sent to the elder caziques, who were delighted when
+they learnt how we could have destroyed them all during the night, but
+that instead of doing any harm we had only made offers of peace. They,
+therefore, ordered provisions to be sent us daily, with everything else
+we might require. The orders to the four principal personages who were
+commissioned to make terms of peace with us were also renewed; they now
+no longer delayed, but repaired to our quarters and brought us
+provisions and other presents. We then returned to our camp, much
+pleased with the victuals and the Indian females.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIX.
+
+    _How we found on our return to our encampment that new intrigues had
+    been set on foot; and the answer Cortes gave to certain
+    representations which were made to him._
+
+
+On returning to our head-quarters from Zumpanzingo with a good supply of
+provisions, and delighted with the peace we had concluded with the
+inhabitants, we met with nothing but complaints and discontent. We heard
+of nothing else than the imminent dangers we were daily exposed to in
+this campaign; nor did our arrival mend matters. Foremost among the
+discontented were those again who possessed settlements and Indian
+commendaries at Cuba, nor did they confine themselves to murmuring in
+secret, but seven of them, whose names, for honour's sake, I will
+refrain from mentioning, confederated together, and repaired to the
+quarters of Cortes. One of them was chosen spokesman. He was a man
+eloquent in address, and perfect master of the subject he was about to
+speak on.
+
+He began in the kindly tone of giving advice, and desired Cortes to
+consider our wounds, how disabled and knocked up we were by the
+excessive hardships we had to undergo day and night, by constant
+battling, patrolling the country, standing at the outposts, and
+reconnoitring about. They had calculated, he said, that we had already
+lost fifty-five of our men since our departure from Cuba. Neither did we
+know how matters stood with our garrison at Vera Cruz. Though the
+Almighty had everywhere granted us victory, it was merely out of the
+abundance of his mercy towards us. It was not right to calculate too
+long upon his mercy and forbearance, for that would be tempting him. The
+pitcher goes to the well until it is broken, and one morning or other we
+should undoubtedly be sacrificed to the idols. God in his mercy might
+certainly avert this; but then also it was necessary we should return to
+Vera Cruz and there remain quiet, where we should be surrounded by our
+friends and allies, the tribes of the Totonaque mountains, until we had
+fitted out a vessel and sent to Diego Velasquez and to the islands for a
+fresh supply of men and other necessaries. What a good thing if our
+vessels had been preserved, or at least a couple, in case of accident.
+But, alas! he had followed the advice of men who did not consider the
+instability of fortune, and who had totally destroyed the last means of
+escape.
+
+"May God forbid," said they, "that you and those whose advice it was,
+may not yet have to rue it. The measure of our miseries is already full;
+our condition begins to be insupportable, and the life we lead is worse
+than that of beasts of burden. When these have gone their day's journey,
+their load is taken off, food is given them, and they are allowed to
+take rest; we, on the contrary, are always under arms, nor do we ever
+take our clothes off. He might compare the histories of the Romans, of
+Alexander the Great, and of the most celebrated generals," continued
+they, "and he would find that none of them ever destroyed a fleet, when
+similarly situated as we were, a mere handful of men amidst numerous and
+warlike tribes. He would have to answer for his own death and the
+destruction of us all. He should at least attempt to save ours and his
+own life, and march back to Vera Cruz, while we were still at peace with
+the country. They would gladly have mentioned all this earlier to him;
+but the vast numbers of the enemy by which we had been daily surrounded
+had given them no opportunity; this, however, was now at last presented
+them by the quiet demeanour of the foe. For the rest, the enemy would
+certainly return, the three days which Xicotencatl had allowed to pass
+by was merely in expectation of a fresh supply of men. We could not
+think of coming to another trial of strength as we had done up to this
+moment."
+
+These and other representations they made to Cortes, and held up their
+heads pretty high the whole time. As, however, all was said under the
+guise of giving good advice, Cortes answered them very mildly, as nearly
+as possible in these words: "Much of what you have been representing to
+me has not escaped my own notice; but, what I have seen above all
+things, and of which I have gained the most convincing proofs, is this,
+that the whole world could not produce Spaniards who are so brave, and
+fight so courageously, and who could bear hardships as well as we do.
+Indeed, we should have been inevitably lost if we had not continually
+held our weapons in our hands, kept patrolling and watching day and
+night, and boldly encountered all weathers. We are indebted to our
+safety by having manfully borne these and other greater hardships. The
+Almighty certainly lent us his aid, yet I cannot imagine to myself a
+greater piece of heroism, when I bring back to my recollection the vast
+crowds of the enemy, how they locked us in on all sides with their
+troops, and fell upon us with their broad swords, particularly in that
+battle where they killed one of our horses. At that critical moment I
+learnt more of your noble character than on any former occasion. And
+since the Almighty rescued us out of that battle I have gained the hope
+that our future endeavours will be crowned with success. I can call you
+to witness, that I was never found for an instant to lack courage in any
+of the dangers I have shared with you; nor have you, I must add, ever
+proved unworthy of the trust I reposed in you."
+
+It was perfectly true what Cortes said of himself, for he was always
+found foremost in battle.
+
+"Neither must you forget, gentlemen," continued he, "that up to this
+moment the Almighty has lent us his protection, and we may confidently
+hope he will not desert us in future, for, from our first arrival in
+this country we have announced his holy religion to the different tribes
+according to the best of our abilities and destroyed the idols. We may
+also, in trusting to God and our mediator the holy apostle Peter,
+consider the war in this province at an end, since Xicotencatl and the
+other chiefs no longer show themselves, because they fear us on account
+of the destruction we made among their troops in the late battles, or it
+may be they are unable to rally their men again. The inhabitants of
+Zumpanzingo willingly furnish us with provisions, while the surrounding
+tribes continue peaceably in their villages. With regard to our vessels,
+it was, indeed, requisite they should be destroyed, and if I did not
+consult all of you on the occasion I had sufficient reason for pursuing
+that course after the occurrence on the downs, which, however, I will
+not enter into here. The course you advised me to adopt on the former
+occasion, and your present discontent, both emanate from the same bad
+feeling; but you should remember that there are several cavaliers among
+our troops who are not of the same opinion with yourselves, who request
+and counsel that we should continue as heretofore to repose our trust in
+God alone, and faithfully fulfil our duties in his holy service. You
+are, however, perfectly justified in saying that the most renowned
+generals of Rome even cannot boast of such military exploits as we can.
+Future historians will also have to relate, if God be willing, greater
+things of us than of them. We shall continually be reaping harvests of
+glory, because strict justice and christian feeling are everywhere our
+guides, and also because our endeavours are exerted in the service of
+God and of our emperor. You cannot, gentlemen, have weighed the matter
+well if you suppose we could save ourselves by a retreat: for the
+instant these people were to observe this, and though we should depart
+from them in profound peace, the very stones of the ground would be
+raised up against us. And in the same way the Indians now stare at us as
+if we were beings of a superior order, or rather gods, as they term us,
+they would then consider us cowards and poltroons. We might, you say,
+settle ourselves quietly down among our allies, the tribes of the
+Totonaque mountains! To which my answer is, that even they would rise up
+against us immediately they perceive we are turning back without
+marching on to Mexico; for if we leave them, and they refuse to pay
+tribute to Motecusuma as heretofore, he will send his armies against
+them not merely to subdue, but to compel them to declare war with us;
+and if they are not desirous of being annihilated, what other course
+could they pursue? In this way, where we had thought to have friends, we
+should be preparing ourselves enemies. What reflections would the
+powerful Motecusuma make, and what judgment would he pass upon our
+previous speeches and the messages we sent him if we were to turn back?
+He would think we had been jesting with him. Thus you see, gentlemen, it
+looks bad one way and worse another. The most prudent step we can take
+for the present is to maintain our ground here in this thickly populated
+valley where we can obtain provisions in abundance. To-day we have
+fowls, to-morrow dogs, and thus, thank God, we shall always have plenty
+of food. Salt and warmer clothing are really at present the only great
+privations we suffer. You further state, that we have lost fifty-five
+men since our departure from Cuba from famine, cold, fatigue, disease,
+and from wounds: that our numbers are very small, and all of us more or
+less suffering from ill health. But, on the other hand, you must
+remember that God has given us the power of numbers, and that war is
+ever accompanied by loss of men and horses. To-day we have provisions,
+the next day none. And you must also bear in mind that we are not come
+into this country to seek repose, but to fight valiantly about whenever
+it may be necessary. I, therefore, beg of you, gentlemen, who are
+cavaliers, and who have up to this moment behaved so courageously, and
+whom despondency so ill suits, to drive from your minds all remembrance
+of Cuba and everything you have left behind there. Show yourselves brave
+soldiers as you have hitherto, for next to God, who is our strength, all
+depends upon the valour of our arms."
+
+With this answer the deputies repaired to their partisans, who all
+declared they could not contradict anything our general had stated, and
+remarked that we had certainly departed from Vera Cruz with the full
+intention of marching to Mexico; but that at present we were better
+informed as to the strength of that city and its numerous troops. The
+Tlascallans themselves never mentioned the Mexican name but with terror.
+We said the Sempoallans were at peace with us, but we had as few certain
+proofs of that as of the state of affairs in Mexico. Up to this moment
+we had altogether suffered so much that if we were once again so
+furiously attacked as we had been in the late battles, we should be
+unable to stand against them. Suppose even they were to remain quiet for
+the present, our march to Mexico would, nevertheless, be a monstrous
+undertaking; and they were surprised at the man who could desire it and
+issue commands to that effect. To all this Cortes replied rather
+angrily: "Even then it is better to die like a brave warrior, as the
+poets say, than to live a coward!" We others who closely adhered to our
+general, and had consented to the destruction of our vessels, and
+appointed him captain-general, agreed with all he had said, and desired
+him in a loud voice not to trouble himself any further about their talk
+and complaints, but to order everything, with the aid of God, as
+circumstances might require, and to rely on our faithful assistance.
+
+Herewith an end was put to all their cabals. They certainly continued
+their murmurings against Cortes, and cursed us who adhered to him, and
+the Sempoallans for having proposed this route; making altogether use
+of language which little beseemed them; but for the time being they
+remained quiet, and obeyed our general even to a wink.
+
+In the meantime the elders of Tlascalla again sent peremptory orders to
+Xicotencatl not to attack us, but to send us provisions and repair to
+our camp in person to conclude a treaty of peace with us. This was the
+desire of all the caziques and principal personages of Huexotzinco and
+Tlascalla. A message was at the same time forwarded to each of his
+officers, commanding them not to obey him in anything which had not
+reference to a conclusion of peace. These orders were despatched no less
+than three successive times to Xicotencatl, information having been
+received that he was not only determined to lend a deaf ear to these
+injunctions, but to fall upon us the very next night, for which purpose
+he had assembled 20,000 warriors. Thus ever presumptuous and haughty, he
+now again refused to listen to their commands, and we shall see in the
+following chapter how this terminated.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXX.
+
+    _How the captain Xicotencatl assembled 20,000 chosen warriors to
+    make an attack upon us in our camp, and what happened upon this._
+
+
+The caziques, Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl, with all the chief
+personages of the principal town of Tlascalla, had now for the fourth
+time issued orders to their captain-general not to approach our camp,
+and commanded the other officers not to accompany him unless he called
+upon us to make peace. Xicotencatl lay in our immediate neighbourhood,
+and was terribly exasperated at this; yet he determined to send us forty
+Indians with provisions, consisting in fowls, bread, and fruits.[26]
+This present was also accompanied by four disgusting old Indian females
+and a quantity of copal and parrot feathers.
+
+We, of course, concluded that these people came with peaceable
+intentions. They perfumed Cortes when they were brought into his
+presence, and thus addressed him, without observing the courtesies
+customary among them: "These presents are sent you by the general
+Xicotencatl, that you may eat, in case you are teules, as the people of
+Sempoalla have assured us. If you require a sacrifice with them, kill
+these four women, and devour their flesh and their hearts. As we do not
+know what your wish is on this head we have not sacrificed them for you.
+But if you are human beings, be contented with the fruit and the fowls;
+and if you are kind-hearted teules, take the copal and the parrot
+feathers as an offering."
+
+Cortes answered, by means of our interpreters, that he was desirous of
+making peace, not war, which he had already made known to them. He was
+come into their country to beg of them, in the name of our Lord Jesus
+Christ, and of our great emperor Don Carlos, to abstain from human
+sacrifices. We were all human beings made of flesh and bone like
+themselves, and not teules, but Christians. We killed no one, excepting
+when we were attacked, then, indeed, we destroyed our enemies, whether
+it happened to be day or night. He was very thankful for the provisions,
+but now they should likewise have the good sense to send us messengers
+of peace.
+
+We readily perceived that these people whom Xicotencatl had despatched
+to us were spies, who came to gain the necessary information respecting
+the accesses to our camp, and the number of our troops, of the horses
+and the cannon, and everything else. They remained with us the whole day
+and following night. From time to time some returned to Xicotencatl, and
+others again arrived in their stead. All this greatly surprised our
+friends of Sempoalla, as it was not customary with them to stay night
+and day in an enemy's camp without some particular design. This
+accordingly aroused their suspicions, which were further confirmed by
+some hints which fell from two old men of Zumpanzingo that Xicotencatl
+stood ready with a large army to fall upon us unawares. At first they
+had laughed at the idea, thinking it a mere piece of bragging, and had,
+therefore, not mentioned it to Cortes. Dona Marina, to whom they had
+made this known, immediately brought the intelligence to our general,
+who, to fathom this matter more deeply, ordered two of the Tlascallans,
+who appeared to be honest fellows, to be seized, when they confessed
+that Xicotencatl had sent them as spies into our camp. These men were
+then liberated, and several others seized, who all gave the same answer,
+adding, that their commander Xicotencatl was merely waiting their
+information to fall upon us the following night with the whole of his
+troops.
+
+After Cortes had convinced himself of the true state of affairs, he
+commanded us to be upon our guard, and to hold ourselves ready for
+action; he also imprisoned seventeen other of the spies, some of whom he
+ordered to have their thumbs cut off, others the whole hand, and to be
+sent back in that condition to Xicotencatl, with the information, "That
+this was his mode of punishing such messengers. He might now come
+whenever he liked in the night or by daytime, we would wait for him here
+two whole days: if we had not been peaceably inclined, we should
+ourselves have attacked and annihilated both his army and himself long
+before this: it was now, however, high time he should desist from his
+folly, and send us a sincere token of peace."
+
+The unfortunate beings who had thus been dismembered, arrived in
+Xicotencatl's head-quarters just as he was on the point of marching off
+with his whole army to fall upon us in the dark. When he saw his spies
+before him in that condition, and learnt why they had been so treated,
+his pride and conceit fell at once. To this was added, that a certain
+chief, with whom he had quarrelled on account of the late battles, had
+left the camp with the men under his command.
+
+[26] During this war the Tlascallans frequently sent provisions to
+Cortes' troops. This they did partly out of pride, that it might not be
+said they conquered the Spaniards by famine; partly that the latter
+might not become meagre in body, but that their flesh might taste
+savoury when they sacrificed them to their gods, so sure were these
+brave warriors of victory! (p. 165.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXI.
+
+    _How four chief personages arrived in our camp to negotiate terms of
+    peace with us, and what further happened._
+
+
+We now despaired of concluding the peace we so greatly desired, and
+therefore began to prepare for battle. We cleaned and sharpened our
+weapons, provided ourselves with arrows, and were making other
+preparations for an engagement, when one of our outposts came suddenly
+running up with the tidings that a number of Indians of both sexes were
+advancing along the principal road of Tlascalla, straightway to our
+quarters, laden with packages. One of our horse had rode up to watch
+their movements more closely, and now also came galloping up with the
+news that the procession was fast approaching our camp, and merely
+halted from time to time to take a little rest.
+
+Cortes and all of us were highly delighted with this piece of news, for
+we hoped they were coming with tidings of peace, which, indeed, was
+really the case. He issued orders that no alarm should be sounded, and
+for all of us to remain quiet in our huts as if we were unconscious of
+their approach. When the Indians had arrived at our camp, four principal
+personages stepped forth from among the porters, who had been
+commissioned by the elder caziques to conclude a treaty of peace with
+us. They made the sign of peace, which consisted in bending the head
+forwards; they then walked straightway to the hut which Cortes
+inhabited. They first touched the ground with their hands, and then
+kissed it, bowed themselves three times, and perfumed with copal. They
+then began as follows: "All the caziques of Tlascalla, with their
+subjects, allies, friends, and confederates, make peace and friendship
+with Cortes and his brothers, the teules. They beg forgiveness for
+having commenced hostilities, instead of uniting in friendship with
+them, which had merely been done under the impression that we were
+friends of Motecusuma and the Mexicans, who had been their most deadly
+enemies from time immemorial; and what had strengthened them in this
+suspicion was, our being accompanied by such numbers of the tribes who
+were tributary to that monarch, who was accustomed to fall into their
+country under various pretences, and carry off their wives and children.
+They had this time again feared some foul stratagem was on hand, and
+therefore had put no faith in our ambassadors. They had not commenced
+the attack in the first instance when we marched into their country,
+neither was it done at their instigation or command, but assured us it
+was the Chontal-Otomies, a rude and wild mountain tribe, who imagined
+they would have been easily able to overcome our small numbers, carry us
+off prisoners, and send our hearts to the Tlascallan chiefs, in order to
+gain their good wishes. They now came to beg forgiveness, and would
+daily bring us a sufficient supply of provisions. They hoped we would
+accept of these they now brought with the same kind feeling in which
+they were offered. In the space of two days the chief commander
+Xicotencatl, with the other caziques, would call himself, and further
+prove how fervently the whole of Tlascalla desired to make peace and
+friendship with us."
+
+After the chiefs had done speaking, they again bowed themselves, touched
+the ground with their hands, and kissed it. Cortes, with great dignity
+and earnestness depicted in his countenance, returned them the following
+answer through our interpreters: "He had certainly great cause to refuse
+them a hearing, or to make any compact of friendship with them; for,
+upon our first entering into their country, he had offered them peace,
+and announced that he intended to assist them against their enemies the
+Mexicans; yet they would not believe him, and had even been upon the
+point of killing our ambassadors, and had made three murderous attacks
+upon us; and, by way of a finish, had also sent spies into our camp. In
+the battle we had fought with them, we could have killed many more of
+the troops; and we even grieved for those whose lives had thus been
+sacrificed, but we had been driven to it. He had resolved to carry the
+war into the very town where the old caziques dwelt; but as they now
+came to sue for peace, he was willing to receive them kindly in the name
+of our emperor, and was also pleased to accept of the provisions which
+they had brought. They should now tell their chiefs to repair hither in
+person, or send him some better warranty of peace. If they refused to
+come, he would put his army in motion, and attack them at their very
+doors. They were, moreover, to approach our camp during daytime only,
+for if they came at night, we would put them all to the sword without
+mercy."
+
+After Cortes had given them this answer, he presented the messengers
+with blue beads for the caziques, in token of peace. They then took
+leave, and turned off to some Indian dwellings which lay in the
+neighbourhood, leaving there the Indian females whom they had brought
+along with them to prepare the bread, fowls, and a dinner for us;
+besides this there were twenty Indians who furnished the wood and water
+for cooking; and indeed they prepared us a most delicious meal. Being
+now convinced that they earnestly desired peace, we returned hearty
+thanks to God, who had thus ordered things: indeed it was high time, for
+we were all in a terrible state of exhaustion, and were sick of a war to
+which there seemed no end, as the good reader may well imagine.
+
+With respect to these proceedings, Gomara has again mixed up many
+untruths. One time he makes Cortes mount up to the top of a mountain,
+and thence look over the township of Zumpanzingo, and yet it lay quite
+close to our camp, and he must have been blind indeed who could not see
+it straight before him. He also relates that the soldiers said things
+which I will not repeat here, though he would make one believe he had
+all from good authority. There is not the slightest foundation for all
+his assertions. There never was a commander in this world who was so
+strictly obeyed as Cortes, nor will it ever again fall to the lot of any
+man to be so. No such thought ever entered the minds of our men,
+excepting on the occasion which I have related above. Even the
+representations which were made to Cortes, mentioned in the preceding
+chapter, were all given in the tone of advice. Those who made them did
+so with a good intention, and imagined they were in the right, and
+though they differed with him in opinion, they paid him strict
+obedience. Is it, then, any wonder that a general should listen to good
+advice from intelligent soldiers, particularly when his troops are so
+awkwardly situated as ours were? I am only sorry when I reflect that all
+Gomara's untruths will be credited, because his style of writing is so
+eloquent.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXII.
+
+    _How ambassadors arrive in our camp from Motecusuma, and of the
+    presents they brought with them._
+
+
+After the Almighty, in his great mercy, had granted us the victory in
+the battles against the Tlascallans, our fame was spread to every
+district, and even reached the ears of the mighty Motecusuma, in the
+great city of Mexico. If we had been previously looked upon as teules,
+or a species of gods, their idea of our bravery now became the more
+exalted, and terror seized the whole country when we had broken the
+great power of the Tlascallans with such a handful of men, and compelled
+them to sue for peace.
+
+And so it also happened that the powerful king of Mexico, Motecusuma,
+either in the great goodness of his heart, or because he began to fear
+our approach to his metropolis, despatched five men of distinction to
+our camp in the land of Tlascalla to welcome us on our arrival, and to
+assure us of the excessive delight he felt at the great victories which
+we had gained over such numerous armies. This message was accompanied by
+a valuable present in gold trinkets of various workmanship, worth about
+1000 pesos, and of packages of cotton stuffs as much as twenty men could
+carry. He likewise wished us to know that it was his desire to become a
+vassal of our emperor, and the great pleasure he felt to find that we
+were so near his metropolis, that he was every way well disposed towards
+Cortes and all the teules his brothers: he likewise wished to know from
+us what annual tribute in gold, silver, jewels, and cotton stuffs he was
+to forward to our great emperor, which would save us the trouble of
+coming to Mexico: he should, indeed, be pleased to see us, but our march
+there would be a terrible one, through a sterile and rocky country, and
+the fatigues which we should have to undergo grieved him the more when
+he considered the impossibility to remove those difficulties out of our
+way.
+
+To this Cortes answered, that he was very thankful for such kind
+feeling, as also for the presents, and the offer to pay tribute, but he
+must beg of the ambassadors not to leave again before we had reached the
+metropolis of Tlascalla, when he would deliver to them his answers for
+their monarch.
+
+The real fact was, he did not feel well enough just then, as the day
+previous he had taken a purgative of manzanilla,[27] which latter is
+found on the island of Cuba, and is very wholesome when its use is
+rightly understood.
+
+[27] This name Oviedo gives to the fruit of a tree, which he calls
+macanna, growing in Cuba. (Hippomane Mancinella of Linn.) From the same
+fruit, according to this historian, the inhabitants prepare the deadly
+poison in which they dip the points of their arrows. (p. 170.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXIII.
+
+    _How the captain-general Xicotencatl arrives in our camp to
+    negotiate terms of peace; the speech he made, and what further
+    happened._
+
+
+Cortes was still discoursing with the ambassadors of Motecusuma, and
+about to dismiss them, to retire to rest, for the fit of ague was again
+coming upon him, when it was announced that the general Xicotencatl was
+approaching, with several caziques. They were clothed in cloaks, white
+and parti-coloured, that is, one half of the cloak was white and the
+other coloured, for these were their national colours in time of peace.
+The number of distinguished personages who accompanied Xicotencatl
+amounted altogether to about fifty. When they had arrived in Cortes'
+quarters, they paid him the most profound reverence, after their
+fashion, and burnt a quantity of copal before him. Cortes received them
+most friendly, and desired them to take place near him; upon which
+Xicotencatl said, "He came, in the name of his father, of Maxixcatzin,
+and of all the caziques of the republic of Tlascalla, to beg of us to
+admit them to our friendship: he, at the same time, in their name, came
+to do homage, and promise obedience to our emperor and master, and to
+beg forgiveness for having taken up arms against us. They had done this
+because they were ignorant as to who we were: indeed, they believed we
+had been sent by their enemy Motecusuma, who had often before used fraud
+and treachery to enter their country for the sake of plunder, and they
+now thought he contemplated another attack upon them: they, therefore,
+considered themselves bound to advance boldly into the field to protect
+their persons and their country. They were, however, very poor, and
+possessed neither gold, silver, jewels, nor cotton stuffs: they were in
+want of salt to savour their victuals, as Motecusuma would not allow
+them to stir out of their country to procure it. Their forefathers had
+certainly possessed some gold and precious stones, but this had from
+time to time been delivered up to Motecusuma, to prevent their total
+destruction. All this had happened a long time ago, and now they had
+nothing left wherewith to make us a present. It was not their fault, but
+their poverty, yet they were well disposed."
+
+After this preamble Xicotencatl brought various other accusations
+against Motecusuma and his allies. "The latter," he said, "were all
+hostile to their country, and left them no peace. They had certainly, up
+to this moment, defended themselves bravely at all times, but found that
+all their endeavours were fruitless against us, although they had
+renewed the conflict three several times; we were invincible. Hard
+experience at length taught them who we were, and they now desired to
+become our friends, and the vassals of the great emperor Don Carlos;
+for, they were convinced, that in alliance with us, they would be able
+to live in security and peace with their wives and children, and not be
+each moment exposed to the incursions of the treacherous Mexicans."
+
+Xicotencatl made various other offers of his services in the name of his
+country. This Xicotencatl was a tall man, broad shouldered, and well
+built, with a large fresh coloured face, full of scars, as if pitted
+with the smallpox. He may have been about thirty-five years of age, and
+was earnest and dignified in his deportment. Cortes thanked him most
+sincerely, saying, "he would acknowledge them as vassals of our emperor,
+and would, for the future, look upon them as our friends."
+
+Upon this Xicotencatl begged he would repair to the metropolis of his
+country, where all the caziques, elders, and papas were expecting us
+with impatience. Cortes answered, that he would comply with his request
+as soon as possible; for the present he had still some business to
+transact with the ambassadors of Motecusuma, and as soon as he had
+finished this he would visit them. He then continued to address them in
+a harsher tone of voice, and mentioned the repeated attacks they had
+made upon us. He would certainly bear them no malice, and freely forgave
+all the past, but they must sacredly observe the peace which he had
+granted them, and show no inconstancy in their conduct. If they did he
+would assuredly destroy their town and put all the inhabitants to the
+sword, and no longer listen to them, but carry on a war of extirpation
+to the very last. Xicotencatl, and all the distinguished personages who
+were with him, assured Cortes they would faithfully abide by their
+promise, and that they were ready to offer themselves as hostages in
+proof of their sincerity. Upon this followed various other discourses
+between Cortes, Xicotencatl, and the principal men of his suite. We
+presented them with blue beads for themselves, the elder Xicotencatl and
+most of the other caziques, with the assurance that we intended soon to
+visit their metropolis, which we desired they would announce to their
+countrymen.
+
+The Mexican ambassadors were present during the whole of this interview,
+and heard the friendly offers which the Tlascallans made us of their
+services; and were not at all pleased with the peace we had concluded,
+and easily foresaw it would prove disadvantageous for their country.
+When, therefore, Xicotencatl had taken his leave, they remarked rather
+smilingly to Cortes, that he should not repose any trust in their
+assurances of friendship and kind offers. All this was sheer deceit,
+and nothing but treachery was hidden in their sentiments. They merely
+wished thereby to entice us into their town, when they could fall upon
+us unawares and destroy us all. We should remember how often they had
+attacked us with their whole army, but finding open force of no avail,
+they now, after so many of their numbers had been killed and wounded,
+would try their chance with fine words and a pretended show of peace.
+
+To this Cortes answered with an air of determination, that he no way
+troubled himself about their intentions. If their suspicions proved true
+he would put the Tlascallans all to death. They might attack him by
+night or day, in the open field or in the town, it was all the same to
+him, and to convince himself as to how matters really stood he was
+determined to visit their metropolis. When the Mexican ambassadors found
+him thus determined, they begged of him to remain for at least another
+six days in his present quarters, that they might first send messengers
+to communicate with Motecusuma, and would return again with his answer
+in the time specified.
+
+To this Cortes consented, partly on account of his ague, partly because
+he thought the warnings the Mexicans had given him might not be
+altogether so unfounded as he imagined. In that time he could also gain
+more certain proofs of the real intentions of the Tlascallans.
+
+As everything now wore a peaceable aspect, and the whole country from
+the town of Vera Cruz up to our present quarters, was inhabited by
+friendly tribes and our allies, Cortes ventured to forward a letter to
+Juan de Escalante, who had remained behind there in garrison. He desired
+him to complete the buildings, and then gave him an account of the great
+victories we had gained since our arrival in Tlascalla, and how we had
+compelled the inhabitants to sue for peace. He also desired him to make
+a day of thanksgiving, and in every way to favour our allies of the
+Totonaque mountains. Lastly, he requested him to send two bottles of
+wine which he had buried in a certain corner of his quarters there, and
+some holy wafers, as we had none left. Escalante sent a speedy answer
+with the things Cortes required. It may easily be imagined how joyously
+this news was received at Vera Cruz, without my spending many words upon
+it.
+
+During these days we erected a majestic cross in our quarters, and
+Cortes had one of the temples in our neighbourhood cleansed and fresh
+plastered by the inhabitants of Zumpanzingo, and some other Indians.
+But, to return to our new friends, the caziques of Tlascalla; the
+postponement of our visit greatly distressed them, yet they continued to
+send us fowls and figs,[28] which were now just in season, and a daily
+supply of provisions. This they did with the best of good will, nor
+would they ever take anything in return; on the contrary, they daily
+more earnestly begged of Cortes not to delay his visit any longer. Our
+general, however, was desirous of waiting the six days for the return of
+the Mexican ambassadors, and he each time put off the Tlascallans with
+some friendly excuse.
+
+The Mexicans faithfully kept their word, and at the expiration of the
+above-mentioned time six distinguished personages arrived from Mexico
+with a rich present from Motecusuma, in value above 3000 pesos,
+consisting in gold trinkets of various workmanship, two hundred pieces
+of cotton stuffs, interwoven with feathers and other productions of
+Mexican art.
+
+When they handed over these presents to Cortes they informed him that
+Motecusuma was greatly delighted at the successful state of our affairs.
+For the rest he requested us most urgently not to bring any Tlascallans
+into his dominions, for whatever purpose it might be, and upon the whole
+not to trust them. They were merely watching to rob us of our gold and
+other valuables, as they were quite poverty-struck themselves, and
+possessed no fine cotton cloaks. This evil design they cherished the
+more fervently, as they knew that we were on friendly terms with them,
+and had received presents in gold and cotton stuffs. Cortes accepted
+these presents with every appearance of delight, and thanked them, with
+the assurance that he would render Motecusuma good services in return.
+If he should discover that the Tlascallans really bore treachery at
+heart they would have to pay very dearly for it. He, however, trusted
+that such thoughts were remote from their minds, and he would now repair
+thither in person to see how much truth there was in their statement.
+
+In the midst of this discourse several messengers arrived from
+Tlascalla, bringing Cortes information that all the old caziques of the
+country were on their road to pay us a visit, and conduct us into their
+city. On learning this, Cortes requested the Mexican ambassadors to stay
+with us three days before they departed again to their monarch with his
+answer; for that, at present, he was about to grant terms of peace to
+the Tlascallan chiefs.
+
+[28] These figs, Bernal Diaz calls Tuna, which is the Cactus Tuna of
+Linnaeus. (p. 173.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXIV.
+
+    _How the old caziques of Tlascalla arrived in our camp and invited
+    Cortes, and all of us to visit their city, and what further
+    happened._
+
+
+The old caziques of Tlascalla finding that we did not arrive in their
+city, determined to call upon us themselves, and set out, some on foot
+and some in sedans and a species of hand-barrow. Besides those I
+mentioned above, (Maxixcatzin and the blind Xicotencatl, the elder,)
+there were Guaxolacima, Chichimeclatecl, and Tecapaneca of Topoyanco.
+Their suite was composed of several distinguished personages. When they
+arrived in presence of Cortes they paid him the profoundest respect,
+making him and us who stood around three deep bows. They likewise
+perfumed with copal, touched the ground with their hands, and kissed it.
+
+The elder Xicotencatl then addressed Cortes as follows:
+
+"Malinche! Malinche! often have we begged of you to forgive the hostile
+attacks we made upon you. We have already explained to you that we
+imagined you were in league with Motecusuma. Indeed, if we had known
+before what we now do, instead of refusing you admission, we would not
+only have marched out to meet you by the shortest route with a quantity
+of provisions, but have come to the very coast where your vessels lie,
+in order to conduct you hither. But, as you have now pardoned all this,
+I am come with all the caziques to beg of you to accompany us
+immediately to our city, and to construct in good part the reception
+which we intend to give you there according to the best of our
+abilities. Stay all other business for the present, Malinche, we beg of
+you, and go with us now. We greatly deplore that the Mexicans should
+have attempted to poison your mind with all manner of falsehoods
+respecting us, and that this should alone have withheld you from paying
+us a visit. We are quite accustomed to their slanders. You must not
+believe them, no, nor even listen to them, for all their actions and
+words are full of deceit."
+
+To which Cortes said, with serenity depicted on his countenance, "He
+knew years ago that we should one time visit this country. They were a
+brave people, and he was astonished they should have treated us as
+enemies. With regard to the Mexicans who were now present, they were
+merely waiting his commands to return to their monarch Motecusuma. He
+joyously accepted of their invitation to visit their city, and thanked
+them for the provisions they had sent, and also for all their other
+kind offers; they might depend upon our services in return. The reason
+why he had not visited them before this was solely owing to our want of
+men to transport the tepuzques," so they termed our cannon. When they
+heard this, they appeared exceedingly pleased, and immediately cried
+out, "How! was it nothing but this, and you would not tell us?" And,
+sure enough, scarcely half an hour elapsed before there were 500 porters
+on the spot, so that next morning early we were enabled to set out for
+the metropolis of Tlascalla. We marched forward as usual, with the heavy
+guns, the horse, the crossbow-men, and musketeers, in close order.
+Cortes had also requested the Mexican ambassadors to accompany us, in
+order that they might convince themselves that the people of Tlascalla
+were sincere. To allay their apprehensions, he assured them they should
+live in his own quarters, and not be molested.
+
+Before, however, I proceed with my narrative, I must explain how it
+happened that Cortes was termed Malinche by all the tribes through whose
+territories we had passed. I myself in future will call him by that
+name, excepting there where it would be improper. This name was given to
+him because our interpretress Dona Marina was always about his person,
+particularly when ambassadors arrived, and in our negotiations with the
+several caziques, as on those occasions she interpreted for both
+parties. They therefore called him the captain of Marina, and contracted
+that appellation in the word Malinche.[29] This name was likewise given
+to Juan Perez de Artenga of Puebla, because he always accompanied Dona
+Marina, and to Geronimo de Aguilar for a similar reason. The former of
+these two even retained the name of Juan Perez Malinche. Our entry into
+the metropolis of Tlascalla took place twenty-four days after we had
+crossed the confines of the country, the 23d day of September, in the
+year of our Lord 1519.
+
+[29] For Marina, as appears from several passages in Torquemada and
+other writers, was called by the inhabitants Malintziu. (p. 176.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXV.
+
+    _How we marched into the city of Tlascalla, and were received by the
+    old caziques; of the present they made us, and how they brought us
+    their daughters and nieces; and what further happened._
+
+
+When the caziques found that our baggage was moving forward, they
+hastened before us to make the necessary preparations for our reception,
+and to adorn our quarters with green boughs. We had arrived within a
+mile of their city when they again came out to meet us, accompanied by
+their daughters, nieces, and other distinguished personages, in which
+those of the same kin or same family or tribe kept together. Without
+that of Topoyanco, which held the fifth degree, there were four tribes.
+The inhabitants of the other townships also kept flocking up, all
+distinguished by the national colours of their respective dresses,
+which, for want of cotton, were very prettily and neatly manufactured of
+coloured nequen. Next came the whole body of papas, of whom there were
+great numbers in the temple service. They carried the pans with glowing
+embers, and perfumed us. Some of them had on long white cloaks, after
+the fashion of surplices with capes, as worn by our canons. The hair of
+their heads was long and matted together, so that it would have been an
+impossibility to have put it in any shape or order without cutting it
+off: besides this, it was completely besmeared with blood, which
+trickled down over their ears, for they had been sacrificing that very
+day. The nails of their fingers were uncommonly long, and they held down
+their heads on approaching us, in token of humility. It was told us that
+these men were greatly revered for their religion. The principal
+personages now gathered themselves around Cortes' person, and formed a
+guard of honour. When we entered the town, the streets and balconies
+could scarcely contain the numbers of men and women who had come out to
+see us: delight was depicted on every countenance, and twenty baskets
+full of roses were brought us, of various colours and sweetly scented,
+which were presented to Cortes and the other soldiers whom they
+considered officers, and particularly to those who sat on horseback. In
+this way we gradually arrived to some spacious courtyards, where
+quarters had been prepared for us. Here Xicotencatl the elder and
+Maxixcatzin took Cortes by the hand and conducted him into his
+apartments. For each of us there was a separate bed, filled with a
+species of dried grass, and covered with cloaks of nequen. Our friends
+of Sempoalla and Xocotlan were quartered in our vicinity in a similar
+manner. Cortes then requested that the ambassadors of Motecusuma might
+lodge with him. We soon discovered that good-will and friendly feeling
+were universal towards us here, and we therefore somewhat relaxed in our
+ordinary precautions. The officer whose duty it was to post our
+sentinels and order the patrols, remarked to Cortes, that, as everything
+wore such a friendly aspect there, our usual watchfulness would not be
+required. "This may be very true," answered our general, "yet we will
+not relinquish that excellent custom. Though the people here may be very
+good, we must not trust too much to this peace, but always be upon our
+guard as if we expected each moment to be attacked. Many a general has
+been ruined by carelessness and over-confidence. We, who are a mere
+handful of men, and have been precautioned by Motecusuma himself, though
+he may not exactly have been in earnest, must be ready for action at a
+moment's notice."
+
+The two chief caziques, the elder Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin, were very
+much hurt at the military precautions we took, nor did they strive to
+hide their feelings from Cortes, but spoke to him as follows: "Malinche,
+if we are to draw a conclusion from the steps you are taking, you either
+look upon us as your enemies, or at least you place no confidence in us
+and the treaty of peace which has been concluded between us. You post
+sentinels and order your men to patrol the streets as formerly, when
+both armies stood in hostile array against each other. This you have not
+done of your own accord, Malinche, but because the Mexicans have
+secretly whispered to you fears of treachery, wishing thereby to
+estrange you from us. Believe us, you cannot put any faith in what they
+say. You are now in the midst of us; everything we have is at your
+service--our own persons and our children; and we are ready to suffer
+death for you. Ask for as many hostages as you like, and you shall have
+them."
+
+Cortes and all of us admired and were moved at the kind and graceful
+manner in which the old men expressed themselves. Our captain said he
+required no hostages; he had merely to make use of his eyes to convince
+himself that all was perfectly safe. These military precautions were
+ever customary with us, and they were not to take umbrage on that
+account. He thanked them for their kind intentions, and promised to
+render them great services in return.
+
+After this explanation, other persons of distinction arrived with a
+quantity of provisions, consisting of fowls, maise-bread, figs, and
+vegetables. We had, indeed, everything in the greatest abundance during
+the whole of the twenty days we lay in this town.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXVI.
+
+    _How mass was said in the presence of a great number of caziques,
+    and of the present the latter brought us._
+
+
+The next morning early Cortes ordered an altar to be constructed, and
+mass to be said, as we now again had a supply of wine and holy wafers.
+Father Olmedo lying ill of the fever, which had greatly weakened him,
+the priest Juan Diaz officiated for him: Maxixcatzin, the elder
+Xicotencatl, and several other caziques were present.
+
+After mass, Cortes retired to his quarters. Those among us who were
+always about his person accompanied him: we were also followed by the
+old caziques and our interpreters, who were indispensable in such
+company. The elder Xicotencatl now informed Cortes that it was the
+general wish of the inhabitants to make him a present, if agreeable to
+him. Cortes answered that he should at all times be most happy to
+receive one: they accordingly spread some mats on the floor, and over
+these a few cloaks, upon which they arranged five or six small pieces of
+gold, a few stones of trifling value, and several parcels of
+manufactured nequen, altogether a very poor present, and not worth
+twenty pesos. The caziques, on presenting these things to Cortes, said
+to him, with a smile on their countenance, "Malinche! we can easily
+imagine that you will not exactly experience much joy on receiving a
+present of such wretched things as these; but we have told you before
+that we are poor, possessing neither gold nor other riches, as the
+deceitful Mexicans, with their present monarch Motecusuma, have by
+degrees despoiled us of everything we had. Do not look to the small
+value of these things, but accept them in all kindness, and as coming
+from your faithful friends and servants." These presents were at the
+same time accompanied by a quantity of provisions.
+
+Cortes accepted of all this with every appearance of delight, and
+assured the old men that, since these things came from them, and were
+given with such great good will, they had more value in his estimation
+than a whole house full of gold, and that he accepted of them in that
+light. These words he accompanied with numerous other kind sayings and
+assurances of the esteem he entertained for them.
+
+The caziques had also agreed among themselves to present us the most
+beautiful of their daughters and nieces. The old Xicotencatl, therefore,
+again addressed Cortes: "In order, Malinche, that you may have a still
+clearer proof of our good feeling towards you, and to show you how glad
+we are to do anything which we imagine may please you, we have resolved
+to give you our daughters in marriage, that they may have children by
+you. We should like to be completely fraternized with such good and
+brave men as you are. I myself have a daughter, who is very beautiful,
+and has never been married, whom I have destined for you."
+
+Maxixcatzin and most of the other caziques continued in the same strain,
+begging of us to take their daughters for our wives. These requests were
+accompanied by various other proffers of friendship, and Maxixcatzin
+and Xicotencatl passed the whole day with us: the latter was blind with
+age; in order, therefore, to form to himself some idea of Cortes, he
+drew his hand over his hair, his face, his beard, and the whole of his
+body.
+
+Cortes answered, with respect to the women, that he himself and all of
+us were very grateful for them, and that we should take the first
+opportunity of rendering them a kindness in return.
+
+"What is your opinion," said Cortes, turning to father Olmedo, "would
+this not be the proper moment to desire these people to abolish their
+idols and the human sacrifices? From fear of the Mexicans, they will
+undoubtedly do anything we require of them." "It will be time enough,"
+answered the priest, "when they bring us their daughters: then we shall
+have the best opportunity of telling them that we cannot accept of them
+until they have promised to abstain from their human sacrifices. If they
+comply, it is well; if they refuse, we know what our duty and our
+religion require of us."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXVII.
+
+    _How the caziques presented their daughters to Cortes and all of us,
+    and what further happened._
+
+
+The day following, the old caziques came and brought five young women
+with them, who, for Indian females, were in every sense handsome, and
+neatly dressed. Each had, in addition, a young woman as maid in waiting,
+and all were daughters of caziques. On this occasion, Xicotencatl thus
+spoke to Cortes: "Malinche, this is my daughter; she is still a virgin,
+and has never been married: take her to yourself, and give the others to
+your officers."
+
+Cortes received the young women from his hand, and appeared very
+pleased, declaring that he would now consider these females as our own,
+but desired that they should, for the present, remain with their
+fathers. The caziques inquired the reason of this, when Cortes replied:
+"I have no other reason than that I am bound first to fulfil my duty to
+the God whom we adore, and to the emperor our master, which is to
+require of you to abolish your idols, the human sacrifices, and other
+abominations practised among you, and exhort you to believe in him in
+whom we believe, who alone is the true God." Besides this, he told them
+many other things concerning our holy faith, which Dona Marina and
+Aguilar explained right well to them. Similar discourses took place on
+every occasion: Cortes at the same time showed them the image of the
+holy Virgin, holding her inestimable Son in her arms, and he explained
+to them how that represented the blessed Virgin Mary: she was now high
+in the heavens above, and was the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom
+she held in her arms, conceived by the Holy Ghost; that she was a virgin
+before, after, and during his birth. She was our mediator with her
+heavenly Son, our God.
+
+To this he added many other things concerning our holy religion, and
+concluded by saying: "If you are, indeed, our brothers, and you are
+really inclined to conclude a lasting peace with us, and if we are to
+take and keep your daughters as affectionate husbands should do, they
+must abandon their horrible idols, and believe in the Lord God whom we
+adore. They would soon discover the beneficial effect of this; blessings
+would be showered down upon them, the seasons would be fruitful, and all
+their undertakings would prosper; after death their souls would be
+transplanted to heaven, and partake of eternal glory; for, by the human
+sacrifices which they made to their idols, who were nothing but devils,
+they would be led to hell, where eternal fire would torment their
+souls." For the present Cortes said nothing further to them respecting
+their idols, as he had often before spoken to them concerning these.
+
+In answer to all this, they said to Cortes: "Malinche, we have heard all
+this from you on former occasions, and willingly believe that this your
+God and this illustrious woman are right good beings. But you should
+reflect how very recently you have arrived in our country, and you have
+but just entered our city. You should certainly give us time to learn
+more of your doings, manner of behaviour, and nature of your gods; and
+when we shall have satisfied ourselves respecting their qualities, we
+shall certainly make choice of those we consider best. How can you ask
+us to abandon our gods whom we have adored for so many years, and prayed
+and sacrificed to them? But if we should even do so to please you, what
+would our papas, our young men, yes, even our boys, say to it? Believe
+us, they would all rise up in arms. The papas, indeed, have already
+spoken to our teules, who have told them not to abolish our human
+sacrifices, nor any other of our ancient customs, otherwise they would
+destroy our whole country by famine, pestilence, and war."
+
+We might conclude from this straightforward and fearless answer, that it
+would be useless to insist any longer on this point, and that they would
+rather allow themselves to be killed than abolish their human
+sacrifices. Even father Olmedo, who was a profound theologian, found
+himself compelled thus to address Cortes on the subject: "My opinion is,
+sir, that you should no longer urge this matter with these people. It is
+not acting right to force them to become Christians. I could likewise
+wish that we had not destroyed the idols at Sempoalla. This I am
+convinced ought not to be done until the people have gained some
+knowledge of our holy religion. What, indeed, do we gain by pulling down
+their idols from the temples? They have merely then to repair to another
+temple. But, on the other hand, we should never cease to exhort them
+with our pious lessons. In this way the time will certainly arrive, when
+they will find that our intentions and our advice are good."
+
+In this same strain the three cavaliers Alvarado, Leon, and Lugo
+likewise spoke to Cortes; assuring him that father Olmedo was in the
+right, and that they perfectly agreed with him, that it would be
+inadvisable again to touch upon this point with the caziques.
+
+Here, accordingly, the subject was dropped, and Cortes confined himself
+to ordering the idols to be taken down from a temple which had been
+recently built in the neighbourhood. The latter to be cleansed and fresh
+plastered, and the image of the blessed Virgin to be placed on it. To
+this the caziques readily consented, and when all was finished mass was
+said, and the daughters of the caziques were baptized. Xicotencatl's
+daughter was named Dona Louisa,--when Cortes took her by the hand and
+presented her to Alvarado, saying, at the same time, to Xicotencatl,
+that he to whom he had given her was his brother and a chief officer
+under him, who would certainly treat her well, and with whom she would
+live happily; to this Xicotencatl said he was perfectly agreeable.
+
+The niece or daughter of Maxixcatzin received the name of Dona Elvira.
+She was very beautiful, and was presented, if I still remember rightly,
+to Leon. The others were given to Oli, Sandoval, and Avila, who all
+subjoined their Christian names to theirs as if they had been young
+ladies of noble birth.
+
+Upon this it was also explained to the caziques why we always erected
+two crosses wherever we formed a camp and passed the night: assuring
+them amongst other things that their gods feared them. All this the
+caziques listened to with great attention. But before I continue my
+narrative I must add a few words about Xicotencatl's daughter, Dona
+Louisa, who was given to Alvarado.
+
+The whole of Tlascalla took the greatest interest in her welfare, and
+honored her as a woman invested with command. Alvarado, who was a
+bachelor, got a son by her, who was named Don Pedro; and also a
+daughter, Dona Leonora, who is now the wife of Don Francisco de la
+Cueva, a cavalier of distinction, and a relation of the duke of
+Albuquerque. She is already the mother of four or five sons, all valiant
+cavaliers. She is an excellent lady, and a daughter worthy of such a
+father, who, as every one knows, is comptoir of Santjago and chief
+justice and viceroy of Guatimala; nor is she less worthy of the house of
+Xicotencatl, for the latter ranked very high in Tlascalla, and was
+looked upon as a king.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXVIII.
+
+    _How Cortes gained some information respecting Mexico from
+    Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin._
+
+
+Cortes one day took the caziques aside, and put several questions to
+them respecting the situation and affairs of Mexico. Xicotencatl, as the
+more intelligent and distinguished personage, answered his queries, and
+Maxixcatzin, who was likewise a man of high rank, assisted him from time
+to time.
+
+"Motecusuma," said Xicotencatl, "had such a vast army, that when he
+intended to conquer any large township, or of falling into any province,
+he invariably ordered 100,000 warriors into the field. They, the
+Tlascallans, had often experienced this in the many wars which they had
+waged with the Mexicans for upwards of 100 years."
+
+When Cortes here interrupted them with the question: "How they had
+managed to escape from being in the end subdued by such a vast army?"
+They replied, "That they had, indeed, often been worsted by the
+Mexicans, and lost many of their men, who were either killed in battle,
+or taken prisoners and sacrificed to the idols; but that they likewise
+had slain numbers of the enemy and taken many of them prisoners. Neither
+did the Mexicans ever approach so unobserved, but that they received
+some previous notice of their movements. In these cases they made every
+effort that lay in their power; could always depend on the assistance of
+the Huexotzincans; and, according to circumstances, either assailed the
+enemy or pursued a system of defence. Besides this, another circumstance
+was greatly in their favour, namely, that the Mexicans were excessively
+hated in all the provinces and among all the tribes which Motecusuma had
+subdued and plundered, and that the warriors who were forced to serve in
+his army fought with reluctance and with little courage. In this way,
+then, they defended their country as well as they could. The greatest
+overthrow they ever experienced was from the Cholullans, whose town lay
+about a day's march from Tlascalla. The inhabitants there were a most
+deceitful set. In that town it was that Motecusuma usually assembled his
+troops, whence they generally commenced their march during night-time."
+
+Maxixcatzin here observed, "That Motecusuma had strong garrisons in
+every town, besides the warriors who marched out from the metropolis to
+the field of battle. Every province was compelled to pay him tribute,
+consisting in gold, silver, feathers, precious stones, cotton stuffs, as
+well as Indians of both sexes: some of whom he took into his service,
+and some were sacrificed. He was altogether such a powerful and wealthy
+monarch, that he accomplished and obtained everything he desired. His
+palaces were filled with riches and chalchihuis stones, on which he
+seized wherever he came. In short, all the wealth of the country was in
+his possession."
+
+They then gave such an account of the magnificence and splendour of his
+court, that if I here felt inclined to repeat what they told us, I
+should never finish; also of the number of his wives; some of whom he
+now and then gave in marriage to his relations; the great strength of
+his metropolis, how it lay in the midst of a lake, and the great depth
+of the latter. Several causeways, they added, led to this city, which
+were intersected in various places, over which wooden bridges were
+built, under which canoes could pass; but, if they were removed, the
+space between every two sections became an island, and all entrance to
+the town was completely cut off. Nearly the whole of the houses of the
+city were built in the water, and it was only possible to get from one
+building to another by means of drawbridges or canoes. Balconies were
+attached to each house, which were provided with a kind of breastwork,
+so that the inhabitants were able to defend themselves from the tops of
+the houses. Yet the whole town was well supplied with sweet water from
+the spring of Chapultepec, which lay about two miles from the town,
+whence the water was partly conveyed to the houses by means of pipes,
+partly in boats through the canals, and then retailed to the
+inhabitants.
+
+With respect to the weapons employed by this nation, they consisted in
+two-edged lances, which they threw by means of a thong, and would
+penetrate through any cuirass. They were likewise excellent shots with
+the bow and arrow, and carried pikes with blades made of flint, which
+were of very skilful workmanship and as sharp as razors. Besides these,
+they carried shields, and wore cotton cuirasses. They likewise employed
+a great number of slingers, who were provided with round stones, long
+pikes, and sharp swords, which are used with both hands.
+
+To explain all this they brought forth large pieces of nequen, on which
+were depicted their battles and their art of warfare. When Cortes and we
+others considered we had gained sufficient information of these things,
+the discourse turned on subjects of greater importance. Our friends told
+us how and whence they came into this country, and how they had settled
+themselves there; how it came that, notwithstanding their vicinity to
+the Mexicans, they resembled each other so little, and lived in
+perpetual warfare with each other. The tradition was also handed down
+from their forefathers, that in ancient times there lived here a race of
+men and women who were of immense stature with heavy bones, and were a
+very bad and evil-disposed people, whom they had for the greater part
+exterminated by continual war, and the few that were left gradually died
+away.
+
+In order to give us a notion of the huge frame of this people, they
+dragged forth a bone, or rather a thigh bone, of one of those giants,
+which was very strong, and measured the length of a man of good stature.
+This bone was still entire from the knee to the hip joint. I measured it
+by my own person, and found it to be of my own length, although I am a
+man of considerable height. They showed us many similar pieces of bones,
+but they were all worm-eaten and decayed; we, however, did not doubt for
+an instant, that this country was once inhabited by giants. Cortes
+observed, that we ought to forward these bones to his majesty in Spain
+by the very first opportunity.
+
+The caziques also mentioned another tradition which had come down from
+their forefathers. A certain god, to whom they paid great honours, had
+informed them that there would one time come from the rising of the sun,
+out of distant countries, a people who would subject and rule over them.
+If we were that people they should feel delighted, for we were
+courageous and good-hearted. This old prophecy was also brought up when
+we were negotiating terms of peace with them, and they had chiefly
+offered us their daughters in order to bring about a relationship
+between us and themselves, and to obtain assistance against the
+Mexicans; this they had communicated to their idols.
+
+We were all greatly astonished at this account, and inquired of each
+other in amazement, whether all they told us could be true. Cortes said
+to them, "That we came, indeed, from the rising of the sun. The emperor,
+our master, had purposely sent us, that we might become their brothers,
+as he had had some previous knowledge respecting their country. May God
+in his mercy grant," continued Cortes, "that we may be the means of
+saving you from eternal perdition!" To which we all added, "Amen!"
+
+The good reader will now, no doubt, have heard sufficient of our
+discourses with the people of Tlascalla. And I myself shall be glad to
+cut them short here, as I have many other things to relate besides
+these.
+
+Among others, in particular, the burning mountain of Huexotzinco, which,
+at the time we were in Tlascalla, happened to be emitting more flames
+than usual, and Cortes and all of us, to whom a volcano was something
+new, regarded it in astonishment. Diego de Ordas, one of our chief
+officers, entertained the bold idea to inspect this wonder more
+minutely, and begged leave of our general to ascend the mountain, who
+granted this request.
+
+Ordas took two of our men with him, and desired some of the chief
+personages of Huexotzinco to accompany him. They certainly did not
+refuse, but tried to deter him by assuring him, that when he should have
+ascended the Popocatepetl, for so they termed this volcano, half way, he
+would not be able to advance further on account of the trembling of the
+earth, and the flames, stones and ashes which were emitted from the
+crater. They themselves never durst venture higher than to where some
+temples were built to the teules of Popocatepetl. And indeed they left
+Ordas when he arrived at that spot. The latter, however, boldly
+continued to ascend with our two soldiers until he had reached the
+summit.
+
+While they were still ascending, the volcano began to emit huge flames
+of fire, half burnt and perforated stones, with a quantity of ashes; and
+the whole mountain shook under their feet to the very foundation. They
+then halted for an hour, until they found that the smoke and fire
+gradually began to diminish and less ashes to fall; they then continued
+to ascend until they reached the crater, which was perfectly round and
+about a mile in diameter. From this elevation they could plainly discern
+the great city of Mexico, with the whole of its lake, and the
+surrounding townships; for this mountain only lies about forty-eight
+miles from Mexico.
+
+After Ordas had well viewed everything and sufficiently enjoyed and
+wondered at the sight of Mexico and its suburbs, he again returned with
+the two soldiers and the Indians of Huexotzinco to Tlascalla. The
+inhabitants there considered this undertaking to be extremely
+venturesome, and even we ourselves who had never seen a burning mountain
+before, were perfectly astonished at the account which Ordas gave Cortes
+of his hazardous enterprise. Indeed at that time it might well be
+termed hazardous! Subsequently, to be sure, several other Spaniards and
+Franciscan monks ascended to the mouth of this volcano, but Ordas was
+nevertheless the first who had ventured. When, therefore, he afterwards
+again returned to Spain, he begged permission of his majesty to bear a
+volcano in his coat of arms. These arms are at present borne by his
+nephew of the same name, living at Puebla. As long as we remained in
+this country we never again saw the mountain throw out so much fire, or
+heard of its making such a heavy rumbling noise, as on this occasion,
+and not until the year 1539 did it burst out again.
+
+Enough, however, of this mountain; we now pretty well know what it is.
+Subsequently we saw many other volcanoes, as those of Nicaragua and
+Guatimala; after which that of Huexotzinco is scarcely worth noticing. I
+have still to mention that in Tlascalla we found houses built of wood,
+in the shape of cages, in which numbers of Indians, of both sexes, were
+confined, and fattened for their sacrifices and feasts. We never
+hesitated a single moment to break them down and liberate the prisoners.
+These unfortunate beings, however, never durst leave our side, and this
+was the only means of saving them from being butchered. From this moment
+Cortes gave orders to break open these cages wherever we came, for we
+found them in every township. We all showed our horror of these
+atrocities, and earnestly reproved the caziques for it, who then
+promised no longer to kill and devour human beings. I say they promised,
+but that was all, and if we were but an instant out of sight the same
+barbarities were committed. It is now, however, high time to think of
+our march to Mexico.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXIX.
+
+    _How our captain Hernando Cortes and all our officers and soldiers
+    determine to march to Mexico._
+
+
+We had now been seventeen days in Tlascalla, and had heard so much
+during that time respecting the immense treasures of Motecusuma, and the
+splendour of his metropolis, that Cortes resolved to hold a consultation
+concerning our march to Mexico, with all those officers and soldiers
+amongst us whom he presumed were inclined to advance further on. In this
+council of war it was agreed that we should commence our march thither
+without delay; various opinions, however, were expressed on the occasion
+in our camp. Many maintained that it would be acting over-rashly to
+venture with a mere handful of men into a strongly fortified city,
+whose monarch had such vast numbers of warriors at his command. But
+Cortes declared that all arguing on this point was useless; we could not
+alter the resolution we had come to, and we had on every occasion
+expressed our desire to pay our respects personally to Motecusuma. When
+those who were averse to this step saw his determination, and that the
+majority of us warriors were devoted with our very hearts to him, crying
+out, "Forward, now or never!" they ceased to make any further
+opposition. Those who opposed us were those again who had possessions in
+the island of Cuba; we other poor soldiers were ready to sacrifice our
+very existence in battle, and to undergo all manner of fatigues for God
+and our sovereign. When Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin were convinced that
+it was our determination to march to Mexico, they grew anxious on our
+account. They urgently dissuaded Cortes from it, and warned him not to
+put the slightest trust in Motecusuma, nor altogether in any of the
+Mexicans,--to put no faith in his show of veneration, his courteous and
+humble talk. All their professions of friendship, said they, and even
+their very presents had treachery at the bottom; for what they give at
+one moment they take away at another. They advised us to be upon our
+guard night and day; for they were perfectly assured that the Mexicans
+would fall upon us when we were least prepared to defend ourselves.
+Neither were we to spare life to any of them, if it should come to a
+battle;--to the young man that he might not again take up arms against
+us, to the old man that he might not do us injury by his counsel.
+
+They gave us many similar precautions, and our captain assured them how
+grateful he was for it, and otherwise showed them every possible
+kindness, made them and the other caziques various presents, and divided
+among them a great portion of the fine stuffs which had been presented
+to him by Motecusuma. Cortes at the same time remarked to the caziques,
+that it would be the best possible thing if peace and friendship could
+be brought about between themselves and the Mexicans, that they might no
+longer continue in the disagreeable necessity of making shift with other
+things for want of cotton, salt, and other wares.
+
+To this Xicotencatl immediately replied, "That with the Mexicans a
+treaty of peace was a mere formality: enmity, nevertheless, always clung
+fast to their hearts. It was the characteristic of this people to plot
+the foulest treacheries under the semblance of profound peace. No
+reliance could be placed on their promises, their words were empty
+sounds, and he could not remind and beg of us too often to be upon our
+guard against the snares of this vile people."[30]
+
+Next came into consideration the route we should take in our march to
+Mexico. Motecusuma's ambassadors, who still remained with us, and wished
+to act as our guides, maintained that the best and most level road lay
+through the town of Cholulla, whose inhabitants, as subjects of
+Motecusuma, would be ready to lend any assistance.
+
+We were also unanimously of opinion that this was the road we ought to
+take; but the caziques of Tlascalla, on the contrary, were quite
+downcast, when they learnt our determination, and maintained that we
+ought to march over Huexotzinco, whose inhabitants were their relatives
+and friends, and that we ought not to take our road through Cholulla,
+where Motecusuma was accustomed to form his vile stratagems. Their
+arguments, however, were of no avail: Cortes adhered to his resolution
+of marching over that town. His reason for taking that road was because
+this town, according to general report, was thickly populated, had many
+beautiful towers, and large cues and temples, and lay in a beautiful
+valley, surrounded by extensive townships well stocked with provisions.
+Indeed, at that time even, Cholulla, when viewed at a distance, had the
+appearance of our great city of Valladolid of Old Castile. At Cholulla,
+moreover, we should have our friends of Tlascalla in the immediate
+neighbourhood; we could not, therefore, select a more proper spot to
+form our plans of reaching the city of Mexico without coming into
+contact with the great body of its troops. For in all truth, if God had
+not mercifully assisted us with his heavenly arm, and lent us strength
+in the moment of need, it would not have been possible for us to have
+achieved what we did!
+
+After a long deliberation thus, the route over Cholulla was fixed upon,
+and Cortes sent to acquaint the inhabitants with our intentions, more
+particularly as, notwithstanding they dwelt so near, they had despatched
+no ambassadors to us, nor shown any of those attentions which were due
+to us who came in the name of our great monarch, who, he added, had the
+good of the people of Cholulla at heart. He at the same time desired
+that all the caziques and papas of the town should repair to our
+quarters, and swear allegiance to our sovereign and master, otherwise he
+should look upon them as our enemies.
+
+While Cortes was despatching this message, and making other
+arrangements, it was announced to him that four ambassadors had arrived
+with presents in gold from the powerful Motecusuma, who, indeed, never
+despatched any messengers from his court if not provided with presents
+by him. He would have considered it an insult offered to us if he had
+not done so. I will relate in the following chapter what message these
+ambassadors brought.
+
+[30] In all the conferences which Cortes had with the Tlascallan chiefs,
+they showed an excessive hatred to the Mexicans, from which the
+Spaniards derived great advantages: Gomara, however, would make it
+appear that the Mexicans could at any time have given the Tlascallans a
+total overthrow if they had felt so inclined, but that they considered
+it better policy to attack them from time to time, when they wanted
+victims for their sacrifices; and then also the younger warriors of
+Mexico could have frequent opportunities of learning the art of war near
+to the metropolis, without marching to the distant boundaries of the
+empire for that purpose. This supposition of Gomara, however, is not
+founded on anything like fact. (p. 188.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXX.
