diff options
Diffstat (limited to '32474.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 32474.txt | 18597 |
1 files changed, 18597 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/32474.txt b/32474.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0c55eca --- /dev/null +++ b/32474.txt @@ -0,0 +1,18597 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz +del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2), by Bernal Diaz del Castillo + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2) + Written by Himself Containing a True and Full Account of + the Discovery and Conquest of Mexico and New Spain. + +Author: Bernal Diaz del Castillo + +Translator: John Ingram Lockhart + +Release Date: May 21, 2010 [EBook #32474] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO, 1 OF 2 *** + + + + +Produced by Julia Miller, Jane Hyland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + + +THE MEMOIRS +OF THE +CONQUISTADOR BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO + +WRITTEN BY HIMSELF + +CONTAINING A TRUE AND FULL ACCOUNT +OF THE +DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST +OF +MEXICO AND NEW SPAIN + +TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL SPANISH BY +JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART, F.R.A.S. +AUTHOR OF "ATTICA AND ATHENS" + +IN TWO VOLUMES +VOL. I + +LONDON +J. HATCHARD AND SON, 187, PICCADILLY +MDCCCXLIV. + +C. AND J. ADLARD, PRINTERS, BATHOLOMEW CLOSE. + + + + +TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. + + +The History of the Conquest of New Spain is a subject in which great +interest is felt at the present day, and the English public will hail +these memoirs, which contain the only true and complete account of that +important transaction. + +The author of this original and charming production, to which he justly +gives the title of 'The True History of the Conquest of New Spain,' was +himself one of the Conquistadores; one who not only witnessed the +transactions which he relates, but who also performed a glorious part in +them; a soldier who, for impartiality and veracity, perhaps never had +his equal. His account is acknowledged to be the only one on which we +can place reliance, and it has been the magazine from which the most +eloquent of the Spanish writers on the same subject, as well as those of +other countries, have borrowed their best materials. Some historians +have even transcribed whole pages, but have not had sufficient honesty +to acknowledge it. + +The author, while living, was never rewarded for the great services he +had rendered his country, and it is remarkable that, after his death, +his very memoirs were pillaged by court historians, to raise a literary +monument to themselves. + +Most of the other writers on the conquest, particularly the Spanish, +have filled their works with exaggerations, to create astonishment and +false interest; pages are filled with so termed philosophical remarks, +which but ill supply the place of the intelligent reader's own +reflections. Bernal Diaz differs widely from those writers, for he only +states what he knows to be true. The British public, fond above all +others of original productions, will peruse with interest and delight a +work which has so long been the secret fountain from which all other +accounts of the conquest, with the exception of those which are least +faithful, have taken life. + +In respect of its originality, it may vie with any work of modern times, +not excepting 'Don Quixote.' The author seems to have been born to show +forth truth in all its beauty, and he raises it to a divinity in his +mind. Can anything be more expressive of an honest conscience than what +he says in his own preface: "You have only to read my history, and you +see it is true." + +The reader may form a general idea of this work from the following +critique, which Dr. Robertson, the historian, passes upon it: "Bernal +Diaz's account bears all the marks of authenticity, and is accompanied +with such pleasant naivete, with such interesting details, with such +amusing vanity, and yet so pardonable in an old soldier, who had been, +as he boasts, in a hundred and nineteen battles, as renders his book one +of the most singular that is to be found in any language." + +One circumstance, and that very justly, he is most anxious to impress on +your mind, namely, that all the merit of the conquest is not due to +Cortes alone; for which reason he generally uses the expression "Cortes +and all of us." + +This is an allowable feeling in our old soldier, and it must be +remembered that the greater part of the men who joined Cortes were of +good families, who, as usual on such expeditions, equipped themselves at +their own expense, and went out as adventurers of their own free choice. + +With respect to our author's style of writing, it is chiefly +characterized by plainness and simplicity, and yet there are numerous +passages which are written with great force and eloquence, and which, as +the Spanish editor says, "could not have been more forcibly expressed, +nor with greater elegance." Some readers may at first feel inclined to +censure our author for going into minute particulars in describing the +fitting out of the expedition under Cortes; for instance, his describing +the qualities and colours of the horses; but all this, it will be seen, +was of the utmost importance to his history, and of the horses he was +bound to take special notice, for they performed a conspicuous part in +the conquest. The honest old soldier even devotes a couple of his last +chapters to the whole of his companions in arms, in which he mentions +them all by name, describes their persons, their bravery, and the manner +in which they died. + +To conclude these few remarks on this work, I must observe, that it not +only surpasses Cortes' despatches in completeness, but also in truth and +naivete. He represents the whole to you with a simplicity truly sublime; +at times he astonishes with a power of expressing his sentiments +peculiar to himself, and with a pathos that goes to the very heart. + +Bernal Diaz was of a respectable family, and born in Medina del Campo, a +small town in the province of Leon. He was what in Spain is termed an +hidalgo--though by this little more was signified than a descent from +Christian forefathers, without any mixture of Jewish or Moorish blood. +With respect to the precise year of his birth he has left us in the +dark, but, according to his own account, he first left Castile, for the +New World, in the year 1514; and as, on his first arrival in Mexico, in +the year 1519, he still calls himself a young man, we may safely +conclude that he was born between 1495 and 1500. In the year 1568 he +completed his work, at which time there were only six of the +Conquistadores alive, and he must then have been about seventy years of +age, but there is every reason for supposing that he reached the +advanced age of eighty-six. Endowed with singular nobleness of mind, he +had the happiness to enjoy an unblemished reputation. + +The excellent Torquemada, in speaking of him in his voluminous work +entitled 'Monarchia Indiana,' says, "I saw and knew this same Bernal +Diaz in the city of Guatimala; he was then a very aged man, and one who +bore the best of reputations." Quoting him in another passage, he has, +"Thus says Bernal Diaz del Castillo, a soldier on whose authority and +honesty we can place reliance." He was a man devoted to his religion, +and it must be particularly borne in mind that the Catholic faith was +never stronger than at that time; yet we find him the least +superstitious of all the Spanish historians on the Conquest, and, in the +34th Chapter, he has shown a mind superior to the times in which he +lived. + +If we contemplate the period in which the conquest of New Spain took +place, we can easily imagine that Cortes considered it imperative on +him to plant his religion among the Indians by the power of the sword, +if he could not by kind remonstrances; and we are often reminded of +Joshua in the Old Testament. The Spaniards themselves certainly +entertained that idea; for in the edition of Cortes' despatches +published at Mexico in 1770, his sword is termed, "Gladius Domini et +Gideonis:" yet the Spaniards were not the cruel monsters they have +generally been described during those times. As far as the conquest of +New Spain is concerned, they were more humane than otherwise; and if at +times they used severity, we find that it was caused by the horrible and +revolting abominations which were practised by the natives. We can +scarcely imagine kinder-hearted beings than the first priests and monks +who went out to New Spain; they were men who spent their lives under +every species of hardship to promote the happiness of the Indians. Who +can picture to his mind a more amiable and noble disposition than that +of father Olmedo? He was one of the finest characters, Dr. Robertson +says, that ever went out as priest with an invading army! + +We may have become exceedingly partial to a work which has now been +constantly before our eyes for the last two years, yet we can scarcely +imagine that any one could take up a volume, whether a novel or a +history, which he would peruse with more delight than these memoirs. + +With regard to the translation, which is from the old edition printed at +Madrid in 1632, we have acted up to the author's desire, and have +neither added nor taken anything away, and have attempted to follow the +original as closely as possible. To the original there is not a single +note, and particular care has been taken not to overburden the +translation with them. In the spelling of the names of the Indian +chiefs, the townships, and of the provinces, we have mostly followed +Torquemada, who is considered more correct on this point, for he lived +fifty years in New Spain, was perfect master of the Mexican language, +and made the history of that country his peculiar study. + + + + +AUTHOR'S PREFACE. + + +I, Bernal Diaz del Castillo, regidor of the town of Santiago, in +Guatimala, author of this very true and faithful history, have now +finished it, in order that it may be published to the world. It treats +of the discovery and total conquest of New Spain; and how the great city +of Mexico and several other towns were taken, up to the time when peace +was concluded with the whole country; also of the founding of many +Spanish cities and towns, by which we, as we were in duty bound, +extended the dominion of our sovereign. + +In this history will be found many curious facts worthy of notice. It +likewise points out the errors and blunders contained in a work written +by Francisco de Gomara, who not only commits many errors himself in what +he writes about New Spain, but he has also been the means of leading +those two famous historians astray who followed his account, namely, Dr. +Illescas and the bishop Paulo Jovio. What I have written in this book I +declare and affirm to be strictly true. I myself was present at every +battle and hostile encounter. Indeed, these are not old tales or +romances of the seventh century; for, if I may so say, it happened but +yesterday what is contained in my history. I relate how, where, and in +what manner these things took place; as an accredited eyewitness of this +I may mention our very spirited and valorous captain Don Hernando +Cortes, marquis del Valle Oaxaca, who wrote an account of these +occurrences from Mexico to his imperial majesty Don Carlos the Fifth, +of glorious memory; and likewise the corresponding account of the +viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza. But, besides this, you have only to read +my history and you see it is true. + +I have now completed it this 26th day of February, 1568, from my +day-book and memory, in this very loyal city of Guatimala, the seat of +the royal court of audience. I also think of mentioning some other +circumstances which are for the most part unknown to the public. I must +beg of the printers not to take away from, nor add one single syllable +to, the following narrative, etc. + + + + +CONTENTS + +OF + +THE FIRST VOLUME. + + + PAGE + + CHAP. I. The time of my departure from Castile, and what farther + happened to me 1 + + CHAP. II. Of the discovery of Yucatan, and the battle we fought there + with the natives 3 + + CHAP. III. Discovery of the coast of Campeachy 6 + + CHAP. IV. How we landed in a bay close to some maise plantations, near + the harbour of Potonchan, and of the attack that was made upon us + there 9 + + CHAP. V. We resolve to return to Cuba. The extreme thirst we suffered, + and all the fatigues we underwent until our arrival in the port of + Havannah 12 + + CHAP. VI. How twenty of us went on shore in the bay of Florida with the + pilot Alaminos in search of water; the hostilities which the natives of + this country commenced with us; and of all that further befel us on our + passage to the Havannah 13 + + CHAP. VII. The fatigues I had to undergo until my arrival in the town of + Trinidad 17 + + CHAP. VIII. How Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, sent out another + armament to the country we had discovered 19 + + CHAP. IX. How we landed at Champoton 23 + + CHAP. X. We continued our course and ran into Terminos bay, as we named + it 24 + + CHAP. XI. How we came into the Tabasco river, which we termed the + Grijalva, and what happened to us there 25 + + CHAP. XII. We come in sight of the town of Aguajaluco, and give it the + name of La Rambla 28 + + CHAP. XIII. How we arrive on the Bandera stream and gain 1500 pesos 29 + + CHAP. XIV. How we come into the harbour of San Juan de Ulua 32 + + CHAP. XV. Diego Velasquez sends out a small vessel in quest of us 33 + + CHAP. XVI. What befel us on our coasting voyage along the Tusta and + Tuspa mountains 34 + + CHAP. XVII. Diego Velasquez despatches one of his officials to Spain 38 + + CHAP. XVIII. Of some errors in the work of Francisco Lopez de Gomara 39 + + CHAP. XIX. How another armament was fitted out for a voyage to the newly + discovered countries; the command of which was given to Hernando Cortes, + afterwards Marquis of the Vale of Oaxaca; also of the secret cabals + which were formed to deprive him of it 42 + + CHAP. XX. Of the designs and plans of Hernando Cortes after he had + obtained the appointment of captain 45 + + CHAP. XXI. Cortes' occupations at Trinidad, and of the cavaliers and + warriors who there joined our expedition, and other matters 47 + + CHAP. XXII. How the governor, Diego Velasquez, sends two of his + officials in all haste to Trinidad, with full power and authority to + deprive Cortes of his appointment of captain, and bring the squadron + away, &c. 49 + + CHAP. XXIII. Cortes embarks with all his cavaliers and soldiers in order + to sail along the south side of the island to the Havannah, and sends + off one of the vessels to go around the north coast for the same port 51 + + CHAP. XXIV. Diego Velasquez sends one of his officials, named Gaspar + Garnica, with full authority to take Cortes prisoner, whatever might be + the consequence; and what further happened 54 + + CHAP. XXV. Cortes sets sail with the whole squadron for the island of + Cozumel, and what further took place 56 + + CHAP. XXVI. Cortes reviews his troops, and what further happened 57 + + CHAP. XXVII. Cortes receives information that two Spaniards are in the + power of the Indians at the promontory of Cotoche: the steps he took + upon this news 58 + + CHAP. XXVIII. The manner in which Cortes divides the squadron. The + officers whom he appointed to the command of the several vessels. His + instructions to the pilots; the signals which were to be made with + lanterns at night, &c. 62 + + CHAP. XXIX. How the Spaniard Geronimo de Aguilar, who was in the power + of the Indians, came to us when he learnt that we had again returned to + the island of Cozumel, and what further happened 63 + + CHAP. XXX. How we re-embark and sail for the river Grijalva, and what + happened to us on our voyage there 66 + + CHAP. XXXI. How we arrive in the river Grijalva, called in the Indian + language the Tabasco; the battle we fought there; and what further took + place 68 + + CHAP. XXXII. How Cortes despatches two of our principal officers, each + with one hundred men, to explore the interior of the country, and what + further took place 71 + + CHAP. XXXIII. Cortes issues orders that we should hold ourselves in + readiness to march against the Indians on the following day; he also + commands the horses to be brought on shore. How the battle terminates we + fought with them 73 + + CHAP. XXXIV. How we are attacked by all the caziques of Tabasco, and the + whole armed force of this province, and what further took place 74 + + CHAP. XXXV. How Cortes assembles all the caziques of this province, and + what further happened 77 + + CHAP. XXXVI. How all the caziques and calachonis of the river Grijalva + arrive with presents, and what happened after this 80 + + CHAP. XXXVII. How Dona Marina herself was a caziquess, and the daughter + of distinguished personages; also a ruler over a people and several + towns; and how she came to Tabasco 84 + + CHAP. XXXVIII. How we arrive with our vessels in San Juan de Ulua, and + what we did there 86 + + CHAP. XXXIX. How Teuthlille makes his report to Motecusuma, and gives + him our presents; as also what further took place in our camp 90 + + CHAP. XL. How Cortes goes in search of another harbour and a good spot + to found a colony, and what further happened 92 + + CHAP. XLI. What happened on account of our bartering for gold, and of + other things which took place in our camp 94 + + CHAP. XLII. How we elected Hernando Cortes captain-general and chief + justice until we should receive the emperor's commands on this head; and + what further happened 97 + + CHAP. XLIII. How the partisans of Diego Velasquez would not acknowledge + the power we had conferred upon Cortes, and what further took place 100 + + CHAP. XLIV. How Pedro de Alvarado was ordered to make an excursion into + the interior of the country, in order to procure maise and other + provisions; and what further happened 101 + + CHAP. XLV. How we marched into Sempoalla, which at that period was a + very considerable township, and what we did there 104 + + CHAP. XLVI. How we march into Quiahuitzlan, which was a town with + fortifications, and were most friendly received 106 + + CHAP. XLVII. How Cortes ordered the five Mexican tax-gatherers to be + imprisoned, and no further obedience to be paid Motecusuma, nor tribute + to be exacted; and of the rebellion which was now excited against this + monarch 109 + + CHAP. XLVIII. How we resolved to found Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, and + construct a fortress on the low meadows, in the neighbourhood of some + salt springs and the harbour, where our vessels were anchored; and what + further happened 111 + + CHAP. XLIX. How the fat cazique and other chief men of the country come + and complain to Cortes that a garrison of Mexicans had been thrown into + the strong fortress of Tzinpantzinco, committing great depredations; and + what further took place 114 + + CHAP. L. How some of Diego Velasquez's adherents refused to take any + further part in our proceedings, and declared their determination to + return to Cuba, seeing that Cortes was earnestly bent upon founding a + colony, and had already commenced to pacify the inhabitants 115 + + CHAP. LI. What happened to us at Tzinpantzinco, and how, on our return + to Sempoalla, we destroyed all the idols; likewise of other matters 117 + + CHAP. LII. How Cortes erects an altar, and places thereon the image of + the blessed Virgin with a cross; after which mass was said, and the + eight Indian females were baptized 121 + + CHAP. LIII. How we arrived in our town of Vera Cruz, and what happened + there 123 + + CHAP. LIV. Concerning the account of our adventures, with the letter, + which we sent his majesty the emperor, through Puertocarrero and + Montejo, the letter being attested by some officers and soldiers 125 + + CHAP. LV. How Diego Velasquez is informed by his agents that we had sent + messengers with letters and presents to our king, and what further took + place 127 + + CHAP. LVI. How our agents passed through the Bahama channel with the + most favorable wind, and arrived in Castile after a short passage; and + of our success at court 129 + + CHAP. LVII. What took place in our camp after the departure of our + agents to his majesty with the gold and the letters; and the instance of + severity which Cortes was compelled to give 132 + + CHAP. LVIII. How we came to the resolution of marching to Mexico, and of + destroying all our vessels, which was done with the sanction and by the + advice of all Cortes' true adherents 133 + + CHAP. LIX. Of the speech which Cortes made to us after our vessels were + destroyed, and how we prepared for our march to Mexico 135 + + CHAP. LX. How Cortes arrived with us at the spot where the vessel lay at + anchor, and captured six soldiers and sailors of the said vessel who had + stepped on shore; also what further took place 136 + + CHAP. LXI. How we set out on our march to the city of Mexico, and, upon + the advice of the caziques, take our road over Tlascalla. What took + place here, and of the battles we fought 138 + + CHAP. LXII. How we commenced our march upon Tlascalla, and sent + messengers before us, to obtain the sanction of the inhabitants to pass + through their country; how they took our messengers prisoners; and what + further happened 143 + + CHAP. LXIII. Of the terrible battles we fought with the Tlascallans, and + what further happened 146 + + CHAP. LXIV. How we quartered ourselves in the township of Tehuacacinco, + and what we did there 149 + + CHAP. LXV. Of the great battle we fought with the Tlascallans, and what + further took place 150 + + CHAP. LXVI. How we sent a message next day to the caziques of Tlascalla + to bring about peace between us, and the determination they came to upon + this 153 + + CHAP. LXVII. How we again sent messengers to the caziques of Tlascalla + in order to induce them to make peace, and the resolution they came to + upon this 157 + + CHAP. LXVIII. How we came to the determination of marching to a township + in the neighbourhood of our camp, and what happened upon this 158 + + CHAP. LXIX. How we found, on our return to our encampment, that new + intrigues had been set on foot; and the answer Cortes gave to certain + representations which were made to him 160 + + CHAP. LXX. How the captain Xicotencatl assembled 20,000 chosen warriors + to make an attack upon us in our camp, and what happened upon this 165 + + CHAP. LXXI. How four chief personages arrived in our camp to negotiate + terms of peace with us, and what further happened 167 + + CHAP. LXXII. How ambassadors arrive in our camp from Motecusuma, and of + the presents they brought with them 170 + + CHAP. LXXIII. How the captain-general Xicotencatl arrives in our camp to + negotiate terms of peace; the speech he made, and what further happened + 171 + + CHAP. LXXIV. How the old caziques of Tlascalla arrived in our camp and + invited Cortes and all of us to visit their city, and what further + happened 175 + + CHAP. LXXV. How we marched into the city of Tlascalla, and were received + by the old caziques; of the present they made us, and how they brought + us their daughters and nieces; and what further happened 176 + + CHAP. LXXVI. How mass was said in the presence of a great number of + caziques, and of the present the latter brought us 178 + + CHAP. LXXVII. How the caziques presented their daughters to Cortes and + all of us, and what further happened 180 + + CHAP. LXXVIII. How Cortes gained some information respecting Mexico from + Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin 183 + + CHAP. LXXIX. How our captain Hernando Cortes and all our officers and + soldiers determine to march to Mexico 187 + + CHAP. LXXX. How the great Motecusuma despatched four ambassadors to us, + all men in high authority, with presents in gold and cotton stuffs, and + what they said to our captains 190 + + CHAP. LXXXI. How the inhabitants of Cholulla despatched four Indians to + us, all men of no distinction, to apologise for not having visited us in + Tlascalla, and what further happened 192 + + CHAP. LXXXII. How we arrived in the town of Cholulla, and the brilliant + reception we met with 193 + + CHAP. LXXXIII. How the inhabitants of Cholulla concerted a plan, at the + instigation of Motecusuma, to murder us all, and what further happened + 195 + + CHAP. LXXXIV. The negotiations we set on foot with the great Motecusuma, + and the ambassadors we sent him 208 + + CHAP. LXXXV. How the powerful Motecusuma sends a valuable present in + gold to us, and the message which accompanied it, and how we all agree + to commence our march upon Mexico; and what further happened 210 + + CHAP. LXXXVI. How we set out on our march to Mexico; what happened to us + on our route; and the message Motecusuma sent us 212 + + CHAP. LXXXVII. How the powerful Motecusuma again sends ambassadors to us + with a present of gold and cotton stuffs: that monarch's message to + Cortes, and the answer he returns 216 + + CHAP. LXXXVIII. The magnificent and pompous reception which the powerful + Motecusuma gave to Cortes and all of us, on our entrance into the great + city of Mexico 220 + + CHAP. LXXXIX. How Motecusuma, accompanied by several caziques, pays us a + visit in our quarters, and of the discourse that passed between him and + our general 223 + + CHAP. XC. How our general, the day following, paid a visit to + Motecusuma, and of the discourse that passed between them 225 + + CHAP. XCI. Of Motecusuma's person, disposition, habits, and of his great + power 228 + + CHAP. XCII. Our general takes a walk through Mexico, and views the + Tlatelulco, (the great square,) and the chief temple of Huitzilopochtli + 235 + + CHAP. XCIII. How we erect a chapel and altar in our quarters with a + cross on the outside; discover the treasure of Motecusuma's father; and + determine to seize the monarch's person and imprison him in our quarters + 244 + + CHAP. XCIV. Of the battle which the Mexican generals fought with + Escalante and the Totonaque tribes 247 + + CHAP. XCV. Of the imprisonment of Motecusuma, and what further happened + 249 + + CHAP. XCVI. How our general appoints Alonso Grado lieutenant of Vera + Cruz, and Sandoval alguacil-major of the same place 255 + + CHAP. XCVII. How we entertained and amused Motecusuma during his + confinement, and granted him permission to visit his temple 258 + + CHAP. XCVIII. How Cortes orders two large brigantines to be built for + the navigation of the lake of Mexico; Motecusuma begs permission to + visit his temples to offer up his prayers there; and what Cortes said to + him when he granted this permission 261 + + CHAP. XCIX. How our two brigantines are launched, and Motecusuma, + expressing a wish to go a hunting, sails in one of these vessels to a + river where he usually went for that purpose 263 + + CHAP. C. How the nephews of Motecusuma assembled the principal + personages of the empire, and formed a conspiracy to rescue the monarch + from confinement, and beat us out of the city 265 + + CHAP. CI. How the powerful Motecusuma, with several caziques and chief + personages of the country, declare themselves vassals of our emperor; + and of other occurrences which happened then 271 + + CHAP. CII. How Cortes sends out some of our men to explore the gold + mines and those rivers which wash down gold; also the harbours from the + Panuco to the Tabasco, but particularly the river Guacasualco 273 + + CHAP. CIII. How the officers whom Cortes had despatched to the gold + mines and the river Guacasualco returned to Mexico 274 + + CHAP. CIV. How Cortes desired the powerful Motecusuma to order all the + caziques of the empire to bring in the tribute of gold due to our + emperor 277 + + CHAP. CV. How all the gold presented by Motecusuma, and collected from + the different townships, was divided; and what happened to one of our + soldiers on the occasion 280 + + CHAP. CVI. Of the high words which arose between Velasquez de Leon and + our treasurer Gonzalo Mexia on account of the gold which was missing + from the heap, and how Cortes put an end to that dispute 282 + + CHAP. CVII. How Motecusuma offers one of his daughters in marriage to + Cortes, who accepts her, and pays her the attention due to her high + station 284 + + CHAP. CVIII. How the powerful Motecusuma acquaints Cortes that it is + requisite for his safety to quit Mexico, with the whole of his men, as + all the caziques and papas were upon the point of rising up in arms to + destroy us all, in compliance with the advice given them by their gods: + the steps which Cortes took upon this news 286 + + CHAP. CIX. How the governor of Cuba, Velasquez, in all haste fits out an + armament against us, the command of which he gives to Pamfilo de + Narvaez, who was accompanied by the licentiate Lucas Vazquez de Aillon, + auditor of the royal court of audience at St. Domingo 289 + + CHAP. CX. How Narvaez arrives with the whole of his flotilla in the + harbour of San Juan de Ulua, and what happened upon this 290 + + CHAP. CXI. How Pamfilo Narvaez despatches five persons to Sandoval, the + commandant of Vera Cruz, with summons to surrender up the town to him + 293 + + CHAP. CXII. How Cortes, after he had gained every information respecting + the armament, wrote to Narvaez, and several of his acquaintances who had + come with him, and particularly to Andreas du Duero, private secretary + to Velasquez; and of other events 296 + + CHAP. CXIII. The high words which arose between the auditor Vazquez de + Aillon and Narvaez, who orders him to be seized and sent back prisoner + to Spain 298 + + CHAP. CXIV. Narvaez marches, with the whole of his troops, to Sempoalla; + his proceedings there; and how we in Mexico determine to march against + him 300 + + CHAP. CXV. How the powerful Motecusuma inquires of Cortes whether it was + really his intention to march out against Narvaez, though the latter's + troops were double the number of ours 302 + + CHAP. CXVI. How we determined once more to despatch father Olmedo to + Narvaez's head-quarters, and what we commissioned him to say 306 + + CHAP. CXVII. How father Olmedo arrived in Narvaez's head-quarters at + Sempoalla, and what he did there 308 + + CHAP. CXVIII. How Cortes reviews the whole of his troops, and we are + supplied with two hundred and fifty very long new lances, by the + Tchinantecs 310 + + CHAP. CXIX. How Duero, with the soldier Usagre and two of his Indian + servants from Cuba, arrived in our camp; who this Duero was, and the + reason of his visit, &c. 311 + + CHAP. CXX. How Juan Velasquez arrives in Narvaez's head-quarters, and + what took place there 314 + + CHAP. CXXI. What took place in Narvaez's quarters after the return to + our camp of the ambassadors we had sent there 318 + + CHAP. CXXII. The order of our march against Narvaez; the speech Cortes + made to us; and our reply to it 320 + + CHAP. CXXIII. How the 2000 Indians of Chinantla, whom Cortes had + demanded of the caziques there, arrived at Sempoalla after Narvaez's + defeat 329 + + CHAP. CXXIV. How Cortes despatches Francisco de Lugo, with two men who + had formerly been ship-builders, to the harbour where Narvaez's flotilla + lay, to bring all the captains and pilots of the vessels to Sempoalla + 329 + + CHAP. CXXV. How we all, including Narvaez's troops, hasten to Mexico by + forced marches 333 + + CHAP. CXXVI. How the Mexicans made war upon us, and the battles we + fought with them 337 + + CHAP. CXXVII. Cortes determines to announce Motecusuma's death to the + Mexican generals and chiefs who are at war with us 345 + + CHAP. CXXVIII. How we come to the determination of leaving Mexico + secretly at night; and what further happened 347 + + CHAP. CXXIX. How we quartered ourselves in the metropolis of Tlascalla, + and what we did there 359 + + CHAP. CXXX. How we marched into the province of Tepeaca, what we did + there, and of other things which happened 365 + + CHAP. CXXXI. How a vessel, which had been sent by Diego Velasquez from + Cuba, arrived at Vera Cruz, commanded by the captain Pedro Barba, and + the manner in which Caballero captured her 369 + + CHAP. CXXXII. How the inhabitants of Quauhquechola called upon Cortes, + and begged of him to drive out the Mexican troops from their town, as + they were plundered and ill-used by them 370 + + CHAP. CXXXIII. How one of the vessels which Francisco de Garay had + fitted out for the object of forming settlements on the river Panuco, + put in at Vera Cruz, and what further happened 373 + + CHAP. CXXXIV. How Cortes despatches Sandoval with 200 men, among which + were twenty horse and twelve crossbow-men, to punish the tribes of + Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, for having put some Spaniards to death, and to + demand restitution of the gold they had robbed us of; and also further + to explore the country 375 + + CHAP. CXXXV. How all the slaves we had taken in Tepeaca, Quauhquechola, + Tecalco, and Castilblanco, were brought together in our head-quarters, + and branded with an iron, in his majesty's name 379 + + CHAP. CXXXVI. How the chief officers and principal personages of + Narvaez's troops request leave to return to Cuba, which Cortes grants, + and they accordingly leave; also how our general sends ambassadors to + Spain, St. Domingo, and Jamaica 381 + +NOTES 387 + + +[Transcriber's Notes: The errata below have been corrected in the +text. Footnote 24 has also been moved to its correct position in the text.] + + +ERRATA. + + P. 17, _l._ 3, _for_ Fronseca, _read_ Fonseca. + 17, 24, _for_ dubbloons, _read_ doubloons. + 20, 18, _for_ Chaopa, _read_ Chiapa. + 20, 26, _for_ Mautanzas, _read_ Matanza. + 31, 8, _for_ this, _read_ their. + 31, 28, _for_ surrounded, _read_ surmounted. + 51, 17, _for_ his, _read_ its + P. 53, _l._ 19, _read_ whom the king Quauhtemoctzin took. + 126, 2, _for_ which, _read_ whom. + 230, 22, _for_ were, _read_ was. + 355, 9, _for_ when, _read_ where. + 365, 33, _for_ were the townships, _read_ was the township. + + + + +CONQUEST + +OF + +MEXICO AND NEW SPAIN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + _The time of my departure from Castile, and what further happened to + me._ + + +In the year 1514 I departed from Castile in the suite of Pedro Arias de +Avila, who had just then been appointed governor of Terra Firma. At sea +we had sometimes bad and sometimes good weather, until we arrived at +Nombre Dios, where the plague was raging: of this we lost many of our +men, and most of us got terrible sores on our legs, and were otherwise +ill. Soon after our arrival, dissensions arose between the governor and +a certain wealthy cavalier, named Vasco Nunez de Balboa, who had brought +this province to subjection, and was married to one of the daughters of +Avila. As, however, suspicion had been excited against him, owing to a +plan he had formed of making a voyage to the South Sea at his own +expense, for which he required a considerable body of troops, his own +father-in-law deposed him and afterwards sentenced him to decapitation. + +While we were spectators of all this, and saw, moreover, how other +soldiers rebelled against their superior officers, we learnt that the +island of Cuba had just been conquered, and that a nobleman of Quellar, +named Diego Velasquez, was appointed governor there. Upon this news some +of us met together, cavaliers and soldiers, all persons of quality who +had come with Pedro Arias de Avila, and asked his permission to proceed +to the island of Cuba: this he readily granted, not having sufficient +employment for so great a number of men as he had brought with him from +Spain. Neither was there any further conquest to be made in these parts; +all was in profound peace, so thoroughly had his son-in-law Balboa +subdued the country, besides which it was but small in extent and thinly +populated. As soon, therefore, as we had obtained leave, we embarked in +a good vessel and took our departure. Our voyage was most prosperous, so +that we speedily arrived at Cuba. The first thing we did was to pay our +respects to the governor, who received us with great kindness, and made +us a promise of the first Indians that might be discharged. Three years, +however, passed away since our first arrival in Terra Firma and stay at +Cuba, still living in the expectation of the Indians which had been +promised us, but in vain. During the whole of this time we had +accomplished nothing worthy of notice: we therefore, the 110 who had +come from Terra Firma, with some others of Cuba, who were also without +any Indians, met together to concert measures with a rich cavalier named +Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, who, besides being a person of wealth, +possessed great numbers of Indians on the island. This gentleman we +chose for our captain; he was to lead us out on voyages for the +discovery of new countries, where we might find sufficient employment. + +We purchased three vessels, two of which were of considerable burden; +the third was given us by the governor, Diego Velasquez, on condition +namely, that we should first invade the Guanajas islands, which lie +between Cuba and the Honduras, and bring him thence three cargoes of +Indians, whom he wanted for slaves; this he would consider as payment +for the vessel. We were, however, fully aware that it was an act of +injustice which Diego Velasquez thus required at our hands, and gave him +for answer: that neither God nor the king had commanded us to turn a +free people into slaves. When he learnt our determination, he confessed +that our project for the discovery of new countries was more +praiseworthy, and he furnished us with provisions for our voyage. + +We had now three vessels and a sufficient supply of cassave bread, as it +is there made from the juca root. We also purchased some pigs, which +cost us three pesos a piece; for at that time there were neither cows +nor sheep on the island of Cuba: to this I must also add a scanty supply +of other provisions; while every soldier took with him some glass beads +for barter. We had three pilots; of whom the principal one, who had the +chief command of our vessels, was called Anton de Alaminos, a native of +Palos; the two others were, Camacho de Triana, and Juan Alvarez el +Manquillo of Huelva. In the same way we hired sailors, and furnished +ourselves with ropes, anchors, water-casks, and other necessaries for +our voyage, all at our own expense and personal risk. + +After we had met together, in all 110, we departed for a harbour on the +north coast of Cuba, called by the natives Ajaruco. The distance from +this place to the town of San Christoval, then recently built, was +twenty-four miles; for the Havannah had then only been two years in our +possession. In order that our squadron might not want for anything +really useful, we engaged a priest at the town of San Christoval. His +name was Alonso Gonzalez, and by fair words and promises we persuaded +him to join us. We also appointed, in the name of his majesty, a +treasurer, called Beruardino Miguez, a native of Saint Domingo de la +Calzada. This was done in order that if it pleased God we should +discover any new countries, where either gold, silver, or pearls were to +be found, there might be amongst us a qualified person to take charge of +the fifths for the Emperor.[1] After everything had been thus properly +ordered and we had heard mass said, we commended ourselves to God, our +Lord Jesus Christ, and the virgin Mary his blessed mother, and set out +on our voyage, as I shall further relate. + +[1] During the first conquests of the Spaniards in New Spain, one half +of the profits arising from the gold mines was paid to the crown; but +the ill effects of this exorbitant demand soon began to show themselves, +and it was reduced to one third, and then to a fifth, called the real +quinto, which continued for a length of time, until it was further +reduced. I must take this opportunity of observing, that the Spanish +"peso" is equal to about 4s. 6d. of our money. (p. 3.) + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + _Of the Discovery of Yucatan, and the battle we fought there with + the Natives._ + + +We sailed in the year 1517 from the harbour of Jaruco and left the +Havannah. This harbour lies on the north coast of Cuba, and is so called +by the natives. After twelve days' sail we had passed the coast of Saint +Antonius, which in Cuba is called the country of the Guanatavies, a wild +tribe of Indians. We now made for the wide ocean, steering continually +towards the west, totally ignorant of the shoals and currents or of the +winds which predominate in this latitude. Certainly most hazardous on +our part, and indeed we were very soon visited by a terrible storm, +which continued two days and two nights, in which the whole of us had +nigh perished. + +After the storm had abated and we had changed our course, we came in +sight of land on the twenty-first day after our departure from Cuba, +which filled every heart with joy and thanks towards God. This country +had never been discovered before, nor had any one ever heard of it. From +our ships we could perceive a considerable sized town, which lay about +six miles from the sea shore. On account of its magnitude, and because +it was larger than any town in Cuba, we gave it the name of _Grand +Cairo_. + +We resolved that our smallest vessel should near the shore as much as +possible, to learn the nature of the spot and look out for a good +anchorage. One morning, the 5th of March, we perceived five large canoes +full of men coming towards us as swift as their paddles and sails could +bring them from the town just mentioned. These canoes were hollowed out +of the trunks of large trees, after the manner of our kneading troughs. +Many of them were big enough to hold from forty to fifty Indians. + +As these Indians approached us in their canoes, we made signs of peace +and friendship, beckoning at the same time to them with our hands and +cloaks to come up to us that we might speak with them; for at that time +there was nobody amongst us who understood the language of Yucatan or +Mexico. They now came along side of us without evincing the least fear, +and more than thirty of them climbed on board of our principal ship. We +gave them bacon and cassave bread to eat, and presented each with a +necklace of green glass beads. After they had for some time minutely +examined the ship, the chief, who was a cazique, gave us to understand, +by signs, that he wished to get down again into his canoe and return +home, but that he would come the next day with many more canoes in order +to take us on shore. These Indians wore a kind of cloak made of cotton, +and a small sort of apron which hung from their hips half-way down to +the knee, which they termed a maltates. We found them more intelligent +than the Indians of Cuba, where only the women wear a similar species of +apron made of cotton, which hangs down over their thighs, and is called +by them a nagua. + +But to continue my narrative. Very early the morning following, our +cazique again called upon us: this time he brought with him twelve large +canoes and a number of rowers. He made known to our captain, by signs, +that we were good friends and might come to his town: he would give us +plenty to eat with everything we wanted, and could go on shore in his +twelve canoes. I shall never forget how he said, in his language, _con +escotoch_, _con escotoch_, which means, come with me to my houses yonder. +We therefore called the spot Punta de Cotoche, under which name it +stands on the sea charts. + +In consideration of all these friendly invitations from the cazique to +accompany him to his village, our captain held a short consultation with +us, when we came to the resolution to lower our boats, take the smallest +of our vessels with us, and so proceed together with the twelve canoes +all at once on shore, as the coast was crowded with Indians from the +above-mentioned village. This was accordingly done, and we all arrived +there at the same time. The cazique seeing us now landed, but that we +made no signs of going to his village, again gave our captain to +understand, by signs, that we should follow him to his habitation, +making at the same time so many demonstrations of friendship, that a +second consultation was held as to whether we should accompany him or +not. This was carried in the affirmative, but we took every precaution +to be upon our guard, marching in close order with our arms ready for +action. We took fifteen crossbows with a like number of matchlocks, and +followed the cazique, who was accompanied by a great number of Indians. + +As we were thus marching along, and had arrived in the vicinity of +several rocky mountains, the cazique all at once raised his voice, +calling aloud to his warriors, who it seemed were lying wait in ambush, +to fall upon us and destroy us all. The cazique had no sooner given the +signal, than out rushed with terrible fury great numbers of armed +warriors, greeting us with such a shower of arrows, that fifteen of our +men were immediately wounded. These Indians were clad in a kind of +cuirass made of cotton, and armed with lances, shields, bows, and +slings; with each a tuft of feathers stuck on his head. As soon as they +had let fly their arrows, they rushed forward and attacked us man to +man, setting furiously to with their lances, which they held in both +hands. When, however, they began to feel the sharp edge of our swords, +and saw what destruction our crossbows and matchlocks made among them, +they speedily began to give way. Fifteen of their number lay dead on the +field. + +At some distance from the spot where they had so furiously attacked us +was a small place in which stood three houses built of stone and lime. +These were temples in which were found many idols made of clay which +were of a pretty good size; some had the countenances of devils, others +those of females: some again had even more horrible shapes, and appeared +to represent Indians committing horrible offences. In these temples we +also found small wooden boxes containing other of their gods with +hellish faces, several small shells, some ornaments, three crowns, and +other trinkets, some in the shape of fish, others in the shape of ducks, +all worked out of an inferior kind of gold. Seeing all this, the gold, +and the good architectural style of the temples, we felt overjoyed at +the discovery of this country; for Peru was not discovered till sixteen +years after. While we were fighting with the Indians, the priest +Gonzalez ordered the gold and small idols to be removed to our ships by +two Indians whom we had brought with us from Cuba. During the skirmish +we took two of the natives prisoners, who subsequently allowed +themselves to be baptised and became Christians. One was named Melchior +and the other Julian; both were tattooed about the eyes. The combat +with the natives now being at an end, we resolved to re-embark, and +prosecute our voyage of discovery further along the coast towards the +west. Having dressed the wounds of our men we again set sail. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + _Discovery of the Coast of Campeachy._ + + +Continuing the course we had previously determined upon, more westward +along the coast, we discovered many promontories, bays, reefs, and +shallows. We all considered this country to be an island, because our +pilot, Anton de Alaminos, persisted in it. During daytime we proceeded +with all caution, but lay to at nights. After sailing in this way for +fourteen days, we perceived another village which appeared to us of +considerable magnitude. Here was a bay with an inner harbour, and it +appeared to us that there might also be some river or small stream where +we could take in fresh water, which latter had become very scarce, as +our supply in the casks, which were none of the best, was fast +diminishing; for, as the expedition was fitted out solely by persons in +poor circumstances, we had not been able to purchase good ones. It +happened to be Sunday Lazari when we landed, and we therefore named this +place in honour of this day, although we were well aware that the +Indians called it the land of _Campeachy_. + +In order that the whole of us might land at the same time, we determined +to go on shore in our smallest vessel and three boats, all of us well +armed, to be ready in case we should meet with a similar rencontre as at +the cape of Cotoche. The sea in these bays and roads is very shallow, so +that our vessels were forced to anchor at more than three miles distance +from the shore. Thus precautious we landed near the village, but were +still a good way from the place were we intended to fill our casks. From +this spot the natives also had their water; for we now found that there +was no rivulet in the neighbourhood. + +When we had brought our casks on shore, filled them with water, and were +about to embark again, about fifty Indians from the village came up to +us. They all wore stately mantels made of cotton, appeared friendly +disposed, and to be caziques. They asked us, by signs, what our business +was there? We told them to take in water, and that we were about to +re-embark. They further pointed with their hands to the rising of the +sun, and asked us whether we came from that quarter, at the same time +pronouncing the word _Castilan_, _Castilan_; but at that moment we did not +pay any particular attention to the word Castilan. In the course of this +interview, however, they gave us to understand that we might go with +them to their village. + +We held a consultation amongst ourselves as to whether we should accept +the invitation, and at length unanimously agreed to follow them, but to +use the utmost circumspection. They took us to some large edifices, +which were strongly put together, of stone and lime, and had otherwise a +good appearance. These were temples, the walls of which were covered +with figures representing snakes and all manner of gods. Round about a +species of altar we perceived several fresh spots of blood. On some of +the idols there were figures like crosses, with other paintings +representing groups of Indians. All this astonished us greatly as we had +neither seen nor heard, of such things before. It appeared to us that +the inhabitants had just been sacrificing some Indians to their gods, to +obtain from them the power to overcome us. + +There were great numbers of Indians with their wives who received us +with pleasing smiles, and otherwise made every show of friendship; but +their numbers gradually increasing we began to entertain fears that it +would end in the same hostile manner as at Cape Cotoche. While we were +thus looking on, a number of Indians approached us clad in tattered +cloaks, each carrying a bundle of dried reeds, which they arranged in +order on the ground. Among them we also perceived two troops of men +armed with bows, lances, shields, slings, and stones, having their +cotton cuirasses on. At the head of these, and at some distance from us +stood the chiefs. At this moment ten Indians came running out of another +temple, all dressed in long white robes, while the thick hair of their +heads was so entangled and clotted with blood that it would have been an +impossibility to have combed or put it in order without cutting it off. +These personages were priests, and in New Spain are commonly termed +_Papas_.[2] I repeat it, that in New Spain they are termed papas, and I +will therefore in future call them by that name. These papas brought +with them a kind of incense, which looked like resin, and is termed by +them copal. They had pans made of clay filled with glowing embers, and +with these they perfumed us. They also gave us to understand, by signs, +that we should leave their country before the bundles of reeds, which +had been brought and were going to be set fire to, should be consumed, +otherwise they would attack and kill us every man. + +Upon this they ordered the bundles to be lighted, and as soon as they +began to burn, all were silent, nor did they utter another syllable. +Those, on the contrary, who had ranged themselves in order of battle, +began to play on their pipes, blow their twisted shells, and beat their +drums. When we saw what their real intentions were, and how confident +they appeared, it of course reminded us that our wounds which we had +received at Cape Cotoche were not yet healed; that two of our men had +died of the consequences, whom we had been obliged to throw overboard. +As the number of Indians continued to increase, we became alarmed, and +resolved to retreat to the shore in the best order we could. In this way +we marched along the coast until we arrived at that spot where our boats +and the small vessels lay with the water-casks. Not far distant from +this place stood a rock in the midst of the sea; for, on account of the +vast numbers of Indians, we durst not venture to re-embark where we had +at first landed, as they would no doubt have fallen upon us while we +were getting into our boats. + +After we had thus managed to get our water safe on board and re-embark +at the small harbour which the bay here forms, we continued our course +for six days and six nights without interruption, the weather being very +fine. But now the wind suddenly veered round to the north and brought +stormy weather, as is always the case with a north wind on this coast. +The storm lasted twenty-four hours, and indeed we had nearly all of us +met with a watery grave, so boisterous was the sea. In order to save +ourselves from total destruction we cast anchor near the shore. The +safety of our ship now depended upon two ropes, and had they given way +we should have been cast on shore. Oh, in what a perilous situation we +were then placed! had we been torn away from our anchors we must have +been wrecked off the coast! But it was the will of Providence that our +old ropes and cables should preserve us. When the storm had abated we +continued our course along the coast and kept in as much as possible, +that we might take in water when required. For, as I have before stated, +our casks were old and leaky; nor was the best economy used with the +water, for we thought by going on shore we should be certain either to +meet with some spring or obtain it by digging wells. Thus coasting along +we espied a village from our ships, and about three miles further on +there was a kind of inner harbour, at the head of which it appeared to +us there might be some river or brook; we therefore resolved to land +here. + +The water, as I have above mentioned, being uncommonly shallow along +this coast, we were compelled to anchor our two larger vessels at about +three miles distance from the shore, fearing they might otherwise run +aground. We then proceeded with our smallest vessel and all our boats in +order to land at the above-mentioned inner harbour. We were, however, +quite upon our guard, and carried along with us, besides the +water-casks, our arms, crossbows, and muskets. + +It was about midday when we landed. The distance from here to the +village, which was called Potonchan, might be three miles. Here we found +some wells, maise plantations, and stone buildings. Our water-casks were +soon filled, but we could not succeed to get them into our boats on +account of an attack made upon us by great numbers of the inhabitants. I +will, however, break off here and relate the battle we fought, in the +next chapter. + +[2] Bernal Diaz is thus particular in laying stress on this remarkable +circumstance, because the pope of Rome, in Spanish, is termed papa. (p. +7.) + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + _How we landed in a bay close to some maise plantations, near the + harbour of Potonchan, and of the attack that was made upon us + there._ + + +While we were busy taking in water, near the above-mentioned houses and +maise plantations, great numbers of Indians were making towards us from +the village of Potonchan, as it is termed by the natives. They had all +their cotton cuirasses on, which reached to their knees, and were armed +with bows, lances, shields, and swords. The latter were shaped like our +broadswords, and are wielded with both hands. They also had slings and +stones, their bunches of feathers on, and their whole bodies painted +with white, brown, and black colours. They approached us in profound +silence, as if they came with the most peaceable intentions, and +inquired of us by signs if we came from the rising of the sun, thereby +pronouncing the very same words which the inhabitants of St. Lazaro had +used: namely, _Castilan, Castilan_. We told them, likewise by signs, +that we indeed came from the rising of the sun. We certainly did not +understand what they meant; nevertheless it was something for us to +reflect on, while it at the same time gave rise to a variety of +conjectures, since the natives of St. Lazaro had used the identical +words. + +It was about the hour of Ave Maria, when the Indians approached us in +this manner. A few country houses were scattered round about the +neighbourhood. We took the precaution to post watches in different +quarters, and upon the whole kept a sharp look out, as the manner in +which the natives were assembling seemed to forebode very little good. +When we had closed our ranks and taken every necessary precaution, our +ears were assailed by the cries and yells of large bodies of Indians who +were advancing from different quarters. As they were all armed for +battle we could no longer doubt that some evil design was lurking +behind; we therefore held a consultation with our captain as to the +course we should adopt. Many were of opinion that the best we could do +would be to re-embark ourselves in all haste; but, as is always the case +in critical moments, one advised this and another that, and so this +proposal was overruled as unadvisable, for the vast numbers of Indians +would certainly fall upon us while we were getting into our boats and we +should all stand in danger of being killed. Others again, among which +number I also was, were of opinion that the enemy should be attacked +that very night; for, according to the old saying, he who strikes the +first blow remains master of the field; but we might make up our minds +that each of us singly would have to encounter thirty Indians at least. + +Day now began to dawn, and we emboldened each other to meet the coming +severe conflict by putting our trust in God and commending our cause to +him, while every one was determined to defend himself to the utmost. As +soon as daylight had fully broken forth, we perceived more troops of +armed natives moving towards the coast with flying colours. They had on +their feather-knots, and were provided with drums, bows, lances, +shields, and joined themselves to the others who had arrived in the +night. They divided themselves into different bodies, surrounded us on +all sides, and commenced pouring forth such showers of arrows, lances, +and stones, that more than eighty of our men were wounded at the first +onset. They next rushed furiously forward and attacked us man to man: +some with their lances, others with their swords and arrows, and all +this with such terrible fury that we were compelled also to show them +earnest. We dealt many a good thrust and blow amongst them, keeping up +at the same time an incessant fire with our muskets and crossbows; for +while some loaded others fired. At last, by dint of heavy blows and +thrusts we forced them to give way; but they did not retreat further +than was necessary, in order that they might still continue to hem us in +in all safety; constantly crying out in their language, _Al calachoni, +al calachoni_; which signifies, kill the chief! And sure enough our +captain was wounded in no less than twelve different places by their +arrows. I myself had three; one of which was in my left side and very +dangerous, the arrow having pierced to the very bone. Others of our men +were wounded by the enemy's lances, and two were carried off alive; of +whom, one was called Alonzo Bote, the other was an old Portuguese. + +Perceiving how closely we were hemmed in on all sides by the enemy, who +not only kept constantly pouring in fresh troops but were copiously +supplied on the field of battle with meat, drink, and quantities of +arrows, we soon concluded that all our courageous fighting would not +advance us a step. The whole of us were wounded, many shot through the +neck, and more than fifty of our men were killed. In this critical +situation we determined to cut our way manfully through the enemy's +ranks and make for the boats, which fortunately lay on the coast near at +hand. We therefore firmly closed our ranks and broke through the enemy. +At that moment you should have heard the whizzing of their arrows, the +horrible yell they set up, and how the Indians provoked each other to +the combat, at the same time making desperate thrusts with their lances. +But a still more serious misfortune awaited us; for as we made a +simultaneous rush to our boats, they soon sunk or capsized, so that we +were forced to cling to them as well as we could; and in this manner by +swimming we strove to make the best of our way to the small vessel, +which was now in all haste coming up to our assistance. Many of our men +were even wounded while climbing into the vessel, but more particularly +those who clung to its side; for the Indians pursued us in their canoes +and attacked us without intermission. With the greatest exertions and +help of God we thus got out of the hands of this people. + +After we had gained our vessels we found that fifty-seven of our men +were missing, besides the two whom the Indians had carried off alive, +and five whom we had thrown overboard, who had died in consequence of +their wounds and extreme thirst. The battle lasted a little longer than +half an hour. The spot where it took place was certainly called +Potonchan. Our seamen, however, gave it the name of Bahea de mala Pelea, +(the bay of the disastrous engagement,) as it stands on the maps. As +soon as we found ourselves in safety we returned thanks to Almighty God +for the preservation of our lives. Our wounded, however, had still great +sufferings to undergo, as we had nothing but salt water to wash their +wounds with, which caused them to swell very much. Some of our men swore +most bitterly against our chief pilot Alaminos, and the conduct he had +pursued; he having steadfastly maintained that this was an island and +not a continent. I must, however, break off here, and relate what +further happened to us, in the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + _We resolve to return to Cuba. The extreme thirst we suffered, and + all the fatigues we underwent until our arrival in the port of + Havannah._ + + +After we had got into our vessels, as above related, and returned thanks +to God for our preservation, we commenced dressing our wounds. None of +us had escaped without two, three, or four wounds. Our captain had as +many as twelve, and there was only one single soldier who came off +whole. We therefore determined to return to Cuba; but as most of the +sailors who had accompanied us on shore were also wounded, we had not +sufficient hands to work the sails, we were therefore forced to set fire +to our smallest vessel and leave it to the mercy of the waves, after +taking out all the ropes, sails, and anchors, and distributing the +sailors, who were not wounded equally among the two other vessels. We +had, however, to struggle with another far greater evil. This was our +great want of fresh water; for although we had filled our barrels and +casks near Potonchan, we did not succeed to bring them off, owing to the +furious attack of the natives and the hurry we were in to get on board: +thus we had been compelled to leave them behind and return without a +single drop of water. We suffered most intensely from thirst, and the +only way we could in some measure refresh our parched tongues was to +hold the edges of our axes between our lips. Oh, what a fearful +undertaking it is to venture out on the discovery of new countries, and +place one's life in danger, as we were obliged to do! Those alone can +form any idea of it who have gone through the hard school of experience. + +We now kept as close into the shore as possible, to look out for some +stream or creek where we might meet with fresh water. After thus +continuing our course for three days we espied an inlet or mouth of some +river as we thought, and sent a few hands on shore in the hopes of +meeting with water. These were fifteen sailors who had remained on board +during the battle at Potonchan, and three soldiers who had been only +slightly wounded. They carried along with them pickaxes and three small +casks. But the water in the inlet was salt, and wherever they dug wells +it was equally bad. They nevertheless filled the casks with it, but it +was so bitter and salty as to be unfit for use. Two soldiers who drank +of it became ill of the consequences. The water here swarmed with +lizards; we therefore gave this place the name of Lizard Bay, under +which name it stands on the sea charts. + +But, to continue my history, I must not forget to mention that while +our boats were on shore in search of water, there suddenly arose such a +violent tempest from the north-east, that our ships were nigh being cast +on shore. For, as we were forced to lay to, the wind blowing hard from +the north and north-east, our position was extremely dangerous, from a +scarcity of ropes. + +When the men who had gone on shore with our boats perceived the danger +we were in, they hastened to our assistance, and cast out additional +anchors and cables. In this way we lay for two days and two nights. +After the expiration of that time we again heaved our anchors and +steered in the direction of Cuba. Our pilot Alaminos here held a +consultation with the two others, when they concluded that the best plan +would be to get, if possible, into the latitude of Florida, which, +according to their charts and furthest measurement, could not be more +than 210 miles distant; for they assured us if we could get into the +latitude of Florida, we should have a better and speedier sail to the +Havannah. It turned out exactly as they had said; for Alaminos had been +in these parts before, having accompanied Juan de Leon when he +discovered Florida, about ten or twelve years previously. After four +days' sail we crossed this gulf and came in sight of Florida. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + _How twenty of us went on shore in the bay of Florida with the pilot + Alaminos in search of water; the hostilities which the natives of + this country commenced with us; and of all that further befel us on + our passage to the Havannah._ + + +As soon as we had arrived off the coast of Florida we determined that +twenty of our men, who had almost recovered from their wounds, should go +on shore. Among the number was myself and the pilot, Alaminos. We each +took a mattock and a small cask, being, moreover, well armed with +crossbows and muskets. Our captain, who was dangerously wounded and very +much weakened by the extreme thirst he suffered, begged of us, in the +name of God, to bring him some sweet water, as he was almost dying of +thirst. Indeed, the water, as I have before said, which we then had was +quite salty and not drinkable. We landed in a creek, and our pilot again +recognized this coast, which he had visited ten or twelve years +previously with Ponce de Leon, when he discovered these countries. They +had here fought a battle with the natives, and lost many of their men. + +We therefore took every precaution lest the natives should also fall +upon us unawares. We posted two sentinels at a spot where the stream had +a considerable breadth. We then dug deep wells where we thought fresh +water was likely to be found. The sea was just ebbing, and it pleased +God that we should find sweet water there. + +With joyful hearts we then took our fill of the refreshing beverage, and +washed the bandages of our wounded. A good hour's time was spent in +this, and as we were on the point of re-embarking with the casks of +water, quite overjoyed at our success, one of the men whom we had placed +sentinel on the coast came running towards us in all haste, crying +aloud, "To arms! to arms! numbers of Indians are approaching, both by +land and sea." And indeed the Indians came up to us almost at the same +time with the sentinel. + +They had immense sized bows with sharp arrows, lances, and spears--among +these some were shaped like swords--while their large powerful bodies +were covered with skins of wild beasts. They made straightways to us, +let fly their arrows, and wounded six of our men at the first onset. I +was also slightly wounded in my right arm. We, however, received our +enemies with such well-directed blows and musket-shots that they very +soon quitted us who had been digging the wells, and turned towards the +creek to assist their companions who in their canoes were attacking +those left behind in the boat. The latter had been forced to fight man +to man, and had already lost the boat, which the Indians were towing off +behind their canoes. Four of the sailors had been wounded, and the +pilot, Alaminos, himself severely so in the throat. We, however, +courageously faced our enemy, went up to our middles in the water, and +soon compelled them, by dint of our swords, to jump out of the boat +again. Twenty-two of the enemy lay dead on the shore; three others, who +were slightly wounded, we took on board with us, but they died soon +after. + +After this skirmish was ended, we questioned the soldier who had stood +sentinel as to what had become of his companion, Berrio. He related that +his comrade had left him with an axe in his hand, in order to go and cut +down a palm-tree, and that this was near the inlet where the Indians +first made their appearance. He had also heard him cry out in Spanish, +upon which he himself had immediately hastened to give us the +information. His companion, no doubt, had been murdered by the Indians. +Singular that this man should have lost his life here, he being the only +one who escaped without a wound at the battle of Potonchan. We made +every search for him, and followed the track of the Indians who had just +attacked us; this indeed led us to a palm-tree which had been recently +cut, around which were numerous foot-marks. We could, however, discover +no marks of blood; and concluded, therefore, that the Indians had +carried off the man alive. After we had fruitlessly searched for him in +every quarter for upwards of an hour, and repeatedly called out aloud to +him, without receiving any answer, we returned to our boat, and brought +the water on board. The joy of our men was as great as if we had brought +them new life; and one of the soldiers, from excessive thirst, leaped +from the vessel into the boat, seized one of the small casks, and poured +such an abundance of water into his body, that he instantaneously +swelled out and expired. + +Having brought the water on board our vessels, hauled in our boats, we +hoisted our sails and stood direct for the Havannah. The day and +following night the weather was most beautiful as we passed the Martyr +Islands and sand-banks of the same name. We had only four fathoms water, +where the sea was deepest; our principal ship consequently struck +against the rocks and became very leaky, so that all hands were engaged +at the pumps, without then being able to get the water under, while we +every moment feared the vessel would go down. I never shall forget the +answer which some sailors from the Levant, who were among the crew, made +when we cried out to them: "Come on, my boys, help us to pump out the +water, or we shall all be lost! you see how our wounds and hard labour +have debilitated us." "That's your own look out," said they; "we get no +pay, suffer both from hunger and thirst, and have, in the bargain, to +share your fatigues and wounds." Nothing now remained but to drive them +to the pumps by main force; and in this way we had alternately to work +the sails and the pumps, however distasteful to us, until the Lord Jesus +brought us into the port of Carena, where now the town of Havannah +stands, the latter being previously called Puerto de Carenas, and not +the Havannah. + +As soon as we had set foot on shore we returned thanks to the Almighty +for our safe return, and got the water out of our principal ship, in +which a Portuguese diver, who happened to be on board another vessel, +greatly assisted us. We also immediately wrote to the governor, Diego +Velasquez, giving him an account of the countries we discovered with +large townships and houses built of stone, whose inhabitants were clad +in cotton, and wore maltates; likewise of the gold and the regular +maise-plantations of the country. Our captain journeyed overland to +Santispiritus, where he had his Indian commendary: he died, however, ten +days after his arrival there, from his wounds. The rest of our men +became dispersed through the island, and three more of our men died of +their wounds at the Havannah. + +Our vessels were taken to Santiago de Cuba, where the governor resided. +Here the two Indians were brought on shore whom we had taken with us +from the Punta de Cotoche, as above related, called Melchorillo and +Julianillo. When, however, we brought forth the box with the crowns, the +golden ducks, the fish, and the idols, more noise was made about them +than they really merited, so that they became the common topics of +conversation throughout the islands of St. Domingo and Cuba; indeed the +fame thereof even reached Spain. There it was said that none of the +countries which had hitherto been discovered were as rich as this, and +in none had there been found houses built of stone. The earthen gods, it +was said, were the remains of the ancient heathen times; others again +went so far as to affirm that they were descendants of the Jews whom +Titus and Vespasian had driven from Jerusalem, who had been shipwrecked +off this coast. Peru, indeed, was not then known, and in so far the +countries we had discovered were justly considered of the greatest +importance. Diego Velasquez closely questioned the two Indians as to +whether there were any gold mines in their country. They answered in the +affirmative; and when they were shown some of the gold-dust found in the +island of Cuba, they said there was abundance of it in their country. In +this they told an untruth, as it is very well known there are neither +goldmines on the Punta de Cotoche nor even in whole Yucatan. They were +likewise shown the beds in which the seeds of that plant are sown from +whose root the cassave bread is made, and in Cuba called yuca: they +assured us that the same plant grew in their country, and was called by +them tale. As the cassave-root at Cuba is called yuca, and the ground in +which it is planted by the Indians tale, so from these two words arose +the name of the country, Yucatan; for the Spaniards who were standing +around the governor at the time he was speaking to the two Indians said, +"You see, sir, they call their country Yucatan." And from this +circumstance the country retained the name of Yucatan, although the +natives call it otherwise. + +In this beautiful voyage of discovery we had spent our all, and returned +to Cuba covered with wounds, and as poor as beggars; yet we had reason +to congratulate ourselves that it had not been equally disastrous to us +all as to many of our companions who had lost their lives. Our captain, +as I have already mentioned, died soon after his return; and all of us +suffered for a considerable time after from our wounds. Our whole loss +amounted to seventy men, which was all we had gained by this voyage of +discovery. + +Concerning all this the governor Diego Velasquez wrote to those +gentlemen in Spain who at that time managed the affairs of India, and +boasted of the discoveries _he_ had made, and of the vast expense it had +put _him_ to. This actually obtained credit, and the bishop of Burgos, +Don Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, who also bore the title of archbishop of +Rosano, and was president of Indian affairs, wrote in that strain to his +majesty, in Flanders, vastly extolling the merit of Diego Velasquez, at +the same time not as much as even mentioning the names of any of us who +had really discovered the country. + +I will, however, break off here, and relate in the following chapter +what further fatigues I and three more of my companions in arms had to +undergo. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + _The fatigues I had to undergo, until my arrival in the town of + Trinidad._ + + +I have already above related that I with some other soldiers who had not +quite recovered from our wounds remained behind in the Havannah. As soon +as the latter began to heal a little we three made up our minds to go in +company with a certain Pedro d'Avila, an inhabitant of the Havannah, to +the town of Trinidad. This man was going to make a voyage in a canoe +along the south coast, and had taken a lading of cotton shirts, which he +intended to dispose of in Trinidad. As I have above stated, these canoes +are hollowed out of the trunks of trees, after the manner of our bakers' +troughs: in this country they are used for coasting; and we had to pay +Pedro d'Avila ten doubloons for the voyage. + +As we were coasting along, sometimes rowing, sometimes sailing, we +arrived after the eleventh day in sight of an Indian village, subject to +the Spaniards, and called Cannareon; there arose at night-time such a +terrible gale of wind, that, although we rowed with all our strength, we +could not keep the sea any longer. Notwithstanding every exertion of +Pedro d'Avila, of some Indians from the Havannah, and several other good +rowers we had with us, nothing at last remained but to run the canoe +aground between the steep rocks. The canoe was dashed to pieces, the +whole lading of Pedro d'Avila went to the bottom, and we made the best +of our way on shore, naked as the day we were born, our bodies cut and +bruised all over by clambering over the rocks, for we had stripped +ourselves of our clothes in order to be the better able to swim, and +also, if possible, to save the canoe. As we had only escaped with our +lives among these rocks, none other choice was left us than to continue +our road over them to Trinidad, which lay along the coast through a +barren country full of rugged rocks, where our feet soon became +blistered and wounded; as to think of getting anything to eat was quite +out of the question; while we had continually to struggle with a +terrific gale of wind and the sea breaking over the rocks. Although we +had not neglected to cover our bodies as much as possible with leaves +and herbs, we nevertheless got sore boils between our legs, which bled +very much. At last we could proceed no further; for the sharp stones had +covered our feet with wounds: we managed, however, with considerable +trouble to reach a more elevated spot. None of us having his sword left, +we contrived by means of sharp stones to loosen the bark of some trees +and bind it as well as we could under the soles of our feet, with the +tendrils of climbers, which grew among the wood. And in this way, after +suffering great fatigues we reached a sandy district on the coast, +whence in a couple of days we arrived in the Indian village Yeguarama, +at that time the property of Bartholomeus de las Casas,[3] who was a +priest. I knew him afterwards when he belonged to the order of the +Dominicans, and became bishop of Chiopia. Here the Indians gave us to +eat, and on the following day we arrived at another village, called +Chipiona, which was the joint property of Alonso de Avila, and of +Sandoval, but this was not the captain of the same name who gained such +vast renown in New Spain. From this place we at last came to Trinidad, +where I had an acquaintance, by name Antonio de Medina, who provided me +with a suit of clothes as they were worn in that town; my comrades were +similarly provided by other of the inhabitants. Quite worn out by +fatigue and miserably poor, I set off for Santiago de Cuba, where the +governor Diego Velasquez resided. He was just then busily engaged +fitting out another squadron, and was highly delighted at seeing me +again when I called upon him, for we were related to each other: and as +one word led to another, he asked me if my wounds were sufficiently +healed to make another trip to Yucatan? I could not help smiling at this +and said, who gave the country that name? for the natives do not call it +so. "So Melchior, whom you brought with you, calls it," resumed he. +"Call it rather, (said I,) the land where they killed one half of our +men and wounded the other." "Well, (said he,) if you have undergone many +fatigues, you have only shared the same fate with all others who have +ventured out on the discovery of new countries. But, on the other hand, +you will not fail to be highly honoured and rewarded by his majesty the +king, to whom I will transmit a faithful account of all this. +Therefore, my friend, you may in all safety join yourself to the +squadron I am now fitting out, and I will take care that you shall have +an honorable post." What further happened I will next relate. + +[3] This is the celebrated Las Casas, the protector of the rights of the +Indians. (p. 18.) + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + _How Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, sent out another armament to + the country we had discovered._ + + +It was in the year of our Lord 1518, after Diego Velasquez had learnt +the good account we gave of the newly-discovered country, called +Yucatan, that he determined to send thither another expedition. For this +purpose he selected four vessels, among which were the two in which we +warriors had accompanied Cordoba on our recent voyage to Yucatan, +purchased at our own expense. At the time this squadron was fitting out +there were staying at Santiago de Cuba, Juan de Grijalva, Pedro de +Alvarado, Francisco de Montejo, and Alonso de Avila; who had +commendaries of Indians in these islands, and had come to transact +business with the governor. As these were all men of courage and energy, +Velasquez soon made arrangements with them to take part in this +expedition, on the following terms: that Juan de Grijalva, who was +related to him, should have the chief command of the whole expedition as +captain-general, while Pedro de Alvarado, Francisco de Montejo, and +Alonso de Avila, should be appointed to the command of the three other +ships. They had also to furnish the vessels with provisions of cassave +bread and pickled meat; Diego Velasquez had, on the other hand, to +procure the four vessels, furnish the necessary crossbows, muskets, +goods for barter, and other matters of less importance. Our account that +the houses in the newly-discovered country were built of stone and lime, +had spread a vast idea of its riches, added to which the Indian +Melchorejo had given to understand by signs that it abounded in gold +mines. All this created a great desire among the inhabitants and +soldiers throughout the island, who possessed no commendaries of +Indians, to go in quest of such a rich country; consequently, in a very +short time, we mustered 220. Each person, moreover, furnished himself +with additional provisions, arms, and other matters which might be +useful. + +Thus I again took my departure for that country, under the same +commanders I subsequently once more visited it. The instructions which +our commanders received from Diego Velasquez, were to this effect, that +they should barter for as much gold and silver as they could get, and if +they deemed it advisable settle colonies, but left this entirely to +their own judgment. A person of the name of Penolosa accompanied us in +the capacity of comptroller; for priest we had a certain Juan Diaz. We +had also the same three pilots who accompanied us on our former voyage; +and a fourth, whose name I do not remember. Each had charge of one of +the vessels; but the first in command, as chief pilot, was Anton de +Alaminos. + +But before I proceed with my narrative, I must here remark, that it is +not for want of deference on my part, that I barely give the names of +the noblemen who were our commanding officers, without adding their +titles and describing their several escutcheons, but shall simply call +them thus, Pedro de Alvarado, Francisco de Montejo, and Alonso de Avila. +I therefore now take this opportunity of saying, that Pedro de Alvarado +was a bold cavalier, who, subsequent to the conquest of New Spain, +became governor and chief justice of the provinces of Guatimala, +Honduras, and Chaopo, and comptoir of Santiago. In like manner Francisco +de Montejo, a man of great courage, subsequently was governor and chief +justice of Yucatan. I shall merely call them by their proper names, up +to that time when his majesty conferred on them honorary titles and +sovereign authority. + +But to return to my subject, our four vessels lay in the harbour of +Matanza on the north coast, not far from the old Havannah, which at that +time was not built where it now stands. In this harbour, or at least in +its neighbourhood, most of the inhabitants had their stores of cassave +bread and pickled meat. Here consequently our vessels were provided with +everything they further required. This place moreover had been appointed +the rendezvous for all the officers and men. + +But, before I continue my narrative, I will explain how this harbour +obtained the name of Matanza,[4] though it may seem rather out of place +here; yet, as so many persons have asked me how it originated, there is +some excuse. + +Some time ago, when Cuba was not quite subdued, it happened that a +vessel, bound from the island of St. Domingo to the Luccas, during a +heavy storm, was wrecked off the coast. This took place near the river +and harbour of Matanza; there were thirty Spaniards and two Spanish +ladies on board. In order to convey them across the river, numbers of +Indians had collected together from the Havannah and other districts. +They appeared most friendly inclined, and offered to carry the +shipwrecked across in their canoes and take them to their habitations, +where they would give them to eat. The Spaniards accepted this offer; +when the Indians, however, had arrived in the midst of the stream, they +upset their canoes and drowned them all, save three of the men and one +of the females. The men were allotted to the other Indians, but the +female, a very beautiful woman, was given to the most powerful of the +caziques, the person who had concocted this piece of treachery. From +this circumstance it was that the harbour got the name of Matanza. + +I was personally acquainted with the female whose misfortune I have just +related. After the total conquest of Cuba, she left the cazique in whose +power she then was, and married a citizen of Trinidad, by name Pedro +Sanchez Farsan. + +I was also acquainted with the three Spaniards whose lives had been +spared. One was Gonzalo Mexia, an old man, and native of Xeres; the +other, Juan de Santiste-ban, from Madrigal; and the third was Cascorro, +a sailor and fisherman, of Huelva. The cazique in whose power he was, +had given him his daughter in marriage, and bored holes through his ears +and nose, after the Indian fashion. + +Having thus detained the reader for a while with these old stories, it +is time I return to the thread of my narrative. + +On the 5th of April, 1518, all of us having met together, the officers +and soldiers, the pilots made acquainted with the signals, and the hour +of departure fixed, we attended mass with fervent devotion, and weighed +anchor. After ten days' sail, we passed the cape of Guaniguanico, called +by the sailors San Anton. Eight days after, we came in sight of the +island of Cozumel; it happened to be the feast of the Holy Cross. This +time our ships were carried further off by the currents than the time +before under Cordoba; the consequence was that we now landed on the +south coast of the island. We here espied a village, and found a +good anchorage near it, perfectly free from all rocks. Our +commander-in-chief, therefore, went on shore here with a good body of +soldiers. The inhabitants, who had never witnessed such a sight before, +immediately took to flight when they saw our vessels approaching, so +that not a single one of them had remained in the village. At length we +discovered two Indians among the recently cut maise plants, who had not +been able to get off quick enough. We brought them into the presence of +our captain, who spoke to them with the help of Julianillo and +Melchorejo, whom we had captured at the Punta de Cotoche, and who +understood their language. The distance between their countries was only +four hours' sail, which accounts for the inhabitants of Cozumel +speaking the same language. Our commander was very kind to them, gave +each some green glass beads, and sent them away to bring the Calachoni +of the district, (so the caziques are termed here;) they, however, never +returned. While we were still waiting for them, an Indian woman came +towards us, comely in appearance, and who spoke the language of Jamaica. +She told us that the Indians had fled, out of fear, to the mountains. As +I myself and many others among us understood her language, which is the +same as that of the island of Cuba, we were quite astonished at the +circumstance, and inquired of her how she had got here. + +She told us that, two years ago, she had left Jamaica with ten Indians, +in a large canoe, in order to go fishing among the islands in this +neighbourhood, but had been driven on shore by the currents, when the +inhabitants killed her husband with most of her companions, and +sacrificed them to their gods. + +It struck our commander, as soon as he had learnt this, that the woman +might be employed as a negotiator. He therefore desired her to go and +fetch the inhabitants and cazique of the district, and gave her two days +to return in. We durst not send Melchorejo and Julianillo with her, lest +they should run away and return to their own country. + +The day following, the Indian woman returned, but informed us that, +notwithstanding all her representations, she could neither persuade the +Indians nor their wives to accompany her. We called this place Santa +Cruz, because we had discovered it four or five days before the feast of +the Holy Cross. In this neighbourhood there was plenty of honey, manioc, +patates, and large herds of musk swine, which have their navels on their +backs.[5] This island contains three poor villages, of which the one I +am now speaking of is the largest; the two smaller ones were both +situated on a promontory at about six miles distance from each other. +Our commander Grijalva, perceiving that it was mere loss of time to make +any further stay here, gave orders for re-embarking. The Indian woman of +Jamaica went along with us, and we continued our voyage. + +[4] Puerto de Matanza, the harbour of the massacre. (p. 20.) + +[5] The sus tajassu, pecary, or Mexican musk hog; but what our old +soldier, with other writers, mistook for a navel, is an open gland on +the lower part of the back, which discharges a fetid ichorous liquor. +(p. 22.) + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + _How we landed at Champoton._ + + +From this point we sailed in the same direction we had taken under +Cordoba, and arrived after eight days' sail off the coast of Champoton, +the place where the Indians had so ill used us, as has been related in +the proper place. The sea being very shallow in these parts we dropt our +anchor at about three miles distance from the shore, and immediately +landed in all our boats with half of our men, as near to the village as +possible. The inhabitants and other Indians in the neighbourhood +gathered themselves together as they had the time before, when they +killed fifty-six of our men and wounded all the rest of us. From their +bearing and proud demeanour we could easily perceive that they had not +forgotten their victory. They were all well armed according to their +fashion, with bows, lances, shields, and broadswords, which they wield +with both hands. Added to all this they had slings, cotton cuirasses, +drums and trumpets, while most of them had their faces painted black and +white. They had arranged themselves along the sea shore in order to fall +upon us as soon as we landed. But, as our previous loss had taught us +prudence, we took with us this time some falconets, and otherwise well +armed ourselves with crossbows and matchlocks. + +When we were near enough they let fly such a shower of arrows and lances +that the half of our men were speedily wounded. As soon, however, as we +got on shore, we quickly gave them an evil return with our matchlocks +and sabres. Nothing daunted by this they each selected their man, whom +they particularly aimed at with their arrows, but we had taken the +precaution to put on cotton cuirasses. They continued to combat with us +for some time, until the arrival of another of our long boats, when we +drove them back to the wells near the village. In this conflict we lost +Juan de Quitera and many other soldiers. Our commander, Juan de +Grijalva, got three arrow wounds and lost two of his teeth, and above +sixty of our men were wounded. Immediately upon our putting the enemy to +flight, we entered the village, dressed our wounds, and buried the dead. +Not a single person had remained behind in the village, and even those +whom we had driven back to the wells had merely staid there a sufficient +time to carry off their property. In this skirmish we made three +prisoners, one of whom was a person of rank. Our commander set them at +liberty, desiring them to go and call the cazique of the district. He +also presented them with green glass beads and small bells to distribute +among the inhabitants, in order to gain their friendship. We treated the +three prisoners upon the whole with every kindness, and gave them glass +corals to encourage them and gain their good faith. They left us indeed, +but took good care not to return; we thought it possible, however, that +Julianillo and Melchorejo had misrepresented our commission to them. We +staid four days in this place, and I shall never forget it on account of +the immense sized locusts which we saw here. It was a stony spot on +which the battle took place, and these creatures, while it lasted, kept +continually flying in our faces; and as at the same moment we were +greeted by a shower of arrows from the enemy, we also mistook these +locusts for arrows. But, as soon as we had discovered our mistake, we +deceived ourselves in another more direful way, for we now mistook +arrows for locusts, and discontinued to shield ourselves against them. +In this way we mistook locusts and arrows to our great sorrow, were +severely wounded in consequence, and otherwise found ourselves in a very +awkward predicament. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + _We continued our course and ran into Terminos bay, as we named it._ + + +On our further voyage we came to an opening on the coast, which to us +appeared to be the mouth of some broad and large river. It was, however, +not a river as we had supposed, but a good harbour, which reached so far +inland, and had such a considerable breadth, that it appeared like a +sea; and our pilot Anton de Alaminos confidently asserted that this was +an island whose two promontories reached nigh to the continent. We, +therefore, termed this opening the Boca de Terminos, under which name it +may be found on the sea charts. Our commander and the other officers +went on shore here with the greater part of our men, among which number +I also was. We remained three whole days in this place in order +thoroughly to explore the opening and sail through it in all directions. +We discovered, however, that it was no island, but a deep indented bay, +formed by the continent, affording us a most commodious harbour. As we +also found temples here built of stone and lime, full of idols made of +wood or clay, with other figures, sometimes representing women, +sometimes serpents, also horns of various kinds of wild animals, we +concluded that an Indian village must be near at hand: we considered, +moreover, that this would be a most excellent spot to found a colony. We +had, however, deceived ourselves in one thing, the district being quite +uninhabited. The temples most probably belonged to merchants and +hunters, who on their journies most likely ran into this harbour and +there made their sacrifices. Fallow deer and rabbits abounded in this +neighbourhood, and with one greyhound only we killed ten of the former +and great numbers of the latter. Our dog took such a liking to this spot +that it ran away while we were busy reimbarking, nor did we see it again +until we visited this place subsequently with Cortes, when it appeared +in excellent condition, quite plump and sleeky. + +Having thoroughly explored Terminos harbour, and sounded it throughout, +we pursued our course along the coast to the river Tabasco, which at +present, after the name of its discoverer, is called the river Grijalva. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + _How we came into the Tabasco river, which we termed the Grijalva, + and what happened to us there._ + + +As we thus by day sailed along the coast of the continent, for at night +we lay to on account of the shallows and rocks, we perceived on the +third morning a very broad mouth of some river. We approached the shore +as near as possible, thinking we should find a good harbour here. As we +came closer to the mouth we saw that the waves broke over its shallows: +we consequently lowered our boats to make soundings, and found that our +two larger vessels could not come in here. It was therefore immediately +resolved that they should anchor further out at sea, but that the two +remaining vessels which did not draw so much water, with all our boats +well manned, should proceed up the river. We could perceive in the +canoes along the shore numbers of Indians with bows and arrows, and in +other respects armed exactly like those of Champoton. We concluded from +their numbers that a village could not be far off; we also found as we +proceeded further up the river along the banks, basket kiddles put out, +from two of which we took the fish and placed them in a boat a-stern of +our principal ship. + +This river was previously called after the cazique of the district, the +Tabasco; as we, however, discovered it during this expedition, we gave +it the name of the Grijalva river, in honour of our chief commander, +under which name it stands on the sea charts. + +We might still have been about two miles from the village when we +distinctly heard the crackling noise of the felling of trees; for the +Indians were constructing barricades and making other preparations of +war against us, of the issue of which they entertained no doubts, as +they had been duly advertised of the occurrence at Potonchan. As soon as +we learnt this, we disembarked our men on a projecting point of land, +about two miles from the village, where some palm trees were growing. As +soon as they perceived this, about fifty canoes with Indians completely +armed after their fashion made towards us, while many other canoes, +manned in the same way, lay dispersed about the haven, at a greater +distance, not daring to approach us so near as the first. + +Seeing how ready they were for action, we were just upon the point of +firing off our great guns, and giving them a volley of musket-shots, +when it entered our minds, through a merciful Providence, that we ought +first to try if we could not gain their friendship. We therefore by +means of Julianillo and Melchorejo, (who were natives of the Punta de +Cotoche, and certainly understood the language spoken here,) told the +chiefs they had nothing to fear from us: we were desirous of discoursing +with them and had things to disclose, which, as soon as they had learnt, +would make our arrival pleasing to them: they should come to us and we +would gladly give them of the things we had brought. + +Upon this invitation four of the canoes approached us, containing thirty +Indians, or thereabouts. We showed them necklaces of blue glass beads, +small mirrors, and green imitation corals. At the sight of the latter +they appeared quite delighted; for they thought them to be chalchihuis +stones, which are highly esteemed in their country. + +Our captain then told them, by means of our interpreters, that we came +from a distant country, and were the subjects of a great emperor, whose +name was Don Carlos, who had numerous sovereigns and caziques among his +vassals: they should likewise acknowledge this emperor as their lord and +master, for then it would go well with them;--he further desired them to +give us fowls in exchange for our glass beads. + +Two of the Indians, one of whom was the chief and the other a papa--this +is a kind of priest, who performs the ceremonies in presence of their +idols--answered and said, "they would bring the provisions we required +and commence a trade of barter with us.--For the rest they had already +a master, and could not help feeling astonished that we, who had but +just arrived and knew nothing of them, should that instant wish to +impose a master on them. We had better consider a bit before we +commenced war with them, as we had with those at Potonchan. That already +all the warriors of the country had been ordered out against us, and two +armies, each composed of 8000 men were ready for action. They certainly +had learnt that a few days ago we had killed and wounded 200 men; but +they were more powerful than the inhabitants of that country, which was +the reason why they first wished to know what our intentions were. Our +declaration would be communicated to the caziques of the numerous +districts, who had united themselves for war or for peace." + +Upon this they embraced our commander, in token of peace, who presented +them with necklaces of glass beads, and desired them to return as +quickly as possible with an answer; adding that if they did not return +we would enter their town by main force, though we had no evil +intentions whatever. + +These delegates communicated with the caziques and papas--the latter +having also a voice in their councils,--and they declared that our offer +of peace was acceptable to them. Provisions were ordered to be sent us, +and all present agreed that they themselves with the neighbouring tribes +should each contribute their quota in order to make us a present in gold +to insure our good friendship, and obviate a recurrence of what had +taken place at Potonchan. From what I subsequently learnt and witnessed +I found that it was customary with the inhabitants of these countries to +make each other presents whenever they were in treaty about peace. + +All I have been relating took place on the promontory where the palm +trees stood. About thirty Indians soon arrived, laden with broiled fish, +fowls, fruit, and maise-bread. They also brought pans filled with +red-hot embers, on which they strewed incense, and perfumed us all. +After this ceremony was ended they spread some mats on the ground, over +which they laid a piece of cotton cloth; on this they put some trifling +ornaments in gold in the shape of ducks and lizards, with three +necklaces made of gold, which had been melted into the shape of round +balls. All these things, however, were of an inferior kind of gold, not +worth 200 pesos. They next presented us with some mantles and +waistcoats, as they themselves wore, and begged of us to accept them in +good kind; saying they had no more gold to give us, but that further on +towards the setting of the sun there was a country where it was found in +great abundance; hereby often repeating the word Culba, Culba, and +Mexico, Mexico. We however did not understand what they meant. Although +the presents they had brought us were of little value, we nevertheless +rejoiced exceedingly on account of the certainty we had gained that +there was gold in this country. Having handed over the presents to us +with due formality they told us we might now continue our voyage. Our +captain thanked them; presenting each at the same time with some green +beads. We now determined to re-embark, for the vessels were in great +danger on account of the north wind, which in our present situation was +quite contrary. We had, moreover, to go in quest of the country, which, +according to the assurances of the Indians, abounded in gold. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + _We come in sight of the town of Aguajaluco, and give it the name of + La Rambla._ + + +Having again re-embarked we continued our course along the coast, and +perceived on the second day a town close to the sea shore, called +Aguajaluco. We could discern numbers of Indians hurrying to and fro with +huge shields made out of large tortoise-shells, which glittered so +beautifully in the sun, that some of our men believed they were made of +an inferior species of gold. The inhabitants appeared to be walking up +and down the shore in great consternation, which induced us to call the +village La Rambla, under which name it stands on the sea charts. + +As we proceeded further along the coast we came to a bay, into which the +river Tonola empties itself: it was this same river we entered on our +subsequent voyage. We gave it the name of Sant Antonio, which it still +retains on the maps. We next passed the mouth of the great river +Guacasualco, and would gladly have run into the bay which it forms if +contrary winds had not prevented us. We now came in sight of the great +Snow Mountains--Sierras Nevadas. These are covered the whole year round +with snow. There were also other mountains, nearer the coast, to which +we gave the name of _Holy Martin_, because a soldier of the name of San +Martino, a native of the Havannah, first descried them. One of the +commanders, Pedro de Alvarado, whose vessel was the fastest sailer of +the whole, being a great way ahead of the others, ran his ship up a +river called by the natives Papalohuna: this we termed the Alvarado, +after the name of the discoverer. Some Indian fishermen of the village +Tlacotalpa gave him fish: we could perceive this, though at a great +distance from him. Alvarado was followed by two more of our ships; we +were therefore obliged to wait until they returned. This digression +without the general's leave occasioned ill blood; and Grijalva forbade +Alvarado in future to sail in advance of the squadron, fearing he might +meet with some accident or other before the rest could possibly come up +to his assistance. From this time the four vessels kept close together. +We soon after arrived at the mouth of another river, which we termed the +Bandera's Stream, (Flag Stream,) from the circumstance that the banks of +the river were crowded with Indians bearing small flags of white cloth +attached to their lances. They called out and invited us to come on +shore: but I will relate in the next chapter what further took place +here. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + _How we arrive on the Bandera's Stream, and gain 1500 pesos._ + + +By this time the existence of the great city of Mexico must be known +throughout the major part of the Spanish provinces and the greater part +of Christendom: how, like Venice, it was built in the water; and of the +mighty monarch who resided there, king of many provinces and lord of all +these countries, which in extent were more than quadruple that of Spain. +The name of this monarch was Motecusuma: his power was so great that he +would gladly have extended it to places where it was impossible, and he +wished to know things which he never could learn. He had, however, heard +of our first visit under the command of Cordoba, and of our battle at +Cotoche and Champoton, also of the second engagement we had had at the +last-mentioned spot. He was moreover aware that we had been but a +handful of men in comparison with the multitude of the inhabitants; and +lastly, it had been made known to him that we gladly exchanged our goods +for gold. All this information had, from time to time, been sent him by +means of painted figures or signs, drawn, as is the custom with this +people, on a thick kind of cloth manufactured from the maguey,[6] very +much resembling our linen. Being also informed that we were continuing +our course along the coast, he issued orders to the governors of the +several districts that at every place where we landed they should +exchange their gold for our glass beads, but particularly for the green +ones, which so much resembled their chalchihuis stones; and further he +commanded them to gain every information with respect to our intentions. +What made him dwell more particularly upon the latter was the ancient +tradition in the country, which spoke of a people that would come from +the rising of the sun who would at some future period get the dominion +of the country. + +For whatever purpose it may have been I will leave, but certain it is +that the powerful Motecusuma had ordered sentinels to be posted along +the banks of the river above mentioned. These sentinels had all small +flags attached to the points of their lances, and called out aloud, +inviting us to come to them. While we were contemplating from our +vessels this, to us, so novel a sight, our commander-in-chief with the +other officers and soldiers came to the determination to inquire their +meaning. We therefore lowered two of our boats and manned them with +twenty soldiers, well armed with crossbows and muskets. The command of +this was given to Francisco de Montejo. I was likewise among the number. +Our instructions were to send immediate information to the +commander-in-chief if anything of a hostile nature should take place and +in general to let him know how matters stood. It pleased God that the +weather should be calm, which is seldom the case on these coasts. We all +got safe on shore, and were met by three caziques, one of whom was a +governor under Motecusuma. These were attended by great numbers of +Indians, carrying fowls, maise-bread, pines, sapotas, and other +provisions; they spread some mats in the shade of the trees, on which +they invited us to sit down. All this was done by signs, as Julianillo +did not understand their language. Next they brought pans made of clay, +filled with glowing embers, on which they strewed a species of resin, +smelling very much like our incense, with which they perfumed us. + +Francisco de Montejo sent information of all this to our +commander-in-chief, who immediately resolved to run the whole squadron +into the bay, and proceed on shore with all our men. + +When the caziques and the governor saw our general on shore, who, they +had been given to understand, was our chief officer, they paid him in +their way the greatest possible respect, and perfumed him most +vehemently. We thanked them kindly, and in return made many +protestations of friendship, also presenting each with white and green +glass beads, desiring them at the same time to bring us gold in exchange +for our commodities. Motecusuma's governor strongly advised the Indians +to comply with our request; the consequence of which was that the +inhabitants of the surrounding districts soon brought us every trinket +they possessed in the shape of gold, and commenced a trade of barter +with us. During the six days we stayed in this spot we obtained upwards +of 1500 pesos' worth of gold trinkets, of various workmanship, but of +inferior quality. The historians Francisco Lopez de Gomara and Gonzalo +Hernandez de Oviedo have also mentioned this circumstance in their +works. They err, however, when they say it took place in the Tabasco or +Grijalva river; for it is a well-authenticated fact that there is no +gold found in the provinces which border on the river Grijalva, and, +upon the whole, very few ornaments of gold. I will not, however, detain +my reader with their account, but rather inform him that we took +possession of this country for his imperial majesty the Emperor, in the +name of Diego Velasquez, the governor of Cuba. This being done, our +general told the Indians that he was now desirous of re-embarking, and +presented them with some Spanish shirts. We took one of the Indians with +us, who subsequently learnt our language and was converted to +Christianity, when he took the name of Francisco. I met with him +afterwards at Santa Fe, where he had settled himself after the conquest +of Mexico. Our commander, finding that the inhabitants brought no more +gold, and considering that we had already been here six days, and that +our present anchorage was rather dangerous on account of the contrary +winds, gave orders for re-embarking. Pursuing our voyage, we came to an +island which was quite covered with white sand, lying above nine miles +from the main land. We gave it the name of Isla Blanca, as it stands on +the sea charts. Not far from this lay another island, nearly five miles +from the main land, which offered us a very commodious landing-place. + +Our general, therefore, ordered the boats to be lowered, and landed, +with the greater portion of our men, in order to explore the island. We +found two houses, which were strongly built of stone and lime; both were +ascended by a flight of steps, and surmounted by a species of altar, on +which stood several abominable idols, to whom, the previous evening, +five Indians had been sacrificed. Their dead bodies still lay there, +ripped open, with the arms and legs chopped off, while everything near +was besmeared with blood. We contemplated this sight in utter +astonishment, and gave this island the name of Isla de Sacrificios. +Quitting this place, we landed on the neighbouring continent, where we +constructed ourselves huts on one of the large downs, with some sails +and the branches of trees. Numbers of Indians soon made their +appearance, bringing with them small pieces of gold for barter, in the +same way as at the Bandera stream, according to the commands of +Motecusuma, as we subsequently learnt. The inhabitants, however, +approached us in great fear, and what they brought with them was a mere +trifle. Our captain, therefore, soon weighed anchor again. The next +place we landed at was in view of another island, which lay about two +miles from the continent. This at present is considered the best harbour +of the country. What happened to us in this place I will relate in the +next chapter. + +[6] The author sometimes also calls this nequen, of which the garments +of the poorer classes were manufactured. The maguey is the well-known +agava Americana, the sap of which formed the national drink of the +Indians, and the Mexicans were accustomed to write most of their +hieroglyphics on the cloth manufactured from the leaves. (p. 29.) + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + _How we came into the harbour of San Juan de Culua._ + + +Having disembarked on a part of the coast where it was very sandy, we +were annoyed by such multitudes of muschetoes that we were forced to +construct ourselves huts on the great downs and in the tops of trees: +this, being done, we carefully examined the harbour in our boats, and +were fully satisfied that it contained a good anchorage, it being +moreover sheltered against the north wind by the island, to which our +general now proceeded with thirty men all well armed. Here we found a +temple on which stood the great and abominable-looking god +Tetzcatlipuca, surrounded by four Indians, dressed in wide black cloaks, +and with flying hair, in the same way as our canons or Dominicans wear +it. These were priests, who had that very day sacrificed two boys, whose +bodies they had ripped up, and then offered their bleeding hearts to the +horrible idol. They were going to perfume us in the same way they had +done their gods; and though it smelt like our incense, we would not +suffer them, so shocked were we at the sight of the two boys whom they +had recently murdered, and disgusted with their abominations. Our +captain questioned the Indian Francisco whom we had brought with us from +the Bandera stream as to what was meant by all this, for he seemed +rather an intelligent person; having, at that time, as I have already +stated, no interpreter, our captain put these questions to him by means +of signs. Francisco returned for answer that this sacrifice had been +ordered by the people of Culua; but, as it was difficult for him to +pronounce this latter word, he kept continually saying _Olua_, _Olua_. +From the circumstance of our commander himself being present, and that +his Christian name was Juan, and it happening to be the feast of St. +John, we gave this small island the name of San Juan de Ulua. This +harbour was ever after much frequented. Great numbers of ships have been +refitted there, and all merchandise for Mexico and New Spain are here +shipped or unladen. During the time we were encamped on these downs, +numbers of Indians from the surrounding districts, brought us their gold +trinkets in exchange for our goods; but there was so little of it, and +that so very inferior in quality, that we scarcely troubled ourselves +about it. We remained, nevertheless, seven days in the huts we had +constructed, though we were constantly annoyed by swarms of muschetoes, +which rendered our stay most uncomfortable. As we had now been so long +at sea, and had fully convinced ourselves that it was no island, but a +continent, we had discovered, containing considerable towns; as our +cassave-bread was become quite mouldy and unfit for eating; considering, +moreover, that our numbers were too small to think of making any +settlement here, particularly as we had lost ten of our men in +consequence of their wounds, besides having four others dangerously +ill,--we determined to forward Diego Velasquez an account of the state +of affairs, and desire him to send us succours; indeed Grijalva had a +great mind to have founded a colony even with the few men we had to +spare. Our captain had throughout shown a magnanimous spirit, and proved +himself a brave soldier, let the historian Gomara say anything to the +contrary he likes. Pedro de Alvarado was selected to go on this mission +to Cuba, with the ship San Sebastian, which had become rather leaky: +this vessel could be refitted there, and return with succours and +provisions. He also took with him all the gold we had bartered for, the +cotton stuffs presented us by the Indians, and our sick. Our principal +officers, moreover, each sent Diego Velasquez a written account, +according to their several views, of all we had seen. We will now leave +Pedro de Alvarado to his own good fortune on his voyage to Cuba, and +relate what happened to the vessel which Diego Velasquez sent in quest +of us. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + _Diego Velasquez sends out a small vessel in quest of us._ + + +From the very moment in which Juan de Grijalva had quitted Cuba for the +wide ocean, Diego Velasquez became downcast and thoughtful; he was +constantly harassed by the idea that some misfortune would befall us. In +the height of his impatience he at last sent out a small vessel, with +seven men, in quest of us. The command of this was given to a certain +Christobal de Oli, a man of great courage and energy. His instructions +were to follow the same course in which Cordoba had sailed, until he +should have met with us. It appears, however, that Christobal de Oli, +while riding at anchor near the coast, was overtaken by a violent +storm, and found himself compelled, in order to save his vessel from +being cast ashore, to cut the cables; at least he had no anchor left on +his return to Santiago de Cuba, nor had he been able to bring the +governor any information respecting us. + +Diego Velasquez now despaired more than ever. The arrival of Pedro de +Alvarado with the gold and other things, fortunately set his anxiety at +rest, who, moreover, detailed to him the discoveries we had made. His +joy was excessive when he saw the gold, and how it was worked into +various shapes; from which very circumstance it appeared to him and +others who happened to be present on business, of much greater value +than it really was; nor were his majesty's officials, who had to take +the fifth part, less astonished at the riches of the countries we had +discovered. Pedro de Alvarado, who knew how to humour Diego Velasquez, +afterwards related that the governor had continually embraced him,--that +festivities and tournaments were celebrated for eight successive days. +If the fame of the riches of these countries had been rumoured abroad +before, it was now, on account of the gold we had sent, the more so; it +soon spread through all the islands, and the whole of Spain. + +I shall have occasion to speak of this hereafter, and will also leave +Diego Velasquez to his festivities, and return to our vessels at San +Juan de Ulua. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + _What befell us on our coasting voyage along the Tusta and Tuspa + mountains._ + + +After Pedro de Alvarado had set sail for Cuba, our general and other +officers held a consultation with the pilots, when it was determined +that we should continue our course along the coast, and push our +discoveries as far as possible. As we sailed along, we first came in +view of the Tusta, and, two days after, of the more elevated mountains +of Tuspa, both of which take their names from two towns lying close to +the foot of these mountains. On the whole, we saw numbers of towns lying +from six to nine miles inland, now the province of Panuco. At last we +arrived at a large stream, to which we gave the name of Canoe river, and +dropped anchor at its mouth. + +While our vessels were lying at anchor here, and our men had become less +careful than usual, sixteen large canoes full of Indians, all equipped +for battle, with bows, arrows, and lances, came down the stream and made +straight for our smallest vessel, commanded by Alonso de Avila, which +lay nearest the shore. They greeted our men with a shower of arrows, +wounding two of the soldiers, and then lay hold of the vessel as if they +meant to carry her off, after they had cut one of the cables. We now +hastened to the assistance of Alonso, who was still bravely repelling +his assailants, and had capsized three of their canoes. We were well +armed with crossbows and muskets, and very soon wounded at least above a +third of our enemies, who speedily retreated to where they had come +from, not exactly in the best of spirits. Upon this we weighed anchor +and continued our course along the coast until we arrived at a wide +projecting cape, which, on account of the strong currents, we found so +difficult to double that we considered our further course now impeded. +The chief pilot, Alaminos, here told our commander that it was no longer +advisable to sail on at a venture, for which he gave us many plausible +reasons. This matter being duly considered in council, it was +unanimously agreed that we should return to Cuba. + +To this step we were, moreover, induced by the approach of winter, +scarcity of provisions, and the bad condition of one of our vessels +which had become very leaky. To this may also be added the disagreement +between our commanders; for Juan de Grijalva persisted in his opinion +that they should make an attempt to leave a colony behind, while +Francisco de Montejo and Alonso de Avila, on the contrary, maintained +that any such attempt would be fruitless, considering the multitude of +warriors which inhabited these countries: to all this may be added that +our men were heartily sick of the sea. We therefore turned our vessels +about, hoisted all the sails, and arrived in a few days, being greatly +assisted by the currents, in the wide waters of the Guacasualco river. +We could not make any stay here on account of the boisterous state of +the weather, and therefore continued our course along the coast until we +arrived at the mouth of the river Tonala, to which we gave the name of +St. Antonio. We ran up this river and careened the leaky vessel, which +had struck there several times against the rocks. + +While we were busily engaged at this work, numbers of Indians came up to +us from the harbour of Tonala, which lay about four miles from this +place, bringing with them maise-bread, fish, and fruits, which they +readily gave us. Our commander was particularly kind to them, and +presented each with white and green glass beads, giving them at the same +time to understand by signs that they should bring us gold in exchange +for our goods. They soon complied with our wishes, but their gold was of +a very inferior quality, for which they received imitation corals. As +soon as the inhabitants of Guacasualco and the neighbouring districts +had learnt that we offered our goods for barter, they brought us all +their golden ornaments, and took in exchange green glass beads, on which +they set a high value. Besides ornaments of gold, every Indian had with +him a copper axe, which was very highly polished, with the handle +curiously carved, as if to serve equally for an ornament as for the +field of battle. At first we thought that these axes were made of an +inferior kind of gold; we therefore commenced taking them in exchange, +and, in the space of two days, had collected more than 600, with which +we were no less rejoiced as long as we were ignorant of their real +value, than the Indians with our glass beads. One of our sailors, who +had by stealth bought seven of these axes and was secretly +congratulating himself on this piece of good fortune, was betrayed to +our commander-in-chief, who, ordering the man in his presence, commanded +him to deliver up his treasure. Still of opinion that these axes were of +gold, the poor fellow, though forced, reluctantly parted with them. This +brings to my mind what befell one of our men, named Bartolome Prado: +this fellow had managed to get inside of a temple, called by the Indians +a cue,[7] which stood upon an elevated spot, and had found in it +numerous idols, and some copal, which is the incense of the Indians; +also knives made of hard flint, with which they cut their meat +offerings, and otherwise make use of in their sacrifices. Besides these +things, he found two small wooden boxes, filled with golden trinkets +which are worn about the head and neck; also small idols, and other +ornaments somewhat resembling our pearls. The idols he brought to his +commander, but took care to keep the gold himself. It seems, however, +that some one had been watching him all the time, who reported what he +had seen to our captain. We all felt concerned at this, and spoke a good +word for him, as he was a kind-hearted being: we begged hard of our +commander that he might be allowed to retain his treasure, minus the +fifth part claimed for the emperor, which being granted, the man had +nigh upon eighty pesos left for himself. In this place I must also +acquaint my readers how I sowed some orange seeds close to one of these +temples. On account of the numbers of muschetoes which swarm along this +river, I had, being tired, laid myself down to rest on the summit of a +high temple: in gratitude for the quiet slumber I enjoyed there, I +sowed, at the foot of this building, eight orange seeds which I had +brought with me from Cuba. These seeds grew very fast, and when grown +to small plants, were most probably watered and preserved from the ants +by the papas, as soon as they perceived the new plant. I have merely +related this in order to acquaint my reader that these were the first +orange seeds that were planted in New Spain. Subsequent to the conquest +of Mexico and friendly subjection of the Indian tribes on the +Guacasualco, this province, being excellently situated, was considered +of greater importance than any other, no less on account of its mines +than for its beautiful harbour. The country, moreover, abounded in gold, +and contained fine pastures for sheep, which was the reason why the most +illustrious of the conquistadores[8] of Mexico settled themselves there; +among which number was myself,--and I did not forget to look for my +orange trees, which, indeed, I transplanted, and they afterwards +flourished uncommonly. + +I am well aware that it will be said, such old tales as these are quite +out of character here; I will not, therefore, say another syllable on +the subject, but merely acquaint the reader that the inhabitants of +these districts were all very much pleased with us, and embraced us at +our departure. We set sail for Cuba, and arrived there in the space of +forty days, during which time the weather was sometimes favorable and +sometimes boisterous. We were most friendly received by the governor +Diego Velasquez, who was highly delighted with the additional gold we +brought him. Altogether it was well worth 4000 pesos; so that with the +16,000 brought over by Alvarado, the whole amounted to 20,000 pesos. +Some make this sum greater, some less; but one thing is certain, the +crown officials only took the fifths of the last-mentioned sum. When +they were about to take this also of the Indian axes, which we had +mistaken for gold, they grew excessively angry on finding them to be +merely of a fine species of copper; nor did this circumstance fail to +produce the usual laughter at the expense of our trade of barter. Diego +Velasquez, however, appeared perfectly satisfied, though not so with his +relative Grijalva. This was wrong on his part, for it originated solely +in the misrepresentations of Alonso de Avila, a man of a bad +disposition, who did all he could, backed by Montejo, to lower Grijalva +in his eyes. All this--rumour spread--was done in order to fit out +another armament, and select a new commander. + +[7] According to Humboldt, the word cue was imported by the Spanish into +New Spain from Cuba. The great temple of Mexico was called by the +Indians teocalli; a word which Torquemada (Monarchia Indiana) thus +explains: "Que es come decir, templo, u casas de Dios;" i.e. "As much as +to say, a temple, or house of God." (p. 36.) + +[8] So those Spaniards, who made the first conquests in New Spain, +termed themselves, by way of preference, which name they ever after +retained as an honorary title. Even to this day in Spain it is +considered very distinguishing to be descended from one of the +Conquistadores, and some of the first families there date all their +greatness from one of these bold adventurers. (p. 37.) + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + _Diego Velasquez despatches one of his officials to Spain._ + + +My readers may perhaps think, that what I am now about to relate does +not exactly belong to this history; but in the course of it they will +readily perceive that I have been obliged to notice many circumstances +before I could introduce them to the captain, Hernando Cortes. They +ought also to bear in mind, that it often happens that two or three +things take place at the same moment; in which case there only remains +for the historian to treat of one circumstance after the other, and +begin with that which lies nearest at hand. In this place the following +comes first under our consideration. + +After the arrival of Pedro de Alvarado with the gold which we had made +in the newly-discovered country, Diego Velasquez began to fear that some +one at court, who might have received private information of all this, +would anticipate him, in forwarding his imperial majesty the first news +of our important discovery, and so rob him of the reward. He, therefore, +despatched one of his chaplains, named Benito Martinez, a thorough man +of business, to Spain, with letters and a few of the valuable things, to +Don Juan Rodriguez Fonseca, bishop of Burgos, and archbishop of Rosano. +He wrote at the same time to the licentiate Louis Zapata, and the +secretary Lope Conchillos, who at that time had the conduct of all +Indian affairs under the archbishop. + +Diego Velasquez was quite devoted to these gentlemen, and had presented +them with considerable Indian villages in Cuba, with the inhabitants of +which they worked their gold mines. But he took particular care to +provide well for the archbishop, troubling himself very little about his +majesty, who was at that time in Flanders. + +He sent moreover to these, his patrons, a great portion of the gold +trinkets which Alvarado had brought with him; for everything that was +determined in the imperial council of India depended upon these +gentlemen. Diego Velasquez therefore sought, by means of his chaplain, +to obtain unlimited permission to fit out armaments at any time he might +think proper to make voyages of discovery, and to found colonies in the +new countries as well as in those that might subsequently be discovered: +in the accounts he transmitted to Spain, he spoke of the many thousands +of gold-pesos which he had already spent in like undertakings; thereby +giving such a favorable direction to the negotiations of his chaplain, +Benito Martinez, that his expectations were more than fulfilled, who +even obtained for him the additional title of Adelantado of Cuba. This +latter appointment, however, did not arrive until the new expedition +under Cortes had left. I will not make any further remarks on these +matters at present, but rather say a few words respecting Francisco +Lopez de Gomara's History of the Conquest of New Spain and Mexico. His +history fell into my hands while I was writing my own, and I soon +foresaw that I should have to contradict him in many instances. My +intention is to give a faithful account, and that in due order, of every +circumstance; this will greatly differ from his narrative, which is +quite at variance with truth. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + _Of some errors in the work of Francisco Lopez de Gomara._ + + +While busily engaged writing this narrative, the eloquent History of the +Conquest of Mexico and New Spain, by Gomara, fell into my hands; and +when I perceived the elegance of his style, and considered the rudeness +of my own, I laid down my pen, ashamed at the very thoughts of its being +read by men of distinction. With my spirits thus damped, I once more +undertook to go through his history; it was then I, for the first time, +discovered how mistaken this author was with respect to the occurrences +which had really taken place in New Spain. He is equally bad whenever he +writes about the magnitude of the towns and number of the inhabitants; +in which, whenever it suits him, he does not, for instance, hesitate a +moment to put 8000 for eight. In the same way he mentions the extensive +buildings we were stated to have commenced, though, in fact, we were +only 400 in number when we first went out to war, and had sufficient +work to defend ourselves and prevent the victory from going over to our +enemies. Though the Indians may have been timid, we were, nevertheless, +guiltless of such wholesale slaughter and other barbarities as Gomara +would lay to our doors. On the contrary, such was our situation, and I +hereby seal my words with an oath when I state, that we daily offered up +our prayers to God and the Holy Virgin to preserve us from destruction. + +Alaric was certainly a most courageous monarch, and Attila a soldier +whose excessive pride would not allow him to shrink back from anything; +yet they never slaughtered such multitudes of human beings on the +Catalonian plains as we do in the book of Gomara! + +In the same way he mentions what numbers of towns and temples we either +burnt or destroyed. I am speaking of the Indian temples, called by the +inhabitants cues. This latter circumstance would certainly be most +pleasing to his readers; but he never gave it a thought, when he was +writing, that the conquistadores themselves, and those better informed, +would detect his errors and falsehoods. Even in his other works, +whenever he speaks about New Spain, he immediately commits blunders. In +one place he praises a commander far above his merits, for which very +reason he in another most unjustly diminishes that of a second. In +another place again, he gives many a one a command who was not even in +the army during the conquest: he gives, for instance, the chief command +at the battle fought near the town afterwards called Almeria, to Pedro +d'Irico, when, in fact, it was Juan de Escalante who commanded on that +occasion, and was killed with seven of his men. Again he says, that Juan +Velasquez de Leon founded the colony of Guacasualco, although it was +Gonzalo de Sandoval, of Avila. There is as much truth in his account +when he says that Cortes ordered the Indian Quezal Popoca, one of +Motecusuma's chiefs, to be burnt, together with the village in which it +was stated he had hid himself. Equal reliance may be placed in his +description of our entry into the town and fortress of Anga Panga, where +everything happened exactly contrary to what he has stated. In his +narrative of our proceedings on the downs, when we had appointed Cortes +captain-general and chief justice, he has allowed himself to be deceived +by false information, while he has totally misrepresented our taking of +the town Chamula, in the province of Chiapa. A still greater blunder he +commits when he states that Cortes issued his orders secretly for the +destruction of the eleven vessels which had brought us to New Spain, for +it is perfectly well known that the ships were run on shore by our +unanimous consent, and in presence of us all, in order that the sailors +might also be armed and accompany us on our march. + +In like manner he lowers the merits of Juan de Grijalva, although he had +proved himself such a worthy officer; while he passes by Hernandez de +Cordoba in silence, though he was the first who discovered Yucatan: of +Francisco de Garay he says, that he had accompanied us on the previous +expedition under Grijalva, though he first visited New Spain during this +last expedition. In the account he gives of the arrival of Narvaez, and +the victory we gained over him, he is certainly more faithful, and has +been well informed of all the circumstances; but, with respect to the +battles with the Tlascallans, up to the time when peace was concluded +with them, he has again diverged from the truth. Concerning the battle +we fought in the city of Mexico itself, in which we were worsted and +beaten back with the loss of 860 of our troops, of whom a great portion +was sacrificed to the idols,--I repeat, where above 860 of our men were +killed, for out of 1300 soldiers who had marched into the town to the +relief of Pedro de Alvarado, which made out the united forces of Narvaez +and Cortes, only 440 escaped, and even these were all wounded,--of this +great and important deed of arms he speaks as if it were a mere nothing. +He says as little of the subsequent conquest we made of the great city +of Mexico, or the manner in which we accomplished it, and omits to +mention the number of our killed and wounded; as if this undertaking had +merely been a jolly marriage-procession. But why should I continue to +enumerate all these particularities one by one, it is a mere waste of +ink and paper! I can only say that it is a great pity if Gomara pursues +the same course in all his works; for in the beautiful style in which he +writes, he ought to make truth perceptible, and distinguish himself +therein. But enough of Gomara; I have sufficiently proved, to the sorrow +of his readers, how far he has gone beside the truth. I will now return +to my history, and strive to act up to the advice of wise men, who say +that honesty and truth are the true ornaments to history. Indeed, my +rude style of writing would be insupportable without truth, and +therefore I was determined to put my trust in it, and continue my +narrative in the way I had begun, that it might go to the press, and +publish to the world the conquest of New Spain, as it really took place. +In this way his imperial majesty will also learn the great services +which we, the true conquistadores, have rendered to the crown; how small +our numbers were when we first arrived in this country, under the +command of our highly-favoured and faithful captain, Hernando Cortes; +what dangers we had to brave; and, lastly, how we conquered this +kingdom, which forms a great part of the New World, and for which reason +his majesty, our most christian king and master, has so often ordered +that we should be rewarded. However, I will not say anything further on +this head, though much might be said. In resuming my pen I will, like a +careful pilot who throws out the lead when he is in danger of shallows, +search after truth, where the historian Gomara flies away from it. I +will not, however, detain my readers by entering into minute +particulars, but always keep the whole in view, in order that the costs +of gathering the leasings may not amount to more than the value of the +full vintage. If other historians should further swell out my narrative, +and bestow on Cortes, our commander, and on the brave conquistadores in +this great and holy expedition, their just measure of praise, I can at +least say that I have witnessed for the truth. These, indeed, are not +stories about strange countries, or dreams, or contradictory statements; +everything I relate, if I may so say, happened but yesterday, and the +whole of New Spain can test these representations, and judge how far +those are correct who have written on the same subject. I will relate +that of which I myself was an eyewitness, facts which I know to be true, +and will pay no attention to the contradictory statements of those who +merely write from hearsay, for truth is a sacred thing. I will therefore +say no more on this head, though I could, if I liked, say a good deal; +and merely add, that there are good grounds for believing that when +Gomara was writing his history, he had been deceived by false +information: with him, every circumstance is made to turn to the glory +and honour of Cortes, while no mention is made of the other brave +officers and soldiers; but, the partiality of this author is +sufficiently seen from the circumstance of his having dedicated his work +to the present Marquis del Valle, son of Cortes, and not to his majesty +the king. But, alas! these untruths and errors are not peculiar to +Francisco Lopez de Gomara, but have also been the means of leading many +other writers and historians who had followed his work into like error, +as for instance, Doctor Illescas and Paulo Jovio, who have exactly +copied Gomara's account, without adding or taking away a single word. +For all their blunders they are indebted to Gomara. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + _How another armament was fitted out for a voyage to the newly + discovered countries. The command of which was given to Hernando + Cortes, afterwards Marquis of the Vale of Oaxaca; also of the secret + cabals which were formed to deprive him of it._ + + +Immediately after the return of Juan de Grijalva from our last voyage of +discovery, in the year 1518, Diego Velasquez issued orders for the +fitting-out of a more considerable armament than the foregoing. For this +purpose he had ten vessels lying in the harbour of Santiago de Cuba, at +his disposal. Among these were the four vessels in which we had just +returned with Grijalva, which had been immediately refitted and +careened. The six others had been collected from the different ports of +the island. The vessels were provided with sufficient provisions, +consisting in cassave-bread, tobacco, and smoked bacon, to last us on +our voyage to the Havannah, where they were to be fully equipped, for at +that time there was neither beef nor mutton to be had in Cuba. In the +meantime, however, Diego Velasquez could not make up his mind to whom +he should intrust the command. Some cavaliers certainly mentioned Vasco +Porcallo, a captain of great renown, and related to the earl of Feria, +who, it was said, would shortly arrive to take the command. This man, +however, did not suit Diego Velasquez; he feared his daring spirit, and +was apprehensive that once having the armament under his command he +would declare himself independent of him. Others again spoke of Augustin +Bermudez, Antonio Velasquez Borrego, and Bernardino Velasquez, who were +all three relatives of Velasquez. We soldiers, however, would not hear +of any other than Juan de Grijalva, who, besides being a brave officer, +bore an unblemished character; a man moreover who fully understood the +art of commanding. While such like rumours were afloat, the affair was +secretly settled, by two confidants of Diego Velasquez, Andreas de +Duero, secretary to the governor, and Almador de Lares, the royal +treasurer, with Hernando Cortes. Cortes was a cavalier of rank, a native +of Medellin, and son of Martin Cortes de Monroy, and of Catalina Pizarro +Altamirano, both descendants of two ancient noble families of +Estremadura, though then in rather straitened circumstances. Cortes had +an Indian commendary in Cuba, and had been recently married to Dona +Catalina Suarez Pacheco, daughter of the late Diego Suarez Pacheco of +Avila, and of Maria de Mercaida of Biscay; and sister to Juan Suarez +Pacheco, who, subsequent to the conquest of New Spain, took up his abode +in Mexico, where he had a commendary. This marriage proved very +expensive to Cortes, and had even occasioned his imprisonment. Diego +Velasquez favoured the family of Cortes's wife, who had been averse to +the match: but I must leave this for others to expatiate upon, and +rather confine myself to the principal subject in this place, which is, +to acquaint my reader that the above-mentioned confidants of Diego +Velasquez did all in their power to obtain the appointment of +commander-in-chief for Cortes; who, on the other hand, had promised to +share equally with them all the profits arising from the gold, silver, +and jewels, which pending this expedition should fall to his share, +which might turn out very considerable, since the real design of Diego +Velasquez, in fitting-out this expedition, was not to make settlements, +but that a trade of barter should be carried on with the natives. Duero +and the royal treasurer, therefore, employed all their cunning with the +governor. They took every opportunity of placing Cortes in the most +favorable light--extolling his great courage, in a word, declared him to +be the most proper person whom he could intrust with the command. In him +he might place implicit confidence, the more so since he himself had +been present as a witness at Cortes's marriage, and given the bride +away, and was thus spiritually related to him. Their endeavours were +indeed crowned with success, by Diego Velasquez conferring the +appointment of captain-general of the expedition on that gentleman. The +secretary Duero did not fail on this occasion, as the saying is, to +write out the commission with the best of ink, to word it agreeably to +Cortes's wishes, and finish it in all haste. When the appointment became +known to the public, some approved of it and others not. + +On the Sunday following, as Diego Velasquez was on his way to church, +accompanied by the principal personages in the town, as was due to him +in his capacity of governor, it happened that he did Cortes the honour +of placing him on his right side; on the road they were met by a jester, +nick-named the fool Servantes: this fellow kept in front of the +governor, cutting all manner of ridiculous figures and playing all sorts +of pranks. "Well-a-day, friend Diego, (commenced this jack-pudding,) +what manner of a captain-general have you appointed? He of Medellin and +Estremadura! A captain who wants to try his fortune in no small way. I +am afraid he will cut his sticks with your whole squadron; for he is a +terrible fellow when he once begins, this you may read in his +countenance." As he was chattering on in this strain for some time and +growing more severe in his observations, Andreas de Duero, who was +walking by the side of Cortes, hit him a good blow on the head, crying +out at the same time, "begone you drunken fool! I am sure these +scandalous pleasantries never emanated in your brain." The buffoon, +however, took no notice of this, but commenced a-new. "Long live my +friend Diego and the bold captain Cortes! Upon my life, master Diego, I +must really go myself with Cortes to those rich countries, in order that +you may not repent of the bargain you have made!" Nobody doubted for a +moment that it was Velasquez, the governor's relative, who had feed the +jester with a few pesos to utter these complaints, all emanating from a +bad feeling. Everything this fool had predicted, however, took place to +the very letter, and only proves that fools often speak the truth. It is +nevertheless certain that the appointment of Hernando Cortes was +pleasing in the eyes of God, a blessing to our holy religion, and of the +first importance to his majesty, as will be clearly proved in the +sequel. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + _Of the designs and plans of Hernando Cortes after he had obtained + the appointment of captain._ + + +After Hernando Cortes had thus been appointed captain, he immediately +set about to collect all manner of arms and ammunition, consisting of +matchlocks, crossbows, powder, and the like; in the same way he took +care to provide a large stock of goods for barter, and other necessaries +requisite for our expedition. He was now also most particular in +adorning his outward person, more than ordinarily: he stuck a bunch of +feathers in his cap, to which he fastened a golden medal, which gave him +a very stately appearance. Notwithstanding all this he was at that time +greatly pinched for money to purchase the things he required, being, in +addition, head and ears in debt: for, though his commendary was a +lucrative one, and his gold mines very productive, he required it all +for his own person and the dress of his young wife. For the rest his +countenance was most winning, his conversation agreeable, while he was +beloved by every one. He had been twice Alcalde of Santiago de Boroco, +where he resided, which is esteemed a great honour in these parts. When, +therefore, his friends among the merchants, Jaime Tria and a certain +Pedro de Xeres, heard of his appointment, they lent him 4000 gold pesos +and other merchandise, upon the income arising from his commendary. With +this money he bought a state robe with golden trains, ensigns bearing +the arms of our sovereign the king, on each side of which was the figure +of a cross, beneath this a Latin inscription, the meaning of which was: +"Brothers, let us in true faith follow the cross, and the victory is +ours!" He then made known by sound of drum and trumpet, in the name of +his majesty and Diego Velasquez the governor, that all those who felt +inclined to accompany him to the conquest and colonization of the +newly-discovered countries, should have a share in the gold, silver, and +jewels they might gain; also that, when any one settled himself there, +he should be presented with an Indian commendary, the distribution of +which his majesty had confided to Diego Velasquez. + +Although this proclamation was made previous to the return of the +chaplain Benito Martinez, whom Diego had despatched to Spain to procure +for him such authority and other powers, yet it made a deep impression +among the inhabitants of the island. Cortes, also, at the same time +wrote to all his friends, inviting them to join the expedition. Many +there were who sold all they were possessed of, to buy themselves arms +and a horse; others purchased stores of cassave-bread and salted bacon +to provision the ships, and otherwise equipped themselves as well as +they could. Our numbers had increased to 300 soldiers when we left +Santiago de Cuba: we were even joined by some of the principal +personages of Diego Velasquez's household; among the number was Diego de +Ordas, his steward. To this he had certainly been advised by his master, +to see that nothing was done opposed to his interests, as he did not +altogether trust Cortes. There was also Francisco de Morla, Escobar, +Herredia, Juan Ruano, Pedro Escudero, and Martin Ramos de Pares of +Biscay, with many other friends and acquaintances of Velasquez. Myself I +speak of last. Though I have merely enumerated these warriors as they +came to my memory; without wishing, however, to give one any preference +above the other. I intend hereafter to give the names of them all in the +proper place. + +While Cortes was thus making every exertion to expedite the equipment of +the vessels, the malice and envy of the relatives of Velasquez was not +silent, who felt themselves most grievously neglected that the command +should have been intrusted to Cortes. Velasquez had only shortly +beforehand shown his hatred to Cortes on account of his marriage, and +even persecuted him; they were therefore the more spiteful, and in every +way strove to lower him in the eyes of the governor, hoping thereby to +deprive him of the command. Cortes, who was fully acquainted with this, +took care to be always at Velasquez's side. He took every opportunity of +showing his attachment to him, and spoke of nothing but of the glory of +this undertaking, and of the vast riches it could not fail, in a short +time, to bring his patron Velasquez. Even Andreas de Duero urged Cortes +by all means to hasten the embarkation, as the relatives of Velasquez +had already succeeded in altering his sentiments with regard to Cortes. +The latter therefore desired his wife to send him on board the +provisions and other presents which women under such circumstances are +accustomed to give their husbands. He made known to the masters and +pilots of the different vessels the day and hour of departure, and +ordered all the men to be on board by a certain day. + +Everything being now ready for his departure, and all the men on board, +Cortes called upon the governor to take leave of him, and was +accompanied on this occasion by his best friends and companions in arms, +Andreas de Duero, the royal treasurer, Almador de Lares, and the +principal inhabitants of the town. Velasquez and Cortes vowed eternal +friendship, and did not part until they had several times embraced each +other. + +The next morning early we attended mass, after which we marched to our +vessels accompanied by the governor and a number of cavaliers in +honorable escort. + +The weather being very fine, we arrived, after a few days' sail, safely +in the harbour of Trinidad, and landed there. + +From what has already been said, and will further be seen in the +following chapter, the reader may easily imagine the various +difficulties Cortes had to struggle with; though, when my narrative is +confronted with that of Gomara, it will be found how greatly they +differ. Gomara, for instance, will have that Andreas de Duero was a +merchant, though, as private secretary to the governor, he had +considerable weight in the island; and of Diego de Ordas, he says, that +he accompanied the expedition under Grijalva, though he never went out +until this time with Cortes. But I will leave Gomara and his miserable +history, and relate our doings in the town of Trinidad. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + _Cortes's occupations at Trinidad, and of the cavaliers and warriors + who there joined our expedition, and other matters._ + + +On the first notice of our arrival at Trinidad, the inhabitants came out +to welcome us and our commander Cortes. Among the great body of +cavaliers in this place, every one strove hardest to have Cortes for his +guest. Cortes immediately planted his standard in front of his dwelling, +and made the public acquainted with the particulars of the expedition in +the same way as he had done at Santiago, and further collected whatever +he could in the shape of firearms with other necessaries. Here we were +also joined by the Alvarados, namely, Pedro, who has often been +mentioned in this history, his brothers Gonzalo, Jorge, Gomez, and his +natural brother the elder Juan Alvarado. Further we were here joined by +Alonso de Avila of Avila, who had a command in the last expedition, +under Grijalva; Juan de Escalante, Pedro Sanchez Farsan of Sevilla; +Gonzalo Mexia, subsequently treasurer at Mexico; Vaena, Juanes de +Fuentarabia, and Christobal de Oli, who had a command at the taking of +Mexico, and in all the battles fought in New Spain. Further, Ortiz, the +musician, and Gaspar Sanchez, nephew to the treasurer of Cuba; Diego de +Pinedo, Alonzo Rodriguez, who possessed some lucrative gold mines, and +Bartolome Garcia. To which may be added many other cavaliers whose +names at present I cannot remember, all personages of influence and +respectability. From this place Cortes also wrote letters to +Santispiritus, fifty-four miles from Trinidad, and made our expedition +known to the public there. He knew so well how to mix up his sentences +with inviting expressions and great promises, that many of the first +personages of that town were thereby induced to join us. These were +Hernando Puertocarrero, cousin to the earl of Medellin, and Gonzalo de +Sandoval, who had been eight months alguacil-major and governor, and was +afterwards a commander in New Spain; also Juan Velasquez de Leon, a +relation of Diego Velasquez; Rodrigo Rangel, Gonzalo Lopez de Ximena, +with his brother Juan Lopez, and Juan Sedeno. This latter gentleman was +an inhabitant of Santispiritus, and had joined Cortes because of the two +other Sedenos who were among us. These gentlemen, who were all men of +consequence, had arrived at the same time in Trinidad, when Cortes, +accompanied by the whole of us, went out to meet them. Cannons were +fired, and other rejoicings took place on this occasion, while +professions of esteem and friendship were past from one party to the +other. All these men possessed land in the neighbourhood of this town, +where they ordered cassave-bread to be made, and bacon to be cured, and +otherwise collected all the provisions they possibly could for our +vessels. Here also we hired soldiers, and purchased some horses, which +latter, at that time, were very scarce, and only to be had at exorbitant +prices. Alonso Hernandez de Puertocarrero, whom I had previously known, +had not sufficient money to purchase himself a horse; Cortes, therefore, +bought one for him, and paid for it with the golden borders of the +velvet robe he had procured at Santiago. About this time there also +arrived in the port of Trinidad a vessel belonging to a certain Juan +Sedeno, of the Havannah, laden with cassave-bread and salted meat, which +was destined for the mines of Santiago. This Sedeno, who had called upon +our commander to pay his respects, was soon persuaded, by the eloquence +and address of Cortes, to sell him his ship with the lading and all, and +himself to join the expedition. We had now eleven ships in all, and +everything, thanks to Providence, was going on well, when letters +arrived from Diego Velasquez with peremptory orders that Cortes was to +be deprived of the command. But I will detail this matter in the +following chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + _How the governor Diego Velasquez sends two of his officials in all + haste to Trinidad, with full power and authority to deprive Cortes + of his appointment of captain, and bring the squadron away, &c._ + + +I must now carry my narrative back a few days, in order to relate what +happened at Santiago de Cuba after our departure. We had scarcely set +sail when Diego Velasquez's friends left him not a moment's peace, +harassing him until they had totally revolutionised his sentiments with +regard to Cortes. They now plainly told him that he might consider +Cortes as lost to his interests from his having so secretly sneaked away +from the harbour. Neither had he made any secret of his determination to +have the chief command of the armament, whether Diego might wish it or +not; for which reason he had embarked his men at night-time, that if any +attempt were made to deprive him of the squadron, he would resist it by +main force. He, the governor, had been deceived by his private secretary +Duero, and De Lares the royal treasurer, who had both made some previous +agreement with Cortes to procure him the command. But in particular the +relatives of Velasquez were constantly urging him to cancel the recent +appointment of Cortes, in which they were backed by a certain old man, +named Juan Millan, commonly termed the astrologer, who was considered by +many not to be exactly in his proper senses. This old man repeatedly +told the governor that Cortes would now revenge himself for his having, +some time ago, thrown him into prison: "Sly and artful as he is, he will +be the means of ruining you, if you are not upon your guard." + +These hints were not thrown away upon Velasquez; they brought about a +revolution in his mind, which ended in his despatching two trustworthy +persons out of his establishment, with private instructions to his +brother-in-law Francisco de Verdugo, then alcalde major of Trinidad, by +which he was peremptorily commanded, under all circumstances, to deprive +Cortes of the squadron, whose appointment of captain had been withdrawn, +and given to Vasco Porcallo. At the same time he wrote letters to Diego +de Ordas, Francisco de Morla, and to his relations and friends, desiring +them, at all events, to leave the squadron. + +As soon as Cortes got information of this, he had a secret interview +with Ordas and all those officers and inhabitants of Trinidad, who, he +thought, might feel inclined to obey the orders of Velasquez. To these +he spoke so feelingly, and in such kind terms, accompanied by such great +promises, that they were all soon gained over to his side. Diego de +Ordas even undertook to advise the alcalde major Francisco de Verdugo +not to put these commands immediately into execution, and to keep them +secret; telling him, at the same time, he had seen nothing in Cortes +which gave the slightest reasons for suspecting him of anything wrong; +on the contrary, he had, on every occasion, given proofs of his +adherence to the governor. He assured him, moreover, that it would be an +impossibility to deprive Cortes of the command of the squadron, in which +he had so many friends among the cavaliers, and Diego Velasquez so many +enemies, who would not easily forgive him that he had neglected to +bestow on them more profitable commendaries. Besides the number of +friends Cortes had among the officers, he could rely upon most of the +soldiers, and thus it would be useless to attempt anything against him. +The whole town would become mixed up in the quarrel, which would be +plundered by our men, and even worse consequences might follow. By these +arguments, Ordas prevented all violent measures; and one of the +above-mentioned officials, whom Diego had sent with despatches to his +nephew, named Pedro Laso, even joined our expedition. The other, Cortes +sent back with a letter to the governor, in which he made use of every +kind sentiment, and expressed his utter astonishment at the resolution +he had taken, particularly as he had no other design than to serve God, +his majesty the king, and the governor. He earnestly advised him not to +listen any further to his cousin Velasquez, nor to allow the kind +feeling he entertained for him to be poisoned by such an old fool as +Juan Millan. Cortes, at the same time, wrote to his other friends, and +in particular to his two confederates, the private secretary and royal +treasurer. + +The next step he took was to command his men to put their arms into good +repair. Every smith in the town was set to work to fix points to our +lances, and the gunners were ordered to search every magazine for +arrows. He at last even persuaded the very smiths to join the armament. + +We remained altogether twelve days at Trinidad, and thence sailed for +the Havannah. From the foregoing statement, the reader will readily +perceive how differently all this has been related by Gomara, who even +makes Velasquez confer the chief command on Ordas; the latter, he says, +invited Cortes to dine with him on board his vessel, had him seized +while at dinner, and taken off prisoner to Santiago. I could cite many +similar errors from Gomara's history, and thereby convince the reader +that it is better to believe an eyewitness than an author who writes +about things he never saw. However, enough of Gomara; let us return to +our subject. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + _Cortes embarks with all his cavaliers and soldiers in order to sail + along the south side of the island to the Havannah, and sends off + one of the vessels to go around the north coast for the same port._ + + +Cortes, finding that he had nothing further to do at Trinidad, +acquainted his officers and men with the hour of departure, leaving it +to each one's choice either to proceed to the Havannah by sea, or march +thither overland, under the command of Pedro de Alvarado, who would be +joined by some men from one of the colonies, on his road. Alvarado was a +kind-hearted man, who knew best how to deal with soldiers; wherefore I +myself, with fifty other military men, gladly joined him; our numbers +were, moreover, increased by all our horse. Cortes also sent a vessel, +under the command of Juan de Escalante, which was to shape its course +around the north coast to the Havannah. Cortes then embarked, and +proceeded, with the whole squadron, for the same port. The transport +ships must, however, have missed the vessel of our commander-in-chief in +the night, as they all arrived safe at the Havannah without it. The +troops under Pedro de Alvarado also arrived in good time, and the vessel +under the command of Escalante, which had sailed around the north coast. + +Cortes alone remained behind; nor could any one account for his delay, +or what could possibly have detained him. Five days passed away without +our obtaining the least tidings of him, and we already began to fear +that he had been shipwrecked off the Jardines,[9] which lie from thirty +to thirty-six miles from the Havannah, near the Pinos isles, where the +sea is very shallow: we therefore determined to send out our three +smaller vessels in quest of her; but what with the fitting-out of these +vessels, added to the manifold opinions and advices, two more days +elapsed, and Cortes still remained behind. All manner of artifices were +now had recourse to, as to whom the command should be given, until some +certainty was gained respecting the fate of Cortes, in which Diego de +Ordas, in his capacity of steward over the household of Velasquez, and +secret observer of our movements, was most active. + +The following misfortune had befallen Cortes. When his vessel, which was +of considerable tonnage, had arrived off the Pinos isles on the shallows +of the Jardines, there was not sufficient depth of water to carry her, +and she consequently got aground. The ship had now to be unladen, which +was an easy matter, on account of the nearness of the shore. As soon as +she was set afloat again and brought into deeper water she was reloaded +and pursued her voyage to the Havannah. The joy among the officers and +soldiers was very great as soon as she became visible in the horizon, to +those excepted who had prized themselves with the command, to whose +machinations, however, there was now an end. We accompanied Cortes to +the house of Pedro Barba, Velasquez's lieutenant at Trinidad, where +quarters had been got ready for his reception. He immediately hoisted +his standard in front of his dwelling, and by public proclamation +invited the inhabitants to join the expedition. + +It was here that Francisco de Montejo first joined us, of whom I shall +often have to speak in the course of this history: subsequent to the +conquest of Mexico he became adelantado and governor of Yucatan and the +Honduras. Here we were also joined by Diego de Soto of Toro, namely, who +afterwards was Cortes's steward in Mexico; further, Angula and Garci +Caro, Sebastian Rodriguez, Pacheco, Gutierras, Royas (this is not he +commonly called the wealthy); also by a young fellow of the name of +Santaclara; the two brothers, Martinez del Frexenal and Juan de +Najara--not the deaf one of the tennis-court at Mexico: all of whom were +men of rank and quality. There were also other soldiers who joined us, +whose names I have forgotten. + +When Cortes, therefore, beheld all these cavaliers together, his heart +leaped with joy, and he sent off another ship for a further supply of +provisions to the promontory of Guaniguanico, where Velasquez had landed +property. Here was a village where cassave-bread was made, and +quantities of swine's flesh cured. He gave the command of this vessel to +Diego de Ordas, who, as Velasquez's steward, ordered matters on his +master's property as he liked. Cortes wished to keep him out of the way, +having learnt that Ordas had not spoken in very favorable terms of him +during the dispute as to whom the command should be given, when he was +detained off the Pinos isles. Ordas's instructions were to remain in the +harbour of Guaniguanico, after he had taken in his lading, until the +arrival there of the vessel which was to sail around the north coast, +with which he was then to proceed to the island of Cozumel, provided he +received no further instructions by Indian canoes. + +Francisco de Montejo and other cavaliers of the Havannah likewise +furnished quantities of cassave-bread and cured bacon; there being no +other kind of provisions to be had. In the meantime Cortes ordered all +our heavy guns, consisting in ten copper cannons and a few falconets, to +be brought on shore and given in charge of an artilleryman, named Mesa, +a certain Arbenga who traded to the Levant, and Juan Catalan, to prove +them, and otherwise put them into good repair; also to furnish for each +the right-sized balls and proper quantity of powder. He also gave them +an assistant, named Bartolome de Usagre, and furnished them with vinegar +and wine to polish the copper pieces. In the same way all our crossbows +were inspected, and their strength ascertained by shooting at the +target. Cotton being very plentiful here we constructed ourselves +cuirasses with it, which form the most efficient protection against +Indian arrows, pikes, and slings. Here it was also that Cortes put his +establishment on a much superior footing, and had himself served as a +person of the first quality. He took for his butler a certain Guzman, +who was subsequently killed by the Indians; he must not, however, be +confounded with Christobal de Guzman, who afterwards became his steward, +and was the man whom took the king Quauhtemoctzin prisoner, during the +battle in the suburbs of Mexico. Rodrigo Rangel he appointed his +chamberlain, and Juan de Caceres his house-steward, who after the +conquest of Mexico was considered a man of great wealth. Having ordered +all these things, he commanded us to hold ourselves in readiness for +embarking, and to distribute the horses among the vessels, for which the +necessary quantity of maise and hay had been provided. + +For memory's sake I will here likewise describe the horses and mares +which we took with us on our expedition. Cortes had a dark chesnut +stallion, which died afterwards at St. Juan de Ulua. Pedro de Alvarado +and Hernando Lopez d'Avila had jointly an excellent brown mare, which +had been broken-in for the field of battle as well as for tournaments. +After our arrival in New Spain, Alvarado bought Lopez's share, or +perhaps took forcible possession of it. Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero +had a grey-coloured mare, which Cortes had purchased for him with the +golden borders of his state-robe, it was capitally trained for the field +of battle. Juan Velasquez de Leon's mare was of the same colour, a noble +and powerful animal, full of fire and eager for battle: we commonly +termed it the "short tail." + +Christobal de Oli had a dark brown fine-spirited horse. Francisco de +Montejo and Alonso de Avila had between them a sorel-coloured horse, but +of little use in battle. Francisco de Morla had likewise a dark chesnut +stallion, one full of fire and wonderfully swift. The light-coloured +horse of Juan de Escalante was not worth much. The grey-coloured mare of +Diego de Ordas, which would never foal, was neither very swift. Gonzalo +Dominiguez had a small dark-brown nag, a very swift and noble animal. +Also the brown-coloured horse of Pedro Gonzalez de Truxillo was a swift +animal. Moron, who was a native of Vaimo, had a small horse which was +pretty well trained. Vaena, of Trinidad, had a darkish-coloured horse, +though a bad leaper. The light-coloured chesnut galloway of De Lares +was, on the other hand, a splendid animal and a capital runner. + +Ortiz, the musician, and a certain Bartolome Garcia, who had applied +himself to the art of mining, had between them a very good dark-coloured +horse, which they named the Arriero (mule-driver,) and was one of the +best animals of the whole corps. Juan Sedeno, of the Havannah, had a +fine chesnut mare, which foaled on board. This Sedeno was considered to +be the most wealthy man amongst us; for he had a ship of his own, a +horse, a few negroes to attend upon him, and his own lading of cassave +and cured bacon. Just about this time horses and negroes were only to be +purchased for very high prices, which accounts for the small number of +the former we had with us on this expedition. + +However, I will stop here, and relate in the next chapter what happened +as we were just about to embark. + +[9] Jardines, or the Caribbee islands, lying along the south coast of +Cuba, better known as the Windward and Leeward islands. (p. 51.) + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + _Diego Velasquez sends one of his officials, named Gaspar Garnica, + with full authority to take Cortes prisoner, whatever might be the + consequence; and what further happened._ + + +In order that my history may be perfectly intelligible to my readers, I +must sometimes recur to prior events. In this place I have to return to +Diego Velasquez, who, when he learnt that his brother-in-law, Francisco +Verdugo, sub-governor of Trinidad, had not only confirmed Cortes in his +appointment over the squadron, but even, conjointly with Diego de Ordas, +lent him every possible assistance, fell into such a rage that he roared +like a wild beast. He accused his private secretary Andreas de Duero, +and the royal treasurer Almador de Lares, of a conspiracy to cheat him, +adding, that Cortes had run off with the whole squadron. Nor did +Velasquez stop here, but despatched one of his officials with +imperative commands to Pedro Barba, sub-governor of the Havannah, at the +same time writing to all his relatives in that town, to De Ordas and to +Juan Velasquez de Leon, who were his special confidants, requiring them +to swear, by the friendship they bore him, not, under any pretence +whatsoever, to allow the squadron to depart, but to send Cortes prisoner +to Santiago. As soon as Garnica, the bearer of these despatches, +arrived, it was immediately guessed for what purpose he came. Cortes was +even apprized of it by means of the very bearer himself: for one of the +brethren of Charity, who was much in company with Velasquez, and greatly +in favour with him, had forwarded by this same Garnica a letter to a +brother of the same order, named Bartolome de Olmedo, who had joined our +expedition. By means of this letter, Cortes was apprized of the whole +posture of affairs by those interested with him, Andreas de Duero and +the royal treasurer. Ordas, as we have above seen, having been sent off +in quest of provisions, Cortes had now only to fear opposition from Juan +Velasquez de Leon; but even him he had half gained over to his side, not +being on the best of terms with his relative the governor, who had only +presented him with a very poor commendary. Thus it was that the design +of Velasquez was frustrated by those very persons to whom he had +written. Indeed, from that very moment, these personages only united +themselves the closer to Cortes, particularly the sub-governor Pedro +Barba, the Alvarados, Puertocarrero, Montejo, Christobal de Oli, Juan +de Escalante, Andreas de Monjaraz, and his brother Gregorio, who, with +all of us, were ready to stake our lives for Cortes. Had the orders of +Velasquez been kept secret in Trinidad, they were now the more so in +this place; and Pedro de Barba despatched Garnica to Diego Velasquez +with the information that he durst not venture to take Cortes into +custody, as he was too powerful and too much beloved by the soldiers; +fearing, if he should make the attempt, that the town would be +plundered, and the whole of the inhabitants forcibly dragged away. For +the rest, he could assure Diego Velasquez that Cortes was quite devoted +to him, and did nothing that could be said to militate against his +interests. Cortes himself also wrote a letter couched in those smooth +terms he so very well knew how to employ, assuring Velasquez of the +unabated friendship he entertained for him, and that he was going to set +sail the very next day. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + _Cortes sets sail with the whole squadron for the island of Cozumel, + and what further took place._ + + +Cortes deferred the review of his troops until we should have arrived at +the island of Cozumel, and gave orders for the embarking of our horses. +Pedro de Alvarado, in the San Sebastian, which was a very fast sailer, +was ordered to shape his course along the north coast, and his pilot +received strict orders to steer direct for the cape of St. Antonio, +where all the other vessels would meet and set sail for Cozumel: like +instructions were forwarded to Diego de Ordas. Mass having been said, +the nine remaining vessels set sail, in a southerly direction, on the +10th of February, 1519. There were sixty soldiers on board the San +Sebastian, under Alvarado, among which number I was myself. Camacho, our +pilot, took no notice of the orders he had received from Cortes, but +shaped his course direct for Cozumel, so that we arrived two days +earlier there than the rest. We landed our men in the same harbour I +before mentioned in our expedition under Grijalva. Cortes had been +detained on his passage by the breaking of the rudder of Francisco de +Morla's vessel, which had to be replaced from what they had at hand. + +Our vessel, as I have stated above, arrived two days earlier at Cozumel +than the rest, and the whole of the men proceeded on shore. We did not +meet with a single Indian in the village of Cozumel, as all the +inhabitants had fled away. Alvarado, therefore, ordered us to another +village at about four miles distance from the latter. Here the +inhabitants had likewise fled to the woods, without, however, being able +to carry off all their property, so that we found numbers of fowls and +other things; of the former, Alvarado would not permit us to take more +than forty. Out of a temple near at hand we took several cotton mats, +and a few small boxes containing a species of diadem, small idols, +corals, with all manner of trinkets made of an inferior sort of gold. We +also took two Indians and a female prisoners, after which we returned to +the village near which we had landed. + +In the meantime Cortes had arrived with the remaining vessels. He had +scarcely stepped on shore when he ordered our pilot Camacho to be put in +irons, for having followed a contrary course to what he had been +ordered. But his displeasure was still greater when he learnt that the +village was quite deserted, and that Alvarado had taken away, besides +the fowls, the religious implements and other matters, though of little +value, being half copper. Having shown no lenity to Camacho, he now also +gave Alvarado an earnest reproof, telling him that it was not the way to +gain the love of the inhabitants by beginning to rob them of their +property. He then ordered the two Indians and the female whom we had +taken prisoners to be brought into his presence, and put several +questions to them. Melchorillo, whom we had captured at the promontory +of Cotoche, (Julianillo had since died,) and taken with us, perfectly +understood the language of this country, and interpreted on the +occasion. Cortes sent the three Indians to the cazique and the +inhabitants, desiring them to state that they had nothing to fear from +us, and to return to their village. He also restored to them the +religious implements, with the golden trinkets, and gave them glass +beads in exchange for the fowls, which we had eaten: besides this, he +presented each of them with a Spanish shirt. They faithfully executed +Cortes's commission; for the very next day the cazique returned with the +whole of the inhabitants, and so confidently did they converse with us +as if they had known us all their lives: indeed, Cortes had given +peremptory orders that they should in no wise be molested. It was here +also that Cortes began strict discipline, and set to work with +unremitting assiduity, to which Providence lent his blessing; for +everything in which he concerned himself went well, particularly with +regard to making peace with the tribes or inhabitants of these +countries. This the reader will find fully confirmed in the course of my +history. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + _Cortes reviews his troops, and what further happened._ + + +On the third day after our arrival at Cozumel, Cortes reviewed the whole +of his troops. Without counting the pilots and marines, our number +amounted to 508 men. There were 109 sailors, and sixteen horses, which +were trained equally for tournaments or for war. Our squadron consisted +of eleven vessels of different tonnage; among these, one was a kind of +brigantine, the property of a certain Gines Nortes. The number of +crossbow men was thirty-three, and of musketeers thirteen: add to this +our heavy guns and four falconets, a great quantity of powder and balls. +As to the precise number of crossbow men I cannot exactly swear, though +it matters not whether there were a few more or less. + +After this review, Cortes ordered the artillerymen Mesa, Bartolome de +Usagre, Arbenga, and a certain Catalonier whose name I forget, to keep +all our firearms bright and in good order, to see that each cannon had +its right-sized ball, to prepare the cartridges, and distribute the +powder properly. The chief care of our gun department he confided to a +certain Francisco de Oroze, who had proved himself a brave soldier in +the Italian wars. Juan Benitez and Pedro de Guzman had to inspect the +crossbows, and see that they were supplied with two or three nuts and as +many cords. They had also to superintend the exercise of shooting at the +target, and the breaking-in of our horses, particularly to accustom them +to the noise of our firearms. I have now said sufficient of our +armament: indeed, Cortes was most particular with the merest trifles in +these matters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + _Cortes receives information that two Spaniards are in the power of + the Indians at the promontory of Cotoche: the steps he took upon + this news._ + + +As Cortes paid attention to every circumstance, he ordered myself and +Martin Camos of Biscay into his presence, and asked us what our opinion +was of the word _Castilan_, _Castilan_, which the Indians of Campeachy +had so often repeated when we landed there, under the command of +Hernandez de Cordoba. + +We again informed him of every circumstance that had there taken place. +He said, he had often turned this matter over in his mind, and could not +help thinking but that the inhabitants must have some Spaniards among +them, and he thought it would not be amiss to question the caziques of +Cozumel upon this head. This Cortes accordingly did, and desired +Melchorejo, who by this time had gained some little knowledge of the +Spanish, and perfectly understood the language of Cozumel, to question +the chiefs about it. Their several accounts perfectly corresponded; and +they satisfactorily proved that there were several Spaniards in the +country, whom they had seen themselves; that they served the caziques, +who lived two days' march inland, as slaves, and that it was only a few +days ago some Indian merchants had spoken with them. + +We all felt overjoyed at this news. Cortes told these chiefs that he +would send the Spaniards letters, which they call amales in their +language, in which he would desire them to come to us. The cazique and +other Indians who undertook to forward these letters were most kindly +treated by Cortes, who gave them all kinds of presents, and promised +them more on their return. Upon which the cazique remarked to Cortes, +that it would be necessary to send a ransom to the chiefs whom the +Spaniards served as slaves before they would let them go. Various kinds +of glass beads were therefore given to the messengers for this purpose, +and Cortes sent two of the smaller vessels, armed with twenty crossbow +men and a few musketeers, under command of Diego de Ordas, to the coast +of Cotoche, with orders to remain there for eight successive days with +the larger of the two vessels, and to send him information from time to +time by the other vessel, while the messengers brought letters to and +fro; for the distance to the promontory of Cotoche from this place was +only nine miles, the whole appearing, moreover, to form but one country. +The following were the contents of the letter which Cortes wrote to the +Spaniards: + +"Dear Sirs and Brothers,--Here, on the island of Cozumel, I received +information that you are detained prisoners by a cazique. I beg of you +to come here to me on the island of Cozumel. To this end I have sent out +an armed ship, and ransom-money, should it be required by the Indians. I +have ordered the vessel to remain stationary off the promontory of +Cotoche for eight days, to wait for you. Come as speedily as possible; +you may depend upon being honorably treated by me. I am here with eleven +vessels armed with 500 soldiers, and intend, with the aid of the +Almighty and your assistance, to proceed to a place called Tabasco, or +Potonchon; etc." + +With this letter the two Indian merchants embarked on board our vessel, +which passed this narrow gulf in three hours, when the messengers with +the ransom-money were put on shore. + +After the lapse of a couple of days they actually handed over the letter +to one of the Spaniards in question, who, as we afterwards learnt, was +called Geronimo de Aguilar, and I shall therefore in future distinguish +him by that name. When he had read the letter and received the +ransom-money we had forwarded, he was exceedingly rejoiced, and took the +latter to the cazique his master to beg for his liberation. The moment +he had obtained this he went in quest of his comrade, Gonzalo Guerrero, +and made him acquainted with all the circumstances; when Guerrero made +the following reply: + +"Brother Aguilar,--I have united myself here to one of the females of +this country, by whom I have three children; and am, during wartime, as +good as cazique or chief. Go! and may God be with you: for myself, I +could not appear again among my countrymen. My face has already been +disfigured, according to the Indian custom, and my ears have been +pierced: what would my countrymen say if they saw me in this attire? +Only look at my three children, what lovely little creatures they are; +pray give me some of your glass beads for them, which I shall say my +brethren sent them from my country." + +Gonzalo's Indian wife followed in the same strain, and was quite +displeased with Aguilar's errand. "Only look at that slave there, (said +she,) he is come here to take away my husband from me! Mind your own +affairs, and do not trouble yourself about us." + +Aguilar, however, afterwards made another attempt to induce Gonzalo to +leave, telling him to consider that he was a Christian, and that he +ought not to risk the salvation of his soul for the sake of an Indian +woman. Moreover, he might take her and the children with him if he could +not make up his mind to separate himself from them. Aguilar, however, +might say what he liked, it was all to no purpose; he could not persuade +Gonzalo to accompany his heretofore companion in good and ill fortune. +This Guerrero was most probably a sailor, and a native of Palos.[10] He +remained among the Indians, while Geronimo de Aguilar alone took his +departure with the Indian messengers, and marched towards the coast +where our ship was to have waited for them: but she had left; for De +Ordas, after staying there the eight days, and another in addition, +finding that no one appeared, again set sail for Cozumel. Aguilar was +quite downcast when he found the ship was gone, and he again returned to +his Indian master. + +Ordas, however, did not meet with the best of reception when he returned +without the ransom-money or any information respecting the Spaniards, +and even without the Indian messengers. Cortes said to him, with great +vehemence, he expected he would have fulfilled his commission better +than to return without the Spaniards, and even without bringing him any +information respecting them, although well aware they were staying in +that country. Cortes had, moreover, just that moment been greatly put +out by another circumstance. A soldier, called Berrio, had accused some +sailors of Gibraleon of having stolen from him a couple of sides of +bacon, which they would not return. They positively denied that they had +committed the robbery, and even took an oath to that effect; however, +after a good search, the bacon was found among their clothes. There were +seven sailors who had been concerned in the robbery, and Cortes, +notwithstanding their officers interceded in their behalf, ordered them +to be severely whipped. + +The island of Cozumel, it seems, was a place to which the Indians made +pilgrimages; for the neighbouring tribes of the promontory of Cotoche +and other districts of Yucatan, came thither in great numbers to +sacrifice to some abominable idols, which stood in a temple there. One +morning we perceived that the place where these horrible images stood +was crowded with Indians and their wives. They burnt a species of resin, +which very much resembled our incense, and as such a sight was so novel +to us we paid particular attention to all that went forward. Upon this +an old man, who had on a wide cloak and was a priest, mounted to the +very top of the temple, and began preaching something to the Indians. We +were all very curious to know what the purport of this sermon was, and +Cortes desired Melchorejo to interpret it to him. Finding that all he +had been saying tended to ungodliness, Cortes ordered the caziques, with +the principal men among them and the priest, into his presence, giving +them to understand, as well as he could by means of our interpreter, +that if they were desirous of becoming our brethren they must give up +sacrificing to these idols, which were no gods but evil beings, by which +they were led into error and their souls sent to hell. He then presented +them with the image of the Virgin Mary and a cross, which he desired +them to put up instead. These would prove a blessing to them at all +times, make their seeds grow and preserve their souls from eternal +perdition. This and many other things respecting our holy religion, +Cortes explained to them in a very excellent manner. The caziques and +priests answered, that their forefathers had prayed to their idols +before them, because they were good gods, and that they were determined +to follow their example. Adding, that we should experience what power +they possessed; as soon as we had left them, we should certainly all of +us go to the bottom of the sea. + +Cortes, however, took very little heed of their threats, but commanded +the idols to be pulled down, and broken to pieces; which was accordingly +done without any further ceremony. He then ordered a quantity of lime to +be collected, which is here in abundance, and with the assistance of the +Indian masons a very pretty altar was constructed, on which we placed +the image of the holy Virgin. At the same time two of our carpenters, +Alonso Yanez and Alvaro Lopez made a cross of new wood which lay at +hand, this was set up in a kind of chapel, which we built behind the +altar. After all this was completed, father Juan Diaz said mass in front +of the new altar, the caziques and priests looking on with the greatest +attention. + +Before I close this chapter, I have to remark that the caziques on the +island of Cozumel, like those on the land of Potonchan, are likewise +termed Calachionies. + +[10] Palos, a small town of Spain, lying on the river Tinto. This port +produced the best Spanish sailors during the early voyages of discovery, +and here also the expedition under Columbus was fitted out. (p. 60.) + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + _The manner in which Cortes divides the squadron. The officers whom + he appointed to the command of the several vessels. His instructions + to the pilots; the signals which were to be made with lanterns at + night, &c._ + + +The following were the officers which commanded the several vessels. + +Cortes himself commanded, in the principal vessel, over the whole +squadron. To the San Sebastian, which was a very capital sailer, he +appointed Alvarado and his brother. The other vessels were severally +commanded by Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero, Francisco de Montejo, +Christobal de Oli, Diego de Ordas, Juan Velasquez de Leon, Juan de +Escalante, Francisco de Morla, and Escobar the page. The smallest +vessel, a kind of brigantine, was commanded by its owner, Gines Nortes. + +Every vessel had its own pilot, who received his instructions, and also +the signals with the lanterns from Alaminos. + +As soon as Cortes had ordered these matters he took leave of the +caziques and priests, commended them most emphatically to the image of +the holy Virgin and to the cross, desiring them to pray before it, not +to damage either but continually to decorate them with green boughs. He +assured them that thereby they would derive great benefit. They promised +to comply with all his wishes, presented him with four more fowls and +two jars of honey, and then took leave of us under the most friendly +embraces. It was some day in the month of March, in the year 1519, when +we again set sail; we were pursuing our course with the most favorable +of winds, when on the very first day at ten o'clock in the morning, +signals of distress were made on board one of our vessels, both by flags +and the firing of guns. As soon as Cortes saw and heard this, he looked +over the poop of his vessel, and found that the ship commanded by Juan +de Escalante was making straight again for the island of Cozumel. What +is the matter there? What does all this mean? cried out Cortes to the +vessel nearest him. A soldier, named Zaragoza replied, that the vessel +of Juan de Escalante, laden with cassave-bread, was sinking fast. God +forbid! cried Cortes, that any misfortune should befall us here, and +desired our chief pilot, Alaminos, to make signals for all the vessels +to return to the island Cozumel. So we again put into the harbour we had +just left: we unloaded the cassave-bread; and found, to our great joy, +that the image of the holy Virgin and cross were in the best condition, +and that incense had been placed before them. It was not long before the +caziques and priests again made their appearance, and asked what had +caused us to return so speedily. Cortes told them that one of our +vessels was leaky and had to be repaired, begging of them to assist us +with their canoes in unloading our cassave-bread. This they most readily +complied with, and it took us four more days to repair the vessel. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + _How the Spaniard Geronimo de Aguilar, who was in the power of the + Indians, came to us when he learnt that we had again returned to the + island of Cozumel, and what further happened._ + + +When the Spaniard, who was in the power of the Indians got certain +information that we had again returned to the island Cozumel, he +rejoiced exceedingly and thanked God with all his heart. + +He immediately hired a canoe, with six capital rowers, for himself and +the Indians who had brought him the glass beads. The former being richly +remunerated with these, so valuable in their estimation: they performed +their work so well, that the channel between the island and mainland, a +distance of about twelve miles, was soon crossed. After they had arrived +off the island and stepped on shore, some soldiers who were returning +from the chase of musk swine, informed Cortes that a large canoe had +just arrived from the promontory of Cotoche. Cortes immediately +despatched Andreas de Tapia with a few men to learn what news they had +brought. As Tapia with his men approached the shore, the Indians, who +had arrived with Geronimo, evinced great fear and ran back to their +canoe in order to put off to sea again. Aguilar, however, told him in +their language they need have no fear; for we were their brothers. +Andreas de Tapia, who took Aguilar also for an Indian, for he had every +appearance of one, sent to inform Cortes that the seven Indians who had +arrived were inhabitants of Cozumel. It was not until they had come up +to them and heard the Spaniard pronounce the words--God, holy Virgin, +Sevilla, in broken Spanish, and ran up to Tapia to embrace him, that +they recognized this strange-looking fellow. One of Tapia's men +immediately ran off to inform Cortes that a Spaniard had arrived in the +canoe, for which news he expected a handsome reward. + +We all greatly rejoiced at this information, and it was not long before +Tapia himself arrived with the strange-looking Spaniard. As they passed +by us many of our men still kept inquiring of Tapia which among them was +the Spaniard? although he was walking at his very side, so much did his +countenance resemble that of an Indian. His complexion was naturally of +a brownish cast, added to which his hair had been shorn like that of an +Indian slave: he carried a paddle across his shoulder, had one of his +legs covered with an old tattered stocking; the other, which was not +much better, being tied around his waist. An old ragged cloak hung over +his shoulders, his maltatas was in a much worse condition. His +prayerbook, which was very much torn, he had folded in the corner of his +cloak. + +When Cortes beheld the man in this attire, he, as all the rest of us had +done, asked Tapia where the Spaniard was? When Geronimo heard this, he +cowered down after the Indian fashion, and said: "I am he." Upon this +Cortes gave him a shirt, a coat, a pair of trousers, a cap and shoes, +from our stores. He then desired him to give us an account of the +adventures of his life, and explain how he had got into this country. + +He said, though still in broken Spanish, that his name was Geronimo +d'Aguilar, and was a native of Ecija. About eight years ago he had been +shipwrecked with fifteen men and two women, on a voyage between Darien +and the island of St. Domingo, which they had undertaken on account of a +lawsuit between a certain Enciso and a certain Valdivia. They had 10,000 +pesos on board, and papers relating to the lawsuit. The ship struck +against a rock, and they had not been able to get her off again. The +whole of the crew then got into the boat, in the hopes of making the +island of Cuba or Jamaica, but were driven on shore by the strong +currents, where the Calachionies had taken them prisoners and +distributed them among themselves. The most of his unfortunate +companions had been sacrificed to their gods, and some had died of +grief, of which also both the women pined away; being soon worn out by +the hard labour of grinding, to which they had been forced by the +Indians. He himself had also been doomed as a sacrifice to their idols, +but made his escape during the night, and fled to the cazique, with whom +he had last been staying, whose name, however, I cannot now remember. Of +all his companions, he himself and a certain Gonzalo Guerrero, were only +living. He had tried his best to induce him to leave, but in vain. + +When Cortes heard this, he returned thanks to the Almighty, and told the +Spaniard that he hoped, with the blessing of God, he would never find +reason to regret the determination he had taken. He then put some +questions to him about the country and its inhabitants. Aguilar said he +was not able to give him much information about either, as he had been +treated like a slave, having been merely employed to fetch wood, water, +and to work in the maise-plantations. It was only upon one occasion he +was sent on some business to a distance of about twelve miles from his +village, but, owing to a heavy burden he had to carry and the weak state +of his body, he had not even been able to reach that distance; for the +rest, he had been given to understand that the country was very thickly +populated. With regard to his companion Alonso Guerrero, he had married +an Indian woman, and was become the father of three children. He had in +every respect adopted the Indian customs,--his cheeks were tattooed, his +ears pierced, and his lips turned down. He was a sailor by profession, +native of Palos, and was considered by the Indians to be a man of great +strength. It might have been about a year ago that a squadron, +consisting of three vessels, had touched at the promontory of Cotoche, +(probably the expedition under Hernandez de Cordoba,) when Guerrero +advised the inhabitants to commence hostilities, who, in common with the +caziques of a large district, commanded on that occasion. Cortes here +remarked, that he very much wished to get the man into his power, for +his staying among the Indians would do us no good. + +The caziques of Cozumel showed Aguilar every possible friendship when +they heard him speak in their language. Aguilar advised them always to +do honour to the image of the holy Virgin and cross we had set up, as +they would prove a blessing to them. It was also upon his advice they +begged of Cortes to give them letters of recommendation to other +Spaniards who might run into this harbour, in order that they might not +be molested by them. Cortes readily complied with this request; and, +after mutual protestations of friendship had passed between us, we +weighed anchor, and set sail for the river Grijalva. + +For the rest, I can assure the reader that what I have related of +Aguilar is all the man told us himself, although the historian Gomara +gives a very different account; which, however, should not excite our +surprise, as he merely thereby intended to divert his readers with some +strange story. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + _How we re-embark and sail for the river Grijalva, and what happened + to us on our voyage there._ + + +On the 4th of March, 1519, the day after we had had the good fortune to +obtain such an excellent and trustworthy interpreter, Cortes gave orders +for re-embarking. This took place in the same way as before, and similar +instructions were issued with regard to the night signals with the +lanterns. For some time we had the most favorable weather imaginable; +when, towards evening, it suddenly changed, the wind blowing most +violently against us, so that all our vessels were in danger of being +cast on shore. Towards midnight, it pleased God the wind should abate, +and, when daylight broke forth, our vessels again joined each other; one +only was missing, that namely of Velasquez de Leon, which occasioned a +good deal of anxiety, for we concluded she had been wrecked off some of +the shallows. We did not discover her loss until midday; and as night +was now fast approaching, and the vessel still nowhere to be seen, +Cortes told our principal pilot Alaminos that we ought not to continue +our course without gaining some certain knowledge as to her fate: +signals were, therefore, made for all the vessels to drop anchor, to +give the missing ship time to come up with us, on the supposition it had +been driven into some harbour and there retained by contrary winds. +Alaminos, still finding she did not make her appearance, said to Cortes, +"You may be sure, sir, that she has run into some harbour or inlet along +this coast, where she is now wind-bound; for her pilot Manquillo has +twice before visited these seas, once with Hernandez de Cordoba, the +second time under Grijalva, and is acquainted with this bay." Upon this +it was resolved that the whole squadron should return to the bay which +Alaminos was speaking of, in search of the vessel: to our great joy we +indeed found her riding there at anchor, and we all remained here for +one day. During this time, Alaminos, with one of our principal officers +named Francisco de Lugo, went on shore in two boats; they found the +country inhabited, and saw several regular maise-plantations: they +likewise met with places where salt was manufactured, and saw four cues, +or large temples, with numerous figures, mostly in the shape of women, +and of considerable height; whence this promontory was called _la punta +de las Mujeres_, (the promontory of women.) Aguilar observed that this +was the spot where he was once a slave among the Indians; here his +master had found him sunk beneath the weight of the heavy burden which +he had forced him to carry: neither was the township far off where +Alonso Guerrero had settled himself. Every inhabitant possessed gold, +but in small quantities; he would show us the way, if we were desirous +of going there. To which Cortes said, laughingly, he had not gone out +for the sake of such trifles, but to serve God and his king. In the +meantime he despatched Escobar, one of our commanders, with a +fast-sailing vessel of small tonnage, to the Terminos bay, there to +examine the country and search for a secure spot to found a colony; also +to inform us whether game really was so abundant there as had been +represented. All this was done according to the advice of our chief +pilot, to save the trouble of running in there with the whole fleet on +our passing by. Escobar, when he had explored the harbour, was merely to +leave some sign on both sides of the entrance, either by felling trees +or by leaving something in writing, from which we should know that he +had entered safely, or that, having fully explored the harbour, he was +tacking about until we fell in with him again. + +With these instructions Escobar set sail, and ran into Terminos bay, +where he executed the commands he had received: he likewise found the +greyhound which had run away from us when we landed there with Grijalva. +It was quite glossy and fat, and immediately knew the ship again as it +entered the bay, wagging its tail, and jumping up against our men as it +followed them on board. Escobar now quitted the bay, and intended +laying-to until the rest of our vessels should come up, but was driven a +considerable way out to sea by a strong south wind. We must now return +to our squadron, which we left at the punta de las Mujeres. Having left +this spot next morning with a stiffish breeze blowing from the land, we +arrived at the entrance of Terminos bay, without, however, seeing +anything of Escobar. Cortes ordered a boat to be lowered, armed with ten +crossbow-men, to run into the bay, or search whether Escobar had left +any sign or written paper as desired. Some trees were found cut down, +and near them a small paper, on which was written, that both the bay and +country round about were charming, that the spot abounded with game, and +that they had found the dog. Our principal pilot here remarked to Cortes +that it would be most advisable for us to continue our course, for the +south wind had no doubt obliged Escobar to hold out to sea, though he +could not be far off, as he must have sailed in a slanting direction. +Cortes, however, still apprehended some accident must have befallen him: +nevertheless, he ordered the sails to be set, and we very soon came up +with Escobar, who related all he had seen, and explained what had +prevented him from waiting for us. In this way we arrived in the waters +off Potonchan, and Cortes ordered Alaminos to run into the inlet where +Cordoba and Grijalva had met with such disastrous treatment. Alaminos, +however, declared that it was a dangerous station for the vessels, as +the waters were very shallow off the coast, and we should be forced to +anchor six miles from the land. Cortes's intention was to punish the +inhabitants severely, and many of us who had been present at those +engagements begged of him to run in that we might revenge ourselves upon +them. But Alaminos and the other pilots said we should lose more than +three days by running in, and, if the weather became unfavorable, we +might be detained there above eight: the wind, moreover, being now most +favorable to reach the Tabasco river, which was our chief object, and +where we might arrive in a couple of days. We accordingly put out to +sea, and reached the Tabasco after three days' sail. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + _How we arrive in the river Grijalva, called in the Indian language + the Tabasco; the battle we fought there; and what further took + place._ + + +On the 12th of March, 1519, we arrived with our whole squadron in the +mouth of the Tabasco. As we had experienced, under the expedition with +Grijalva, that no vessels of any considerable burden could enter the +mouth of the river, our larger ones anchored out at sea, while the +smaller ones only, followed by our boats, carrying the whole of our men, +sailed up the river, in order to disembark at the promontory where the +palm trees grew, about four miles from the town of Tabasco; the same +spot where Grijalva had landed. + +We perceived numbers of Indians, all under arms, lurking between the +almond trees along the shore. This circumstance greatly astonished those +among us who were here before with Grijalva. Besides this, more than +12,000 men, all armed after their fashion, had assembled at the town +itself in order to attack us. This town was very powerful at that time, +many others being subject to it. These warlike preparations were +occasioned by the following circumstances: The inhabitants of Potonchan, +of Lazaro, and other neighbouring tribes, had accused the Tabascans of +cowardice, for having given Grijalva their gold trinkets mentioned +above: they reproached them the more because their population was more +extensive, and their warriors much more numerous than those of the +tribes just mentioned, who had courageously attacked and killed +fifty-six of our men. It was owing to these reproaches that they now +likewise took up arms against us. Cortes observing these preparations, +desired our interpreter Aguilar, who perfectly understood the language +of Tabasco, to ask some Indians who were passing by in a large canoe, +what the meaning was of all this noise? we had not come to do them any +harm; on the contrary, we were disposed to treat them as our brethren, +and share our victuals with them: they should be careful how they went +to war with us, for they would certainly have to repent it. This and +many other things were told them by Aguilar, to incline them to peace, +but the more he said the more insolent they became, threatening to +destroy us all should we dare to set foot on their territory or in their +town, which they had fortified by means of heavy trees felled for the +purpose, and a strong stone wall. Aguilar, however, made another attempt +to bring about peace, and obtain us permission to take in fresh water, +barter for provisions, and incline them to listen to the disclosures we +came to make in the name of our God. They, however, persisted we should +not pass beyond the palm trees; if we did, they would kill us all. + +When Cortes found that all attempts to make peace were fruitless, he +ordered the small vessels and boats to prepare for battle. Three pieces +of cannon were put on board of each of the former, the crossbow-men and +musketeers being equally distributed among them. We remembered, during +the expedition under Grijalva, that a narrow road ran from the palm +trees along some quagmires and wells to the town. Cortes here posted +three sentinels to watch whether the Indians went home at night, if so, +to send him immediate notice. Information was soon brought in the +affirmative. The rest of the day was now spent in reconnoitring the +territory, and fitting out the vessels. The next morning early, after we +had attended mass and well armed ourselves, Cortes despatched Alonso de +Avila with one hundred men, among whom were ten crossbow-men, along the +narrow road above mentioned, leading to the town, which, as soon as he +should hear the firing of cannon, he was to attack on one side, while we +did the same from the other; Cortes himself, with the rest of our +officers and men, moving up the river in the small vessels and our +boats. + +When the Indians, who were standing under arms along the coast between +the palm trees, saw us approaching, they leaped into their canoes and +stationed themselves where we were going to land, in order to prevent +us. The shore was covered with warriors armed with all kinds of +weapons, while a terrible noise assailed our ears from their twisted +shells, drums, and fifes. Cortes ordered us to halt for a few moments +and not to fire as yet. As he was very particular in doing everything in +proper form, he desired the royal secretary, who was with us, and Diego +de Godoy, once more to request the inhabitants to allow us to come +peaceably on shore to take in fresh water. Aguilar acted as interpreter. +They were also to give them some notion, if possible, of the Lord God, +and his imperial majesty, and explain to them, that if they attacked us, +and we in defending ourselves killed any of their men, the guilt would +be upon their heads, not ours. The Indians, however, continued their +defiances, threatening to destroy us all if we came on shore. Indeed the +battle now soon began, for immediately after they commenced pouring +forth showers of arrows, the drummers to give signals for the other +troops to fall upon us in a body, and in an instant they rushed bravely +forward. They completely surrounded us with their canoes, and shot off +their arrows so quickly, that many of us were soon wounded, we being +moreover compelled for a length of time to fight up to our waists, and +sometimes even higher in the water. The place where we were attempting +to land was disadvantageous in another way, for the ground was composed +of mud and clay, in which it was impossible to move very fast, +particularly as at the same time we had to defend ourselves against the +enemy's arrows and the thrusts of their lances. Cortes himself, while +fighting in this way was obliged to leave one of his shoes sticking in +the mud in order to get on firm land. We had all, indeed, hard work to +do before we could gain the dry ground; but having once obtained this we +fell so furiously upon our enemies, under the cry of our patron St. +Jacob! that they began to retreat, but immediately again drew themselves +up in order of battle behind the wood and the trees they had cut down. +Here they made an obstinate resistance, until we likewise drove them +from this place, having forced some passages leading to the town, which +latter we entered fighting our way in. The battle now continued in the +streets, until our progress was impeded by another barricade of fallen +trees, defended by a fresh set of men. Here the conflict was continued +with renewed obstinacy, the Indians incessantly crying out: _ala lala, +al calachoni, al calachoni!_ meaning in their language, kill the +commander-in-chief. While we were thus busily engaged, Alonso de Avila +appeared with his men, who had marched along from the palm-trees. He had +been detained by the morass and pools of water which lay in his road. +This delay now proved an advantage to us, as we had also lost time in +striving to make peace with the enemy by means of our two +parliamentaries, and the difficulty we had had to fight our way on +shore. With our united troops we now beat the Indians from this strong +post; though, like brave warriors, they set vigorously upon us with +their arrows and lances, which latter had been hardened in the fire; nor +did they turn their backs, until we had forced our way into a large +courtyard, adjoining which were several spacious apartments and halls. +Here also stood three temples, but the Indians had carried off all the +religious implements with them. + +The enemy being now put to flight, Cortes ordered his men to halt, that +we might take formal possession of the country, in the name of his +majesty. He performed this ceremony by drawing his sword, and giving +therewith two deep cuts into a large ceiba tree, which stood in the +courtyard, crying out at the same time, that he would defend the +possession of this country with sword and shield against any one who +should dare dispute it. The whole of us who were present gave our assent +to these proceedings, swearing we would support him in its defence; all +of which was formally registered by the royal treasurer. The adherents +of Diego Velasquez alone were not pleased because the name of the latter +had not at all been mentioned therein. + +In this engagement fourteen of our men were wounded, I myself was of the +number, being wounded by an arrow in the thigh, though not severely. The +Indians lost, altogether, eighteen men. We passed the night in this +spot, having taken the precaution to post sentinels in different places, +so necessary did we deem it to be upon our guard here. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + _How Cortes despatches two of our principal officers, each with one + hundred men, to explore the interior of the country, and what + further took place._ + + +The next day Cortes despatched Alvarado with one hundred men, among whom +were fifteen crossbow-men and musketeers, to march six miles inland, in +order to explore the country. He was to take along with him Melchorejo, +of the punta de Cotoche, but he could nowhere be found. He had most +probably gone off in a canoe the night before with the inhabitants of +Tabasco. We conjectured this at least, because the day previous he had +left all his Spanish clothes behind him hanging in a tree. Cortes was +greatly vexed at his escape, as he might betray many things to the +inhabitants that would do us no good. + +I will, however, leave the fugitive to his own fate, and continue my +narrative. + +Cortes also sent out a second of our chief officers, named Francisco de +Lugo, with another hundred men; among whom were twelve crossbow-men and +musketeers, with similar instructions as to Alvarado, but to take +another direction and return to head-quarters towards evening. + +Francisco de Lugo may have reached the distance of about four miles when +he fell in with vast numbers of Indians, commanded by their several +chiefs. They were armed as usual, immediately advanced towards our men, +whom they surrounded on all sides, and began pouring forth a shower of +arrows. The Indians, indeed, were in too great numbers for our small +detachment. They first threw in their lances and the stones from their +slings, then fell upon our men with sharp swords, which they wield with +both hands. Though De Lugo and his men defended themselves bravely, they +were unable to drive back such overwhelming numbers. They therefore +began to retreat in the best order possible to our head-quarters, having +first despatched an Indian of Cuba, who was a swift runner, to inform +Cortes of their situation and beg of him to send a reinforcement. During +all this time De Lugo and his troops, particularly the crossbow-men and +musketeers bravely withstood the whole body of the enemy. + +In the meantime Alvarado had marched about four miles in the direction +he was commanded to take, when he came to an inlet which he was unable +to pass. Here the good Lord fortunately gave him the thought to return +in a direction which led to the spot where De Lugo was fighting with the +Indians. The firing of the muskets, the noise of the drums and trumpets, +with the yelling of the Indians, soon convinced Alvarado that the latter +had again commenced hostilities; he therefore marched in a direct line +to the place whence the noise came, and found De Lugo in the heat of an +engagement with the enemy, of whom five were already killed. Both +detachments now fell with their united forces upon the Indians, who were +speedily dispersed, yet they were unable to put them totally to the +rout; on the contrary, they would certainly have followed us to our +head-quarters, if Cortes had not come up with the rest of our troops, +when, after some sharp firing and heavy blows, they were obliged to fall +back. Cortes, on receiving information of De Lugo's dangerous position, +had immediately repaired to his assistance with the whole of his men, +and came up with the two commanders at about two miles from our +head-quarters. In this engagement we did not escape without some loss, +for two of De Lugo's detachment were killed and eight wounded; Alvarado +had only three of the latter. Having arrived at our head-quarters, we +dressed the wounds of our men, buried the dead, and posted sentinels in +proper places, that we might not be fallen upon unawares. In this +battle, the enemy lost fifteen men killed, and three were taken +prisoners, of whom one appeared to be a chief. Our interpreter Aguilar +asked them what madness could have induced them to attack us? One of the +Indians returned for answer, that Melchorejo, whom we brought with us +from the punta de Cotoche, had come over to their camp the night +previous, advising them to fall upon us, and continue to do so night and +day, for, in the end, they would, no doubt, be able to conquer our small +numbers: so that Cortes's apprehensions with respect to the flight of +this fellow were verified. + +We now despatched one of our prisoners to the caziques with green glass +beads, and offers of peace: this personage, however, never returned to +bring any answer. We also learnt from our two other prisoners, who were +closely questioned by Aguilar, that the day previous all the caziques of +the neighbouring districts had been under arms to fall upon us, and that +the next day they would return to storm our head-quarters. All this was +likewise done by the advice of Melchorejo. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + _Cortes issues orders that we should hold ourselves in readiness to + march against the Indians on the following day; he also commands the + horses to be brought on shore. How the battle terminates we fought + with them._ + + +Cortes being now certain that the Indians would renew the attack, +immediately ordered all our horses to be brought on shore, and every +one, our wounded not excepted, to hold himself in readiness. When our +horses, which had been such a length of time at sea, now stepped on firm +ground again, they appeared very awkward and full of fear; however, the +day following, they had regained their usual liveliness and agility. +There were also six or seven of our men, all young and otherwise strong +fellows, who were attacked with such severe pains in the groins that +they could not walk without support. No one could guess the cause of +this; it was only said they had lived too freely at Cuba, and that the +pain was occasioned by the heat, and the weight of their arms; Cortes, +therefore, ordered them again on board. The cavaliers, who were to fight +on horseback, were commanded to hang bells around their horses' necks, +and Cortes impressed on their minds not to rush at the Indians with +their lances before they had been dispersed, and then even to aim at +their faces only. The following men were selected to fight on horseback: +Christobal de Oli, Pedro de Alvarado, Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero, +and Juan de Escalante. Francisco de Montejo and Alonso de Avila were to +use the horses of Ortiz the musician, and of a certain Bartolome Garcia, +though neither were worth much. Further, there were Velasquez de Leon, +Francisco de Morla, and one of the Lares, (for there was another +excellent horseman among us of that name,) and Gonzalo Dominiguez, both +superior horsemen; lastly, there were Moron de Bayamo and Pedro de +Truxillo. Then comes Cortes, who placed himself at their head. Mesa had +charge of the artillery, while the rest of our men were commanded by +Diego de Ordas, who, though he knew nothing of the cavalry service, +excelled as a crossbow-man and musketeer. The morning following, which +was the day of annunciation to the holy Virgin, we attended mass very +early, and arranged ourselves under our ensign Antonio de Villareal. We +now put ourselves in motion, and marched towards some extensive bean +fields, where Francisco de Lugo and Pedro de Alvarado had fought the +previous battle. There was a village in this neighbourhood called +Cintla, belonging to the Tabascans, which lay about four miles from our +head-quarters. Cortes, on account of the bogs which our horse could not +pass, was obliged to take a circuitous route. Our other troops, however, +under Diego de Ordas, came up with the Indians near Cintla, where they +had arranged themselves on the plain: if they felt equal ardour for the +combat as we did, they could now satisfy themselves,--for this was a +battle in every sense of the word which we here fought, fearful in the +extreme, as will be seen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + _How we are attacked by all the caziques of Tabasco, and the whole + armed force of this province, and what further took place._ + + +The Indians were already moving forward in search of us, when we came up +with them: every one had a large bunch of feathers on his head, a cotton +cuirass on, and their faces were daubed with white, black, and red +colours. Besides having drums and trumpets, they were armed with huge +bows and arrows, shields, lances, and large broadswords; they had also +bodies of slingers, and others armed with poles hardened in the fire. +The Indians were in such vast numbers that they completely filled the +bean fields, and immediately fell upon us on all sides at once, like +furious dogs. Their attack was so impetuous, so numerous were the +arrows, stones, and lances with which they greeted us, that above +seventy of our men were wounded in no time, and one named Saldana, was +struck by an arrow in the ear, and instantly dropt down dead. With like +fury they rushed at us with their pikes, at the same time pouring forth +showers of arrows, and continually wounding our men. However, we fully +repaid them with our crossbows, muskets, and heavy cannon, cutting right +and left among them with our swords. By this means we forced them to +give ground a little, but only that they might shower forth their arrows +at a greater distance, where they thought themselves more secure from +our arms. Even then our artilleryman Mesa made terrible havoc among +them, standing as they did crowded together and within reach of the +cannon, so that he could fire among them to his heart's content. +Notwithstanding the destruction we made among their ranks, we could not +put them to flight. I now remarked to our commander Diego de Ordas that +we should rush forward upon the Indians and close with them. My motive +for advising this was, because I saw that they merely retreated from +fear of our swords, but still continued to annoy us at a distance with +arrows, lances, and large stones. De Ordas, however, considered this not +expedient, as the enemy's numbers were so vast that every single man of +us would have had to encounter 300 of the enemy at once. + +My advice, however, was at length followed up, and we fell so heavily +upon them that they retreated as far as the wells. All this time Cortes +still remained behind with the cavalry, though we so greatly longed for +that reinforcement: we began to fear that some misfortune might also +have befallen him. I shall never forget the piping and yelling which the +Indians set up at every shot we fired, and how they sought to hide their +loss from us by tossing up earth and straw into the air, making a +terrible noise with their drums and trumpets, and their war-whoop _Ala +lala_.[11] + +In one of these moments Cortes came galloping up with the horse. Our +enemies being still busily engaged with us, did not immediately observe +this, so that our cavalry easily dashed in among them from behind. The +nature of the ground was quite favorable for its manoeuvres; and as it +consisted of strong active fellows, most of the horses being, moreover, +powerful and fiery animals, our small body of cavalry in every way made +the best use of their weapons. When we, who were already hotly engaged +with the enemy, espied our cavalry, we fought with renewed energy, while +the latter, by attacking them in the rear at the same time, now obliged +them to face about. The Indians, who had never seen any horses before, +could not think otherwise than that horse and rider were one body. Quite +astounded at this to them so novel a sight, they quitted the plain and +retreated to a rising ground. + +Cortes now related why he had not come sooner. First, he had been +delayed by the morass; then again he was obliged to fight his way +through other bodies of the enemy whom he had met, in which five men and +eight horses were wounded. + +Having somewhat rested from our fatigue under the trees which stood on +the field of battle, we praised God and the holy Virgin, and thanked +them with uplifted hands for the complete victory they had granted us: +and, as it was the feast of the annunciation to the holy Virgin, the +town which was subsequently built here in memory of this great victory, +was named Santa Maria de la Vitoria. This was the first battle we fought +under Cortes in New Spain. + +After this pious solemnity we bandaged the wounds of our men with linen, +which was all we had for that purpose. Those of our horses we dressed +with melted fat, which we cut from the dead bodies of the Indians. We +likewise took this opportunity of counting the number of killed left by +the enemy on the field of battle. We found above eight hundred, numbers +still showing signs of life. Our swords had done the most carnage among +them, though many were killed by our cannon. Wherever the cavalry made +its appearance the enemy had most work to do. The fighting lasted about +an hour; and our enemies maintained their ground so well, that they did +not quit the field of battle until our horse broke in among them. There +were two caziques among the five prisoners we made. + +As we were quite fatigued and hungry we returned to our quarters, buried +the two soldiers, one of whom had been shot in the neck and the other in +the ear, posted strong watches, then ate our supper and retired to rest. + +Francisco Lopez de Gomara, in his account of this battle, says, that +previous to the arrival of Cortes with the cavalry, the holy apostle St. +Jacob or St. Peter in person had galloped up on a gray-coloured horse +to our assistance. I can only say, that for the exertion of our arms +and this victory, we stand indebted to our Lord Jesus Christ; and that +in this battle every individual man among us was set upon by such +numbers of the enemy, that if each of them had merely thrown a handful +of earth upon us we should have been buried beneath it. Certain it is, +therefore, that God showed his mercy to us here, and it may, indeed, +have been one of the two glorious apostles St. Jacob or St. Peter who +thus came to our assistance. Perhaps on account of my sins I was not +considered worthy of the good fortune to behold them; for I could only +see Francisco de Morla on his brown horse galloping up with Cortes, and +even at this very moment, while I am writing this, I can fancy I see all +passing before my eyes just as I have related it; although I, an +unworthy sinner, was not considered worthy of beholding one of the +glorious apostles face to face: yet again I never heard any of the four +hundred soldiers, nor ever Cortes himself, nor any of the many +cavaliers, mention this wonder, or confirm its truth. We should +certainly have built a church, and have called the town _Santiago_, or +_San Pedro de la Vitoria_, and not _Santa Maria de la Vitoria_. If, +therefore, what Gomara relates is true, then we must indeed have been +bad Christians not to have paid greater respect to the assistance which +God sent us in the person of his holy apostles, and for having omitted +to thank him daily for it in his own church. Nevertheless, I should feel +delighted if this historian has spoken the truth, although I must +confess that I never heard this wonder mentioned before reading his +book, nor have I ever heard any of the conquistadores speak of it who +were present at the battle. + +[11] Ala lala. What a striking similarity there is between this cry and +the Turkish Alla il Allah, of which, as Byron says, in one of his notes +to the 'Bride of Abydos,' the Turks are very profuse in battle! (p. 75.) + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + _How Cortes assembles all the caziques of this province, and what + further happened._ + + +I have above related that in this battle we took five prisoners, among +whom were two chiefs. Aguilar, who understood their language, often +discoursed with them, and from some remarks which they made, concluded +that we might employ them as delegates to their countrymen. Having +communicated his thoughts to Cortes, he proposed they should be set at +liberty, and despatched with a message to the caziques and other +inhabitants of the district. To this Cortes assented, ordering both the +prisoners to be presented with blue glass beads, while Aguilar told them +many things which he knew would please the inhabitants and prove +advantageous to us. He assured them, that after this battle, which had +been entirely of their own seeking, they had nothing further to fear +from us, and commissioned them now to assemble all the caziques of the +district, for we were very desirous of communicating with them. +Everything Aguilar said was done with the view of inclining the Indians +to make peace with us. The prisoners most willingly complied with our +wishes, which they communicated to the caziques and principal personages +among the inhabitants, telling them how we longed to become their +friends. This message was in so far successful, that they resolved to +send us fifteen of their Indian slaves with fowls, baked fish, and +maise-bread. These slaves had their faces blackened, and were completely +covered with ragged cloaks. When these personages appeared in the +presence of Cortes he received them very friendly: Aguilar, on the +contrary, asked them in an angry tone, why they had come with such +painted faces--appearing rather to seek war than peace? If they were +desirous of making peace, continued he, persons of rank should be +deputed to us, not slaves. This they were to communicate to those who +had sent them. We, however, treated these black faces very kindly, +presenting them moreover with blue beads in token of peace, and in order +to gain the good wishes of the inhabitants. And sure enough the very +next day above thirty of the principal Indians, well dressed, appeared +in our quarters, bringing with them, fowls, fruits, and maise-bread, and +begged permission of Cortes to burn and bury the bodies of their fallen +countrymen, in order that they might not create a pestilence in the air, +or become a prey to the lions and tigers. This being granted, they +brought along with them a great number of Indians to burn the bodies, +and bury them according to their custom. Cortes himself went to watch +their proceedings, when they assured him they had lost above 800 killed, +without counting the wounded; adding, that at present they durst not +enter into any treaty with us, as the day following all the chiefs and +principal personages of the district would assemble to take our offers +of peace into consideration. + +Cortes, who profited by every circumstance, said smilingly to us: "It +appears to me, gentlemen, that the Indians stand in great awe of our +horses, and imagine that these and our guns alone fight the battle. A +thought has just struck me which will further confirm them in this +notion. You must bring here the mare of Juan Sedeno which foaled on +board a short time ago, and fasten her here where I am now standing. +Then bring also the stallion of the musician Ortiz, which is a very +fiery animal, and will quickly scent the mare. As soon as you find this +to be the case, lead both the horses to separate places, that the +caziques may neither see the horses, nor hear them neigh, until I shall +be in conversation with them." All this was accordingly done. He +likewise ordered our largest cannon to be heavily loaded with gunpowder +and ball. + +A little after midday, forty caziques arrived in great state and richly +clothed according to their fashion. They saluted Cortes and all of us, +perfumed us with their incense, begged forgiveness for what had +happened, and promised to be friendly for the future. Cortes answered by +our interpreter Aguilar, reminding them, with a very serious look, how +often he had wished them to make peace with us, and how, owing to their +obstinacy, we were almost upon the point of destroying them with the +whole of the inhabitants of this district. We were vassals of the mighty +king and lord the emperor Charles, he further added, who had sent us to +this country with orders to favour and assist those who should submit to +his imperial sway, which we would assuredly do if they were amicably +inclined towards us. If, however, they were not so, the _tepustles_ (so +the Indians called our cannon) would be fired off, which were already +embittered against them in some measure on account of the attack they +had made upon us. Cortes, at this moment, gave the signal for firing our +largest cannon. The report was like a sudden clap of thunder, the ball +whizzing along the hills, which could be distinctly heard as it was +midday and not a breath of air stirring. The caziques who had never seen +this before appeared in dismay, and believed all Cortes had said; who, +however, desired Aguilar to comfort and assure them he had given orders +that no harm should be done them. At this moment the stallion was +brought and fastened at a short distance from the spot where Cortes and +the caziques were holding the conference: as the mare was likewise near +at hand, the stallion immediately began to neigh, stamp the ground and +rear itself, while its eyes were continually fixed on the Indians who +stood in front of Cortes's tent, as the mare was placed behind it. The +caziques, however, thought the animal was making all these movements +against them and appeared greatly agitated. When Cortes found what +effect this scene had made upon the Indians, he rose from his seat, and +walking to the horse, took hold of the bridle, and desired his servant +to lead it away. Aguilar, however, was to make the Indians believe that +he had ordered the horse not to do them any injury. + +While all this was going on above thirty Indian porters (whom they term +tamemes) arrived with fowls, baked fish, and various fruits: these +porters, on account of their loads, had perhaps not been able to follow +the caziques fast enough. A lively discourse was now kept up between +Cortes and the caziques, who in the end left us perfectly contented, +with the assurance that the following day they would return with a +present. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + _How all the caziques and calachonis of the river Grijalva arrive + with presents, and what happened after this._ + + +On the following morning, it was one of the last days in March, 1519, a +number of caziques, with the principal personages of the Tabasco +district and surrounding neighbourhood arrived. They paid us profound +reverence, and brought a present, consisting in four diadems, some +lizards, ear-rings, four ducks, figures like dogs, others with Indian +faces, two sandals with golden soles, and various other trifling +trinkets of gold,[12] whose value I have forgotten. There were also +cloaks as the Indians wear them, which are very commodious. The present +altogether was of little value, (most likely the province altogether +possessed few riches,) and was certainly not to be compared to the +twenty females with which they presented us, among whom one was a very +fine woman, who subsequently became a convert to Christianity, and was +named Dona Marina. Cortes was vastly pleased with this present, and +held, by means of Aguilar, a long discourse with the caziques, telling +them among other things, that their present was very acceptable; but he +had something further to beg, namely, that they should again return to +their dwellings with their wives and children. He should not consider +the peace really concluded unless within the space of two days all the +inhabitants had returned to the village. The caziques upon this issued +the necessary orders, and in a couple of days all the families had +returned. They showed the same readiness to comply with Cortes's wishes +when he desired them to do away with their idols and human sacrifices. +He likewise, as well as he could, gave them some idea of our holy +Christian faith, and how we only adored one God. We also showed them a +very pious figure, representing the mother of God holding her blessed +Son in her arms, and explained to them how we paid reverence to this +figure, and by it to the mother of God who was in heaven. Hereupon the +caziques answered, that they were much pleased with this great +_Tecleciguata_, and that they should much like to keep it in their +village. In their language, _Tecleciguata_ means a woman of distinction. +Cortes promised them they should have it, and for this purpose ordered a +pretty altar to be built. In the same way our carpenters, Alonso Yanez +and Alvaro Lopez, were desired to construct a very high cross. + +Cortes also further asked the caziques, why they had thus for the third +time commenced war with us, though we had always sought to be at peace +with them? They answered, that they were sorry enough for it, and we had +forgiven them; for the rest it was at the instigation of their brother, +the cazique of Champoton, who had previously accused them of cowardice +for not having attacked us when we arrived off the coast with four ships +under another commander, meaning most probably Grijalva. The same advice +was also given them by our Indian interpreter, who had run away from us +in the night-time, telling them not to leave us any peace day or night, +as we were but few in number. Cortes desired that he should be delivered +up to us, but they declared they did not know what had become of him, as +on the unfortunate termination of the battle he had immediately took to +flight. This, however, was an untruth, as we were well aware how dearly +the poor devil had paid for his advice, as shortly after the battle he +was seized and sacrificed to their gods. + +On being questioned as to where they got their gold and the trinkets, +they answered from the country towards the setting of the sun, and +pronounced the words _Culhua_ and _Mexico_. As at that time we did not +comprehend the meaning of these words, we paid little attention to them. +We, however, questioned our other interpreter Francisco, who remained +with us from our former expedition under Grijalva, but he knew very +little of the Tabasco language, being only acquainted with the Culhuan, +that is to say the Mexican. He told Cortes, partly by signs, that +_Culhua_ lay at a great distance before us, at the same time continually +mentioning the word Mexico, Mexico. We were then still ignorant what he +wished to convey to us. + +The day following the cross and altar were erected, and the figure of +the holy Virgin being placed thereon: we all fell down upon our knees +before it, while father Bartolome de Olmedo read mass. The caziques and +chief Indians were present. On this occasion also the village of Tabasco +was in all solemnity named Santa Maria de la Vitoria; and father Olmedo, +with the assistance of Aguilar, said many excellent things to the twenty +females who were presented to us, concerning our holy religion; that +they should abandon their belief in idols, and no longer bring them +sacrifices, for they were not gods but evil spirits; they had up to +this moment lived in gross error, and should now adore Christ, our Lord. +After this address the women were baptized, and she of whom I have +already spoken was named Dona Marina. This was a lady of distinction, +the daughter of a powerful cazique and a princess who had subjects of +her own, which, indeed, you might see from her appearance. The +circumstances which occasioned her being brought into our power I will +relate hereafter. The names of the other Indian females who were +baptized I cannot now bring to mind; but these were the first who were +converted to Christianity in New Spain, and were distributed among +Cortes's chief officers. Dona Marina, who was the prettiest, the most +active and lively of the number, was given to Puertocarrero, who was a +stout cavalier and cousin to the earl of Medellin. When he subsequently +left for Spain, Cortes took Marina unto himself, and had a son by her, +who was named Don Martin Cortes, and became Comptoir of Santiago. + +We remained five days in this spot, partly to cure our wounds, partly +for the sake of those who suffered from pain in the groins, but who soon +recovered here. Cortes employed these days in useful conversation with +the caziques, and talked to them about the emperor, our master, of his +numerous lordly vassals, and the advantage they would gain by having +subjected themselves to him; as, for the future, in all their +difficulties they would only have to apply to him, and wherever he might +be he would come to their assistance. + +The caziques thanked him for this offer; they solemnly declared +themselves to be vassals of our great emperor, and these were the first +among the inhabitants of New Spain who subjected themselves to his +majesty. As the day following was Palm Sunday, Cortes desired them to +come early in the morning to pray before the holy mother of God and the +cross. He also sent for six Indian carpenters to assist ours in making a +cross on a high ceiba tree,[13] near the village of Cintla, where the +Lord had granted us the great victory. This cross was made in a manner +so as to be very durable, for the bark of the tree, which always grows +to again, was so cut as to form that figure. Lastly, Cortes desired the +Indians to bring out all their canoes in order to assist us in +re-embarking, for we were desirous of setting sail on that holy day, as, +according to our pilots, our present station was not secure from the +north winds. + +Early the next morning the caziques and the principal personages, all +with their wives and children, made their appearance in the courtyard, +where we had erected the altar and cross, and collected the palm +branches for our procession. Upon this Cortes, with the officers and +all our men, rose and made a solemn procession. Both our priests, the +father Bartolome de Olmedo, belonging to the order of the charitable +brethren, and Juan Dias, were dressed in their full canonicals, and read +mass. We prayed before the cross and kissed it, the caziques and Indians +all the while looking on. After the ceremony was finished the principal +Indians brought ten fowls, baked fish, and all kinds of greens, which we +enjoyed very much. We now took our leave, and Cortes repeatedly +recommended them to take care of the image of the holy Virgin and the +cross, and to hold the chapel in due reverence, in order that salvation +and blessings might come upon them. + +We all embarked in the evening, and on Monday morning we set sail with a +good wind. We always kept close to the shore, and steered in the +direction of San Juan de Ulua. As we coasted along, the weather being +most favorable, we who had been here with Grijalva, and were well +acquainted with these parts, pointed out to Cortes La Rambla, which the +Indians call Aguajaluco; further on, the coast of Tonala or San Antonio, +the great river Guacasualco, the elevated snow mountains (sierras +nevadas), and those of San Martin. We also showed him the split rock +forming two points, which stretch out into the sea, and somewhat +resemble the figure of a chair. We then showed him the river Alvarado; +further on the river Banderas, where we made the 16000 pesos; the Isla +Blanca and Isla Verde, also the Isla di Sacrificios, where, under +Grijalva, we found the idols with the Indians who had been recently +sacrificed. + +In this way we pretty quickly arrived at San Juan de Ulua, which we +reached on Holy Thursday about noon. I shall never forget how Alonso +Hernandez Puertocarrero just about this time remarked to Cortes: +"Methinks we are now certainly arrived in that country, of which those +gentlemen who have been here twice before, sung:[14] + + 'Cata Francia, montesinos! + Cata Paris, la Ciudad, + Cata las aguas de Duero, + Do van a dar en la mar!' + +"I tell you, only look at this rich country, and keep strict command +over us." Cortes, who well knew what he meant, said in return: "If God +will only grant us that good fortune in arms which he gave to Roland, +the Paladin, then with your assistance and that of the other gentlemen +cavaliers, we shall succeed in everything else." This happened just at +the moment when Cortes was entering the river Alvarado, which +circumstance is also mentioned by Gomara. + +[12] This passage is very important, as it shows to what degree of +civilization the inhabitants of this district had arrived, and that they +were at least skilful in the working of gold. The Spanish words are: +"Quatro diademas, unas lagartijas, y dos como perillos, y orejeras, y +cinco anades, y dos figuras de caras de Indios, y dos Suelas de Oro, +como de sus Cotoras." + +The Caras de Indios (faces of Indians) were most probably shaped like +masks, for similar ones, made of clay, are found to this day in the vale +of Mexico. "Suelas de Oro, como de sus Cotoras," we have ventured to +translate "Sandals with golden soles," particularly as Bernal Diaz, in a +subsequent chapter, expressly remarks that Motecusuma wore a kind of +half-boot with soles of gold. (p. 80.) + +[13] The bombax ceiba of Linnaeus, and one of the tallest trees growing +in America. The fruit produces a very fine cotton, resembling silk, used +for stuffing bolsters and chair seats. (p. 82.) + +[14] Cata Francia, Montesinos, &c. This is the first strophe of an old +Spanish romance, in which Montesinos the father desires his son to +revenge him of his mortal enemy Tomillas: + +"Montesinos cast a glance On your lands, the soil of France; See how the +Duro's sportive motion Carries its waters to the ocean!" (p. 83.) + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + _How Dona Marina herself was a caziquess, and the daughter of + distinguished personages; also a ruler over a people and several + towns, and how she came to Tabasco._ + + +Previous to going into any details here respecting the powerful +Motecusuma, his immense kingdom of Mexico, and its inhabitants, I must +relate what I know of Dona Marina. She was born a ruler over a people +and country,--for her parents had the dominion of a township called +Painala, to which several other townships were subject, lying about +twenty-four miles from the town of Guacasualco. Her father died when she +was very young, and her mother married another young cazique. By him she +had a son, of whom it appears they were both very fond, and to whom, +after their death, they designed to leave their territories. In order, +however, that the daughter of the first marriage might not stand in his +way, she was conveyed secretly during night-time to an Indian family in +Xicalango, they spreading the rumour she had died, which gained further +belief from the circumstance that a daughter of one of her female slaves +happened to die at the time. The Indians of Xicalango did not keep the +young girl themselves, but gave her to the inhabitants of Tabasco, by +whom she was presented to Cortes. I knew her mother and half-brother +myself, the latter having already reached manhood, and governed the +township jointly with his mother. When they were subsequently both +converted to Christianity, the latter was named Martha and her son +Lazaro. I was well acquainted with the whole of this circumstance; for +in the year 1523, when Mexico and several other provinces had been +subdued, and Christobal de Oli had rebelled in the Higueras, Cortes came +to Guacasualco, and on that occasion visited Marina's birth-place. Most +of the inhabitants of Guacasualco accompanied Cortes on this expedition; +I myself was also among the number. As Dona Marina, in all the wars of +New Spain, Tlascalla, and at the siege of Mexico, had rendered the +greatest services in capacity of an interpretress, Cortes carried her +everywhere with him. During this journey it also was that he married her +to a cavalier of the township of Orizava, named Juan Xaramillo. Among +others, there was present as a witness a certain Aranda of Tabasco, +through whom this circumstance became immediately known. These are the +true particulars of the whole case, not, however, as related by Gomara. +For the rest, Marina had the most extensive influence in New Spain, and +did with the Indians what she pleased. + +While Cortes was staying in Guacasualco, he ordered all the caziques of +the province to assemble, and advised them to adopt our holy religion. +On this occasion the mother and brother of Dona Marina also made their +appearance with the other caziques. They recognized each other +immediately; the former, however, appeared to be in the greatest +anxiety, thinking that they had merely been called there to be killed. +Dona Marina, however, desired them to dry away their tears, and +comforted them by saying they were unconscious of what they were doing +when they had sent her away to the inhabitants of Xicalango, and that +she freely forgave the past. By this means God certainly directed +everything for her best, turned her away from the errors of heathenism, +and converted her to Christianity. + +Thus destined, she likewise bore a son unto her master Cortes, and then +married a cavalier named Juan Xaramillo. All this I consider of much +greater importance than if she had been presented with the sole dominion +of the whole of New Spain. She likewise gave presents to her relatives +on their return home. What I have related is the strict truth, and can +swear to it. Gomara's account respecting this is wholly erroneous, and +he adds many other circumstances which I shall leave without comment. +This, however, is certain, that the whole affair reminds one of the +history of Joseph and his brethren in Egypt, when they came into his +power. After this diversion into matters which subsequently took place, +I must relate how we first managed to understand Dona Marina. She was +conversant with the language of Guacasualco, which is the Mexican, and +with that of Tabasco. Aguilar, however, merely understood the latter, +which is spoken throughout the whole of Yucatan. Dona Marina had, +therefore, first to make herself understood to Aguilar, who then +translated what she said into Spanish. This woman was a valuable +instrument to us in the conquest of New Spain. It was, through her only, +under the protection of the Almighty, that many things[15] were +accomplished by us: without her we never should have understood the +Mexican language, and, upon the whole, have been unable to surmount many +difficulties. + +Let this suffice respecting Dona Marina; I will now relate how we +arrived in San Juan de Ulua. + +[15] On this woman the captain Cadahalso, in his 'Cartas Marruecas,' +passes the following encomium: "Primera muger, que no ha prejudicado en +uno exercito;" i.e. "The first woman who ever accompanied an army +without being a prejudice to it." (p. 85.) + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + _How we arrive with our vessels in San Juan de Ulua, and what we did + there._ + + +On Holy Thursday, in the year of our Lord 1519, we arrived with our +whole squadron in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua. As Alaminos well +remembered this spot from the expedition under Grijalva, he brought our +ships to anchor in a place where they were sheltered from the north +wind. We had scarcely lain here half an hour when we espied two large +canoes, which are called here pirogues, filled with a number of Indians, +making straight for Cortes's vessel, which, from the large flag hanging +from the mast-head, they recognized as our commander's ship. They +climbed on board without any ceremony, and inquired for the _Tlatoan_, +which, in their language, means master. Dona Marina understood their +question, and pointed to Cortes; they, therefore, turned to him, paying +him great reverence after the Indian fashion, and bid him welcome. Their +master, they said, who was a servant of the great Motecusuma, had sent +them in order to ascertain who we were and what we came to seek in his +country. We had only to inform them of what we wanted for our ships, and +they would see that it was provided. + +Cortes thanked them for their kindness, through Aguilar and Dona Marina, +presented them with some blue glass beads, and ordered some meat and +drink to be placed before them. After they had taken some refreshment, +he told them we were merely come here to make their acquaintance, and +open a trade with them: we had not the remotest intention of doing them +an injury, nor need they apprehend anything from our arrival. The +ambassadors now returned, well contented, to their homes. The following +morning, Good Friday, we disembarked our horses and cannon near some +sand-hills which here run along the whole coast. Our artilleryman Mesa +placed the cannon on a very advantageous spot, and we erected an altar +where mass was immediately performed: for Cortes and the other chief +officers huts were constructed of green boughs; the rest of us likewise +constructed huts, and slept three together: the horses also were well +provided for. The whole of Good Friday was spent in this work; and on +the Saturday many Indians arrived, who had been sent by a man of +distinction, named Quitlalpitoc, governor under Motecusuma: this +personage was afterwards christened Ovandillo. They had axes with them, +and cut off an additional quantity of branches to make a better finish +to Cortes's hut, which they then overhung with large pieces of cloth, +to keep out the heat, which was already very great. They also brought +along with them fowls, maise-bread, and plums, which were then nice and +ripe; also, if I rightly recollect, they had with them some gold +trinkets. All these things they handed over to Cortes, adding, that the +governor himself would come the next day and bring with him a further +supply of provisions. Cortes joyfully accepted of these presents, and +ordered various kinds of toys we had brought for barter to be given +them, with which they were uncommonly delighted. On Easter day, the +governor indeed appeared in person, as had been assured us. His name was +_Teuthlille_, and he was one of the farmer generals of the Mexican +empire. He was accompanied by another person of distinction, called +Quitlalpitoc. We subsequently learnt that both these personages were +appointed governors over the provinces Cotastlan, Tustepec, +Guazpaltepec, and Tlatateteclo, and other townships recently subdued. +They were followed by a great number of Indians, carrying the presents, +consisting of fowls and greens. Teuthlille having ordered the others to +stand back a little, walked up to Cortes, and made him three most +reverential bows, after the Indian fashion, which he repeated on turning +to us who stood nearest. Cortes bid both welcome, then embraced them, +and desired them to wait a little, as he would afterwards give them a +more circumstantial answer. In the meantime he ordered the altar to be +fitted up as prettily as possible. Francisco Bartolome and father Juan +Diaz performed mass. Both the governors and the principal personages of +their suite were present during the ceremony, after which Cortes sat +down to dinner with them. + +After the table had been cleared, Cortes, with the assistance of Aguilar +and Dona Marina, entered into conversation with the Mexican officials +and the caziques, telling them we were Christians, and subjects of the +greatest monarch of the world, whose name was emperor Charles, and that +he had many great personages among his vassals and servants. We had come +by his command to their country, of which and its powerful monarch who +now reigned over it, his majesty had heard long ago. As far as regarded +himself, he was desirous of becoming his friend, and had to disclose +many things to him, in the name of his emperor, which he would listen to +with delight. In order that a good understanding might be established +between him and his subjects, they should acquaint him with the place +where their monarch resided, that he might pay his respects to him, and +make the necessary disclosures. To which Teuthlille answered in a rather +imperious tone, "Since you are but just arrived, it would be more +fitting that you, previous to your desiring an interview with my +monarch, should accept this present, which we have brought you in his +name, and disclose your wishes to me." He then brought forth, out of a +species of box, a quantity of gold trinkets, of beautiful and skilful +workmanship, besides more than twenty packages of stuffs very prettily +worked of white cotton and feathers. These they presented to Cortes, +with various other costly things, which, owing to the number of years +which have since elapsed, I cannot now remember, besides provisions, +consisting in quantities of fowls, fruits, and dried fish. Cortes +accepted all this with a joyful countenance, presenting these gentlemen +in return with glass beads resembling brilliants, and other things we +brought from Spain. He begged of them to desire the inhabitants of the +different districts to commence trading with us, as we possessed various +articles which we were desirous of exchanging for gold; this they +promised to do. + +Cortes then ordered an arm-chair to be brought, beautifully painted and +adorned with inlaid work, some pieces of precious stones, wrapt in +cotton cloth, perfumed with musk, a necklace of imitation pearls, a +scarlet cap, with a medal, on which was represented the holy St. George +on horseback, with lance in hand, killing the dragon. Cortes addressed +Teuthlille, and said, that he presented this chair to his monarch +Motecusuma, that he might sit in it when he should pay him a visit, and +the string of pearls to wind around his head on the same occasion; all +of which were presents from the emperor our master, who had sent these +things to his monarch in token of friendship and as a proof of the +esteem in which he held him: he ought now to inform us where and when he +could personally wait upon him. Teuthlille accepted the presents, and +said, in return, that his master Motecusuma, as he was also a great +monarch, would on his side be equally delighted to learn something about +our great emperor: he would hasten to lay the presents before him, and +return with his answer. + +Teuthlille had with him very clever painters, for there were such in +Mexico, and he ordered them to sketch the likeness and whole person of +Cortes, with the dress he wore; also all the other chief officers, the +soldiers, our vessels, horses, Dona Marina, and Aguilar; even our two +dogs, the cannon, the balls; in short, everything they could fix their +eyes on belonging to us: these paintings they took along with them to +show to their monarch. In order, however, to convey to him a still +greater idea of our power, Cortes ordered our cannon to be heavily laden +with powder, so as to produce a very loud report, commanding also +Alvarado and the other cavaliers to mount their horses, to hang bells +around the necks of the latter, and to gallop up in full speed in +presence of Motecusuma's ambassadors. Cortes also mounted his horse, and +said to the others, "It would be capital if we could gallop across these +sand-hills at full speed; but, as we should so easily stick in the sand, +it will be better for us to ride two and two along the sea-shore at low +water." He then gave the command of the horse to Alvarado, whose brown +mare was a spirited animal, and very swift. All this was done in +presence of the Mexican ambassadors; but, that they might likewise see +the cannon fired, Cortes, under the pretence of having something further +to communicate, took them and several other principal personages to a +spot where they might have a good view of it. The weather was perfectly +calm; and when the cannon was fired, the stone balls flew with a +tremendous crash along the sand-hills, re-echoing for a length of time. +The Indians were terribly startled, and ordered their painters to +represent this likewise, to them so novel a sight, that they might show +it to Motecusuma. + +One of our men had on a casque, which was partly gilt; Teuthlille, who +was much more enlightened than any of his companions, remarked, when his +eye fell upon it, that it bore a great resemblance to a helmet which +belonged to their most ancient forefathers, and now adorned the head of +their warrior-god Huitzilopochtli. Motecusuma, he further added, would +certainly be uncommonly pleased if he could likewise see this casque. +Cortes, on hearing this, ordered the casque to be presented to him, +thereby expressing the wish, that he should like to satisfy himself that +the gold of this country was similar to what we find in our rivers. If +they would send him the casque full of gold dust, he would send it to +our great emperor. Upon this Teuthlille took leave of Cortes and all of +us, promising to return speedily, while Cortes, under the most tender of +embraces, made him every profession of friendship. + +After this personage had taken his departure, we learnt that he was not +merely a distinguished statesman, but also the most nimble pedestrian at +Motecusuma's court. He did, indeed, use the utmost expedition to bring +his monarch information, and hand over to him the paintings and +presents. The great Motecusuma was vastly astonished at everything he +heard and saw, and yet he was pleased. But, when at last he espied the +casque, and compared it with that of the idol Huitzilopochtli, he no +longer doubted for an instant that we belonged to that people, whom his +forefathers had prophesied would, one time or other, come and subdue the +country. + +Concerning these things Gomara has adduced much of which he had been ill +informed; I will not, however, detain myself by contradicting him, but +continue my narrative. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + _How Teuthlille makes his report to Motecusuma, and gives him our + presents; as also what further took place in our camp._ + + +After the departure of Teuthlille with the presents which Cortes sent to +his monarch, Motecusuma; the other governor, Quitlalpitoc, remained +behind in our camp. He took up his quarters in a kind of hut, at a +distance from ours, and ordered Indians to bake maise-bread, procure the +fowls, fruits, and fish, which the province had to furnish, for the +table of Cortes and his officers. We other soldiers, if we wished to get +our bellies full were compelled to catch shell and other fish ourselves. +In the meantime numbers of Indians arrived from the above-mentioned +provinces, over which the two officials sent by Motecusuma were +governors, bringing with them some gold trinkets of small value, and +fowls, which they gave us in exchange for our goods, consisting in glass +pearls and such like; with which we were all provided, having +experienced the value of these during the expedition under Grijalva. + +Six or seven days may have thus been spent, when Teuthlille returned in +the morning with more than a hundred Indian porters, all heavily laden, +accompanied by a great Mexican cazique, who both in countenance, +stature, and deportment, greatly resembled Cortes, and on that account +only had been selected by his monarch to accompany the deputation; for, +as was related, when Teuthlille brought forth the picture representing +Cortes, all the grandees who were present with their monarch Motecusuma, +immediately observed that he resembled a person of distinction named +Quintalbor. This was the same person who now accompanied Teuthlille, we +therefore called one the Cortes of this place, and the other the Cortes +of that place. We must now, however, learn what the ambassadors did when +they came into the presence of Cortes. First of all they touched the +ground at his feet with the hand, they then perfumed him and all the +Spaniards who were present, with pans made of clay. Cortes gave them a +most cordial reception, and desired them to sit down at his side. The +cazique Quintalbor was commissioned to discuss matters jointly with +Teuthlille. Both, therefore, told Cortes he was most welcome in their +country; and after a good deal of talking on both sides, they produced +the presents and spread them out on a mat, over which they had first +thrown some cotton cloths. The first was a round plate, about the size +of a waggon wheel, representing the sun, the whole of the finest gold, +and of the most beautiful workmanship; a most extraordinary work of art, +which, according to the account of those who weighed it, was worth +above 20,000 gold pesos. The second was a round plate, even larger than +the former, of massive silver, representing the moon, with rays and +other figures on it, being of great value. The third was the casque, +completely filled with pure grains of gold, as they are found in the +mines, worth about 3000 pesos, which was more to us than if it had been +ten times the value, as we now knew for certain there were rich gold +mines in the country. Among other things there were also thirty golden +ducks, exactly resembling the living bird, and of splendid workmanship; +further figures resembling lions, tigers, dogs and apes; likewise ten +chains with lockets, all of gold, and of the most costly workmanship; a +bow with the string and twelve arrows, and two staffs five palms in +length, like those used by the justices, all cast of the purest gold; +further, they brought small cases containing the most beautiful green +feathers, blended with gold and silver, and fans similarly worked; every +species of game likewise cast in gold. In short such a number of +objects, which from the many years since elapsed I cannot now altogether +remember.[16] There were alone above thirty packages of cotton stuffs, +variously manufactured and interworked with variegated feathers. When +the great cazique Quintalbor and Teuthlille handed over these presents +to Cortes, they begged of him to accept of them in the same friendly +disposition with which their monarch sent them, and to distribute them +among his Teules. Upon this they began to unfold what their monarch had +in particular commissioned them to say, which was as follows: "He, +Motecusuma, was delighted with the arrival of such courageous men in his +states, as we, according to the accounts he had received and judging +from the occurrence at Tabasco, certainly must be. He wished very much +to see our great emperor, who was such a powerful monarch, of whom, +although residing at such a vast distance, he had already gained some +knowledge, and he would send him a present of some valuable stones. He +was likewise ready to furnish us with everything we might require during +our stay. But as for Cortes calling upon him, we had better give up all +thoughts of that, as it was not necessary, and would be accompanied with +great difficulties." + +Cortes thanked them most sincerely for their kindness, gave to each a +couple of shirts made of holland, blue beads, and other trifles, begging +of them to return to their great monarch Motecusuma, and tell him that +our emperor and master would take it very unkind, after we had come from +such distant countries and crossed such vast seas, merely with the +intention of paying our respects to Motecusuma, if we returned without +fulfilling this object. He wished, therefore, to proceed to his +residence and himself to receive his commands. The ambassadors answered, +that they would mention all this to their monarch, but that any waiting +upon him would be superfluous. Cortes upon this gave them out of our +poverty a cup, of Florentine workmanship, gilt and surrounded with a +quantity of relieved foliage, besides those shirts made of holland, and +other things; all these were to be presented to Motecusuma, and he +desired them to take his answer to him. Both the delegates then +departed, while Quitlalpitoc remained alone behind in our camp, +commissioned, it appeared, by the two other officials of Motecusuma, to +provide provisions for us out of the neighbouring districts. + +[16] These remarkable presents have all been enumerated by Torquemada, +(Monarchia Indiana, i, iv, c. 17;) and we cannot do better than give his +minute description of them here: "The ambassador of Motecusuma ordered +mats to be spread on the ground before Cortes, and over them some cotton +cloths, on which he arranged the presents, consisting of large +quantities of cotton shirts and other cotton stuffs, beautifully +manufactured, and interwoven with feathers of the most splendid colours; +bucklers made of the purest white staffs, decorated with feathers, gold, +silver, and pearls, surpassing everything in beauty and skilfulness of +workmanship that was ever seen. There was also a helmet, tastefully +carved out of wood, filled with grains of gold; a casque, made of thin +plates of gold, decorated with tassels and stones, resembling the +smaragdus; numerous large bunches of feathers of diversified colours, +fastened in silver and gold; fans for keeping off flies, made of the +rarest feathers; a thousand lockets of gold and silver, of the most +curious and beautiful workmanship; bracelets and military decorations of +gold and silver, splendidly embossed with green and bright yellow +feathers; leather made of deer skin, curried and coloured in the best +possible manner; shoes and sandals of the same leather, sewn with thin +gold wire, and the soles made of splendid white and blue stone. There +were other kinds of shoes, most tastefully manufactured of cotton; +mirrors of marcasite, globular shaped, of the size of a fist, and most +ingeniously set in gold, the small frame itself being very valuable, and +worthy of the acceptance of any crowned head; coverings and curtains to +beds, manufactured of various coloured cotton, more glossy and of finer +texture than silk; a number of other gold and silver trinkets; a +necklace of gold, decorated with upwards of a hundred emeralds, rubies, +and various other ornaments of gold; a second necklace, consisting of +numbers of large pearls and emeralds, all of the most exquisite +workmanship; numerous other gold trinkets in the shape of frogs and +animals; jewels in the form of medals, the shrines being even more +valuable than the precious stones they contained; a quantity of large +and small grains of gold. The most valuable of these presents, however, +were two round plates, one of gold, on which was a sun with rays and the +zodiac; this weighed above one hundred marks: the other was of silver, +which in a similar manner represented the moon, weighing above fifty +marks: both were massive, and of the thickness of the Spanish coin of +four silver reals, and as large as a waggon wheel. Those who saw these +splendid presents said that, without considering the beautiful +workmanship, the value of the gold and silver alone amounted to 25,000 +castellanos de oro; so that the whole together may well be estimated at +50,000 ducats." (p. 91.) + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + _How Cortes goes in search of another harbour and a good spot to + found a colony, and what further happened._ + + +After the Mexican ambassadors had again taken their departure, Cortes +ordered two vessels to sail further on and explore the coast. The +command of these was given to Francisco de Montejo, with orders to +follow the same course taken by Grijalva. He was to sail on for the +space of ten days, and search for a good harbour and convenient spot to +form a settlement; for in the sandy region we were now staying it was +impossible to live, on account of the gnats; the inhabited districts, +moreover, being too far distant. Alaminos and el Manquillo who were +already acquainted with these waters, piloted the vessels. Montejo +departed and arrived in the waters of Rio Grande, near Panuco, as far as +we had gone with Grijalva, but on account of the heavy currents there he +could proceed no further; he, therefore, returned to San Juan de Ulua, +bringing us no other news than that they had seen at a distance of about +thirty-six miles further on a town, which to all appearance was +fortified. This place was called Quiahuitzlan, having a harbour, which, +according to the opinion of Alaminos, was secure from the north wind. +Ten or twelve days were spent by Montejo in this expedition out and +home. Quitlalpitoc, who had remained to furnish us with provisions, soon +ceased to do so altogether, which, of course, created a great scarcity +of food: our cassave-bread had likewise become quite mouldy and swarmed +with worms, so that we had nothing to eat if we did not procure +ourselves shellfish. In the commencement the Indians had certainly +brought us gold and fowls for our goods, but now they no longer came in +such great numbers as at first, and those who did come appeared quite +shy and reserved. We, therefore, anxiously awaited the return of the two +ambassadors from Mexico. + +After some days had elapsed Teuthlille indeed returned with a great +number of Indians. They observed the same courteous behaviour as on the +previous occasion, perfuming Cortes and all of us, and then brought +forth their presents, consisting in ten packages of mantles, richly +worked in feathers; further, four _chalchihuitls_, a species of green +stone of uncommon value, which are held in higher estimation with them +than the smaragdus[17] with us; lastly, there were also all kinds of +gold trinkets, which I heard valued at 3000 pesos. The great cazique +Quintalbor had fallen ill on the journey, and consequently remained +behind. Teuthlille and Quitlalpitoc, therefore, alone fulfilled +Motecusuma's commission, and assured us that he had most graciously +accepted of our present. Regarding the four chalchihuitls they observed, +that those were intended as a present to our emperor, as each of them +was worth, more than a load of gold. For the rest it was unnecessary to +send any more messengers to Mexico, neither was there any further +mention to be made of a personal interview between their monarch and +Cortes. + +Although, it was very unpleasant to the latter that his visit to +Motecusuma should thus be declined in dry words, yet he thanked them +most kindly; and added to some of us who were present: "Really this +Motecusuma must be a great and rich gentleman; nevertheless, if God be +willing, we shall one day visit him in his palace!" "We only wish, +(returned we soldiers,) that we were once nicely engaged with him." + +All this took place just about the hour of Ave Maria; the bell, +therefore, announced that we should assemble ourselves around the cross, +which we had erected on an elevated sand-hill. While we were all on our +knees before it, and repeating the Ave Maria, Teuthlille and +Quitlalpitoc inquired why we thus humbled ourselves so greatly before +that pole. + +Cortes immediately turned to Bartolome de Olmedo, and remarked to him: +"This is a good opportunity, father, to give these people some notion of +our holy religion through our interpreters." This father Olmedo +accordingly did in a manner which would have done honour to the greatest +of theologians. He first of all explained that we were Christians, and +then expatiated on the whole substance of our belief; he then proved +that their idols were useless things, evil spirits, which fled away from +the presence of the cross. On such a cross, he continued, the Lord of +heaven and earth suffered death, we believed in him only, and prayed to +him as the only true God, Jesus Christ, who suffered death for the +salvation of the human race; who rose again on the third day, and +ascended into heaven, that he would again appear to hold judgment over +the living and the dead. Upon this followed everything that was +edifying, which the Indians comprehended well, and which they assured us +they would relate to their monarch. + +Cortes then explained to them, that among the many reasons which had +induced our great emperor to send us here, one was that they should +abandon for ever the religion of their cursed idols, abolish human +sacrifices, and abstain from kidnapping. He, therefore, must beg of them +to erect crosses like this in their towns and on their temples, and also +the figure of the holy Virgin, with her most excellent Son, then God +would bestow great blessings on them. In short, there were many +expressions replete with excellent feeling, which I am unable wholly to +report, and therefore will rather leave in my pen. + +Our men now commenced to barter with the Indians, who had arrived with +Teuthlille for what they had brought, and obtained various kinds of +things, all of inferior gold, which we gave to our sailors for catching +us fish; this was the only means we had of stilling our hunger. Cortes +was well aware of this, and secretly enjoyed the idea; however, the +creatures of Diego Velasquez drew his attention to it, and thought he +ought not to permit such a species of traffic. We shall further see what +happened on this account. + +[17] Chalchihuitls; Bernal Diaz calls these Chalchuites. This stone is +of a light green colour, at first held in great estimation by the +Spaniards, but Torquemada, a contemporary of our author, remarks, +(Monarchia, Ind. i, p. 462,) it is a stone on which the Indians set a +high value, but not so the Spaniards. He calls it a kind of smaragdus, +"the polishing of which the Indians say was taught them by the god +Quetzalcohuatl." Bustamente (Historia de la Conquista de Mexico escrita, +por Fr. Bernardino Sahagun, Mexico, 1829,) calls it, "Piedra jaspe, mui +verde, o sea esmeralda ordinaria," i.e. "A jasper of a very green +colour, or a common smaragdus." + +This stone represented among the Mexicans everything that was excellent +in its kind, for which reason they put such a stone in the mouth of the +distinguished chiefs who died. (p. 93.) + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +_What happened on account of our bartering for gold, and of other things +which took place in our camp._ + + +This bartering for gold being continued with the Indians, the adherents +of Diego Velasquez remonstrated with Cortes, and asked him how he could +suffer such a thing? Diego Velasquez, they added, had not sent him +hither, that the soldiers should put most of the gold in their pockets. +It ought to be made known, that henceforth no one but Cortes himself +should barter for gold, and that every one should render an account of +the gold in his possession, in order that the emperor's fifths might be +deducted therefrom. It was, moreover, necessary to appoint a treasurer. +Cortes confessed they were in the right, and allowed them to choose a +treasurer themselves. But, not until their choice had fallen on one +Gonzalo Mexia, did he show what his real intentions were; then he said +to them with a heavy frown on his brow: "Only consider, gentlemen, how +hard our comrades have to fare, since provisions totally fail! In order +that they might not hunger, I have up to this moment overlooked this +system of bartering, and indeed it produces but a mere trifle. I hope, +with the assistance of God, that our affairs will take a better turn by +and bye. Everything has its two sides to be looked at, and as we have +now, in compliance with your wishes, ordered that no more bartering for +gold shall be allowed in future, we have to see whence we are henceforth +to obtain provisions." + +Gomara is in the wrong, when he relates, that Cortes issued that order, +on this occasion, to make Motecusuma believe we cared little about gold. +This monarch knew very well how the matter stood on this point, from the +time of our arrival under Grijalva in the Bandera stream; he might also +easily guess what we were after, when we begged of him to send us the +casque full of golden grains, and our daily bartering for that metal. +The Mexicans, indeed, are not the kind of folks to be thus imposed upon. + +However this may be, one fine morning the Indians, who had resided near +us in the huts and were accustomed to furnish us with provisions and +bring gold for barter, had all secretly left with Quitlalpitoc. This, we +subsequently learnt, was done by the commands of Motecusuma, who had +forbidden all intercourse with Cortes, which he had been induced to do +from his attachment to his idol-gods. These were named _Tetzcatlipuca_ +and _Huitzilopochtli_, the former being the god of hell and the latter +the god of war, to whom Motecusuma daily sacrificed some young children, +that they might disclose to him what he should do with us. His intention +was to take us prisoners if we would not re-embark, and employ some to +educate children, while others were to be sacrificed. For his idol-gods, +as we afterwards discovered, advised him not to listen to Cortes, and to +take no notice of what we had sent him word concerning the cross and the +figure of the blessed Virgin. This was also the reason why his men had +gone away so secretly. + +Affairs having assumed such a posture, we now daily expected that +hostilities would break out, and were particularly on our guard. It was +during one of these days that I was standing sentinel on the sand-hills +with another soldier, when we espied five Indians approaching along the +shore. Not to alarm our camp with such a trifle we allowed them to come +up. They all appeared very good humoured, made their obeisance to us +after their fashion, and begged of us, by signs, to conduct them to our +camp. Upon which I said to my companion, I will take them there, while +you remain where you are, for at that time my legs were not so infirm as +they are now, in my old age. When I presented them to Cortes, they paid +him the profoundest respect, and continually repeated the word, +_Lopelucio_, _Lopelucio_, which in the Totonaque language means Lord, +great God. In dress and language this people differed entirely from the +Mexicans, whom Motecusuma had sent to our camp. They had large holes +bored in their under-lips, in which they wore pieces of blue speckled +stone, or thin plates of gold; the holes in their ears were still larger +in size, and adorned with similar ornaments. Neither Aguilar nor Dona +Marina understood their language; but the latter inquired of them +whether there was any _Naeyavatos_, or interpreter, among them? Upon +which two of them answered that they understood the Mexican language, +and now the discourse immediately commenced. They bid us welcome, and +stated that their ruler had sent them hither to inquire who we were, and +that he would be delighted to be of any use to such powerful men as we +were. They would have waited upon us earlier if they had not shunned the +people of Culhua, namely, the Mexicans (meaning as much as villains,) +who had been with us. Most probably these people had heard of our +battles at Tabasco and Potonchan; they at least knew that the Mexicans +had secretly departed from us three days ago. Cortes learnt from them +many things which were of the greatest importance to him, particularly +respecting the enemies and opponents of Motecusuma: Cortes, therefore, +was most friendly to these people, gave them various kinds of presents, +and desired them to return to their ruler and acquaint him that he would +visit him shortly in person. From this moment we called these Indians by +no other name than Lopelucios. However, it was impossible for us to +remain on these sand-hills, on account of the long-legged and small +gnats, which they call chechenes, and are the worst of all: we could get +no sleep for them. Moreover, we had no kind of provisions left; our +cassave-bread was quite mouldy and uneatable, on account of the worms, +with which it swarmed: it was, therefore, no wonder that several of our +men, who had Indian possessions in the island of Cuba, should wish to +return home, which was in particular the case with all the friends and +creatures of Velasquez. Cortes, observing this disposition, gave orders +for our departure to Quiahuitzlan, which had been seen by Montejo and +Alaminos, and where the vessels would be secure from the north winds, +being sheltered by the rock above mentioned. + +While preparations were making for our departure, the whole of Diego +Velasquez's adherents united to remonstrate with Cortes. They asked him +how he was to commence the march without provisions; it was, indeed, +quite impossible to proceed further on by sea. Already thirty-five of +our men had died either of the wounds they received at Tabasco, of +sickness, or of hunger. The country we were now in was extensive, the +population numerous, and the inhabitants would, no doubt, attack us in a +few days. It was, therefore, most advisable to return to Cuba, and +render an account to Diego Velasquez of the gold we had bartered for, of +which we possessed a good deal: to this might be added the presents sent +by Motecusuma, the golden sun, silver moon, the casque full of gold +dust, and all the other precious things, which I have above mentioned. +To which Cortes answered, "that he did not consider it advisable to +return without having even seen the country. Up to this moment we had no +reason to complain of ill luck; on the contrary, God had everywhere lent +us his support. If we had lost any of our men, such things were to be +expected in warlike undertakings. We should first explore the country +more thoroughly; and with regard to provisions, there was sufficient +maise in the country, with which we must make a shift for the present." + +By these arguments Cortes succeeded in quieting the partisans of Diego +Velasquez; yet it was of short duration, for they held secret meetings, +and commenced setting all manner of intrigues on foot to bring about our +return to Cuba: how far they succeeded we shall presently see. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + + _How we elected Hernando Cortes captain-general and chief justice + until we should receive the emperor's commands on this head; and + what further happened._ + + +I have already remarked how the relatives and friends of Diego Velasquez +united to stop our further progress, and bring about our return to Cuba. +Cortes, on his part, however, was no less active, and managed with his +friends to get himself appointed our captain-general. In this the +following personages acted the chief part: Alonso Hernandez +Puertocarrero, Pedro de Alvarado, with his four brothers Jorge, Gonzalo, +Gomez, and Juan; further, Christobal de Oli, Alonso de Avila, Juan de +Escalante, Francisco de Lugo, myself, and many other cavaliers and +officers. + +Francisco de Montejo soon perceived what our intentions were, and kept a +sharp look-out upon everything that was going on. I was drawn into this +affair in the following manner: at midnight, Puertocarrero, Escalante, +and De Lugo, to whom I stood somewhat related, both of us, moreover, +being born at the same place, called upon me in my quarters, and said, +"Bernal Diaz del Castillo, take your arms and follow us: we are to +accompany Cortes, who is going to make the rounds." When we had arrived +at some distance from my hut, they again commenced, "We have something +to tell you, sir, but you must keep it a secret, for it is of great +importance, and those of Diego Velasquez's partisans who mess with you +must know nothing about it. We are of opinion that Cortes does not act +rightly towards us. At Cuba he made known that he was going out to found +a colony, and now we hear that he was not empowered to do so, but was +merely sent out to barter for gold, and then to return to Cuba with all +we should make. If this takes place, we are altogether ruined men, and +Diego Velasquez will himself comfortably pocket the gold, and keep it, +as he has on previous occasions. Do but reflect, sir, that this is the +third expedition of the kind which you have accompanied, that you have +spent your whole in them, and undergone so many fatigues, risked your +life, and suffered from wounds, all for nothing. This we cannot allow. +We cavaliers are sufficient in number, your friends one and all, and we +must insist that Cortes founds a colony here, in the name of his +majesty; we must also find means to acquaint our sovereign immediately +with this. Promise that you also will be one of us. We have united to +elect Cortes our captain-general. It would, indeed, be rendering God and +our king a great service." + +To all this I answered that I considered it equally inadvisable to +return to Cuba, and that I was quite ready to give my consent towards +electing Cortes captain-general and chief justice, until his imperial +majesty should have communicated his wishes to us on that point. As this +plan went round from one to another, the partisans of Diego Velasquez, +who were much more numerous than we, soon got wind of it, and boldly +asked Cortes what intrigues had been set on foot to form a colony here? +and why he should shirk from rendering the account which was due to him +by whom he had been appointed head of the expedition? Diego Velasquez +would certainly be ill pleased with such proceedings: we could not do +otherwise than re-embark: all his intrigues with the men were useless: +to found a colony, we were in want both of provisions, men, and +everything else to ensure success. Cortes, without showing the least +irritability, answered, that he was quite of their opinion, and had not +the remotest intention to act contrary to the instructions and wishes of +Diego Velasquez, and immediately issued orders that every one who had +come with him should repair on board by the next day. + +As soon as we others, who had confederated, heard this, we declared to +Cortes that he was doing wrong in thus wishing to deceive us. At Cuba he +had publicly announced that he was going out to found a colony, and now +it appeared it was merely for the sake of trafficking. We begged of him, +for the sake of God and our king, not to break his word, but to found a +colony, as was required of us, to promote the interests of his majesty +and the service of God. It would be impossible for us to return here at +any future time, as the inhabitants would certainly not permit us to +land: but, if a colony was once founded, soldiers from every island in +these parts would come flocking hither in order to assist us. Diego +Velasquez had deceived us when he falsely announced that he was +empowered by his majesty to found colonies: we were, therefore, +determined to found one, and left it to the choice of the others if they +wished to return to Cuba. Cortes at first refused to comply, and only +submitted after much begging and entreating; as the saying goes, + + What you desire + Is my wish. + +He, however, made the condition that we should nominate him chief +justice and captain-general, and, what was worse, that a fifth part of +the gold should fall to his share which remained after deducting the +fifths for his majesty: concerning all which and everything else, the +royal secretary Godoy was to draw up a formal deed. Upon this we +resolved that a town should be built, and called _Villa Rica de la Vera +Cruz_, as we arrived off this coast on Holy Thursday, and stepped on +land on Good Friday. The addition of Villa Rica (rich town) was owing to +what Puertocarrero had some time previous said to Cortes, "He might look +upon these rich countries,--he would know how to govern them;" meaning +to say thereby, that he wished Cortes to be appointed captain-general. + +After the ceremony of laying the first stone of the town was ended, we +nominated the alcaldes and regidors. The chief alcaldes were Alonso +Puertocarrero and Francisco de Montejo: Cortes purposely appointed the +latter because he was not on the best terms with him. To give all the +names of the regidors would be superfluous, and it must suffice to +mention their names as they appear in the course of this narrative. We +also erected a pillory inside the town, and a gallows outside. Pedro de +Alvarado was appointed city-major; Christobal de Oli, colonel; Juan de +Escalante, alguacil-major; treasurer, Gonzalo Mexi Mexia; book-keeper, +Alonso de Avila; standard-bearer, a certain Corrar, as Villareal, who +first filled this post, had got into disgrace with Cortes about an +Indian female of Cuba, and was obliged to relinquish it. Achoa of Biscay +and Alonso Romero were nominated alguacils of the camp. + +The reader will wonder that I have not yet mentioned the name of one of +our principal men, Gonzalo de Sandoval, though he was such a renowned +officer, being second to Cortes only, and particularly distinguished by +our emperor himself. There is no other reason than that Sandoval was +still very young, and that we did not make so much of him and other +brave officers then as we did subsequently, when we saw all his real +qualities developed in a manner that drew forth unbounded praise from +Cortes and every soldier: indeed he was considered equal to Cortes +himself.--Gomara has likewise related a good deal respecting these +matters, of which he has been ill informed. I could not leave this +unnoticed, however beautiful his style of writing may be, in which his +strength really lies. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + + _How the partisans of Diego Velasquez would not acknowledge the + power we had conferred upon Cortes, and what further took place._ + + +The partisans of Diego Velasquez, finding we had elected Cortes +captain-general, and appointed the other officers just mentioned, were +terribly annoyed and vexed. They armed themselves in small troops, and +threw out the most insolent language against Cortes and those among us +who had chosen him captain-general. All this they considered should not +have been done without the consent of the whole of the officers and +soldiers. Diego Velasquez had merely empowered Cortes to barter with the +natives. In short, their dissatisfaction rose to such a pitch, that our +party was afraid matters would be carried much farther, and end in +hostilities. Cortes now secretly desired Juan de Escalante to intimate +that we should demand the instructions to be produced which he had +received from Velasquez. This was accordingly done, and Cortes pulled +them out from under his waistcoat, handing them over to the royal +secretary to be read aloud. And sure enough the words were, _After you +have bartered for as many precious things as possible, you shall return +home._ This document was signed by Velasquez, and countersigned by his +private secretary Andreas de Duero. Upon this we desired of Cortes that +these instructions should be entered into the appointment we had given +him, and announced by a public crier, as had been done at Cuba, in order +that his majesty might convince himself of the true state of things, and +that everything was done to further his sovereign interest only. This +step was most agreeable to our purpose, as the bishop of Burgos, Don +Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, was wrongly informed respecting these +proceedings, and only laboured to ruin us, as we subsequently learnt. +The partisans of Diego Velasquez, however, were not to be silenced by +this; and as the election had been made without their knowledge, they +considered it illegal, and maintained that they were not called upon to +obey his commands, but were determined to return to Cuba. Cortes +answered, that he would not compel them to remain, but would discharge +any one who might wish it, even if he himself should, in the end, remain +alone behind. By this some were silenced. Juan Velasquez de Leon, (who +was closely related to Velasquez,) Diego de Ordas, Escobar, (whom we +commonly termed the page,) Pedro de Escudero, and others of Velasquez's +party, still continued refractory, and things at last came to such a +pass, that, in the end, they formally refused to obey Cortes. In such a +state of affairs it was necessary to adopt some stronger measure, which +was carried into execution with our consent. We seized the persons of +the above-mentioned refractory officers, bound them in chains, and kept +watch over them as if they had been prisoners. + +Respecting these circumstances Gomara has again been misinformed, and +not a word is to be credited of anything he says on the subject. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + + _How Pedro de Alvarado was ordered to make an excursion into the + interior of the country, in order to procure maise and other + provisions; and what further happened._ + + +It was now resolved that Pedro de Alvarado should make an excursion into +the interior to explore the country, gain further knowledge of some +townships which we knew by name, and procure maise and other provisions, +of which we were in the greatest want. For this purpose 100 men were +selected, among whom were fifteen crossbow-men and six musketeers; above +half, moreover, were adherents of Velasquez: the rest of us, on whom +Cortes could fully depend, remained with him, in order that no +conspiracy might be set on foot against him. + +Alvarado, during this expedition, visited some small townships which +were subject to a greater one, called, in the Aculhua language, +_Costatlan_.[17*] This language is that of Mexico and Motecusuma; and +when we speak of persons of Aculhua, we must always understand subjects +of his empire. Alvarado nowhere met with any inhabitants, but found +sufficient proofs in the temples that boys and full-grown people had +very recently been sacrificed; for the altars and walls were covered +with drops of fresh blood. The flint knives with which the unfortunate +victim's breast is cut open to tear the heart away, and the large stones +on which they are sacrificed, still lay in their proper places. Most of +the bodies thus seen by our men were without arms or legs, which, +according to the accounts of the Indians, had been devoured. Our men +were perfectly horror-struck at such barbarities: however, I will not +waste another word on the subject, for we found the same thing over +again in every district we visited in this country. Alvarado found these +districts well stocked with provisions, but so completely deserted by +the inhabitants that he could only find two Indians to assist the men in +carrying maise: every soldier, therefore, was compelled to take a load +of greens and fowls, and in this way the detachment returned to our camp +with a good supply of provisions, and without having encountered any +disaster. This was all the damage our men did, although they had so many +opportunities of doing more, Cortes having most strictly forbidden any +wanton outrage, that there might not be a repetition of what happened on +the island of Cozumel. + +We were overjoyed with the provisions; for when man can satisfy his +appetite, he forgets half his sufferings. Gomara mentions another +expedition in this place, which, he says, Cortes himself undertook, with +400 men, to explore the interior of the country: but here again he must +have been misinformed; for there was no other made than the one I have +just mentioned. In the meantime Cortes was not inactive, but did all in +his power to gain the adherents of Diego Velasquez: one was presented +with some of the gold we had made,--for with gold mountains are removed; +another was silenced by considerable promises. He likewise set the whole +of them at liberty, excepting Juan Velasquez de Leon and Diego de Ordas, +who were lying bound in chains on board a vessel: however, both these +were also shortly after released, and they became true friends to him, +of which they subsequently gave sufficient proofs. Gold, indeed, was +not spared on this occasion, for they were only to be tamed by that +means. As soon as greater union was thus restored, it was resolved that +we should march for the township Quiahuitzlan, which I have above +mentioned. Our vessels were also at the same time to set sail and run +into the harbour, lying about four miles from the latter place. + +Our march lay along the coast, and on our route we killed a large fish +which had been thrown on shore; we then came to a pretty deep river, on +whose banks the town of Vera Cruz at present lies: this we crossed by +means of some old canoes we found here, and by ferryboats; I, however, +swam across. On the opposite bank of the river lay several small +townships, subject to one more extensive called Sempoalla. This was the +home of the five Indians who came to Cortes in the character of +ambassadors, and who were called by us _Lopelucios_. We found the +idol-temples stained with spots of blood, the apparatus for perfuming +and sacrificing, a quantity of parrot feathers, and several packages of +paper stitched one over the other, resembling our Spanish linen. We +nowhere met any Indians; for as they had never before seen people like +unto us, nor any horses, they had all run away from fear, so that we +were forced to go hungry to bed. The next day we marched inland in an +easterly direction: of course we had not the least knowledge of the road +we were taking, and we turned at a venture into a beautiful meadow, +where we found wild deer grazing. Pedro de Alvarado chased one of these +on his brown mare, and managed to wound it with his lance; but the +animal escaped over some heights. + +In the meantime twelve Indians made their appearance, inhabitants of the +district, where we were encamped for the night, bringing with them some +fowls and maise-bread, which, they told Cortes, by means of our +interpreter, had been sent us by their cazique, who had likewise desired +we should visit his township, which lay at a distance of one sun, say a +day's march, from our present station. Cortes returned them sincere +thanks for their great kindness, and we marched on until we came to a +small township, where a short time previous several human beings had +been sacrificed. As the kind reader would be disgusted with hearing of +the numbers of male and female Indians we found butchered along every +road and in every village we passed through, I will be silent on that +head, and merely add that a supper was provided for us in the small +village where we had arrived. Here we also learnt that the road to +Quiahuitzlan, which latter lay on a hill, passed through Sempoalla, +where we next arrive. + +[17*] Costatlan, Bernal Diaz also adds here, "Y este nombre de Culua es +en aquella tierra, como si dixessen los Romanos hallados." As this +passage is rather obscure, we thought it best to insert it here. The +literal translation is: "And this appellation of Culua, in this country, +means as much as when one would say, 'the merry Romans.'" In the 31st +chapter he makes a similar remark. (p. 102.) + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + + _How we marched into Sempoalla, which at that period was a very + considerable township, and what we did there._ + +After we had slept in the village, where the twelve Indians had +quartered us, and accurately ascertained the road we were to take to +Quiahuitzlan, we left very early in the morning for that place. Cortes +sent six of the Indians before us to acquaint the caziques of Sempoalla +that we were approaching, and to beg permission to visit them. The six +other Indians remained behind as our guides. The whole of us marched +forward in the best order, while our cannon and other arms were ready +for use at a moment's notice; besides this sharp-shooters were always in +advance, all strong active fellows, whom as well as the horse no one +could elude. + +We were not further than three miles from Sempoalla, when we were met by +twenty Indians who came to welcome us in the name of their cazique. +These carried in their hands pine-apples, most deliciously scented, and +of a deep red colour, which they presented to Cortes and the others who +sat on horseback, adding that their ruler awaited us in his quarters, +for on account of his corpulency he had been prevented from coming out +to meet us himself. Cortes thanked them kindly for their attentions, and +we marched forward. As we passed along the houses of the town we were +greatly surprised, for a town of such magnitude we had not yet met with. +And when we saw that all around had the appearance of a luxurious +garden, and that the streets were filled with people of both sexes, we +returned most fervent thanks to God for having allowed us to discover +such a country. The vanguard of our horse was naturally very much in +advance, and had arrived in the great square and up to the dwellings +where our quarters were prepared. As the walls a few days previous had +been newly plastered with lime, (which these Indians prepare uncommonly +well,) and the sun was shining full upon them at the time, one of our +horse soldiers came galloping up to Cortes at full speed to inform him +that the walls here were built of silver. Aguilar and Dona Marina +immediately saw that this was lime fresh laid on; which of course +created abundance of laughter. We never omitted on subsequent occasions +to remind the man of it, joking him that everything white appeared to +him like silver. + +When we arrived at our quarters the fat cazique came out in the +courtyard to receive us. The man was, indeed, excessively corpulent, +wherefore I shall always distinguish him thereby. He paid Cortes the +greatest respect, and perfumed him according to the custom of the +country, who then embraced him in return. After these welcomes we were +shown into our quarters, which were very comfortable, and so spacious +that there was sufficient room for us all. Food was next set before us, +among which there was maise-bread and several basketsful of plums, of +which there were great quantities, these being just then in season. As +we were greatly famished, and had not for a length of time seen such +quantities of provisions at once, some of us called the place +Villariciosa (luxurious town), and others Sevilla. Cortes gave strict +orders that the inhabitants should not be molested in the slightest +degree, and also that none of us should leave our quarters. + +It being announced to the fat cazique that we had finished dining, he +sent word to Cortes that he was desirous of paying him a visit, and +immediately after he arrived with a considerable number of distinguished +personages, who wore heavy golden ornaments and richly-worked mantles. +Cortes rose to meet them at the entrance of our quarters, and received +them most kindly. After the first compliments were passed the fat +cazique handed a present to him which he had brought, consisting in +golden trinkets and cotton stuffs, but of little value. The cazique +constantly repeated: "Lopelucio, Lopelucio, accept this in favorable +kind; if we had more to give we should have brought it." + +Cortes desired Dona Marina and Aguilar to acquaint him how grateful he +was for so much kindness, and he had merely to inform him in what way he +in return could be of service to him and his people. We were the vassals +of the great emperor Charles, who had dominion over many kingdoms and +countries, and who had sent us out to redress wrongs wherever we came, +punish the bad, and make known his commands that human sacrifices should +no longer be continued. To all this was added a good deal about our holy +religion. + +After the fat cazique heard this he sighed deeply, and complained most +bitterly about Motecusuma and his governors. It was not long ago that he +had been subdued by the former, and robbed of all his golden trinkets. +His sway was so excessively oppressive, that he durst not move without +his orders; yet no one had sufficient courage to oppose him, as he +possessed such vast towns and countries, such numbers of subjects and +extensive armies. Cortes answered that he would relieve him of the +oppression under which he groaned, but for the present moment he could +not occupy himself with such matters. He had first of all to pay a +visit to his _acales_, (so ships are termed in their language,) and +prepare our quarters in Quiahuitzlan, where they would further talk the +matter over. The fat cazique said he was perfectly satisfied with this, +and the next morning we left Sempoalla. Four hundred Indian porters, +who, in this district, are termed tamenes, were sent to accompany us. +Each of these porters is capable of carrying a weight of fifty pounds to +a distance of twenty miles. We were all highly delighted that each of us +had a man a piece to carry our baggage; for previously every one had to +carry his own knapsack, the five or six Cuba Indians we had with us +being of little use. Dona Marina and Aguilar said that according to the +custom of this country the caziques were bound in times of peace to lend +their porters to any one who required them. From this moment we always +demanded them wherever we came. After the first day's march we staid the +night at a small township not far from Quiahuitzlan. It was wholly +uninhabited, and the people of Sempoalla furnished us with food for +supper. Gomara allows Cortes to pass several days at Sempoalla, and then +form the confederacy and rebellion against Motecusuma. This, together +with the account he gives of the number of Cuba Indians we were said to +have brought with us, is wholly false; for, as I have stated, we left +Sempoalla immediately on the following morning after our arrival. Where +and what caused the different tribes to revolt I will afterwards relate. +For the present we shall make our entry into Quiahuitzlan. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + + _How we march into Quiahuitzlan, which was a town with + fortifications, and were most friendly received._ + + +The next morning about ten o'clock we arrived in the principal township +Quiahuitzlan, which is built on the steep declivity of a rock, and would +certainly be difficult to take if defended. We put no trust in the peace +which reigned through the country, and marched in the best order with +the greatest precaution. Our troops were preceded by the cannon, that it +might be ready at hand if required. Here it was that Alonso de Avila, a +severe and haughty man, ran a soldier named Alonso of Villanueva, who +had only one arm, through the empty sleeve of his coat, with the point +of his lance, because he marched out of the ranks. From that moment we +termed the man the one-armed of Villanueva. However, I shall likewise +be accused of marching out of the ranks, if I relate such trifles: I +cannot deny it, and will, therefore, immediately fall in again. We +arrived in the midst of the town without meeting any one, and were not a +little surprised at this circumstance, as the inhabitants had left that +very morning, when they found we were approaching their dwellings. On +the most elevated point of the fortress there was an open space in front +of the cues and large houses of their idols; and here we first met with +fifteen well-dressed Indians, who were carrying perfuming pans. With +these they went up to Cortes, perfumed him and all who were near at the +time, bid us welcome, and most humbly begged forgiveness for not having +come out to meet us, and confessed that fear of ourselves and horses had +prevented them, and that they had first wished to know who we were. We +had now only to make ourselves comfortable, they added, and that very +evening they would see that all the inhabitants returned to their +houses. + +Cortes thanked them most kindly for their good reception, and told them +many things about our holy religion and our great monarch, as was +customary with us wherever we came. He also presented them with a few +green glass beads and other trifles we had brought from Spain; they +supplying us with fowls and maise-bread in return. + +While the first welcomings were going on it was announced to Cortes that +the fat cazique of Sempoalla was approaching in a sedan, supported by +numbers of distinguished Indians. Immediately upon his arrival he +renewed his complaints against Motecusuma, in which he was joined by the +cazique of this township and the other chief personages. He related so +much of the cruelties and oppression they had to suffer, and thereby +sobbed and sighed so bitterly that we could not help being affected. At +the time when they were subdued, they had already been greatly ill used; +Motecusuma then demanded annually a great number of their sons and +daughters, a portion of whom were sacrificed to the idols, and the rest +were employed in his household and for tilling his grounds. His +tax-gatherers took their wives and daughters without any ceremony if +they were handsome, merely to satisfy their lusts. The Totonaques, whose +territory consisted of upwards of thirty townships, suffered like +violence. + +Cortes consoled them as well as he could by means of our interpreters. +He promised and assured them that he would put an end to such oppression +and ill usage. It was particularly for this object that his majesty had +sent us to their country; they should, therefore, keep up their spirits, +and they would soon see what he was about to do for their good. This in +some measure seemed to comfort them; though Cortes was unable wholly to +allay the fear in which they stood of the great Motecusuma. + +We soon had proof of this on the very spot; for, during our discourse +with these caziques, some Indians belonging to the district announced +that just then five Mexican tax-gatherers had arrived. At this +information the caziques turned quite pale with fear; they left Cortes +and hastened to receive the unexpected guests, for whom an apartment was +immediately cleared and dinner set on table. Cacao in great quantities +was in particular served up to them, which is the principal beverage of +the Indians. As the house of the cazique was in the neighbourhood, the +Mexicans passed by our quarters; but behaved with such reserve and so +haughtily, that they neither addressed Cortes nor any of us. They wore +richly-worked mantles and maltatas similarly manufactured, which were +then still in fashion among them. The hair of their head was combed out +quite glossy and tied up in a knot in which were stuck some sweet +scented roses. Every one carried a stick with a hook, and had an Indian +slave with a fan to keep off the flies. They were accompanied by a great +number of distinguished personages from the country of the Totonaques, +who remained around them until they arrived in their quarters and had +sat down to dinner. After this was finished they sent for the fat +cazique and the other chiefs of the townships, and scolded them under +severe threats for having received us. They had no business with us, +added they; this was by no means the wish of their master Motecusuma, +without whose command and permission they ought not to have provided us +with quarters, nor given us any golden trinkets. They would have to pay +dearly for all this; at present, however, they must find twenty Indians +and an equal number of females, in order that by sacrificing them they +might appease the gods for the evil service which had thus been +rendered. + +Cortes, who observed how restless every one appeared, desired Dona +Marina and Aguilar to explain the reason of all this, and who the +strange Indians were. Marina knew all that had passed, and told him +accordingly; upon which he sent for the fat cazique, with the chiefs of +the townships, and questioned them himself as to who the strangers were +whom they treated so ceremoniously? They answered, that these were +tax-gatherers of the great Motecusuma, who had remonstrated with them +for having received us without his previous permission, and now required +twenty persons, of both sexes, for a sacrifice to the god of war, in +order that he should grant them the victory over us. They had likewise +been assured, that Motecusuma would take us prisoners and turn us into +slaves. + +Upon this Cortes consoled and bid them take courage, assuring them he +would punish the Mexicans for it, as both he himself and his troops were +willing, and had the power to do so. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + + _How Cortes ordered the five Mexican tax-gatherers to be imprisoned, + and no further obedience to be paid Motecusuma, nor tribute to be + exacted; and of the rebellion which was now excited against this + monarch._ + + +Cortes further said to the caziques, they were aware he had already +assured them that the emperor, our master, had specifically commissioned +him to punish all those who did evil, and in particular, no longer to +suffer kidnapping nor human sacrifices. + +As the Mexican tax-gatherers now required human beings of them for those +sacrifices, he would take and keep them prisoners until Motecusuma +should learn the reason why he had done so, and was made acquainted with +the other violent measures they were accustomed to commit against them, +their wives and daughters. + +The caziques were excessively alarmed that Cortes should require this at +their hands, and durst not venture to lay hands on the tax-gatherers of +the mighty Motecusuma. But Cortes exhorted them for such a length of +time that they at last took courage, seized their persons, and fastened +them, in their fashion, to long poles, by collars, which went round the +neck, so that they could not even move themselves. One of them, who made +resistance, was whipped into the bargain. + +Upon this Cortes commanded the caziques no longer to obey the mandates +of Motecusuma, nor to pay him tribute, and to make these his wishes +known to all those tribes with whom they were allied and friendly, +adding that they should inform him, whether there were tax-gatherers in +other districts, that he might also send to take them prisoners. + +The rumour of all this quickly spread through the whole country, as the +fat cazique despatched messengers to that end, while the chiefs, who had +accompanied the Mexican tax-gatherers, hastened back to their townships +to relate the wonderful news. When the Indians learnt this astounding, +and to them so important an occurrence, they said to one another, that, +such great things could not have been done by men, but only by _teules_, +which sometimes mean gods, sometimes demons, here in the former sense; +which was the reason they termed us teules, from that moment; and I beg +the reader to observe, that whenever in future I speak of teules in +affairs relating to us, that we are meant thereby. + +All the caziques were of opinion that we should sacrifice the prisoners, +that they might not return to Mexico and relate what had befallen them. +Cortes, however, strictly forbade this, and placed a strong watch over +them. About midnight he ordered the sentinels into his presence, and +said to them: "Pay particular attention to what I say. Take two of the +most active of the prisoners, now in our hands, and bring them into my +quarters. This must be done with great circumspection, so that the +Indians of this township may know nothing of it." + +When the two men were brought before Cortes, he did as if he was +unconscious they were Mexicans, and questioned them, by means of +interpreters, as to whence they came, and why they had been taken +prisoners? To which they answered, "that the caziques of Sempoalla, and +of this township, had seized upon their persons in secret understanding +with us." Cortes, however, positively assured them, that he was totally +ignorant of the whole matter, and was very sorry it should have +happened. He immediately ordered food to be given them, and otherwise to +be kindly treated, and commissioned them to acquaint their monarch, +Motecusuma, that we were all his sincerest friends and most devoted +servants. That they might not suffer any further ill treatment, he +added, they should be set at liberty and he would severely reprimand the +caziques, by whom they had been imprisoned. He was ready to render them +any service in his power, and he would likewise release their three +companions; they themselves, however, had better get out of sight as +quickly as possible, that they might not be retaken by the inhabitants +and killed. Both the prisoners said, they should be very thankful for +their liberty, but were afraid of falling again into their enemies' +hands, as they were compelled to pass through their country. Cortes +therefore ordered six sailors to take the Mexicans in a boat to a +certain point on the coast, twelve miles distant, where they would be +out of the Sempoallan territory. All this was dexterously managed, and +when daylight appeared the caziques and other chiefs were not a little +surprised to find only three prisoners remaining. These they insisted +should be sacrificed, but Cortes feigned to be highly incensed at the +escape of the two, and said he was determined to guard the others +himself. To this end he ordered chains to be brought from our vessels, +with which the prisoners were bound, and in that way taken on board, +where their chains were taken off again. They received the kindest +treatment, and were assured they would be sent back to Mexico in a very +short time. + +The caziques of Sempoalla, Quiahuitzlan, and those from the country of +the Totonaques, now assembled and explained the position in which they +were placed at present, as no doubt Motecusuma, upon the first +intelligence of the imprisonment of his tax-gatherers, would put his +army in motion and fall upon them, the consequence of which would be +their total extirpation. + +But Cortes assured them, with the most pleasing smile on his +countenance, that he and his brothers who were with him would be their +protection, and he who should dare to molest them, should forfeit his +life. Upon this the caziques, one and all, promised to unite their whole +armed force to ours against Motecusuma and his allies. On this occasion +Diego de Godoy drew up a formal deed of their subjection to the sceptre +of his majesty the emperor, and notice was sent of this to the different +townships of the province. As there was no further talk of tribute, and +tax-gatherers no longer made their appearance, these people were almost +out of their senses for excessive joy in having shaken off the Mexican +yoke. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + + How we resolved to found Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz and construct a + fortress on the low meadows, in the neighbourhood of some salt + springs and the harbour, where our vessels were anchored; and what + further happened. + + +After we had thus formed an alliance with the thirty townships of the +Totonaque mountains, which had revolted from Motecusuma and submitted of +their own free will to the sceptre of our sovereign, we immediately +hastened to profit by the circumstance and found Villa Rica de la Vera +Cruz. The spot we made choice of lay at about two miles distance from +the fortress of Quiahuitzlan, in the valley beneath. We first of all +marked out the ground for the church, the market, the magazines and +other public buildings belonging to a town. We then set off part of the +ground to form a fortress, and nothing could exceed the assiduity with +which the walls of the foundation were carried up, the woodwork +completed, the turrets and loopholes constructed with the parapets. +Cortes himself put the first hand to it, carried a basket filled with +stones and earth on his shoulders, and worked at the foundations. The +caziques and all of us followed his example, and every part of the work +was carried on with like vigour. Some were mixing mortar, fetching +water, burning chalk, baking bricks and tiles, others prepared the food +and cut wood. The smiths hammered hard at the nails and other ironwork. +In short, from the highest to the lowest showed the greatest activity, +while the Indians lent us such efficacious aid, that in a short time the +church and other buildings were quite finished, and the fortress nearly +so. + +In the meantime Motecusuma received the intelligence at Mexico, that +his tax-gatherers had been imprisoned by our allies; that the latter had +renounced obedience to him, and that all the Totonaque townships had +revolted. He was excessively enraged against Cortes and the whole of us, +and ordered one of his powerful chiefs to make war upon the tribes which +had revolted, and extirpate them to a man. Against us he would march in +person at the head of an immense army, commanded by many generals. While +preparations for this purpose were being made, the two prisoners whom +Cortes had liberated arrived in Mexico. When Motecusuma learnt that +Cortes had restored them to liberty, and himself sent them to Mexico +with the commission to offer his services to their monarch, the Almighty +softened down the hardness of his heart, and he resolved to make +inquiries as to what our intentions were. To this end he despatched two +of his young nephews, accompanied by four aged men, who were caziques of +distinction, to our quarters, sending with them a present consisting in +gold and cotton stuffs. These men were commissioned to thank Cortes for +the liberation of his two tax-gatherers, but at the same time to make +heavy complaints respecting these tribes who had presumed to revolt from +him, merely because we had taken them under our protection, and now +refused all further obedience and to pay tribute. At present he was +merely withheld from putting his threat into execution of exterminating +them totally, out of consideration for us, since we inhabited their +dwellings; for, in our persons he recognized that people whose arrival +in this country had been foretold by his ancestors, and who were of the +same lineage with himself. However, they would not long rejoice in their +treachery, and he should know how to deal with them at some future +period. + +Cortes received these messengers very kindly and accepted their +present, which was worth above 2000 pesos. He assured them that he as +well as all the rest of us were friendly disposed, and ready to serve +Motecusuma, and that it was in this spirit we had taken the three other +tax-gatherers under our protection, who were now immediately brought +forth from our vessels, clothed and delivered up to the ambassadors. +Neither did Cortes on his part suppress the complaints he had to make +against Motecusuma, for he told them, that Quitlalpitoc, his governor, +had passed a night in our quarters, and had been uncourteous enough not +to call upon him. He was, certainly, convinced that such behaviour had +not been commanded by Motecusuma, but had emanated from the natural +ill-breeding of the man. Honorable treatment, however, had so much worth +in our estimation, that for this reason only had we paid a visit to the +townships where we now were. Motecusuma, therefore, ought to pardon the +people for our sakes. But as to their complaints respecting the refusal +to pay tribute, it was to be imagined that they could not serve two +masters at once, as they had, during our stay here, sworn allegiance to +our emperor. For the rest, he and his companions would shortly wait upon +Motecusuma himself, when these matters could be altogether amicably +adjusted. + +After this and other declarations, Cortes presented both these +distinguished young personages and their four venerable companions, who +were men of the first consequence, with blue and green coloured beads, +paying them the greatest possible respect. + +As the meadows in this neighbourhood were well adapted for cavalry +exercise, Cortes desired Alvarado, who had an excellent brown mare, and +our other good riders, to go through the different manoeuvres, by which +we quite won the hearts of these messengers, who returned highly +satisfied to Mexico. About this time Cortes lost his horse; for which +reason Ortiz, the musician, and Bartolome Garcia, the mountaineer, gave +up their dark brown horse to him, which was one of the best among the +whole troop. + +For the rest, our allies in the mountains and the inhabitants of +Sempoalla had stood in no little awe of Motecusuma, as they believed +nothing less than that he would instantly invade their country with a +great army to extirpate them. But, when they found that even several of +his relatives arrived, bringing presents, and that they comported +themselves so submissively to Cortes, they began more and more to fear +us, and the caziques said to one another, these must necessarily be +teules, as even Motecusuma himself stood in awe of us and sent us +presents. If they had previously formed a great idea of our power, it +was now vastly augmented by this unexpected circumstance. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + + _How the fat cazique and other chief men of the country come and + complain to Cortes, that a garrison of Mexicans had been thrown into + the strong fortress of Tzinpantzinco, committing great depredations; + and what further took place._ + + +After the Mexican messengers had taken their leave, the fat cazique with +several other distinguished personages from among our allies called upon +Cortes, and begged of him to repair to a township called Tzinpantzinco, +two days' journey, or about from thirty-two to thirty-six miles from +Sempoalla; as a number of Mexican warriors had assembled there, +destroying their fields and plantations, falling upon their subjects, +and doing all manner of mischief. Cortes manifested great sympathy for +them, but scarcely knew what answer he should give, as he had promised +them every assistance. He, therefore, desired them to retire, until he +should have considered the matter a little. + +After he had bethought himself for a short time, he turned smilingly +round to us who were standing near him and said: "Methinks, gentlemen, +we already pass here for great heroes; indeed, after what has happened +with the tax-gatherers these people must look upon us as gods, or a +species of beings like their idols. Now, I am of opinion it is best to +strengthen them in this notion; and that they may think that one single +man of us is sufficient to dislodge the Mexicans from the fortress of +Tzinpantzinco, we will send thither old Heredia of Biscay. The +malignancy of his features, his huge beard, his half-mangled +countenance, his squinting eyes and lame leg, constitute him the most +fitting person for this object, besides which he is a musketeer." + +Cortes then sent for the man and said to him: "You must go with the +caziques to the river which flows about a mile from this spot. When you +have arrived there do as if you were thirsty, and wished to wash your +hands; then fire off your musket. This shall be a signal for me to send +some one after you, who will, in my name, desire you to return. All this +is done in order that the Indians may suppose us to be deities, and as +you have not one of the most pleasing countenances, I trust they will +take you by preference to be some idol." + +Heredia, who had served many years in Italia, perfectly well knew how to +perform his part, and gladly undertook this matter. Cortes now ordered +the fat cazique, and the other chief Indians who were expecting succours +from us, into his presence again, saying to them: "I send this my +brother with you to drive the Mexicans out of the fortress, and to bring +those whom he does not kill prisoners to me." + +When the caziques heard this they stood in utter amazement, not knowing +whether Cortes was in earnest; but finding he did not change +countenance, they began to convince themselves that this was really his +intention, and marched away in company of Heredia. When he had arrived +between the mountains he loaded his musket and shot it off in the air, +that it might be heard by every Indian in the district. The caziques +themselves sent notice to the different townships, that they had a teule +with them, and were marching to Tzinpantzinco in order to kill the +Mexicans there. + +I have mentioned this laughable circumstance, that the reader may see +what artifices Cortes employed to throw dust into the eyes of the +Indians. Of course, when Heredia arrived at the river he was recalled; +the caziques returning with him, to whom Cortes said, he had formed a +different plan. His friendship for them was so great, that he would +accompany them himself with some of his brothers, in order to take a +survey of the country and the fortress. They had only to furnish four +hundred porters to convey the cannon, and to return to us next morning +early. All this was accordingly done, and as soon as daylight had broken +forth, we moved forward, four hundred in number, with fourteen horse and +a sufficient number of matchlocks and arquebuses. + +On this occasion some of Diego Velasquez's adherents again began to +murmur, declaring that Cortes might proceed further with those who +wished to follow him; but as for themselves they were determined to +return to Cuba. + +How this matter terminated we shall see in the following chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER L. + + _How some of Diego Velasquez's adherents refused to take any further + part in our proceedings, and declared their determination to return + to Cuba, seeing that Cortes was earnestly bent upon founding a + colony, and had already commenced to pacify the inhabitants._ + + +Next morning when our petty officers went round to our different +quarters and called upon the men to march out with their arms and +horses, the partisans of Velasquez insolently answered, that they would +take no further part in any expedition, but wished to return home to +their possessions in Cuba. They had already lost enough, by allowing +themselves to be led away by Cortes to join him in the first instance; +they now, however, would desire him to fulfil the promise, which he had +made in the camp on the downs, namely, to grant those their discharge +who wished to return to Cuba, and provide them a vessel and the +necessary provisions. + +Seven men now declared they were positively determined to return home; +Cortes, therefore, desired they should be brought before him, and asked +them, "Why they wished to play him such a vile trick?" They answered in +rather an angry tone, "That they could not help feeling astonished, he +should think of founding a colony with a handful of men in a country +full of towns possessing many thousands of inhabitants. They were +suffering from indisposition, quite tired of roving about, and desired +to return to their settlements in Cuba; he ought, therefore, to grant +them their discharge according to promise." + +To this Cortes answered, in the mildest manner possible, that he had +made such promise indeed; but, that they would be acting in a manner +forgetful of their duty to desert the standard of their captain at a +time when he was meditating an expedition: at the same time he commanded +them to embark themselves immediately, and provided them with a vessel, +cassave-bread, a bottle of oil, a quantity of vegetables, and such +things as ships generally take on distant voyages. One of these men, a +certain Moron of Delbayamo, had a well-trained horse, and exchanged it +most profitably with Juan Ruano for some valuable property the latter +had at Cuba. + +When these men were about to set sail, the rest of our troops, headed by +the alcaldes and regidors of the town of Vera Cruz, repaired to Cortes +and begged of him to issue an order that no one should leave the +country, an order which both the service of God and his majesty +required, declaring that they considered every one merited death who +could think of such a thing, surrounded as we were by such numerous +enemies, nor could we look upon them in any other light than men who +wished to desert their commander and his standard in the midst of battle +and in the moment of the greatest danger. Cortes, nevertheless, did as +if he was desirous of discharging the malcontents, but soon after +countermanded this order. All they got for their pains was contempt and +disgrace, while Moron in the bargain was done out of his horse, which +Juan Ruano had no wish to return him. Upon this Cortes gave orders for +our march, and we arrived without any accident in Tzinpantzinco. + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + + _What happened to us at Tzinpantzinco, and how, on our return to + Sempoalla, we destroyed all the idols; likewise of other matters._ + + +The first day we marched twenty miles, and arrived at Sempoalla, where +we passed the night: here 2000 Indian warriors, divided into four +troops, stood ready to join us. The second day, towards nightfall, we +arrived at the plantations in front of Tzinpantzinco, and took the road +leading into that fortress, which wound up between large and steep +rocks. The inhabitants were most likely apprized of our approach; for +immediately eight Indians of distinction and several papas came out to +us, making signs of peace, and asked Cortes, with tears in their eyes, +why we were going to kill them, as they had done nothing against us? We +bore the character of doing good only wherever we might come, and of +putting a stop to the oppression of nations, and for that reason had +even imprisoned the tax-gatherers of Motecusuma: between the warriors of +Sempoalla, who accompanied us, and themselves there existed an inimical +feeling, already of ancient date, respecting a dispute of territory and +boundaries, and these people had no other object in view than to plunder +and destroy them, under our protection: there was, indeed, generally +speaking, a Mexican garrison in their township, which, however, had +returned home, upon the news that we had imprisoned the tax-gatherers; +they, therefore, begged of us not to proceed any further, and to be +merciful towards them. + +When these representations were made known to Cortes through our +interpreters, he immediately ordered Alvarado and Christobal de Oli, +with us who were nearest to him, to march off to the Sempoallans and +command them not to advance any further. Though we used the utmost +expedition to fulfil these orders, yet we already found them plundering +the plantations. This made Cortes excessively angry; he ordered the +chiefs of the Sempoallans into his presence, and severely remonstrated +with them for such behaviour: he commanded them, with heavy threats, to +bring him all the plunder, and not to set a foot into the town. They had +trumped up a false story to us, he told them, merely to be enabled, +under our protection, to plunder their neighbours and then to sacrifice +them, whereby they had deserved death. Our emperor had not sent us to +this country to commit such crimes, and they had better mind not again +to fall into such guilt, as none of them would escape alive if it +happened again. + +After this earnest reproof, the caziques and chiefs of Sempoalla +brought the prisoners and the turkey-fowls they had captured: the first, +Cortes ordered to be set at liberty, and the latter were restored to +their owners; upon which he commanded the Sempoallans, in a very angry +tone, to return to their camp and there remain for the night. + +The caziques and papas of Tzinpantzinco, with other inhabitants of the +surrounding neighbourhood, having witnessed this act of justice, and +seeing altogether how friendly Cortes was disposed, and the good deeds +which he manifested, were the more susceptible of the things he told +them about our holy religion,--respecting the abolishment of their human +sacrifices and kidnapping, the discontinuation of other abominations and +obscenities, with other matters salutary to their well being. They +appeared so well inclined that they assembled the inhabitants of the +surrounding districts, and formally declared themselves vassals of the +emperor, our master. On this occasion, likewise, numerous complaints +were made against Motecusuma, which all terminated with instances of his +oppression similar to what we had heard from the Sempoallans and +Quiahuitzlans. + +The next morning very early Cortes sent for the chiefs and caziques of +the Sempoallans. In fear and anxiety had they passed the while, in +consequence of his anger for having attempted to deceive us with a pack +of lies. He brought about a reconciliation and good understanding +between them and the inhabitants of Tzinpantzinco, which was never +afterwards interrupted. Upon this we again put ourselves in motion, and +marched back to Sempoalla, but took a different route over two townships +friendly with the Tzinpantzincans, where we rested ourselves, as we were +greatly fatigued, and the sun was excessively hot. In one of these +townships, a certain Mora, of Ciudad-Rodrigo, took some fowls out of an +Indian hut, which so greatly incensed Cortes that he ordered a rope to +be tied around the fellow's neck, and would have had him hung up if +Alvarado, who was standing next to Cortes, had not cut the rope in two +with his sword, and thus released the poor devil, who had the fear of +death before his eyes. + +I have merely mentioned this trait to convince the curious reader how +exemplary Cortes acted, and of the necessity of being strict under +similar circumstances. Mora subsequently lost his life in a battle we +fought on a mountain in the province of Guatimala. After we had left +these two townships in peace, we found the fat cazique with the chiefs +of Sempoalla in some huts which they had constructed for us, where they +were waiting our arrival with various kinds of provisions which they had +brought with them. Although Indians, they readily perceived what a good +and holy thing is justice, and that Cortes' declaration of our having +come into these countries to put an end to all oppression, perfectly +agreed with his conduct on our entry into Tzinpantzinco; they, +therefore, became the more united to us. We passed the night in these +huts, and returned next morning, in company of our Indian friends, to +Sempoalla. Indeed, the only wish of the Sempoallans was now, that we +should never leave their country again, fearing Motecusuma would send an +army about their ears; they, therefore, proposed to Cortes, since such a +close and friendly alliance now subsisted between us, and we could look +upon each other as brothers, that we should choose wives from among +their daughters and relatives, that our posterity might descend from one +and the same stock. In order that this more intimate connexion might be +brought about, they immediately made a good beginning by presenting us +with eight females, all daughters of caziques: one of these, the niece +of the fat cazique, was given to Cortes, and Puertocarrero was presented +with the daughter of another powerful cazique, whom they called Cuesco. +All these young women were finely dressed out after the fashion of the +country: they wore beautiful shifts, had golden chains about their +necks, golden rings in their ears, and had other Indian females to wait +upon them. + +When the fat cazique presented these, he said to Cortes, "_Tecle_, +(which signifies sir, in their language,) these seven women are intended +for your chief officers, and this my niece, who herself holds dominion +over a country and a people, I have destined for you." Cortes joyfully +accepted of the young women, and returned thanks to the chiefs, +remarking, at the same time, that he should gladly recognize in these +women, the bonds of brotherly union between us. But now they should +likewise renounce their idols, and no longer bring them human +sacrifices. It grieved him sorely whenever he reflected on the monstrous +heresy in which they lived; henceforth he would neither see nor hear of +these abominations, of human sacrifices and unnatural offences: then +only could a permanent and brotherly union subsist between us. Above all +things the women must be converted to Christianity, before we could +think of taking them. Further, all unnatural crimes must be put a stop +to, and young men must cease to go about in female garments, to make a +livelihood by such cursed lewdness. Indeed, hardly a day passed by that +these people did not sacrifice from three to four, and even five +Indians, tearing the hearts out of their bodies, to present them to the +idols and smear the blood on the walls of the temple. The arms and legs +of these unfortunate beings were then cut off and devoured, just in the +same way we should fetch meat from a butcher's shop and eat it: indeed I +even believe that human flesh is exposed for sale cut up, in their +_tiangues_, or markets. + +"All these atrocities," added Cortes, "must cease from this moment; then +only could our union be sincere, and should we be able to make them +lords over additional countries." To this the caziques, the papas, and +all the other personages answered, "That it would be impossible to +abolish their idols and the human sacrifices: for everything that was +good they received from these idols; they made their seeds grow and +granted them all necessaries; but with regard to the unnatural crimes, +they would strive in future to put an end to them." + +This unsatisfactory answer made a most disagreeable impression on Cortes +and all of us; for, indeed, we could no longer bear to look upon their +barbarities and the dissolute life which they led. Cortes spoke a long +time to us upon the subject; he brought many holy and useful lessons to +our mind, and observed "That we could do nothing which would be more +beneficial to this people, and more to the glory of God, than to abolish +this idolatry with its human sacrifices. It was certainly to be expected +that the inhabitants would rise up in arms, if we proceeded to destroy +their idols: we should, however, make the attempt, if even it were to +cost us our lives." + +Upon this we all arrayed ourselves as if we were preparing for battle, +and Cortes acquainted the caziques that we were now going out to destroy +their idols. When the fat cazique heard this he ordered the other chiefs +to call out the warriors in their defence, and when we were about to +mount up a high temple where the sacrifices were made,--I forget now how +many steps led to the top,--he and the other chiefs became outrageously +furious. They went menacing up to Cortes, and asked him, "Why he was +going to destroy their gods? such an insult they would not suffer; it +would be their and our destruction." + +Cortes now also lost patience, and answered, "He had already told them +several times they should not sacrifice to these monsters, who were +nothing more than deceivers and liars. There was now, therefore, no +alternative left him than to lay violent hands on them himself, and hurl +them from their bases. He must look upon them as his worst enemies, and +not as friends, since they would put no faith in his advice. He was well +aware what design their chiefs and armed warriors had in hand; his +forbearance was at last exhausted, and any opposition would cost them +their lives." + +These threats were most intelligibly interpreted to the Indians by Dona +Marina, who also put them in mind of Motecusuma's army, which every +moment might fall upon them. They, therefore, turned the question +another way, and declared, "That they were not worthy of laying hands on +their gods. If we durst venture to do so, they supposed we must, for we +could not resist the temptation; but they would never give their +consent." + +They had scarcely done speaking when more than fifty of us began to +mount the steps of the temple. We tore down the idols from their +pediments, broke them to pieces, and flung them piecemeal down the +steps. Some of these idols were shaped like furious dragons, and were +about the size of young calves; others with half the human form; some +again were shaped like large dogs, but all were horrible to look at. + +When the caziques and papas thus beheld these monsters lying crumbled on +the ground, they set up a miserable howl, covered their faces, and +begged forgiveness of the idols in the Totonaque language, as they were +unable to protect them against the teules, nor durst they attack us for +fear of Motecusuma. It did not, however, end here, for their armed +warriors who had now come up began to fly their arrows at us. Finding +matters had taken such a turn, we seized the fat cazique, six papas, and +several of the chief personages; and Cortes declared to them, that if +the attack was not instantly staid they should all forfeit their lives. +Upon this the fat cazique commanded his men to desist, and when quiet +was somewhat restored they began to negotiate about terms of peace, +which was concluded as shall shortly be related. + +In this place I have only further to add, that our march to +Tzinpantzinco was the first expedition Cortes made towards the interior +of New Spain, and that it turned out greatly to our advantage. The +historian Gomara here again tells his fables of the many thousands of +human beings we destroyed at Tzinpantzinco; the curious reader, however, +may sufficiently convince himself from my account what little faith is +to be placed in his history, however beautiful the style may be in which +it is written. + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + + _How Cortes erects an altar, and places thereon the image of the + blessed Virgin with a cross; after which mass was said, and the + eight Indian females baptized._ + + +After peace had been restored between us, the caziques, papas, and other +chiefs, Cortes ordered the fragments of the idols we had destroyed to be +carried away and burnt. These orders were executed by six papas who +came forth from a particular house, into which they carried the broken +pieces and burnt them. The dress of these priests consisted in a long +black cloak, white cassock, without sleeves, which hung down to the +feet, and in a species of hood, which some wore greater, some less in +size. Their dress was completely clogged together with blood, with which +they were besmeared from head to foot, and impeded in their walk: they +likewise smelt most offensively of sulphur and putrid flesh. We +subsequently learnt that these papas were sons of distinguished +personages. They were forbidden to marry, but were wholly given to +unnatural offences, and fasted on certain days. Generally speaking, I +never saw them eat anything else than the seeds of the cotton tree; they +may, however, have partaken of other food for all I know. + +When the idols were burnt, Cortes said everything that was edifying to +the Indians by means of our interpreters. "Now," he said, "we could look +upon them as our true brothers, and lend them every powerful assistance +against Motecusuma and the Mexicans, he having already acquainted the +former that he was no longer to make war upon them, nor to exact +tribute. Instead of their idols, he would give them our own blessed +Virgin and Sainte, the mother of Jesus Christ, in whom we believed, and +to whom we prayed, that she might intercede and protect them in heaven." + +The Indians listened with great good nature to this and many other +things, which Cortes explained to them, concerning our holy religion. +Every mason in the town was now set to work to bring chalk, which was in +great abundance here, to clean away the blood from the walls of the +cues, and plaster them well over. The day following this work was +finished and an altar erected, which was covered with cotton cloth. The +Indians were likewise ordered to bring a quantity of their splendid and +sweet-scented roses with small branches of trees. Of these a garland was +plaited, which was constantly to be renewed, that the place might remain +pure and undefiled. Four papas were selected by Cortes to take charge of +this; but their hair was previously shorn off, which they wore, as I +have before remarked, very long and bristly; their dirty cloaks were +taken off, and white ones put on, which, with the other part of their +dress, they were in future to keep perfectly clean. In order, however, +that they might have some one to look over them in their new occupation, +Cortes nominated Juan de Torres, an old lame invalid of Cordova, to +dwell near the altar, in the capacity of anchorite. The carpenters +likewise made a cross which we erected on an elevated base, well +plastered over with lime. + +The next morning early father Olmedo said mass. A regulation was also +made that in future the copal of this country should be used instead of +our usual incense, and the inhabitants were taught to make wax candles +from the wax of the country; of which, up to this moment, they had made +no manner of use: these candles were always to be kept burning on the +altar. The principal caziques of the district and village attended mass. +But the chief ornaments there were the eight Indian females, who in the +meantime had remained with their parents and relatives. These were now +baptized after an edifying discourse had preceded the ceremony. The +niece of the fat cazique, a very ugly woman, was named Dona Catalina, +and presented to Cortes, who accepted her with every appearance of +delight. The daughter of Cuesco, on the other hand, was most beautiful +for an Indian female, and received the name of Dona Francisca, and fell +to the lot of Puertocarrero. The six remaining young women, whose names +I have totally forgotten, were given to some other of our soldiers. + +The mass and baptismal ceremony being concluded, the caziques and +principal personages took their leave, and from this moment the best +feeling subsisted between us, for they were highly delighted that Cortes +had accepted their daughter. We, therefore, returned to our new town +Vera Cruz amidst the most joyous professions of friendship, and we shall +soon see what happened there. + +The good reader, however, may feel assured that nothing of any +consequence further took place at Sempoalla than what I have related, +and that herein Gomara and the other historians have completely erred. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + + _How we arrived in our town of Vera Cruz, and what happened there._ + + +We arrived at Vera Cruz, in company of the most distinguished personages +of Sempoalla, on the same day that a ship had run in there from Cuba. +The captain's name was Francisco de Saucedo, but we always called him +the gallant, from his extravagance in beautifying his outward person, +being altogether a perfect fop. He was said to have been at one time +butler to the admiral of Castile, and was born at Medina de Rioseco. +Along with him were ten soldiers, and a certain Luis Marin, a most +distinguished officer, who afterwards became one of our chief commanders +in the Mexican campaigns. Both the former had horses, one a stallion, +and the other a mare. These men brought us intelligence that Diego +Velasquez had obtained authority from Spain to trade and found colonies +wherever he liked, and was appointed adelantado of Cuba. All this +pleased his adherents excessively, in particular the latter preferment. + +The building of the fortress having solely occupied us for a length of +time, and now in such a forward state that we could lay the woodwork, we +began to grow tired of doing nothing. Almost the whole of us, therefore, +addressed Cortes in a body: representing to him, that we had now been +three months in this country, and high time we should just convince +ourselves how much truth there was in the boasted power of Motecusuma, +of which so much had been said: we would gladly risk our lives in it, +and therefore begged he would make preparations for this expedition. +But, previous to commencing our march, we ought first to give some proof +of our most humble submission to his majesty our emperor, by forwarding +him a complete account of everything that had befallen us since our +departure from Cuba. We also proposed that all the gold we had bartered +for, and the presents sent by Motecusuma, should be forwarded to his +majesty. + +In answer to which Cortes said, that our ideas accorded exactly with his +own, and that he had already spoken to the same effect to several of the +cavaliers. There was merely one circumstance which caused him to +hesitate, namely, that if each person took the portion of gold which +fell to his share, too little would remain to be worthy of his majesty's +acceptance. For this reason he commissioned Diego de Ordas and Francisco +de Montejo, who were thorough men of business to see what they could +make out of those men whom they might expect would demand their share. +This was accordingly done, and they represented to every one that we +were desirous of sending his majesty the emperor a present in gold, +which, considering it was the first, ought indeed to be something +valuable. In order, however, to make this possible, nothing remained but +that each one should give up his share of the gold which had been made +up to this moment. A great number of officers and soldiers had already +signed their hands to that effect; yet every one was at liberty to act +herein as he thought proper. Here was the paper, which every one who +chose could put his hand to. + +Every one, without exception, signed his name to the document, and +agents were chosen to be despatched to Spain. These were Alonso +Puertocarrero and Francisco de Montejo, to whom Cortes himself had +already given above two thousand pesos. The best vessel of our squadron, +furnished with the necessary provisions and manned with fifteen sailors, +was selected to convey them. The charge of the vessel was given to two +pilots, one of whom was Anton de Alaminos, from his being so well +acquainted with the passage through the Bahama channel, and the first +who had ventured that road. Upon this all of us, in common, drew up an +account of our adventures expressly for his majesty, relating everything +that had happened to us, and Cortes himself, as he assured us, likewise +wrote a very circumstantial narrative, which, however, was not given us +to read.[18] The account was signed by all the authorities of the new +town and ten soldiers, of which I myself was one. But there was likewise +another account drawn up by all the officers and soldiers, the contents +of which will be fully explained in the following chapter. + +[18] Most probably Cortes' despatches of the 16th of July, 1519, which +were lost. (p. 125.) + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + + _Concerning the account of our adventures, with the letter, which we + sent his majesty the emperor, through Puertocarrero and Montejo, the + letter being attested by some officers and soldiers._ + + +This account very properly opened with those distinguished marks of +respect which were due to our great emperor and master. Then followed a +complete account of our expedition, from the day of our departure from +Cuba up to our arrival on the coast of Mexico, and the day the account +was drawn up. We did not omit to state that we had merely been induced +to join the expedition from a promise that we were going to found a +colony, and how Diego Velasquez had given Cortes secret instructions +merely to confine himself to the trade of barter. That Cortes, +conformably to this, had indeed wished to return to Cuba with the gold +we had made; that, however, we had compelled him to remain here and +found a colony, for which purpose we had elected him captain-general and +chief justice, until we should receive his most gracious majesty's +pleasure on this head. We had, moreover, promised him a fifth part of +all the gold that should remain after deducting the fifths for his +majesty. We then mentioned the name of Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, +as the first discoverer of this country; the expedition which followed +upon that under Juan de Grijalva; of our landing on the island of +Cozumel, and of our fortunate discovery of Geronimo de Aguilar, and +other things. We described our negotiations with the great Motecusuma, +mentioning his power and riches, of which the things he had given us to +present to his majesty, consisting in the sun of gold and moon of +silver, and the casque of gold dust, as it is found in the mines, as +also the other articles of solid and manufactured gold, were small +proofs. + +After this we spoke about the extent of the country, its population, the +arts, customs, and religion of the inhabitants, of whom we sent four as +a sample, whom we had liberated from a wooden cage at Sempoalla, where +they were being fattened for a sacrificial feast. We then mentioned +something about ourselves; how we were in all 450 armed men in the midst +of so many warlike tribes; how our expedition had merely for its object +to serve God and his majesty; and, in the position we were now placed, +how much depended upon a man being at our head who was acquainted with +the country, and in whom we could repose all trust. We most humbly +begged of his majesty not to confer the command of this country upon any +one of his officers; from its extent and vast riches, it was worthy of +being ruled by a royal prince or some other great personage. We all +feared that the archbishop Don Rodriguez de Fonseca, whom his majesty +had intrusted with the government of Indian affairs, had destined the +command to one of his own creatures, namely, a certain Diego Velasquez, +who was then viceroy of Cuba; this favour, however, was entirely owing +to the presents which the bishop received from Velasquez, consisting in +the most valuable townships of his imperial domains wherever any gold +was to be found. As his majesty's most humble and faithful servants, we +could not neglect to bring this under his imperial notice, and we had +resolved to wait until our agents had thrown themselves at his majesty's +feet to hand over our letters, and his majesty should have acquainted +them with his imperial wishes, which we, whatever they might be, would +honour in the very dust. If the archbishop Fonseca in the meantime sent +any one to take the command, we should not obey him until we had +informed his majesty of it, wherever he might be. We begged of his +majesty, for the present, to confer the command on Cortes. This prayer +we accompanied by such high-flown praise of Cortes,--how faithful and +devoted he was to his majesty; that we elevated him to the very skies. +This closed the letter, which was drawn up with great discernment, and +divided into chapters. This letter was signed by all the officers and +soldiers who belonged to Cortes' party. We also took the precaution of +keeping other copies. + +After the letter was quite finished, Cortes desired to read it, and when +he found how faithfully the account was drawn up, and himself so highly +praised, he was vastly pleased, returned us hearty thanks, and promised +us golden mountains. He, however, observed, that it would be better to +make no allusion to the fifth part of the gold which we had promised +him; also to suppress the names of the first discoverers of the +country. Indeed, we subsequently learnt that Cortes, in his account, +never mentioned a word either about Cordoba, or of Grijalva, but +reserved all the honour and merit to himself. + +Nevertheless the men were not wanting among us who answered the +objections made by Cortes, saying it was our bounden duty to narrate +every circumstance to his majesty as it had really taken place. + +Our agents took charge of the letters, and were bound down by a promise +not to touch at the Havannah under any pretence whatever, nor run into +the harbour of El Marien, where Francisco de Montejo had possessions. +This was done that Velasquez might receive no intelligence of our +doings. They certainly promised, but neglected to observe these orders, +as will be seen. + +Everything being now ready for their departure, father Olmedo said mass, +and we commended them to the guidance and protection of the Holy Ghost. +On the 26th of July, 1519, they set sail from San Juan de Ulua, and +arrived pretty soon at the Havannah. Here Francisco de Montejo left our +chief pilot Alaminos no peace, persuading him to sail along the coast in +the direction of his settlement, where he pretended he would take in a +fresh supply of cassave-bread and bacon. Puertocarrero was greatly +displeased with this conduct; however, the landing was effected. The +night following a sailor swam secretly on shore, and forwarded Diego +Velasquez letters from his adherents, giving him an account of all that +had passed. We afterwards learnt that Montejo himself had sent this man, +who, besides this, spread the news everywhere along the route he +journeyed. We shall now see what steps Velasquez took upon this. + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + + _How Diego Velasquez is informed by his agents that we had sent + messengers with letters and presents to our king, and what further + took place._ + + +Diego Velasquez received intelligence of everything we had done, partly +by the letters which had been secretly conveyed to him, and were said to +be of Montejo's own writing, and partly from the sailor, who swam on +shore for that purpose. When he heard of the valuable present which we +sent to his majesty, and of the agents we had selected for the purpose, +he grew excessively angry, and threw out the most heavy curses against +Cortes, against his own private secretary Duero, and the treasurer +Almador de Lares. He then immediately ordered two small but very swift +sailing vessels to be fitted out, and furnished with as great a number +of men and firearms as could be got together at the moment. These +vessels were given in command of two officers named Gabriel de Rojas and +Guzman, who were ordered to repair to the Havannah, and to capture the +vessel which conveyed our agents and the gold. + +Both vessels arrived, after two days' sail, in the Bahama roads, and +made every inquiry of the fishermen and coasters whether they had seen a +ship of considerable tonnage pass that way. All the accounts they +received went to show that she must have left the roads, as the wind had +constantly been favorable: they, therefore, tacked up and down a +considerable time, but, discovering no trace of her, they returned to +Santiago. + +If the first accounts had made Diego Velasquez dispirited, he was now +the more so when he found the ship had escaped. His friends now advised +him to send some one to Spain to lay his complaints before the president +of Indian affairs, with whom he stood in great favour. Velasquez also +laid a formal accusation against Cortes and all of us, in the royal +court of audience at Santo Domingo, and also before the Hieronymite +brethren, who were viceroys of that island. These brothers were then +three in number, father Luis de Figueroa, father Alonso de Santo +Domingo, and father Bernardino de Mancanedo: they lived together in the +cloister of Mejorada, eight miles from Medina del Campo. The answer they +gave Diego Velasquez was not very consoling; for, when they found, from +our papers, what great things we had done, they declared that no +reproach could be made either to Cortes or his troops: we had merely +addressed the emperor our master, and sent him a present of such +considerable value as had not been seen in Spain for a length of time, +(this they might say in all justice, for Peru was then still unknown;) +on the contrary, we had merited a most noble remuneration at his +majesty's hands. + +Besides coming to this decision, the Hieronymite brothers commissioned +the licentiate Zuazo, who was either purposely sent to Cuba for this +purpose, or at least had arrived there only a few months previous, to +examine into this affair of Velasquez on the spot itself. The turn which +this matter had taken completely prostrated his spirits for many days +together. At last he again aroused himself, and gave orders to fit out +every ship in the island, and to enlist officers and men: his intention +was to send out such a powerful fleet as would soon overcome Cortes and +the whole of us: indeed he spared no trouble; he travelled himself from +place to place, and from one settlement to another, and where he could +not call in person, he at least sent letters, and invited all his +friends to join the armament. In this way he succeeded, after the space +of eleven or twelve months, to fit out a fleet of eighteen sail, +carrying 1300 soldiers and sailors: for, as the affair was carried on +with great party spirit, his relations and every distinguished person of +Cuba, as well as every one who had a commendary, considered themselves +bound to take part in the undertaking. The command of this fleet was +given to a cavalier named Pamfilo de Narvaez, a man of high stature and +great bodily strength, with a voice amazingly powerful, and an imperious +look in his countenance: he was a native of Valladolid, very wealthy, +and had married a widow at Cuba named Maria de Valenzuela, who possessed +several lucrative Indian townships. + +For the present, however, we will leave this expedition to itself, and +turn to our agents, who had most favorable weather for their voyage, and +arrived safe at the place of destination, as we shall see in the +following chapter. The good reader will do me the justice to consider, +with respect to the irregular mode of narrating which I appear to +pursue, that I am bound to mention the occurrences in this my history in +the order they follow each other. + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + + _How our agents passed through the Bahama channel with the most + favorable wind, and arrived in Castile after a short passage; and of + our success at court._ + + +Our agents had a most favorable voyage to the Havannah, and thence +through the Bahama roads: their further course was equally prosperous, +and they very soon arrived at the Tercera isles, and from there to +Sevilla, where they hired a carriage and posted to the imperial court +residence, at that time in Valladolid. Here the archbishop Fonseca +governed at will, he being, moreover, president of Indian affairs, and +the emperor then still very young, and residing in Flanders. + +Our agents waited upon the archbishop, in the full expectation of being +well received with thanks. They handed over to him the letters with the +details of our adventures, also the presents, with the valuable things, +and begged of him to forward all this to his majesty by a courier, whom +they would accompany themselves. However, instead of meeting with a +kind reception, they were very coolly received, and dismissed with a few +dry and harsh words. They begged of him to mention the great services +which Cortes and his men had rendered his majesty, and repeatedly urged +him to send the letters and presents to the emperor, that he might learn +everything as it had really taken place. He, however, answered in a very +haughty tone, desiring them not to give themselves any further trouble: +he would fully inform his majesty of what had taken place; not, however, +according to their story, but conformably to truth; that, namely, we had +rebelled against Velasquez. This was followed by many other sharp +rebukes. + +About this time also, Benito Martin, chaplain to Velasquez, arrived in +Valladolid, preferring heavy accusations against Cortes and all of us, +which set the archbishop more and more against us. Francisco de Montejo +had not the courage to step forward and defend our cause; but +Puertocarrero, as cousin to the earl of Medellin, durst presume the +more: he therefore took up the question, and most urgently begged of the +archbishop to give them a quiet hearing, and not to answer them so +harshly. They demanded nothing further of him than to forward the +presents to his majesty; they had a right to ask this, for we were +servants of the crown, and merited a remuneration, but not the remarks +he had allowed himself to make. + +These words so greatly incensed the archbishop, that he ordered +Puertocarrero to be thrown into prison, on account of some previous +affair which had come to his ears; he having, namely, three years ago, +carried off a married woman, named Maria Rodriguez, of Medellin, and +taken her to India. Such was the first reception which our presents and +services met with in Spain, and nothing remained for our agents but to +hold their tongues for the present, and wait until a more favorable time +and opportunity should present itself. The archbishop now forwarded his +account to the emperor, who was then in Flanders, in which he extolled +the merits of his creature Velasquez to the very skies, saying +everything that was bad of Cortes and all of us; nor did he mention one +single word about our letters. + +Upon this Puertocarrero, Montejo, Martin Cortes, the father of our +general, the licentiate Nunez, who was reporter to the royal council, +and a near relation to Cortes, determined to despatch a courier of their +own to the emperor in Flanders. They fortunately possessed duplicates of +all our despatches and letters, as also a list of all the presents we +had destined for his majesty. + +With these papers they likewise sent a separate letter to the emperor +with complaints against the archbishop and the whole of his doings with +Diego Velasquez. In this resolution they were backed by other cavaliers +who were at variance with the archbishop, who, upon the whole, had many +enemies on account of his haughty behaviour and the abuse he made of the +important offices he filled. And as the great services we had rendered +to God and his majesty, in whom we had alone reposed our trust, were +looked upon in a favorable light, it also happened that his majesty made +the strictest inquiries into the whole affair. His majesty was so highly +pleased with what we had done, that the dukes, marquisses, earls, and +other cavaliers, for days together spoke of nothing but Cortes, our +courageous behaviour, our conquests, and of the riches we had sent over. +It was owing to this as well as to the unfaithful and distorted account +which the archbishop had drawn up respecting these matters, and +particularly because he had not sent all the presents, but kept the +major part to himself, that he fell from that moment into his majesty's +displeasure. In the meantime the archbishop's agents in Flanders had +sent him information of all that had passed, which vexed him in no small +degree, and if previously he had blackened Cortes and all of us to his +majesty, he now boldly accused us of high treason. But the Lord very +soon bridled his rage; for two years after he received his dismissal, +and then in his turn experienced the curse of malice and contempt. We, +on the contrary, were looked upon as loyal men who had rendered services +to the crown, as shall be mentioned in the proper place. For the present +the emperor informed our agents, that he would himself shortly visit +Spain to investigate the matter more closely and reward us. Our agents, +therefore, awaited his majesty's arrival in Spain. + +Before I proceed any further with my narrative, I must answer one +question, which several cavaliers have very justly put to me; namely, +how it was possible for me to relate these things, as I was not present +myself, but making the campaign in New Spain, when our agents were +despatched with the letters and presents, and met with this ill +treatment from the archbishop of Rosano? To which my answer is, that our +agents forwarded to us, the true conquistadores, verbatim all that had +passed between them and the latter, as also the favorable decision which +the emperor came to in our behalf; of which Cortes sent copies to all +the towns where we happened to be stationed, to show us how favorably +everything had terminated, and what a great enemy we had in the +archbishop. After this digression we will return to our quarters in New +Spain, and see what happened there in the meantime. + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + + _What took place in our camp after the departure of our agents to + his majesty with the gold and the letters; and the instance of + severity which Cortes was compelled to give._ + + +The suspicions of Velasquez's adherents were again aroused at the +departure of our agents, and the following occurrence took place a few +days after. A conspiracy was set on foot by Pedro Escudero, Juan +Cormeno, Gonzalo de Umbria, a pilot, the priest Juan Diaz, Bernardino de +Coria, (who afterwards became a citizen of Chiapa, and was father of a +certain Centeno,) and some seamen of Gibraleon. All these were +excessively embittered against Cortes; some because he had refused to +grant them the promised discharge to return to Cuba; others because they +had lost their share of the gold by the present which had been sent to +the emperor; and the seamen because they could not forget the lashes +which he had given them on the island of Cozumel for stealing the +flitches of bacon. They had determined to seize upon one of our small +vessels, to sail to Cuba, and acquaint the viceroy Diego Velasquez that +he had merely to send to the Havannah and the possessions of Montejo in +order to capture our agents with all the riches. We concluded from this +that the conspirators had been counselled by persons of authority among +our officers, since they knew that Montejo, notwithstanding the strict +injunctions which he had received to the contrary, had landed at his +commendary. The affair was already so far advanced that the conspirators +had sent on board the necessary provisions of cassave-bread, oil, dried +fish, water, and such like, and were about to set sail, when one of +them, Bernardino de Coria, began to repent, called upon Cortes at +midnight, and discovered the whole plot to him. + +Cortes first of all made an accurate inquiry into the names and number +of the conspirators, as also into the reasons and the way they intended +carrying out the plot; he then ordered the sails, the compass, and the +rudder to be taken from the vessel which was to have conveyed them. Upon +which he closely examined the conspirators, when they immediately made a +full confession, and mentioned the names of others who were implicated. +These names were for the present very prudently suppressed, and +proceedings were merely taken against those who stood most prominent in +the affair. A council of war having been held with all the usual +formalities, Pedro Escudero and Juan Cormeno[19] were sentenced to be +hung; the pilot Gonzalo de Umbria to have his feet cut off, and the +sailors to receive two hundred lashes each. If father Juan had not been +a priest he would likewise have shared a similar fate; as it was he +merely suffered for a time the dread of suspense which indeed must have +been terrible enough. I shall never forget how Cortes cried out, with a +sigh, and deeply affected, at the moment he signed the death-warrants: +"What a fortunate thing if I were unable to write; then should I neither +be able to sign a death-warrant!" This same exclamation likewise +frequently falls from judges who have to decide over life and death; in +which expression, however, they merely repeat the words of the barbarous +emperor Nero, when in the commencement of his reign he showed so goodly +a disposition. + +The sentences being executed, Cortes immediately set out for Sempoalla, +having previously ordered that 200 men, with all our horse, should +follow him. The distance to this place was a good twenty miles. Pedro de +Alvarado was absent during this time, having three days beforehand been +sent with 200 men into the mountains in search of provisions, which were +extremely scarce. Orders were, therefore, left behind for him to march +to Sempoalla on his return, where arrangements would be made for our +further route to Mexico. Alvarado, consequently, was not present when +the executions took place. + +[19] Torquemada (Mon., Ind. i, iv, c. 25) gives some additional +circumstances respecting this conspiracy; among other things he says, +that the pilot Cermeno was so remarkably nimble, that if two of the +tallest men held up a lance as high as they could horizontally, he would +bound over it with ease by means of another lance. Also that his sense +of smelling was so acute that he could scent the land at a distance of +sixty miles when at sea; but adds, "aunque no olio esta muerte;" yet he +could not smell the nature of his death. (p. 133.) + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + + _How we came to the resolution of marching to Mexico, and of + destroying all our vessels, which was done with the sanction and by + the advice of all Cortes' true adherents._ + + +While preparations were going on at Sempoalla for our march into the +interior numerous consultations were held with Cortes respecting +everything connected with it, we, his trustworthy adherents, proposed +that all the vessels should be run on shore, in order at once to cut off +all possibility of further mutiny, when we should have advanced far into +the interior of the country. In which case, likewise, the pilots and +sailors would be of greater use to us than by idling their time away in +the harbour. I am well aware that the idea of destroying our vessels +originated with Cortes himself, and that he merely shoved it on our +shoulders for this reason, that if payment for the vessels should be +demanded of him, he could throw the blame on us, and say that all was +done at our own request; so that we both individually and collectively +should have to assist in repaying the damages. This resolution was +immediately adopted, and Cortes ordered the alguacil-major, Juan de +Escalante, a young man of very great courage, and who was a close +adherer to him, utterly hating Diego Velasquez because he had neglected +to give him any considerable commendary in Cuba, to take all the +anchors, ropes, sails, in short everything that might be of use to us +out of the vessels, and run the latter all on shore, with the exception +of the boats. The pilots, the old ships' masters, and those seamen who +were unable to make the campaign with us, were to remain behind in the +town, and employ themselves in catching fish with our two drag-nets in +the harbour, where the former were in great abundance. + +Juan de Escalante punctually obeyed these orders, and arrived in +Sempoalla with an additional company formed of the sailors, of whom +several became very excellent soldiers. The next thing Cortes did was to +call all the caziques of the mountain tribes together, who had revolted +from Motecusuma, and formed an alliance with us. He gave them to +understand that they were to assist in the building of the church, the +fortresses, and houses of our new town. "This man," continued he, taking +Juan de Escalante by the hand, "is my brother; him you must obey in +everything; and to him you must apply if you require assistance against +the Mexicans. He will himself at all times march out in your defence." +The caziques in reply, said, "They were ready to obey him in +everything," and perfumed Juan de Escalante after their fashion, which I +can still well remember he unwillingly submitted to. For the rest he was +a man you could trust in all matters, and who fully possessed the +confidence of Cortes; for which reason the latter intrusted him with the +command of the town and harbour, as one in whom he could place implicit +reliance, in case, during his absence, Diego Velasquez should set +anything on foot against him. + +Gomara here relates, that Cortes ordered the vessels to be sunk, and +that he did not disclose his intentions to us of visiting the great +Motecusuma himself at Mexico. But we Spaniards are, indeed, not the +people who require so much pressing to move forward, or who desire to +sit quietly down in a place where neither advantage nor military honour +is to be gained. Gomara also says, that Pedro de Irico was the person +left behind in command of Vera Cruz. This, however, is quite erroneous, +for it was Juan de Escalante who was appointed commander and +alguacil-major of New Spain. Pedro de Irico, indeed, would scarcely +have been intrusted with the command of a company, much less, therefore, +with such an important post. Nothing should be given to a man that does +not belong to him, and nothing should be taken from him to which he is +entitled. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + + _Of the speech which Cortes made to us after our vessels were + destroyed, and how we prepared for our march to Mexico._ + + +After the vessels had been run ashore before our eyes, and we the +officers and soldiers were one morning after mass all standing around +Cortes, the discourse turned upon various military topics, when he +begged our attention for a few minutes, as he had some proposal to make +to us. He then addressed us at great length, as near as possible, to the +following effect. We already knew of the campaign which was in +contemplation. It was of such a nature, that the aid of Jesus Christ, +our Lord, only could bring us forth victorious from all the battles and +engagements which awaited us; but, notwithstanding all the trust we +reposed in God, we should not ourselves be wanting in courage and +activity; should we be worsted, which Almighty God forbid, considering +our small numbers we could expect no other assistance than from above, +and that of our own arms, as we had no longer any vessels to return to +Cuba. Cortes then adduced many beautiful comparisons from history, and +mentioned several heroic deeds of the Romans. We answered him, one and +all, that we would implicitly follow his orders, as the die had been +cast, and we, with Caesar, when he had passed the Rubicon, had now no +choice left; besides which, everything we did was for the glory of God +and his majesty the emperor. + +After this speech, whose penetrating eloquence and charming powers I am +unable to repeat, Cortes ordered the fat cazique into his presence, and +reminded him of the care and reverence which was due from him to the +church and the cross. For himself he was now about leaving for Mexico; +he added, to oblige Motecusuma, for the future to abolish all robbery +and the human sacrifices. He also told him he should require two hundred +porters to transport our cannon, and fifty of his best warriors to +accompany us. + +When we were about to put ourselves in motion a soldier arrived from +Vera Cruz, whom Cortes had despatched there to fetch more men. He +brought a letter from Juan de Escalante, announcing that a vessel had +been seen off the coast, to which he had made various signals by means +of smoke and other things; had hung out white flags and rode up and down +the coast on horseback dressed in scarlet, to attract the attention of +those on board. He did not doubt for an instant but all this had been +observed by the men on-board, yet they made no signs of running into the +harbour. He had made inquiries along the coast as to where the vessel +had put in, and found she was lying at anchor in the mouth of a small +river, at the distance of about nine miles; he therefore awaited Cortes' +orders as to what further steps he was to take. As soon as Cortes had +read the letter he gave the command of all the troops, then at +Sempoalla, to Alvarado conjointly with Gonzalo de Sandoval. This was the +first time Sandoval had been put in command, for those military +qualities, by which he so greatly distinguished himself all the rest of +his life, now began to develop themselves. Properly speaking, the +command ought to have devolved upon Alonso de Avila, which therefore +created ill blood between him and Sandoval. Upon this Cortes mounted +horse, selected four of our cavalry, and fifty of the most nimble-footed +men amongst us, and marched to Vera Cruz, where we arrived that very +night. + + + + +CHAPTER LX. + + _How Cortes arrived with us at the spot where the vessel lay at + anchor, and captured six soldiers and sailors of the said vessel, + who had stepped on shore; also what further took place._ + + +As soon as we had arrived at Vera Cruz, Juan de Escalante came up to +Cortes and told him, it would be best to make off for the strange vessel +that very night, otherwise she might heave anchor and steer for the wide +ocean. Cortes himself might take his rest and allow him to manage the +affair with twenty men. + +To this Cortes answered, he could not rest as long as there was any +thing to be done, and he was determined to go in person with the men he +had brought along with him. We accordingly set off on our march along +the coast, without even tasting a morsel of food before we left. On our +road we soon captured four Spaniards, who had been ordered to take +possession of the country in the name of Francisco de Garay, viceroy of +Jamaica. They had been sent on shore by an officer named Alonso Alvarez +de Pinedo, who a few days previous had left a settlement on the banks of +the Panuco. One of the four Spaniards, named Guillan de la Loa, had +drawn up a formal deed of having taken possession of the country, which +was signed by the three others. + +After the prisoners had made this disclosure to Cortes, he inquired of +them under what pretence Garay had sent them out to take possession of +the country? To which they gave the following answer. In the year 1518, +when the fame of our having discovered this country, under Cordoba and +Grijalva, and of the twenty thousand pesos which it produced Diego +Velasquez, had spread through the whole of the West Indies, Anton de +Alaminos and another pilot who had made the voyage of discovery with us, +persuaded Garay to petition his majesty, that the discovery of all the +countries which might lie to the north of the river St. Peter and Paul +might be granted to him. Trusting to the patrons he had at the court of +Madrid, he despatched his house-steward, Torrolva, to Spain, who managed +to obtain for him the appointment of adelantado, and vice-regent of all +countries north of the river just mentioned. Garay, in consequence of +this appointment, fitted out three vessels with two hundred and seventy +men, besides horses and the necessary provisions. The command of these +he intrusted to an officer named Alonso Alvarez Pinedo, who at present +was lying at a distance of about 280 miles from this place, in the river +Panuco, where he intended to found a colony. For the rest, added the +prisoners, they had merely obeyed the commands of that officer, and were +therefore not answerable for anything they had done. Cortes was very +much pleased with these fellows, on account of the disclosure they had +made; he tried to gain them over to his interest, and inquired of them, +if it were possible to capture the vessel? Guillan de la Loa, the most +distinguished of the prisoners, thought it might be done, and he, with +his comrades, would hail the ship's shallop on shore. This they +accordingly tried, but, notwithstanding all their shouting and signals, +no one moved from the vessel. No doubt we must have been observed by +them, for the captain knew all about us, and he had particularly +cautioned his men to be upon their guard, not to fall into the hands of +Cortes. We had now, therefore, no other course left than to try to +entice the shallop on shore by some other stratagem. For this purpose +Cortes desired the prisoners to take off their clothes, and four of our +men to put them on, who were to remain behind. The rest of us marched +back along the road we had come, and halted behind a mountain, as soon +as we were out of sight of the vessel. Here we remained until midnight, +when all was dark around; we then, without the least noise, put +ourselves in motion, and made for the landing-place, in the +neighbourhood of which we concealed ourselves, so as to be invisible to +any one excepting our four disguised soldiers. + +As soon as daylight had broken forth, the latter made signals to the +vessel with their cloaks and hats; upon which the shallop put off with +six sailors, two of whom had water-bottles in their hands, and +immediately stepped on shore. We watched until the four others should +have done the same. Our four disguised men were in the meantime washing +their hands, and doing everything else to hide their faces. Those in the +shallop cried out, "What the deuce are you about there? why don't you +come on board?" One of our men then answered, "Come on shore for a few +minutes, and see what the place is like!" They found, however, the voice +to be that of a stranger, and put off with the shallop to the vessel +again, notwithstanding all the signals our men were making. We others +were very desirous of sending a few musket-shots after them, but Cortes +would not permit us, saying, we ought to allow them to go off quietly, +and he would communicate with their commander himself. All the prisoners +we made, therefore, were the four above-mentioned, and the two who had +stepped out of the shallop, and we returned to Vera Cruz without having +tasted a morsel of food. Such are the true particulars of the whole +matter, and not as Gomara relates, who even makes Garay himself present +on this occasion, though he did not visit these parts in person until +some time after, having sent the three officers with the vessels before +him. I shall speak more particularly of this in the proper place. + + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + + _How we set out on our march to the city of Mexico, and, upon the + advice of the caziques, take our road over Tlascalla. What took + place here, and of the battles we fought._ + + +After we had got all in readiness for our march to Mexico, we held a +consultation as to the route we should take. The chiefs of Sempoalla +preferred the road through the province of Tlascalla, as the inhabitants +were friendly with them and deadly enemies of the Mexicans. They had +likewise equipped forty of their best warriors to accompany us, who, +indeed, proved of the greatest utility to us on this journey. They also +gave us 200 porters to convey our cannon; for, at that time, we poor +soldiers had no other baggage than our weapons, with which in hand we +stood, walked, and slept: we had not even any other covering to our +feet than light shoes, but we were always ready for battle. It was about +the middle of the month of August, 1519, that we broke up our quarters +at Sempoalla. During our march we observed the strictest order, while +our sharp-shooters and a great number of our most active men were always +in advance. On the first day we arrived in the township of Xalapa, and +from there to Socochina, which is very strongly situated, the access to +it being very dangerous, and surrounded by numerous trained vine +trees.