CHAPTER IV.
Expeditions under various officers.
AS the views
of Cortes were always lofty and tending towards domination, and as he was well
supported by the talents and bravery of his captains and soldiers, after having
established his power in the great city of Mexico, and in Guaxaca,
Zacatula, Colima, Vera Cruz, Panuco,
and Guacacualco, he learned that in the province of Guatimala; there were populous nations, and rich mines. He
therefore determined to send a force under Pedro de Alvarado, to conquer and
colonize that country, and having first sent an embassy thither, ineffectually,
Alvarado at the head of three hundred infantry, and one hundred and thirty five
cavalry, two hundred Tlascalans and Cholulans, and one hundred Mexican allies, with four pieces
of cannon, was ordered to march to that province.
Cortes
gave instructions to Alvarado, that he should if possible bring those nations
over to him by peaceable methods, and that Fra Bartholome should preach to them upon the articles of our
holy religion; that all prisons and cages should be broken in pieces, and the
prisoners set at liberty.
The
expedition set out from
( 352 )
Soconusco, which last place contained upwards of fifteen thousand
houses, came into the neighbourhood of a place called
Zapotitlan, at a river over which there was a bridge,
they perceived a number of bodies of warriors drawn up to dispute the passage
with them. An action ensued in which many soldiers were wounded, and a horse
killed. So numerous were the Indians, that the Spaniards could not break or
disperse them without three very hard fought battles.
From this
place Alvarado continued his march, under constant alarms from the neighbouring Indians of Quetzaltenango, and after some time
he arrived at a defile which ascends a mountain, for the length of about a
league and a half. When he arrived at the summit, he found there an Indian
woman, very fat, and having with her a dog of that species which they breed in
order to eat, and which do not bark. This Indian was a witch; she was in the act
of sacrificing the dog, which is a signal of hostility. Shortly after, our army
perceived multitudes of armed Indians advancing upon them on all sides, in a
difficult broken tract of ground, where the cavalry could not charge. The
infantry advanced, but our troops soon perceived that these Indians acted upon
a regular plan; for they retreated into the most rough and difficult ground,
where above six thousand of the warriors of Utatlan,
which is adjacent to Quetzaltenango, fell upon our people. They were however
for the present put to flight, but soon rallied, being reinforced by fresh
troops in great numbers, who waited our advance, and fought our troops foot to
foot parties of three or four of them seizing a horse before and behind, and endeavouring to pull him to the ground. During this time
the exertions of Alvarado, and the exhortations of Fra
Bartholome, who represented to our soldiers the
service which they owed to God, and that they must conquer or die, for the
extension of our holy faith, never ceased; thus animated, our troops completely
succeeded in dispersing the Indians. They then halted in the field and were
unmolested by the enemy for three days; after which they advanced to the town
of
Meaning
to give some repose to his troops, Alvarado was disappointed to find that the
Indians were now assembled in greater force, and determined to attack him in
his post. On their approach, to the number of about sixteen thousand, for their
army was composed of two Xiquipils, Alvarado drew out
his troops in a plain, and advancing upon the enemy, completely deseated them, with such loss, that for a long time after,
they remained completely under awe of the Spaniards.
The
chiefs now proposed to treat for a peace, and sent ambassadors to Alvarado who
received them kindly, but they had at the same time arranged a plan for the
destruction of the Spanish force, and it was this. Not far distant was a place
called Utatlan, in a difficult country, and
surrounded with defiles, whither they persuaded him to march, and it was
determined, that when the Spaniards were arrived, they should be fallen on by
surprise with the forces of both the districts. Alvarado marched for Utatlan, but on his arrival remarked the bad situation of
the place. This town was of considerable strength, having only two gates, to
one of which was an ascent of about five and twenty steps, and the other opened
to a very bad and broken causeway. The streets were very narrow, and the houses
joined; and in case of being attacked, the ground about the town was unfit for
cavalry. The Spaniards observed also that the women and common people had
disappeared; and some Indians of the place which they had left told them, that
warriors were posted in ambuscade round the town, which it was intended that
night to set fire to, and that was to be a signal for a general attack.