+
+    _How the great Motecusuma despatched four ambassadors to us, all men
+    in high authority, with presents in gold and cotton stuffs, and what
+    they said to our captains._
+
+
+When Cortes admitted the four ambassadors into his presence they paid
+him and we other warriors, who stood around his person, the most
+profound respect, and placed before him the presents, consisting of
+valuable gold trinkets of various workmanship, worth about 10,000 pesos;
+and in ten packages of cotton stuffs, most beautifully interwoven with
+feathers: all of which our general received with a friendly smile. They
+then said that their monarch could not help feeling astonished that we
+had made such a long stay among a poor and uncivilized people, who were
+even not fit for slaves, but at the same time so viciously disposed, so
+treacherous and thievish, that some day or night when we least expected
+it they would murder us merely for the sake of plunder. Motecusuma
+begged of us rather to visit his town, where, at least, we might enjoy
+the good things it offered, though even these should be below our
+deserts, and not equal to what he could wish. We should be regularly
+supplied with the necessary provisions, though these had all to be
+brought into their city from other parts.
+
+These expressions of friendship were merely sent by Motecusuma in order
+to entice us from Tlascalla, being aware that we stood in close
+friendship with its inhabitants, and that the caziques to strengthen the
+union had given their daughters to Malinche and his officers. For he
+would easily conjecture that nothing good could ensue to the Mexicans
+from our alliance with them, and this was the reason why he baited us
+with gold and other presents that we might enter into his territory, or
+that we should, at least, quit the country of the Tlascallans.
+
+The Tlascallans were personally acquainted with these ambassadors, and
+they told our captain that all of them were great personages and landed
+proprietors, who had subjects of their own. These ambassadors Motecusuma
+employed on the most important matters only. Cortes returned them many
+thanks, in the most flattering manner, for their civilities and the
+expressions of friendship they made in the name of their monarch, and he
+desired them to say that in a short time he would pay his respects to
+him. He then invited them to pass some time amongst us.
+
+About this time Cortes also sent two of our chief officers in advance to
+communicate with Motecusuma and view the great city of Mexico, and
+inspect its strong fortifications and other works of defence. These
+officers were Alvarado and Vazquez de Tapia. They set out on their
+march, and the four ambassadors who had brought the last present
+remained with us as hostages. Our two officers were accompanied by the
+other messengers who had previously arrived. At that time I was
+suffering from a severe wound, accompanied by fever, and could procure
+no medicine to relieve my sufferings, so that I cannot now recall to my
+memory how far these two officers proceeded on their journey: this,
+however, I have not forgotten, that as soon as it was known that Cortes
+had sent these cavaliers at a venture to Mexico, it met with universal
+disapprobation, and we desired that they might be recalled from their
+journey, as nothing could ensue from this but a mere view of that city;
+and a despatch was accordingly sent after them, with orders for their
+immediate return to our camp. They were not long returning, as Tapia had
+been attacked by fever on the road. When the ambassadors who accompanied
+them related this to Motecusuma, he was very curious to know something
+about the features and the height of these two teules, who had been on
+their way to Mexico, and whether they were officers. These ambassadors,
+it appears, informed him, that Alvarado was a man whose countenance was
+particularly graceful and noble, shone like the sun, and that he was an
+officer. They had indeed taken a faithful likeness of him, and gave him
+the name of _Tonatio_,[31] which he retained ever after among them, and
+signifies the _Sun, son of the Sun_. Of Tapia, that he was a man of a
+very stately deportment, powerful, and likewise a chief officer.
+Motecusuma was sorely grieved to hear of their return; his ambassadors,
+however, had correctly delineated their physiognomies and stature: for
+Alvarado was in every sense beautifully proportioned in body, noble in
+his gait, had very pleasing features, and an amiable manner of
+expressing himself, so that there always appeared a smile on his
+countenance; in the same way Tapia, notwithstanding a certain expression
+of bodily strength which he had about him, had great nobleness in his
+carriage.
+
+For the rest, we were not a little delighted when they reappeared in our
+quarters; nor did we make a secret of our opinion, that their mission
+had not exactly been the most prudent of Cortes' resolves. But I will
+say nothing further of this matter, as it has little to do with my
+history.
+
+[31] The name which the Mexicans gave to Alvarado was Tonatiuh, the sun.
+It may naturally be supposed that when the Spaniards first arrived in
+New Spain, they did not catch the true sound of names. Torquemada, who
+spent nearly the whole of his life in New Spain, is considered the most
+correct in this respect. (p. 191.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXI.
+
+    _How the inhabitants of Cholulla despatched four Indians to us, all
+    men of no distinction, to apologise for not having visited us in
+    Tlascalla, and what further happened._
+
+
+I mentioned in the preceding chapter that our captain had sent a message
+to Cholulla, inviting the inhabitants of that town to visit us in
+Tlascalla. When the caziques there received this message, they merely
+thought proper to send us four Indians of mean rank, and apologised for
+not appearing themselves, on account of indisposition. These messengers
+neither brought any provisions nor anything else with them, but in a few
+dry words offered the excuse just mentioned.
+
+The caziques of Tlascalla who were present when these messengers
+arrived, were struck with their appearance, and remarked to Cortes that
+this message was a real insult to him and all of us, since these
+messengers were _Macehuales_,[32] and people of mean condition.
+
+This circumstance induced Cortes to despatch four Indians of Sempoalla
+to Cholulla, telling them to acquaint the inhabitants there that he
+should expect an embassy from them within the space of three days,
+consisting of men of rank and authority. The distance between them and
+him was merely twenty miles, and if no one appeared within the stated
+time, he should consider the town of Cholulla in rebellion against us.
+If, however, the embassy he required did make its appearance, it was his
+intention to reveal matters of importance to them, for the salvation of
+their souls, and salutary to their whole existence; he would then also
+look upon them as friends and brothers, in the same way as he considered
+their neighbours the Tlascallans. If, however, our proposals met with
+their entire disapprobation, and if they did not consider our friendship
+worthy of acceptance, we should be far from troubling them with our
+presence.
+
+When the inhabitants of Cholulla were made acquainted with this friendly
+declaration, they sent word that the reason why they could not come to
+Tlascalla was, because they were at enmity with the inhabitants, and
+were well aware how they and their ruler Motecusuma had been slandered
+by them: we had merely to quit the town of Tlascalla and the boundaries
+of that province, and if then they did not do their duty towards us, we
+might look upon them in the light we had threatened, and treat them
+accordingly.
+
+Our captain considered this excuse perfectly reasonable, and we
+therefore resolved upon marching to Cholulla. When the caziques of
+Tlascalla saw that our determination was fixed, they thus addressed
+Cortes: "Then you rather put your trust in what the Mexicans say, than
+in us who are your friends? We have often impressed on your mind how
+particularly you should be upon your guard with the people of Cholulla,
+and against the power of Mexico in general; however, in order that you
+may have assistance in case of need, we have armed 10,000 of our
+warriors to accompany you."
+
+Cortes expressed his thanks to these excellent men for their good
+wishes, and deliberated with us as to the policy of entering with such a
+large army into a country whose friendship we were desirous of gaining.
+After mature consideration, we came to the conclusion that 2000 men
+would be a sufficient number to join us, and Cortes accordingly begged
+our friends for so many, and the rest were thus forced to remain at
+home.
+
+[32] Bernal Diaz writes, incorrectly, Macegales. By this word the
+Mexicans denoted the country people, who formed the great mass of the
+population, who also tilled the ground, and paid to the landowners a
+third part of the produce. Landed proprietors in Greece, at the present
+day, are not so generous, for they take two thirds of the produce and
+allow the tenant only one. (p. 192.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXII.
+
+    _How we arrived in the town of Cholulla, and the brilliant reception
+    we met with._
+
+
+Early one morning we broke up our quarters, and left for the town of
+Cholulla. We marched onward in the best order possible; for, as I have
+before remarked, we were always doubly on our guard wherever we
+suspected hostilities. The first day's march brought us to a river which
+flows about four miles this side of Cholulla, and we took up our night's
+quarters at a spot where now a stone bridge is built across the river.
+Here, huts and messrooms had been erected for our accommodation.
+
+This same night ambassadors arrived from the caziques of Cholulla, all
+personages of the first rank, to bid us welcome in their territory. They
+brought us provisions, consisting of fowls and maise-bread, and
+announced to us that all the caziques and papas would call to give us a
+friendly reception, and begged we would excuse them for not having come
+out immediately. Cortes returned them thanks through Dona Marina and
+Aguilar for the provisions and their kind intentions; we then laid
+ourselves down to rest, after we had posted the necessary sentinels and
+ordered the patrols.
+
+With break of day we put ourselves in motion, and marched direct for the
+town, within a short distance of which we were met by the caziques,
+papas, and numbers of other Indians who had come out to welcome us.
+Most of them were clad in a species of cotton cloak, similar in shape to
+our marlotas.[33] These cloaks are also worn by the Capotecas Indians.
+They all appeared friendly, and well-disposed towards us. The papas
+carried along with them earthern censors, with which they perfumed our
+officers and those soldiers who stood nearest.
+
+When the papas and other chief Indians saw the Tlascallans who had
+accompanied us, they begged of Dona Marina to remind Cortes that it was
+not proper for their enemies to enter into the town with weapons in
+their hands. Cortes then ordered the officers and the whole of us to
+halt, and spoke to us as follows: "I am of opinion, gentlemen, that,
+previous to our entering into Cholulla, we should, by kind words, elicit
+from these papas and caziques what their real intentions are. They seem
+hurt that these our friends the Tlascallans should have accompanied us,
+and are, indeed, perfectly right in what they say; wherefore it is my
+intention to acquaint them, in a mild manner, with our reasons for
+visiting their city. You know already, from the Tlascallans, that these
+people are treacherous by nature; it is, therefore, most prudent we
+should first desire them to take an oath of allegiance to our
+sovereign."
+
+He then desired Dona Marina to call the caziques and papas around him
+where he sat on horseback, all of us being close at his side. Three of
+the principal caziques and two papas immediately appeared in Cortes'
+presence, and addressed him thus: "Malinche, you must not harbour any
+suspicion against us for not having come to Tlascalla to pay our
+respects to you there, and because we did not send you any provisions.
+We were not wanting in good wishes towards you, but Maxixcatzin,
+Xicotencatl, and the whole of Tlascalla are at enmity with us. They have
+too grossly slandered us and our great monarch, and now they no longer
+abide by words, but have the audacity to be upon the point of entering,
+all armed, into our city, under your protection. We earnestly beg you
+will tell them to return to their own country, or at least command them
+to remain outside in the fields, and not to march into our city in such
+a manner. The rest of you are at liberty to enter at any time, and are
+perfectly welcome."
+
+As soon as our captain was informed of this their reasonable request he
+sent for Alvarado and Oli, and commissioned them to beg of the
+Tlascallans to erect themselves huts and barracks outside the town, and
+not to follow us there except those of them who transported our heavy
+guns, and our friends of Sempoalla. These officers were, at the same
+time, to inform them what had occasioned these orders, and the great
+fear in which all the caziques and papas stood of them; that they should
+be duly informed of the day when we commenced our march through Cholulla
+to Mexico; lastly, they were desired not to grieve on account of this
+change.
+
+When the inhabitants of Cholulla perceived the arrangements which Cortes
+had made respecting the Tlascallans, they appeared more easy; upon which
+Cortes acquainted them that our sovereign and master, whose subjects we
+were, was a powerful monarch, who had under his command many great kings
+and caziques. We were sent by him into this country to acquaint them, in
+his name, that, in future, they were no longer to worship idols, make
+human sacrifices, eat human flesh, and were to abstain from committing
+unnatural crimes, and all other abominations. We had come to their town
+because the road to Mexico lay through it, whither we were going to hold
+a conference with the great Motecusuma; and we were also desirous of
+considering them as brothers. Cortes further said that other great
+caziques had already sworn obedience and submission to our sovereign,
+and he hoped they would follow their example.
+
+In answer to this, they said that we really demanded too much; we had
+scarcely seen them before we required of them to abolish their teules,
+which they could not think of complying with; but as regarded doing
+homage to our sovereign, in so far they would yield to our wishes. They
+accordingly made a verbal promise of allegiance, but not with the usual
+formalities, in presence of a royal notary; upon this we made our entry
+into the city of Cholulla. The tops of the houses and streets were
+everywhere crowded with people to gaze upon us. And who can wonder? They
+had never before seen men like ourselves, nor any horses! Through this
+mass of people we were conducted to our quarters, consisting of several
+large apartments, in which all of us, with our friends of Sempoalla and
+the Tlascallans who transported our baggage, found plenty of room, and
+we were immediately supplied with abundance of good victuals.
+
+[33] A small kind of cloak, a part of the old Moorish dress, still worn
+in Spain during festivals. (p. 194.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXIII.
+
+    _How the inhabitants of Cholulla concerted a plan, at the
+    instigation of Motecusuma, to murder us all, and what further
+    happened._
+
+
+The splendid reception we met with at Cholulla was certainly well meant
+and honest on the part of the inhabitants, yet a most rapid change took
+place. Motecusuma, namely, through his ambassadors, had concocted a plan
+with the inhabitants to murder us all. The latter were ordered to arm
+themselves in all secrecy, and act in concert with 20,000 of his troops,
+who were already on their road, and would enter Cholulla by stealth,
+when they were to fall upon us unawares in a body, harass us day and
+night, take as many of us prisoners as they could, and send us bound to
+Mexico. These orders were accompanied with great promises and presents
+of jewels, and other precious things,--among them a golden drum. The
+papas also received instructions to sacrifice twenty of us to their
+idols.
+
+All this was nicely planned, and ready to burst forth. Motecusuma's
+troops lay for a part hid among the woods, about two miles from
+Cholulla; another portion had been secretly admitted into the dwellings
+of the Cholullans. All were well armed, and the balconies of the houses
+had been strengthened by breastworks, the streets barricaded by heaps of
+earth, and intersected by deep holes, so as to render our horse useless.
+Some houses had even been filled with neck-straps, ropes made of twisted
+hides, and long poles, to which we were to be bound and transported to
+Mexico. But the Almighty had willed this otherwise, and all their
+designs were frustrated, as the kind reader will shortly see.
+
+For the present we were lodged in good quarters, and received a regular
+and plentiful supply of provisions during the first days; and though all
+seemed in profound peace, we did not relax in our excellent custom of
+keeping a sharp look-out: and, indeed, a visible change was taking
+place, for, on the third day, provisions were no longer brought us, nor
+did any cazique or papa make his appearance among us: if any Indian did
+approach our quarters from curiosity, he merely came with derisive
+smiles, as if to convey that something unexpected was going to befall
+us. Cortes, perceiving this, desired the ambassadors of Motecusuma, who
+still remained with us, to order the caziques to send us provisions as
+usual. Some wood and water was now indeed brought us, but the old man
+who came with it assured us that there was no more maise left in
+Cholulla. That very day even other ambassadors had arrived from
+Motecusuma, who joined those staying with us, and delivered their
+monarch's message to Cortes without any show of courtesy, and in an
+impudent tone of voice, saying that their monarch desired we should not
+come to his city, as he could not provide for our sustenance there. To
+this they required an immediate answer, they being in a hurry to return
+with our reply to Mexico. As soon as Cortes saw what a sad turn affairs
+had taken, he spoke with much reserve, and answered the ambassadors in
+the most courteous manner possible, telling them how greatly he was
+astonished that so powerful a monarch as Motecusuma should so often
+change his mind: in the meantime he begged of them to postpone their
+return until the following day, when he would be able to say in how far
+we could comply with their monarch's wishes.
+
+If my memory is correct, he likewise presented them with a few strings
+of glass pearls. It is, however, certain that they promised to remain
+until the morrow.
+
+As soon as this conference had ended, Cortes called us all together, and
+told us to be particularly upon our guard, as the inhabitants, no doubt,
+had some evil design in hand. He then sent for the principal cazique,
+whose name has slipped my memory, and desired him, if he could not come
+in person, to send some one else; but received an answer that he was
+indisposed, and that neither he nor any other of the chiefs could come.
+
+Cortes, perceiving this unfavorable aspect of affairs, ordered two papas
+to be brought into his presence from a large cu[34] adjoining our
+quarters, where several other papas had assembled together. This was
+accordingly done with every mark of respect due to their persons.
+
+Cortes commenced by presenting each with a chalchihuis, a stone which
+they prize as much as we do a smaragdus. He then, in a most affectionate
+manner, inquired of them what had caused the fear which had seized the
+caziques, the other chiefs, and the papas, and why they no longer called
+upon us, though we had sent them invitations? One of these papas
+appeared to hold a superior rank, as of a bishop, above the others; all
+the cues of the town stood under him, and the inhabitants paid him the
+profoundest veneration. This personage stated, in reply to Cortes, that
+the papas did not entertain any fear for us: if the cazique and other
+chief personages would not make their appearance, he was very willing to
+call upon them, and he doubted not for an instant but that they would
+immediately repair to our quarters.
+
+Cortes desired him accordingly to go and call them; in the meantime he
+would detain the other papa. It was not long before this chief priest
+reappeared in our quarters, bringing along with him the caziques and the
+other principal personages of the district. Cortes inquired of them what
+cause they had had to fear us, and why they no longer sent us anything
+to eat? adding, that if our stay in their town was burdensome to them,
+we would leave the very next morning for Mexico, to pay our respects to
+their monarch Motecusuma: they had merely to furnish us with a requisite
+number of their porters to convey our baggage and the tepuzques, (that
+is, our cannon,) and to send us provisions.
+
+The cazique was so embarrassed at what Cortes had said, that he scarcely
+durst open his mouth; but at length promised us the provisions we
+required, although he had been, he added, commanded by Motecusuma, his
+sovereign, to withhold them, and not to allow us to proceed any further
+on our march.
+
+During this conference, three of our Sempoallan friends entered, and
+secretly acquainted Cortes that they had found deep holes in the streets
+adjoining our quarters, which were thinly covered over with sticks and
+earth, so as to be imperceptible to the eye, unless by close inspection;
+they had the curiosity to remove the earth from off one of these holes,
+and found, sticking up at the bottom, numbers of short stakes sharply
+pointed, and no doubt placed there to wound our horse when they fell
+into the holes: heaps of stones had been gathered on the tops of the
+houses, and the latter strengthened by breastworks made of burnt bricks.
+Every preparation had been made for an attack, and another street was
+strongly barricaded by large wooden beams. At this same moment eight
+Tlascallans also arrived from their quarters outside the town, and said
+to Cortes, "Are you ignorant, Malinche, of the treacherous designs which
+are going on in this town? We have been given to understand that the
+Cholullans last night sacrificed seven persons to their god of war,
+among them five children, in order to obtain from him a promise of
+victory over you. And we also know that all their goods, wives, and
+children have been sent out of the town."
+
+On learning this piece of news, Cortes desired these men to return to
+their quarters and tell their chiefs to hold themselves in readiness to
+fall into the town at a moment's notice. Then, turning to the cazique,
+papas, and chiefs of Cholulla, he told them to allay their fears; to
+remain true to the promise they had made with respect to our monarch,
+otherwise he should find himself obliged to punish them severely: he had
+already acquainted them that, on the following morning, he intended to
+take his departure for Mexico, and he should require 2000 of their
+warriors to join his army, a like number having been furnished by the
+Tlascallans.
+
+The chiefs, in reply, assured Cortes of their willingness to comply with
+his wishes; they would find him the number of warriors and porters he
+required; they then took their leave to make the necessary preparations,
+and appeared perfectly confident, for they thought we should not be able
+to stand against their warriors and the army of Motecusuma, which lay in
+ambush in the defiles, and that they should be able either to kill us or
+take us prisoners, as we should be unable to use our horses on account
+of the deep holes. They likewise ordered their men to block up all the
+outlets of the town, and so inclose us in the narrow streets, as we
+intended leaving next morning. Every one was to be particularly on his
+guard, and to perform his part at the right time. They would also send
+2000 men in advance, and as we did not dream of what was going to take
+place, they would make easy work with us, take us prisoners without
+danger, and carry us off bound to Mexico. There was no doubt as to their
+success, for they had sacrificed to their god of war, and obtained a
+promise of victory from him.
+
+While they were thus making sure of victory, Cortes made every effort to
+discover their plans, and commissioned Dona Marina to present the two
+papas, he had first spoken to, with additional chalchihuis stones, and
+acquaint them that Malinche was very desirous of having a second
+interview with them. Dona Marina was quite an adept in such matters, and
+succeeded by means of the presents, to induce them to accompany her into
+our general's quarters, who then desired them to disclose everything
+faithfully to him, which, as priests and men of rank, who would disgrace
+themselves by telling lies, they were doubly bound to do. He also
+assured them that the trust they reposed in him should not be betrayed,
+particularly as we were going to leave next day; and in order to give
+more weight to his words, he made them considerable promises. The papas
+then confessed that their sovereign Motecusuma could come to no
+resolution with himself as to whether he ought to allow us to march
+towards his metropolis, and that he changed his mind several times in
+one day. At one time he sent orders, that when we should arrive in
+Cholulla, we were to be treated in the most respectful manner, and they
+were to accompany us to his city; at another time he sent word that our
+march to Mexico was contrary to his wishes; and now his gods,
+Tetzcatlipuca and Huitzilopochtli, in whom he reposed all confidence,
+had advised him to kill us, or have us taken prisoners in Cholulla. The
+day before he had sent 20,000 warriors to this place, of whom one half
+was already secreted in the town, the other among the mountain defiles
+in the neighbourhood. These troops had been informed of our intended
+departure, and of the mode in which the attack was to be made upon us,
+as also of the 2000 men of Cholulla who were to accompany us, and how
+twenty of our men were to be sacrificed to the idols of Cholulla.
+
+After Cortes had elicited all this from them, he presented both the
+papas with several of the most beautiful cloaks, enjoining them to
+betray nothing of what had passed between him and themselves, if they
+did they should certainly forfeit their lives on his return from Mexico.
+That very night our general called a council of war, consisting of the
+most sensible and experienced soldiers of our small army, to deliberate
+what our next step should be. Opinion, as generally happens under such
+circumstances, was much divided. Some proposed that we should change our
+route altogether and take the road over Huexotzinco. Others were of
+opinion that we should preserve peace at any sacrifice and return to
+Tlascalla. We others, however, maintained, that if we left the
+contemplated treachery of the Cholullans unpunished, the Mexicans would
+play us worse tricks in other places, and as we had once gained a
+footing in this vast territory, it would be better for hostilities to
+break out here, where, besides that, provisions were plentiful, we could
+do more execution than in the open field; and immediately to acquaint
+the Tlascallans with our determination, that they might join us in the
+combat.
+
+This plan, in the end, received unanimous consent, and the following
+morning was fixed on for the day of our departure. We therefore fastened
+up our knapsacks, which indeed was no great trouble, as we had very
+little baggage with us. Our attack upon the Indians was to be made in
+the spacious square adjoining our quarters, which was surrounded by high
+walls, here we should be able to pay them out according to their
+deserts. As to the ambassadors of Motecusuma, we merely told them, that
+some villains of Cholulla had formed a conspiracy against us, and had
+attempted to lay it all to the door of their sovereign Motecusuma and
+his ambassadors; but that we could not for a moment give credence to
+this, though for the present we must beg of them not again to leave our
+general's head-quarters, and to break off all further intercourse with
+the inhabitants of the town, in order to erase from our minds all
+suspicion of an understanding between the latter and themselves; they
+could also act as our guides on our march to Mexico.
+
+The ambassadors assured us that neither their sovereign Motecusuma, nor
+they, were aware of anything we had mentioned to them. We, however,
+placed a guard over their persons, fearing they might depart without our
+knowledge, and relate to Motecusuma how we had discovered the
+conspiracy.
+
+During the whole of this night we were particularly on our guard and all
+under arms, the horses were ready saddled and bridled, strong watches
+were posted in various places, and one patrol followed the other, as we
+were sure we should be attacked that night by the united forces of
+Mexico and Cholulla. Of this we obtained further certainty from an old
+Indian female, the wife of a cazique, who taking compassion on the youth
+and good looks of Dona Marina, knowing at the same time that she
+possessed many fine things, had induced her to follow her home to save
+her from the impending carnage; for, according to her account, we were
+all to be killed that night or the day following. This woman assured her
+that Motecusuma had issued the most peremptory orders to this effect,
+and had therefore sent an army of Mexicans, who were to join the
+Cholullans and spare none of us alive, excepting those they could make
+prisoners, who were to be sent bound to Mexico. On hearing this, the old
+woman added, she was induced from a compassionate feeling to disclose it
+to her. She advised her to pack up her goods in all haste and come and
+live in her house. She should have her second son for husband, the
+brother of the young man then present.
+
+Dona Marina, who was altogether very shrewd, thus answered the old
+woman: "I am thankful indeed, good mother, for your kind warning; I
+would go with you this instant if I could find any one to carry away my
+mantles and gold trinkets, for I have a pretty good quantity of both.
+Wherefore I beg of you, good mother, wait a few moments here with your
+son, and we will leave together during the night; for these teules have
+their ears and eyes everywhere."
+
+The old woman placed perfect confidence in what she had said, and
+continued chatting with her for some time. Dona Marina then put several
+other questions to her, as to the manner in which we were to be killed?
+How and when the plan had been formed? The answers which the old woman
+returned perfectly agreed with the account of the two papas. Marina then
+questioned her as to how she had come to the knowledge of that, which
+the Cholullans had thought to keep so secret? "I know all this from my
+husband," returned she, "who is the chief of one of the quarters of this
+town, and who has already joined the men under his command, to make the
+necessary preparations, and join the troops of Mexico in the mountain
+defiles. Both armies will meet and cut down all the teules. All this I
+have known three days ago, for my husband has been presented with a
+golden drum, and the three other chiefs with splendid cloaks and gold
+trinkets, with orders to take all the teules prisoners and send them to
+Mexico."
+
+Dona Marina artfully concealed the real impression all this made upon
+her mind, and said to the old woman: "How delighted am I to learn that
+your son, to whom you intend to marry me, is a man of high rank! We have
+now been discoursing about matters which were intended to be kept a
+secret. I will now go and pack up my things; in the meantime you wait
+for me here, for I cannot carry all my goods alone; you, your son, my
+future brother, must assist me to decamp."
+
+The old woman swallowed all this, and stationed herself at some
+particular spot with her son. In the meantime Dona Marina related to our
+general the whole of the discourse she had had with the old woman.
+Cortes immediately ordered the latter into his presence, and put further
+questions to her respecting the plans of the treacherous Cholullans.
+Everything she related corresponded with the account of the two papas;
+Cortes then ordered her to be detained in close custody that she might
+not return and disclose anything to her companions.
+
+When morning arrived it was quite amusing to behold the air of contempt
+and the confidence which was depicted in the countenances of the
+caziques, the papas, and of the Indians in general. They appeared as if
+they had already caught us in a snare. They sent a larger body of their
+troops than we had demanded of them; yet there was sufficient room to
+hold all these besides our own men in the square adjoining our quarters,
+which may be seen to this hour as a memento of that bloody day. Though
+it was very early when the troops of Cholulla arrived in our quarters,
+yet they found us quite ready for the day's work.
+
+The largest gate of this inclosed square was occupied by that portion of
+our troops who were armed with swords and shields, who were ordered not
+to allow egress to any Indian who bore arms. Our general had mounted his
+horse, surrounded by several of us as a guard to his person, and when he
+saw how early all the caziques, papas, and warriors had assembled in the
+morning, he cried out in a loud voice: "How impatient these treacherous
+people are to get us among the defiles and satiate themselves with our
+flesh: but the Almighty will order things differently from what they
+expect!"
+
+He then inquired for the two papas who had disclosed the plot to him;
+and was informed that they were waiting outside with other caziques, and
+wished to be admitted; upon which Cortes sent our interpreter, Aguilar,
+to desire them to return home, as he had no occasion for them at that
+moment. This was done that no harm might befall them when we should fall
+upon the Indians, and as a recompense for the services they had rendered
+us.
+
+Our general, seated on horseback, with Dona Marina at his side, then
+severely upbraided the caziques and papas. "Why had they," said he to
+them, "wished to murder us all the preceding night, though we had not
+done them the smallest injury? Had we said or done anything to justify
+this treacherous movement? Had he done anything more than exhorted them,
+as he had all the different tribes through whose territories he had
+passed, to abolish their human sacrifices and abstain from eating human
+flesh, to commit no unnatural crimes, and to lead a better life than
+they had hitherto? He had, further, merely spoken to them about our holy
+religion, and certainly thereby done them no violence. For what purpose
+had they collected all those long poles with the nooses and ropes in the
+house adjoining the large cue? Why had they during the last three days
+barricaded the streets, intersected the latter by deep holes, and
+fortified the tops of their houses with breastworks? Why had they sent
+away from the town their wives, children, and all their goods? All this
+sufficiently proved their treacherous designs, which were no longer to
+be concealed; they had even refused to provide us food, and in mockery
+had sent us merely wood and water, as if to make us believe they had no
+maise left. He was perfectly aware that large troops of warriors had
+secreted themselves in the defiles near the town, laying in wait for us
+when we should be on our road to Mexico. During the past night they had
+been joined by several other troops. In reward for our having looked
+upon them as brothers, and announced what our God and our sovereign had
+commissioned us to reveal to them, they wished to murder us, and eat our
+flesh, for which purpose they had already prepared the dishes, the salt,
+the pepper, and the tomates. If they intended to kill us, why did they
+not attack us boldly in the open field as beseemed brave warriors, as
+their neighbours the Tlascallans had done? He was fully acquainted with
+all their designs, how they had promised to sacrifice twenty of us to
+their god of war; and that they had sacrificed seven Indians three
+nights ago to him, that he might grant them victory over us. But all his
+promises were full of lies and deceit. Their gods had no power whatever
+over us, and their evil deeds, with all their treachery, would recoil
+upon themselves."
+
+When the caziques, papas, and the other principal personages heard this,
+all of which Dona Marina most intelligibly interpreted to them, they
+confessed that what Cortes had said was perfectly correct, but added,
+that they were not the guilty persons, everything having been done at
+the instigation of Motecusuma's ambassadors, in accordance with his
+commands. To which Cortes answered, "That the Spanish laws did not allow
+such treachery to pass by unpunished, and that they would be punished
+for it with the loss of their lives." At this moment he ordered a cannon
+to be fired, which was the signal for us to fall upon them.
+
+A great number of these people were put to the sword, and some were
+burnt alive, to prove the deceitfulness of their false gods. Before a
+couple of hours had elapsed our friends of Tlascalla came storming out
+of their camp into the town, and fought courageously with the troops of
+Cholulla in the streets, who strove to drive them back. They then
+dispersed themselves about the town for the sake of plunder, and taking
+prisoners; nor were we able to prevent them. The following day more
+troops arrived from Tlascalla, who committed worse depredations, so
+deeply rooted was their hatred against Cholulla. At length our
+compassion was aroused, and we ordered the Tlascallans to stay all
+further hostilities, and Cortes commanded all the chiefs into his
+presence, when he addressed them at some length, and requested them to
+return to their camp, which they accordingly complied with, the
+Sempoallans alone remaining within the town.[35]
+
+While all this was going on, several caziques and papas arrived from
+other quarters of the town, who were said to have taken no part in this
+treacherous movement; which may, indeed, have been the case, as in this
+large town every quarter had its own regiment and peculiar regulations.
+These people begged Cortes and all of us to pardon them, as the real
+traitors had now received their deserved punishment. In this prayer they
+were joined by our friends, the two papas, who had first discovered the
+plot to us, and the old wife of the Indian chief, who was to have been
+Dona Marina's mother-in-law.
+
+Cortes at first appeared very little disposed to listen to their
+prayers; but at length he sent for the two ambassadors of Motecusuma,
+whom we had kept in close confinement. He began by telling them, that
+though the whole town, with all its inhabitants, had merited total
+destruction, he would, nevertheless, substitute mercy for justice in
+consideration of their monarch Motecusuma, whose subjects they were; but
+he expected they would in future show a better disposition towards us,
+and give us no further cause to renew such a scene as had just taken
+place, otherwise they would undoubtedly forfeit their lives. He next
+sent for the caziques of the Tlascallan camp, and ordered them to
+liberate the prisoners they had taken, as they had now sufficiently
+revenged themselves. It was with difficulty we could persuade the
+Tlascallans to comply with this, for they maintained that the Cholullans
+had deserved a good deal more at their hands for the many times they had
+suffered from them; however, as it was Cortes' wish, they liberated a
+great number of their captives; but carried off a great deal of booty,
+consisting in gold, cloaks, cotton, salt, and other matters.
+
+Cortes then brought about a reconciliation between these two tribes, and
+as far as I know, the good understanding which grew up between them was
+never after disturbed. He then desired the caziques and papas to order
+all the inhabitants into the town again, and to open the tiangues[36] or
+markets, at the same time assuring them that no further harm should
+befall them. The chiefs accordingly promised that all the inhabitants
+should return to the town within the space of five days, as most of them
+had fled to the woods; and added, that they feared Cortes would elect a
+cazique to whom they might be averse in the room of him who had been
+killed in the recent attack. Our general, however, merely inquired who
+the rightful successor was according to their laws; and on being
+informed the late cazique's brother, he appointed him governor.
+
+As soon as the town was again filled with people, and the markets
+frequented as usual, Cortes assembled the papas, chiefs, and the
+principal inhabitants, and explained to them the nature of our holy
+religion, and showed them the necessity of abolishing their idolatry and
+human sacrifices, and their other abominations. He likewise showed them
+the delusion they lived under with respect to their idols, which were
+nothing but evil spirits from whom they could expect nothing but
+falsehood. They should remember how these had lately promised them the
+victory over us, and how all their promises had terminated. They should,
+therefore, pull down and destroy those lying and deceitful idols, or
+leave that work to us, if they declined doing it themselves. At present
+he desired they would clear and fresh plaster one of their temples, that
+we might fit it up for a chapel and erect a cross there. These words
+seemed to cheer them up a little, and they gave a solemn promise to
+destroy their idols, but continually postponed the fulfilment whenever
+we put them in mind of it. On this matter father Olmedo set Cortes' mind
+at ease, by assuring him it would be of little use if even the Indians
+did abolish their idols, unless they had previously received some notion
+of our religion and faith. We ought first to see what impression our
+march into Mexico would make upon them. Time alone could be our surest
+guide as to our further proceedings. For the present we had done
+sufficient by admonishing them to piety, and by erecting a cross there.
+
+Respecting the town of Cholulla, I have further to remark; that it lay
+in a valley, and was surrounded by the townships Tepeaca, Tlascalla,
+Chalco, Tecamachalco, Huexotzinco, and so many others that I am unable
+to enumerate them all. The country furnished quantities of maise and
+various leguminous plants, and particularly maguey, from the sap of
+which the inhabitants make their wine.[37] In the town itself various
+kinds of earthenware pots are made, embellished with black and white
+colours, which are burnt in; with these it supplies Mexico and the
+neighbouring provinces. In this respect Cholulla is equally celebrated
+in this country, as the towns Talavera and Valencia are in Spain. At
+that time Cholulla had above a hundred very high towers, the whole of
+which were cues or temples, on which the human sacrifices were made and
+their idols stood. The principal cu here was even higher than that of
+Mexico, though the latter was, indeed, magnificent and very high.[38] It
+is said to have contained one hundred courts, and an idol of enormous
+dimensions, (the name of which I have forgotten,) which stood in great
+repute, and people came from various parts to sacrifice human beings to
+it and bring offerings for the dead.[39] I well remember when we first
+entered this town, and looking up to the elevated white temples, how the
+whole place put us completely in mind of Valladolid.
+
+I must now say a few words respecting the troops which Motecusuma had
+despatched here. These lay in ambush in the immediate vicinity of the
+town, and had planted stakes in the ground, and dug deep holes to render
+our cavalry incapable of acting. But when they were informed of what had
+taken place there, they immediately returned to Mexico to bring the
+intelligence to Motecusuma. However rapidly their departure may have
+been, we, nevertheless, were immediately apprized of it by the two
+distinguished personages who were with us. Motecusuma was excessively
+vexed and grieved at the news, and instantly ordered a number of Indians
+to be sacrificed to his warrior god Huitzilopochtli, that he might
+reveal to him whether he should obstruct our march to Mexico, or allow
+us peaceable entrance into his metropolis. Two whole days did he spend
+with his papas in devotional exercises, and in sacrificing human beings
+to his idols, and at length was advised by them to send us ambassadors
+to apologise for the occurrence at Cholulla. He was further to allow us
+to march into Mexico, under every show of friendship; but when we had
+entered the town to deny us provisions and water, break down the
+bridges, shut us in, and put us all to the sword. If they attacked us in
+a body, and from all sides at once, not one of us could escape. Not till
+then were the great sacrifices to be instituted, as well in honour of
+the warrior-god Huitzilopochtli, who had given the oracle, as in that of
+the god of hell, Tetzcatlipuca. Our legs, thighs, and arms were to be
+eaten at their feast, and our entrails, with the remaining part of our
+bodies, were to be thrown to the serpents and tigers, which they kept
+confined in wooden cages, as will be mentioned in the proper place.
+
+It may well be imagined that the chastisement we gave the inhabitants of
+Cholulla spread like wildfire through the whole of New Spain. If,
+previously, the battles of Potonchan, Tabasco, Cingapacinga, and
+Tlascalla, had spread the fame of our invincible courage, and obtained
+for us the name of teules or gods of a fearful nature, we were now
+looked upon as divinities of a superior order, from whom nothing could
+be kept a secret, and the greatest veneration was consequently paid to
+us.
+
+The kind reader has now, no doubt, heard enough of this occurrence at
+Cholulla, and I myself would gladly break off here, but must add a word
+or two about the wooden cages we saw in this town. These were
+constructed of heavy timber, and filled with grown-up men and little
+boys, who were fattening there for the sacrifices and feasts. These
+diabolical cages Cortes ordered to be pulled down, and sent the
+prisoners each to their several homes. He likewise made the chiefs and
+papas promise him, under severe threats, never again to fasten up human
+beings in that way, and totally to abstain from eating human flesh. But
+what was the use of promises which they never intended to keep?
+
+These are, among others, those abominable monstrosities which the bishop
+of Chiapa, Las Casas, can find no end in enumerating. But he is wrong
+when he asserts that we gave the Cholullans the above-mentioned
+chastisement without any provocation, and merely for pastime. I can,
+however, produce as witnesses to the contrary the pious Franciscan
+friars who were the first monks our emperor despatched thither after the
+conquest of New Spain. These venerable men were purposely sent to
+Cholulla to make the minutest investigation into this affair. They
+gained all their information from the elders and papas of the town
+itself, and they were fully convinced that everything had really taken
+place as I have related above: and, indeed, if we had not made an
+example here, we should have lived in constant alarm, as we were
+completely surrounded by Mexican and Cholullan troops, who were
+everywhere lying in ambush. If we had been destroyed at that time, New
+Spain would certainly not have been so speedily conquered; a second
+armament would not so easily have found its way there; and if it had,
+there would have been hard work with the Indians who defended the
+coasts; and they would have continued in their idolatrous worship. I
+have myself heard the very pious Franciscan brother Toribio Motelmea[40]
+say that it would certainly have been better if we could have avoided
+spilling so much blood, and the Indians had not given us the cause to do
+so; but it had this good effect, that all the inhabitants of New Spain
+became convinced that their idols were nothing but deceitful demons, and
+they experienced how much happier they were when they discontinued to
+worship them or sacrifice to them; and it is a fact, that the
+inhabitants of Cholulla, from that moment, cared very little about their
+idols: they took down the large one from the principal cu, and either
+hid it somewhere or destroyed it altogether: we, at least, never saw
+that one again, and they placed another there in its stead.[41]
+
+[34] A temple where human beings were sacrificed to idols. (p. 197.)
+
+[35] Cortes, in his despatches to the emperor, mentions that three
+thousand Cholullans were killed on this occasion; but Torquemada gives
+double the number, which is nearer the truth, particularly as Gomara
+agrees with him.
+
+Respecting this massacre, Torquemada gives the following remarkable
+account: The Cholullans, he says, expected that their god Quetzalcohuatl
+would come to their assistance with some miracle. They believed that at
+any time, by removing part of the white plaster from the temple, a
+strong flood of water would instantly burst out, and they were therefore
+very particular in repairing any little damage that might happen in this
+way to the temple, by means of chalk mixed with the blood of children
+two and three years of age, killed for the purpose. It was on this
+temple that the Cholullans defended themselves with the greatest
+obstinacy; but the victory soon declaring in favour of the Spaniards,
+the inhabitants began to loosen the plaster off the outside, firmly
+believing that a deluge of water would instantly burst forth, and drown
+the assailants; when finding themselves disappointed in their
+expectations, they complained bitterly to their god for not rendering
+them any assistance; refused, however, to capitulate; and numbers flung
+themselves headlong from the top of the temple, to seek death that way.
+(p. 204.)
+
+[36] Torquemada sometimes writes this word Tianquitz, sometimes
+Tiangues, but we find it also written Tianquiztli. By the terminating
+syllable most likely some particular market is meant; for it is peculiar
+to the Mexican language to modify the meaning of words in that manner.
+(p. 205.)
+
+[37] Termed by the inhabitants Pulque. (p. 205.)
+
+[38] An interesting account of this remarkable building, of which
+considerable remains are still to be seen, is given by Humboldt, in the
+'Atlas Pittoresque.' (p. 206.)
+
+[39] It was the god Quetzalcoatl, of whom also an account will be found
+in the above-mentioned work of Humboldt. (p. 206.)
+
+[40] The name is correctly written Motolinia. This was the excellent
+brother Toribio Benavente, who so greatly exerted himself in converting
+the Indians to Christianity. He adopted the name of Motolinia on his
+arrival in New Spain, and the word means, _O! the poor man!_ which the
+Indians exclaimed when they first beheld the meanness of his attire. (p.
+207.)
+
+[41] Respecting the castigation of the inhabitants of Cholulla, Las
+Casas, (Brevissima Relacion de la destrucyon de las Indias) asserts,
+though merely from hearsay, that Cortes, while cutting down the Indians,
+repeated this verse:
+
+Miro Nero de Tarpeya, A Roma como se ardia, Gritos dan Ninos y' viejos,
+Y el de nada se dolia.
+
+A translation of these lines will be found in a subsequent note. (p.
+208.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXIV.
+
+    _The negotiations we set on foot with the great Motecusuma, and the
+    ambassadors we sent him._
+
+
+We had now lain a fortnight in Cholulla, and any further stay there
+would have been waste of time. All the inhabitants had returned to their
+dwellings, and the markets were again filled with goods and merchants;
+peace had been concluded between them and their neighbours the
+Tlascallans; a cross erected, and much of our holy faith explained to
+the inhabitants. Besides this, we discovered that Motecusuma had sent
+spies into our quarters to gain intelligence as to our future plans, and
+whether we really intended marching to his metropolis. His two
+ambassadors, who were still with us, also forwarded him due information,
+from time to time, of all that was going on.
+
+Our captain now called a council of war of those officers and soldiers
+in whom he could place implicit confidence, and of whose wisdom and
+courage he entertained the highest respect. In this council it was
+resolved we should despatch a most friendly and flattering message to
+Motecusuma, as near as possible to the following effect: "We had now, in
+compliance with the commands of our sovereign, journeyed over many seas,
+and through far distant countries, solely for the object of paying our
+personal respects to him, the monarch of Mexico, and of disclosing
+things to him which would prove of the greatest advantage to him. We
+chose the road over Cholulla because his ambassadors had proposed that
+route, and had assured us that the inhabitants were his subjects. We met
+with the best of receptions, and were well treated during the first two
+days of our stay there, when we discovered that a vile conspiracy had
+been set on foot to destroy us all; which, however, could not prove
+otherwise than a failure, as we were endowed with the faculty of knowing
+things beforehand, and it was utterly impossible to do anything without
+our knowledge: we had, therefore, punished a number of those who had
+concocted that treacherous movement, but we had, at the same time,
+abstained from punishing all those who had taken part in it, in
+consideration that the Cholullans were his subjects, and from the deep
+veneration we entertained for his person, and the great friendship we
+bore him. It was, however, to be regretted that the caziques and papas
+should have unanimously declared that all had been done at his commands,
+and planned by his own ambassadors. Of this, however, we had not
+believed a single word, as it seemed impossible to us that so great a
+monarch, who always styled himself our friend, could have consented
+thereto. On the contrary, we expected from him that, in case his gods
+had whispered to him to treat us hostilely, he would have attacked us in
+the open field, although it was all the same to us whether we were to
+fight about in a town or in the open field, or during night or daytime,
+as we easily overthrew those who ventured to attack us. As we were fully
+convinced of his friendship, and were very desirous to make his personal
+acquaintance, and to discourse with him, we intended marching to Mexico
+to lay our monarch's commission before him."
+
+When Motecusuma received this message, and found that we in no way
+considered him implicated in the occurrence which had taken place at
+Cholulla, he again, as we were told, began to fast with his papas, and
+to sacrifice to his gods, of whom he wished to know whether he was to
+admit us into his metropolis or not. They pronounced in the affirmative,
+as, when we were once there, he would be able to slay us at his
+pleasure. His chief officers and papas were of the same opinion, and
+thought that, if he did not admit us into the city, we might commence
+hostilities against his subjects, and call in the assistance of the
+Tlascallans, the Totonaque, and other tribes who were at enmity with the
+Mexicans, and in alliance with us. To obviate all this, the surest way
+would be to follow the wise counsel which Huitzilopochtli had given.
+
+The day had now arrived which had been fixed for our departure, and,
+just as we were about to break up our quarters, other ambassadors
+arrived, with presents from Motecusuma.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXV.
+
+    _How the powerful Motecusuma sends a valuable present in gold to us,
+    and the message which accompanied it, and how we all agree to
+    commence our march upon Mexico; and what further happened._
+
+
+When Motecusuma was made acquainted with what we said concerning our
+friendship towards him, and the confident manner in which we had
+expressed ourselves, he again felt embarrassed, and was amazed at the
+idea that nothing could be concealed from us, and that he might attack
+us whenever he liked, within the city walls or in the open field, by day
+or by night, it was all the same to us. He thought of our war with the
+Tlascallans, of the battles we had fought at Potonchon, Tabasco,
+Cingapacinga, and Cholulla, and grew quite perplexed and dispirited. He
+several times altered his resolutions, until at last he determined upon
+sending us six of his principal courtiers with a present in gold and
+trinkets of various workmanship, worth altogether above 2000 pesos,
+besides several packages of cotton stuffs most beautifully manufactured.
+
+When these messengers were introduced into Cortes' presence, they
+touched the ground with their hands, and kissed it, and thus addressed
+our general, with signs of the deepest veneration: "Malinche! our ruler
+and monarch, the mighty Motecusuma, sends you this present, and begs you
+will accept of it with the same kind feeling he bears you and your
+brothers: he at the same time desires us to express his regret for the
+late occurrence at Cholulla, and to assure you it would be pleasing to
+him if you would castigate that evil-minded and lying people more
+severely, since they had wished to heap the infamy of their vile
+proceedings upon him and his ambassadors. We might (they continued) rest
+assured of his friendship, and repair to his metropolis as soon as we
+should think proper. Being as we were men of vast courage, and the
+ambassadors of so great a monarch, he would receive us with due honours,
+and only regretted that, owing to the situation of his metropolis in the
+midst of a lake, he should not be able to furnish our table with the
+victuals he otherwise could wish. The greatest respect would everywhere
+be paid us, and he had also sent orders to the different townships we
+should pass through to furnish us with everything we required." Besides
+these, there were many other civilities they mentioned in their
+monarch's name.
+
+Cortes, to whom our interpreters had explained this message, accepted
+the present with every appearance of delight. He embraced the
+ambassadors, and presented them with various articles of cut glass.
+Every officer and soldier amongst us congratulated himself upon this
+favorable turn which affairs had taken, and at the monarch's invitation
+to visit Mexico,--for our desire to see that city daily grew upon us,
+particularly upon those who had no possessions in Cuba, and had
+accompanied the previous expeditions under Cordoba and Grijalva.
+
+Cortes returned the ambassadors a kind answer to all they had said, and
+arranged that three of them should remain with us to show us the road,
+while the others were despatched to Mexico, to acquaint their monarch
+that we had already set out on our march thither.
+
+When the two old caziques of Tlascalla found that Cortes was earnestly
+bent on marching to Mexico, they appeared excessively grieved, and
+reminded Cortes how frequently they had warned him, and could not do so
+too often, to dissuade him from marching into a town of such vast extent
+and power, and which possessed various means of carrying on a murderous
+war. The Mexicans would certainly, one day or other, fall upon us
+unawares, and it would be a wonder if we escaped alive out of their
+hands. To convince us how well they were inclined towards us, they
+would, however, gladly furnish us with 10,000 of their warriors, under
+the command of their most able generals, with a sufficient supply of
+provisions.
+
+Cortes thanked them for their kind offers, and explained to them that it
+would not be proper to enter Mexico at the head of so large an army,
+particularly as the hatred between themselves and the Mexicans was so
+excessive. One thousand men was all he required to transport our cannon
+and baggage, and clear the road before us.
+
+These 1000 men were immediately upon the spot, all strong and fine young
+fellows, and we were just upon the point of commencing our march when
+the caziques and chiefs of Sempoalla, who had remained with us all this
+time, and rendered us such valuable services, called upon Cortes and
+hoped he would return with them to Sempoalla. They were determined, they
+said, not to march over Cholulla to Mexico, as they were quite convinced
+it would be ours and their destruction; theirs, because they were the
+most distinguished personages of Sempoalla, who had not only been the
+chief means of inducing their countrymen to refuse all further obedience
+and to pay tribute to Motecusuma, but also of seizing his tax-gatherers.
+
+Cortes, in answer to this, desired them to allay their fears; he was
+sure no harm would befall them, for, if they marched along in our
+company, who would dare to molest either? He therefore begged of them to
+alter their determination, and remain with us, and promised them all
+manner of riches. But all his entreaties, added to Marina's friendly
+advice, were fruitless, and they refused to accompany us: upon which
+Cortes cried out, "God forbid that we should force these people, who
+have rendered us such valuable services, to go with us against their
+inclination!" He then ordered several packages of the very finest cotton
+stuffs to be divided among them, and likewise sent the fat cazique two
+packages for himself and his nephew Cuesco, who was also a powerful
+cazique. He wrote, at the same time, to his lieutenant Juan de
+Escalante, who was alguacil-major of Vera Cruz, mentioning all that had
+befallen us, and that we were on our march to Mexico. He particularly
+cautioned him to keep a sharp look out upon the inhabitants of the
+country, desired him by all means to hasten the completion of the
+fortress, and to take the inhabitants there under his protection against
+the Mexicans, and also not to suffer our men to molest them in any way.
+This letter was given in charge of the Sempoallans, and we then
+commenced our march forward with every military precaution.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXVI.
+
+    _How we set out on our march to Mexico; what happened to us on our
+    route; and the message Motecusuma sent us._
+
+
+On our march from Cholulla, we adopted our usual precautions. A few of
+our cavalry were always in advance to explore the territory, and these
+were closely followed by a number of our best foot to assist them in
+case of an ambush, and to clear any obstruction from the road. Our
+cannon and muskets were ready loaded, while our cavalry rode three and
+three together on the flanks of our troops to lend immediate assistance
+should anything occur, all the rest of our men marching in close order.
+I am very particular in mentioning all this that my readers may convince
+themselves of the great precautions we observed on this march.
+
+On the first day we arrived at a spot where there were a few scattered
+dwellings on a rising ground, subject to Huexotzinco, and, if I mistake
+not, bear the name of Iscalpan, and lie about nine miles from Cholulla.
+Here we found all the caziques and papas of Huexotzinco assembled, who
+were friendly with the Tlascallans. They had brought along with them
+other tribes from the neighbourhood of the volcano, and presented Cortes
+with a quantity of provisions and a few trinkets of gold, begging him,
+at the same time, not to consider the small worth of the latter, but
+the good will with which they were given. They then one and all
+dissuaded him from marching to Mexico, representing to him the strength
+of the city, the vast numbers of warriors there, and all the dangers we
+should be exposed to. Seeing, however, that they could not alter our
+determination, they instructed us as to the road we should take, and
+told us that, as soon as we had laid back the mountain pass, we should
+come to two broad roads, one of which led to Chalco, the other to
+Tlalmanalco, both of which townships were subject to the Mexican empire.
+One of these roads was in excellent condition, and passable, and in so
+far it would be the best we could take; the other had been rendered
+impassable by numbers of large pine and other trees which had been
+felled and thrown across the road to prevent our marching that way. A
+little way further up the mountain, the good road along which it was
+supposed we would march had been intersected and palisaded, and Mexican
+troops were lying in ambush there, and others had been stationed in this
+pass to fall upon us and put us to the sword. They therefore advised us
+to leave the good road, and turn into the one leading to Tlalmanalco,
+which had been rendered impassable by the fallen trees. They would lend
+us sufficient hands to clear away the latter, in which they would be
+assisted by the Tlascallans who were with us.
+
+Cortes returned them many thanks for their present and good advice,
+assuring them he was determined, with the assistance of Providence, to
+continue his march, and would take the road they had pointed out.
+
+The next morning very early we again moved forward, and, towards noon we
+reached the summit of the mountain, where we found the two roads exactly
+as described by the inhabitants of Huexotzinco. Here we halted for a
+short time to reconsider what had been told us respecting the Mexican
+troops which we should find stationed in the pass. Cortes then inquired
+of the two Mexican ambassadors which of the two roads they would advise
+him to turn into,--the one which had been blocked up by a fall of
+timber, or the smooth road? They told him into the latter, because it
+led to Chalco, a town of considerable magnitude, where we should meet
+with a good reception, as it was subject to Motecusuma; the other road,
+blocked up by the trees, was very dangerous in places, and was rather
+round about, leading, moreover, to a township much inferior to Chalco.
+Cortes, however, determined for the other road, and we marched through
+the mountains in the closest possible order. Our Indian friends set
+diligently to work to clear away the heavy trees, and even to this day
+many of the latter are still to be seen lying on the roadside. When we
+had reached the summit of the mountain, it began to snow so fast that
+the ground was soon covered with it. We now began to descend, and we
+took up our night's quarters in some scattered huts, which had the
+appearance of taverns for the accommodation of Indian merchants. We
+likewise found abundance of food here, and, notwithstanding the severity
+of the weather, we posted our sentinels as usual, and made regular
+patrols.[42]
+
+The next morning we broke up our quarters, and arrived, about the hour
+of high mass, in the township of Tlalmanalco, where we met with very
+kind and hospitable treatment. Immediately upon the news of our arrival,
+numbers of people gathered about us from the neighbouring townships of
+Chalco, Amoquemecan, Ayotzinco, and from various other small places
+whose names I have forgotten. The last-mentioned town has a harbour,
+where canoes ply up and down. These tribes made us a present in common,
+consisting in gold, worth about 150 pesos, two packages of cotton
+stuffs, and eight females. "Malinche," said they, in handing these over
+to Cortes, "may it please you to accept of the present we have here
+brought you, and from this moment we hope you will look upon us as your
+friends!"
+
+Cortes received it with every appearance of delight, and promised to
+assist them whenever they might require his aid. While we were thus
+standing around him, he desired father Olmedo to give them some notion
+of the Christian religion, and to admonish them to abolish their
+idol-worship, with which the father complied, and made similar
+disclosures to them as we had done to the inhabitants of the other
+townships we had visited. They acknowledged that all was very good which
+he told them, and that they would consider that matter more maturely at
+some future period. We likewise spoke to them about the vast power of
+our emperor, and how he had sent us to this country to put an end to all
+robbery and oppression.
+
+We had scarcely touched this string when they began to throw out bitter
+accusations against Motecusuma and his tax-gatherers, but out of the
+hearing of the Mexican ambassadors. The Mexicans, they said, robbed them
+of everything they possessed; abused the chastity of their wives and
+daughters, before their eyes, if they were handsome, and carried them
+forcibly away to toil hard in base servitude. They themselves were
+compelled to transport wood, stones, and maise, both by water and by
+land, to the monarch's extensive maise plantations, and to relinquish
+the produce of their own land for the maintenance of the great temple:
+in short, their complaints knew no end, and, owing to the many years
+which have since elapsed, I cannot now remember them all.
+
+Cortes, in the most affectionate manner, gave them every consolation in
+his power, which Dona Marina interpreted to them exceedingly well,
+adding, however, that, at present, our general could not redress their
+wrongs. They would have to bear with these hardships for some time yet,
+when they would certainly be released from this state of oppression. He
+then requested two of their principal personages to repair in all
+secrecy, with four of our friends from Tlascalla, to the spot where the
+other road had been intersected, mentioned by the inhabitants of
+Huexotzinco, to ascertain how matters stood, and if any troops were
+stationed there. But the caziques assured our general that it was not
+necessary to repair thither for that purpose, as all the palisades had
+been taken away, and the hole filled up again. The Mexicans had, indeed,
+cut through a dangerous pass some six days ago, and stationed a strong
+body of troops there to prevent our passing that way; but, since that
+time, they had been advised by their god of war to allow us to march
+forward unmolested, and not to attack us until we should be within the
+city, and then to kill us all. The caziques likewise begged of us to
+remain with them, and they would provide us with everything we might
+require. "Believe us," they added, "you must not go to Mexico, for we
+know how great the strength of that city is, and what large bodies of
+troops are there: if you once enter that city, you will all be put to
+death."
+
+Cortes replied to this well-meant advice with the serenest countenance
+in the world, and assured them that neither the Mexicans nor any other
+people had the power to deprive us of life,--this was in the hands of
+the God in whom we believed. We had to fulfil our commission to
+Motecusuma, to all the caziques and papas, and were therefore determined
+to march straightway to Mexico. We should only require twenty of their
+men to accompany us. He would do his utmost for them, and, immediately
+upon his arrival there, demand justice for them; and that neither
+Motecusuma nor his tax-gatherers should oppress them as heretofore.
+
+These promises spread an expression of joy over the countenance of every
+Indian present, and the twenty men whom Cortes required, instantly
+joined us; and, just as we were about to leave, other ambassadors
+arrived from Motecusuma, whose message I will relate in the next
+chapter.
+
+[42] It was here probably that Cortes was nigh being shot by one of his
+own sentinels. Late at night he visited the outposts himself, and one of
+the sentinels was just upon the point of firing at him, when Cortes
+fortunately made himself known. (p. 214.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXVII.
+
+    _How the powerful Motecusuma again sends ambassadors to us with a
+    present of gold and cotton stuffs: that monarch's message to Cortes,
+    and the answer he returns._
+
+
+As I have before said, we were about to continue our march, when four
+distinguished Mexicans arrived in our quarters, with a message from
+Motecusuma, accompanied by a present in gold and cotton stuffs, and thus
+addressed Cortes, after they had shown the usual signs of veneration:
+"Malinche! our sovereign, the mighty Motecusuma, sends you this present.
+He desires us to express his sorrow for the many hardships which you
+have been compelled to undergo on your tedious journey from such distant
+countries to behold his person. He now likewise, again renews the offer
+to pay you a quantity of gold, silver, and chalchihuis stones, in shape
+of tribute to your monarch, and as a present to you and the other teules
+who are with you; but, at the same time, he again begs of you not to
+advance any further, but to return from whence you came. He promises to
+send abundance of gold, silver, and jewels, for your emperor, to the
+harbour on the sea coast; he will present you with four loads of gold,
+and your companions with one each:[43] but he altogether forbids you to
+enter into Mexico, as all his troops are under arms to oppose you; add
+to which, the only access to the metropolis is by one narrow causeway,
+and we could not supply you with provisions there."[44]
+
+Besides these, the ambassadors offered many other reasons in order to
+dissuade us from advancing any further. However unpleasant this
+disclosure might sound in his ears, Cortes, nevertheless, embraced the
+ambassadors most affectionately, and accepted the presents, the value of
+which I cannot now remember. I must also remark that Motecusuma never
+sent any message to us which was not accompanied by some present in
+gold.
+
+On this occasion Cortes again told the ambassadors that he was surprised
+how their master, who had styled himself our friend so very many times,
+and was so powerful a monarch, could so often change his mind. Desire a
+thing one day, to countermand it the next. With respect to his offer of
+the gold for our emperor and ourselves, we were thankful for his kind
+intentions, as also for the presents they now brought with them, and he
+would certainly some day render him valuable services in return. He
+would ask them himself if it would be acting right after we had advanced
+within such a short distance of his metropolis, to turn back without
+fulfilling our monarch's commission? Motecusuma should place himself in
+our position and consider, if he had sent ambassadors to a monarch of
+his own rank, how he would like it, if they returned home after arriving
+almost at his palace, without once seeing that monarch or fulfilling
+their commission to him? How would he receive these ambassadors when
+they appeared before him? Would he not look upon them as cowards and
+spiritless beings? Our emperor, at least, would not look upon us in any
+other light, and treat us accordingly if we returned so to his court. We
+had now no choice left, and we must get into his metropolis one way or
+other. In future, therefore, we begged their monarch would not send any
+more ambassadors with such messages. He, Cortes, was determined to see
+and speak to Motecusuma himself personally, to acquaint him with the
+object of our mission. All we required of him was merely an audience,
+for the moment our stay in his metropolis became irksome to him we would
+leave and return to the place whence we had come. With regard to the
+alleged scarcity of provisions, we were accustomed to content ourselves
+with little. He had better, therefore, make up his mind to receive our
+visit, as we could not possibly relinquish our purpose of seeing Mexico.
+With this answer Cortes sent the ambassadors back to their monarch, and
+we continued our march. As we had been so often warned by the people of
+Huexotzinco and Chalco, and we were aware that Motecusuma had been
+advised by his idols and papas to allow us to enter the city and then
+fall upon us, we became more thoughtful, for we were likewise mortals
+and feared death. We were now, therefore, doubly upon our guard, more
+particularly as the country was thickly populated; and we made short
+days' marches. We arranged the manner in which we were to enter the
+city, and commended ourselves to the protection of God, and we felt
+confident hopes, that as the Lord Jesus had up to this moment watched
+over us in all our perils, he would also shield us against the power of
+Mexico.
+
+We took up our night's quarters in Iztapalapan, where we found an
+excellent supper awaiting us. This town lay half in the water and half
+on the dry land, on the slope of a small hill, where, at present, a
+public-house is built.
+
+After Motecusuma had learnt our answer to his message, he despatched his
+nephew Cacamatzin, prince of Tezcuco to us, in great pomp, to bid us
+welcome. The first intimation of this prince's approach was brought in
+by our outposts, who announced to our general that a great number of
+Mexicans were advancing, arrayed in their most splendid mantles and
+showed signs of peace. It was still early in the day, just as we were
+about to break up our quarters, and Cortes consequently ordered us to
+halt, until we should learn the purport of this visit.
+
+At this moment four distinguished personages came up to him, and made
+signs of the profoundest veneration, and announced to him that
+Cacamatzin, prince of Tezcuco, and nephew to Motecusuma, was approaching,
+and they begged that Cortes would await his arrival, as he would come
+almost immediately. It was indeed not long before this prince made his
+appearance in such splendour and magnificence as we had not yet seen in
+any of the Mexican chiefs. He was seated in a beautiful sedan, which was
+decorated with silver, green feathers, and branches made of gold, from
+which hung quantities of precious stones. This sedan was supported on
+the shoulders of eight distinguished personages, who, we were assured,
+were likewise caziques over townships.
