did not, he must go to the town, though he should not do it any harm. Having thus concluded the conference, he returned to the ships.

These persons having delivered the message, all the chiefs, who were usually consulted in martial affairs, thought peace preferable to war, and immediately sent a number of Indians, loaded with roasted fish, poultry, bread, and several sorts of fruit. These being delivered, they laid some mats on the ground, and placed upon them several sorts of very beautiful feather works. After which they let the Spaniards know, that their lord would come the next day to pay them a visit.

Accordingly, at the time appointed, the cacique appeared, attended by many unarmed men, and, without showing the least jealousy, went on board Grijalva's ship. He was a genteel man, about twenty-eight years of age, and had on a loose coat of crimson velvet, a cap of the same, with other rich ornaments. He received the cacique with respect, and sitting down, they began their discourse, of which both parties understood very little, except by words interpreted by Julian and Melchior. After some time, the cacique ordered an Indian to take out of a trunk he carried, some plates of gold, and thin boards covered with the same metal for armour. These the cacique himself tied upon Grijalva, taking off those that did not fit, and applying others, until he had put on him a complete suit of gold armour. He also presented him various works in fine gold and feathers. In return Grijalva called for a very fine shirt, and with his own hands put it on the cacique, as he did also his great coat of crimson velvet. He then put on his feet a pair of new shoes; and gave him some of the best strings

of beads and looking-glasses, with scissars, knives, and several toys made of tin, some of which he also gave to his attendants. The cacique's present to Grijalva was worth about three thousand pieces of eight, and among the rest was a wooden headpiece, covered with thin plates of gold, and three or four masks, some of which were covered with a sort of stones like emeralds. The sight of these things made the Spaniards very eager to settle in a country that produced such vast wealth.

Grijalva having received this considerable present, and being sensible that the Indians were not willing that their guests should stay long, proceeded farther, and in two days came to a town called Agualunco, which the Spaniards named le Rambla, where the inhabitants appeared at a distance, with targets of tortoise-shell, which glittering in the sun made some of the Spaniards fancy they were made of gold.

Sailing from thence the Spaniards saw several other rivers, in one of which they observed the Indians waving large pieces of white cloth, fastened to poles, as if inviting them to land: whereupon Grijalva ordered captain de Montejo to go ashore with all the musketeers.

It is necessary to observe, that this coast was part of the great empire of Mexico, and that Montezuma, who was then seated on the throne, having heard of the exploits of the Spaniards, and the pains they took to become acquainted with the maritime parts of his empire, began to grow uneasy, and desirous to know why they took such pains to learn the state of countries that did not belong to them. To obtain this intelligence, he had given directions to the governors of some of

these provinces, to entertain these strangers civilly, and to send him from time to time such an account of their motions, as might enable him clearly to discern what opinion he ought to entertain of them.

As soon, therefore, as Montejo and his men were landed, the Mexicans offered them fowls, bread and fruit, and perfumed the Spaniards by burning gum copal in little fire-pans. Montejo instantly sent advice to Grijalva of the friendly manner in which he was received, upon which that commander came up with the ships, landed, and gave the people some glass beads and necklaces. He was treated with great respect by the emperor of Mexico's governor, and his principal officers, who ordering the Indians to bring gold to barter, the Spaniards, during the six days they stayed there, purchased gold toys of several shapes, to the value of 15,000 pieces of eight.

At length Grijalva having made presents to the principal persons, and taken possession of the country for the king of Spain, in the name of Diego Velasquez, embarked, and touched at several islands. Having landed in one of them, with fifty soldiers, he found a temple, in which were several idols, and four men dressed in long black mantles with hoods, who were the priests of the temple, and had that very day sacrificed two boys, who were found ripped open, and their hearts taken out. To this island, which was called Ulua, Grijalva gave the name of St. John Baptist, but it has ever since been called St. John de Ulua, to distinguish it from St. John de Porto Rico.

Grijalva having staid seven days at this island, during which he bartered for a small quantity of gold, sent Velasquez an account of his discove

ries by Alverado, with all the gold and other things they had obtained from the Indians. Velasquez was highly pleased with the account he received; but Alverado being very desirous of settling a colony, gave him very ill impressions of Grijalva, who had served him faithfully, and paid the strictest regard to his orders. In the mean time Grijalva coasted along in sight of the mountains of Tuspa, and afterwards sailed to the mouth of the river Tarala, to which he gave the name of St. Anthony, and there careened one of the ships that was leaky. While they were here many Indians came from the town, at a league's distance, with bread, poultry, and other provisions, which they sold for Spanish toys: and others came from Guazacoallo, and the rest of the neighbouring towns, bringing provisions, and very bright copper axes, with painted handles.

From this place Grijalva set sail for Cuba, and in forty-five days arrived at the port of Mantancas in that island, with gold to the amount of four thousand pieces of eight, besides what had been brought by Alverado. Here Grijalva received a letter from the governor, ordering him to hasten to the port of St. Jago, and to inform the men that another fleet was fitting out, in order to make a settlement. On his arrival at St. Jago, he met with a very cool reception from Velasquez, who had even the folly to abuse him for having so strictly obeyed his orders in not making a settlement. Grijalva contented himself with showing the instructions he had received, which Velasquez considered as a tacit censure on himself, and gave the command of the fleet to Hernando Cortes, which brings us to his celebrated expedition.

THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO,

BY

HERNANDO CORTES.

CHAP. I.

Hernando Cortes appointed commander of a fleet for making new discoveries. He sails from Cuba, and lands in the island of Cozumel, where he destroys the Indian idols. Sails from Cozumel, and arrives at the river Grijalva; lands, and takes the town of Tabasco; concludes a peace with the Indians, and continues his voyage to Mexico.

HERNANDO CORTES was a native of Medelin, a town of Estremadura, in Spain, and being educated for a military life, resolved to push his fortune, in the West Indies, whither he sailed in the year 1504, with letters of recommendation to Don Nicholas de Obando, his kinsman, at that time governor of Hispaniola. This gentleman gave him a very kind reception, and admitted him into the number of his friends; but these favours could not divert his inclination to arms; and that island being now possessed by the Spaniards, without any opposition from the natives, he obtained leave to serve in the island of Cuba, where the war was carried on. There he so distinguished himself as to obtain the reputation of a valiant soldier and able commander; and was made alcaid, or chief magistrate, of the town of St. Jago, a post generally conferred on those who distinguished themselves in the conquest of