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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 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."</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 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.</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—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, &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, &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 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</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, &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> </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, 24, <i>for</i> dubbloons, <i>read</i> doubloons.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">20, 18, <i>for</i> Chaopa, <i>read</i> Chiapa.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">20, 26, <i>for</i> Mautanzas, <i>read</i> Matanza.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">31, 8, <i>for</i> this, <i>read</i> their.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">31, 28, <i>for</i> surrounded, <i>read</i> surmounted.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">51, 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, 2, <i>for</i> which, <i>read</i> whom.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">230, 22, <i>for</i> were, <i>read</i> was.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">355, 9, <i>for</i> when, <i>read</i> where.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">365, 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 +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.</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—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.</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;—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—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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>—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—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.</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—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 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.</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,—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,—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,—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—rumour spread—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,—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,<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 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,<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—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 +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.<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, &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—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 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.</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,—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,—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 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.</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, &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—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,—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,—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 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.</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> +manœuvres; 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—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 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<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 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 <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 Yañez 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 +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.</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 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.</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 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<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 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.</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 +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<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 Doña 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. +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.</p> + +<p>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,<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 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<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, 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<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 Doña Marina understood +their language; but the latter inquired of them whether there was any +<i>Naëyavatos</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,—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.—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,—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 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.</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 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.</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. 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.</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 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<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 manœuvres, 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,—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,—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."</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 +Doña 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 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.</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,—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 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.</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 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.</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 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.</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 Cormeño<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 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.</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> +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.</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,—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,—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 manœuvring. 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 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.</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. 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.</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;—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 manœuvre 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.</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 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?</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, 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<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. 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.</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 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.<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 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.</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—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 Doña 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 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.</p> + +<p>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.</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, Doña +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, 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.</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,—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.</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 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.</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 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."</p> + +<p>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."</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,—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 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.</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 Doña 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>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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<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 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.</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 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<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 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.</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 Doña 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,—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,—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 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."</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,—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,—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—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, 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.</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—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,—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, 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."</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,—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 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.</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 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.</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 Nuñez, 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,—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.</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:—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,—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 Nuñez, +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 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.</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, 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.</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—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.</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,—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.—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, &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.</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 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.</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 læsæ 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 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.</p> + +<p>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.</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, &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, 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."</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.—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,—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—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 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, "<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—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.</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,—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?—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. Doña Marina and Doña 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 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.</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 +manœuvres 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 +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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span> +grief at the loss of Doña 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,—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 Cæsar, 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 manœuvres, 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.</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 manœuvres 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 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.</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 pápa. (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 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. <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, &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 Linnæus. (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 Niños 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 abbé 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 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. <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,—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. <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. 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