+
+When the procession had arrived in front of Cortes' quarters, they
+assisted the prince out of the sedan, and swept clean every inch of
+ground before him, and then introduced him into the presence of our
+commander. After the usual compliments, Cacamatzin addressed Cortes as
+follows: "Malinche! I and these chiefs are come here to wait upon you,
+and to provide all those things for you and your companions which you
+may require, and to conduct you to the quarters we have prepared for you
+in our city. All this is done at the command of our monarch, the
+powerful Motecusuma."
+
+When we contemplated the splendour and majesty of these caziques, and
+particularly of the nephew of Motecusuma, we could not help remarking to
+each other, if these appear in so much splendour what must not the power
+and majesty of the mighty Motecusuma himself be![45]
+
+When Cacamatzin had done speaking, Cortes embraced him, and said many
+fine things to this prince and the great personages around him, and
+presented the former with three pieces of polished stone, of a pearly
+hue, containing various figures in different colours;[46] and the other
+chiefs with blue glass beads. He then again thanked him for the
+attentions which Motecusuma had thus far shown him, and inquired what
+day he should be able to thank Motecusuma in person?
+
+This conference being ended, we continued our march; we were accompanied
+by the caziques who had come out to meet us and their numerous suite,
+with all the inhabitants of the surrounding neighbourhood, so that we
+could scarcely move along for the vast crowds of people.
+
+The next morning we reached the broad high road of Iztapalapan, whence
+we for the first time beheld the numbers of towns and villages built in
+the lake, and the still greater number of large townships on the
+mainland, with the level causeway which ran in a straight line into
+Mexico. Our astonishment was indeed raised to the highest pitch, and we
+could not help remarking to each other, that all these buildings
+resembled the fairy castles we read of in Amadis de Gaul; so high,
+majestic, and splendid did the temples, towers, and houses of the town,
+all built of massive stone and lime, rise up out of the midst of the
+lake. Indeed, many of our men believed what they saw was a mere dream.
+And the reader must not feel surprised at the manner in which I have
+expressed myself, for it is impossible to speak coolly of things which
+we had never seen nor heard of, nor even could have dreamt of,
+beforehand.
+
+When we approached near to Iztapalapan, two other caziques came out in
+great pomp to receive us: one was the prince of Cuitlahuac, and the
+other of Cojohuacan; both were near relatives of Motecusuma. We now
+entered the town of Iztapalapan, where we were indeed quartered in
+palaces, of large dimensions, surrounded by spacious courts, and built
+of hewn stone, cedar and other sweet-scented wood. All the apartments
+were hung round with cotton cloths.
+
+After we had seen all this, we paid a visit to the gardens adjoining
+these palaces, which were really astonishing, and I could not gratify my
+desire too much by walking about in them and contemplating the numbers
+of trees which spread around the most delicious odours; the rose bushes,
+the different flower beds, and the fruit trees which stood along the
+paths. There was likewise a basin of sweet water, which was connected
+with the lake by means of a small canal. It was constructed of stone of
+various colours, and decorated with numerous figures, and was wide
+enough to hold their largest canoes. In this basin various kinds of
+water-fowls were swimming up and down, and everything was so charming
+and beautiful that we could find no words to express our astonishment.
+Indeed I do not believe a country was ever discovered which was equal in
+splendour to this; for Peru was not known at that time. But, at the
+present moment, there is not a vestige of all this remaining, and not a
+stone of this beautiful town is now standing.[47]
+
+We had not been long here before the caziques of this town, and of
+Cojohuacan arrived with a present, worth about 2000 pesos, for which
+Cortes returned them many thanks, and showed the caziques every possible
+kindness, and explained, by means of our interpreters, many important
+things to them relative to our holy religion, and the great power of our
+emperor.
+
+Iztapalapan was at that time a town of considerable magnitude, built
+half in the water and half on dry land. The spot where it stood is at
+present all dry land; and where vessels once sailed up and down, seeds
+are sown and harvests gathered. In fact, the whole face of the country
+is so completely changed that he who had not seen these parts
+previously, would scarcely believe that waves had ever rolled over the
+spot where now fertile maise plantations extend themselves to all sides;
+so wonderfully has everything changed here in a short space of time!
+
+[43] Clavigero says, that a Mexican load was equal in weight to fifty
+Spanish pounds, or eight hundred ounces, and values the gold which
+Motecusuma offered to Cortes on this occasion at above three millions of
+ducats! (p. 216.)
+
+[44] Torquemada (Monarch. Ind. lib. iv) gives many reasons why
+Motecusuma was so undecided as to whether he should allow the Spaniards
+to enter his metropolis. (p. 216.)
+
+[45] Other writers say, that several of the Spaniards could not be
+persuaded for a length of time that it was not the monarch himself. (p.
+218.)
+
+[46] Bernal Diaz says, "Tres piedras que se llaman margaritas."
+Margarita is Spanish for a pearl; yet it is evident our old soldier is
+not speaking of pearls here, and most likely what he calls stones were
+nothing more than coloured Venetian glass, which was formerly held in
+great estimation; for in the next chapter he further describes these
+stones by "piedras de vidrio," stones of glass. (p. 218.)
+
+[47] Cortes, in his despatches, gives even a more glowing description of
+this charming spot; a strong proof that Bernal Diaz has not said too
+much of it. (p. 219.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXVIII.
+
+    _The magnificent and pompous reception which the powerful Motecusuma
+    gave to Cortes and all of us, on our entrance into the great city of
+    Mexico._
+
+
+The following morning we left Iztapalapan accompanied by all the
+principal caziques above mentioned. The road along which we marched was
+eight paces in breadth, and if I still remember ran in a perfectly
+straight line to Mexico. Notwithstanding the breadth, it was much too
+narrow to hold the vast crowds of people who continually kept arriving
+from different parts to gaze upon us, and we could scarcely move along.
+Besides this, the tops of all the temples and towers were crowded, while
+the lake beneath was completely covered with canoes filled with Indians,
+for all were curious to catch a glimpse of us. And who can wonder at
+this, as neither men like unto ourselves, nor horses, had ever been seen
+here before!
+
+When we gazed upon all this splendour at once, we scarcely knew what to
+think, and we doubted whether all that we beheld was real. A series of
+large towns stretched themselves along the banks of the lake, out of
+which still larger ones rose magnificently above the waters. Innumerable
+crowds of canoes were plying everywhere around us; at regular distances
+we continually passed over new bridges, and before us lay the great city
+of Mexico in all its splendour.
+
+And we who were gazing upon all this, passing through innumerable crowds
+of human beings, were a mere handful of men, in all 450, our minds still
+full of the warnings which the inhabitants of Huexotzinco, Tlascalla,
+and Tlalmanalco, with the caution they had given us not to expose our
+lives to the treachery of the Mexicans. I may safely ask the kind reader
+to ponder a moment, and say whether he thinks any men in this world ever
+ventured so bold a stroke as this?
+
+When we had arrived at a spot where another narrow causeway led towards
+Cojohuacan we were met by a number of caziques and distinguished
+personages, all attired in their most splendid garments. They had been
+despatched by Motecusuma to meet us and bid us welcome in his name; and
+in token of peace they touched the ground with their hands and kissed
+it. Here we halted for a few minutes, while the princes of Tetzcuco,
+Iztapalapan, Tlacupa, and Cojohuacan hastened in advance to meet
+Motecusuma, who was slowly approaching us, surrounded by other grandees
+of the kingdom, seated in a sedan of uncommon splendour. When we had
+arrived at a place not far from the town, where several small towers
+rose together, the monarch raised himself in his sedan, and the chief
+caziques supported him under the arms, and held over his head a canopy
+of exceedingly great value, decorated with green feathers, gold, silver,
+chalchihuis stones, and pearls, which hung down from a species of
+bordering, altogether curious to look at.
+
+Motecusuma himself, according to his custom, was sumptuously attired,
+had on a species of half boot, richly set with jewels, and whose soles
+were made of solid gold. The four grandees who supported him were also
+richly attired, which they must have put on somewhere on the road, in
+order to wait upon Motecusuma; they were not so sumptuously dressed when
+they first came out to meet us. Besides these distinguished caziques,
+there were many other grandees around the monarch, some of whom held the
+canopy over his head, while others again occupied the road before him,
+and spread cotton cloths on the ground that his feet might not touch the
+bare earth. No one of his suite ever looked at him full in the face;
+every one in his presence stood with eyes downcast, and it was only his
+four nephews and cousins who supported him that durst look up.
+
+When it was announced to Cortes that Motecusuma himself was approaching,
+he alighted from his horse and advanced to meet him. Many compliments
+were now passed on both sides. Motecusuma bid Cortes welcome, who,
+through Marina, said, in return, he hoped his majesty was in good
+health. If I still remember rightly, Cortes, who had Marina next to him,
+wished to concede the place of honour to the monarch, who, however,
+would not accept of it, but conceded it to Cortes, who now brought forth
+a necklace of precious stones, of the most beautiful colours and shapes,
+strung upon gold wire, and perfumed with musk, which he hung about the
+neck of Motecusuma. Our commander was then going to embrace him, but the
+grandees by whom he was surrounded held back his arms, as they
+considered it improper. Our general then desired Marina to tell the
+monarch how exceedingly he congratulated himself upon his good fortune
+of having seen such a powerful monarch face to face, and of the honour
+he had done us by coming out to meet us himself. To all this Motecusuma
+answered in very appropriate terms, and ordered his two nephews, the
+princes of Tetzcuco and Cojohuacan, to conduct us to our quarters. He
+himself returned to the city, accompanied by his two other relatives,
+the princes of Cuitlahuac and Tlacupa, with the other grandees of his
+numerous suite. As they passed by, we perceived how all those who
+composed his majesty's retinue held their heads bent forward, no one
+daring to lift up his eyes in his presence; and altogether what deep
+veneration was paid him.
+
+The road before us now became less crowded, and yet who would have been
+able to count the vast numbers of men, women, and children who filled
+the streets, crowded the balconies, and the canoes in the canals, merely
+to gaze upon us? Indeed, at the moment I am writing this, everything
+comes as lively to my eyes as if it had happened yesterday; and I daily
+become more sensible of the great mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
+he lent us sufficient strength and courage to enter this city: for my
+own person, I have particular reason to be thankful that he spared my
+life in so many perils, as the reader will sufficiently see in the
+course of this history: indeed I cannot sufficiently praise him that I
+have been allowed to live thus long to narrate these adventures,
+although they may not turn out so perfect as I myself could wish.
+
+We were quartered in a large building where there was room enough for us
+all, and which had been occupied by Axayacatl, father of Motecusuma,
+during his life-time. Here the latter had likewise a secret room full of
+treasures, and where the gold he had inherited from his father was hid,
+which he had never touched up to this moment. Near this building there
+were temples and Mexican idols, and this place had been purposely
+selected for us because we were termed teules, or were thought to be
+such, and that we might dwell among the latter as among our equals. The
+apartments and halls were very spacious, and those set apart for our
+general were furnished with carpets. There were separate beds for each
+of us, which could not have been better fitted up for a gentleman of the
+first rank. Every place was swept clean, and the walls had been newly
+plastered and decorated.[48]
+
+When we had arrived in the great courtyard adjoining this palace,
+Motecusuma came up to Cortes, and, taking him by the hand, conducted him
+himself into the apartments where he was to lodge, which had been
+beautifully decorated after the fashion of the country. He then hung
+about his neck a chaste necklace of gold, most curiously worked with
+figures all representing crabs. The Mexican grandees were greatly
+astonished at all these uncommon favours which their monarch bestowed
+upon our general.
+
+Cortes returned the monarch many thanks for so much kindness, and the
+latter took leave of him with these words: "Malinche, you and your
+brothers must now do as if you were at home, and take some rest after
+the fatigues of the journey," then returned to his own palace, which was
+close at hand.
+
+We allotted the apartments according to the several companies, placed
+our cannon in an advantageous position, and made such arrangements that
+our cavalry, as well as the infantry, might be ready at a moment's
+notice. We then sat down to a plentiful repast, which had been
+previously spread out for us, and made a sumptuous meal.
+
+This our bold and memorable entry into the large city of
+Temixtitlan-Mexico[49] took place on the 8th of November, 1519. Praise
+be to the Lord Jesus Christ for all this. If, however, I have not
+exactly related every circumstance that transpired at the moment, the
+reader must pardon me for the present.
+
+[48] Of this building Torquemada says, it contained apartments in which
+one hundred and fifty Spaniards slept, each in a separate bed; and that,
+notwithstanding the magnitude of the building, every place was kept
+remarkably clean; the floors were covered with mats, and the walls were
+hung with tapestry of cotton decorated with feathers, and in every room
+there was a fire, which threw out a delightful perfume. (p. 222.)
+
+[49] The real name was Tenuchtitlan, and it was not known by any other
+name when Cortes first visited the country; for Mexico was a more modern
+name for this city. (p. 223.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXXXIX.
+
+    _How Motecusuma, accompanied by several caziques, pays us a visit in
+    our quarters, and of the discourse that passed between him and our
+    general._
+
+
+After Motecusuma had dined, and was informed that we had likewise left
+table, he set out from his palace in great pomp, accompanied by a number
+of his grandees and all his relations, to pay us a visit. Cortes, being
+apprized of his approach, advanced to the middle of the apartment to
+receive him. Motecusuma took him by the hand, while others brought in a
+species of chair of great value, decorated, according to Mexican
+fashion, with gold beautifully worked into various shapes; the monarch
+then invited our general to seat himself next to him.
+
+Motecusuma then began a very excellent discourse, and, first of all,
+expressed his delight to entertain in his kingdom and city such
+courageous cavaliers as Cortes and all of us were. A couple of years ago
+he had received intelligence that some other officer had made his
+appearance in the province of Champoton; and a year later, of a second,
+who had been off the coast with four vessels. He had long desired to
+see Cortes, and, since his wishes were now fulfilled, he was ready to
+render us any services, and provide us with everything we might require.
+He was now convinced that we were those people of whom his earliest
+forefathers had spoken,--a people that would come from the rising of the
+sun and conquer these countries. After the battles we had fought at
+Potonchan, Tabasco, and those against the Tlascallans, which had been
+represented to him by pictures, all further doubt had vanished from his
+mind.[50]
+
+To which Cortes answered, that we should never be able to repay him for
+all the kindnesses he had shown us. We indeed came from the rising of
+the sun, and were servants and subjects of a powerful monarch, called
+Don Carlos, who had numerous distinguished princes among his vassals.
+Our monarch had received intelligence of him, Motecusuma, and of his
+great power, and had expressly sent us to his country to beg of him and
+his subjects to become converts to the Christian faith, for the
+salvation of their souls; and that we only adored one true God, as he
+had previously, in some degree, explained on the downs to his
+ambassadors Teuthlille, Cuitalpitoc, and Quintalbor, all of which,
+however, would be more fully explained to him at some future period.
+When this discourse was ended, Motecusuma presented to our general
+various kinds of valuable gold trinkets, and a smaller portion of the
+same kind to each of our officers, with three packages of cotton stuffs,
+splendidly interwoven with feathers; and to every soldier two similar
+packages. All this he gave with every appearance of delight, and in all
+he did he showed his excellent breeding. He likewise inquired, after the
+presents had been distributed, whether we were all brothers, and
+subjects of our great emperor? To which Cortes replied in the
+affirmative, assuring him we were all united in love and friendship
+towards each other. In this way a pleasant discourse was kept up between
+Motecusuma and Cortes, though it was of short duration, as this was the
+monarch's first visit, and he was unwilling to be too troublesome thus
+early. He then ordered his house steward to provide us the necessary
+provisions, consisting in maise, fowls, and fruits, and also grass for
+our horses; to furnish women to grind our corn with stones, and bake the
+bread: after which the monarch took leave of us with great courtesy,
+Cortes and all of us conducting him to the door.
+
+Our general now issued strict commands that no one should stir from
+head-quarters until we had gained some certain knowledge as to how
+matters really stood.
+
+[50] Cortes, in his despatches to the emperor, says that the monarch
+spoke as follows to him: "We have long known, from the historical books
+of our forefathers, that neither I, nor the inhabitants of this country,
+originally belonged to it, but that our forefathers came from distant
+countries. We also know that the tribe we belong to was brought hither
+by a monarch to whom it was subject; but this king returned to his own
+country, nor did he return to visit his people till several years had
+elapsed, after they had married the daughters of the land, and got large
+families by them. The monarch came with the view of leading them back to
+their old country again; however, they not only refused to accompany
+them, but would no longer acknowledge him as their king. We have always
+firmly believed that descendants of this monarch would one time or other
+make their appearance among us, and obtain the dominion of the country.
+As you, according to your assurances, come from the rising of the sun,
+we doubt not, after what you have told us of your great monarch, who
+sent you here, that he is our rightful sovereign; and we have the more
+reason to believe this, since you tell us that he had some previous
+knowledge of us." (p. 224.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XC.
+
+    _How our general, the day following, paid a visit to Motecusuma, and
+    of the discourse that passed between them._
+
+
+The next day Cortes determined to visit Motecusuma in his own palace. He
+therefore first sent to inquire after his health, and whether it would
+be agreeable to the monarch to receive a visit from him. Our general
+took with him four of our principal officers, namely, Alvarado, Leon,
+Ordas, and Sandoval, besides five soldiers, of whom I was one.
+
+When our arrival was announced to Motecusuma, he advanced to the middle
+of the apartment to meet us, being solely attended by his nephew, as the
+other grandees were only allowed to enter his apartments upon very
+important occasions. After the first compliments had passed between the
+monarch and our general, they shook hands, and Motecusuma conducted
+Cortes to an elevated seat, and placed him at his right hand. The rest
+of us were also desired to sit down on chairs which were brought in for
+us. Cortes then, by means of our interpreters, addressed Motecusuma at
+considerable length: "He said that all his and our wishes were now
+fulfilled, as he had reached the end of his journey, and obeyed the
+commands of our great emperor. There only now remained to disclose to
+him the commandments of our God. We were Christians, believing in one
+true God only, Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for our salvation. We
+prayed to the cross as an emblem of that cross on which our Lord and
+Saviour was crucified. By his death the whole human race was saved. He
+rose on the third day, and was received into heaven. By him, heaven,
+earth, and sea, and every living creature was formed: and nothing
+existed but by his divine will. Those figures, on the contrary, which he
+considered as gods, were no gods, but devils, which were evil spirits.
+It was very evident how powerless and what miserable things they were,
+since in all those places where we had planted the cross, those gods no
+longer durst make their appearance. Of this his ambassadors were fully
+convinced, and he himself would, in the course of time, be convinced of
+this truth. He begged he would also pay particular attention to
+something else he had to communicate." Here Cortes very intelligently
+explained to him how the world was created, how all people were
+brothers, and sons of one father and mother, called Adam and Eve; and
+how grieved our emperor was to think that so many human souls should be
+lost, and sent to hell by those false idols, where they would be
+tormented by everlasting fire; for this reason he had sent us hither to
+put an end to so much misery, and to exhort the inhabitants of this
+country no longer to adore such gods, nor sacrifice human beings to
+them; and also to abstain from robbery and committing unnatural
+offences. In a very short time our emperor would send to this country
+men of great piety and virtue, of whom there were numbers in our
+country, and who would explain these things more fully to them. Of all
+this we were merely the first messengers, and could only beg of them to
+support us in our labours, and assist us in their completion.
+
+As Motecusuma was about to answer, Cortes stopped short, and, turning to
+us, said, "Verily, I am determined they shall comply with this, and let
+this be the commencement of our work!"
+
+Motecusuma, in reply, expressed himself as follows: "Malinche! What you
+have just been telling me of your God has, indeed, been mentioned to me
+before by my servants, to whom you made similar disclosures immediately
+upon your arrival off the coast. Neither am I ignorant of what you have
+stated concerning the cross and everything else in the towns you passed
+through. We, however, maintained silence, as the gods we adore were
+adored in bygone ages by our ancestors. We have, once for all,
+acknowledged them as good deities, in the same way as you have yours,
+and therefore let us talk no further on this subject. Respecting the
+creation of the world, we likewise believe it was created many ages ago.
+We likewise believe that you are those people whom our ancestors
+prophecied would come from the rising of the sun, and I feel myself
+indebted to your great emperor, to whom I will send a present of the
+most valuable things I possess. It is now two years ago that I received
+the first intelligence of him by some vessels which appeared off my
+coast belonging to your country, the people on board of which likewise
+called themselves subjects of your great emperor. Tell me, now, do you
+really all belong to the same people?"
+
+Cortes assured him we were all servants of the same great emperor; that
+those vessels were merely sent out in advance to explore the seas and
+the harbours, to make the necessary preparations for our present
+expedition.
+
+Motecusuma likewise remarked that then even he had contemplated allowing
+some of those men to penetrate into the interior of his country, from
+his great desire to see them, and had intended to pay them great
+honours. Since the gods had now fulfilled his greatest desires, and we
+now inhabited his dwellings, which we might look upon as our own, we
+could rest from our fatigues, and enjoy ourselves, and we should not
+want for anything. Although he had sometimes sent us word not to repair
+to his metropolis, he had done so with great reluctance. He had been
+forced to act so on account of his subjects, who stood in great awe of
+us, and believed that we whirled fire and lightning around us, and
+killed numbers of men with our horses; that we were wild and unruly
+teules, and such like nonsense: as he had now gained personal knowledge
+of us, and convinced himself that we were likewise formed of flesh and
+bone, and men of great understanding, with great courage, he entertained
+even a more elevated opinion of us than he had previously, and was ready
+to share all he possessed with us.
+
+Upon this, Cortes assured him that we felt ourselves vastly indebted to
+him for the very kind feeling he evinced on our behalf.
+
+Motecusuma, who was always of a merry disposition, though never, for an
+instant, forgetful of his high station, now continued in a more humorous
+style, as follows: "I am perfectly well aware, Malinche, what the people
+of Tlascalla, with whom you are so closely allied, have been telling you
+respecting myself. They have made you believe that I am a species of
+god, or teule, and that my palaces are filled with gold, silver, and
+jewels. I do not think, for an instant, that reasonable men as you are
+can put any faith in all their talk, but that you look upon all this as
+nonsense: besides which, you can now convince yourself, Malinche, that I
+am made of flesh and bone as you are, and that my palaces are built of
+stone, lime, and wood. I am, to be sure, a powerful monarch; it is
+likewise true that I have inherited vast treasures from my ancestors;
+but with regard to anything else they may have told you respecting me,
+it is all nonsense. You must just think of that as I think of the
+lightning and burning flames which you are said to whirl about in all
+directions."
+
+To this Cortes answered, likewise laughingly, "We knew, from old
+experience, that enemies neither tell the truth nor speak well of each
+other. We had, however, long ago convinced ourselves that there was not
+another such a noble-minded and illustrious monarch as himself in this
+quarter of the world, and that the great idea our emperor had formed of
+him was well founded."
+
+During this discourse, Motecusuma secretly desired his nephew to order
+his house-steward to bring in some gold trinkets and ten packages of
+fine stuffs, which he divided among Cortes and the four officers who
+were present. We five soldiers obtained each two gold chains for the
+neck, in value about ten pesos each, besides two packages of cotton
+stuffs.
+
+The gold which Motecusuma gave away upon this occasion was estimated at
+above 1000 pesos. But what was more, everything he gave away was given
+with the best of good will, and with an air of dignity which you might
+expect in so great a monarch.[51]
+
+As it was already past noon, Cortes began to fear that any longer stay
+might be troublesome to the monarch, and said to him, in rising from his
+seat, "We are daily becoming more and more indebted to your majesty for
+so many kindnesses; at present it is time to think of dinner."
+
+The monarch, in return, thanked us for our visit, and we took leave of
+each other in the most courteous manner imaginable. We now returned to
+our quarters, and acquainted our fellow-soldiers with the kind reception
+the monarch had given us.
+
+[51] Torquemada relates that the monarch had made minute inquiries of
+the interpreters respecting the rank of each Spaniard, and that the
+value of the presents he intended to give them was to be according to
+their respective ranks. (p. 228.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCI.
+
+    _Of Motecusuma's person, disposition, habits, and of his great
+    power._
+
+
+The mighty Motecusuma may have been about this time in the fortieth year
+of his age. He was tall of stature, of slender make, and rather thin,
+but the symmetry of his body was beautiful. His complexion was not very
+brown, merely approaching to that of the inhabitants in general. The
+hair of his head was not very long, excepting where it hung thickly down
+over his ears, which were quite hidden by it. His black beard, though
+thin, looked handsome. His countenance was rather of an elongated form,
+but cheerful; and his fine eyes had the expression of love or severity,
+at the proper moments. He was particularly clean in his person, and took
+a bath every evening. Besides a number of concubines, who were all
+daughters of persons of rank and quality, he had two lawful wives of
+royal extraction, whom, however, he visited secretly without any one
+daring to observe it, save his most confidential servants. He was
+perfectly innocent of any unnatural crimes. The dress he had on one day
+was not worn again until four days had elapsed. In the halls adjoining
+his own private apartments there was always a guard of 2000 men of
+quality, in waiting: with whom, however, he never held any conversation
+unless to give them orders or to receive some intelligence from them.
+Whenever for this purpose they entered his apartment, they had first to
+take off their rich costumes and put on meaner garments, though these
+were always neat and clean; and were only allowed to enter into his
+presence barefooted, with eyes cast down. No person durst look at him
+full in the face, and during the three prostrations which they were
+obliged to make before they could approach him, they pronounced these
+words: "Lord! my Lord! sublime Lord!" Everything that was communicated
+to him was to be said in few words, the eyes of the speaker being
+constantly cast down, and on leaving the monarch's presence he walked
+backwards out of the room. I also remarked that even princes and other
+great personages who come to Mexico respecting lawsuits, or on other
+business from the interior of the country, always took off their shoes
+and changed their whole dress for one of a meaner appearance when they
+entered his palace. Neither were they allowed to enter the palace
+straightway, but had to show themselves for a considerable time outside
+the doors; as it would have been considered want of respect to the
+monarch if this had been omitted.
+
+Above 300 kinds of dishes were served up for Motecusuma's dinner from
+his kitchen, underneath which were placed pans of porcelain filled with
+fire, to keep them warm. Three hundred dishes of various kinds were
+served up for him alone, and above 1000 for the persons in waiting. He
+sometimes, but very seldom, accompanied by the chief officers of his
+household, ordered the dinner himself, and desired that the best dishes
+and various kinds of birds should be called over to him. We were told
+that the flesh of young children, as a very dainty bit, was also set
+before him sometimes by way of a relish. Whether there was any truth in
+this we could not possibly discover; on account of the great variety of
+dishes, consisting in fowls, turkeys, pheasants, partridges, quails,
+tame and wild geese, venison, musk swine, pigeons, hares, rabbits, and
+of numerous other birds and beasts; besides which there were various
+other kinds of provisions, indeed it would have been no easy task to
+call them all over by name. This I know, however, for certain, that
+after Cortes had reproached him for the human sacrifices and the eating
+of human flesh, he issued orders that no dishes of that nature should
+again be brought to his table. I will, however, drop this subject, and
+rather relate how the monarch was waited on while he sat at dinner. If
+the weather was cold a large fire was made with a kind of charcoal made
+of the bark of trees, which emitted no smoke, but threw out a delicious
+perfume; and that his majesty might not feel any inconvenience from too
+great a heat, a screen was placed between his person and the fire, made
+of gold, and adorned with all manner of figures of their gods. The chair
+on which he sat was rather low, but supplied with soft cushions, and was
+beautifully carved; the table was very little higher than this, but
+perfectly corresponded with his seat. It was covered with white cloths,
+and one of a larger size. Four very neat and pretty young women held
+before the monarch a species of round pitcher, called by them Xicales,
+filled with water to wash his hands in. The water was caught in other
+vessels, and then the young women presented him with towels to dry his
+hands. Two other women brought him maise-bread baked with eggs. Before,
+however, Motecusuma began his dinner, a kind of wooden screen, strongly
+gilt, was placed before him, that no one might see him while eating, and
+the young women stood at a distance. Next four elderly men, of high
+rank, were admitted to his table; whom he addressed from time to time,
+or put some questions to them. Sometimes he would offer them a plate of
+some of his viands, which was considered a mark of great favour. These
+grey-headed old men, who were so highly honoured, were, as we
+subsequently learnt, his nearest relations, most trustworthy counsellors
+and chief justices. Whenever he ordered any victuals to be presented
+them, they ate it standing, in the deepest veneration, though without
+daring to look at him full in the face. The dishes in which the dinner
+was served up were of variegated and black porcelain, made at Cholulla.
+While the monarch was at table, his courtiers, and those who were in
+waiting in the halls adjoining, had to maintain strict silence.
+
+After the hot dishes had been removed, every kind of fruit which the
+country produced was set on the table; of which, however, Motecusuma ate
+very little. Every now and then was handed to him a golden pitcher
+filled with a kind of liquor made from the cacao, which is of a very
+exciting nature.[52] Though we did not pay any particular attention to
+the circumstance at the time, yet I saw about fifty large pitchers
+filled with the same liquor brought in all frothy. This beverage was
+also presented to the monarch by women, but all with the profoundest
+veneration.
+
+Sometimes during dinner time, he would have ugly Indian humpbacked
+dwarfs, who acted as buffoons and performed antics for his amusement. At
+another time he would have jesters to enliven him with their witticisms.
+Others again danced and sung before him. Motecusuma took great delight
+in these entertainments, and ordered the broken victuals and pitchers of
+cacao liquor to be distributed among these performers. As soon as he had
+finished his dinner the four women cleared the cloths and brought him
+water to wash his hands. During this interval he discoursed a little
+with the four old men, and then left table to enjoy his afternoon's nap.
+
+After the monarch had dined, dinner was served up for the men on duty
+and the other officers of his household, and I have often counted more
+than 1000 dishes on the table, of the kinds above mentioned. These were
+then followed, according to the Mexican custom, by the frothing jugs of
+cacao liquor; certainly 2000 of them, after which came different kinds
+of fruit in great abundance.
+
+Next the women dined, who superintended the baking department; and those
+who made the cacao liquor, with the young women who waited upon the
+monarch. Indeed, the daily expense of these dinners alone must have been
+very great!
+
+Besides these servants there were numerous butlers, house-stewards,
+treasurers, cooks, and superintendents of maise-magazines. Indeed there
+is so much to be said about these that I scarcely knew where to
+commence, and we could not help wondering that everything was done with
+such perfect order. I had almost forgotten to mention, that during
+dinner-time, two other young women of great beauty brought the monarch
+small cakes, as white as snow, made of eggs and other very nourishing
+ingredients, on plates covered with clean napkins; also a kind of
+long-shaped bread, likewise made of very substantial things, and some
+pachol, which is a kind of wafer-cake. They then presented him with
+three beautifully painted and gilt tubes, which were filled with liquid
+amber, and a herb called by the Indians tabaco. After the dinner had
+been cleared away and the singing and dancing done, one of these tubes
+was lighted, and the monarch took the smoke into his mouth, and after he
+had done this a short time, he fell asleep.[53]
+
+About this time a celebrated cazique, whom we called Tapia, was
+Motecusuma's chief steward: he kept an account of the whole of
+Motecusuma's revenue, in large books of paper which the Mexicans call
+_Amatl_. A whole house was filled with such large books of accounts.[54]
+
+Motecusuma had also two arsenals filled with arms of every description,
+of which many were ornamented with gold and precious stones. These arms
+consisted in shields of different sizes, sabres, and a species of
+broadsword, which is wielded with both hands, the edge furnished with
+flint stones, so extremely sharp that they cut much better than our
+Spanish swords:[55] further, lances of greater length than ours, with
+spikes at their end, full one fathom in length, likewise furnished with
+several sharp flint stones. The pikes are so very sharp and hard that
+they will pierce the strongest shield, and cut like a razor; so that the
+Mexicans even shave themselves with these stones. Then there were
+excellent bows and arrows, pikes with single and double points, and the
+proper thongs to throw them with; slings with round stones purposely
+made for them; also a species of large shield, so ingeniously
+constructed that it could be rolled up when not wanted: they are only
+unrolled on the field of battle, and completely cover the whole body
+from the head to the feet. Further, we saw here a great variety of
+cuirasses made of quilted cotton, which were outwardly adorned with soft
+feathers of different colours, and looked like uniforms; morions and
+helmets constructed of wood and bones, likewise adorned with feathers.
+There were always artificers at work, who continually augmented this
+store of arms; and the arsenals were under the care of particular
+personages, who also superintended the works.
+
+Motecusuma had likewise a variety of aviaries, and it is indeed with
+difficulty that I constrain myself from going into too minute a detail
+respecting these. I will confine myself by stating that we saw here
+every kind of eagle, from the king's eagle to the smallest kind
+included, and every species of bird, from the largest known to the
+little colibris, in their full splendour of plumage. Here were also to
+be seen those birds from which the Mexicans take the green-coloured
+feathers of which they manufacture their beautiful feathered stuffs.
+These last-mentioned birds very much resemble our Spanish jays, and are
+called by the Indians quezales. The species of sparrows were
+particularly curious, having five distinct colours in their
+plumage--green, red, white, yellow, and blue; I have, however, forgotten
+their Mexican name. There were such vast numbers of parrots, and such a
+variety of species, that I cannot remember all their names; and geese of
+the richest plumage, and other large birds. These were, at stated
+periods, stripped of their feathers, in order that new ones might grow
+in their place. All these birds had appropriate places to breed in, and
+were under the care of several Indians of both sexes, who had to keep
+the nests clean, give to each kind its proper food, and set the birds
+for breeding. In the courtyard belonging to this building, there was a
+large basin of sweet water, in which, besides other water fowls, there
+was a particularly beautiful bird, with long legs, its body, wings, and
+tail variously coloured, and is called at Cuba, where it is also found,
+the ipiris.
+
+In another large building, numbers of idols were erected, and these, it
+is said, were the most terrible of all their gods. Near these were kept
+all manner of beautiful animals, tigers, lions of two different kinds,
+of which one had the shape of a wolf, and was called a jackal; there
+were also foxes, and other small beasts of prey. Most of these animals
+had been bred here, and were fed with wild deers' flesh, turkeys, dogs,
+and sometimes, as I have been assured, with the offal of human beings.
+
+Respecting the abominable human sacrifices of these people, the
+following was communicated to us: The breast of the unhappy victim
+destined to be sacrificed was ripped open with a knife made of sharp
+flint; the throbbing heart was then torn out, and immediately offered to
+the idol-god in whose honour the sacrifice had been instituted. After
+this, the head, arms, and legs were cut off and eaten at their banquets,
+with the exception of the head, which was saved, and hung to a beam
+appropriated for that purpose. No other part of the body was eaten, but
+the remainder was thrown to the beasts which were kept in those
+abominable dens, in which there were also vipers and other poisonous
+serpents, and, among the latter in particular, a species at the end of
+whose tail there was a kind of rattle. This last-mentioned serpent,
+which is the most dangerous, was kept in a cabin of a diversified form,
+in which a quantity of feathers had been strewed: here it laid its eggs,
+and it was fed with the flesh of dogs and of human beings who had been
+sacrificed. We were positively told that, after we had been beaten out
+of the city of Mexico, and had lost 850 of our men, these horrible
+beasts were fed for many successive days with the bodies of our
+unfortunate countrymen. Indeed, when all the tigers and lions roared
+together, with the howlings of the jackals and foxes, and hissing of the
+serpents, it was quite fearful, and you could not suppose otherwise than
+that you were in hell.
+
+I will now, however, turn to another subject, and rather acquaint my
+readers with the skilful arts practised among the Mexicans: among which
+I will first mention the sculptors, and the gold and silversmiths, who
+were clever in working and smelting gold, and would have astonished the
+most celebrated of our Spanish goldsmiths: the number of these was very
+great, and the most skilful lived at a place called Escapuzalco, about
+four miles from Mexico. After these came the very skilful masters in
+cutting and polishing precious stones, and the chalchihuis, which
+resemble the emerald. Then follow the great masters in painting, and
+decorators in feathers, and the wonderful sculptors. Even at this day
+there are living in Mexico three Indian artists, named Marcos de Aguino,
+Juan de la Cruz, and El Crespello, who have severally reached to such
+great proficiency in the art of painting and sculpture, that they may be
+compared to an Apelles, or our contemporaries Michael Angelo and
+Berruguete.[56]
+
+The women were particularly skilful in weaving and embroidery, and they
+manufactured quantities of the finest stuffs, interwoven with feathers.
+The commoner stuffs, for daily use, came from some townships in the
+province of Costatlan, which lay on the north coast, not far from Vera
+Cruz, where we first landed with Cortes.
+
+The concubines in the palace of Motecusuma, who were all daughters of
+distinguished men, were employed in manufacturing the most beautiful
+stuffs, interwoven with feathers. Similar manufactures were made by
+certain kind of women who dwelt secluded in cloisters, as our nuns do.
+Of these nuns there were great numbers, and they lived in the
+neighbourhood of the great temple of Huitzilopochtli. Fathers sometimes
+brought their daughters from a pious feeling, or in honour of some
+female idol, the protectress of marriage, into these habitations, where
+they remained until they were married.
+
+The powerful Motecusuma had also a number of dancers and clowns: some
+danced in stilts, tumbled, and performed a variety of other antics for
+the monarch's entertainment: a whole quarter of the city was inhabited
+by these performers, and their only occupation consisted in such like
+performances. Lastly, Motecusuma had in his service great numbers of
+stone-cutters, masons, and carpenters, who were solely employed in the
+royal palaces.[57] Above all, I must not forget to mention here his
+gardens for the culture of flowers, trees, and vegetables, of which
+there were various kinds. In these gardens were also numerous baths,
+wells, basins, and ponds full of limpid water, which regularly ebbed and
+flowed. All this was enlivened by endless varieties of small birds,
+which sang among the trees. Also the plantations of medical plants and
+vegetables are well worthy of our notice: these were kept in proper
+order by a large body of gardeners. All the baths, wells, ponds, and
+buildings were substantially constructed of stonework, as also the
+theatres where the singers and dancers performed. There were upon the
+whole so many remarkable things for my observation in these gardens and
+throughout the whole town, that I can scarcely find words to express the
+astonishment I felt at the pomp and splendour of the Mexican monarch.
+
+In the meantime, I am become as tired in noting down these things as the
+kind reader will be in perusing them: I will, therefore, close this
+chapter, and acquaint the reader how our general, accompanied by many of
+his officers, went to view the Tlatelulco, or great square of Mexico; on
+which occasion we also ascended the great temple, where stood the idols
+Tetzcatlipuca and Huitzilopochtli. This was the first time Cortes left
+his head-quarters to perambulate the city.
+
+[52] This was something like our chocolate, and prepared in the same
+way, but with this difference, that it was mixed with the boiled dough
+of maise, and was drunk cold. (p. 230.)
+
+[53] Respecting the custom of smoking among the Mexicans, Humboldt gives
+the following, in his work on New Spain: "The Mexicans called tobacco
+_yetl_, which they not only considered a remedy against toothach, cold
+in the head, and bowel complaints, but they likewise used it as a
+luxury, by smoking and snuffing it. At Motecusuma's court it was used as
+a narcotic, not only after dinner, but also after breakfast, to produce
+a comfortable nap, as is still the custom in many districts of America.
+The leaves were rolled together like cigars, and then stuck in tubes
+made of silver, wood, or of shell." (p. 231.)
+
+[54] The revenue of Motecusuma we know consisted of the natural products
+of the country, and what was produced by the industry of his subjects.
+Respecting the payment of tribute, we find the following story in
+Torquemada: "During the abode of Motecusuma among the Spaniards, in the
+palace of his father, Alonso de Ojeda one day espied in a certain
+apartment of the building a number of small bags tied up. He imagined at
+first that they were filled with gold dust, but on opening one of them,
+what was his astonishment to find it quite full of lice? Ojeda, greatly
+surprised at the discovery he had made, immediately communicated what he
+had seen to Cortes, who then asked Marina and Aguilar for some
+explanation. They informed him that the Mexicans had such a sense of
+their duty to pay tribute to their monarch, that the poorest and meanest
+of the inhabitants, if they possessed nothing better to present to their
+king, daily cleaned their persons, and saved all the lice they caught,
+and that when they had a good store of these, they laid them in bags at
+the feet of their monarch. Torquemada further remarks, that his reader
+might think these bags were filled with small worms (gasanillos), and
+not with lice; but appeals to Alonso de Ojeda, and another of Cortes'
+soldiers, named Alonso de Mata, who were eyewitnesses of the fact."
+
+This story, no doubt, is founded on something like truth, and most
+probably these bags were filled with the coccus cacti, the famous
+cochineal insect, then unknown to the Spaniards, who might easily have
+mistaken them in a dried state for lice. (p. 231.)
+
+[55] This weapon, called by the Mexicans maquahuitl, was much dreaded by
+the Spaniards; and the historian Acosta relates that the Mexicans would
+cut off the head of a horse with it at one blow. (p. 231.)
+
+[56] Alonso Berruguete, a Spanish artist, who rose to great eminence in
+painting, architecture, and sculpture. He received great protection from
+Charles the Fifth, who employed him in considerable works in the
+Alhambra of Granada and elsewhere. (p. 233.)
+
+[57] Bernal Diaz, unfortunately, gives no description of Motecusuma's
+palace; we will therefore give Torquemada's account of this remarkable
+building. He himself, however, never saw it, but chiefly gained his
+information from the Mexicans themselves, who may have exaggerated a
+little: Motecusuma's palace had twenty doors, which either opened into
+the large square or into the principal streets of the city; it had three
+large courts, and in one of them was a tank, supplied with water by the
+aqueduct of Chapultepec. The palace contained a number of halls, and a
+hundred rooms twenty-five feet long and as many broad, each provided
+with a bath. Everything was built of stone and lime. The walls were
+covered with beautiful stones, marble, jasper, porphyry, and a block
+stone, which is so highly polished that you might use it for a
+looking-glass; besides these, there was a white stone, almost
+transparent. All the woodwork was made of white cedar, palm, cypress,
+pine, and other fine woods, adorned with beautiful carved-work. In one
+of the apartments, which was one hundred and fifty feet long and fifty
+broad, was Motecusuma's chapel, which was covered with plates of gold
+and silver almost the thickness of a finger, besides that it was
+decorated with innumerable emeralds, rubies, topaz, and other precious
+stones. (p. 235.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCII.
+
+    _Our general takes a walk through Mexico, and views the Tlatelulco,
+    (the great square,) and the chief temple of Huitzilopochtli._
+
+
+We had already been four days in the city of Mexico, and neither our
+commander nor any of us had, during that time, left our quarters,
+excepting to visit the gardens and buildings adjoining the palace.
+Cortes now, therefore, determined to view the city, and visit the great
+market, and the chief temple of Huitzilopochtli: he accordingly sent
+Geronimo Aguilar, Dona Marina, and one of his pages named Orteguilla,
+who, by this time, understood a little of the Mexican language, to
+Motecusuma, to request his permission to view the different buildings of
+the city. Motecusuma, in his answer to this, certainly granted us
+permission to go where we pleased, yet he was apprehensive we might
+commit some outrage to one or other of his idols: he, therefore,
+resolved to accompany us himself, with some of his principal officers,
+and, for this purpose, left his palace with a pompous retinue. Having
+arrived at a spot about half way between his palace and a temple, he
+stepped out of his sedan, as he would have deemed it a want of respect
+towards his gods to approach them any otherwise than on foot. He leant
+upon the arms of the principal officers of his court; others walked
+before him, holding up on high two rods, having the appearance of
+sceptres, which was a sign that the monarch was approaching. He himself,
+whenever he was carried in his sedan, held a short staff in his hand,
+one half of gold, the other of wood, very much like that used by our
+judges. In this way he came up to the temple, which he ascended, in
+company with many papas. On reaching the summit he immediately began to
+perfume Huitzilopochtli, and to perform other ceremonies.
+
+Our commander, attended by the greater part of our cavalry and foot, all
+well armed, as, indeed, we were at all times, had proceeded to the
+Tlatelulco: by command of Motecusuma, a number of caziques had come to
+meet us on our road there. The moment we arrived in this immense market,
+we were perfectly astonished at the vast numbers of people, the
+profusion of merchandise which was there exposed for sale, and at the
+good police and order that reigned throughout. The grandees who
+accompanied us drew our attention to the smallest circumstance, and gave
+us full explanation of all we saw. Every species of merchandise had a
+separate spot for its sale. We first of all visited those divisions of
+the market appropriated for the sale of gold and silver wares, of
+jewels, of cloths interwoven with feathers, and of other manufactured
+goods; besides slaves of both sexes. This slave market was upon as great
+a scale as the Portuguese market for negro slaves at Guinea. To prevent
+these from running away, they were fastened with halters about their
+neck, though some were allowed to walk at large. Next to these came the
+dealers in coarser wares--cotton, twisted thread, and cacao. In short,
+every species of goods which New Spain produces were here to be found;
+and everything put me in mind of my native town Medina del Campo during
+fair time, where every merchandise has a separate street assigned for
+its sale. In one place were sold the stuffs manufactured of nequen;
+ropes, and sandals; in another place, the sweet maguey root, ready
+cooked, and various other things made from this plant. In another
+division of the market were exposed the skins of tigers, lions, jackals,
+otters, red deer, wild cats, and of other beasts of prey, some of which
+were tanned. In another place were sold beans and sage, with other herbs
+and vegetables. A particular market was assigned for the merchants in
+fowls, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, hares, deer, and dogs; also for
+fruit-sellers, pastry-cooks, and tripe-sellers. Not far from these were
+exposed all manner of earthenware, from the large earthen cauldron to
+the smallest pitchers. Then came the dealers in honey and honey-cakes,
+and other sweetmeats. Next to these, the timber-merchants,
+furniture-dealers, with their stores of tables, benches, cradles, and
+all sorts of wooden implements, all separately arranged. What can I
+further add? If I am to note everything down, I must also mention human
+excrements, which were exposed for sale in canoes lying in the canals
+near this square, and is used for the tanning of leather; for, according
+to the assurances of the Mexicans, it is impossible to tan well without
+it. I can easily imagine that many of my readers will laugh at this;
+however, what I have stated is a fact, and, as further proof of this, I
+must acquaint the reader that along every road accommodations were built
+of reeds, straw, or grass, by which those who made use of them were
+hidden from the view of the passers-by, so that great care was taken
+that none of the last-mentioned treasures should be lost. But why should
+I so minutely detail every article exposed for sale in this great
+market? If I had to enumerate everything singly, I should not so easily
+get to the end. And yet I have not mentioned the paper, which in this
+country is called amatl; the tubes filled with liquid amber and tobacco;
+the various sweet-scented salves, and similar things; nor the various
+seeds which were exposed for sale in the porticoes of this market, nor
+the medicinal herbs.
+
+In this market-place there were also courts of justice, to which three
+judges and several constables were appointed, who inspected the goods
+exposed for sale. I had almost forgotten to mention the salt, and those
+who made the flint knives; also the fish, and a species of bread made of
+a kind of mud or slime collected from the surface of this lake, and
+eaten in that form, and has a similar taste to our cheese.[58] Further,
+instruments of brass, copper, and tin; cups, and painted pitchers of
+wood: indeed, I wish I had completed the enumeration of all this
+profusion of merchandise. The variety was so great that it would occupy
+more space than I can well spare to note them down in; besides which,
+the market was so crowded with people, and the thronging so excessive in
+the porticoes, that it was quite impossible to see all in one day.
+
+On our proceeding to the great temple, and passing the courtyards
+adjoining the market, we observed numbers of other merchants, who dealt
+in gold dust as it is dug out of the mines, which was exposed to sale in
+tubes made of the bones of large geese, which had been worked to such a
+thin substance, and were so white that the gold shone through them. The
+value of these tubes of gold was estimated according to their length and
+thickness, and were taken in exchange, for instance, for so many
+mantles, xiquipiles[59] of cacao[60] nuts, slaves, or other merchandise.
+
+On quitting the market, we entered the spacious yards which surround the
+chief temple. These appeared to encompass more ground than the
+market-place at Salamanca, and were surrounded by a double wall,
+constructed of stone and lime: these yards were paved with large white
+flag-stones, extremely smooth; and where these were wanting, a kind of
+brown plaster had been used instead, and all was kept so very clean that
+there was not the smallest particle of dust or straw to be seen
+anywhere.
+
+Before we mounted the steps of the great temple, Motecusuma, who was
+sacrificing on the top to his idols, sent six papas and two of his
+principal officers to conduct Cortes up the steps. There were 114 steps
+to the summit, and, as they feared that Cortes would experience the same
+fatigue in mounting as Motecusuma had, they were going to assist him by
+taking hold of his arms. Cortes, however, would not accept of their
+proffered aid. When we had reached the summit of the temple, we walked
+across a platform where many large stones were lying, on which those who
+were doomed for sacrifice were stretched out. Near these stood a large
+idol, in the shape of a dragon, surrounded by various other abominable
+figures, with a quantity of fresh blood lying in front of it. Motecusuma
+himself stepped out of a chapel, in which his cursed gods were
+standing, accompanied by two papas, and received Cortes and the whole of
+us very courteously. "Ascending this temple, Malinche," said he to our
+commander, "must certainly have fatigued you!" Cortes, however, assured
+him, through our interpreters, that it was not possible for anything to
+tire us. Upon this the monarch took hold of his hand and invited him to
+look down and view his vast metropolis, with the towns which were built
+in the lake, and the other towns which surrounded the city. Motecusuma
+also observed, that from this place we should have a better view of the
+great market.
+
+Indeed, this infernal temple, from its great height, commanded a view of
+the whole surrounding neighbourhood. From this place we could likewise
+see the three causeways which led into Mexico,--that from Iztapalapan,
+by which we had entered the city four days ago; that from Tlacupa, along
+which we took our flight eight months after, when we were beaten out of
+the city by the new monarch Cuitlahuatzin; the third was that of
+Tepeaquilla. We also observed the aqueduct which ran from Chapultepec,
+and provided the whole town with sweet water. We could also distinctly
+see the bridges across the openings, by which these causeways were
+intersected, and through which the waters of the lake ebbed and flowed.
+The lake itself was crowded with canoes, which were bringing provisions,
+manufactures, and other merchandise to the city. From here we also
+discovered that the only communication of the houses in this city, and
+of all the other towns built in the lake, was by means of drawbridges or
+canoes. In all these towns the beautiful white plastered temples rose
+above the smaller ones, like so many towers and castles in our Spanish
+towns, and this, it may be imagined, was a splendid sight.
+
+After we had sufficiently gazed upon this magnificent picture, we again
+turned our eyes toward the great market, and beheld the vast numbers of
+buyers and sellers who thronged there. The bustle and noise occasioned
+by this multitude of human beings was so great that it could be heard at
+a distance of more than four miles. Some of our men, who had been at
+Constantinople and Rome, and travelled through the whole of Italy, said
+that they never had seen a market-place of such large dimensions,[61] or
+which was so well regulated, or so crowded with people as this one at
+Mexico.
+
+On this occasion Cortes said to father Olmedo, who had accompanied us:
+"I have just been thinking that we should take this opportunity, and
+apply to Motecusuma for permission to build a church here."
+
+To which father Olmedo replied, that it would, no doubt, be an excellent
+thing if the monarch would grant this; but that it would be acting
+overhasty to make a proposition of that nature to him now, whose consent
+would not easily be gained at any time.
+
+Cortes then turned to Motecusuma, and said to him, by means of our
+interpretress, Dona Marina: "Your majesty is, indeed, a great monarch,
+and you merit to be still greater! It has been a real delight to us to
+view all your cities. I have now one favour to beg of you, that you
+would allow us to see your gods and teules."
+
+To which Motecusuma answered, that he must first consult his chief
+papas, to whom he then addressed a few words. Upon this, we were led
+into a kind of small tower, with one room, in which we saw two basements
+resembling altars, decked with coverings of extreme beauty. On each of
+these basements stood a gigantic, fat-looking figure, of which the one
+on the right hand represented the god of war Huitzilopochtli. This idol
+had a very broad face, with distorted and furious-looking eyes, and was
+covered all over with jewels, gold, and pearls, which were stuck to it
+by means of a species of paste, which, in this country, is prepared from
+a certain root. Large serpents, likewise, covered with gold and precious
+stones, wound round the body of this monster, which held in one hand a
+bow, and in the other a bunch of arrows. Another small idol which stood
+by its side, representing its page, carried this monster's short spear,
+and its golden shield studded with precious stones. Around
+Huitzilopochtli's neck were figures representing human faces and hearts
+made of gold and silver, and decorated with blue stones. In front of him
+stood several perfuming pans with copal, the incense of the country;
+also the hearts of three Indians, who had that day been slaughtered,
+were now consuming before him as a burnt-offering. Every wall of this
+chapel and the whole floor had become almost black with human blood, and
+the stench was abominable.
+
+On the left hand stood another figure of the same size as
+Huitzilopochtli. Its face was very much like that of a bear, its shining
+eyes were made of tetzcat, the looking-glass of the country. This idol,
+like its brother Huitzilopochtli, was completely covered with precious
+stones, and was called _Tetzcatlipuca_. This was the god of hell, and
+the souls of the dead Mexicans stood under him.[62] A circle of figures
+wound round its body, resembling diminutive devils with serpents' tails.
+The walls and floor around this idol were also besmeared with blood, and
+the stench was worse than in a Spanish slaughter-house. Five human
+hearts had that day been sacrificed to him. On the very top of this
+temple stood another chapel, the woodwork of which was uncommonly well
+finished, and richly carved. In this chapel there was also another idol,
+half man and half lizard, completely covered with precious stones; half
+of this figure was hidden from view. We were told that the hidden half
+was covered with the seeds of every plant of this earth, for this was
+the god of the seeds and fruits: I have, however, forgotten its name,
+but note that here also everything was besmeared with blood, and the
+stench so offensive that we could not have staid there much longer. In
+this place was kept a drum of enormous dimensions, the tone of which,
+when struck, was so deep and melancholy that it has very justly been
+denominated the drum of hell. The drum-skin was made out of that of an
+enormous serpent; its sound could be heard at a distance of more than
+eight miles. This platform was altogether covered with a variety of
+hellish objects,--large and small trumpets, huge slaughtering knives,
+and burnt hearts of Indians who had been sacrificed: everything clotted
+with coagulated blood, cursed to the sight, and creating horror in the
+mind. Besides all this, the stench was everywhere so abominable that we
+scarcely knew how soon to get away from this spot of horrors. Our
+commander here said, smilingly, to Motecusuma: "I cannot imagine that
+such a powerful and wise monarch as you are, should not have yourself
+discovered by this time that these idols are not divinities, but evil
+spirits, called devils. In order that you may be convinced of this, and
+that your papas may satisfy themselves of this truth, allow me to erect
+a cross on the summit of this temple; and, in the chapel, where stand
+your Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca, give us a small space that I may
+place there the image of the holy Virgin; then you will see what terror
+will seize these idols by which you have been so long deluded."[63]
+
+Motecusuma knew what the image of the Virgin Mary was, yet he was very
+much displeased with Cortes' offer, and replied, in presence of two
+papas, whose anger was not less conspicuous, "Malinche, could I have
+conjectured that you would have used such reviling language as you have
+just done, I would certainly not have shown you my gods. In our eyes
+these are good divinities: they preserve our lives, give us nourishment,
+water, and good harvests, healthy and growing weather, and victory
+whenever we pray to them for it. Therefore we offer up our prayers to
+them, and make them sacrifices. I earnestly beg of you not to say
+another word to insult the profound veneration in which we hold these
+gods."
+
+As soon as Cortes heard these words and perceived the great excitement
+under which they were pronounced, he said nothing in return, but merely
+remarked to the monarch with a cheerful smile: "It is time for us both
+to depart hence." To which Motecusuma answered, that he would not detain
+him any longer, but he himself was now obliged to stay some time to
+atone to his gods by prayer and sacrifice for having committed
+_gratlatlacol_, by allowing us to ascend the great temple, and thereby
+occasioning the affronts which we had offered them.
+
+"If that is the case," returned Cortes, "I beg your pardon, great
+monarch." Upon this we descended the 114 steps, which very much
+distressed many of our soldiers, who were suffering from swellings in
+their groins.[64] The following is all I can communicate with respect to
+the size or circumference of this temple; but previously reckon upon the
+reader's kind indulgence, if I should make any misstatement; for at the
+time when all these things were going on, I was thinking of anything but
+writing a book, but rather how best to fulfil my duty as a soldier, and
+to act up to the commands of our general Cortes. However, if I remember
+rightly, this temple occupied a space of ground on which we should erect
+six of the largest buildings, as they are commonly found in our
+country.[65] The whole building ran up in rather a pyramidical form, on
+the summit of which was the small tower with the idols. From the middle
+of the temple up to the platform there were five landings, after the
+manner of barbacans, but without any breastworks. A perfect idea of the
+form of this temple may be gained from the pictures which are in the
+possession of several of the Conquistadores, (I have one myself,) which
+every one must have seen by this time. The following is what I learnt
+respecting the building of this temple. Every inhabitant had contributed
+his mite of gold, silver, pearls and precious stones thereto. These
+gifts were then buried in the foundations, and the ground sprinkled with
+the blood of a number of prisoners of war, and strewed with the seeds of
+every plant growing in the country. This was done in order that the gods
+might grant the country conquest, riches, and abundant harvests. The
+reader will here naturally ask the question: how we got to know that its
+foundations were thus filled with gold, pearls, silver, precious stones,
+seeds, and sprinkled with human blood, as this building had stood there
+for the space of one thousand years? To this I answer, that subsequent
+to the conquest of this large and strongly fortified city, we found it
+to be a positive fact; for when new buildings were being erected on the
+place where this temple stood, a great part of the space was fixed upon
+for the new church dedicated to our patron Saint Santiago, and the
+workmen, on digging up the old foundations to give more stability to
+the new ones, found a quantity of gold, silver, pearls, chalchihuis
+stones, and other valuable things. A similar discovery was made by a
+citizen of Mexico, to whom also a portion of this space had been
+allotted for building-ground, but the treasure was claimed for his
+majesty; and parties went so far as to commence a lawsuit about it, I
+cannot however now recollect how it terminated. Besides all this, the
+accounts of the caziques and grandees of Mexico, and even of
+Quauhtemoctzin himself, who was alive at that time, all correspond with
+my statement. Lastly, it is also mentioned in the books and paintings
+which contain the history of the country.[66]
+
+With respect to the extensive and splendid courtyards belonging to this
+temple I have said sufficient above. I cannot, however, pass by in
+silence a kind of small tower standing in its immediate vicinity,
+likewise containing idols. I should term it a temple of hell; for at one
+of its doors stood an open-mouthed dragon armed with huge teeth,
+resembling a dragon of the infernal regions, the devourer of souls.
+There also stood near this same door other figures resembling devils and
+serpents, and not far from this an altar encrusted with blood grown
+black, and some that had recently been spilt. In a building adjoining
+this we perceived a quantity of dishes and basins, of various shapes.
+These were filled with water and served to cook the flesh in of the
+unfortunate beings who had been sacrificed; which flesh was eaten by the
+papas. Near to the altar were lying several daggers, and wooden blocks
+similar to those used by our butchers for hacking meat on. At a pretty
+good distance from this house of horrors were piles of wood, and a large
+reservoir of water, which was filled and emptied at stated times, and
+received its supply through pipes underground from the aqueduct of
+Chapultepec. I could find no better name for this dwelling than the
+house of satan!
+
+I will now introduce my reader into another temple, in which the
+grandees of Mexico were buried. The doors of which were of a different
+form, and the idols were of a totally different nature, but the blood
+and stench were the same.
+
+Next to this temple was another in which human skulls and bones were
+piled up, though both apart; their numbers were endless. This place had
+also its appropriate idols; and in all these temples, we found priests
+clad in long black mantles, with hoods shaped like those worn by the
+Dominican friars and choristers; their ears were pierced and the hair of
+their head was long and stuck together with coagulated blood. Lastly, I
+have to mention another temple at no great distance from this place of
+skulls, containing another species of idol, who were said to be the
+protectors of the marriage rights of the men, to whom likewise those
+abominable human sacrifices were made. Round about this large courtyard
+stood a great number of small houses in which the papas dwelt, who were
+appointed over the ceremonies of the idol-worship. Near to the chief
+temple we also saw an exceedingly large basin or pond, filled with the
+purest water, which was solely adapted for the worship of
+Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca, being also supplied by pipes
+underground from the aqueduct of Chapultepec. There were also other
+large buildings in this neighbourhood, after the manner of cloisters, in
+which great numbers of the young women of Mexico lived secluded, like
+nuns, until they were married. These had also two appropriate idols in
+the shape of females, who protected the marriage rights of the women,
+and to whom they prayed and sacrificed in order to obtain from them good
+husbands.
+
+Although this temple on the Tlatelulco, of which I have given such a
+lengthened description, was the largest in Mexico, yet it was by no
+means the only one; for there were numbers of other splendid temples in
+this city, all of which I am unable to describe. I have to remark,
+however, that the chief temple at Cholulla was higher than that of
+Mexico, and was ascended by 120 steps: also the idol at Cholulla stood
+in greater repute; for pilgrimages were made to it from all parts of New
+Spain, to obtain forgiveness of sins. The architecture of this building
+was also different, but with respect to the yards and double walls they
+were alike. The temple of the town of Tetzcuco was also of considerable
+height, being ascended by 117 steps, and had broad and beautiful
+courtyards, equal to those of the two last mentioned, but differently
+constructed. It seems indeed quite laughable that each province and
+every town should have its own peculiar idols, which, however, never
+interfered with each other, and the inhabitants severally sacrificed to
+them.
+
+Cortes, and the whole of us at last grew tired at the sight of so many
+idols and implements used for these sacrifices, and we returned to our
+quarters accompanied by a great number of chief personages and caziques,
+whom Motecusuma had sent for that purpose.
+
+[58] This slimy substance the Mexicans called tecuitlatl, or excrement
+of stone. It was made into various shapes, and dried in the sun. (p.
+237.)
+
+[59] According to Torquemada, this word expressed the number 8000 of
+anything, whether of cacao beans, troops, or other matters. (p. 237.)
+
+[60] Cacao nuts should be cacao beans; they were used by the Mexicans as
+small coin, and even to this day, according to Humboldt, they form the
+smallest coin among the inhabitants of New Spain. (p. 237.)
+
+[61] In the large work of Ramusio, entitled 'Raccolta delle Navigazioni
+e Viaggi,' there is a very interesting account of the city of Mexico.
+There we find that this market was about three times larger than the one
+at Salamanca, and surrounded by porticos. Every five days was a great
+market day, and from forty to fifty thousand people come to buy and sell
+there. (p. 238.)
+
+[62] With regard to Mexican mythology, Bernal Diaz is, perhaps, not
+quite so correct in general. The abbe F.S. Clavigero, who wrote a
+history of Mexico, in two volumes quarto, is more intelligent in this
+respect. (p. 239.)
+
+[63] This note refers to the idol, half hidden from view, of which
+Bernal Diaz has forgotten the name; it was probably the goddess
+Centeotl, sometimes called Tonacajohua. (p. 240.)
+
+[64] The Spanish is, "Estavan malos de bubas o humores, les dolieron los
+muslas de baxar!" bubas I have everywhere translated by the general term
+of swellings in the groin, though it is quite evident, from the 68th
+letter of Petrus Martyr ab Angleria, (De Rebus Oceanicis el Novo orbe
+decades tres) that this disease was the syphilis, which was then
+spreading so dreadfully. (p. 241.)
