Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

those who were desirous of quitting me, of the means of carrying their plans into execution, and commenced my journey with the greater security, as before setting out, I had taken the precaution of requiring the inhabitants of the cities to deliver up their

arms.

Eight or ten days after the ships were stranded, while on my way to Zempoulla, I received information from Vera Cruz, that there were four ships on the coast; that the commanding officer of the city having gone in a boat to speak with them, had learned that they were upon a voyage of discovery, and belonged to Francis de Garay, lieutenant of the king and governor of Jamaica, upon which he had acquainted them that I had taken possession of the country in your majesty's name, and had built Vera Cruz, whither they might safely come with their ships to refit them. They returned for answer that they had noticed the harbour in sailing past, and would pursue the measure he had recommended.

The ships did not, however, follow the boat, or enter the harbour as was expected, but continued lying off and on without the officer's being able to discover their intentions. On receiving this information I went immediately to Vera Cruz, where I learned that the ships were lying three leagues below, with their sails all set, and that none of the crews had been on shore.

Taking with me some soldiers, I then proceeded along the coast to obtain intelligence, and at about a league from the ships I met with three men who had come from them. One who called himself the clerk, said that he was ordered in presence of the others, whom he had brought as witnesses, to require me to fix the boundaries between my discoveries and those of the commander of the ships, whose intention it was to establish colonies, and to make his principal settlement on the coast, at a place five leagues below Nautical, a city twelve leagues from that now known by the name of Almeria.

I replied to the messengers that their commander might come with his ships into the harbour of Vera Cruz, where I would confer with him; that every assistance in my power should be given to the ships and the crews, and that as they were on the same service with myself, it would give me pleasure in being able to serve them. As the messengers declared that neither the commander nor any of the crews would be persuaded to come on shore where I was, I determined to secure them, as I was apprehensive that they intended some injury against the country, from their being so fearful of meeting me. I then concealed myself near the shore, opposite to the ships, until noon the next day, in the hope of taking and sending to Europe the commander or the pilot, who might come on shore, to learn what had become of their messengers, or at least the route which they had taken.

At mid-day, no person appearing, I ordered the three messengers to be stripped, and three of my men to dress themselves in their clothes, and to make signals and hail the ships.

As soon as the signals were perceived, ten or twelve men armed with cross-bows and muskets leaped into a boat and rowed on shore. Four of them quitted the boat and were taken by my soldiers, who were posted behind some hedges that were near.

A captain of one of the ships, who was among those that were taken, attempted to shoot the commandant of Vera Cruz, and would have killed him, if through the favour of God, his musket had not flashed. The remainder regained their ships as soon as possible, which had set sail without waiting for them, so apprehensive were they that I should gain some information of their views or destination. Those whom I took informed me that they had gone on shore at the mouth of the river Panuco, thirty leagues below Almeria; that they had been well received by the natives, who had promised to supply them with provisions. They had also found gold, though in small quantities; but had not ventured to land until they were fully satisfied as to the disposition of the inhabitants, whom they had seen from their ships. That the houses in that district were low, and built entirely of straw, except a few small boards wrought by hand.

I afterwards received a confirmation of the truth of this report from Montezuma and some interpreters belonging to the country who were in his suite, and at the same time sent the interpreters and an Indian of the district, with several messengers from Montezuma, to the lord of the shores of the Panuco, to persuade him to acknowledge himself your majesty's vassal. An ambassador of distinction returned with my envoys, who, in the name of his chief, presented me with garments, precious stones, and feathers, assuring me at the same time that he and his people were ready to become my friends and your majesty's subjects. I presented the ambassador in return with some articles of Spanish manufacture, with which the cacique was highly delighted.

I remained for three days in the province of Zempoulla, where I was well received and lodged by the inhabitants. On the fourth day I entered that of Sienchimalen, where I met with a city strongly situated on a very steep height. It is accessible only on one side, and the approach to it would be very difficult if the inhabitants should dispute the passage. In the plain are many villages, containing from two to five hundred peasants, who are employed in agriculture, and can on occasion, form an army of five or six thousand men. I was well received by them, and they gave me every assistance in their power to enable me to prosecute my journey.

These people informed me that they knew that I was going to visit Montezuma, who was their lord and my friend, as he had sent to them to let them know that it was his pleasure that I should

1

be at all times well received. To these civilities I returned for answer, that I was going, by your majesty's order, to visit Monte

zuma.

At the extremity of this province I crossed a mountain, which I named the Mountain of God, it being the first of our passing. It was loftier, steeper, and more difficult to pass than any of our mountains in Spain. On the other side we came successively to some cultivated grounds, a town, and the fortress of Yshuacan, all belonging to Montezuma, in perfect safety, and without meeting the least opposition from the inhabitants. We were here, by the orders of Montezuma, as well received as at Tienchimalin, and on our part we treated the inhabitants kindly.

For the next three days I crossed a desert region, wholly uninhabited in consequence of its sterility, want of water, and extreme coldness. God only knows what we endured from hunger and thirst; we were likewise surprised by a violent tempest, and I feared lest many of my people would perish with the cold, as several Indians did who huddled together without order. After three days of suffering we came to a second mountain, not so steep as the first; on the top was a little tower, in the form of a chapel, which contained idols of various forms. This tower was surrounded by more than a thousand wagon loads of wood, cut and piled in order, on which account we gave to this mountain the name of the Mountain of Wood. On descending it we traversed a valley, situated between two very steep cliffs, thickly settled with very poor inhabitants. We proceeded for two hours through this settlement, without being able to obtain any information, when we at length came to a more level country, where, as it seemed, the lord of the valley resided. I saw there several large houses built of hewn stone,† which were new, handsome, and commodiously disposed.

This valley and settlement is called Caltanni. I was well received and lodged there. When I had made known to the cacique the object of my journey, I inquired if he was an ally or a subject of Montezuma. Surprised at my question, he replied, with great simplicity, "Who is he that is not a subject of Montezuma?" He believed him to be the master of the world, and I doubt much if he was undeceived by my telling him of the great

*The archbishop of Toledo attempts to prove from the Mexican calender, that their idols were so numerous, that each month and day had its peculiar divinity. Might not the Mexicans with propriety have asked the Spaniards if they themselves were less idolatrous?

† Bernal Diaz in his account of the expedition of Cordova, in which he embarked, says that the town of Potonchan in the province of Yucatan contained several buildings of lime and stone and that at Punta de Cotorhe, near where they landed "were three buildings of lime and stone, wherein were idols of clay with diabolical countenances, and in strange unnatural postures."-Keating's B. Diaz, p. 4 and 6.

power and extensive dominion of your majesty, that greater monarchs than Montezuma thought it an honour and a pleasure to be esteemed your subjects, and that he and all his people would be compelled to acknowledge you as their lord.

I then required his submission, and threatened him with punishment in case of refusal, demanding of him gold as a proof of his obedience. He replied that he had gold, but that he would deliver it only to the order of Montezuma, on receiving which not only his gold, but his person and all his possessions were at my disposal. In order not to excite discontent and obstruct the execution of my design, I dissembled my displeasure, and left him, assuring him that before long Montezuma would send him an order to deliver to me all the gold that he possessed.

While here I was visited by two caciques belonging to the district, who offered me some golden necklaces and seven or eight slaves. I remained in this place four or five days, when I left the caciques much pleased with my conduct, and proceeded to the residence of one of them, who lived in the upper part of the valley. His territory is called Yxtamaxtil Can, and occupies an extent of about three or four leagues, on the shore of a river, along which the buildings are continued without interruption. The house of the cacique is situated on a high hill, having a good fort surrounded with walls, and having a covered way. The number of inhabitants on the hill are estimated at from five to six thousand; they have good houses, and live better than those in the valley. This cacique is also a subject of Montezuma. I was well treated during the three days which I remained here in order to recover from our fatigues, and to wait the return of four Zempoullan Indians whom I had sent from Caltanni to a large province called Tascalteca, which I was told was not far off.

My messengers had assured me that the people of that province were very numerous and powerful, and with their allies were constantly at war with Montezuma, whose territories surrounded them on all sides. They likewise added that it would be of importance to me to form a connexion with them, as they would prove of essential service should Montezuma be disposed to act treacherously towards me. I remained here eight days, waiting the return of my messengers, when becoming impatient of longer

* The Indians collected among the sands of the rivers, or from the surface of the earth, the gold which they paid to their kings in small measures under the title of impost.

Clavigero says that the measure employed by the Mexicans for the gold dust which they paid in tribute to their monarchs, were goose quills, the barrels of which were filled with that substance: and the merchant who dealt in gold had the metal in grains as it came from the mines, in transparent tubes, so that they could be reckoned, and the gold was valued at so many mantles or xipequils of cocoa, according to the size of the quills."-B. Diaz, 144

delay, I interrogated the principal Zempoullans whom I had with me, and on their assuring me of the friendship of the Tascaltecans, I resolved to depart. As I quitted the valley I met with a walled enclosure, built of stones without mortar,* from nine to ten feet high, and twenty in thickness, on the top of which was a parapet for the combatants of a foot and a half thick. This wall crossed the valley from one side to the other; it had but one outlet of ten paces in breadth, in which place it was more than twice as thick as the rest, and built in the form of a ravelin.

On inquiring the intention of this building from 'the inhabitants, I was told that it was to defend themselves from their neighbours, the people of Tascalteca, who were enemies to Montezuma, and perpetually at war with him. They urged me strongly, since I was going to visit their master, not to trust myself upon the territories of his enemies, as I should be in danger of receiving insults and injuries from them, and that they might proceed to the greatest extremities, offering to conduct me themselves through the dominions of Montezuma, where I might be sure of being well received. The Zempouallans, however, in whom I placed greater confidence, dissuaded me from following their advice; they observed that these subjects of Montezuma made such representations to me in order to prevent my forming a treaty with the Tascaltecans, that the former were designing and treacherous people, whose intention was to lead me among rocks and precipices, from which it would be impossible to extricate myself.

As I proceeded on my journey I kept about half a league in advance of my troops with six horsemen, in order to have time to concert measures should I discover aught of importance, without much thought of any danger to myself.

After a march of four hours we ascended a hill, from whence the two horsemen who were forward saw several Indians with war plumes on their heads, armed with swords and bucklers, who fled immediately on perceiving them. I came up in sufficient time to order them to call to the Indians and make signs to them to come to us and fear nothing. I then went towards a place where there were about fifteen of them, but on seeing me approach they drew together, grasped their swords, and called to their fellow soldiers who were in the valley. They fought very courageously with us, and had already killed two of our horses and wounded three and two horsemen, when an army of four or five thousand came up to their assistance.

By this time eight of my horsemen had joined me, and we continued skirmishing until the arrival of my main body, to whom

* Bernal Diaz says that it was built of stone and lime, and some cement of so strong a nature, that nothing but tools of iron could have any effect on it.

« ForrigeFortsæt »