[20] Dona Marina and Aguilar told the inhabitants a good deal +about our holy religion, and how we were subjects of the emperor Don +Carlos the Fifth, who sent us out to bring them back from kidnapping and +sacrificing human beings. As they were in friendship with the +Sempoallans, and paid no tribute to Motecusuma, we found them very well +inclined towards us, and we received hospitable treatment. We erected a +cross in every township, and explained its signification to the +inhabitants, and what great veneration was due to it. From Socochina we +marched over a high mountain, through a pass, to Texutla: here, +likewise, the inhabitants were friendly to us, because they refused to +pay any further tribute to Motecusuma. It was from this township that we +first arrived into a rugged and wild mountain district; the population +ceased, and, in the very first night, we had excessive cold, with hail +showers; add to which, our provisions were totally gone, and the wind so +keen which blew across the snow mountains, that we shook again with the +frost: indeed, no one can wonder at this, for we had come so suddenly +from the hot climate of Cuba, the town of Vera Cruz, and the +neighbouring coast, into a cold country. Whatever calamity might befall +us, we had only our weapons for protection, and were, moreover, totally +unaccustomed to the cold. From this place we arrived at another mountain +pass, where we found some houses and huge temples for human sacrifices; +near these, heaps of wood were piled up for the use of the idol-worship. +Neither did we here again meet with any food, the weather continuing +bitterly cold. + +Our route now lay across the territory of the township Xocotlan. We sent +before us two Indians of Sempoalla to the cazique, to acquaint him of +our approach, and beg of him to give us an hospitable reception. As the +inhabitants of this district were subject to Motecusuma, everything wore +a different aspect, and we marched forward with the utmost precaution +and in close array. For the rest, we were as much pleased with this spot +as with many a Spanish town, on account of the numerous and beautifully +whitewashed balconies, the dwellings of the caziques, and the elevated +temples wholly built of stone and lime. We, therefore, called it +Castilblanco, which name it still retains; for a Portuguese soldier, who +was among our troops, assured us, the place was very like the town of +Casteloblanco in Portugal. The cazique, on receiving information of our +arrival, came out to meet us with the principal inhabitants. His name +was Olintecle, and he led us into his habitation, where he gave us but +little to eat, and that with bad will. + +After the repast, Cortes, by means of our interpreters, put all manner +of questions to the cazique respecting the affairs of his monarch. +Motecusuma, and we learnt a good deal about the great armies which were +stationed in the conquered provinces, besides those on the boundaries +themselves, and the provinces which bordered on them. He spoke of the +great and strong city of Mexico, how it lay in the midst of the waters, +and that it was only by means of bridges and canoes that a person could +go from one house to another: every house was provided with a balcony at +the top, and was so completely isolated by means of moats, that they +might separately be considered as so many castles, and, as such, capable +of defence. The town was approached by three roads, each of which was +cut through in four or five several places, to admit the water; across +these sections, wooden bridges were built: it was merely requisite to +break down these bridges, and all access to Mexico was cut off. Lastly, +the cazique also mentioned the great quantity of silver and gold, the +numerous precious stones and great riches of Motecusuma; in fact, there +was no end to the praises he bestowed upon his monarch. + +Cortes and all of us were vastly astonished at everything the man +related of Motecusuma's power and greatness. However, instead of being +thereby disheartened, we only the more earnestly desired to try our +fortune against the fortresses and bridges, for such is the very spirit +of a Spanish soldier; while the impossibility of which Olintecle spoke +seemed to us a mere nothing. Mexico was, indeed, strongly fortified, and +even more so than mentioned by the cazique: a person ought to have seen +it himself to form an idea of it,--a description can convey none. For +the rest, added the cazique, Motecusuma is accustomed to obedience from +every one, and he feared Motecusuma's resentment when he should learn +that we had entered the township without his permission, and had been +provided with provisions. + +Upon which Cortes, by means of our interpreters, spoke to him as +follows: "I give you to understand that we have come here from very +distant countries, by command of our emperor and master Don Carlos, who +has among his numerous vassals many powerful princes, to acquaint your +great Motecusuma that he shall no longer permit kidnapping and human +sacrifices, nor conquer any more territories, and that he must obey the +commands of the emperor our master. In the same way I also declare to +you Olintecle, and the other caziques now present that you must +relinquish those human sacrifices, no longer eat human flesh, and +abstain from committing unnatural offences and other abominations +customary with you; for such are the commandments of the God in whom we +believe, and whom we adore, from whom come life and death, and who will +once receive us into his heaven." + +As the Indians made no answer to all this and many other things he said +of our holy religion, Cortes turned to us, and said, "I think, +gentlemen, we can do nothing further here than erect a cross:" to which +father Olmedo answered, "I think, sir, that even this would be doing too +much at present, for these people, as subjects of Motecusuma, are +neither afraid nor shy of us, and would undoubtedly destroy the cross. +What we have disclosed to them concerning our religion is sufficient +until the time they shall be susceptible of understanding more of it." + +In compliance with this advice, no cross was erected here. + +On this expedition we had a large dog with us, the property of Francisco +de Lugo. As the animal did nothing but bark the whole night, the +caziques asked our friends of Sempoalla whether it was a lion or a tiger +which we employed for the purpose of tearing the Indians to pieces? The +Sempoallans answered that we indeed let it loose upon those who attacked +us. They gave similar answers to questions concerning our cannon, +telling them we loaded these with stones, and killed every one therewith +at whom we shot: that our horses were as nimble as deer; that they +galloped against whomsoever we desired. "Certainly these must be +teules!" said Olintecle and the other chiefs. "That they are indeed as +you see them now before you, (continued the Sempoallans,) therefore take +great care not to arouse their displeasure. Whatever you may do, they +are sure to know: they penetrate your very thoughts, and have even +imprisoned the tax-gatherers of your great Motecusuma, and commanded the +inhabitants of the mountains and us of Sempoalla not to pay any more +tribute. They have likewise torn down our teules from the temples, and +placed theirs there instead. The tribes of the Tabasco and Tzinpantzinco +were conquered by them; and, however powerful Motecusuma may be, he +nevertheless sent them presents. Now they have visited you, and you have +given them nothing; therefore you cannot too speedily correct the +mistake you have made." + +From this it may be seen that our confederates perfectly understood how +to boast of us: nor was it long before the caziques brought us four +chains, three neck ornaments, and a few lizards, all of gold, though of +an inferior quality; besides this there was a package of cotton cloths, +and four women to bake our bread. Cortes thanked them very kindly for +these presents, and offered to render them services in return. + +One certain spot in this township I never shall forget, situated near +the temple. Here a vast number of human skulls were piled up in the best +order imaginable,--there must have been more than 100,000; I repeat, +more than 100,000. In like manner you saw the remaining human bones +piled up in order in another corner of the square; these it would have +been impossible to count. Besides these, there were human heads hanging +suspended from beams on both sides. Three papas stood sentinel on this +place of skulls, for which purpose, it was told us, they were +particularly appointed.[21] + +Similar horrible sights we saw towards the interior of the country in +every township, and even in Tlascalla. + +Cortes inquired of the cazique Olintecle, which was the best and most +easy road to Mexico. "That one," answered the cazique, "over Cholulla, +which is a very large town." Our friends of Sempoalla, however, advised +us not to take that road, as the inhabitants of Cholulla were a +treacherous people, and Motecusuma had always a strong garrison in that +town. We had better choose the road over Tlascalla was their opinion; +for there the inhabitants were their friends, and sworn enemies to the +Mexicans. This advice was followed by Cortes, and the Almighty blessed +his choice. Before our departure we required an additional twenty of +their best warriors to join our ranks, which were accordingly granted us +by the cazique. + +The next morning we commenced our march to Tlascalla, and first arrived +in the small township of Xacatcinco. From this place we sent before us +to the Tlascallans two of the principal men of Sempoalla, who well knew +how to blazon forth our praise, and were upon intimate terms of +friendship with the latter. We gave them a letter to these, although we +knew they could not read it, and a Flanders hat surmounted by a coloured +feather, as they were worn at that time. I will relate in the following +chapter what further took place. + +[20] It may appear astonishing to some that grape trees should have been +found here, as it is well known that this tree was introduced from +Europe into the West Indies; yet it is certainly true that the Spaniards +found the wild vine growing in the New World. Oviedo, in his valuable +work entitled 'Historia general y natural de las Indias,' says, "These +wild vines bear good black grapes, and I have often eaten them myself. I +say good, for considering the wild state in which they grow, they are +really good. These grapes are found throughout the whole of the West +Indies, and I do believe that all other vines have originated from these +wild trees." (p. 133.) + +[21] Of the township of Xocotlan, Torquemada gives some further account, +from which we learn more of the condition of the country at the time of +the conquest. Olintecl, he says, was lord of 20,000 subjects, and he had +thirty wives, who were attended upon by one hundred female servants. The +township contained thirteen temples, full of various shaped idols made +of stone, to whom were sacrificed men, women, children, pigeons, and +quails. Here the Mexican monarch had a garrison of 5000 men, and couriers +were stationed at particular distances from each other all the way from +the town to the city of Mexico. These nimble pedestrians were always in +pairs, that all news might be conveyed to the metropolis with the utmost +speed. (p. 142.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + + _How we commenced our march upon Tlascalla, and sent messengers + before us, to obtain the sanction of the inhabitants to pass through + their country; how they took our messengers prisoners, and what + further happened._ + + +On our march from Castilblanco we were, if possible, doubly precautious. +Our sharp-shooters were always in advance, the cavalry kept surrounding +our troops, our muskets were loaded, the matches lighted, and, in short, +we were ready for action at a moment's notice. + +We first arrived in the small township of Xacatcinco, where the +inhabitants presented us with a golden chain for the neck, some packages +of cotton stuffs, and two Indian females. As above remarked, we +despatched two distinguished personages of Sempoalla to Tlascalla, who +were to announce our approach, and say we came as friends, and hoped +they would receive us as such. We found it the more necessary to send +this message, as we learnt in Xacatcinco, that the whole of Tlascalla +was up in arms against us. They were already informed of our having left +that place, and concluded from the number of warriors we had with us out +of Sempoalla and Xocotlan, tributary to Motecusuma, that we came with +hostile intentions. They had quite concluded we were going to act like +the Mexicans, who always, under some fraudulent pretence or other, +marched into their country when intent upon plunder. + +When, therefore, the messengers arrived with our letter and the Flanders +hat, and were about to deliver our commission, they were even refused a +hearing, and immediately thrown into prison. We awaited their return for +two days, during which time Cortes explained to the inhabitants as +usual, the nature of our holy religion, who our emperor was, the +sinfulness of human sacrifices, and the other abominations they +practised. He also demanded twenty of their warriors to accompany us. + +These they readily furnished us, and after we had commended ourselves to +the protection of the Almighty, we broke up our quarters on the third +day and marched for Tlascalla. On our route we were met by our two +messengers, who had been secretly released by their friends. All +Tlascalla was making warlike preparations against us. They appeared +quite downcast, and durst scarcely inform us of what they had seen and +heard. Having at last taken courage, they related how they had been +immediately seized and thrown into prison, and what terrible threats had +been thrown out against us and themselves. "Now we will rise up," it +had been told them, "and destroy those whom yon term teules. We shall +soon see whether they are so courageous as you have mentioned. We will +devour both you and them together, for you are come under fraudulent +pretences, and at the instigation and in the spirit of the traitor +Motecusuma." + +The messengers might say what they liked in contradiction to this it was +all to no purpose. When Cortes and we others heard this lofty language, +and how they awaited us completely equipped for war, we did not think +altogether so light of the matter; nevertheless, we one and all cried +out, "Well, then, since it cannot be otherwise, forward! for good or ill +luck." We commended ourselves to the protection of God, and unfurled our +standard, which was borne by the ensign Corral. The inhabitants of the +small township, where we passed the night, informed us, that the +Tlascallans would march against us to prevent our entering into their +country. Of this opinion were also our friends of Sempoalla. + +As we were marching along, our only discourse was how we should attack +the enemy. Our cavalry was to gallop up three abreast, with lances +fixed, and run the Indians full in the face. At the same time they were +to be particularly upon their guard that the enemy did not lay hold of +the lances with their hands; should such, however, be the case, the +rider was to keep the tighter hold of his lance, give his horse the +spur, and either by a sudden jerk wrest it out of the enemy's grasp, or +drag him along with it. + +The reader will perhaps ask, why we took these precautions though we had +not yet come in sight of the foe? I can answer this with Cortes' own +words, who spoke to us as follows: "You are aware, gentlemen, of the +smallness of our numbers, we must, therefore, be the more upon our +guard, and fancy the enemy will each moment fall upon us. Nor is this +sufficient, we must imagine ourselves already fighting, as if the battle +was begun. Every soldier is fond of catching hold of the enemy's lance +with his hand, but considering the smallness of our numbers, we must now +particularly guard ourselves against it. For the rest, you are not in +need of my advice, for I have always found that you do things much +better than I am able to instruct you." + +Under similar discourses we had already advanced about eight miles, when +we came up to an enormous entrenchment, built so strongly of stone, +lime, and a kind of hard bitumen, that it would only have been possible +to break it down by means of pickaxes, and if defended would have with +difficulty been taken. We halted on purpose to inspect this +fortification, and Cortes inquired of the Xocotlans, for what purpose it +stood there. They told him that it was built by the Tlascallans, on +whose territory we were now entering, against the great Motecusuma, with +whom they were continually at war, to protect them against his hostile +incursions.[22] + +After we had examined this structure for some time, and each expressed +his opinion upon it, Cortes cried out, "Let us follow our standard, +gentlemen! It bears the figure of the holy cross, and in that sign we +shall conquer." To which we unanimously added: "Forward! whatever may +happen; for God is our only strength." + +We now continued our march onwards in the cautious manner above +mentioned, and had not proceeded far when our vanguard observed at no +very great distance about thirty Indians, who had been sent out to +reconnoitre; this was immediately communicated to us. They had broad +swords, which are used with both hands, the edges of which are made of +hard flint, and are sharper than our steel swords. They were also armed +with shields, lances, and had feathers stuck in their hair. Cortes +ordered some of our cavalry to go in among them, and try, if possible, +to capture one, but not to inflict any wounds. These were followed at a +distance by five others, to assist them should they fall into an ambush; +the rest of our army marched direct for the narrow pass, but with the +utmost circumspection, as our friends had assured us that we should +undoubtedly meet with a large body of the enemy in some hiding place or +other. When the thirty Indians above mentioned found our cavalry +approaching them, and saw how they beckoned to them with their hands, +they began to retreat slowly, and arranged themselves again in order, +whenever our men attempted to take any of them prisoners. They defended +themselves right valiantly with their swords and lances, wounding +several of our horses. The blood of our men now also began to boil, who, +in return, killed five of the Indians. At that moment a swarm of more +than 3000 Tlascallans rushed furiously from an ambush, pouring forth a +shower of arrows upon our cavalry, who now immediately closed their +ranks. At the same time we fired among them with our cannon, and so at +last we obliged the enemy to give ground, though they fought bravely and +with a good deal of manoeuvring. On our side we had four wounded, of +whom one died a few days after, if I still remember rightly. Seventeen +of the enemy lay dead, and the number of their wounded was very +considerable. As it was growing very late they continued to retreat, and +we to follow them. + +As soon as we had passed over the mountain we came into a plain, and +found numerous plantations of maise and maguey,[23] from which the +inhabitants make their wine. We took up our night's quarters near a +brook, and for want of oil we dressed the wounds of our men with the fat +of a corpulent Indian who had been killed. We made our supper off young +dogs, which we found here in great numbers; for, although the +inhabitants had left all their plantations and taken the dogs with them, +these animals during the night time had come back to their old places +again; and we were thus able to catch a good many, and so procured +ourselves some very delicious joints. The whole of this night we kept a +most vigilant look-out. We placed outposts in all quarters; our horses +stood ready saddled and bridled, and the rounds were regularly made. I +will, however, break off here, and relate our further battles in the +next chapter. + +[22] Of this fortification Torquemada gives a different account. He says +it was a wall of twenty feet in thickness, that it could be defended +from the top; had only one entrance, defended by other works within, and +was built by a cazique of the country, whom he calls Yztacmixtitlan, to +protect the boundaries of his country against the incursions of the +Tlascallans. (p. 145.) + +[23] Agava Americana. (p. 145.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + + _Of the terrible battles we fought with the Tlascallans, and what + further happened._ + + +The next morning, after we had commended ourselves to God in prayer, we +broke up our quarters. Each company marched in close order, and our +cavalry were to be particularly upon their guard; were either to advance +suddenly, or fall back upon us, according as circumstances might be, and +at all events to watch that our ranks were nowhere broken, and that no +one strayed from his own company. + +After we had marched onwards for some time we came up with two large +bodies of the enemy, amounting to about 6000 men. They set up a most +terrific noise with their drums and trumpets, and yelled awfully. They +then let fly their arrows, threw their lances at us, and upon the whole +were most daringly valiant. Cortes now ordered us to halt, and +despatched three Indians, whom we had made prisoners the day before, to +the enemy, requesting them to stay hostilities, as we were very desirous +of looking upon them as brothers and friends. At the same time he +ordered one of our warriors, Diego de Godoy, who was the royal +secretary, to pay particular attention to everything that should take +place, in order that if any reproach were made us for having destroyed +any of the Indians, he might give evidence, and be able to prove that we +on our side had shown every disposition for peace. + +The prisoners went off with this message to the enemy, but not the +slightest notice was taken of it; on the contrary, they attacked us so +furiously that we could no longer look idly on. "Forward! St. Jacob is +with us! On to the enemy!" cried Cortes; and in an instant we greeted +the Indians so sharply with our firearms, that numbers were immediately +killed and wounded; among the former three chiefs. After this first +volley they fell back to about the distance of a musket-shot, where they +took up their position. Here an army of above 40,000 warriors, commanded +by their general-in-chief Xicotencatl, lay in ambush. Their standards +bore his colours, white and variegated. As the ground here was full of +deep cavities our cavalry were completely useless, until by using the +greatest precaution they managed to pass over these. This was not done +without considerable risk, for the enemy plied their bows and lances +with great dexterity, having, moreover, the advantage of the higher +ground. The stones from their slings were no less annoying; but all this +only lasted until we had gained the level ground. For now we richly +rewarded them for their pains, and killed great numbers. Yet we durst +not venture to open our ranks; for the instant any one stepped out to +assist any other soldier or officer he was that moment dangerously +wounded. We were, therefore, obliged to keep our ranks firmly closed, +and by degrees had to contend with more than twenty different divisions, +which was, indeed, pretty hot work. Besides all this the Indians kept +continually throwing sand in our faces to blind us. Here, indeed, the +great mercy of God alone could save us. The chief object of the enemy +was to capture one of our horses, in which they did not altogether fail; +for, as Pedro de Moron on his well-trained mare, attended by three +others of our cavalry, was attempting to break through the enemy's +ranks, the Indians wrenched the lance out of his hand, and fell +furiously upon him with their broad swords, wounding him severely. They +gave his mare such a terrific cut with the same weapon in the neck, that +the animal instantly fell down dead. If Moron's three companions had not +immediately hastened to his assistance, he would have shared his horse's +fate; for this gave our whole company time to come up. + +I must again repeat, that the worst was, we had to keep ourselves so +close together in order not to run the danger of being cut off, which of +course greatly encumbered our movements. Nevertheless, we were obliged +to open our ranks to rescue the mare and Moron whom they were already +dragging off half dead. The mare we were obliged to relinquish, though +we managed to cut the girth asunder in order at least to save the +saddle. In this battle we had nine wounded. As for the enemy I believe +on this occasion we killed four of their chiefs. We pushed forward +shoulder to shoulder, and made considerable havoc with our swords. The +enemy retreated, carrying off the dead mare, which was subsequently cut +into pieces to be sent into every township of Tlascalla. As we +afterwards learnt, the horse's shoes, the Flanders hat, and the letter +we sent them, were brought as an offering to their idols. The mare +belonged to Juan Sedeno, who, on the previous day, was wounded in three +several places, and had, therefore, lent her to Moron. This Moron was a +capital horse soldier, and died a few days after; at least, I do not +remember to have seen him again after this battle. + +We had fought for a good hour, and our firearms must have done +considerable destruction among the enemy who stood so crowded together. +Every man among us did his duty, and we fought away like brave warriors, +for in all truth we were placed in greater jeopardy this time than we +had ever been before. Numbers of the Indians lay dead on the field of +battle; among whom were eight of the principal chiefs, all sons of old +caziques, who dwelt together in the chief town of the country. At last +our enemies retreated in good order, which we were glad enough to see, +for we could scarcely stand any longer from over-fatigue, nor durst we +think of following the enemy. Add to which, the ground was greatly to +our disadvantage, partly on account of the number of straggling houses, +partly on account of a species of pits in which many of the inhabitants +dwelt. This battle was fought on the first two days of September, 1519, +near the village of Tehuacacinco, and we returned fervent thanks to God +for having rescued us from such great peril and for the victory we had +gained. + +After the battle, we fell back to some temples, which were very high, +and large enough to serve us for castles. We dressed the wounds of our +men with the fat of Indians, as we had done on previous occasions. Five +of our horses were wounded, and fifteen men, of whom one subsequently +died. Upon this we took our suppers, and made a good meal off the number +of dogs and fowls which we found in the dwellings. Before, however, we +lay down to rest, we posted our sentinels, and continually patrolled +during the night: not before all these things were properly ordered did +we lie down, and slept till morning. + +For the rest, we made fifteen prisoners, among whom were two of the most +distinguished personages; but we could never discover how many we killed +or wounded, as it was customary with the Tlascallans immediately to +carry off the wounded and dead from the field of battle.[24] + +[24] (This note refers to the last sentence of the chapter.) To this +custom of the Tlascallans of carrying off their killed and wounded from +the field of battle, the historian de Solis partially attributes Cortes' +great success in these battles; for as a great number of the enemy were +constantly occupied in this work, they naturally offered a less +formidable front, and considerable openings were made in their ranks. +(p. 147.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + + _How we quartered ourselves in the township of Tehuacacinco, and + what we did there._ + + +As the battles we fought had greatly fatigued us, besides that several +of our men and horses were wounded, we made a day of rest, repaired our +crossbows, and supplied ourselves with arrows. The next morning Cortes +said to us, "It would be no harm if our horse were to gallop up and down +the country a little; the Tlascallans might otherwise think we had had +enough of it in the last battle: we must show them that we are +constantly at their heels." And indeed it was better that we began +ourselves than wait until we should be attacked, that the enemy might +not suppose we had been too greatly weakened, and had lost our courage. +Besides this, the country round about was quite level, and thickly +populated. We therefore ordered out seven horse, some crossbow-men, and +several musketeers, in all 200 men, without including our confederates. +Every possible precaution had been previously made to secure our camp. +On our march through the townships we captured twenty Indians of both +sexes, but in no way molested them. Our allies, however, who were +barbarous characters, could not refrain from setting fire to many houses +where they had found quantities of fowls and young dogs. After we had +again returned to our quarters, Cortes ordered the fetters to be taken +off the prisoners, and food to be given them. Dona Marina and Aguilar +then addressed them very affectionately, and gave to each some glass +beads, adding, at the same time, that in future they should not be so +foolish, but make peace with us, as we were very desirous of looking +upon them as brothers, and would protect them as such. + +We also set the first two Indians at liberty whom we had captured, and +gave them a letter with the commission to tell the chief of the +provinces that we were not come in any way to injure the Tlascallans, +but merely wished to take the road through their country to Mexico, +there to have an interview with Motecusuma. + +Both these delegates punctually followed our orders, and arrived at the +head-quarters of Xicotencatl, which lay, if I remember rightly, about +six miles from our camp, in the township of Tehuacinpacingo. Having, in +the absence of the father, fulfilled our commission to the younger +Xicotencatl, he told them, we had only to come to his father's township, +there they would make peace, after they had satiated themselves with the +flesh of our bodies, and had honoured their gods with the sacrifice of +our blood and hearts. The next morning we should behold his answer with +our own eyes. + +As the last battles were still fresh in our memories, we did not exactly +relish the haughty answer with which our delegates returned. Cortes, +nevertheless, received them most kindly, perceiving, from their return, +that they no longer stood in awe of us; and with the view that they +should once more be despatched as messengers of peace, he gave them some +additional strings of beads. For the rest he made the most minute +inquiries respecting the commander Xicotencatl, and the number of his +troops, and found that the latter were much more numerous than in the +last battle: he had now five chiefs under him, each of whom commanded +10,000 men. These troops were enumerated in the following manner: First +of all came the 10,000 men of Xicotencatl's division; next a similar +number under another powerful cazique called Maxixcatzin; then a like +number under the distinguished cazique Chichimeclatecl; 10,000 under the +cazique of Topoyanco, named Tecapaneca; and an equal number under the +cazique Quaxobcin;--altogether thus 50,000 men. Each troop had its +standard and arms, the latter being a large white bird, with outspread +wings, as if preparing to fly, and resembled an ostrich.[25] Besides +this, every chief had his particular insignia of war and colours, in the +same way as our Spanish dukes and earls. At first we did not believe +anything of all this, but found afterwards that it was perfectly true; +and since we were human beings, and feared death, we all confessed to +father Olmedo and the priest Juan Diaz, which occupied them the whole of +the night: neither did we fail to offer up fervent prayers to the +Almighty to grant us victory. Under such like occupations the following +day broke forth on which we were to fight the battle, of which I shall +speak in the next chapter. + +[25] This is a very remarkable observation of Bernal Diaz, for the +ostrich with outspread wings is also found on the ancient Persian +monuments; and this bird, it is well known, is not common to the New +World. If we add to this circumstance the repeated questions which were +put to the Spaniards by the inhabitants of New Spain, as to whether they +came from the region where the sun rises, there is reason for supposing +that the tradition which came down to them from their forefathers was +not altogether vague; namely, that a people would come from the east and +take possession of their country. (p. 150.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + + _Of the great battle we fought with the Tlascallans, and what + further took place._ + + +It was the following morning, on the 5th of September, 1519, that we +equipped ourselves for battle. Our horse were first arranged in order, +then the foot soldiers, and even our wounded were forced to go along +with us, if only to swell out our numbers, and do what lay in their +power. The crossbow-men received orders that some were merely to load, +while others fired, and this always in platoons. The musketeers received +similar orders, and the remaining portion of our men, who were armed +with swords and shields, were principally to strike at the enemy in the +region of the belly, in order to stop them from venturing so near to us +as they had the time before. Every one was also particularly cautioned +not to leave the ranks. It was also the particular duty of our cavalry +not to leave each other in the lurch, always to attack in full gallop, +and only aim at the face and eyes. The ensign Corral received a guard of +four men, and in this way we sallied forth from our camp, with our +standard flying. + +We had scarcely proceeded a quarter of a mile when we found the fields +covered with warriors; they had large feather-knots on their heads, +waved their colours, and made a terrific noise with their horns and +trumpets: indeed, the pen that would wish to describe everything we saw +here, would not find it such an easy task! this was indeed a battle of +as fearful and dubious an issue as well could be. In an instant we were +surrounded on all sides by such vast numbers of Indians, that the plain, +here six miles in breadth, seemed as if it contained but one vast body +of the enemy, in the midst of which stood our small army of 400 men, the +greater part wounded and knocked up with fatigue. We were also aware +that the enemy had marched out to battle with the determination to spare +none of us, excepting those who were to be sacrificed to their idols. +When, therefore, the attack commenced, a real shower of arrows and +stones was poured upon us; the whole ground was immediately covered with +heaps of lances, whose points were provided with two edges, so very +sharp that they pierced through every species of cuirass, and were +particularly dangerous to the lower part of the body, which was in no +way protected. They fell upon us like the very furies themselves, with +the most horrible yells; we employed, however, our heavy guns, muskets, +and crossbows, with so much effect, and received those who pressed +eagerly upon us with such well-directed blows and thrusts, that +considerable destruction was made among their ranks, nor did they allow +us to approach so near to them as in the previous battle: our cavalry, +in particular, showed great skill and bravery, so that they, next to the +Almighty, were the principal means of saving us. + +Indeed our line was already half broken; all the commands of Cortes and +our other officers to restore order and form again were fruitless, the +Indians continually rushing upon us in such vast crowds that we could +only make place with sword in hand to save our line from being broken. +Our only safety was owing to the great number of the enemy itself; for +they stood so closely crowded that each shot we fired must have done +great execution among them. They left themselves altogether no room to +manoeuvre in, while many of the chiefs, with their men, were not even +able to mix at all in the engagement. Besides this, disagreements and +inimical feelings had arisen out of the previous battle between the +commander-in-chief Xicotencatl and another chief, the son of +Chichimeclatecl. Xicotencatl had accused the latter of not having done +his duty, who, in reply, said, he had discharged it better than he; so +that in this battle neither lent the other any assistance, and +Chichimeclatecl had even commanded Huexotzinco not to take any part in +the combat. To all this must be added, that the enemy had been taught in +the former battle to fear our horse, cannon, swords, and crossbows, not +to forget the courage we displayed. It must likewise be borne in mind +that a merciful God had lent us extraordinary powers during the +engagement. As Xicotencatl met with no obedience from two of his +principal officers,--we, on the contrary, fighting on the more bravely, +and killing great numbers of their men, who, as well as the wounded, +were immediately hurried from the field of battle, so that we never came +to see any of their killed,--the Indians at length grew exasperated +against those two chiefs who had thus left them in the lurch, and now +fought with less vigour. It is, however, probable that one of their +chief commanders had fallen, for they retreated in good order: our +cavalry, indeed, pursued them a short distance in full gallop, but were +soon compelled to return, from fatigue. + +As soon as we had got rid of this vast crowd, we returned most fervent +thanks to the Almighty. We had, however, only lost one man, but, on the +other hand, sixty of us were wounded, with all our horses. I myself +carried off two wounds, one of which was on my head from the stone of a +sling, and the other by an arrow piercing my ankle; but neither of them +were so bad as to compel me to leave the battle, or disable me from +doing duty. This, however, was the same case with the majority of my +comrades; for, if a wound was not dangerous, they still continued to +perform duty, as the number of those who came off whole would have been +too small to make head against the enemy. We now returned to our +quarters, overjoyed at our victory, and offered up fervent thanks to +God. We buried our dead in one of the subterranean dwellings, that the +Indians might not discover us to be mortal as well as themselves, but +still continue to fancy us gods: we, therefore, heaped up a quantity of +earth over the spot, that even the stench of the decomposing body might +not betray the dead. The fat of the Indians, as before, served us to +dress our wounds. Oh, the distress we suffered here! We had neither oil +for our wounds nor salt to our food. To all this was added the +misfortune of having nothing to shelter us from the keen wind, which +blew across the Sierra Nevada, and made us shake again with cold. We, +nevertheless, kept up our spirits, and this night we slept more soundly +than on the previous one, as we had better regulated our outposts and +the patrols. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + + _How we sent a message next day to the caziques of Tlascalla to + bring about peace between us, and the determination they came to + upon this._ + + +In the last battle we had taken three distinguished personages +prisoners. These Cortes sent with the two others whom we had previously +taken, and once before despatched with a message to the caziques of +Tlascalla, desiring them in our name to make peace with us, and allow us +to march through their country to Mexico, as we had before requested of +them. If they still refused, we would exterminate them all. It would, +however, grieve us if they drove us to such extremities, as we were well +inclined, and would gladly look upon them as brothers; nor should we +have done thus much if they themselves had not driven us to it. Besides +this, Cortes said many other kind things to gain their friendship. + +The delegates arrived betimes in the chief town of Tlascalla, and +delivered their message in a full assembly of the caziques, whom they +found conversing with several old men and papas. Every one still +appeared very downcast on account of the unfavorable issue of the +battle, the loss of their chiefs, their sons and relations who had +fallen; and at first would not even listen to our messengers. At last +they came to the resolution to consult all the astrologers, papas, and +fortune-tellers, a species of conjurors whom they call _Tacalnaguas_. +These being assembled, they were desired to discover by their witchcraft +and enchantments, what sort of people we were, and whether it was +possible to overcome us if they continued to harass us night and day. +They were also to give a decisive answer as to whether we were really +teules, that is to say evil spirits, as the inhabitants of Sempoalla had +assured them; and lastly, what nourishment we took. All this they were +most minutely to investigate. + +The soothsayers, conjurors, and papas, who were in great numbers, +immediately began their exorcisms and enchantments, after their fashion; +and they pretended to have discovered, by means of their art, that we +were human beings made of flesh and bone; that we ate dogs, fowls, bread +and fruits, as they did, if we could get them; and that we did not +devour the Indians, and much less the hearts of those we had slain. Our +friends of Sempoalla, namely, had told them all manner of foolish things +about us; not only that we were teules, but that we devoured the hearts +of the Indians; that the flashes of our bombards, shot off like +lightning; that our dog was a tiger or a lion, and that we let loose our +horses upon the Indians when we wished to kill them. But the worst thing +these soothsayers and papas affirmed was, its being impossible to +conquer us excepting during the night-time, for we were helpless as soon +as the sun, from which we received all our strength, had gone down. + +This affirmation seemed a capital hint to the caziques, they therefore +sent orders to their captain-general, Xicotencatl, to fall upon us as +soon as possible with a large force during night-time. This, Xicotencatl +did not fail to do. He drew out ten thousand of his bravest troops, +marched towards our quarters, and fell upon us from three several points +at once, with the utmost fury. They made this attack with perfect +assurance, believing they had merely to show themselves and they should +be able to capture us immediately, and sacrifice us to their idols. But +the Almighty had ordered things differently. For, however silently they +approached, they found us perfectly upon our guard, as the outposts and +patrols had come running in at the first noise they heard and given the +alarm. As, moreover, we were accustomed to sleep in our clothes with our +weapons in our hands, the horses always ready bridled and saddled, and +our cannon loaded, we gave the enemy such a rough reception with our +muskets and crossbows, and cut among them so vigorously with our swords, +that they soon had enough of it and turned their backs. The country +before us was quite level, and the moon shone bright, so that our +cavalry were able to follow the flying enemy to a considerable distance. +Next morning we found about twenty of them dead and wounded, so that +their loss must have been considerable, and they experienced, no doubt, +that this fighting at night-time was not exactly so pleasant. It is also +said they were so exasperated against the soothsayers and papas, that +two of them were butchered for a sacrifice. In this night's combat we +lost one of our friends of Sempoalla, and two of our men besides a horse +were wounded. The number of prisoners we made were four. The kind reader +may well conceive that we were not a little overjoyed that this affair +terminated so fortunately. We fervently thanked God for the assistance +he had lent us, buried our friend of Sempoalla, dressed our wounds, and +lay ourselves down to rest for the remaining part of the night; but not +without previously taking every precaution to secure our camp as usual. +It was only the following morning we were able to discover our true +condition. There was not one among us who had not, up to this moment, +received one, two, or three wounds, and all were more or less weakened +by fatigues and hardships. Xicotencatl continued to hover around us, and +we had already lost fifty-five of our men, some of whom were killed on +the field of battle, others had died of disease and from excessive cold. +Twelve of our men were knocked up with fatigue, and even our +commander-in-chief himself and father Olmedo were suffering from fever. +But no one can wonder at this; for among all the hardships we had to +undergo, we never durst for one moment leave our heavy weapons out of +our hands; to all these discomforts was added the severity of the +weather, and particularly our great want of salt, which we could find no +means of obtaining. It was also natural that we should begin to think +what would be the final issue of this campaign, and if we once got out +of the present snare where we were next to bend our steps; for the idea +of penetrating into Mexico appeared to us perfectly laughable, when we +considered the great power of that state. If even we succeeded in making +the same good terms with the people of Tlascalla as we had done with the +Sempoallans, what would become of us if we ever came to an engagement +with the great armies of Motecusuma? We were totally ignorant as to how +matters stood in our fortress at Vera Cruz, and our men there knew as +little what had become of us. Certainly there were among us plenty of +valiant cavaliers and soldiers of great courage in battle, who showed no +less wisdom in our councils, nor did Cortes ever speak or do anything +without previously consulting them. With the historian Gomara it is +always thus: Cortes did this, Cortes did that, Cortes was there, Cortes +left there; just as if all this had been a mere nothing. If even, as +Gomara affirms, Cortes had had an iron frame, he could not possibly have +been everywhere, and have done everything himself. What good is it to +make use of such expressions? He could only say, that Cortes was an +excellent captain, as indeed he was, and this would have been enough! I +was forced to make this remark, for besides the protection which the +Almighty lent us in all our undertakings, his blessing was upon the arm +of us soldiers and the advice we gave Cortes, and it was only in this +way all things could have terminated so well. + +I will not, however, detain the reader with this preamble of great +deeds, for it has little to do with the principal object of this +history. I am more pleased to relate, that we unanimously swore to +protect his person, and begged of him, that as God had rescued us out of +such extreme danger and spared our lives, to set our prisoners at +liberty and send them again to the caziques, and desire of them to +conclude peace with us, adding, that we should pardon what had taken +place, as also the death of the horse. + +Neither must I omit to mention the fine manly spirit which Dona Marina, +though one of the daughters of the country, showed upon every occasion. +We heard nothing the whole day long but of being butchered and devoured +by the inhabitants; she had with her own eyes beheld how we had been +completely surrounded by our enemies in the recent battles; how we were +all wounded and suffering from disease; yet she never appeared +disheartened; but, on the contrary, displayed a courage much beyond that +of her sex. When the prisoners were about departing, again to make +offers of peace to the enemy, she and Aguilar gave them every +instruction as to what they were to say; that peace was to be concluded +within the space of two days, otherwise we would march forward, lay +waste the whole country, force our way into their towns, and put every +living being to the sword. I must, however, again return to Gomara, who +never mentions a single word about our killed and wounded, or the +hardships we underwent; as if everything of itself turned to our +advantage. Indeed, those who furnished him with the account must have +been badly informed themselves. Did it never once occur to him, that his +work would be highly interesting to all of us conquistadores, and that +we would not repress the truth when we had read it? + +But to return to my narrative, our delegates went straightway to the +chief town of Tlascalla, where the elder Xicotencatl abode. If I still +remember rightly, we sent a letter with them, although we knew the +Indians could not understand it; there was likewise an arrow with the +letter. They found the two chief caziques in council with the other +principal personages. I will give their answer in the following +chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + + _How we again sent messengers to the caziques of Tlascalla in order + to induce them to make peace, and the resolution they came to upon + this._ + + +The two chief caziques to whom our messengers addressed themselves were +Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl, father of the captain-general of +the same name, who was commonly termed the younger. They fulfilled their +commission, and the caziques remained for a time silent and undecided, +when the Almighty inclined their hearts to conclude a peace with us. +They called a meeting of all the caziques and chief personages who had +weight in the townships, as also of their friends from the province of +Huexotzinco. All having met in the township of Maxixcatzin and the elder +Xicotencatl, which held the first rank, the latter who were men of good +understanding addressed the meeting to the following effect. Though we +may not, perhaps, give the exact words, yet, from what we afterwards +learnt, it was to this effect: "Brothers and friends! You yourselves +know how often these teules, who are now in our country, ready to fight +at a moment's notice, have offered us peace, and assured us that they +have come as friends to our assistance. Nor can you have yet forgotten +the numbers of prisoners they have taken, though they never do them any +harm, but always restore them to liberty. Thrice have we attacked them +with the whole of our forces, both by day and by night, but we have not +been able to conquer them. On the contrary, they have killed many of our +subjects, numbers of our sons, relations, and chiefs in these battles. +They now again request us to come to terms of peace, and those of +Sempoalla who are encamped with them, assure us they are enemies to +Motecusuma and the Mexicans, and have commanded them and the tribes of +the Totonaque mountains not to pay any more tribute to him. We all very +well know that the Mexicans for a space of more than one hundred years +have annually made incursions into our country. Indeed, they have +completely shut us up within our own territory. We cannot get beyond to +fetch salt for our victuals, nor cotton for our clothing. If any one of +us ever ventures beyond the mountains, he very seldom returns home +alive. The treacherous Mexicans and their allies kill all our people +that fall into their hands, or at least make slaves of them. Our +tacalnaguas, soothsayers, and papas have told us their opinion of these +teules; that they are very powerful and courageous we have experienced +ourselves. We feel, therefore, inclined to make peace with them. Whether +they are men or teules, in both cases an alliance with them will be +useful to us. Let us, therefore, despatch four of our chiefs to their +camp with good provisions, and show them love and an inclination to make +peace, that they may assist and protect us against our enemies. We will +invite them into our country, and present them with females from among +our countrywomen, that we may become one people with them; for, +according to the assurance of the messengers whom they have sent to +offer us peace, they have women with them." The caziques upon hearing +this proposition all declared they were agreeable to it, and resolved +that a treaty for peace should be set on foot, and the captain-general +Xicotencatl and the other commanders should be ordered to stay all +hostilities; for which end they instantly despatched messengers. The +younger Xicotencatl, however, would by no means listen to these orders, +but evinced excessive grief and used harsh language. "As affairs stood +there was no need of sueing for peace," he said. "Many of the teules +were already killed, besides one of their horses; he would fall upon us +the night following and destroy us all." + +When the elder Xicotencatl, Maxixcatzin, and the other caziques received +this answer, they were so exasperated, that they immediately sent orders +round to all the officers and the whole army not to obey Xicotencatl in +anything which related to an attack upon us, and altogether to stay all +hostilities against us. Neither would Xicotencatl submit to these +orders, so that it was found necessary to send the four old men, who +were appointed to make a treaty of peace between us, the Tlascallans and +inhabitants of Huexotzinco, to these refractory fellows in order to +bring them to reason. These four men, however, stood in such awe of the +young hothead that they neglected to fulfil their commission. + +As two or three different occurrences took place at the same time, I +must relate what comes first in order, and give an account of our +excursion to another township which lay in the neighbourhood. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. + + _How we came to the determination of marching to a township in the + neighbourhood of our camp, and what happened upon this._ + + +After two days had passed by without our doing anything worthy of +notice, we proposed to Cortes that we should make an excursion to a +township situated about four miles from our encampment, to the +inhabitants of which we had fruitlessly made overtures of peace. We +determined upon taking them by surprise during night-time; not with the +intention of injuring, killing, wounding, or taking the inhabitants +prisoners, but merely to procure provisions, frighten them a little, and +make new offers of peace according as circumstances might be. This +township was called Zumpanzingo, and was the chief of many smaller ones. +The district Tecodcungapacingo, where we had taken up our quarters, +stood likewise under it; the whole country round about moreover being +covered with straggling houses and villages. Cortes fell in with this +proposal, and we accordingly commenced our march shortly before daybreak +with all our men who were best able to bear the fatigue, six of our +cavalry, ten crossbow-men, and eight musketeers. The command was taken +by Cortes himself, although he was suffering from the tertian ague. For +the rest all necessary precautions were taken for our camp. + +We had marched to a distance of about six miles before daylight +appeared, and the wind which blew across the snow mountains was so keen, +that we shook again with cold. Our horses likewise felt the frost very +sensibly. Two of them indeed got the gripes and trembled like aspen +leaves, at which we were greatly concerned, for we thought they would +have died. Cortes therefore ordered them back to our camp. We arrived in +front of Zumpanzingo before sunrise. The inhabitants, having observed +our approach, had fled from their dwellings. Their minds full of the +most horrible ideas they had formed of us, they kept crying out to one +another to beware of the teules. They kill all, it was said, and spare +neither young nor old. Finding how greatly they feared us, we halted in +a courtyard until daylight had fully broken forth, that we might not +injure any of the people in the dark. On the summit of the highest +temples in the township we observed some papas and other old men of +distinction, who, when they found we remained quiet without doing the +least harm, took courage and came down to Cortes. They commenced by +making excuses for not having sent us provisions, or any one with offers +of peace, though we had demanded both of them. They assured us that no +one was to blame for all this but the commander Xicotencatl, who had +forbidden them, and was at that moment stationed in the immediate +neighbourhood. They could not help feeling afraid of this man, as he had +all their warriors as well as all those out of the land of Tlascalla +under his banners. Cortes answered them by means of our interpreters, +Dona Marina and Aguilar, whom we carried along with us wherever we went. +They were told to allay their fears, and desire the caziques of the +chief township to come and make peace with us, as war would only bring +misfortune down upon them. + +This was the message which the papas were to deliver; for we had not yet +received any answer from the other ambassadors whom we had sent to the +chiefs of Tlascalla, neither had their four distinguished personages yet +arrived. Previous to their departure the papas, however, brought us more +than forty fowls and turkeys, besides two women to bake our bread. +Cortes thanked them very kindly for this present, and demanded twenty +Indians to carry them to our camp. These immediately came forward +without evincing any signs of fear, carried the provisions and remained +with us until evening. After presenting them with a few trifles they +returned highly delighted to their homes. As we did no one any injury, +the inhabitants greatly extolled our kind behaviour; the papas and chief +personages also informing the captain-general, Xicotencatl, that they +had given us provisions and two females; which grieved him sorely. The +same information was sent to the elder caziques, who were delighted when +they learnt how we could have destroyed them all during the night, but +that instead of doing any harm we had only made offers of peace. They, +therefore, ordered provisions to be sent us daily, with everything else +we might require. The orders to the four principal personages who were +commissioned to make terms of peace with us were also renewed; they now +no longer delayed, but repaired to our quarters and brought us +provisions and other presents. We then returned to our camp, much +pleased with the victuals and the Indian females. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIX. + + _How we found on our return to our encampment that new intrigues had + been set on foot; and the answer Cortes gave to certain + representations which were made to him._ + + +On returning to our head-quarters from Zumpanzingo with a good supply of +provisions, and delighted with the peace we had concluded with the +inhabitants, we met with nothing but complaints and discontent. We heard +of nothing else than the imminent dangers we were daily exposed to in +this campaign; nor did our arrival mend matters. Foremost among the +discontented were those again who possessed settlements and Indian +commendaries at Cuba, nor did they confine themselves to murmuring in +secret, but seven of them, whose names, for honour's sake, I will +refrain from mentioning, confederated together, and repaired to the +quarters of Cortes. One of them was chosen spokesman. He was a man +eloquent in address, and perfect master of the subject he was about to +speak on. + +He began in the kindly tone of giving advice, and desired Cortes to +consider our wounds, how disabled and knocked up we were by the +excessive hardships we had to undergo day and night, by constant +battling, patrolling the country, standing at the outposts, and +reconnoitring about. They had calculated, he said, that we had already +lost fifty-five of our men since our departure from Cuba. Neither did we +know how matters stood with our garrison at Vera Cruz. Though the +Almighty had everywhere granted us victory, it was merely out of the +abundance of his mercy towards us. It was not right to calculate too +long upon his mercy and forbearance, for that would be tempting him. The +pitcher goes to the well until it is broken, and one morning or other we +should undoubtedly be sacrificed to the idols. God in his mercy might +certainly avert this; but then also it was necessary we should return to +Vera Cruz and there remain quiet, where we should be surrounded by our +friends and allies, the tribes of the Totonaque mountains, until we had +fitted out a vessel and sent to Diego Velasquez and to the islands for a +fresh supply of men and other necessaries. What a good thing if our +vessels had been preserved, or at least a couple, in case of accident. +But, alas! he had followed the advice of men who did not consider the +instability of fortune, and who had totally destroyed the last means of +escape. + +"May God forbid," said they, "that you and those whose advice it was, +may not yet have to rue it. The measure of our miseries is already full; +our condition begins to be insupportable, and the life we lead is worse +than that of beasts of burden. When these have gone their day's journey, +their load is taken off, food is given them, and they are allowed to +take rest; we, on the contrary, are always under arms, nor do we ever +take our clothes off. He might compare the histories of the Romans, of +Alexander the Great, and of the most celebrated generals," continued +they, "and he would find that none of them ever destroyed a fleet, when +similarly situated as we were, a mere handful of men amidst numerous and +warlike tribes. He would have to answer for his own death and the +destruction of us all. He should at least attempt to save ours and his +own life, and march back to Vera Cruz, while we were still at peace with +the country. They would gladly have mentioned all this earlier to him; +but the vast numbers of the enemy by which we had been daily surrounded +had given them no opportunity; this, however, was now at last presented +them by the quiet demeanour of the foe. For the rest, the enemy would +certainly return, the three days which Xicotencatl had allowed to pass +by was merely in expectation of a fresh supply of men. We could not +think of coming to another trial of strength as we had done up to this +moment." + +These and other representations they made to Cortes, and held up their +heads pretty high the whole time. As, however, all was said under the +guise of giving good advice, Cortes answered them very mildly, as nearly +as possible in these words: "Much of what you have been representing to +me has not escaped my own notice; but, what I have seen above all +things, and of which I have gained the most convincing proofs, is this, +that the whole world could not produce Spaniards who are so brave, and +fight so courageously, and who could bear hardships as well as we do. +Indeed, we should have been inevitably lost if we had not continually +held our weapons in our hands, kept patrolling and watching day and +night, and boldly encountered all weathers. We are indebted to our +safety by having manfully borne these and other greater hardships. The +Almighty certainly lent us his aid, yet I cannot imagine to myself a +greater piece of heroism, when I bring back to my recollection the vast +crowds of the enemy, how they locked us in on all sides with their +troops, and fell upon us with their broad swords, particularly in that +battle where they killed one of our horses. At that critical moment I +learnt more of your noble character than on any former occasion. And +since the Almighty rescued us out of that battle I have gained the hope +that our future endeavours will be crowned with success. I can call you +to witness, that I was never found for an instant to lack courage in any +of the dangers I have shared with you; nor have you, I must add, ever +proved unworthy of the trust I reposed in you." + +It was perfectly true what Cortes said of himself, for he was always +found foremost in battle. + +"Neither must you forget, gentlemen," continued he, "that up to this +moment the Almighty has lent us his protection, and we may confidently +hope he will not desert us in future, for, from our first arrival in +this country we have announced his holy religion to the different tribes +according to the best of our abilities and destroyed the idols. We may +also, in trusting to God and our mediator the holy apostle Peter, +consider the war in this province at an end, since Xicotencatl and the +other chiefs no longer show themselves, because they fear us on account +of the destruction we made among their troops in the late battles, or it +may be they are unable to rally their men again. The inhabitants of +Zumpanzingo willingly furnish us with provisions, while the surrounding +tribes continue peaceably in their villages. With regard to our vessels, +it was, indeed, requisite they should be destroyed, and if I did not +consult all of you on the occasion I had sufficient reason for pursuing +that course after the occurrence on the downs, which, however, I will +not enter into here. The course you advised me to adopt on the former +occasion, and your present discontent, both emanate from the same bad +feeling; but you should remember that there are several cavaliers among +our troops who are not of the same opinion with yourselves, who request +and counsel that we should continue as heretofore to repose our trust in +God alone, and faithfully fulfil our duties in his holy service. You +are, however, perfectly justified in saying that the most renowned +generals of Rome even cannot boast of such military exploits as we can. +Future historians will also have to relate, if God be willing, greater +things of us than of them. We shall continually be reaping harvests of +glory, because strict justice and christian feeling are everywhere our +guides, and also because our endeavours are exerted in the service of +God and of our emperor. You cannot, gentlemen, have weighed the matter +well if you suppose we could save ourselves by a retreat: for the +instant these people were to observe this, and though we should depart +from them in profound peace, the very stones of the ground would be +raised up against us. And in the same way the Indians now stare at us as +if we were beings of a superior order, or rather gods, as they term us, +they would then consider us cowards and poltroons. We might, you say, +settle ourselves quietly down among our allies, the tribes of the +Totonaque mountains! To which my answer is, that even they would rise up +against us immediately they perceive we are turning back without +marching on to Mexico; for if we leave them, and they refuse to pay +tribute to Motecusuma as heretofore, he will send his armies against +them not merely to subdue, but to compel them to declare war with us; +and if they are not desirous of being annihilated, what other course +could they pursue? In this way, where we had thought to have friends, we +should be preparing ourselves enemies. What reflections would the +powerful Motecusuma make, and what judgment would he pass upon our +previous speeches and the messages we sent him if we were to turn back? +He would think we had been jesting with him. Thus you see, gentlemen, it +looks bad one way and worse another. The most prudent step we can take +for the present is to maintain our ground here in this thickly populated +valley where we can obtain provisions in abundance. To-day we have +fowls, to-morrow dogs, and thus, thank God, we shall always have plenty +of food. Salt and warmer clothing are really at present the only great +privations we suffer. You further state, that we have lost fifty-five +men since our departure from Cuba from famine, cold, fatigue, disease, +and from wounds: that our numbers are very small, and all of us more or +less suffering from ill health. But, on the other hand, you must +remember that God has given us the power of numbers, and that war is +ever accompanied by loss of men and horses. To-day we have provisions, +the next day none. And you must also bear in mind that we are not come +into this country to seek repose, but to fight valiantly about whenever +it may be necessary. I, therefore, beg of you, gentlemen, who are +cavaliers, and who have up to this moment behaved so courageously, and +whom despondency so ill suits, to drive from your minds all remembrance +of Cuba and everything you have left behind there. Show yourselves brave +soldiers as you have hitherto, for next to God, who is our strength, all +depends upon the valour of our arms." + +With this answer the deputies repaired to their partisans, who all +declared they could not contradict anything our general had stated, and +remarked that we had certainly departed from Vera Cruz with the full +intention of marching to Mexico; but that at present we were better +informed as to the strength of that city and its numerous troops. The +Tlascallans themselves never mentioned the Mexican name but with terror. +We said the Sempoallans were at peace with us, but we had as few certain +proofs of that as of the state of affairs in Mexico. Up to this moment +we had altogether suffered so much that if we were once again so +furiously attacked as we had been in the late battles, we should be +unable to stand against them. Suppose even they were to remain quiet for +the present, our march to Mexico would, nevertheless, be a monstrous +undertaking; and they were surprised at the man who could desire it and +issue commands to that effect. To all this Cortes replied rather +angrily: "Even then it is better to die like a brave warrior, as the +poets say, than to live a coward!" We others who closely adhered to our +general, and had consented to the destruction of our vessels, and +appointed him captain-general, agreed with all he had said, and desired +him in a loud voice not to trouble himself any further about their talk +and complaints, but to order everything, with the aid of God, as +circumstances might require, and to rely on our faithful assistance. + +Herewith an end was put to all their cabals. They certainly continued +their murmurings against Cortes, and cursed us who adhered to him, and +the Sempoallans for having proposed this route; making altogether use +of language which little beseemed them; but for the time being they +remained quiet, and obeyed our general even to a wink. + +In the meantime the elders of Tlascalla again sent peremptory orders to +Xicotencatl not to attack us, but to send us provisions and repair to +our camp in person to conclude a treaty of peace with us. This was the +desire of all the caziques and principal personages of Huexotzinco and +Tlascalla. A message was at the same time forwarded to each of his +officers, commanding them not to obey him in anything which had not +reference to a conclusion of peace. These orders were despatched no less +than three successive times to Xicotencatl, information having been +received that he was not only determined to lend a deaf ear to these +injunctions, but to fall upon us the very next night, for which purpose +he had assembled 20,000 warriors. Thus ever presumptuous and haughty, he +now again refused to listen to their commands, and we shall see in the +following chapter how this terminated. + + + + +CHAPTER LXX. + + _How the captain Xicotencatl assembled 20,000 chosen warriors to + make an attack upon us in our camp, and what happened upon this._ + + +The caziques, Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl, with all the chief +personages of the principal town of Tlascalla, had now for the fourth +time issued orders to their captain-general not to approach our camp, +and commanded the other officers not to accompany him unless he called +upon us to make peace. Xicotencatl lay in our immediate neighbourhood, +and was terribly exasperated at this; yet he determined to send us forty +Indians with provisions, consisting in fowls, bread, and fruits.[26] +This present was also accompanied by four disgusting old Indian females +and a quantity of copal and parrot feathers. + +We, of course, concluded that these people came with peaceable +intentions. They perfumed Cortes when they were brought into his +presence, and thus addressed him, without observing the courtesies +customary among them: "These presents are sent you by the general +Xicotencatl, that you may eat, in case you are teules, as the people of +Sempoalla have assured us. If you require a sacrifice with them, kill +these four women, and devour their flesh and their hearts. As we do not +know what your wish is on this head we have not sacrificed them for you. +But if you are human beings, be contented with the fruit and the fowls; +and if you are kind-hearted teules, take the copal and the parrot +feathers as an offering." + +Cortes answered, by means of our interpreters, that he was desirous of +making peace, not war, which he had already made known to them. He was +come into their country to beg of them, in the name of our Lord Jesus +Christ, and of our great emperor Don Carlos, to abstain from human +sacrifices. We were all human beings made of flesh and bone like +themselves, and not teules, but Christians. We killed no one, excepting +when we were attacked, then, indeed, we destroyed our enemies, whether +it happened to be day or night. He was very thankful for the provisions, +but now they should likewise have the good sense to send us messengers +of peace. + +We readily perceived that these people whom Xicotencatl had despatched +to us were spies, who came to gain the necessary information respecting +the accesses to our camp, and the number of our troops, of the horses +and the cannon, and everything else. They remained with us the whole day +and following night. From time to time some returned to Xicotencatl, and +others again arrived in their stead. All this greatly surprised our +friends of Sempoalla, as it was not customary with them to stay night +and day in an enemy's camp without some particular design. This +accordingly aroused their suspicions, which were further confirmed by +some hints which fell from two old men of Zumpanzingo that Xicotencatl +stood ready with a large army to fall upon us unawares. At first they +had laughed at the idea, thinking it a mere piece of bragging, and had, +therefore, not mentioned it to Cortes. Dona Marina, to whom they had +made this known, immediately brought the intelligence to our general, +who, to fathom this matter more deeply, ordered two of the Tlascallans, +who appeared to be honest fellows, to be seized, when they confessed +that Xicotencatl had sent them as spies into our camp. These men were +then liberated, and several others seized, who all gave the same answer, +adding, that their commander Xicotencatl was merely waiting their +information to fall upon us the following night with the whole of his +troops. + +After Cortes had convinced himself of the true state of affairs, he +commanded us to be upon our guard, and to hold ourselves ready for +action; he also imprisoned seventeen other of the spies, some of whom he +ordered to have their thumbs cut off, others the whole hand, and to be +sent back in that condition to Xicotencatl, with the information, "That +this was his mode of punishing such messengers. He might now come +whenever he liked in the night or by daytime, we would wait for him here +two whole days: if we had not been peaceably inclined, we should +ourselves have attacked and annihilated both his army and himself long +before this: it was now, however, high time he should desist from his +folly, and send us a sincere token of peace." + +The unfortunate beings who had thus been dismembered, arrived in +Xicotencatl's head-quarters just as he was on the point of marching off +with his whole army to fall upon us in the dark. When he saw his spies +before him in that condition, and learnt why they had been so treated, +his pride and conceit fell at once. To this was added, that a certain +chief, with whom he had quarrelled on account of the late battles, had +left the camp with the men under his command. + +[26] During this war the Tlascallans frequently sent provisions to +Cortes' troops. This they did partly out of pride, that it might not be +said they conquered the Spaniards by famine; partly that the latter +might not become meagre in body, but that their flesh might taste +savoury when they sacrificed them to their gods, so sure were these +brave warriors of victory! (p. 165.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXXI. + + _How four chief personages arrived in our camp to negotiate terms of + peace with us, and what further happened._ + + +We now despaired of concluding the peace we so greatly desired, and +therefore began to prepare for battle. We cleaned and sharpened our +weapons, provided ourselves with arrows, and were making other +preparations for an engagement, when one of our outposts came suddenly +running up with the tidings that a number of Indians of both sexes were +advancing along the principal road of Tlascalla, straightway to our +quarters, laden with packages. One of our horse had rode up to watch +their movements more closely, and now also came galloping up with the +news that the procession was fast approaching our camp, and merely +halted from time to time to take a little rest. + +Cortes and all of us were highly delighted with this piece of news, for +we hoped they were coming with tidings of peace, which, indeed, was +really the case. He issued orders that no alarm should be sounded, and +for all of us to remain quiet in our huts as if we were unconscious of +their approach. When the Indians had arrived at our camp, four principal +personages stepped forth from among the porters, who had been +commissioned by the elder caziques to conclude a treaty of peace with +us. They made the sign of peace, which consisted in bending the head +forwards; they then walked straightway to the hut which Cortes +inhabited. They first touched the ground with their hands, and then +kissed it, bowed themselves three times, and perfumed with copal. They +then began as follows: "All the caziques of Tlascalla, with their +subjects, allies, friends, and confederates, make peace and friendship +with Cortes and his brothers, the teules. They beg forgiveness for +having commenced hostilities, instead of uniting in friendship with +them, which had merely been done under the impression that we were +friends of Motecusuma and the Mexicans, who had been their most deadly +enemies from time immemorial; and what had strengthened them in this +suspicion was, our being accompanied by such numbers of the tribes who +were tributary to that monarch, who was accustomed to fall into their +country under various pretences, and carry off their wives and children. +They had this time again feared some foul stratagem was on hand, and +therefore had put no faith in our ambassadors. They had not commenced +the attack in the first instance when we marched into their country, +neither was it done at their instigation or command, but assured us it +was the Chontal-Otomies, a rude and wild mountain tribe, who imagined +they would have been easily able to overcome our small numbers, carry us +off prisoners, and send our hearts to the Tlascallan chiefs, in order to +gain their good wishes. They now came to beg forgiveness, and would +daily bring us a sufficient supply of provisions. They hoped we would +accept of these they now brought with the same kind feeling in which +they were offered. In the space of two days the chief commander +Xicotencatl, with the other caziques, would call himself, and further +prove how fervently the whole of Tlascalla desired to make peace and +friendship with us." + +After the chiefs had done speaking, they again bowed themselves, touched +the ground with their hands, and kissed it. Cortes, with great dignity +and earnestness depicted in his countenance, returned them the following +answer through our interpreters: "He had certainly great cause to refuse +them a hearing, or to make any compact of friendship with them; for, +upon our first entering into their country, he had offered them peace, +and announced that he intended to assist them against their enemies the +Mexicans; yet they would not believe him, and had even been upon the +point of killing our ambassadors, and had made three murderous attacks +upon us; and, by way of a finish, had also sent spies into our camp. In +the battle we had fought with them, we could have killed many more of +the troops; and we even grieved for those whose lives had thus been +sacrificed, but we had been driven to it. He had resolved to carry the +war into the very town where the old caziques dwelt; but as they now +came to sue for peace, he was willing to receive them kindly in the name +of our emperor, and was also pleased to accept of the provisions which +they had brought. They should now tell their chiefs to repair hither in +person, or send him some better warranty of peace. If they refused to +come, he would put his army in motion, and attack them at their very +doors. They were, moreover, to approach our camp during daytime only, +for if they came at night, we would put them all to the sword without +mercy." + +After Cortes had given them this answer, he presented the messengers +with blue beads for the caziques, in token of peace. They then took +leave, and turned off to some Indian dwellings which lay in the +neighbourhood, leaving there the Indian females whom they had brought +along with them to prepare the bread, fowls, and a dinner for us; +besides this there were twenty Indians who furnished the wood and water +for cooking; and indeed they prepared us a most delicious meal. Being +now convinced that they earnestly desired peace, we returned hearty +thanks to God, who had thus ordered things: indeed it was high time, for +we were all in a terrible state of exhaustion, and were sick of a war to +which there seemed no end, as the good reader may well imagine. + +With respect to these proceedings, Gomara has again mixed up many +untruths. One time he makes Cortes mount up to the top of a mountain, +and thence look over the township of Zumpanzingo, and yet it lay quite +close to our camp, and he must have been blind indeed who could not see +it straight before him. He also relates that the soldiers said things +which I will not repeat here, though he would make one believe he had +all from good authority. There is not the slightest foundation for all +his assertions. There never was a commander in this world who was so +strictly obeyed as Cortes, nor will it ever again fall to the lot of any +man to be so. No such thought ever entered the minds of our men, +excepting on the occasion which I have related above. Even the +representations which were made to Cortes, mentioned in the preceding +chapter, were all given in the tone of advice. Those who made them did +so with a good intention, and imagined they were in the right, and +though they differed with him in opinion, they paid him strict +obedience. Is it, then, any wonder that a general should listen to good +advice from intelligent soldiers, particularly when his troops are so +awkwardly situated as ours were? I am only sorry when I reflect that all +Gomara's untruths will be credited, because his style of writing is so +eloquent. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXII. + + _How ambassadors arrive in our camp from Motecusuma, and of the + presents they brought with them._ + + +After the Almighty, in his great mercy, had granted us the victory in +the battles against the Tlascallans, our fame was spread to every +district, and even reached the ears of the mighty Motecusuma, in the +great city of Mexico. If we had been previously looked upon as teules, +or a species of gods, their idea of our bravery now became the more +exalted, and terror seized the whole country when we had broken the +great power of the Tlascallans with such a handful of men, and compelled +them to sue for peace. + +And so it also happened that the powerful king of Mexico, Motecusuma, +either in the great goodness of his heart, or because he began to fear +our approach to his metropolis, despatched five men of distinction to +our camp in the land of Tlascalla to welcome us on our arrival, and to +assure us of the excessive delight he felt at the great victories which +we had gained over such numerous armies. This message was accompanied by +a valuable present in gold trinkets of various workmanship, worth about +1000 pesos, and of packages of cotton stuffs as much as twenty men could +carry. He likewise wished us to know that it was his desire to become a +vassal of our emperor, and the great pleasure he felt to find that we +were so near his metropolis, that he was every way well disposed towards +Cortes and all the teules his brothers: he likewise wished to know from +us what annual tribute in gold, silver, jewels, and cotton stuffs he was +to forward to our great emperor, which would save us the trouble of +coming to Mexico: he should, indeed, be pleased to see us, but our march +there would be a terrible one, through a sterile and rocky country, and +the fatigues which we should have to undergo grieved him the more when +he considered the impossibility to remove those difficulties out of our +way. + +To this Cortes answered, that he was very thankful for such kind +feeling, as also for the presents, and the offer to pay tribute, but he +must beg of the ambassadors not to leave again before we had reached the +metropolis of Tlascalla, when he would deliver to them his answers for +their monarch. + +The real fact was, he did not feel well enough just then, as the day +previous he had taken a purgative of manzanilla,[27] which latter is +found on the island of Cuba, and is very wholesome when its use is +rightly understood. + +[27] This name Oviedo gives to the fruit of a tree, which he calls +macanna, growing in Cuba. (Hippomane Mancinella of Linn.) From the same +fruit, according to this historian, the inhabitants prepare the deadly +poison in which they dip the points of their arrows. (p. 170.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIII. + + _How the captain-general Xicotencatl arrives in our camp to + negotiate terms of peace; the speech he made, and what further + happened._ + + +Cortes was still discoursing with the ambassadors of Motecusuma, and +about to dismiss them, to retire to rest, for the fit of ague was again +coming upon him, when it was announced that the general Xicotencatl was +approaching, with several caziques. They were clothed in cloaks, white +and parti-coloured, that is, one half of the cloak was white and the +other coloured, for these were their national colours in time of peace. +The number of distinguished personages who accompanied Xicotencatl +amounted altogether to about fifty. When they had arrived in Cortes' +quarters, they paid him the most profound reverence, after their +fashion, and burnt a quantity of copal before him. Cortes received them +most friendly, and desired them to take place near him; upon which +Xicotencatl said, "He came, in the name of his father, of Maxixcatzin, +and of all the caziques of the republic of Tlascalla, to beg of us to +admit them to our friendship: he, at the same time, in their name, came +to do homage, and promise obedience to our emperor and master, and to +beg forgiveness for having taken up arms against us. They had done this +because they were ignorant as to who we were: indeed, they believed we +had been sent by their enemy Motecusuma, who had often before used fraud +and treachery to enter their country for the sake of plunder, and they +now thought he contemplated another attack upon them: they, therefore, +considered themselves bound to advance boldly into the field to protect +their persons and their country. They were, however, very poor, and +possessed neither gold, silver, jewels, nor cotton stuffs: they were in +want of salt to savour their victuals, as Motecusuma would not allow +them to stir out of their country to procure it. Their forefathers had +certainly possessed some gold and precious stones, but this had from +time to time been delivered up to Motecusuma, to prevent their total +destruction. All this had happened a long time ago, and now they had +nothing left wherewith to make us a present. It was not their fault, but +their poverty, yet they were well disposed." + +After this preamble Xicotencatl brought various other accusations +against Motecusuma and his allies. "The latter," he said, "were all +hostile to their country, and left them no peace. They had certainly, up +to this moment, defended themselves bravely at all times, but found that +all their endeavours were fruitless against us, although they had +renewed the conflict three several times; we were invincible. Hard +experience at length taught them who we were, and they now desired to +become our friends, and the vassals of the great emperor Don Carlos; +for, they were convinced, that in alliance with us, they would be able +to live in security and peace with their wives and children, and not be +each moment exposed to the incursions of the treacherous Mexicans." + +Xicotencatl made various other offers of his services in the name of his +country. This Xicotencatl was a tall man, broad shouldered, and well +built, with a large fresh coloured face, full of scars, as if pitted +with the smallpox. He may have been about thirty-five years of age, and +was earnest and dignified in his deportment. Cortes thanked him most +sincerely, saying, "he would acknowledge them as vassals of our emperor, +and would, for the future, look upon them as our friends." + +Upon this Xicotencatl begged he would repair to the metropolis of his +country, where all the caziques, elders, and papas were expecting us +with impatience. Cortes answered, that he would comply with his request +as soon as possible; for the present he had still some business to +transact with the ambassadors of Motecusuma, and as soon as he had +finished this he would visit them. He then continued to address them in +a harsher tone of voice, and mentioned the repeated attacks they had +made upon us. He would certainly bear them no malice, and freely forgave +all the past, but they must sacredly observe the peace which he had +granted them, and show no inconstancy in their conduct. If they did he +would assuredly destroy their town and put all the inhabitants to the +sword, and no longer listen to them, but carry on a war of extirpation +to the very last. Xicotencatl, and all the distinguished personages who +were with him, assured Cortes they would faithfully abide by their +promise, and that they were ready to offer themselves as hostages in +proof of their sincerity. Upon this followed various other discourses +between Cortes, Xicotencatl, and the principal men of his suite. We +presented them with blue beads for themselves, the elder Xicotencatl and +most of the other caziques, with the assurance that we intended soon to +visit their metropolis, which we desired they would announce to their +countrymen. + +The Mexican ambassadors were present during the whole of this interview, +and heard the friendly offers which the Tlascallans made us of their +services; and were not at all pleased with the peace we had concluded, +and easily foresaw it would prove disadvantageous for their country. +When, therefore, Xicotencatl had taken his leave, they remarked rather +smilingly to Cortes, that he should not repose any trust in their +assurances of friendship and kind offers. All this was sheer deceit, +and nothing but treachery was hidden in their sentiments. They merely +wished thereby to entice us into their town, when they could fall upon +us unawares and destroy us all. We should remember how often they had +attacked us with their whole army, but finding open force of no avail, +they now, after so many of their numbers had been killed and wounded, +would try their chance with fine words and a pretended show of peace. + +To this Cortes answered with an air of determination, that he no way +troubled himself about their intentions. If their suspicions proved true +he would put the Tlascallans all to death. They might attack him by +night or day, in the open field or in the town, it was all the same to +him, and to convince himself as to how matters really stood he was +determined to visit their metropolis. When the Mexican ambassadors found +him thus determined, they begged of him to remain for at least another +six days in his present quarters, that they might first send messengers +to communicate with Motecusuma, and would return again with his answer +in the time specified. + +To this Cortes consented, partly on account of his ague, partly because +he thought the warnings the Mexicans had given him might not be +altogether so unfounded as he imagined. In that time he could also gain +more certain proofs of the real intentions of the Tlascallans. + +As everything now wore a peaceable aspect, and the whole country from +the town of Vera Cruz up to our present quarters, was inhabited by +friendly tribes and our allies, Cortes ventured to forward a letter to +Juan de Escalante, who had remained behind there in garrison. He desired +him to complete the buildings, and then gave him an account of the great +victories we had gained since our arrival in Tlascalla, and how we had +compelled the inhabitants to sue for peace. He also desired him to make +a day of thanksgiving, and in every way to favour our allies of the +Totonaque mountains. Lastly, he requested him to send two bottles of +wine which he had buried in a certain corner of his quarters there, and +some holy wafers, as we had none left. Escalante sent a speedy answer +with the things Cortes required. It may easily be imagined how joyously +this news was received at Vera Cruz, without my spending many words upon +it. + +During these days we erected a majestic cross in our quarters, and +Cortes had one of the temples in our neighbourhood cleansed and fresh +plastered by the inhabitants of Zumpanzingo, and some other Indians. +But, to return to our new friends, the caziques of Tlascalla; the +postponement of our visit greatly distressed them, yet they continued to +send us fowls and figs,[28] which were now just in season, and a daily +supply of provisions. This they did with the best of good will, nor +would they ever take anything in return; on the contrary, they daily +more earnestly begged of Cortes not to delay his visit any longer. Our +general, however, was desirous of waiting the six days for the return of +the Mexican ambassadors, and he each time put off the Tlascallans with +some friendly excuse. + +The Mexicans faithfully kept their word, and at the expiration of the +above-mentioned time six distinguished personages arrived from Mexico +with a rich present from Motecusuma, in value above 3000 pesos, +consisting in gold trinkets of various workmanship, two hundred pieces +of cotton stuffs, interwoven with feathers and other productions of +Mexican art. + +When they handed over these presents to Cortes they informed him that +Motecusuma was greatly delighted at the successful state of our affairs. +For the rest he requested us most urgently not to bring any Tlascallans +into his dominions, for whatever purpose it might be, and upon the whole +not to trust them. They were merely watching to rob us of our gold and +other valuables, as they were quite poverty-struck themselves, and +possessed no fine cotton cloaks. This evil design they cherished the +more fervently, as they knew that we were on friendly terms with them, +and had received presents in gold and cotton stuffs. Cortes accepted +these presents with every appearance of delight, and thanked them, with +the assurance that he would render Motecusuma good services in return. +If he should discover that the Tlascallans really bore treachery at +heart they would have to pay very dearly for it. He, however, trusted +that such thoughts were remote from their minds, and he would now repair +thither in person to see how much truth there was in their statement. + +In the midst of this discourse several messengers arrived from +Tlascalla, bringing Cortes information that all the old caziques of the +country were on their road to pay us a visit, and conduct us into their +city. On learning this, Cortes requested the Mexican ambassadors to stay +with us three days before they departed again to their monarch with his +answer; for that, at present, he was about to grant terms of peace to +the Tlascallan chiefs. + +[28] These figs, Bernal Diaz calls Tuna, which is the Cactus Tuna of +Linnaeus. (p. 173.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIV. + + _How the old caziques of Tlascalla arrived in our camp and invited + Cortes, and all of us to visit their city, and what further + happened._ + + +The old caziques of Tlascalla finding that we did not arrive in their +city, determined to call upon us themselves, and set out, some on foot +and some in sedans and a species of hand-barrow. Besides those I +mentioned above, (Maxixcatzin and the blind Xicotencatl, the elder,) +there were Guaxolacima, Chichimeclatecl, and Tecapaneca of Topoyanco. +Their suite was composed of several distinguished personages. When they +arrived in presence of Cortes they paid him the profoundest respect, +making him and us who stood around three deep bows. They likewise +perfumed with copal, touched the ground with their hands, and kissed it. + +The elder Xicotencatl then addressed Cortes as follows: + +"Malinche! Malinche! often have we begged of you to forgive the hostile +attacks we made upon you. We have already explained to you that we +imagined you were in league with Motecusuma. Indeed, if we had known +before what we now do, instead of refusing you admission, we would not +only have marched out to meet you by the shortest route with a quantity +of provisions, but have come to the very coast where your vessels lie, +in order to conduct you hither. But, as you have now pardoned all this, +I am come with all the caziques to beg of you to accompany us +immediately to our city, and to construct in good part the reception +which we intend to give you there according to the best of our +abilities. Stay all other business for the present, Malinche, we beg of +you, and go with us now. We greatly deplore that the Mexicans should +have attempted to poison your mind with all manner of falsehoods +respecting us, and that this should alone have withheld you from paying +us a visit. We are quite accustomed to their slanders. You must not +believe them, no, nor even listen to them, for all their actions and +words are full of deceit." + +To which Cortes said, with serenity depicted on his countenance, "He +knew years ago that we should one time visit this country. They were a +brave people, and he was astonished they should have treated us as +enemies. With regard to the Mexicans who were now present, they were +merely waiting his commands to return to their monarch Motecusuma. He +joyously accepted of their invitation to visit their city, and thanked +them for the provisions they had sent, and also for all their other +kind offers; they might depend upon our services in return. The reason +why he had not visited them before this was solely owing to our want of +men to transport the tepuzques," so they termed our cannon. When they +heard this, they appeared exceedingly pleased, and immediately cried +out, "How! was it nothing but this, and you would not tell us?" And, +sure enough, scarcely half an hour elapsed before there were 500 porters +on the spot, so that next morning early we were enabled to set out for +the metropolis of Tlascalla. We marched forward as usual, with the heavy +guns, the horse, the crossbow-men, and musketeers, in close order. +Cortes had also requested the Mexican ambassadors to accompany us, in +order that they might convince themselves that the people of Tlascalla +were sincere. To allay their apprehensions, he assured them they should +live in his own quarters, and not be molested. + +Before, however, I proceed with my narrative, I must explain how it +happened that Cortes was termed Malinche by all the tribes through whose +territories we had passed. I myself in future will call him by that +name, excepting there where it would be improper. This name was given to +him because our interpretress Dona Marina was always about his person, +particularly when ambassadors arrived, and in our negotiations with the +several caziques, as on those occasions she interpreted for both +parties. They therefore called him the captain of Marina, and contracted +that appellation in the word Malinche.[29] This name was likewise given +to Juan Perez de Artenga of Puebla, because he always accompanied Dona +Marina, and to Geronimo de Aguilar for a similar reason. The former of +these two even retained the name of Juan Perez Malinche. Our entry into +the metropolis of Tlascalla took place twenty-four days after we had +crossed the confines of the country, the 23d day of September, in the +year of our Lord 1519. + +[29] For Marina, as appears from several passages in Torquemada and +other writers, was called by the inhabitants Malintziu. (p. 176.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXXV. + + _How we marched into the city of Tlascalla, and were received by the + old caziques; of the present they made us, and how they brought us + their daughters and nieces; and what further happened._ + + +When the caziques found that our baggage was moving forward, they +hastened before us to make the necessary preparations for our reception, +and to adorn our quarters with green boughs. We had arrived within a +mile of their city when they again came out to meet us, accompanied by +their daughters, nieces, and other distinguished personages, in which +those of the same kin or same family or tribe kept together. Without +that of Topoyanco, which held the fifth degree, there were four tribes. +The inhabitants of the other townships also kept flocking up, all +distinguished by the national colours of their respective dresses, +which, for want of cotton, were very prettily and neatly manufactured of +coloured nequen. Next came the whole body of papas, of whom there were +great numbers in the temple service. They carried the pans with glowing +embers, and perfumed us. Some of them had on long white cloaks, after +the fashion of surplices with capes, as worn by our canons. The hair of +their heads was long and matted together, so that it would have been an +impossibility to have put it in any shape or order without cutting it +off: besides this, it was completely besmeared with blood, which +trickled down over their ears, for they had been sacrificing that very +day. The nails of their fingers were uncommonly long, and they held down +their heads on approaching us, in token of humility. It was told us that +these men were greatly revered for their religion. The principal +personages now gathered themselves around Cortes' person, and formed a +guard of honour. When we entered the town, the streets and balconies +could scarcely contain the numbers of men and women who had come out to +see us: delight was depicted on every countenance, and twenty baskets +full of roses were brought us, of various colours and sweetly scented, +which were presented to Cortes and the other soldiers whom they +considered officers, and particularly to those who sat on horseback. In +this way we gradually arrived to some spacious courtyards, where +quarters had been prepared for us. Here Xicotencatl the elder and +Maxixcatzin took Cortes by the hand and conducted him into his +apartments. For each of us there was a separate bed, filled with a +species of dried grass, and covered with cloaks of nequen. Our friends +of Sempoalla and Xocotlan were quartered in our vicinity in a similar +manner. Cortes then requested that the ambassadors of Motecusuma might +lodge with him. We soon discovered that good-will and friendly feeling +were universal towards us here, and we therefore somewhat relaxed in our +ordinary precautions. The officer whose duty it was to post our +sentinels and order the patrols, remarked to Cortes, that, as everything +wore such a friendly aspect there, our usual watchfulness would not be +required. "This may be very true," answered our general, "yet we will +not relinquish that excellent custom. Though the people here may be very +good, we must not trust too much to this peace, but always be upon our +guard as if we expected each moment to be attacked. Many a general has +been ruined by carelessness and over-confidence. We, who are a mere +handful of men, and have been precautioned by Motecusuma himself, though +he may not exactly have been in earnest, must be ready for action at a +moment's notice." + +The two chief caziques, the elder Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin, were very +much hurt at the military precautions we took, nor did they strive to +hide their feelings from Cortes, but spoke to him as follows: "Malinche, +if we are to draw a conclusion from the steps you are taking, you either +look upon us as your enemies, or at least you place no confidence in us +and the treaty of peace which has been concluded between us. You post +sentinels and order your men to patrol the streets as formerly, when +both armies stood in hostile array against each other. This you have not +done of your own accord, Malinche, but because the Mexicans have +secretly whispered to you fears of treachery, wishing thereby to +estrange you from us. Believe us, you cannot put any faith in what they +say. You are now in the midst of us; everything we have is at your +service--our own persons and our children; and we are ready to suffer +death for you. Ask for as many hostages as you like, and you shall have +them." + +Cortes and all of us admired and were moved at the kind and graceful +manner in which the old men expressed themselves. Our captain said he +required no hostages; he had merely to make use of his eyes to convince +himself that all was perfectly safe. These military precautions were +ever customary with us, and they were not to take umbrage on that +account. He thanked them for their kind intentions, and promised to +render them great services in return. + +After this explanation, other persons of distinction arrived with a +quantity of provisions, consisting of fowls, maise-bread, figs, and +vegetables. We had, indeed, everything in the greatest abundance during +the whole of the twenty days we lay in this town. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVI. + + _How mass was said in the presence of a great number of caziques, + and of the present the latter brought us._ + + +The next morning early Cortes ordered an altar to be constructed, and +mass to be said, as we now again had a supply of wine and holy wafers. +Father Olmedo lying ill of the fever, which had greatly weakened him, +the priest Juan Diaz officiated for him: Maxixcatzin, the elder +Xicotencatl, and several other caziques were present. + +After mass, Cortes retired to his quarters. Those among us who were +always about his person accompanied him: we were also followed by the +old caziques and our interpreters, who were indispensable in such +company. The elder Xicotencatl now informed Cortes that it was the +general wish of the inhabitants to make him a present, if agreeable to +him. Cortes answered that he should at all times be most happy to +receive one: they accordingly spread some mats on the floor, and over +these a few cloaks, upon which they arranged five or six small pieces of +gold, a few stones of trifling value, and several parcels of +manufactured nequen, altogether a very poor present, and not worth +twenty pesos. The caziques, on presenting these things to Cortes, said +to him, with a smile on their countenance, "Malinche! we can easily +imagine that you will not exactly experience much joy on receiving a +present of such wretched things as these; but we have told you before +that we are poor, possessing neither gold nor other riches, as the +deceitful Mexicans, with their present monarch Motecusuma, have by +degrees despoiled us of everything we had. Do not look to the small +value of these things, but accept them in all kindness, and as coming +from your faithful friends and servants." These presents were at the +same time accompanied by a quantity of provisions. + +Cortes accepted of all this with every appearance of delight, and +assured the old men that, since these things came from them, and were +given with such great good will, they had more value in his estimation +than a whole house full of gold, and that he accepted of them in that +light. These words he accompanied with numerous other kind sayings and +assurances of the esteem he entertained for them. + +The caziques had also agreed among themselves to present us the most +beautiful of their daughters and nieces. The old Xicotencatl, therefore, +again addressed Cortes: "In order, Malinche, that you may have a still +clearer proof of our good feeling towards you, and to show you how glad +we are to do anything which we imagine may please you, we have resolved +to give you our daughters in marriage, that they may have children by +you. We should like to be completely fraternized with such good and +brave men as you are. I myself have a daughter, who is very beautiful, +and has never been married, whom I have destined for you." + +Maxixcatzin and most of the other caziques continued in the same strain, +begging of us to take their daughters for our wives. These requests were +accompanied by various other proffers of friendship, and Maxixcatzin +and Xicotencatl passed the whole day with us: the latter was blind with +age; in order, therefore, to form to himself some idea of Cortes, he +drew his hand over his hair, his face, his beard, and the whole of his +body. + +Cortes answered, with respect to the women, that he himself and all of +us were very grateful for them, and that we should take the first +opportunity of rendering them a kindness in return. + +"What is your opinion," said Cortes, turning to father Olmedo, "would +this not be the proper moment to desire these people to abolish their +idols and the human sacrifices? From fear of the Mexicans, they will +undoubtedly do anything we require of them." "It will be time enough," +answered the priest, "when they bring us their daughters: then we shall +have the best opportunity of telling them that we cannot accept of them +until they have promised to abstain from their human sacrifices. If they +comply, it is well; if they refuse, we know what our duty and our +religion require of us." + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVII. + + _How the caziques presented their daughters to Cortes and all of us, + and what further happened._ + + +The day following, the old caziques came and brought five young women +with them, who, for Indian females, were in every sense handsome, and +neatly dressed. Each had, in addition, a young woman as maid in waiting, +and all were daughters of caziques. On this occasion, Xicotencatl thus +spoke to Cortes: "Malinche, this is my daughter; she is still a virgin, +and has never been married: take her to yourself, and give the others to +your officers." + +Cortes received the young women from his hand, and appeared very +pleased, declaring that he would now consider these females as our own, +but desired that they should, for the present, remain with their +fathers. The caziques inquired the reason of this, when Cortes replied: +"I have no other reason than that I am bound first to fulfil my duty to +the God whom we adore, and to the emperor our master, which is to +require of you to abolish your idols, the human sacrifices, and other +abominations practised among you, and exhort you to believe in him in +whom we believe, who alone is the true God." Besides this, he told them +many other things concerning our holy faith, which Dona Marina and +Aguilar explained right well to them. Similar discourses took place on +every occasion: Cortes at the same time showed them the image of the +holy Virgin, holding her inestimable Son in her arms, and he explained +to them how that represented the blessed Virgin Mary: she was now high +in the heavens above, and was the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom +she held in her arms, conceived by the Holy Ghost; that she was a virgin +before, after, and during his birth. She was our mediator with her +heavenly Son, our God. + +To this he added many other things concerning our holy religion, and +concluded by saying: "If you are, indeed, our brothers, and you are +really inclined to conclude a lasting peace with us, and if we are to +take and keep your daughters as affectionate husbands should do, they +must abandon their horrible idols, and believe in the Lord God whom we +adore. They would soon discover the beneficial effect of this; blessings +would be showered down upon them, the seasons would be fruitful, and all +their undertakings would prosper; after death their souls would be +transplanted to heaven, and partake of eternal glory; for, by the human +sacrifices which they made to their idols, who were nothing but devils, +they would be led to hell, where eternal fire would torment their +souls." For the present Cortes said nothing further to them respecting +their idols, as he had often before spoken to them concerning these. + +In answer to all this, they said to Cortes: "Malinche, we have heard all +this from you on former occasions, and willingly believe that this your +God and this illustrious woman are right good beings. But you should +reflect how very recently you have arrived in our country, and you have +but just entered our city. You should certainly give us time to learn +more of your doings, manner of behaviour, and nature of your gods; and +when we shall have satisfied ourselves respecting their qualities, we +shall certainly make choice of those we consider best. How can you ask +us to abandon our gods whom we have adored for so many years, and prayed +and sacrificed to them? But if we should even do so to please you, what +would our papas, our young men, yes, even our boys, say to it? Believe +us, they would all rise up in arms. The papas, indeed, have already +spoken to our teules, who have told them not to abolish our human +sacrifices, nor any other of our ancient customs, otherwise they would +destroy our whole country by famine, pestilence, and war." + +We might conclude from this straightforward and fearless answer, that it +would be useless to insist any longer on this point, and that they would +rather allow themselves to be killed than abolish their human +sacrifices. Even father Olmedo, who was a profound theologian, found +himself compelled thus to address Cortes on the subject: "My opinion is, +sir, that you should no longer urge this matter with these people. It is +not acting right to force them to become Christians. I could likewise +wish that we had not destroyed the idols at Sempoalla. This I am +convinced ought not to be done until the people have gained some +knowledge of our holy religion. What, indeed, do we gain by pulling down +their idols from the temples? They have merely then to repair to another +temple. But, on the other hand, we should never cease to exhort them +with our pious lessons. In this way the time will certainly arrive, when +they will find that our intentions and our advice are good." + +In this same strain the three cavaliers Alvarado, Leon, and Lugo +likewise spoke to Cortes; assuring him that father Olmedo was in the +right, and that they perfectly agreed with him, that it would be +inadvisable again to touch upon this point with the caziques. + +Here, accordingly, the subject was dropped, and Cortes confined himself +to ordering the idols to be taken down from a temple which had been +recently built in the neighbourhood. The latter to be cleansed and fresh +plastered, and the image of the blessed Virgin to be placed on it. To +this the caziques readily consented, and when all was finished mass was +said, and the daughters of the caziques were baptized. Xicotencatl's +daughter was named Dona Louisa,--when Cortes took her by the hand and +presented her to Alvarado, saying, at the same time, to Xicotencatl, +that he to whom he had given her was his brother and a chief officer +under him, who would certainly treat her well, and with whom she would +live happily; to this Xicotencatl said he was perfectly agreeable. + +The niece or daughter of Maxixcatzin received the name of Dona Elvira. +She was very beautiful, and was presented, if I still remember rightly, +to Leon. The others were given to Oli, Sandoval, and Avila, who all +subjoined their Christian names to theirs as if they had been young +ladies of noble birth. + +Upon this it was also explained to the caziques why we always erected +two crosses wherever we formed a camp and passed the night: assuring +them amongst other things that their gods feared them. All this the +caziques listened to with great attention. But before I continue my +narrative I must add a few words about Xicotencatl's daughter, Dona +Louisa, who was given to Alvarado. + +The whole of Tlascalla took the greatest interest in her welfare, and +honored her as a woman invested with command. Alvarado, who was a +bachelor, got a son by her, who was named Don Pedro; and also a +daughter, Dona Leonora, who is now the wife of Don Francisco de la +Cueva, a cavalier of distinction, and a relation of the duke of +Albuquerque. She is already the mother of four or five sons, all valiant +cavaliers. She is an excellent lady, and a daughter worthy of such a +father, who, as every one knows, is comptoir of Santjago and chief +justice and viceroy of Guatimala; nor is she less worthy of the house of +Xicotencatl, for the latter ranked very high in Tlascalla, and was +looked upon as a king. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVIII. + + _How Cortes gained some information respecting Mexico from + Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin._ + + +Cortes one day took the caziques aside, and put several questions to +them respecting the situation and affairs of Mexico. Xicotencatl, as the +more intelligent and distinguished personage, answered his queries, and +Maxixcatzin, who was likewise a man of high rank, assisted him from time +to time. + +"Motecusuma," said Xicotencatl, "had such a vast army, that when he +intended to conquer any large township, or of falling into any province, +he invariably ordered 100,000 warriors into the field. They, the +Tlascallans, had often experienced this in the many wars which they had +waged with the Mexicans for upwards of 100 years." + +When Cortes here interrupted them with the question: "How they had +managed to escape from being in the end subdued by such a vast army?" +They replied, "That they had, indeed, often been worsted by the +Mexicans, and lost many of their men, who were either killed in battle, +or taken prisoners and sacrificed to the idols; but that they likewise +had slain numbers of the enemy and taken many of them prisoners. Neither +did the Mexicans ever approach so unobserved, but that they received +some previous notice of their movements. In these cases they made every +effort that lay in their power; could always depend on the assistance of +the Huexotzincans; and, according to circumstances, either assailed the +enemy or pursued a system of defence. Besides this, another circumstance +was greatly in their favour, namely, that the Mexicans were excessively +hated in all the provinces and among all the tribes which Motecusuma had +subdued and plundered, and that the warriors who were forced to serve in +his army fought with reluctance and with little courage. In this way, +then, they defended their country as well as they could. The greatest +overthrow they ever experienced was from the Cholullans, whose town lay +about a day's march from Tlascalla. The inhabitants there were a most +deceitful set. In that town it was that Motecusuma usually assembled his +troops, whence they generally commenced their march during night-time." + +Maxixcatzin here observed, "That Motecusuma had strong garrisons in +every town, besides the warriors who marched out from the metropolis to +the field of battle. Every province was compelled to pay him tribute, +consisting in gold, silver, feathers, precious stones, cotton stuffs, as +well as Indians of both sexes: some of whom he took into his service, +and some were sacrificed. He was altogether such a powerful and wealthy +monarch, that he accomplished and obtained everything he desired. His +palaces were filled with riches and chalchihuis stones, on which he +seized wherever he came. In short, all the wealth of the country was in +his possession." + +They then gave such an account of the magnificence and splendour of his +court, that if I here felt inclined to repeat what they told us, I +should never finish; also of the number of his wives; some of whom he +now and then gave in marriage to his relations; the great strength of +his metropolis, how it lay in the midst of a lake, and the great depth +of the latter. Several causeways, they added, led to this city, which +were intersected in various places, over which wooden bridges were +built, under which canoes could pass; but, if they were removed, the +space between every two sections became an island, and all entrance to +the town was completely cut off. Nearly the whole of the houses of the +city were built in the water, and it was only possible to get from one +building to another by means of drawbridges or canoes. Balconies were +attached to each house, which were provided with a kind of breastwork, +so that the inhabitants were able to defend themselves from the tops of +the houses. Yet the whole town was well supplied with sweet water from +the spring of Chapultepec, which lay about two miles from the town, +whence the water was partly conveyed to the houses by means of pipes, +partly in boats through the canals, and then retailed to the +inhabitants. + +With respect to the weapons employed by this nation, they consisted in +two-edged lances, which they threw by means of a thong, and would +penetrate through any cuirass. They were likewise excellent shots with +the bow and arrow, and carried pikes with blades made of flint, which +were of very skilful workmanship and as sharp as razors. Besides these, +they carried shields, and wore cotton cuirasses. They likewise employed +a great number of slingers, who were provided with round stones, long +pikes, and sharp swords, which are used with both hands. + +To explain all this they brought forth large pieces of nequen, on which +were depicted their battles and their art of warfare. When Cortes and we +others considered we had gained sufficient information of these things, +the discourse turned on subjects of greater importance. Our friends told +us how and whence they came into this country, and how they had settled +themselves there; how it came that, notwithstanding their vicinity to +the Mexicans, they resembled each other so little, and lived in +perpetual warfare with each other. The tradition was also handed down +from their forefathers, that in ancient times there lived here a race of +men and women who were of immense stature with heavy bones, and were a +very bad and evil-disposed people, whom they had for the greater part +exterminated by continual war, and the few that were left gradually died +away. + +In order to give us a notion of the huge frame of this people, they +dragged forth a bone, or rather a thigh bone, of one of those giants, +which was very strong, and measured the length of a man of good stature. +This bone was still entire from the knee to the hip joint. I measured it +by my own person, and found it to be of my own length, although I am a +man of considerable height. They showed us many similar pieces of bones, +but they were all worm-eaten and decayed; we, however, did not doubt for +an instant, that this country was once inhabited by giants. Cortes +observed, that we ought to forward these bones to his majesty in Spain +by the very first opportunity. + +The caziques also mentioned another tradition which had come down from +their forefathers. A certain god, to whom they paid great honours, had +informed them that there would one time come from the rising of the sun, +out of distant countries, a people who would subject and rule over them. +If we were that people they should feel delighted, for we were +courageous and good-hearted. This old prophecy was also brought up when +we were negotiating terms of peace with them, and they had chiefly +offered us their daughters in order to bring about a relationship +between us and themselves, and to obtain assistance against the +Mexicans; this they had communicated to their idols. + +We were all greatly astonished at this account, and inquired of each +other in amazement, whether all they told us could be true. Cortes said +to them, "That we came, indeed, from the rising of the sun. The emperor, +our master, had purposely sent us, that we might become their brothers, +as he had had some previous knowledge respecting their country. May God +in his mercy grant," continued Cortes, "that we may be the means of +saving you from eternal perdition!" To which we all added, "Amen!" + +The good reader will now, no doubt, have heard sufficient of our +discourses with the people of Tlascalla. And I myself shall be glad to +cut them short here, as I have many other things to relate besides +these. + +Among others, in particular, the burning mountain of Huexotzinco, which, +at the time we were in Tlascalla, happened to be emitting more flames +than usual, and Cortes and all of us, to whom a volcano was something +new, regarded it in astonishment. Diego de Ordas, one of our chief +officers, entertained the bold idea to inspect this wonder more +minutely, and begged leave of our general to ascend the mountain, who +granted this request. + +Ordas took two of our men with him, and desired some of the chief +personages of Huexotzinco to accompany him. They certainly did not +refuse, but tried to deter him by assuring him, that when he should have +ascended the Popocatepetl, for so they termed this volcano, half way, he +would not be able to advance further on account of the trembling of the +earth, and the flames, stones and ashes which were emitted from the +crater. They themselves never durst venture higher than to where some +temples were built to the teules of Popocatepetl. And indeed they left +Ordas when he arrived at that spot. The latter, however, boldly +continued to ascend with our two soldiers until he had reached the +summit. + +While they were still ascending, the volcano began to emit huge flames +of fire, half burnt and perforated stones, with a quantity of ashes; and +the whole mountain shook under their feet to the very foundation. They +then halted for an hour, until they found that the smoke and fire +gradually began to diminish and less ashes to fall; they then continued +to ascend until they reached the crater, which was perfectly round and +about a mile in diameter. From this elevation they could plainly discern +the great city of Mexico, with the whole of its lake, and the +surrounding townships; for this mountain only lies about forty-eight +miles from Mexico. + +After Ordas had well viewed everything and sufficiently enjoyed and +wondered at the sight of Mexico and its suburbs, he again returned with +the two soldiers and the Indians of Huexotzinco to Tlascalla. The +inhabitants there considered this undertaking to be extremely +venturesome, and even we ourselves who had never seen a burning mountain +before, were perfectly astonished at the account which Ordas gave Cortes +of his hazardous enterprise. Indeed at that time it might well be +termed hazardous! Subsequently, to be sure, several other Spaniards and +Franciscan monks ascended to the mouth of this volcano, but Ordas was +nevertheless the first who had ventured. When, therefore, he afterwards +again returned to Spain, he begged permission of his majesty to bear a +volcano in his coat of arms. These arms are at present borne by his +nephew of the same name, living at Puebla. As long as we remained in +this country we never again saw the mountain throw out so much fire, or +heard of its making such a heavy rumbling noise, as on this occasion, +and not until the year 1539 did it burst out again. + +Enough, however, of this mountain; we now pretty well know what it is. +Subsequently we saw many other volcanoes, as those of Nicaragua and +Guatimala; after which that of Huexotzinco is scarcely worth noticing. I +have still to mention that in Tlascalla we found houses built of wood, +in the shape of cages, in which numbers of Indians, of both sexes, were +confined, and fattened for their sacrifices and feasts. We never +hesitated a single moment to break them down and liberate the prisoners. +These unfortunate beings, however, never durst leave our side, and this +was the only means of saving them from being butchered. From this moment +Cortes gave orders to break open these cages wherever we came, for we +found them in every township. We all showed our horror of these +atrocities, and earnestly reproved the caziques for it, who then +promised no longer to kill and devour human beings. I say they promised, +but that was all, and if we were but an instant out of sight the same +barbarities were committed. It is now, however, high time to think of +our march to Mexico. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIX. + + _How our captain Hernando Cortes and all our officers and soldiers + determine to march to Mexico._ + + +We had now been seventeen days in Tlascalla, and had heard so much +during that time respecting the immense treasures of Motecusuma, and the +splendour of his metropolis, that Cortes resolved to hold a consultation +concerning our march to Mexico, with all those officers and soldiers +amongst us whom he presumed were inclined to advance further on. In this +council of war it was agreed that we should commence our march thither +without delay; various opinions, however, were expressed on the occasion +in our camp. Many maintained that it would be acting over-rashly to +venture with a mere handful of men into a strongly fortified city, +whose monarch had such vast numbers of warriors at his command. But +Cortes declared that all arguing on this point was useless; we could not +alter the resolution we had come to, and we had on every occasion +expressed our desire to pay our respects personally to Motecusuma. When +those who were averse to this step saw his determination, and that the +majority of us warriors were devoted with our very hearts to him, crying +out, "Forward, now or never!" they ceased to make any further +opposition. Those who opposed us were those again who had possessions in +the island of Cuba; we other poor soldiers were ready to sacrifice our +very existence in battle, and to undergo all manner of fatigues for God +and our sovereign. When Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin were convinced that +it was our determination to march to Mexico, they grew anxious on our +account. They urgently dissuaded Cortes from it, and warned him not to +put the slightest trust in Motecusuma, nor altogether in any of the +Mexicans,--to put no faith in his show of veneration, his courteous and +humble talk. All their professions of friendship, said they, and even +their very presents had treachery at the bottom; for what they give at +one moment they take away at another. They advised us to be upon our +guard night and day; for they were perfectly assured that the Mexicans +would fall upon us when we were least prepared to defend ourselves. +Neither were we to spare life to any of them, if it should come to a +battle;--to the young man that he might not again take up arms against +us, to the old man that he might not do us injury by his counsel. + +They gave us many similar precautions, and our captain assured them how +grateful he was for it, and otherwise showed them every possible +kindness, made them and the other caziques various presents, and divided +among them a great portion of the fine stuffs which had been presented +to him by Motecusuma. Cortes at the same time remarked to the caziques, +that it would be the best possible thing if peace and friendship could +be brought about between themselves and the Mexicans, that they might no +longer continue in the disagreeable necessity of making shift with other +things for want of cotton, salt, and other wares. + +To this Xicotencatl immediately replied, "That with the Mexicans a +treaty of peace was a mere formality: enmity, nevertheless, always clung +fast to their hearts. It was the characteristic of this people to plot +the foulest treacheries under the semblance of profound peace. No +reliance could be placed on their promises, their words were empty +sounds, and he could not remind and beg of us too often to be upon our +guard against the snares of this vile people."[30] + +Next came into consideration the route we should take in our march to +Mexico. Motecusuma's ambassadors, who still remained with us, and wished +to act as our guides, maintained that the best and most level road lay +through the town of Cholulla, whose inhabitants, as subjects of +Motecusuma, would be ready to lend any assistance. + +We were also unanimously of opinion that this was the road we ought to +take; but the caziques of Tlascalla, on the contrary, were quite +downcast, when they learnt our determination, and maintained that we +ought to march over Huexotzinco, whose inhabitants were their relatives +and friends, and that we ought not to take our road through Cholulla, +where Motecusuma was accustomed to form his vile stratagems. Their +arguments, however, were of no avail: Cortes adhered to his resolution +of marching over that town. His reason for taking that road was because +this town, according to general report, was thickly populated, had many +beautiful towers, and large cues and temples, and lay in a beautiful +valley, surrounded by extensive townships well stocked with provisions. +Indeed, at that time even, Cholulla, when viewed at a distance, had the +appearance of our great city of Valladolid of Old Castile. At Cholulla, +moreover, we should have our friends of Tlascalla in the immediate +neighbourhood; we could not, therefore, select a more proper spot to +form our plans of reaching the city of Mexico without coming into +contact with the great body of its troops. For in all truth, if God had +not mercifully assisted us with his heavenly arm, and lent us strength +in the moment of need, it would not have been possible for us to have +achieved what we did! + +After a long deliberation thus, the route over Cholulla was fixed upon, +and Cortes sent to acquaint the inhabitants with our intentions, more +particularly as, notwithstanding they dwelt so near, they had despatched +no ambassadors to us, nor shown any of those attentions which were due +to us who came in the name of our great monarch, who, he added, had the +good of the people of Cholulla at heart. He at the same time desired +that all the caziques and papas of the town should repair to our +quarters, and swear allegiance to our sovereign and master, otherwise he +should look upon them as our enemies. + +While Cortes was despatching this message, and making other +arrangements, it was announced to him that four ambassadors had arrived +with presents in gold from the powerful Motecusuma, who, indeed, never +despatched any messengers from his court if not provided with presents +by him. He would have considered it an insult offered to us if he had +not done so. I will relate in the following chapter what message these +ambassadors brought. + +[30] In all the conferences which Cortes had with the Tlascallan chiefs, +they showed an excessive hatred to the Mexicans, from which the +Spaniards derived great advantages: Gomara, however, would make it +appear that the Mexicans could at any time have given the Tlascallans a +total overthrow if they had felt so inclined, but that they considered +it better policy to attack them from time to time, when they wanted +victims for their sacrifices; and then also the younger warriors of +Mexico could have frequent opportunities of learning the art of war near +to the metropolis, without marching to the distant boundaries of the +empire for that purpose. This supposition of Gomara, however, is not +founded on anything like fact. (p. 188.