+
+[65] The best-informed writers agree with Bernal Diaz as to the vast
+extent of this temple. It was so extensive, says Torquemada, that an
+arrow shot from a crossbow would not reach the length of one of its
+sides. A few lines lower he says, that each of these sides was three
+hundred and sixty feet long! The wall which surrounded this huge temple
+was entirely built of hewn stone. (p. 241.)
+
+[66] Bernal Diaz is here speaking of the Mexican picture writing or
+hieroglyphics. (p. 242.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCIII.
+
+    _How we erect a chapel and altar in our quarters with a cross on the
+    outside; discover the treasure of Motecusuma's father; and determine
+    to seize the monarch's person and imprison him in our quarters._
+
+
+Our general and father Olmedo readily perceived that Motecusuma would
+never give his consent to our erecting a cross on his chief temple, nor
+that we should build a chapel there. We had, upon our arrival in Mexico,
+fitted up some tables as an altar; but we were not satisfied with this,
+and therefore begged of Motecusuma's house-steward to order his masons
+to build us a church in our quarters, who referred us to the monarch
+himself, upon which Cortes sent him with our interpretress and the page
+Orteguilla to Motecusuma, who immediately gave his consent and issued
+orders accordingly.[67]
+
+In three days our church was finished, and a cross planted in front of
+our quarters. Mass was now regularly said every day as long as our wine
+lasted, which indeed was very short, as Cortes and father Olmedo, during
+their illness in Tlascalla, had used the wine destined for the mass.
+Nevertheless we went daily to church and prayed on our knees in front of
+the altar and before the holy images; because it was our Christian duty,
+and that Motecusuma and his grandees might notice it, and become
+accustomed to these holy things, from seeing us kneel down in devotion
+before them, particularly when we repeated the Ave Maria.
+
+Wherever we went it was our custom to examine everything about us, and
+consequently we searched every corner and nook in our quarters; and so
+it happened, as we were looking for a proper spot to erect our altar,
+that two of our men, one of whom was Yanez our carpenter, found the
+traces of a doorway in the wall of one of the apartments, which had been
+carefully walled up and neatly plastered over; and as we all very well
+knew that the treasure of Motecusuma's father was secreted somewhere in
+our quarters, these two men soon conjectured that this doorway might be
+the entrance to the treasury. Yanez communicated his suspicions to the
+chief officers, Leon and Lugo, who were relatives of mine; and at last
+it got to the ears of Cortes. The consequence was, that the doorway was
+in all secrecy broken open, and Cortes, with some of our officers,
+entered the hidden apartment.
+
+Their expectations were fully realized; for they found here such a vast
+quantity of trinkets, thick and thin plates of gold, chalchihuis, and
+other precious things heaped up together, that they were perfectly
+astounded and were almost speechless at the sight of such immense
+riches. This matter soon became known to all of our men, who now also
+paid a visit to this secret treasure. I also followed their example, and
+as at that time I was still a young man, and had never before beheld
+such vast treasures, I concluded that the whole of the remaining part of
+the world, put together, could not produce such a vast collection of
+riches. However, all our officers and soldiers unanimously agreed to
+leave everything untouched, and that the doorway should be walled up
+again as before, nor was Motecusuma to be informed of our discovery.
+
+As all of us, officers as well as privates, were men of experience, full
+of energy and very determined, who never lost sight that the Lord Jesus
+Christ had assisted us with his divine hand in all our undertakings, we
+deputed four officers and twelve of our most trustworthy and faithful
+soldiers, myself being among the number, to Cortes, and represented to
+him how we were cooped up in this strong city, as if we had been caught
+in a net or cage. We begged of him to remember the bridges and
+causeways, how we had been cautioned in every town we passed through
+against Motecusuma, and were assured that Huitzilopochtli had advised
+him to allow us to enter the city quietly, and when once there to fall
+upon us unawares and destroy us all. He ought to remember the
+inconstancy of the human mind in general, and of the Indians in
+particular; and not trust to the kindness and friendship which
+Motecusuma showed us. All this might change in an instant, and if
+Motecusuma did not exactly fall upon us with sword in hand, he had
+merely to cut off our supply of provisions and water, or break down some
+of the bridges, and we should be lost. He, Cortes, ought to consider
+what a large body of warriors always surrounded the monarch, and how
+powerless we should be and ill able to defend ourselves, since all the
+houses stood in the water. We could not count upon the assistance of our
+friends the Tlascallans, as they would be totally cut off from us.
+
+Taking all this into consideration our opinion was, that we had no other
+resource left by which we could place our own lives in safety than by
+seizing the monarch's person without delay. All the gold this monarch
+had given us, all we had seen in the treasury of his father, and all the
+fine provisions he had set before us, could not induce us to hide our
+sentiments. These reflections harassed us night and day, and if some of
+our men did appear heedless as to our present position, these were
+merely a few narrow-minded folks, who, on account of the vast quantity
+of gold after which their mouths watered, were unable to see the death
+which stood before them.
+
+Cortes, in reply to their representations said: "Do not imagine,
+gentlemen, that I either sleep so peaceably, or that what you have just
+been stating has not also caused me much anxiety. But we ought first to
+weigh well whether you think we are sufficiently strong in numbers for
+so bold an attempt as to take this mighty monarch prisoner in his own
+palace, amidst his body-guard and other warriors. I cannot see how we
+can manage this matter without running the risk of being attacked by his
+troops."
+
+Our four officers, namely, Leon, Ordas, Sandoval, and Alvarado, said,
+that the only way would be by some means or other to entice the monarch
+out of his palace, then to conduct him to our quarters, and then inform
+him that he was our prisoner. If he offered any resistance or made any
+noise, then to knock him down at once. If Cortes himself objected to
+have any hand in it, they begged he would give them permission to carry
+it out themselves. There was as much danger on one side as on the other;
+but it was certainly more advisable to take the monarch prisoner than to
+wait until he made war upon us; for what chance of escape should we then
+have?
+
+To all this was added, that several of us had of late remarked, that
+Motecusuma's house-steward appeared to become haughty in his manners,
+and that he did not supply our table so abundantly as on the first few
+days. Lastly, our friends of Tlascalla had secretly informed Aguilar
+that the Mexicans, for the last two days, appeared to have some evil
+design on hand.
+
+One hour was thus spent in deliberating as to whether we should take
+Motecusuma prisoner, and the manner in which it was to be done. At last
+we came to the resolution of seizing the monarch's person on the
+following day, and Cortes gave his full consent. The whole of that night
+was spent in prayer with father Olmedo, to ask the Almighty's support in
+this holy cause.
+
+The following morning two Tlascallans arrived secretly in our quarters,
+with a letter from Vera Cruz, announcing to Cortes that Juan de
+Escalante had been slain with six other Spaniards in an engagement with
+the Mexicans. A horse had likewise been killed, and all the Totonaques
+who had joined him had been slain. All the mountain tribes as well as
+the Sempoallans had turned against us. They would neither any longer
+furnish the town with provisions nor assist in building the
+fortifications, and the garrison scarcely knew what to be about in its
+present distress.
+
+After this overthrow, the belief that the Spaniards were teules had
+altogether vanished. The Totonaque tribes, as well as the Mexicans,
+began to throw out threats, and the profound veneration in which they
+before held us was now changed for utter contempt.
+
+God only knows what a terrible sensation this news created among us. It
+was the first defeat we had sustained in New Spain, and the good reader
+may easily see from this how rapidly the wheel of fortune turns from
+good to bad. She had but just seen us enter this great metropolis, and
+meet with a splendid and triumphant reception. We already believed we
+were on the sure road to wealth, from the many presents which Motecusuma
+gave us daily. We had had a peep into Axayacatl's treasure; we had, up
+to this moment, been regarded as teules who could not fail to come off
+victorious in battle. This delusion had now flown all at once. We
+appeared, like all other men, vincible, and the Indians had already
+began to be insolent and haughty in their demeanour towards us.
+
+We had now the more reason to strike some determined blow, and we
+therefore resolved to get possession of Motecusuma's person some how or
+other, if we were even to forfeit all our lives in the attempt.
+
+I will, however, first relate the battle in which Escalante and the six
+other Spaniards lost their lives.
+
+[67] This passage fully proves the kind disposition of the monarch, for
+he even overcame his religious scruples to please the very men who came
+to take his kingdom from him. (p. 244.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCIV.
+
+    _Of the battle which the Mexican generals fought with Escalante and
+    the Totonaque tribes._
+
+
+The reader will remember, some chapters back, how we lay quartered in
+the township of Quiahuitzlan, and that several of the confederate
+tribes, friendly with Sempoalla, assembled around us there. Above thirty
+townships, on this occasion, at the command of Cortes, refused to pay
+any further tribute to Motecusuma, and threw off his yoke. It was during
+that time also that the Mexican tax-gatherers were imprisoned by the
+Sempoallans, at our instigation. After all this had taken place we broke
+up our quarters at Sempoalla and began our march towards Mexico, leaving
+Juan de Escalante behind, as governor of Vera Cruz, who received
+particular instructions to protect our allies.
+
+Motecusuma had garrisons in every province of his empire, which were
+always stationed on the confines. Such garrisons, for instance, lay in
+Xoconoctico, for the protection of Guatimala and Chiapa, another in
+Coatzagualco, a third in Mechoacan, and a fourth on the confines of
+Panuco, between Tuzapan and a township lying on the north coast, which
+was called Almeria.[68] When the garrison of the latter place demanded
+the tribute of Indians with the provisions from the neighbouring
+townships, they refused to pay it, (as they were in alliance with
+Sempoalla, and had assisted Escalante in the building of the fortress,)
+and gave for reason that Malinche had so commanded it, and that the
+powerful Motecusuma had consented thereto.
+
+The Mexican chiefs, however, were not to be put off with this answer,
+and declared they would destroy every township which refused to pay the
+tribute, and carry off the inhabitants as slaves, as they were bound to
+obey the commands which Motecusuma had recently issued.
+
+On hearing these threats the Totonaque tribes applied to Escalante for
+assistance against the Mexicans, who were coming to plunder them.
+Escalante accordingly sent off messengers to the Mexican chiefs,
+commanding them to leave those tribes at peace, as that was the wish of
+their monarch, Motecusuma, with whom we stood on very friendly terms;
+and if they refused compliance with his commands he would march into the
+field against them in person, and treat them as enemies.
+
+The Mexicans received these threats with utter contempt, and returned
+the haughty answer, "that they would meet him on the field of battle!"
+Escalante, who was a man of great courage, and very prompt in what he
+did, issued orders to our mountain allies to equip themselves for
+battle, and he selected those from among his own men who were in the
+best health, and most able to bear fatigue.
+
+In this way he marched out against the Mexicans, with two cannon, a
+small supply of powder, three crossbow-men, two musketeers, besides
+forty Spanish soldiers and above 2000 Totonaques. The Mexicans were
+double the number of our Totonaque auxiliaries, who, besides this, had
+become intimidated by former battles; so that they left Escalante in the
+lurch after the very first attack. Escalante now forced his way to
+Almeria, which he set fire to. Here he halted for a short time, as he
+was dangerously wounded. In the several engagements which here took
+place Escalante lost one horse, and one of his men, named Arguello, a
+young man of amazing bodily strength, with a wild-looking countenance, a
+large head, and black curly beard, who was carried off alive by the
+Mexicans. Six others of his men were likewise dangerously wounded; the
+only alternative, therefore, which Escalante had left was to return to
+Vera Cruz, where he and six others of his men died three days after
+their arrival.
+
+This is exactly what took place at Almeria; and not as Gomara relates,
+who says, that all this happened under Pedro de Ircio, who had marched
+out on this occasion with a few men to Panuco, in order to found a
+colony there; though we had scarcely sufficient troops in Vera Cruz to
+place the necessary sentinels; how much less, therefore, could the
+thought have entered our mind to send out a colony to Panuco? Besides
+which, Ircio was not an officer at that time; no, nor even a corporal;
+had altogether nothing to do with the whole affair, being at the time
+with us in Mexico. In the same way Gomara tells his tales about our
+imprisoning Motecusuma, without for a moment reflecting that several of
+the Conquistadores were still alive; who, when they had perused his
+work, would be able to say so and so such a thing happened, and not
+otherwise.
+
+We must now turn to the Mexican generals, and relate how they announced
+their victory to Motecusuma, and sent him the head of Arguello, who most
+likely died on the road of his wounds. We afterwards learnt that
+Motecusuma was quite horror-struck at the sight of this enormous head
+with the thick curly beard. He could not bear to look at it, and would
+not allow the head to be brought near any of the temples in Mexico, but
+ordered it to be presented to the idols of some other town; yet he
+inquired how it came that his troops, which had been many thousands in
+number, had not been able to overthrow such a handful of teules? His
+captains replied, that notwithstanding all their courageous fighting
+they had not been able to make the Spaniards give way, because a great
+Spanish _tecleciguata_[69] had stood at their head, who had filled the
+Mexicans with fear, and animated the teules by her speeches.
+
+Motecusuma was convinced that this illustrious warrior was the Virgin
+Mary, who, we had told him, with her heavenly Son, whom she held in her
+arms, was our strong rock.
+
+This wonderful apparition I did not behold with mine own eyes, as I was
+at the time in Mexico. However, several of the Conquistadores spoke of
+it as a fact; and may it please God that it was so. It is, however,
+certainly true that the blessing of the Virgin Mary was always upon us.
+
+[68] The Mexican name of this township was Nauhtlan. (p. 248.)
+
+[69] The Mexican name for goddess. (p. 249.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCV.
+
+    _Of the imprisonment of Motecusuma, and what further happened._
+
+
+After we had come to the determination of seizing the person of
+Motecusuma, and had been on our knees the whole night in prayer, to
+supplicate the Almighty's assistance in this bold attempt, and that it
+might redound to the glory of his holy religion, we made the necessary
+arrangements when morning came for that purpose.
+
+Every one received orders to be ready to march out at a moment's notice,
+and the horses were to be kept saddled. It is not necessary for me to
+repeat here that our arms were always in readiness; for they were never
+out of our hands either day or night; while our alpargates, the only
+covering we had to our feet, were never taken off.
+
+Our general now sallied forth, accompanied by our five chief officers,
+Alvarado, Sandoval, Lugo, Leon, and Avila; besides our interpreters,
+Marina, and Aguilar. Cortes and his officers were completely armed; yet
+this would not appear strange to Motecusuma, as he had never seen them
+otherwise whenever they paid him a visit. Cortes, as on the former
+occasion, sent some one before him to announce his approach, that
+Motecusuma might not perceive any change in our behaviour, and feel no
+uneasiness at our unexpected visit. His conscience, however, was not
+altogether easy, on account of the affair which had taken place at
+Almeria, and he had a misgiving that it would bring down evil upon him.
+Yet he sent word that our visit would be agreeable to him.
+
+After Cortes had entered his apartment, and the usual compliments had
+been passed, he thus addressed Motecusuma: "I am greatly astonished that
+a prince of such power, who styles himself our friend, should have
+commanded his troops, which lie on the coast near Tuzapan, to take up
+arms against my Spanish troops, and presume to demand a certain number
+of men and women for the sacrifices from those townships which have put
+themselves under the protection of our emperor. But this is not all;
+they have plundered those places, and even killed one of my brothers,
+and a horse."
+
+Cortes very prudently omitted to mention the death of Escalante and the
+six others; for Motecusuma at that time knew as little of that as his
+generals who had commanded on the occasion.
+
+"How very differently we acted on our side!" continued Cortes. "I had
+put implicit reliance in your friendship, and desired my officers in
+every way to comply with your wishes. You, on the contrary, have
+commanded your officers the very opposite. You once likewise sent a
+large body of troops to Cholulla to destroy us all there. At that time,
+from the friendship I bore you, I would not notice to you that I was
+aware of that. At the present moment your generals have the audacity to
+plot in secret to put us all to death. However, notwithstanding all this
+treachery, I will refrain from making war upon you, which would only
+end in the total destruction of this city; but in order that peace may
+be maintained between us, you must make a small sacrifice, which is, to
+follow us quietly into our quarters, and take up your abode there. There
+you will receive the same attention, and be treated with the same
+respect as if you were in your own palace. But if you make any alarm
+now, or call out to your attendants, you are a dead man; and it is for
+this reason only that I have this time brought these officers with me."
+
+Motecusuma was seized with such sudden terror at these words, that he
+remained speechless for some time. At length, however, he took courage,
+and declared he had never given any one orders to take up arms against
+us. He would that instant send for his generals, and learn from them the
+truth of the whole matter, and give exemplary punishment. For this
+purpose, he loosened the seal and mark of Huitzilopochtli, which he
+always wore around his wrist. This he only did when he issued orders of
+the first importance, and that those who had the seal might be
+immediately obeyed. He was quite astonished, he said, we should presume
+to take him prisoner, and lead him away out of his palace against his
+wishes. No one had a right to demand that of him, he added; and
+altogether he felt no inclination to comply with our request.
+
+Cortes, in answer to this, gave him very good reasons for our having
+come to this determination; but Motecusuma continually brought in
+stronger reasons why he should not comply; and was resolved not to leave
+his palace.
+
+As this dispute had now lasted above half an hour, our officers began to
+lose all patience, and said to Cortes with great warmth, "What is the
+use of throwing away so many words? He must either quietly follow us, or
+we will cut him down at once. Be so good as to tell him this; for on
+this depends the safety of our lives. We must show determination, or we
+are inevitably lost."
+
+These words were uttered by Juan Velasquez in a loud and harsh tone of
+voice. When, therefore, Motecusuma heard this, and perceived the dark
+looks of the officers, he asked Marina what the man had said who spoke
+so loud.
+
+Marina, who was uncommonly shrewd, and well knew how to help us out with
+a good answer, said, "Great monarch, if I may be allowed to give you
+advice, make no further difficulties, but immediately follow them to
+their quarters. I am confident they will pay you every respect, and
+treat you as becomes a powerful monarch. But if you continue to refuse,
+they will cut you down on the spot."
+
+Motecusuma then turned to Cortes, and said: "Malinche, since then you
+repose no trust in me, take my son and my two legitimate daughters as
+hostages; only do not disgrace me, by demanding my person. What will the
+grandees of my empire say, if they see me taken prisoner?"
+
+Cortes, however, said that his own person would be the only guarantee of
+our safety, and that there was no other means of quieting our fears. At
+last Motecusuma, after a good deal of altercation, made up his mind to
+go quietly with us.
+
+As soon as he had declared this his intention, our officers showed him
+every possible civility, and hoped that he would excuse the grief they
+had occasioned him, and desired him to acquaint his generals and his
+body-guard that he had chosen, of his own free will, to take up his
+abode in our quarters; and also upon the advice of Huitzilopochtli and
+his papas, who considered it necessary for his health, and for the
+safety of his life.
+
+His rich and splendid sedan was then brought in, which he commonly used
+when he left his palace with his whole suite, and he followed us to our
+quarters, where we took every precaution to secure his person. Every one
+of us strove hardest to make him happy, and procured him every
+entertainment we could think of, to make his confinement as pleasant as
+we could.
+
+Shortly afterwards all the Mexican grandees, with his nephew, called
+upon him, to inquire the reason of his imprisonment, and ask him if they
+should commence hostilities against us? But Motecusuma told them he
+wished to do himself the pleasure of passing a few days with us, and
+that this change of abode was of his own free choice. He would make his
+wishes known to them as soon as he found reason to complain. They might
+allay their fears, and keep the metropolis quiet, and not trouble
+themselves any further about him. The determination he had thus taken
+was fully consented to by Huitzilopochtli, as many priests, who had
+purposely consulted him, had admitted.
+
+These are the true circumstances relative to the imprisonment of
+Motecusuma. He was always surrounded by the whole of his household, and
+had all his wives with him, and continued to bathe himself daily, as he
+had been accustomed to, in his own palace. He was likewise always
+attended by twenty of his generals and counsellors, nor did he show the
+least signs of grief on account of his confinement. Disputes from the
+most distant parts were laid before him, as usual, for his decision; the
+tribute was collected, and he continued to attend to the most important
+affairs of state as before. His subjects paid the same veneration to his
+person, and the most distinguished princes who waited on him, or came
+upon business, always took off their fine garments, to put on a meaner
+dress of nequen cloth, and came so, barefoot, into his presence. Neither
+did they enter at the principal gate, but sought for some side door, and
+approached with eyes downcast, and made three prostrations, and
+pronounced the words Lord, my lord, great lord! They then acquainted him
+with their business, by means of pictures drawn on nequen cloth; and
+made use of thin sticks, with which they pointed to the different
+objects, to explain what they wanted, or the nature of the lawsuit they
+came about.
+
+Motecusuma had constantly two old distinguished caziques at his side,
+who, as judges, gave their opinion in every case, after due
+deliberation; and the monarch then, in few words, gave his decision. The
+parties then, without uttering a syllable, or turning their backs to
+him, left the apartment with three deep bows; and on arriving outside,
+they again put on their fine garments, and took a stroll in the
+metropolis.
+
+After some time had elapsed, the generals who had fought against
+Escalante were brought in prisoners to the monarch. What he told them on
+this occasion I do not know; but he sent them to Cortes to pronounce
+judgment on them himself. These unfortunate men confessed they had
+merely acted up to the commands of their monarch, which was, to levy the
+tribute by force of arms; and if the teules should protect the rebels,
+to attack them also, and put them to the sword.
+
+Cortes acquainted Motecusuma with what these men had said, but declared
+that the monarch had sufficiently exculpated himself from any guilt in
+the affair. According to the laws of our emperor, that man suffered
+death who had killed another, whether he deserved killing or not;
+however, his love for Motecusuma was so great, that he would rather take
+the responsibility of this matter upon himself than allow it to rest
+with him; but as he still seemed anxious about it, our general made no
+further ceremony with these Mexicans, but sentenced them to death, and
+they were burnt alive in front of Motecusuma's palace.[69*]
+
+And that no impediment might be thrown in the way while these sentences
+were being put into execution, Cortes ordered chains to be put on
+Motecusuma. At first he certainly did not approve of this at all, but,
+in the end, quietly submitted, and grew even the more tractable
+afterwards. When the executions had taken place, Cortes approached him,
+with five of our officers, and himself took off his chains again, with
+the assurance that he loved him more than a brother. He likewise told
+him, however great a monarch he might be at present, that additional
+countries should be annexed to his empire, and he was at liberty to
+visit any of his other palaces whenever he felt inclined.
+
+At these words Motecusuma became affected, and big tears rolled down his
+cheeks; and though he felt that all was mere empty sound he had heard,
+he nevertheless thanked Cortes for his kindness, adding, that at present
+he felt no inclination to go anywhere.
+
+His nephews, relations, and grandees daily stormed him with petitions to
+allow them to make war upon us, and release him from confinement. And,
+indeed, it required all his persuasion to prevent them from rising up in
+arms immediately. If he were once, said they, outside of our quarters,
+they would take forcible possession of his person. The whole of the
+inhabitants in his metropolis would rise up in arms, and if then he
+would not join them, they would care little about him, and elect a new
+king. Motecusuma, however, succeeded in silencing them by the assurance
+that Huitzilopochtli had himself advised him to bear with his
+confinement.
+
+To account for Motecusuma thus quietly submitting to his confinement, I
+must here remark that Cortes ordered Aguilar to acquaint him secretly
+that if even our general himself gave his consent to his liberation, it
+would be of no avail, as all our officers and soldiers would oppose it.
+Cortes feigned to be unconscious of all this, and embraced the monarch
+under the assurances of sincere friendship. He likewise gave him his
+page Orteguilla, who had already gained some knowledge of the Mexican
+language, the monarch having expressed a wish to have a Spanish
+attendant. This young man was of the greatest utility both to Motecusuma
+and ourselves, the monarch learning many things from him relating to
+Spain, and we again a good deal of the discourses which passed between
+the former and his generals: he was in every way attentive to the
+monarch, who became exceedingly fond of him. On the whole, Motecusuma
+appeared perfectly content with the civilities we showed him, and he
+continually felt greater delight in our company; for whenever any one of
+us passed by him, he immediately entered into discourse with us: we were
+quite at our ease with him, even when Cortes was present, and took off
+our helmets in his presence, which, as well as our weapons, we never
+laid aside; and the monarch always treated us with great respect.
+
+The severe example which Cortes had made of the Mexican generals had had
+its full effect. The news thereof ran like wildfire through the whole of
+New Spain; the tribes along the coast, by whom our troops of Vera Cruz
+had been defeated, were seized with terror, and again offered their
+services to the garrison there.
+
+I must now beg the kind reader to pause a moment upon the heroic deeds
+we performed, and consider their magnitude! First of all, we destroy all
+our vessels, and thereby cut off all hopes of escaping from this
+country. We then venture to march into this strong city, though we were
+warned against it on all sides, and assured we should merely be allowed
+a peaceable entrance to be the more easily destroyed. We then have the
+audacity to imprison the monarch of this vast empire, the powerful
+Motecusuma, in his own metropolis, in his very palace, amidst his
+numerous troops. At last, we even fearlessly burn some of his generals
+to death in front of his own palace, and throw the monarch himself in
+chains while this was being executed! Even now, in my old age, the
+heroic deeds we then accomplished come vividly to my memory. I imagine I
+see all passing before me now, but must also acknowledge that, although
+we had our hands full, we were aided by Divine Providence. When again on
+earth will be found such a handful of soldiers, in all scarcely 550, who
+would dare to penetrate, at a distance of above 6000 miles from their
+native country, into the heart of such a strong city, larger than
+Venice, take its very monarch prisoner, and execute his generals in his
+very presence? These things, indeed, ought to be deeply pondered on, and
+not mentioned so briefly as I here have done! But it is time I should
+continue my history.
+
+[69*] Bernal Diaz only mentions three of these generals by name:
+Quetzalpopoca, Coatl, and Quiahuitle, which we thought better to insert
+here. When Quetzalpopoca, says Torquemada, was brought into the presence
+of the Spaniards, and asked whether he was a vassal of Motecusuma, he
+replied: "Is it possible in this world to be the vassal of any other
+monarch." (p. 253.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCVI.
+
+    _How our general appoints Alonso Grado lieutenant of Vera Cruz, and
+    Sandoval alguacil-major of the same place._
+
+
+After the execution of the Mexican generals, and Motecusuma had become
+pacified again, Cortes despatched one of our officers, named Alonso de
+Grado, a very active, handsome, and sensible man, to Vera Cruz, with the
+appointment of lieutenant, who, besides being an excellent musician, was
+a capital penman.
+
+This Grado was one of those who had always opposed our march to Mexico,
+and particularly on the occasion when the intrigues were set on foot by
+the discontented during our stay in Tlascalla: he then insisted on our
+return to Vera Cruz, and, upon the whole, spoke in severe terms against
+our general. He was very expert in various matters, and was successful
+in his undertakings, and hence again obtained the command of Vera Cruz,
+though he was not a very good soldier. Cortes, well acquainted with the
+man's character, that he was not one of the most courageous, said to
+him, in giving him the appointment, rather jokingly, "Your desire of
+going to Vera Cruz, Alonso de Grado, is about to be fulfilled. There you
+must continue the building of the fortress with assiduity; but have
+nothing to do with any warlike movements: it might end equally
+disastrous for you as it did for Juan de Escalante!"
+
+While Cortes was thus addressing him, he winked his eye to those who
+were present, as much as to say if he were required on the field of
+battle, we should have to drag him there by the hair of his head.
+
+When Grado's appointment and instructions were about to be drawn up, he
+likewise begged Cortes to confer on him the appointment of
+alguacil-major, which Escalante had enjoyed with that of lieutenant. Our
+commander, however, told him it had already been conferred upon
+Sandoval, but, in a short time, he would give him some further
+appointment. He particularly desired him to watch over the interests of
+the inhabitants of Vera Cruz as a father, and not allow any harsh
+measures to be practised against the Indian population. Lastly, he
+desired him to order the smith at Vera Cruz to make two heavy iron
+chains, and to forward them, with the anchors we had taken out of our
+vessels, immediately to Mexico.
+
+Alonso de Grado's conduct, however, very little corresponded with the
+instructions he had received. His behaviour towards the Spanish garrison
+at Vera Cruz was haughty to a degree. He required the men to wait upon
+him, as if he had been a grandee, and demanded golden trinkets and
+beautiful females from the thirty surrounding tribes which were friendly
+with us. He no way troubled himself about completing the fortress, and
+spent all his time in feasting and gambling. He went even further than
+this, and gave way to his former ill-will towards Cortes, by seeking to
+gain his friends and others over to the interest of Diego Velasquez, and
+proposed that if the latter himself, or any one sent by him, should
+appear off the coast, to make common cause with him, and deliver up
+possession of the country to him.
+
+Cortes was duly apprized of all this, and sadly repented in the choice
+of this man, whose character and artful disposition, however, he had
+known beforehand.
+
+As Cortes was still afraid that Diego Velasquez might somehow or other
+obtain information of the purport of our mission to the emperor, and not
+merely frustrate our designs, but also send out an armament against us,
+he considered it necessary to send a trustworthy man to Vera Cruz. His
+choice fell upon Sandoval, who became alguacil-major of the town after
+the death of Escalante. Sandoval was accompanied by Ircio, the same
+who, Gomara affirms, founded a settlement in Panuco. This Ircio had been
+groom to the earl of Urena, and likewise to Don Pedro Giron, and knew
+well how to entertain Sandoval with the various adventures of his life:
+hereby he succeeded in gaining the intimate friendship of this excellent
+man, who was innocence itself, and, by degrees, he obtained a captaincy.
+He, however, repaid him with ingratitude, and calumniated him so grossly
+that he might have been punished according to law, but Sandoval
+contented himself by giving him a severe reprimand.
+
+I will, however, leave this subject, and relate that Sandoval,
+immediately upon his arrival at Vera Cruz, fulfilled Cortes' orders,
+took Grado prisoner, and sent him under a strong escort of Indian
+auxiliaries to Mexico. Sandoval very soon gained the good wishes of the
+whole garrison, for he began his work by providing food for the sick,
+and treating the inhabitants with every possible kindness, and was most
+particular in promoting the interests of the surrounding townships which
+were friendly with us. In the same way he set diligently about the
+completion of the fortress, and every way proved himself an active and
+vigilant commander, who afterwards, as will be seen, rendered vast
+services to Cortes and all of us.
+
+I must now return to Grado, who soon arrived at Mexico in custody of our
+Indian auxiliaries. His request to obtain a hearing from Cortes was not
+only refused, but he was thrown into a wooden cage which had just been
+constructed. I can still well remember that the wood of this cage smelt
+strongly of garlic and onions. However, our prisoner was obliged to pass
+two whole days in it; yet, like a clever fellow, who is never at a loss,
+he found means to soften Cortes' resentment by making him solemn
+promises of future obedience, and not only obtained his liberty again,
+but, from that moment, as I witnessed myself, became very intimate with
+our general, who, however, never again intrusted him with any military
+command, but employed him in matters which suited his talents.
+Subsequently he appointed him auditor of the army accounts, which Avila
+had previously filled, and whom Cortes had despatched, as his attorney,
+to St. Domingo, as will subsequently be seen.
+
+Before I close this chapter, I have to observe that Cortes desired
+Sandoval, on his arrival at Vera Cruz, to send him the two smiths of
+that town, with all their apparatus, a quantity of iron, besides the two
+heavy iron chains which were already finished; and likewise a supply of
+sails, some rigging, pitch, and a compass; all of which Cortes required
+for the brigantines which he intended building to navigate the lake of
+Mexico.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCVII.
+
+    _How we entertained and amused Motecusuma during his confinement,
+    and granted him permission to visit his temple._
+
+
+Our general was a man who thought of everything, and strove as much as
+possible to enliven the monarch in his confinement, that he might not
+feel the weight of his misfortune too deeply. Cortes, therefore, every
+morning after we had said prayers, visited the monarch with four of our
+principal officers, to inquire after his health and after his wants, and
+otherwise to amuse him in every way; in which they succeeded so well
+that Motecusuma one day himself declared his confinement was not irksome
+to him, as our gods had given us the power to take him prisoner, and
+Huitzilopochtli had allowed it.
+
+Sometimes also Motecusuma played at a certain game with Cortes, which
+the Mexicans call the game of _totoloc_: it is played with small round
+glossy balls, which here were made of gold, and are pitched at a certain
+mark, also of the same metal: five throws finished the game, and the
+stakes were for valuable gold trinkets and jewels. I still remember once
+when Motecusuma and Cortes were playing at this game, Alvarado scoring
+for Cortes, and a distinguished cazique (his nephew) for the monarch,
+that Alvarado continually scored one too many for Cortes. This was
+observed by Motecusuma, who said, with a pleasing smile, that he was not
+exactly pleased when _Tonatio_ (so they termed Alvarado) marked the game
+for Cortes, for he was guilty of _Ixoxol_ in scoring, which means that
+he scored falsely, by continually marking one more than he ought.
+
+Cortes, and we others who happened to be on duty at the time in the
+apartment, could not resist laughing at the observation of the monarch.
+And why, it will be asked, did we find that expression so amusing?
+Because Alvarado, notwithstanding the handsome and refined man he was,
+could not resist the temptation of scoring falsely, and had been
+discovered. However, all the gain was divided among those present; for
+what Cortes won he presented to the monarch's nephew and his servants;
+Motecusuma dividing his gains among those who happened to be on duty at
+the time.[70] And not a day passed that he did not present Velasquez de
+Leon, who was very kind to him, and was captain of the guard, and those
+who were on duty, with valuable gold trinkets and manufactured stuffs.
+
+One night a sailor, named Truxillo, stood sentinel in the monarch's
+apartment. This fellow was very stout and strongly-built; he happened
+to forget himself, for a moment, in a way which, out of respect for the
+reader, I will not describe more minutely here. Motecusuma, who was a
+monarch of refined manners, happened to hear it at the moment, and
+considered himself grossly insulted. He inquired of his page Orteguilla
+who the low-bred fellow was? Orteguilla replied that the man was a
+sailor, and that such persons were little acquainted with good manners.
+It was upon this occasion also that Orteguilla explained to him the rank
+of every individual soldier, who were cavaliers and who were not, and
+many other things the monarch wished to know. Motecusuma, however, had
+not forgotten the insult which the sailor had offered to his person, for
+daylight had scarcely broken forth when he sent for him, and reproached
+him for his disrespectful behaviour, and advised him to mend his manners
+for the future; but sweetened down this lecture by presenting him with
+some gold trinkets, worth about five pesos. This kind treatment,
+however, had little effect on the rough sailor, who repeated his filthy
+conduct the following night, in the hopes of getting a second present
+when morning came. Motecusuma, however, disdained speaking to him any
+more, but complained to the captain of the guard, and desired that the
+fellow might be severely reprimanded and never allowed again to stand
+sentinel there.
+
+Something similar happened to a soldier named Lopez, who was an
+excellent crossbow-man, and had a fine figure, though otherwise a man of
+little understanding. As he was one night on duty in the monarch's
+apartment, and the corporal came to make the rounds, he remarked to the
+latter, "A curse upon this dog, I am sure this standing sentinel at
+night will be my death!"
+
+Motecusuma heard these words, and considered his feelings deeply
+wounded. When, therefore, Cortes came in the morning to pay the monarch
+his usual visit, he complained bitterly to him about the insult that had
+been offered him. Cortes was exceedingly vexed, and was so enraged with
+Lopez that he ordered him to be whipped. From that day every one who
+stood sentinel in the monarch's apartment maintained a respectful
+silence; though, as far as regarded myself and others of my companions
+who often stood sentinel in the same apartment, we needed no
+instructions as to how we were to behave in the presence of such a great
+monarch, who soon got to know all our names and peculiarities, was
+exceedingly kind towards us, and often distributed gold trinkets among
+us, besides manufactured cottons and pretty females. At that time I was
+yet a young fellow, and whenever I stood sentinel in the monarch's
+apartment, I always behaved with the greatest respect, and uncovered my
+head on passing by him. This drew his attention towards me, and, on
+inquiring who I was, Orteguilla informed him that I had accompanied the
+two former voyages of discovery to these parts. When, therefore,
+Orteguilla, at my desire, hinted to him that I should be much pleased
+with a pretty Mexican female, he sent for me, and said, "I understand,
+Bernal Diaz del Castillo, that you have abundance of gold and cotton
+stuffs, wherefore I will now give you a pretty young female. Treat her
+well, for she is the daughter of distinguished parents, who will,
+besides, give you more gold and cotton stuffs with her."
+
+I very respectfully thanked the monarch for his kindness, and hoped God
+would bless him for it. When the page interpreted my answer, he said,
+"Bernal Diaz appears to me to have the true feelings of a well-bred
+man," and ordered three small plates of gold and two additional packages
+of cotton stuffs to be given me.
+
+With respect to Motecusuma's mode of life, it was his custom to say his
+prayers the first thing in the morning, and sacrifice to his gods: he
+then partook of a little breakfast, which consisted not in meat, but
+solely in _agi_.[71] This being finished, he gave an hour's audience to
+the caziques, who came from distant parts in great numbers to lay before
+him certain disputes, and obtain his judgment. The remaining part of the
+day was then spent in amusement, particularly with his concubines, of
+whom he had a great number; some of these, at times, he gave in marriage
+to his generals, principal favorites, and likewise to us soldiers; as I,
+for instance, obtained Dona Francisca, whom you might well see was a
+woman of distinction. Now and then the monarch would laugh, and then
+again he was pensive, and seemed to reflect on his confinement.
+
+I must once more return to the soldier whom Cortes had so severely
+punished for calling Motecusuma a dog. Many to whom I have related this
+were surprised at the severity of his punishment, as the man had not
+said it to the monarch's face; besides that, our numbers were so small,
+and that the Mexicans would be sure to hear of it. My reply to this is,
+that all of us, even Cortes himself, paid Motecusuma the most profound
+respect, and no one passed by him without uncovering his head: add to
+all this, he was so very kind, and so courteous in his behaviour towards
+us, that we should have considered ourselves bound to pay his person and
+good breeding every possible respect, though he had not been the monarch
+of New Spain.
+
+Lastly, it must be remembered that our lives were in his hands; for, at
+his very wink, his subjects would have flown to his rescue. When we saw
+how he was continually surrounded by so many distinguished personages,
+and the numbers of princes who came to wait upon him from distant parts
+of his empire, in the same way as if he had still been at liberty in his
+own palace, can we at all feel surprised, then, that Cortes should so
+severely have punished on the spot an insult offered to this monarch?
+Assuredly he did nothing more than the circumstances of the moment
+required!
+
+[70] Alvarado, who sometimes also played a game with Motecusuma, showed
+little generosity, according to other writers. If he lost, he paid with
+chalchihuis stones; if he won, he was paid with bars of gold, each worth
+at least fifty ducats. Motecusuma frequently lost in one evening from
+forty to fifty of such gold bars to Alvarado; but the more he lost, the
+more good-humoured he appeared. (p. 258.)
+
+[71] A kind of soup or broth, of which the so termed Spanish pepper
+formed the chief ingredient. (p. 260.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCVIII.
+
+    _How Cortes orders two large brigantines to be built for the
+    navigation of the lake of Mexico; Motecusuma begs permission to
+    visit his temples to offer up his prayers there; and what Cortes
+    said to him when he granted this permission._
+
+
+After the necessary materials had arrived for constructing the two
+brigantines, Cortes informed Motecusuma that he intended to build two
+small pleasure yachts to navigate the lake of Mexico, and requested him
+to allow his carpenters to cut wood for the purpose, and assist our ship
+carpenters, Martin Lopez and Alonso Nunez, in the building of the
+vessels.
+
+There was plenty of wood at a distance of about sixteen miles from the
+town, which could easily be transported hither. The building of these
+vessels went on very fast, as our men were assisted by numbers of
+Indians. These brigantines, therefore, were very soon completed and
+rigged; besides which, each was provided with an awning to keep out the
+heat of the sun. Both vessels turned out very good, and sailed
+uncommonly fast.
+
+This Lopez was not only an excellent soldier, but also a very clever man
+in his profession, and subsequently built the thirteen brigantines which
+were of the most valuable assistance to us in the conquest of Mexico, as
+will be seen in the proper place.
+
+About this time, Motecusuma expressed a wish to visit his temple, in
+order to make his devotions there, and sacrifice to his idols. His
+motive for wishing this he declared was not merely to fulfil his
+religious duties, but also to convince his generals, his courtiers, and
+particularly some of his relatives, who daily begged he would allow them
+to rescue him from his confinement, and commence hostilities with us,
+that it was his own choice to dwell with us, to which Huitzilopochtli
+had given his consent.
+
+In answer to this request, Cortes said, he was afraid it would cost him
+his life, as his generals and papas might suddenly form the idea of
+taking forcible possession of his person on the occasion, and fall upon
+us, and his life would become endangered in the struggle. He was,
+however, no way inclined to oppose his wishes, and he might repair there
+early in the morning, but was not to sacrifice any human beings, as that
+was a great sin against the only true God, whom we had made known to
+him. Neither could he help remarking that it would be much more
+profitable to him to make his devotions before our altars and the image
+of the holy Virgin.
+
+Motecusuma then assured Cortes he would not permit any human sacrifices
+to take place. The monarch then, with Cortes' permission, made a
+procession to the temple, dressed in his splendid garments, and
+surrounded by his most distinguished courtiers, with the usual display
+of pomp, preceded by the staff of honour, to announce the monarch's
+approach. Four of our principal officers, Leon, Alvarado, Avila, and
+Lugo, with 150 soldiers, accompanied him as a guard, and father Olmedo
+to restrain the monarch from instituting any human sacrifices.
+
+When Motecusuma had arrived at the cursed temple of Huitzilopochtli, he
+was assisted out of the sedan by his nephews and other caziques. As the
+procession moved along, all the Mexican grandees kept their eyes fixed
+to the ground, not daring to look up in the monarch's face. At the foot
+of the temple he was met by a number of papas who assisted him in
+mounting the steps. The night previous, they had sacrificed four
+Indians; for, notwithstanding all Cortes and father Olmedo might say,
+they were not to be deterred, and continued those abominations. At that
+time, indeed, all we could do was to feign ignorance of their having
+taken place; for Mexico and other great towns had already been aroused
+into rebellion by Motecusuma's nephews, as will be presently seen.
+
+The monarch having finished his devotions, which were of short duration,
+again returned with us to our quarters. He appeared now in better
+spirits, and presented each of us who had accompanied the procession
+with trinkets of gold.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XCIX.
+
+    _How our two brigantines are launched, and Motecusuma, expressing a
+    wish to go a hunting, sails in one of these vessels to a river where
+    he usually went for that purpose._
+
+
+When both our brigantines were launched, and completely rigged and
+manned with sailors, Motecusuma expressed a wish to take a trip by water
+to a river where he was accustomed to go for the purpose of hunting,
+situated at the foot of a mountain along the banks of the lake. No one,
+not even his principal officers, durst visit this spot for the sake of
+killing game, under pain of death. Cortes answered, that, as far as
+regarded himself, he in no way objected, but again impressed upon his
+mind what he had told him on his visit to the temple: and he would
+advise him to make use of one of the brigantines on the occasion, which
+were much more safe than the canoes or pirogues.
+
+Motecusuma was vastly pleased with this offer, and went on board the
+better of the two, with a great number of his principal officers: the
+other brigantine conveyed a son of the monarch, attended by numbers of
+caziques; and the royal huntsmen followed in the canoes of the country.
+Cortes took along with him Leon, Alvarado, Oli, and Avila, besides 200
+of our troops, bidding them to pay particular attention to everything
+that passed, and narrowly watch the person of Motecusuma. Besides this,
+four cannon were brought on board, with the necessary powder, and our
+artillerymen; so that every precaution was taken. A stiffish breeze
+fortunately rose just as the brigantines were leaving, so that we were
+able to make the best use of the sails, and the monarch was greatly
+delighted at thus, as it were, flying across the lake: nor could the
+canoes, filled with the huntsmen and other Mexican chiefs,
+notwithstanding the number of their rowers, any way keep up with us,
+which amused the monarch uncommonly, and he said it showed great skill
+thus to be able to unite the power of the sails and the oars.
+
+The desired river, therefore, which was not very far distant, was soon
+reached. Here Motecusuma created terrible destruction among the deer,
+hares, and rabbits, and returned highly delighted to his metropolis.
+When we had arrived near to Mexico, he begged our officers to fire the
+cannon, which gave him a new pleasure; and as we found that he was open
+and frank, we experienced a real pleasure in paying him the same respect
+as was shown him by his own grandees. But if I were to attempt a
+description of his grandeur, and the perfect submission and deep
+veneration which every prince of New Spain and other provinces evinced
+towards his person, I should, perhaps, find no end. He had merely to say
+the word, and everything was brought he desired, as the following
+instance will prove. One day, as many of us officers and soldiers were
+with Motecusuma, a hawk pounced upon a quail, which, with others, and
+numbers of pigeons, was kept by his Indian major domo, whose business it
+was to see that our quarters were always clean and tidy. This hawk
+succeeded in seizing its prey, and flew off with it. As we were all
+looking on, one of our men, Francisco de Azenedo, cried out, "O! what a
+fine bird! how beautifully it flies away with its prey!" We were all of
+the same opinion, and remarked, that this country altogether abounded
+with birds that might be capitally trained for hawking.
+
+Motecusuma, observing how lively we were discoursing together, was
+curious to know what it was, and inquired the reason of his page
+Orteguilla, who told him we were admiring the hawk which had pounced
+upon the quail, and added, that if we had such a bird in our power, we
+could teach it to fly from the hand, and attack a bird of any size and
+kill it.
+
+Then, returned Motecusuma, I will have this same hawk caught, and we
+shall see whether they can teach it all they say. Upon which, we all
+took our caps off and thanked him for his kindness. Motecusuma then sent
+for his birdcatchers, and commanded them to bring him the hawk above
+mentioned. These immediately set to work, and before the hour of Ave
+Maria they actually caught the bird, and presented it to Azenedo, who
+immediately recognized, by the plumage, that it was the identical one we
+had seen. We saw many similar instances, and even stronger proofs of the
+punctuality with which this monarch's orders were fulfilled. Even now,
+in his confinement, his subjects not only continued to bring him tribute
+from the most distant parts of New Spain, but they likewise obeyed his
+commands implicitly, and stood in such great awe of him, that even the
+birds which flew in the skies above were brought down for him if he
+expressed a wish that way.
+
+It is now, however, time to relate how suddenly the wheel of fortune
+turned against us, by a conspiracy, which was set on foot by the
+inhabitants, to put us all to death.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER C.
+
+    _How the nephews of Motecusuma assembled the principal personages of
+    the empire, and formed a conspiracy to rescue the monarch from
+    confinement, and beat us out of the city._
+
+
+When Cacamatzin, the prince of Tezcuco, which, next to Mexico, was the
+largest town of all New Spain, was informed of his uncle Motecusuma's
+imprisonment, and that we seized everything we could lay our hands
+on,--that we had even opened the treasure of his ancestor Axayacatl,
+though left it entire as yet,--he determined to put an end to our
+dominion before we should likewise take him prisoner.
+
+For this reason he assembled all the chiefs of Tezcuco, and with them
+the prince of Cojohuacan, who was his cousin, and nephew to Motecusuma;
+likewise the princes of Tlacupa and Iztapalapan, and another powerful
+cazique, prince of Matlaltzinco, a man of great courage, and so nearly
+related to Motecusuma, that many even believed the crown of right should
+have devolved upon him.
+
+These powerful caziques accordingly, with other Mexican generals, fixed
+a day when all their warriors were to meet and fall upon us with their
+united forces. It appeared, that the prince of Matlaltzinco, who was
+considered to be the most courageous man in the kingdom, and who had
+such great pretensions to the crown, had only consented to join the
+conspiracy, on condition that he should be elevated to the throne. He
+would himself, first of all, force his way into Mexico with the whole of
+his army, drive us out of the city, or put us all to the sword.
+Cacamatzin, however, it is said, had declared that the crown would
+sooner devolve upon him, as nephew of Motecusuma, and that he should be
+able to overcome us without paying so dearly for the prince
+Matlaltzinco's assistance. It is nevertheless certain, that Cacamatzin,
+and the before-mentioned princes, agreed to meet on a certain day before
+Mexico, and that the troops there should, at a certain signal, rise up
+in arms and admit them into the city.
+
+Motecusuma received due intelligence of all this, through the prince of
+Matlaltzinco, who had disagreed with Cacamatzin. The former to gain
+surer proofs of the whole affair, summoned all the grandees of Mexico
+into his presence; who then confessed that Cacamatzin had gained them
+over by presents and promises to join him in the attack upon us, and to
+liberate the monarch his uncle.
+
+Motecusuma, who was extremely prudent and not willing that his
+metropolis should be the scene of rebellion and bloodshed, informed
+Cortes of the conspiracy. Our commander, however, as well as every
+soldier among us, was perfectly aware of what was going on, though
+perhaps not of all the particulars. He, therefore, proposed to
+Motecusuma that he should put all his troops under his command, when in
+concert with ours he would fall upon Tezcuco, destroy the town and lay
+waste the whole province.
+
+But as Motecusuma was unwilling to fall in with this advice, Cortes sent
+word to Cacamatzin, that if he commenced hostilities against us it would
+be his death; that it was our wish to live in friendship with him and to
+render him good services.
+
+Cacamatzin, however, was a young hothead, and supported in his views by
+a great number of chiefs, who constantly kept urging him on to fall upon
+us. He, therefore, sent word to Cortes that he had already heard too
+much of his smooth words, and desired he would send him no more of his
+messages; it would be quite time enough to talk with each other when
+their armies stood one against the other in the field of battle.
+
+Cortes, however, sent him a second warning, and desired him to pause a
+little before he insulted our emperor in our persons. He would have
+dearly to pay for such presumptuous behaviour, and certainly be put to
+death.
+
+To which this prince returned the haughty answer: He knew nothing of our
+emperor, and wished also he had never known anything of Cortes, since he
+had so grossly deceived his uncle with his vile flattery.
+
+When Cortes received this answer he begged Motecusuma to use his own
+authority against the rebels, observing at the same time, that in
+Tezcuco there were many powerful men and relatives of his, who bore
+Cacamatzin ill blood, on account of his persecution and haughty
+behaviour towards them, and that he himself harboured one of his
+brothers, a young man of great promise, who had fled from Tezcuco to
+evade death, with which Cacamatzin had threatened him; for he could not
+forgive him the hopes he entertained of succeeding to the throne. He
+should therefore, continued Cortes to the monarch, issue orders to the
+grandees of Tezcuco to take Cacamatzin prisoner, or by some means or
+other try to entice him to Mexico, where he could be seized and kept in
+confinement until his reason had returned. He should also transfer the
+sovereign power over Tezcuco upon the brother, who had fled for
+protection to Mexico. Moreover, Cacamatzin had already forfeited all
+right to sovereign power, as he had attempted to revolutionize the whole
+of New Spain, and by that means to make himself master of Motecusuma's
+throne.
+
+The monarch now no longer hesitated, and promised to send for him,
+expressing, however, his doubts as to whether he would make his
+appearance; but if he did he would order his officers to seize his
+person. Cortes returned him many thanks for his ready compliance, and
+said: "Great monarch, if you should feel desirous of returning to your
+palace I myself would willingly let you go, for I now see how upright
+your intentions are towards us; I feel such an excess of friendship for
+you, that I would long ago have conducted you back to your palace with
+every magnificence, if it had depended solely upon me, and you yourself
+did not consider it good policy to stay with us, that you may not be
+hurried into the rebellious movement which your nephews have set on
+foot. Indeed, I myself should never have deprived you of your liberty if
+I had not been compelled to give way to my officers on that point, who
+think they see a guarantee of our own safety in detaining possession of
+your person." Motecusuma was now the more inclined to give Cortes credit
+for his good wishes towards him, and considered himself greatly indebted
+to him, and more so since Orteguilla had likewise assured him, that his
+imprisonment was entirely owing to our officers, and that Cortes would
+not be able to act according to his own wishes in this matter.
+Motecusuma, therefore, answered Cortes, "that he in every way preferred
+staying with us, until he should have gained more certain intelligence
+as to the real designs of his nephews." He now sent some trustworthy
+personages to Cacamatzin to invite him to Mexico, under the pretence
+that he was desirous of becoming reconciled to him. He told him, at the
+same time, not to feel any solicitude on account of his confinement, for
+it depended upon himself to leave our quarters whenever he thought
+proper; and Malinche himself had twice invited him to take up his abode
+in his own palace again. But he had refused to do so, that he might not
+go against the commandments of his gods, who had told him, through his
+priests, to continue our prisoner for a certain space of time, if he was
+desirous of preserving his life. It was therefore his interest to remain
+on good terms with Malinche and his brothers.
+
+Motecusuma also sent similar messages to the other chiefs of Tezcuco,
+adding, that he had invited his nephew to Mexico, to bring about
+friendship between him and us again. They were therefore to thwart all
+attempts the young hothead might make of commencing war upon us. On the
+receipt of this message, Cacamatzin with his principal adherents met to
+consult what steps they should take. He opened the assembly with a
+haughty and turbulent speech, assuring them he would destroy us all
+within the space of four days. His uncle was a faint-hearted old woman
+for not having fallen upon us as he had been advised on our descending
+the mountain of Chalco, and when all their warriors stood in readiness.
+Motecusuma, indeed, had invited us into the city as if we were going to
+do him some good. He gave us all the gold that was collected by tribute,
+and we had even broken open the secret treasury of his ancestor
+Axayacatl. We detained the monarch himself in prison, and continually
+admonished him to abolish his gods and adopt ours in their stead. The
+injury we had done was already great, but in order to put a stop to
+this, and that such injustice might not remain unpunished, he begged of
+them to lend him their powerful aid. All he had been stating they knew
+to be true, and had beheld with their own eyes how Motecusuma's generals
+were burnt at the stake: nothing now remained but to fall upon us in
+good earnest.
+
+These representations were accompanied, not only by promises when he
+should have ascended the Mexican throne of raising them all to great
+dignity, but he likewise presented them on the spot with all kinds of
+valuable things; assuring them he was in perfect understanding with the
+princes of Cojohuacan, Iztapalapan, Tlacupa, and other places, who would
+all join him with their troops. Even in Mexico itself he had drawn over
+a large number of the principal personages to his side, who would rise
+up in arms to assist him at a moment's notice. Nothing would be easier
+than to force their way into Mexico. Some of the troops were to march
+along the causeways, but the main body would be conveyed thither by
+canoes and pirogues. They would nowhere meet with any opposition, for
+his uncle was in confinement, and could issue no orders to the
+inhabitants of Mexico. There was no reason to fear us, for his uncle's
+generals had a few days ago killed several of the teules and one of
+their horses, near Almeria. Both the dead horse and head of one of the
+former had been shown to every one in Mexico. In the short space of one
+hour they would be able to capture the whole of us and feast sumptuously
+off our flesh.
+
+As soon as Cacamatzin had done speaking, the generals stood gazing at
+each other in silence, each one waiting to hear his neighbour's answer
+first. At last four or five of the most distinguished personages broke
+silence, declaring, if they were to commence hostilities in the very
+metropolis of their monarch, without his command, it was their duty,
+first of all, to apprize him of it. If he gave his consent, they would
+join him heart and soul; but would consider themselves traitors, if they
+acted contrary to his wishes.
+
+This answer displeased Cacamatzin uncommonly, and in the heat of his
+anger he threw three of the generals who thus opposed him into prison.
+As there were a great number of his relatives, and boisterous young men,
+like himself, at the meeting, the majority was for supporting him until
+death. Cacamatzin, therefore, sent the following answer to Motecusuma:
+"He might have spared himself the trouble of exhorting him to make
+friendship with people who had insulted him, Motecusuma, so greatly, by
+keeping him prisoner. They could only account for the conduct he had
+pursued from our being enchanters, who had bound down both his mind and
+energies by witchcraft, or that our gods, and the great Spanish woman,
+whom we termed our protectress, gave us power to accomplish everything
+we might wish."
+
+Herein Cacamatzin was certainly right; for the great mercy of God and of
+the blessed Virgin was certainly our greatest support. This message of
+Cacamatzin closed thus: "It was his intention to pay both his uncle and
+us a visit, to our sorrow, and speak words of death to us."
+
+Motecusuma was highly incensed at this impudent answer, and that instant
+sent for six of his most trustworthy generals, handed over to them his
+seal, with various other valuable things, and commissioned them to
+repair to Tezcuco, and secretly show his signet to all his relations,
+and those chiefs of the city whom they knew were ill inclined towards
+Cacamatzin, on account of his haughty behaviour, and command them to
+seize him, and those who supported him, and bring them to Mexico.
+
+These officers accordingly set out immediately for Tezcuco, and
+fulfilled their orders so promptly, that they seized Cacamatzin in his
+own palace amidst his adherents, five of whom were also taken. They were
+bound hand and foot, thrown into canoes, which were lying ready, well
+manned, and so brought to Mexico.
+
+When the officers had arrived there with the prisoners, they allowed
+Cacamatzin to mount his royal sedan, and so conducted him, with every
+respect due to his station, into the presence of Motecusuma.
+
+In his discourse with Motecusuma, Cacamatzin showed even more audacity
+than before; and when the monarch learnt from the other five prisoners
+that he had designed to deprive him of the crown, and place it on his
+own head, he grew terribly exasperated. He ordered the five other
+prisoners to be released, but Cacamatzin to be conducted into the
+presence of Cortes, that the latter might take him into his own custody.
+
+Upon this, Cortes repaired to the monarch, thanked him for this great
+proof of his friendship, and, with the approbation of Motecusuma, raised
+the brother of Cacamatzin, who, as above related, had fled for
+protection to Motecusuma, to the throne of Tezcuco. This was done with
+great pomp and ceremony, and the election of this new king was hailed by
+the inhabitants of that great city, and all the influential men of the
+province. The young king of Tezcuco received the name of Don Carlos.[71*]
+
+After the other nephews of Motecusuma, the princes of Cojohuacan,
+Iztapalapan, and Tlacupa, had learnt the fate of Cacamatzin, they
+naturally concluded that Motecusuma was informed of their having joined
+in the conspiracy, and they durst not come, as usual, to pay their court
+to him; but the former, in understanding with Cortes, likewise ordered
+them to be seized; and scarcely eight days had elapsed before we had the
+satisfaction of seeing them all securely locked in chains in our
+quarters.
+
+The reader may well imagine from all this that our lives hung, as it
+were, by a short thread, and we heard of nothing on all sides than how
+we should be cut off to a man, and our bodies devoured. Here a merciful
+Providence was our only protection. To him we are alone indebted that
+the excellent Motecusuma himself should have furthered all our designs,
+and that his subjects, even in his confinement, should have paid
+implicit obedience to all his commands. We therefore every way strove to
+show the monarch our gratitude for his great kindness; we took every
+possible means to amuse him; no one was allowed for one moment to treat
+him with disrespect; and Cortes himself even never sat down in his
+presence unless he desired him to do so. We not only treated him with
+profound respect, but we really loved him; for in all his actions he
+indeed proved himself a great monarch. Father Olmedo from time to time
+would also speak to him about our holy religion. We also acquainted him
+with the great power of our emperor, and the immense extent of his
+territories. All of this he would listen to with delight; then again he
+would play a game at totoloc with Cortes, and always divided his gains
+among us; for liberality was a leading feature in his character.
+
+[71*] The name of the prince was Cuicuitzcatl. (p. 270.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CI.
+
+    _How the powerful Motecusuma, with several caziques and chief
+    personages of the country, declare themselves vassals of our
+    emperor; and of other occurrences which happened then._
+
+
+As peace was again restored to the country after the imprisonment of the
+petty kings, Cortes reminded Motecusuma of the offers he had made,
+previously to our entering Mexico, to pay tribute to our emperor;
+observing at the same time that he must now be sufficiently convinced of
+the power and the vast extent of his empire, the number of his vassals,
+among whom even there were distinguished sovereigns. It would be good,
+therefore, if he, with all his subjects, likewise acknowledged
+themselves vassals of our emperor; and it was customary for this act of
+submission to be preceded by payment of tribute.
+
+In answer to this, Motecusuma said he was quite willing to assemble all
+the grandees of his empire, and deliberate the matter with them: and
+after the space of ten days the greater part of the caziques from the
+surrounding districts assembled together, with the exception, however,
+of the cazique of Matlaltzinco, who was a near relation of Motecusuma,
+and considered a man of uncommon bravery; at least his demeanour and
+bodily frame fully bespoke it, and he was looked upon as Motecusuma's
+successor to the throne of Mexico.
+
+But even this man, it would appear, was seized with terror; for he sent
+Motecusuma word from Tula, where he was then staying, that it was
+impossible for him to be present at the meeting, and he was unable to
+pay tribute; indeed scarcely able to live himself on what his province
+produced him.
+
+Enraged at this unexpected answer, Motecusuma despatched some of his
+generals to take the refractory prince prisoner. But as he was a very
+powerful cazique, he had, of course, numerous adherers, who sent him
+intelligence of the steps Motecusuma had determined to take against him;
+so that he had sufficient time to retreat into the interior of the
+country, where he was quite out of his monarch's reach.
+
+The other chiefs, however, duly assembled at their monarch's bidding;
+but neither Cortes nor any of us were present at the meeting, save the
+page Orteguilla, from whom we learnt what follows:--Motecusuma opened
+the assembly by reminding the caziques of the ancient tradition of their
+forefathers, written down in their historical records, of a people that
+would one time come from the quarter where the sun rose, who were
+destined to rule this country, and put an end to the Mexican empire.
+That tradition referred to us, as he concluded, from the declarations of
+his gods. The priests of Huitzilopochtli had expressly demanded an
+oracle of that god on this point, and had instituted sacrifices for that
+purpose; but the god, contrary to his usual custom, had refused the
+oracle, and merely referred them to his previous declaration; wherefore
+they had not dared to put any further questions. We may therefore
+conclude, continued Motecusuma, that Huitzilopochtli meant to say we
+were even to take the oath of allegiance to the king of Spain, whose
+subjects the teules are. For the present we cannot do otherwise than act
+accordingly: we must wait to see if our gods will give a better response
+some time hence, we can then act as circumstances require. He therefore
+desired and commanded them, for their own good, cheerfully to give some
+proof of their allegiance to the Spanish monarch. Malinche had been
+importunate on this point, and it would not be well to refuse him. For
+the eight or ten years he had ruled over them they had obeyed him like
+faithful servants; for which reason he had enriched them, enlarged their
+territories, and elevated them to high dignities. They were to consider
+his present confinement as the will of Huitzilopochtli, who had
+particularly advised him to it, as he had so often assured them on other
+occasions.
+
+After this reasoning and statement of Motecusuma, all present declared
+themselves willing to comply with his wishes, but broke out into tears,
+and sighed deeply, Motecusuma himself being most vehemently affected. He
+then immediately despatched one of his principal officers to Cortes with
+the information that the day following they would again meet, and take
+the oath of allegiance to the emperor.
+
+The next day accordingly this was done in the presence of Cortes, of our
+officers, and the greater part of the soldiers. All the Mexicans seemed
+deeply grieved, and Motecusuma himself could not refrain from shedding
+tears. Even we ourselves, from the great affection we bore this monarch,
+became quite affected at the sight of his tears, and many of us wept as
+much as the monarch himself. We therefore strove, if possible, to
+redouble our attention towards him, and Cortes, with Father Olmedo, who
+was a man of great intelligence, scarcely left him for a moment; and
+while we employed every means to cheer him, we never lost an opportunity
+of exhorting him to abolish his false gods.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CII.