Alvarado
therefore ordered his troops under arms, and marched out into the open country,
telling the caciques that it was to give his horses grass. They did not seem
pleased with this change, and as soon as Alvarado had his troops clear of the
town he seized the cacique who governed it, and
reproaching him for his treason, ordered that he should be burnt alive, but Olmedo obtained a respite and permission to use his
endeavours to convert him to our holy faith; he
accordingly preached an entire day, and at list succeeded, and as an
indulgence, instead of being burned he was hanged, and his territory given to
his son. Alvarado now fell upon, and dispersed such of the natives as remained
about the town, and his success having become known in Guatimala,
previous to his arrival on the frontiers of that nation which was in hostility
with the people of Utatlan, they determined to treat;
for that purpose they sent an embassy charged with a quantity of gold, and to
declare their submission as vassals to his Majesty; they offered at the same
time to serve in his wars. Alvarado accepted their submission and their offer
of service, desiring them to send to him two thousand of their warriors, which
requisition was immediately complied with. As the people had rebelled again,
Alvarado continued in the country of Utatlai about
eight days, collecting a considerable spoil and many slaves, and then setting
forward on his march, he soon arrived at the city of
During
this time the greaten harmony prevailed between Alvarado and his troops, and
the natives, the chiefs of whom informed him that in their neighbourhood
was a nation called the Altitans, who possessed
several strong fortresses on the side of a lake, and who refused to come in and
make submission. They also represented them as a bad and malicious people. To
these Alvarado sent an invitation, but they maltreated the persons who brought
it, in consequence of which, he found it necessary to go with an armed force,
and taking with him one hundred and forty Spanish soldiers, and two thousand Guatimalans, he marched against them, renewing his offer,
which was returned by a discharge of arrows from their warriors, who marched
out armed in coats of mail, and sounding warlike instruments. Alvarado put them
to flight, and pursued them, with considerable loss, to their fortresses which
were over the lake. He then drove them from thence, and making several
prisoners, compelled them to take to the water, and cross over to an island.
The principal persons whom he had taken, he set at liberty, and bid them go and
use their endeavours to persuade their countrymen to
a peace.
Between
threats and promises Alvarado at length succeeded, after which he returned to Guatimala. Fra Bartholome exerted himself with effect in his holy office,
for, erecting an altar and an image of our Lady, he
explained the mysteries of our faith to the natives, who imitated our example
in adoring the Holy Virgin.
A people
who came from a distance towards the south, to make submission, and who were
named the Pipiles, told our chief, that in their way
was a nation called the Izcuintepeques, of a very
malignant and obstinate disposition, who maltreated all such as went through
their country. To them he sent an invitation to come in and make submission,
which they neglecting, he marched against them with his whole force and a body
of his allies of Guatimala, and coming on them by
surprise he made great destruction among them. This was an unfortunate event,
productive of mischief, and directly contrary to his Majesty’s orders. I have
now given the reader a summary account of the conquest and pacification of Guatimala and its dependencies, but it may be found at full
length as written by Gonzalo de Alvarado. I was not present at it, nor did I go
into that province until my return from Higueras. The
Indians of this province are not good soldiers; only waiting the attack in
broken ground.
Cortes
had been informed that the provinces of Higueras and
Honduras contained rich mines, and certain sailors also told him, they had met
with the natives fishing, and that they used nets which had weights of gold
mixed with copper; as also, that a straight, or passage, was probably somewhere
about that coast. In compliance with his Majesty’s orders, he therefore
determined to send a body of troops thither under Christoval
de Oli to search for this passage to the
Mexico,
the companions of Cortes and his Majesty’s veteran servants, who had retired to
their houses and repose, were commanded to take up arms again on this occasion;
and it was of no use to tell Cortes that any one had served long enough, or
suffered hardships, for when Cortes ordered no remonstrances availed. There was
also one Briones, a seafaring man, of a seditious
disposition, and a bitter enemy to Cortes, and many of the soldiers who
embarked thought they had been ill used in the distribution of lands and
property.
The
instructions given to De Oli were, to sail to the Havannah, to receive provisions and necessaries, and pursue
his voyage to Higueras, where he was to make enquiry
whether any harbour, straight, or pottage lay to the
southward; also to search for mines of gold, and silver, and in some commodious
situation to build a town, not neglecting the interests of the church, for the
extension whereof, two reverend friars, one of whom spoke the Mexican language,
were to attend the expedition.