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXXX. + + _How the great Motecusuma despatched four ambassadors to us, all men + in high authority, with presents in gold and cotton stuffs, and what + they said to our captains._ + + +When Cortes admitted the four ambassadors into his presence they paid +him and we other warriors, who stood around his person, the most +profound respect, and placed before him the presents, consisting of +valuable gold trinkets of various workmanship, worth about 10,000 pesos; +and in ten packages of cotton stuffs, most beautifully interwoven with +feathers: all of which our general received with a friendly smile. They +then said that their monarch could not help feeling astonished that we +had made such a long stay among a poor and uncivilized people, who were +even not fit for slaves, but at the same time so viciously disposed, so +treacherous and thievish, that some day or night when we least expected +it they would murder us merely for the sake of plunder. Motecusuma +begged of us rather to visit his town, where, at least, we might enjoy +the good things it offered, though even these should be below our +deserts, and not equal to what he could wish. We should be regularly +supplied with the necessary provisions, though these had all to be +brought into their city from other parts. + +These expressions of friendship were merely sent by Motecusuma in order +to entice us from Tlascalla, being aware that we stood in close +friendship with its inhabitants, and that the caziques to strengthen the +union had given their daughters to Malinche and his officers. For he +would easily conjecture that nothing good could ensue to the Mexicans +from our alliance with them, and this was the reason why he baited us +with gold and other presents that we might enter into his territory, or +that we should, at least, quit the country of the Tlascallans. + +The Tlascallans were personally acquainted with these ambassadors, and +they told our captain that all of them were great personages and landed +proprietors, who had subjects of their own. These ambassadors Motecusuma +employed on the most important matters only. Cortes returned them many +thanks, in the most flattering manner, for their civilities and the +expressions of friendship they made in the name of their monarch, and he +desired them to say that in a short time he would pay his respects to +him. He then invited them to pass some time amongst us. + +About this time Cortes also sent two of our chief officers in advance to +communicate with Motecusuma and view the great city of Mexico, and +inspect its strong fortifications and other works of defence. These +officers were Alvarado and Vazquez de Tapia. They set out on their +march, and the four ambassadors who had brought the last present +remained with us as hostages. Our two officers were accompanied by the +other messengers who had previously arrived. At that time I was +suffering from a severe wound, accompanied by fever, and could procure +no medicine to relieve my sufferings, so that I cannot now recall to my +memory how far these two officers proceeded on their journey: this, +however, I have not forgotten, that as soon as it was known that Cortes +had sent these cavaliers at a venture to Mexico, it met with universal +disapprobation, and we desired that they might be recalled from their +journey, as nothing could ensue from this but a mere view of that city; +and a despatch was accordingly sent after them, with orders for their +immediate return to our camp. They were not long returning, as Tapia had +been attacked by fever on the road. When the ambassadors who accompanied +them related this to Motecusuma, he was very curious to know something +about the features and the height of these two teules, who had been on +their way to Mexico, and whether they were officers. These ambassadors, +it appears, informed him, that Alvarado was a man whose countenance was +particularly graceful and noble, shone like the sun, and that he was an +officer. They had indeed taken a faithful likeness of him, and gave him +the name of _Tonatio_,[31] which he retained ever after among them, and +signifies the _Sun, son of the Sun_. Of Tapia, that he was a man of a +very stately deportment, powerful, and likewise a chief officer. +Motecusuma was sorely grieved to hear of their return; his ambassadors, +however, had correctly delineated their physiognomies and stature: for +Alvarado was in every sense beautifully proportioned in body, noble in +his gait, had very pleasing features, and an amiable manner of +expressing himself, so that there always appeared a smile on his +countenance; in the same way Tapia, notwithstanding a certain expression +of bodily strength which he had about him, had great nobleness in his +carriage. + +For the rest, we were not a little delighted when they reappeared in our +quarters; nor did we make a secret of our opinion, that their mission +had not exactly been the most prudent of Cortes' resolves. But I will +say nothing further of this matter, as it has little to do with my +history. + +[31] The name which the Mexicans gave to Alvarado was Tonatiuh, the sun. +It may naturally be supposed that when the Spaniards first arrived in +New Spain, they did not catch the true sound of names. Torquemada, who +spent nearly the whole of his life in New Spain, is considered the most +correct in this respect. (p. 191.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXI. + + _How the inhabitants of Cholulla despatched four Indians to us, all + men of no distinction, to apologise for not having visited us in + Tlascalla, and what further happened._ + + +I mentioned in the preceding chapter that our captain had sent a message +to Cholulla, inviting the inhabitants of that town to visit us in +Tlascalla. When the caziques there received this message, they merely +thought proper to send us four Indians of mean rank, and apologised for +not appearing themselves, on account of indisposition. These messengers +neither brought any provisions nor anything else with them, but in a few +dry words offered the excuse just mentioned. + +The caziques of Tlascalla who were present when these messengers +arrived, were struck with their appearance, and remarked to Cortes that +this message was a real insult to him and all of us, since these +messengers were _Macehuales_,[32] and people of mean condition. + +This circumstance induced Cortes to despatch four Indians of Sempoalla +to Cholulla, telling them to acquaint the inhabitants there that he +should expect an embassy from them within the space of three days, +consisting of men of rank and authority. The distance between them and +him was merely twenty miles, and if no one appeared within the stated +time, he should consider the town of Cholulla in rebellion against us. +If, however, the embassy he required did make its appearance, it was his +intention to reveal matters of importance to them, for the salvation of +their souls, and salutary to their whole existence; he would then also +look upon them as friends and brothers, in the same way as he considered +their neighbours the Tlascallans. If, however, our proposals met with +their entire disapprobation, and if they did not consider our friendship +worthy of acceptance, we should be far from troubling them with our +presence. + +When the inhabitants of Cholulla were made acquainted with this friendly +declaration, they sent word that the reason why they could not come to +Tlascalla was, because they were at enmity with the inhabitants, and +were well aware how they and their ruler Motecusuma had been slandered +by them: we had merely to quit the town of Tlascalla and the boundaries +of that province, and if then they did not do their duty towards us, we +might look upon them in the light we had threatened, and treat them +accordingly. + +Our captain considered this excuse perfectly reasonable, and we +therefore resolved upon marching to Cholulla. When the caziques of +Tlascalla saw that our determination was fixed, they thus addressed +Cortes: "Then you rather put your trust in what the Mexicans say, than +in us who are your friends? We have often impressed on your mind how +particularly you should be upon your guard with the people of Cholulla, +and against the power of Mexico in general; however, in order that you +may have assistance in case of need, we have armed 10,000 of our +warriors to accompany you." + +Cortes expressed his thanks to these excellent men for their good +wishes, and deliberated with us as to the policy of entering with such a +large army into a country whose friendship we were desirous of gaining. +After mature consideration, we came to the conclusion that 2000 men +would be a sufficient number to join us, and Cortes accordingly begged +our friends for so many, and the rest were thus forced to remain at +home. + +[32] Bernal Diaz writes, incorrectly, Macegales. By this word the +Mexicans denoted the country people, who formed the great mass of the +population, who also tilled the ground, and paid to the landowners a +third part of the produce. Landed proprietors in Greece, at the present +day, are not so generous, for they take two thirds of the produce and +allow the tenant only one. (p. 192.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXII. + + _How we arrived in the town of Cholulla, and the brilliant reception + we met with._ + + +Early one morning we broke up our quarters, and left for the town of +Cholulla. We marched onward in the best order possible; for, as I have +before remarked, we were always doubly on our guard wherever we +suspected hostilities. The first day's march brought us to a river which +flows about four miles this side of Cholulla, and we took up our night's +quarters at a spot where now a stone bridge is built across the river. +Here, huts and messrooms had been erected for our accommodation. + +This same night ambassadors arrived from the caziques of Cholulla, all +personages of the first rank, to bid us welcome in their territory. They +brought us provisions, consisting of fowls and maise-bread, and +announced to us that all the caziques and papas would call to give us a +friendly reception, and begged we would excuse them for not having come +out immediately. Cortes returned them thanks through Dona Marina and +Aguilar for the provisions and their kind intentions; we then laid +ourselves down to rest, after we had posted the necessary sentinels and +ordered the patrols. + +With break of day we put ourselves in motion, and marched direct for the +town, within a short distance of which we were met by the caziques, +papas, and numbers of other Indians who had come out to welcome us. +Most of them were clad in a species of cotton cloak, similar in shape to +our marlotas.[33] These cloaks are also worn by the Capotecas Indians. +They all appeared friendly, and well-disposed towards us. The papas +carried along with them earthern censors, with which they perfumed our +officers and those soldiers who stood nearest. + +When the papas and other chief Indians saw the Tlascallans who had +accompanied us, they begged of Dona Marina to remind Cortes that it was +not proper for their enemies to enter into the town with weapons in +their hands. Cortes then ordered the officers and the whole of us to +halt, and spoke to us as follows: "I am of opinion, gentlemen, that, +previous to our entering into Cholulla, we should, by kind words, elicit +from these papas and caziques what their real intentions are. They seem +hurt that these our friends the Tlascallans should have accompanied us, +and are, indeed, perfectly right in what they say; wherefore it is my +intention to acquaint them, in a mild manner, with our reasons for +visiting their city. You know already, from the Tlascallans, that these +people are treacherous by nature; it is, therefore, most prudent we +should first desire them to take an oath of allegiance to our +sovereign." + +He then desired Dona Marina to call the caziques and papas around him +where he sat on horseback, all of us being close at his side. Three of +the principal caziques and two papas immediately appeared in Cortes' +presence, and addressed him thus: "Malinche, you must not harbour any +suspicion against us for not having come to Tlascalla to pay our +respects to you there, and because we did not send you any provisions. +We were not wanting in good wishes towards you, but Maxixcatzin, +Xicotencatl, and the whole of Tlascalla are at enmity with us. They have +too grossly slandered us and our great monarch, and now they no longer +abide by words, but have the audacity to be upon the point of entering, +all armed, into our city, under your protection. We earnestly beg you +will tell them to return to their own country, or at least command them +to remain outside in the fields, and not to march into our city in such +a manner. The rest of you are at liberty to enter at any time, and are +perfectly welcome." + +As soon as our captain was informed of this their reasonable request he +sent for Alvarado and Oli, and commissioned them to beg of the +Tlascallans to erect themselves huts and barracks outside the town, and +not to follow us there except those of them who transported our heavy +guns, and our friends of Sempoalla. These officers were, at the same +time, to inform them what had occasioned these orders, and the great +fear in which all the caziques and papas stood of them; that they should +be duly informed of the day when we commenced our march through Cholulla +to Mexico; lastly, they were desired not to grieve on account of this +change. + +When the inhabitants of Cholulla perceived the arrangements which Cortes +had made respecting the Tlascallans, they appeared more easy; upon which +Cortes acquainted them that our sovereign and master, whose subjects we +were, was a powerful monarch, who had under his command many great kings +and caziques. We were sent by him into this country to acquaint them, in +his name, that, in future, they were no longer to worship idols, make +human sacrifices, eat human flesh, and were to abstain from committing +unnatural crimes, and all other abominations. We had come to their town +because the road to Mexico lay through it, whither we were going to hold +a conference with the great Motecusuma; and we were also desirous of +considering them as brothers. Cortes further said that other great +caziques had already sworn obedience and submission to our sovereign, +and he hoped they would follow their example. + +In answer to this, they said that we really demanded too much; we had +scarcely seen them before we required of them to abolish their teules, +which they could not think of complying with; but as regarded doing +homage to our sovereign, in so far they would yield to our wishes. They +accordingly made a verbal promise of allegiance, but not with the usual +formalities, in presence of a royal notary; upon this we made our entry +into the city of Cholulla. The tops of the houses and streets were +everywhere crowded with people to gaze upon us. And who can wonder? They +had never before seen men like ourselves, nor any horses! Through this +mass of people we were conducted to our quarters, consisting of several +large apartments, in which all of us, with our friends of Sempoalla and +the Tlascallans who transported our baggage, found plenty of room, and +we were immediately supplied with abundance of good victuals. + +[33] A small kind of cloak, a part of the old Moorish dress, still worn +in Spain during festivals. (p. 194.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIII. + + _How the inhabitants of Cholulla concerted a plan, at the + instigation of Motecusuma, to murder us all, and what further + happened._ + + +The splendid reception we met with at Cholulla was certainly well meant +and honest on the part of the inhabitants, yet a most rapid change took +place. Motecusuma, namely, through his ambassadors, had concocted a plan +with the inhabitants to murder us all. The latter were ordered to arm +themselves in all secrecy, and act in concert with 20,000 of his troops, +who were already on their road, and would enter Cholulla by stealth, +when they were to fall upon us unawares in a body, harass us day and +night, take as many of us prisoners as they could, and send us bound to +Mexico. These orders were accompanied with great promises and presents +of jewels, and other precious things,--among them a golden drum. The +papas also received instructions to sacrifice twenty of us to their +idols. + +All this was nicely planned, and ready to burst forth. Motecusuma's +troops lay for a part hid among the woods, about two miles from +Cholulla; another portion had been secretly admitted into the dwellings +of the Cholullans. All were well armed, and the balconies of the houses +had been strengthened by breastworks, the streets barricaded by heaps of +earth, and intersected by deep holes, so as to render our horse useless. +Some houses had even been filled with neck-straps, ropes made of twisted +hides, and long poles, to which we were to be bound and transported to +Mexico. But the Almighty had willed this otherwise, and all their +designs were frustrated, as the kind reader will shortly see. + +For the present we were lodged in good quarters, and received a regular +and plentiful supply of provisions during the first days; and though all +seemed in profound peace, we did not relax in our excellent custom of +keeping a sharp look-out: and, indeed, a visible change was taking +place, for, on the third day, provisions were no longer brought us, nor +did any cazique or papa make his appearance among us: if any Indian did +approach our quarters from curiosity, he merely came with derisive +smiles, as if to convey that something unexpected was going to befall +us. Cortes, perceiving this, desired the ambassadors of Motecusuma, who +still remained with us, to order the caziques to send us provisions as +usual. Some wood and water was now indeed brought us, but the old man +who came with it assured us that there was no more maise left in +Cholulla. That very day even other ambassadors had arrived from +Motecusuma, who joined those staying with us, and delivered their +monarch's message to Cortes without any show of courtesy, and in an +impudent tone of voice, saying that their monarch desired we should not +come to his city, as he could not provide for our sustenance there. To +this they required an immediate answer, they being in a hurry to return +with our reply to Mexico. As soon as Cortes saw what a sad turn affairs +had taken, he spoke with much reserve, and answered the ambassadors in +the most courteous manner possible, telling them how greatly he was +astonished that so powerful a monarch as Motecusuma should so often +change his mind: in the meantime he begged of them to postpone their +return until the following day, when he would be able to say in how far +we could comply with their monarch's wishes. + +If my memory is correct, he likewise presented them with a few strings +of glass pearls. It is, however, certain that they promised to remain +until the morrow. + +As soon as this conference had ended, Cortes called us all together, and +told us to be particularly upon our guard, as the inhabitants, no doubt, +had some evil design in hand. He then sent for the principal cazique, +whose name has slipped my memory, and desired him, if he could not come +in person, to send some one else; but received an answer that he was +indisposed, and that neither he nor any other of the chiefs could come. + +Cortes, perceiving this unfavorable aspect of affairs, ordered two papas +to be brought into his presence from a large cu[34] adjoining our +quarters, where several other papas had assembled together. This was +accordingly done with every mark of respect due to their persons. + +Cortes commenced by presenting each with a chalchihuis, a stone which +they prize as much as we do a smaragdus. He then, in a most affectionate +manner, inquired of them what had caused the fear which had seized the +caziques, the other chiefs, and the papas, and why they no longer called +upon us, though we had sent them invitations? One of these papas +appeared to hold a superior rank, as of a bishop, above the others; all +the cues of the town stood under him, and the inhabitants paid him the +profoundest veneration. This personage stated, in reply to Cortes, that +the papas did not entertain any fear for us: if the cazique and other +chief personages would not make their appearance, he was very willing to +call upon them, and he doubted not for an instant but that they would +immediately repair to our quarters. + +Cortes desired him accordingly to go and call them; in the meantime he +would detain the other papa. It was not long before this chief priest +reappeared in our quarters, bringing along with him the caziques and the +other principal personages of the district. Cortes inquired of them what +cause they had had to fear us, and why they no longer sent us anything +to eat? adding, that if our stay in their town was burdensome to them, +we would leave the very next morning for Mexico, to pay our respects to +their monarch Motecusuma: they had merely to furnish us with a requisite +number of their porters to convey our baggage and the tepuzques, (that +is, our cannon,) and to send us provisions. + +The cazique was so embarrassed at what Cortes had said, that he scarcely +durst open his mouth; but at length promised us the provisions we +required, although he had been, he added, commanded by Motecusuma, his +sovereign, to withhold them, and not to allow us to proceed any further +on our march. + +During this conference, three of our Sempoallan friends entered, and +secretly acquainted Cortes that they had found deep holes in the streets +adjoining our quarters, which were thinly covered over with sticks and +earth, so as to be imperceptible to the eye, unless by close inspection; +they had the curiosity to remove the earth from off one of these holes, +and found, sticking up at the bottom, numbers of short stakes sharply +pointed, and no doubt placed there to wound our horse when they fell +into the holes: heaps of stones had been gathered on the tops of the +houses, and the latter strengthened by breastworks made of burnt bricks. +Every preparation had been made for an attack, and another street was +strongly barricaded by large wooden beams. At this same moment eight +Tlascallans also arrived from their quarters outside the town, and said +to Cortes, "Are you ignorant, Malinche, of the treacherous designs which +are going on in this town? We have been given to understand that the +Cholullans last night sacrificed seven persons to their god of war, +among them five children, in order to obtain from him a promise of +victory over you. And we also know that all their goods, wives, and +children have been sent out of the town." + +On learning this piece of news, Cortes desired these men to return to +their quarters and tell their chiefs to hold themselves in readiness to +fall into the town at a moment's notice. Then, turning to the cazique, +papas, and chiefs of Cholulla, he told them to allay their fears; to +remain true to the promise they had made with respect to our monarch, +otherwise he should find himself obliged to punish them severely: he had +already acquainted them that, on the following morning, he intended to +take his departure for Mexico, and he should require 2000 of their +warriors to join his army, a like number having been furnished by the +Tlascallans. + +The chiefs, in reply, assured Cortes of their willingness to comply with +his wishes; they would find him the number of warriors and porters he +required; they then took their leave to make the necessary preparations, +and appeared perfectly confident, for they thought we should not be able +to stand against their warriors and the army of Motecusuma, which lay in +ambush in the defiles, and that they should be able either to kill us or +take us prisoners, as we should be unable to use our horses on account +of the deep holes. They likewise ordered their men to block up all the +outlets of the town, and so inclose us in the narrow streets, as we +intended leaving next morning. Every one was to be particularly on his +guard, and to perform his part at the right time. They would also send +2000 men in advance, and as we did not dream of what was going to take +place, they would make easy work with us, take us prisoners without +danger, and carry us off bound to Mexico. There was no doubt as to their +success, for they had sacrificed to their god of war, and obtained a +promise of victory from him. + +While they were thus making sure of victory, Cortes made every effort to +discover their plans, and commissioned Dona Marina to present the two +papas, he had first spoken to, with additional chalchihuis stones, and +acquaint them that Malinche was very desirous of having a second +interview with them. Dona Marina was quite an adept in such matters, and +succeeded by means of the presents, to induce them to accompany her into +our general's quarters, who then desired them to disclose everything +faithfully to him, which, as priests and men of rank, who would disgrace +themselves by telling lies, they were doubly bound to do. He also +assured them that the trust they reposed in him should not be betrayed, +particularly as we were going to leave next day; and in order to give +more weight to his words, he made them considerable promises. The papas +then confessed that their sovereign Motecusuma could come to no +resolution with himself as to whether he ought to allow us to march +towards his metropolis, and that he changed his mind several times in +one day. At one time he sent orders, that when we should arrive in +Cholulla, we were to be treated in the most respectful manner, and they +were to accompany us to his city; at another time he sent word that our +march to Mexico was contrary to his wishes; and now his gods, +Tetzcatlipuca and Huitzilopochtli, in whom he reposed all confidence, +had advised him to kill us, or have us taken prisoners in Cholulla. The +day before he had sent 20,000 warriors to this place, of whom one half +was already secreted in the town, the other among the mountain defiles +in the neighbourhood. These troops had been informed of our intended +departure, and of the mode in which the attack was to be made upon us, +as also of the 2000 men of Cholulla who were to accompany us, and how +twenty of our men were to be sacrificed to the idols of Cholulla. + +After Cortes had elicited all this from them, he presented both the +papas with several of the most beautiful cloaks, enjoining them to +betray nothing of what had passed between him and themselves, if they +did they should certainly forfeit their lives on his return from Mexico. +That very night our general called a council of war, consisting of the +most sensible and experienced soldiers of our small army, to deliberate +what our next step should be. Opinion, as generally happens under such +circumstances, was much divided. Some proposed that we should change our +route altogether and take the road over Huexotzinco. Others were of +opinion that we should preserve peace at any sacrifice and return to +Tlascalla. We others, however, maintained, that if we left the +contemplated treachery of the Cholullans unpunished, the Mexicans would +play us worse tricks in other places, and as we had once gained a +footing in this vast territory, it would be better for hostilities to +break out here, where, besides that, provisions were plentiful, we could +do more execution than in the open field; and immediately to acquaint +the Tlascallans with our determination, that they might join us in the +combat. + +This plan, in the end, received unanimous consent, and the following +morning was fixed on for the day of our departure. We therefore fastened +up our knapsacks, which indeed was no great trouble, as we had very +little baggage with us. Our attack upon the Indians was to be made in +the spacious square adjoining our quarters, which was surrounded by high +walls, here we should be able to pay them out according to their +deserts. As to the ambassadors of Motecusuma, we merely told them, that +some villains of Cholulla had formed a conspiracy against us, and had +attempted to lay it all to the door of their sovereign Motecusuma and +his ambassadors; but that we could not for a moment give credence to +this, though for the present we must beg of them not again to leave our +general's head-quarters, and to break off all further intercourse with +the inhabitants of the town, in order to erase from our minds all +suspicion of an understanding between the latter and themselves; they +could also act as our guides on our march to Mexico. + +The ambassadors assured us that neither their sovereign Motecusuma, nor +they, were aware of anything we had mentioned to them. We, however, +placed a guard over their persons, fearing they might depart without our +knowledge, and relate to Motecusuma how we had discovered the +conspiracy. + +During the whole of this night we were particularly on our guard and all +under arms, the horses were ready saddled and bridled, strong watches +were posted in various places, and one patrol followed the other, as we +were sure we should be attacked that night by the united forces of +Mexico and Cholulla. Of this we obtained further certainty from an old +Indian female, the wife of a cazique, who taking compassion on the youth +and good looks of Dona Marina, knowing at the same time that she +possessed many fine things, had induced her to follow her home to save +her from the impending carnage; for, according to her account, we were +all to be killed that night or the day following. This woman assured her +that Motecusuma had issued the most peremptory orders to this effect, +and had therefore sent an army of Mexicans, who were to join the +Cholullans and spare none of us alive, excepting those they could make +prisoners, who were to be sent bound to Mexico. On hearing this, the old +woman added, she was induced from a compassionate feeling to disclose it +to her. She advised her to pack up her goods in all haste and come and +live in her house. She should have her second son for husband, the +brother of the young man then present. + +Dona Marina, who was altogether very shrewd, thus answered the old +woman: "I am thankful indeed, good mother, for your kind warning; I +would go with you this instant if I could find any one to carry away my +mantles and gold trinkets, for I have a pretty good quantity of both. +Wherefore I beg of you, good mother, wait a few moments here with your +son, and we will leave together during the night; for these teules have +their ears and eyes everywhere." + +The old woman placed perfect confidence in what she had said, and +continued chatting with her for some time. Dona Marina then put several +other questions to her, as to the manner in which we were to be killed? +How and when the plan had been formed? The answers which the old woman +returned perfectly agreed with the account of the two papas. Marina then +questioned her as to how she had come to the knowledge of that, which +the Cholullans had thought to keep so secret? "I know all this from my +husband," returned she, "who is the chief of one of the quarters of this +town, and who has already joined the men under his command, to make the +necessary preparations, and join the troops of Mexico in the mountain +defiles. Both armies will meet and cut down all the teules. All this I +have known three days ago, for my husband has been presented with a +golden drum, and the three other chiefs with splendid cloaks and gold +trinkets, with orders to take all the teules prisoners and send them to +Mexico." + +Dona Marina artfully concealed the real impression all this made upon +her mind, and said to the old woman: "How delighted am I to learn that +your son, to whom you intend to marry me, is a man of high rank! We have +now been discoursing about matters which were intended to be kept a +secret. I will now go and pack up my things; in the meantime you wait +for me here, for I cannot carry all my goods alone; you, your son, my +future brother, must assist me to decamp." + +The old woman swallowed all this, and stationed herself at some +particular spot with her son. In the meantime Dona Marina related to our +general the whole of the discourse she had had with the old woman. +Cortes immediately ordered the latter into his presence, and put further +questions to her respecting the plans of the treacherous Cholullans. +Everything she related corresponded with the account of the two papas; +Cortes then ordered her to be detained in close custody that she might +not return and disclose anything to her companions. + +When morning arrived it was quite amusing to behold the air of contempt +and the confidence which was depicted in the countenances of the +caziques, the papas, and of the Indians in general. They appeared as if +they had already caught us in a snare. They sent a larger body of their +troops than we had demanded of them; yet there was sufficient room to +hold all these besides our own men in the square adjoining our quarters, +which may be seen to this hour as a memento of that bloody day. Though +it was very early when the troops of Cholulla arrived in our quarters, +yet they found us quite ready for the day's work. + +The largest gate of this inclosed square was occupied by that portion of +our troops who were armed with swords and shields, who were ordered not +to allow egress to any Indian who bore arms. Our general had mounted his +horse, surrounded by several of us as a guard to his person, and when he +saw how early all the caziques, papas, and warriors had assembled in the +morning, he cried out in a loud voice: "How impatient these treacherous +people are to get us among the defiles and satiate themselves with our +flesh: but the Almighty will order things differently from what they +expect!" + +He then inquired for the two papas who had disclosed the plot to him; +and was informed that they were waiting outside with other caziques, and +wished to be admitted; upon which Cortes sent our interpreter, Aguilar, +to desire them to return home, as he had no occasion for them at that +moment. This was done that no harm might befall them when we should fall +upon the Indians, and as a recompense for the services they had rendered +us. + +Our general, seated on horseback, with Dona Marina at his side, then +severely upbraided the caziques and papas. "Why had they," said he to +them, "wished to murder us all the preceding night, though we had not +done them the smallest injury? Had we said or done anything to justify +this treacherous movement? Had he done anything more than exhorted them, +as he had all the different tribes through whose territories he had +passed, to abolish their human sacrifices and abstain from eating human +flesh, to commit no unnatural crimes, and to lead a better life than +they had hitherto? He had, further, merely spoken to them about our holy +religion, and certainly thereby done them no violence. For what purpose +had they collected all those long poles with the nooses and ropes in the +house adjoining the large cue? Why had they during the last three days +barricaded the streets, intersected the latter by deep holes, and +fortified the tops of their houses with breastworks? Why had they sent +away from the town their wives, children, and all their goods? All this +sufficiently proved their treacherous designs, which were no longer to +be concealed; they had even refused to provide us food, and in mockery +had sent us merely wood and water, as if to make us believe they had no +maise left. He was perfectly aware that large troops of warriors had +secreted themselves in the defiles near the town, laying in wait for us +when we should be on our road to Mexico. During the past night they had +been joined by several other troops. In reward for our having looked +upon them as brothers, and announced what our God and our sovereign had +commissioned us to reveal to them, they wished to murder us, and eat our +flesh, for which purpose they had already prepared the dishes, the salt, +the pepper, and the tomates. If they intended to kill us, why did they +not attack us boldly in the open field as beseemed brave warriors, as +their neighbours the Tlascallans had done? He was fully acquainted with +all their designs, how they had promised to sacrifice twenty of us to +their god of war; and that they had sacrificed seven Indians three +nights ago to him, that he might grant them victory over us. But all his +promises were full of lies and deceit. Their gods had no power whatever +over us, and their evil deeds, with all their treachery, would recoil +upon themselves." + +When the caziques, papas, and the other principal personages heard this, +all of which Dona Marina most intelligibly interpreted to them, they +confessed that what Cortes had said was perfectly correct, but added, +that they were not the guilty persons, everything having been done at +the instigation of Motecusuma's ambassadors, in accordance with his +commands. To which Cortes answered, "That the Spanish laws did not allow +such treachery to pass by unpunished, and that they would be punished +for it with the loss of their lives." At this moment he ordered a cannon +to be fired, which was the signal for us to fall upon them. + +A great number of these people were put to the sword, and some were +burnt alive, to prove the deceitfulness of their false gods. Before a +couple of hours had elapsed our friends of Tlascalla came storming out +of their camp into the town, and fought courageously with the troops of +Cholulla in the streets, who strove to drive them back. They then +dispersed themselves about the town for the sake of plunder, and taking +prisoners; nor were we able to prevent them. The following day more +troops arrived from Tlascalla, who committed worse depredations, so +deeply rooted was their hatred against Cholulla. At length our +compassion was aroused, and we ordered the Tlascallans to stay all +further hostilities, and Cortes commanded all the chiefs into his +presence, when he addressed them at some length, and requested them to +return to their camp, which they accordingly complied with, the +Sempoallans alone remaining within the town.[35] + +While all this was going on, several caziques and papas arrived from +other quarters of the town, who were said to have taken no part in this +treacherous movement; which may, indeed, have been the case, as in this +large town every quarter had its own regiment and peculiar regulations. +These people begged Cortes and all of us to pardon them, as the real +traitors had now received their deserved punishment. In this prayer they +were joined by our friends, the two papas, who had first discovered the +plot to us, and the old wife of the Indian chief, who was to have been +Dona Marina's mother-in-law. + +Cortes at first appeared very little disposed to listen to their +prayers; but at length he sent for the two ambassadors of Motecusuma, +whom we had kept in close confinement. He began by telling them, that +though the whole town, with all its inhabitants, had merited total +destruction, he would, nevertheless, substitute mercy for justice in +consideration of their monarch Motecusuma, whose subjects they were; but +he expected they would in future show a better disposition towards us, +and give us no further cause to renew such a scene as had just taken +place, otherwise they would undoubtedly forfeit their lives. He next +sent for the caziques of the Tlascallan camp, and ordered them to +liberate the prisoners they had taken, as they had now sufficiently +revenged themselves. It was with difficulty we could persuade the +Tlascallans to comply with this, for they maintained that the Cholullans +had deserved a good deal more at their hands for the many times they had +suffered from them; however, as it was Cortes' wish, they liberated a +great number of their captives; but carried off a great deal of booty, +consisting in gold, cloaks, cotton, salt, and other matters. + +Cortes then brought about a reconciliation between these two tribes, and +as far as I know, the good understanding which grew up between them was +never after disturbed. He then desired the caziques and papas to order +all the inhabitants into the town again, and to open the tiangues[36] or +markets, at the same time assuring them that no further harm should +befall them. The chiefs accordingly promised that all the inhabitants +should return to the town within the space of five days, as most of them +had fled to the woods; and added, that they feared Cortes would elect a +cazique to whom they might be averse in the room of him who had been +killed in the recent attack. Our general, however, merely inquired who +the rightful successor was according to their laws; and on being +informed the late cazique's brother, he appointed him governor. + +As soon as the town was again filled with people, and the markets +frequented as usual, Cortes assembled the papas, chiefs, and the +principal inhabitants, and explained to them the nature of our holy +religion, and showed them the necessity of abolishing their idolatry and +human sacrifices, and their other abominations. He likewise showed them +the delusion they lived under with respect to their idols, which were +nothing but evil spirits from whom they could expect nothing but +falsehood. They should remember how these had lately promised them the +victory over us, and how all their promises had terminated. They should, +therefore, pull down and destroy those lying and deceitful idols, or +leave that work to us, if they declined doing it themselves. At present +he desired they would clear and fresh plaster one of their temples, that +we might fit it up for a chapel and erect a cross there. These words +seemed to cheer them up a little, and they gave a solemn promise to +destroy their idols, but continually postponed the fulfilment whenever +we put them in mind of it. On this matter father Olmedo set Cortes' mind +at ease, by assuring him it would be of little use if even the Indians +did abolish their idols, unless they had previously received some notion +of our religion and faith. We ought first to see what impression our +march into Mexico would make upon them. Time alone could be our surest +guide as to our further proceedings. For the present we had done +sufficient by admonishing them to piety, and by erecting a cross there. + +Respecting the town of Cholulla, I have further to remark; that it lay +in a valley, and was surrounded by the townships Tepeaca, Tlascalla, +Chalco, Tecamachalco, Huexotzinco, and so many others that I am unable +to enumerate them all. The country furnished quantities of maise and +various leguminous plants, and particularly maguey, from the sap of +which the inhabitants make their wine.[37] In the town itself various +kinds of earthenware pots are made, embellished with black and white +colours, which are burnt in; with these it supplies Mexico and the +neighbouring provinces. In this respect Cholulla is equally celebrated +in this country, as the towns Talavera and Valencia are in Spain. At +that time Cholulla had above a hundred very high towers, the whole of +which were cues or temples, on which the human sacrifices were made and +their idols stood. The principal cu here was even higher than that of +Mexico, though the latter was, indeed, magnificent and very high.[38] It +is said to have contained one hundred courts, and an idol of enormous +dimensions, (the name of which I have forgotten,) which stood in great +repute, and people came from various parts to sacrifice human beings to +it and bring offerings for the dead.[39] I well remember when we first +entered this town, and looking up to the elevated white temples, how the +whole place put us completely in mind of Valladolid. + +I must now say a few words respecting the troops which Motecusuma had +despatched here. These lay in ambush in the immediate vicinity of the +town, and had planted stakes in the ground, and dug deep holes to render +our cavalry incapable of acting. But when they were informed of what had +taken place there, they immediately returned to Mexico to bring the +intelligence to Motecusuma. However rapidly their departure may have +been, we, nevertheless, were immediately apprized of it by the two +distinguished personages who were with us. Motecusuma was excessively +vexed and grieved at the news, and instantly ordered a number of Indians +to be sacrificed to his warrior god Huitzilopochtli, that he might +reveal to him whether he should obstruct our march to Mexico, or allow +us peaceable entrance into his metropolis. Two whole days did he spend +with his papas in devotional exercises, and in sacrificing human beings +to his idols, and at length was advised by them to send us ambassadors +to apologise for the occurrence at Cholulla. He was further to allow us +to march into Mexico, under every show of friendship; but when we had +entered the town to deny us provisions and water, break down the +bridges, shut us in, and put us all to the sword. If they attacked us in +a body, and from all sides at once, not one of us could escape. Not till +then were the great sacrifices to be instituted, as well in honour of +the warrior-god Huitzilopochtli, who had given the oracle, as in that of +the god of hell, Tetzcatlipuca. Our legs, thighs, and arms were to be +eaten at their feast, and our entrails, with the remaining part of our +bodies, were to be thrown to the serpents and tigers, which they kept +confined in wooden cages, as will be mentioned in the proper place. + +It may well be imagined that the chastisement we gave the inhabitants of +Cholulla spread like wildfire through the whole of New Spain. If, +previously, the battles of Potonchan, Tabasco, Cingapacinga, and +Tlascalla, had spread the fame of our invincible courage, and obtained +for us the name of teules or gods of a fearful nature, we were now +looked upon as divinities of a superior order, from whom nothing could +be kept a secret, and the greatest veneration was consequently paid to +us. + +The kind reader has now, no doubt, heard enough of this occurrence at +Cholulla, and I myself would gladly break off here, but must add a word +or two about the wooden cages we saw in this town. These were +constructed of heavy timber, and filled with grown-up men and little +boys, who were fattening there for the sacrifices and feasts. These +diabolical cages Cortes ordered to be pulled down, and sent the +prisoners each to their several homes. He likewise made the chiefs and +papas promise him, under severe threats, never again to fasten up human +beings in that way, and totally to abstain from eating human flesh. But +what was the use of promises which they never intended to keep? + +These are, among others, those abominable monstrosities which the bishop +of Chiapa, Las Casas, can find no end in enumerating. But he is wrong +when he asserts that we gave the Cholullans the above-mentioned +chastisement without any provocation, and merely for pastime. I can, +however, produce as witnesses to the contrary the pious Franciscan +friars who were the first monks our emperor despatched thither after the +conquest of New Spain. These venerable men were purposely sent to +Cholulla to make the minutest investigation into this affair. They +gained all their information from the elders and papas of the town +itself, and they were fully convinced that everything had really taken +place as I have related above: and, indeed, if we had not made an +example here, we should have lived in constant alarm, as we were +completely surrounded by Mexican and Cholullan troops, who were +everywhere lying in ambush. If we had been destroyed at that time, New +Spain would certainly not have been so speedily conquered; a second +armament would not so easily have found its way there; and if it had, +there would have been hard work with the Indians who defended the +coasts; and they would have continued in their idolatrous worship. I +have myself heard the very pious Franciscan brother Toribio Motelmea[40] +say that it would certainly have been better if we could have avoided +spilling so much blood, and the Indians had not given us the cause to do +so; but it had this good effect, that all the inhabitants of New Spain +became convinced that their idols were nothing but deceitful demons, and +they experienced how much happier they were when they discontinued to +worship them or sacrifice to them; and it is a fact, that the +inhabitants of Cholulla, from that moment, cared very little about their +idols: they took down the large one from the principal cu, and either +hid it somewhere or destroyed it altogether: we, at least, never saw +that one again, and they placed another there in its stead.[41] + +[34] A temple where human beings were sacrificed to idols. (p. 197.) + +[35] Cortes, in his despatches to the emperor, mentions that three +thousand Cholullans were killed on this occasion; but Torquemada gives +double the number, which is nearer the truth, particularly as Gomara +agrees with him. + +Respecting this massacre, Torquemada gives the following remarkable +account: The Cholullans, he says, expected that their god Quetzalcohuatl +would come to their assistance with some miracle. They believed that at +any time, by removing part of the white plaster from the temple, a +strong flood of water would instantly burst out, and they were therefore +very particular in repairing any little damage that might happen in this +way to the temple, by means of chalk mixed with the blood of children +two and three years of age, killed for the purpose. It was on this +temple that the Cholullans defended themselves with the greatest +obstinacy; but the victory soon declaring in favour of the Spaniards, +the inhabitants began to loosen the plaster off the outside, firmly +believing that a deluge of water would instantly burst forth, and drown +the assailants; when finding themselves disappointed in their +expectations, they complained bitterly to their god for not rendering +them any assistance; refused, however, to capitulate; and numbers flung +themselves headlong from the top of the temple, to seek death that way. +(p. 204.) + +[36] Torquemada sometimes writes this word Tianquitz, sometimes +Tiangues, but we find it also written Tianquiztli. By the terminating +syllable most likely some particular market is meant; for it is peculiar +to the Mexican language to modify the meaning of words in that manner. +(p. 205.) + +[37] Termed by the inhabitants Pulque. (p. 205.) + +[38] An interesting account of this remarkable building, of which +considerable remains are still to be seen, is given by Humboldt, in the +'Atlas Pittoresque.' (p. 206.) + +[39] It was the god Quetzalcoatl, of whom also an account will be found +in the above-mentioned work of Humboldt. (p. 206.) + +[40] The name is correctly written Motolinia. This was the excellent +brother Toribio Benavente, who so greatly exerted himself in converting +the Indians to Christianity. He adopted the name of Motolinia on his +arrival in New Spain, and the word means, _O! the poor man!_ which the +Indians exclaimed when they first beheld the meanness of his attire. (p. +207.) + +[41] Respecting the castigation of the inhabitants of Cholulla, Las +Casas, (Brevissima Relacion de la destrucyon de las Indias) asserts, +though merely from hearsay, that Cortes, while cutting down the Indians, +repeated this verse: + +Miro Nero de Tarpeya, A Roma como se ardia, Gritos dan Ninos y' viejos, +Y el de nada se dolia. + +A translation of these lines will be found in a subsequent note. (p. +208.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIV. + + _The negotiations we set on foot with the great Motecusuma, and the + ambassadors we sent him._ + + +We had now lain a fortnight in Cholulla, and any further stay there +would have been waste of time. All the inhabitants had returned to their +dwellings, and the markets were again filled with goods and merchants; +peace had been concluded between them and their neighbours the +Tlascallans; a cross erected, and much of our holy faith explained to +the inhabitants. Besides this, we discovered that Motecusuma had sent +spies into our quarters to gain intelligence as to our future plans, and +whether we really intended marching to his metropolis. His two +ambassadors, who were still with us, also forwarded him due information, +from time to time, of all that was going on. + +Our captain now called a council of war of those officers and soldiers +in whom he could place implicit confidence, and of whose wisdom and +courage he entertained the highest respect. In this council it was +resolved we should despatch a most friendly and flattering message to +Motecusuma, as near as possible to the following effect: "We had now, in +compliance with the commands of our sovereign, journeyed over many seas, +and through far distant countries, solely for the object of paying our +personal respects to him, the monarch of Mexico, and of disclosing +things to him which would prove of the greatest advantage to him. We +chose the road over Cholulla because his ambassadors had proposed that +route, and had assured us that the inhabitants were his subjects. We met +with the best of receptions, and were well treated during the first two +days of our stay there, when we discovered that a vile conspiracy had +been set on foot to destroy us all; which, however, could not prove +otherwise than a failure, as we were endowed with the faculty of knowing +things beforehand, and it was utterly impossible to do anything without +our knowledge: we had, therefore, punished a number of those who had +concocted that treacherous movement, but we had, at the same time, +abstained from punishing all those who had taken part in it, in +consideration that the Cholullans were his subjects, and from the deep +veneration we entertained for his person, and the great friendship we +bore him. It was, however, to be regretted that the caziques and papas +should have unanimously declared that all had been done at his commands, +and planned by his own ambassadors. Of this, however, we had not +believed a single word, as it seemed impossible to us that so great a +monarch, who always styled himself our friend, could have consented +thereto. On the contrary, we expected from him that, in case his gods +had whispered to him to treat us hostilely, he would have attacked us in +the open field, although it was all the same to us whether we were to +fight about in a town or in the open field, or during night or daytime, +as we easily overthrew those who ventured to attack us. As we were fully +convinced of his friendship, and were very desirous to make his personal +acquaintance, and to discourse with him, we intended marching to Mexico +to lay our monarch's commission before him." + +When Motecusuma received this message, and found that we in no way +considered him implicated in the occurrence which had taken place at +Cholulla, he again, as we were told, began to fast with his papas, and +to sacrifice to his gods, of whom he wished to know whether he was to +admit us into his metropolis or not. They pronounced in the affirmative, +as, when we were once there, he would be able to slay us at his +pleasure. His chief officers and papas were of the same opinion, and +thought that, if he did not admit us into the city, we might commence +hostilities against his subjects, and call in the assistance of the +Tlascallans, the Totonaque, and other tribes who were at enmity with the +Mexicans, and in alliance with us. To obviate all this, the surest way +would be to follow the wise counsel which Huitzilopochtli had given. + +The day had now arrived which had been fixed for our departure, and, +just as we were about to break up our quarters, other ambassadors +arrived, with presents from Motecusuma. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXV. + + _How the powerful Motecusuma sends a valuable present in gold to us, + and the message which accompanied it, and how we all agree to + commence our march upon Mexico; and what further happened._ + + +When Motecusuma was made acquainted with what we said concerning our +friendship towards him, and the confident manner in which we had +expressed ourselves, he again felt embarrassed, and was amazed at the +idea that nothing could be concealed from us, and that he might attack +us whenever he liked, within the city walls or in the open field, by day +or by night, it was all the same to us. He thought of our war with the +Tlascallans, of the battles we had fought at Potonchon, Tabasco, +Cingapacinga, and Cholulla, and grew quite perplexed and dispirited. He +several times altered his resolutions, until at last he determined upon +sending us six of his principal courtiers with a present in gold and +trinkets of various workmanship, worth altogether above 2000 pesos, +besides several packages of cotton stuffs most beautifully manufactured. + +When these messengers were introduced into Cortes' presence, they +touched the ground with their hands, and kissed it, and thus addressed +our general, with signs of the deepest veneration: "Malinche! our ruler +and monarch, the mighty Motecusuma, sends you this present, and begs you +will accept of it with the same kind feeling he bears you and your +brothers: he at the same time desires us to express his regret for the +late occurrence at Cholulla, and to assure you it would be pleasing to +him if you would castigate that evil-minded and lying people more +severely, since they had wished to heap the infamy of their vile +proceedings upon him and his ambassadors. We might (they continued) rest +assured of his friendship, and repair to his metropolis as soon as we +should think proper. Being as we were men of vast courage, and the +ambassadors of so great a monarch, he would receive us with due honours, +and only regretted that, owing to the situation of his metropolis in the +midst of a lake, he should not be able to furnish our table with the +victuals he otherwise could wish. The greatest respect would everywhere +be paid us, and he had also sent orders to the different townships we +should pass through to furnish us with everything we required." Besides +these, there were many other civilities they mentioned in their +monarch's name. + +Cortes, to whom our interpreters had explained this message, accepted +the present with every appearance of delight. He embraced the +ambassadors, and presented them with various articles of cut glass. +Every officer and soldier amongst us congratulated himself upon this +favorable turn which affairs had taken, and at the monarch's invitation +to visit Mexico,--for our desire to see that city daily grew upon us, +particularly upon those who had no possessions in Cuba, and had +accompanied the previous expeditions under Cordoba and Grijalva. + +Cortes returned the ambassadors a kind answer to all they had said, and +arranged that three of them should remain with us to show us the road, +while the others were despatched to Mexico, to acquaint their monarch +that we had already set out on our march thither. + +When the two old caziques of Tlascalla found that Cortes was earnestly +bent on marching to Mexico, they appeared excessively grieved, and +reminded Cortes how frequently they had warned him, and could not do so +too often, to dissuade him from marching into a town of such vast extent +and power, and which possessed various means of carrying on a murderous +war. The Mexicans would certainly, one day or other, fall upon us +unawares, and it would be a wonder if we escaped alive out of their +hands. To convince us how well they were inclined towards us, they +would, however, gladly furnish us with 10,000 of their warriors, under +the command of their most able generals, with a sufficient supply of +provisions. + +Cortes thanked them for their kind offers, and explained to them that it +would not be proper to enter Mexico at the head of so large an army, +particularly as the hatred between themselves and the Mexicans was so +excessive. One thousand men was all he required to transport our cannon +and baggage, and clear the road before us. + +These 1000 men were immediately upon the spot, all strong and fine young +fellows, and we were just upon the point of commencing our march when +the caziques and chiefs of Sempoalla, who had remained with us all this +time, and rendered us such valuable services, called upon Cortes and +hoped he would return with them to Sempoalla. They were determined, they +said, not to march over Cholulla to Mexico, as they were quite convinced +it would be ours and their destruction; theirs, because they were the +most distinguished personages of Sempoalla, who had not only been the +chief means of inducing their countrymen to refuse all further obedience +and to pay tribute to Motecusuma, but also of seizing his tax-gatherers. + +Cortes, in answer to this, desired them to allay their fears; he was +sure no harm would befall them, for, if they marched along in our +company, who would dare to molest either? He therefore begged of them to +alter their determination, and remain with us, and promised them all +manner of riches. But all his entreaties, added to Marina's friendly +advice, were fruitless, and they refused to accompany us: upon which +Cortes cried out, "God forbid that we should force these people, who +have rendered us such valuable services, to go with us against their +inclination!" He then ordered several packages of the very finest cotton +stuffs to be divided among them, and likewise sent the fat cazique two +packages for himself and his nephew Cuesco, who was also a powerful +cazique. He wrote, at the same time, to his lieutenant Juan de +Escalante, who was alguacil-major of Vera Cruz, mentioning all that had +befallen us, and that we were on our march to Mexico. He particularly +cautioned him to keep a sharp look out upon the inhabitants of the +country, desired him by all means to hasten the completion of the +fortress, and to take the inhabitants there under his protection against +the Mexicans, and also not to suffer our men to molest them in any way. +This letter was given in charge of the Sempoallans, and we then +commenced our march forward with every military precaution. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVI. + + _How we set out on our march to Mexico; what happened to us on our + route; and the message Motecusuma sent us._ + + +On our march from Cholulla, we adopted our usual precautions. A few of +our cavalry were always in advance to explore the territory, and these +were closely followed by a number of our best foot to assist them in +case of an ambush, and to clear any obstruction from the road. Our +cannon and muskets were ready loaded, while our cavalry rode three and +three together on the flanks of our troops to lend immediate assistance +should anything occur, all the rest of our men marching in close order. +I am very particular in mentioning all this that my readers may convince +themselves of the great precautions we observed on this march. + +On the first day we arrived at a spot where there were a few scattered +dwellings on a rising ground, subject to Huexotzinco, and, if I mistake +not, bear the name of Iscalpan, and lie about nine miles from Cholulla. +Here we found all the caziques and papas of Huexotzinco assembled, who +were friendly with the Tlascallans. They had brought along with them +other tribes from the neighbourhood of the volcano, and presented Cortes +with a quantity of provisions and a few trinkets of gold, begging him, +at the same time, not to consider the small worth of the latter, but +the good will with which they were given. They then one and all +dissuaded him from marching to Mexico, representing to him the strength +of the city, the vast numbers of warriors there, and all the dangers we +should be exposed to. Seeing, however, that they could not alter our +determination, they instructed us as to the road we should take, and +told us that, as soon as we had laid back the mountain pass, we should +come to two broad roads, one of which led to Chalco, the other to +Tlalmanalco, both of which townships were subject to the Mexican empire. +One of these roads was in excellent condition, and passable, and in so +far it would be the best we could take; the other had been rendered +impassable by numbers of large pine and other trees which had been +felled and thrown across the road to prevent our marching that way. A +little way further up the mountain, the good road along which it was +supposed we would march had been intersected and palisaded, and Mexican +troops were lying in ambush there, and others had been stationed in this +pass to fall upon us and put us to the sword. They therefore advised us +to leave the good road, and turn into the one leading to Tlalmanalco, +which had been rendered impassable by the fallen trees. They would lend +us sufficient hands to clear away the latter, in which they would be +assisted by the Tlascallans who were with us. + +Cortes returned them many thanks for their present and good advice, +assuring them he was determined, with the assistance of Providence, to +continue his march, and would take the road they had pointed out. + +The next morning very early we again moved forward, and, towards noon we +reached the summit of the mountain, where we found the two roads exactly +as described by the inhabitants of Huexotzinco. Here we halted for a +short time to reconsider what had been told us respecting the Mexican +troops which we should find stationed in the pass. Cortes then inquired +of the two Mexican ambassadors which of the two roads they would advise +him to turn into,--the one which had been blocked up by a fall of +timber, or the smooth road? They told him into the latter, because it +led to Chalco, a town of considerable magnitude, where we should meet +with a good reception, as it was subject to Motecusuma; the other road, +blocked up by the trees, was very dangerous in places, and was rather +round about, leading, moreover, to a township much inferior to Chalco. +Cortes, however, determined for the other road, and we marched through +the mountains in the closest possible order. Our Indian friends set +diligently to work to clear away the heavy trees, and even to this day +many of the latter are still to be seen lying on the roadside. When we +had reached the summit of the mountain, it began to snow so fast that +the ground was soon covered with it. We now began to descend, and we +took up our night's quarters in some scattered huts, which had the +appearance of taverns for the accommodation of Indian merchants. We +likewise found abundance of food here, and, notwithstanding the severity +of the weather, we posted our sentinels as usual, and made regular +patrols.[42] + +The next morning we broke up our quarters, and arrived, about the hour +of high mass, in the township of Tlalmanalco, where we met with very +kind and hospitable treatment. Immediately upon the news of our arrival, +numbers of people gathered about us from the neighbouring townships of +Chalco, Amoquemecan, Ayotzinco, and from various other small places +whose names I have forgotten. The last-mentioned town has a harbour, +where canoes ply up and down. These tribes made us a present in common, +consisting in gold, worth about 150 pesos, two packages of cotton +stuffs, and eight females. "Malinche," said they, in handing these over +to Cortes, "may it please you to accept of the present we have here +brought you, and from this moment we hope you will look upon us as your +friends!" + +Cortes received it with every appearance of delight, and promised to +assist them whenever they might require his aid. While we were thus +standing around him, he desired father Olmedo to give them some notion +of the Christian religion, and to admonish them to abolish their +idol-worship, with which the father complied, and made similar +disclosures to them as we had done to the inhabitants of the other +townships we had visited. They acknowledged that all was very good which +he told them, and that they would consider that matter more maturely at +some future period. We likewise spoke to them about the vast power of +our emperor, and how he had sent us to this country to put an end to all +robbery and oppression. + +We had scarcely touched this string when they began to throw out bitter +accusations against Motecusuma and his tax-gatherers, but out of the +hearing of the Mexican ambassadors. The Mexicans, they said, robbed them +of everything they possessed; abused the chastity of their wives and +daughters, before their eyes, if they were handsome, and carried them +forcibly away to toil hard in base servitude. They themselves were +compelled to transport wood, stones, and maise, both by water and by +land, to the monarch's extensive maise plantations, and to relinquish +the produce of their own land for the maintenance of the great temple: +in short, their complaints knew no end, and, owing to the many years +which have since elapsed, I cannot now remember them all. + +Cortes, in the most affectionate manner, gave them every consolation in +his power, which Dona Marina interpreted to them exceedingly well, +adding, however, that, at present, our general could not redress their +wrongs. They would have to bear with these hardships for some time yet, +when they would certainly be released from this state of oppression. He +then requested two of their principal personages to repair in all +secrecy, with four of our friends from Tlascalla, to the spot where the +other road had been intersected, mentioned by the inhabitants of +Huexotzinco, to ascertain how matters stood, and if any troops were +stationed there. But the caziques assured our general that it was not +necessary to repair thither for that purpose, as all the palisades had +been taken away, and the hole filled up again. The Mexicans had, indeed, +cut through a dangerous pass some six days ago, and stationed a strong +body of troops there to prevent our passing that way; but, since that +time, they had been advised by their god of war to allow us to march +forward unmolested, and not to attack us until we should be within the +city, and then to kill us all. The caziques likewise begged of us to +remain with them, and they would provide us with everything we might +require. "Believe us," they added, "you must not go to Mexico, for we +know how great the strength of that city is, and what large bodies of +troops are there: if you once enter that city, you will all be put to +death." + +Cortes replied to this well-meant advice with the serenest countenance +in the world, and assured them that neither the Mexicans nor any other +people had the power to deprive us of life,--this was in the hands of +the God in whom we believed. We had to fulfil our commission to +Motecusuma, to all the caziques and papas, and were therefore determined +to march straightway to Mexico. We should only require twenty of their +men to accompany us. He would do his utmost for them, and, immediately +upon his arrival there, demand justice for them; and that neither +Motecusuma nor his tax-gatherers should oppress them as heretofore. + +These promises spread an expression of joy over the countenance of every +Indian present, and the twenty men whom Cortes required, instantly +joined us; and, just as we were about to leave, other ambassadors +arrived from Motecusuma, whose message I will relate in the next +chapter. + +[42] It was here probably that Cortes was nigh being shot by one of his +own sentinels. Late at night he visited the outposts himself, and one of +the sentinels was just upon the point of firing at him, when Cortes +fortunately made himself known. (p. 214.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVII. + + _How the powerful Motecusuma again sends ambassadors to us with a + present of gold and cotton stuffs: that monarch's message to Cortes, + and the answer he returns._ + + +As I have before said, we were about to continue our march, when four +distinguished Mexicans arrived in our quarters, with a message from +Motecusuma, accompanied by a present in gold and cotton stuffs, and thus +addressed Cortes, after they had shown the usual signs of veneration: +"Malinche! our sovereign, the mighty Motecusuma, sends you this present. +He desires us to express his sorrow for the many hardships which you +have been compelled to undergo on your tedious journey from such distant +countries to behold his person. He now likewise, again renews the offer +to pay you a quantity of gold, silver, and chalchihuis stones, in shape +of tribute to your monarch, and as a present to you and the other teules +who are with you; but, at the same time, he again begs of you not to +advance any further, but to return from whence you came. He promises to +send abundance of gold, silver, and jewels, for your emperor, to the +harbour on the sea coast; he will present you with four loads of gold, +and your companions with one each:[43] but he altogether forbids you to +enter into Mexico, as all his troops are under arms to oppose you; add +to which, the only access to the metropolis is by one narrow causeway, +and we could not supply you with provisions there."[44] + +Besides these, the ambassadors offered many other reasons in order to +dissuade us from advancing any further. However unpleasant this +disclosure might sound in his ears, Cortes, nevertheless, embraced the +ambassadors most affectionately, and accepted the presents, the value of +which I cannot now remember. I must also remark that Motecusuma never +sent any message to us which was not accompanied by some present in +gold. + +On this occasion Cortes again told the ambassadors that he was surprised +how their master, who had styled himself our friend so very many times, +and was so powerful a monarch, could so often change his mind. Desire a +thing one day, to countermand it the next. With respect to his offer of +the gold for our emperor and ourselves, we were thankful for his kind +intentions, as also for the presents they now brought with them, and he +would certainly some day render him valuable services in return. He +would ask them himself if it would be acting right after we had advanced +within such a short distance of his metropolis, to turn back without +fulfilling our monarch's commission? Motecusuma should place himself in +our position and consider, if he had sent ambassadors to a monarch of +his own rank, how he would like it, if they returned home after arriving +almost at his palace, without once seeing that monarch or fulfilling +their commission to him? How would he receive these ambassadors when +they appeared before him? Would he not look upon them as cowards and +spiritless beings? Our emperor, at least, would not look upon us in any +other light, and treat us accordingly if we returned so to his court. We +had now no choice left, and we must get into his metropolis one way or +other. In future, therefore, we begged their monarch would not send any +more ambassadors with such messages. He, Cortes, was determined to see +and speak to Motecusuma himself personally, to acquaint him with the +object of our mission. All we required of him was merely an audience, +for the moment our stay in his metropolis became irksome to him we would +leave and return to the place whence we had come. With regard to the +alleged scarcity of provisions, we were accustomed to content ourselves +with little. He had better, therefore, make up his mind to receive our +visit, as we could not possibly relinquish our purpose of seeing Mexico. +With this answer Cortes sent the ambassadors back to their monarch, and +we continued our march. As we had been so often warned by the people of +Huexotzinco and Chalco, and we were aware that Motecusuma had been +advised by his idols and papas to allow us to enter the city and then +fall upon us, we became more thoughtful, for we were likewise mortals +and feared death. We were now, therefore, doubly upon our guard, more +particularly as the country was thickly populated; and we made short +days' marches. We arranged the manner in which we were to enter the +city, and commended ourselves to the protection of God, and we felt +confident hopes, that as the Lord Jesus had up to this moment watched +over us in all our perils, he would also shield us against the power of +Mexico. + +We took up our night's quarters in Iztapalapan, where we found an +excellent supper awaiting us. This town lay half in the water and half +on the dry land, on the slope of a small hill, where, at present, a +public-house is built. + +After Motecusuma had learnt our answer to his message, he despatched his +nephew Cacamatzin, prince of Tezcuco to us, in great pomp, to bid us +welcome. The first intimation of this prince's approach was brought in +by our outposts, who announced to our general that a great number of +Mexicans were advancing, arrayed in their most splendid mantles and +showed signs of peace. It was still early in the day, just as we were +about to break up our quarters, and Cortes consequently ordered us to +halt, until we should learn the purport of this visit. + +At this moment four distinguished personages came up to him, and made +signs of the profoundest veneration, and announced to him that +Cacamatzin, prince of Tezcuco, and nephew to Motecusuma, was approaching, +and they begged that Cortes would await his arrival, as he would come +almost immediately. It was indeed not long before this prince made his +appearance in such splendour and magnificence as we had not yet seen in +any of the Mexican chiefs. He was seated in a beautiful sedan, which was +decorated with silver, green feathers, and branches made of gold, from +which hung quantities of precious stones. This sedan was supported on +the shoulders of eight distinguished personages, who, we were assured, +were likewise caziques over townships. + +When the procession had arrived in front of Cortes' quarters, they +assisted the prince out of the sedan, and swept clean every inch of +ground before him, and then introduced him into the presence of our +commander. After the usual compliments, Cacamatzin addressed Cortes as +follows: "Malinche! I and these chiefs are come here to wait upon you, +and to provide all those things for you and your companions which you +may require, and to conduct you to the quarters we have prepared for you +in our city. All this is done at the command of our monarch, the +powerful Motecusuma." + +When we contemplated the splendour and majesty of these caziques, and +particularly of the nephew of Motecusuma, we could not help remarking to +each other, if these appear in so much splendour what must not the power +and majesty of the mighty Motecusuma himself be![45] + +When Cacamatzin had done speaking, Cortes embraced him, and said many +fine things to this prince and the great personages around him, and +presented the former with three pieces of polished stone, of a pearly +hue, containing various figures in different colours;[46] and the other +chiefs with blue glass beads. He then again thanked him for the +attentions which Motecusuma had thus far shown him, and inquired what +day he should be able to thank Motecusuma in person? + +This conference being ended, we continued our march; we were accompanied +by the caziques who had come out to meet us and their numerous suite, +with all the inhabitants of the surrounding neighbourhood, so that we +could scarcely move along for the vast crowds of people. + +The next morning we reached the broad high road of Iztapalapan, whence +we for the first time beheld the numbers of towns and villages built in +the lake, and the still greater number of large townships on the +mainland, with the level causeway which ran in a straight line into +Mexico. Our astonishment was indeed raised to the highest pitch, and we +could not help remarking to each other, that all these buildings +resembled the fairy castles we read of in Amadis de Gaul; so high, +majestic, and splendid did the temples, towers, and houses of the town, +all built of massive stone and lime, rise up out of the midst of the +lake. Indeed, many of our men believed what they saw was a mere dream. +And the reader must not feel surprised at the manner in which I have +expressed myself, for it is impossible to speak coolly of things which +we had never seen nor heard of, nor even could have dreamt of, +beforehand. + +When we approached near to Iztapalapan, two other caziques came out in +great pomp to receive us: one was the prince of Cuitlahuac, and the +other of Cojohuacan; both were near relatives of Motecusuma. We now +entered the town of Iztapalapan, where we were indeed quartered in +palaces, of large dimensions, surrounded by spacious courts, and built +of hewn stone, cedar and other sweet-scented wood. All the apartments +were hung round with cotton cloths. + +After we had seen all this, we paid a visit to the gardens adjoining +these palaces, which were really astonishing, and I could not gratify my +desire too much by walking about in them and contemplating the numbers +of trees which spread around the most delicious odours; the rose bushes, +the different flower beds, and the fruit trees which stood along the +paths. There was likewise a basin of sweet water, which was connected +with the lake by means of a small canal. It was constructed of stone of +various colours, and decorated with numerous figures, and was wide +enough to hold their largest canoes. In this basin various kinds of +water-fowls were swimming up and down, and everything was so charming +and beautiful that we could find no words to express our astonishment. +Indeed I do not believe a country was ever discovered which was equal in +splendour to this; for Peru was not known at that time. But, at the +present moment, there is not a vestige of all this remaining, and not a +stone of this beautiful town is now standing.[47] + +We had not been long here before the caziques of this town, and of +Cojohuacan arrived with a present, worth about 2000 pesos, for which +Cortes returned them many thanks, and showed the caziques every possible +kindness, and explained, by means of our interpreters, many important +things to them relative to our holy religion, and the great power of our +emperor. + +Iztapalapan was at that time a town of considerable magnitude, built +half in the water and half on dry land. The spot where it stood is at +present all dry land; and where vessels once sailed up and down, seeds +are sown and harvests gathered. In fact, the whole face of the country +is so completely changed that he who had not seen these parts +previously, would scarcely believe that waves had ever rolled over the +spot where now fertile maise plantations extend themselves to all sides; +so wonderfully has everything changed here in a short space of time! + +[43] Clavigero says, that a Mexican load was equal in weight to fifty +Spanish pounds, or eight hundred ounces, and values the gold which +Motecusuma offered to Cortes on this occasion at above three millions of +ducats! (p. 216.) + +[44] Torquemada (Monarch. Ind. lib. iv) gives many reasons why +Motecusuma was so undecided as to whether he should allow the Spaniards +to enter his metropolis. (p. 216.) + +[45] Other writers say, that several of the Spaniards could not be +persuaded for a length of time that it was not the monarch himself. (p. +218.) + +[46] Bernal Diaz says, "Tres piedras que se llaman margaritas." +Margarita is Spanish for a pearl; yet it is evident our old soldier is +not speaking of pearls here, and most likely what he calls stones were +nothing more than coloured Venetian glass, which was formerly held in +great estimation; for in the next chapter he further describes these +stones by "piedras de vidrio," stones of glass. (p. 218.) + +[47] Cortes, in his despatches, gives even a more glowing description of +this charming spot; a strong proof that Bernal Diaz has not said too +much of it. (p. 219.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVIII. + + _The magnificent and pompous reception which the powerful Motecusuma + gave to Cortes and all of us, on our entrance into the great city of + Mexico._ + + +The following morning we left Iztapalapan accompanied by all the +principal caziques above mentioned. The road along which we marched was +eight paces in breadth, and if I still remember ran in a perfectly +straight line to Mexico. Notwithstanding the breadth, it was much too +narrow to hold the vast crowds of people who continually kept arriving +from different parts to gaze upon us, and we could scarcely move along. +Besides this, the tops of all the temples and towers were crowded, while +the lake beneath was completely covered with canoes filled with Indians, +for all were curious to catch a glimpse of us. And who can wonder at +this, as neither men like unto ourselves, nor horses, had ever been seen +here before! + +When we gazed upon all this splendour at once, we scarcely knew what to +think, and we doubted whether all that we beheld was real. A series of +large towns stretched themselves along the banks of the lake, out of +which still larger ones rose magnificently above the waters. Innumerable +crowds of canoes were plying everywhere around us; at regular distances +we continually passed over new bridges, and before us lay the great city +of Mexico in all its splendour. + +And we who were gazing upon all this, passing through innumerable crowds +of human beings, were a mere handful of men, in all 450, our minds still +full of the warnings which the inhabitants of Huexotzinco, Tlascalla, +and Tlalmanalco, with the caution they had given us not to expose our +lives to the treachery of the Mexicans. I may safely ask the kind reader +to ponder a moment, and say whether he thinks any men in this world ever +ventured so bold a stroke as this? + +When we had arrived at a spot where another narrow causeway led towards +Cojohuacan we were met by a number of caziques and distinguished +personages, all attired in their most splendid garments. They had been +despatched by Motecusuma to meet us and bid us welcome in his name; and +in token of peace they touched the ground with their hands and kissed +it. Here we halted for a few minutes, while the princes of Tetzcuco, +Iztapalapan, Tlacupa, and Cojohuacan hastened in advance to meet +Motecusuma, who was slowly approaching us, surrounded by other grandees +of the kingdom, seated in a sedan of uncommon splendour. When we had +arrived at a place not far from the town, where several small towers +rose together, the monarch raised himself in his sedan, and the chief +caziques supported him under the arms, and held over his head a canopy +of exceedingly great value, decorated with green feathers, gold, silver, +chalchihuis stones, and pearls, which hung down from a species of +bordering, altogether curious to look at. + +Motecusuma himself, according to his custom, was sumptuously attired, +had on a species of half boot, richly set with jewels, and whose soles +were made of solid gold. The four grandees who supported him were also +richly attired, which they must have put on somewhere on the road, in +order to wait upon Motecusuma; they were not so sumptuously dressed when +they first came out to meet us. Besides these distinguished caziques, +there were many other grandees around the monarch, some of whom held the +canopy over his head, while others again occupied the road before him, +and spread cotton cloths on the ground that his feet might not touch the +bare earth. No one of his suite ever looked at him full in the face; +every one in his presence stood with eyes downcast, and it was only his +four nephews and cousins who supported him that durst look up. + +When it was announced to Cortes that Motecusuma himself was approaching, +he alighted from his horse and advanced to meet him. Many compliments +were now passed on both sides. Motecusuma bid Cortes welcome, who, +through Marina, said, in return, he hoped his majesty was in good +health. If I still remember rightly, Cortes, who had Marina next to him, +wished to concede the place of honour to the monarch, who, however, +would not accept of it, but conceded it to Cortes, who now brought forth +a necklace of precious stones, of the most beautiful colours and shapes, +strung upon gold wire, and perfumed with musk, which he hung about the +neck of Motecusuma. Our commander was then going to embrace him, but the +grandees by whom he was surrounded held back his arms, as they +considered it improper. Our general then desired Marina to tell the +monarch how exceedingly he congratulated himself upon his good fortune +of having seen such a powerful monarch face to face, and of the honour +he had done us by coming out to meet us himself. To all this Motecusuma +answered in very appropriate terms, and ordered his two nephews, the +princes of Tetzcuco and Cojohuacan, to conduct us to our quarters. He +himself returned to the city, accompanied by his two other relatives, +the princes of Cuitlahuac and Tlacupa, with the other grandees of his +numerous suite. As they passed by, we perceived how all those who +composed his majesty's retinue held their heads bent forward, no one +daring to lift up his eyes in his presence; and altogether what deep +veneration was paid him. + +The road before us now became less crowded, and yet who would have been +able to count the vast numbers of men, women, and children who filled +the streets, crowded the balconies, and the canoes in the canals, merely +to gaze upon us? Indeed, at the moment I am writing this, everything +comes as lively to my eyes as if it had happened yesterday; and I daily +become more sensible of the great mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, that +he lent us sufficient strength and courage to enter this city: for my +own person, I have particular reason to be thankful that he spared my +life in so many perils, as the reader will sufficiently see in the +course of this history: indeed I cannot sufficiently praise him that I +have been allowed to live thus long to narrate these adventures, +although they may not turn out so perfect as I myself could wish. + +We were quartered in a large building where there was room enough for us +all, and which had been occupied by Axayacatl, father of Motecusuma, +during his life-time. Here the latter had likewise a secret room full of +treasures, and where the gold he had inherited from his father was hid, +which he had never touched up to this moment. Near this building there +were temples and Mexican idols, and this place had been purposely +selected for us because we were termed teules, or were thought to be +such, and that we might dwell among the latter as among our equals. The +apartments and halls were very spacious, and those set apart for our +general were furnished with carpets. There were separate beds for each +of us, which could not have been better fitted up for a gentleman of the +first rank. Every place was swept clean, and the walls had been newly +plastered and decorated.[48] + +When we had arrived in the great courtyard adjoining this palace, +Motecusuma came up to Cortes, and, taking him by the hand, conducted him +himself into the apartments where he was to lodge, which had been +beautifully decorated after the fashion of the country. He then hung +about his neck a chaste necklace of gold, most curiously worked with +figures all representing crabs. The Mexican grandees were greatly +astonished at all these uncommon favours which their monarch bestowed +upon our general. + +Cortes returned the monarch many thanks for so much kindness, and the +latter took leave of him with these words: "Malinche, you and your +brothers must now do as if you were at home, and take some rest after +the fatigues of the journey," then returned to his own palace, which was +close at hand. + +We allotted the apartments according to the several companies, placed +our cannon in an advantageous position, and made such arrangements that +our cavalry, as well as the infantry, might be ready at a moment's +notice. We then sat down to a plentiful repast, which had been +previously spread out for us, and made a sumptuous meal. + +This our bold and memorable entry into the large city of +Temixtitlan-Mexico[49] took place on the 8th of November, 1519. Praise +be to the Lord Jesus Christ for all this. If, however, I have not +exactly related every circumstance that transpired at the moment, the +reader must pardon me for the present. + +[48] Of this building Torquemada says, it contained apartments in which +one hundred and fifty Spaniards slept, each in a separate bed; and that, +notwithstanding the magnitude of the building, every place was kept +remarkably clean; the floors were covered with mats, and the walls were +hung with tapestry of cotton decorated with feathers, and in every room +there was a fire, which threw out a delightful perfume. (p. 222.) + +[49] The real name was Tenuchtitlan, and it was not known by any other +name when Cortes first visited the country; for Mexico was a more modern +name for this city. (p. 223.) + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIX. + + _How Motecusuma, accompanied by several caziques, pays us a visit in + our quarters, and of the discourse that passed between him and our + general._ + + +After Motecusuma had dined, and was informed that we had likewise left +table, he set out from his palace in great pomp, accompanied by a number +of his grandees and all his relations, to pay us a visit. Cortes, being +apprized of his approach, advanced to the middle of the apartment to +receive him. Motecusuma took him by the hand, while others brought in a +species of chair of great value, decorated, according to Mexican +fashion, with gold beautifully worked into various shapes; the monarch +then invited our general to seat himself next to him. + +Motecusuma then began a very excellent discourse, and, first of all, +expressed his delight to entertain in his kingdom and city such +courageous cavaliers as Cortes and all of us were. A couple of years ago +he had received intelligence that some other officer had made his +appearance in the province of Champoton; and a year later, of a second, +who had been off the coast with four vessels. He had long desired to +see Cortes, and, since his wishes were now fulfilled, he was ready to +render us any services, and provide us with everything we might require. +He was now convinced that we were those people of whom his earliest +forefathers had spoken,--a people that would come from the rising of the +sun and conquer these countries. After the battles we had fought at +Potonchan, Tabasco, and those against the Tlascallans, which had been +represented to him by pictures, all further doubt had vanished from his +mind.[50] + +To which Cortes answered, that we should never be able to repay him for +all the kindnesses he had shown us. We indeed came from the rising of +the sun, and were servants and subjects of a powerful monarch, called +Don Carlos, who had numerous distinguished princes among his vassals. +Our monarch had received intelligence of him, Motecusuma, and of his +great power, and had expressly sent us to his country to beg of him and +his subjects to become converts to the Christian faith, for the +salvation of their souls; and that we only adored one true God, as he +had previously, in some degree, explained on the downs to his +ambassadors Teuthlille, Cuitalpitoc, and Quintalbor, all of which, +however, would be more fully explained to him at some future period. +When this discourse was ended, Motecusuma presented to our general +various kinds of valuable gold trinkets, and a smaller portion of the +same kind to each of our officers, with three packages of cotton stuffs, +splendidly interwoven with feathers; and to every soldier two similar +packages. All this he gave with every appearance of delight, and in all +he did he showed his excellent breeding. He likewise inquired, after the +presents had been distributed, whether we were all brothers, and +subjects of our great emperor? To which Cortes replied in the +affirmative, assuring him we were all united in love and friendship +towards each other. In this way a pleasant discourse was kept up between +Motecusuma and Cortes, though it was of short duration, as this was the +monarch's first visit, and he was unwilling to be too troublesome thus +early. He then ordered his house steward to provide us the necessary +provisions, consisting in maise, fowls, and fruits, and also grass for +our horses; to furnish women to grind our corn with stones, and bake the +bread: after which the monarch took leave of us with great courtesy, +Cortes and all of us conducting him to the door. + +Our general now issued strict commands that no one should stir from +head-quarters until we had gained some certain knowledge as to how +matters really stood. + +[50] Cortes, in his despatches to the emperor, says that the monarch +spoke as follows to him: "We have long known, from the historical books +of our forefathers, that neither I, nor the inhabitants of this country, +originally belonged to it, but that our forefathers came from distant +countries. We also know that the tribe we belong to was brought hither +by a monarch to whom it was subject; but this king returned to his own +country, nor did he return to visit his people till several years had +elapsed, after they had married the daughters of the land, and got large +families by them. The monarch came with the view of leading them back to +their old country again; however, they not only refused to accompany +them, but would no longer acknowledge him as their king. We have always +firmly believed that descendants of this monarch would one time or other +make their appearance among us, and obtain the dominion of the country. +As you, according to your assurances, come from the rising of the sun, +we doubt not, after what you have told us of your great monarch, who +sent you here, that he is our rightful sovereign; and we have the more +reason to believe this, since you tell us that he had some previous +knowledge of us." (p. 224.) + + + + +CHAPTER XC. + + _How our general, the day following, paid a visit to Motecusuma, and + of the discourse that passed between them._ + + +The next day Cortes determined to visit Motecusuma in his own palace. He +therefore first sent to inquire after his health, and whether it would +be agreeable to the monarch to receive a visit from him. Our general +took with him four of our principal officers, namely, Alvarado, Leon, +Ordas, and Sandoval, besides five soldiers, of whom I was one. + +When our arrival was announced to Motecusuma, he advanced to the middle +of the apartment to meet us, being solely attended by his nephew, as the +other grandees were only allowed to enter his apartments upon very +important occasions. After the first compliments had passed between the +monarch and our general, they shook hands, and Motecusuma conducted +Cortes to an elevated seat, and placed him at his right hand. The rest +of us were also desired to sit down on chairs which were brought in for +us. Cortes then, by means of our interpreters, addressed Motecusuma at +considerable length: "He said that all his and our wishes were now +fulfilled, as he had reached the end of his journey, and obeyed the +commands of our great emperor. There only now remained to disclose to +him the commandments of our God. We were Christians, believing in one +true God only, Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for our salvation. We +prayed to the cross as an emblem of that cross on which our Lord and +Saviour was crucified. By his death the whole human race was saved. He +rose on the third day, and was received into heaven. By him, heaven, +earth, and sea, and every living creature was formed: and nothing +existed but by his divine will. Those figures, on the contrary, which he +considered as gods, were no gods, but devils, which were evil spirits. +It was very evident how powerless and what miserable things they were, +since in all those places where we had planted the cross, those gods no +longer durst make their appearance. Of this his ambassadors were fully +convinced, and he himself would, in the course of time, be convinced of +this truth. He begged he would also pay particular attention to +something else he had to communicate." Here Cortes very intelligently +explained to him how the world was created, how all people were +brothers, and sons of one father and mother, called Adam and Eve; and +how grieved our emperor was to think that so many human souls should be +lost, and sent to hell by those false idols, where they would be +tormented by everlasting fire; for this reason he had sent us hither to +put an end to so much misery, and to exhort the inhabitants of this +country no longer to adore such gods, nor sacrifice human beings to +them; and also to abstain from robbery and committing unnatural +offences. In a very short time our emperor would send to this country +men of great piety and virtue, of whom there were numbers in our +country, and who would explain these things more fully to them. Of all +this we were merely the first messengers, and could only beg of them to +support us in our labours, and assist us in their completion. + +As Motecusuma was about to answer, Cortes stopped short, and, turning to +us, said, "Verily, I am determined they shall comply with this, and let +this be the commencement of our work!" + +Motecusuma, in reply, expressed himself as follows: "Malinche! What you +have just been telling me of your God has, indeed, been mentioned to me +before by my servants, to whom you made similar disclosures immediately +upon your arrival off the coast. Neither am I ignorant of what you have +stated concerning the cross and everything else in the towns you passed +through. We, however, maintained silence, as the gods we adore were +adored in bygone ages by our ancestors. We have, once for all, +acknowledged them as good deities, in the same way as you have yours, +and therefore let us talk no further on this subject. Respecting the +creation of the world, we likewise believe it was created many ages ago. +We likewise believe that you are those people whom our ancestors +prophecied would come from the rising of the sun, and I feel myself +indebted to your great emperor, to whom I will send a present of the +most valuable things I possess. It is now two years ago that I received +the first intelligence of him by some vessels which appeared off my +coast belonging to your country, the people on board of which likewise +called themselves subjects of your great emperor. Tell me, now, do you +really all belong to the same people?" + +Cortes assured him we were all servants of the same great emperor; that +those vessels were merely sent out in advance to explore the seas and +the harbours, to make the necessary preparations for our present +expedition. + +Motecusuma likewise remarked that then even he had contemplated allowing +some of those men to penetrate into the interior of his country, from +his great desire to see them, and had intended to pay them great +honours. Since the gods had now fulfilled his greatest desires, and we +now inhabited his dwellings, which we might look upon as our own, we +could rest from our fatigues, and enjoy ourselves, and we should not +want for anything. Although he had sometimes sent us word not to repair +to his metropolis, he had done so with great reluctance. He had been +forced to act so on account of his subjects, who stood in great awe of +us, and believed that we whirled fire and lightning around us, and +killed numbers of men with our horses; that we were wild and unruly +teules, and such like nonsense: as he had now gained personal knowledge +of us, and convinced himself that we were likewise formed of flesh and +bone, and men of great understanding, with great courage, he entertained +even a more elevated opinion of us than he had previously, and was ready +to share all he possessed with us. + +Upon this, Cortes assured him that we felt ourselves vastly indebted to +him for the very kind feeling he evinced on our behalf. + +Motecusuma, who was always of a merry disposition, though never, for an +instant, forgetful of his high station, now continued in a more humorous +style, as follows: "I am perfectly well aware, Malinche, what the people +of Tlascalla, with whom you are so closely allied, have been telling you +respecting myself. They have made you believe that I am a species of +god, or teule, and that my palaces are filled with gold, silver, and +jewels. I do not think, for an instant, that reasonable men as you are +can put any faith in all their talk, but that you look upon all this as +nonsense: besides which, you can now convince yourself, Malinche, that I +am made of flesh and bone as you are, and that my palaces are built of +stone, lime, and wood. I am, to be sure, a powerful monarch; it is +likewise true that I have inherited vast treasures from my ancestors; +but with regard to anything else they may have told you respecting me, +it is all nonsense. You must just think of that as I think of the +lightning and burning flames which you are said to whirl about in all +directions." + +To this Cortes answered, likewise laughingly, "We knew, from old +experience, that enemies neither tell the truth nor speak well of each +other. We had, however, long ago convinced ourselves that there was not +another such a noble-minded and illustrious monarch as himself in this +quarter of the world, and that the great idea our emperor had formed of +him was well founded." + +During this discourse, Motecusuma secretly desired his nephew to order +his house-steward to bring in some gold trinkets and ten packages of +fine stuffs, which he divided among Cortes and the four officers who +were present. We five soldiers obtained each two gold chains for the +neck, in value about ten pesos each, besides two packages of cotton +stuffs. + +The gold which Motecusuma gave away upon this occasion was estimated at +above 1000 pesos. But what was more, everything he gave away was given +with the best of good will, and with an air of dignity which you might +expect in so great a monarch.[51] + +As it was already past noon, Cortes began to fear that any longer stay +might be troublesome to the monarch, and said to him, in rising from his +seat, "We are daily becoming more and more indebted to your majesty for +so many kindnesses; at present it is time to think of dinner." + +The monarch, in return, thanked us for our visit, and we took leave of +each other in the most courteous manner imaginable. We now returned to +our quarters, and acquainted our fellow-soldiers with the kind reception +the monarch had given us. + +[51] Torquemada relates that the monarch had made minute inquiries of +the interpreters respecting the rank of each Spaniard, and that the +value of the presents he intended to give them was to be according to +their respective ranks. (p. 228.) + + + + +CHAPTER XCI. + + _Of Motecusuma's person, disposition, habits, and of his great + power._ + + +The mighty Motecusuma may have been about this time in the fortieth year +of his age. He was tall of stature, of slender make, and rather thin, +but the symmetry of his body was beautiful. His complexion was not very +brown, merely approaching to that of the inhabitants in general. The +hair of his head was not very long, excepting where it hung thickly down +over his ears, which were quite hidden by it. His black beard, though +thin, looked handsome. His countenance was rather of an elongated form, +but cheerful; and his fine eyes had the expression of love or severity, +at the proper moments. He was particularly clean in his person, and took +a bath every evening. Besides a number of concubines, who were all +daughters of persons of rank and quality, he had two lawful wives of +royal extraction, whom, however, he visited secretly without any one +daring to observe it, save his most confidential servants. He was +perfectly innocent of any unnatural crimes. The dress he had on one day +was not worn again until four days had elapsed. In the halls adjoining +his own private apartments there was always a guard of 2000 men of +quality, in waiting: with whom, however, he never held any conversation +unless to give them orders or to receive some intelligence from them. +Whenever for this purpose they entered his apartment, they had first to +take off their rich costumes and put on meaner garments, though these +were always neat and clean; and were only allowed to enter into his +presence barefooted, with eyes cast down. No person durst look at him +full in the face, and during the three prostrations which they were +obliged to make before they could approach him, they pronounced these +words: "Lord! my Lord! sublime Lord!" Everything that was communicated +to him was to be said in few words, the eyes of the speaker being +constantly cast down, and on leaving the monarch's presence he walked +backwards out of the room. I also remarked that even princes and other +great personages who come to Mexico respecting lawsuits, or on other +business from the interior of the country, always took off their shoes +and changed their whole dress for one of a meaner appearance when they +entered his palace. Neither were they allowed to enter the palace +straightway, but had to show themselves for a considerable time outside +the doors; as it would have been considered want of respect to the +monarch if this had been omitted. + +Above 300 kinds of dishes were served up for Motecusuma's dinner from +his kitchen, underneath which were placed pans of porcelain filled with +fire, to keep them warm. Three hundred dishes of various kinds were +served up for him alone, and above 1000 for the persons in waiting. He +sometimes, but very seldom, accompanied by the chief officers of his +household, ordered the dinner himself, and desired that the best dishes +and various kinds of birds should be called over to him. We were told +that the flesh of young children, as a very dainty bit, was also set +before him sometimes by way of a relish. Whether there was any truth in +this we could not possibly discover; on account of the great variety of +dishes, consisting in fowls, turkeys, pheasants, partridges, quails, +tame and wild geese, venison, musk swine, pigeons, hares, rabbits, and +of numerous other birds and beasts; besides which there were various +other kinds of provisions, indeed it would have been no easy task to +call them all over by name. This I know, however, for certain, that +after Cortes had reproached him for the human sacrifices and the eating +of human flesh, he issued orders that no dishes of that nature should +again be brought to his table. I will, however, drop this subject, and +rather relate how the monarch was waited on while he sat at dinner. If +the weather was cold a large fire was made with a kind of charcoal made +of the bark of trees, which emitted no smoke, but threw out a delicious +perfume; and that his majesty might not feel any inconvenience from too +great a heat, a screen was placed between his person and the fire, made +of gold, and adorned with all manner of figures of their gods. The chair +on which he sat was rather low, but supplied with soft cushions, and was +beautifully carved; the table was very little higher than this, but +perfectly corresponded with his seat. It was covered with white cloths, +and one of a larger size. Four very neat and pretty young women held +before the monarch a species of round pitcher, called by them Xicales, +filled with water to wash his hands in. The water was caught in other +vessels, and then the young women presented him with towels to dry his +hands. Two other women brought him maise-bread baked with eggs. Before, +however, Motecusuma began his dinner, a kind of wooden screen, strongly +gilt, was placed before him, that no one might see him while eating, and +the young women stood at a distance. Next four elderly men, of high +rank, were admitted to his table; whom he addressed from time to time, +or put some questions to them. Sometimes he would offer them a plate of +some of his viands, which was considered a mark of great favour. These +grey-headed old men, who were so highly honoured, were, as we +subsequently learnt, his nearest relations, most trustworthy counsellors +and chief justices. Whenever he ordered any victuals to be presented +them, they ate it standing, in the deepest veneration, though without +daring to look at him full in the face. The dishes in which the dinner +was served up were of variegated and black porcelain, made at Cholulla. +While the monarch was at table, his courtiers, and those who were in +waiting in the halls adjoining, had to maintain strict silence. + +After the hot dishes had been removed, every kind of fruit which the +country produced was set on the table; of which, however, Motecusuma ate +very little. Every now and then was handed to him a golden pitcher +filled with a kind of liquor made from the cacao, which is of a very +exciting nature.[52] Though we did not pay any particular attention to +the circumstance at the time, yet I saw about fifty large pitchers +filled with the same liquor brought in all frothy. This beverage was +also presented to the monarch by women, but all with the profoundest +veneration. + +Sometimes during dinner time, he would have ugly Indian humpbacked +dwarfs, who acted as buffoons and performed antics for his amusement. At +another time he would have jesters to enliven him with their witticisms. +Others again danced and sung before him. Motecusuma took great delight +in these entertainments, and ordered the broken victuals and pitchers of +cacao liquor to be distributed among these performers. As soon as he had +finished his dinner the four women cleared the cloths and brought him +water to wash his hands. During this interval he discoursed a little +with the four old men, and then left table to enjoy his afternoon's nap. + +After the monarch had dined, dinner was served up for the men on duty +and the other officers of his household, and I have often counted more +than 1000 dishes on the table, of the kinds above mentioned. These were +then followed, according to the Mexican custom, by the frothing jugs of +cacao liquor; certainly 2000 of them, after which came different kinds +of fruit in great abundance. + +Next the women dined, who superintended the baking department; and those +who made the cacao liquor, with the young women who waited upon the +monarch. Indeed, the daily expense of these dinners alone must have been +very great! + +Besides these servants there were numerous butlers, house-stewards, +treasurers, cooks, and superintendents of maise-magazines. Indeed there +is so much to be said about these that I scarcely knew where to +commence, and we could not help wondering that everything was done with +such perfect order. I had almost forgotten to mention, that during +dinner-time, two other young women of great beauty brought the monarch +small cakes, as white as snow, made of eggs and other very nourishing +ingredients, on plates covered with clean napkins; also a kind of +long-shaped bread, likewise made of very substantial things, and some +pachol, which is a kind of wafer-cake. They then presented him with +three beautifully painted and gilt tubes, which were filled with liquid +amber, and a herb called by the Indians tabaco. After the dinner had +been cleared away and the singing and dancing done, one of these tubes +was lighted, and the monarch took the smoke into his mouth, and after he +had done this a short time, he fell asleep.[53] + +About this time a celebrated cazique, whom we called Tapia, was +Motecusuma's chief steward: he kept an account of the whole of +Motecusuma's revenue, in large books of paper which the Mexicans call +_Amatl_. A whole house was filled with such large books of accounts.[54] + +Motecusuma had also two arsenals filled with arms of every description, +of which many were ornamented with gold and precious stones. These arms +consisted in shields of different sizes, sabres, and a species of +broadsword, which is wielded with both hands, the edge furnished with +flint stones, so extremely sharp that they cut much better than our +Spanish swords:[55] further, lances of greater length than ours, with +spikes at their end, full one fathom in length, likewise furnished with +several sharp flint stones. The pikes are so very sharp and hard that +they will pierce the strongest shield, and cut like a razor; so that the +Mexicans even shave themselves with these stones. Then there were +excellent bows and arrows, pikes with single and double points, and the +proper thongs to throw them with; slings with round stones purposely +made for them; also a species of large shield, so ingeniously +constructed that it could be rolled up when not wanted: they are only +unrolled on the field of battle, and completely cover the whole body +from the head to the feet. Further, we saw here a great variety of +cuirasses made of quilted cotton, which were outwardly adorned with soft +feathers of different colours, and looked like uniforms; morions and +helmets constructed of wood and bones, likewise adorned with feathers. +There were always artificers at work, who continually augmented this +store of arms; and the arsenals were under the care of particular +personages, who also superintended the works. + +Motecusuma had likewise a variety of aviaries, and it is indeed with +difficulty that I constrain myself from going into too minute a detail +respecting these. I will confine myself by stating that we saw here +every kind of eagle, from the king's eagle to the smallest kind +included, and every species of bird, from the largest known to the +little colibris, in their full splendour of plumage. Here were also to +be seen those birds from which the Mexicans take the green-coloured +feathers of which they manufacture their beautiful feathered stuffs. +These last-mentioned birds very much resemble our Spanish jays, and are +called by the Indians quezales. The species of sparrows were +particularly curious, having five distinct colours in their +plumage--green, red, white, yellow, and blue; I have, however, forgotten +their Mexican name. There were such vast numbers of parrots, and such a +variety of species, that I cannot remember all their names; and geese of +the richest plumage, and other large birds. These were, at stated +periods, stripped of their feathers, in order that new ones might grow +in their place. All these birds had appropriate places to breed in, and +were under the care of several Indians of both sexes, who had to keep +the nests clean, give to each kind its proper food, and set the birds +for breeding. In the courtyard belonging to this building, there was a +large basin of sweet water, in which, besides other water fowls, there +was a particularly beautiful bird, with long legs, its body, wings, and +tail variously coloured, and is called at Cuba, where it is also found, +the ipiris. + +In another large building, numbers of idols were erected, and these, it +is said, were the most terrible of all their gods. Near these were kept +all manner of beautiful animals, tigers, lions of two different kinds, +of which one had the shape of a wolf, and was called a jackal; there +were also foxes, and other small beasts of prey. Most of these animals +had been bred here, and were fed with wild deers' flesh, turkeys, dogs, +and sometimes, as I have been assured, with the offal of human beings. + +Respecting the abominable human sacrifices of these people, the +following was communicated to us: The breast of the unhappy victim +destined to be sacrificed was ripped open with a knife made of sharp +flint; the throbbing heart was then torn out, and immediately offered to +the idol-god in whose honour the sacrifice had been instituted. After +this, the head, arms, and legs were cut off and eaten at their banquets, +with the exception of the head, which was saved, and hung to a beam +appropriated for that purpose. No other part of the body was eaten, but +the remainder was thrown to the beasts which were kept in those +abominable dens, in which there were also vipers and other poisonous +serpents, and, among the latter in particular, a species at the end of +whose tail there was a kind of rattle. This last-mentioned serpent, +which is the most dangerous, was kept in a cabin of a diversified form, +in which a quantity of feathers had been strewed: here it laid its eggs, +and it was fed with the flesh of dogs and of human beings who had been +sacrificed. We were positively told that, after we had been beaten out +of the city of Mexico, and had lost 850 of our men, these horrible +beasts were fed for many successive days with the bodies of our +unfortunate countrymen. Indeed, when all the tigers and lions roared +together, with the howlings of the jackals and foxes, and hissing of the +serpents, it was quite fearful, and you could not suppose otherwise than +that you were in hell. + +I will now, however, turn to another subject, and rather acquaint my +readers with the skilful arts practised among the Mexicans: among which +I will first mention the sculptors, and the gold and silversmiths, who +were clever in working and smelting gold, and would have astonished the +most celebrated of our Spanish goldsmiths: the number of these was very +great, and the most skilful lived at a place called Escapuzalco, about +four miles from Mexico. After these came the very skilful masters in +cutting and polishing precious stones, and the chalchihuis, which +resemble the emerald. Then follow the great masters in painting, and +decorators in feathers, and the wonderful sculptors. Even at this day +there are living in Mexico three Indian artists, named Marcos de Aguino, +Juan de la Cruz, and El Crespello, who have severally reached to such +great proficiency in the art of painting and sculpture, that they may be +compared to an Apelles, or our contemporaries Michael Angelo and +Berruguete.[56] + +The women were particularly skilful in weaving and embroidery, and they +manufactured quantities of the finest stuffs, interwoven with feathers. +The commoner stuffs, for daily use, came from some townships in the +province of Costatlan, which lay on the north coast, not far from Vera +Cruz, where we first landed with Cortes. + +The concubines in the palace of Motecusuma, who were all daughters of +distinguished men, were employed in manufacturing the most beautiful +stuffs, interwoven with feathers. Similar manufactures were made by +certain kind of women who dwelt secluded in cloisters, as our nuns do. +Of these nuns there were great numbers, and they lived in the +neighbourhood of the great temple of Huitzilopochtli. Fathers sometimes +brought their daughters from a pious feeling, or in honour of some +female idol, the protectress of marriage, into these habitations, where +they remained until they were married. + +The powerful Motecusuma had also a number of dancers and clowns: some +danced in stilts, tumbled, and performed a variety of other antics for +the monarch's entertainment: a whole quarter of the city was inhabited +by these performers, and their only occupation consisted in such like +performances. Lastly, Motecusuma had in his service great numbers of +stone-cutters, masons, and carpenters, who were solely employed in the +royal palaces.[57] Above all, I must not forget to mention here his +gardens for the culture of flowers, trees, and vegetables, of which +there were various kinds. In these gardens were also numerous baths, +wells, basins, and ponds full of limpid water, which regularly ebbed and +flowed. All this was enlivened by endless varieties of small birds, +which sang among the trees. Also the plantations of medical plants and +vegetables are well worthy of our notice: these were kept in proper +order by a large body of gardeners. All the baths, wells, ponds, and +buildings were substantially constructed of stonework, as also the +theatres where the singers and dancers performed. There were upon the +whole so many remarkable things for my observation in these gardens and +throughout the whole town, that I can scarcely find words to express the +astonishment I felt at the pomp and splendour of the Mexican monarch. + +In the meantime, I am become as tired in noting down these things as the +kind reader will be in perusing them: I will, therefore, close this +chapter, and acquaint the reader how our general, accompanied by many of +his officers, went to view the Tlatelulco, or great square of Mexico; on +which occasion we also ascended the great temple, where stood the idols +Tetzcatlipuca and Huitzilopochtli. This was the first time Cortes left +his head-quarters to perambulate the city. + +[52] This was something like our chocolate, and prepared in the same +way, but with this difference, that it was mixed with the boiled dough +of maise, and was drunk cold. (p. 230.) + +[53] Respecting the custom of smoking among the Mexicans, Humboldt gives +the following, in his work on New Spain: "The Mexicans called tobacco +_yetl_, which they not only considered a remedy against toothach, cold +in the head, and bowel complaints, but they likewise used it as a +luxury, by smoking and snuffing it. At Motecusuma's court it was used as +a narcotic, not only after dinner, but also after breakfast, to produce +a comfortable nap, as is still the custom in many districts of America. +The leaves were rolled together like cigars, and then stuck in tubes +made of silver, wood, or of shell." (p. 231.) + +[54] The revenue of Motecusuma we know consisted of the natural products +of the country, and what was produced by the industry of his subjects. +Respecting the payment of tribute, we find the following story in +Torquemada: "During the abode of Motecusuma among the Spaniards, in the +palace of his father, Alonso de Ojeda one day espied in a certain +apartment of the building a number of small bags tied up. He imagined at +first that they were filled with gold dust, but on opening one of them, +what was his astonishment to find it quite full of lice? Ojeda, greatly +surprised at the discovery he had made, immediately communicated what he +had seen to Cortes, who then asked Marina and Aguilar for some +explanation. They informed him that the Mexicans had such a sense of +their duty to pay tribute to their monarch, that the poorest and meanest +of the inhabitants, if they possessed nothing better to present to their +king, daily cleaned their persons, and saved all the lice they caught, +and that when they had a good store of these, they laid them in bags at +the feet of their monarch. Torquemada further remarks, that his reader +might think these bags were filled with small worms (gasanillos), and +not with lice; but appeals to Alonso de Ojeda, and another of Cortes' +soldiers, named Alonso de Mata, who were eyewitnesses of the fact." + +This story, no doubt, is founded on something like truth, and most +probably these bags were filled with the coccus cacti, the famous +cochineal insect, then unknown to the Spaniards, who might easily have +mistaken them in a dried state for lice. (p. 231.) + +[55] This weapon, called by the Mexicans maquahuitl, was much dreaded by +the Spaniards; and the historian Acosta relates that the Mexicans would +cut off the head of a horse with it at one blow. (p. 231.) + +[56] Alonso Berruguete, a Spanish artist, who rose to great eminence in +painting, architecture, and sculpture. He received great protection from +Charles the Fifth, who employed him in considerable works in the +Alhambra of Granada and elsewhere. (p. 233.) + +[57] Bernal Diaz, unfortunately, gives no description of Motecusuma's +palace; we will therefore give Torquemada's account of this remarkable +building. He himself, however, never saw it, but chiefly gained his +information from the Mexicans themselves, who may have exaggerated a +little: Motecusuma's palace had twenty doors, which either opened into +the large square or into the principal streets of the city; it had three +large courts, and in one of them was a tank, supplied with water by the +aqueduct of Chapultepec. The palace contained a number of halls, and a +hundred rooms twenty-five feet long and as many broad, each provided +with a bath. Everything was built of stone and lime. The walls were +covered with beautiful stones, marble, jasper, porphyry, and a block +stone, which is so highly polished that you might use it for a +looking-glass; besides these, there was a white stone, almost +transparent. All the woodwork was made of white cedar, palm, cypress, +pine, and other fine woods, adorned with beautiful carved-work. In one +of the apartments, which was one hundred and fifty feet long and fifty +broad, was Motecusuma's chapel, which was covered with plates of gold +and silver almost the thickness of a finger, besides that it was +decorated with innumerable emeralds, rubies, topaz, and other precious +stones. (p. 235.) + + + + +CHAPTER XCII. + + _Our general takes a walk through Mexico, and views the Tlatelulco, + (the great square,) and the chief temple of Huitzilopochtli._ + + +We had already been four days in the city of Mexico, and neither our +commander nor any of us had, during that time, left our quarters, +excepting to visit the gardens and buildings adjoining the palace. +Cortes now, therefore, determined to view the city, and visit the great +market, and the chief temple of Huitzilopochtli: he accordingly sent +Geronimo Aguilar, Dona Marina, and one of his pages named Orteguilla, +who, by this time, understood a little of the Mexican language, to +Motecusuma, to request his permission to view the different buildings of +the city. Motecusuma, in his answer to this, certainly granted us +permission to go where we pleased, yet he was apprehensive we might +commit some outrage to one or other of his idols: he, therefore, +resolved to accompany us himself, with some of his principal officers, +and, for this purpose, left his palace with a pompous retinue. Having +arrived at a spot about half way between his palace and a temple, he +stepped out of his sedan, as he would have deemed it a want of respect +towards his gods to approach them any otherwise than on foot. He leant +upon the arms of the principal officers of his court; others walked +before him, holding up on high two rods, having the appearance of +sceptres, which was a sign that the monarch was approaching. He himself, +whenever he was carried in his sedan, held a short staff in his hand, +one half of gold, the other of wood, very much like that used by our +judges. In this way he came up to the temple, which he ascended, in +company with many papas. On reaching the summit he immediately began to +perfume Huitzilopochtli, and to perform other ceremonies. + +Our commander, attended by the greater part of our cavalry and foot, all +well armed, as, indeed, we were at all times, had proceeded to the +Tlatelulco: by command of Motecusuma, a number of caziques had come to +meet us on our road there. The moment we arrived in this immense market, +we were perfectly astonished at the vast numbers of people, the +profusion of merchandise which was there exposed for sale, and at the +good police and order that reigned throughout. The grandees who +accompanied us drew our attention to the smallest circumstance, and gave +us full explanation of all we saw. Every species of merchandise had a +separate spot for its sale. We first of all visited those divisions of +the market appropriated for the sale of gold and silver wares, of +jewels, of cloths interwoven with feathers, and of other manufactured +goods; besides slaves of both sexes. This slave market was upon as great +a scale as the Portuguese market for negro slaves at Guinea. To prevent +these from running away, they were fastened with halters about their +neck, though some were allowed to walk at large. Next to these came the +dealers in coarser wares--cotton, twisted thread, and cacao. In short, +every species of goods which New Spain produces were here to be found; +and everything put me in mind of my native town Medina del Campo during +fair time, where every merchandise has a separate street assigned for +its sale. In one place were sold the stuffs manufactured of nequen; +ropes, and sandals; in another place, the sweet maguey root, ready +cooked, and various other things made from this plant. In another +division of the market were exposed the skins of tigers, lions, jackals, +otters, red deer, wild cats, and of other beasts of prey, some of which +were tanned. In another place were sold beans and sage, with other herbs +and vegetables. A particular market was assigned for the merchants in +fowls, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, hares, deer, and dogs; also for +fruit-sellers, pastry-cooks, and tripe-sellers. Not far from these were +exposed all manner of earthenware, from the large earthen cauldron to +the smallest pitchers. Then came the dealers in honey and honey-cakes, +and other sweetmeats. Next to these, the timber-merchants, +furniture-dealers, with their stores of tables, benches, cradles, and +all sorts of wooden implements, all separately arranged. What can I +further add? If I am to note everything down, I must also mention human +excrements, which were exposed for sale in canoes lying in the canals +near this square, and is used for the tanning of leather; for, according +to the assurances of the Mexicans, it is impossible to tan well without +it. I can easily imagine that many of my readers will laugh at this; +however, what I have stated is a fact, and, as further proof of this, I +must acquaint the reader that along every road accommodations were built +of reeds, straw, or grass, by which those who made use of them were +hidden from the view of the passers-by, so that great care was taken +that none of the last-mentioned treasures should be lost. But why should +I so minutely detail every article exposed for sale in this great +market? If I had to enumerate everything singly, I should not so easily +get to the end. And yet I have not mentioned the paper, which in this +country is called amatl; the tubes filled with liquid amber and tobacco; +the various sweet-scented salves, and similar things; nor the various +seeds which were exposed for sale in the porticoes of this market, nor +the medicinal herbs. + +In this market-place there were also courts of justice, to which three +judges and several constables were appointed, who inspected the goods +exposed for sale. I had almost forgotten to mention the salt, and those +who made the flint knives; also the fish, and a species of bread made of +a kind of mud or slime collected from the surface of this lake, and +eaten in that form, and has a similar taste to our cheese.