+
+    _How Cortes sends out some of our men to explore the gold mines and
+    those rivers which wash down gold; also the harbours from the Panuco
+    to the Tabasco, but particularly the river Guacasualco._
+
+
+Cortes one day, as usual, sitting with Motecusuma, the discourse, among
+other things, turned upon mining, and he inquired of the monarch where
+the gold mines and those rivers were situated where gold dust was found,
+and what method they pursued to collect the same, as he intended sending
+out two of his men for that purpose, who were great proficients in the
+art of mining.
+
+Motecusuma answered, that gold was found in three different parts of the
+country; but more abundantly in the province of Zacatula, from ten to
+twelve days' journey south of Mexico. There the earth which contained
+the gold was washed in wooden vessels, and the gold dust sunk to the
+bottom. At present gold was likewise brought from the northern province
+of Tustepec, near to where we had landed. There it was collected from
+the beds of the rivers; and very productive gold mines were also worked
+in this province by the Chinantecs and Tzapotecs, two tribes which were
+not subject to him. If Cortes was desirous of sending some of his men
+there, he was very willing himself to despatch several distinguished
+officers with them.
+
+Cortes accepted of this offer, and thanked Motecusuma for his kindness,
+and sent off our pilot Gonzalo de Umbria, with two miners, to Zacatula.
+This Umbria was the same person whom Cortes sentenced to have his feet
+cut off, while we were staying at San Juan de Ulua.[72] He and his
+companions were to return within the space of forty days. To the mines
+in the north he despatched an officer, named Pizarro, a young man
+twenty-five years of age, whom he treated as one of his own relations.
+
+At that time Peru was still unknown, and the name of Pizarro not thought
+of. This young officer was accompanied by four miners and an equal
+number of distinguished Mexicans. A space of forty days was likewise
+allowed him to return to Mexico, as he had to travel a distance of 320
+miles.
+
+Motecusuma on that occasion likewise presented Cortes with a piece of
+nequen cloth, on which all the rivers and indentures along the coast
+running northwards of Panuco to Tabasco, a distance of 560 miles, were
+very accurately described and drawn. By this chart our observation was
+drawn to the river Guacasualco, and as we were well acquainted with all
+the harbours and indentures there noted down, from our voyage under
+Grijalva, but knew nothing of that river, which the Mexicans described
+as very broad and deep, Cortes determined also to send some one there to
+make soundings at its mouth, and further explore the country; Diego de
+Ordas, a man of great intelligence and courage, offered himself for this
+purpose, if two of our men, and some Mexicans, might accompany him.
+
+Cortes was at first very loth to part with him, as he was so useful to
+him in various ways, but at last gave his consent, to keep him in good
+humour. Motecusuma likewise expressed his fears about this journey, as
+the land of Guacasualco was not subject to him, and inhabited by a very
+warlike people. He cautioned Ordas to be particularly on his guard, and
+hoped that no reproach would be made him if any harm befel him. But if
+Ordas should think proper, he would order a sufficient number of his
+troops, which lay on the confines, to accompany him into Guacasualco.
+Cortes and Ordas returned Motecusuma many thanks for his kindness, and
+the latter then set out on his journey, accompanied by two of our men
+and several distinguished Mexicans.
+
+Here again the historian Gomara commits another blunder similar to the
+one he previously made, respecting Pedro de Ircio, whom he sends to
+Panuco; for here he despatches Juan Velasquez with 100 men to form a
+colony in Guacasualco. In the next chapter I will give an account of
+what these officers saw, and the samples of gold they brought with them.
+
+[72] According to Torquemada, Umbria was only scourged, which appears
+more probable. (p. 273.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CIII.
+
+    _How the officers whom Cortes had despatched to the gold mines and
+    the river Guacasualco[73] returned to Mexico._
+
+
+The first who returned to Mexico was Gonzalo de Umbria, with his
+companions. He brought with him about 300 pesos worth of gold dust,
+which they had collected in the township of Zacatula. There, he related,
+the caziques of the province employed numbers of the inhabitants at the
+rivers to wash gold out of the sand in small troughs. There were two
+rivers from which gold dust was collected, and if clever miners were set
+to work there, and the mining carried out in the same way as at St.
+Domingo and Cuba, they would prove very profitable.
+
+Four distinguished chiefs of that province had accompanied Umbria to
+Mexico, with a present in gold trinkets for our emperor, valued at about
+200 pesos. Cortes was as much pleased with this small quantity of gold
+as if it had been worth 3000 pesos, as he now knew for a certainty that
+there were rich mines in those parts. He treated the caziques who
+brought this present very kindly, gave them glass beads, and promised
+them all manner of good things; so that they returned home highly
+delighted.
+
+Besides this, Umbria spoke about many other large townships in the
+neighbourhood of Mexico, and of a province on the confines, called
+Matlaltzinco. We could well perceive that Umbria and his companions had
+not forgotten themselves, for they had well stuffed their pockets with
+gold. This Cortes had readily foreseen, and purposely selected Umbria
+for that journey, to regain his friendship, and that he might forget the
+severe sentence which he had passed upon him.
+
+Neither did Diego de Ordas, who had been sent to the river Guacasualco,
+return with empty hands. He had likewise passed through large townships,
+all of which he mentioned by name, and had everywhere been received with
+great respect. Every town he came to he had met with endless complaints
+from the inhabitants respecting the depredations and cruelties exercised
+upon them by the Mexican troops stationed on the confines. Ordas, and
+the distinguished Mexicans who accompanied him, had severely reprimanded
+the officers who commanded these troops, and threatened to acquaint
+Motecusuma with every circumstance, who would certainly send for and
+punish them with equal severity as he had Quauhpopoca for similar
+misconduct. These remonstrances had the desired effect, and on his
+further journey Ordas was only accompanied by one of his Mexican
+fellow-travellers. Tochel, cazique of the province of Guacasualco,
+having received information of Ordas's approach, sent out several
+distinguished personages to meet him. Everywhere he met with the kindest
+reception, for the inhabitants had learnt to know what kind of people we
+were, from the expedition under Grijalva.
+
+In order to assist him in exploring this river, the cazique Tochel not
+only lent him several large canoes, but himself, accompanied by a number
+of his officers, had accompanied him to the river Guacasualco. At the
+mouth of this river Ordas found a depth of three fathoms, but higher up
+the river became gradually deeper, and was navigable for large vessels;
+and near a certain Indian village there was depth enough to carry a
+Spanish carack. In this village the inhabitants presented Ordas with
+some gold trinkets and a pretty Indian female. They likewise declared
+themselves vassals of our emperor, and complained bitterly of
+Motecusuma, and the cruelties exercised by his troops. It was only a
+short time ago they had fought a battle against the latter, and slain
+great numbers of them; for which reason they had named the small
+village where the engagement took place _Cuitlonemiqui_, which in their
+language means the _spot where the Mexican beasts fell_. Ordas thanked
+them very kindly for the great respect they had shown him, and presented
+them with some glass beads. He likewise said that the country was well
+adapted for the breeding of cattle, and the harbour excellently situated
+for trading with Cuba, St. Domingo, and Jamaica, but too far distant
+from Mexico; and, what was worse, full of shallows; which was the reason
+we seldom made use of this harbour for commerce, or transporting goods
+from Mexico.
+
+With respect to Pizarro, he returned, with only one of the Spaniards who
+accompanied him to Tustepec, but he had been more fortunate in the
+discovery of gold, of which he brought with him dust of that metal to
+the value of 1000 pesos. He related that he had himself commenced
+washing for gold dust in the provinces of Tustepec and Malinaltepec, and
+neighbouring districts; for which purpose he had employed a considerable
+number of Indians, whom he remunerated for their labour with two thirds
+of the gold they found. He had likewise visited other provinces higher
+up in the mountains, called the country of the Chinantecs. Here he was
+met by a number of Indians, armed with bows, arrows, shields, and
+lances, of much greater length than ours. They declared that no Mexican
+should set foot in their territory, under pain of death, but that the
+teules were very welcome. The Mexicans consequently remained behind, and
+Pizarro pursued his journey with the Spaniards only. The Chinantec
+caziques then ordered a number of the inhabitants to repair to the
+river, to wash the gold dust from the sand. The gold dust here found is
+of a curly shape, and the inhabitants said that the mines, where the
+metal was found in that shape, were much more productive and the metal
+more solid. Pizarro was likewise accompanied by two caziques of that
+country, who, in the name of the inhabitants, came to make friendship
+with us, and declare themselves vassals of our emperor. They also
+brought a present in gold, and complained bitterly of the Mexicans, who
+were held in such utter abhorrence by them, on account of their lust
+after plunder, that they could not endure the sight of a Mexican, or
+bear to hear their name pronounced.
+
+Cortes received Pizarro and the caziques with every possible kindness,
+and returned the latter many thanks for their present, assuring them of
+our friendship, and readiness to serve them at all times, and then
+dismissed them. That, however, they might travel in safety through the
+Mexican territories, he desired two distinguished Mexicans to accompany
+them to the confines, for which they were very thankful. Cortes then
+inquired of Pizarro what had become of the other Spaniards who had
+accompanied him. Pizarro replied, that he had ordered them to remain
+behind there, as the soil seemed so rich, and abounded in gold mines,
+and the inhabitants so peaceably inclined. He had desired them to form a
+small settlement there, and lay out extensive grounds for cacao, maise,
+and cotton plantations; also to promote the breed of cattle, and explore
+the gold mines of the country. Cortes greatly disapproved of his having
+exceeded his commands, and upbraided him severely in private, telling
+him that it betrayed a low disposition instantly to begin thinking of
+speculation in cacao plantations and breeding of cattle. Cortes then
+despatched a soldier, named Alonso Luis, to the Spaniards left behind,
+with orders for their immediate return to Mexico.
+
+[73] At the present day even this river is known in New Spain by the
+name of Huasacualco, and even Guacasualco. (p. 274.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CIV.
+
+    _How Cortes desired the powerful Motecusuma to order all the
+    caziques of the empire to bring in the tribute of gold due to our
+    emperor._
+
+
+As Diego de Ordas and the other officers whom Cortes had sent out for
+the discovery of gold mines had all returned with samples of that metal,
+and brought the most satisfactory accounts concerning the wealth of the
+country, our general, after long deliberation with his officers and
+several of the soldiers, resolved that Motecusuma should now be desired
+to send round to all his caziques, and to every township of his empire,
+and require them to bring in tribute to our emperor, and that he
+himself, as the most wealthy of his vassals, should pay the same from
+his own private treasures.
+
+In answer to this request, Motecusuma said that he would forward the
+necessary orders for this purpose to every township; but he was
+compelled to inform us that many of them would be unable to fulfil those
+commands, who could merely contribute some trifling trinkets in gold
+which they had inherited from their forefathers.
+
+Motecusuma then sent several of his principal officers to the districts
+where there were gold mines, desiring the inhabitants of such places to
+forward him the usual weight and number of gold bars they were
+accustomed to pay as tribute, and forwarded them two bars as a sample.
+He despatched similar orders to the province which stood under his
+relative, who behaved so refractory. This prince, however, sent him word
+that he would neither send any gold nor pay any attention to
+Motecusuma's commands, and that he had as much right to the throne of
+Mexico as he who thus dared to demand tribute of him.
+
+The monarch was so incensed at this answer that he instantly despatched
+some of his most active officers, with his seal, to seize the rebel and
+bring him to Mexico. These officers were more successful than the former
+had been, and brought in the rebel prince prisoner. When he was led into
+the presence of Motecusuma, he not only evinced no fear, but was
+impudent to a degree, and expressed himself so disrespectfully that his
+conduct could only be accounted for by madness, as he, it was said, was
+subject to fits of insanity. Cortes, who received information that
+Motecusuma had given orders for his execution, begged the latter he
+might be sent to him, that he might take him into his own custody. The
+former complied with this request, and when the prince was brought into
+our general's presence, he spoke very kindly to him, and begged of him
+not to act the madman with his monarch, and assured him he would obtain
+his liberty again. But Motecusuma was of a very different opinion, and
+desired he might be heavily chained, as the other princes had been.
+
+After the lapse of twenty days, all the officers whom Motecusuma had
+sent out into the provinces to collect the tribute, had returned to
+Mexico. He then sent for Cortes, his officers, and several of us who had
+been accustomed to stand sentinel in his apartment, and spoke to us as
+follows: "Malinche, and you other officers and soldiers, I consider
+myself greatly indebted to your emperor for his having thought it worth
+his while to send from such distant countries to make inquiries after
+me; but what more deeply occupies my thoughts is the tradition of our
+ancestors, which has been fully confirmed by the oracles of our gods,
+that, namely, the dominion of these countries was destined to devolve
+upon him. Receive, therefore, this gold for him; I have no more at
+present, as the notice to collect it was too short. With regard to
+myself, I have destined the whole of my father's treasure for him as my
+share of the tribute, which lies secreted in your quarters. I am well
+aware that you have inspected it, but closed up the opening as before.
+When, however, you transmit this treasure to your emperor, you must say
+in your letter, this is sent you by your faithful vassal Motecusuma. To
+this I will also add a few chalchihuis, of such enormous value that I
+would not consent to give them to any one save to such a powerful
+emperor as yours: each of these stones are worth two loads of gold. I
+further think of sending him three crossbows, with the small balls, and
+bag which contains them, all richly ornamented with jewels, which will
+certainly please him much. I should like to give him all I possess; now
+I have very little left, as I have from time to time given you the
+greater portion of my gold and jewels."
+
+Cortes and all of us were astonished at this generosity and great
+goodness of the monarch, and we took off our caps very respectfully, and
+thanked him. Cortes, at the same time, assured him he would send our
+majesty an accurate description of all these splendid presents.
+Motecusuma did not delay one instant to fulfil his promise, for that
+very same hour his house-stewards arrived to hand us over all the
+treasures contained in the secret chamber. There was such a vast heap of
+it that we were occupied three days in taking all out of the different
+corners of this secret room, and in looking them over; we were even
+obliged to send for Motecusuma's goldsmiths from Escapuzalco to assist
+us. The reader may form some notion of this treasure when I tell him
+that, when all the articles were set apart in three heaps and weighed,
+the gold alone, not counting the silver and other precious things, was
+found to be worth above 600,000 pesos: in this are not included the gold
+plates, bars, and the gold dust contributed by the other provinces. All
+this treasure we ordered the goldsmiths of Escapuzalco to smelt into
+bars measuring three inches square.
+
+Besides all this, Motecusuma brought another present, consisting in gold
+and jewels of enormous value. There were also chalchihuis stones of
+extreme beauty and size, which were considered of immense value among
+the caziques of the country. Further, there were three crossbows, with
+their cases set in jewels and pearls, besides a number of pictures made
+of feathers and small pearls, all of great value: indeed, it would be no
+easy task to describe all these splendid things one by one.
+
+Upon this Cortes ordered an iron stamp to be made, about the size of a
+Spanish real, bearing the arms of Spain, with which the royal treasurers
+were to mark all the gold, with the exception of that set in jewels,
+which we were loth to pull to pieces. As we possessed neither scales nor
+weights, we cast the latter in iron, from twenty-five pounds to half a
+pound weight, and to four ounces; for we cared very little to weigh to a
+nicety of half an ounce or so. When the gold, without including the
+silver and jewels, was weighed, we found, as I have before stated, that
+it amounted to 600,000 pesos, though many of our men valued it at much
+more.
+
+Nothing now remained but to deduct the emperor's fifths therefrom, and
+divide the remainder among the officers and soldiers, including those
+left behind at Vera Cruz. Cortes, however, was of opinion that the
+division should be postponed until our stock should be further
+increased, but most of our officers and soldiers desired that it might
+take place forthwith, for they asserted that above one third had already
+disappeared since the three heaps had been first collected together.
+They greatly suspected that Cortes and his principal officers had
+secretly taken away the greater part. The weighing of the gold,
+consequently, was commenced immediately, that the division might take
+place on the following day. In what way this was done, and how most of
+it fell into the hands of Cortes and others, I will relate in the
+following chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CV.
+
+    _How all the gold presented by Motecusuma, and collected from the
+    different townships, was divided; and what happened to one of our
+    soldiers on the occasion._
+
+
+First of all, one fifth of the treasure was set apart for the crown, and
+a second for Cortes, as had been promised him when we elected him
+captain-general and chief justice. After this had been deducted, Cortes
+brought in the expenses of fitting out the armament at Cuba; then the
+sum due to Velasquez for the vessels we had destroyed, and, lastly, the
+travelling expenses of our agents whom we sent to Spain. Next were
+deducted the several shares due to the garrison at Vera Cruz, which
+consisted of seventy men; then the value of the two horses which had
+been killed, one in the engagement with the Tlascallans, the other at
+Almeria.
+
+Not until all this had been deducted were the rest of our men allowed to
+take their shares. Double shares were also set apart for the two
+priests, the officers, and the cavalry, likewise for the musketeers and
+crossbow-men. After these and other nibblings, there remained, for the
+greater part of our men, who could only claim one share, such a mere
+trifle, that many of them would not even accept of it, which Cortes then
+took himself. At that time, indeed, we thought it best to say nothing
+about this unjust division; for what would it have availed us had we
+demanded justice? Besides which, Cortes had secretly bribed some with
+presents and large promises, and many of the most noisy he presented
+with a hundred pesos to stop their mouths.
+
+The portion belonging to the garrison at Vera Cruz was forwarded to
+Tlascalla for safe keeping. Most of our officers employed Motecusuma's
+goldsmiths of Escapuzalco to make them heavy chains of the gold; and
+Cortes, among other things, ordered a grand dinner service. Several of
+our soldiers, who had learnt how to fill their pockets, had other things
+made; and it was not long before a number of the stamped bars and
+trinkets came into circulation; for gambling was now commenced to a
+great extent, after a certain Pedro Valenciano had managed to
+manufacture playing cards from parchment, which were as well painted and
+as beautiful to the eye as those manufactured in Spain.
+
+I will, however, show what impression this unfair division of the gold
+made upon our men. Among our troops there was a man named Cardenas, a
+sailor by profession, who had left behind him in Spain a wife and
+children in great want, and had the ill-luck, with many of us, to
+continue in poverty.
+
+When this man beheld the great heap of gold piled up in bars, plates,
+besides the gold dust, and found his share of the spoil was a mere
+hundred pesos, he became excessively low-spirited. One of his friends,
+who had observed this, asked him the cause of his grief and heavy sighs?
+He answered, "Why, how the devil can I do otherwise, when I see the gold
+which we have so hardly earned find its way into Cortes' pockets, with
+his fifths, monies laid out for horses, vessels, and other such like
+vile trickeries, while my wife and children are perishing at home for
+want of food? I could even have sent them a little help when our agents
+went to Spain, for there was sufficient gold at that time to have
+divided it among us." "What gold are you speaking of?" inquired his
+friend. "Why," answered Cardenas, "of that which our agents took with
+them to Spain. If Cortes had granted me my share of that, my wife and
+children would not have wanted: but he employed every species of
+artifice to persuade us to send the whole treasure as a present to the
+emperor, with the exception, however, of above 6000 pesos to Martin
+Cortes, his father: I will not even mention the gold which he has
+secretly stowed away. We others who have fought about courageously night
+and day at Tabasco, Tlascalla, Zinpantzinco, and Cholulla; we who at
+present live in continual fear, with almost certain death before our
+eyes as soon as the inhabitants of this great city get it into their
+heads to rise up against us,--we all remain, as before,
+poverty-stricken, and all our remonstrances are in vain! Cortes, on the
+contrary, acts as if he were the emperor himself, and runs away with a
+fifth of our hard earnings!"
+
+In this strain the poor fellow continued his complaints, and was of
+opinion that we should not have allowed Cortes to deduct a fifth for
+himself; and that we required no other sovereign than our own emperor.
+
+"And are you really," returned the other, "going to embitter your
+happiness with such thoughts? All this will avail you nothing. You know
+we fare equally bad with respect to provisions, for Cortes and his
+officers nearly eat up all themselves; but it is of no use for us to
+complain, therefore drive away, all such melancholy thoughts from your
+mind, and pray to the Almighty that we may not meet with our total
+destruction in this city."
+
+Cortes was duly apprized of all this and similar complaints; and as the
+discontent among the men respecting the unfair division of the gold
+became pretty general, he ordered the whole of us into his presence, and
+addressed us in a speech abounding with the sweetest sentences
+imaginable. He was indebted, he said, for all he had to us; that he had
+not required the fifth part, but the share which was promised him when
+we elected him captain-general, and he was quite ready to bestow
+something on those who stood in need. The gold we had collected up to
+this moment, he continued, was a trifle to that which was to come. We
+ought to remember what great cities were dispersed through the country,
+and the rich mines which were in our possession; these certainly would
+enrich every man in his army. In this way he continued for some time,
+and spoke feelingly to the heart! but, finding all this had no effect,
+he employed other means. Many he secretly silenced with gold, and others
+by great promises, and the provisions sent us by Motecusuma's orders
+were from this moment justly divided, so that every man among us had an
+equal share of food with himself. He likewise took Cardenas aside, and
+quieted him with a present of 300 pesos, and the promise that he would
+allow him to return home to his family with the first vessel that left
+for Spain. This Cardenas I shall have occasion to mention on some future
+occasion, for he did Cortes considerable injury in Spain during the
+subsequent complaints which were laid before the emperor against him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CVI.
+
+    _Of the high words which arose between Velasquez de Leon and our
+    treasurer Gonzalo Mexia on account of the gold which was missing
+    from the heap, and how Cortes put an end to that dispute._
+
+
+Since gold, generally speaking, is the great desire of man, and that the
+more he possesses of it the more avaricious he grows, it also happened
+here that many pieces of gold were missing from the heaps, which I have
+mentioned above; and as one of our officers named Leon had ordered
+Motecusuma's goldsmiths to make him heavy gold chains and other
+ornaments, the royal treasurer Gonzalo Mexia suspected something wrong,
+and secretly observed to him that the emperor's fifths had not been
+deducted from several of the bars he had sent to be smelted. Leon, who
+stood in high favour with Cortes, answered, that it was not his
+intention to return anything. The gold he possessed he had not taken
+himself, but had received all from Cortes before it had ever been
+smelted.
+
+The royal treasurer, however, was not to be silenced by this, but
+affirmed, that, besides the gold Cortes had secretly taken away, and of
+which he had deprived his companions in arms, there was a good deal
+elsewhere from which the royal fifths had not been deducted, and that,
+in his capacity of royal treasurer, he could not suffer the emperor's
+interest to be thus prejudiced.
+
+This, consequently, led to high words between both parties, so that they
+drew swords, and would certainly have killed each other if we had not
+instantly parted them; for both were high-spirited men and excellent
+swordsmen, and each had already wounded his antagonist.
+
+As soon as Cortes was informed of this affair, he ordered both to be
+arrested and heavily chained. As, however, he always had been heart in
+hand with Leon, many were of opinion that all this was a mere blind to
+make us believe that he preferred justice to friendship; besides which
+it was whispered that he secretly visited him during his arrest, and
+assured him that he should not be confined beyond a couple of days, when
+he and Mexia would again be set at liberty. But all this did not go to
+quiet our suspicions, and now Mexia, in his turn, was reproached for not
+having fulfilled the duties of royal treasurer, and he was compelled by
+the soldiers to inquire of Cortes what had become of the missing gold?
+
+I will, however, cut this matter short here, and return to Leon, who was
+confined in a room not far from the apartments occupied by Motecusuma.
+When Leon, therefore, who was a tall powerful man, paced up and down his
+room, his heavy chains dragged along the floor, so that the monarch
+could plainly hear the jingling noise, and he inquired of Orteguilla who
+the prisoner was? His page then told him that it was Leon, who had
+previously been captain of the guard, an appointment now filled by Oli,
+and told him that the reason of his confinement was on account of some
+gold that was missing.
+
+When Cortes that day, as usual, paid his visit to the monarch, and the
+first compliments had passed between them, the latter inquired of our
+general how it came that such a distinguished officer as Leon should
+have been thrown into chains? To which Cortes answered, jokingly, that
+all was not as it should be with him, he having threatened, because he
+had not received sufficient gold, to travel around to the different
+towns, and demand gold of the caziques. Fearing, therefore, he might put
+his threats into execution, and kill one or other chief, he had thrown
+him into prison. Motecusuma, on hearing this, begged Cortes to set him
+at liberty again, and promised he would soon drive such thoughts from
+his mind by presenting him with gold from his own private treasure.
+
+Cortes feigned great unwillingness to grant the monarch's request, but
+at length assured him he would comply merely on account of the affection
+he bore him, Motecusuma. Leon was, consequently, released, and Cortes
+brought about a reconciliation between him and Mexia; then despatched
+him with some of Motecusuma's principal officers to raise gold at
+Cholulla, from which place he did not return till the end of six days,
+and now he had more gold than ever. Mexia, however, never forgot this
+affair, and a coolness ever after existed between him and our general.
+
+I have related this story, though foreign to my narrative, to show the
+reader what artful devices Cortes was accustomed to set on foot, and
+what a show he made of justice to make us fear him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CVII.
+
+    _How Motecusuma offers one of his daughters in marriage to Cortes,
+    who accepts her, and pays her the attentions due to her high
+    station._
+
+
+I have often related how we strove, in every possible manner, to amuse
+Motecusuma in his confinement, and daily visited him in his apartments.
+It was on one of these occasions that the monarch said to our general,
+"Malinche! in order to prove the great affection I have for you, I must
+acquaint you that it is my intention to give you one of my prettiest
+daughters in marriage."
+
+Cortes took his cap off, and thanked him for the honour he was going to
+confer upon him, and said he was already married, and that the religion
+and laws of our country would not allow a man to have more than one
+wife; but that he would accept her and treat her with the respect due to
+her high rank, and it was requisite she should become converted to
+Christianity, as the daughters of many of his grandees had been.
+
+Motecusuma readily agreed to this, as he did in everything else we
+desired, save the sacrificing of human beings, which nothing could
+induce him to abolish; day after day were those abominations committed:
+Cortes remonstrated with him in every possible way, but with so little
+effect, that at last he deemed it proper to take some decided step in
+the matter. But the great difficulty was to adopt a measure by which
+neither the inhabitants nor the priesthood would be induced to rise up
+in arms. We, however, came to the determination, in a meeting called for
+the purpose, to throw down the idols from the top of Huitzilopochtli's
+temple; and should the Mexicans rise up in arms for their defence, then
+to content ourselves by demanding permission to build an altar on one
+side of the platform, and erect thereon the image of the holy Virgin
+with the cross.
+
+Thus determined, Cortes, accompanied by seven officers and soldiers,
+repaired to Motecusuma, and spoke to him as follows: "Great monarch, I
+have already so many times begged of you to abolish those false idols by
+whom you are so terribly deluded, and no longer to sacrifice human
+beings to them; and yet these abominations are continued daily: I have,
+therefore, come to you now, with these officers, to beg permission of
+you to take away these idols from the temple, and place in their stead
+the holy Virgin and the cross. The whole of my men feel determined to
+pull down your idols, even should you be averse to it; and you may well
+suppose that one or other of your papas will become the victim."
+
+When Motecusuma heard this, and saw how determined our officers were, he
+said to Cortes, "Alas, Malinche! why is it you wish to compel me to
+bring down total destruction on this town? Our gods are already angry
+with us, and who can tell what revenge they contemplate against you? I
+will, however, assemble all the papas, to know their opinion."
+
+Cortes made a sign with his hand for the other officers to retire, and
+begged of Motecusuma to grant him and father Olmedo a private audience.
+Cortes then told the monarch he only knew one way of saving the town
+from open rebellion, and the idols from destruction, namely, by our
+being allowed to erect an altar, with the cross and Virgin Mary, on the
+top of the great temple. He would then pledge himself to silence the
+murmurs of his men, and the Mexicans themselves would soon be convinced
+how greatly such a change would benefit their souls, what great
+blessings would be showered down upon them, and how abundant their
+harvests would be.
+
+To this Motecusuma likewise answered, with a deep sigh, and a
+countenance full of sorrow, that he would discuss the matter with his
+papas. At length, after a good deal of arguing between the papas and
+himself, we were allowed to erect an altar, with the cross and holy
+Virgin, on the top of the temple, opposite the cursed idol
+Huitzilopochtli. We returned heartfelt thanks to the Almighty, and
+father Olmedo, assisted by the priest Juan Diaz, and many of our
+soldiers, celebrated high mass.[74]
+
+Cortes appointed an old soldier to keep watch over this altar, and
+begged, at the same time, of Motecusuma to order his papas not to
+obstruct the man in his duty, which was to keep the place clean, burn
+incense before the altar, keep the candles lighted there night and day,
+and decorate it from time to time with fresh branches and flowers.
+
+I must, however, break off here, and relate something we little
+expected.
+
+[74] For a further account of what happened after the building of this
+altar, I must refer the reader to the oft-quoted work of Torquemada
+(Monarchia, Ind. iv, 53.) (p. 286.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CVIII.
+
+    _How the powerful Motecusuma acquaints Cortes that it is requisite
+    for his safety to quit Mexico, with the whole of his men, as all the
+    caziques and papas were upon the point of rising up in arms to
+    destroy us all, in compliance with the advice given them by their
+    gods: the steps which Cortes took upon this news._
+
+
+From the very moment we had erected this altar and cross on the great
+temple, and had celebrated high mass there, a storm began to gather over
+our heads.
+
+About this time Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca are said to have
+addressed the papas, and acquainted them they were desirous of leaving
+the country, as the teules had treated them with such great contempt,
+and that it was impossible for them to dwell in the same spot with that
+image and cross. If they were desirous they should remain in Mexico,
+they were to kill us all. These were the last words they should utter;
+they were to be communicated to Motecusuma and his grandees, and the
+papas were at the same time to put them in mind how we had melted all
+the gold into bars, with which previously the gods had been honoured;
+how we ordered things as if we had been lords of the country, and kept
+five powerful princes bound in chains.
+
+All this was faithfully reported to Motecusuma, who then sent word to
+Cortes he should like to see him, as he had things of the utmost
+importance to disclose to him.
+
+The page Orteguilla, who had been despatched to Cortes for this purpose,
+informed the latter that Motecusuma appeared quite changed and
+spiritless; that, the day previous, several papas and distinguished
+officers had had secret interviews with him, and they uttered words of
+which he had not understood one syllable.
+
+Upon this, Cortes, accompanied by Oli, four other officers, and our two
+interpreters, immediately called upon the monarch, and, after the usual
+courtesies had passed between them, the latter broke out as follows:
+"Alas! Malinche and you other officers, how grieved I am at the commands
+which our gods have imparted to our papas, myself, and my chief
+officers!
+
+"They most earnestly demand of us that we shall commence hostilities
+with you, and put you to death, or drive you away from this country by
+some other means. My advice is, that you had better leave of your own
+accord, than allow hostilities to commence.
+
+"This, Malinche, I could not help disclosing to you, that you might come
+to some determination or other. For myself, I have no doubt that all
+your lives are at stake here."
+
+The reader may easily imagine that Cortes and his officers did not treat
+all this so very lightly, and that they were not a little surprised at
+this disclosure. No one could have suspected that affairs would have
+taken such a turn; but the monarch had spoken in such a positive tone as
+to leave no doubt on our minds that we lived in imminent danger. Cortes,
+however, hid his fears from the monarch, and thanked him for his
+information, adding, that he was sorry we had no vessels left in which
+we could leave the country; and that if we even did leave it, we must
+take him, the monarch, along with us, that he might be presented to our
+emperor: he therefore begged of him to amuse his priests and officers
+until we should have constructed three vessels on the sea-coast. And if
+they commenced war with us, they would undoubtedly all be killed. And
+that Motecusuma might convince himself that he would fulfil his promise,
+he desired he would despatch two of his chief officers with our
+carpenters to the coast to cut wood for the building of the vessels.
+
+Motecusuma was now more dispirited than ever when he heard Cortes say
+that he himself must accompany us; that he was to issue the necessary
+orders to his carpenters, and act and not talk. Our general also desired
+him to call the papas and officers to acquaint them that it was
+unnecessary to raise the town into open rebellion; they might, for the
+present, appease the gods by offerings, but we forbade any sacrifice of
+human beings.
+
+After this important disclosure Cortes left the monarch, and we now
+lived in constant fear of hostilities breaking out. Cortes, however,
+fulfilled his promise, and sent for Martin Lopez and Andreas Nunez,
+described to them the size of the three vessels he wished them to
+build, and to march to Vera Cruz with the Mexican carpenters, where all
+the necessary materials, consisting in iron, rigging, tar and tow would
+be found. These orders were promptly obeyed. The necessary quantity of
+wood was cut on the coast of Vera Cruz, and the building of the vessels
+was commenced with all assiduity. Whether Cortes gave Lopez any secret
+instructions I do not know; but I cannot pass by this circumstance in
+silence, as Gomara mentions it likewise in his history, and maintains
+that all this building of the vessels was mere artifice to amuse
+Motecusuma. May those who know more about this matter publish the truth.
+There are certainly numbers of our men alive who would be able to give a
+true account of this. All I know is that Lopez told me in confidence,
+that the building of the vessels was really commenced, and that the
+three vessels were actually lying on the staples.
+
+At present, however, we will leave them quietly there, and acquaint the
+reader that we grew much alarmed at our situation in this great city,
+and momentarily expected an attack upon our friends of Tlascalla, as
+Dona Marina had informed our general to that effect. The page,
+Orteguilla, shed tears all day long, and we others narrowly watched the
+monarch's person. I must here for the last time acquaint the reader,
+that whether night or day, we never took off our gorgets or our armour,
+while our arms were never for a moment out of our hands. A bundle of
+straw and a mat formed a couch; our horses stood ready saddled, and in
+short every soldier was ready for action at a moment's notice.
+
+At night we also took the precaution of posting such numbers of
+sentinels, that each of us in turn, had at least one watch every night.
+I do not mention this in praise of myself; but I grew so accustomed to
+being armed night and day, as it were living in armour, that after the
+conquest of New Spain I could not accustom myself for a length of time
+to undress on going to lie down, or make use of a bed, but slept better
+in soldier fashion than on the softest down. Even at the present day, in
+my old age, I never take a bed with me when I visit the townships
+belonging to my commendary; and if I do take one, it is merely because
+the cavaliers who accompany me may not think I take no bed with me,
+because I have no good one. From continued watching at night it has
+become quite natural to me to sleep for a short time together only, and
+get up at intervals to gaze upon the heavens and the stars, and take a
+couple of turns in the open air. Neither do I wear a nightcap or wind a
+kerchief around my head; and thanks be to God! this has become so
+natural to me, that I never feel any inconvenience from it. I have
+merely mentioned all this to convince the reader how we, the true
+Conquistadores, were always obliged to be upon our guard, and what
+hardships we had to undergo.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CIX.
+
+    _How the governor of Cuba, Velasquez, in all haste fits out an
+    armament against us, the command of which he gives to Pamfilo de
+    Narvaez, who was accompanied by the licentiate Lucas Vazquez de
+    Aillon, auditor of the royal court of audience at St. Domingo._
+
+
+In order to explain what I am now about to relate I must refer to prior
+events.
+
+I have already mentioned, in the proper chapter, that Diego Velasquez
+got information of our having sent agents to our emperor with all the
+gold and presents we had received; and also of the bad reception they
+had met with from the bishop of Burgos; who not only favoured Velasquez
+in various ways, but even commanded him to fit out an armament against
+us, for which he himself would be responsible to the emperor.
+
+The governor of Cuba accordingly used the utmost exertions and assembled
+a flotilla, consisting of nineteen sail, on board of which were 1400
+soldiers, above forty cannon, with a quantity of powder, balls, and
+gun-flints, besides two artillerymen, who, with the artillery stood
+under the immediate command of the captain Rodrigo Martin. To this was
+added eighty horse, ninety crossbow-men, and seventy musketeers. Fat and
+corpulent as he was, Velasquez had, nevertheless, in the height of his
+passion, visited every township in Cuba, to hasten the equipment of the
+flotilla, and invited every inhabitant who had either Indians,
+relations, or friends who could manage their estates, to join the
+standard of Pamfilo Narvaez, and share the honour of taking Cortes and
+all of us prisoners, or at least to blow out our brains. He had even
+advanced as far as the promontory of Guaniguanico, in the height of his
+zeal, though that promontory was above 240 miles from the Havannah.
+
+Before this armament quitted the harbour, the royal court of audience at
+St. Domingo, and the Hieronymite brothers, who were viceroys there, were
+determined to look into the matter a little; as the licentiate Suazo,
+who was their agent in Cuba, had sent them information of the
+extensiveness of the armament.
+
+As the great and valuable services which we had rendered God and his
+majesty were very well known at St. Domingo, as also the fact of our
+having sent valuable presents to our emperor, it was considered there
+that Velasquez was not justified in fitting out an armament to revenge
+himself upon us, but that his only way was to pursue us in a court of
+law. These impartial men well foresaw how this armament would impede the
+conquest of New Spain. They therefore despatched the licentiate Lucas
+Vazquez de Aillon, who was auditor of the court of audience at St.
+Domingo, to Cuba, with peremptory commands to Velasquez not to allow the
+flotilla to leave the harbour.
+
+The auditor punctually fulfilled these commands, and in due form
+protested against the flotilla leaving the harbour; but Diego Velasquez,
+who had spent all his property in fitting out this armament, relied upon
+the good favour of the bishop of Burgos, and took no notice of the
+protest. Upon this Vazquez de Aillon determined upon embarking himself
+on board one of the vessels, to try at least if he could not prevent
+hostilities between Narvaez and Cortes. Many even maintained that he
+came to Mexico with the secret intention to side with our party, or, if
+we could not succeed in defeating Narvaez, himself to take possession of
+the country in the name of our emperor. At all events he embarked with
+Narvaez and arrived in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua, of which we
+shall hear more presently.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CX.
+
+    _How Narvaez arrives with the whole of his flotilla in the harbour
+    of San Juan de Ulua, and what happened upon this._
+
+
+When Narvaez had arrived with the flotilla off the mountains of San
+Martin, a north wind arose, which is always dangerous on these coasts.
+One of the vessels commanded by a cavalier, named Christobal de Morante,
+of Medina del Campo, was wrecked during night-time off the coast, and
+the greater part of the men perished. The other vessels, however,
+arrived safely in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua.
+
+This armament, which may indeed be considered extensive, considering it
+was fitted out at Cuba, was first of all seen by some soldiers whom
+Cortes had sent out in search of gold mines. Three of these, Cervantes,
+Escalona, and Alonso Carretero, did not hesitate a moment to go on
+board the commander's ship, and are said, as soon as they stepped on
+board to have praised the Almighty for having rescued them out of the
+hands of Cortes and the great city of Mexico, where death stood daily
+before their eyes.
+
+Narvaez ordered meat and drink to be set before them, and as their
+glasses were abundantly filled, they said to one another in his
+presence: "This is indeed leading a different sort of life with a glass
+of good wine in one's hand, when compared to the slavery under Cortes,
+who allows a person no rest either night or day; where a person dares
+scarcely say a word, and death is always staring him in the face."
+
+Cervantes, however, who was a low buffoon, even addressed Narvaez
+himself, and exclaimed: "O Narvaez! Narvaez, what a fortunate man you
+are, that you just arrive at the moment when the traitor Cortes has
+heaped together above 700,000 pesos, and the whole of his men are so
+enraged with him for his having cheated them out of the greater part of
+the gold, that many even disdain to accept of their shares."
+
+Such was the language which these low-minded and worthless fellows
+uttered, and they told Narvaez more than he was desirous of knowing.
+They likewise informed him that thirty-two miles further on he would
+come to a town we had built, called Vera Cruz, which had a garrison of
+sixty men, all invalids, under an officer named Sandoval, and he had
+merely to show himself with a few men there and they would immediately
+deliver up the town to him.
+
+Motecusuma was immediately apprized of the arrival of this flotilla, and
+without saying a single word to Cortes despatched several of his chief
+officers to Narvaez, with a present in gold and other things; and
+commanded the inhabitants to furnish him with provisions.
+
+Narvaez, in his message to Motecusuma, calumniated Cortes and all of us,
+telling him we were nothing but a parcel of thieves and vagabonds, who
+had fled from Spain without the knowledge of our emperor, but his
+imperial majesty having been informed that we were in this country
+committing all manner of depredations, and that we had even imprisoned
+its monarch, had ordered him to repair hither with his flotilla and
+troops, to put an end to these disorders and liberate the monarch. He
+had likewise received orders to put Cortes and all his men to the sword,
+or take them alive and send them prisoners to Spain, where death awaited
+them. This sober language the three soldiers, who understood the Mexican
+language were to translate to Motecusuma's messengers, to whom Narvaez
+at the same time sent a present of some Spanish goods.
+
+Motecusuma was not a little delighted with this message, particularly
+when he learnt the number of Narvaez's vessels, of his cannon, and his
+1300 soldiers. He, of course, thought it would be an easy matter for
+Narvaez to overcome us, and as his messengers had seen the three
+treacherous rascals who had deserted to Narvaez, he found the more
+reason to believe all the scandal the latter had said concerning Cortes.
+Besides which he received an accurate description of the whole armament
+from his artists, who had immediately depicted on cotton cloth
+everything they saw. He therefore sent a second message, accompanied by
+more valuable presents in gold and cotton stuffs to Narvaez, with strict
+commands to the inhabitants of the coast to supply him with plenty of
+provisions.
+
+Motecusuma had received intelligence of the arrival of the flotilla off
+the coast three days before Cortes. When the latter, as usual, one day
+paid a visit to the monarch he found him in particular good spirits, and
+asked him what had occasioned it? Motecusuma replied, that he found
+himself in better health than he had done for some time past.
+
+Cortes, who was very much surprised at this sudden change in the
+monarch, called upon him a second time that day, and now the latter
+began to fear our general was cognizant of the arrival of the flotilla.
+To remove all suspicion from his mind, therefore, he thought it better
+to break the news to him himself. "I have just this moment, Malinche,"
+said he, "received the information that an armament of eighteen vessels,
+with a great number of soldiers and horses, has arrived in the harbour
+where you landed. Pictures of the whole armament have been transmitted
+to me. This, no doubt, is no news to you, and I thought from your second
+visit to me this day, you came to bring me the intelligence yourself,
+and that now there was no need for you to build new vessels. Though I
+may have felt hurt that you wished to keep all this a secret from me,
+yet, on the other hand, I am delighted at the arrival of your brothers,
+with whom you can now return to Spain; which thus removes all
+difficulties at once."
+
+When Cortes heard this and saw the painting which the Mexicans had made
+of all the vessels, he exclaimed in the excess of his delight: "Praise
+be to God, whose assistance always comes at the right time!" Indeed the
+whole of us greatly rejoiced at this news, we galloped about on our
+horses, and fired salute after salute.
+
+Cortes, however, began to consider it in a more serious light than he
+had done in the first moments, as he now plainly saw that this armament
+was sent out against us by Velasquez; and he communicated his
+suspicions to us all, and by great presents and promises he made us
+pledge ourselves not to act any way against his interests; which we did
+the more readily, as the commander of this new armament was totally
+unknown to us. Our joy was now excessive, not only on account of the
+gold which Cortes gave us from his private purse, but at the arrival of
+this flotilla, which we saw the Almighty had sent to us in our distress.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXI.
+
+    _How Pamfilo Narvaez despatches five persons to Sandoval, the
+    commandant of Vera Cruz, with summons to surrender up the town to
+    him._
+
+
+After Narvaez had received every information about Vera Cruz from the
+three deserters, he determined to despatch thither a priest named
+Guevara, who was a capital hand at talking, and a certain Amaya, a man
+of great distinction, and a relative of Velasquez; besides a secretary
+named Vergara and three witnesses, whose names I have forgotten. These
+gentlemen were to announce his arrival, and summon the town to
+surrender; and, to make sure work, were provided with a copy of Narvaez
+appointment.
+
+Sandoval had already been apprized of the arrival of Narvaez by the
+inhabitants. But as he was a man who was always upon the alert, and
+possessed of great penetration, he immediately guessed that the armament
+was fitted out by Velasquez, and that his object was to gain possession
+of Vera Cruz; he therefore instantly adopted every precaution, and
+commenced by sending all the invalid soldiers to the Indian township
+Papalote, merely retaining those who were in good health. He then posted
+watches along the road leading to Sempoalla, which Narvaez would be
+obliged to take if he marched to Vera Cruz. Sandoval also made his men
+promise him neither to surrender the town to Velasquez nor any one else,
+and that none of his men might forget their promise he ordered a gallows
+to be erected on an elevated spot outside the town.
+
+When the outposts brought Sandoval information that six Spaniards were
+approaching the town, he retired into his own house to await their
+arrival; for he was determined not to go out to receive these guests,
+and had also issued orders to his men not to quit their quarters, nor
+exchange a single word with the strangers.
+
+When, therefore, the priest Guevara and his companions arrived in the
+town, they only saw some Indians, who were working at the
+fortifications, but not a Spaniard to speak to; they walked straightway
+into the church to pray, and then repaired to Sandoval's house, which
+they recognized from its being the largest one in the town.
+
+After the first greetings had passed between them, the priest began his
+discourse by stating to Sandoval what large sums of money Velasquez had
+expended on the armament which went out under the command of Cortes,
+who, with the whole of the men, had turned traitors to the governor; and
+concluded by saying, that he came to summon him in the name of Narvaez,
+whom Velasquez had appointed captain-general, to deliver up the town to
+him.
+
+When Sandoval heard this, and the expressions which reflected dishonour
+on Cortes, he could scarcely speak, from downright vexation; at length
+he replied: "Venerable sir, you are wrong to term men traitors who have
+proved themselves better servants to our emperor than Velasquez has, or
+your commander; and that I do not now this instant punish you for this
+affront, is merely owing to your being a priest. Go, therefore, in the
+name of God, to Mexico; there you will find Cortes, who is
+captain-general, and chief justice of New Spain. He will answer you
+himself; here you had better not lose another word."
+
+At this moment the priest, with much bravado, ordered the secretary
+Vergara to produce the appointment of Narvaez, and read it to Sandoval,
+and the others present. Sandoval, however, desired the secretary to
+leave his papers quietly where they were, as it was impossible for him
+to say whether the appointment was a lawful one or not. But as the
+secretary still persisted in producing his papers, Sandoval cried out to
+him: "Mind what you are about, Vergara! I have already told you to keep
+your papers in your pocket; go with them to Mexico! I promise you, the
+moment you proceed to read a single syllable from them, 100 good lashes
+on the spot. How can I tell whether you are a royal secretary or not?
+First show me your appointment; and if I find you are, I will listen to
+your papers. But, even then, who can prove to me whether your papers are
+true or false?"
+
+The priest, who was a very haughty man, then cried out, "Why do you
+stand upon any ceremony with these traitors? Pull out your papers, and
+read the contents to them!"
+
+To which Sandoval answered: "You lie, you infamous priest!" and ordered
+his men immediately to seize those gentlemen, and carry them off to
+Mexico.
+
+He had hardly spoken, when they were seized by a number of Indians
+employed at the fortifications, bound hand and foot, and thrown upon
+the backs of porters. In this way they were transported to Mexico, where
+they arrived in the space of four days; the Indian porters being
+constantly relieved by others on the road.
+
+These gentlemen were not a little surprised at this rough treatment; but
+the deeper they advanced into the country, the more astonished they
+grew, at the sight of the large towns and villages, where they stopped
+to take refreshment. They were, it is said, very doubtful within
+themselves whether all was not enchantment, or merely a dream.
+
+Sandoval had sent Pedro de Solis, Orduna's son-in-law, as alguacil, to
+accompany the escort; and he likewise informed Cortes, by letter, of
+everything that was going on at the coast, and of the name of the
+captain who commanded the flotilla. The letter even arrived before the
+prisoners in Mexico; so that Cortes was apprized of their approach when
+they were still at some distance from the town.
+
+He immediately despatched some men with a quantity of the best
+provisions, and three horses, for the most distinguished of the
+prisoners, with orders that they should be immediately released from
+their fetters. He likewise wrote them a letter, in which he expressed
+his regret that they should have met with such harsh treatment from
+Sandoval, and that he would give them the most honorable reception.
+Indeed he even went out to meet them himself, and escorted them into the
+town.
+
+The priest and his companions--after they became acquainted with the
+vast extent of Mexico, and the number of other towns built in the lake,
+saw the quantity of gold which every one of us possessed, and the noble
+and open countenance of Cortes--were quite enchanted; and they had not
+been above a couple of days with us before Cortes succeeded so well to
+tame them, by kind words, fair promises, jewels, and bars of gold, that
+they, who had come like furious lions, now returned back to Narvaez as
+harmless as lambs, and offered to render our general every service in
+their power. Indeed, when they had arrived in Sempoalla, and given
+Narvaez an account of all they had seen, they spoke of nothing else to
+his men than of the policy to make common cause with us.
+
+I will, however, break off here, and acquaint the reader with the letter
+which Cortes wrote to Narvaez.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXII.
+
+    _How Cortes, after he had gained every information respecting the
+    armament, wrote to Narvaez, and several of his acquaintances who had
+    come with him, and particularly to Andreas du Duero, private
+    secretary to Velasquez; and of other events._
+
+
+Cortes was a man who never allowed the smallest advantage to escape; and
+whatever difficulty he might be in, he managed to get out of it. But it
+must also be remembered, that he had the good fortune to command
+officers and soldiers on whom he could place every reliance under all
+circumstances, who not only lent a powerful arm in battle, but likewise
+assisted him with their prudent counsel. In this way, then, it was
+unanimously resolved in council, that a letter should be despatched by
+Indian couriers to Narvaez, written in the most affectionate tone, with
+offers of our services to him, and begging of him not to excite a
+rebellion in the country, which would certainly be the case if the
+Indians observed we were at enmity with each other. This letter was to
+be delivered to Narvaez before the return there of Guevara. We expressly
+wrote in this friendly tone, as our numbers were so very small in
+comparison to his, and because we were first desirous of knowing how he
+was inclined. Besides this, we employed other means to gain friends
+among Narvaez's officers, which seemed no great difficulty, as Guevara
+had assured Cortes that the latter were not on the best terms with their
+commander, and that a few bars of gold, with a few chains of the same
+metal, would soon pave the way. In this letter Cortes informed Narvaez
+how both he and all his men were rejoiced at his arrival here; in
+particular himself, as they were old friends. He also desired he would
+not connive at the liberation of Motecusuma, as the consequences would
+be a rebellion in the city, and throughout the whole country, which
+would be the destruction of both his troops and ours, as we should be
+overwhelmed by numbers. He could not help drawing his particular
+attention to this circumstance, as Motecusuma of late seemed greatly
+changed in his behaviour towards him, and the inhabitants were upon the
+point of rising up in arms, from the message which Motecusuma had
+received in Narvaez's name; but he was convinced that he was too prudent
+and sensible a man, and would not have sent such a dangerous message at
+such a critical period, if he had not been misled by the three
+scoundrels who had run over to him. To make a good finish to the letter,
+he begged to say that Narvaez was at liberty to dispose of his person
+and of his purse, and he would await his commands.
+
+Cortes at the same time wrote to Andreas de Duero and Vazquez de Aillon,
+and accompanied these letters with some gold for themselves and his
+other friends. Aillon, besides this, privately received some other gold
+bars and chains. He also despatched father Olmedo to Narvaez's
+head-quarters with a good stock of these persuasive articles, consisting
+in various trinkets of gold and precious stones of great value.
+
+The first letter which Cortes had sent by the Indian courier reached
+Narvaez's quarters before Guevara had returned there. This Narvaez read
+aloud to his officers, and kept the whole time making merry at the
+expense of Cortes and all of us. One of his officers, named Salvatierra,
+even blamed him for reading the letter of such a traitor as Cortes was,
+to his men. Narvaez, continued he, should immediately march out against
+us, and put us all to death. He himself, he swore, would cut off Cortes'
+ears, broil them, and eat them up; and all such like folly. He said the
+letter ought not to be answered, and he did not care a snap of the
+fingers for us.
+
+In the meantime the priest, Guevara, and his companions, had returned,
+and the latter gave Narvaez a circumstantial account of Cortes, showing
+him what an excellent cavalier he was, and what a faithful servant he
+had proved himself to our emperor. He spoke about the great power of
+Motecusuma, and the number of towns through which he had journeyed, and
+that Cortes would gladly submit to him. He also added, that it was for
+the advantage of both to remain on friendly terms with each other. New
+Spain was large enough to afford room for them both, and Narvaez might
+choose which part of the country he would occupy with his troops.
+
+These statements, which Amaya and Guevara had accompanied by some good
+advice, so greatly incensed Narvaez, that he would neither see nor speak
+to them from that moment. The impression, however, it produced on the
+troops was various; for when they saw the gold these two men returned
+with, and heard so much good of Cortes and all of us, and heard them
+speak of the wondrous things they had seen, and the vast quantity of
+gold, and how we played at cards for gold only, many of them longed to
+join our corps.
+
+Shortly after this, father Olmedo likewise arrived in Narvaez's quarters
+with bars of gold and secret instructions. When he called upon him to
+pay him Cortes' respects, and said how ready he was to obey Narvaez's
+commands, and remain on terms of peace with him, the latter grew more
+enraged than before. He even refused to listen to him, and called Cortes
+and all of us traitors; and when Olmedo denied this, and told him we
+were the most faithful of the emperor's servants, he grossly insulted
+him. All this, however, did not deter Olmedo from fulfilling his secret
+mission, and distributing the bars of gold and golden chains among those
+for whom Cortes had destined them; and he strove in every way to draw
+over Narvaez's principal officers to our side.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXIII.
+
+    _The high words which arose between the auditor Vazquez de Aillon
+    and Narvaez, who orders him to be seized and sent back prisoner to
+    Spain._
+
+
+The auditor Aillon, as I have before mentioned, was most favorably
+inclined towards Cortes, and had purposely come to New Spain with
+instructions from the royal court of audience at St. Domingo and the
+Hieronymite brothers, who were aware of the great and important services
+we had rendered to God and the emperor, to promote our cause in every
+possible manner. After he had carefully perused Cortes' letters, and
+received the bars of gold, he no longer made a secret of his sentiments,
+but spoke without any reserve of the scandalous piece of injustice which
+had been perpetrated in fitting out this armament against such
+well-deserving men as we had proved ourselves, and was so eloquent in
+the praise of Cortes and his companions in arms, that the feeling in our
+favour became almost universal in Narvaez's head-quarters. The meanness
+of the latter's disposition served to increase this feeling, who
+retained all the presents sent by Motecusuma entirely to himself,
+without offering any part of them either to his officers or men. Indeed,
+he even said haughtily to his steward, "Mind that not the smallest
+matter is taken away from these things; every article has been carefully
+noted down." When this conduct was compared with that pursued by Cortes
+towards his soldiers, his men almost broke out into open insurrection.
+
+Narvaez looked upon the auditor as the cause of all this bad feeling,
+and brought it so sensibly home to him that no one durst give him or his
+adherents the smallest morsel of the provisions which were sent by
+Motecusuma. This circumstance of itself caused a good deal of
+quarrelling among the troops; but when Narvaez's principal adherents,
+Salvatierra, whom I have above mentioned, and a certain Juan Bono, from
+Biscay, with a certain Gamarra, continually added fuel to the flame, he,
+relying on the mighty support of Fonseca, lost sight of every
+consideration, imprisoned the auditor, with his secretary and all his
+attendants, threw them on board a vessel, and so sent them off either to
+Spain or Cuba.
+
+His behaviour towards Gonzalo de Oblanco, a cavalier and a scholar, was
+even more severe,--when the latter boldly told him to his face that
+Cortes had proved himself a faithful servant to the emperor, that we all
+had merited a reward from his majesty, and that it was scandalous to
+brand us with the name of traitors, and great presumption to imprison
+one of his majesty's auditors, Narvaez instantly threw him into chains,
+and Oblanco, who was a high-spirited soul, was so hurt at this
+ill-treatment, that he died within the space of four days. Two other
+soldiers were thrown into prison merely because they had spoken well of
+Cortes; one of whom was Sancho de Barahona, who afterwards settled down
+in Guatimala.
+
+But to return to the auditor, who was to be sent prisoner to Spain; he
+was scarcely at sea, when he prevailed upon the captain and pilot, by
+means of good words, or threats to hang them immediately on their
+arrival in Spain, instead of paying them for the passage, to steer for
+St. Domingo.
+
+As soon as the auditor had arrived at St. Domingo, and the royal court
+of audience and viceroys there were informed of Narvaez's scandalous and
+presumptuous ill treatment of the licentiate Lucas Vazquez, they
+considered it in the light of an insult offered to themselves, and made
+heavy complaints to the supreme council of Castile. But as the bishop
+Fonseca was still president of that council, and, during his majesty's
+continued absence in Flanders, ruled affairs as he thought proper, no
+justice could be expected from Spain. The bishop had even the
+shamelessness openly to express his joy when he supposed that Narvaez
+had already subdued us. The bishop, himself, however, suffered from the
+consequences which ensued from this affair; for, when our agents in
+Flanders received intelligence of Velasquez's expedition, and found that
+it had been fitted out without his majesty's permission, and merely by
+authority of Fonseca, they drew great advantage from this illegal mode
+of proceeding during the investigation which was shortly after set on
+foot respecting Cortes and all of us.--The harsh treatment which the
+auditor Lucas Vazquez was subjected to had a bad effect upon Narvaez's
+troops, and many of his friends and relatives whom he regarded with a
+mistrustful eye, went over to Sandoval, lest they should experience
+similar treatment with Oblanco. Sandoval, as may well be imagined,
+received them with open arms, and learnt from them all that had passed
+in Narvaez's quarters; likewise that he contemplated sending men to Vera
+Cruz to take him prisoner.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXIV.
+
+    _Narvaez marches, with the whole of his troops, to Sempoalla; his
+    proceedings there; and how we in Mexico determine to march against
+    him._
+
+
+After Narvaez had sent off the auditor prisoner, he marched with the
+whole of his men, the baggage, and the cannon, to Sempoalla, and
+quartered himself in that town, which was then very thickly populated.
+His first act there was to take away from the fat cazique, as we termed
+him, the cotton stuffs, gold trinkets, and other fancy articles he
+possessed. He likewise took the Indian females forcibly away who had
+been presented to us by the caziques of Sempoalla, and whom we had left
+behind with their parents and relatives, as they were daughters of
+distinguished personages, and much too delicate to bear the fatigues of
+a campaign.
+
+The fat cazique had often warned Narvaez not to touch the women, or
+anything which Cortes had left behind in the shape of gold or cotton
+stuffs, as he would certainly be greatly incensed, hasten from Mexico,
+and not only cut off Narvaez, but also him, for suffering his property
+to be touched.
+
+All the complaints this cazique might make respecting the depredations
+committed by Narvaez's troops in Sempoalla were equally fruitless. And
+it was of no avail for him to repeat that Malinche and his men had never
+taken the smallest thing from them, and had proved themselves altogether
+kind-hearted teules; Narvaez and Salvatierra, whose conduct in general
+was the most heartless, merely mocked at the cazique, the latter often
+repeating to Narvaez and the other officers, "Only just imagine in what
+fear these caziques stand of that paltry little fellow Cortes!"
+
+May the good reader learn from this how wrong it is to speak evil of
+honest folks; for I am ready to swear that this very Salvatierra behaved
+in the most pitiable and cowardly manner when the battle was fought
+between Narvaez and us, and yet his build and bones were powerful enough
+to have defended himself right well; however, he was a mere braggadocio,
+and I believe he was a native of Burgos.
+
+We must now, however, return to Cortes, and acquaint the reader that
+Narvaez despatched his secretary, Alonso Meta, who subsequently settled
+in Puebla, with three other great personages, to Mexico, commanding us
+and our general, by virtue of the copies of his appointment by
+Velasquez, to submit to him.[75]
+
+Cortes, who received daily intelligence of what was going on in
+Narvaez's head-quarters and at Vera Cruz, was duly informed by Sandoval
+how Narvaez had thrown Vazquez de Aillon into chains, and sent him to
+Spain or Cuba, and that, owing to such violent proceedings, five of his
+principal officers had come over to him, who feared, since so little
+respect had been paid to the person of a royal auditor, they, as
+Aillon's relatives, might expect worse treatment. From them Sandoval
+learnt everything that was passing in Narvaez's head-quarters, and that
+it was his intention to march shortly in person to Mexico to take us all
+prisoners. Cortes, on receiving this intelligence, assembled his
+officers and all those whom he was accustomed to consult in matters of
+great moment, and were men entirely devoted to him. In this council it
+was determined we should anticipate Narvaez, and immediately march out
+against him. Pedro de Alvarado was to remain in Mexico, with all those
+who were not over-anxious to make this campaign, to guard the person of
+Motecusuma; and we likewise took care to leave all those behind who, as
+partisans of Velasquez, were not altogether to be trusted.
+
+Cortes had fortunately ordered a quantity of maise from Tlascalla
+previous to the arrival of Narvaez, for the harvest had altogether
+failed about Mexico, owing to a continued drought: we, indeed, required
+a great quantity of provisions for the numbers of Naborias[76] and
+Tlascallan troops we had with us. This and other necessaries of life,
+consisting in fowls, fruits, &c., arrived at the time appointed, and
+were given in charge of Alvarado. We likewise took the precaution of
+fortifying our quarters,--we mounted four pieces of heavy cannon on the
+most commanding point, and left Alvarado a few falconets and all the
+powder we could spare, with ten crossbow-men, fourteen musketeers, and
+seven horse soldiers; the latter were, indeed, more than he required, as
+the cavalry was of little use in the courtyards attached to our
+quarters. The number of soldiers we left behind in Mexico was altogether
+eighty-three.
+
+Motecusuma easily conjectured what our designs were against Narvaez;
+yet, though Cortes daily called upon him, he was equally upon his guard
+as Cortes was in not throwing out any hints of his (Motecusuma's)
+sending Narvaez gold and provisions. It was only at the very last that
+the monarch made some inquiries respecting our intended movements, which
+will be found in the chapter following.
+
+[75] This Alonso Mata, as we afterwards see, was met on his way to
+Mexico by Cortes. (p. 300.)
+
+[76] Naborias, Indian servants. (p. 301.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXV.
+
+    _How the powerful Motecusuma inquires of Cortes whether it was
+    really his intention to march out against Narvaez, though the
+    latter's troops were double the number of ours._
+
+
+The monarch, one day discoursing as usual with Cortes, spoke to him as
+follows: "Malinche! I have for some time past observed all your officers
+and soldiers going up and down in great uneasiness: even you yourself do
+not visit me so frequently as you were wont; and the page Orteguilla
+informs me that you are about to march against your brothers who have
+just arrived, and that you are going to leave Tonatio (so Alvarado was
+termed by the Mexicans) behind, to guard my person. Do tell me if there
+is any truth in all this? for if, in any way, I can be of service to you
+in this matter, it will be a great pleasure to me. I have great fears of
+your success, for your teules are too few in numbers in comparison to
+those just arrived. They have five times the number of troops you have;
+they also, as well as yourself, maintain to be Christians, and subjects
+of your emperor; they pay homage to the same image and cross, read the
+mass as you do, and everywhere spread the rumour that you have fled away
+from Spain from your emperor, and that he has sent them to take you back
+again, or put you to death. Really I scarcely know what to think of all
+this: one thing, however, I must tell you, to use great circumspection
+in what you are about to do."