De Oli embarked from Villa Rica, and arrived at the Havannah, where he took on board his provisions and horses
and also five persons of those who had come out with Garay,
and who had been expelled from the settlement of Panuco
for seditious conduct. These persons attached themselves to De Oli, and began to instil their
poisonous counsels in his mind, advising him to renounce his obedience to
Cortes. Briones also laboured
in this, and having concerted matters with Velasquez the mortal enemy of
Cortes, it was settled amongst them, that De Oli
should put himself under Velasquez, who would support him in his expedition,
and also make such representations at court, that the new settlement should be
taken out of the hands of Cortes, and the government thereof given to De Oli. This man was of great personal valour;
a very good soldier, but unfit to be a commander; he was at this time about
thirty six years of age, and was a native of Baeza or
Linares; he had a goods person and countenance, a cleft in his under lip, and
his voice was rough and fierce; he was endued with many
good
qualities, being sincere, and for a long time much attached to Cortes; until
the ambition of governing, and dislike of being governed, perverted his mind,
by the influence of bad advisers. He had been brought up in the house of
Velasquez, but was under much greater obligations to Cortes.
De Oli set sail from the Havannah,
and on the third of May arrived at his station, which he on that account named
El Triumpho de la Cruz. Here he appointed his civil
administration, making his alcaldes and regidors of those whom Cortes had recommended to him. He
also took possession of the country for his Majesty in the name of Cortes. His
motive for doing this was, because he wished to conceal from these persons his
secession from his general, and wished to keep them his friends until he could
ascertain how the business was likely to turn out; for, if the country was as
rich as he had reason to suppose, he intended to throw Cortes off and set up an
independent government; if on the other hand, it should appear not to be
valuable, he could return to his possessions at Mexico, and gloss over to,
Cortes his negociations with Velasquez, by pretending
it was done in order to put him in good humour, and
induce him to give him the necessary supplies. Thus was the new colony of El Triumpho de la Cruz established, from whence no
intelligence reached Cortes for upwards of eight months.
In the town
of Guacacualco were a considerable number of
veterans, and Spaniards of quality, who were entrusted with the government of
the province of that name, together with those of Citla,
Tabasco, Cimatan, Chontalpa,
Cachula, Zoque, the Quilenes, Cinacatan, and Chamuela, Chiapa of the Indians, Papanausta, Pinula, Xaltepeque, Guazpaltepeque, Chinanta, and Tepeque. In the
whole of
The
district of Cimatan being particularly refractory,
and Captain Luis Marin being unwilling at that time to send a body of troops
thither, it was determined that four neighbours,
whereof I was one, should be sent to try if we could bring the people to
reason. Accordingly, setting out upon our journey, when we approached the
principal town, we dispatched messengers to acquaint the people with our
business. When we came nearer to it we were met by a large body of Indians,
armed with lances, and bows and arrows, who killed two of my comrades, and
wounded me desperately in the throat. My surviving companion after a few blows
provided for himself by making off to some canoes by the bank of the river Macapa, so that I was left alone; I however retained sufficiently
my senses, to creep into some bushes where recovering a little, I addressed
myself to heaven, and implored the aid of our Holy Virgin, beseeching her not
to let me die in the hands of those dogs of Indians. Then, feeling my powers
return to me, I sallied out, and forcing my passage through the natives, giving
many good cuts by the way, I made my escape to where my comrade was in the
canoes, with four Indians whom we had brought with us to carry our baggage,
which they had thrown away, and which the natives quitted us; to pillage. As it
was the will of God that we should not lot our lives on this occasion, we then
got across the river, which is very broad and deep, and full of alligators. To
avoid the Indians we were obliged to remain eight days concealed in the woods,
and from our not appearing, we were all concluded to
be lost. As was the custom at that time, our property was forthwith divided
amongst the other Spaniards, however at the end of twenty three days we
returned to our town, to the great joy of our friends, and disappointment of
those who had gotten possession of our lands and Indians.
Captain
Marin now thought proper to go to Cortes to represent the state of affairs, and
demand more soldiers. He accordingly set out and waited on Cortes, who gave him
thirty soldiers, commanded by Alonzo de Grado, with
orders for the whole body of Spaniards to march for the
for the purpose of reducing it, and of building a town
there, to keep the inhabitants in check.
The first
thing necessary was to make a road through the woods, in a very marshy country
where we were obliged to make causeways for the horses to pass. Proceeding
thus, we arrived at a place called Tezpuztlan, and
continued our route to another town named Cachula,
from whence we proceeded, there being no passage previous to our expedition,
from the sear the other natives have of those of Chiapa,
who undoubtedly were at that time the bravest warriors in America; they also
robbed passengers and travelling merchants, and
brought off the inhabitants of these districts to colonize and till their
ground, nor could the Mexicans, ever subdue them. This our
expedition took place in Lent, the year I cannot bring to my recollection, but
think it was one thousand five hundred and twenty four. When we came near the
city of Chiapa, we made a review of our force, which
consisted of twenty seven horse men, twenty three musqueteers,
and a field piece under the direction of a gunner who told us that he had
served in Italy; however that was, he was of no use, being a very cowardly
fellow. We had seventy foot soldiers armed with sword and target, and about
eighty Mexicans. The cacique of Cachula with some of
his principal people attended us, trembling with fear; four soldiers of the
most active of our little army, of whom I was one, were always sent forward to reconnoitre; the ground not being fit for a horse I left
mine behind, and we were usually in front of the army about half a league. The
people of Chiapa being much accustomed to hunting,
some of them who were thus employed perceiving us at a distance gave the alarm,
and made signals by smoke.
As we
approached their first settlement, which is called Estapa,
and is distant four leagues from the principal town, we found the roads, which
ran through cultivated grounds, wide and convenient; and on each side were
plentiful crops of corn, and vegetables. We entered this town, but the
inhabitants had quitted it, and having posted our
guards and sent out patroles, the remainder went to
rest; but we were soon roused
by the arrival of two of our out party, who came in at full speed to tell
us, that the natives were collecting from all parts to attack us. We stood to
our arms, and advanced to meet them out of the town, where a very severe action
ensued, for they were provided with darts hardened in fire, war clubs, and
lances larger than ours, and also a good defensive armour
made of cotton. As the field of battle was very stoney,
their slingers did us infinite mischief. They approached us so close that in
the first attack they killed two of our soldiers, and four houses, wounded our
reverend father, Fra Juan, and thirteen soldiers, and
destroyed many of our allies. Our captain, Marin, also was wounded in two
places. This action lasted till dark night, when, having made an unsatisfactory
experiment of-the sharpness of our swords and the effect of our musquetry, the enemy retired, leaving behind them fifteen
killed, and many wounded, from two of whom, apparently principal people, we
learned, that on the next day a general attack was intended upon us.
The
manner in which the enemy had fought convinced us that they were no despicable
warriors: for when a cavalry man halted to make a thrust the Indians seized the
horse, and wrested the lance out of the horseman’s hand, or pulled him to the
ground.
On the
next day we pursued our route to the city of
last we succeeded in rousing him, he fired the piece with no
other effect than that of wounding three of our own men. Our captain gave
orders to the cavalry to form in small bodies, and the musqueteers,
crossbow-men, and sword and buckler men, to close into one compact battalion,
whereby the cavalry and infantry supported each other. The enemy were so
numerous that had we not been the men we were, it would have gone very hard
with us, and we ourselves were astonished at the bravery of our adversaries;
but good father Bartholome stood firmly by us, and
administered comfort to us by his exhortations, promising that we should be
rewarded for our exertions, both by God and by Caesar. Our Captain Marin
likewise frequently encouraged us, calling out to charge them in the name of
St. Jago. We at length forced them to fly before us;
but as there were hard by, tracts of very rocky ground where the cavalry could
not follow them, fresh bodies of Indians fell upon us by surprise, while we,
thinking the day our own, were returning thanks to God and our Lady. Of these
troops a number were prepared with long thongs to twist round the horses, and
throw them down, and they had also stretched out the nets which they used in
hunting, for the same purpose. The enemy attacked us here so desperately that
hardly one of our soldiers escaped without a wound; they wrested the lances
from some of our cavalry, and killed two soldiers and five horses. In the
centre of their army was a woman, aged, and immoderately fat, who was esteemed
by them a goddess, and had promised them the victory. They had also incense in
a pan, and certain idols made of stone. This woman, who had her body painted,
and cotton mixed with the paint, advanced without any fear among our allies,
who were formed by companies, and by whom this infernal deity was in a very
short time torn to pieces.
During
this time the battle raged, and we and our captain recommending ourselves to
our Lady, and beseeching the reverend father to pray for us, threw ourselves
into the thickest of it, and forced the enemy to fly, some to the rocks, others
to the river, whereby they effected their escape, being excellent swimmers. We
then halted to take breath,
and our good friar, joined by the soldiers, sang the hymn
which begins “Salve &c,” and we returned thanks to God for the victory. Our
army then advanced towards a town by the side of a river, where we remained the
entire day and night, paying particular attention to
the concealment of our dead.
About
Our
captain now sent messengers inviting them to peace, and shortly after, they
sent a deputation of their chiefs, praying forgiveness, and requesting to be
admitted subjects to his Majesty. They also desired that the neighbouring nations might not be permitted to destroy
their houses and plantations, which request was readily granted. When we went
into this town we found many prisoners confined it wooden cages, who had been seized by them when travelling.
All these were released and sent to their homes. In their temples we found
idols of horrid figure, which Fra Juan broke to
pieces, and also many remains of men and boys just sacrificed, and other traces
of their most abominable customs.
Our
captain then lent orders to all the neighbouring
nations to come in; amongst the first who obeyed were these of Chinacatan, Gopanaustla, Pinola, Gueguiztlan, Chamula, the Quilenes, and others
of the Zoque language, with many more which I do not
recollect. These people were much surprised when they perceived with how small
a body we had ventured to attack the warlike nation of the Chiapans,
whom the Mexicans never could conquer. Fra Juan
preached to them with great success, and many came to him to be baptised.
While
this was passing, a certain Spanish soldier, attended by eight Mexicans, went
to a town called Chamula, and there demanded without
any authority a contribution of gold in the name of his captain. A portion was
collected for him, but not satisfied therewith he attempted to seize the
cacique, which caused an insurrection in that and a neighbouring
town named Guehuistlan. As soon as our captain got
intelligence of it, he caused him to be seized, and immediately sent him off by
express, prisoner, to
We then
proceeded to Chamula, which in consequence of the
above related outrage continued in rebellion. We were assisted on our
march
by the people of Cinacatan, a polished and
mercantile nation, and arriving at Chamula, we found
this place strongly fortified by nature, and the inhabitants well armed, having
a large kind of shield with which they could cover the whole body, and which
when not wanted was rolled up. When we approached we were attacked with showers
of arrows, upon which our captain ordered the cavalry to go into the plain,
there to watch the insurgents of the neighbouring districts
of Quiabuitlan. Our musqueteers
then fired upon the enemy, but with very little effect, whereas their muffle
weapons injured us who were uncovered, materially. We were during this whole
day sighting thus, to very little purpose, and when we attempted to force the
ramparts, we found them guarded by above two thousand men armed with lances.
Finding our endeavours ineffectual, it was determined
to procure timber from another town which was depopulated, and to construct of
it the machines named burros or mantas, under cover of which twenty men or more
could approach, and remain under the walls, so as to work an entrance. We
therefore drew off for that time, and having procured the timber and
constructed these machines, we again proceeded to the attack. Under cover of
them our men endeavoured to undermine the wall, the
enemy throwing down upon us scalding water mixed with blood, fire, and heavy
stones, insomuch that we were quite in despair, and forced to retreat to repair
the machines, which having done, we again brought them to the walls, and
working under them we made different breaches. As soon as the enemy perceived
this, they sent up to the top of their ramparts four of their principal
persons, priests, and others, who addressed us covered with their thick
shields, and told us, that since we wanted gold we might have it; and therewith
threw over seven crowns of fine gold, together with a quantity of gold
trinkets, and other things made of that metal, cast in the forms of shells and
birds; and they also at the same time sent among us fresh showers of arrows,
darts, and stones. We had succeeded in making two considerable breaches in the
walls, but it was now dark, and a heavy rain began to fall; we were therefore
obliged to desist for that night, keeping good watch all round our post, and
the cavalry remaining on the plain
ground, saddled and bridled. The enemy during the, whole night
were sounding their warlike instruments, such as timbals,
and small trumpets, yelling, and threatening us with destruction on the next
day, which they said had been promised to them by their gods.
At day
break we again brought forward our machines, to work at their walls, which the
enemy defended with the greatest obstinacy, wounding five of our people, and
amongst them myself by a thrust, and were it not for the strength of my cotton
quilted armour, the lance would have gone through me.
Thus we were employed during the whole day, and the evening was drawing on,
with a heavy fall of rain and a very thick mist, as is frequently the case in
that mountainous country. In consequence of this our captain called us off from
the engagement, and about the same time the enemy ceasing to shout and make the
noises they had hitherto done, I, who was accustomed to business of the kind,
and also perceived that their lances were rested against the walls, barbicans,
and battlements, except about two hundred that still appeared to be in hand,
began to suspect they were going to abandon the place; in consequence whereof,
I and one of my comrades getting in at a small breach in the wall, to see what
they were doing, fell suddenly in upon upwards of two hundred of them in arms,
who attacked us with their lances, and would speedily have put an end to us,
but that some of our Indian allies who perceived our situation, called out to
the rest of our soldiers, who crouded in to where we
were surrounded by these Indians, who only composed the rear guard of the
garrison, for all the rest, men, women, and children, had evacuated the place
by the other gate.
These who
remained we quickly put to flight, and pursuing them, we came up with many of
the others, and made prisoners several men, women, and children. We now quitted
the town, and pursued our route towards Chinacatan,
halting for that night at a place where at present the city of
countrymen that if they submitted, he would deliver up to them the
whole of those he had taken, which message was delivered, and chearfully complied with.
In
consequence of the orders which Cortes had given to our captain, who was also
my particular friend, to give me some good situation, I was appointed to the
command of this encomienda which I held for eight
years. The first thing I did was, to get a reverend father to preach to the
Indians, and convert them to the christian
faith; we accordingly creed an altar and crucifix, and he preached to them to
good effect. The first day we baptised fifteen, to my
great satisfaction, for I loved and wished well to them, they being now my own.
There was in this neighbourhood a people who
inhabited three fortified towns, and were in rebellion against us, named the Gueguestitlans, and it became necessary to march against
and reduce them. Leaving therefore our wounded and baggage behind, the most
stout and active among us proceeded against them; they had barricaded all their
approaches with fallen trees, which we cleared by the assistance of our Indian
allies, and arrived under their fortresses, which appeared likely to give us
enough to do, for the first we came to was full of warriors who were well
appointed, offensively and defensively. When we mounted to the assault they all
fled and left the place to us, but our allies made two of them prisoners, who
were immediately released, and sent with offers of peace and good treatment to
their friends, on submission. These conditions they accepted and came in,
bringing with them some trifling presents of gold, and feathers of the quetzal.
Having
thus effected our business here, we proceeded
according to the directions of Cortes, to establish a colony. Hereupon there
was a difference of opinion amongst us, for some were for it, but others who had
plantations and Indians in Guacacualco were adverse,
objecting to it as an unfit situation for cavalry, and saying also that our
force in its present reduced state was insufficient, the district being
populous, and the towns built in the fastnesses of the mountains. Thus our
party fell
into disputes upon this and other subjects, for our captain,
Marin, and Diego de Godoy who was a royal notary and a very busy person, were
adverse to the plan. That troublesome fellow Alonzo de Grado,
also it appeared, was possessed of a patent from Cortes, giving him an encomienda in the
It was
now determined by us, to chastise those people who killed the two soldiers of
that party wherewith I was sent, as formerly mentioned. In our way we marched
through a district so very rugged, that the passage was impossible to our
horses without assistance, which, on an application to the caciques was readily
afforded us. These people are named Tapelola.
Continuing our route by the Silo, Suchiapa, and Coyumelapa districts we came to those of the Tecomayatacal and Ateapan
Indians. The houses in the chief town, which belonged to my district, joined
each other, and formed a very populous and extensive place.
Near this
was a large and deep river, which it was necessary to pass, and here we were
opposed by the people of the town and vicinity, but after a sharp action,
wherein we had six soldiers wounded and three horses killed, we put them to
flight, they all taking to the mountains and woods, having first set fire to
their town. We stayed here five days taking care of the wounded, and having
made many of the women of this place prisoners, our
captain sent to invite the people to peace, which was accepted, and they
returned to their homes. Godoy was averse from this lenity, and told our captain
that these people who had revolted without any reason should be punished, or at
any rate made to pay for the horses which were killed in the action. I was of a
different opinion, and thought that since they came peaceably they should not
be made to suffer; and giving my opinion freely, Godoy became enraged and broke
out into angry words, from which we came to blows, and drew our swords. A good
many cuts passed between us before we could be parted, and if we had not been
so, one or other of us would have lost his life. Marin, who was a good and mild
man, saw the impropriety of using harsh measures with these people, and
restoring all their property to them, left them in peace.
We
continued our march, and passing by other districts of Cimatlan,
and Talatiopan, we were assailed by a number of their
archers, who gave us a volley whereby above twenty of our soldiers were
wounded, and two horses killed; and but that we immediately attacked and drove
them from their post, they would have done us much mischief. I must observe, that these are the strongest archers that ever I
met with, for they drive their arrows through two suits of cotton mail well
quilted; which is a wonderful force. Their country is in great part marsh,
which shakes when a foot-man walks upon it. It was therefore in vain to pursue
the natives, and as for our offers of peace they treated them with neglect. We
therefore thought it best to make our shortest way to our town of
I do not
recollect, to Ulapa, and across the rivers Agaqualulco, and Tonala, to Guacacualco, where the killed horses were paid for at a
penny a pound.
As to De Grado, when he arrived at