[58] Further, +instruments of brass, copper, and tin; cups, and painted pitchers of +wood: indeed, I wish I had completed the enumeration of all this +profusion of merchandise. The variety was so great that it would occupy +more space than I can well spare to note them down in; besides which, +the market was so crowded with people, and the thronging so excessive in +the porticoes, that it was quite impossible to see all in one day. + +On our proceeding to the great temple, and passing the courtyards +adjoining the market, we observed numbers of other merchants, who dealt +in gold dust as it is dug out of the mines, which was exposed to sale in +tubes made of the bones of large geese, which had been worked to such a +thin substance, and were so white that the gold shone through them. The +value of these tubes of gold was estimated according to their length and +thickness, and were taken in exchange, for instance, for so many +mantles, xiquipiles[59] of cacao[60] nuts, slaves, or other merchandise. + +On quitting the market, we entered the spacious yards which surround the +chief temple. These appeared to encompass more ground than the +market-place at Salamanca, and were surrounded by a double wall, +constructed of stone and lime: these yards were paved with large white +flag-stones, extremely smooth; and where these were wanting, a kind of +brown plaster had been used instead, and all was kept so very clean that +there was not the smallest particle of dust or straw to be seen +anywhere. + +Before we mounted the steps of the great temple, Motecusuma, who was +sacrificing on the top to his idols, sent six papas and two of his +principal officers to conduct Cortes up the steps. There were 114 steps +to the summit, and, as they feared that Cortes would experience the same +fatigue in mounting as Motecusuma had, they were going to assist him by +taking hold of his arms. Cortes, however, would not accept of their +proffered aid. When we had reached the summit of the temple, we walked +across a platform where many large stones were lying, on which those who +were doomed for sacrifice were stretched out. Near these stood a large +idol, in the shape of a dragon, surrounded by various other abominable +figures, with a quantity of fresh blood lying in front of it. Motecusuma +himself stepped out of a chapel, in which his cursed gods were +standing, accompanied by two papas, and received Cortes and the whole of +us very courteously. "Ascending this temple, Malinche," said he to our +commander, "must certainly have fatigued you!" Cortes, however, assured +him, through our interpreters, that it was not possible for anything to +tire us. Upon this the monarch took hold of his hand and invited him to +look down and view his vast metropolis, with the towns which were built +in the lake, and the other towns which surrounded the city. Motecusuma +also observed, that from this place we should have a better view of the +great market. + +Indeed, this infernal temple, from its great height, commanded a view of +the whole surrounding neighbourhood. From this place we could likewise +see the three causeways which led into Mexico,--that from Iztapalapan, +by which we had entered the city four days ago; that from Tlacupa, along +which we took our flight eight months after, when we were beaten out of +the city by the new monarch Cuitlahuatzin; the third was that of +Tepeaquilla. We also observed the aqueduct which ran from Chapultepec, +and provided the whole town with sweet water. We could also distinctly +see the bridges across the openings, by which these causeways were +intersected, and through which the waters of the lake ebbed and flowed. +The lake itself was crowded with canoes, which were bringing provisions, +manufactures, and other merchandise to the city. From here we also +discovered that the only communication of the houses in this city, and +of all the other towns built in the lake, was by means of drawbridges or +canoes. In all these towns the beautiful white plastered temples rose +above the smaller ones, like so many towers and castles in our Spanish +towns, and this, it may be imagined, was a splendid sight. + +After we had sufficiently gazed upon this magnificent picture, we again +turned our eyes toward the great market, and beheld the vast numbers of +buyers and sellers who thronged there. The bustle and noise occasioned +by this multitude of human beings was so great that it could be heard at +a distance of more than four miles. Some of our men, who had been at +Constantinople and Rome, and travelled through the whole of Italy, said +that they never had seen a market-place of such large dimensions,[61] or +which was so well regulated, or so crowded with people as this one at +Mexico. + +On this occasion Cortes said to father Olmedo, who had accompanied us: +"I have just been thinking that we should take this opportunity, and +apply to Motecusuma for permission to build a church here." + +To which father Olmedo replied, that it would, no doubt, be an excellent +thing if the monarch would grant this; but that it would be acting +overhasty to make a proposition of that nature to him now, whose consent +would not easily be gained at any time. + +Cortes then turned to Motecusuma, and said to him, by means of our +interpretress, Dona Marina: "Your majesty is, indeed, a great monarch, +and you merit to be still greater! It has been a real delight to us to +view all your cities. I have now one favour to beg of you, that you +would allow us to see your gods and teules." + +To which Motecusuma answered, that he must first consult his chief +papas, to whom he then addressed a few words. Upon this, we were led +into a kind of small tower, with one room, in which we saw two basements +resembling altars, decked with coverings of extreme beauty. On each of +these basements stood a gigantic, fat-looking figure, of which the one +on the right hand represented the god of war Huitzilopochtli. This idol +had a very broad face, with distorted and furious-looking eyes, and was +covered all over with jewels, gold, and pearls, which were stuck to it +by means of a species of paste, which, in this country, is prepared from +a certain root. Large serpents, likewise, covered with gold and precious +stones, wound round the body of this monster, which held in one hand a +bow, and in the other a bunch of arrows. Another small idol which stood +by its side, representing its page, carried this monster's short spear, +and its golden shield studded with precious stones. Around +Huitzilopochtli's neck were figures representing human faces and hearts +made of gold and silver, and decorated with blue stones. In front of him +stood several perfuming pans with copal, the incense of the country; +also the hearts of three Indians, who had that day been slaughtered, +were now consuming before him as a burnt-offering. Every wall of this +chapel and the whole floor had become almost black with human blood, and +the stench was abominable. + +On the left hand stood another figure of the same size as +Huitzilopochtli. Its face was very much like that of a bear, its shining +eyes were made of tetzcat, the looking-glass of the country. This idol, +like its brother Huitzilopochtli, was completely covered with precious +stones, and was called _Tetzcatlipuca_. This was the god of hell, and +the souls of the dead Mexicans stood under him.[62] A circle of figures +wound round its body, resembling diminutive devils with serpents' tails. +The walls and floor around this idol were also besmeared with blood, and +the stench was worse than in a Spanish slaughter-house. Five human +hearts had that day been sacrificed to him. On the very top of this +temple stood another chapel, the woodwork of which was uncommonly well +finished, and richly carved. In this chapel there was also another idol, +half man and half lizard, completely covered with precious stones; half +of this figure was hidden from view. We were told that the hidden half +was covered with the seeds of every plant of this earth, for this was +the god of the seeds and fruits: I have, however, forgotten its name, +but note that here also everything was besmeared with blood, and the +stench so offensive that we could not have staid there much longer. In +this place was kept a drum of enormous dimensions, the tone of which, +when struck, was so deep and melancholy that it has very justly been +denominated the drum of hell. The drum-skin was made out of that of an +enormous serpent; its sound could be heard at a distance of more than +eight miles. This platform was altogether covered with a variety of +hellish objects,--large and small trumpets, huge slaughtering knives, +and burnt hearts of Indians who had been sacrificed: everything clotted +with coagulated blood, cursed to the sight, and creating horror in the +mind. Besides all this, the stench was everywhere so abominable that we +scarcely knew how soon to get away from this spot of horrors. Our +commander here said, smilingly, to Motecusuma: "I cannot imagine that +such a powerful and wise monarch as you are, should not have yourself +discovered by this time that these idols are not divinities, but evil +spirits, called devils. In order that you may be convinced of this, and +that your papas may satisfy themselves of this truth, allow me to erect +a cross on the summit of this temple; and, in the chapel, where stand +your Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca, give us a small space that I may +place there the image of the holy Virgin; then you will see what terror +will seize these idols by which you have been so long deluded."[63] + +Motecusuma knew what the image of the Virgin Mary was, yet he was very +much displeased with Cortes' offer, and replied, in presence of two +papas, whose anger was not less conspicuous, "Malinche, could I have +conjectured that you would have used such reviling language as you have +just done, I would certainly not have shown you my gods. In our eyes +these are good divinities: they preserve our lives, give us nourishment, +water, and good harvests, healthy and growing weather, and victory +whenever we pray to them for it. Therefore we offer up our prayers to +them, and make them sacrifices. I earnestly beg of you not to say +another word to insult the profound veneration in which we hold these +gods." + +As soon as Cortes heard these words and perceived the great excitement +under which they were pronounced, he said nothing in return, but merely +remarked to the monarch with a cheerful smile: "It is time for us both +to depart hence." To which Motecusuma answered, that he would not detain +him any longer, but he himself was now obliged to stay some time to +atone to his gods by prayer and sacrifice for having committed +_gratlatlacol_, by allowing us to ascend the great temple, and thereby +occasioning the affronts which we had offered them. + +"If that is the case," returned Cortes, "I beg your pardon, great +monarch." Upon this we descended the 114 steps, which very much +distressed many of our soldiers, who were suffering from swellings in +their groins.[64] The following is all I can communicate with respect to +the size or circumference of this temple; but previously reckon upon the +reader's kind indulgence, if I should make any misstatement; for at the +time when all these things were going on, I was thinking of anything but +writing a book, but rather how best to fulfil my duty as a soldier, and +to act up to the commands of our general Cortes. However, if I remember +rightly, this temple occupied a space of ground on which we should erect +six of the largest buildings, as they are commonly found in our +country.[65] The whole building ran up in rather a pyramidical form, on +the summit of which was the small tower with the idols. From the middle +of the temple up to the platform there were five landings, after the +manner of barbacans, but without any breastworks. A perfect idea of the +form of this temple may be gained from the pictures which are in the +possession of several of the Conquistadores, (I have one myself,) which +every one must have seen by this time. The following is what I learnt +respecting the building of this temple. Every inhabitant had contributed +his mite of gold, silver, pearls and precious stones thereto. These +gifts were then buried in the foundations, and the ground sprinkled with +the blood of a number of prisoners of war, and strewed with the seeds of +every plant growing in the country. This was done in order that the gods +might grant the country conquest, riches, and abundant harvests. The +reader will here naturally ask the question: how we got to know that its +foundations were thus filled with gold, pearls, silver, precious stones, +seeds, and sprinkled with human blood, as this building had stood there +for the space of one thousand years? To this I answer, that subsequent +to the conquest of this large and strongly fortified city, we found it +to be a positive fact; for when new buildings were being erected on the +place where this temple stood, a great part of the space was fixed upon +for the new church dedicated to our patron Saint Santiago, and the +workmen, on digging up the old foundations to give more stability to +the new ones, found a quantity of gold, silver, pearls, chalchihuis +stones, and other valuable things. A similar discovery was made by a +citizen of Mexico, to whom also a portion of this space had been +allotted for building-ground, but the treasure was claimed for his +majesty; and parties went so far as to commence a lawsuit about it, I +cannot however now recollect how it terminated. Besides all this, the +accounts of the caziques and grandees of Mexico, and even of +Quauhtemoctzin himself, who was alive at that time, all correspond with +my statement. Lastly, it is also mentioned in the books and paintings +which contain the history of the country.[66] + +With respect to the extensive and splendid courtyards belonging to this +temple I have said sufficient above. I cannot, however, pass by in +silence a kind of small tower standing in its immediate vicinity, +likewise containing idols. I should term it a temple of hell; for at one +of its doors stood an open-mouthed dragon armed with huge teeth, +resembling a dragon of the infernal regions, the devourer of souls. +There also stood near this same door other figures resembling devils and +serpents, and not far from this an altar encrusted with blood grown +black, and some that had recently been spilt. In a building adjoining +this we perceived a quantity of dishes and basins, of various shapes. +These were filled with water and served to cook the flesh in of the +unfortunate beings who had been sacrificed; which flesh was eaten by the +papas. Near to the altar were lying several daggers, and wooden blocks +similar to those used by our butchers for hacking meat on. At a pretty +good distance from this house of horrors were piles of wood, and a large +reservoir of water, which was filled and emptied at stated times, and +received its supply through pipes underground from the aqueduct of +Chapultepec. I could find no better name for this dwelling than the +house of satan! + +I will now introduce my reader into another temple, in which the +grandees of Mexico were buried. The doors of which were of a different +form, and the idols were of a totally different nature, but the blood +and stench were the same. + +Next to this temple was another in which human skulls and bones were +piled up, though both apart; their numbers were endless. This place had +also its appropriate idols; and in all these temples, we found priests +clad in long black mantles, with hoods shaped like those worn by the +Dominican friars and choristers; their ears were pierced and the hair of +their head was long and stuck together with coagulated blood. Lastly, I +have to mention another temple at no great distance from this place of +skulls, containing another species of idol, who were said to be the +protectors of the marriage rights of the men, to whom likewise those +abominable human sacrifices were made. Round about this large courtyard +stood a great number of small houses in which the papas dwelt, who were +appointed over the ceremonies of the idol-worship. Near to the chief +temple we also saw an exceedingly large basin or pond, filled with the +purest water, which was solely adapted for the worship of +Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca, being also supplied by pipes +underground from the aqueduct of Chapultepec. There were also other +large buildings in this neighbourhood, after the manner of cloisters, in +which great numbers of the young women of Mexico lived secluded, like +nuns, until they were married. These had also two appropriate idols in +the shape of females, who protected the marriage rights of the women, +and to whom they prayed and sacrificed in order to obtain from them good +husbands. + +Although this temple on the Tlatelulco, of which I have given such a +lengthened description, was the largest in Mexico, yet it was by no +means the only one; for there were numbers of other splendid temples in +this city, all of which I am unable to describe. I have to remark, +however, that the chief temple at Cholulla was higher than that of +Mexico, and was ascended by 120 steps: also the idol at Cholulla stood +in greater repute; for pilgrimages were made to it from all parts of New +Spain, to obtain forgiveness of sins. The architecture of this building +was also different, but with respect to the yards and double walls they +were alike. The temple of the town of Tetzcuco was also of considerable +height, being ascended by 117 steps, and had broad and beautiful +courtyards, equal to those of the two last mentioned, but differently +constructed. It seems indeed quite laughable that each province and +every town should have its own peculiar idols, which, however, never +interfered with each other, and the inhabitants severally sacrificed to +them. + +Cortes, and the whole of us at last grew tired at the sight of so many +idols and implements used for these sacrifices, and we returned to our +quarters accompanied by a great number of chief personages and caziques, +whom Motecusuma had sent for that purpose. + +[58] This slimy substance the Mexicans called tecuitlatl, or excrement +of stone. It was made into various shapes, and dried in the sun. (p. +237.) + +[59] According to Torquemada, this word expressed the number 8000 of +anything, whether of cacao beans, troops, or other matters. (p. 237.) + +[60] Cacao nuts should be cacao beans; they were used by the Mexicans as +small coin, and even to this day, according to Humboldt, they form the +smallest coin among the inhabitants of New Spain. (p. 237.) + +[61] In the large work of Ramusio, entitled 'Raccolta delle Navigazioni +e Viaggi,' there is a very interesting account of the city of Mexico. +There we find that this market was about three times larger than the one +at Salamanca, and surrounded by porticos. Every five days was a great +market day, and from forty to fifty thousand people come to buy and sell +there. (p. 238.) + +[62] With regard to Mexican mythology, Bernal Diaz is, perhaps, not +quite so correct in general. The abbe F.S. Clavigero, who wrote a +history of Mexico, in two volumes quarto, is more intelligent in this +respect. (p. 239.) + +[63] This note refers to the idol, half hidden from view, of which +Bernal Diaz has forgotten the name; it was probably the goddess +Centeotl, sometimes called Tonacajohua. (p. 240.) + +[64] The Spanish is, "Estavan malos de bubas o humores, les dolieron los +muslas de baxar!" bubas I have everywhere translated by the general term +of swellings in the groin, though it is quite evident, from the 68th +letter of Petrus Martyr ab Angleria, (De Rebus Oceanicis el Novo orbe +decades tres) that this disease was the syphilis, which was then +spreading so dreadfully. (p. 241.) + +[65] The best-informed writers agree with Bernal Diaz as to the vast +extent of this temple. It was so extensive, says Torquemada, that an +arrow shot from a crossbow would not reach the length of one of its +sides. A few lines lower he says, that each of these sides was three +hundred and sixty feet long! The wall which surrounded this huge temple +was entirely built of hewn stone. (p. 241.) + +[66] Bernal Diaz is here speaking of the Mexican picture writing or +hieroglyphics. (p. 242.) + + + + +CHAPTER XCIII. + + _How we erect a chapel and altar in our quarters with a cross on the + outside; discover the treasure of Motecusuma's father; and determine + to seize the monarch's person and imprison him in our quarters._ + + +Our general and father Olmedo readily perceived that Motecusuma would +never give his consent to our erecting a cross on his chief temple, nor +that we should build a chapel there. We had, upon our arrival in Mexico, +fitted up some tables as an altar; but we were not satisfied with this, +and therefore begged of Motecusuma's house-steward to order his masons +to build us a church in our quarters, who referred us to the monarch +himself, upon which Cortes sent him with our interpretress and the page +Orteguilla to Motecusuma, who immediately gave his consent and issued +orders accordingly.[67] + +In three days our church was finished, and a cross planted in front of +our quarters. Mass was now regularly said every day as long as our wine +lasted, which indeed was very short, as Cortes and father Olmedo, during +their illness in Tlascalla, had used the wine destined for the mass. +Nevertheless we went daily to church and prayed on our knees in front of +the altar and before the holy images; because it was our Christian duty, +and that Motecusuma and his grandees might notice it, and become +accustomed to these holy things, from seeing us kneel down in devotion +before them, particularly when we repeated the Ave Maria. + +Wherever we went it was our custom to examine everything about us, and +consequently we searched every corner and nook in our quarters; and so +it happened, as we were looking for a proper spot to erect our altar, +that two of our men, one of whom was Yanez our carpenter, found the +traces of a doorway in the wall of one of the apartments, which had been +carefully walled up and neatly plastered over; and as we all very well +knew that the treasure of Motecusuma's father was secreted somewhere in +our quarters, these two men soon conjectured that this doorway might be +the entrance to the treasury. Yanez communicated his suspicions to the +chief officers, Leon and Lugo, who were relatives of mine; and at last +it got to the ears of Cortes. The consequence was, that the doorway was +in all secrecy broken open, and Cortes, with some of our officers, +entered the hidden apartment. + +Their expectations were fully realized; for they found here such a vast +quantity of trinkets, thick and thin plates of gold, chalchihuis, and +other precious things heaped up together, that they were perfectly +astounded and were almost speechless at the sight of such immense +riches. This matter soon became known to all of our men, who now also +paid a visit to this secret treasure. I also followed their example, and +as at that time I was still a young man, and had never before beheld +such vast treasures, I concluded that the whole of the remaining part of +the world, put together, could not produce such a vast collection of +riches. However, all our officers and soldiers unanimously agreed to +leave everything untouched, and that the doorway should be walled up +again as before, nor was Motecusuma to be informed of our discovery. + +As all of us, officers as well as privates, were men of experience, full +of energy and very determined, who never lost sight that the Lord Jesus +Christ had assisted us with his divine hand in all our undertakings, we +deputed four officers and twelve of our most trustworthy and faithful +soldiers, myself being among the number, to Cortes, and represented to +him how we were cooped up in this strong city, as if we had been caught +in a net or cage. We begged of him to remember the bridges and +causeways, how we had been cautioned in every town we passed through +against Motecusuma, and were assured that Huitzilopochtli had advised +him to allow us to enter the city quietly, and when once there to fall +upon us unawares and destroy us all. He ought to remember the +inconstancy of the human mind in general, and of the Indians in +particular; and not trust to the kindness and friendship which +Motecusuma showed us. All this might change in an instant, and if +Motecusuma did not exactly fall upon us with sword in hand, he had +merely to cut off our supply of provisions and water, or break down some +of the bridges, and we should be lost. He, Cortes, ought to consider +what a large body of warriors always surrounded the monarch, and how +powerless we should be and ill able to defend ourselves, since all the +houses stood in the water. We could not count upon the assistance of our +friends the Tlascallans, as they would be totally cut off from us. + +Taking all this into consideration our opinion was, that we had no other +resource left by which we could place our own lives in safety than by +seizing the monarch's person without delay. All the gold this monarch +had given us, all we had seen in the treasury of his father, and all the +fine provisions he had set before us, could not induce us to hide our +sentiments. These reflections harassed us night and day, and if some of +our men did appear heedless as to our present position, these were +merely a few narrow-minded folks, who, on account of the vast quantity +of gold after which their mouths watered, were unable to see the death +which stood before them. + +Cortes, in reply to their representations said: "Do not imagine, +gentlemen, that I either sleep so peaceably, or that what you have just +been stating has not also caused me much anxiety. But we ought first to +weigh well whether you think we are sufficiently strong in numbers for +so bold an attempt as to take this mighty monarch prisoner in his own +palace, amidst his body-guard and other warriors. I cannot see how we +can manage this matter without running the risk of being attacked by his +troops." + +Our four officers, namely, Leon, Ordas, Sandoval, and Alvarado, said, +that the only way would be by some means or other to entice the monarch +out of his palace, then to conduct him to our quarters, and then inform +him that he was our prisoner. If he offered any resistance or made any +noise, then to knock him down at once. If Cortes himself objected to +have any hand in it, they begged he would give them permission to carry +it out themselves. There was as much danger on one side as on the other; +but it was certainly more advisable to take the monarch prisoner than to +wait until he made war upon us; for what chance of escape should we then +have? + +To all this was added, that several of us had of late remarked, that +Motecusuma's house-steward appeared to become haughty in his manners, +and that he did not supply our table so abundantly as on the first few +days. Lastly, our friends of Tlascalla had secretly informed Aguilar +that the Mexicans, for the last two days, appeared to have some evil +design on hand. + +One hour was thus spent in deliberating as to whether we should take +Motecusuma prisoner, and the manner in which it was to be done. At last +we came to the resolution of seizing the monarch's person on the +following day, and Cortes gave his full consent. The whole of that night +was spent in prayer with father Olmedo, to ask the Almighty's support in +this holy cause. + +The following morning two Tlascallans arrived secretly in our quarters, +with a letter from Vera Cruz, announcing to Cortes that Juan de +Escalante had been slain with six other Spaniards in an engagement with +the Mexicans. A horse had likewise been killed, and all the Totonaques +who had joined him had been slain. All the mountain tribes as well as +the Sempoallans had turned against us. They would neither any longer +furnish the town with provisions nor assist in building the +fortifications, and the garrison scarcely knew what to be about in its +present distress. + +After this overthrow, the belief that the Spaniards were teules had +altogether vanished. The Totonaque tribes, as well as the Mexicans, +began to throw out threats, and the profound veneration in which they +before held us was now changed for utter contempt. + +God only knows what a terrible sensation this news created among us. It +was the first defeat we had sustained in New Spain, and the good reader +may easily see from this how rapidly the wheel of fortune turns from +good to bad. She had but just seen us enter this great metropolis, and +meet with a splendid and triumphant reception. We already believed we +were on the sure road to wealth, from the many presents which Motecusuma +gave us daily. We had had a peep into Axayacatl's treasure; we had, up +to this moment, been regarded as teules who could not fail to come off +victorious in battle. This delusion had now flown all at once. We +appeared, like all other men, vincible, and the Indians had already +began to be insolent and haughty in their demeanour towards us. + +We had now the more reason to strike some determined blow, and we +therefore resolved to get possession of Motecusuma's person some how or +other, if we were even to forfeit all our lives in the attempt. + +I will, however, first relate the battle in which Escalante and the six +other Spaniards lost their lives. + +[67] This passage fully proves the kind disposition of the monarch, for +he even overcame his religious scruples to please the very men who came +to take his kingdom from him. (p. 244.) + + + + +CHAPTER XCIV. + + _Of the battle which the Mexican generals fought with Escalante and + the Totonaque tribes._ + + +The reader will remember, some chapters back, how we lay quartered in +the township of Quiahuitzlan, and that several of the confederate +tribes, friendly with Sempoalla, assembled around us there. Above thirty +townships, on this occasion, at the command of Cortes, refused to pay +any further tribute to Motecusuma, and threw off his yoke. It was during +that time also that the Mexican tax-gatherers were imprisoned by the +Sempoallans, at our instigation. After all this had taken place we broke +up our quarters at Sempoalla and began our march towards Mexico, leaving +Juan de Escalante behind, as governor of Vera Cruz, who received +particular instructions to protect our allies. + +Motecusuma had garrisons in every province of his empire, which were +always stationed on the confines. Such garrisons, for instance, lay in +Xoconoctico, for the protection of Guatimala and Chiapa, another in +Coatzagualco, a third in Mechoacan, and a fourth on the confines of +Panuco, between Tuzapan and a township lying on the north coast, which +was called Almeria.[68] When the garrison of the latter place demanded +the tribute of Indians with the provisions from the neighbouring +townships, they refused to pay it, (as they were in alliance with +Sempoalla, and had assisted Escalante in the building of the fortress,) +and gave for reason that Malinche had so commanded it, and that the +powerful Motecusuma had consented thereto. + +The Mexican chiefs, however, were not to be put off with this answer, +and declared they would destroy every township which refused to pay the +tribute, and carry off the inhabitants as slaves, as they were bound to +obey the commands which Motecusuma had recently issued. + +On hearing these threats the Totonaque tribes applied to Escalante for +assistance against the Mexicans, who were coming to plunder them. +Escalante accordingly sent off messengers to the Mexican chiefs, +commanding them to leave those tribes at peace, as that was the wish of +their monarch, Motecusuma, with whom we stood on very friendly terms; +and if they refused compliance with his commands he would march into the +field against them in person, and treat them as enemies. + +The Mexicans received these threats with utter contempt, and returned +the haughty answer, "that they would meet him on the field of battle!" +Escalante, who was a man of great courage, and very prompt in what he +did, issued orders to our mountain allies to equip themselves for +battle, and he selected those from among his own men who were in the +best health, and most able to bear fatigue. + +In this way he marched out against the Mexicans, with two cannon, a +small supply of powder, three crossbow-men, two musketeers, besides +forty Spanish soldiers and above 2000 Totonaques. The Mexicans were +double the number of our Totonaque auxiliaries, who, besides this, had +become intimidated by former battles; so that they left Escalante in the +lurch after the very first attack. Escalante now forced his way to +Almeria, which he set fire to. Here he halted for a short time, as he +was dangerously wounded. In the several engagements which here took +place Escalante lost one horse, and one of his men, named Arguello, a +young man of amazing bodily strength, with a wild-looking countenance, a +large head, and black curly beard, who was carried off alive by the +Mexicans. Six others of his men were likewise dangerously wounded; the +only alternative, therefore, which Escalante had left was to return to +Vera Cruz, where he and six others of his men died three days after +their arrival. + +This is exactly what took place at Almeria; and not as Gomara relates, +who says, that all this happened under Pedro de Ircio, who had marched +out on this occasion with a few men to Panuco, in order to found a +colony there; though we had scarcely sufficient troops in Vera Cruz to +place the necessary sentinels; how much less, therefore, could the +thought have entered our mind to send out a colony to Panuco? Besides +which, Ircio was not an officer at that time; no, nor even a corporal; +had altogether nothing to do with the whole affair, being at the time +with us in Mexico. In the same way Gomara tells his tales about our +imprisoning Motecusuma, without for a moment reflecting that several of +the Conquistadores were still alive; who, when they had perused his +work, would be able to say so and so such a thing happened, and not +otherwise. + +We must now turn to the Mexican generals, and relate how they announced +their victory to Motecusuma, and sent him the head of Arguello, who most +likely died on the road of his wounds. We afterwards learnt that +Motecusuma was quite horror-struck at the sight of this enormous head +with the thick curly beard. He could not bear to look at it, and would +not allow the head to be brought near any of the temples in Mexico, but +ordered it to be presented to the idols of some other town; yet he +inquired how it came that his troops, which had been many thousands in +number, had not been able to overthrow such a handful of teules? His +captains replied, that notwithstanding all their courageous fighting +they had not been able to make the Spaniards give way, because a great +Spanish _tecleciguata_[69] had stood at their head, who had filled the +Mexicans with fear, and animated the teules by her speeches. + +Motecusuma was convinced that this illustrious warrior was the Virgin +Mary, who, we had told him, with her heavenly Son, whom she held in her +arms, was our strong rock. + +This wonderful apparition I did not behold with mine own eyes, as I was +at the time in Mexico. However, several of the Conquistadores spoke of +it as a fact; and may it please God that it was so. It is, however, +certainly true that the blessing of the Virgin Mary was always upon us. + +[68] The Mexican name of this township was Nauhtlan. (p. 248.) + +[69] The Mexican name for goddess. (p. 249.) + + + + +CHAPTER XCV. + + _Of the imprisonment of Motecusuma, and what further happened._ + + +After we had come to the determination of seizing the person of +Motecusuma, and had been on our knees the whole night in prayer, to +supplicate the Almighty's assistance in this bold attempt, and that it +might redound to the glory of his holy religion, we made the necessary +arrangements when morning came for that purpose. + +Every one received orders to be ready to march out at a moment's notice, +and the horses were to be kept saddled. It is not necessary for me to +repeat here that our arms were always in readiness; for they were never +out of our hands either day or night; while our alpargates, the only +covering we had to our feet, were never taken off. + +Our general now sallied forth, accompanied by our five chief officers, +Alvarado, Sandoval, Lugo, Leon, and Avila; besides our interpreters, +Marina, and Aguilar. Cortes and his officers were completely armed; yet +this would not appear strange to Motecusuma, as he had never seen them +otherwise whenever they paid him a visit. Cortes, as on the former +occasion, sent some one before him to announce his approach, that +Motecusuma might not perceive any change in our behaviour, and feel no +uneasiness at our unexpected visit. His conscience, however, was not +altogether easy, on account of the affair which had taken place at +Almeria, and he had a misgiving that it would bring down evil upon him. +Yet he sent word that our visit would be agreeable to him. + +After Cortes had entered his apartment, and the usual compliments had +been passed, he thus addressed Motecusuma: "I am greatly astonished that +a prince of such power, who styles himself our friend, should have +commanded his troops, which lie on the coast near Tuzapan, to take up +arms against my Spanish troops, and presume to demand a certain number +of men and women for the sacrifices from those townships which have put +themselves under the protection of our emperor. But this is not all; +they have plundered those places, and even killed one of my brothers, +and a horse." + +Cortes very prudently omitted to mention the death of Escalante and the +six others; for Motecusuma at that time knew as little of that as his +generals who had commanded on the occasion. + +"How very differently we acted on our side!" continued Cortes. "I had +put implicit reliance in your friendship, and desired my officers in +every way to comply with your wishes. You, on the contrary, have +commanded your officers the very opposite. You once likewise sent a +large body of troops to Cholulla to destroy us all there. At that time, +from the friendship I bore you, I would not notice to you that I was +aware of that. At the present moment your generals have the audacity to +plot in secret to put us all to death. However, notwithstanding all this +treachery, I will refrain from making war upon you, which would only +end in the total destruction of this city; but in order that peace may +be maintained between us, you must make a small sacrifice, which is, to +follow us quietly into our quarters, and take up your abode there. There +you will receive the same attention, and be treated with the same +respect as if you were in your own palace. But if you make any alarm +now, or call out to your attendants, you are a dead man; and it is for +this reason only that I have this time brought these officers with me." + +Motecusuma was seized with such sudden terror at these words, that he +remained speechless for some time. At length, however, he took courage, +and declared he had never given any one orders to take up arms against +us. He would that instant send for his generals, and learn from them the +truth of the whole matter, and give exemplary punishment. For this +purpose, he loosened the seal and mark of Huitzilopochtli, which he +always wore around his wrist. This he only did when he issued orders of +the first importance, and that those who had the seal might be +immediately obeyed. He was quite astonished, he said, we should presume +to take him prisoner, and lead him away out of his palace against his +wishes. No one had a right to demand that of him, he added; and +altogether he felt no inclination to comply with our request. + +Cortes, in answer to this, gave him very good reasons for our having +come to this determination; but Motecusuma continually brought in +stronger reasons why he should not comply; and was resolved not to leave +his palace. + +As this dispute had now lasted above half an hour, our officers began to +lose all patience, and said to Cortes with great warmth, "What is the +use of throwing away so many words? He must either quietly follow us, or +we will cut him down at once. Be so good as to tell him this; for on +this depends the safety of our lives. We must show determination, or we +are inevitably lost." + +These words were uttered by Juan Velasquez in a loud and harsh tone of +voice. When, therefore, Motecusuma heard this, and perceived the dark +looks of the officers, he asked Marina what the man had said who spoke +so loud. + +Marina, who was uncommonly shrewd, and well knew how to help us out with +a good answer, said, "Great monarch, if I may be allowed to give you +advice, make no further difficulties, but immediately follow them to +their quarters. I am confident they will pay you every respect, and +treat you as becomes a powerful monarch. But if you continue to refuse, +they will cut you down on the spot." + +Motecusuma then turned to Cortes, and said: "Malinche, since then you +repose no trust in me, take my son and my two legitimate daughters as +hostages; only do not disgrace me, by demanding my person. What will the +grandees of my empire say, if they see me taken prisoner?" + +Cortes, however, said that his own person would be the only guarantee of +our safety, and that there was no other means of quieting our fears. At +last Motecusuma, after a good deal of altercation, made up his mind to +go quietly with us. + +As soon as he had declared this his intention, our officers showed him +every possible civility, and hoped that he would excuse the grief they +had occasioned him, and desired him to acquaint his generals and his +body-guard that he had chosen, of his own free will, to take up his +abode in our quarters; and also upon the advice of Huitzilopochtli and +his papas, who considered it necessary for his health, and for the +safety of his life. + +His rich and splendid sedan was then brought in, which he commonly used +when he left his palace with his whole suite, and he followed us to our +quarters, where we took every precaution to secure his person. Every one +of us strove hardest to make him happy, and procured him every +entertainment we could think of, to make his confinement as pleasant as +we could. + +Shortly afterwards all the Mexican grandees, with his nephew, called +upon him, to inquire the reason of his imprisonment, and ask him if they +should commence hostilities against us? But Motecusuma told them he +wished to do himself the pleasure of passing a few days with us, and +that this change of abode was of his own free choice. He would make his +wishes known to them as soon as he found reason to complain. They might +allay their fears, and keep the metropolis quiet, and not trouble +themselves any further about him. The determination he had thus taken +was fully consented to by Huitzilopochtli, as many priests, who had +purposely consulted him, had admitted. + +These are the true circumstances relative to the imprisonment of +Motecusuma. He was always surrounded by the whole of his household, and +had all his wives with him, and continued to bathe himself daily, as he +had been accustomed to, in his own palace. He was likewise always +attended by twenty of his generals and counsellors, nor did he show the +least signs of grief on account of his confinement. Disputes from the +most distant parts were laid before him, as usual, for his decision; the +tribute was collected, and he continued to attend to the most important +affairs of state as before. His subjects paid the same veneration to his +person, and the most distinguished princes who waited on him, or came +upon business, always took off their fine garments, to put on a meaner +dress of nequen cloth, and came so, barefoot, into his presence. Neither +did they enter at the principal gate, but sought for some side door, and +approached with eyes downcast, and made three prostrations, and +pronounced the words Lord, my lord, great lord! They then acquainted him +with their business, by means of pictures drawn on nequen cloth; and +made use of thin sticks, with which they pointed to the different +objects, to explain what they wanted, or the nature of the lawsuit they +came about. + +Motecusuma had constantly two old distinguished caziques at his side, +who, as judges, gave their opinion in every case, after due +deliberation; and the monarch then, in few words, gave his decision. The +parties then, without uttering a syllable, or turning their backs to +him, left the apartment with three deep bows; and on arriving outside, +they again put on their fine garments, and took a stroll in the +metropolis. + +After some time had elapsed, the generals who had fought against +Escalante were brought in prisoners to the monarch. What he told them on +this occasion I do not know; but he sent them to Cortes to pronounce +judgment on them himself. These unfortunate men confessed they had +merely acted up to the commands of their monarch, which was, to levy the +tribute by force of arms; and if the teules should protect the rebels, +to attack them also, and put them to the sword. + +Cortes acquainted Motecusuma with what these men had said, but declared +that the monarch had sufficiently exculpated himself from any guilt in +the affair. According to the laws of our emperor, that man suffered +death who had killed another, whether he deserved killing or not; +however, his love for Motecusuma was so great, that he would rather take +the responsibility of this matter upon himself than allow it to rest +with him; but as he still seemed anxious about it, our general made no +further ceremony with these Mexicans, but sentenced them to death, and +they were burnt alive in front of Motecusuma's palace.[69*] + +And that no impediment might be thrown in the way while these sentences +were being put into execution, Cortes ordered chains to be put on +Motecusuma. At first he certainly did not approve of this at all, but, +in the end, quietly submitted, and grew even the more tractable +afterwards. When the executions had taken place, Cortes approached him, +with five of our officers, and himself took off his chains again, with +the assurance that he loved him more than a brother. He likewise told +him, however great a monarch he might be at present, that additional +countries should be annexed to his empire, and he was at liberty to +visit any of his other palaces whenever he felt inclined. + +At these words Motecusuma became affected, and big tears rolled down his +cheeks; and though he felt that all was mere empty sound he had heard, +he nevertheless thanked Cortes for his kindness, adding, that at present +he felt no inclination to go anywhere. + +His nephews, relations, and grandees daily stormed him with petitions to +allow them to make war upon us, and release him from confinement. And, +indeed, it required all his persuasion to prevent them from rising up in +arms immediately. If he were once, said they, outside of our quarters, +they would take forcible possession of his person. The whole of the +inhabitants in his metropolis would rise up in arms, and if then he +would not join them, they would care little about him, and elect a new +king. Motecusuma, however, succeeded in silencing them by the assurance +that Huitzilopochtli had himself advised him to bear with his +confinement. + +To account for Motecusuma thus quietly submitting to his confinement, I +must here remark that Cortes ordered Aguilar to acquaint him secretly +that if even our general himself gave his consent to his liberation, it +would be of no avail, as all our officers and soldiers would oppose it. +Cortes feigned to be unconscious of all this, and embraced the monarch +under the assurances of sincere friendship. He likewise gave him his +page Orteguilla, who had already gained some knowledge of the Mexican +language, the monarch having expressed a wish to have a Spanish +attendant. This young man was of the greatest utility both to Motecusuma +and ourselves, the monarch learning many things from him relating to +Spain, and we again a good deal of the discourses which passed between +the former and his generals: he was in every way attentive to the +monarch, who became exceedingly fond of him. On the whole, Motecusuma +appeared perfectly content with the civilities we showed him, and he +continually felt greater delight in our company; for whenever any one of +us passed by him, he immediately entered into discourse with us: we were +quite at our ease with him, even when Cortes was present, and took off +our helmets in his presence, which, as well as our weapons, we never +laid aside; and the monarch always treated us with great respect. + +The severe example which Cortes had made of the Mexican generals had had +its full effect. The news thereof ran like wildfire through the whole of +New Spain; the tribes along the coast, by whom our troops of Vera Cruz +had been defeated, were seized with terror, and again offered their +services to the garrison there. + +I must now beg the kind reader to pause a moment upon the heroic deeds +we performed, and consider their magnitude! First of all, we destroy all +our vessels, and thereby cut off all hopes of escaping from this +country. We then venture to march into this strong city, though we were +warned against it on all sides, and assured we should merely be allowed +a peaceable entrance to be the more easily destroyed. We then have the +audacity to imprison the monarch of this vast empire, the powerful +Motecusuma, in his own metropolis, in his very palace, amidst his +numerous troops. At last, we even fearlessly burn some of his generals +to death in front of his own palace, and throw the monarch himself in +chains while this was being executed! Even now, in my old age, the +heroic deeds we then accomplished come vividly to my memory. I imagine I +see all passing before me now, but must also acknowledge that, although +we had our hands full, we were aided by Divine Providence. When again on +earth will be found such a handful of soldiers, in all scarcely 550, who +would dare to penetrate, at a distance of above 6000 miles from their +native country, into the heart of such a strong city, larger than +Venice, take its very monarch prisoner, and execute his generals in his +very presence? These things, indeed, ought to be deeply pondered on, and +not mentioned so briefly as I here have done! But it is time I should +continue my history. + +[69*] Bernal Diaz only mentions three of these generals by name: +Quetzalpopoca, Coatl, and Quiahuitle, which we thought better to insert +here. When Quetzalpopoca, says Torquemada, was brought into the presence +of the Spaniards, and asked whether he was a vassal of Motecusuma, he +replied: "Is it possible in this world to be the vassal of any other +monarch." (p. 253.) + + + + +CHAPTER XCVI. + + _How our general appoints Alonso Grado lieutenant of Vera Cruz, and + Sandoval alguacil-major of the same place._ + + +After the execution of the Mexican generals, and Motecusuma had become +pacified again, Cortes despatched one of our officers, named Alonso de +Grado, a very active, handsome, and sensible man, to Vera Cruz, with the +appointment of lieutenant, who, besides being an excellent musician, was +a capital penman. + +This Grado was one of those who had always opposed our march to Mexico, +and particularly on the occasion when the intrigues were set on foot by +the discontented during our stay in Tlascalla: he then insisted on our +return to Vera Cruz, and, upon the whole, spoke in severe terms against +our general. He was very expert in various matters, and was successful +in his undertakings, and hence again obtained the command of Vera Cruz, +though he was not a very good soldier. Cortes, well acquainted with the +man's character, that he was not one of the most courageous, said to +him, in giving him the appointment, rather jokingly, "Your desire of +going to Vera Cruz, Alonso de Grado, is about to be fulfilled. There you +must continue the building of the fortress with assiduity; but have +nothing to do with any warlike movements: it might end equally +disastrous for you as it did for Juan de Escalante!" + +While Cortes was thus addressing him, he winked his eye to those who +were present, as much as to say if he were required on the field of +battle, we should have to drag him there by the hair of his head. + +When Grado's appointment and instructions were about to be drawn up, he +likewise begged Cortes to confer on him the appointment of +alguacil-major, which Escalante had enjoyed with that of lieutenant. Our +commander, however, told him it had already been conferred upon +Sandoval, but, in a short time, he would give him some further +appointment. He particularly desired him to watch over the interests of +the inhabitants of Vera Cruz as a father, and not allow any harsh +measures to be practised against the Indian population. Lastly, he +desired him to order the smith at Vera Cruz to make two heavy iron +chains, and to forward them, with the anchors we had taken out of our +vessels, immediately to Mexico. + +Alonso de Grado's conduct, however, very little corresponded with the +instructions he had received. His behaviour towards the Spanish garrison +at Vera Cruz was haughty to a degree. He required the men to wait upon +him, as if he had been a grandee, and demanded golden trinkets and +beautiful females from the thirty surrounding tribes which were friendly +with us. He no way troubled himself about completing the fortress, and +spent all his time in feasting and gambling. He went even further than +this, and gave way to his former ill-will towards Cortes, by seeking to +gain his friends and others over to the interest of Diego Velasquez, and +proposed that if the latter himself, or any one sent by him, should +appear off the coast, to make common cause with him, and deliver up +possession of the country to him. + +Cortes was duly apprized of all this, and sadly repented in the choice +of this man, whose character and artful disposition, however, he had +known beforehand. + +As Cortes was still afraid that Diego Velasquez might somehow or other +obtain information of the purport of our mission to the emperor, and not +merely frustrate our designs, but also send out an armament against us, +he considered it necessary to send a trustworthy man to Vera Cruz. His +choice fell upon Sandoval, who became alguacil-major of the town after +the death of Escalante. Sandoval was accompanied by Ircio, the same +who, Gomara affirms, founded a settlement in Panuco. This Ircio had been +groom to the earl of Urena, and likewise to Don Pedro Giron, and knew +well how to entertain Sandoval with the various adventures of his life: +hereby he succeeded in gaining the intimate friendship of this excellent +man, who was innocence itself, and, by degrees, he obtained a captaincy. +He, however, repaid him with ingratitude, and calumniated him so grossly +that he might have been punished according to law, but Sandoval +contented himself by giving him a severe reprimand. + +I will, however, leave this subject, and relate that Sandoval, +immediately upon his arrival at Vera Cruz, fulfilled Cortes' orders, +took Grado prisoner, and sent him under a strong escort of Indian +auxiliaries to Mexico. Sandoval very soon gained the good wishes of the +whole garrison, for he began his work by providing food for the sick, +and treating the inhabitants with every possible kindness, and was most +particular in promoting the interests of the surrounding townships which +were friendly with us. In the same way he set diligently about the +completion of the fortress, and every way proved himself an active and +vigilant commander, who afterwards, as will be seen, rendered vast +services to Cortes and all of us. + +I must now return to Grado, who soon arrived at Mexico in custody of our +Indian auxiliaries. His request to obtain a hearing from Cortes was not +only refused, but he was thrown into a wooden cage which had just been +constructed. I can still well remember that the wood of this cage smelt +strongly of garlic and onions. However, our prisoner was obliged to pass +two whole days in it; yet, like a clever fellow, who is never at a loss, +he found means to soften Cortes' resentment by making him solemn +promises of future obedience, and not only obtained his liberty again, +but, from that moment, as I witnessed myself, became very intimate with +our general, who, however, never again intrusted him with any military +command, but employed him in matters which suited his talents. +Subsequently he appointed him auditor of the army accounts, which Avila +had previously filled, and whom Cortes had despatched, as his attorney, +to St. Domingo, as will subsequently be seen. + +Before I close this chapter, I have to observe that Cortes desired +Sandoval, on his arrival at Vera Cruz, to send him the two smiths of +that town, with all their apparatus, a quantity of iron, besides the two +heavy iron chains which were already finished; and likewise a supply of +sails, some rigging, pitch, and a compass; all of which Cortes required +for the brigantines which he intended building to navigate the lake of +Mexico. + + + + +CHAPTER XCVII. + + _How we entertained and amused Motecusuma during his confinement, + and granted him permission to visit his temple._ + + +Our general was a man who thought of everything, and strove as much as +possible to enliven the monarch in his confinement, that he might not +feel the weight of his misfortune too deeply. Cortes, therefore, every +morning after we had said prayers, visited the monarch with four of our +principal officers, to inquire after his health and after his wants, and +otherwise to amuse him in every way; in which they succeeded so well +that Motecusuma one day himself declared his confinement was not irksome +to him, as our gods had given us the power to take him prisoner, and +Huitzilopochtli had allowed it. + +Sometimes also Motecusuma played at a certain game with Cortes, which +the Mexicans call the game of _totoloc_: it is played with small round +glossy balls, which here were made of gold, and are pitched at a certain +mark, also of the same metal: five throws finished the game, and the +stakes were for valuable gold trinkets and jewels. I still remember once +when Motecusuma and Cortes were playing at this game, Alvarado scoring +for Cortes, and a distinguished cazique (his nephew) for the monarch, +that Alvarado continually scored one too many for Cortes. This was +observed by Motecusuma, who said, with a pleasing smile, that he was not +exactly pleased when _Tonatio_ (so they termed Alvarado) marked the game +for Cortes, for he was guilty of _Ixoxol_ in scoring, which means that +he scored falsely, by continually marking one more than he ought. + +Cortes, and we others who happened to be on duty at the time in the +apartment, could not resist laughing at the observation of the monarch. +And why, it will be asked, did we find that expression so amusing? +Because Alvarado, notwithstanding the handsome and refined man he was, +could not resist the temptation of scoring falsely, and had been +discovered. However, all the gain was divided among those present; for +what Cortes won he presented to the monarch's nephew and his servants; +Motecusuma dividing his gains among those who happened to be on duty at +the time.[70] And not a day passed that he did not present Velasquez de +Leon, who was very kind to him, and was captain of the guard, and those +who were on duty, with valuable gold trinkets and manufactured stuffs. + +One night a sailor, named Truxillo, stood sentinel in the monarch's +apartment. This fellow was very stout and strongly-built; he happened +to forget himself, for a moment, in a way which, out of respect for the +reader, I will not describe more minutely here. Motecusuma, who was a +monarch of refined manners, happened to hear it at the moment, and +considered himself grossly insulted. He inquired of his page Orteguilla +who the low-bred fellow was? Orteguilla replied that the man was a +sailor, and that such persons were little acquainted with good manners. +It was upon this occasion also that Orteguilla explained to him the rank +of every individual soldier, who were cavaliers and who were not, and +many other things the monarch wished to know. Motecusuma, however, had +not forgotten the insult which the sailor had offered to his person, for +daylight had scarcely broken forth when he sent for him, and reproached +him for his disrespectful behaviour, and advised him to mend his manners +for the future; but sweetened down this lecture by presenting him with +some gold trinkets, worth about five pesos. This kind treatment, +however, had little effect on the rough sailor, who repeated his filthy +conduct the following night, in the hopes of getting a second present +when morning came. Motecusuma, however, disdained speaking to him any +more, but complained to the captain of the guard, and desired that the +fellow might be severely reprimanded and never allowed again to stand +sentinel there. + +Something similar happened to a soldier named Lopez, who was an +excellent crossbow-man, and had a fine figure, though otherwise a man of +little understanding. As he was one night on duty in the monarch's +apartment, and the corporal came to make the rounds, he remarked to the +latter, "A curse upon this dog, I am sure this standing sentinel at +night will be my death!" + +Motecusuma heard these words, and considered his feelings deeply +wounded. When, therefore, Cortes came in the morning to pay the monarch +his usual visit, he complained bitterly to him about the insult that had +been offered him. Cortes was exceedingly vexed, and was so enraged with +Lopez that he ordered him to be whipped. From that day every one who +stood sentinel in the monarch's apartment maintained a respectful +silence; though, as far as regarded myself and others of my companions +who often stood sentinel in the same apartment, we needed no +instructions as to how we were to behave in the presence of such a great +monarch, who soon got to know all our names and peculiarities, was +exceedingly kind towards us, and often distributed gold trinkets among +us, besides manufactured cottons and pretty females. At that time I was +yet a young fellow, and whenever I stood sentinel in the monarch's +apartment, I always behaved with the greatest respect, and uncovered my +head on passing by him. This drew his attention towards me, and, on +inquiring who I was, Orteguilla informed him that I had accompanied the +two former voyages of discovery to these parts. When, therefore, +Orteguilla, at my desire, hinted to him that I should be much pleased +with a pretty Mexican female, he sent for me, and said, "I understand, +Bernal Diaz del Castillo, that you have abundance of gold and cotton +stuffs, wherefore I will now give you a pretty young female. Treat her +well, for she is the daughter of distinguished parents, who will, +besides, give you more gold and cotton stuffs with her." + +I very respectfully thanked the monarch for his kindness, and hoped God +would bless him for it. When the page interpreted my answer, he said, +"Bernal Diaz appears to me to have the true feelings of a well-bred +man," and ordered three small plates of gold and two additional packages +of cotton stuffs to be given me. + +With respect to Motecusuma's mode of life, it was his custom to say his +prayers the first thing in the morning, and sacrifice to his gods: he +then partook of a little breakfast, which consisted not in meat, but +solely in _agi_.[71] This being finished, he gave an hour's audience to +the caziques, who came from distant parts in great numbers to lay before +him certain disputes, and obtain his judgment. The remaining part of the +day was then spent in amusement, particularly with his concubines, of +whom he had a great number; some of these, at times, he gave in marriage +to his generals, principal favorites, and likewise to us soldiers; as I, +for instance, obtained Dona Francisca, whom you might well see was a +woman of distinction. Now and then the monarch would laugh, and then +again he was pensive, and seemed to reflect on his confinement. + +I must once more return to the soldier whom Cortes had so severely +punished for calling Motecusuma a dog. Many to whom I have related this +were surprised at the severity of his punishment, as the man had not +said it to the monarch's face; besides that, our numbers were so small, +and that the Mexicans would be sure to hear of it. My reply to this is, +that all of us, even Cortes himself, paid Motecusuma the most profound +respect, and no one passed by him without uncovering his head: add to +all this, he was so very kind, and so courteous in his behaviour towards +us, that we should have considered ourselves bound to pay his person and +good breeding every possible respect, though he had not been the monarch +of New Spain. + +Lastly, it must be remembered that our lives were in his hands; for, at +his very wink, his subjects would have flown to his rescue. When we saw +how he was continually surrounded by so many distinguished personages, +and the numbers of princes who came to wait upon him from distant parts +of his empire, in the same way as if he had still been at liberty in his +own palace, can we at all feel surprised, then, that Cortes should so +severely have punished on the spot an insult offered to this monarch? +Assuredly he did nothing more than the circumstances of the moment +required! + +[70] Alvarado, who sometimes also played a game with Motecusuma, showed +little generosity, according to other writers. If he lost, he paid with +chalchihuis stones; if he won, he was paid with bars of gold, each worth +at least fifty ducats. Motecusuma frequently lost in one evening from +forty to fifty of such gold bars to Alvarado; but the more he lost, the +more good-humoured he appeared. (p. 258.) + +[71] A kind of soup or broth, of which the so termed Spanish pepper +formed the chief ingredient. (p. 260.) + + + + +CHAPTER XCVIII. + + _How Cortes orders two large brigantines to be built for the + navigation of the lake of Mexico; Motecusuma begs permission to + visit his temples to offer up his prayers there; and what Cortes + said to him when he granted this permission._ + + +After the necessary materials had arrived for constructing the two +brigantines, Cortes informed Motecusuma that he intended to build two +small pleasure yachts to navigate the lake of Mexico, and requested him +to allow his carpenters to cut wood for the purpose, and assist our ship +carpenters, Martin Lopez and Alonso Nunez, in the building of the +vessels. + +There was plenty of wood at a distance of about sixteen miles from the +town, which could easily be transported hither. The building of these +vessels went on very fast, as our men were assisted by numbers of +Indians. These brigantines, therefore, were very soon completed and +rigged; besides which, each was provided with an awning to keep out the +heat of the sun. Both vessels turned out very good, and sailed +uncommonly fast. + +This Lopez was not only an excellent soldier, but also a very clever man +in his profession, and subsequently built the thirteen brigantines which +were of the most valuable assistance to us in the conquest of Mexico, as +will be seen in the proper place. + +About this time, Motecusuma expressed a wish to visit his temple, in +order to make his devotions there, and sacrifice to his idols. His +motive for wishing this he declared was not merely to fulfil his +religious duties, but also to convince his generals, his courtiers, and +particularly some of his relatives, who daily begged he would allow them +to rescue him from his confinement, and commence hostilities with us, +that it was his own choice to dwell with us, to which Huitzilopochtli +had given his consent. + +In answer to this request, Cortes said, he was afraid it would cost him +his life, as his generals and papas might suddenly form the idea of +taking forcible possession of his person on the occasion, and fall upon +us, and his life would become endangered in the struggle. He was, +however, no way inclined to oppose his wishes, and he might repair there +early in the morning, but was not to sacrifice any human beings, as that +was a great sin against the only true God, whom we had made known to +him. Neither could he help remarking that it would be much more +profitable to him to make his devotions before our altars and the image +of the holy Virgin. + +Motecusuma then assured Cortes he would not permit any human sacrifices +to take place. The monarch then, with Cortes' permission, made a +procession to the temple, dressed in his splendid garments, and +surrounded by his most distinguished courtiers, with the usual display +of pomp, preceded by the staff of honour, to announce the monarch's +approach. Four of our principal officers, Leon, Alvarado, Avila, and +Lugo, with 150 soldiers, accompanied him as a guard, and father Olmedo +to restrain the monarch from instituting any human sacrifices. + +When Motecusuma had arrived at the cursed temple of Huitzilopochtli, he +was assisted out of the sedan by his nephews and other caziques. As the +procession moved along, all the Mexican grandees kept their eyes fixed +to the ground, not daring to look up in the monarch's face. At the foot +of the temple he was met by a number of papas who assisted him in +mounting the steps. The night previous, they had sacrificed four +Indians; for, notwithstanding all Cortes and father Olmedo might say, +they were not to be deterred, and continued those abominations. At that +time, indeed, all we could do was to feign ignorance of their having +taken place; for Mexico and other great towns had already been aroused +into rebellion by Motecusuma's nephews, as will be presently seen. + +The monarch having finished his devotions, which were of short duration, +again returned with us to our quarters. He appeared now in better +spirits, and presented each of us who had accompanied the procession +with trinkets of gold. + + + + +CHAPTER XCIX. + + _How our two brigantines are launched, and Motecusuma, expressing a + wish to go a hunting, sails in one of these vessels to a river where + he usually went for that purpose._ + + +When both our brigantines were launched, and completely rigged and +manned with sailors, Motecusuma expressed a wish to take a trip by water +to a river where he was accustomed to go for the purpose of hunting, +situated at the foot of a mountain along the banks of the lake. No one, +not even his principal officers, durst visit this spot for the sake of +killing game, under pain of death. Cortes answered, that, as far as +regarded himself, he in no way objected, but again impressed upon his +mind what he had told him on his visit to the temple: and he would +advise him to make use of one of the brigantines on the occasion, which +were much more safe than the canoes or pirogues. + +Motecusuma was vastly pleased with this offer, and went on board the +better of the two, with a great number of his principal officers: the +other brigantine conveyed a son of the monarch, attended by numbers of +caziques; and the royal huntsmen followed in the canoes of the country. +Cortes took along with him Leon, Alvarado, Oli, and Avila, besides 200 +of our troops, bidding them to pay particular attention to everything +that passed, and narrowly watch the person of Motecusuma. Besides this, +four cannon were brought on board, with the necessary powder, and our +artillerymen; so that every precaution was taken. A stiffish breeze +fortunately rose just as the brigantines were leaving, so that we were +able to make the best use of the sails, and the monarch was greatly +delighted at thus, as it were, flying across the lake: nor could the +canoes, filled with the huntsmen and other Mexican chiefs, +notwithstanding the number of their rowers, any way keep up with us, +which amused the monarch uncommonly, and he said it showed great skill +thus to be able to unite the power of the sails and the oars. + +The desired river, therefore, which was not very far distant, was soon +reached. Here Motecusuma created terrible destruction among the deer, +hares, and rabbits, and returned highly delighted to his metropolis. +When we had arrived near to Mexico, he begged our officers to fire the +cannon, which gave him a new pleasure; and as we found that he was open +and frank, we experienced a real pleasure in paying him the same respect +as was shown him by his own grandees. But if I were to attempt a +description of his grandeur, and the perfect submission and deep +veneration which every prince of New Spain and other provinces evinced +towards his person, I should, perhaps, find no end. He had merely to say +the word, and everything was brought he desired, as the following +instance will prove. One day, as many of us officers and soldiers were +with Motecusuma, a hawk pounced upon a quail, which, with others, and +numbers of pigeons, was kept by his Indian major domo, whose business it +was to see that our quarters were always clean and tidy. This hawk +succeeded in seizing its prey, and flew off with it. As we were all +looking on, one of our men, Francisco de Azenedo, cried out, "O! what a +fine bird! how beautifully it flies away with its prey!" We were all of +the same opinion, and remarked, that this country altogether abounded +with birds that might be capitally trained for hawking. + +Motecusuma, observing how lively we were discoursing together, was +curious to know what it was, and inquired the reason of his page +Orteguilla, who told him we were admiring the hawk which had pounced +upon the quail, and added, that if we had such a bird in our power, we +could teach it to fly from the hand, and attack a bird of any size and +kill it. + +Then, returned Motecusuma, I will have this same hawk caught, and we +shall see whether they can teach it all they say. Upon which, we all +took our caps off and thanked him for his kindness. Motecusuma then sent +for his birdcatchers, and commanded them to bring him the hawk above +mentioned. These immediately set to work, and before the hour of Ave +Maria they actually caught the bird, and presented it to Azenedo, who +immediately recognized, by the plumage, that it was the identical one we +had seen. We saw many similar instances, and even stronger proofs of the +punctuality with which this monarch's orders were fulfilled. Even now, +in his confinement, his subjects not only continued to bring him tribute +from the most distant parts of New Spain, but they likewise obeyed his +commands implicitly, and stood in such great awe of him, that even the +birds which flew in the skies above were brought down for him if he +expressed a wish that way. + +It is now, however, time to relate how suddenly the wheel of fortune +turned against us, by a conspiracy, which was set on foot by the +inhabitants, to put us all to death. + + + + +CHAPTER C. + + _How the nephews of Motecusuma assembled the principal personages of + the empire, and formed a conspiracy to rescue the monarch from + confinement, and beat us out of the city._ + + +When Cacamatzin, the prince of Tezcuco, which, next to Mexico, was the +largest town of all New Spain, was informed of his uncle Motecusuma's +imprisonment, and that we seized everything we could lay our hands +on,--that we had even opened the treasure of his ancestor Axayacatl, +though left it entire as yet,--he determined to put an end to our +dominion before we should likewise take him prisoner. + +For this reason he assembled all the chiefs of Tezcuco, and with them +the prince of Cojohuacan, who was his cousin, and nephew to Motecusuma; +likewise the princes of Tlacupa and Iztapalapan, and another powerful +cazique, prince of Matlaltzinco, a man of great courage, and so nearly +related to Motecusuma, that many even believed the crown of right should +have devolved upon him. + +These powerful caziques accordingly, with other Mexican generals, fixed +a day when all their warriors were to meet and fall upon us with their +united forces. It appeared, that the prince of Matlaltzinco, who was +considered to be the most courageous man in the kingdom, and who had +such great pretensions to the crown, had only consented to join the +conspiracy, on condition that he should be elevated to the throne. He +would himself, first of all, force his way into Mexico with the whole of +his army, drive us out of the city, or put us all to the sword. +Cacamatzin, however, it is said, had declared that the crown would +sooner devolve upon him, as nephew of Motecusuma, and that he should be +able to overcome us without paying so dearly for the prince +Matlaltzinco's assistance. It is nevertheless certain, that Cacamatzin, +and the before-mentioned princes, agreed to meet on a certain day before +Mexico, and that the troops there should, at a certain signal, rise up +in arms and admit them into the city. + +Motecusuma received due intelligence of all this, through the prince of +Matlaltzinco, who had disagreed with Cacamatzin. The former to gain +surer proofs of the whole affair, summoned all the grandees of Mexico +into his presence; who then confessed that Cacamatzin had gained them +over by presents and promises to join him in the attack upon us, and to +liberate the monarch his uncle. + +Motecusuma, who was extremely prudent and not willing that his +metropolis should be the scene of rebellion and bloodshed, informed +Cortes of the conspiracy. Our commander, however, as well as every +soldier among us, was perfectly aware of what was going on, though +perhaps not of all the particulars. He, therefore, proposed to +Motecusuma that he should put all his troops under his command, when in +concert with ours he would fall upon Tezcuco, destroy the town and lay +waste the whole province. + +But as Motecusuma was unwilling to fall in with this advice, Cortes sent +word to Cacamatzin, that if he commenced hostilities against us it would +be his death; that it was our wish to live in friendship with him and to +render him good services. + +Cacamatzin, however, was a young hothead, and supported in his views by +a great number of chiefs, who constantly kept urging him on to fall upon +us. He, therefore, sent word to Cortes that he had already heard too +much of his smooth words, and desired he would send him no more of his +messages; it would be quite time enough to talk with each other when +their armies stood one against the other in the field of battle. + +Cortes, however, sent him a second warning, and desired him to pause a +little before he insulted our emperor in our persons. He would have +dearly to pay for such presumptuous behaviour, and certainly be put to +death. + +To which this prince returned the haughty answer: He knew nothing of our +emperor, and wished also he had never known anything of Cortes, since he +had so grossly deceived his uncle with his vile flattery. + +When Cortes received this answer he begged Motecusuma to use his own +authority against the rebels, observing at the same time, that in +Tezcuco there were many powerful men and relatives of his, who bore +Cacamatzin ill blood, on account of his persecution and haughty +behaviour towards them, and that he himself harboured one of his +brothers, a young man of great promise, who had fled from Tezcuco to +evade death, with which Cacamatzin had threatened him; for he could not +forgive him the hopes he entertained of succeeding to the throne. He +should therefore, continued Cortes to the monarch, issue orders to the +grandees of Tezcuco to take Cacamatzin prisoner, or by some means or +other try to entice him to Mexico, where he could be seized and kept in +confinement until his reason had returned. He should also transfer the +sovereign power over Tezcuco upon the brother, who had fled for +protection to Mexico. Moreover, Cacamatzin had already forfeited all +right to sovereign power, as he had attempted to revolutionize the whole +of New Spain, and by that means to make himself master of Motecusuma's +throne. + +The monarch now no longer hesitated, and promised to send for him, +expressing, however, his doubts as to whether he would make his +appearance; but if he did he would order his officers to seize his +person. Cortes returned him many thanks for his ready compliance, and +said: "Great monarch, if you should feel desirous of returning to your +palace I myself would willingly let you go, for I now see how upright +your intentions are towards us; I feel such an excess of friendship for +you, that I would long ago have conducted you back to your palace with +every magnificence, if it had depended solely upon me, and you yourself +did not consider it good policy to stay with us, that you may not be +hurried into the rebellious movement which your nephews have set on +foot. Indeed, I myself should never have deprived you of your liberty if +I had not been compelled to give way to my officers on that point, who +think they see a guarantee of our own safety in detaining possession of +your person." Motecusuma was now the more inclined to give Cortes credit +for his good wishes towards him, and considered himself greatly indebted +to him, and more so since Orteguilla had likewise assured him, that his +imprisonment was entirely owing to our officers, and that Cortes would +not be able to act according to his own wishes in this matter. +Motecusuma, therefore, answered Cortes, "that he in every way preferred +staying with us, until he should have gained more certain intelligence +as to the real designs of his nephews." He now sent some trustworthy +personages to Cacamatzin to invite him to Mexico, under the pretence +that he was desirous of becoming reconciled to him. He told him, at the +same time, not to feel any solicitude on account of his confinement, for +it depended upon himself to leave our quarters whenever he thought +proper; and Malinche himself had twice invited him to take up his abode +in his own palace again. But he had refused to do so, that he might not +go against the commandments of his gods, who had told him, through his +priests, to continue our prisoner for a certain space of time, if he was +desirous of preserving his life. It was therefore his interest to remain +on good terms with Malinche and his brothers. + +Motecusuma also sent similar messages to the other chiefs of Tezcuco, +adding, that he had invited his nephew to Mexico, to bring about +friendship between him and us again. They were therefore to thwart all +attempts the young hothead might make of commencing war upon us. On the +receipt of this message, Cacamatzin with his principal adherents met to +consult what steps they should take. He opened the assembly with a +haughty and turbulent speech, assuring them he would destroy us all +within the space of four days. His uncle was a faint-hearted old woman +for not having fallen upon us as he had been advised on our descending +the mountain of Chalco, and when all their warriors stood in readiness. +Motecusuma, indeed, had invited us into the city as if we were going to +do him some good. He gave us all the gold that was collected by tribute, +and we had even broken open the secret treasury of his ancestor +Axayacatl. We detained the monarch himself in prison, and continually +admonished him to abolish his gods and adopt ours in their stead. The +injury we had done was already great, but in order to put a stop to +this, and that such injustice might not remain unpunished, he begged of +them to lend him their powerful aid. All he had been stating they knew +to be true, and had beheld with their own eyes how Motecusuma's generals +were burnt at the stake: nothing now remained but to fall upon us in +good earnest. + +These representations were accompanied, not only by promises when he +should have ascended the Mexican throne of raising them all to great +dignity, but he likewise presented them on the spot with all kinds of +valuable things; assuring them he was in perfect understanding with the +princes of Cojohuacan, Iztapalapan, Tlacupa, and other places, who would +all join him with their troops. Even in Mexico itself he had drawn over +a large number of the principal personages to his side, who would rise +up in arms to assist him at a moment's notice. Nothing would be easier +than to force their way into Mexico. Some of the troops were to march +along the causeways, but the main body would be conveyed thither by +canoes and pirogues. They would nowhere meet with any opposition, for +his uncle was in confinement, and could issue no orders to the +inhabitants of Mexico. There was no reason to fear us, for his uncle's +generals had a few days ago killed several of the teules and one of +their horses, near Almeria. Both the dead horse and head of one of the +former had been shown to every one in Mexico. In the short space of one +hour they would be able to capture the whole of us and feast sumptuously +off our flesh. + +As soon as Cacamatzin had done speaking, the generals stood gazing at +each other in silence, each one waiting to hear his neighbour's answer +first. At last four or five of the most distinguished personages broke +silence, declaring, if they were to commence hostilities in the very +metropolis of their monarch, without his command, it was their duty, +first of all, to apprize him of it. If he gave his consent, they would +join him heart and soul; but would consider themselves traitors, if they +acted contrary to his wishes. + +This answer displeased Cacamatzin uncommonly, and in the heat of his +anger he threw three of the generals who thus opposed him into prison. +As there were a great number of his relatives, and boisterous young men, +like himself, at the meeting, the majority was for supporting him until +death. Cacamatzin, therefore, sent the following answer to Motecusuma: +"He might have spared himself the trouble of exhorting him to make +friendship with people who had insulted him, Motecusuma, so greatly, by +keeping him prisoner. They could only account for the conduct he had +pursued from our being enchanters, who had bound down both his mind and +energies by witchcraft, or that our gods, and the great Spanish woman, +whom we termed our protectress, gave us power to accomplish everything +we might wish." + +Herein Cacamatzin was certainly right; for the great mercy of God and of +the blessed Virgin was certainly our greatest support. This message of +Cacamatzin closed thus: "It was his intention to pay both his uncle and +us a visit, to our sorrow, and speak words of death to us." + +Motecusuma was highly incensed at this impudent answer, and that instant +sent for six of his most trustworthy generals, handed over to them his +seal, with various other valuable things, and commissioned them to +repair to Tezcuco, and secretly show his signet to all his relations, +and those chiefs of the city whom they knew were ill inclined towards +Cacamatzin, on account of his haughty behaviour, and command them to +seize him, and those who supported him, and bring them to Mexico. + +These officers accordingly set out immediately for Tezcuco, and +fulfilled their orders so promptly, that they seized Cacamatzin in his +own palace amidst his adherents, five of whom were also taken. They were +bound hand and foot, thrown into canoes, which were lying ready, well +manned, and so brought to Mexico. + +When the officers had arrived there with the prisoners, they allowed +Cacamatzin to mount his royal sedan, and so conducted him, with every +respect due to his station, into the presence of Motecusuma. + +In his discourse with Motecusuma, Cacamatzin showed even more audacity +than before; and when the monarch learnt from the other five prisoners +that he had designed to deprive him of the crown, and place it on his +own head, he grew terribly exasperated. He ordered the five other +prisoners to be released, but Cacamatzin to be conducted into the +presence of Cortes, that the latter might take him into his own custody. + +Upon this, Cortes repaired to the monarch, thanked him for this great +proof of his friendship, and, with the approbation of Motecusuma, raised +the brother of Cacamatzin, who, as above related, had fled for +protection to Motecusuma, to the throne of Tezcuco. This was done with +great pomp and ceremony, and the election of this new king was hailed by +the inhabitants of that great city, and all the influential men of the +province. The young king of Tezcuco received the name of Don Carlos.[71*] + +After the other nephews of Motecusuma, the princes of Cojohuacan, +Iztapalapan, and Tlacupa, had learnt the fate of Cacamatzin, they +naturally concluded that Motecusuma was informed of their having joined +in the conspiracy, and they durst not come, as usual, to pay their court +to him; but the former, in understanding with Cortes, likewise ordered +them to be seized; and scarcely eight days had elapsed before we had the +satisfaction of seeing them all securely locked in chains in our +quarters. + +The reader may well imagine from all this that our lives hung, as it +were, by a short thread, and we heard of nothing on all sides than how +we should be cut off to a man, and our bodies devoured. Here a merciful +Providence was our only protection. To him we are alone indebted that +the excellent Motecusuma himself should have furthered all our designs, +and that his subjects, even in his confinement, should have paid +implicit obedience to all his commands. We therefore every way strove to +show the monarch our gratitude for his great kindness; we took every +possible means to amuse him; no one was allowed for one moment to treat +him with disrespect; and Cortes himself even never sat down in his +presence unless he desired him to do so. We not only treated him with +profound respect, but we really loved him; for in all his actions he +indeed proved himself a great monarch. Father Olmedo from time to time +would also speak to him about our holy religion. We also acquainted him +with the great power of our emperor, and the immense extent of his +territories. All of this he would listen to with delight; then again he +would play a game at totoloc with Cortes, and always divided his gains +among us; for liberality was a leading feature in his character. + +[71*] The name of the prince was Cuicuitzcatl. (p. 270.) + + + + +CHAPTER CI. + + _How the powerful Motecusuma, with several caziques and chief + personages of the country, declare themselves vassals of our + emperor; and of other occurrences which happened then._ + + +As peace was again restored to the country after the imprisonment of the +petty kings, Cortes reminded Motecusuma of the offers he had made, +previously to our entering Mexico, to pay tribute to our emperor; +observing at the same time that he must now be sufficiently convinced of +the power and the vast extent of his empire, the number of his vassals, +among whom even there were distinguished sovereigns. It would be good, +therefore, if he, with all his subjects, likewise acknowledged +themselves vassals of our emperor; and it was customary for this act of +submission to be preceded by payment of tribute. + +In answer to this, Motecusuma said he was quite willing to assemble all +the grandees of his empire, and deliberate the matter with them: and +after the space of ten days the greater part of the caziques from the +surrounding districts assembled together, with the exception, however, +of the cazique of Matlaltzinco, who was a near relation of Motecusuma, +and considered a man of uncommon bravery; at least his demeanour and +bodily frame fully bespoke it, and he was looked upon as Motecusuma's +successor to the throne of Mexico. + +But even this man, it would appear, was seized with terror; for he sent +Motecusuma word from Tula, where he was then staying, that it was +impossible for him to be present at the meeting, and he was unable to +pay tribute; indeed scarcely able to live himself on what his province +produced him. + +Enraged at this unexpected answer, Motecusuma despatched some of his +generals to take the refractory prince prisoner. But as he was a very +powerful cazique, he had, of course, numerous adherers, who sent him +intelligence of the steps Motecusuma had determined to take against him; +so that he had sufficient time to retreat into the interior of the +country, where he was quite out of his monarch's reach. + +The other chiefs, however, duly assembled at their monarch's bidding; +but neither Cortes nor any of us were present at the meeting, save the +page Orteguilla, from whom we learnt what follows:--Motecusuma opened +the assembly by reminding the caziques of the ancient tradition of their +forefathers, written down in their historical records, of a people that +would one time come from the quarter where the sun rose, who were +destined to rule this country, and put an end to the Mexican empire. +That tradition referred to us, as he concluded, from the declarations of +his gods. The priests of Huitzilopochtli had expressly demanded an +oracle of that god on this point, and had instituted sacrifices for that +purpose; but the god, contrary to his usual custom, had refused the +oracle, and merely referred them to his previous declaration; wherefore +they had not dared to put any further questions. We may therefore +conclude, continued Motecusuma, that Huitzilopochtli meant to say we +were even to take the oath of allegiance to the king of Spain, whose +subjects the teules are. For the present we cannot do otherwise than act +accordingly: we must wait to see if our gods will give a better response +some time hence, we can then act as circumstances require. He therefore +desired and commanded them, for their own good, cheerfully to give some +proof of their allegiance to the Spanish monarch. Malinche had been +importunate on this point, and it would not be well to refuse him. For +the eight or ten years he had ruled over them they had obeyed him like +faithful servants; for which reason he had enriched them, enlarged their +territories, and elevated them to high dignities. They were to consider +his present confinement as the will of Huitzilopochtli, who had +particularly advised him to it, as he had so often assured them on other +occasions. + +After this reasoning and statement of Motecusuma, all present declared +themselves willing to comply with his wishes, but broke out into tears, +and sighed deeply, Motecusuma himself being most vehemently affected. He +then immediately despatched one of his principal officers to Cortes with +the information that the day following they would again meet, and take +the oath of allegiance to the emperor. + +The next day accordingly this was done in the presence of Cortes, of our +officers, and the greater part of the soldiers. All the Mexicans seemed +deeply grieved, and Motecusuma himself could not refrain from shedding +tears. Even we ourselves, from the great affection we bore this monarch, +became quite affected at the sight of his tears, and many of us wept as +much as the monarch himself. We therefore strove, if possible, to +redouble our attention towards him, and Cortes, with Father Olmedo, who +was a man of great intelligence, scarcely left him for a moment; and +while we employed every means to cheer him, we never lost an opportunity +of exhorting him to abolish his false gods. + + + + +CHAPTER CII. + + _How Cortes sends out some of our men to explore the gold mines and + those rivers which wash down gold; also the harbours from the Panuco + to the Tabasco, but particularly the river Guacasualco._ + + +Cortes one day, as usual, sitting with Motecusuma, the discourse, among +other things, turned upon mining, and he inquired of the monarch where +the gold mines and those rivers were situated where gold dust was found, +and what method they pursued to collect the same, as he intended sending +out two of his men for that purpose, who were great proficients in the +art of mining. + +Motecusuma answered, that gold was found in three different parts of the +country; but more abundantly in the province of Zacatula, from ten to +twelve days' journey south of Mexico. There the earth which contained +the gold was washed in wooden vessels, and the gold dust sunk to the +bottom. At present gold was likewise brought from the northern province +of Tustepec, near to where we had landed. There it was collected from +the beds of the rivers; and very productive gold mines were also worked +in this province by the Chinantecs and Tzapotecs, two tribes which were +not subject to him. If Cortes was desirous of sending some of his men +there, he was very willing himself to despatch several distinguished +officers with them. + +Cortes accepted of this offer, and thanked Motecusuma for his kindness, +and sent off our pilot Gonzalo de Umbria, with two miners, to Zacatula. +This Umbria was the same person whom Cortes sentenced to have his feet +cut off, while we were staying at San Juan de Ulua.[72] He and his +companions were to return within the space of forty days. To the mines +in the north he despatched an officer, named Pizarro, a young man +twenty-five years of age, whom he treated as one of his own relations. + +At that time Peru was still unknown, and the name of Pizarro not thought +of. This young officer was accompanied by four miners and an equal +number of distinguished Mexicans. A space of forty days was likewise +allowed him to return to Mexico, as he had to travel a distance of 320 +miles. + +Motecusuma on that occasion likewise presented Cortes with a piece of +nequen cloth, on which all the rivers and indentures along the coast +running northwards of Panuco to Tabasco, a distance of 560 miles, were +very accurately described and drawn. By this chart our observation was +drawn to the river Guacasualco, and as we were well acquainted with all +the harbours and indentures there noted down, from our voyage under +Grijalva, but knew nothing of that river, which the Mexicans described +as very broad and deep, Cortes determined also to send some one there to +make soundings at its mouth, and further explore the country; Diego de +Ordas, a man of great intelligence and courage, offered himself for this +purpose, if two of our men, and some Mexicans, might accompany him. + +Cortes was at first very loth to part with him, as he was so useful to +him in various ways, but at last gave his consent, to keep him in good +humour. Motecusuma likewise expressed his fears about this journey, as +the land of Guacasualco was not subject to him, and inhabited by a very +warlike people. He cautioned Ordas to be particularly on his guard, and +hoped that no reproach would be made him if any harm befel him. But if +Ordas should think proper, he would order a sufficient number of his +troops, which lay on the confines, to accompany him into Guacasualco. +Cortes and Ordas returned Motecusuma many thanks for his kindness, and +the latter then set out on his journey, accompanied by two of our men +and several distinguished Mexicans. + +Here again the historian Gomara commits another blunder similar to the +one he previously made, respecting Pedro de Ircio, whom he sends to +Panuco; for here he despatches Juan Velasquez with 100 men to form a +colony in Guacasualco. In the next chapter I will give an account of +what these officers saw, and the samples of gold they brought with them. + +[72] According to Torquemada, Umbria was only scourged, which appears +more probable. (p. 273.) + + + + +CHAPTER CIII. + + _How the officers whom Cortes had despatched to the gold mines and + the river Guacasualco[73] returned to Mexico._ + + +The first who returned to Mexico was Gonzalo de Umbria, with his +companions. He brought with him about 300 pesos worth of gold dust, +which they had collected in the township of Zacatula. There, he related, +the caziques of the province employed numbers of the inhabitants at the +rivers to wash gold out of the sand in small troughs. There were two +rivers from which gold dust was collected, and if clever miners were set +to work there, and the mining carried out in the same way as at St. +Domingo and Cuba, they would prove very profitable. + +Four distinguished chiefs of that province had accompanied Umbria to +Mexico, with a present in gold trinkets for our emperor, valued at about +200 pesos. Cortes was as much pleased with this small quantity of gold +as if it had been worth 3000 pesos, as he now knew for a certainty that +there were rich mines in those parts. He treated the caziques who +brought this present very kindly, gave them glass beads, and promised +them all manner of good things; so that they returned home highly +delighted. + +Besides this, Umbria spoke about many other large townships in the +neighbourhood of Mexico, and of a province on the confines, called +Matlaltzinco. We could well perceive that Umbria and his companions had +not forgotten themselves, for they had well stuffed their pockets with +gold. This Cortes had readily foreseen, and purposely selected Umbria +for that journey, to regain his friendship, and that he might forget the +severe sentence which he had passed upon him. + +Neither did Diego de Ordas, who had been sent to the river Guacasualco, +return with empty hands. He had likewise passed through large townships, +all of which he mentioned by name, and had everywhere been received with +great respect. Every town he came to he had met with endless complaints +from the inhabitants respecting the depredations and cruelties exercised +upon them by the Mexican troops stationed on the confines. Ordas, and +the distinguished Mexicans who accompanied him, had severely reprimanded +the officers who commanded these troops, and threatened to acquaint +Motecusuma with every circumstance, who would certainly send for and +punish them with equal severity as he had Quauhpopoca for similar +misconduct. These remonstrances had the desired effect, and on his +further journey Ordas was only accompanied by one of his Mexican +fellow-travellers. Tochel, cazique of the province of Guacasualco, +having received information of Ordas's approach, sent out several +distinguished personages to meet him. Everywhere he met with the kindest +reception, for the inhabitants had learnt to know what kind of people we +were, from the expedition under Grijalva. + +In order to assist him in exploring this river, the cazique Tochel not +only lent him several large canoes, but himself, accompanied by a number +of his officers, had accompanied him to the river Guacasualco. At the +mouth of this river Ordas found a depth of three fathoms, but higher up +the river became gradually deeper, and was navigable for large vessels; +and near a certain Indian village there was depth enough to carry a +Spanish carack. In this village the inhabitants presented Ordas with +some gold trinkets and a pretty Indian female. They likewise declared +themselves vassals of our emperor, and complained bitterly of +Motecusuma, and the cruelties exercised by his troops. It was only a +short time ago they had fought a battle against the latter, and slain +great numbers of them; for which reason they had named the small +village where the engagement took place _Cuitlonemiqui_, which in their +language means the _spot where the Mexican beasts fell_. Ordas thanked +them very kindly for the great respect they had shown him, and presented +them with some glass beads. He likewise said that the country was well +adapted for the breeding of cattle, and the harbour excellently situated +for trading with Cuba, St. Domingo, and Jamaica, but too far distant +from Mexico; and, what was worse, full of shallows; which was the reason +we seldom made use of this harbour for commerce, or transporting goods +from Mexico. + +With respect to Pizarro, he returned, with only one of the Spaniards who +accompanied him to Tustepec, but he had been more fortunate in the +discovery of gold, of which he brought with him dust of that metal to +the value of 1000 pesos. He related that he had himself commenced +washing for gold dust in the provinces of Tustepec and Malinaltepec, and +neighbouring districts; for which purpose he had employed a considerable +number of Indians, whom he remunerated for their labour with two thirds +of the gold they found. He had likewise visited other provinces higher +up in the mountains, called the country of the Chinantecs. Here he was +met by a number of Indians, armed with bows, arrows, shields, and +lances, of much greater length than ours. They declared that no Mexican +should set foot in their territory, under pain of death, but that the +teules were very welcome. The Mexicans consequently remained behind, and +Pizarro pursued his journey with the Spaniards only. The Chinantec +caziques then ordered a number of the inhabitants to repair to the +river, to wash the gold dust from the sand. The gold dust here found is +of a curly shape, and the inhabitants said that the mines, where the +metal was found in that shape, were much more productive and the metal +more solid. Pizarro was likewise accompanied by two caziques of that +country, who, in the name of the inhabitants, came to make friendship +with us, and declare themselves vassals of our emperor. They also +brought a present in gold, and complained bitterly of the Mexicans, who +were held in such utter abhorrence by them, on account of their lust +after plunder, that they could not endure the sight of a Mexican, or +bear to hear their name pronounced. + +Cortes received Pizarro and the caziques with every possible kindness, +and returned the latter many thanks for their present, assuring them of +our friendship, and readiness to serve them at all times, and then +dismissed them. That, however, they might travel in safety through the +Mexican territories, he desired two distinguished Mexicans to accompany +them to the confines, for which they were very thankful. Cortes then +inquired of Pizarro what had become of the other Spaniards who had +accompanied him. Pizarro replied, that he had ordered them to remain +behind there, as the soil seemed so rich, and abounded in gold mines, +and the inhabitants so peaceably inclined. He had desired them to form a +small settlement there, and lay out extensive grounds for cacao, maise, +and cotton plantations; also to promote the breed of cattle, and explore +the gold mines of the country. Cortes greatly disapproved of his having +exceeded his commands, and upbraided him severely in private, telling +him that it betrayed a low disposition instantly to begin thinking of +speculation in cacao plantations and breeding of cattle. Cortes then +despatched a soldier, named Alonso Luis, to the Spaniards left behind, +with orders for their immediate return to Mexico. + +[73] At the present day even this river is known in New Spain by the +name of Huasacualco, and even Guacasualco. (p. 274.) + + + + +CHAPTER CIV. + + _How Cortes desired the powerful Motecusuma to order all the + caziques of the empire to bring in the tribute of gold due to our + emperor._ + + +As Diego de Ordas and the other officers whom Cortes had sent out for +the discovery of gold mines had all returned with samples of that metal, +and brought the most satisfactory accounts concerning the wealth of the +country, our general, after long deliberation with his officers and +several of the soldiers, resolved that Motecusuma should now be desired +to send round to all his caziques, and to every township of his empire, +and require them to bring in tribute to our emperor, and that he +himself, as the most wealthy of his vassals, should pay the same from +his own private treasures. + +In answer to this request, Motecusuma said that he would forward the +necessary orders for this purpose to every township; but he was +compelled to inform us that many of them would be unable to fulfil those +commands, who could merely contribute some trifling trinkets in gold +which they had inherited from their forefathers. + +Motecusuma then sent several of his principal officers to the districts +where there were gold mines, desiring the inhabitants of such places to +forward him the usual weight and number of gold bars they were +accustomed to pay as tribute, and forwarded them two bars as a sample. +He despatched similar orders to the province which stood under his +relative, who behaved so refractory. This prince, however, sent him word +that he would neither send any gold nor pay any attention to +Motecusuma's commands, and that he had as much right to the throne of +Mexico as he who thus dared to demand tribute of him. + +The monarch was so incensed at this answer that he instantly despatched +some of his most active officers, with his seal, to seize the rebel and +bring him to Mexico. These officers were more successful than the former +had been, and brought in the rebel prince prisoner. When he was led into +the presence of Motecusuma, he not only evinced no fear, but was +impudent to a degree, and expressed himself so disrespectfully that his +conduct could only be accounted for by madness, as he, it was said, was +subject to fits of insanity. Cortes, who received information that +Motecusuma had given orders for his execution, begged the latter he +might be sent to him, that he might take him into his own custody. The +former complied with this request, and when the prince was brought into +our general's presence, he spoke very kindly to him, and begged of him +not to act the madman with his monarch, and assured him he would obtain +his liberty again. But Motecusuma was of a very different opinion, and +desired he might be heavily chained, as the other princes had been. + +After the lapse of twenty days, all the officers whom Motecusuma had +sent out into the provinces to collect the tribute, had returned to +Mexico. He then sent for Cortes, his officers, and several of us who had +been accustomed to stand sentinel in his apartment, and spoke to us as +follows: "Malinche, and you other officers and soldiers, I consider +myself greatly indebted to your emperor for his having thought it worth +his while to send from such distant countries to make inquiries after +me; but what more deeply occupies my thoughts is the tradition of our +ancestors, which has been fully confirmed by the oracles of our gods, +that, namely, the dominion of these countries was destined to devolve +upon him. Receive, therefore, this gold for him; I have no more at +present, as the notice to collect it was too short. With regard to +myself, I have destined the whole of my father's treasure for him as my +share of the tribute, which lies secreted in your quarters. I am well +aware that you have inspected it, but closed up the opening as before. +When, however, you transmit this treasure to your emperor, you must say +in your letter, this is sent you by your faithful vassal Motecusuma. To +this I will also add a few chalchihuis, of such enormous value that I +would not consent to give them to any one save to such a powerful +emperor as yours: each of these stones are worth two loads of gold. I +further think of sending him three crossbows, with the small balls, and +bag which contains them, all richly ornamented with jewels, which will +certainly please him much. I should like to give him all I possess; now +I have very little left, as I have from time to time given you the +greater portion of my gold and jewels." + +Cortes and all of us were astonished at this generosity and great +goodness of the monarch, and we took off our caps very respectfully, and +thanked him. Cortes, at the same time, assured him he would send our +majesty an accurate description of all these splendid presents. +Motecusuma did not delay one instant to fulfil his promise, for that +very same hour his house-stewards arrived to hand us over all the +treasures contained in the secret chamber. There was such a vast heap of +it that we were occupied three days in taking all out of the different +corners of this secret room, and in looking them over; we were even +obliged to send for Motecusuma's goldsmiths from Escapuzalco to assist +us. The reader may form some notion of this treasure when I tell him +that, when all the articles were set apart in three heaps and weighed, +the gold alone, not counting the silver and other precious things, was +found to be worth above 600,000 pesos: in this are not included the gold +plates, bars, and the gold dust contributed by the other provinces. All +this treasure we ordered the goldsmiths of Escapuzalco to smelt into +bars measuring three inches square. + +Besides all this, Motecusuma brought another present, consisting in gold +and jewels of enormous value. There were also chalchihuis stones of +extreme beauty and size, which were considered of immense value among +the caziques of the country. Further, there were three crossbows, with +their cases set in jewels and pearls, besides a number of pictures made +of feathers and small pearls, all of great value: indeed, it would be no +easy task to describe all these splendid things one by one. + +Upon this Cortes ordered an iron stamp to be made, about the size of a +Spanish real, bearing the arms of Spain, with which the royal treasurers +were to mark all the gold, with the exception of that set in jewels, +which we were loth to pull to pieces. As we possessed neither scales nor +weights, we cast the latter in iron, from twenty-five pounds to half a +pound weight, and to four ounces; for we cared very little to weigh to a +nicety of half an ounce or so. When the gold, without including the +silver and jewels, was weighed, we found, as I have before stated, that +it amounted to 600,000 pesos, though many of our men valued it at much +more. + +Nothing now remained but to deduct the emperor's fifths therefrom, and +divide the remainder among the officers and soldiers, including those +left behind at Vera Cruz. Cortes, however, was of opinion that the +division should be postponed until our stock should be further +increased, but most of our officers and soldiers desired that it might +take place forthwith, for they asserted that above one third had already +disappeared since the three heaps had been first collected together. +They greatly suspected that Cortes and his principal officers had +secretly taken away the greater part. The weighing of the gold, +consequently, was commenced immediately, that the division might take +place on the following day. In what way this was done, and how most of +it fell into the hands of Cortes and others, I will relate in the +following chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER CV. + + _How all the gold presented by Motecusuma, and collected from the + different townships, was divided; and what happened to one of our + soldiers on the occasion._ + + +First of all, one fifth of the treasure was set apart for the crown, and +a second for Cortes, as had been promised him when we elected him +captain-general and chief justice. After this had been deducted, Cortes +brought in the expenses of fitting out the armament at Cuba; then the +sum due to Velasquez for the vessels we had destroyed, and, lastly, the +travelling expenses of our agents whom we sent to Spain. Next were +deducted the several shares due to the garrison at Vera Cruz, which +consisted of seventy men; then the value of the two horses which had +been killed, one in the engagement with the Tlascallans, the other at +Almeria. + +Not until all this had been deducted were the rest of our men allowed to +take their shares. Double shares were also set apart for the two +priests, the officers, and the cavalry, likewise for the musketeers and +crossbow-men. After these and other nibblings, there remained, for the +greater part of our men, who could only claim one share, such a mere +trifle, that many of them would not even accept of it, which Cortes then +took himself. At that time, indeed, we thought it best to say nothing +about this unjust division; for what would it have availed us had we +demanded justice? Besides which, Cortes had secretly bribed some with +presents and large promises, and many of the most noisy he presented +with a hundred pesos to stop their mouths. + +The portion belonging to the garrison at Vera Cruz was forwarded to +Tlascalla for safe keeping. Most of our officers employed Motecusuma's +goldsmiths of Escapuzalco to make them heavy chains of the gold; and +Cortes, among other things, ordered a grand dinner service. Several of +our soldiers, who had learnt how to fill their pockets, had other things +made; and it was not long before a number of the stamped bars and +trinkets came into circulation; for gambling was now commenced to a +great extent, after a certain Pedro Valenciano had managed to +manufacture playing cards from parchment, which were as well painted and +as beautiful to the eye as those manufactured in Spain. + +I will, however, show what impression this unfair division of the gold +made upon our men. Among our troops there was a man named Cardenas, a +sailor by profession, who had left behind him in Spain a wife and +children in great want, and had the ill-luck, with many of us, to +continue in poverty. + +When this man beheld the great heap of gold piled up in bars, plates, +besides the gold dust, and found his share of the spoil was a mere +hundred pesos, he became excessively low-spirited. One of his friends, +who had observed this, asked him the cause of his grief and heavy sighs? +He answered, "Why, how the devil can I do otherwise, when I see the gold +which we have so hardly earned find its way into Cortes' pockets, with +his fifths, monies laid out for horses, vessels, and other such like +vile trickeries, while my wife and children are perishing at home for +want of food? I could even have sent them a little help when our agents +went to Spain, for there was sufficient gold at that time to have +divided it among us." "What gold are you speaking of?" inquired his +friend. "Why," answered Cardenas, "of that which our agents took with +them to Spain. If Cortes had granted me my share of that, my wife and +children would not have wanted: but he employed every species of +artifice to persuade us to send the whole treasure as a present to the +emperor, with the exception, however, of above 6000 pesos to Martin +Cortes, his father: I will not even mention the gold which he has +secretly stowed away. We others who have fought about courageously night +and day at Tabasco, Tlascalla, Zinpantzinco, and Cholulla; we who at +present live in continual fear, with almost certain death before our +eyes as soon as the inhabitants of this great city get it into their +heads to rise up against us,--we all remain, as before, +poverty-stricken, and all our remonstrances are in vain! Cortes, on the +contrary, acts as if he were the emperor himself, and runs away with a +fifth of our hard earnings!" + +In this strain the poor fellow continued his complaints, and was of +opinion that we should not have allowed Cortes to deduct a fifth for +himself; and that we required no other sovereign than our own emperor. + +"And are you really," returned the other, "going to embitter your +happiness with such thoughts? All this will avail you nothing. You know +we fare equally bad with respect to provisions, for Cortes and his +officers nearly eat up all themselves; but it is of no use for us to +complain, therefore drive away, all such melancholy thoughts from your +mind, and pray to the Almighty that we may not meet with our total +destruction in this city." + +Cortes was duly apprized of all this and similar complaints; and as the +discontent among the men respecting the unfair division of the gold +became pretty general, he ordered the whole of us into his presence, and +addressed us in a speech abounding with the sweetest sentences +imaginable. He was indebted, he said, for all he had to us; that he had +not required the fifth part, but the share which was promised him when +we elected him captain-general, and he was quite ready to bestow +something on those who stood in need. The gold we had collected up to +this moment, he continued, was a trifle to that which was to come. We +ought to remember what great cities were dispersed through the country, +and the rich mines which were in our possession; these certainly would +enrich every man in his army. In this way he continued for some time, +and spoke feelingly to the heart! but, finding all this had no effect, +he employed other means. Many he secretly silenced with gold, and others +by great promises, and the provisions sent us by Motecusuma's orders +were from this moment justly divided, so that every man among us had an +equal share of food with himself. He likewise took Cardenas aside, and +quieted him with a present of 300 pesos, and the promise that he would +allow him to return home to his family with the first vessel that left +for Spain. This Cardenas I shall have occasion to mention on some future +occasion, for he did Cortes considerable injury in Spain during the +subsequent complaints which were laid before the emperor against him. + + + + +CHAPTER CVI. + + _Of the high words which arose between Velasquez de Leon and our + treasurer Gonzalo Mexia on account of the gold which was missing + from the heap, and how Cortes put an end to that dispute._ + + +Since gold, generally speaking, is the great desire of man, and that the +more he possesses of it the more avaricious he grows, it also happened +here that many pieces of gold were missing from the heaps, which I have +mentioned above; and as one of our officers named Leon had ordered +Motecusuma's goldsmiths to make him heavy gold chains and other +ornaments, the royal treasurer Gonzalo Mexia suspected something wrong, +and secretly observed to him that the emperor's fifths had not been +deducted from several of the bars he had sent to be smelted. Leon, who +stood in high favour with Cortes, answered, that it was not his +intention to return anything. The gold he possessed he had not taken +himself, but had received all from Cortes before it had ever been +smelted. + +The royal treasurer, however, was not to be silenced by this, but +affirmed, that, besides the gold Cortes had secretly taken away, and of +which he had deprived his companions in arms, there was a good deal +elsewhere from which the royal fifths had not been deducted, and that, +in his capacity of royal treasurer, he could not suffer the emperor's +interest to be thus prejudiced. + +This, consequently, led to high words between both parties, so that they +drew swords, and would certainly have killed each other if we had not +instantly parted them; for both were high-spirited men and excellent +swordsmen, and each had already wounded his antagonist. + +As soon as Cortes was informed of this affair, he ordered both to be +arrested and heavily chained. As, however, he always had been heart in +hand with Leon, many were of opinion that all this was a mere blind to +make us believe that he preferred justice to friendship; besides which +it was whispered that he secretly visited him during his arrest, and +assured him that he should not be confined beyond a couple of days, when +he and Mexia would again be set at liberty. But all this did not go to +quiet our suspicions, and now Mexia, in his turn, was reproached for not +having fulfilled the duties of royal treasurer, and he was compelled by +the soldiers to inquire of Cortes what had become of the missing gold? + +I will, however, cut this matter short here, and return to Leon, who was +confined in a room not far from the apartments occupied by Motecusuma. +When Leon, therefore, who was a tall powerful man, paced up and down his +room, his heavy chains dragged along the floor, so that the monarch +could plainly hear the jingling noise, and he inquired of Orteguilla who +the prisoner was? His page then told him that it was Leon, who had +previously been captain of the guard, an appointment now filled by Oli, +and told him that the reason of his confinement was on account of some +gold that was missing. + +When Cortes that day, as usual, paid his visit to the monarch, and the +first compliments had passed between them, the latter inquired of our +general how it came that such a distinguished officer as Leon should +have been thrown into chains? To which Cortes answered, jokingly, that +all was not as it should be with him, he having threatened, because he +had not received sufficient gold, to travel around to the different +towns, and demand gold of the caziques. Fearing, therefore, he might put +his threats into execution, and kill one or other chief, he had thrown +him into prison. Motecusuma, on hearing this, begged Cortes to set him +at liberty again, and promised he would soon drive such thoughts from +his mind by presenting him with gold from his own private treasure. + +Cortes feigned great unwillingness to grant the monarch's request, but +at length assured him he would comply merely on account of the affection +he bore him, Motecusuma. Leon was, consequently, released, and Cortes +brought about a reconciliation between him and Mexia; then despatched +him with some of Motecusuma's principal officers to raise gold at +Cholulla, from which place he did not return till the end of six days, +and now he had more gold than ever. Mexia, however, never forgot this +affair, and a coolness ever after existed between him and our general. + +I have related this story, though foreign to my narrative, to show the +reader what artful devices Cortes was accustomed to set on foot, and +what a show he made of justice to make us fear him. + + + + +CHAPTER CVII. + + _How Motecusuma offers one of his daughters in marriage to Cortes, + who accepts her, and pays her the attentions due to her high + station._ + + +I have often related how we strove, in every possible manner, to amuse +Motecusuma in his confinement, and daily visited him in his apartments. +It was on one of these occasions that the monarch said to our general, +"Malinche! in order to prove the great affection I have for you, I must +acquaint you that it is my intention to give you one of my prettiest +daughters in marriage." + +Cortes took his cap off, and thanked him for the honour he was going to +confer upon him, and said he was already married, and that the religion +and laws of our country would not allow a man to have more than one +wife; but that he would accept her and treat her with the respect due to +her high rank, and it was requisite she should become converted to +Christianity, as the daughters of many of his grandees had been. + +Motecusuma readily agreed to this, as he did in everything else we +desired, save the sacrificing of human beings, which nothing could +induce him to abolish; day after day were those abominations committed: +Cortes remonstrated with him in every possible way, but with so little +effect, that at last he deemed it proper to take some decided step in +the matter. But the great difficulty was to adopt a measure by which +neither the inhabitants nor the priesthood would be induced to rise up +in arms. We, however, came to the determination, in a meeting called for +the purpose, to throw down the idols from the top of Huitzilopochtli's +temple; and should the Mexicans rise up in arms for their defence, then +to content ourselves by demanding permission to build an altar on one +side of the platform, and erect thereon the image of the holy Virgin +with the cross. + +Thus determined, Cortes, accompanied by seven officers and soldiers, +repaired to Motecusuma, and spoke to him as follows: "Great monarch, I +have already so many times begged of you to abolish those false idols by +whom you are so terribly deluded, and no longer to sacrifice human +beings to them; and yet these abominations are continued daily: I have, +therefore, come to you now, with these officers, to beg permission of +you to take away these idols from the temple, and place in their stead +the holy Virgin and the cross. The whole of my men feel determined to +pull down your idols, even should you be averse to it; and you may well +suppose that one or other of your papas will become the victim." + +When Motecusuma heard this, and saw how determined our officers were, he +said to Cortes, "Alas, Malinche! why is it you wish to compel me to +bring down total destruction on this town? Our gods are already angry +with us, and who can tell what revenge they contemplate against you? I +will, however, assemble all the papas, to know their opinion." + +Cortes made a sign with his hand for the other officers to retire, and +begged of Motecusuma to grant him and father Olmedo a private audience. +Cortes then told the monarch he only knew one way of saving the town +from open rebellion, and the idols from destruction, namely, by our +being allowed to erect an altar, with the cross and Virgin Mary, on the +top of the great temple. He would then pledge himself to silence the +murmurs of his men, and the Mexicans themselves would soon be convinced +how greatly such a change would benefit their souls, what great +blessings would be showered down upon them, and how abundant their +harvests would be. + +To this Motecusuma likewise answered, with a deep sigh, and a +countenance full of sorrow, that he would discuss the matter with his +papas. At length, after a good deal of arguing between the papas and +himself, we were allowed to erect an altar, with the cross and holy +Virgin, on the top of the temple, opposite the cursed idol +Huitzilopochtli. We returned heartfelt thanks to the Almighty, and +father Olmedo, assisted by the priest Juan Diaz, and many of our +soldiers, celebrated high mass.