+
+In reply to this, Cortes told the monarch, with the most cheerful
+countenance in the world, that he had studiously avoided mentioning
+anything of all this up to the present moment, from his great affection
+towards him, to spare him the anxiety he would feel on our account. It
+was very true, the newly arrived teules were also subjects of our
+emperor, and Christians; but it was a falsehood to assert that we had
+fled away from the territory of our emperor. On the contrary, our great
+monarch had expressly sent us out to visit him, Motecusuma, and make
+those disclosures to him, in his imperial name, which Motecusuma had
+heard. With regard to the numbers of those just arrived, we felt quite
+unconcerned, however great they might be in comparison to ours, as our
+Lord Jesus Christ and his blessed mother would lend us strength, and
+clothe us with superior power to those bad men who came with such evil
+designs. His emperor, continued Cortes, swayed the sceptre over so many
+countries and kingdoms, that the people who inhabited them were of
+various kinds, and differed in courage and manly spirit. We were born
+in the heart of Spain, which was termed Old Castile, and therefore bore
+the additional name of Castilians; those, on the other hand, who were
+now quartered at Sempoalla, came from another province called Biscay,
+where the inhabitants spoke a perfectly spurious language, in the same
+way as the Otomies do in Mexico. He need be in no apprehension about us,
+but might depend upon it we should very soon manage those fellows, and
+speedily return victorious to his metropolis. At present we merely
+begged of him to remain on terms of friendship with Tonatio, who would
+remain behind in Mexico with eighty men; and to prevent any insurrection
+from breaking out, and not to allow his generals and papas to disturb
+the peace; for, in case they did, he should be compelled to put them all
+to death on his return. He also desired he would furnish those who
+remained behind with the necessary provisions.
+
+After this explanation, Motecusuma and Cortes embraced each other twice
+successively, while the sly Dona Marina observed to the monarch that he
+ought to show some signs of grief at our departure: upon which he again
+commenced speaking, and offered to comply with any wish Cortes might
+express, and promised to give him 5000 of his troops to accompany us on
+our march. Cortes, who well knew they would not have been forthcoming,
+thanked him for his kind offer, and assured him we stood in no need of
+his assistance, as we found our true support in the Lord our God: but
+begged of him to see that the image of the holy Virgin and the cross
+were constantly decorated with green boughs; that the church was kept
+clean, and wax-lights burning night and day on the altar; and not to
+allow his papas to sacrifice any human beings; and in his compliance
+with these things we should best be able to convince ourselves of the
+sincerity of his friendship.
+
+After this Cortes told the monarch he must excuse him for breaking off
+the discourse now, as he had many things to regulate before commencing
+his march; he then once more embraced the monarch, and so they parted
+from each other.[77]
+
+Cortes now ordered Alvarado and all those who were to remain behind in
+Mexico into his presence. He desired them to observe the utmost
+vigilance, and not to give Motecusuma a chance of escaping out of their
+hands, and commanded the soldiers to pay the most implicit obedience to
+Alvarado, promising, if God were willing, to enrich them all.
+
+Among those who stayed with Alvarado was the priest Juan Diaz, and many
+others whom we suspected of ill will towards Cortes, whose names I do
+not choose to mention. We nevertheless embraced each other on leaving,
+and then marched out without any females or servants, with as little
+baggage as possible, and took the road to Cholulla. From this town
+Cortes sent to our friends Xicotencatl, Maxixcatzin, and the other
+caziques of Tlascalla, desiring them to send us immediately 4000 of
+their troops. To which they returned the answer, that if we were going
+to war with Indians as they were, they would gladly send us the required
+troops and many more; but if we intended fighting against teules, like
+unto ourselves, against cannon and horses, we were not to think ill of
+them if they refused our request. This answer was accompanied by as many
+fowls as twenty men could carry.
+
+Cortes then sent a courier with a letter to Sandoval, desiring the
+latter to join him as speedily as possible with all his men; we intended
+to march to within forty-eight miles of Sempoalla, in the neighbourhood
+of the provinces of Tampanicita[78] and Mitalaguita, which are at
+present comprehended in the commendary of Pedro Moreno Mediana, who
+resides at Puebla; he particularly cautioned him to keep out of the way
+of Narvaez, and carefully to avoid coming to any engagement with any
+part of his troops.
+
+We ourselves marched forward with every military precaution, and were
+ready for action at a moment's notice. Two of our most trustworthy men
+who were remarkably swift of foot and unwearied pedestrians, were
+constantly a couple of day's march in advance, and lurked along the
+byways, where the cavalry could not penetrate, to gain information of
+the Indians respecting Narvaez. Besides these we had always immediately
+in advance of us a small detachment of sharp-shooters, to seize any of
+the men who strolled from Narvaez's camp, and if possible the latter
+himself. It was not long before they came up with a certain Alonso Mata,
+who termed himself a royal secretary, and was commissioned, he said, by
+Narvaez, to show us the copy of his appointment. This Mata was
+accompanied by four others, who were to act as witnesses on this
+occasion. When these people had arrived near enough they greeted Cortes
+and all of us in the most humble manner possible, and our general
+dismounted when he learnt who they were.
+
+Alonso Mata began immediately to read his documents to us, but Cortes
+interrupted him, and asked him whether he was a royal secretary, and he
+replying in the affirmative, Cortes desired him to produce his
+appointment. If this was all regular, he added, he was at liberty to
+fulfil his commission, and he should know himself what was due from him
+as a servant of the emperor. But, if it was not, it was useless for him
+to read his papers; besides which, it was requisite the papers should
+contain the original appointment signed by the emperor himself, if he
+wished him to acknowledge his authority.
+
+Mata was not a little staggered at being thus addressed, for he himself
+was well aware that he was no royal secretary. He was therefore unable
+to utter a single word, and those who accompanied him remained equally
+mute. Cortes excused their embarrassment, and desired some victuals to
+be set before them; and we halted for a few moments, when Cortes
+informed them we were marching to the township of Tampanicita, in the
+vicinity of Narvaez's head-quarters, where, if the latter had any
+further communications to make, he was to be found. During the whole of
+this discourse Cortes showed such self-command, that he never so much as
+uttered a single reproachful word against Narvaez; he had also a private
+discourse with them, and thrust a few pieces of gold into their hands;
+so that they left us highly delighted, and on their return to Narvaez
+they could scarcely say sufficient in praise of Cortes and of us all.
+
+While these men were still with us, many of our soldiers, for the sake
+of ostentation, had decorated themselves with gold chains and jewels,
+which spread a vast idea of our splendour. All this produced such a
+favorable impression in Narvaez's head-quarters, that many of his chief
+officers desired that peace might be brought about between both
+generals.
+
+In the meantime we continued our march, and arrived in Tampanicita,
+where Sandoval the day following likewise appeared with his small
+detachment, consisting of sixty men; the old and infirm of the garrison,
+as I have above mentioned, having been previously quartered among our
+allies, the Papalote Indians. He likewise brought along with him the
+five friends and relatives of Aillon, who had deserted from Narvaez, and
+had long desired to pay their respects to Cortes, who gave them the most
+friendly reception, and then entered into a private conversation with
+Sandoval, who related to him all the particulars respecting the affair
+with the furious priest Guevara and his companion Vergara. Sandoval
+likewise told him how he had sent two Spanish soldiers into Narvaez's
+head-quarters disguised as Indians. They had the exact appearance of
+natives, took each a basket of cherries with them, and did as if they
+were desirous of selling them. They soon met with a purchaser, in the
+person of the braggadocio Salvatierra, who gave them a string of glass
+beads for their fruit, and fully believing they were Indians, sent them
+to cut some grass for his horse. It was about the hour of Ave-Maria,
+when they returned with a load of grass, and carried it to the shed,
+where the horse was tied up. They then cowered down, after the fashion
+of Indians, near Salvatierra's quarters, and overheard a discourse
+between him and several others of Narvaez's officers. Among other things
+they heard Salvatierra exclaim, "O! at what a fortunate time we have
+arrived in this country, just as the traitor Cortes has collected above
+700,000 pesos! We shall all become wealthy; for his officers and
+soldiers all together cannot have a much less sum than that in their
+pockets."
+
+They listened to many similar fine speeches till a late hour at night,
+when they stole off silently to the shed where Salvatierra's horse was
+fastened up, which they very quietly saddled and bridled, and so rode
+off with it. In the same way they managed to capture a second horse on
+their road home, and brought them both safely to Sandoval.
+
+Cortes was very desirous to see those horses, but Sandoval told him he
+had left them with the invalid soldiers in Papalote, as he had marched
+along a very steep and rugged road over the mountains, where horses
+could not pass, which he had done that he might not fall in with
+Narvaez's troops.
+
+Cortes was vastly pleased with the trick which had been played off upon
+Salvatierra, and the manner in which he had lost his horse, and
+exclaimed, "He will now threaten us with more vengeance than ever!" The
+following morning, we were told, when he found the two Indians, who sold
+him the cherries had decamped with his horse, saddle, and bridle, he
+threw out language really laughable, particularly when he discovered
+they had been disguised Spaniards belonging to Cortes' troops.
+
+[77] According to Torquemada, Motecusuma, accompanied by a distinguished
+suite, conducted the Spaniards as far as Iztapalapan. (p. 303.)
+
+[78] Probably Topaniqueta, which sounds more like an Indian name. (p.
+304.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXVI.
+
+    _How we determined once more to despatch father Olmedo to Narvaez's
+    head-quarters, and what we commissioned him to say._
+
+
+As soon as all our troops had arrived at Tampanicita, we determined to
+despatch father Olmedo, who was a remarkably shrewd man, to Narvaez with
+a letter, which, after expressing the usual courtesies, ran nearly as
+follows:
+
+We all rejoiced at his arrival in this country, as we were confident
+that, in conjunction with such a valiant captain as he was, we should be
+able to render important services to God and to our emperor. It was true
+he had not only neglected to answer our previous letter, but had even
+branded us, his majesty's faithful subjects, with the name of traitors;
+and, by means of the message he had conveyed to Motecusuma, the whole
+country was about to burst out into open insurrection. We hereby begged
+of him to select that province which he fancied most for himself and
+troops; we were very willing to make room for him, and to act in every
+respect as beseemed faithful servants of the emperor. We had likewise
+requested him to forward us the original papers of his appointment, if
+he possessed any such, that we might convince ourselves they were signed
+by his majesty. However, he had not even listened to this request, but
+had thrown out abusive language against us, and incited the inhabitants
+of the country to revolt. We now again begged of him, in the name of
+God, and the emperor our master, to forward us his papers within the
+space of three days by a royal secretary, that he might read them to us;
+as we were ready, and also promised to act up strictly to his majesty's
+commands, if his documents were correct. For this purpose we had
+expressly come to Tampanicita, to be near his person. If he was unable
+to produce any such appointment direct from his majesty, and he was
+again desirous of returning to Cuba, he was at liberty to do so; we
+merely desired him to desist from stirring up the inhabitants into open
+insurrection, or we should consider ourselves bound to treat him as an
+enemy, take him prisoner, and send him in chains to the emperor, without
+whose authority he had commenced war upon us, and revolutionised all the
+towns of the country. Every drop of blood that was spilt, all
+destruction of property which would ensue from fire or otherwise, he
+would himself have to answer for.
+
+Our reason for communicating these things to him by letter only was,
+because no royal secretary durst venture to convey them in person,
+fearing he might share a similar fate with the auditor Aillon; and we
+were astonished how he durst presume to act so daringly. Cortes
+considered himself bound in honour and justice to his majesty not to
+allow such a heavy offence to pass by unpunished; and he hereby summoned
+him, by virtue of his office as captain-general and chief-justice of New
+Spain, to appear before him and answer the charge preferred against him
+of _criminis laesae majestatis_. Lastly, he earnestly begged of him to
+return the cotton stuffs and gold trinkets he had forcibly taken away
+from the fat cazique; to deliver up to their parents again the Indian
+females who had been presented to us; and to command his men in no way
+to touch the property of the inhabitants.
+
+This letter, which closed with the usual courteous expressions, was
+signed by Cortes, the officers, and other soldiers, among whom was
+myself. With this letter father Olmedo, accompanied by one of our men,
+named Bartolome de Usagre, who had a brother serving in Narvaez's
+artillery, went off to the latter's head-quarters. What kind of
+reception they met with will be found in the chapter following.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXVII.
+
+    _How father Olmedo arrived in Narvaez's head-quarters at Sempoalla,
+    and what he did there._
+
+
+As soon as father Olmedo had arrived at Narvaez's head-quarters, he
+began to fulfil the orders which Cortes had given him. He made secret
+disclosures in Cortes' name to a number of cavaliers in Narvaez's corps,
+also to the artillerymen Rodrigo, Mino, and Usagre; and gave them the
+bars of gold which our general had destined for them. He likewise
+proposed to Andreas de Duero to pay a visit to our camp, and then called
+upon Narvaez himself.
+
+Although Olmedo comported himself particularly humble in presence of
+Narvaez, yet the latter's confidants had their suspicions, and advised
+their general to throw the father into prison, which was just about
+being carried into effect, when Duero, private secretary to Velasquez,
+was secretly apprized of it.
+
+Duero was a native of Tudela, on the Duero, and Narvaez came from the
+neighbourhood of Valladolid, or from the town itself, and they were not
+only countrymen, but also related to each other. This Duero had vast
+influence, stood high in the estimation of the men, and durst take more
+upon himself than others; he therefore called upon Narvaez, and told him
+he had been informed of his intention to imprison father Olmedo; and he
+considered himself called upon to observe, that no good could flow from
+such a step; for though there might be sufficient grounds for supposing
+he was intriguing for Cortes, yet, as a messenger from him, he ought not
+to be ill treated; the more so, because Cortes had honorably received
+all those whom Narvaez had despatched to him, and dismissed them with
+presents. Ever since father Olmedo had been here, he had himself
+frequently discoursed with him; but from all he had uttered could only
+conclude that Cortes, with the whole of his officers, was desirous of
+being on friendly terms with Narvaez. He ought likewise to remember that
+Cortes took every opportunity of speaking in his praise; indeed Cortes,
+as well as all his men, never pronounced the name of Narvaez but with
+profound respect, and it would be a small piece of heroism to seize upon
+the person of a priest; and the other man, who had come with him, was
+brother to the artilleryman Usagre; it would be therefore better in
+every respect if they received polite treatment; and he would advise him
+to ask the father to dinner, when he could himself fish out from him
+what the views of Cortes were.
+
+With these and such like kind-words, Duero succeeded in softening down
+Narvaez's anger; upon which the former immediately communicated to
+father Olmedo all that had transpired. Narvaez then sent for the father
+to dine with him, and received him most courteously.
+
+Father Olmedo, who was a remarkably judicious and shrewd man, requested
+Narvaez, with a pleasing smile, to grant him a private interview; and
+they walked up and down together in the courtyard, when Olmedo addressed
+him to the following effect: "I am well aware that your excellency had
+the intention to take me prisoner; though I can assure you there is not
+a person belonging to your staff more devoted to you than I am. I am
+likewise convinced that several cavaliers and officers in Cortes' troops
+would gladly see the latter in your power; indeed I am altogether
+convinced that we shall all soon stand under your commands. In order to
+make the necessary preparations for such a step, they have written you a
+letter full of extravagant expressions, and got it signed by several of
+our men. This letter I was ordered to hand over to your excellency; but,
+on account of its contents, I could not make up my mind to do so, but
+felt more inclined to throw it into the river."
+
+Narvaez then expressed a desire to see this letter, and father Olmedo
+told him he had left it in his room, but would go for it, and left
+Narvaez for that purpose. In the meantime Salvatierra, the braggadocio,
+had come up to the latter; while Olmedo hastened to Duero, requesting
+him to be present when he handed over the letter to Narvaez, and bring
+with him as many other soldiers as possible, that its contents might be
+made known to all. Olmedo now returned to Narvaez, and presented him
+Cortes' letter, with these words: "Your excellency must not feel
+astonished if in this letter you find Cortes speaking out a little at
+random; however, notwithstanding all this, I can assure you, if you
+express yourself in kind terms to him, he will submit to you, with the
+whole of his troops."
+
+All the bystanders now pressed Narvaez to read the letter; some were
+greatly annoyed, but Narvaez and Salvatierra merely laughed, and made
+game of the contents. Duero, however, said: "Really I am unable to make
+anything out of all this! The reverend father has assured me, that
+Cortes and the whole of his men are ready to join our standard, and yet
+they presume to write such nonsense to our general." Augustin Bermudez,
+who was a captain and alguacil-major of Narvaez's camp, followed in the
+same strain and said: "Father Olmedo has likewise assured me privately,
+that it merely required some little mediation between them, and Cortes
+would himself wait upon our general and join his standard with the
+whole of his men. As he is encamped not far from here, we could
+certainly do no better than despatch Senor Salvatierra and Senor Duero
+thither, and I will accompany them myself." This Bermudez merely said to
+see what Salvatierra would say, who immediately declared that he felt no
+inclination to visit a traitor.
+
+Do not speak quite so rashly, Senor Salvatierra, said father Olmedo; for
+by showing a little more moderation you will be able, in a few days, to
+have him in your power.
+
+However it was resolved that Duero should be despatched to Cortes, and
+Narvaez held a private conference with him and three other officers,
+desiring them to try and persuade Cortes to meet him at an Indian
+village on the road between the two encampments, where they might come
+to an understanding with each other respecting the division of the
+country and the boundaries of their respective territories. Narvaez was
+quite earnest in this matter, and had expressed himself to that effect
+to about twenty of his men, who were particularly devoted to him. This
+circumstance soon came to the ears of father Olmedo and Duero, who
+immediately apprized Cortes of it.
+
+We must now, for a time, leave father Olmedo in Narvaez's camp, where he
+soon became very intimate with Salvatierra, as the latter was a native
+of Burgos and he himself of Olmedo, and he dined with him every day. In
+the meantime we will likewise allow Duero to make preparations for his
+journey, on which he was accompanied by Usagre, that Narvaez might not
+fish anything out of him. We must now see what took place in our own
+camp during this interval.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXVIII.
+
+    _How Cortes reviews the whole of his troops, and we are supplied
+    with two hundred and fifty very long new lances, by the
+    Tchinantecs._
+
+
+As soon as Cortes was apprized of Narvaez's arrival in New Spain, and
+had received every information respecting the magnitude of his armament,
+he despatched a soldier who had served in the Italian campaigns, and who
+possessed an extensive knowledge of weapons and of the best method of
+fixing points to lances, into the province of the Tchinantecs,[78*] where
+some of our men had gone in search of gold mines. The Tchinantecs were
+deadly enemies to the Mexicans, and had only a few days previously made
+an alliance with us. This people used a species of lance, which was
+much longer than our Spanish lances, and furnished with a sharp
+double-edged point made of flint.[79]
+
+Cortes had heard of this weapon, and sent word to the Tchinantecs to
+forward him three hundred of such lances, from which however he desired
+they would take off the flint points and substitute a double one of
+metal, as they had abundance of copper in their country. The soldier who
+was despatched with these orders took a pattern of the point required
+with him. Cortes' wishes were readily complied with, and as the
+inhabitants of every township of that province set diligently to work,
+the lances were soon finished and they turned out most satisfactory.
+Besides this, Cortes desired the soldier Tovilla to ask the Tchinantecs
+to send 2000 of their warriors, all armed with similar lances, on Easter
+day, into the district of Panguenequita,[80] and there make inquiries
+for our camp. The caziques willingly complied with our request, and they
+also gave Tovilla above 200 of their warriors, all armed with the same
+lances, to accompany him now on his return to our camp. The rest were to
+follow with another of our men, called Barrientos, who had been
+despatched into their country in search of mines, and he may have been
+from forty to forty-eight miles further inland. The lances which Tovilla
+brought with him proved most excellent, and he immediately taught us how
+to use them, particularly against the cavalry.
+
+Upon this Cortes reviewed the whole of his troops, and we found,
+including all the officers, drummers and pipers, without father Olmedo,
+our numbers amounted to 260 men, among whom were five cavalrymen, a few
+crossbow-men, less musketeers, and two artillerymen. Considering the
+smallness of our numbers we reposed our greatest hopes in the use we
+intended making of our lances, in which fortunately we were not
+disappointed, as will afterwards be seen.
+
+[78*] The real name of this province was Chinantla, but our author calls
+the inhabitants Chichinatecas. (p. 310.)
+
+[79] Hierro is the Spanish word for iron, and Bernal Diaz always uses
+Hierro for the point of a lance; otherwise one would suppose,--when he
+says of the Chinantecs, "Hizieron los hierros muy mas perfetamente,"
+etc., i.e. "they made the irons (points) much more perfect;"--that the
+working of iron was known in the country long before the arrival of the
+Spaniards; but it is evident, from what he says four lines below, that
+these points were made of copper. (p. 311.)
+
+[80] Panguenequita, probably another name for Tapanigueta. (p. 311.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXIX.
+
+    _How Duero, with the soldier Usagre and two of his Indian servants
+    from Cuba arrived in our camp; who this Duero was, and the reason of
+    his visit, &c._
+
+
+I must now trouble the reader to turn back to the first part of this
+history where I explained how Cortes obtained the appointment of
+commander-in-chief through the instrumentality of Duero and Amador de
+Lares: both of whom were on the most confidential terms with Diego
+Velasquez; the former as his private secretary, the second as royal
+treasurer. They had by their joint exertions procured Cortes the
+appointment, who, on his part, again promised to divide with them all
+the gold, silver, and jewels which should fall to his share.
+
+When Duero arrived in our camp he was convinced, from what he saw, of
+the vast riches and power of Cortes, and he came not merely to bring
+about a good understanding between both generals, but also to take
+possession of his share of the acquired riches; as Amador de Lares had
+died.
+
+Cortes, who was a cunning and far-sighted man, promised Duero not only
+vast treasures but a command, which would give him the same importance
+with himself, and he would bestow a vast extent of territory upon him.
+In consideration of which the latter was to engage to gain Augustin
+Bermudez, and other chief officers, whose names I will not mention; who
+were to swear upon their life and honour to oppose Narvaez in every way,
+and thwart him in all his designs upon us. If Narvaez was killed or
+taken prisoner, and his army defeated, all the gold and the townships of
+New Spain were to be divided among the three. To this Bermudez was to be
+bound down by affixing his signature to these conditions. In order,
+however, to strengthen the number of their party, Duero took along with
+him as much gold as two men could carry, besides a quantity of other
+valuable things, for Bermudez, the two priests, Guevara and Juan de
+Leon, and other chief personages who were to be let into the secret.
+Cortes and Duero then carefully talked over how the matter was to be
+carried out.
+
+Duero arrived in our quarters on the eve of Easter day, and stayed until
+the evening following. During this time he had several private
+conversations with Cortes, and before mounting his horse he again called
+upon the latter, who was heard to say on taking leave of him: "Well,
+Senor Duero, may God bless you. Remember to abide by all you have
+promised! Before three days have passed I shall be with my troops in
+your head-quarters; if, however, I find you have not remained true to
+your word, upon my conscience, (an oath he often used,) you will be the
+first my lance shall pierce."
+
+To which Duero answered smilingly: "You need be under no apprehension, I
+assure you. Nothing shall be omitted on my part to further your ends."
+
+Duero then mounted his horse and returned to Narvaez with the most
+satisfactory accounts, and assured him that Cortes and all of us desired
+nothing more ardently than to stand under his command. As soon as Duero
+had left, Cortes sent for Juan Velasquez de Leon, one of his chief
+officers, a man who had great authority, and although a near relative to
+the governor of Cuba, was entirely devoted to Cortes. Cortes had also
+gained him over to his interest by valuable presents and promises of an
+important command in New Spain, even to raise him as high in command as
+himself; and, indeed, Velasquez always evinced the most honest
+attachment to our general, and was unremitting in his services to him,
+as will sufficiently be seen hereafter.
+
+When Velasquez de Leon came into Cortes' presence, and inquired his
+commands, the latter said to him with a pleasing smile on his
+countenance, "I have sent for you, Velasquez, because Duero had assured
+me it is rumoured among Narvaez's officers that you and I have
+quarrelled, and that you intend siding with their party. I am,
+therefore, resolved that you shall ride on your powerful gray mare to
+Narvaez's head-quarters, taking with you all your gold, besides your
+_fanfarrona_, (so Velasquez termed a heavy gold chain he possessed,) and
+other valuable matters I shall give you, among which there will be a
+fanfarrona double the weight of yours. When there, you must try to fish
+out what Narvaez's intentions are. After you, Ordas shall likewise
+repair thither, as if he came to pay his respects to Narvaez in his
+capacity of house-steward to the governor of Cuba."
+
+To this Juan Velasquez answered, that he would gladly fulfil his
+commands, but must refuse either to take his gold or his chain with him.
+If he were desirous of furnishing him with any valuable trinkets for
+some other persons, he would promise to deliver them safely; where he
+went himself, he thought, he would be better able to serve him by his
+proper wits than with all the gold and jewels put together. "Of this,"
+replied Cortes, "I am also fully convinced, which is the reason I made
+choice of you; but if you refuse to take all your gold and valuables
+with you, you had much better remain here."
+
+Juan Velasquez still refused to comply for some time, when Cortes took
+him aside, and spoke a few words to him in private; Velasquez then
+yielded to his request, and set out on his journey, accompanied by Juan
+del Rio, one of Cortes' servants.
+
+As soon as Velasquez, whom Cortes had merely despatched to Narvaez to
+annoy the latter, had departed, he issued orders to the drummer
+Canillas, and our piper Benito, to sound their instruments, and desired
+Sandoval to draw up the troops in marching order, and we moved briskly
+forward to Sempoalla. On our road we killed two musk swine,[81] which
+our soldiers construed into a token of victory. The night following, we
+encamped on the slope of a hill near to a brook, made, as was our
+custom, bolsters of large stones, carefully posted our sentinels, and
+ordered the patrols.
+
+The next morning we marched forward in a straight line, and arrived
+towards midday at that river on whose banks the town of Vera Cruz at
+present stands, and goods are landed which arrive from Spain. At that
+time we found merely a few Indian huts and straggling trees there, under
+which we rested ourselves for a considerable time, as we found the heat
+very oppressive. We must now return to Juan Velasquez, and see what
+befel him in Narvaez's camp.
+
+[81] Respecting this animal, see note 5, p. 22. (p. 313.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXX.
+
+    _How Juan Velasquez arrives in Narvaez's head-quarters, and what
+    took place there._
+
+
+Juan Velasquez travelled so fast that he arrived at Sempoalla towards
+daybreak. He alighted at the house of the fat cazique; as the servant
+whom Cortes had sent with him had no horse, he therefore walked on foot
+to Narvaez's quarters. The Indians of Sempoalla all recognized him, and
+were highly pleased to see and converse with him again. When, however,
+some of Narvaez's men, who were quartered in the cazique's house, heard
+the Indians say that it was Velasquez de Leon, one of Malinche's
+officers, they hastened to Narvaez, and told him they brought a piece of
+news for which they might expect a reward. And before Leon had arrived
+at the latter's quarters, Narvaez, who was highly delighted to hear of
+his arrival, hastened out, accompanied by several of his officers, to
+meet him, and received him with a hearty embrace. After they had entered
+his abode, he requested Velasquez to take a chair, (for in this
+expedition they had even furnished themselves with such things,) and
+reproached him in a friendly tone for not having alighted at his
+quarters, and immediately sent some of his men for his horse and
+baggage, as he would not hear of his staying in any house but his own.
+Velasquez, however, observed, that he could not stay long, as he had
+merely come to pay his respects to him and his officers, and try if
+peace and friendship could not be brought about between his excellency
+and Cortes.
+
+Narvaez's blood rose to his cheeks at this expression, and he asked
+Velasquez how he could talk of peace and friendship with a man who had,
+like a traitor, run away with the whole armament of his own cousin, the
+governor of Cuba?
+
+Juan Velasquez replied, in an equally sharp tone of voice, that Cortes
+was not a traitor, but a faithful servant to his emperor; that such
+services as he had rendered to the crown could not be termed the
+actions of a traitor, and he must beg of him not again to make use of
+such expressions in his presence.
+
+Upon this Narvaez assumed a different tone, and made Velasquez vast
+promises if he would remain with him; even promised him, and sealed it
+with an oath, that he would elevate him to second in command to himself,
+if he would manage to induce Cortes' troops to join his standard of
+their own free will. Velasquez, however, assured him he should consider
+himself the vilest of traitors if he deserted a general to whom he had
+sworn fidelity, and of whom he was convinced that everything he had done
+in New Spain was for the emperor's best interest. On the contrary, he
+was determined to remain as faithful and true to Cortes as to the
+emperor himself, and he earnestly begged of him not to touch upon that
+string again.
+
+During this conversation, Narvaez's chief officers had, by degrees, all
+arrived to pay their respects to Velasquez, which they did with every
+show of courtesy, as Velasquez was a man of elegant carriage and
+powerful stature, and had a winning countenance; his beard looked
+majestic, a heavy gold chain hung from his shoulder in graceful folds,
+and sat well on this courageous and spirited officer. After this
+discourse with Narvaez, Velasquez turned to the other officers, and
+entered into private conversation with father Olmedo, Duero, and
+Bermudez.
+
+Narvaez's party, however, were of a different opinion with respect to
+Velasquez, and some of the officers, among whom were Gamarra, Juan
+Yuste, Juan Bono de Quexo, and the braggadocio Salvatierra, pressed
+Narvaez very hard to throw him into chains, as he was secretly striving
+to gain over his men in favour of Cortes. This Narvaez was very willing
+to do, and had already issued orders to that purpose, when Bermudez,
+Duero, and several others who favored our general, received intimation
+thereof, and remonstrated with Narvaez as to the policy of such a step,
+and the benefit he would derive from it, as Cortes, though he had an
+additional hundred officers such as Velasquez, would be unable to cope
+with him. He should also bear in mind how Cortes had received all those
+who visited his camp; how well he had treated every one, and presented
+them so plentifully with jewels and other matters, that every one, up to
+the present moment, had left him laden like bees returning to their
+hives. It was equally in Cortes' power to have detained Duero, the
+priest Guevara, and others; this, however, he had not done, but, on the
+contrary, had shown them every possible respect. It would certainly be
+more to Narvaez's advantage to behave courteously to Velasquez in
+return, and invite him to dinner on the following day.
+
+Narvaez was fully convinced of the truth of these arguments, and
+requested Velasquez, in the kindest terms, to become mediator between
+Cortes and himself, and try if he could not succeed to induce the former
+and his troops to join his standard; and then invited him to dinner on
+the next day. Velasquez promised to make the attempt, but, at the same
+time, stated that he entertained few hopes of success, as Cortes was
+very determined on that head. The best method of settling the matter, in
+his opinion, was, by a division of the provinces between both generals,
+and Cortes would gladly leave the choice to him.
+
+Velasquez, however, merely made this observation to make Narvaez a
+little more tractable. During this discourse, father Olmedo stepped up,
+and, as one of Narvaez's confidential friends and advisers, (for thus
+far he had succeeded with him,) proposed, that he should draw out the
+whole of his troops, with the cavalry and artillery, before Velasquez
+and his servant Juan, to show them the powerful army he commanded, and
+that they might relate what they had seen to Cortes, which would
+certainly produce the desired effect, and convince him he could not do
+better than submit to him. Narvaez followed this counsel, which Olmedo
+had merely advised to vex all his cavaliers and soldiers. The alarm was
+accordingly sounded, and the whole of the troops were thus obliged to
+march out before Velasquez, his servant Juan, and father Olmedo.
+
+After Velasquez had gazed upon the troops for some time, he said to
+Narvaez, "Certainly, your excellency's power is considerable, and may
+God grant you a further increase of it!"
+
+"Well," replied Narvaez, "are you now not fully convinced that it would
+merely cost me a day's march to overthrow Cortes and the whole of you?"
+
+"I will not say anything about that," said Velasquez; "but you may
+depend upon it we should not sell our lives cheaply."
+
+The following day Velasquez was to dine with Narvaez. At table he
+likewise met a nephew of the governor of Cuba, who bore the same name,
+and had the command of a company. During dinner-time, the conversation
+turned upon Cortes' obstinacy, and the letter he had written to Narvaez;
+and, one word leading to another, Diego Velasquez asserted, at length,
+that Cortes and all those who sided with him were traitors for not
+submitting to Narvaez.
+
+At this expression, Juan Velasquez rose up from his seat, and said, with
+much warmth, "General Narvaez, I have once previously begged of you not
+to allow such language in my presence against Cortes or any man of his
+troops. It is really scandalous to speak ill of us who have served his
+majesty so faithfully."
+
+"And I," interrupted Diego Velasquez, in an angry tone, "maintain that I
+have merely spoken the truth in calling you traitors. You are a traitor,
+and all the rest of you, and you are unworthy the name of Velasquez
+which you bear."
+
+Leon now laid hand on his sword, and called Diego a liar; swearing he
+was a better nobleman than he or his uncle, and that the house of
+Velasquez to which he belonged was a very different one to Diego's or
+his uncle's. Of this he would give instant proof if General Narvaez
+would allow him.
+
+As many of Narvaez's officers and a few of Cortes' were present during
+this scene, they interfered and prevented any open violence, as Leon was
+just about to draw his sword against his opponent.
+
+The other officers now advised Narvaez to order Juan Velasquez, his
+servant, and father Olmedo to quit their camp without any further
+ceremony, as their stay there would only cause worse blood. Orders to
+this effect were accordingly issued, and our men delayed not an instant
+to hasten their departure. Leon was seated on his fine mare, and clad in
+his coat of mail, which he scarcely ever put off, and had his helmet on,
+when he once more called upon Narvaez to take leave. Young Diego
+Velasquez was standing next to the latter at the time, and when Leon
+inquired of Narvaez if he had any message to Cortes, he replied, in
+great ill humour, "I beg of you to leave this instant, and it would have
+been much better if you had stayed away altogether." Young Velasquez
+then opened his mouth, and threw out most abusive language against him.
+Leon, in return, assured him his insolence would meet with its due
+reward, and a few days would show whether the bravery of his arm
+corresponded with the boldness of his tongue. As they were continually
+growing more bitter in their expressions, five or six of Cortes'
+adherents among Narvaez's officers, who intended to escort Leon, came
+up, and told him, rather harshly, it was time to be moving, and no
+longer to spend his breath in useless words. They merely assumed this
+tone to get him as quickly out of the way as possible, for they
+afterwards told him that Narvaez had already issued orders for seizing
+his person; indeed, he had every reason to make haste, for a numerous
+body of cavalry was already hard at his heels when he arrived at the
+river above mentioned.--We were just taking our midday's nap when our
+outpost brought information that two or three men on horseback were
+approaching our camp, and we immediately concluded it must be Leon, his
+servant Juan, and father Olmedo.
+
+Cortes and all of us were delighted to see them safely returned. Leon
+then related what the reader has just heard, and how he had secretly
+distributed the presents as Cortes had desired. We were particularly
+amused with what father Olmedo related as to the manner in which he had
+flattered Narvaez, and in mockery advised him to sound an alarm and
+sally out with his heavy guns; and also with the cunning he had employed
+to introduce Cortes' letter. But when he came to Salvatierra, and drew a
+picture of what had taken place between the latter and himself, how he
+had made out that they were relations, and the intimate friendship which
+grew up between them, and the bold language Salvatierra had presumed to
+throw out when he spoke of taking Cortes and all of us prisoners, and
+how he swore to revenge himself upon the soldiers who had run off with
+his and another officer's horse, we really laughed and rejoiced as if
+nothing but mirth and pleasure awaited us, and we no longer gave it a
+thought we should have to fight a battle next day, and measure our
+strength with five times our numbers, no other choice being left us but
+victory or death.
+
+When the heat of the day had somewhat cooled, we continued our march to
+Sempoalla, and encamped for the night near a brook about four miles from
+the town, at a spot where, at that time, there was a bridge, and, at
+present, a farm-house is built.
+
+I must again, however, return to Narvaez's head-quarters, and relate
+what happened there after the departure of Leon and father Olmedo.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXI.
+
+    _What took place in Narvaez's quarters after the return to our camp
+    of the ambassadors we had sent there._
+
+
+The effect of Leon's and father Olmedo's visit to Narvaez's camp soon
+showed itself. Several of the officers who had got some hints of the
+valuable presents which Cortes had sent to be distributed among some of
+them, found that a party was forming in his favour, and advised that the
+utmost vigilance should be observed; orders were therefore issued that
+both foot and horse should always hold themselves ready for action.
+
+The fat cazique whom I have so often mentioned was in great fear for
+having delivered up to Narvaez the women, cotton stuffs, and gold of
+which we had given him charge. For this reason only, therefore, he would
+have acted as a spy upon our movements had Narvaez even not strictly
+commanded him to do so.
+
+When his spies brought him intelligence that we were advancing towards
+Sempoalla, he said to Narvaez, "How can you remain so quiet and
+careless? Do you imagine that Malinche and his teules are people like
+yourselves? I assure you, if you don't keep a sharp look out, he will
+some time or other fall upon you unawares, and destroy you all."
+
+Narvaez and his partisans, though they could not help laughing at these
+warnings of the fat cazique, nevertheless thought it necessary to adopt
+some decisive step. He first formally declared open war against us with
+fire and sword. This we learnt from a soldier named Galleguillo, who had
+deserted to us from Narvaez during the night, or perhaps had been
+secretly sent to apprize us of it by Duero.
+
+Narvaez then encamped with the whole of his troops, taking the cannon
+and all with him, at about a mile from Sempoalla, in order the better to
+watch our movements and not to allow any of our men to pass without
+killing or taking them prisoners. But as it rained heavily just about
+this time, his men soon got tired of standing in the water to await our
+arrival, and Narvaez's officers, who were neither accustomed to dampness
+nor the fatigues of war in general, and imagined it would be an easy
+matter to overcome us, advised him to return with the troops to their
+former quarters. They likewise pretended it would be a reproach to them
+if they all marched out against a handful of men as we were, and
+considered it sufficient if they placed their artillery, which consisted
+of eighteen heavy guns, in front of their camp. Forty of the cavalry
+would be sufficient at night to guard the road leading to Sempoalla,
+along which we should be compelled to advance: besides which, pickets of
+cavalry and light-armed foot could watch the spot where we should have
+to pass the river, to give notice of our approach; and another twenty of
+the cavalry were always to stand in readiness during night-time in the
+courtyard adjoining Narvaez's quarters.
+
+All this his officers merely advised to return to their former
+comfortable quarters again. "Do you, then," continued they to Narvaez,
+"stand in such awe of Cortes as to believe, on the assertion of the fat
+cazique, that he will dare to push forward to our very quarters with his
+paltry numbers? Only let him come, we will give him the reception he
+merits."
+
+Narvaez allowed himself to be convinced by these arguments, and returned
+with the whole of his troops to the former quarters. He then made known
+that he who brought him Cortes or Sandoval dead or alive, should receive
+the reward of 2000 pesos.
+
+The command of the small detachment at the river he gave to a certain
+Hurtado and Gonzalo Carrasco, who is now living at Puebla. The
+watch-word of Narvaez's men, during the battle, was to be Santa Maria!
+Santa Maria! It was also regulated that a strong body of men should be
+posted in his quarters during night-time, and like divisions in those of
+Salvatierra, Gamarra, and Juan Bono.
+
+These were Narvaez's preparations; we must now see what was going on in
+our camp.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXII.
+
+    _The order of our march against Narvaez; the speech Cortes made to
+    us; and our reply to it._
+
+
+After we had arrived at the above-mentioned brook, about four miles from
+Sempoalla, we halted in a beautiful meadow by which it was skirted, and
+posted our sentinels, consisting entirely of men on whom we could place
+implicit reliance. Cortes, seated on horseback, ordered all the officers
+and men to assemble around him; he then craved a few moments' silence,
+and addressed us in a speech replete with flattering expressions and
+vast promises.
+
+He began with our departure from Cuba, mentioned all the fatigues we had
+undergone up to that moment, and then continued: "You are perfectly
+aware, gentlemen, that the governor of Cuba did appoint me
+captain-general of the armament, though many cavaliers among you were
+equally deserving of it; you must also remember that you left Cuba with
+the supposition you were going to found a colony in this country. It was
+under this pretence that the public were invited to join the expedition,
+and yet it afterwards appeared that the armament was merely fitted out
+for commercial speculation. I was preparing to act up to the
+instructions I had received, and was ready to return to Cuba, in order
+to render Diego Velasquez a full account of all our proceedings, when
+you desired me,--yes, you compelled me, to form a settlement here in the
+name of our emperor, in which we, with God's assistance, have indeed so
+far succeeded. You then elected me captain-general and chief justice of
+New Spain, to continue vested with such power until we should know his
+majesty's pleasure on that head. Once, subsequently, there indeed again
+arose a dispute respecting the necessity of returning to Cuba; but this
+I need not mention, as it is still fresh in every one's memory; however,
+it became afterwards our universal conviction, that the determination we
+had come to, to remain in this country, had met with grace in the sight
+of God, and he has blessed all our endeavours in his holy cause, and
+granted us success in our undertakings in the emperor's service. Above
+all, however, I must put you in mind of the promise we made the emperor
+when we forwarded him a full account of our great deeds, with a
+description of the country. We begged his majesty not to confer the
+government of this country on any one before our agents had obtained a
+hearing, as we had all reason to fear that the powerful bishop of Burgos
+would strive to obtain that appointment for Diego Velasquez, or for one
+of his friends or relatives. We assured his majesty that this country
+was of such vast extent as to merit being governed by an infante or
+grandee of his empire, and that we were only awaiting his most gracious
+commands which we should obey with the deepest veneration, and would not
+acknowledge any appointment unless it came from his majesty himself.
+With this account we sent our monarch all the gold, silver, jewels, and
+other valuable things we had collected. These had been, up to that time,
+our only remuneration for the many fatigues we had undergone; and how
+often had not death stood before our eyes in the battles we had fought!
+what various kinds of hardships we have suffered! we have slept on the
+bare ground both in the rain and snow, and never lay our arms aside.
+When we reflect on all these hardships, it really sends a thrill through
+the heart. In the several battles we have fought, we have lost above
+fifty of our men, and we are all covered with wounds, and many a one
+still suffers severely from them. First we had to brave all the dangers
+of the sea; then followed the battles of Tabasco, Almeria, Cingapacinga,
+with the ambushes which were laid for us in the mountains, defiles, and
+the villages. How nigh we were being totally worsted in the battles of
+Tlascalla! We had scarcely time allowed us to take breath, when the
+affair at Cholulla awaited us, where the pots stood ready in which our
+flesh was to be cooked for the inhabitants to feast on! None of us can
+ever forget our march through the mountain passes, where Motecusuma had
+posted the whole of his troops, and blocked up the road by a heavy fall
+of trees, intending that none of us should escape death! Notwithstanding
+all this, we march into Mexico, and quarter ourselves in the very heart
+of that city; but how oft there again has death not stood before our
+eyes! Really no human being could have imagined such a series of
+dangers! And yet there are many among us who have even experienced
+additional fatigues, those I mean who have twice before visited these
+coasts, under Cordoba and Grijalva. In these voyages of discovery they
+suffered hardships of various natures, lost numbers of their companions,
+were themselves covered with wounds, and lost everything they possessed.
+But it would be impossible to enumerate all the miseries that have been
+suffered; nor have I any time, if I could, for night is fast
+approaching; and now, after we have undergone all this, Pamfilo Narvaez
+comes tearing along, like a mad dog, to destroy us all; calls us
+villains and traitors, and makes disclosures to Motecusuma, not like a
+prudent general, but with the spirit of a rebel; he has even presumed to
+throw one of the emperor's auditors into chains--of itself a criminal
+act; and to sum up, has declared a war of extermination against us, just
+as if we had been a troop of Moors."
+
+Upon this Cortes launched out in praise of the courage we had shown in
+every battle: "Up to this moment," he continued, "we have fought to
+defend our lives, but now we shall have to fight valiantly for our lives
+and our honour. Our enemies have nothing less in contemplation than to
+take us all prisoners, and rob us of our property. No one could tell
+whether Narvaez was commissioned by the emperor himself; all this was
+merely done at the instigation of our most deadly enemy, the bishop of
+Burgos. If we were subdued by Narvaez, which God forbid, all the
+services we had rendered to the Almighty and our emperor would be
+construed into as many crimes. An investigation would be set on foot
+against us, and we should be accused of murder, of rapine, and of having
+revolutionised the country, though the real guilty person would be
+Narvaez; and the things which would be considered meritorious in him
+would be construed as criminal in us. As all this must be evident to
+you," said Cortes, in conclusion, "and we, as honest cavaliers, are
+bound to defend the honour of his imperial majesty, as well as our own,
+and all our property, I have marched out from Mexico, reposing my trust
+in God and your assistance, to bid defiance to such injustice."
+
+Several of our officers and soldiers then answered, in the name of the
+rest, that he might rely upon our determination either to conquer or to
+die.
+
+Cortes was excessively rejoiced at our reply, and said he had not
+expected less. We should find no cause for regret, as wealth and honour
+would be the reward of our courage and our valour. He then once more
+begged our attention, and reminded us that, in battle and time of war,
+prudence and experience accomplished more than the utmost bravery. He
+was well aware of our great courage, and how every man among us strove
+who should be the first to dash among the enemy's ranks. At present the
+first object must be to capture the eighteen pieces of ordnance which
+Narvaez had arranged in front of his camp. For this purpose he selected
+sixty of our youngest men, of which number I also was, and placed them
+under the command of Pizarro, who at that time was a daring young
+fellow, but in those days as little known to the world as Peru itself.
+As soon as we should have captured these cannon, we were to storm
+Narvaez's quarters, which were on the summit of a very high temple.
+Sandoval, with other sixty men, was ordered to seize Narvaez's person,
+and his commands were exactly as follow: "Gonzalo de Sandoval,
+alguacil-major of New Spain, I hereby command you to seize the person of
+Pamfilo Narvaez, and to kill him in case he will not surrender. This we
+are called upon to do as faithful servants of God and the emperor, and
+in revenge for the ill-treatment he, the said Narvaez, presumed to
+exercise against one of his majesty's auditors. Given at our
+head-quarters. Signed, Hernando Cortes; and countersigned, Pedro
+Hernandez, secretary."
+
+Cortes at the same time promised a reward of 3000 pesos to the first man
+who should lay hands on Narvaez, 2000 to the second, and 1000 to the
+third.
+
+Leon likewise received the command of sixty men, with instructions to
+seize the person of Diego Velasquez, with whom he had had such high
+words. Cortes himself retained twenty men around his person, to render
+assistance wherever it might be most required; his principal object,
+however, was to get the persons of Narvaez and Salvatierra into his
+power.
+
+After Cortes had issued these commands in writing to his principal
+officers, he said: "I am fully aware that Narvaez has four times the men
+we have; but most of them are not accustomed to arms. A great number are
+adverse to their general, many are sick, and we shall fall upon them
+unawares. All opposition on their part will be fruitless, and I am fully
+confident the Almighty will grant us the victory. Narvaez's men also
+know they will lose nothing by the change, and would fare better in
+every respect by being with us than with him. Thus, gentlemen, after
+God, our lives and honour entirely depend upon the valour of our arms.
+The praise of future generations lies in our hands, and it is more
+honorable to die on the field of battle than to lead a life of
+dishonour." With this Cortes ended, as it was beginning to rain and
+getting late.
+
+I have often subsequently, when thinking of this speech of Cortes,
+wondered that he did not mention a single word of the secret
+understanding he had with some of Narvaez's officers, but merely
+impressed upon our minds the necessity of employing our utmost courage.
+By degrees, however, it became obvious to me that by that very
+circumstance he had shown the prudence of a great general, for by making
+us believe that our only hope was in God and our own bravery, he
+compelled us to exercise the utmost of our power.
+
+The most dangerous part of the work was assigned to us, who were to
+capture the cannon, under the command of Pizarro: we had to commence the
+attack and storm up against the cannons' mouths. Pizarro, therefore,
+gave us very strict commands, and showed us how we were to push forward
+with our lances lowered, and fight on boldly until we had taken the
+cannon, when the artillerymen, Mesa and Amenga, were immediately to load
+the guns with the balls at hand, and fire away at Salvatierra's
+quarters.
+
+We were altogether in want of defensive armour, and on that night many
+of us would have given all we possessed for a cuirass, helmet, or steel
+gorget.
+
+Our watch-word was: _Espiritu Santo! Espiritu Santo!_ for such words in
+time of war are given to soldiers in secret, in order that the men may
+recognize each other. That of Narvaez's men was: _Santa Maria! Santa
+Maria!_
+
+As I stood in great favour with Sandoval, he begged of me, when we had
+captured the cannon, should my life be spared, instantly to repair to
+him and not leave his side; which I promised and fulfilled, as will be
+seen.
+
+We remained in our camp during the first part of the night, and spent
+our time in making preparations, and thinking on the arduous task which
+awaited us; for it was useless to think of any supper, as we had not a
+morsel of food with us. We sent out the pickets and posted our
+sentinels, of which I happened to be one. I had not stood long when one
+of our outposts came up and asked me whether I had not heard a noise? To
+which I answered no, and immediately after one of our corporals
+approached and told me that Galleguillo, who had deserted from Narvaez
+to us, was nowhere to be found, and that he must have been a spy; and as
+it was certain he had by this time betrayed our approach to the enemy,
+Cortes had given orders for our immediate advance upon Sempoalla. An
+instant after I heard the drum and pipe, and we all marched forward.
+Galleguillo, however, was found a few minutes after fast asleep under
+some cloaks he had thrown over him, as damp and cold were two things to
+which the poor devil was wholly unaccustomed.
+
+Cortes now ordered the drum and pipe to be silenced, and we marched
+steadily forward, until we arrived at the river where, as I have above
+mentioned, Carrasco and Hurtado were posted with a detachment of the
+enemy. This, our sudden visit, was the last thing they could have
+thought of, and we succeeded in capturing the former, but the other
+escaped and ran to give the alarm.
+
+I shall never forget our crossing this river, how it was swoln by the
+rain, and the difficulty we experienced in passing over the stones which
+had become loosened and were very slippery; while, at the same time, we
+were greatly incommoded by our weapons which we had slung to our backs.
+I well remember Carrasco, when he was taken prisoner, crying out aloud:
+"Mind what you are about Senor Cortes, for Narvaez has marched out with
+all his troops to receive you." As Hurtado had already ran off to give
+the alarm, it mattered very little whether Carrasco thus strove to
+inform his general of our approach by his loud cries. Cortes gave him in
+charge of his secretary Hernandez, and commanded us to the attack. We
+immediately lowered the points of our lances and made so violent a rush
+at the cannon, that the artillerymen had scarcely sufficient time to
+fire off four pieces, every ball of which passed over our heads,
+excepting one, which killed three of our men. At the same moment our
+respective officers, with their men, forced their way up under the sound
+of our drum and pipe. Several of Narvaez's cavalry certainly offered
+some resistance, but for a short time only, while six or seven of their
+number lay stretched on the field of battle. We, under Pizarro, had the
+good fortune to capture all the cannon, but durst not leave them in
+charge of our artillerymen alone, as Narvaez continued to shower down
+arrows and musket-balls upon us from the top of the temple. Sandoval now
+likewise came up with his detachment, and though Narvaez bid a powerful
+resistance, he nevertheless continued advancing up the steps of the
+building, and broke through the pikes and lances of his opponents.
+Seeing this, and that the enemy had given up all attempts to recover the
+cannon, we gave them in charge of our artillerymen, and flew under the
+command of Pizarro to Sandoval's assistance. We just arrived at the
+moment when Narvaez had beaten him back down five or six of the steps;
+our arrival turned the scale against the enemy, and Sandoval now pushed
+forward again with renewed vigour. Indeed we had some hard work to do
+with our long lances before we could clear our way through the enemy's
+ranks; all at once I heard some one, and it must have been Narvaez, cry
+out in a loud voice:--"Assist me, oh blessed Virgin! I am a dead man!
+One of my eyes has been thrust out!" At the same moment we all cried
+out, "_Victory! Victory!_ for those of the watch-word _Espiritu Santo!
+Narvaez is fallen!_" Yet we were unable for some time to gain entire
+possession of the temple, not until Martin Lopez, who built the
+brigantines, hit upon the thought of setting fire to the straw that lay
+on the top of the temple, which he immediately set about with his gaunt
+figure. Narvaez's men now came rolling down the steps one after the
+other, and he himself was taken prisoner. A certain Pedro Sanchez Farsan
+was the first to lay hold of him, and I mentioned this to Sandoval and
+several of Narvaez's officers, who were standing by at the time. In an
+instant a thousand voices filled the air with cries of: "_Long live the
+emperor and general Cortes, in his imperial name!_ Victory, victory!
+Narvaez is dead!"
+
+The battle, however, was still continued at various points, as several
+of Narvaez's officers maintained their positions on the tops of other
+temples. Cortes, however, with his accustomed forethought, sent round a
+herald to summons Narvaez's men, under pain of death, immediately to
+join the imperial standard. This, with the firing of the cannon, our
+hurrahing, and the belief that Narvaez was dead, had the desired effect,
+and only the troops of young Diego Velasquez and of Salvatierra, who had
+taken up a position with the troops under their command, on the summit
+of a very high temple, where it was difficult to get at them, refused to
+submit. Sandoval, however, was not to be deterred by their advantageous
+position. He took the half of his men with him, while the rest remained
+below, and we attacked them so vigorously with our swords, that at last
+they surrendered, and we took Salvatierra and Diego Velasquez prisoners.
+
+In the hurry of the moment we had merely fastened fetters around
+Narvaez's legs; but Sandoval now, ordered him to be better secured.
+Cortes happened to come up at the time, when Leon, with Ordas, brought
+in Salvatierra, Diego Velasquez, and other chief officers prisoners; he
+was still in full armour, and had heated himself to such a degree by
+riding up and down, the weather besides being very hot, that the
+perspiration literally dropped from him, and he could scarcely breathe
+from over-exertion; he twice said to Sandoval, who was unable to catch
+his words at first, "Where is Narvaez? Where is Narvaez?" "Here he is!
+here he is!" cried Sandoval, "and quite safe." "That is all right, my
+son Sandoval," said Cortes in a voice still somewhat feeble; "do not
+leave this spot for the present, nor suffer any of your men to stir
+away, and keep a strong guard over the officers you have taken prisoners;
+I will see now how the battle is going on at the other points."
+
+With these words Cortes rode off, and as he still found Narvaez's men
+offered resistance, he again sent round a herald to summon them to
+surrender, and to deliver up their arms to the alguacil.
+
+All this took place during night-time, and it rained at intervals. When
+we first forced our way into the town it was as dark as pitch, and it
+rained heavily, the moon did not rise until some time after; but even
+the darkness itself favoured us, for in the midst of darkness numbers
+of shining beetles[82] kept continually flying about, which Narvaez's
+men mistook for the lighted matches of our firearms,[83] and this gave
+them a vast idea of the number of our matchlocks.
+
+Narvaez having lost an eye and being otherwise dangerously wounded, he
+begged of Sandoval to allow the surgeon he had brought with him to dress
+his and the other officers' wounds. This the latter unhesitatingly
+complied with, and while the surgeon was dressing Narvaez's wounds,
+Cortes stepped up, as he imagined unknown, to see what was going
+forward. Some one, however, remarked to Narvaez that Cortes was standing
+near; when the former turned round and said: "Indeed, general, you have
+reason to be proud of this victory, and of my being taken prisoner!"
+
+"I am," replied Cortes, "every way thankful to God for it, and likewise
+for the brave companions he has given me; but I can assure you that this
+victory is the least brilliant we have yet gained in New Spain."
+
+With this Cortes broke off the conversation, and again cautioned
+Sandoval to guard the prisoners well. As I have above remarked, we had
+merely thrown fetters about Narvaez's legs, but we now secured him
+better, and placed a strong guard over him. I was among the latter, and
+Sandoval gave me secret orders not to allow any of his men to see him
+until next morning, when Cortes would make further arrangements
+respecting his person. We did not feel quite safe yet; for the reader
+will remember that Narvaez had detached forty of his cavalry to oppose
+our crossing the river. This body was still hovering about, and we
+feared would fall upon us unawares and release both Narvaez and the
+other officers again. We therefore kept a sharp look out, while Cortes
+despatched Oli and Ordas to persuade them, by enticing promises, to
+surrender quietly. For this purpose these officers were obliged to take
+a couple of horses of Narvaez's troops, as ours had been left at the
+back of a rising ground near Sempoalla.
+
+When Oli and Ordas came up with them, they said so many fine things, and
+made such vast promises in Cortes' name, that they speedily came to
+terms, and surrendered themselves.[84]
+
+Daylight in the meantime had broken forth, when this detachment reached
+our camp again; and the drummers and pipers of Narvaez's corps, without
+instructions from Cortes or from any one else, suddenly sounded their
+instruments, and cried out, "Long live these brave Romans, who, though
+small in numbers, have gained the victory over Narvaez and his troops!"
+And another merry-making fellow, called Guidela, a negro, cried out at
+the top of his voice, "Hark ye! the Romans themselves could never boast
+of so brilliant a victory as this!" Whatever we might say, we were
+unable to stop their hurrahing or their instruments, until Cortes had
+ordered one of the drummers, named Tepia, who was half mad, to be
+seized.
+
+At this moment Oli and Diego de Ordas made their appearance with the
+detachment of cavalry, accompanied by Duero, Bermudez, and several other
+friends of our general. These now all came in a body to pay their
+respects to Cortes, who had taken off his armour, and was seated in an
+arm-chair, dressed in a wide orange-coloured surtout. It was really a
+most interesting sight to behold the serenity and joy which sat upon his
+countenance as he welcomed each, and amusing to hear the fine things he
+told them. He had indeed every reason to be proud of the power and the
+greatness he had so suddenly acquired!
+
+After these officers had thus paid their respects to him, they repaired
+to their respective quarters. And now we must look over the list of the
+dead and wounded on both sides. Among the former was Narvaez's
+standard-bearer, named Fuentes, of a noble family of Seville; and three
+of his chief officers, one of whom was named Rojas, a native of Old
+Castile. One of the three soldiers, named Carretero, who deserted to the
+enemy, was likewise killed; and the number of their wounded was very
+great.
+
+On our side we lost four killed, and had several wounded; the fat
+cazique himself being of this number; who, when he heard that we were in
+the vicinity of Sempoalla, had fled to Narvaez's quarters, and was
+wounded there. Cortes ordered his wound to be dressed, then sent him
+home, and desired that no one should molest him.
+
+Cervantes and Escalona, who had deserted to Narvaez, derived very little
+benefit from their treachery; the latter had been dangerously wounded,
+and the other Cortes ordered to be well whipped.
+
+Here I must also not forget the braggadocio Salvatierra, whose cowardice
+his own men declared was beyond all belief. They all swore never in the
+course of their lives to have witnessed such extreme fear as he evinced
+when he first heard the clashing of our arms at a distance; and when he
+heard the cry of _Victory! Victory! Narvaez is fallen!_ he became quite
+ill, and threw down his arms.
+
+Diego Velasquez had almost escaped my memory! He was also wounded, and,
+as had been previously settled, was taken prisoner by Leon, with whom he
+had quarrelled at Narvaez's dinner table. The victor, however, acted
+magnanimously; he took him to his own quarters, had his wounds dressed,
+and treated him with great respect.
+
+Such is the history of our battle with Narvaez, and now we must see what
+further took place.
+
+[82] The clater nocturnus. (p. 327.)
+
+[83] It need scarcely be remarked that the Spanish guns at that time
+were fired by means of matches, which were made of hempen tow, boiled in
+the lees of old wine, and when dry and once lighted they burn on until
+consumed. (p. 327.)
+
+[84] Bernal Diaz has forgotten some circumstances relative to this
+battle. Three hundred of Narvaez's troops defended themselves bravely
+for a length of time on one of the temples, nor did they surrender until
+all their powder was spent. (p. 327.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXIII.
+
+    _How the 2000 Indians of Chinantla, whom Cortes had demanded of the
+    caziques there, arrived at Sempoalla after Narvaez's defeat._
+
+
+Late in the evening of the same day on which we had gained the victory
+over Narvaez, the 2000 Indian troops arrived which Cortes had requested
+the caziques of Chinantla to send us. They came under the command of
+their caziques, and one of our soldiers named Barrientos, and marched
+into Sempoalla in the best military order possible, two abreast. They
+were all tall and powerful men, armed with their immense-sized lances
+and huge shields; every lancer was followed by a bowman. In this manner,
+under the sound of drums and trumpets, they marched in, with their
+feathers waving on their head and their colours flying, and continually
+cried out, "_Long live the emperor! long live Cortes!_" They made such a
+grand show, that though they were only 2000 in number, one would have
+thought at first sight there had been 3000. Narvaez's men were not a
+little astonished when they beheld these men, and remarked to each other
+that they would have fared worse if they had had to encounter these
+people, or if they had joined us in the attack.
+
+Cortes received the Chinantlan chiefs most kindly, thanked them for the
+trouble they had put themselves to, and desired them to return to their
+homes, after presenting them with various things of Spanish manufacture.
+Barrientos likewise returned with them, and Cortes particularly
+admonished him not to allow these Indians to commit any depredations in
+the townships they passed through.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXIV.
+
+    _How Cortes despatches Francisco de Lugo, with two men who had
+    formerly been ship-builders, to the harbour where Narvaez's flotilla
+    lay, to bring all the captains and pilots of the vessels to
+    Sempoalla._
+
+
+After the whole of Narvaez's troops had been disarmed, Cortes despatched
+Francisco de Lugo to the harbour where the flotilla lay, in order to
+bring all the captains and pilots of the eighteen vessels to Sempoalla.
+He was likewise to convey on shore all the sails, rudders, and
+compasses, so as to render it impossible for the governor of Cuba to
+gain any information respecting the fate of his armament. Whoever
+refused to submit to Lugo was immediately to be thrown into chains.
+Cortes likewise ordered the latter to bring along with him a certain
+Sancho de Barahona, whom Narvaez had imprisoned along with some other
+soldiers. This Barahona was a man of great wealth, and had settled in
+Guatimala. He was in very ill health when he arrived in Cortes'
+quarters, who desired that every attention should be paid him.
+
+When the captains and pilots of the several vessels appeared in Cortes'
+presence, he made them take a solemn oath to obey his commands in all
+matters. A certain Pedro Caballero, captain of one of Narvaez's vessels,
+he appointed admiral of the flotilla. This man, it was rumoured, had
+been bribed with some bars of gold to favour Cortes' party. Caballero
+received instructions not to allow any vessel to leave the harbour, and
+if any others should arrive there from Cuba--for Cortes had received
+information that there were two other ships fitting out there for this
+harbour--he was to seize them, send their sails, rudders, compasses on
+shore, and await further orders. This, as we shall afterwards see,
+Caballero punctually obeyed.
+
+In our head-quarters the following important arrangements were made:
+Leon was to be sent to subdue the province of Panuco, and to make a
+settlement there; for which purpose 120 men were placed under his
+command, of whom 100 were of Narvaez's troops, the rest being made up of
+our own, who were better acquainted with the mode of warfare in this
+country. To this detachment were likewise added two vessels, in order
+more thoroughly to explore the coast and the river Panuco.
+
+A similar commission, with an equal number of troops, composed as the
+former, and also to be accompanied by two vessels, was given to Diego de
+Ordas, to form a settlement on the river Guacasualco. He was likewise to
+despatch some of his men to the island of Jamaica to purchase cows,
+horses, pigs, goats, sheep, and Spanish fowls, for breeding; the
+province of Guacasualco being particularly adapted for the breed of
+cattle.
+
+Cortes now ordered all Narvaez's officers and soldiers to be liberated,
+with the exception of Salvatierra, who feigned to be taken suddenly ill
+during the late battle. When their arms were to be returned to them, it
+occasioned a good deal of ill blood, for many of our men had taken
+possession of their horses, swords, and other matters, and no one felt
+inclined to return what he had once taken. When Cortes, therefore,
+issued orders that every one was to receive his own again, it caused
+great discontent among our troops; for we maintained we were justified
+in retaining what we had taken, as Narvaez had declared a war of
+extermination against us; had literally come with the intention to
+destroy us, and rob us of all our property; besides that, we, the
+well-deserving servants of the emperor, had been branded by him with the
+name of traitors. Cortes, however, was determined upon this point, and
+as we had elected him our captain-general, we could not do less than
+obey him. I myself had taken possession of two swords, three daggers,
+and a target, all of which I had to return.
+
+Alonso de Avila, who was a captain, and one who durst speak out boldly
+to Cortes, privately reproached him, in conjunction with father Olmedo,
+for acting thus; and remarked to him, that he was performing the part of
+Alexander the Macedonian, who, whenever he gained a splendid victory,
+rewarded and honoured the vanquished instead of the officers and
+soldiers who had procured him the victory. They had every reason to make
+this observation, as we had to look quietly on and see Cortes give all
+the provisions and valuable matters, which the Indians of the
+surrounding country brought in as presents, to the officers of the
+vanquished general, and leave us unnoticed. This they maintained was not
+acting justly, and had every appearance of ingratitude towards them, who
+by their valour had raised him to the proud position in which he then
+stood.
+
+Cortes, who was never wanting for an answer, replied, that for all he
+possessed he was indebted to us; but under existing circumstances he
+could not act otherwise. It was for the advantage of all to gain the
+troops of Narvaez by fair words, presents, and promises; their numbers
+were too great in comparison to ours; and if they were once to rise up
+in anger, they might easily put us all to the sword.
+
+To this Avila replied in a very haughty manner, which obliged Cortes to
+exclaim, "Those who do not feel inclined to obey are at liberty to leave
+my standard; Spanish women bring forth sufficient children into the
+world, and every son is a soldier in Spain!"
+
+"That is very true," answered Avila, rather disrespectfully; "and among
+these sons there are also numbers of generals and governors as well as
+soldiers."
+
+As matters then stood, Cortes was compelled to put on the best
+countenance he could to this reproof, and to silence this open-hearted
+man by promises and presents; for the determined and bold character of
+Avila was too well known to him, and he feared his resentment. He
+therefore suppressed his injured feelings, and from that moment took
+every opportunity of sending him to some distance on one or other
+important commission; so he despatched him some after to St. Domingo,
+and subsequently to Spain, to present the garderobe and the treasure of
+Motecusuma to the emperor. This latter voyage, however, terminated very
+unfortunately, for Avila, with the whole of those treasures, was
+captured by the redoubted French pirate Jean Florin, as we shall see in
+the proper place.
+
+But to return to Narvaez. He happened to have a negro servant with him
+ill with the smallpox, through whom this terrific disease, which,
+according to the accounts of the inhabitants, was previously unknown in
+the country, spread itself through New Spain, where it created the
+greater devastation, from the poor Indians, in their ignorance, solely
+applying cold water as a remedy, with which they constantly bathed
+themselves; so that vast numbers were cut off before they had the
+blessing of being received into the bosom of the Christian church.[85]
+
+It was also about this time that the garrison of Vera Cruz demanded the
+portion of the gold which fell to their share in the division at Mexico.
+These men maintained, that, though they had not made the campaign of
+Mexico with us, they had shown themselves no less deserving in the cause
+of God and the emperor than ourselves, as they had guarded the coast and
+built a fortress; and that many of them who had fought at the battle of
+Almeria were still suffering from their wounds, while others again had
+been taken prisoners by Narvaez, who had treated them with great
+severity: they concluded, therefore, they were justly entitled to a
+share of the treasure found in Mexico.
+
+Cortes acknowledged the justness of their claim, and requested them to
+despatch two of the principal men from among them to take charge of
+their respective share, and, if I am not mistaken, he added that it had
+been deposited for safe keeping in Tlascalla: at least, they immediately
+after sent two of their numbers there to take possession of it, of whom
+Juan de Alcantara the elder was one. We shall, however, soon see what
+became of Alcantara with all the gold; how quickly the wheel of fortune
+turned against us, and trouble and sorrow followed peace and joy; for we
+received intelligence that all Mexico had risen up in arms, that
+Alvarado was besieged in his quarters, and that the Mexicans were
+attempting to set fire to the new fortifications at every point. Seven
+of our men had already been killed, many were wounded, and immediate
+assistance was required.
+
+This information was first brought us by two Tlascallans, and that
+without any letter from Alvarado. Soon after, however, two other
+Tlascallans arrived with a letter from him confirmatory of this bad
+news. God knows how shocked we were at this intelligence! We immediately
+resolved to hasten to Mexico by forced marches. Narvaez and Salvatierra
+were sent under escort to Vera Cruz, where Rodrigo Rangel, whom Cortes
+had just appointed commandant of that place, was made responsible for
+the safe custody of their persons. Besides these, Rangel took along with
+him several of Narvaez's men, who were suffering from ill-health.
+
+Just as we were about to commence our march to Mexico, four
+distinguished personages arrived from that town, who had been sent by
+Motecusuma to complain to our general of the conduct of Alvarado. They
+told us, with tears in their eyes, that he had, without any provocation,
+sallied out with the whole of his troops, and fallen unawares upon their
+chiefs and caziques while they were celebrating a feast in honour of
+their gods Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipuca, Alvarado himself having
+previously given his consent to the celebration of that feast. Many of
+their chief personages had been killed and wounded, so that, at last,
+they were compelled to defend themselves, and six Spaniards were killed
+in the affray. To this and other complaints against Alvarado, Cortes
+told them, with a dark frown on his brow, that he would repair
+immediately in person to Mexico, and look into the matter. With this
+message the Indians returned to their monarch, who, it is said, was
+anything but pleased with it. Cortes, at the same time, wrote word to
+Alvarado that we were advancing by forced marches upon Mexico, and
+particularly cautioned him not to let Motecusuma escape out of his
+hands. He likewise informed him of the victory we had gained over
+Narvaez, though he had no doubt already been apprized of this, for it
+was known to Motecusuma.
+
+[85] Of this dreadful disease Gomara says, that it spread from Sempoalla
+through the whole of New Spain, and that in the greater part of the
+townships half of the inhabitants were carried off by it. It was a
+custom among the inhabitants to go immediately from a hot bath into a
+cold one, so that it was a wonder any escaped death. Those that survived
+could not help scratching themselves, which naturally left large scars,
+and rendered them hideous to look at. Torquemada agrees with Gomara, but
+adds, from the authority of the Indians, that this and other
+pestilential diseases spread at certain times through the whole of the
+country; and Bernal Diaz, in describing the person of the younger
+Xicotencatl, says his face was pitted as if with the smallpox. (p. 332.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXV.
+
+    _How we all, including Narvaez's troops, hasten to Mexico by forced
+    marches._
+
+
+On receiving the intelligence that Mexico was in rebellion, and Alvarado
+besieged in his quarters, the plan of forming settlements in Panuco and
+Guacasualco was for the present abandoned, and Leon and Ordas were again
+ordered to join the main body.
+
+Cortes soon found that Narvaez's troops were very unwilling to join us
+in the Mexican campaign; but he desired them, in a most kind manner, to
+forget the old enmity which had existed between Narvaez and himself, and
+assured them that their only way to wealth and eminence was to join us
+in this campaign; by so doing they would enter into a country where they
+would be able to render services unto God and the emperor; and this,
+too, was an opportunity which perhaps would not so readily present
+itself again. In short, he told them so many fine things, that they one
+and all agreed to accompany us: if, however, they had had any idea of
+Mexico's vast power, not one of them would have been so ready to join
+us.
+
+We now broke up our quarters, and marched forward with all expedition.
+In Tlascalla, we were informed that the Mexicans had continued their
+hostilities against Alvarado as long as Motecusuma and his generals
+believed we were at war with Narvaez. They had killed seven of our men
+and burned down a portion of our quarters there, and had not stayed
+hostilities until they heard of the recent victory we had gained: they
+still, however, refused to supply Alvarado with either water or food.
+This information was received in Tlascalla the moment we arrived there.
+
+Cortes now reviewed the whole of his troops, which amounted to 1300 men,
+96 horses, 80 crossbow-men, and a like number of musketeers. This body
+of troops Cortes considered sufficiently strong to venture fearlessly
+into Mexico with, particularly as the caziques of Tlascalla had
+furnished us with 2000 of their warriors.
+
+We now continued our march with the same briskness until we came to
+Tezcuco. It was in this large town we began to discover the ill-feeling
+that was abroad against us. Not the slightest mark of respect was shown
+us here, nor did any of the chiefs call upon us. It was on St. John's
+day, in the month of June of the year 1520, we, for the second time,
+entered the city of Mexico. No cazique, none of the principal officers,
+none of our Mexican friends made their appearance, and the houses were
+deserted. It was not until we had arrived in front of our quarters that
+Motecusuma came out into the courtyard to welcome Cortes, and
+congratulate him on his victory over Narvaez. Our general, however, was
+flushed with the recent victory, and would not listen to him, so that
+the monarch returned pensive and sad to his apartments.
+
+We soldiers again took possession of our old quarters, and Narvaez's men
+were provided with similar ones. Alvarado's men and ours, who had just
+arrived, now began to relate what had taken place during this interval
+of separation. The former related how they had been attacked by the
+Mexicans, and the terrible resistance they had been forced to make. Then
+we followed, and related how we had defeated Narvaez's troops, and taken
+him prisoner.
+
+The next thing Cortes did was to inquire into the real cause of the
+insurrection of the Mexicans. Several soldiers, who were displeased
+with Alvarado, affirmed that Motecusuma had evinced excessive grief on
+account of these troubles, and they were quite confident that not a
+single one of the men under Alvarado would have been spared alive if
+Motecusuma had been in secret understanding with his subjects; on the
+contrary, he continually strove to quiet them, and to put down the
+insurrection. Alvarado, on his part, represented all this to our general
+in a very different light. According to his assurances, the Mexicans had
+risen up in arms to liberate their monarch, and to take revenge upon us,
+by the express command of their god Huitzilopochtli, for our having
+erected a cross and the image of the holy Virgin on his temple. Several
+Mexicans, he added, had tried to remove the holy image from the altar on
+which it is raised, but they had not been able to do so. Even the
+inhabitants themselves had looked upon this circumstance as a great
+wonder, and had mentioned it to Motecusuma, who then issued orders that
+it should not be touched. It was, however, not true, continued Alvarado,
+that Narvaez had sent word to the monarch he was coming to release him
+from his confinement, and lead us all away in chains: on the contrary,
+after Motecusuma found that though we were in possession of a sufficient
+number of vessels, but made no preparation for embarking, he well
+foresaw we never intended to leave the country again, but that more of
+us would continually arrive, and that we should return to Mexico
+accompanied by Narvaez's troops.
+
+Upon this it was resolved they should put Alvarado with the whole of his
+men to the sword, and liberate the monarch. The less doubt they had
+entertained of Narvaez's being able to defeat us, the more sure they
+made of carrying out their plan successfully. This Alvarado considered
+sufficient to justify the conduct he had pursued. Cortes then wished to
+know why he had fallen upon the Mexican chiefs while they were
+celebrating a feast? Because, replied Alvarado, he had been assured by
+two of the principal men of the town, by one of the papas, and by other
+of the inhabitants, that the Mexicans intended falling upon him
+immediately after the feast had ended.
+
+But the Mexicans, interrupted Cortes, maintain that they had asked your
+permission to celebrate the feast, and that you granted their request!
+
+Alvarado could certainly not deny this, but assured him he had selected
+that opportunity to punish them that it might come the more
+unexpectedly, and strike the greater terror among them, and to
+anticipate them in their premeditated attack upon him.
+
+These statements were by no means satisfactory to Cortes, and he told
+Alvarado, rather sharply, that he saw very little truth in all this,
+but a good deal of irregularity hurtful to the Spanish cause: "For it is
+very certain," added Cortes, "if the Almighty did not allow Motecusuma
+to regain his liberty, it was because his idols might not construe it
+into their own merit." Herewith Cortes turned his back upon him, and
+desired him to say nothing further on the subject.
+
+Besides this, Alvarado related many other things which happened during
+the interval we had been absent from Mexico; one time, for instance,
+when he sallied out upon the Mexicans, who were rushing forward in vast
+numbers to set fire to his quarters, he ordered a cannon, heavily laden
+with ball and small shot, to be fired against them; this piece, however,
+did not go off until he had fought his way into the thickest of the
+enemy, who were forcing him back to his quarters again: it then went off
+of itself, and committed terrible havoc among the advancing foe.
+Alvarado assured us, that, without this wonderful assistance, he would
+certainly have been cut to pieces with all his men; as it was, he lost
+only two of his soldiers, whom the Mexicans carried off alive. This and
+many other circumstances were related by Alvarado: the following,
+however, was told me by several of his men. At one time they were
+entirely without any water to drink; they dug a well in the yard
+adjoining their quarters, and behold! they found sweet water, whereas in
+every other place where wells had been sunk in Mexico, nothing but salt
+water was to be found. The hand of Providence was certainly often
+stretched out to our aid; yet I must observe, in behalf of truth, that
+there was another well in the town, which often, and, indeed, almost
+always, contained fresh water.
+
+For the rest, there were men who asserted that Alvarado merely made this
+murderous attack upon the Mexicans from avaricious motives, to possess
+himself of the splendid garments, the gold, and the jewels which they
+wore at such festivals. This I do not believe, nor did I ever hear such
+a thing mentioned at the time, although this and many other
+circumstances were asserted by the bishop de las Casas, in which,
+however, there is not a syllable of truth. For myself, I am convinced
+that Alvarado merely struck this blow to terrify the Mexicans, and to
+follow up the old saying, "He who attacks first gains the victory." The
+consequences were certainly different to what he had expected, and bad
+became worse.[86]
+
+We have, however, obtained satisfactory proof that no guilt can be
+imputed to Motecusuma respecting the hostilities which subsequently
+burst out: on the contrary, he commanded the Mexicans not to attack
+Alvarado, but they replied that they could no longer endure to see him
+kept in confinement, and their countrymen murdered in the midst of
+their festivities. They were determined to set him at liberty, and to
+kill every teule who resisted them.
+
+These and many other facts I learnt from credible persons who were
+present with Alvarado all the time. I have now, however, to speak of the
+terrible battles which we fought in this city.
+
+[86] A formal inquiry was made into this circumstance, by order of
+Charles the Fifth. The excellent Bartholomew de las Casas gave judgment,
+and he pronounced the Mexicans entirely innocent of having had any
+intention to massacre the troops under Alvarado, but that the latter had
+massacred the Mexicans without any provocation, merely for the purpose
+of striking terror among them. In pronouncing this judgment, however,
+Las Casas may have been carried away by his excessive zeal for humanity
+towards the Indians. Herrera (Historia de las Indias occidentales,
+decade ii, b. x,) says: "The fact, however, is, that the Mexicans
+intended to have murdered all the Spaniards on this occasion; for which
+purpose they had concealed their arms in the buildings adjoining the
+temple. This was told the Spaniards by the women, from whom they always
+learnt the truth." (p. 336.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXVI.
+
+    _How the Mexicans made war upon us, and the battles we fought with
+    them._
+
+
+Cortes, on his march to Mexico, had often bragged to his officers of the
+great authority and power he then possessed. They should see how the
+inhabitants would come out from all parts to meet him, and receive him
+with every splendour; that he was now complete master of Mexico, and
+Motecusuma and his grandees would not dare to dispute his commands
+henceforth, but would bring him gold in abundance.
+
+But when Cortes found how the aspect of affairs had changed at Tezcuco,
+that no one stirred a foot to give the splendid reception he had boasted
+of, that none of the principal personages showed themselves, that even
+the worst of provisions were brought him with great reluctance, and
+found this ill feeling towards us show itself even more strongly in
+Mexico, and that although he had returned with additional troops, the
+inhabitants no longer furnished him with provisions, his pride turned
+into moroseness and anger, so much so that when Motecusuma sent two of
+his grandees to announce that he was desirous of paying Cortes a visit,
+as he had something to communicate to him, he said, "He might go to the
+devil! since he would not allow any weekly markets to be held, nor any
+provisions to be sent us."
+
+When our other chief officers, Leon, Oli, Avila, and Lugo heard this,
+they said to him, "Moderate your anger, general, and remember what great
+honours this monarch has heaped upon us, the kindnesses we have received
+from him, and how amiable his disposition is: for, had he not existed,
+the Mexicans would long ago have feasted on our bodies; nor ought you to
+forget that he has sought your alliance by offering you his daughter in
+marriage."
+
+These words carried with them the idea of a reproach, and, consequently,
+only served the more to embitter his feelings, and he burst out as
+follows: "Why should I stand upon any further ceremony with this dog?
+Did he not secretly connive with Narvaez, and now refuses us
+provisions?"
+
+"Our opinion is," returned the other officers, "that he does nothing
+more than his present situation would prompt him to do, and that he acts
+most prudently."
+
+Cortes, however, relied upon the strength of his troops, and would not
+allow his anger to be pacified in any way, but commissioned the two
+Mexican grandees to tell their master that he must issue immediate
+orders for the re-opening of the markets, otherwise he should find
+himself obliged to take other steps. Both these Mexicans had understood
+the reviling language used by Cortes against their monarch, and also how
+our other officers had remonstrated with him on that account. They knew
+these officers well; for they had by turns been captains of the guard
+which was placed over their monarch's person, and knew they were greatly
+attached to him. They therefore repaired, either in the bitterness of
+their hearts, or because the attack upon us had already been determined
+upon, and related to Motecusuma what they had heard; and scarcely a
+quarter of an hour had elapsed before one of our men came running up
+heavily wounded. He had been at Tlacupa, a town near Mexico, to fetch
+thence some women belonging to Cortes' household, and the daughter of
+Motecusuma, whom Cortes had given in charge of the king of Tlacupa, her
+relative, when we marched against Narvaez. This man also related that he
+had found the town of Tlacupa and the high road filled with warriors.
+They took the women away and wounded him in two different places. If he
+had not escaped out of their hands, they would have thrown him into a
+canoe, and have sacrificed him to their gods. They had also destroyed
+one of the bridges over the causeway.
+
+When Cortes and some of us soldiers heard this, we began to look very
+serious, for those among us who had been several times engaged with the
+Indians knew, from experience, with what vast crowds they always entered
+the field of battle, and, although our numbers had been greatly
+augmented, and that there was little doubt but we should defend
+ourselves courageously, yet we were well aware of our dangerous
+position. We soldiers also knew that we should run great risk of losing
+our lives either from hunger or from the advantages which the enemy
+would have over us in such a strongly fortified city. Cortes, after
+questioning the man who had come from Tlacupa, despatched Ordas with 400
+men, mostly armed with crossbows and muskets, and a few horse, to see
+what truth there was in his statement. He recommended him, however, to
+avoid, if possible, all hostilities, and to settle the affair amicably.
+Ordas had scarcely reached half-way down the causeway when he was met by
+a vast body of Mexicans, who, with those posted on the tops of the
+houses, attacked him so furiously that eight of his men were killed at
+the first onset, and most of them wounded, Ordas himself in three
+several places. He found it impossible to move on any further, and he
+therefore gradually retreated to our quarters. On his retreat he lost
+another excellent soldier named Lezcano, who had done wonders with his
+broadsword.
+
+If the body of warriors was vast which had fallen upon Ordas, that which
+at the same instant attacked our quarters was by far more so; and so
+vigorously did they assail us with lances, arrows, and stones, that, in
+an instant, forty of our men were wounded, twelve of whom subsequently
+died. The numbers who attacked us in front, from behind, and from the
+tops of the houses, were so vast that Ordas was unable, for a length of
+time, to cut his way through. Our cannon, muskets, crossbows, and
+lances, did, certainly, great havoc among the enemy's ranks, who, in
+fact, rushed in upon our weapons; yet they continued the combat with the
+same fury, and closed their ranks more firmly, nor could we drive them
+back a single inch. It was only after a good deal of hard fighting that
+Diego and his men were able to regain our quarters, though with
+twenty-three soldiers less than when he had left it, and the rest all
+wounded: add to which, the enemy's numbers were every moment increasing;
+nor did they spare abusive language, calling us old women, ragged
+scoundrels, and such like beautiful names. But the loss we sustained at
+present was nothing to what we subsequently suffered. They even carried
+their audacity so far as to throw fire into our quarters, while one body
+attacked us in front and another from behind, so that we should soon
+have been suffocated by the flames and smoke if we had not succeeded in
+putting out the fire by throwing quantities of earth on it, and by
+pulling down the apartments from which the fire was spreading.
+
+The combat continued the whole day until late at night, during which
+time they continued to throw such quantities of stones and lances into
+our quarters, that the place was literally covered with them. In the
+meantime we had to dress our wounds, to repair the damage done to our
+buildings, and get some rest till the next morning. As soon as day began
+to dawn, Cortes determined to sally out with the whole of his troops,
+including those of Narvaez and the cannon, either to beat the enemy out
+of the field altogether, or at least to give them a greater proof of our
+power than we had been able to do on the previous day. The Mexicans, it
+seemed, had also determined to do their utmost, and they not only
+fought with uncommon bravery but came in overwhelming numbers, so that
+every instant they poured in fresh men to the attack. Indeed ten
+thousand Trojan Hectors, and as many Rolands, would in vain have tried
+to break through the enemy's ranks! At this moment even, that battle is
+fresh in my memory; but no words can describe the unyielding
+stubbornness of the foe. All the volleys from our heavy guns and muskets
+were to no purpose; it was in vain we rushed forward upon them, and
+killed from thirty to forty of their numbers at a time; their ranks
+still remained firmly closed, while their courage seemed to increase
+with every loss. Whenever we did drive them back into the streets to
+some distance, they had merely retreated in order that we should follow
+them, and by so doing be drawn further away from our quarters, when they
+hoped more easily to surround us, and so render our escape impossible.
+And sure enough by these retrograde movements they invariably made the
+greatest destruction among our ranks. Neither did it avail us anything
+whenever we set fire to any of the houses; for, as I have above
+mentioned, it was only possible to pass from one house to another by
+means of wooden drawbridges. If the latter were drawn up we had to wade
+through deep water to gain another house. But our men suffered most from
+those of the enemy's troops who pelted them with stones and lances from
+the housetops. Indeed I cannot imagine how I thus coolly relate all that
+passed. Three or four of our men who had previously served in the
+Italian wars, swore over and over again that they had never witnessed
+such furious fighting, neither in the wars with the king of France, nor
+even in those with the grand Turk himself. Indeed it was no easy matter
+for us to retreat to our head-quarters, so desperately did they assail
+us under the most horrible sound of drums, pipes and trumpets,
+accompanied by the most obscene and abusive language. This day we lost
+ten or twelve men, and none of us escaped without a wound. We passed the
+night in deliberations and in preparing for another attack. We now
+resolved that after the lapse of two days as many of us as were healthy
+should sally out with two moving towers. These we had strongly put
+together of wood, and were so constructed, that under each of them
+twenty-five of our men could stand to move them along. These towers
+contained loopholes, from which our heavy guns could be fired; besides
+that there was space enough for a number of musketeers and crossbow-men.
+At the side of these towers marched a strong body of musketeers and
+crossbow-men, as also the whole of our horse, who were from time to time
+to charge the enemy at full gallop. The construction of these towers
+and the repairing of several small breaches which the enemy had made in
+our quarters, occupied us the whole of the following day, so that we
+could not sally out till the next.
+
+The enemy, however, continued their attacks upon our quarters, not
+merely from ten or twelve, but from twenty different points at once; so
+that what with the constructing of the towers, repairing the breaches,
+and beating off our assailants who had fixed ladders to our quarters, we
+had enough to do. The whole of us, they cried out, were to be sacrificed
+to their gods, our hearts were to be torn from our bodies, the blood was
+to be drawn from our veins, and our arms and legs were to be eaten up at
+their festivals. The remaining parts of our bodies would be thrown to
+the tigers, lions and serpents, which they kept in cages; these had not
+been fed for these two days, in order that they might devour our flesh
+the more greedily. Our gold and other things would be their booty, and
+they told the Tlascallans they should be locked up in cages where they
+fattened people for their sacrifices. Only deliver us up our monarch
+Motecusuma,--added they with great vehemence; while their noise and
+their attacks continued through the whole night.
+
+As soon as day had fully broken forth, we commended ourselves to the
+Almighty, and sallied out with our war-towers. This time again we killed
+a great number of the enemy; but with all our fighting we could not
+force them to yield ground, and if they had fought courageously the two
+previous days, they stood the more firm this time, and fought
+desperately. We however determined, if it were even to cost us all our
+lives, to push forward to the great temple of Huitzilopochtli. I will
+not detail the severe struggle we had against one house in particular,
+which was very strongly fortified, nor the critical position our horse
+were placed in. For whenever our cavalry galloped in upon the enemy's
+ranks, our horses were assailed by so many arrows, stones and lances,
+that they were immediately covered with wounds; while their riders,
+however courageously they fought, could make but little impression upon
+the foe. If they pushed further on, the Mexicans either jumped into the
+canals or into the lake, where the cavalry could not follow them, and
+where a whole forest of lances stared them in the face: equally
+fruitless were all our attempts to set fire to their houses, or pull
+them down, as they stood, in the midst of the water, and were connected
+to each other by drawbridges only. If at times we did succeed in firing
+a house, it took a whole day in burning down, nor did the fire spread,
+from the buildings being at too great distance from each other, and
+their being surrounded by water, so that all our efforts that way
+completely failed. At last we succeeded in fighting our way up to the
+foot of the great temple, but at that instant a body of above four
+thousand of the enemy rushed up the steps for its defence; besides that,
+other troops were already stationed on the top of this building, armed
+with long lances, stones and arrows. For a length of time the guns of
+our towers and the attacks of our cavalry could make no impression on
+the enemy, while our horses were scarcely able to step firmly on the
+smooth pavement of the court yards, but every moment slipped out and
+fell down. Though our cannon mowed down ten or fifteen of the enemy at a
+time, and a great many others were cut down by our sabres, yet their
+numbers were so vast that we could not beat them back, we therefore now
+determined to quit our towers, which were almost broken into pieces; and
+leaving them at the foot of the temple, we began fighting our way up the
+steps of the building.
+
+Here Cortes displayed astonishing courage, though this, I may say, was
+never wanting in him. What a bloody and terrific conflict was this! The
+reader should have seen how we were covered with blood and wounds! Above
+forty of our men lay dead at our feet; but at last, with the aid of
+Providence, we succeeded in reaching the point where we had erected the
+image of the holy Virgin. It was, however, no longer there; for
+Motecusuma, as we subsequently learnt, had either, out of veneration or
+fear, taken it away, and put it carefully by. We now set fire to the
+Mexican idols, and part of the chapel was on this occasion burnt down,
+with Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca. While we were occupied with this
+work, the battle on the platform continued without intermission; for
+here stood a number of priests, and more than three or four thousand of
+the principal Mexicans, who fell upon us with great fury, and even beat
+us back again down the steps of the temple. Nor was it these alone who
+here set upon us; but numbers of warriors also annoyed us from the
+landings and battlements of this building, so that we scarcely knew
+which way to turn our arms.
+
+We had now made every possible exertion, and undergone the greatest
+perils. Our towers were smashed to pieces, the whole of us were covered
+with wounds, and forty-six of our men had been killed. We therefore
+determined to retreat to our quarters in the best way we could. But our
+position for the moment was not bettered by this step; for the Mexicans
+now fell upon us in terrific crowds both in our rear and in our flanks:
+it is impossible to imagine the sight unless one had seen it. Neither
+have I at all mentioned the numbers who attacked our quarters after we
+had sallied out, and the difficulty our men had who were left behind to
+prevent the enemy from setting fire to them. In this battle we took two
+chief papas prisoners, whom Cortes ordered to be kept in close custody.
+
+I have seen many pictures among the Mexicans and Tlascallans which
+represented our storming this great temple. In their eye it was
+considered a piece of astonishing heroism. In these pictures they had
+not omitted to depict our killed, and how great numbers of us were
+wounded, with the blood streaming from our bodies. And indeed it was no
+trifling matter, after our towers had been destroyed, to storm this
+great building, and set fire to the idols, considering that it was
+defended so vigorously by large bodies of the enemy, both from the
+platform and from the landings, and by those who were stationed in the
+open space below.
+
+The retreat to our quarters was no less perilous; and if the multitude
+through which we had to cut our way was vast, that in front of our
+quarters was no less so. We just arrived in time, for the enemy had
+already made breaches in the walls, and a good many had forced their way
+through them into the rooms. Our arrival certainly put a stop to their
+dangerous progress, but they did not discontinue, during the rest of the
+day and all night, to annoy us with their lances, stones, and arrows,
+under the most terrible yells. Notwithstanding all this, we had during
+the night to assist our wounded, to bury our dead, repair the breaches,
+and take repose for the next day's battle. We also held a council of
+war, to deliberate what mode of attack we should next adopt, that we
+might not sustain so great a loss of men; but every plan that was
+proposed seemed insufficient. To all our calamities was added the bad
+disposition of Narvaez's soldiers, who cursed Cortes, and even the
+governor of Cuba in every possible manner, who they said had torn them
+away from the delightful repose and security which they enjoyed on their
+respective farms, to be harassed to death in this country. These fellows
+seemed altogether to have lost their senses, and they lent a deaf ear to
+everything that was said to them.
+
+After lengthened deliberations, we came to the determination of suing
+the Mexicans for peace, and asking their permission to quit the city.
+But daylight had scarcely broken forth when our quarters were again
+attacked at all points by innumerable bodies of the enemy. Their
+excessive fury in attack, their stubborn firmness, their desperate
+thrusts and yells, were all more terrific than on the previous days;
+while our cannon and other firearms seemed to make no impression on
+them.
+
+In this moment of danger Cortes determined that Motecusuma should
+address the infuriated multitude from the top of the building, and
+desire them to stay hostilities, as we had determined to leave the city.
+When this offer was made known to Motecusuma in the name of Cortes, he
+is said to have exclaimed, in the height of grief, "Why does Malinche
+now turn to me?--to me, who am tired of life, and who could wish never
+again to hear his name mentioned, for it is he who has plunged me into
+all this misery!" Motecusuma obstinately refused to comply with Cortes'
+request, and is said to have further exclaimed, "I will neither see nor
+hear anything more of this man. I put no longer any faith in his
+deceitful words, his promises, and his specious lies."
+
+Upon this father Olmedo and Oli went and spoke to him in the most
+affectionate terms, to persuade him to alter his determination. "Alas!"
+replied the monarch, "for all this, it is now too late. I am convinced
+that the Mexicans, whatever my wishes might be, will not grant any
+cessation of arms. They have already raised another cazique to the
+throne, and are fully determined that none of you shall leave this place
+alive. For myself, I am convinced you will every one of you meet with
+your death in this city."
+
+In the end, however, Motecusuma was prevailed upon to accompany them.
+Under cover of a strong division of our troops he advanced to the
+battlements of our quarters, and began to address the Mexicans in the
+most affectionate manner, desiring them to put a stop to their
+hostilities, for the teules were going to leave the city. The instant
+the Mexican generals recognized their king they ordered their men to
+cease firing. Four of them advanced to a spot where they could easily
+discourse with the monarch; and thus, with tears in their eyes, they
+addressed him: "Alas! great king, your own misfortune, and that of your
+children and your relatives, afflicts us sorely. But we dare not hide
+from you that we have raised one of your cousins to the throne of this
+country."
+
+Here they named the new monarch. It was the king of Iztapalapan,
+Cuitlahuatzin, and not Quauhtemoctzin, for he did not ascend the throne
+until two months after. "They were forced," continued they, "to
+prosecute the war, for they had promised their gods to do so, and had
+sworn to them not to desist until every one of the teules was killed.
+They had daily in vain prayed to their gods Huitzilopochtli and
+Tetzcatlipuca to deliver him out of the enemy's power, and they would
+hold him in greater veneration than before; and they hoped he would
+pardon their present conduct."
+
+Several of our men had covered Motecusuma with their shields while he
+was addressing the enemy; but as the attack was now momentarily
+suspended, they were not so very particular in shielding his person.
+Unfortunately, the hostilities immediately again commenced, and before
+it could be prevented he was struck by an arrow, and three stones from a
+sling, by which he was wounded in the arm, leg, and in his head; so that
+the unhappy monarch was forced to be carried back to his apartment. We
+were immediately going to bandage up his wounds, and begged of him to
+take something strengthening; but he refused everything, and, contrary
+to all expectation, we soon heard that he had expired. Cortes, his
+officers, and all of us, shed tears for this unfortunate monarch; indeed
+many of our men, who had been in constant attendance on him, mourned for
+him as if they had lost a parent. Even father Olmedo himself, who never
+for a moment left his side, and who, notwithstanding all his efforts,
+had not been able to convert him to Christianity, could not refrain from
+shedding tears. And no one will feel surprised at this who knew what a
+very kind-hearted person Motecusuma was.
+
+He was said to have reigned seventeen years up to the day of his death.
+Mexico never had a better monarch; and, with regard to his personal
+courage, he had fought three several duels respecting some disputed
+territory, and had each time come off victorious.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXVII.
+
+    _Cortes determines to announce Motecusuma's death to the Mexican
+    generals and chiefs who are at war with us._
+
+
+After various deliberations on our present critical position, Cortes
+determined that one of the distinguished Mexicans and one of the papas
+whom we had taken prisoners should be despatched to the cazique of
+Cuitlahuatzin, whom the Mexicans had raised to the throne, to announce
+to him and his officers the death of Motecusuma, and explain to them the
+manner in which it had taken place; they were to assure them that they
+themselves had not only witnessed his death, but that his own subjects
+were guilty of it, and that we were deeply distressed at the melancholy
+circumstance. We also desired they would take charge of his body, to pay
+it the last honours, and to place the crown on the head of that cousin
+of Motecusuma who was staying with us, and who was entitled to it by
+right of inheritance; or to elect one of his sons, as the prince they
+had raised to the throne had no real claim to it. For the rest, we were
+ready to make a treaty of peace with them, and quit Mexico; they should
+not allow this opportunity of concluding peace with us to pass by, for,
+up to the present moment, we had refrained from destroying the city
+merely from our love and respect of the deceased monarch. If, however,
+they compelled us to the combat, we would burn down all their houses and
+cause no end of destruction. Upon this we handed over the corpse of
+Motecusuma to six other Mexican chiefs and a large body of papas whom we
+had taken prisoners. All these men had been present when the monarch
+expired, and they informed Cuitlahuatzin faithfully of every
+circumstance connected with it; how the Mexicans themselves had caused
+his death by the shot of an arrow and three stones from a sling.
+
+As soon as the Mexicans espied the dead body of their monarch, they
+broke out into loud lamentations, and moaned bitterly; but still
+continued the attack upon us, and that with increased fury. "Now," they
+hollowed out, "we will make you pay dearly for the death of our monarch,
+and the insult you have offered to our gods! Is it now you beg peace of
+us? Only come out, and we will show you what terms we mean to make with
+you!" Many such like insulting speeches they threw out against us, and
+added, that they had now selected a monarch whose heart was placed in
+the right spot, and whom we should not so easily deceive with our lies
+as we had the good-natured Motecusuma. "Don't trouble yourselves,"
+continued they, "about his burial, but think of your own graves, for, in
+a couple of days, not a single one of you will be left alive!"
+
+Under such like threats, and vehement yells, they attempted to fire our
+quarters at various points. As it was very evident to us that we could
+not hold out much longer, it was determined, in a council of war, that
+we should abandon the metropolis, and continue the war outside on the
+main land, where we could destroy the plantations.
+
+In this our proposed retreat, the cavalry was to form the vanguard, and
+at all stakes to break through the enemy's ranks, or drive them into the
+lake, even if we were to sacrifice all our horses in the attempt.
+Previous to taking this step, we determined on making such dreadful
+havoc among the Mexican troops, that they might allow us to depart in
+peace from the fear of still greater losses. This resolve was carried
+out the day following with unshaken bravery. We mowed down great numbers
+of the enemy, set fire to about twenty houses, and had fought our way
+almost up to the main land; but though we suffered much, and purchased
+this partial success with above twenty killed, it availed us nothing,
+for we could not gain possession of any of the bridges, which, besides
+being half burnt down, were defended by strong bodies of the enemy. Even
+those places where the horse might have found a way through the water,
+the enemy had now rendered impassable by sharp stakes which they had
+driven in. Thus we were beset on all sides by perils of various natures.
+In this last sally of our cavalry, which happened on a Thursday, there
+were, besides Sandoval, Lares, Dominiguez, Leon, Morla, and other brave
+cavalry officers, many of Narvaez's horse, who, however, showed the
+utmost fear, as they had not yet experienced, as we old soldiers of
+Cortes had, what it was to fight against Indians.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXVIII.
+
+    _How we come to the determination of leaving Mexico secretly at
+    night; and what further happened._
+
+
+In this way our strength daily diminished, while that of the enemy
+increased. Several of our men had been killed, and most of us were
+wounded. Our courage was of no avail against such vast crowds, who kept
+up a constant attack upon us both during day and night time. Our powder
+was fast diminishing,[87] and provisions and water were beginning to
+fail. Motecusuma was gone, and the peace we solicited was refused. All
+the bridges on the causeways, along which we had to make good our
+retreat, had been destroyed by the enemy; in short death was staring at
+us on every hand. It was, therefore, at last determined, in a council of
+war, that we should leave the city, and choose the night-time to effect
+our purpose, when the enemy was generally less vigilant. To make more
+sure, we resolved to despatch one of the chief papas we had taken with
+many other prisoners, to the Mexicans on the evening preceding the night
+we contemplated making our retreat, to request of them to allow us to
+march quietly out of the city within the space of eight days, as we
+intended to leave them all the gold we possessed.
+
+On this our determination one of the soldiers named Botello had had
+great influence. This man was an Italian by birth, and was remarkable
+for his honesty and great intelligence. He had been at Rome, and many
+believed he could conjure up the dead; some said he had a _spiritus
+familiaris_, and many of us commonly called him the astrologer.
+
+Botello had, four days previously, announced, that, by means of his
+secret art, he had discovered that every one of us would be killed if we
+did not leave Mexico on a certain night. He had likewise prophesied of
+Cortes that great misfortunes awaited him; he would lose his property
+and honour, but again rise to eminence and riches. Similar horoscopes
+drawn by him were frequently mentioned by our men.
+
+As we shall again have to mention this Botello, we must now see what
+preparations were going on for our retreat; the first and most important
+of which was, the construction of a moveable bridge, out of strong
+beams, which was to serve in passing the canals where the former bridges
+had been burnt down by the enemy. Four hundred Tlascallans, assisted by
+150 of our men, were to take charge of this bridge; were to fix it in
+the proper place each time it was required, then remove it again, and so
+on, until the whole of us with our baggage and cannon had passed the
+several openings. The transport of our heavy guns was intrusted to 250
+Tlascallans and fifty of our men. Sandoval, Lugo, Ordas, and Tapia,
+formed the vanguard; these were to clear the streets of the enemy, and
+for that purpose were reinforced by eight or ten of Narvaez's officers,
+whose names I will not mention, and 100 of our strongest and most nimble
+young soldiers. Cortes himself was to take his station, supported by
+Oli, Avila, Bernardino de Tapia, besides other officers and fifty
+soldiers, between the baggage, our Indian female servants and the
+prisoners, in order to render assistance wherever it was most required.
+The rear-guard was to be commanded by Leon and Alvarado, consisting of
+the main body of the cavalry, 100 foot, and the greater part of
+Narvaez's troops. Dona Marina and Dona Luisa, with the prisoners, were
+to be guarded by 300 Tlascallans and thirty Spaniards.
+
+After these arrangements had been made, and night was fast approaching,
+Cortes ordered his chamberlain Christobal de Guzman to see that all the
+gold, silver, and other valuable matters were brought together in one
+apartment. The royal treasurers, Alonso Avila and Gonzalo Mexia, were
+then desired to deduct the emperor's portion, and load eight of our
+wounded horses and eighty Tlascallans with it. The greater part of the
+treasure consisted of broad bars of gold, with which the horses and men
+were as heavily laden as possible.
+
+Cortes then called his private secretary Pedro Hernandez, and the other
+royal secretaries, and spoke to them as follows: "Put down in writing
+and bear witness that I have done all which lay in my power to save this
+treasure, which is valued at 700,000 pesos. You see it is impossible to
+load any more of it on the Indian porters and the eight horses; I will,
+therefore, allow the soldiers to take as much away with them as they can
+conveniently carry, that this treasure may not fall into the hands of
+these Mexican dogs."
+
+As soon as Narvaez's men and many of our old soldiers heard this, they
+stowed away as much as they could. For myself, whose failing had never
+been to covet gold, I took four chalchihuis stones out of a small box,
+and secreted them between my cuirass. Cortes soon after gave this box in
+safe keeping to his steward, and I do think he would have demanded the
+said four chalchihuis stones back again of me if I had not quickly
+secreted them. This small treasure proved afterwards of the greatest
+value to me towards the curing of my wounds, and in procuring myself
+food.
+
+All matters being now properly ordered, and the mode of our retreat
+settled, we began to move forward. It was about the hour of midnight,
+and rather dark, a thin mist hung over the town, and a gentle rain was
+falling.
+
+The moment we began to move forward in the above-mentioned order, the
+rear-guard being already in motion, and our moveable bridge fixed, and
+Sandoval, with his body of horse, and Cortes, with those under his
+command, and many other soldiers, had passed across, the wild war music
+and loud yells of the Mexicans suddenly burst forth. "Up, up,
+Tlatelulco!" they cried; "out with your canoes! The teules are running
+away: cut off their retreat over the bridges!"
+
+And before we had time to look about us, we were attacked by vast bodies
+of the enemy, and the whole lake was instantly covered with canoes, so
+that we were unable to move on any further, although many of our men had
+already passed the moveable bridge. Now the most obstinate conflict
+ensued for the possession of this, and, as misfortunes never come
+singly, it happened that two of our horses should slide out on the wet
+planks, become unmanageable, and roll over into the lake. This caused
+the bridge itself to overbalance and fall down. A number of Mexicans
+that instant fell furiously on us, and, though we exerted ourselves to
+the utmost, and cut down numbers of the enemy, we were unable to recover
+the bridge. As, however, those behind, kept continually pushing on those
+in front, the opening in the canal was speedily filled up with dead
+horses and their riders, who were inevitably lost if they were unable to
+swim. The unmerciful enemy now attacked us from all sides. A number of
+Tlascallans and our Indian female servants were carried off, with the
+baggage and cannon; numbers of our men were drowned, and no less a
+number, who were trying to save themselves by swimming, were taken
+prisoners by those in the canoes. It was heart-rending to behold this
+scene of misery, and to hear the moans and pitiful cries for assistance.
+"Help! help! I am drowning," cried one here: "help me, they are killing
+me!" cried another there. Here one called upon the name of the Virgin
+Mary for assistance; and there another upon Santiago de Compostella!
+Here another, who had managed to get to the water's edge, implored us to
+lift him out; yonder, again, was another clambering over the dead
+bodies. Many, when they had reached the high road, imagined themselves
+safe, but here they only met with denser crowds of the foe. Does any
+believe that there was a man amongst us who still observed the order of
+retreat as it was first regulated? That man would, indeed, have been a
+fool who had thought of anything else but of his own safety! Cortes,
+with the officers and soldiers who were with him, acted similarly, and
+dashed away, unmindful of the men, at full gallop, over the bridge, and
+strove to gain the main land: besides which, it must be acknowledged
+that our cavalry was quite useless here. Exposed on every side to the
+enemy's arrows and lances, pelted with stones from the housetops, they
+had also to encounter a forest of our own swords, which the enemy had
+captured and fixed to their long lances, so that it was a wonder each
+time a horse with its rider escaped. Neither could we defend ourselves
+in the water, as the wet had rendered our muskets and crossbows totally
+useless, while the darkness of the night made every movement uncertain.
+All our attempts to keep together were fruitless. What did it avail us
+if, at times, thirty or forty of us managed to make a stand, and boldly
+faced about? By this means we certainly advanced forward a little, yet
+none of us would have escaped alive, if, in the end, every one had not
+strove to save his own life. Thus sadly did we fare in that night, and
+had it been day we should have fared much worse. Indeed, if the Almighty
+had not lent us extraordinary powers, every man of us would have been
+killed! It was really terrific to see the immense crowds which fell upon
+us from all sides, and the number of canoes which were merely waiting
+for the moment to carry off the prisoners, all of whom were destined to
+be sacrificed to their gods! It was a fearful sight indeed!
+
+I shall never forget how at one time about fifty of us had got together,
+and the Mexicans, while they fell upon us, constantly cried out, "O, O,
+Luilones!" meaning thereby, You wish to live, do you, you varlets? It
+was only by dint of heavy blows and hard fighting we were able to cut
+our way through.
+
+At last, as we were approaching the main land near Tlacupa, where the
+vanguard, under Sandoval, with a large body of the cavalry and of our
+foot had arrived, we recognized the voices of Oli, Morla, and Sandoval,
+who were thus addressing Cortes: "Only consider for a moment, general,
+we are here indeed on safe ground, but there are still such numbers of
+our men in the streets behind the bridges, who will be inevitably lost
+unless we hurry back to their assistance. Up to this moment but few have
+been able to cut their way through, and these are all covered with
+wounds."
+
+To which Cortes gave the sorrowful answer, "That it was a real wonder
+every time one of us escaped; if, however, they turned back to the
+bridges, they would certainly be lost with horses and all."
+
+Nevertheless Cortes, Oli, Avila, Sandoval, Morla, and Dominiguez, turned
+back and took with them six or seven of the cavalry and a few of the
+foot who had escaped without a wound. They had not advanced far before
+they came up with Alvarado. He had lost his brown mare and was coming on
+limping with one foot, heavily wounded, with lance in hand, having only
+seven of his Spanish soldiers and eight Tlascallans left, all dripping
+with blood.
+
+Cortes and those who had accompanied him now returned, and we took up a
+position close to Tlacupa. But even here the Mexicans had by this time
+arrived, and were stirring up the inhabitants of this town, of
+Escapuzalco, and of Tenayuacan against us.
+
+Here again the Mexicans, who had fastened on our swords to their long
+pikes, set hard upon us, and we had enough to do to maintain our ground.
+
+When Cortes came up with Alvarado and his few followers, and learnt the
+fate of those left behind, tears flowed from his eyes; for Alvarado and
+Leon had had above twenty horse and more than one hundred foot with them
+in the rear-guard. All these, with nearly the whole of the cavalry, and
+above one hundred and fifty other men of the old and new troops, had
+perished with Leon. Alvarado related, that after he and his men had all
+lost their horses, he managed to get together about eighty men, and with
+these he succeeded in passing over the first opening by clambering over
+the baggage, dead men and horses. Although I am not sure whether he said
+that he passed the opening by stepping over the dead bodies, I know that
+at this bridge more than 200 men, with Leon at their head, were cut to
+pieces by the enemy, notwithstanding all their courageous fighting. At
+the second bridge again, it was merely through God's mercy that Alvarado
+had saved himself, as all the canals and streets were crowded by the
+enemy.
+
+It was also at this bridge of sorrows that the well-known leap of
+Alvarado was said to have taken place. At that time, indeed, none of us
+took notice whether he leaped well or not; for every one had enough to
+do to escape from the hands of the merciless enemy. I am, however,
+inclined to believe that this leap was nothing more than what Alvarado
+told Cortes himself, how he had made his bridge over the canal by
+clambering over the baggage, dead bodies, and drowned horses; for the
+water was too deep in that place for him to have swung across the
+opening by means of his lance, and the width of the canal too great,
+however nimble Alvarado may have been, for him to have leaped across. It
+would have been an impossibility I am sure to have crossed it by means
+of his lance or by leaping. I myself can speak from eyewitness; for the
+following year when we marched against Mexico, and surrounded the town
+on all sides, I often came in contact with the enemy at that bridge
+which now bears the name of Alvarado's leap. At that time the Mexicans
+had blocked up the passage with palisade and breastwork, and I very
+frequently spoke with my fellow-soldiers about the circumstance, but
+none of them ever thought such a leap possible. What people thought of
+it at the time itself the reader will see from the following anecdote.
+
+Among Garay's troops there was a certain Ocampo who came to Mexico: this
+man possessed much wit and was always writing pasquils, or libelling
+some one or other. Among other things he wrote a good deal of scandal
+and falsehood respecting our officers, and accused Alvarado, that he had
+left Leon with upwards of 200 men and the whole of our cavalry which
+composed the rear-guard, in the lurch, and that in order to save his own
+life he had taken the Alvarado's leap indeed, in accordance with the old
+proverb: Leap and save your life![88]
+
+As I have above mentioned, we had certainly reached Tlacupa, but had not
+escaped all danger there, for here again great numbers of Mexicans, with
+the troops of Tlacupa, Escapuzalco, Tenayuacan, and of the surrounding
+districts, continually assailed us; but it was from the maise
+plantations they did us most injury, and here we lost three more of our
+men, who had been previously wounded. The best thing we could therefore
+do was to quit this terrible neighbourhood as soon as possible. Some few
+of the Tlascallans knew a bye-road to Tlascalla, and they safely
+conducted us to a row of houses which stood on a rising ground, and here
+we quartered ourselves in a temple, which had also the appearance of a
+fortress. During the whole of this march the Mexicans continually
+harassed our troops, and greatly annoyed us with their arrows, slings,
+and lances. The reader must not be displeased if I am forced to depict
+the same miserable scenes over again.
+
+It was not until we had reached this temple that we were able to defend
+ourselves successfully. Here we lighted several fires, and dressed our
+wounds.
+
+After the conquest of Mexico, we turned this building into a church,
+and dedicated it to our dear lady _de los remedios_. This church in
+course of time became very celebrated, and to this day numerous people
+make pilgrimages to that place, particularly females, from Mexico.
+
+We found, however, nothing to eat here, and it was grievous indeed to
+see with what miserable rags we were obliged to dress our wounds, which
+had become chilled by the cold, and this increased their severity. But
+what grieved us most was the great loss of horses, and of so many of our
+brave companions. Of our old troops there were missing Leon, Salcedo,
+Morla, the brave lancer Lares, and several others. And yet I merely
+mention these few; for if I wished to mention the names of all those
+whom we had to mourn, I should not finish so easily. Most of Narvaez's
+men met with their death at the bridges, from the weight of the gold
+with which they had overburdened themselves. The Tlascallans, who had
+charge of the crown treasures, shared a similar fate. The astrologer
+Botello[89] found no protection in all his art, and perished with many
+others. Even Motecusuma's sons,[90] and other princes we had taken
+prisoners, met with their deaths in that dreadful night.[91]
+
+Before coming to any determination as to what our next step should be,
+we proceeded to consider our present condition. The whole of us were
+wounded, and only twenty-three horses had escaped alive; our cannon were
+all lost, and we had not a grain of powder left; there were but few
+crossbows remaining, though these, with the arrows, might speedily be
+replaced. Besides all this, the enemy were day and night at our heels,
+and we no longer knew on what footing we stood with our friends of
+Tlascalla. Nevertheless, we resolved to continue our march towards that
+country, and we set out at midnight. Our guides, with the Tlascallans,
+marched in advance; those who were more severely wounded, and obliged to
+use the support of a stick, were placed in the centre; and those who
+were not capable of moving at all were bound fast to the horses of those
+who were unable to fight. All who could bear arms were stationed in the
+flanks, and had some of the cavalry to support them; while the
+rear-guard was composed of the remaining horse. The Tlascallans who were
+wounded likewise marched in the centre, and those who were still capable
+of defending themselves joined our ranks, that we might be ready to
+receive an attack at any point, as the Mexicans were still close at our
+heels, yelling most hideously, and crying out from time to time, "Go on!
+go on! not one of you will escape alive!" At that moment we did not
+exactly understand what they meant, but soon after we discovered it, as
+we shall presently see.
+
+I must not, however, forget to mention how greatly rejoiced we were to
+find that Dona Marina and Dona Luisa, who had left Mexico with the
+vanguard, were quite safe; but the greater part of our other Indian
+females, who had been presented to us by the Mexicans and Tlascallans,
+had not been so fortunate; almost the whole of these perished at the
+bridges.
+
+On this day's march we arrived at a considerable township, named
+Quauhtitlan, once the property of Alonso de Avila; there likewise we
+were received with reviling language, stones, and arrows, all of which
+we patiently endured. We fared no better in the numerous other small
+villages we passed through, while the pursuing Mexicans were continually
+increasing in numbers. They strove to lock us in on all sides, and sent
+forth so many stones, arrows, and lances upon us, while we were passing
+through a narrow defile, that two more of our men were killed who had
+been dangerously wounded in the last conflict, and also one of our
+horses; besides that, numbers of us were wounded. We certainly destroyed
+some of the enemy in return, but the number was small.
+
+This night we quartered ourselves in a few straggling houses, and supped
+off the horse which had been killed.[92] The next morning early we
+continued our route, and marched in closer order than on the day
+previous, the half of our cavalry being always in advance. We had
+marched to the distance of about four miles along an open plain, where
+we considered ourselves in safety, when three of our horse came
+galloping up to inform us that the fields were covered with Mexicans,
+who were lying in wait for us. We were not a little dismayed at this
+intelligence; however, our courage did not flag so far as to prevent us
+from making immediate preparations for battle, and we determined to
+defend ourselves to the last. We halted for a few moments, and Cortes
+gave instructions for the cavalry to dash in a body full gallop upon the
+enemy, to aim at the face, and break their line. Our infantry were to
+direct their blows and thrusts at the enemy's lower quarters. In this
+way it was said we should be certain to revenge our dead and wounded, if
+it pleased the Almighty to spare our lives in the approaching battle.
+
+We then commended ourselves to God and the holy Virgin, and boldly
+rushed forth upon the enemy, under the cry of _Santiago! Santiago!_ Our
+cavalry charged the enemy's line five abreast, and broke it, we rushing
+in after them close at their heels. What a terrific battle and
+remarkable victory was this! How we fought man to man! and those dogs
+like the very furies themselves! and many of our men did they kill and
+wound with their pikes and huge broad swords.[93]
+
+The level ground, however, was uncommonly favorable for the manoeuvres
+of our horse, which every now and then gallopped at full speed in upon
+the enemy, and then retired, to watch another favorable opportunity.
+Although both horse and rider were severely wounded, yet they continued
+to fight most valiantly. It seemed as if we who formed the cavalry had
+double our usual strength; for, though we were covered with wounds, and
+each moment received fresh ones, yet we never gave them thought, but
+kept dashing in upon the foe without intermission. Cortes, Oli, Alvarado
+(who had borrowed a horse from one of Narvaez's men), and Sandoval,
+though all covered with wounds, were always present where the danger was
+greatest. Neither did Cortes omit to cheer us on by the most animating
+words, and to bring under our notice what a fine booty we should make of
+the enemy's rich apparel and ornamental weapons. But it was above all
+glorious to hear the brave and spirited Sandoval cry out, "On, my
+fellow-soldiers? this day the victory must be ours! Our trust is in God!
+We shall not lose our lives here, for God has destined us for better
+things!"
+
+In this way we continued fighting courageously, for God and the blessed
+Virgin strengthened us, and St. Santiago de Compostella certainly came
+to our assistance; and one of Quauhtemoctzin's chief officers, who was
+present at the battle, beheld him with his own eyes, as he afterwards
+affirmed. At this moment it pleased the Almighty that Cortes' attention
+should be drawn to that part of the enemy's troops where the Mexican
+general-in-chief was stationed with the flying standard, clothed in the
+richest armour, shining with gold, and a penache of large white feathers
+on his head. As soon as Cortes espied him among his glittering retinue,
+he cried out to Alvarado, Sandoval, Oli, Avila, and many other officers,
+"Follow me, my brave companions; these are the men we must attack!" The
+words were scarcely out of his mouth, when they commended themselves to
+God, and gallopped among the enemy; Cortes poised his lance, and made a
+rush at the Mexican commander-in-chief, who dropped the standard; our
+other officers at the same moment cutting down the other chiefs, by whom
+he was immediately surrounded.[94]
+
+The Mexican generalissimo was about to snatch up the standard again and
+flee; but Juan de Salamanca, a native of Ontiveras, gallopped after him
+on his splendid horse, and brought him to the ground, wrested the
+standard from his hand, and the rich bunch of feathers from his head,
+and presented both to Cortes, who had made the first run at the chief.
+Salamanca was subsequently rewarded for this piece of heroism; for a few
+years afterwards the emperor allowed him to assume a bunch of feathers
+in his coat of arms, which his descendants bear to this day.
+
+After the Mexican chief had fallen and the royal standard was lost, and
+numbers of the enemy killed, they began to give way, and then fled. Our
+cavalry, however, kept close at their heels, and punished them severely.
+Now, indeed, we no longer felt our wounds, nor hunger, nor thirst, and
+it appeared to us all as if we were beginning the attack with renewed
+vigour! Our friends of Tlascalla had likewise changed into real lions,
+and hacked in furiously among the enemy with, the broad swords they had
+captured.
+
+After our cavalry had returned from the pursuit, we offered up thanks
+unto the Almighty for this victory, and our escape from the hands of so
+numerous an enemy; for the Spaniards had never before in India
+encountered so vast an army as on this occasion. It was composed of the
+flower of the joint armies of Mexico, Tezcuco, and of Xaltocan; while
+every Indian had entered the battle with the determination that not a
+soul of us should escape alive. It was also evident, from the richness
+of their arms and apparel, that a greater portion were officers and men
+of distinction.
+
+Near to the place where this terrible and bloody battle was fought lay
+the township of Otumpan, by which name this battle will be known through
+all times to come. The Mexicans and Tlascallans have given a faithful
+representation of it in their numerous paintings of the battles we
+fought up to the conquest of Mexico.
+
+For memory's sake, I must here note down that we marched into Mexico on
+the 24th of June, 1520, to Alvarado's assistance, with an army of nearly
+1400 men, among which there were seventy-nine horse, eighty
+crossbow-men, and a like number of musketeers, with above 2000
+Tlascallan troops, and a fine park of artillery. On the 10th[95] of July
+following we commenced our retreat, and on the 14th we fought the battle
+of Otumpan.
+
+I must now likewise recount the loss we sustained in that time. In five
+days, including the battle of Otumpan, we lost in killed, and those who
+were taken prisoners, above 870 of our troops, and above 1200
+Tlascallans; to which must be added 72 men and five Spanish females, all
+of Narvaez's division, whom the Mexicans put to death in Tustepec. About
+the same time the Mexicans likewise murdered old Juan de Alcantara, and
+three others, who were on their road from Vera Cruz to Mexico to receive
+their share of the gold. Thus these persons not only lost their gold,
+but their lives also. Indeed, if it be well considered, it will be found
+that none of us derived any blessings from the gold the Indians gave us.
+The reason why Narvaez's troops suffered more at the bridges than those
+of Cortes', was from their having overloaded themselves with gold, the
+weight of which prevented them from swimming, and otherwise encumbered
+their movements.
+
+After this splendid victory, we dined off some gourds which grew in the
+fields, and joyfully continued our march to Tlascalla. We carefully
+avoided passing through any villages, as our enemies still continued at
+a distance to fly their arrows at us, and to pour out abusive language.
+It was not until the approach of evening that we resolved to enter a
+Mexican township, because it contained a temple and a large building, in
+which we could fortify ourselves. Here we quartered our troops for the
+night, dressed our wounds, and enjoyed a little repose. The Mexicans had
+certainly followed us, but without venturing too nigh, and it was
+visible in their countenances what they would say: "A good journey to
+you, you will now quickly have passed our boundaries!" Soon after we had
+left this place, the range of hills near Tlascalla came into view, and
+we felt equal joy at beholding these as if our native country had been
+there; yet we could not tell what the present feeling of that people
+towards us might be, or whether they had remained faithful! And we were
+also quite ignorant as to how matters stood at Vera Cruz, where the
+enemy might also have cut the garrison to pieces.
+
+Our whole strength now merely consisted in 440 men, twenty horses,
+twelve crossbows, and seven muskets; besides that, we were all
+excessively weak, and covered with wounds; our cannon, with our store of
+powder lost; we were at present, therefore, doubly vigilant, and
+returned fervent thanks to God for having so miraculously rescued us out
+of the enemy's hand. Our troops, Cortes said, were now dwindled down
+again to the same number of men with which we had first set sail from
+Cuba, and entered the city of Mexico. We should therefore be
+particularly cautious not to give the Tlascallans any reason of
+complaint. This was especially intended for Narvaez's men, who were not
+so accustomed to subordination as we were. For the rest, continued
+Cortes, he hoped to God we should find the Tlascallans as faithful and
+true to us as before. If, however, they should have turned against us,
+we were not therefore to lose courage, but to trust in our strong arm,
+which had the power to overcome any foe.
+
+We now continued our march with every military precaution, and arrived
+at a fountain on the slope of a hill, near to which were standing the
+walls and inclosures of ancient temples. These the Tlascallans said
+formed the boundaries between their territory and the Mexican empire.
+Here therefore we felt in greater safety, washed ourselves, and ate some
+little food. After we had sufficiently rested from our fatigues, we
+again marched forward, and arrived at a township called Gualiopar,[96]
+situated in the Tlascallan territory, where the inhabitants allowed us
+to quarter, and furnished us with food; but we were obliged to give them
+small pieces of gold or chalchihuis in exchange. In this spot we
+remained a whole day, to dress our wounds and those of our horses.
+
+When the news of our arrival was received in the metropolis of
+Tlascalla, Maxixcatzin, the old Xicotencatl, and Chichimeclatecl,
+accompanied by the principal inhabitants of that town, and those of
+Huexotzinco, immediately set out to welcome us. They gave us the most
+hearty reception, and several of the chiefs wept aloud. "Alas! Malinche,
+Malinche," cried they, "how deeply we take your misfortune to heart, and
+lament the death of so many of your brothers, and of our countrymen, who
+have perished with them! How oft have we not warned you not to trust to
+the Mexicans, and told you they would certainly, one time or other, fall
+suddenly upon you; but you would not believe us. However, what has
+happened cannot be recalled; the only thing you must think of at present
+is, to cure your wounds and strengthen yourselves with good food. Do,
+therefore, just as if you were at home in your own country. Rest
+yourselves a little and then proceed to our town, where we will find you
+quarters. For the rest, Malinche, you may look upon it as no small piece
+of heroism that you fought your way out of that strong city after the
+bridges had been destroyed; and if we previously looked upon you as men
+of extraordinary courage, we do so now in a much wider sense. We are
+well aware that numbers of men and women of this country have to mourn
+the loss of their sons, their husbands and their brothers, but let not
+this be matter of too much grief to you. You have likewise great reason
+to be thankful to your gods who have conducted you here in safety, and
+who gave you power to gain the victory over that vast army, which we
+were well aware had been lying four days in wait for you at Otumpan. It
+was our intention to have come to your assistance with 30,000 men, but
+we were unable to collect such a body of troops in sufficient time."
+
+Cortes, with the whole of the officers and soldiers embraced these
+excellent men in the most affectionate manner, and we made them a
+present in gold and jewels, to which every man among us was glad to
+contribute his mite. They were also extremely rejoiced to find that Dona
+Marina and Dona Luisa had escaped the carnage; but their joy soon turned
+into lamentations when they discovered what numbers of their countrymen
+were missing; and Maxixcatzin evinced excessive grief at the loss of
+Dona Elvira his daughter, and of Leon, to whom he had presented her.
+
+We now, in company of all the caziques marched into the metropolis of
+Tlascalla. Cortes was quartered in the house of Maxixcatzin, and
+Alvarado in that of Xicotencatl. We dressed our wounds with great care,
+and patiently awaited their cure; four of our men, however, soon after
+died, and many others suffered for a length of time before they were
+completely restored.
+
+[87] The daily allowance of a soldier during this time was only fifty
+grains of maise! (p. 347.)
+
+[88] According to other accounts, it certainly appears that Alvarado
+made this astonishing leap. (Monarchia In., iv, c. 71.) We find that
+Alvarado was distinguished from his brother by the surname of _Alvarado
+of the leap_. Humboldt, in his interesting work on New Spain, has
+thought it worth his while to rescue the honour of this brave officer
+with regard to this leap. Even to the present day there is a small
+bridge near Bonavista, called Salto de Alvarado. (p. 352.)
+
+[89] According to other accounts Cortes put great faith in the secret
+art of this man. It was upon Botello's advice that he also attacked
+Narvaez in the night time. He had likewise advised the retreat from
+Mexico in the night time, although he knew, he said, that neither
+himself, his brother, nor several others of his company would escape
+alive. (p. 353.)
+
+[90] During this retreat three of Motecusuma's sons lost their lives;
+but there were two other sons of this monarch who survived the fall of
+their house and became the founders of the distinguished grandee
+families of Spain, the earls of Montezuma and Tula; one was called Cano
+and the other Andrada Montezuma. (p. 353.)
+
+[91] One circumstance Bernal Diaz has omitted to mention. After the
+enemy had taken possession of the bridges there were one hundred
+Spaniards, who, seeing no further chance of making good their retreat,
+fortified themselves on a teocalli or temple. Here these brave men
+maintained their position against the whole armed force of the town for
+three days, but hunger at length compelled them to surrender, and the
+whole of them were sacrificed to the idols. (p. 353.)
+
+[92] The hunger which the Spaniards suffered during these days must have
+been excessive; for Torquemada states it as a fact, that one of the
+soldiers had cut out the liver from the body of another and devoured it;
+for which Cortes was nearly going to hang the man. (p. 354.)
+
+[93] Torquemada says, "That the Spaniards stood like a small island in
+the midst of the ocean, against which the rolling billows beat on every
+side." When Cortes decided the fate of the day by his courageous attack
+upon the Mexican commander, the battle had lasted five hours. (p. 354.)
+
+[94] The Mexican general's name was Cihuacatzin; he was the
+Matlaxopilli, commander-in-chief, and carried the imperial standard,
+called Tlahuizmatlaxopilli, being a golden net ten palms in length. (p.
+355.)
+
+[95] Bernal Diaz errs here with respect to dates, for the disastrous
+retreat from Mexico, according to Cortes' despatches and other accounts,
+took place on the 1st of July, and thus la noche triste (the night of
+sorrows) was on the night between the 1st and 2d of July, and the battle
+of Otumpan took place on the 7th. There must either have been some
+mistake in the original manuscript or in the printing, for the years are
+also dated erroneously. (p. 356.)
+
+[96] This is certainly a corrupted name, for it is dissimilar in sound
+to all others, and terminates differently. (p. 358.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXIX.
+
+    _How we quartered ourselves in the metropolis of Tlascalla, and what
+    we did there._
+
+
+I have already mentioned that we rested a day at Gualiopar, where we
+were visited by the caziques of Tlascalla, who kindly offered us every
+assistance, which was the more praiseworthy in them when we take the
+time and circumstances into consideration.[97]
+
+As soon as we had arrived in the Tlascallan metropolis, Cortes made
+inquiries respecting the 40,000 pesos worth of gold which he had
+forwarded to the latter place for the garrison of Vera Cruz; when
+Maxixcatzin, Xicotencatl, and one of our soldiers who had remained behind
+in Tlascalla on account of ill health, informed him that a certain Juan
+de Alcantara, with two others of the garrison lying in Vera Cruz had
+arrived there and taken all the gold with them, as they had produced a
+written permission to that effect signed by Cortes, which he,
+Maxixcatzin, had carefully saved. Upon being questioned as to the time
+they had left with the gold, we found it must have been during the days
+we had the severe engagements with the Mexicans. Subsequently we learnt
+that Alcantara and his companions had been murdered and robbed of their
+treasure on their road to Vera Cruz. Cortes was sorely grieved at this
+loss, and was most anxious to know how matters stood in the latter
+place. He therefore despatched three Tlascallans to that town with a
+letter, in which he gave a full account of all that had transpired at
+Mexico, but very wisely omitted to mention the number of men we had lost
+there. He likewise admonished the garrison to observe the utmost
+vigilance, and to keep Salvatierra and Narvaez close prisoners. They
+were desired to send their sick to Tlascalla with all their store of
+powder and crossbows. He at the same time wrote to Caballero, and
+particularly cautioned him not to allow any vessel to depart for Cuba,
+and to see that Narvaez did not escape. If he considered the two
+vessels of Narvaez which lay in the harbour there unfit for use, he was
+to run them on shore, and immediately send him the sailors and as many
+arms as he could spare.
+
+These three messengers made all haste and soon returned with an answer
+from Vera Cruz, which gave us the good news that they had enjoyed the
+profoundest peace there, but had been apprized of our misfortune at
+Mexico by the fat cazique of Sempoalla. They also informed us that Juan
+de Alcantara and his companions had been murdered on their return.
+
+Pedro Caballero sent word that all Cortes' commands should be attended
+to. One of the two vessels was still in good condition, but with the
+other he would act as he had been ordered and send the men to us, though
+he had not over-sufficient hands, as many of the sailors were sick and
+several had died.
+
+All the reinforcement we received, on this occasion, consisted in seven
+men, of whom three were sailors. They arrived in Tlascalla under the
+command of a certain Lencero, to whom the tavern belonged, known to this
+day by the name of Venta de Lencero. Every one of these men were in bad
+health; five of them were covered with sore swellings, and the two
+others limped helplessly about with their bellies enormously swollen, so
+that the succours brought by Lencero became quite a byword among us.
+
+I must now, however, relate something of a more serious nature. The
+reader cannot have forgotten the younger Xicotencatl, who commanded the
+whole armed power of Tlascalla against us, and who had always shown his
+hatred of us. This feeling was again aroused in him when the news of our
+flight from Mexico, and of the number of troops we had lost arrived in
+Tlascalla; and how we were marching towards the latter place to seek
+protection and assistance. Xicotencatl now, therefore, assembled his
+relations and friends, with all those whom he thought would enter into
+his views, and proposed that they should select some favorable
+opportunity, either in the day or night-time to fall upon us unawares
+and destroy us all. "He would," he said, "form a friendly alliance with
+the Mexican monarch, for which the present moment was particularly
+favorable, as the Mexicans had just elected a new monarch in the person
+of Cuitlahuatzin. We had," he continued, "left quantities of cotton
+stuffs and gold behind us in Tlascalla, and had brought an additional
+quantity with us, and they would all become wealthy personages by such a
+booty."
+
+When the elder Xicotencatl received information of this rebellious
+movement, he grew excessively angry, and commanded his son to banish
+all such thoughts from his mind. Such a step as that, he said, would be
+altogether unjustifiable, and he might be sure, if Maxixcatzin and
+Chichimeclatecl got intelligence of it, they would certainly order him
+to be put to death, to which he himself would give his consent. Old
+Xicotencatl, however, might say what he liked, his son remained firm to
+his purpose, and set earnestly about to make the necessary preparations,
+when Chichimeclatecl, who was at enmity with the younger Xicotencatl,
+got secret information of his intentions, which he instantly
+communicated to Maxixcatzin, and both determined to call a meeting of
+the chief personages of the town, with the elder Xicotencatl and the
+caziques of Huexotzinco, and commanded the younger Xicotencatl to appear
+before them.
+
+After all had been assembled, Maxixcatzin addressed the meeting as
+follows: "I ask you, do you yourselves think, or have you ever heard
+others say that such riches or so much prosperity was ever known for the
+last hundred years in the land of Tlascalla as since the time these
+teules have appeared among us? Were we ever so much respected by all our
+neighbours? It is only since their arrival we possess abundance of gold
+and cotton stuffs; it is since that time only we eat salt again, of
+which we had been deprived for such a length of time. Wherever our
+troops have shown themselves with these teules, they have been treated
+with the utmost respect; and if many of our countrymen have lately
+perished in Mexico, they certainly fared no worse than the teules
+themselves. All of you must likewise bear in mind the ancient tradition
+handed down to us by our forefathers, that, at some period or other, a
+people would come from where the sun rises, to whom the dominion of
+these countries was destined. How dare Xicotencatl, taking all this into
+consideration, contemplate this horrible treachery, from which nothing
+can flow but war and our destruction? Is this not a crime which ought
+not to be pardoned? Is it not exactly in accordance with the evil
+designs with which this man's head always runs full? Now that misfortune
+has led these teules to us for protection, and that we may assist them
+with our troops to renew the war with Mexico, are we to act
+treacherously to these our friends?"
+
+To these reproaches, in which his own blind father joined, the younger
+Xicotencatl replied, that he persevered in his opinion that, under the
+present circumstances, it would be most politic to form an alliance with
+the Mexicans; and allowed himself many other impudent expressions, which
+so enraged the old chiefs that Maxixcatzin, Chichimeclatecl, and the
+elder Xicotencatl, notwithstanding his blindness, rose up from their
+seats, then fell upon the young man, and pushed him down the steps of
+the building, under the most abusive language. He would certainly have
+been killed on the spot, if respect for his aged father had not withheld
+them. In the meantime they imprisoned all those who had sided with him.
+To punish Xicotencatl himself, this was not exactly the time, and Cortes
+refused in any way to meddle in the matter. I have mentioned this
+circumstance to convince the reader how loyal and honest the Tlascallans
+were towards us, and how much we were indebted to them, particularly to
+the elder Xicotencatl, who, it is even said, had given orders for his
+son to be put to death, as soon as he had been informed of all his
+intrigues and treacherous designs.[98]
+
+We had now rested twenty-two days, and had patiently awaited the cure of
+our wounds; and Cortes now determined upon making an incursion into the
+neighbouring province of Tepeaca, where several of Narvaez's men and
+some of ours had been killed on their march to Mexico. He accordingly
+told our officers what his plan was; but when Narvaez's men heard of a
+new campaign, they became quite low-spirited. The latter were not
+accustomed to war, and had had a sufficient taste of it in our overthrow
+at Mexico, the carnage at the bridges, and in the battle of Otumpan; and
+were very clamorous in their requests to our general to return to their
+commendaries and their gold mines in Cuba. They peremptorily refused to
+obey him any longer, and declared they would take no further part in his
+conquests; and Duero, who, from the very beginning, had been in secret
+understanding with Cortes, protested most loudly against this
+contemplated invasion of Tepeaca. They cursed the gold Cortes had given
+them, which had all been lost again in their flight from Mexico, and
+assured him they were glad enough to have escaped with their lives from
+that terrific battle. They were unanimously determined to return to
+Cuba, and said they were not desirous of suffering any further losses
+than they already had in this expedition.
+
+Cortes, however, did not so soon give up all hopes of persuading them to
+join him in this campaign. He spoke to them in a very quiet and kind
+manner, and made many very excellent remarks, but all to no purpose; and
+when they found that Cortes persevered in his determination, they
+desired one of the royal secretaries to draw up a formal protest, in
+which they gave a circumstantial account of our present position, how we
+were in want of horses, muskets, crossbows, and even cords for the
+latter; in short, of everything necessary to carry on a war. They
+further went on to say, that the whole of us were covered with wounds,
+and that only 440 men remained of the united troops of Narvaez and
+Cortes; the Mexicans occupied every pass and every mountain, and the
+vessels would rot away with the worm if they lay any longer in the
+harbour; and so on.
+
+After they had presented this protest in form to our general, he
+altogether objected to it, and we others of his old troops begged of him
+most earnestly not to allow any of Narvaez's men to return to Cuba, as
+it would every way prove injurious to the cause of God and the interest
+of our emperor.
+
+When they found that all the steps they had taken were fruitless, and
+that we maintained they were imperatively called upon to remain, both
+for the service of God and of our emperor, they at last consented to
+stay, and declared their willingness to join us in the contemplated
+campaign; but Cortes was obliged to promise that he would allow them to
+depart for Cuba as soon as ever circumstances would permit. This,
+however, did not put an end to their murmurs. We heard nothing but
+complaints against Cortes and his conquests,--how dearly they had paid
+for all this, left comfortable homes, and peace and security, to serve
+in a country where they lived in constant danger of losing their lives.
+They likewise considered it would be unpardonable in us to commence a
+second war with the Mexicans, with whom we should never be able to cope
+in the open field for any length of time, after what we had seen of
+their vast power both in Mexico and at Otumpan. Cortes, they continued,
+would not relinquish his purpose as long as his ambition to command was
+satisfied, and we others merely stuck to him because we had nothing to
+lose but our lives. Many similar reproaches did they throw out against
+Cortes, who, under the present circumstances, thought it was best to
+leave them unnoticed; and he was glad, a few months after, to send them
+home, as will be related in the proper place.
+
+Here again I am bound to notice a number of errors in Gomara's history;
+in order, however, not to go too much into detail, I will confine myself
+to the following remarks.
+
+Respecting the above-mentioned protest against the projected campaign of
+Tepeaca, Gomara does not exactly state with which party it originated,
+whether from Cortes' old troops or those of Narvaez. Everything he
+relates concerning this matter merely goes to raise Cortes to the skies
+and to cast the rest of us in the shade. We, the true Conquistadores, on
+reading his work, soon discovered that Gomara had been bribed by
+presents to relate the circumstances in that way. Were we not the very
+men who supported Cortes in all the battles, and in every other matter?
+and yet Gomara has the impudence to consider this as nothing, and
+affirms that we protested against the further conquest of New Spain.
+Gomara likewise commits a terrible blunder when he makes Cortes say, in
+answer to this protest, in order to inspire us with courage, that he
+would recall Leon and Ordas, of whom one, he says, was engaged forming a
+settlement with 300 men in Panuco, and that the other, with a like
+detachment, had been sent for a similar purpose to the river
+Guacasualco. Every word of this is false; for, when we marched to
+Alvarado's assistance in Mexico, those projected settlements were
+relinquished, as I have above mentioned, and both these officers went
+along with us to Mexico. Leon even met with his death at one of the
+bridges, as we saw, and Ordas was severely wounded in three several
+places. What a great pity it is that Gomara does not write with equal
+veracity as he does beauty!
+
+I was likewise amazed to read what he says of the battle of Otumpan. He
+boldly asserts that we should have been defeated if Cortes had not been
+present, for he alone decided the fate of the day by his attack upon the
+Mexican commander-in-chief, who carried the royal standard. I should
+indeed be loth to do Cortes an injustice, and, as an excellent and brave
+general, I have the highest esteem for him; but certainly we have, above
+all, to thank the Almighty, who mercifully protected us in all the
+dangers we encountered, and who put under Cortes' commands such
+courageous officers and soldiers. The second praise is certainly due to
+us, whose valiant arms overcame every obstacle. We it were who firmly
+withstood the enemy's attack, who broke their line, and who punctually
+obeyed the commands of our general and his officers. And yet Cortes is
+said to have done all himself at the battle of Otumpan! Why does this
+Gomara not mention as well the heroic deeds of the officers and soldiers
+in that battle? But it is quite evident that all he relates in his book
+is intended for the praise of Cortes only, otherwise he could not have
+passed by all the rest of us in silence. He should have asked how often
+the brave Christobal de Olea had saved Cortes' life, until he met with
+his death in a similar attempt during the subsequent siege of Mexico?
+
+I had nearly forgotten to mention the battle near Sochimilco, where Olea
+again saved Cortes' life, but which had nearly cost him his own, for he
+was severely wounded.
+
+In order not to confound names, I must observe that we had among our
+troops a Christobal de Olea and a Christobal de Oli.
+
+Gomara is right when he says that Cortes made a run at the Mexican
+commander-in-chief, which caused the latter to drop the standard from
+his hands; but then it is also a fact that Juan Salamanca, of Ontiveras,
+who became alcalde mayor of Guacasualco after the fall of Mexico,
+killed that chief with a thrust of his lance, tore away the splendid
+crest of plumes which adorned his head, and presented it to Cortes; for
+which reason he was subsequently permitted to add a bunch of feathers to
+his armorial bearings.
+
+I do not mention these things to diminish Cortes' glory, for the praise
+and merit of all the victories we gained, and of the battles we fought,
+down to the total conquest of New Spain, are due to him, and he has
+deserved those honours with which the Castillians were wont to crown
+their generals after some splendid victories, and the triumphs which the
+Romans decreed to Pompey, Julius Caesar, and the Scipios. Cortes, indeed,
+has merited greater honours than all these Romans!
+
+Gomara further relates that Cortes ordered the younger Xicotencatl to be
+secretly executed in Tlascalla as punishment for his treacherous designs
+against us; but this likewise is an untruth, for Cortes ordered him to
+be hung in a village near Tezcuco, as will be seen hereafter.
+
+In the same way Gomara sends so many thousands of Indians with us into
+the field of battle, that there is neither sense nor meaning in what he
+says; and he likewise gives a very exaggerated account of the numbers of
+cities, towns, and villages, of which not one fifth part ever existed;
+and if we sum up what he says of the population, we shall find there are
+more millions than there are villages in Spain. Wherever he speaks of
+80,000, we must really write down 1000. Everything certainly sounds very
+fine in his work, because he never at any time relates all that
+happened. When, therefore, the reader compares his account with mine, he
+must not allow himself to be blinded by the ornaments of his beautiful
+style, for mine is plain and rude, but truth supplies the place of art
+and eloquence. How much it is to be regretted that Dr. Illescas and Paul
+Jovio should have copied him so closely!
+
+I must, however, return to my history on the campaign of Tepeaca.
+
+[97] According to Torquemada, Cortes had left one of his officers, named
+Juan Perez, with eighty Spaniards in Tlascalla, when he first marched to
+Mexico. On learning from this officer that Maxixcatzin had offered to
+march at the head of 100,000 men to his assistance, he grew excessively
+angry with him, and reproached him in the severest terms for not having
+accepted of the offer. (p. 359.)
+
+[98] Torquemada throws more light on the reason of the younger
+Xicotencatl's wishing to form an alliance with Mexico. The Mexicans
+being aware that the Spaniards would derive great advantages by their
+alliance with Tlascalla, sent an embassy of six distinguished personages
+to draw this republic into an alliance with them. The matter was
+formally discussed by the Tlascallan chiefs in council, and though the
+Mexican ambassadors tried their utmost to persuade them into an
+alliance, the majority decided against it.
+
+At the head of the minority stood the younger Xicotencatl, and the
+debate was carried on with such asperity that the young hero, who had
+more penetration than the rest, was at length forcibly expelled the
+meeting. (p. 362.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXX.
+
+    _How we marched into the province of Tepeaca, what we did there, and
+    of other things which happened._
+
+
+Cortes had desired the caziques of Tlascalla to furnish him with 5000
+men to join him on his march into the province of Tepeaca, whose
+inhabitants he was going to punish for the murder of several Spaniards.
+It was the township of Tepeaca, Quauhquechola, and Tecalco, which lay
+from twenty-four to twenty-eight miles from Tlascalla, against which
+our arms were particularly bent. If our desire to be revenged upon them
+was great, that of Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl was more so, as
+the inhabitants of those places had done great damage to their
+plantations; four thousand Tlascallan warriors, therefore, stood ready
+equipped to join us. All the provinces, however, which we intended to
+invade were quite prepared to receive us; for when the inhabitants there
+learnt that we had met with a kind reception in Tlascalla after our
+overthrow in Mexico, they did not doubt for an instant that, after we
+had recruited our strength a little, we should invade their territories
+in conjunction with the armed force of the former republic. Mexican
+troops were therefore stationed everywhere on the confines, and Tepeaca
+itself was strongly garrisoned. Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl
+were well aware of this, and, consequently, not without their fears.
+Notwithstanding all this, we commenced our march thither, but without
+either cannon or matchlocks, for we had lost all these in our flight
+from Mexico: though we had saved a few of the latter, we could make no
+use of them as we had not a grain of powder left.
+
+Our small army now consisted of seventeen horse, six crossbow-men, and
+420 Spaniards, most of whom were only armed with swords and shields, and
+4000 Tlascallans. We merely took a single day's provision with us, as
+the provinces we were going to invade were very populous, and contained
+quantities of maise, fowls, and musk swine. We observed our usual good
+custom of sending out a few scouts in advance, and we quartered
+ourselves for the first night about twelve miles from Tepeaca. The
+inhabitants, upon the news of our approach, had everywhere fled away,
+and carried off everything they could with them, so that we only found
+six men and four women in a small settlement near Tepeaca. Cortes, who
+always observed the strictest justice and order in all matters,
+questioned these prisoners respecting the eighteen Spaniards who had
+been murdered without any cause, and for what reason such vast numbers
+of Mexican troops had arrived, and why the property of our friends the
+Tlascallans had been destroyed?
+
+He desired these prisoners whom he sent to Tepeaca to ask the
+inhabitants there these same questions, and they were to signify to them
+that they should send away the Mexicans who were there, and conclude a
+treaty with us, otherwise we should look upon them as rebels, murderers,
+and robbers, desolate their country with fire and sword, and carry off
+all the inhabitants into slavery.
+
+These prisoners fulfilled their commission faithfully, and returned with
+two Mexicans. If we had sent a haughty message to our enemies, they
+returned answer in a still haughtier tone. The two Mexicans came with
+perfect confidence, as they well knew it was our custom to treat all
+ambassadors with great courtesy, and even make them presents. In this
+they had certainly not deceived themselves; and, still puffed up with
+the recent victory, they spoke with terrible assurance. Cortes, after
+they had done speaking, presented each with a mantle, and sent them back
+with offers of peace, adding, at the same time, he was well aware they
+could not return him his Spaniards alive; but if they would sue for
+peace, he would pardon the past. With this message he likewise sent a
+letter containing the same offers, though we very well knew they could
+not read it, yet by this time they had learnt so much as to know it
+contained some command, and Cortes desired the ambassadors to return
+with an answer. This they speedily brought, and was to the following
+effect: "We were to return to where we had come from; and if we refused
+to do so immediately, they would fall upon us the next day, and procure
+themselves a more abundant repast from the flesh of our bodies than they
+had done at the bridges of Mexico and in the battle of Otumpan."
+
+On receiving this declaration Cortes called a council of war, in which
+the whole of these circumstances were taken down in writing by a royal
+secretary, and it was further resolved that whichsoever of the allies of
+the Mexicans had been found guilty of murdering Spaniards should be
+turned into slaves, since, after swearing allegiance to his majesty,
+they had rebelled, and caused us so great a loss of men and horses. This
+determination was likewise made known to the enemy, and they were again
+admonished to make peace with us; but we met with nothing but defiance
+in return; and if we did not quit the province they would march against
+us and put us all to death. Both sides thus made preparations for war,
+and a severe battle ensued the day after; but as the level ground, which
+consisted entirely of maise and maguey plantations, was particularly
+favorable for our manoeuvres, the bravery of our enemies availed them
+very little, and our few horse soon put them to the route. The rest of
+us likewise fell vigorously upon them, and our friends of Tlascalla
+behaved most valiantly, and pursued the enemy with great loss.
+Considerable numbers of Tepeacans and Mexicans were killed, while on our
+side we lost only three Tlascallans. Twelve Spaniards were slightly
+wounded, and one of our horses so severely that it died soon after. The
+consequence of this victory was, that numbers of women and children were
+brought in prisoners to us,--for the men we turned over to the
+Tlascallans, who made slaves of them all.
+
+The Tepeacans, seeing that the Mexican garrison was no protection to
+them, and that they would only become the victims of any further
+opposition, without so much as consulting the Mexicans, now sent
+messengers of peace to us, who were very kindly received by Cortes;
+these Tepeacans then, for the second time, took the oath of allegiance
+to our emperor, and sent off the Mexicans.
+
+We now, therefore, entered Tepeaca, and founded a town there, to which
+we gave the name of Villa de Segura de la Frontera, from its lying on
+the road to Vera Cruz, in a populous district, very productive of maise,
+and because it was covered by the close neighbourhood of Tlascalla.
+Alcaldes and regidors were appointed, and a regular government
+introduced.
+
+We likewise visited all the districts where Spaniards had been murdered,
+and we cast an iron mark, with the letter G, meaning _guerra_, (war,)
+with which those were to be branded whom we turned into slaves. In this
+way we severally visited the townships Quauhquechola, Tecalco, Las
+Guayavas, and others whose names I have forgotten. In the former place
+alone, fifteen Spaniards had been murdered in their quarters; we
+therefore spared this township least of all, and turned a vast number of
+its inhabitants into slaves.
+
+About this time another king had been raised to the throne of Mexico, as
+the former, who beat us out of the town, had died of the smallpox. The
+new monarch was a nephew, or, at least, a very near relative of
+Motecusuma, and was called Quauhtemoctzin. He was about twenty-five
+years of age, and a very well-bred man for an Indian. He was likewise a
+person of great courage, and soon made himself so greatly feared among
+his people that they trembled in his presence. His wife was one of
+Motecusuma's daughters, and passed for a great beauty among her
+countrywomen.
+
+When this new king received intelligence of the overthrow of his troops
+at Tepeaca, and of the consequent submission of that province to the
+emperor Charles the Fifth, he began to fear for his other provinces. He
+therefore despatched messengers to every township, commanding the
+inhabitants to hold themselves ready for action; and in order that he
+might make sure of their obedience to his commands, he sent one cazique
+a present, and another he freed from paying tribute. His most able
+generals were despatched with troops to protect the boundaries, and he
+admonished them to behave better than they had done at Tepeaca.
+
+That the reader may not confound the two names, I must take the
+opportunity to acquaint him that there was a Cachula and Guacachula. I
+must, however, defer for the present what I have to say about the
+last-mentioned place, to relate the news we received from Vera
+Cruz.[99]
+
+
+[99] According to Torquemada, these two townships were called
+Quauhquechulla and Quauhquechola. (p. 368.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXI.
+
+    _How a vessel, which had been sent by Diego Velasquez from Cuba,
+    arrived at Vera Cruz, commanded by the captain Pedro Barba, and the
+    manner in which Caballero captured her._
+
+
+We had scarcely punished these Tepeacans for the murder of our eighteen
+companions, and restored peace to the country, when letters arrived from
+Vera Cruz with the information that a vessel had run in there, commanded
+by a good friend of Cortes named Pedro Barba, who had been sub-governor
+of the Havannah under Velasquez. He had brought along with him thirteen
+soldiers and two horses, besides letters for Pamfilo Narvaez, whom
+Velasquez thought had by this time taken possession of New Spain in his
+name. In these letters, Velasquez desired Narvaez, if Cortes were yet
+alive, to transport him, with the whole of his principal officers, to
+Cuba, whence he would send them to Spain, for such were the commands of
+Don Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, bishop of Burgos, and archbishop of
+Rosano, and president of the council of India.
+
+As soon as Barba had entered the harbour and cast anchor, Caballero went
+on board to pay his respects to him. The boat he went in was well manned
+with sailors, and the arms they carried were carefully hidden from view.
+
+After both parties had welcomed each other, Caballero inquired after the
+health of the governor of Cuba, and Barba, on his side, asked after
+Narvaez, and what had become of Cortes. Caballero gave him the most
+favorable account of Narvaez, spoke about his power, wealth, and his
+vast authority in these countries; as for Cortes, he had escaped with
+twenty men, and was wandering about from place to place.
+
+Upon this, Caballero proposed to Barba that he should disembark at the
+next township, where he would meet with excellent quarters. This he
+readily agreed to, and stepped into Caballero's boat, which, by this
+time, had been joined by those of the other vessels, and so all went on
+shore; but he had scarcely set foot on land when Caballero exclaimed,
+"Sir, you are my prisoner, in the name of the captain-general Cortes!"
+One can easily imagine the astonishment of Barba and his men; however,
+they could do no better than patiently submit. The sails, compass, and
+rudder were immediately taken out of the vessel, and were all sent to
+Cortes' head-quarters at Tepeaca.
+
+Our joy was excessive when these succours arrived, and certainly they
+could not have come more opportunely, for we had not yet recovered from
+our wounds, or regained our usual strength. Every one of us suffered
+more or less from ill health, and as blood and dust had coagulated in
+our entrails, we consequently emitted nothing else. Add to all this, we
+were obliged to be under arms both night and day, and thus it may be
+imagined our condition was truly pitiable; and five of our men had died
+within the last fortnight of pleurisy.
+
+There likewise arrived with Barba a certain Francisco Lopez, who settled
+at Guatimala, and became regidor of that place.
+
+Cortes received Pedro Barba with every mark of distinction, and
+immediately gave him a company of crossbow-men. He likewise learnt from
+him that there was another smaller vessel at Cuba, which was taking in a
+cargo of provisions, and was also destined by the governor for New
+Spain. This vessel actually arrived at Vera Cruz eight days after, and
+was commanded by a cavalier, named Rodrigo Morejon. She had on board
+eight soldiers, a mare, six crossbows, and other kinds of ammunition.
+Morejon, with his vessel, was captured by Caballero in the same manner,
+and sent to Segura de la Frontera. Our joy at the arrival of these new
+guests was, if possible, greater than on the previous occasion. Cortes
+received them most kindly, gave each an appointment, and we thanked God
+most heartily for this reinforcement of men, arms, and horses.
+
+We must now, however, return to the Mexican troops, which lay on the
+confines of Quauhquechola.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXII.
+
+    _How the inhabitants of Quauhquechola called upon Cortes, and begged
+    of him to drive out the Mexican troops from their town, as they were
+    plundered and ill-used by them._
+
+
+The new king of Mexico had thrown strong garrisons into all the
+townships which lay on the boundaries, particularly into Quauhquechola
+and Ozucar,[100] which lay about twelve miles from each other, as he was
+sure we should enter his territories at those points. These garrisons
+allowed themselves excessive liberties under their new master, and
+committed so many atrocities against the inhabitants, that these were
+determined to bear it no longer. They not only complained of being
+robbed of their garments, their maise, their fowls, and their gold, but
+that the Mexicans likewise forcibly carried off their daughters and
+wives, if they were pretty, and violated them in the presence of their
+parents and their husbands.
+
+When the Quauhquechollans saw how peaceably and quiet the Cholullans
+lived ever since they had been without a Mexican garrison, and that the
+same happiness and security might be enjoyed in Tepeaca, Tecalco, and in
+Quauhquechola, they secretly despatched four distinguished personages to
+Cortes, begging of him to send them his teules, with their horses, to
+rid them of their oppressors. They themselves, with the inhabitants of
+the whole district, would assist us, and both together could easily
+overcome the Mexican troops. Cortes, on this representation, resolved to
+send thither, under Oli, a strong detachment, consisting of 300 men,
+with the greater part of our cavalry and crossbow-men, besides a
+numerous body of Tlascallans, who had greatly increased in numbers since
+the rich booty they had made in Tepeaca.
+
+Among the 300 of our own troops there were many of Narvaez's men who
+became quite terrified when they understood they were going to march
+against Indians; besides which, they had been informed that all the
+fields and houses were filled with Mexican troops, and that their
+numbers were even greater than at the battle of Otumpan, and that
+Quauhtemoctzin commanded in person. They had, indeed, from the beginning
+showed great unwillingness to join us in this new campaign, and all
+their thoughts were bent upon their return to Cuba. Now again all their
+late misfortunes, and the perils they had undergone, came forcibly to
+their minds: the lamentable flight out of Mexico, the terrible struggle
+at the bridges, and the battle of Otumpan. Such dangers, they said, they
+would not run the risk of encountering again, and they most earnestly
+begged of Oli to return to head-quarters, as this expedition could not
+fail to end more seriously than all the foregoing, and every man of them
+would perish. It was in vain that Oli expostulated with them, and told
+them they were bound to march forward, and were in every way a match for
+the Mexicans; that a retreat would inspire the enemy with fresh courage,
+and that the level country was remarkably favorable for the manoeuvres
+of the cavalry; they absolutely refused to advance another step. Cortes'
+old soldiers, however, were determined to march forward, saying they had
+braved greater dangers than this; that a merciful Providence had
+everywhere protected them, and brought them forth victorious. But all
+these arguments were fruitless, and at last they succeeded in persuading
+Oli, by their prayers and lamentations, to turn back; and he took the
+road to Cholulla, from whence he wrote Cortes word of the state of
+things.
+
+When the latter received this information he was greatly vexed, and he
+immediately despatched two crossbow-men with a letter to Oli, in which
+he expressed great surprise at his indetermination and weakness of mind;
+as on former occasions no arguments had ever been able to dissuade him
+from fulfilling the commands he had once received.
+
+When Oli had read this letter he became furious with chagrin, and
+bitterly reproached those who had advised the retreat, and thereby
+induced him to disobey his general's commands. He immediately issued
+orders for every one to join his standard, and those who refused should
+be sent back to our head-quarters, there to be punished by Cortes as
+cowards and deserters.
+
+The vexation which this matter occasioned Oli had converted him into a
+very lion, and in this mood he marched his men onwards to Quauhquechola.
+He had scarcely arrived to within four miles of this place, when he was
+met by the caziques, who pointed out to him the best mode of attacking
+the Mexicans, and assured him he would be assisted by the inhabitants.
+They had hardly done speaking, when the Mexicans, who had received
+intelligence of Oli's approach, marched boldly against him. The battle
+now soon commenced, and the Mexicans certainly fought courageously for a
+considerable time, wounded several Spaniards, killed two horses, and
+wounded eight others from out a species of fortification which they had
+constructed here; but after an hour's fighting they were completely
+beaten out of the field. The Tlascallans behaved with uncommon bravery,
+and killed many of the enemy, besides taking a great number of
+prisoners; and as they were joined by the inhabitants of the surrounding
+country, the carnage among the Mexican troops was very great. The latter
+now retreated, and fortified themselves in a township named Ozucar,[101]
+which had been garrisoned by another body of Mexicans. This place was
+even rendered strong by nature, and the enemy had burnt down a bridge,
+to prevent our cavalry from entering the town. But, as I have before
+stated, vexation had turned Oli into a very lion, and he was determined
+that nothing should obstruct his progress. He therefore marched, with
+all those who would follow him, immediately upon Ozucar, passed the
+river with his new allies of Quauhquechola, and fell so furiously upon
+the Mexicans, that they soon gave way, and fled in disorder. Here again
+two horses were killed, Oli himself wounded in two places, and his horse
+very severely.
+
+He remained two days at Ozucar, during which time the caziques of the
+whole surrounding country came to sue for peace, and declared
+themselves vassals of our emperor. After he had thus restored
+tranquillity to the whole country he returned to Villa Segura.
+
+I myself was not present at this battle, and I therefore merely relate
+what I learnt from others respecting it. Cortes and the whole of us
+marched out to meet the returning conquerors, and the rejoicings, as may
+be imagined, were very great on this occasion. The retreat to Cholulla
+was now turned into matter of ridicule. Oli himself could not help
+laughing at it, and observed, that many of his troops thought more of
+their mines in Cuba than of their arms, and he swore that he would never
+again command any of those rich followers of Narvaez on such occasions,
+but only take with him a few of the poor soldiers of Cortes.
+
+On this occasion Gomara relates, that Oli turned back in consequence of
+a mistake between the interpreters, and had feared there was some
+treachery on hand. This, however, is incorrect; for his return to
+Cholulla was entirely owing to the fear and anxiety of Narvaez's men,
+whom the Indians had crammed with all manner of fearful tales.
+
+Gomara likewise says, that Cortes commanded in person on this occasion,
+but this is an untruth, for it was Oli. It is equally erroneous when he
+says that it were the Huexotzincans who had alarmed Narvaez's men with
+the exaggerated account respecting the Mexicans, when the former passed
+through their town. This is a shocking blunder, for it would be equally
+absurd for any one who wished to go from Tepeaca to Quauhquechola, to
+turn back to Huexotzinco, as it would be in going from Medina del Campo
+to Salamanca, to take the road over Valladolid. In the meantime other
+news had arrived from Vera Cruz, which will be found in the following
+chapter.
+
+[100] Most probably Iztucan. (p. 370.)
+
+[101] Cortes, in his despatches, calls this place Izzucan; the same, no
+doubt, as Iztucan. (p. 372.)
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXIII.
+
+    _How one of the vessels which Francisco de Garay had fitted out for
+    the object of forming settlements on the river Panuco, put in at
+    Vera Cruz, and what further happened._
+
+
+While we were lying at Villa Segura, Cortes was informed by letter that
+one of the vessels which Garay had fitted out for the object of forming
+settlements on the river Panuco had arrived at Vera Cruz. This vessel
+was commanded by a certain Comargo, and had on board above sixty
+soldiers, but who were all in very bad health, with their stomachs
+largely swelled.
+
+This Comargo related how unfortunately Garay's expedition to the river
+Panuco had terminated. The Indians had massacred the commander-in-chief
+Alvarez Pinedo, with the whole of his troops and horses, and then set
+fire to his vessels. Comargo alone had been fortunate enough to escape
+with his men on board one of the vessels, and had steered for Vera Cruz,
+where they arrived half famished, for they had not been able to procure
+any provisions from the enemy. This Comargo, it was said, had taken the
+vows of the order of the Dominicans.
+
+Comargo and his men, by degrees, all arrived at Villa Segura; which
+indeed took a considerable time, for they were so weakened that they
+could scarcely move along. When Cortes saw in what a terrible condition
+they were, he recommended them to our care, and showed Comargo and all
+his men every possible kindness. If I remember rightly, Comargo died
+soon after, and also several of his men. We used to call them, jokingly,
+_verdigris bellies_, from the immense size to which the latter were
+swollen, and the death-like appearance of the men.
+
+In order not to break the thread of my history too frequently, I will
+take this opportunity of enumerating the different vessels of Garay's
+expedition which arrived by degrees in Vera Cruz.
+
+The first which came after Comargo was commanded by a native of Aragon,
+named Miguel Diaz, whom Garay had sent with succours to Alvarez Pinedo,
+who, he imagined, had run up the river Panuco. Diaz, however, meeting
+nowhere with any traces of him, had soon got into a conflict with the
+natives, by whom he was informed of the unfortunate termination of that
+expedition; he then again hoisted sail and made for Vera Cruz, where he
+disembarked his troops, consisting of upwards of fifty men and seven
+horses, with which he immediately repaired to Cortes' head-quarters.
+These were the most valuable succours we ever received, and certainly
+they could not have come more opportunely.
+
+This Miguel Diaz subsequently rendered our emperor the most signal
+services in the conquest of New Spain. He was for some time engaged in a
+lawsuit respecting the possession of half Mistitan, with a
+brother-in-law of Cortes, named Andreas de Barrios, of Seville, whom he
+commonly termed the dancer. This lawsuit terminated in his favour in
+this way, that he was to receive the whole of the yearly rents of that
+estate, amounting annually to above 2500 pesos; but he himself was
+prohibited from setting foot in that district for the space of two
+years, for having there, as well as in other townships belonging to him,
+put several Indians to death.
+
+A few days after this vessel another arrived in Vera Cruz, which Garay
+had likewise despatched for the protection of his armament in the river
+Panuco, where he thought all was going on prosperously. This vessel
+brought above forty men, ten horses, and various kinds of ammunition,
+and was commanded by an elderly man named Ramirez, whom we called the
+elder to distinguish him from another Ramirez, who served in our troops.
+In this way Garay lost one ship after another, and no one derived any
+advantage from them excepting Cortes and ourselves. All these troops
+arrived by degrees in Tepeaca, and respectively obtained some by-name or
+other from our men. Those of Diaz, who were all stout, fat fellows; were
+called the _stiff-backs_, and those of Ramirez, _pack-saddles_, because
+they all wore heavy cotton cuirasses, which no arrow could pierce. The
+officers, as the reader may imagine, received most distinguished
+treatment from Cortes.
+
+I have now, however, to speak of another expedition, of which Cortes
+gave the command to Sandoval, and was directed against the tribes of
+Xalatzinco and Zacatemi.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXIV.
+
+    _How Cortes despatches Sandoval with 200 men, among which were
+    twenty horse and twelve crossbow-men, to punish the tribes of
+    Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, for having put some Spaniards to death, and
+    to demand restitution of the gold they had robbed us of; and also
+    further to explore the country._
+
+
+After we had received these reinforcements, first the twenty-five men
+and three horses, which arrived in the two small vessels sent by Diego
+Velasquez, and then the 120 men, with the seventeen horses which arrived
+in Garay's vessels, we learnt that many of Narvaez's men on their
+retreat from Mexico had been murdered in the townships of Zacatemi and
+Xalatzinco; likewise that the inhabitants of these places had plundered
+and killed Juan de Alcantara and his two companions who were returning
+from Tlascalla with the gold above mentioned. Cortes, therefore, ordered
+Sandoval, a remarkably bold and clever officer, to march against them
+with 200 men, composed for the greater part of Cortes' old soldiers,
+among which there were twenty horse and twelve crossbow-men, to which
+was added a strong body of Tlascallans.
+
+Sandoval, on his march thither, received intelligence that the
+inhabitants were all under arms, and had put these towns in a good
+state of defence; and were, moreover, assisted by a powerful body of
+Mexicans. They well foresaw that we should equally chastise them for the
+Spaniards they had murdered, as we had the Tepeacans, Quauhquechollans,
+and Tecalcans.
+
+Sandoval placed his troops in the most advantageous manner, and
+explained to the cavalry how they were to break through the enemy's
+line. But previous to entering on the enemy's territory he sent
+messengers with offers of peace to them, and to demand the gold they had
+stolen, with promises that he would pardon the murder of the Spaniards.
+These messengers went several times to the enemy with these offers, but
+each time returned with the same answer, namely, that they would serve
+Sandoval and his soldiers in the same manner as they had those teules,
+respecting whom he now came to make inquiries. Sandoval then sent them
+word that he would treat them as traitors and highwaymen, and turn them
+all into slaves; they might therefore prepare for a struggle for life or
+death. He then fell upon them from two several points at the same time,
+and though the Mexicans, as well as the inhabitants, defended themselves
+with great bravery, he nevertheless soon put them to flight, and
+captured numbers of the commoner people, whom, however, he set at
+liberty again, for want of men to guard them. In one of the temples he
+found a quantity of clothes, arms, and horse-trappings, among which were
+two saddles; all of which the Indians had brought as offerings to their
+idols.
+
+In this place Sandoval stayed three days, during which time the caziques
+of the country came to beg pardon of him, and to take the oath of
+allegiance to his majesty; but he informed them they must return the
+stolen gold before he could think of granting their request. To which
+the caziques answered, that the Mexicans had taken away all the gold,
+and presented it to their new king. Upon this Sandoval referred them to
+Cortes himself, and he marched back to our head-quarters, with a great
+number of women and young men, whom he had taken prisoners, and marked
+with the iron.
+
+Cortes was highly delighted at beholding these troops return in so good
+a condition, though they had three horses killed and eight men heavily
+wounded, among whom was Sandoval himself, who had been struck by an
+arrow. For myself, I was not present in this expedition, for I was
+suffering severely at the time from fever and spitting of blood; but
+thank God I recovered, after frequent bleeding.
+
+The caziques of Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, besides several other chiefs of
+the neighbouring districts, now came to Cortes; they begged for peace,
+took the oath of allegiance to our emperor, and furnished us with
+provisions.
+
+This expedition was attended by many beneficial results; for the whole
+country was thereby tranquillized, while it spread a vast idea of
+Cortes' justice and bravery throughout the whole of New Spain; so that
+every one feared him, and particularly Quauhtemoctzin, the new king of
+Mexico. Indeed Cortes' authority rose at once to so great a height, that
+the inhabitants came from the most distant parts to lay their disputes
+before him, particularly respecting the election of caziques, right of
+tenure, and division of property and subjects. About this time thousands
+of people were carried off by the smallpox, and among them numbers of
+caziques; and Cortes, as though he had been lord of the whole country,
+appointed the new caziques, but made a point of nominating those who had
+the best claim.
+
+Such a case happened with a near relative of Motecusuma, who was married
+to the sovereign of Itztucan, by whom she had a son, who was
+acknowledged as nephew to Motecusuma; the point in dispute being who the
+heir was to that principality, this nephew, or some other grandee of the
+country. Cortes decided in favour of Motecusuma's nephew, and they
+adhered to his decision. Numerous similar disputes were brought for
+Cortes' arbitration, even from the most distant districts.
+
+About this time we also learnt that nine of our countrymen had been put
+to death in the township Cocotlan, called by us Castel Blanco, being
+about twenty-four miles from our head-quarters. Sandoval therefore was
+ordered thither, with thirty horse, one hundred foot, eight
+crossbow-men, five musketeers, and a strong body of Tlascallans, who
+always proved themselves faithful friends and brave warriors. Here again
+Sandoval sent five distinguished personages of Tepeaca to the Cocotlans
+with the usual offers of peace, accompanied by threats; but as there was
+a strong garrison of Mexicans lying in the town, they returned for
+answer that they had already a king in Quauhtemoctzin, and wanted no
+other; nor did they see any reason why they should send us ambassadors.
+They would meet us on the field of battle; their strength was as great
+now as it was in Mexico, at the bridges, and the canals; and how much
+our valour had availed us there they had sufficiently experienced.
+
+On receiving this answer, Sandoval regulated the order of attack, in
+which the instructions he gave the Tlascallans were remarkable, namely,
+that they should not rush in upon the enemy at the same moment with the
+Spaniards, for fear of shying our horses, and lest they should expose
+themselves to the fire of our muskets, as had often been the case on
+previous occasions. They were commanded to remain stationary until the
+enemy was routed, and then follow in pursuit.
+
+Having made these regulations, Sandoval marched towards the township. He
+had not advanced far before he came up with two bodies of the enemy, who
+had taken up a position in a hollow at the back of a barricade, which
+had been constructed of trees cut for the purpose. For a time the
+enemy's troops fought with desperate courage; but Sandoval kept up so
+sharp a fire upon them with the crossbows and muskets, that he soon was
+enabled to force a passage with the horse. In this attack four of his
+men and nine horses were wounded, one of which died soon after. Though
+the number of loose stones here were great obstacles to the cavalry, yet
+he succeeded in breaking through the enemy's ranks, and he advanced up
+to the town itself, in front of which stood a large building and
+fortification, besides several temples, in which other detachments of
+the enemy were stationed. Here Sandoval encountered a momentary and
+desperate resistance, but the Indians were again beaten, with seven
+killed. The Tlascallans now no longer waited the signal for pursuit, but
+rushed forward the more bravely, as this district lay near to their own
+territory. Numbers of females and people of the lower classes were taken
+prisoners.
+
+After this victory, Sandoval remained there two days, and despatched one
+of the Tepeacan chiefs to the caziques of the district to summon them
+into his presence. They were not long before they made their appearance,
+and begged forgiveness for the murder of the Spaniards. He told them
+this would be granted on condition they delivered up all the property
+they had found on those they had put to death. They answered, however,
+that this was out of their power, since everything had been burnt, but
+owned that the greater part of the Spaniards had been eaten up by
+themselves, and that five had been sent alive to Quauhtemoctzin in
+Mexico. They had now, they thought, received sufficient chastisement for
+those they had murdered by the losses they had sustained in this battle;
+they hoped, therefore, he would pardon them, and they would, in return,
+furnish us with excellent provisions, and also forward a large supply to
+Malinche's head-quarters. Sandoval, finding that nothing further was to
+be got out of them, granted their request, for which they appeared very
+grateful, and offered to do him all manner of good services. Sandoval
+now returned with his troops to Tepeaca, and met with a most hearty
+reception from us all.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXV.
+
+    _How all the slaves we had taken in Tepeaca, Quauhquechola, Tecalco,
+    and Castilblanco, were brought together in our head-quarters, and
+    branded with an iron, in his majesty's name._
+
+
+After peace had thus been restored to the whole province, and the
+inhabitants had submitted to the sceptre of his majesty, Cortes, finding
+there was nothing further to be done at present, determined, with the
+crown officers, to mark all the slaves with the iron, and set apart the
+fifth of them for his majesty. Notice was, therefore, given that every
+person was to come with his slaves to a certain house appointed for the
+purpose, that they might be marked with the red-hot iron. Every man,
+accordingly, brought the females and young men he had taken prisoners;
+for grown-up men were of no use to us, as they were so difficult to
+watch, and we cared not to admit them into our service, as we were well
+satisfied with the Tlascallans. After all the slaves had been brought
+together and severally marked with the letter G, the emperor's fifths
+and then Cortes' were deducted before we were aware of it; and, besides
+this, on the night preceding, the finest of the Indian females had been
+secretly set apart, so that when it came to a division among us
+soldiers, we found none left but old and ugly women. This occasioned
+excessive murmuring against Cortes and all those who had thus picked and
+chosen before us; and some of Narvaez's men told Cortes to his face that
+they were not aware, up to the present moment, there were two kings in
+the Spanish dominions, and that two royal fifths could be demanded. A
+certain Juan Bono, who was also loud in his complaints, added, that such
+proceedings should not be permitted in New Spain, and that he would send
+information of it to his majesty and the council of India. Another
+soldier asked Cortes if the division he had made of the gold in Mexico
+was not a sufficient imposition? for, at first, he had merely spoken of
+300,000 pesos, but when we were obliged to retreat from the city, it was
+estimated at 700,000 pesos. And now he was going to deprive the poor
+soldier, who had undergone so many hardships, and suffered from
+innumerable wounds, of this small remuneration, and not even allow him a
+pretty Indian female for a companion! When notice was given, continued
+he, that each person was to produce his prisoners, in order that they
+might be marked, it was thought they would have been valued, and that
+the emperor's fifths would have been deducted therefrom in money, and
+that no mention would have been made of fifths for Cortes.
+
+Similar and even severer speeches were in every one's mouth respecting
+Cortes' fifths, until the latter began to consider it high time to
+pacify these daring spirits. He stated, therefore, and swore upon his
+conscience, (for this was his usual oath,) that it should not happen in
+future, but that all the prisoners should be valued, and sold at their
+valuation, which would put a stop to all further discontent on that
+head. This resolution was subsequently adhered to, particularly after
+the conquest of Tezcuco, where we took a vast number of prisoners.
+
+If this circumstance had occasioned ill blood, another of a different
+nature occasioned worse. The reader will remember that, on the night of
+sorrows, after as much of the gold had been stowed away as could be,
+Cortes had given what remained as prize-money to the soldiers. Many of
+Narvaez's men and several of ours had dived deep into the gold, and most
+of those who had overloaded themselves with it lost their lives in the
+retreat. Several, however, had had the good fortune to escape with their
+treasures, but had paid dearly for it with severe wounds and the risk of
+their lives.
+
+When Cortes learnt that there were still a great many bars of gold among
+the men, and heavy gambling in consequence, (for, according to the old
+saying, gold and love cannot lie long concealed,) he made known, under
+threats of severe punishment, that every one should produce the gold he
+had obtained on the night of our retreat from Mexico, of which one third
+was to be returned to him; but that any one who refused to pay this,
+should have the whole taken from him. Many of our men refused downright
+to comply with this; yet Cortes managed to extort a good deal of it
+under the pretence of a loan: but, as most of the officers and crown
+officials had also well stocked themselves with gold on that occasion,
+Cortes suddenly dropped the question, and nothing further was heard of
+it. It is certain, however, that this circumstance injured him vastly in
+every one's opinion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXVI.
+
+    _How the chief officers and principal personages of Narvaez's troops
+    request leave to return to Cuba, which Cortes grants, and they
+    accordingly leave; also how our general sends ambassadors to Spain,
+    St. Domingo, and Jamaica._
+
+
+The officers of Narvaez's troops and those who had come from Jamaica in
+Garay's expedition, seeing that the whole province of Tepeaca was now
+tranquillized, begged Cortes would fulfil his promise, and allow them to
+depart for Cuba; who not only granted them their request, but promised
+them, and particularly Duero and Bermudez, that he would give them much
+more gold after the total conquest of New Spain and Mexico, than they
+had previously received. In the meantime he furnished them with
+provisions of the kinds we had, consisting in maise, salted dog's flesh,
+and fowls. He likewise gave them one of our best vessels, and sent by
+them letters to his wife Catalina Suarez de Mercayda, and to his
+brother-in-law Juan Suarez, who was then staying at Cuba. These letters
+were accompanied by a few bars of gold and some jewels, and contained,
+among other things, an account of our overthrow at Mexico.
+
+All those who left New Spain on that occasion had accumulated great
+riches, and I will give their names, as far as my memory permits. Duero,
+Bermudez, Bono, Bernardino Quesada, Francisco Velasquez, with the
+hunchback, a relation of the governor of Cuba; Carrasco, who afterwards
+returned to New Spain, and now lives at Puebla; Melchior de Velasco, of
+Guatimala; a certain Ximenes, who lives at Quaxaca, and was obliged to
+go to Cuba on account of his son; the accountant Leon de Cervantes, who
+made the same excuse to see his daughter there, for whom he concluded a
+most excellent match after the conquest of Mexico; Maldonado de Medellin
+was forced to leave on account of ill health; the other of that name,
+who was surnamed the proud, and was married to a lady named Maria Arias,
+likewise left us; further, a certain Vargas, of Trinidad, who, at Cuba,
+was commonly called the gallant; lastly, one of Cortes' old warriors,
+the pilot Cardenas, who said to one of his companions, "We soldiers may
+now take our repose, since New Spain has two kings." Cortes had
+presented him with 300 pesos, to induce him to return with his wife and
+family. Besides these men, there were many others whose names I have
+forgotten, which, indeed, is a good thing, for it prevents me from
+going too much into detail.
+
+As soon as Cortes had given them permission to leave, we asked him why
+he had allowed them to depart, as he knew there would be so few of us
+remaining? Cortes said he had done so to rid himself of their eternal
+complaints and solicitations. We likewise knew that many of them were
+not fit for service, and it was better to be alone than in bad company.
+
+Pedro de Alvarado was commissioned to see them safe on board, with
+orders to return immediately to head-quarters after they had left.
+
+About this time Cortes also despatched Ordas and Alonso de Mendoza on
+business to Spain, but for what particular purpose he never told us. We
+only heard that the bishop of Burgos told Ordas to his face that we were
+all villains and traitors, and that Ordas had boldly defended us. The
+latter, on this occasion, was made comptoir of Santiago, and received
+permission from the emperor to assume a burning mountain in his coat of
+arms. What he further did in Spain I will relate hereafter.
+
+Alonso de Avila, who was treasurer of New Spain, and Alvarez Chico,
+another thorough man of business, were despatched in another vessel to
+St. Domingo to render an account of all we had done to the royal court
+of audience there, and to the Hieronymite brothers, who were appointed
+viceroys over the whole of the islands, to gain their approbation of our
+proceedings against Narvaez, and their sanction of the manner in which
+we had enslaved and punished the inhabitants who had murdered the
+Spaniards and rebelled against his majesty: and their opinion as to
+whether Cortes should not similarly punish all those tribes who, as
+allies of the Mexicans, had been guilty of like offences. Lastly, Cortes
+begged of them to inform his majesty of all this, and of the great
+services we had rendered and still daily rendered to the crown; and
+requested them to favour our just cause against the bishop of Burgos,
+who was striving to work out our ruin.
+
+A third vessel was despatched by Cortes to Jamaica, to purchase horses
+there, the command of which was given to Solis, who was the son-in-law
+of the bachelor Ortega. Here the reader might be induced to ask whence
+Cortes obtained the money to do all this? In reply to which, I can only
+say that of the gold stowed away by Narvaez's and our own troops,
+particularly by the horse, a great quantity was certainly saved. Besides
+that, many of the eighty Tlascallans, who were loaded with the gold, and
+retreated from Mexico in the vanguard, got safely over the bridges. We
+poor soldiers, who had not to command but to obey, cared very little at
+that time whether there was plenty of gold or not, but were happy if we
+escaped alive and were able to cure our wounds. However, of the gold
+that was saved, Cortes received as much back as he could possibly lay
+his hands on; our men likewise suspected that he had put into his own
+pocket again the 40,000 pesos, being the share of the Mexican treasure
+belonging to the garrison of Vera Cruz. With this money he sent persons
+to Spain and St. Domingo on his own private business, and others to
+Jamaica to purchase horses.
+
+Perfect tranquillity being now again restored to the province of
+Tepeaca, Cortes marched back with his troops to Tlascalla, and left
+Francisco de Orozco behind, with twenty invalid soldiers, as commandant
+of Villa Segura.
+
+Cortes then ordered the necessary quantity of wood to be felled for
+building thirteen brigantines, with which another attack was to be made
+upon Mexico; for we were convinced we should not be able to make any
+impression upon that town without a small fleet, nor ever again be able
+to enter it by the causeways. Martin Lopez was appointed by Cortes to
+superintend the important business of constructing these brigantines,
+for he was not only a good soldier, but, upon the whole, rendered his
+majesty the greatest services in all our warlike operations. On this
+occasion again, he set to work with his usual assiduity, and it was very
+fortunate that this man had been with us from the beginning; for, if we
+had been forced to send for a ship-builder from Spain, we should have
+lost much valuable time, and we might not have found a man who suited so
+well.
+
+On our arrival in Tlascalla, we found that our old friend Maxixcatzin,
+one of his majesty's most faithful vassals, was no more, he having died
+of the smallpox. We were all sorely grieved at this loss, and Cortes
+himself, as he assured us, felt it as much as if he had lost his own
+father. We put on black cloaks in mourning for him, and paid the last
+honours to the remains of our departed friend, in conjunction with his
+sons and relations.
+
+A dispute having arisen in Tlascalla respecting the heir to the
+caziquedom, Cortes pronounced in favour of the deceased's son, in
+accordance with the last wishes of his late father. Maxixcatzin, on his
+death-bed, strongly advised his whole family to remain faithful to
+Malinche and his brothers; for they, he said, were certainly those
+people for whom the dominion of these countries had been predestined.
+
+However, let us leave the dead in peace, and turn to the living. The
+elder Xicotencatl, Chichimeclatecl, and the other caziques of
+Tlascalla, one and all gladly offered their assistance to Cortes in
+cutting wood for the building of the brigantines, and generally to aid
+in prosecuting the war against Mexico.
+
+Cortes gave them all a hearty embrace, and thanked them for their great
+kindness, especially Chichimeclatecl and Xicotencatl, the latter of whom
+eventually became a convert to Christianity, and was baptized by father
+Olmedo with every solemnity, and received the name of Don Lorenzo de
+Vargas.
+
+In the meantime the preparations for the building of our brigantines
+were going on very fast; the wood being soon felled and prepared for use
+with the assistance of the Indians; an excellent soldier named Andreas
+Nunez, and Ramirez the elder, an old carpenter who had been lamed by a
+wound, rendering most efficient services. Matters being thus far
+advanced, Cortes sent for a quantity of ironwork, anchors, sails, and
+ropes, from the vessels which had been destroyed at Vera Cruz, and
+ordered all the smiths of that town to repair to Tlascalla. Above 1000
+Indians were despatched thither to transport these things. The cauldrons
+for boiling and preparing the tar were likewise brought from Vera Cruz,
+and we were now only in want of the materials for making it, the
+preparation of which was wholly unknown to the Indians; but here again
+Cortes was not at a loss, for he picked out four men from among the
+sailors who understood its preparation, and for that purpose sent them
+off to a forest of pine trees near Huexotzinco.
+
+Though it may, perhaps, be rather out of place here, I must answer a
+question which has been put to me by several cavaliers respecting Alonso
+de Avila, with whom they were well acquainted. They knew that this man,
+though treasurer of New Spain, was, at the same time, an excellent
+soldier, and felt more inclination for the life of a warrior than for
+business; they could not, therefore, imagine why Cortes should exactly
+have selected him to confer with the Hieronymite brothers at St.
+Domingo, and that he had not rather chosen some person of more
+business-like habits; as, for instance, Alonso de Grado, or Juan de
+Cacares, called the wealthy, or others whose names they mentioned to me.
+Cortes had no other motive than to get Avila out of the way, because he
+spoke his mind too freely, and took every occasion to side with us
+soldiers if he saw we were unjustly dealt with. To this was added, that
+the latter had fallen out with several of our officers, from a frankness
+of disposition displeasing to them. And, lastly, Cortes was desirous of
+conferring the command of a company on Andreas de Tapia, and of
+appointing Alonso de Grado treasurer, both of which were only possible
+by removing Avila.
+
+Cortes now determined to march, with the whole of his men, to Tezcuco,
+as the wood for constructing the brigantines was ready prepared, and we
+had got rid of Narvaez's men, who made difficulties in all our
+expeditions, and always argued against any attempt to besiege Mexico,
+maintaining we were not sufficiently numerous for that purpose; by which
+means they infected others with their cowardice. Previous to our leaving
+for Tezcuco, however, various deliberations took place as to which would
+be the most eligible spot for launching our brigantines. Some of our men
+maintained that Ayotzinco, near to Chalco, on account of its canals and
+harbour, was better adapted for this purpose; others, again, preferred
+Tezcuco, and were of opinion that, once having taken possession of that
+town, standing as it did in the midst of so many other populous
+townships, we should be better able to plan our operations against
+Mexico.
+
+We had scarcely decided in favour of the latter place, when three men
+arrived with the news from Vera Cruz that a large Spanish vessel had run
+in there from the Canaries, having on board a quantity of crossbows,
+muskets, powder, and other ammunition, besides three horses and thirteen
+soldiers. The owner of the cargo was a certain Juan de Burgos, and the
+captain of the vessel was named Francisco Medel.
+
+The reader may easily imagine our joy at this news; and if we had
+previously felt in good spirits for our intended expedition, we now felt
+the more so on hearing of the arrival of these timely succours. Cortes
+immediately bargained with Burgos for the whole of the ammunition and
+cargo, who himself, with Medel and all the passengers, came to our
+head-quarters, where they met with the kindest reception. Among the
+passengers there was a certain rich man, named Juan del Espinar, who
+once lived in Guatimala; further, a certain Sagredo, from Medellin; a
+Biscayan, named Monjaraz, uncle of the other two of that name serving
+among us. This Monjaraz had a very beautiful daughter, who subsequently
+came to Mexico, and was commonly called Monjaraza. But this Monjaraz did
+not accompany us in any of our expeditions, as he was always suffering
+from ill health. It was not until we had laid regular siege to Mexico
+that he came to us in good health, and told us he was desirous of seeing
+how we carried on this war, and our mode of attacking the Mexicans, of
+whose bravery he entertained a very mean opinion. On this occasion he
+mounted to the top of an Indian temple, which was shaped like a tower;
+from that moment, however, we never saw him again, nor did we ever learn
+how the Mexicans got at him, or what became of him. Many persons who
+had known him on the island of St. Domingo saw the hand of God in his
+sudden death: for they related that he had put his own wife, a most
+virtuous, excellent, and beautiful woman, to death, without any cause or
+provocation; and that he had escaped punishment for his crime by
+proving, through false witnesses, she had attempted to poison him. I
+must, however, leave these old tales, and begin earnestly to think of
+our march to Tezcuco.
+
+[Transcriber's Note: Notes to the First Volume, that is, endnotes at the
+end of this volume, have been included as footnotes under the relevant
+chapter.]
+
+END OF VOL. I.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal
+Diaz del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2), by Bernal Diaz del Castillo
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO, 1 OF 2 ***
+
+***** This file should be named 32474.txt or 32474.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/4/7/32474/
+
+Produced by Julia Miller, Jane Hyland and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/32474.zip b/32474.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..970b447
--- /dev/null
+++ b/32474.zip
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ac83fc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #32474 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32474)