[74] + +Cortes appointed an old soldier to keep watch over this altar, and +begged, at the same time, of Motecusuma to order his papas not to +obstruct the man in his duty, which was to keep the place clean, burn +incense before the altar, keep the candles lighted there night and day, +and decorate it from time to time with fresh branches and flowers. + +I must, however, break off here, and relate something we little +expected. + +[74] For a further account of what happened after the building of this +altar, I must refer the reader to the oft-quoted work of Torquemada +(Monarchia, Ind. iv, 53.) (p. 286.) + + + + +CHAPTER CVIII. + + _How the powerful Motecusuma acquaints Cortes that it is requisite + for his safety to quit Mexico, with the whole of his men, as all the + caziques and papas were upon the point of rising up in arms to + destroy us all, in compliance with the advice given them by their + gods: the steps which Cortes took upon this news._ + + +From the very moment we had erected this altar and cross on the great +temple, and had celebrated high mass there, a storm began to gather over +our heads. + +About this time Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca are said to have +addressed the papas, and acquainted them they were desirous of leaving +the country, as the teules had treated them with such great contempt, +and that it was impossible for them to dwell in the same spot with that +image and cross. If they were desirous they should remain in Mexico, +they were to kill us all. These were the last words they should utter; +they were to be communicated to Motecusuma and his grandees, and the +papas were at the same time to put them in mind how we had melted all +the gold into bars, with which previously the gods had been honoured; +how we ordered things as if we had been lords of the country, and kept +five powerful princes bound in chains. + +All this was faithfully reported to Motecusuma, who then sent word to +Cortes he should like to see him, as he had things of the utmost +importance to disclose to him. + +The page Orteguilla, who had been despatched to Cortes for this purpose, +informed the latter that Motecusuma appeared quite changed and +spiritless; that, the day previous, several papas and distinguished +officers had had secret interviews with him, and they uttered words of +which he had not understood one syllable. + +Upon this, Cortes, accompanied by Oli, four other officers, and our two +interpreters, immediately called upon the monarch, and, after the usual +courtesies had passed between them, the latter broke out as follows: +"Alas! Malinche and you other officers, how grieved I am at the commands +which our gods have imparted to our papas, myself, and my chief +officers! + +"They most earnestly demand of us that we shall commence hostilities +with you, and put you to death, or drive you away from this country by +some other means. My advice is, that you had better leave of your own +accord, than allow hostilities to commence. + +"This, Malinche, I could not help disclosing to you, that you might come +to some determination or other. For myself, I have no doubt that all +your lives are at stake here." + +The reader may easily imagine that Cortes and his officers did not treat +all this so very lightly, and that they were not a little surprised at +this disclosure. No one could have suspected that affairs would have +taken such a turn; but the monarch had spoken in such a positive tone as +to leave no doubt on our minds that we lived in imminent danger. Cortes, +however, hid his fears from the monarch, and thanked him for his +information, adding, that he was sorry we had no vessels left in which +we could leave the country; and that if we even did leave it, we must +take him, the monarch, along with us, that he might be presented to our +emperor: he therefore begged of him to amuse his priests and officers +until we should have constructed three vessels on the sea-coast. And if +they commenced war with us, they would undoubtedly all be killed. And +that Motecusuma might convince himself that he would fulfil his promise, +he desired he would despatch two of his chief officers with our +carpenters to the coast to cut wood for the building of the vessels. + +Motecusuma was now more dispirited than ever when he heard Cortes say +that he himself must accompany us; that he was to issue the necessary +orders to his carpenters, and act and not talk. Our general also desired +him to call the papas and officers to acquaint them that it was +unnecessary to raise the town into open rebellion; they might, for the +present, appease the gods by offerings, but we forbade any sacrifice of +human beings. + +After this important disclosure Cortes left the monarch, and we now +lived in constant fear of hostilities breaking out. Cortes, however, +fulfilled his promise, and sent for Martin Lopez and Andreas Nunez, +described to them the size of the three vessels he wished them to +build, and to march to Vera Cruz with the Mexican carpenters, where all +the necessary materials, consisting in iron, rigging, tar and tow would +be found. These orders were promptly obeyed. The necessary quantity of +wood was cut on the coast of Vera Cruz, and the building of the vessels +was commenced with all assiduity. Whether Cortes gave Lopez any secret +instructions I do not know; but I cannot pass by this circumstance in +silence, as Gomara mentions it likewise in his history, and maintains +that all this building of the vessels was mere artifice to amuse +Motecusuma. May those who know more about this matter publish the truth. +There are certainly numbers of our men alive who would be able to give a +true account of this. All I know is that Lopez told me in confidence, +that the building of the vessels was really commenced, and that the +three vessels were actually lying on the staples. + +At present, however, we will leave them quietly there, and acquaint the +reader that we grew much alarmed at our situation in this great city, +and momentarily expected an attack upon our friends of Tlascalla, as +Dona Marina had informed our general to that effect. The page, +Orteguilla, shed tears all day long, and we others narrowly watched the +monarch's person. I must here for the last time acquaint the reader, +that whether night or day, we never took off our gorgets or our armour, +while our arms were never for a moment out of our hands. A bundle of +straw and a mat formed a couch; our horses stood ready saddled, and in +short every soldier was ready for action at a moment's notice. + +At night we also took the precaution of posting such numbers of +sentinels, that each of us in turn, had at least one watch every night. +I do not mention this in praise of myself; but I grew so accustomed to +being armed night and day, as it were living in armour, that after the +conquest of New Spain I could not accustom myself for a length of time +to undress on going to lie down, or make use of a bed, but slept better +in soldier fashion than on the softest down. Even at the present day, in +my old age, I never take a bed with me when I visit the townships +belonging to my commendary; and if I do take one, it is merely because +the cavaliers who accompany me may not think I take no bed with me, +because I have no good one. From continued watching at night it has +become quite natural to me to sleep for a short time together only, and +get up at intervals to gaze upon the heavens and the stars, and take a +couple of turns in the open air. Neither do I wear a nightcap or wind a +kerchief around my head; and thanks be to God! this has become so +natural to me, that I never feel any inconvenience from it. I have +merely mentioned all this to convince the reader how we, the true +Conquistadores, were always obliged to be upon our guard, and what +hardships we had to undergo. + + + + +CHAPTER CIX. + + _How the governor of Cuba, Velasquez, in all haste fits out an + armament against us, the command of which he gives to Pamfilo de + Narvaez, who was accompanied by the licentiate Lucas Vazquez de + Aillon, auditor of the royal court of audience at St. Domingo._ + + +In order to explain what I am now about to relate I must refer to prior +events. + +I have already mentioned, in the proper chapter, that Diego Velasquez +got information of our having sent agents to our emperor with all the +gold and presents we had received; and also of the bad reception they +had met with from the bishop of Burgos; who not only favoured Velasquez +in various ways, but even commanded him to fit out an armament against +us, for which he himself would be responsible to the emperor. + +The governor of Cuba accordingly used the utmost exertions and assembled +a flotilla, consisting of nineteen sail, on board of which were 1400 +soldiers, above forty cannon, with a quantity of powder, balls, and +gun-flints, besides two artillerymen, who, with the artillery stood +under the immediate command of the captain Rodrigo Martin. To this was +added eighty horse, ninety crossbow-men, and seventy musketeers. Fat and +corpulent as he was, Velasquez had, nevertheless, in the height of his +passion, visited every township in Cuba, to hasten the equipment of the +flotilla, and invited every inhabitant who had either Indians, +relations, or friends who could manage their estates, to join the +standard of Pamfilo Narvaez, and share the honour of taking Cortes and +all of us prisoners, or at least to blow out our brains. He had even +advanced as far as the promontory of Guaniguanico, in the height of his +zeal, though that promontory was above 240 miles from the Havannah. + +Before this armament quitted the harbour, the royal court of audience at +St. Domingo, and the Hieronymite brothers, who were viceroys there, were +determined to look into the matter a little; as the licentiate Suazo, +who was their agent in Cuba, had sent them information of the +extensiveness of the armament. + +As the great and valuable services which we had rendered God and his +majesty were very well known at St. Domingo, as also the fact of our +having sent valuable presents to our emperor, it was considered there +that Velasquez was not justified in fitting out an armament to revenge +himself upon us, but that his only way was to pursue us in a court of +law. These impartial men well foresaw how this armament would impede the +conquest of New Spain. They therefore despatched the licentiate Lucas +Vazquez de Aillon, who was auditor of the court of audience at St. +Domingo, to Cuba, with peremptory commands to Velasquez not to allow the +flotilla to leave the harbour. + +The auditor punctually fulfilled these commands, and in due form +protested against the flotilla leaving the harbour; but Diego Velasquez, +who had spent all his property in fitting out this armament, relied upon +the good favour of the bishop of Burgos, and took no notice of the +protest. Upon this Vazquez de Aillon determined upon embarking himself +on board one of the vessels, to try at least if he could not prevent +hostilities between Narvaez and Cortes. Many even maintained that he +came to Mexico with the secret intention to side with our party, or, if +we could not succeed in defeating Narvaez, himself to take possession of +the country in the name of our emperor. At all events he embarked with +Narvaez and arrived in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua, of which we +shall hear more presently. + + + + +CHAPTER CX. + + _How Narvaez arrives with the whole of his flotilla in the harbour + of San Juan de Ulua, and what happened upon this._ + + +When Narvaez had arrived with the flotilla off the mountains of San +Martin, a north wind arose, which is always dangerous on these coasts. +One of the vessels commanded by a cavalier, named Christobal de Morante, +of Medina del Campo, was wrecked during night-time off the coast, and +the greater part of the men perished. The other vessels, however, +arrived safely in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua. + +This armament, which may indeed be considered extensive, considering it +was fitted out at Cuba, was first of all seen by some soldiers whom +Cortes had sent out in search of gold mines. Three of these, Cervantes, +Escalona, and Alonso Carretero, did not hesitate a moment to go on +board the commander's ship, and are said, as soon as they stepped on +board to have praised the Almighty for having rescued them out of the +hands of Cortes and the great city of Mexico, where death stood daily +before their eyes. + +Narvaez ordered meat and drink to be set before them, and as their +glasses were abundantly filled, they said to one another in his +presence: "This is indeed leading a different sort of life with a glass +of good wine in one's hand, when compared to the slavery under Cortes, +who allows a person no rest either night or day; where a person dares +scarcely say a word, and death is always staring him in the face." + +Cervantes, however, who was a low buffoon, even addressed Narvaez +himself, and exclaimed: "O Narvaez! Narvaez, what a fortunate man you +are, that you just arrive at the moment when the traitor Cortes has +heaped together above 700,000 pesos, and the whole of his men are so +enraged with him for his having cheated them out of the greater part of +the gold, that many even disdain to accept of their shares." + +Such was the language which these low-minded and worthless fellows +uttered, and they told Narvaez more than he was desirous of knowing. +They likewise informed him that thirty-two miles further on he would +come to a town we had built, called Vera Cruz, which had a garrison of +sixty men, all invalids, under an officer named Sandoval, and he had +merely to show himself with a few men there and they would immediately +deliver up the town to him. + +Motecusuma was immediately apprized of the arrival of this flotilla, and +without saying a single word to Cortes despatched several of his chief +officers to Narvaez, with a present in gold and other things; and +commanded the inhabitants to furnish him with provisions. + +Narvaez, in his message to Motecusuma, calumniated Cortes and all of us, +telling him we were nothing but a parcel of thieves and vagabonds, who +had fled from Spain without the knowledge of our emperor, but his +imperial majesty having been informed that we were in this country +committing all manner of depredations, and that we had even imprisoned +its monarch, had ordered him to repair hither with his flotilla and +troops, to put an end to these disorders and liberate the monarch. He +had likewise received orders to put Cortes and all his men to the sword, +or take them alive and send them prisoners to Spain, where death awaited +them. This sober language the three soldiers, who understood the Mexican +language were to translate to Motecusuma's messengers, to whom Narvaez +at the same time sent a present of some Spanish goods. + +Motecusuma was not a little delighted with this message, particularly +when he learnt the number of Narvaez's vessels, of his cannon, and his +1300 soldiers. He, of course, thought it would be an easy matter for +Narvaez to overcome us, and as his messengers had seen the three +treacherous rascals who had deserted to Narvaez, he found the more +reason to believe all the scandal the latter had said concerning Cortes. +Besides which he received an accurate description of the whole armament +from his artists, who had immediately depicted on cotton cloth +everything they saw. He therefore sent a second message, accompanied by +more valuable presents in gold and cotton stuffs to Narvaez, with strict +commands to the inhabitants of the coast to supply him with plenty of +provisions. + +Motecusuma had received intelligence of the arrival of the flotilla off +the coast three days before Cortes. When the latter, as usual, one day +paid a visit to the monarch he found him in particular good spirits, and +asked him what had occasioned it? Motecusuma replied, that he found +himself in better health than he had done for some time past. + +Cortes, who was very much surprised at this sudden change in the +monarch, called upon him a second time that day, and now the latter +began to fear our general was cognizant of the arrival of the flotilla. +To remove all suspicion from his mind, therefore, he thought it better +to break the news to him himself. "I have just this moment, Malinche," +said he, "received the information that an armament of eighteen vessels, +with a great number of soldiers and horses, has arrived in the harbour +where you landed. Pictures of the whole armament have been transmitted +to me. This, no doubt, is no news to you, and I thought from your second +visit to me this day, you came to bring me the intelligence yourself, +and that now there was no need for you to build new vessels. Though I +may have felt hurt that you wished to keep all this a secret from me, +yet, on the other hand, I am delighted at the arrival of your brothers, +with whom you can now return to Spain; which thus removes all +difficulties at once." + +When Cortes heard this and saw the painting which the Mexicans had made +of all the vessels, he exclaimed in the excess of his delight: "Praise +be to God, whose assistance always comes at the right time!" Indeed the +whole of us greatly rejoiced at this news, we galloped about on our +horses, and fired salute after salute. + +Cortes, however, began to consider it in a more serious light than he +had done in the first moments, as he now plainly saw that this armament +was sent out against us by Velasquez; and he communicated his +suspicions to us all, and by great presents and promises he made us +pledge ourselves not to act any way against his interests; which we did +the more readily, as the commander of this new armament was totally +unknown to us. Our joy was now excessive, not only on account of the +gold which Cortes gave us from his private purse, but at the arrival of +this flotilla, which we saw the Almighty had sent to us in our distress. + + + + +CHAPTER CXI. + + _How Pamfilo Narvaez despatches five persons to Sandoval, the + commandant of Vera Cruz, with summons to surrender up the town to + him._ + + +After Narvaez had received every information about Vera Cruz from the +three deserters, he determined to despatch thither a priest named +Guevara, who was a capital hand at talking, and a certain Amaya, a man +of great distinction, and a relative of Velasquez; besides a secretary +named Vergara and three witnesses, whose names I have forgotten. These +gentlemen were to announce his arrival, and summon the town to +surrender; and, to make sure work, were provided with a copy of Narvaez +appointment. + +Sandoval had already been apprized of the arrival of Narvaez by the +inhabitants. But as he was a man who was always upon the alert, and +possessed of great penetration, he immediately guessed that the armament +was fitted out by Velasquez, and that his object was to gain possession +of Vera Cruz; he therefore instantly adopted every precaution, and +commenced by sending all the invalid soldiers to the Indian township +Papalote, merely retaining those who were in good health. He then posted +watches along the road leading to Sempoalla, which Narvaez would be +obliged to take if he marched to Vera Cruz. Sandoval also made his men +promise him neither to surrender the town to Velasquez nor any one else, +and that none of his men might forget their promise he ordered a gallows +to be erected on an elevated spot outside the town. + +When the outposts brought Sandoval information that six Spaniards were +approaching the town, he retired into his own house to await their +arrival; for he was determined not to go out to receive these guests, +and had also issued orders to his men not to quit their quarters, nor +exchange a single word with the strangers. + +When, therefore, the priest Guevara and his companions arrived in the +town, they only saw some Indians, who were working at the +fortifications, but not a Spaniard to speak to; they walked straightway +into the church to pray, and then repaired to Sandoval's house, which +they recognized from its being the largest one in the town. + +After the first greetings had passed between them, the priest began his +discourse by stating to Sandoval what large sums of money Velasquez had +expended on the armament which went out under the command of Cortes, +who, with the whole of the men, had turned traitors to the governor; and +concluded by saying, that he came to summon him in the name of Narvaez, +whom Velasquez had appointed captain-general, to deliver up the town to +him. + +When Sandoval heard this, and the expressions which reflected dishonour +on Cortes, he could scarcely speak, from downright vexation; at length +he replied: "Venerable sir, you are wrong to term men traitors who have +proved themselves better servants to our emperor than Velasquez has, or +your commander; and that I do not now this instant punish you for this +affront, is merely owing to your being a priest. Go, therefore, in the +name of God, to Mexico; there you will find Cortes, who is +captain-general, and chief justice of New Spain. He will answer you +himself; here you had better not lose another word." + +At this moment the priest, with much bravado, ordered the secretary +Vergara to produce the appointment of Narvaez, and read it to Sandoval, +and the others present. Sandoval, however, desired the secretary to +leave his papers quietly where they were, as it was impossible for him +to say whether the appointment was a lawful one or not. But as the +secretary still persisted in producing his papers, Sandoval cried out to +him: "Mind what you are about, Vergara! I have already told you to keep +your papers in your pocket; go with them to Mexico! I promise you, the +moment you proceed to read a single syllable from them, 100 good lashes +on the spot. How can I tell whether you are a royal secretary or not? +First show me your appointment; and if I find you are, I will listen to +your papers. But, even then, who can prove to me whether your papers are +true or false?" + +The priest, who was a very haughty man, then cried out, "Why do you +stand upon any ceremony with these traitors? Pull out your papers, and +read the contents to them!" + +To which Sandoval answered: "You lie, you infamous priest!" and ordered +his men immediately to seize those gentlemen, and carry them off to +Mexico. + +He had hardly spoken, when they were seized by a number of Indians +employed at the fortifications, bound hand and foot, and thrown upon +the backs of porters. In this way they were transported to Mexico, where +they arrived in the space of four days; the Indian porters being +constantly relieved by others on the road. + +These gentlemen were not a little surprised at this rough treatment; but +the deeper they advanced into the country, the more astonished they +grew, at the sight of the large towns and villages, where they stopped +to take refreshment. They were, it is said, very doubtful within +themselves whether all was not enchantment, or merely a dream. + +Sandoval had sent Pedro de Solis, Orduna's son-in-law, as alguacil, to +accompany the escort; and he likewise informed Cortes, by letter, of +everything that was going on at the coast, and of the name of the +captain who commanded the flotilla. The letter even arrived before the +prisoners in Mexico; so that Cortes was apprized of their approach when +they were still at some distance from the town. + +He immediately despatched some men with a quantity of the best +provisions, and three horses, for the most distinguished of the +prisoners, with orders that they should be immediately released from +their fetters. He likewise wrote them a letter, in which he expressed +his regret that they should have met with such harsh treatment from +Sandoval, and that he would give them the most honorable reception. +Indeed he even went out to meet them himself, and escorted them into the +town. + +The priest and his companions--after they became acquainted with the +vast extent of Mexico, and the number of other towns built in the lake, +saw the quantity of gold which every one of us possessed, and the noble +and open countenance of Cortes--were quite enchanted; and they had not +been above a couple of days with us before Cortes succeeded so well to +tame them, by kind words, fair promises, jewels, and bars of gold, that +they, who had come like furious lions, now returned back to Narvaez as +harmless as lambs, and offered to render our general every service in +their power. Indeed, when they had arrived in Sempoalla, and given +Narvaez an account of all they had seen, they spoke of nothing else to +his men than of the policy to make common cause with us. + +I will, however, break off here, and acquaint the reader with the letter +which Cortes wrote to Narvaez. + + + + +CHAPTER CXII. + + _How Cortes, after he had gained every information respecting the + armament, wrote to Narvaez, and several of his acquaintances who had + come with him, and particularly to Andreas du Duero, private + secretary to Velasquez; and of other events._ + + +Cortes was a man who never allowed the smallest advantage to escape; and +whatever difficulty he might be in, he managed to get out of it. But it +must also be remembered, that he had the good fortune to command +officers and soldiers on whom he could place every reliance under all +circumstances, who not only lent a powerful arm in battle, but likewise +assisted him with their prudent counsel. In this way, then, it was +unanimously resolved in council, that a letter should be despatched by +Indian couriers to Narvaez, written in the most affectionate tone, with +offers of our services to him, and begging of him not to excite a +rebellion in the country, which would certainly be the case if the +Indians observed we were at enmity with each other. This letter was to +be delivered to Narvaez before the return there of Guevara. We expressly +wrote in this friendly tone, as our numbers were so very small in +comparison to his, and because we were first desirous of knowing how he +was inclined. Besides this, we employed other means to gain friends +among Narvaez's officers, which seemed no great difficulty, as Guevara +had assured Cortes that the latter were not on the best terms with their +commander, and that a few bars of gold, with a few chains of the same +metal, would soon pave the way. In this letter Cortes informed Narvaez +how both he and all his men were rejoiced at his arrival here; in +particular himself, as they were old friends. He also desired he would +not connive at the liberation of Motecusuma, as the consequences would +be a rebellion in the city, and throughout the whole country, which +would be the destruction of both his troops and ours, as we should be +overwhelmed by numbers. He could not help drawing his particular +attention to this circumstance, as Motecusuma of late seemed greatly +changed in his behaviour towards him, and the inhabitants were upon the +point of rising up in arms, from the message which Motecusuma had +received in Narvaez's name; but he was convinced that he was too prudent +and sensible a man, and would not have sent such a dangerous message at +such a critical period, if he had not been misled by the three +scoundrels who had run over to him. To make a good finish to the letter, +he begged to say that Narvaez was at liberty to dispose of his person +and of his purse, and he would await his commands. + +Cortes at the same time wrote to Andreas de Duero and Vazquez de Aillon, +and accompanied these letters with some gold for themselves and his +other friends. Aillon, besides this, privately received some other gold +bars and chains. He also despatched father Olmedo to Narvaez's +head-quarters with a good stock of these persuasive articles, consisting +in various trinkets of gold and precious stones of great value. + +The first letter which Cortes had sent by the Indian courier reached +Narvaez's quarters before Guevara had returned there. This Narvaez read +aloud to his officers, and kept the whole time making merry at the +expense of Cortes and all of us. One of his officers, named Salvatierra, +even blamed him for reading the letter of such a traitor as Cortes was, +to his men. Narvaez, continued he, should immediately march out against +us, and put us all to death. He himself, he swore, would cut off Cortes' +ears, broil them, and eat them up; and all such like folly. He said the +letter ought not to be answered, and he did not care a snap of the +fingers for us. + +In the meantime the priest, Guevara, and his companions, had returned, +and the latter gave Narvaez a circumstantial account of Cortes, showing +him what an excellent cavalier he was, and what a faithful servant he +had proved himself to our emperor. He spoke about the great power of +Motecusuma, and the number of towns through which he had journeyed, and +that Cortes would gladly submit to him. He also added, that it was for +the advantage of both to remain on friendly terms with each other. New +Spain was large enough to afford room for them both, and Narvaez might +choose which part of the country he would occupy with his troops. + +These statements, which Amaya and Guevara had accompanied by some good +advice, so greatly incensed Narvaez, that he would neither see nor speak +to them from that moment. The impression, however, it produced on the +troops was various; for when they saw the gold these two men returned +with, and heard so much good of Cortes and all of us, and heard them +speak of the wondrous things they had seen, and the vast quantity of +gold, and how we played at cards for gold only, many of them longed to +join our corps. + +Shortly after this, father Olmedo likewise arrived in Narvaez's quarters +with bars of gold and secret instructions. When he called upon him to +pay him Cortes' respects, and said how ready he was to obey Narvaez's +commands, and remain on terms of peace with him, the latter grew more +enraged than before. He even refused to listen to him, and called Cortes +and all of us traitors; and when Olmedo denied this, and told him we +were the most faithful of the emperor's servants, he grossly insulted +him. All this, however, did not deter Olmedo from fulfilling his secret +mission, and distributing the bars of gold and golden chains among those +for whom Cortes had destined them; and he strove in every way to draw +over Narvaez's principal officers to our side. + + + + +CHAPTER CXIII. + + _The high words which arose between the auditor Vazquez de Aillon + and Narvaez, who orders him to be seized and sent back prisoner to + Spain._ + + +The auditor Aillon, as I have before mentioned, was most favorably +inclined towards Cortes, and had purposely come to New Spain with +instructions from the royal court of audience at St. Domingo and the +Hieronymite brothers, who were aware of the great and important services +we had rendered to God and the emperor, to promote our cause in every +possible manner. After he had carefully perused Cortes' letters, and +received the bars of gold, he no longer made a secret of his sentiments, +but spoke without any reserve of the scandalous piece of injustice which +had been perpetrated in fitting out this armament against such +well-deserving men as we had proved ourselves, and was so eloquent in +the praise of Cortes and his companions in arms, that the feeling in our +favour became almost universal in Narvaez's head-quarters. The meanness +of the latter's disposition served to increase this feeling, who +retained all the presents sent by Motecusuma entirely to himself, +without offering any part of them either to his officers or men. Indeed, +he even said haughtily to his steward, "Mind that not the smallest +matter is taken away from these things; every article has been carefully +noted down." When this conduct was compared with that pursued by Cortes +towards his soldiers, his men almost broke out into open insurrection. + +Narvaez looked upon the auditor as the cause of all this bad feeling, +and brought it so sensibly home to him that no one durst give him or his +adherents the smallest morsel of the provisions which were sent by +Motecusuma. This circumstance of itself caused a good deal of +quarrelling among the troops; but when Narvaez's principal adherents, +Salvatierra, whom I have above mentioned, and a certain Juan Bono, from +Biscay, with a certain Gamarra, continually added fuel to the flame, he, +relying on the mighty support of Fonseca, lost sight of every +consideration, imprisoned the auditor, with his secretary and all his +attendants, threw them on board a vessel, and so sent them off either to +Spain or Cuba. + +His behaviour towards Gonzalo de Oblanco, a cavalier and a scholar, was +even more severe,--when the latter boldly told him to his face that +Cortes had proved himself a faithful servant to the emperor, that we all +had merited a reward from his majesty, and that it was scandalous to +brand us with the name of traitors, and great presumption to imprison +one of his majesty's auditors, Narvaez instantly threw him into chains, +and Oblanco, who was a high-spirited soul, was so hurt at this +ill-treatment, that he died within the space of four days. Two other +soldiers were thrown into prison merely because they had spoken well of +Cortes; one of whom was Sancho de Barahona, who afterwards settled down +in Guatimala. + +But to return to the auditor, who was to be sent prisoner to Spain; he +was scarcely at sea, when he prevailed upon the captain and pilot, by +means of good words, or threats to hang them immediately on their +arrival in Spain, instead of paying them for the passage, to steer for +St. Domingo. + +As soon as the auditor had arrived at St. Domingo, and the royal court +of audience and viceroys there were informed of Narvaez's scandalous and +presumptuous ill treatment of the licentiate Lucas Vazquez, they +considered it in the light of an insult offered to themselves, and made +heavy complaints to the supreme council of Castile. But as the bishop +Fonseca was still president of that council, and, during his majesty's +continued absence in Flanders, ruled affairs as he thought proper, no +justice could be expected from Spain. The bishop had even the +shamelessness openly to express his joy when he supposed that Narvaez +had already subdued us. The bishop, himself, however, suffered from the +consequences which ensued from this affair; for, when our agents in +Flanders received intelligence of Velasquez's expedition, and found that +it had been fitted out without his majesty's permission, and merely by +authority of Fonseca, they drew great advantage from this illegal mode +of proceeding during the investigation which was shortly after set on +foot respecting Cortes and all of us.--The harsh treatment which the +auditor Lucas Vazquez was subjected to had a bad effect upon Narvaez's +troops, and many of his friends and relatives whom he regarded with a +mistrustful eye, went over to Sandoval, lest they should experience +similar treatment with Oblanco. Sandoval, as may well be imagined, +received them with open arms, and learnt from them all that had passed +in Narvaez's quarters; likewise that he contemplated sending men to Vera +Cruz to take him prisoner. + + + + +CHAPTER CXIV. + + _Narvaez marches, with the whole of his troops, to Sempoalla; his + proceedings there; and how we in Mexico determine to march against + him._ + + +After Narvaez had sent off the auditor prisoner, he marched with the +whole of his men, the baggage, and the cannon, to Sempoalla, and +quartered himself in that town, which was then very thickly populated. +His first act there was to take away from the fat cazique, as we termed +him, the cotton stuffs, gold trinkets, and other fancy articles he +possessed. He likewise took the Indian females forcibly away who had +been presented to us by the caziques of Sempoalla, and whom we had left +behind with their parents and relatives, as they were daughters of +distinguished personages, and much too delicate to bear the fatigues of +a campaign. + +The fat cazique had often warned Narvaez not to touch the women, or +anything which Cortes had left behind in the shape of gold or cotton +stuffs, as he would certainly be greatly incensed, hasten from Mexico, +and not only cut off Narvaez, but also him, for suffering his property +to be touched. + +All the complaints this cazique might make respecting the depredations +committed by Narvaez's troops in Sempoalla were equally fruitless. And +it was of no avail for him to repeat that Malinche and his men had never +taken the smallest thing from them, and had proved themselves altogether +kind-hearted teules; Narvaez and Salvatierra, whose conduct in general +was the most heartless, merely mocked at the cazique, the latter often +repeating to Narvaez and the other officers, "Only just imagine in what +fear these caziques stand of that paltry little fellow Cortes!" + +May the good reader learn from this how wrong it is to speak evil of +honest folks; for I am ready to swear that this very Salvatierra behaved +in the most pitiable and cowardly manner when the battle was fought +between Narvaez and us, and yet his build and bones were powerful enough +to have defended himself right well; however, he was a mere braggadocio, +and I believe he was a native of Burgos. + +We must now, however, return to Cortes, and acquaint the reader that +Narvaez despatched his secretary, Alonso Meta, who subsequently settled +in Puebla, with three other great personages, to Mexico, commanding us +and our general, by virtue of the copies of his appointment by +Velasquez, to submit to him.[75] + +Cortes, who received daily intelligence of what was going on in +Narvaez's head-quarters and at Vera Cruz, was duly informed by Sandoval +how Narvaez had thrown Vazquez de Aillon into chains, and sent him to +Spain or Cuba, and that, owing to such violent proceedings, five of his +principal officers had come over to him, who feared, since so little +respect had been paid to the person of a royal auditor, they, as +Aillon's relatives, might expect worse treatment. From them Sandoval +learnt everything that was passing in Narvaez's head-quarters, and that +it was his intention to march shortly in person to Mexico to take us all +prisoners. Cortes, on receiving this intelligence, assembled his +officers and all those whom he was accustomed to consult in matters of +great moment, and were men entirely devoted to him. In this council it +was determined we should anticipate Narvaez, and immediately march out +against him. Pedro de Alvarado was to remain in Mexico, with all those +who were not over-anxious to make this campaign, to guard the person of +Motecusuma; and we likewise took care to leave all those behind who, as +partisans of Velasquez, were not altogether to be trusted. + +Cortes had fortunately ordered a quantity of maise from Tlascalla +previous to the arrival of Narvaez, for the harvest had altogether +failed about Mexico, owing to a continued drought: we, indeed, required +a great quantity of provisions for the numbers of Naborias[76] and +Tlascallan troops we had with us. This and other necessaries of life, +consisting in fowls, fruits, &c., arrived at the time appointed, and +were given in charge of Alvarado. We likewise took the precaution of +fortifying our quarters,--we mounted four pieces of heavy cannon on the +most commanding point, and left Alvarado a few falconets and all the +powder we could spare, with ten crossbow-men, fourteen musketeers, and +seven horse soldiers; the latter were, indeed, more than he required, as +the cavalry was of little use in the courtyards attached to our +quarters. The number of soldiers we left behind in Mexico was altogether +eighty-three. + +Motecusuma easily conjectured what our designs were against Narvaez; +yet, though Cortes daily called upon him, he was equally upon his guard +as Cortes was in not throwing out any hints of his (Motecusuma's) +sending Narvaez gold and provisions. It was only at the very last that +the monarch made some inquiries respecting our intended movements, which +will be found in the chapter following. + +[75] This Alonso Mata, as we afterwards see, was met on his way to +Mexico by Cortes. (p. 300.) + +[76] Naborias, Indian servants. (p. 301.) + + + + +CHAPTER CXV. + + _How the powerful Motecusuma inquires of Cortes whether it was + really his intention to march out against Narvaez, though the + latter's troops were double the number of ours._ + + +The monarch, one day discoursing as usual with Cortes, spoke to him as +follows: "Malinche! I have for some time past observed all your officers +and soldiers going up and down in great uneasiness: even you yourself do +not visit me so frequently as you were wont; and the page Orteguilla +informs me that you are about to march against your brothers who have +just arrived, and that you are going to leave Tonatio (so Alvarado was +termed by the Mexicans) behind, to guard my person. Do tell me if there +is any truth in all this? for if, in any way, I can be of service to you +in this matter, it will be a great pleasure to me. I have great fears of +your success, for your teules are too few in numbers in comparison to +those just arrived. They have five times the number of troops you have; +they also, as well as yourself, maintain to be Christians, and subjects +of your emperor; they pay homage to the same image and cross, read the +mass as you do, and everywhere spread the rumour that you have fled away +from Spain from your emperor, and that he has sent them to take you back +again, or put you to death. Really I scarcely know what to think of all +this: one thing, however, I must tell you, to use great circumspection +in what you are about to do." + +In reply to this, Cortes told the monarch, with the most cheerful +countenance in the world, that he had studiously avoided mentioning +anything of all this up to the present moment, from his great affection +towards him, to spare him the anxiety he would feel on our account. It +was very true, the newly arrived teules were also subjects of our +emperor, and Christians; but it was a falsehood to assert that we had +fled away from the territory of our emperor. On the contrary, our great +monarch had expressly sent us out to visit him, Motecusuma, and make +those disclosures to him, in his imperial name, which Motecusuma had +heard. With regard to the numbers of those just arrived, we felt quite +unconcerned, however great they might be in comparison to ours, as our +Lord Jesus Christ and his blessed mother would lend us strength, and +clothe us with superior power to those bad men who came with such evil +designs. His emperor, continued Cortes, swayed the sceptre over so many +countries and kingdoms, that the people who inhabited them were of +various kinds, and differed in courage and manly spirit. We were born +in the heart of Spain, which was termed Old Castile, and therefore bore +the additional name of Castilians; those, on the other hand, who were +now quartered at Sempoalla, came from another province called Biscay, +where the inhabitants spoke a perfectly spurious language, in the same +way as the Otomies do in Mexico. He need be in no apprehension about us, +but might depend upon it we should very soon manage those fellows, and +speedily return victorious to his metropolis. At present we merely +begged of him to remain on terms of friendship with Tonatio, who would +remain behind in Mexico with eighty men; and to prevent any insurrection +from breaking out, and not to allow his generals and papas to disturb +the peace; for, in case they did, he should be compelled to put them all +to death on his return. He also desired he would furnish those who +remained behind with the necessary provisions. + +After this explanation, Motecusuma and Cortes embraced each other twice +successively, while the sly Dona Marina observed to the monarch that he +ought to show some signs of grief at our departure: upon which he again +commenced speaking, and offered to comply with any wish Cortes might +express, and promised to give him 5000 of his troops to accompany us on +our march. Cortes, who well knew they would not have been forthcoming, +thanked him for his kind offer, and assured him we stood in no need of +his assistance, as we found our true support in the Lord our God: but +begged of him to see that the image of the holy Virgin and the cross +were constantly decorated with green boughs; that the church was kept +clean, and wax-lights burning night and day on the altar; and not to +allow his papas to sacrifice any human beings; and in his compliance +with these things we should best be able to convince ourselves of the +sincerity of his friendship. + +After this Cortes told the monarch he must excuse him for breaking off +the discourse now, as he had many things to regulate before commencing +his march; he then once more embraced the monarch, and so they parted +from each other.[77] + +Cortes now ordered Alvarado and all those who were to remain behind in +Mexico into his presence. He desired them to observe the utmost +vigilance, and not to give Motecusuma a chance of escaping out of their +hands, and commanded the soldiers to pay the most implicit obedience to +Alvarado, promising, if God were willing, to enrich them all. + +Among those who stayed with Alvarado was the priest Juan Diaz, and many +others whom we suspected of ill will towards Cortes, whose names I do +not choose to mention. We nevertheless embraced each other on leaving, +and then marched out without any females or servants, with as little +baggage as possible, and took the road to Cholulla. From this town +Cortes sent to our friends Xicotencatl, Maxixcatzin, and the other +caziques of Tlascalla, desiring them to send us immediately 4000 of +their troops. To which they returned the answer, that if we were going +to war with Indians as they were, they would gladly send us the required +troops and many more; but if we intended fighting against teules, like +unto ourselves, against cannon and horses, we were not to think ill of +them if they refused our request. This answer was accompanied by as many +fowls as twenty men could carry. + +Cortes then sent a courier with a letter to Sandoval, desiring the +latter to join him as speedily as possible with all his men; we intended +to march to within forty-eight miles of Sempoalla, in the neighbourhood +of the provinces of Tampanicita[78] and Mitalaguita, which are at +present comprehended in the commendary of Pedro Moreno Mediana, who +resides at Puebla; he particularly cautioned him to keep out of the way +of Narvaez, and carefully to avoid coming to any engagement with any +part of his troops. + +We ourselves marched forward with every military precaution, and were +ready for action at a moment's notice. Two of our most trustworthy men +who were remarkably swift of foot and unwearied pedestrians, were +constantly a couple of day's march in advance, and lurked along the +byways, where the cavalry could not penetrate, to gain information of +the Indians respecting Narvaez. Besides these we had always immediately +in advance of us a small detachment of sharp-shooters, to seize any of +the men who strolled from Narvaez's camp, and if possible the latter +himself. It was not long before they came up with a certain Alonso Mata, +who termed himself a royal secretary, and was commissioned, he said, by +Narvaez, to show us the copy of his appointment. This Mata was +accompanied by four others, who were to act as witnesses on this +occasion. When these people had arrived near enough they greeted Cortes +and all of us in the most humble manner possible, and our general +dismounted when he learnt who they were. + +Alonso Mata began immediately to read his documents to us, but Cortes +interrupted him, and asked him whether he was a royal secretary, and he +replying in the affirmative, Cortes desired him to produce his +appointment. If this was all regular, he added, he was at liberty to +fulfil his commission, and he should know himself what was due from him +as a servant of the emperor. But, if it was not, it was useless for him +to read his papers; besides which, it was requisite the papers should +contain the original appointment signed by the emperor himself, if he +wished him to acknowledge his authority. + +Mata was not a little staggered at being thus addressed, for he himself +was well aware that he was no royal secretary. He was therefore unable +to utter a single word, and those who accompanied him remained equally +mute. Cortes excused their embarrassment, and desired some victuals to +be set before them; and we halted for a few moments, when Cortes +informed them we were marching to the township of Tampanicita, in the +vicinity of Narvaez's head-quarters, where, if the latter had any +further communications to make, he was to be found. During the whole of +this discourse Cortes showed such self-command, that he never so much as +uttered a single reproachful word against Narvaez; he had also a private +discourse with them, and thrust a few pieces of gold into their hands; +so that they left us highly delighted, and on their return to Narvaez +they could scarcely say sufficient in praise of Cortes and of us all. + +While these men were still with us, many of our soldiers, for the sake +of ostentation, had decorated themselves with gold chains and jewels, +which spread a vast idea of our splendour. All this produced such a +favorable impression in Narvaez's head-quarters, that many of his chief +officers desired that peace might be brought about between both +generals. + +In the meantime we continued our march, and arrived in Tampanicita, +where Sandoval the day following likewise appeared with his small +detachment, consisting of sixty men; the old and infirm of the garrison, +as I have above mentioned, having been previously quartered among our +allies, the Papalote Indians. He likewise brought along with him the +five friends and relatives of Aillon, who had deserted from Narvaez, and +had long desired to pay their respects to Cortes, who gave them the most +friendly reception, and then entered into a private conversation with +Sandoval, who related to him all the particulars respecting the affair +with the furious priest Guevara and his companion Vergara. Sandoval +likewise told him how he had sent two Spanish soldiers into Narvaez's +head-quarters disguised as Indians. They had the exact appearance of +natives, took each a basket of cherries with them, and did as if they +were desirous of selling them. They soon met with a purchaser, in the +person of the braggadocio Salvatierra, who gave them a string of glass +beads for their fruit, and fully believing they were Indians, sent them +to cut some grass for his horse. It was about the hour of Ave-Maria, +when they returned with a load of grass, and carried it to the shed, +where the horse was tied up. They then cowered down, after the fashion +of Indians, near Salvatierra's quarters, and overheard a discourse +between him and several others of Narvaez's officers. Among other things +they heard Salvatierra exclaim, "O! at what a fortunate time we have +arrived in this country, just as the traitor Cortes has collected above +700,000 pesos! We shall all become wealthy; for his officers and +soldiers all together cannot have a much less sum than that in their +pockets." + +They listened to many similar fine speeches till a late hour at night, +when they stole off silently to the shed where Salvatierra's horse was +fastened up, which they very quietly saddled and bridled, and so rode +off with it. In the same way they managed to capture a second horse on +their road home, and brought them both safely to Sandoval. + +Cortes was very desirous to see those horses, but Sandoval told him he +had left them with the invalid soldiers in Papalote, as he had marched +along a very steep and rugged road over the mountains, where horses +could not pass, which he had done that he might not fall in with +Narvaez's troops. + +Cortes was vastly pleased with the trick which had been played off upon +Salvatierra, and the manner in which he had lost his horse, and +exclaimed, "He will now threaten us with more vengeance than ever!" The +following morning, we were told, when he found the two Indians, who sold +him the cherries had decamped with his horse, saddle, and bridle, he +threw out language really laughable, particularly when he discovered +they had been disguised Spaniards belonging to Cortes' troops. + +[77] According to Torquemada, Motecusuma, accompanied by a distinguished +suite, conducted the Spaniards as far as Iztapalapan. (p. 303.) + +[78] Probably Topaniqueta, which sounds more like an Indian name. (p. +304.) + + + + +CHAPTER CXVI. + + _How we determined once more to despatch father Olmedo to Narvaez's + head-quarters, and what we commissioned him to say._ + + +As soon as all our troops had arrived at Tampanicita, we determined to +despatch father Olmedo, who was a remarkably shrewd man, to Narvaez with +a letter, which, after expressing the usual courtesies, ran nearly as +follows: + +We all rejoiced at his arrival in this country, as we were confident +that, in conjunction with such a valiant captain as he was, we should be +able to render important services to God and to our emperor. It was true +he had not only neglected to answer our previous letter, but had even +branded us, his majesty's faithful subjects, with the name of traitors; +and, by means of the message he had conveyed to Motecusuma, the whole +country was about to burst out into open insurrection. We hereby begged +of him to select that province which he fancied most for himself and +troops; we were very willing to make room for him, and to act in every +respect as beseemed faithful servants of the emperor. We had likewise +requested him to forward us the original papers of his appointment, if +he possessed any such, that we might convince ourselves they were signed +by his majesty. However, he had not even listened to this request, but +had thrown out abusive language against us, and incited the inhabitants +of the country to revolt. We now again begged of him, in the name of +God, and the emperor our master, to forward us his papers within the +space of three days by a royal secretary, that he might read them to us; +as we were ready, and also promised to act up strictly to his majesty's +commands, if his documents were correct. For this purpose we had +expressly come to Tampanicita, to be near his person. If he was unable +to produce any such appointment direct from his majesty, and he was +again desirous of returning to Cuba, he was at liberty to do so; we +merely desired him to desist from stirring up the inhabitants into open +insurrection, or we should consider ourselves bound to treat him as an +enemy, take him prisoner, and send him in chains to the emperor, without +whose authority he had commenced war upon us, and revolutionised all the +towns of the country. Every drop of blood that was spilt, all +destruction of property which would ensue from fire or otherwise, he +would himself have to answer for. + +Our reason for communicating these things to him by letter only was, +because no royal secretary durst venture to convey them in person, +fearing he might share a similar fate with the auditor Aillon; and we +were astonished how he durst presume to act so daringly. Cortes +considered himself bound in honour and justice to his majesty not to +allow such a heavy offence to pass by unpunished; and he hereby summoned +him, by virtue of his office as captain-general and chief-justice of New +Spain, to appear before him and answer the charge preferred against him +of _criminis laesae majestatis_. Lastly, he earnestly begged of him to +return the cotton stuffs and gold trinkets he had forcibly taken away +from the fat cazique; to deliver up to their parents again the Indian +females who had been presented to us; and to command his men in no way +to touch the property of the inhabitants. + +This letter, which closed with the usual courteous expressions, was +signed by Cortes, the officers, and other soldiers, among whom was +myself. With this letter father Olmedo, accompanied by one of our men, +named Bartolome de Usagre, who had a brother serving in Narvaez's +artillery, went off to the latter's head-quarters. What kind of +reception they met with will be found in the chapter following. + + + + +CHAPTER CXVII. + + _How father Olmedo arrived in Narvaez's head-quarters at Sempoalla, + and what he did there._ + + +As soon as father Olmedo had arrived at Narvaez's head-quarters, he +began to fulfil the orders which Cortes had given him. He made secret +disclosures in Cortes' name to a number of cavaliers in Narvaez's corps, +also to the artillerymen Rodrigo, Mino, and Usagre; and gave them the +bars of gold which our general had destined for them. He likewise +proposed to Andreas de Duero to pay a visit to our camp, and then called +upon Narvaez himself. + +Although Olmedo comported himself particularly humble in presence of +Narvaez, yet the latter's confidants had their suspicions, and advised +their general to throw the father into prison, which was just about +being carried into effect, when Duero, private secretary to Velasquez, +was secretly apprized of it. + +Duero was a native of Tudela, on the Duero, and Narvaez came from the +neighbourhood of Valladolid, or from the town itself, and they were not +only countrymen, but also related to each other. This Duero had vast +influence, stood high in the estimation of the men, and durst take more +upon himself than others; he therefore called upon Narvaez, and told him +he had been informed of his intention to imprison father Olmedo; and he +considered himself called upon to observe, that no good could flow from +such a step; for though there might be sufficient grounds for supposing +he was intriguing for Cortes, yet, as a messenger from him, he ought not +to be ill treated; the more so, because Cortes had honorably received +all those whom Narvaez had despatched to him, and dismissed them with +presents. Ever since father Olmedo had been here, he had himself +frequently discoursed with him; but from all he had uttered could only +conclude that Cortes, with the whole of his officers, was desirous of +being on friendly terms with Narvaez. He ought likewise to remember that +Cortes took every opportunity of speaking in his praise; indeed Cortes, +as well as all his men, never pronounced the name of Narvaez but with +profound respect, and it would be a small piece of heroism to seize upon +the person of a priest; and the other man, who had come with him, was +brother to the artilleryman Usagre; it would be therefore better in +every respect if they received polite treatment; and he would advise him +to ask the father to dinner, when he could himself fish out from him +what the views of Cortes were. + +With these and such like kind-words, Duero succeeded in softening down +Narvaez's anger; upon which the former immediately communicated to +father Olmedo all that had transpired. Narvaez then sent for the father +to dine with him, and received him most courteously. + +Father Olmedo, who was a remarkably judicious and shrewd man, requested +Narvaez, with a pleasing smile, to grant him a private interview; and +they walked up and down together in the courtyard, when Olmedo addressed +him to the following effect: "I am well aware that your excellency had +the intention to take me prisoner; though I can assure you there is not +a person belonging to your staff more devoted to you than I am. I am +likewise convinced that several cavaliers and officers in Cortes' troops +would gladly see the latter in your power; indeed I am altogether +convinced that we shall all soon stand under your commands. In order to +make the necessary preparations for such a step, they have written you a +letter full of extravagant expressions, and got it signed by several of +our men. This letter I was ordered to hand over to your excellency; but, +on account of its contents, I could not make up my mind to do so, but +felt more inclined to throw it into the river." + +Narvaez then expressed a desire to see this letter, and father Olmedo +told him he had left it in his room, but would go for it, and left +Narvaez for that purpose. In the meantime Salvatierra, the braggadocio, +had come up to the latter; while Olmedo hastened to Duero, requesting +him to be present when he handed over the letter to Narvaez, and bring +with him as many other soldiers as possible, that its contents might be +made known to all. Olmedo now returned to Narvaez, and presented him +Cortes' letter, with these words: "Your excellency must not feel +astonished if in this letter you find Cortes speaking out a little at +random; however, notwithstanding all this, I can assure you, if you +express yourself in kind terms to him, he will submit to you, with the +whole of his troops." + +All the bystanders now pressed Narvaez to read the letter; some were +greatly annoyed, but Narvaez and Salvatierra merely laughed, and made +game of the contents. Duero, however, said: "Really I am unable to make +anything out of all this! The reverend father has assured me, that +Cortes and the whole of his men are ready to join our standard, and yet +they presume to write such nonsense to our general." Augustin Bermudez, +who was a captain and alguacil-major of Narvaez's camp, followed in the +same strain and said: "Father Olmedo has likewise assured me privately, +that it merely required some little mediation between them, and Cortes +would himself wait upon our general and join his standard with the +whole of his men. As he is encamped not far from here, we could +certainly do no better than despatch Senor Salvatierra and Senor Duero +thither, and I will accompany them myself." This Bermudez merely said to +see what Salvatierra would say, who immediately declared that he felt no +inclination to visit a traitor. + +Do not speak quite so rashly, Senor Salvatierra, said father Olmedo; for +by showing a little more moderation you will be able, in a few days, to +have him in your power. + +However it was resolved that Duero should be despatched to Cortes, and +Narvaez held a private conference with him and three other officers, +desiring them to try and persuade Cortes to meet him at an Indian +village on the road between the two encampments, where they might come +to an understanding with each other respecting the division of the +country and the boundaries of their respective territories. Narvaez was +quite earnest in this matter, and had expressed himself to that effect +to about twenty of his men, who were particularly devoted to him. This +circumstance soon came to the ears of father Olmedo and Duero, who +immediately apprized Cortes of it. + +We must now, for a time, leave father Olmedo in Narvaez's camp, where he +soon became very intimate with Salvatierra, as the latter was a native +of Burgos and he himself of Olmedo, and he dined with him every day. In +the meantime we will likewise allow Duero to make preparations for his +journey, on which he was accompanied by Usagre, that Narvaez might not +fish anything out of him. We must now see what took place in our own +camp during this interval. + + + + +CHAPTER CXVIII. + + _How Cortes reviews the whole of his troops, and we are supplied + with two hundred and fifty very long new lances, by the + Tchinantecs._ + + +As soon as Cortes was apprized of Narvaez's arrival in New Spain, and +had received every information respecting the magnitude of his armament, +he despatched a soldier who had served in the Italian campaigns, and who +possessed an extensive knowledge of weapons and of the best method of +fixing points to lances, into the province of the Tchinantecs,[78*] where +some of our men had gone in search of gold mines. The Tchinantecs were +deadly enemies to the Mexicans, and had only a few days previously made +an alliance with us. This people used a species of lance, which was +much longer than our Spanish lances, and furnished with a sharp +double-edged point made of flint.[79] + +Cortes had heard of this weapon, and sent word to the Tchinantecs to +forward him three hundred of such lances, from which however he desired +they would take off the flint points and substitute a double one of +metal, as they had abundance of copper in their country. The soldier who +was despatched with these orders took a pattern of the point required +with him. Cortes' wishes were readily complied with, and as the +inhabitants of every township of that province set diligently to work, +the lances were soon finished and they turned out most satisfactory. +Besides this, Cortes desired the soldier Tovilla to ask the Tchinantecs +to send 2000 of their warriors, all armed with similar lances, on Easter +day, into the district of Panguenequita,[80] and there make inquiries +for our camp. The caziques willingly complied with our request, and they +also gave Tovilla above 200 of their warriors, all armed with the same +lances, to accompany him now on his return to our camp. The rest were to +follow with another of our men, called Barrientos, who had been +despatched into their country in search of mines, and he may have been +from forty to forty-eight miles further inland. The lances which Tovilla +brought with him proved most excellent, and he immediately taught us how +to use them, particularly against the cavalry. + +Upon this Cortes reviewed the whole of his troops, and we found, +including all the officers, drummers and pipers, without father Olmedo, +our numbers amounted to 260 men, among whom were five cavalrymen, a few +crossbow-men, less musketeers, and two artillerymen. Considering the +smallness of our numbers we reposed our greatest hopes in the use we +intended making of our lances, in which fortunately we were not +disappointed, as will afterwards be seen. + +[78*] The real name of this province was Chinantla, but our author calls +the inhabitants Chichinatecas. (p. 310.) + +[79] Hierro is the Spanish word for iron, and Bernal Diaz always uses +Hierro for the point of a lance; otherwise one would suppose,--when he +says of the Chinantecs, "Hizieron los hierros muy mas perfetamente," +etc., i.e. "they made the irons (points) much more perfect;"--that the +working of iron was known in the country long before the arrival of the +Spaniards; but it is evident, from what he says four lines below, that +these points were made of copper. (p. 311.) + +[80] Panguenequita, probably another name for Tapanigueta. (p. 311.) + + + + +CHAPTER CXIX. + + _How Duero, with the soldier Usagre and two of his Indian servants + from Cuba arrived in our camp; who this Duero was, and the reason of + his visit, &c._ + + +I must now trouble the reader to turn back to the first part of this +history where I explained how Cortes obtained the appointment of +commander-in-chief through the instrumentality of Duero and Amador de +Lares: both of whom were on the most confidential terms with Diego +Velasquez; the former as his private secretary, the second as royal +treasurer. They had by their joint exertions procured Cortes the +appointment, who, on his part, again promised to divide with them all +the gold, silver, and jewels which should fall to his share. + +When Duero arrived in our camp he was convinced, from what he saw, of +the vast riches and power of Cortes, and he came not merely to bring +about a good understanding between both generals, but also to take +possession of his share of the acquired riches; as Amador de Lares had +died. + +Cortes, who was a cunning and far-sighted man, promised Duero not only +vast treasures but a command, which would give him the same importance +with himself, and he would bestow a vast extent of territory upon him. +In consideration of which the latter was to engage to gain Augustin +Bermudez, and other chief officers, whose names I will not mention; who +were to swear upon their life and honour to oppose Narvaez in every way, +and thwart him in all his designs upon us. If Narvaez was killed or +taken prisoner, and his army defeated, all the gold and the townships of +New Spain were to be divided among the three. To this Bermudez was to be +bound down by affixing his signature to these conditions. In order, +however, to strengthen the number of their party, Duero took along with +him as much gold as two men could carry, besides a quantity of other +valuable things, for Bermudez, the two priests, Guevara and Juan de +Leon, and other chief personages who were to be let into the secret. +Cortes and Duero then carefully talked over how the matter was to be +carried out. + +Duero arrived in our quarters on the eve of Easter day, and stayed until +the evening following. During this time he had several private +conversations with Cortes, and before mounting his horse he again called +upon the latter, who was heard to say on taking leave of him: "Well, +Senor Duero, may God bless you. Remember to abide by all you have +promised! Before three days have passed I shall be with my troops in +your head-quarters; if, however, I find you have not remained true to +your word, upon my conscience, (an oath he often used,) you will be the +first my lance shall pierce." + +To which Duero answered smilingly: "You need be under no apprehension, I +assure you. Nothing shall be omitted on my part to further your ends." + +Duero then mounted his horse and returned to Narvaez with the most +satisfactory accounts, and assured him that Cortes and all of us desired +nothing more ardently than to stand under his command. As soon as Duero +had left, Cortes sent for Juan Velasquez de Leon, one of his chief +officers, a man who had great authority, and although a near relative to +the governor of Cuba, was entirely devoted to Cortes. Cortes had also +gained him over to his interest by valuable presents and promises of an +important command in New Spain, even to raise him as high in command as +himself; and, indeed, Velasquez always evinced the most honest +attachment to our general, and was unremitting in his services to him, +as will sufficiently be seen hereafter. + +When Velasquez de Leon came into Cortes' presence, and inquired his +commands, the latter said to him with a pleasing smile on his +countenance, "I have sent for you, Velasquez, because Duero had assured +me it is rumoured among Narvaez's officers that you and I have +quarrelled, and that you intend siding with their party. I am, +therefore, resolved that you shall ride on your powerful gray mare to +Narvaez's head-quarters, taking with you all your gold, besides your +_fanfarrona_, (so Velasquez termed a heavy gold chain he possessed,) and +other valuable matters I shall give you, among which there will be a +fanfarrona double the weight of yours. When there, you must try to fish +out what Narvaez's intentions are. After you, Ordas shall likewise +repair thither, as if he came to pay his respects to Narvaez in his +capacity of house-steward to the governor of Cuba." + +To this Juan Velasquez answered, that he would gladly fulfil his +commands, but must refuse either to take his gold or his chain with him. +If he were desirous of furnishing him with any valuable trinkets for +some other persons, he would promise to deliver them safely; where he +went himself, he thought, he would be better able to serve him by his +proper wits than with all the gold and jewels put together. "Of this," +replied Cortes, "I am also fully convinced, which is the reason I made +choice of you; but if you refuse to take all your gold and valuables +with you, you had much better remain here." + +Juan Velasquez still refused to comply for some time, when Cortes took +him aside, and spoke a few words to him in private; Velasquez then +yielded to his request, and set out on his journey, accompanied by Juan +del Rio, one of Cortes' servants. + +As soon as Velasquez, whom Cortes had merely despatched to Narvaez to +annoy the latter, had departed, he issued orders to the drummer +Canillas, and our piper Benito, to sound their instruments, and desired +Sandoval to draw up the troops in marching order, and we moved briskly +forward to Sempoalla. On our road we killed two musk swine,[81] which +our soldiers construed into a token of victory. The night following, we +encamped on the slope of a hill near to a brook, made, as was our +custom, bolsters of large stones, carefully posted our sentinels, and +ordered the patrols. + +The next morning we marched forward in a straight line, and arrived +towards midday at that river on whose banks the town of Vera Cruz at +present stands, and goods are landed which arrive from Spain. At that +time we found merely a few Indian huts and straggling trees there, under +which we rested ourselves for a considerable time, as we found the heat +very oppressive. We must now return to Juan Velasquez, and see what +befel him in Narvaez's camp. + +[81] Respecting this animal, see note 5, p. 22. (p. 313.) + + + + +CHAPTER CXX. + + _How Juan Velasquez arrives in Narvaez's head-quarters, and what + took place there._ + + +Juan Velasquez travelled so fast that he arrived at Sempoalla towards +daybreak. He alighted at the house of the fat cazique; as the servant +whom Cortes had sent with him had no horse, he therefore walked on foot +to Narvaez's quarters. The Indians of Sempoalla all recognized him, and +were highly pleased to see and converse with him again. When, however, +some of Narvaez's men, who were quartered in the cazique's house, heard +the Indians say that it was Velasquez de Leon, one of Malinche's +officers, they hastened to Narvaez, and told him they brought a piece of +news for which they might expect a reward. And before Leon had arrived +at the latter's quarters, Narvaez, who was highly delighted to hear of +his arrival, hastened out, accompanied by several of his officers, to +meet him, and received him with a hearty embrace. After they had entered +his abode, he requested Velasquez to take a chair, (for in this +expedition they had even furnished themselves with such things,) and +reproached him in a friendly tone for not having alighted at his +quarters, and immediately sent some of his men for his horse and +baggage, as he would not hear of his staying in any house but his own. +Velasquez, however, observed, that he could not stay long, as he had +merely come to pay his respects to him and his officers, and try if +peace and friendship could not be brought about between his excellency +and Cortes. + +Narvaez's blood rose to his cheeks at this expression, and he asked +Velasquez how he could talk of peace and friendship with a man who had, +like a traitor, run away with the whole armament of his own cousin, the +governor of Cuba? + +Juan Velasquez replied, in an equally sharp tone of voice, that Cortes +was not a traitor, but a faithful servant to his emperor; that such +services as he had rendered to the crown could not be termed the +actions of a traitor, and he must beg of him not again to make use of +such expressions in his presence. + +Upon this Narvaez assumed a different tone, and made Velasquez vast +promises if he would remain with him; even promised him, and sealed it +with an oath, that he would elevate him to second in command to himself, +if he would manage to induce Cortes' troops to join his standard of +their own free will. Velasquez, however, assured him he should consider +himself the vilest of traitors if he deserted a general to whom he had +sworn fidelity, and of whom he was convinced that everything he had done +in New Spain was for the emperor's best interest. On the contrary, he +was determined to remain as faithful and true to Cortes as to the +emperor himself, and he earnestly begged of him not to touch upon that +string again. + +During this conversation, Narvaez's chief officers had, by degrees, all +arrived to pay their respects to Velasquez, which they did with every +show of courtesy, as Velasquez was a man of elegant carriage and +powerful stature, and had a winning countenance; his beard looked +majestic, a heavy gold chain hung from his shoulder in graceful folds, +and sat well on this courageous and spirited officer. After this +discourse with Narvaez, Velasquez turned to the other officers, and +entered into private conversation with father Olmedo, Duero, and +Bermudez. + +Narvaez's party, however, were of a different opinion with respect to +Velasquez, and some of the officers, among whom were Gamarra, Juan +Yuste, Juan Bono de Quexo, and the braggadocio Salvatierra, pressed +Narvaez very hard to throw him into chains, as he was secretly striving +to gain over his men in favour of Cortes. This Narvaez was very willing +to do, and had already issued orders to that purpose, when Bermudez, +Duero, and several others who favored our general, received intimation +thereof, and remonstrated with Narvaez as to the policy of such a step, +and the benefit he would derive from it, as Cortes, though he had an +additional hundred officers such as Velasquez, would be unable to cope +with him. He should also bear in mind how Cortes had received all those +who visited his camp; how well he had treated every one, and presented +them so plentifully with jewels and other matters, that every one, up to +the present moment, had left him laden like bees returning to their +hives. It was equally in Cortes' power to have detained Duero, the +priest Guevara, and others; this, however, he had not done, but, on the +contrary, had shown them every possible respect. It would certainly be +more to Narvaez's advantage to behave courteously to Velasquez in +return, and invite him to dinner on the following day. + +Narvaez was fully convinced of the truth of these arguments, and +requested Velasquez, in the kindest terms, to become mediator between +Cortes and himself, and try if he could not succeed to induce the former +and his troops to join his standard; and then invited him to dinner on +the next day. Velasquez promised to make the attempt, but, at the same +time, stated that he entertained few hopes of success, as Cortes was +very determined on that head. The best method of settling the matter, in +his opinion, was, by a division of the provinces between both generals, +and Cortes would gladly leave the choice to him. + +Velasquez, however, merely made this observation to make Narvaez a +little more tractable. During this discourse, father Olmedo stepped up, +and, as one of Narvaez's confidential friends and advisers, (for thus +far he had succeeded with him,) proposed, that he should draw out the +whole of his troops, with the cavalry and artillery, before Velasquez +and his servant Juan, to show them the powerful army he commanded, and +that they might relate what they had seen to Cortes, which would +certainly produce the desired effect, and convince him he could not do +better than submit to him. Narvaez followed this counsel, which Olmedo +had merely advised to vex all his cavaliers and soldiers. The alarm was +accordingly sounded, and the whole of the troops were thus obliged to +march out before Velasquez, his servant Juan, and father Olmedo. + +After Velasquez had gazed upon the troops for some time, he said to +Narvaez, "Certainly, your excellency's power is considerable, and may +God grant you a further increase of it!" + +"Well," replied Narvaez, "are you now not fully convinced that it would +merely cost me a day's march to overthrow Cortes and the whole of you?" + +"I will not say anything about that," said Velasquez; "but you may +depend upon it we should not sell our lives cheaply." + +The following day Velasquez was to dine with Narvaez. At table he +likewise met a nephew of the governor of Cuba, who bore the same name, +and had the command of a company. During dinner-time, the conversation +turned upon Cortes' obstinacy, and the letter he had written to Narvaez; +and, one word leading to another, Diego Velasquez asserted, at length, +that Cortes and all those who sided with him were traitors for not +submitting to Narvaez. + +At this expression, Juan Velasquez rose up from his seat, and said, with +much warmth, "General Narvaez, I have once previously begged of you not +to allow such language in my presence against Cortes or any man of his +troops. It is really scandalous to speak ill of us who have served his +majesty so faithfully." + +"And I," interrupted Diego Velasquez, in an angry tone, "maintain that I +have merely spoken the truth in calling you traitors. You are a traitor, +and all the rest of you, and you are unworthy the name of Velasquez +which you bear." + +Leon now laid hand on his sword, and called Diego a liar; swearing he +was a better nobleman than he or his uncle, and that the house of +Velasquez to which he belonged was a very different one to Diego's or +his uncle's. Of this he would give instant proof if General Narvaez +would allow him. + +As many of Narvaez's officers and a few of Cortes' were present during +this scene, they interfered and prevented any open violence, as Leon was +just about to draw his sword against his opponent. + +The other officers now advised Narvaez to order Juan Velasquez, his +servant, and father Olmedo to quit their camp without any further +ceremony, as their stay there would only cause worse blood. Orders to +this effect were accordingly issued, and our men delayed not an instant +to hasten their departure. Leon was seated on his fine mare, and clad in +his coat of mail, which he scarcely ever put off, and had his helmet on, +when he once more called upon Narvaez to take leave. Young Diego +Velasquez was standing next to the latter at the time, and when Leon +inquired of Narvaez if he had any message to Cortes, he replied, in +great ill humour, "I beg of you to leave this instant, and it would have +been much better if you had stayed away altogether." Young Velasquez +then opened his mouth, and threw out most abusive language against him. +Leon, in return, assured him his insolence would meet with its due +reward, and a few days would show whether the bravery of his arm +corresponded with the boldness of his tongue. As they were continually +growing more bitter in their expressions, five or six of Cortes' +adherents among Narvaez's officers, who intended to escort Leon, came +up, and told him, rather harshly, it was time to be moving, and no +longer to spend his breath in useless words. They merely assumed this +tone to get him as quickly out of the way as possible, for they +afterwards told him that Narvaez had already issued orders for seizing +his person; indeed, he had every reason to make haste, for a numerous +body of cavalry was already hard at his heels when he arrived at the +river above mentioned.--We were just taking our midday's nap when our +outpost brought information that two or three men on horseback were +approaching our camp, and we immediately concluded it must be Leon, his +servant Juan, and father Olmedo. + +Cortes and all of us were delighted to see them safely returned. Leon +then related what the reader has just heard, and how he had secretly +distributed the presents as Cortes had desired. We were particularly +amused with what father Olmedo related as to the manner in which he had +flattered Narvaez, and in mockery advised him to sound an alarm and +sally out with his heavy guns; and also with the cunning he had employed +to introduce Cortes' letter. But when he came to Salvatierra, and drew a +picture of what had taken place between the latter and himself, how he +had made out that they were relations, and the intimate friendship which +grew up between them, and the bold language Salvatierra had presumed to +throw out when he spoke of taking Cortes and all of us prisoners, and +how he swore to revenge himself upon the soldiers who had run off with +his and another officer's horse, we really laughed and rejoiced as if +nothing but mirth and pleasure awaited us, and we no longer gave it a +thought we should have to fight a battle next day, and measure our +strength with five times our numbers, no other choice being left us but +victory or death. + +When the heat of the day had somewhat cooled, we continued our march to +Sempoalla, and encamped for the night near a brook about four miles from +the town, at a spot where, at that time, there was a bridge, and, at +present, a farm-house is built. + +I must again, however, return to Narvaez's head-quarters, and relate +what happened there after the departure of Leon and father Olmedo. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXI. + + _What took place in Narvaez's quarters after the return to our camp + of the ambassadors we had sent there._ + + +The effect of Leon's and father Olmedo's visit to Narvaez's camp soon +showed itself. Several of the officers who had got some hints of the +valuable presents which Cortes had sent to be distributed among some of +them, found that a party was forming in his favour, and advised that the +utmost vigilance should be observed; orders were therefore issued that +both foot and horse should always hold themselves ready for action. + +The fat cazique whom I have so often mentioned was in great fear for +having delivered up to Narvaez the women, cotton stuffs, and gold of +which we had given him charge. For this reason only, therefore, he would +have acted as a spy upon our movements had Narvaez even not strictly +commanded him to do so. + +When his spies brought him intelligence that we were advancing towards +Sempoalla, he said to Narvaez, "How can you remain so quiet and +careless? Do you imagine that Malinche and his teules are people like +yourselves? I assure you, if you don't keep a sharp look out, he will +some time or other fall upon you unawares, and destroy you all." + +Narvaez and his partisans, though they could not help laughing at these +warnings of the fat cazique, nevertheless thought it necessary to adopt +some decisive step. He first formally declared open war against us with +fire and sword. This we learnt from a soldier named Galleguillo, who had +deserted to us from Narvaez during the night, or perhaps had been +secretly sent to apprize us of it by Duero. + +Narvaez then encamped with the whole of his troops, taking the cannon +and all with him, at about a mile from Sempoalla, in order the better to +watch our movements and not to allow any of our men to pass without +killing or taking them prisoners. But as it rained heavily just about +this time, his men soon got tired of standing in the water to await our +arrival, and Narvaez's officers, who were neither accustomed to dampness +nor the fatigues of war in general, and imagined it would be an easy +matter to overcome us, advised him to return with the troops to their +former quarters. They likewise pretended it would be a reproach to them +if they all marched out against a handful of men as we were, and +considered it sufficient if they placed their artillery, which consisted +of eighteen heavy guns, in front of their camp. Forty of the cavalry +would be sufficient at night to guard the road leading to Sempoalla, +along which we should be compelled to advance: besides which, pickets of +cavalry and light-armed foot could watch the spot where we should have +to pass the river, to give notice of our approach; and another twenty of +the cavalry were always to stand in readiness during night-time in the +courtyard adjoining Narvaez's quarters. + +All this his officers merely advised to return to their former +comfortable quarters again. "Do you, then," continued they to Narvaez, +"stand in such awe of Cortes as to believe, on the assertion of the fat +cazique, that he will dare to push forward to our very quarters with his +paltry numbers? Only let him come, we will give him the reception he +merits." + +Narvaez allowed himself to be convinced by these arguments, and returned +with the whole of his troops to the former quarters. He then made known +that he who brought him Cortes or Sandoval dead or alive, should receive +the reward of 2000 pesos. + +The command of the small detachment at the river he gave to a certain +Hurtado and Gonzalo Carrasco, who is now living at Puebla. The +watch-word of Narvaez's men, during the battle, was to be Santa Maria! +Santa Maria! It was also regulated that a strong body of men should be +posted in his quarters during night-time, and like divisions in those of +Salvatierra, Gamarra, and Juan Bono. + +These were Narvaez's preparations; we must now see what was going on in +our camp. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXII. + + _The order of our march against Narvaez; the speech Cortes made to + us; and our reply to it._ + + +After we had arrived at the above-mentioned brook, about four miles from +Sempoalla, we halted in a beautiful meadow by which it was skirted, and +posted our sentinels, consisting entirely of men on whom we could place +implicit reliance. Cortes, seated on horseback, ordered all the officers +and men to assemble around him; he then craved a few moments' silence, +and addressed us in a speech replete with flattering expressions and +vast promises. + +He began with our departure from Cuba, mentioned all the fatigues we had +undergone up to that moment, and then continued: "You are perfectly +aware, gentlemen, that the governor of Cuba did appoint me +captain-general of the armament, though many cavaliers among you were +equally deserving of it; you must also remember that you left Cuba with +the supposition you were going to found a colony in this country. It was +under this pretence that the public were invited to join the expedition, +and yet it afterwards appeared that the armament was merely fitted out +for commercial speculation. I was preparing to act up to the +instructions I had received, and was ready to return to Cuba, in order +to render Diego Velasquez a full account of all our proceedings, when +you desired me,--yes, you compelled me, to form a settlement here in the +name of our emperor, in which we, with God's assistance, have indeed so +far succeeded. You then elected me captain-general and chief justice of +New Spain, to continue vested with such power until we should know his +majesty's pleasure on that head. Once, subsequently, there indeed again +arose a dispute respecting the necessity of returning to Cuba; but this +I need not mention, as it is still fresh in every one's memory; however, +it became afterwards our universal conviction, that the determination we +had come to, to remain in this country, had met with grace in the sight +of God, and he has blessed all our endeavours in his holy cause, and +granted us success in our undertakings in the emperor's service. Above +all, however, I must put you in mind of the promise we made the emperor +when we forwarded him a full account of our great deeds, with a +description of the country. We begged his majesty not to confer the +government of this country on any one before our agents had obtained a +hearing, as we had all reason to fear that the powerful bishop of Burgos +would strive to obtain that appointment for Diego Velasquez, or for one +of his friends or relatives. We assured his majesty that this country +was of such vast extent as to merit being governed by an infante or +grandee of his empire, and that we were only awaiting his most gracious +commands which we should obey with the deepest veneration, and would not +acknowledge any appointment unless it came from his majesty himself. +With this account we sent our monarch all the gold, silver, jewels, and +other valuable things we had collected. These had been, up to that time, +our only remuneration for the many fatigues we had undergone; and how +often had not death stood before our eyes in the battles we had fought! +what various kinds of hardships we have suffered! we have slept on the +bare ground both in the rain and snow, and never lay our arms aside. +When we reflect on all these hardships, it really sends a thrill through +the heart. In the several battles we have fought, we have lost above +fifty of our men, and we are all covered with wounds, and many a one +still suffers severely from them. First we had to brave all the dangers +of the sea; then followed the battles of Tabasco, Almeria, Cingapacinga, +with the ambushes which were laid for us in the mountains, defiles, and +the villages. How nigh we were being totally worsted in the battles of +Tlascalla! We had scarcely time allowed us to take breath, when the +affair at Cholulla awaited us, where the pots stood ready in which our +flesh was to be cooked for the inhabitants to feast on! None of us can +ever forget our march through the mountain passes, where Motecusuma had +posted the whole of his troops, and blocked up the road by a heavy fall +of trees, intending that none of us should escape death! Notwithstanding +all this, we march into Mexico, and quarter ourselves in the very heart +of that city; but how oft there again has death not stood before our +eyes! Really no human being could have imagined such a series of +dangers! And yet there are many among us who have even experienced +additional fatigues, those I mean who have twice before visited these +coasts, under Cordoba and Grijalva. In these voyages of discovery they +suffered hardships of various natures, lost numbers of their companions, +were themselves covered with wounds, and lost everything they possessed. +But it would be impossible to enumerate all the miseries that have been +suffered; nor have I any time, if I could, for night is fast +approaching; and now, after we have undergone all this, Pamfilo Narvaez +comes tearing along, like a mad dog, to destroy us all; calls us +villains and traitors, and makes disclosures to Motecusuma, not like a +prudent general, but with the spirit of a rebel; he has even presumed to +throw one of the emperor's auditors into chains--of itself a criminal +act; and to sum up, has declared a war of extermination against us, just +as if we had been a troop of Moors." + +Upon this Cortes launched out in praise of the courage we had shown in +every battle: "Up to this moment," he continued, "we have fought to +defend our lives, but now we shall have to fight valiantly for our lives +and our honour. Our enemies have nothing less in contemplation than to +take us all prisoners, and rob us of our property. No one could tell +whether Narvaez was commissioned by the emperor himself; all this was +merely done at the instigation of our most deadly enemy, the bishop of +Burgos. If we were subdued by Narvaez, which God forbid, all the +services we had rendered to the Almighty and our emperor would be +construed into as many crimes. An investigation would be set on foot +against us, and we should be accused of murder, of rapine, and of having +revolutionised the country, though the real guilty person would be +Narvaez; and the things which would be considered meritorious in him +would be construed as criminal in us. As all this must be evident to +you," said Cortes, in conclusion, "and we, as honest cavaliers, are +bound to defend the honour of his imperial majesty, as well as our own, +and all our property, I have marched out from Mexico, reposing my trust +in God and your assistance, to bid defiance to such injustice." + +Several of our officers and soldiers then answered, in the name of the +rest, that he might rely upon our determination either to conquer or to +die. + +Cortes was excessively rejoiced at our reply, and said he had not +expected less. We should find no cause for regret, as wealth and honour +would be the reward of our courage and our valour. He then once more +begged our attention, and reminded us that, in battle and time of war, +prudence and experience accomplished more than the utmost bravery. He +was well aware of our great courage, and how every man among us strove +who should be the first to dash among the enemy's ranks. At present the +first object must be to capture the eighteen pieces of ordnance which +Narvaez had arranged in front of his camp. For this purpose he selected +sixty of our youngest men, of which number I also was, and placed them +under the command of Pizarro, who at that time was a daring young +fellow, but in those days as little known to the world as Peru itself. +As soon as we should have captured these cannon, we were to storm +Narvaez's quarters, which were on the summit of a very high temple. +Sandoval, with other sixty men, was ordered to seize Narvaez's person, +and his commands were exactly as follow: "Gonzalo de Sandoval, +alguacil-major of New Spain, I hereby command you to seize the person of +Pamfilo Narvaez, and to kill him in case he will not surrender. This we +are called upon to do as faithful servants of God and the emperor, and +in revenge for the ill-treatment he, the said Narvaez, presumed to +exercise against one of his majesty's auditors. Given at our +head-quarters. Signed, Hernando Cortes; and countersigned, Pedro +Hernandez, secretary." + +Cortes at the same time promised a reward of 3000 pesos to the first man +who should lay hands on Narvaez, 2000 to the second, and 1000 to the +third. + +Leon likewise received the command of sixty men, with instructions to +seize the person of Diego Velasquez, with whom he had had such high +words. Cortes himself retained twenty men around his person, to render +assistance wherever it might be most required; his principal object, +however, was to get the persons of Narvaez and Salvatierra into his +power. + +After Cortes had issued these commands in writing to his principal +officers, he said: "I am fully aware that Narvaez has four times the men +we have; but most of them are not accustomed to arms. A great number are +adverse to their general, many are sick, and we shall fall upon them +unawares. All opposition on their part will be fruitless, and I am fully +confident the Almighty will grant us the victory. Narvaez's men also +know they will lose nothing by the change, and would fare better in +every respect by being with us than with him. Thus, gentlemen, after +God, our lives and honour entirely depend upon the valour of our arms. +The praise of future generations lies in our hands, and it is more +honorable to die on the field of battle than to lead a life of +dishonour." With this Cortes ended, as it was beginning to rain and +getting late. + +I have often subsequently, when thinking of this speech of Cortes, +wondered that he did not mention a single word of the secret +understanding he had with some of Narvaez's officers, but merely +impressed upon our minds the necessity of employing our utmost courage. +By degrees, however, it became obvious to me that by that very +circumstance he had shown the prudence of a great general, for by making +us believe that our only hope was in God and our own bravery, he +compelled us to exercise the utmost of our power. + +The most dangerous part of the work was assigned to us, who were to +capture the cannon, under the command of Pizarro: we had to commence the +attack and storm up against the cannons' mouths. Pizarro, therefore, +gave us very strict commands, and showed us how we were to push forward +with our lances lowered, and fight on boldly until we had taken the +cannon, when the artillerymen, Mesa and Amenga, were immediately to load +the guns with the balls at hand, and fire away at Salvatierra's +quarters. + +We were altogether in want of defensive armour, and on that night many +of us would have given all we possessed for a cuirass, helmet, or steel +gorget. + +Our watch-word was: _Espiritu Santo! Espiritu Santo!_ for such words in +time of war are given to soldiers in secret, in order that the men may +recognize each other. That of Narvaez's men was: _Santa Maria! Santa +Maria!_ + +As I stood in great favour with Sandoval, he begged of me, when we had +captured the cannon, should my life be spared, instantly to repair to +him and not leave his side; which I promised and fulfilled, as will be +seen. + +We remained in our camp during the first part of the night, and spent +our time in making preparations, and thinking on the arduous task which +awaited us; for it was useless to think of any supper, as we had not a +morsel of food with us. We sent out the pickets and posted our +sentinels, of which I happened to be one. I had not stood long when one +of our outposts came up and asked me whether I had not heard a noise? To +which I answered no, and immediately after one of our corporals +approached and told me that Galleguillo, who had deserted from Narvaez +to us, was nowhere to be found, and that he must have been a spy; and as +it was certain he had by this time betrayed our approach to the enemy, +Cortes had given orders for our immediate advance upon Sempoalla. An +instant after I heard the drum and pipe, and we all marched forward. +Galleguillo, however, was found a few minutes after fast asleep under +some cloaks he had thrown over him, as damp and cold were two things to +which the poor devil was wholly unaccustomed. + +Cortes now ordered the drum and pipe to be silenced, and we marched +steadily forward, until we arrived at the river where, as I have above +mentioned, Carrasco and Hurtado were posted with a detachment of the +enemy. This, our sudden visit, was the last thing they could have +thought of, and we succeeded in capturing the former, but the other +escaped and ran to give the alarm. + +I shall never forget our crossing this river, how it was swoln by the +rain, and the difficulty we experienced in passing over the stones which +had become loosened and were very slippery; while, at the same time, we +were greatly incommoded by our weapons which we had slung to our backs. +I well remember Carrasco, when he was taken prisoner, crying out aloud: +"Mind what you are about Senor Cortes, for Narvaez has marched out with +all his troops to receive you." As Hurtado had already ran off to give +the alarm, it mattered very little whether Carrasco thus strove to +inform his general of our approach by his loud cries. Cortes gave him in +charge of his secretary Hernandez, and commanded us to the attack. We +immediately lowered the points of our lances and made so violent a rush +at the cannon, that the artillerymen had scarcely sufficient time to +fire off four pieces, every ball of which passed over our heads, +excepting one, which killed three of our men. At the same moment our +respective officers, with their men, forced their way up under the sound +of our drum and pipe. Several of Narvaez's cavalry certainly offered +some resistance, but for a short time only, while six or seven of their +number lay stretched on the field of battle. We, under Pizarro, had the +good fortune to capture all the cannon, but durst not leave them in +charge of our artillerymen alone, as Narvaez continued to shower down +arrows and musket-balls upon us from the top of the temple. Sandoval now +likewise came up with his detachment, and though Narvaez bid a powerful +resistance, he nevertheless continued advancing up the steps of the +building, and broke through the pikes and lances of his opponents. +Seeing this, and that the enemy had given up all attempts to recover the +cannon, we gave them in charge of our artillerymen, and flew under the +command of Pizarro to Sandoval's assistance. We just arrived at the +moment when Narvaez had beaten him back down five or six of the steps; +our arrival turned the scale against the enemy, and Sandoval now pushed +forward again with renewed vigour. Indeed we had some hard work to do +with our long lances before we could clear our way through the enemy's +ranks; all at once I heard some one, and it must have been Narvaez, cry +out in a loud voice:--"Assist me, oh blessed Virgin! I am a dead man! +One of my eyes has been thrust out!" At the same moment we all cried +out, "_Victory! Victory!_ for those of the watch-word _Espiritu Santo! +Narvaez is fallen!_" Yet we were unable for some time to gain entire +possession of the temple, not until Martin Lopez, who built the +brigantines, hit upon the thought of setting fire to the straw that lay +on the top of the temple, which he immediately set about with his gaunt +figure. Narvaez's men now came rolling down the steps one after the +other, and he himself was taken prisoner. A certain Pedro Sanchez Farsan +was the first to lay hold of him, and I mentioned this to Sandoval and +several of Narvaez's officers, who were standing by at the time. In an +instant a thousand voices filled the air with cries of: "_Long live the +emperor and general Cortes, in his imperial name!_ Victory, victory! +Narvaez is dead!" + +The battle, however, was still continued at various points, as several +of Narvaez's officers maintained their positions on the tops of other +temples. Cortes, however, with his accustomed forethought, sent round a +herald to summons Narvaez's men, under pain of death, immediately to +join the imperial standard. This, with the firing of the cannon, our +hurrahing, and the belief that Narvaez was dead, had the desired effect, +and only the troops of young Diego Velasquez and of Salvatierra, who had +taken up a position with the troops under their command, on the summit +of a very high temple, where it was difficult to get at them, refused to +submit. Sandoval, however, was not to be deterred by their advantageous +position. He took the half of his men with him, while the rest remained +below, and we attacked them so vigorously with our swords, that at last +they surrendered, and we took Salvatierra and Diego Velasquez prisoners. + +In the hurry of the moment we had merely fastened fetters around +Narvaez's legs; but Sandoval now, ordered him to be better secured. +Cortes happened to come up at the time, when Leon, with Ordas, brought +in Salvatierra, Diego Velasquez, and other chief officers prisoners; he +was still in full armour, and had heated himself to such a degree by +riding up and down, the weather besides being very hot, that the +perspiration literally dropped from him, and he could scarcely breathe +from over-exertion; he twice said to Sandoval, who was unable to catch +his words at first, "Where is Narvaez? Where is Narvaez?" "Here he is! +here he is!" cried Sandoval, "and quite safe." "That is all right, my +son Sandoval," said Cortes in a voice still somewhat feeble; "do not +leave this spot for the present, nor suffer any of your men to stir +away, and keep a strong guard over the officers you have taken prisoners; +I will see now how the battle is going on at the other points." + +With these words Cortes rode off, and as he still found Narvaez's men +offered resistance, he again sent round a herald to summon them to +surrender, and to deliver up their arms to the alguacil. + +All this took place during night-time, and it rained at intervals. When +we first forced our way into the town it was as dark as pitch, and it +rained heavily, the moon did not rise until some time after; but even +the darkness itself favoured us, for in the midst of darkness numbers +of shining beetles[82] kept continually flying about, which Narvaez's +men mistook for the lighted matches of our firearms,[83] and this gave +them a vast idea of the number of our matchlocks. + +Narvaez having lost an eye and being otherwise dangerously wounded, he +begged of Sandoval to allow the surgeon he had brought with him to dress +his and the other officers' wounds. This the latter unhesitatingly +complied with, and while the surgeon was dressing Narvaez's wounds, +Cortes stepped up, as he imagined unknown, to see what was going +forward. Some one, however, remarked to Narvaez that Cortes was standing +near; when the former turned round and said: "Indeed, general, you have +reason to be proud of this victory, and of my being taken prisoner!" + +"I am," replied Cortes, "every way thankful to God for it, and likewise +for the brave companions he has given me; but I can assure you that this +victory is the least brilliant we have yet gained in New Spain." + +With this Cortes broke off the conversation, and again cautioned +Sandoval to guard the prisoners well. As I have above remarked, we had +merely thrown fetters about Narvaez's legs, but we now secured him +better, and placed a strong guard over him. I was among the latter, and +Sandoval gave me secret orders not to allow any of his men to see him +until next morning, when Cortes would make further arrangements +respecting his person. We did not feel quite safe yet; for the reader +will remember that Narvaez had detached forty of his cavalry to oppose +our crossing the river. This body was still hovering about, and we +feared would fall upon us unawares and release both Narvaez and the +other officers again. We therefore kept a sharp look out, while Cortes +despatched Oli and Ordas to persuade them, by enticing promises, to +surrender quietly. For this purpose these officers were obliged to take +a couple of horses of Narvaez's troops, as ours had been left at the +back of a rising ground near Sempoalla. + +When Oli and Ordas came up with them, they said so many fine things, and +made such vast promises in Cortes' name, that they speedily came to +terms, and surrendered themselves.[84] + +Daylight in the meantime had broken forth, when this detachment reached +our camp again; and the drummers and pipers of Narvaez's corps, without +instructions from Cortes or from any one else, suddenly sounded their +instruments, and cried out, "Long live these brave Romans, who, though +small in numbers, have gained the victory over Narvaez and his troops!" +And another merry-making fellow, called Guidela, a negro, cried out at +the top of his voice, "Hark ye! the Romans themselves could never boast +of so brilliant a victory as this!" Whatever we might say, we were +unable to stop their hurrahing or their instruments, until Cortes had +ordered one of the drummers, named Tepia, who was half mad, to be +seized. + +At this moment Oli and Diego de Ordas made their appearance with the +detachment of cavalry, accompanied by Duero, Bermudez, and several other +friends of our general. These now all came in a body to pay their +respects to Cortes, who had taken off his armour, and was seated in an +arm-chair, dressed in a wide orange-coloured surtout. It was really a +most interesting sight to behold the serenity and joy which sat upon his +countenance as he welcomed each, and amusing to hear the fine things he +told them. He had indeed every reason to be proud of the power and the +greatness he had so suddenly acquired! + +After these officers had thus paid their respects to him, they repaired +to their respective quarters. And now we must look over the list of the +dead and wounded on both sides. Among the former was Narvaez's +standard-bearer, named Fuentes, of a noble family of Seville; and three +of his chief officers, one of whom was named Rojas, a native of Old +Castile. One of the three soldiers, named Carretero, who deserted to the +enemy, was likewise killed; and the number of their wounded was very +great. + +On our side we lost four killed, and had several wounded; the fat +cazique himself being of this number; who, when he heard that we were in +the vicinity of Sempoalla, had fled to Narvaez's quarters, and was +wounded there. Cortes ordered his wound to be dressed, then sent him +home, and desired that no one should molest him. + +Cervantes and Escalona, who had deserted to Narvaez, derived very little +benefit from their treachery; the latter had been dangerously wounded, +and the other Cortes ordered to be well whipped. + +Here I must also not forget the braggadocio Salvatierra, whose cowardice +his own men declared was beyond all belief. They all swore never in the +course of their lives to have witnessed such extreme fear as he evinced +when he first heard the clashing of our arms at a distance; and when he +heard the cry of _Victory! Victory! Narvaez is fallen!_ he became quite +ill, and threw down his arms. + +Diego Velasquez had almost escaped my memory! He was also wounded, and, +as had been previously settled, was taken prisoner by Leon, with whom he +had quarrelled at Narvaez's dinner table. The victor, however, acted +magnanimously; he took him to his own quarters, had his wounds dressed, +and treated him with great respect. + +Such is the history of our battle with Narvaez, and now we must see what +further took place. + +[82] The clater nocturnus. (p. 327.) + +[83] It need scarcely be remarked that the Spanish guns at that time +were fired by means of matches, which were made of hempen tow, boiled in +the lees of old wine, and when dry and once lighted they burn on until +consumed. (p. 327.) + +[84] Bernal Diaz has forgotten some circumstances relative to this +battle. Three hundred of Narvaez's troops defended themselves bravely +for a length of time on one of the temples, nor did they surrender until +all their powder was spent. (p. 327.) + + + + +CHAPTER CXXIII. + + _How the 2000 Indians of Chinantla, whom Cortes had demanded of the + caziques there, arrived at Sempoalla after Narvaez's defeat._ + + +Late in the evening of the same day on which we had gained the victory +over Narvaez, the 2000 Indian troops arrived which Cortes had requested +the caziques of Chinantla to send us. They came under the command of +their caziques, and one of our soldiers named Barrientos, and marched +into Sempoalla in the best military order possible, two abreast. They +were all tall and powerful men, armed with their immense-sized lances +and huge shields; every lancer was followed by a bowman. In this manner, +under the sound of drums and trumpets, they marched in, with their +feathers waving on their head and their colours flying, and continually +cried out, "_Long live the emperor! long live Cortes!_" They made such a +grand show, that though they were only 2000 in number, one would have +thought at first sight there had been 3000. Narvaez's men were not a +little astonished when they beheld these men, and remarked to each other +that they would have fared worse if they had had to encounter these +people, or if they had joined us in the attack. + +Cortes received the Chinantlan chiefs most kindly, thanked them for the +trouble they had put themselves to, and desired them to return to their +homes, after presenting them with various things of Spanish manufacture. +Barrientos likewise returned with them, and Cortes particularly +admonished him not to allow these Indians to commit any depredations in +the townships they passed through. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXIV. + + _How Cortes despatches Francisco de Lugo, with two men who had + formerly been ship-builders, to the harbour where Narvaez's flotilla + lay, to bring all the captains and pilots of the vessels to + Sempoalla._ + + +After the whole of Narvaez's troops had been disarmed, Cortes despatched +Francisco de Lugo to the harbour where the flotilla lay, in order to +bring all the captains and pilots of the eighteen vessels to Sempoalla. +He was likewise to convey on shore all the sails, rudders, and +compasses, so as to render it impossible for the governor of Cuba to +gain any information respecting the fate of his armament. Whoever +refused to submit to Lugo was immediately to be thrown into chains. +Cortes likewise ordered the latter to bring along with him a certain +Sancho de Barahona, whom Narvaez had imprisoned along with some other +soldiers. This Barahona was a man of great wealth, and had settled in +Guatimala. He was in very ill health when he arrived in Cortes' +quarters, who desired that every attention should be paid him. + +When the captains and pilots of the several vessels appeared in Cortes' +presence, he made them take a solemn oath to obey his commands in all +matters. A certain Pedro Caballero, captain of one of Narvaez's vessels, +he appointed admiral of the flotilla. This man, it was rumoured, had +been bribed with some bars of gold to favour Cortes' party. Caballero +received instructions not to allow any vessel to leave the harbour, and +if any others should arrive there from Cuba--for Cortes had received +information that there were two other ships fitting out there for this +harbour--he was to seize them, send their sails, rudders, compasses on +shore, and await further orders. This, as we shall afterwards see, +Caballero punctually obeyed. + +In our head-quarters the following important arrangements were made: +Leon was to be sent to subdue the province of Panuco, and to make a +settlement there; for which purpose 120 men were placed under his +command, of whom 100 were of Narvaez's troops, the rest being made up of +our own, who were better acquainted with the mode of warfare in this +country. To this detachment were likewise added two vessels, in order +more thoroughly to explore the coast and the river Panuco. + +A similar commission, with an equal number of troops, composed as the +former, and also to be accompanied by two vessels, was given to Diego de +Ordas, to form a settlement on the river Guacasualco. He was likewise to +despatch some of his men to the island of Jamaica to purchase cows, +horses, pigs, goats, sheep, and Spanish fowls, for breeding; the +province of Guacasualco being particularly adapted for the breed of +cattle. + +Cortes now ordered all Narvaez's officers and soldiers to be liberated, +with the exception of Salvatierra, who feigned to be taken suddenly ill +during the late battle. When their arms were to be returned to them, it +occasioned a good deal of ill blood, for many of our men had taken +possession of their horses, swords, and other matters, and no one felt +inclined to return what he had once taken. When Cortes, therefore, +issued orders that every one was to receive his own again, it caused +great discontent among our troops; for we maintained we were justified +in retaining what we had taken, as Narvaez had declared a war of +extermination against us; had literally come with the intention to +destroy us, and rob us of all our property; besides that, we, the +well-deserving servants of the emperor, had been branded by him with the +name of traitors. Cortes, however, was determined upon this point, and +as we had elected him our captain-general, we could not do less than +obey him. I myself had taken possession of two swords, three daggers, +and a target, all of which I had to return. + +Alonso de Avila, who was a captain, and one who durst speak out boldly +to Cortes, privately reproached him, in conjunction with father Olmedo, +for acting thus; and remarked to him, that he was performing the part of +Alexander the Macedonian, who, whenever he gained a splendid victory, +rewarded and honoured the vanquished instead of the officers and +soldiers who had procured him the victory. They had every reason to make +this observation, as we had to look quietly on and see Cortes give all +the provisions and valuable matters, which the Indians of the +surrounding country brought in as presents, to the officers of the +vanquished general, and leave us unnoticed. This they maintained was not +acting justly, and had every appearance of ingratitude towards them, who +by their valour had raised him to the proud position in which he then +stood. + +Cortes, who was never wanting for an answer, replied, that for all he +possessed he was indebted to us; but under existing circumstances he +could not act otherwise. It was for the advantage of all to gain the +troops of Narvaez by fair words, presents, and promises; their numbers +were too great in comparison to ours; and if they were once to rise up +in anger, they might easily put us all to the sword. + +To this Avila replied in a very haughty manner, which obliged Cortes to +exclaim, "Those who do not feel inclined to obey are at liberty to leave +my standard; Spanish women bring forth sufficient children into the +world, and every son is a soldier in Spain!" + +"That is very true," answered Avila, rather disrespectfully; "and among +these sons there are also numbers of generals and governors as well as +soldiers." + +As matters then stood, Cortes was compelled to put on the best +countenance he could to this reproof, and to silence this open-hearted +man by promises and presents; for the determined and bold character of +Avila was too well known to him, and he feared his resentment. He +therefore suppressed his injured feelings, and from that moment took +every opportunity of sending him to some distance on one or other +important commission; so he despatched him some after to St. Domingo, +and subsequently to Spain, to present the garderobe and the treasure of +Motecusuma to the emperor. This latter voyage, however, terminated very +unfortunately, for Avila, with the whole of those treasures, was +captured by the redoubted French pirate Jean Florin, as we shall see in +the proper place. + +But to return to Narvaez. He happened to have a negro servant with him +ill with the smallpox, through whom this terrific disease, which, +according to the accounts of the inhabitants, was previously unknown in +the country, spread itself through New Spain, where it created the +greater devastation, from the poor Indians, in their ignorance, solely +applying cold water as a remedy, with which they constantly bathed +themselves; so that vast numbers were cut off before they had the +blessing of being received into the bosom of the Christian church.[85] + +It was also about this time that the garrison of Vera Cruz demanded the +portion of the gold which fell to their share in the division at Mexico. +These men maintained, that, though they had not made the campaign of +Mexico with us, they had shown themselves no less deserving in the cause +of God and the emperor than ourselves, as they had guarded the coast and +built a fortress; and that many of them who had fought at the battle of +Almeria were still suffering from their wounds, while others again had +been taken prisoners by Narvaez, who had treated them with great +severity: they concluded, therefore, they were justly entitled to a +share of the treasure found in Mexico. + +Cortes acknowledged the justness of their claim, and requested them to +despatch two of the principal men from among them to take charge of +their respective share, and, if I am not mistaken, he added that it had +been deposited for safe keeping in Tlascalla: at least, they immediately +after sent two of their numbers there to take possession of it, of whom +Juan de Alcantara the elder was one. We shall, however, soon see what +became of Alcantara with all the gold; how quickly the wheel of fortune +turned against us, and trouble and sorrow followed peace and joy; for we +received intelligence that all Mexico had risen up in arms, that +Alvarado was besieged in his quarters, and that the Mexicans were +attempting to set fire to the new fortifications at every point. Seven +of our men had already been killed, many were wounded, and immediate +assistance was required. + +This information was first brought us by two Tlascallans, and that +without any letter from Alvarado. Soon after, however, two other +Tlascallans arrived with a letter from him confirmatory of this bad +news. God knows how shocked we were at this intelligence! We immediately +resolved to hasten to Mexico by forced marches. Narvaez and Salvatierra +were sent under escort to Vera Cruz, where Rodrigo Rangel, whom Cortes +had just appointed commandant of that place, was made responsible for +the safe custody of their persons. Besides these, Rangel took along with +him several of Narvaez's men, who were suffering from ill-health. + +Just as we were about to commence our march to Mexico, four +distinguished personages arrived from that town, who had been sent by +Motecusuma to complain to our general of the conduct of Alvarado. They +told us, with tears in their eyes, that he had, without any provocation, +sallied out with the whole of his troops, and fallen unawares upon their +chiefs and caziques while they were celebrating a feast in honour of +their gods Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipuca, Alvarado himself having +previously given his consent to the celebration of that feast. Many of +their chief personages had been killed and wounded, so that, at last, +they were compelled to defend themselves, and six Spaniards were killed +in the affray. To this and other complaints against Alvarado, Cortes +told them, with a dark frown on his brow, that he would repair +immediately in person to Mexico, and look into the matter. With this +message the Indians returned to their monarch, who, it is said, was +anything but pleased with it. Cortes, at the same time, wrote word to +Alvarado that we were advancing by forced marches upon Mexico, and +particularly cautioned him not to let Motecusuma escape out of his +hands. He likewise informed him of the victory we had gained over +Narvaez, though he had no doubt already been apprized of this, for it +was known to Motecusuma. + +[85] Of this dreadful disease Gomara says, that it spread from Sempoalla +through the whole of New Spain, and that in the greater part of the +townships half of the inhabitants were carried off by it. It was a +custom among the inhabitants to go immediately from a hot bath into a +cold one, so that it was a wonder any escaped death. Those that survived +could not help scratching themselves, which naturally left large scars, +and rendered them hideous to look at. Torquemada agrees with Gomara, but +adds, from the authority of the Indians, that this and other +pestilential diseases spread at certain times through the whole of the +country; and Bernal Diaz, in describing the person of the younger +Xicotencatl, says his face was pitted as if with the smallpox. (p. 332.) + + + + +CHAPTER CXXV. + + _How we all, including Narvaez's troops, hasten to Mexico by forced + marches._ + + +On receiving the intelligence that Mexico was in rebellion, and Alvarado +besieged in his quarters, the plan of forming settlements in Panuco and +Guacasualco was for the present abandoned, and Leon and Ordas were again +ordered to join the main body. + +Cortes soon found that Narvaez's troops were very unwilling to join us +in the Mexican campaign; but he desired them, in a most kind manner, to +forget the old enmity which had existed between Narvaez and himself, and +assured them that their only way to wealth and eminence was to join us +in this campaign; by so doing they would enter into a country where they +would be able to render services unto God and the emperor; and this, +too, was an opportunity which perhaps would not so readily present +itself again. In short, he told them so many fine things, that they one +and all agreed to accompany us: if, however, they had had any idea of +Mexico's vast power, not one of them would have been so ready to join +us. + +We now broke up our quarters, and marched forward with all expedition. +In Tlascalla, we were informed that the Mexicans had continued their +hostilities against Alvarado as long as Motecusuma and his generals +believed we were at war with Narvaez. They had killed seven of our men +and burned down a portion of our quarters there, and had not stayed +hostilities until they heard of the recent victory we had gained: they +still, however, refused to supply Alvarado with either water or food. +This information was received in Tlascalla the moment we arrived there. + +Cortes now reviewed the whole of his troops, which amounted to 1300 men, +96 horses, 80 crossbow-men, and a like number of musketeers. This body +of troops Cortes considered sufficiently strong to venture fearlessly +into Mexico with, particularly as the caziques of Tlascalla had +furnished us with 2000 of their warriors. + +We now continued our march with the same briskness until we came to +Tezcuco. It was in this large town we began to discover the ill-feeling +that was abroad against us. Not the slightest mark of respect was shown +us here, nor did any of the chiefs call upon us. It was on St. John's +day, in the month of June of the year 1520, we, for the second time, +entered the city of Mexico. No cazique, none of the principal officers, +none of our Mexican friends made their appearance, and the houses were +deserted. It was not until we had arrived in front of our quarters that +Motecusuma came out into the courtyard to welcome Cortes, and +congratulate him on his victory over Narvaez. Our general, however, was +flushed with the recent victory, and would not listen to him, so that +the monarch returned pensive and sad to his apartments. + +We soldiers again took possession of our old quarters, and Narvaez's men +were provided with similar ones. Alvarado's men and ours, who had just +arrived, now began to relate what had taken place during this interval +of separation. The former related how they had been attacked by the +Mexicans, and the terrible resistance they had been forced to make. Then +we followed, and related how we had defeated Narvaez's troops, and taken +him prisoner. + +The next thing Cortes did was to inquire into the real cause of the +insurrection of the Mexicans. Several soldiers, who were displeased +with Alvarado, affirmed that Motecusuma had evinced excessive grief on +account of these troubles, and they were quite confident that not a +single one of the men under Alvarado would have been spared alive if +Motecusuma had been in secret understanding with his subjects; on the +contrary, he continually strove to quiet them, and to put down the +insurrection. Alvarado, on his part, represented all this to our general +in a very different light. According to his assurances, the Mexicans had +risen up in arms to liberate their monarch, and to take revenge upon us, +by the express command of their god Huitzilopochtli, for our having +erected a cross and the image of the holy Virgin on his temple. Several +Mexicans, he added, had tried to remove the holy image from the altar on +which it is raised, but they had not been able to do so. Even the +inhabitants themselves had looked upon this circumstance as a great +wonder, and had mentioned it to Motecusuma, who then issued orders that +it should not be touched. It was, however, not true, continued Alvarado, +that Narvaez had sent word to the monarch he was coming to release him +from his confinement, and lead us all away in chains: on the contrary, +after Motecusuma found that though we were in possession of a sufficient +number of vessels, but made no preparation for embarking, he well +foresaw we never intended to leave the country again, but that more of +us would continually arrive, and that we should return to Mexico +accompanied by Narvaez's troops. + +Upon this it was resolved they should put Alvarado with the whole of his +men to the sword, and liberate the monarch. The less doubt they had +entertained of Narvaez's being able to defeat us, the more sure they +made of carrying out their plan successfully. This Alvarado considered +sufficient to justify the conduct he had pursued. Cortes then wished to +know why he had fallen upon the Mexican chiefs while they were +celebrating a feast? Because, replied Alvarado, he had been assured by +two of the principal men of the town, by one of the papas, and by other +of the inhabitants, that the Mexicans intended falling upon him +immediately after the feast had ended. + +But the Mexicans, interrupted Cortes, maintain that they had asked your +permission to celebrate the feast, and that you granted their request! + +Alvarado could certainly not deny this, but assured him he had selected +that opportunity to punish them that it might come the more +unexpectedly, and strike the greater terror among them, and to +anticipate them in their premeditated attack upon him. + +These statements were by no means satisfactory to Cortes, and he told +Alvarado, rather sharply, that he saw very little truth in all this, +but a good deal of irregularity hurtful to the Spanish cause: "For it is +very certain," added Cortes, "if the Almighty did not allow Motecusuma +to regain his liberty, it was because his idols might not construe it +into their own merit." Herewith Cortes turned his back upon him, and +desired him to say nothing further on the subject. + +Besides this, Alvarado related many other things which happened during +the interval we had been absent from Mexico; one time, for instance, +when he sallied out upon the Mexicans, who were rushing forward in vast +numbers to set fire to his quarters, he ordered a cannon, heavily laden +with ball and small shot, to be fired against them; this piece, however, +did not go off until he had fought his way into the thickest of the +enemy, who were forcing him back to his quarters again: it then went off +of itself, and committed terrible havoc among the advancing foe. +Alvarado assured us, that, without this wonderful assistance, he would +certainly have been cut to pieces with all his men; as it was, he lost +only two of his soldiers, whom the Mexicans carried off alive. This and +many other circumstances were related by Alvarado: the following, +however, was told me by several of his men. At one time they were +entirely without any water to drink; they dug a well in the yard +adjoining their quarters, and behold! they found sweet water, whereas in +every other place where wells had been sunk in Mexico, nothing but salt +water was to be found. The hand of Providence was certainly often +stretched out to our aid; yet I must observe, in behalf of truth, that +there was another well in the town, which often, and, indeed, almost +always, contained fresh water. + +For the rest, there were men who asserted that Alvarado merely made this +murderous attack upon the Mexicans from avaricious motives, to possess +himself of the splendid garments, the gold, and the jewels which they +wore at such festivals. This I do not believe, nor did I ever hear such +a thing mentioned at the time, although this and many other +circumstances were asserted by the bishop de las Casas, in which, +however, there is not a syllable of truth. For myself, I am convinced +that Alvarado merely struck this blow to terrify the Mexicans, and to +follow up the old saying, "He who attacks first gains the victory." The +consequences were certainly different to what he had expected, and bad +became worse.[86] + +We have, however, obtained satisfactory proof that no guilt can be +imputed to Motecusuma respecting the hostilities which subsequently +burst out: on the contrary, he commanded the Mexicans not to attack +Alvarado, but they replied that they could no longer endure to see him +kept in confinement, and their countrymen murdered in the midst of +their festivities. They were determined to set him at liberty, and to +kill every teule who resisted them. + +These and many other facts I learnt from credible persons who were +present with Alvarado all the time. I have now, however, to speak of the +terrible battles which we fought in this city. + +[86] A formal inquiry was made into this circumstance, by order of +Charles the Fifth. The excellent Bartholomew de las Casas gave judgment, +and he pronounced the Mexicans entirely innocent of having had any +intention to massacre the troops under Alvarado, but that the latter had +massacred the Mexicans without any provocation, merely for the purpose +of striking terror among them. In pronouncing this judgment, however, +Las Casas may have been carried away by his excessive zeal for humanity +towards the Indians. Herrera (Historia de las Indias occidentales, +decade ii, b. x,) says: "The fact, however, is, that the Mexicans +intended to have murdered all the Spaniards on this occasion; for which +purpose they had concealed their arms in the buildings adjoining the +temple. This was told the Spaniards by the women, from whom they always +learnt the truth." (p. 336.) + + + + +CHAPTER CXXVI. + + _How the Mexicans made war upon us, and the battles we fought with + them._ + + +Cortes, on his march to Mexico, had often bragged to his officers of the +great authority and power he then possessed. They should see how the +inhabitants would come out from all parts to meet him, and receive him +with every splendour; that he was now complete master of Mexico, and +Motecusuma and his grandees would not dare to dispute his commands +henceforth, but would bring him gold in abundance. + +But when Cortes found how the aspect of affairs had changed at Tezcuco, +that no one stirred a foot to give the splendid reception he had boasted +of, that none of the principal personages showed themselves, that even +the worst of provisions were brought him with great reluctance, and +found this ill feeling towards us show itself even more strongly in +Mexico, and that although he had returned with additional troops, the +inhabitants no longer furnished him with provisions, his pride turned +into moroseness and anger, so much so that when Motecusuma sent two of +his grandees to announce that he was desirous of paying Cortes a visit, +as he had something to communicate to him, he said, "He might go to the +devil! since he would not allow any weekly markets to be held, nor any +provisions to be sent us." + +When our other chief officers, Leon, Oli, Avila, and Lugo heard this, +they said to him, "Moderate your anger, general, and remember what great +honours this monarch has heaped upon us, the kindnesses we have received +from him, and how amiable his disposition is: for, had he not existed, +the Mexicans would long ago have feasted on our bodies; nor ought you to +forget that he has sought your alliance by offering you his daughter in +marriage." + +These words carried with them the idea of a reproach, and, consequently, +only served the more to embitter his feelings, and he burst out as +follows: "Why should I stand upon any further ceremony with this dog? +Did he not secretly connive with Narvaez, and now refuses us +provisions?" + +"Our opinion is," returned the other officers, "that he does nothing +more than his present situation would prompt him to do, and that he acts +most prudently." + +Cortes, however, relied upon the strength of his troops, and would not +allow his anger to be pacified in any way, but commissioned the two +Mexican grandees to tell their master that he must issue immediate +orders for the re-opening of the markets, otherwise he should find +himself obliged to take other steps. Both these Mexicans had understood +the reviling language used by Cortes against their monarch, and also how +our other officers had remonstrated with him on that account. They knew +these officers well; for they had by turns been captains of the guard +which was placed over their monarch's person, and knew they were greatly +attached to him. They therefore repaired, either in the bitterness of +their hearts, or because the attack upon us had already been determined +upon, and related to Motecusuma what they had heard; and scarcely a +quarter of an hour had elapsed before one of our men came running up +heavily wounded. He had been at Tlacupa, a town near Mexico, to fetch +thence some women belonging to Cortes' household, and the daughter of +Motecusuma, whom Cortes had given in charge of the king of Tlacupa, her +relative, when we marched against Narvaez. This man also related that he +had found the town of Tlacupa and the high road filled with warriors. +They took the women away and wounded him in two different places. If he +had not escaped out of their hands, they would have thrown him into a +canoe, and have sacrificed him to their gods. They had also destroyed +one of the bridges over the causeway. + +When Cortes and some of us soldiers heard this, we began to look very +serious, for those among us who had been several times engaged with the +Indians knew, from experience, with what vast crowds they always entered +the field of battle, and, although our numbers had been greatly +augmented, and that there was little doubt but we should defend +ourselves courageously, yet we were well aware of our dangerous +position. We soldiers also knew that we should run great risk of losing +our lives either from hunger or from the advantages which the enemy +would have over us in such a strongly fortified city. Cortes, after +questioning the man who had come from Tlacupa, despatched Ordas with 400 +men, mostly armed with crossbows and muskets, and a few horse, to see +what truth there was in his statement. He recommended him, however, to +avoid, if possible, all hostilities, and to settle the affair amicably. +Ordas had scarcely reached half-way down the causeway when he was met by +a vast body of Mexicans, who, with those posted on the tops of the +houses, attacked him so furiously that eight of his men were killed at +the first onset, and most of them wounded, Ordas himself in three +several places. He found it impossible to move on any further, and he +therefore gradually retreated to our quarters. On his retreat he lost +another excellent soldier named Lezcano, who had done wonders with his +broadsword. + +If the body of warriors was vast which had fallen upon Ordas, that which +at the same instant attacked our quarters was by far more so; and so +vigorously did they assail us with lances, arrows, and stones, that, in +an instant, forty of our men were wounded, twelve of whom subsequently +died. The numbers who attacked us in front, from behind, and from the +tops of the houses, were so vast that Ordas was unable, for a length of +time, to cut his way through. Our cannon, muskets, crossbows, and +lances, did, certainly, great havoc among the enemy's ranks, who, in +fact, rushed in upon our weapons; yet they continued the combat with the +same fury, and closed their ranks more firmly, nor could we drive them +back a single inch. It was only after a good deal of hard fighting that +Diego and his men were able to regain our quarters, though with +twenty-three soldiers less than when he had left it, and the rest all +wounded: add to which, the enemy's numbers were every moment increasing; +nor did they spare abusive language, calling us old women, ragged +scoundrels, and such like beautiful names. But the loss we sustained at +present was nothing to what we subsequently suffered. They even carried +their audacity so far as to throw fire into our quarters, while one body +attacked us in front and another from behind, so that we should soon +have been suffocated by the flames and smoke if we had not succeeded in +putting out the fire by throwing quantities of earth on it, and by +pulling down the apartments from which the fire was spreading. + +The combat continued the whole day until late at night, during which +time they continued to throw such quantities of stones and lances into +our quarters, that the place was literally covered with them. In the +meantime we had to dress our wounds, to repair the damage done to our +buildings, and get some rest till the next morning. As soon as day began +to dawn, Cortes determined to sally out with the whole of his troops, +including those of Narvaez and the cannon, either to beat the enemy out +of the field altogether, or at least to give them a greater proof of our +power than we had been able to do on the previous day. The Mexicans, it +seemed, had also determined to do their utmost, and they not only +fought with uncommon bravery but came in overwhelming numbers, so that +every instant they poured in fresh men to the attack. Indeed ten +thousand Trojan Hectors, and as many Rolands, would in vain have tried +to break through the enemy's ranks! At this moment even, that battle is +fresh in my memory; but no words can describe the unyielding +stubbornness of the foe. All the volleys from our heavy guns and muskets +were to no purpose; it was in vain we rushed forward upon them, and +killed from thirty to forty of their numbers at a time; their ranks +still remained firmly closed, while their courage seemed to increase +with every loss. Whenever we did drive them back into the streets to +some distance, they had merely retreated in order that we should follow +them, and by so doing be drawn further away from our quarters, when they +hoped more easily to surround us, and so render our escape impossible. +And sure enough by these retrograde movements they invariably made the +greatest destruction among our ranks. Neither did it avail us anything +whenever we set fire to any of the houses; for, as I have above +mentioned, it was only possible to pass from one house to another by +means of wooden drawbridges. If the latter were drawn up we had to wade +through deep water to gain another house. But our men suffered most from +those of the enemy's troops who pelted them with stones and lances from +the housetops. Indeed I cannot imagine how I thus coolly relate all that +passed. Three or four of our men who had previously served in the +Italian wars, swore over and over again that they had never witnessed +such furious fighting, neither in the wars with the king of France, nor +even in those with the grand Turk himself. Indeed it was no easy matter +for us to retreat to our head-quarters, so desperately did they assail +us under the most horrible sound of drums, pipes and trumpets, +accompanied by the most obscene and abusive language. This day we lost +ten or twelve men, and none of us escaped without a wound. We passed the +night in deliberations and in preparing for another attack. We now +resolved that after the lapse of two days as many of us as were healthy +should sally out with two moving towers. These we had strongly put +together of wood, and were so constructed, that under each of them +twenty-five of our men could stand to move them along. These towers +contained loopholes, from which our heavy guns could be fired; besides +that there was space enough for a number of musketeers and crossbow-men. +At the side of these towers marched a strong body of musketeers and +crossbow-men, as also the whole of our horse, who were from time to time +to charge the enemy at full gallop. The construction of these towers +and the repairing of several small breaches which the enemy had made in +our quarters, occupied us the whole of the following day, so that we +could not sally out till the next. + +The enemy, however, continued their attacks upon our quarters, not +merely from ten or twelve, but from twenty different points at once; so +that what with the constructing of the towers, repairing the breaches, +and beating off our assailants who had fixed ladders to our quarters, we +had enough to do. The whole of us, they cried out, were to be sacrificed +to their gods, our hearts were to be torn from our bodies, the blood was +to be drawn from our veins, and our arms and legs were to be eaten up at +their festivals. The remaining parts of our bodies would be thrown to +the tigers, lions and serpents, which they kept in cages; these had not +been fed for these two days, in order that they might devour our flesh +the more greedily. Our gold and other things would be their booty, and +they told the Tlascallans they should be locked up in cages where they +fattened people for their sacrifices. Only deliver us up our monarch +Motecusuma,--added they with great vehemence; while their noise and +their attacks continued through the whole night. + +As soon as day had fully broken forth, we commended ourselves to the +Almighty, and sallied out with our war-towers. This time again we killed +a great number of the enemy; but with all our fighting we could not +force them to yield ground, and if they had fought courageously the two +previous days, they stood the more firm this time, and fought +desperately. We however determined, if it were even to cost us all our +lives, to push forward to the great temple of Huitzilopochtli. I will +not detail the severe struggle we had against one house in particular, +which was very strongly fortified, nor the critical position our horse +were placed in. For whenever our cavalry galloped in upon the enemy's +ranks, our horses were assailed by so many arrows, stones and lances, +that they were immediately covered with wounds; while their riders, +however courageously they fought, could make but little impression upon +the foe. If they pushed further on, the Mexicans either jumped into the +canals or into the lake, where the cavalry could not follow them, and +where a whole forest of lances stared them in the face: equally +fruitless were all our attempts to set fire to their houses, or pull +them down, as they stood, in the midst of the water, and were connected +to each other by drawbridges only. If at times we did succeed in firing +a house, it took a whole day in burning down, nor did the fire spread, +from the buildings being at too great distance from each other, and +their being surrounded by water, so that all our efforts that way +completely failed. At last we succeeded in fighting our way up to the +foot of the great temple, but at that instant a body of above four +thousand of the enemy rushed up the steps for its defence; besides that, +other troops were already stationed on the top of this building, armed +with long lances, stones and arrows. For a length of time the guns of +our towers and the attacks of our cavalry could make no impression on +the enemy, while our horses were scarcely able to step firmly on the +smooth pavement of the court yards, but every moment slipped out and +fell down. Though our cannon mowed down ten or fifteen of the enemy at a +time, and a great many others were cut down by our sabres, yet their +numbers were so vast that we could not beat them back, we therefore now +determined to quit our towers, which were almost broken into pieces; and +leaving them at the foot of the temple, we began fighting our way up the +steps of the building. + +Here Cortes displayed astonishing courage, though this, I may say, was +never wanting in him. What a bloody and terrific conflict was this! The +reader should have seen how we were covered with blood and wounds! Above +forty of our men lay dead at our feet; but at last, with the aid of +Providence, we succeeded in reaching the point where we had erected the +image of the holy Virgin. It was, however, no longer there; for +Motecusuma, as we subsequently learnt, had either, out of veneration or +fear, taken it away, and put it carefully by. We now set fire to the +Mexican idols, and part of the chapel was on this occasion burnt down, +with Huitzilopochtli and Tetzcatlipuca. While we were occupied with this +work, the battle on the platform continued without intermission; for +here stood a number of priests, and more than three or four thousand of +the principal Mexicans, who fell upon us with great fury, and even beat +us back again down the steps of the temple. Nor was it these alone who +here set upon us; but numbers of warriors also annoyed us from the +landings and battlements of this building, so that we scarcely knew +which way to turn our arms. + +We had now made every possible exertion, and undergone the greatest +perils. Our towers were smashed to pieces, the whole of us were covered +with wounds, and forty-six of our men had been killed. We therefore +determined to retreat to our quarters in the best way we could. But our +position for the moment was not bettered by this step; for the Mexicans +now fell upon us in terrific crowds both in our rear and in our flanks: +it is impossible to imagine the sight unless one had seen it. Neither +have I at all mentioned the numbers who attacked our quarters after we +had sallied out, and the difficulty our men had who were left behind to +prevent the enemy from setting fire to them. In this battle we took two +chief papas prisoners, whom Cortes ordered to be kept in close custody. + +I have seen many pictures among the Mexicans and Tlascallans which +represented our storming this great temple. In their eye it was +considered a piece of astonishing heroism. In these pictures they had +not omitted to depict our killed, and how great numbers of us were +wounded, with the blood streaming from our bodies. And indeed it was no +trifling matter, after our towers had been destroyed, to storm this +great building, and set fire to the idols, considering that it was +defended so vigorously by large bodies of the enemy, both from the +platform and from the landings, and by those who were stationed in the +open space below. + +The retreat to our quarters was no less perilous; and if the multitude +through which we had to cut our way was vast, that in front of our +quarters was no less so. We just arrived in time, for the enemy had +already made breaches in the walls, and a good many had forced their way +through them into the rooms. Our arrival certainly put a stop to their +dangerous progress, but they did not discontinue, during the rest of the +day and all night, to annoy us with their lances, stones, and arrows, +under the most terrible yells. Notwithstanding all this, we had during +the night to assist our wounded, to bury our dead, repair the breaches, +and take repose for the next day's battle. We also held a council of +war, to deliberate what mode of attack we should next adopt, that we +might not sustain so great a loss of men; but every plan that was +proposed seemed insufficient. To all our calamities was added the bad +disposition of Narvaez's soldiers, who cursed Cortes, and even the +governor of Cuba in every possible manner, who they said had torn them +away from the delightful repose and security which they enjoyed on their +respective farms, to be harassed to death in this country. These fellows +seemed altogether to have lost their senses, and they lent a deaf ear to +everything that was said to them. + +After lengthened deliberations, we came to the determination of suing +the Mexicans for peace, and asking their permission to quit the city. +But daylight had scarcely broken forth when our quarters were again +attacked at all points by innumerable bodies of the enemy. Their +excessive fury in attack, their stubborn firmness, their desperate +thrusts and yells, were all more terrific than on the previous days; +while our cannon and other firearms seemed to make no impression on +them. + +In this moment of danger Cortes determined that Motecusuma should +address the infuriated multitude from the top of the building, and +desire them to stay hostilities, as we had determined to leave the city. +When this offer was made known to Motecusuma in the name of Cortes, he +is said to have exclaimed, in the height of grief, "Why does Malinche +now turn to me?--to me, who am tired of life, and who could wish never +again to hear his name mentioned, for it is he who has plunged me into +all this misery!" Motecusuma obstinately refused to comply with Cortes' +request, and is said to have further exclaimed, "I will neither see nor +hear anything more of this man. I put no longer any faith in his +deceitful words, his promises, and his specious lies." + +Upon this father Olmedo and Oli went and spoke to him in the most +affectionate terms, to persuade him to alter his determination. "Alas!" +replied the monarch, "for all this, it is now too late. I am convinced +that the Mexicans, whatever my wishes might be, will not grant any +cessation of arms. They have already raised another cazique to the +throne, and are fully determined that none of you shall leave this place +alive. For myself, I am convinced you will every one of you meet with +your death in this city." + +In the end, however, Motecusuma was prevailed upon to accompany them. +Under cover of a strong division of our troops he advanced to the +battlements of our quarters, and began to address the Mexicans in the +most affectionate manner, desiring them to put a stop to their +hostilities, for the teules were going to leave the city. The instant +the Mexican generals recognized their king they ordered their men to +cease firing. Four of them advanced to a spot where they could easily +discourse with the monarch; and thus, with tears in their eyes, they +addressed him: "Alas! great king, your own misfortune, and that of your +children and your relatives, afflicts us sorely. But we dare not hide +from you that we have raised one of your cousins to the throne of this +country." + +Here they named the new monarch. It was the king of Iztapalapan, +Cuitlahuatzin, and not Quauhtemoctzin, for he did not ascend the throne +until two months after. "They were forced," continued they, "to +prosecute the war, for they had promised their gods to do so, and had +sworn to them not to desist until every one of the teules was killed. +They had daily in vain prayed to their gods Huitzilopochtli and +Tetzcatlipuca to deliver him out of the enemy's power, and they would +hold him in greater veneration than before; and they hoped he would +pardon their present conduct." + +Several of our men had covered Motecusuma with their shields while he +was addressing the enemy; but as the attack was now momentarily +suspended, they were not so very particular in shielding his person. +Unfortunately, the hostilities immediately again commenced, and before +it could be prevented he was struck by an arrow, and three stones from a +sling, by which he was wounded in the arm, leg, and in his head; so that +the unhappy monarch was forced to be carried back to his apartment. We +were immediately going to bandage up his wounds, and begged of him to +take something strengthening; but he refused everything, and, contrary +to all expectation, we soon heard that he had expired. Cortes, his +officers, and all of us, shed tears for this unfortunate monarch; indeed +many of our men, who had been in constant attendance on him, mourned for +him as if they had lost a parent. Even father Olmedo himself, who never +for a moment left his side, and who, notwithstanding all his efforts, +had not been able to convert him to Christianity, could not refrain from +shedding tears. And no one will feel surprised at this who knew what a +very kind-hearted person Motecusuma was. + +He was said to have reigned seventeen years up to the day of his death. +Mexico never had a better monarch; and, with regard to his personal +courage, he had fought three several duels respecting some disputed +territory, and had each time come off victorious. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXVII. + + _Cortes determines to announce Motecusuma's death to the Mexican + generals and chiefs who are at war with us._ + + +After various deliberations on our present critical position, Cortes +determined that one of the distinguished Mexicans and one of the papas +whom we had taken prisoners should be despatched to the cazique of +Cuitlahuatzin, whom the Mexicans had raised to the throne, to announce +to him and his officers the death of Motecusuma, and explain to them the +manner in which it had taken place; they were to assure them that they +themselves had not only witnessed his death, but that his own subjects +were guilty of it, and that we were deeply distressed at the melancholy +circumstance. We also desired they would take charge of his body, to pay +it the last honours, and to place the crown on the head of that cousin +of Motecusuma who was staying with us, and who was entitled to it by +right of inheritance; or to elect one of his sons, as the prince they +had raised to the throne had no real claim to it. For the rest, we were +ready to make a treaty of peace with them, and quit Mexico; they should +not allow this opportunity of concluding peace with us to pass by, for, +up to the present moment, we had refrained from destroying the city +merely from our love and respect of the deceased monarch. If, however, +they compelled us to the combat, we would burn down all their houses and +cause no end of destruction. Upon this we handed over the corpse of +Motecusuma to six other Mexican chiefs and a large body of papas whom we +had taken prisoners. All these men had been present when the monarch +expired, and they informed Cuitlahuatzin faithfully of every +circumstance connected with it; how the Mexicans themselves had caused +his death by the shot of an arrow and three stones from a sling. + +As soon as the Mexicans espied the dead body of their monarch, they +broke out into loud lamentations, and moaned bitterly; but still +continued the attack upon us, and that with increased fury. "Now," they +hollowed out, "we will make you pay dearly for the death of our monarch, +and the insult you have offered to our gods! Is it now you beg peace of +us? Only come out, and we will show you what terms we mean to make with +you!" Many such like insulting speeches they threw out against us, and +added, that they had now selected a monarch whose heart was placed in +the right spot, and whom we should not so easily deceive with our lies +as we had the good-natured Motecusuma. "Don't trouble yourselves," +continued they, "about his burial, but think of your own graves, for, in +a couple of days, not a single one of you will be left alive!" + +Under such like threats, and vehement yells, they attempted to fire our +quarters at various points. As it was very evident to us that we could +not hold out much longer, it was determined, in a council of war, that +we should abandon the metropolis, and continue the war outside on the +main land, where we could destroy the plantations. + +In this our proposed retreat, the cavalry was to form the vanguard, and +at all stakes to break through the enemy's ranks, or drive them into the +lake, even if we were to sacrifice all our horses in the attempt. +Previous to taking this step, we determined on making such dreadful +havoc among the Mexican troops, that they might allow us to depart in +peace from the fear of still greater losses. This resolve was carried +out the day following with unshaken bravery. We mowed down great numbers +of the enemy, set fire to about twenty houses, and had fought our way +almost up to the main land; but though we suffered much, and purchased +this partial success with above twenty killed, it availed us nothing, +for we could not gain possession of any of the bridges, which, besides +being half burnt down, were defended by strong bodies of the enemy. Even +those places where the horse might have found a way through the water, +the enemy had now rendered impassable by sharp stakes which they had +driven in. Thus we were beset on all sides by perils of various natures. +In this last sally of our cavalry, which happened on a Thursday, there +were, besides Sandoval, Lares, Dominiguez, Leon, Morla, and other brave +cavalry officers, many of Narvaez's horse, who, however, showed the +utmost fear, as they had not yet experienced, as we old soldiers of +Cortes had, what it was to fight against Indians. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXVIII. + + _How we come to the determination of leaving Mexico secretly at + night; and what further happened._ + + +In this way our strength daily diminished, while that of the enemy +increased. Several of our men had been killed, and most of us were +wounded. Our courage was of no avail against such vast crowds, who kept +up a constant attack upon us both during day and night time. Our powder +was fast diminishing,[87] and provisions and water were beginning to +fail. Motecusuma was gone, and the peace we solicited was refused. All +the bridges on the causeways, along which we had to make good our +retreat, had been destroyed by the enemy; in short death was staring at +us on every hand. It was, therefore, at last determined, in a council of +war, that we should leave the city, and choose the night-time to effect +our purpose, when the enemy was generally less vigilant. To make more +sure, we resolved to despatch one of the chief papas we had taken with +many other prisoners, to the Mexicans on the evening preceding the night +we contemplated making our retreat, to request of them to allow us to +march quietly out of the city within the space of eight days, as we +intended to leave them all the gold we possessed. + +On this our determination one of the soldiers named Botello had had +great influence. This man was an Italian by birth, and was remarkable +for his honesty and great intelligence. He had been at Rome, and many +believed he could conjure up the dead; some said he had a _spiritus +familiaris_, and many of us commonly called him the astrologer. + +Botello had, four days previously, announced, that, by means of his +secret art, he had discovered that every one of us would be killed if we +did not leave Mexico on a certain night. He had likewise prophesied of +Cortes that great misfortunes awaited him; he would lose his property +and honour, but again rise to eminence and riches. Similar horoscopes +drawn by him were frequently mentioned by our men. + +As we shall again have to mention this Botello, we must now see what +preparations were going on for our retreat; the first and most important +of which was, the construction of a moveable bridge, out of strong +beams, which was to serve in passing the canals where the former bridges +had been burnt down by the enemy. Four hundred Tlascallans, assisted by +150 of our men, were to take charge of this bridge; were to fix it in +the proper place each time it was required, then remove it again, and so +on, until the whole of us with our baggage and cannon had passed the +several openings. The transport of our heavy guns was intrusted to 250 +Tlascallans and fifty of our men. Sandoval, Lugo, Ordas, and Tapia, +formed the vanguard; these were to clear the streets of the enemy, and +for that purpose were reinforced by eight or ten of Narvaez's officers, +whose names I will not mention, and 100 of our strongest and most nimble +young soldiers. Cortes himself was to take his station, supported by +Oli, Avila, Bernardino de Tapia, besides other officers and fifty +soldiers, between the baggage, our Indian female servants and the +prisoners, in order to render assistance wherever it was most required. +The rear-guard was to be commanded by Leon and Alvarado, consisting of +the main body of the cavalry, 100 foot, and the greater part of +Narvaez's troops. Dona Marina and Dona Luisa, with the prisoners, were +to be guarded by 300 Tlascallans and thirty Spaniards. + +After these arrangements had been made, and night was fast approaching, +Cortes ordered his chamberlain Christobal de Guzman to see that all the +gold, silver, and other valuable matters were brought together in one +apartment. The royal treasurers, Alonso Avila and Gonzalo Mexia, were +then desired to deduct the emperor's portion, and load eight of our +wounded horses and eighty Tlascallans with it. The greater part of the +treasure consisted of broad bars of gold, with which the horses and men +were as heavily laden as possible. + +Cortes then called his private secretary Pedro Hernandez, and the other +royal secretaries, and spoke to them as follows: "Put down in writing +and bear witness that I have done all which lay in my power to save this +treasure, which is valued at 700,000 pesos. You see it is impossible to +load any more of it on the Indian porters and the eight horses; I will, +therefore, allow the soldiers to take as much away with them as they can +conveniently carry, that this treasure may not fall into the hands of +these Mexican dogs." + +As soon as Narvaez's men and many of our old soldiers heard this, they +stowed away as much as they could. For myself, whose failing had never +been to covet gold, I took four chalchihuis stones out of a small box, +and secreted them between my cuirass. Cortes soon after gave this box in +safe keeping to his steward, and I do think he would have demanded the +said four chalchihuis stones back again of me if I had not quickly +secreted them. This small treasure proved afterwards of the greatest +value to me towards the curing of my wounds, and in procuring myself +food. + +All matters being now properly ordered, and the mode of our retreat +settled, we began to move forward. It was about the hour of midnight, +and rather dark, a thin mist hung over the town, and a gentle rain was +falling. + +The moment we began to move forward in the above-mentioned order, the +rear-guard being already in motion, and our moveable bridge fixed, and +Sandoval, with his body of horse, and Cortes, with those under his +command, and many other soldiers, had passed across, the wild war music +and loud yells of the Mexicans suddenly burst forth. "Up, up, +Tlatelulco!" they cried; "out with your canoes! The teules are running +away: cut off their retreat over the bridges!" + +And before we had time to look about us, we were attacked by vast bodies +of the enemy, and the whole lake was instantly covered with canoes, so +that we were unable to move on any further, although many of our men had +already passed the moveable bridge. Now the most obstinate conflict +ensued for the possession of this, and, as misfortunes never come +singly, it happened that two of our horses should slide out on the wet +planks, become unmanageable, and roll over into the lake. This caused +the bridge itself to overbalance and fall down. A number of Mexicans +that instant fell furiously on us, and, though we exerted ourselves to +the utmost, and cut down numbers of the enemy, we were unable to recover +the bridge. As, however, those behind, kept continually pushing on those +in front, the opening in the canal was speedily filled up with dead +horses and their riders, who were inevitably lost if they were unable to +swim. The unmerciful enemy now attacked us from all sides. A number of +Tlascallans and our Indian female servants were carried off, with the +baggage and cannon; numbers of our men were drowned, and no less a +number, who were trying to save themselves by swimming, were taken +prisoners by those in the canoes. It was heart-rending to behold this +scene of misery, and to hear the moans and pitiful cries for assistance. +"Help! help! I am drowning," cried one here: "help me, they are killing +me!" cried another there. Here one called upon the name of the Virgin +Mary for assistance; and there another upon Santiago de Compostella! +Here another, who had managed to get to the water's edge, implored us to +lift him out; yonder, again, was another clambering over the dead +bodies. Many, when they had reached the high road, imagined themselves +safe, but here they only met with denser crowds of the foe. Does any +believe that there was a man amongst us who still observed the order of +retreat as it was first regulated? That man would, indeed, have been a +fool who had thought of anything else but of his own safety! Cortes, +with the officers and soldiers who were with him, acted similarly, and +dashed away, unmindful of the men, at full gallop, over the bridge, and +strove to gain the main land: besides which, it must be acknowledged +that our cavalry was quite useless here. Exposed on every side to the +enemy's arrows and lances, pelted with stones from the housetops, they +had also to encounter a forest of our own swords, which the enemy had +captured and fixed to their long lances, so that it was a wonder each +time a horse with its rider escaped. Neither could we defend ourselves +in the water, as the wet had rendered our muskets and crossbows totally +useless, while the darkness of the night made every movement uncertain. +All our attempts to keep together were fruitless. What did it avail us +if, at times, thirty or forty of us managed to make a stand, and boldly +faced about? By this means we certainly advanced forward a little, yet +none of us would have escaped alive, if, in the end, every one had not +strove to save his own life. Thus sadly did we fare in that night, and +had it been day we should have fared much worse. Indeed, if the Almighty +had not lent us extraordinary powers, every man of us would have been +killed! It was really terrific to see the immense crowds which fell upon +us from all sides, and the number of canoes which were merely waiting +for the moment to carry off the prisoners, all of whom were destined to +be sacrificed to their gods! It was a fearful sight indeed! + +I shall never forget how at one time about fifty of us had got together, +and the Mexicans, while they fell upon us, constantly cried out, "O, O, +Luilones!" meaning thereby, You wish to live, do you, you varlets? It +was only by dint of heavy blows and hard fighting we were able to cut +our way through. + +At last, as we were approaching the main land near Tlacupa, where the +vanguard, under Sandoval, with a large body of the cavalry and of our +foot had arrived, we recognized the voices of Oli, Morla, and Sandoval, +who were thus addressing Cortes: "Only consider for a moment, general, +we are here indeed on safe ground, but there are still such numbers of +our men in the streets behind the bridges, who will be inevitably lost +unless we hurry back to their assistance. Up to this moment but few have +been able to cut their way through, and these are all covered with +wounds." + +To which Cortes gave the sorrowful answer, "That it was a real wonder +every time one of us escaped; if, however, they turned back to the +bridges, they would certainly be lost with horses and all." + +Nevertheless Cortes, Oli, Avila, Sandoval, Morla, and Dominiguez, turned +back and took with them six or seven of the cavalry and a few of the +foot who had escaped without a wound. They had not advanced far before +they came up with Alvarado. He had lost his brown mare and was coming on +limping with one foot, heavily wounded, with lance in hand, having only +seven of his Spanish soldiers and eight Tlascallans left, all dripping +with blood. + +Cortes and those who had accompanied him now returned, and we took up a +position close to Tlacupa. But even here the Mexicans had by this time +arrived, and were stirring up the inhabitants of this town, of +Escapuzalco, and of Tenayuacan against us. + +Here again the Mexicans, who had fastened on our swords to their long +pikes, set hard upon us, and we had enough to do to maintain our ground. + +When Cortes came up with Alvarado and his few followers, and learnt the +fate of those left behind, tears flowed from his eyes; for Alvarado and +Leon had had above twenty horse and more than one hundred foot with them +in the rear-guard. All these, with nearly the whole of the cavalry, and +above one hundred and fifty other men of the old and new troops, had +perished with Leon. Alvarado related, that after he and his men had all +lost their horses, he managed to get together about eighty men, and with +these he succeeded in passing over the first opening by clambering over +the baggage, dead men and horses. Although I am not sure whether he said +that he passed the opening by stepping over the dead bodies, I know that +at this bridge more than 200 men, with Leon at their head, were cut to +pieces by the enemy, notwithstanding all their courageous fighting. At +the second bridge again, it was merely through God's mercy that Alvarado +had saved himself, as all the canals and streets were crowded by the +enemy. + +It was also at this bridge of sorrows that the well-known leap of +Alvarado was said to have taken place. At that time, indeed, none of us +took notice whether he leaped well or not; for every one had enough to +do to escape from the hands of the merciless enemy. I am, however, +inclined to believe that this leap was nothing more than what Alvarado +told Cortes himself, how he had made his bridge over the canal by +clambering over the baggage, dead bodies, and drowned horses; for the +water was too deep in that place for him to have swung across the +opening by means of his lance, and the width of the canal too great, +however nimble Alvarado may have been, for him to have leaped across. It +would have been an impossibility I am sure to have crossed it by means +of his lance or by leaping. I myself can speak from eyewitness; for the +following year when we marched against Mexico, and surrounded the town +on all sides, I often came in contact with the enemy at that bridge +which now bears the name of Alvarado's leap. At that time the Mexicans +had blocked up the passage with palisade and breastwork, and I very +frequently spoke with my fellow-soldiers about the circumstance, but +none of them ever thought such a leap possible. What people thought of +it at the time itself the reader will see from the following anecdote. + +Among Garay's troops there was a certain Ocampo who came to Mexico: this +man possessed much wit and was always writing pasquils, or libelling +some one or other. Among other things he wrote a good deal of scandal +and falsehood respecting our officers, and accused Alvarado, that he had +left Leon with upwards of 200 men and the whole of our cavalry which +composed the rear-guard, in the lurch, and that in order to save his own +life he had taken the Alvarado's leap indeed, in accordance with the old +proverb: Leap and save your life![88] + +As I have above mentioned, we had certainly reached Tlacupa, but had not +escaped all danger there, for here again great numbers of Mexicans, with +the troops of Tlacupa, Escapuzalco, Tenayuacan, and of the surrounding +districts, continually assailed us; but it was from the maise +plantations they did us most injury, and here we lost three more of our +men, who had been previously wounded. The best thing we could therefore +do was to quit this terrible neighbourhood as soon as possible. Some few +of the Tlascallans knew a bye-road to Tlascalla, and they safely +conducted us to a row of houses which stood on a rising ground, and here +we quartered ourselves in a temple, which had also the appearance of a +fortress. During the whole of this march the Mexicans continually +harassed our troops, and greatly annoyed us with their arrows, slings, +and lances. The reader must not be displeased if I am forced to depict +the same miserable scenes over again. + +It was not until we had reached this temple that we were able to defend +ourselves successfully. Here we lighted several fires, and dressed our +wounds. + +After the conquest of Mexico, we turned this building into a church, +and dedicated it to our dear lady _de los remedios_. This church in +course of time became very celebrated, and to this day numerous people +make pilgrimages to that place, particularly females, from Mexico. + +We found, however, nothing to eat here, and it was grievous indeed to +see with what miserable rags we were obliged to dress our wounds, which +had become chilled by the cold, and this increased their severity. But +what grieved us most was the great loss of horses, and of so many of our +brave companions. Of our old troops there were missing Leon, Salcedo, +Morla, the brave lancer Lares, and several others. And yet I merely +mention these few; for if I wished to mention the names of all those +whom we had to mourn, I should not finish so easily. Most of Narvaez's +men met with their death at the bridges, from the weight of the gold +with which they had overburdened themselves. The Tlascallans, who had +charge of the crown treasures, shared a similar fate. The astrologer +Botello[89] found no protection in all his art, and perished with many +others. Even Motecusuma's sons,[90] and other princes we had taken +prisoners, met with their deaths in that dreadful night.[91] + +Before coming to any determination as to what our next step should be, +we proceeded to consider our present condition. The whole of us were +wounded, and only twenty-three horses had escaped alive; our cannon were +all lost, and we had not a grain of powder left; there were but few +crossbows remaining, though these, with the arrows, might speedily be +replaced. Besides all this, the enemy were day and night at our heels, +and we no longer knew on what footing we stood with our friends of +Tlascalla. Nevertheless, we resolved to continue our march towards that +country, and we set out at midnight. Our guides, with the Tlascallans, +marched in advance; those who were more severely wounded, and obliged to +use the support of a stick, were placed in the centre; and those who +were not capable of moving at all were bound fast to the horses of those +who were unable to fight. All who could bear arms were stationed in the +flanks, and had some of the cavalry to support them; while the +rear-guard was composed of the remaining horse. The Tlascallans who were +wounded likewise marched in the centre, and those who were still capable +of defending themselves joined our ranks, that we might be ready to +receive an attack at any point, as the Mexicans were still close at our +heels, yelling most hideously, and crying out from time to time, "Go on! +go on! not one of you will escape alive!" At that moment we did not +exactly understand what they meant, but soon after we discovered it, as +we shall presently see. + +I must not, however, forget to mention how greatly rejoiced we were to +find that Dona Marina and Dona Luisa, who had left Mexico with the +vanguard, were quite safe; but the greater part of our other Indian +females, who had been presented to us by the Mexicans and Tlascallans, +had not been so fortunate; almost the whole of these perished at the +bridges. + +On this day's march we arrived at a considerable township, named +Quauhtitlan, once the property of Alonso de Avila; there likewise we +were received with reviling language, stones, and arrows, all of which +we patiently endured. We fared no better in the numerous other small +villages we passed through, while the pursuing Mexicans were continually +increasing in numbers. They strove to lock us in on all sides, and sent +forth so many stones, arrows, and lances upon us, while we were passing +through a narrow defile, that two more of our men were killed who had +been dangerously wounded in the last conflict, and also one of our +horses; besides that, numbers of us were wounded. We certainly destroyed +some of the enemy in return, but the number was small. + +This night we quartered ourselves in a few straggling houses, and supped +off the horse which had been killed.[92] The next morning early we +continued our route, and marched in closer order than on the day +previous, the half of our cavalry being always in advance. We had +marched to the distance of about four miles along an open plain, where +we considered ourselves in safety, when three of our horse came +galloping up to inform us that the fields were covered with Mexicans, +who were lying in wait for us. We were not a little dismayed at this +intelligence; however, our courage did not flag so far as to prevent us +from making immediate preparations for battle, and we determined to +defend ourselves to the last. We halted for a few moments, and Cortes +gave instructions for the cavalry to dash in a body full gallop upon the +enemy, to aim at the face, and break their line. Our infantry were to +direct their blows and thrusts at the enemy's lower quarters. In this +way it was said we should be certain to revenge our dead and wounded, if +it pleased the Almighty to spare our lives in the approaching battle. + +We then commended ourselves to God and the holy Virgin, and boldly +rushed forth upon the enemy, under the cry of _Santiago! Santiago!_ Our +cavalry charged the enemy's line five abreast, and broke it, we rushing +in after them close at their heels. What a terrific battle and +remarkable victory was this! How we fought man to man! and those dogs +like the very furies themselves! and many of our men did they kill and +wound with their pikes and huge broad swords.[93] + +The level ground, however, was uncommonly favorable for the manoeuvres +of our horse, which every now and then gallopped at full speed in upon +the enemy, and then retired, to watch another favorable opportunity. +Although both horse and rider were severely wounded, yet they continued +to fight most valiantly. It seemed as if we who formed the cavalry had +double our usual strength; for, though we were covered with wounds, and +each moment received fresh ones, yet we never gave them thought, but +kept dashing in upon the foe without intermission. Cortes, Oli, Alvarado +(who had borrowed a horse from one of Narvaez's men), and Sandoval, +though all covered with wounds, were always present where the danger was +greatest. Neither did Cortes omit to cheer us on by the most animating +words, and to bring under our notice what a fine booty we should make of +the enemy's rich apparel and ornamental weapons. But it was above all +glorious to hear the brave and spirited Sandoval cry out, "On, my +fellow-soldiers? this day the victory must be ours! Our trust is in God! +We shall not lose our lives here, for God has destined us for better +things!" + +In this way we continued fighting courageously, for God and the blessed +Virgin strengthened us, and St. Santiago de Compostella certainly came +to our assistance; and one of Quauhtemoctzin's chief officers, who was +present at the battle, beheld him with his own eyes, as he afterwards +affirmed. At this moment it pleased the Almighty that Cortes' attention +should be drawn to that part of the enemy's troops where the Mexican +general-in-chief was stationed with the flying standard, clothed in the +richest armour, shining with gold, and a penache of large white feathers +on his head. As soon as Cortes espied him among his glittering retinue, +he cried out to Alvarado, Sandoval, Oli, Avila, and many other officers, +"Follow me, my brave companions; these are the men we must attack!" The +words were scarcely out of his mouth, when they commended themselves to +God, and gallopped among the enemy; Cortes poised his lance, and made a +rush at the Mexican commander-in-chief, who dropped the standard; our +other officers at the same moment cutting down the other chiefs, by whom +he was immediately surrounded.[94] + +The Mexican generalissimo was about to snatch up the standard again and +flee; but Juan de Salamanca, a native of Ontiveras, gallopped after him +on his splendid horse, and brought him to the ground, wrested the +standard from his hand, and the rich bunch of feathers from his head, +and presented both to Cortes, who had made the first run at the chief. +Salamanca was subsequently rewarded for this piece of heroism; for a few +years afterwards the emperor allowed him to assume a bunch of feathers +in his coat of arms, which his descendants bear to this day. + +After the Mexican chief had fallen and the royal standard was lost, and +numbers of the enemy killed, they began to give way, and then fled. Our +cavalry, however, kept close at their heels, and punished them severely. +Now, indeed, we no longer felt our wounds, nor hunger, nor thirst, and +it appeared to us all as if we were beginning the attack with renewed +vigour! Our friends of Tlascalla had likewise changed into real lions, +and hacked in furiously among the enemy with, the broad swords they had +captured. + +After our cavalry had returned from the pursuit, we offered up thanks +unto the Almighty for this victory, and our escape from the hands of so +numerous an enemy; for the Spaniards had never before in India +encountered so vast an army as on this occasion. It was composed of the +flower of the joint armies of Mexico, Tezcuco, and of Xaltocan; while +every Indian had entered the battle with the determination that not a +soul of us should escape alive. It was also evident, from the richness +of their arms and apparel, that a greater portion were officers and men +of distinction. + +Near to the place where this terrible and bloody battle was fought lay +the township of Otumpan, by which name this battle will be known through +all times to come. The Mexicans and Tlascallans have given a faithful +representation of it in their numerous paintings of the battles we +fought up to the conquest of Mexico. + +For memory's sake, I must here note down that we marched into Mexico on +the 24th of June, 1520, to Alvarado's assistance, with an army of nearly +1400 men, among which there were seventy-nine horse, eighty +crossbow-men, and a like number of musketeers, with above 2000 +Tlascallan troops, and a fine park of artillery. On the 10th[95] of July +following we commenced our retreat, and on the 14th we fought the battle +of Otumpan. + +I must now likewise recount the loss we sustained in that time. In five +days, including the battle of Otumpan, we lost in killed, and those who +were taken prisoners, above 870 of our troops, and above 1200 +Tlascallans; to which must be added 72 men and five Spanish females, all +of Narvaez's division, whom the Mexicans put to death in Tustepec. About +the same time the Mexicans likewise murdered old Juan de Alcantara, and +three others, who were on their road from Vera Cruz to Mexico to receive +their share of the gold. Thus these persons not only lost their gold, +but their lives also. Indeed, if it be well considered, it will be found +that none of us derived any blessings from the gold the Indians gave us. +The reason why Narvaez's troops suffered more at the bridges than those +of Cortes', was from their having overloaded themselves with gold, the +weight of which prevented them from swimming, and otherwise encumbered +their movements. + +After this splendid victory, we dined off some gourds which grew in the +fields, and joyfully continued our march to Tlascalla. We carefully +avoided passing through any villages, as our enemies still continued at +a distance to fly their arrows at us, and to pour out abusive language. +It was not until the approach of evening that we resolved to enter a +Mexican township, because it contained a temple and a large building, in +which we could fortify ourselves. Here we quartered our troops for the +night, dressed our wounds, and enjoyed a little repose. The Mexicans had +certainly followed us, but without venturing too nigh, and it was +visible in their countenances what they would say: "A good journey to +you, you will now quickly have passed our boundaries!" Soon after we had +left this place, the range of hills near Tlascalla came into view, and +we felt equal joy at beholding these as if our native country had been +there; yet we could not tell what the present feeling of that people +towards us might be, or whether they had remained faithful! And we were +also quite ignorant as to how matters stood at Vera Cruz, where the +enemy might also have cut the garrison to pieces. + +Our whole strength now merely consisted in 440 men, twenty horses, +twelve crossbows, and seven muskets; besides that, we were all +excessively weak, and covered with wounds; our cannon, with our store of +powder lost; we were at present, therefore, doubly vigilant, and +returned fervent thanks to God for having so miraculously rescued us out +of the enemy's hand. Our troops, Cortes said, were now dwindled down +again to the same number of men with which we had first set sail from +Cuba, and entered the city of Mexico. We should therefore be +particularly cautious not to give the Tlascallans any reason of +complaint. This was especially intended for Narvaez's men, who were not +so accustomed to subordination as we were. For the rest, continued +Cortes, he hoped to God we should find the Tlascallans as faithful and +true to us as before. If, however, they should have turned against us, +we were not therefore to lose courage, but to trust in our strong arm, +which had the power to overcome any foe. + +We now continued our march with every military precaution, and arrived +at a fountain on the slope of a hill, near to which were standing the +walls and inclosures of ancient temples. These the Tlascallans said +formed the boundaries between their territory and the Mexican empire. +Here therefore we felt in greater safety, washed ourselves, and ate some +little food. After we had sufficiently rested from our fatigues, we +again marched forward, and arrived at a township called Gualiopar,[96] +situated in the Tlascallan territory, where the inhabitants allowed us +to quarter, and furnished us with food; but we were obliged to give them +small pieces of gold or chalchihuis in exchange. In this spot we +remained a whole day, to dress our wounds and those of our horses. + +When the news of our arrival was received in the metropolis of +Tlascalla, Maxixcatzin, the old Xicotencatl, and Chichimeclatecl, +accompanied by the principal inhabitants of that town, and those of +Huexotzinco, immediately set out to welcome us. They gave us the most +hearty reception, and several of the chiefs wept aloud. "Alas! Malinche, +Malinche," cried they, "how deeply we take your misfortune to heart, and +lament the death of so many of your brothers, and of our countrymen, who +have perished with them! How oft have we not warned you not to trust to +the Mexicans, and told you they would certainly, one time or other, fall +suddenly upon you; but you would not believe us. However, what has +happened cannot be recalled; the only thing you must think of at present +is, to cure your wounds and strengthen yourselves with good food. Do, +therefore, just as if you were at home in your own country. Rest +yourselves a little and then proceed to our town, where we will find you +quarters. For the rest, Malinche, you may look upon it as no small piece +of heroism that you fought your way out of that strong city after the +bridges had been destroyed; and if we previously looked upon you as men +of extraordinary courage, we do so now in a much wider sense. We are +well aware that numbers of men and women of this country have to mourn +the loss of their sons, their husbands and their brothers, but let not +this be matter of too much grief to you. You have likewise great reason +to be thankful to your gods who have conducted you here in safety, and +who gave you power to gain the victory over that vast army, which we +were well aware had been lying four days in wait for you at Otumpan. It +was our intention to have come to your assistance with 30,000 men, but +we were unable to collect such a body of troops in sufficient time." + +Cortes, with the whole of the officers and soldiers embraced these +excellent men in the most affectionate manner, and we made them a +present in gold and jewels, to which every man among us was glad to +contribute his mite. They were also extremely rejoiced to find that Dona +Marina and Dona Luisa had escaped the carnage; but their joy soon turned +into lamentations when they discovered what numbers of their countrymen +were missing; and Maxixcatzin evinced excessive grief at the loss of +Dona Elvira his daughter, and of Leon, to whom he had presented her. + +We now, in company of all the caziques marched into the metropolis of +Tlascalla. Cortes was quartered in the house of Maxixcatzin, and +Alvarado in that of Xicotencatl. We dressed our wounds with great care, +and patiently awaited their cure; four of our men, however, soon after +died, and many others suffered for a length of time before they were +completely restored. + +[87] The daily allowance of a soldier during this time was only fifty +grains of maise! (p. 347.) + +[88] According to other accounts, it certainly appears that Alvarado +made this astonishing leap. (Monarchia In., iv, c. 71.) We find that +Alvarado was distinguished from his brother by the surname of _Alvarado +of the leap_. Humboldt, in his interesting work on New Spain, has +thought it worth his while to rescue the honour of this brave officer +with regard to this leap. Even to the present day there is a small +bridge near Bonavista, called Salto de Alvarado. (p. 352.) + +[89] According to other accounts Cortes put great faith in the secret +art of this man. It was upon Botello's advice that he also attacked +Narvaez in the night time. He had likewise advised the retreat from +Mexico in the night time, although he knew, he said, that neither +himself, his brother, nor several others of his company would escape +alive. (p. 353.) + +[90] During this retreat three of Motecusuma's sons lost their lives; +but there were two other sons of this monarch who survived the fall of +their house and became the founders of the distinguished grandee +families of Spain, the earls of Montezuma and Tula; one was called Cano +and the other Andrada Montezuma. (p. 353.) + +[91] One circumstance Bernal Diaz has omitted to mention. After the +enemy had taken possession of the bridges there were one hundred +Spaniards, who, seeing no further chance of making good their retreat, +fortified themselves on a teocalli or temple. Here these brave men +maintained their position against the whole armed force of the town for +three days, but hunger at length compelled them to surrender, and the +whole of them were sacrificed to the idols. (p. 353.) + +[92] The hunger which the Spaniards suffered during these days must have +been excessive; for Torquemada states it as a fact, that one of the +soldiers had cut out the liver from the body of another and devoured it; +for which Cortes was nearly going to hang the man. (p. 354.) + +[93] Torquemada says, "That the Spaniards stood like a small island in +the midst of the ocean, against which the rolling billows beat on every +side." When Cortes decided the fate of the day by his courageous attack +upon the Mexican commander, the battle had lasted five hours. (p. 354.) + +[94] The Mexican general's name was Cihuacatzin; he was the +Matlaxopilli, commander-in-chief, and carried the imperial standard, +called Tlahuizmatlaxopilli, being a golden net ten palms in length. (p. +355.) + +[95] Bernal Diaz errs here with respect to dates, for the disastrous +retreat from Mexico, according to Cortes' despatches and other accounts, +took place on the 1st of July, and thus la noche triste (the night of +sorrows) was on the night between the 1st and 2d of July, and the battle +of Otumpan took place on the 7th. There must either have been some +mistake in the original manuscript or in the printing, for the years are +also dated erroneously. (p. 356.) + +[96] This is certainly a corrupted name, for it is dissimilar in sound +to all others, and terminates differently. (p. 358.) + + + + +CHAPTER CXXIX. + + _How we quartered ourselves in the metropolis of Tlascalla, and what + we did there._ + + +I have already mentioned that we rested a day at Gualiopar, where we +were visited by the caziques of Tlascalla, who kindly offered us every +assistance, which was the more praiseworthy in them when we take the +time and circumstances into consideration.[97] + +As soon as we had arrived in the Tlascallan metropolis, Cortes made +inquiries respecting the 40,000 pesos worth of gold which he had +forwarded to the latter place for the garrison of Vera Cruz; when +Maxixcatzin, Xicotencatl, and one of our soldiers who had remained behind +in Tlascalla on account of ill health, informed him that a certain Juan +de Alcantara, with two others of the garrison lying in Vera Cruz had +arrived there and taken all the gold with them, as they had produced a +written permission to that effect signed by Cortes, which he, +Maxixcatzin, had carefully saved. Upon being questioned as to the time +they had left with the gold, we found it must have been during the days +we had the severe engagements with the Mexicans. Subsequently we learnt +that Alcantara and his companions had been murdered and robbed of their +treasure on their road to Vera Cruz. Cortes was sorely grieved at this +loss, and was most anxious to know how matters stood in the latter +place. He therefore despatched three Tlascallans to that town with a +letter, in which he gave a full account of all that had transpired at +Mexico, but very wisely omitted to mention the number of men we had lost +there. He likewise admonished the garrison to observe the utmost +vigilance, and to keep Salvatierra and Narvaez close prisoners. They +were desired to send their sick to Tlascalla with all their store of +powder and crossbows. He at the same time wrote to Caballero, and +particularly cautioned him not to allow any vessel to depart for Cuba, +and to see that Narvaez did not escape. If he considered the two +vessels of Narvaez which lay in the harbour there unfit for use, he was +to run them on shore, and immediately send him the sailors and as many +arms as he could spare. + +These three messengers made all haste and soon returned with an answer +from Vera Cruz, which gave us the good news that they had enjoyed the +profoundest peace there, but had been apprized of our misfortune at +Mexico by the fat cazique of Sempoalla. They also informed us that Juan +de Alcantara and his companions had been murdered on their return. + +Pedro Caballero sent word that all Cortes' commands should be attended +to. One of the two vessels was still in good condition, but with the +other he would act as he had been ordered and send the men to us, though +he had not over-sufficient hands, as many of the sailors were sick and +several had died. + +All the reinforcement we received, on this occasion, consisted in seven +men, of whom three were sailors. They arrived in Tlascalla under the +command of a certain Lencero, to whom the tavern belonged, known to this +day by the name of Venta de Lencero. Every one of these men were in bad +health; five of them were covered with sore swellings, and the two +others limped helplessly about with their bellies enormously swollen, so +that the succours brought by Lencero became quite a byword among us. + +I must now, however, relate something of a more serious nature. The +reader cannot have forgotten the younger Xicotencatl, who commanded the +whole armed power of Tlascalla against us, and who had always shown his +hatred of us. This feeling was again aroused in him when the news of our +flight from Mexico, and of the number of troops we had lost arrived in +Tlascalla; and how we were marching towards the latter place to seek +protection and assistance. Xicotencatl now, therefore, assembled his +relations and friends, with all those whom he thought would enter into +his views, and proposed that they should select some favorable +opportunity, either in the day or night-time to fall upon us unawares +and destroy us all. "He would," he said, "form a friendly alliance with +the Mexican monarch, for which the present moment was particularly +favorable, as the Mexicans had just elected a new monarch in the person +of Cuitlahuatzin. We had," he continued, "left quantities of cotton +stuffs and gold behind us in Tlascalla, and had brought an additional +quantity with us, and they would all become wealthy personages by such a +booty." + +When the elder Xicotencatl received information of this rebellious +movement, he grew excessively angry, and commanded his son to banish +all such thoughts from his mind. Such a step as that, he said, would be +altogether unjustifiable, and he might be sure, if Maxixcatzin and +Chichimeclatecl got intelligence of it, they would certainly order him +to be put to death, to which he himself would give his consent. Old +Xicotencatl, however, might say what he liked, his son remained firm to +his purpose, and set earnestly about to make the necessary preparations, +when Chichimeclatecl, who was at enmity with the younger Xicotencatl, +got secret information of his intentions, which he instantly +communicated to Maxixcatzin, and both determined to call a meeting of +the chief personages of the town, with the elder Xicotencatl and the +caziques of Huexotzinco, and commanded the younger Xicotencatl to appear +before them. + +After all had been assembled, Maxixcatzin addressed the meeting as +follows: "I ask you, do you yourselves think, or have you ever heard +others say that such riches or so much prosperity was ever known for the +last hundred years in the land of Tlascalla as since the time these +teules have appeared among us? Were we ever so much respected by all our +neighbours? It is only since their arrival we possess abundance of gold +and cotton stuffs; it is since that time only we eat salt again, of +which we had been deprived for such a length of time. Wherever our +troops have shown themselves with these teules, they have been treated +with the utmost respect; and if many of our countrymen have lately +perished in Mexico, they certainly fared no worse than the teules +themselves. All of you must likewise bear in mind the ancient tradition +handed down to us by our forefathers, that, at some period or other, a +people would come from where the sun rises, to whom the dominion of +these countries was destined. How dare Xicotencatl, taking all this into +consideration, contemplate this horrible treachery, from which nothing +can flow but war and our destruction? Is this not a crime which ought +not to be pardoned? Is it not exactly in accordance with the evil +designs with which this man's head always runs full? Now that misfortune +has led these teules to us for protection, and that we may assist them +with our troops to renew the war with Mexico, are we to act +treacherously to these our friends?" + +To these reproaches, in which his own blind father joined, the younger +Xicotencatl replied, that he persevered in his opinion that, under the +present circumstances, it would be most politic to form an alliance with +the Mexicans; and allowed himself many other impudent expressions, which +so enraged the old chiefs that Maxixcatzin, Chichimeclatecl, and the +elder Xicotencatl, notwithstanding his blindness, rose up from their +seats, then fell upon the young man, and pushed him down the steps of +the building, under the most abusive language. He would certainly have +been killed on the spot, if respect for his aged father had not withheld +them. In the meantime they imprisoned all those who had sided with him. +To punish Xicotencatl himself, this was not exactly the time, and Cortes +refused in any way to meddle in the matter. I have mentioned this +circumstance to convince the reader how loyal and honest the Tlascallans +were towards us, and how much we were indebted to them, particularly to +the elder Xicotencatl, who, it is even said, had given orders for his +son to be put to death, as soon as he had been informed of all his +intrigues and treacherous designs.[98] + +We had now rested twenty-two days, and had patiently awaited the cure of +our wounds; and Cortes now determined upon making an incursion into the +neighbouring province of Tepeaca, where several of Narvaez's men and +some of ours had been killed on their march to Mexico. He accordingly +told our officers what his plan was; but when Narvaez's men heard of a +new campaign, they became quite low-spirited. The latter were not +accustomed to war, and had had a sufficient taste of it in our overthrow +at Mexico, the carnage at the bridges, and in the battle of Otumpan; and +were very clamorous in their requests to our general to return to their +commendaries and their gold mines in Cuba. They peremptorily refused to +obey him any longer, and declared they would take no further part in his +conquests; and Duero, who, from the very beginning, had been in secret +understanding with Cortes, protested most loudly against this +contemplated invasion of Tepeaca. They cursed the gold Cortes had given +them, which had all been lost again in their flight from Mexico, and +assured him they were glad enough to have escaped with their lives from +that terrific battle. They were unanimously determined to return to +Cuba, and said they were not desirous of suffering any further losses +than they already had in this expedition. + +Cortes, however, did not so soon give up all hopes of persuading them to +join him in this campaign. He spoke to them in a very quiet and kind +manner, and made many very excellent remarks, but all to no purpose; and +when they found that Cortes persevered in his determination, they +desired one of the royal secretaries to draw up a formal protest, in +which they gave a circumstantial account of our present position, how we +were in want of horses, muskets, crossbows, and even cords for the +latter; in short, of everything necessary to carry on a war. They +further went on to say, that the whole of us were covered with wounds, +and that only 440 men remained of the united troops of Narvaez and +Cortes; the Mexicans occupied every pass and every mountain, and the +vessels would rot away with the worm if they lay any longer in the +harbour; and so on. + +After they had presented this protest in form to our general, he +altogether objected to it, and we others of his old troops begged of him +most earnestly not to allow any of Narvaez's men to return to Cuba, as +it would every way prove injurious to the cause of God and the interest +of our emperor. + +When they found that all the steps they had taken were fruitless, and +that we maintained they were imperatively called upon to remain, both +for the service of God and of our emperor, they at last consented to +stay, and declared their willingness to join us in the contemplated +campaign; but Cortes was obliged to promise that he would allow them to +depart for Cuba as soon as ever circumstances would permit. This, +however, did not put an end to their murmurs. We heard nothing but +complaints against Cortes and his conquests,--how dearly they had paid +for all this, left comfortable homes, and peace and security, to serve +in a country where they lived in constant danger of losing their lives. +They likewise considered it would be unpardonable in us to commence a +second war with the Mexicans, with whom we should never be able to cope +in the open field for any length of time, after what we had seen of +their vast power both in Mexico and at Otumpan. Cortes, they continued, +would not relinquish his purpose as long as his ambition to command was +satisfied, and we others merely stuck to him because we had nothing to +lose but our lives. Many similar reproaches did they throw out against +Cortes, who, under the present circumstances, thought it was best to +leave them unnoticed; and he was glad, a few months after, to send them +home, as will be related in the proper place. + +Here again I am bound to notice a number of errors in Gomara's history; +in order, however, not to go too much into detail, I will confine myself +to the following remarks. + +Respecting the above-mentioned protest against the projected campaign of +Tepeaca, Gomara does not exactly state with which party it originated, +whether from Cortes' old troops or those of Narvaez. Everything he +relates concerning this matter merely goes to raise Cortes to the skies +and to cast the rest of us in the shade. We, the true Conquistadores, on +reading his work, soon discovered that Gomara had been bribed by +presents to relate the circumstances in that way. Were we not the very +men who supported Cortes in all the battles, and in every other matter? +and yet Gomara has the impudence to consider this as nothing, and +affirms that we protested against the further conquest of New Spain. +Gomara likewise commits a terrible blunder when he makes Cortes say, in +answer to this protest, in order to inspire us with courage, that he +would recall Leon and Ordas, of whom one, he says, was engaged forming a +settlement with 300 men in Panuco, and that the other, with a like +detachment, had been sent for a similar purpose to the river +Guacasualco. Every word of this is false; for, when we marched to +Alvarado's assistance in Mexico, those projected settlements were +relinquished, as I have above mentioned, and both these officers went +along with us to Mexico. Leon even met with his death at one of the +bridges, as we saw, and Ordas was severely wounded in three several +places. What a great pity it is that Gomara does not write with equal +veracity as he does beauty! + +I was likewise amazed to read what he says of the battle of Otumpan. He +boldly asserts that we should have been defeated if Cortes had not been +present, for he alone decided the fate of the day by his attack upon the +Mexican commander-in-chief, who carried the royal standard. I should +indeed be loth to do Cortes an injustice, and, as an excellent and brave +general, I have the highest esteem for him; but certainly we have, above +all, to thank the Almighty, who mercifully protected us in all the +dangers we encountered, and who put under Cortes' commands such +courageous officers and soldiers. The second praise is certainly due to +us, whose valiant arms overcame every obstacle. We it were who firmly +withstood the enemy's attack, who broke their line, and who punctually +obeyed the commands of our general and his officers. And yet Cortes is +said to have done all himself at the battle of Otumpan! Why does this +Gomara not mention as well the heroic deeds of the officers and soldiers +in that battle? But it is quite evident that all he relates in his book +is intended for the praise of Cortes only, otherwise he could not have +passed by all the rest of us in silence. He should have asked how often +the brave Christobal de Olea had saved Cortes' life, until he met with +his death in a similar attempt during the subsequent siege of Mexico? + +I had nearly forgotten to mention the battle near Sochimilco, where Olea +again saved Cortes' life, but which had nearly cost him his own, for he +was severely wounded. + +In order not to confound names, I must observe that we had among our +troops a Christobal de Olea and a Christobal de Oli. + +Gomara is right when he says that Cortes made a run at the Mexican +commander-in-chief, which caused the latter to drop the standard from +his hands; but then it is also a fact that Juan Salamanca, of Ontiveras, +who became alcalde mayor of Guacasualco after the fall of Mexico, +killed that chief with a thrust of his lance, tore away the splendid +crest of plumes which adorned his head, and presented it to Cortes; for +which reason he was subsequently permitted to add a bunch of feathers to +his armorial bearings. + +I do not mention these things to diminish Cortes' glory, for the praise +and merit of all the victories we gained, and of the battles we fought, +down to the total conquest of New Spain, are due to him, and he has +deserved those honours with which the Castillians were wont to crown +their generals after some splendid victories, and the triumphs which the +Romans decreed to Pompey, Julius Caesar, and the Scipios. Cortes, indeed, +has merited greater honours than all these Romans! + +Gomara further relates that Cortes ordered the younger Xicotencatl to be +secretly executed in Tlascalla as punishment for his treacherous designs +against us; but this likewise is an untruth, for Cortes ordered him to +be hung in a village near Tezcuco, as will be seen hereafter. + +In the same way Gomara sends so many thousands of Indians with us into +the field of battle, that there is neither sense nor meaning in what he +says; and he likewise gives a very exaggerated account of the numbers of +cities, towns, and villages, of which not one fifth part ever existed; +and if we sum up what he says of the population, we shall find there are +more millions than there are villages in Spain. Wherever he speaks of +80,000, we must really write down 1000. Everything certainly sounds very +fine in his work, because he never at any time relates all that +happened. When, therefore, the reader compares his account with mine, he +must not allow himself to be blinded by the ornaments of his beautiful +style, for mine is plain and rude, but truth supplies the place of art +and eloquence. How much it is to be regretted that Dr. Illescas and Paul +Jovio should have copied him so closely! + +I must, however, return to my history on the campaign of Tepeaca. + +[97] According to Torquemada, Cortes had left one of his officers, named +Juan Perez, with eighty Spaniards in Tlascalla, when he first marched to +Mexico. On learning from this officer that Maxixcatzin had offered to +march at the head of 100,000 men to his assistance, he grew excessively +angry with him, and reproached him in the severest terms for not having +accepted of the offer. (p. 359.) + +[98] Torquemada throws more light on the reason of the younger +Xicotencatl's wishing to form an alliance with Mexico. The Mexicans +being aware that the Spaniards would derive great advantages by their +alliance with Tlascalla, sent an embassy of six distinguished personages +to draw this republic into an alliance with them. The matter was +formally discussed by the Tlascallan chiefs in council, and though the +Mexican ambassadors tried their utmost to persuade them into an +alliance, the majority decided against it. + +At the head of the minority stood the younger Xicotencatl, and the +debate was carried on with such asperity that the young hero, who had +more penetration than the rest, was at length forcibly expelled the +meeting. (p. 362.) + + + + +CHAPTER CXXX. + + _How we marched into the province of Tepeaca, what we did there, and + of other things which happened._ + + +Cortes had desired the caziques of Tlascalla to furnish him with 5000 +men to join him on his march into the province of Tepeaca, whose +inhabitants he was going to punish for the murder of several Spaniards. +It was the township of Tepeaca, Quauhquechola, and Tecalco, which lay +from twenty-four to twenty-eight miles from Tlascalla, against which +our arms were particularly bent. If our desire to be revenged upon them +was great, that of Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl was more so, as +the inhabitants of those places had done great damage to their +plantations; four thousand Tlascallan warriors, therefore, stood ready +equipped to join us. All the provinces, however, which we intended to +invade were quite prepared to receive us; for when the inhabitants there +learnt that we had met with a kind reception in Tlascalla after our +overthrow in Mexico, they did not doubt for an instant that, after we +had recruited our strength a little, we should invade their territories +in conjunction with the armed force of the former republic. Mexican +troops were therefore stationed everywhere on the confines, and Tepeaca +itself was strongly garrisoned. Maxixcatzin and the elder Xicotencatl +were well aware of this, and, consequently, not without their fears. +Notwithstanding all this, we commenced our march thither, but without +either cannon or matchlocks, for we had lost all these in our flight +from Mexico: though we had saved a few of the latter, we could make no +use of them as we had not a grain of powder left. + +Our small army now consisted of seventeen horse, six crossbow-men, and +420 Spaniards, most of whom were only armed with swords and shields, and +4000 Tlascallans. We merely took a single day's provision with us, as +the provinces we were going to invade were very populous, and contained +quantities of maise, fowls, and musk swine. We observed our usual good +custom of sending out a few scouts in advance, and we quartered +ourselves for the first night about twelve miles from Tepeaca. The +inhabitants, upon the news of our approach, had everywhere fled away, +and carried off everything they could with them, so that we only found +six men and four women in a small settlement near Tepeaca. Cortes, who +always observed the strictest justice and order in all matters, +questioned these prisoners respecting the eighteen Spaniards who had +been murdered without any cause, and for what reason such vast numbers +of Mexican troops had arrived, and why the property of our friends the +Tlascallans had been destroyed? + +He desired these prisoners whom he sent to Tepeaca to ask the +inhabitants there these same questions, and they were to signify to them +that they should send away the Mexicans who were there, and conclude a +treaty with us, otherwise we should look upon them as rebels, murderers, +and robbers, desolate their country with fire and sword, and carry off +all the inhabitants into slavery. + +These prisoners fulfilled their commission faithfully, and returned with +two Mexicans. If we had sent a haughty message to our enemies, they +returned answer in a still haughtier tone. The two Mexicans came with +perfect confidence, as they well knew it was our custom to treat all +ambassadors with great courtesy, and even make them presents. In this +they had certainly not deceived themselves; and, still puffed up with +the recent victory, they spoke with terrible assurance. Cortes, after +they had done speaking, presented each with a mantle, and sent them back +with offers of peace, adding, at the same time, he was well aware they +could not return him his Spaniards alive; but if they would sue for +peace, he would pardon the past. With this message he likewise sent a +letter containing the same offers, though we very well knew they could +not read it, yet by this time they had learnt so much as to know it +contained some command, and Cortes desired the ambassadors to return +with an answer. This they speedily brought, and was to the following +effect: "We were to return to where we had come from; and if we refused +to do so immediately, they would fall upon us the next day, and procure +themselves a more abundant repast from the flesh of our bodies than they +had done at the bridges of Mexico and in the battle of Otumpan." + +On receiving this declaration Cortes called a council of war, in which +the whole of these circumstances were taken down in writing by a royal +secretary, and it was further resolved that whichsoever of the allies of +the Mexicans had been found guilty of murdering Spaniards should be +turned into slaves, since, after swearing allegiance to his majesty, +they had rebelled, and caused us so great a loss of men and horses. This +determination was likewise made known to the enemy, and they were again +admonished to make peace with us; but we met with nothing but defiance +in return; and if we did not quit the province they would march against +us and put us all to death. Both sides thus made preparations for war, +and a severe battle ensued the day after; but as the level ground, which +consisted entirely of maise and maguey plantations, was particularly +favorable for our manoeuvres, the bravery of our enemies availed them +very little, and our few horse soon put them to the route. The rest of +us likewise fell vigorously upon them, and our friends of Tlascalla +behaved most valiantly, and pursued the enemy with great loss. +Considerable numbers of Tepeacans and Mexicans were killed, while on our +side we lost only three Tlascallans. Twelve Spaniards were slightly +wounded, and one of our horses so severely that it died soon after. The +consequence of this victory was, that numbers of women and children were +brought in prisoners to us,--for the men we turned over to the +Tlascallans, who made slaves of them all. + +The Tepeacans, seeing that the Mexican garrison was no protection to +them, and that they would only become the victims of any further +opposition, without so much as consulting the Mexicans, now sent +messengers of peace to us, who were very kindly received by Cortes; +these Tepeacans then, for the second time, took the oath of allegiance +to our emperor, and sent off the Mexicans. + +We now, therefore, entered Tepeaca, and founded a town there, to which +we gave the name of Villa de Segura de la Frontera, from its lying on +the road to Vera Cruz, in a populous district, very productive of maise, +and because it was covered by the close neighbourhood of Tlascalla. +Alcaldes and regidors were appointed, and a regular government +introduced. + +We likewise visited all the districts where Spaniards had been murdered, +and we cast an iron mark, with the letter G, meaning _guerra_, (war,) +with which those were to be branded whom we turned into slaves. In this +way we severally visited the townships Quauhquechola, Tecalco, Las +Guayavas, and others whose names I have forgotten. In the former place +alone, fifteen Spaniards had been murdered in their quarters; we +therefore spared this township least of all, and turned a vast number of +its inhabitants into slaves. + +About this time another king had been raised to the throne of Mexico, as +the former, who beat us out of the town, had died of the smallpox. The +new monarch was a nephew, or, at least, a very near relative of +Motecusuma, and was called Quauhtemoctzin. He was about twenty-five +years of age, and a very well-bred man for an Indian. He was likewise a +person of great courage, and soon made himself so greatly feared among +his people that they trembled in his presence. His wife was one of +Motecusuma's daughters, and passed for a great beauty among her +countrywomen. + +When this new king received intelligence of the overthrow of his troops +at Tepeaca, and of the consequent submission of that province to the +emperor Charles the Fifth, he began to fear for his other provinces. He +therefore despatched messengers to every township, commanding the +inhabitants to hold themselves ready for action; and in order that he +might make sure of their obedience to his commands, he sent one cazique +a present, and another he freed from paying tribute. His most able +generals were despatched with troops to protect the boundaries, and he +admonished them to behave better than they had done at Tepeaca. + +That the reader may not confound the two names, I must take the +opportunity to acquaint him that there was a Cachula and Guacachula. I +must, however, defer for the present what I have to say about the +last-mentioned place, to relate the news we received from Vera +Cruz.[99] + + +[99] According to Torquemada, these two townships were called +Quauhquechulla and Quauhquechola. (p. 368.) + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXI. + + _How a vessel, which had been sent by Diego Velasquez from Cuba, + arrived at Vera Cruz, commanded by the captain Pedro Barba, and the + manner in which Caballero captured her._ + + +We had scarcely punished these Tepeacans for the murder of our eighteen +companions, and restored peace to the country, when letters arrived from +Vera Cruz with the information that a vessel had run in there, commanded +by a good friend of Cortes named Pedro Barba, who had been sub-governor +of the Havannah under Velasquez. He had brought along with him thirteen +soldiers and two horses, besides letters for Pamfilo Narvaez, whom +Velasquez thought had by this time taken possession of New Spain in his +name. In these letters, Velasquez desired Narvaez, if Cortes were yet +alive, to transport him, with the whole of his principal officers, to +Cuba, whence he would send them to Spain, for such were the commands of +Don Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, bishop of Burgos, and archbishop of +Rosano, and president of the council of India. + +As soon as Barba had entered the harbour and cast anchor, Caballero went +on board to pay his respects to him. The boat he went in was well manned +with sailors, and the arms they carried were carefully hidden from view. + +After both parties had welcomed each other, Caballero inquired after the +health of the governor of Cuba, and Barba, on his side, asked after +Narvaez, and what had become of Cortes. Caballero gave him the most +favorable account of Narvaez, spoke about his power, wealth, and his +vast authority in these countries; as for Cortes, he had escaped with +twenty men, and was wandering about from place to place. + +Upon this, Caballero proposed to Barba that he should disembark at the +next township, where he would meet with excellent quarters. This he +readily agreed to, and stepped into Caballero's boat, which, by this +time, had been joined by those of the other vessels, and so all went on +shore; but he had scarcely set foot on land when Caballero exclaimed, +"Sir, you are my prisoner, in the name of the captain-general Cortes!" +One can easily imagine the astonishment of Barba and his men; however, +they could do no better than patiently submit. The sails, compass, and +rudder were immediately taken out of the vessel, and were all sent to +Cortes' head-quarters at Tepeaca. + +Our joy was excessive when these succours arrived, and certainly they +could not have come more opportunely, for we had not yet recovered from +our wounds, or regained our usual strength. Every one of us suffered +more or less from ill health, and as blood and dust had coagulated in +our entrails, we consequently emitted nothing else. Add to all this, we +were obliged to be under arms both night and day, and thus it may be +imagined our condition was truly pitiable; and five of our men had died +within the last fortnight of pleurisy. + +There likewise arrived with Barba a certain Francisco Lopez, who settled +at Guatimala, and became regidor of that place. + +Cortes received Pedro Barba with every mark of distinction, and +immediately gave him a company of crossbow-men. He likewise learnt from +him that there was another smaller vessel at Cuba, which was taking in a +cargo of provisions, and was also destined by the governor for New +Spain. This vessel actually arrived at Vera Cruz eight days after, and +was commanded by a cavalier, named Rodrigo Morejon. She had on board +eight soldiers, a mare, six crossbows, and other kinds of ammunition. +Morejon, with his vessel, was captured by Caballero in the same manner, +and sent to Segura de la Frontera. Our joy at the arrival of these new +guests was, if possible, greater than on the previous occasion. Cortes +received them most kindly, gave each an appointment, and we thanked God +most heartily for this reinforcement of men, arms, and horses. + +We must now, however, return to the Mexican troops, which lay on the +confines of Quauhquechola. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXII. + + _How the inhabitants of Quauhquechola called upon Cortes, and begged + of him to drive out the Mexican troops from their town, as they were + plundered and ill-used by them._ + + +The new king of Mexico had thrown strong garrisons into all the +townships which lay on the boundaries, particularly into Quauhquechola +and Ozucar,[100] which lay about twelve miles from each other, as he was +sure we should enter his territories at those points. These garrisons +allowed themselves excessive liberties under their new master, and +committed so many atrocities against the inhabitants, that these were +determined to bear it no longer. They not only complained of being +robbed of their garments, their maise, their fowls, and their gold, but +that the Mexicans likewise forcibly carried off their daughters and +wives, if they were pretty, and violated them in the presence of their +parents and their husbands. + +When the Quauhquechollans saw how peaceably and quiet the Cholullans +lived ever since they had been without a Mexican garrison, and that the +same happiness and security might be enjoyed in Tepeaca, Tecalco, and in +Quauhquechola, they secretly despatched four distinguished personages to +Cortes, begging of him to send them his teules, with their horses, to +rid them of their oppressors. They themselves, with the inhabitants of +the whole district, would assist us, and both together could easily +overcome the Mexican troops. Cortes, on this representation, resolved to +send thither, under Oli, a strong detachment, consisting of 300 men, +with the greater part of our cavalry and crossbow-men, besides a +numerous body of Tlascallans, who had greatly increased in numbers since +the rich booty they had made in Tepeaca. + +Among the 300 of our own troops there were many of Narvaez's men who +became quite terrified when they understood they were going to march +against Indians; besides which, they had been informed that all the +fields and houses were filled with Mexican troops, and that their +numbers were even greater than at the battle of Otumpan, and that +Quauhtemoctzin commanded in person. They had, indeed, from the beginning +showed great unwillingness to join us in this new campaign, and all +their thoughts were bent upon their return to Cuba. Now again all their +late misfortunes, and the perils they had undergone, came forcibly to +their minds: the lamentable flight out of Mexico, the terrible struggle +at the bridges, and the battle of Otumpan. Such dangers, they said, they +would not run the risk of encountering again, and they most earnestly +begged of Oli to return to head-quarters, as this expedition could not +fail to end more seriously than all the foregoing, and every man of them +would perish. It was in vain that Oli expostulated with them, and told +them they were bound to march forward, and were in every way a match for +the Mexicans; that a retreat would inspire the enemy with fresh courage, +and that the level country was remarkably favorable for the manoeuvres +of the cavalry; they absolutely refused to advance another step. Cortes' +old soldiers, however, were determined to march forward, saying they had +braved greater dangers than this; that a merciful Providence had +everywhere protected them, and brought them forth victorious. But all +these arguments were fruitless, and at last they succeeded in persuading +Oli, by their prayers and lamentations, to turn back; and he took the +road to Cholulla, from whence he wrote Cortes word of the state of +things. + +When the latter received this information he was greatly vexed, and he +immediately despatched two crossbow-men with a letter to Oli, in which +he expressed great surprise at his indetermination and weakness of mind; +as on former occasions no arguments had ever been able to dissuade him +from fulfilling the commands he had once received. + +When Oli had read this letter he became furious with chagrin, and +bitterly reproached those who had advised the retreat, and thereby +induced him to disobey his general's commands. He immediately issued +orders for every one to join his standard, and those who refused should +be sent back to our head-quarters, there to be punished by Cortes as +cowards and deserters. + +The vexation which this matter occasioned Oli had converted him into a +very lion, and in this mood he marched his men onwards to Quauhquechola. +He had scarcely arrived to within four miles of this place, when he was +met by the caziques, who pointed out to him the best mode of attacking +the Mexicans, and assured him he would be assisted by the inhabitants. +They had hardly done speaking, when the Mexicans, who had received +intelligence of Oli's approach, marched boldly against him. The battle +now soon commenced, and the Mexicans certainly fought courageously for a +considerable time, wounded several Spaniards, killed two horses, and +wounded eight others from out a species of fortification which they had +constructed here; but after an hour's fighting they were completely +beaten out of the field. The Tlascallans behaved with uncommon bravery, +and killed many of the enemy, besides taking a great number of +prisoners; and as they were joined by the inhabitants of the surrounding +country, the carnage among the Mexican troops was very great. The latter +now retreated, and fortified themselves in a township named Ozucar,[101] +which had been garrisoned by another body of Mexicans. This place was +even rendered strong by nature, and the enemy had burnt down a bridge, +to prevent our cavalry from entering the town. But, as I have before +stated, vexation had turned Oli into a very lion, and he was determined +that nothing should obstruct his progress. He therefore marched, with +all those who would follow him, immediately upon Ozucar, passed the +river with his new allies of Quauhquechola, and fell so furiously upon +the Mexicans, that they soon gave way, and fled in disorder. Here again +two horses were killed, Oli himself wounded in two places, and his horse +very severely. + +He remained two days at Ozucar, during which time the caziques of the +whole surrounding country came to sue for peace, and declared +themselves vassals of our emperor. After he had thus restored +tranquillity to the whole country he returned to Villa Segura. + +I myself was not present at this battle, and I therefore merely relate +what I learnt from others respecting it. Cortes and the whole of us +marched out to meet the returning conquerors, and the rejoicings, as may +be imagined, were very great on this occasion. The retreat to Cholulla +was now turned into matter of ridicule. Oli himself could not help +laughing at it, and observed, that many of his troops thought more of +their mines in Cuba than of their arms, and he swore that he would never +again command any of those rich followers of Narvaez on such occasions, +but only take with him a few of the poor soldiers of Cortes. + +On this occasion Gomara relates, that Oli turned back in consequence of +a mistake between the interpreters, and had feared there was some +treachery on hand. This, however, is incorrect; for his return to +Cholulla was entirely owing to the fear and anxiety of Narvaez's men, +whom the Indians had crammed with all manner of fearful tales. + +Gomara likewise says, that Cortes commanded in person on this occasion, +but this is an untruth, for it was Oli. It is equally erroneous when he +says that it were the Huexotzincans who had alarmed Narvaez's men with +the exaggerated account respecting the Mexicans, when the former passed +through their town. This is a shocking blunder, for it would be equally +absurd for any one who wished to go from Tepeaca to Quauhquechola, to +turn back to Huexotzinco, as it would be in going from Medina del Campo +to Salamanca, to take the road over Valladolid. In the meantime other +news had arrived from Vera Cruz, which will be found in the following +chapter. + +[100] Most probably Iztucan. (p. 370.) + +[101] Cortes, in his despatches, calls this place Izzucan; the same, no +doubt, as Iztucan. (p. 372.) + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXIII. + + _How one of the vessels which Francisco de Garay had fitted out for + the object of forming settlements on the river Panuco, put in at + Vera Cruz, and what further happened._ + + +While we were lying at Villa Segura, Cortes was informed by letter that +one of the vessels which Garay had fitted out for the object of forming +settlements on the river Panuco had arrived at Vera Cruz. This vessel +was commanded by a certain Comargo, and had on board above sixty +soldiers, but who were all in very bad health, with their stomachs +largely swelled. + +This Comargo related how unfortunately Garay's expedition to the river +Panuco had terminated. The Indians had massacred the commander-in-chief +Alvarez Pinedo, with the whole of his troops and horses, and then set +fire to his vessels. Comargo alone had been fortunate enough to escape +with his men on board one of the vessels, and had steered for Vera Cruz, +where they arrived half famished, for they had not been able to procure +any provisions from the enemy. This Comargo, it was said, had taken the +vows of the order of the Dominicans. + +Comargo and his men, by degrees, all arrived at Villa Segura; which +indeed took a considerable time, for they were so weakened that they +could scarcely move along. When Cortes saw in what a terrible condition +they were, he recommended them to our care, and showed Comargo and all +his men every possible kindness. If I remember rightly, Comargo died +soon after, and also several of his men. We used to call them, jokingly, +_verdigris bellies_, from the immense size to which the latter were +swollen, and the death-like appearance of the men. + +In order not to break the thread of my history too frequently, I will +take this opportunity of enumerating the different vessels of Garay's +expedition which arrived by degrees in Vera Cruz. + +The first which came after Comargo was commanded by a native of Aragon, +named Miguel Diaz, whom Garay had sent with succours to Alvarez Pinedo, +who, he imagined, had run up the river Panuco. Diaz, however, meeting +nowhere with any traces of him, had soon got into a conflict with the +natives, by whom he was informed of the unfortunate termination of that +expedition; he then again hoisted sail and made for Vera Cruz, where he +disembarked his troops, consisting of upwards of fifty men and seven +horses, with which he immediately repaired to Cortes' head-quarters. +These were the most valuable succours we ever received, and certainly +they could not have come more opportunely. + +This Miguel Diaz subsequently rendered our emperor the most signal +services in the conquest of New Spain. He was for some time engaged in a +lawsuit respecting the possession of half Mistitan, with a +brother-in-law of Cortes, named Andreas de Barrios, of Seville, whom he +commonly termed the dancer. This lawsuit terminated in his favour in +this way, that he was to receive the whole of the yearly rents of that +estate, amounting annually to above 2500 pesos; but he himself was +prohibited from setting foot in that district for the space of two +years, for having there, as well as in other townships belonging to him, +put several Indians to death. + +A few days after this vessel another arrived in Vera Cruz, which Garay +had likewise despatched for the protection of his armament in the river +Panuco, where he thought all was going on prosperously. This vessel +brought above forty men, ten horses, and various kinds of ammunition, +and was commanded by an elderly man named Ramirez, whom we called the +elder to distinguish him from another Ramirez, who served in our troops. +In this way Garay lost one ship after another, and no one derived any +advantage from them excepting Cortes and ourselves. All these troops +arrived by degrees in Tepeaca, and respectively obtained some by-name or +other from our men. Those of Diaz, who were all stout, fat fellows; were +called the _stiff-backs_, and those of Ramirez, _pack-saddles_, because +they all wore heavy cotton cuirasses, which no arrow could pierce. The +officers, as the reader may imagine, received most distinguished +treatment from Cortes. + +I have now, however, to speak of another expedition, of which Cortes +gave the command to Sandoval, and was directed against the tribes of +Xalatzinco and Zacatemi. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXIV. + + _How Cortes despatches Sandoval with 200 men, among which were + twenty horse and twelve crossbow-men, to punish the tribes of + Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, for having put some Spaniards to death, and + to demand restitution of the gold they had robbed us of; and also + further to explore the country._ + + +After we had received these reinforcements, first the twenty-five men +and three horses, which arrived in the two small vessels sent by Diego +Velasquez, and then the 120 men, with the seventeen horses which arrived +in Garay's vessels, we learnt that many of Narvaez's men on their +retreat from Mexico had been murdered in the townships of Zacatemi and +Xalatzinco; likewise that the inhabitants of these places had plundered +and killed Juan de Alcantara and his two companions who were returning +from Tlascalla with the gold above mentioned. Cortes, therefore, ordered +Sandoval, a remarkably bold and clever officer, to march against them +with 200 men, composed for the greater part of Cortes' old soldiers, +among which there were twenty horse and twelve crossbow-men, to which +was added a strong body of Tlascallans. + +Sandoval, on his march thither, received intelligence that the +inhabitants were all under arms, and had put these towns in a good +state of defence; and were, moreover, assisted by a powerful body of +Mexicans. They well foresaw that we should equally chastise them for the +Spaniards they had murdered, as we had the Tepeacans, Quauhquechollans, +and Tecalcans. + +Sandoval placed his troops in the most advantageous manner, and +explained to the cavalry how they were to break through the enemy's +line. But previous to entering on the enemy's territory he sent +messengers with offers of peace to them, and to demand the gold they had +stolen, with promises that he would pardon the murder of the Spaniards. +These messengers went several times to the enemy with these offers, but +each time returned with the same answer, namely, that they would serve +Sandoval and his soldiers in the same manner as they had those teules, +respecting whom he now came to make inquiries. Sandoval then sent them +word that he would treat them as traitors and highwaymen, and turn them +all into slaves; they might therefore prepare for a struggle for life or +death. He then fell upon them from two several points at the same time, +and though the Mexicans, as well as the inhabitants, defended themselves +with great bravery, he nevertheless soon put them to flight, and +captured numbers of the commoner people, whom, however, he set at +liberty again, for want of men to guard them. In one of the temples he +found a quantity of clothes, arms, and horse-trappings, among which were +two saddles; all of which the Indians had brought as offerings to their +idols. + +In this place Sandoval stayed three days, during which time the caziques +of the country came to beg pardon of him, and to take the oath of +allegiance to his majesty; but he informed them they must return the +stolen gold before he could think of granting their request. To which +the caziques answered, that the Mexicans had taken away all the gold, +and presented it to their new king. Upon this Sandoval referred them to +Cortes himself, and he marched back to our head-quarters, with a great +number of women and young men, whom he had taken prisoners, and marked +with the iron. + +Cortes was highly delighted at beholding these troops return in so good +a condition, though they had three horses killed and eight men heavily +wounded, among whom was Sandoval himself, who had been struck by an +arrow. For myself, I was not present in this expedition, for I was +suffering severely at the time from fever and spitting of blood; but +thank God I recovered, after frequent bleeding. + +The caziques of Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, besides several other chiefs of +the neighbouring districts, now came to Cortes; they begged for peace, +took the oath of allegiance to our emperor, and furnished us with +provisions. + +This expedition was attended by many beneficial results; for the whole +country was thereby tranquillized, while it spread a vast idea of +Cortes' justice and bravery throughout the whole of New Spain; so that +every one feared him, and particularly Quauhtemoctzin, the new king of +Mexico. Indeed Cortes' authority rose at once to so great a height, that +the inhabitants came from the most distant parts to lay their disputes +before him, particularly respecting the election of caziques, right of +tenure, and division of property and subjects. About this time thousands +of people were carried off by the smallpox, and among them numbers of +caziques; and Cortes, as though he had been lord of the whole country, +appointed the new caziques, but made a point of nominating those who had +the best claim. + +Such a case happened with a near relative of Motecusuma, who was married +to the sovereign of Itztucan, by whom she had a son, who was +acknowledged as nephew to Motecusuma; the point in dispute being who the +heir was to that principality, this nephew, or some other grandee of the +country. Cortes decided in favour of Motecusuma's nephew, and they +adhered to his decision. Numerous similar disputes were brought for +Cortes' arbitration, even from the most distant districts. + +About this time we also learnt that nine of our countrymen had been put +to death in the township Cocotlan, called by us Castel Blanco, being +about twenty-four miles from our head-quarters. Sandoval therefore was +ordered thither, with thirty horse, one hundred foot, eight +crossbow-men, five musketeers, and a strong body of Tlascallans, who +always proved themselves faithful friends and brave warriors. Here again +Sandoval sent five distinguished personages of Tepeaca to the Cocotlans +with the usual offers of peace, accompanied by threats; but as there was +a strong garrison of Mexicans lying in the town, they returned for +answer that they had already a king in Quauhtemoctzin, and wanted no +other; nor did they see any reason why they should send us ambassadors. +They would meet us on the field of battle; their strength was as great +now as it was in Mexico, at the bridges, and the canals; and how much +our valour had availed us there they had sufficiently experienced. + +On receiving this answer, Sandoval regulated the order of attack, in +which the instructions he gave the Tlascallans were remarkable, namely, +that they should not rush in upon the enemy at the same moment with the +Spaniards, for fear of shying our horses, and lest they should expose +themselves to the fire of our muskets, as had often been the case on +previous occasions. They were commanded to remain stationary until the +enemy was routed, and then follow in pursuit. + +Having made these regulations, Sandoval marched towards the township. He +had not advanced far before he came up with two bodies of the enemy, who +had taken up a position in a hollow at the back of a barricade, which +had been constructed of trees cut for the purpose. For a time the +enemy's troops fought with desperate courage; but Sandoval kept up so +sharp a fire upon them with the crossbows and muskets, that he soon was +enabled to force a passage with the horse. In this attack four of his +men and nine horses were wounded, one of which died soon after. Though +the number of loose stones here were great obstacles to the cavalry, yet +he succeeded in breaking through the enemy's ranks, and he advanced up +to the town itself, in front of which stood a large building and +fortification, besides several temples, in which other detachments of +the enemy were stationed. Here Sandoval encountered a momentary and +desperate resistance, but the Indians were again beaten, with seven +killed. The Tlascallans now no longer waited the signal for pursuit, but +rushed forward the more bravely, as this district lay near to their own +territory. Numbers of females and people of the lower classes were taken +prisoners. + +After this victory, Sandoval remained there two days, and despatched one +of the Tepeacan chiefs to the caziques of the district to summon them +into his presence. They were not long before they made their appearance, +and begged forgiveness for the murder of the Spaniards. He told them +this would be granted on condition they delivered up all the property +they had found on those they had put to death. They answered, however, +that this was out of their power, since everything had been burnt, but +owned that the greater part of the Spaniards had been eaten up by +themselves, and that five had been sent alive to Quauhtemoctzin in +Mexico. They had now, they thought, received sufficient chastisement for +those they had murdered by the losses they had sustained in this battle; +they hoped, therefore, he would pardon them, and they would, in return, +furnish us with excellent provisions, and also forward a large supply to +Malinche's head-quarters. Sandoval, finding that nothing further was to +be got out of them, granted their request, for which they appeared very +grateful, and offered to do him all manner of good services. Sandoval +now returned with his troops to Tepeaca, and met with a most hearty +reception from us all. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXV. + + _How all the slaves we had taken in Tepeaca, Quauhquechola, Tecalco, + and Castilblanco, were brought together in our head-quarters, and + branded with an iron, in his majesty's name._ + + +After peace had thus been restored to the whole province, and the +inhabitants had submitted to the sceptre of his majesty, Cortes, finding +there was nothing further to be done at present, determined, with the +crown officers, to mark all the slaves with the iron, and set apart the +fifth of them for his majesty. Notice was, therefore, given that every +person was to come with his slaves to a certain house appointed for the +purpose, that they might be marked with the red-hot iron. Every man, +accordingly, brought the females and young men he had taken prisoners; +for grown-up men were of no use to us, as they were so difficult to +watch, and we cared not to admit them into our service, as we were well +satisfied with the Tlascallans. After all the slaves had been brought +together and severally marked with the letter G, the emperor's fifths +and then Cortes' were deducted before we were aware of it; and, besides +this, on the night preceding, the finest of the Indian females had been +secretly set apart, so that when it came to a division among us +soldiers, we found none left but old and ugly women. This occasioned +excessive murmuring against Cortes and all those who had thus picked and +chosen before us; and some of Narvaez's men told Cortes to his face that +they were not aware, up to the present moment, there were two kings in +the Spanish dominions, and that two royal fifths could be demanded. A +certain Juan Bono, who was also loud in his complaints, added, that such +proceedings should not be permitted in New Spain, and that he would send +information of it to his majesty and the council of India. Another +soldier asked Cortes if the division he had made of the gold in Mexico +was not a sufficient imposition? for, at first, he had merely spoken of +300,000 pesos, but when we were obliged to retreat from the city, it was +estimated at 700,000 pesos. And now he was going to deprive the poor +soldier, who had undergone so many hardships, and suffered from +innumerable wounds, of this small remuneration, and not even allow him a +pretty Indian female for a companion! When notice was given, continued +he, that each person was to produce his prisoners, in order that they +might be marked, it was thought they would have been valued, and that +the emperor's fifths would have been deducted therefrom in money, and +that no mention would have been made of fifths for Cortes. + +Similar and even severer speeches were in every one's mouth respecting +Cortes' fifths, until the latter began to consider it high time to +pacify these daring spirits. He stated, therefore, and swore upon his +conscience, (for this was his usual oath,) that it should not happen in +future, but that all the prisoners should be valued, and sold at their +valuation, which would put a stop to all further discontent on that +head. This resolution was subsequently adhered to, particularly after +the conquest of Tezcuco, where we took a vast number of prisoners. + +If this circumstance had occasioned ill blood, another of a different +nature occasioned worse. The reader will remember that, on the night of +sorrows, after as much of the gold had been stowed away as could be, +Cortes had given what remained as prize-money to the soldiers. Many of +Narvaez's men and several of ours had dived deep into the gold, and most +of those who had overloaded themselves with it lost their lives in the +retreat. Several, however, had had the good fortune to escape with their +treasures, but had paid dearly for it with severe wounds and the risk of +their lives. + +When Cortes learnt that there were still a great many bars of gold among +the men, and heavy gambling in consequence, (for, according to the old +saying, gold and love cannot lie long concealed,) he made known, under +threats of severe punishment, that every one should produce the gold he +had obtained on the night of our retreat from Mexico, of which one third +was to be returned to him; but that any one who refused to pay this, +should have the whole taken from him. Many of our men refused downright +to comply with this; yet Cortes managed to extort a good deal of it +under the pretence of a loan: but, as most of the officers and crown +officials had also well stocked themselves with gold on that occasion, +Cortes suddenly dropped the question, and nothing further was heard of +it. It is certain, however, that this circumstance injured him vastly in +every one's opinion. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXVI. + + _How the chief officers and principal personages of Narvaez's troops + request leave to return to Cuba, which Cortes grants, and they + accordingly leave; also how our general sends ambassadors to Spain, + St. Domingo, and Jamaica._ + + +The officers of Narvaez's troops and those who had come from Jamaica in +Garay's expedition, seeing that the whole province of Tepeaca was now +tranquillized, begged Cortes would fulfil his promise, and allow them to +depart for Cuba; who not only granted them their request, but promised +them, and particularly Duero and Bermudez, that he would give them much +more gold after the total conquest of New Spain and Mexico, than they +had previously received. In the meantime he furnished them with +provisions of the kinds we had, consisting in maise, salted dog's flesh, +and fowls. He likewise gave them one of our best vessels, and sent by +them letters to his wife Catalina Suarez de Mercayda, and to his +brother-in-law Juan Suarez, who was then staying at Cuba. These letters +were accompanied by a few bars of gold and some jewels, and contained, +among other things, an account of our overthrow at Mexico. + +All those who left New Spain on that occasion had accumulated great +riches, and I will give their names, as far as my memory permits. Duero, +Bermudez, Bono, Bernardino Quesada, Francisco Velasquez, with the +hunchback, a relation of the governor of Cuba; Carrasco, who afterwards +returned to New Spain, and now lives at Puebla; Melchior de Velasco, of +Guatimala; a certain Ximenes, who lives at Quaxaca, and was obliged to +go to Cuba on account of his son; the accountant Leon de Cervantes, who +made the same excuse to see his daughter there, for whom he concluded a +most excellent match after the conquest of Mexico; Maldonado de Medellin +was forced to leave on account of ill health; the other of that name, +who was surnamed the proud, and was married to a lady named Maria Arias, +likewise left us; further, a certain Vargas, of Trinidad, who, at Cuba, +was commonly called the gallant; lastly, one of Cortes' old warriors, +the pilot Cardenas, who said to one of his companions, "We soldiers may +now take our repose, since New Spain has two kings." Cortes had +presented him with 300 pesos, to induce him to return with his wife and +family. Besides these men, there were many others whose names I have +forgotten, which, indeed, is a good thing, for it prevents me from +going too much into detail. + +As soon as Cortes had given them permission to leave, we asked him why +he had allowed them to depart, as he knew there would be so few of us +remaining? Cortes said he had done so to rid himself of their eternal +complaints and solicitations. We likewise knew that many of them were +not fit for service, and it was better to be alone than in bad company. + +Pedro de Alvarado was commissioned to see them safe on board, with +orders to return immediately to head-quarters after they had left. + +About this time Cortes also despatched Ordas and Alonso de Mendoza on +business to Spain, but for what particular purpose he never told us. We +only heard that the bishop of Burgos told Ordas to his face that we were +all villains and traitors, and that Ordas had boldly defended us. The +latter, on this occasion, was made comptoir of Santiago, and received +permission from the emperor to assume a burning mountain in his coat of +arms. What he further did in Spain I will relate hereafter. + +Alonso de Avila, who was treasurer of New Spain, and Alvarez Chico, +another thorough man of business, were despatched in another vessel to +St. Domingo to render an account of all we had done to the royal court +of audience there, and to the Hieronymite brothers, who were appointed +viceroys over the whole of the islands, to gain their approbation of our +proceedings against Narvaez, and their sanction of the manner in which +we had enslaved and punished the inhabitants who had murdered the +Spaniards and rebelled against his majesty: and their opinion as to +whether Cortes should not similarly punish all those tribes who, as +allies of the Mexicans, had been guilty of like offences. Lastly, Cortes +begged of them to inform his majesty of all this, and of the great +services we had rendered and still daily rendered to the crown; and +requested them to favour our just cause against the bishop of Burgos, +who was striving to work out our ruin. + +A third vessel was despatched by Cortes to Jamaica, to purchase horses +there, the command of which was given to Solis, who was the son-in-law +of the bachelor Ortega. Here the reader might be induced to ask whence +Cortes obtained the money to do all this? In reply to which, I can only +say that of the gold stowed away by Narvaez's and our own troops, +particularly by the horse, a great quantity was certainly saved. Besides +that, many of the eighty Tlascallans, who were loaded with the gold, and +retreated from Mexico in the vanguard, got safely over the bridges. We +poor soldiers, who had not to command but to obey, cared very little at +that time whether there was plenty of gold or not, but were happy if we +escaped alive and were able to cure our wounds. However, of the gold +that was saved, Cortes received as much back as he could possibly lay +his hands on; our men likewise suspected that he had put into his own +pocket again the 40,000 pesos, being the share of the Mexican treasure +belonging to the garrison of Vera Cruz. With this money he sent persons +to Spain and St. Domingo on his own private business, and others to +Jamaica to purchase horses. + +Perfect tranquillity being now again restored to the province of +Tepeaca, Cortes marched back with his troops to Tlascalla, and left +Francisco de Orozco behind, with twenty invalid soldiers, as commandant +of Villa Segura. + +Cortes then ordered the necessary quantity of wood to be felled for +building thirteen brigantines, with which another attack was to be made +upon Mexico; for we were convinced we should not be able to make any +impression upon that town without a small fleet, nor ever again be able +to enter it by the causeways. Martin Lopez was appointed by Cortes to +superintend the important business of constructing these brigantines, +for he was not only a good soldier, but, upon the whole, rendered his +majesty the greatest services in all our warlike operations. On this +occasion again, he set to work with his usual assiduity, and it was very +fortunate that this man had been with us from the beginning; for, if we +had been forced to send for a ship-builder from Spain, we should have +lost much valuable time, and we might not have found a man who suited so +well. + +On our arrival in Tlascalla, we found that our old friend Maxixcatzin, +one of his majesty's most faithful vassals, was no more, he having died +of the smallpox. We were all sorely grieved at this loss, and Cortes +himself, as he assured us, felt it as much as if he had lost his own +father. We put on black cloaks in mourning for him, and paid the last +honours to the remains of our departed friend, in conjunction with his +sons and relations. + +A dispute having arisen in Tlascalla respecting the heir to the +caziquedom, Cortes pronounced in favour of the deceased's son, in +accordance with the last wishes of his late father. Maxixcatzin, on his +death-bed, strongly advised his whole family to remain faithful to +Malinche and his brothers; for they, he said, were certainly those +people for whom the dominion of these countries had been predestined. + +However, let us leave the dead in peace, and turn to the living. The +elder Xicotencatl, Chichimeclatecl, and the other caziques of +Tlascalla, one and all gladly offered their assistance to Cortes in +cutting wood for the building of the brigantines, and generally to aid +in prosecuting the war against Mexico. + +Cortes gave them all a hearty embrace, and thanked them for their great +kindness, especially Chichimeclatecl and Xicotencatl, the latter of whom +eventually became a convert to Christianity, and was baptized by father +Olmedo with every solemnity, and received the name of Don Lorenzo de +Vargas. + +In the meantime the preparations for the building of our brigantines +were going on very fast; the wood being soon felled and prepared for use +with the assistance of the Indians; an excellent soldier named Andreas +Nunez, and Ramirez the elder, an old carpenter who had been lamed by a +wound, rendering most efficient services. Matters being thus far +advanced, Cortes sent for a quantity of ironwork, anchors, sails, and +ropes, from the vessels which had been destroyed at Vera Cruz, and +ordered all the smiths of that town to repair to Tlascalla. Above 1000 +Indians were despatched thither to transport these things. The cauldrons +for boiling and preparing the tar were likewise brought from Vera Cruz, +and we were now only in want of the materials for making it, the +preparation of which was wholly unknown to the Indians; but here again +Cortes was not at a loss, for he picked out four men from among the +sailors who understood its preparation, and for that purpose sent them +off to a forest of pine trees near Huexotzinco. + +Though it may, perhaps, be rather out of place here, I must answer a +question which has been put to me by several cavaliers respecting Alonso +de Avila, with whom they were well acquainted. They knew that this man, +though treasurer of New Spain, was, at the same time, an excellent +soldier, and felt more inclination for the life of a warrior than for +business; they could not, therefore, imagine why Cortes should exactly +have selected him to confer with the Hieronymite brothers at St. +Domingo, and that he had not rather chosen some person of more +business-like habits; as, for instance, Alonso de Grado, or Juan de +Cacares, called the wealthy, or others whose names they mentioned to me. +Cortes had no other motive than to get Avila out of the way, because he +spoke his mind too freely, and took every occasion to side with us +soldiers if he saw we were unjustly dealt with. To this was added, that +the latter had fallen out with several of our officers, from a frankness +of disposition displeasing to them. And, lastly, Cortes was desirous of +conferring the command of a company on Andreas de Tapia, and of +appointing Alonso de Grado treasurer, both of which were only possible +by removing Avila. + +Cortes now determined to march, with the whole of his men, to Tezcuco, +as the wood for constructing the brigantines was ready prepared, and we +had got rid of Narvaez's men, who made difficulties in all our +expeditions, and always argued against any attempt to besiege Mexico, +maintaining we were not sufficiently numerous for that purpose; by which +means they infected others with their cowardice. Previous to our leaving +for Tezcuco, however, various deliberations took place as to which would +be the most eligible spot for launching our brigantines. Some of our men +maintained that Ayotzinco, near to Chalco, on account of its canals and +harbour, was better adapted for this purpose; others, again, preferred +Tezcuco, and were of opinion that, once having taken possession of that +town, standing as it did in the midst of so many other populous +townships, we should be better able to plan our operations against +Mexico. + +We had scarcely decided in favour of the latter place, when three men +arrived with the news from Vera Cruz that a large Spanish vessel had run +in there from the Canaries, having on board a quantity of crossbows, +muskets, powder, and other ammunition, besides three horses and thirteen +soldiers. The owner of the cargo was a certain Juan de Burgos, and the +captain of the vessel was named Francisco Medel. + +The reader may easily imagine our joy at this news; and if we had +previously felt in good spirits for our intended expedition, we now felt +the more so on hearing of the arrival of these timely succours. Cortes +immediately bargained with Burgos for the whole of the ammunition and +cargo, who himself, with Medel and all the passengers, came to our +head-quarters, where they met with the kindest reception. Among the +passengers there was a certain rich man, named Juan del Espinar, who +once lived in Guatimala; further, a certain Sagredo, from Medellin; a +Biscayan, named Monjaraz, uncle of the other two of that name serving +among us. This Monjaraz had a very beautiful daughter, who subsequently +came to Mexico, and was commonly called Monjaraza. But this Monjaraz did +not accompany us in any of our expeditions, as he was always suffering +from ill health. It was not until we had laid regular siege to Mexico +that he came to us in good health, and told us he was desirous of seeing +how we carried on this war, and our mode of attacking the Mexicans, of +whose bravery he entertained a very mean opinion. On this occasion he +mounted to the top of an Indian temple, which was shaped like a tower; +from that moment, however, we never saw him again, nor did we ever learn +how the Mexicans got at him, or what became of him. Many persons who +had known him on the island of St. Domingo saw the hand of God in his +sudden death: for they related that he had put his own wife, a most +virtuous, excellent, and beautiful woman, to death, without any cause or +provocation; and that he had escaped punishment for his crime by +proving, through false witnesses, she had attempted to poison him. I +must, however, leave these old tales, and begin earnestly to think of +our march to Tezcuco. + +[Transcriber's Note: Notes to the First Volume, that is, endnotes at the +end of this volume, have been included as footnotes under the relevant +chapter.] + +END OF VOL. I. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal +Diaz del Castillo, Vol 1 (of 2), by Bernal Diaz del Castillo + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO, 1 OF 2 *** + +***** This file should be named 32474.txt or 32474.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/4/7/32474/ + +Produced by Julia Miller, Jane Hyland and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |