History of the Conquest of Mexico, with a preliminary view of the ancient Mexican civilization and the life of Hernando Cortes

Front matter

■ HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO. VOL. I HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO, WITH A PRELIMINARY VIEW OF THE ANCIENT MEXICAN CIVILIZATION, AND THE LIFE OF THE CONQUEROR, HERNANDO CORTES. By WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT, AUTHOR OF "THE HISTORY OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA. " " Victrices aquilas alium laturus in orbein," Luc an, Pharsalia, Ub. v., v. 239, IN THREE VOLUMES. VOLUME I. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, $ubl(*I)tr in ©rtJinarg to S}« ffla)tsll». M.D.CCC.XL1II. LONDON 7 Printed by S. & J. Bentley, Wilson, and Fley, Bang;or House, Shoe Lane.

Preface

As the Conquest of Mexico has occupied the pens of Solis and of Robertson, two of the ablest historians of their respective nations, it might seem that little could remain at the present day to be gleaned by the historical inquirer. But Robertson's narrative is necessarily brief, forming only part of a more extended work ; and neither the British, nor the Castilian author, was provided with the important materials for relating this event, which have been since assembled by the industry of Spanish scholars. The scholar who led the way in these researches was Don Juan Baptista Muiioz, the cele brated historiographer of the Indies, who, by a royal edict, was allowed free access to the national ar chives, and to all libraries, public, private, and mo nastic, in the kingdom and its colonies. The result of his long labors was a vast body of materials, of which unhappily he did not live to reap the benefit himself. His manuscripts were deposited, after his death, in the archives of the Royal Academy of History at Madrid ; and that collection was subse- VI

PREFACE.

. quently augmented by the manuscripts of Don Vargas Ponce, President of the Academy, obtained, like those of Munoz, from different quarters, but especially from the Archives of the Indies at Seville. On my application to the Academy, in 1838, for permission to copy that part of this inestimable col lection relating to Mexico and Peru, it was freely acceded to, and an eminent German scholar, one of their own number, was appointed to superintend the collation and transcription of the manuscripts ; and this, it may be added, before I had any claim on the courtesy of that respectable body, as one of its associates. This conduct shows the advance of a liberal spirit in the Peninsula since the time of Dr. Robert son, who complains that he was denied admission to the most important public repositories.

The favor with which my own application was regarded, how ever, must chiefly be attributed to the kind offices of the venerable President of the Academy, Don Martin Fernandez de Navarrete ; a scholar whose per sonal character has secured to him the same high con sideration at home, which his literary labors have obtained abroad. To this eminent person I am under still further obligations, for the free use which he has allowed me to make of his own manuscripts, — the fruits of a life of accumulation, and the basis of those valuable publications with which he has at different times illustrated Spanish colonial history. From these three magnificent collections, the result of half a century's careful researches, I have obtained

PREFACE.

. VII a mass of unpublished documents, relating to the Conquest and Settlement of Mexico and of Peru, comprising altogether about eight thousand folio pages. They consist of instructions of the Court, military and private journals, correspondence of the great actors in the scenes, legal instruments, contemporary chronicles, and the like, drawn from all the principal places in the extensive colonial empire of Spain, as well as from the public archives in the Peninsula. I have still further fortified the collection, by glean ing such materials from Mexico itself as had been overlooked by my illustrious predecessors in these researches. For these I am indebted to the courtesy of Count Cortina, and, yet more, to that of Don Lucas Alaman, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Mex ico ; but, above all, to my excellent friend Don Angel Calderon de la Barca, late Minister Pleni potentiary to that country from the Court of Madrid, — a gentleman whose high and estimable qualities, even more than his station, secured him the public confidence, and gained him free access to every place of interest and importance in Mexico.

I have also to acknowledge the very kind offices rendered to me by the Count Camaldoli at Naples ; by the Duke of Serradifalco in Sicily, a nobleman, whose science gives additional lustre to his rank ; and by the Duke of Monteleone, the present representative of Cortfis, who has courteously opened the ar chives of his family to my inspection. To these names

PREFACE.

. must also be added that of Sir Thomas Phillips, Bart., whose precious collection of manuscripts probably sur passes in extent that of any private gentleman in Great Britain, if not in Europe ; that of Mons. Ternaux-Compans, the proprietor of the valuable lite rary collection of Don Antonio Uguina, including the papers of Munoz, the fruits of which he is giving to the world in his excellent translations ; and, lastly, that of my friend and countryman, Arthur Middleton, Esq., late Charge d'Affaires from the United States at the Court of Madrid, for the efficient aid he has afforded me in prosecuting my inquiries in that capital. In addition to this stock of original documents ob tained through these various sources, I have diligently provided myself with such printed works as have re ference to the subject, including the magnificent pub lications which have appeared both in France and England, on the Antiquities of Mexico, which, from their cost and colossal dimensions, would seem better suited to a public than to a private library.

Having thus stated the nature of my materials, and the sources whence they are derived, it remains for me to add a few observations on the general plan and composition of the work. — Among the remarkable achievements of the Spaniards in the sixteenth cen tury, there is no one more striking to the imagination than the Conquest of Mexico. The subversion of a great empire by a handful of adventurers, taken with all its strange and picturesque accompaniments, has the air of romance rather than of sober history ;

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. IX and it is not easy to treat such a theme according to the severe rules prescribed by historical criticism. But, notwithstanding the seductions of the subject, I have conscientiously endeavoured to distinguish fact from fiction, and to establish the narrative on as broad a basis as possible of contemporary evi dence ; and I have taken occasion to corroborate the text by ample citations from authorities, usually in the original, since few of them can be very accessible to the reader. In these extracts I have scrupulously conformed to the ancient orthography, however obsolete and even barbarous, rather than impair in any degree the integrity of the original document. Although the subject of the work is, properly, only the Conquest of Mexico, I have prepared the way for it by such a view of the civilization of the ancient Mexicans, as might acquaint the reader with the character of this extraordinary race, and enable him to understand the difficulties which the Span iards had to encounter in their subjugation.

This introductory part of the work, with the essay in the Appendix, which properly belongs to the Introduc tion, although both together making only half a volume, has cost me as much labor, and nearly as much time, as the remainder of the history. If I shall have succeeded in giving the reader a just idea of the true nature and extent of the civilization to which the Mexicans had attained, it will not be labor lost.

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. X The story of the Conquest terminates with the fall of the capital. Yet I have preferred to continue the narrative to the death of Cortes, relying on the interest which the developement of his character in his military career may have excited in the reader. I am not in sensible to the hazard I incur by such a course. The mind previously occupied with one great idea, that of the subversion of the capital, may feel the prolongation of the story beyond that point superfluous, if not tedious ; and may find it difficult, after the excitement caused by witnessing a great national catastrophe, to take an interest in the adventures of a private indivi dual. Solis took the more politic course, of concluding his narrative with the fall of Mexico, and thus leaves his readers with the full impression of that memorable event undisturbed on their minds.

To prolong the narrative is to expose the historian to the error so much censured by the French critics in some of their most celebrated dramas, where the author by a premature denouement has impaired the interest of his piece. It is the defect that necessarily attaches, though in a greater degree, to the history of Columbus, in which petty adventures among a group of islands make up the sequel of a life that opened with the magnificent discovery of a World ; a defect, in short, which it has required all the genius of Irving, and the magical charm of his style, perfectly to overcome. Notwithstanding these objections, I have been in duced to continue the narrative partly from deference to the opinion of several Spanish scholars, who consi-

PREFACE.

. XI dered that the biography of Cortes had not been fully exhibited, and partly from the circumstance of my having such a body of original materials for this bio graphy at my command. And I cannot regret that I have adopted this course ; since, whatever lustre the Conquest may reflect on Cortes as a military achieve ment, it gives but an imperfect idea of his enlightened spirit, and of his comprehensive and versatile genius. To the eye of the critic there may seem some incon gruity in a plan which combines objects so dissimilar as those embraced by the present history ; where the Introduction, occupied with the antiquities and origin of a nation, has somewhat the character of a philosophic theme, while the conclusion is strictly biographical, and the two may be supposed to match indifferently with the main body, or historical portion of the work.

But I may hope that such objections will be found to have less weight in practice than in theory ; and, if properly managed, that the general views of the Introduction will prepare the reader for the particulars of the Con quest, and that the great public events narrated in this will, without violence, open the way to the re maining personal history of the hero who is the soul of it. Whatever incongruity may exist in other respects, I may hope that the unity of interest, the only unity held of much importance by modern critics, will be found still to be preserved. The distance of the present age from the period of the narrative might be presumed to secure the his torian from undue prejudice or partiality. Yet to the

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. XII American and the English reader, acknowledging so different a moral standard from that of the sixteenth century, I may possibly be thought too indulgent to the errors of the Conquerors ; while to a Spaniard, accustomed to the undiluted panegyric of Solis, I may be deemed to have dealt too hardly with them. To such I can only say, that, while, on the one hand, I have not hesitated to expose in their strongest colors the excesses of the Conquerors ; on the other, I have given them the benefit of such mitigating reflections as might be suggested by the circumstances and the period in which they lived. I have endeavoured not only to present a picture true in itself, but to place it in its proper light, and to put the spectator in a proper point of view for seeing it to the best advantage.

I have endeavoured, at the expense of some repetition, to surround him with the spirit of the times, and, in a word, to make him, if I may so express myself, a contemporary of the sixteenth century. Whether, and how far, I have succeeded in this, he must determine. For one thing, before I conclude, I may reasonably ask the readers indulgence. Owing to the state of my eyes, I have been obliged to use a writing-case made for the blind, which does not permit the writer to see his own manuscript. Nor have I ever corrected, or even read, my own original draft. As the chirography, under these disadvantages, has been too often careless and obscure, occasional errors, even with the utmost care of my secretary, must have necessarily occurred in

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. XIII the transcription, somewhat increased by the barbarous phraseology imported from my Mexican authorities. I cannot expect that these errors have always been de tected even by the vigilant eye of the perspicacious critic to whom the proof-sheets have been subjected. In the Preface to " The History of Ferdinand and Isabella," I lamented, that, while occupied with that subject, two of its most attractive parts had engaged the attention of the most popular of American au thors, Washington Irving. By a singular chance, something like the reverse of this has taken place in the composition of the present history, and I have found myself unconsciously taking up ground which he was preparing to occupy. It was not till I had become master of my rich collection of materials, that I was acquainted with this circumstance ; and, had he persevered in his design, I should unhesitatingly have abandoned my own, if not from courtesy, at least from policy ; for, though armed with the weapons of Achilles, this could give me no hope of success in a competition with Achilles himself.

But no sooner was that distinguished writer informed of the pre parations I had made, than, with the gentlemanly spirit which will surprise no one who has the pleasure of his acquaintance, he instantly announced to me his intention of leaving the subject open to me. While I do but justice to Mr. Irving by this state ment, I feel the prejudice it does to myself in the unavailing regret I am exciting in the bosom of the reader.

PREFACE.

. XIV I must not conclude this Preface, too long pro tracted as it is already, without a word of Acknow ledgement to my friend George Ticknor, Esq., — the friend of many years, — for his patient revision of my manuscript ; a labor of love, the worth of which those only can estimate who are acquainted with his extra ordinary erudition and his nice critical taste. If I have reserved his name for the last in the list of those to whose good offices I am indebted, it is most as suredly not because I value his services least. WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT. Boston, October 1, 1843. ,■ CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. •7 , .:

Introduction

.

VIEW OF THE AZTEC CIVILIZATION.

Chapter I. Taue

Ancient Mexico. — Climate and Products. — Primitive Races. — Aztec Emigre ... ... 3 Extent of the Aztec Territory ... ... ... ... 4 The Hot Region ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Volcanic Scenery ... *.. ... ... ... ... 7 Cordillera of the Andes ... ... ... ... ... 8 Table-land in the Days of the Aztecs ... ... ... 9 Valley of Mexico ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 The Toltecs ... ... ... ... ... ... 11 Their mysterious Disappearance ... ... ... ... 12 Races from the Northwest ... ... ... ... ... 13 Their Hostilities ... ... ... ... ... ... 14 Foundation of Mexico ... ... ... ... ... 15 Domestic Feuds ... ... ... ... ... ... 16 League of the kindred Tribes ... ... ... ... 17 Rapid Rise of Mexico ... ... ... ... ... 19 Prosperity of the Empire ... ... ... ... ... 19 Criticism on Veytia's History ... ... ... ... 20

Chapter II

Succession to the Crown. — Aztec Nobility. — Judicial System — Laws and Revenues. — Military Institutions 21 Election of the Sovereign ... ... ... ... ... 21 His Coronation ... ... ... ... ... ... CONTENTS. PAGE Aztec Nobles ... ... ... ••• ••• ■•■ 23 Their barbaric Pomp ... ... ••• ••• ••• 23 Tenure of their Estates ... ... ••• ••• ■•• ~* Legislative Power ... ... ... ■•• ••• ••• 26 Judicial System ... ... ... ••• ■•■ ••• 27 Independent Judges ... ... ■•• ••• ••• 28 Their Mode of Procedure 29 Showy Tribunal 30 Hieroglyphical Paintings ... ... •■• ••• ••• 31 Marriage Rites ... ... ... •■• ••• •■■ 33 Slavery in Mexico ... ... ... ••• ••• ■■• 33 Royal Revenues ... ... ... ... ■•• ••• 35 Burdensome Imposts ... .. ... ... ••• 37 Public Couriers ... ... ... •■• ••• ■•• 38 Military Enthusiasm ... ... ... ... ••• 39 Aztec Ambassadors ... ... ... ••• ••• 40 Orders of Knighthood ... ... ... ... •■■ 40 Gorgeous Armor ... ... ... ... ... ... 41 National Standards ... ... ... ■■• ... 42 Military Code 43 Hospitals for the Wounded ... ... ... ... 43 Influence of Conquest on a Nation ... ... ... 45 Criticism on Torquemada's History ... ... ... 47 Abbe Clavigero ... ... ... ... ... ... 47

Chapter III

Mexican Mythology. — The Sacerdotal Order. — The Temples. — Human Sacrifices. ... ... 49 Systems of Mythology ... ... ... ... ... 50 Mythology of the Aztecs ... ... ... ... ... 51 Ideas of a God ... ... ... ... ... 52 Sanguinary War-god ... ... ... ... ... 53 God of the Air ... ... ... ... ... ... 53 Mystic Legends ... ... ... ... ... 54 Division of Time ... a • •• ... ... ... ... 00 Future State ... ... ... ... gg Funeral Ceremonies ... ... ... 57 Baptismal Rites ... ... ... ... 5g Monastic orders ... ... ... QO CONTENTS. XVII PAGE Fasts and Flagellation ... ... ... ... ••■ 61 Aztec Confessional ... ... ... ••• ••• 62 Education of the Youth ... ... ... ... ••• 62 Revenue of the Priests ... ... ... ... ... 64 Mexican Temples ... ... ... ... ••• ••• 65 Religious Festivals ... ... ... ... ... ••• 66 Human Sacrifices ... ... ... ... ... ... 67 The Captive's Doom ... ... ... ... ... 68 Ceremonies of Sacrifice ... ... ... ... ... 68 Torturing of the Victim ... ... ... ... ... 69 Sacrifice of Infants ... ... ... ... ... 70 Cannibal Banquets ... ... ... ... ... 71 Number of Victims ... ... ... ... ... 72 Houses of Skulls ... ... ... ... ... ... 73 Cannibalism of the Aztecs ... ... ... ... ... 76 Criticism on Sahagun's History ... ... ... ... 78

Chapter IV

Mexican Hieroglyphics. — Man uscripts. — Arithmetic — Chronology. — Astronomy ... ... 81 Dawning of Science ... ... ... ... ... 81 Picture-writing ... ... ... ... ... ... 82 Aztec Hieroglyphics ... ... ... ... ... 84 Manuscripts of the Mexicans ... ... ... ... 84 Emblematic Symbols ... ... ... ... ... 85 Phonetic Signs ... ... ... ... ... ... 86 Materials of the Aztec Manuscripts ... ... ... 90 Form of their Volumes ... ... ... ... ... 90 JDestruction of most of them ... ... ... ... 91 Remaining Manuscripts ... ... ... ... ... 92 Difficulty of deciphering them ... ... ... ... 95 Minstrelsy of the Aztecs ... ... ... ... ... 97 Theatrical Entertainments ... ... ... ... 98 System of Notation ... ... ... ... ... 98 Their Chronology ... ... ... ... ... ... 99 The Aztec Era 102 Calendar of the Priests ... ... ... ... ... 105 Science of Astrology ... ... ... ... ... 108 Astrology of the Aztecs ... ... ... ... ... 109 VOL. i. b VOL. I. CONTENTS.

PAGE Aztec Astronomy ... ... ... ... ... ••• HO Wonderful Attainments in this Science ... ... ■•• HI Remarkable Festival ... ... ... ... •■■ 112 Carnival of the Aztecs ... ... ... ... ■•■ 114 Lord Kingsborough's Work ... ... ... ... 115 Criticism on Gama ... ... ... ... ... 117

Chapter V

Aztec Agriculture. — Mechanical Arts. — Merchants. — Domestic Manners ... ... 118 Mechanical Genius ... ... ... ... ... 118 Agriculture ... ... ... ... ... ... 120 Mexican Husbandry ... ... ... ... ... 121 Vegetable Products ... ... ... ... ... 122 Mineral Treasures ... ... ... ... ... ... 125 Skill of the Aztec Jewellers 126 Sculpture ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 127 Huge Calendar-stone ... ... ... ... ... 128 Aztec Dyes ... ... ... ... 129 Beautiful Feather-work ... ... ... ... ... 130 Fairs of Mexico ... ... ... ... ... ... 131 National Currency ... ... ... ... ... 13] Trades 132 Aztec Merchants ... ... ... ... ... ... 133 Militant Traders ... ... ... ... ._. ... 134 Domestic Life ... ... ... ... ... ... 135 Kindness to Children ... ... ... jgg Polygamy 136 Condition of the Sex ... ... ... ...

I37 Social Entertainments ... ... ... jg7 Use of Tobacco ... ... ... ... iog Culinary Art ... ... ... ... i»n Agreeable Drinks ... ... ... ,ia Dancing ]41 Intoxication ... ... ... .. -.,, Criticism on Boturini's Work ... -i ao CONTENTS. XIX

Chapter VI. Page

Tezcucans — Their Golden Age. — Accomplished Princes. — Decline of their Monarchy ... ... 145 The Acolhuans or Tezcucans ... ... ... ... 145 Prince Nezahualcoyotl ... ... ... ... ... 146 His Persecution ... ... ... ... ... ... 146 His hair-breadth Escapes ... ... ... ... ... 147 His wandering Life ... ... ... ... ... 149 Fidelity of his Subjects ... ... ... ... ... 150 Triumphs over his Enemies ... ... ... ... 151 Remarkable League ... ... ... ... ... 151 General Amnesty ... ... ... ... ... ... 152 The Tezcucan Code ... ... ... ... ... 152 Departments of Government ... ... ... ... 153 Council of Music ... ... ... ... ... ... 153 Its Censorial Office ... ... ... ... ... 154 Literary Taste ... ... ... ... ... ... 155 Tezcucan Bards ... ... ... ... ... ... 155 Resources of Nezahualcoyotl ... ... ... ... 159 His magnificent Palace ... ... ... ... ... 159 His Gardens and Villas ... ... ... ... ... 160 Address of the Priest 163 His Baths ... 165 Luxurious Residence ... ... ... ... ... 166 Existing Remains of it ... ... ... ... ... 166 Royal Amours ... ... ... ... ... ... 167 Marriage of the King 169 Forest Laws ... ... ... ... ... ... 170 Strolling Adventures ... ... ... ... ... 170 Munificence of the Monarch ... ... ... ... 172 His Religion 173 Temple to the Unknown God ... ... ... ... 174 Philosophic Retirement ... ... ... ... ... 175 His plaintive Verses ... ... ... ... ... 175 Last Hours of Nezahualcoyotl ... ... ... ... 177 His Character 180 Succeeded by Nezahualpilli ... ... ... ... 180 The Lady of Tula 181 b CONTENTS.

XX PAGE Executes his Son ... ... ... ... ••• ••• *°" Effeminacy of the King His consequent Misfortunes ... ... ••• ••• *" Death of Nezahualpilli 184 Tezcucan Civilization ... ... ... ••• •■• 1°* Criticism on Ixtlilxochitl's Writings ... ... ••• '**'

Chapter I

Spain under Charles V. — Progress of Discovery. — Colonial Policy. — Conquest of Cuba Expeditions to Yucatan ... ... ... ... ... ... 191 Condition of Spain ... ... ... ... ... ... 191 Increase of Empire ... ... ... ... ... 192 Cardinal Ximenes ... ... ... ... ... ... 192 Arrival of Charles the Fifth 192 Swarm of Flemings ... ... ... ... ... 193 Opposition of the Cortes ... ... ... ... ... 194 Colonial Administration ... ... ... ... ... 194 Spirit of Chivalry ... ... ... ... ... ... 196 Progress of Discovery ... ... ... .. ... 196 Advancement of Colonization ... ... ... ... 197 System of Repiartimientos ... ... ... ... ... 197 Colonial Policy 198 Discovery of Cuba ... ... ... ... ... ... 199 Its Conquest by Velasquez ... ... ... ... 200 Cordova's Expedition to Yucatan ... ... ... ... 201 His Reception by the Natives ... ... ... ... 202 Grijalva's Expedition ... ... ... ... ... 203 Civilization in Yucatan ... ... ... ... ... 204 Traffic with the Indians ... ... ... ... ... 205 His Return to Cuba ... ... ... ... 205 His cool Reception ... ... ... ... 206 Ambitious Schemes of the Governor ... ... ... 206 Preparations for an Expedition ... ... ... ... CONTENTS. XXI

Chapter II. Page

Hernando Corte's. — His Early Life. — Visits the New World. — His Residence in Cuba. — Difficulties with Velasquez. — Armada intrusted to Cortes ... 208 Hernando Cortes „. ... ... ... ... ... 208 His Education 209 Choice of a Profession ... ... ... ... ... 210 Departure for America ... ... ... .... ... 211 Arrival at Hispaniola ... ... ... ... ... 212 His Mode of Life 213 Enlists under Velasquez ... ... ... ... ... 213 Habits of Gallantry 214 Disaffected towards Velasquez ... ... ... ... 215 Cortes in Confinement ... ... ... ... ... 216 Flies into a Sanctuary ... ... ... ... ... 216 Again put in Irons ... ... ... ... ... 217 His perilous Escape ... ... ... ... ... 217 His Marriage 218 Reconciled with the Governor ... ... ... ... 219 Retires to his Plantation ... ... ... ... ... 220 Armada intrusted to Cortes ... ... ... ... 221 Preparations for the Voyage ... ... .. ... 222 Instructions to Cortes ... ... ... ... ... 223

Chapter III

Jealousy of Velasquez. — Cortes embarks. — Equipment of his Fleet. — His Person and Character. — Rendezvous at Havana. — Strength of his Armament ... 227 Jealousy of Velasquez ... ... ... ... ... 227 Intrigues against Cortes ... ... ... ... ... 228 His clandestine Embarkation ... ... ... ... 229 Arrives at Macaca 230 Accession of Volunteers ... ... ... ... ... 231 Stores and Ammunition ... ... ... ... ... 232 Orders from Velasquez to arrest Cortes ... ... ... 232 He raises the Standard at Havana .. ... ... 233 Person of Cortes ... ... ... •■• ... ... CONTENTS. XXII PAGE His Character 234 Strength of the Armament ... ... ... ■■• 236 Stirring Address to his Troops ... ... ... ••• 238 Fleet weighs Anchor ... ... ... ... ... 239 Remarks on Estrella's Manuscript ... ... ••• 239

Chapter IV

Voyage to Cozumel. — Conversion of the Natives. — Jeronimo de Aguilar. — Army arrives at Tabasco. — Great Battle with the Indians. — Christianity introduced 240 Disastrous Voyage to Cozumel ... ... ... ... 240 Humane Policy of Cortes ... ... ... ... 241 Cross found in the Island ... ... ... ... ... 242 Religious Zeal of the Spaniards ... ... ... ... 243 Attempts at Conversion ... ... ... ... ... 244 Overthrow of the Idols ... ... ... ... ... 245 Jeronimo de Aguilar ... ... ... ... ... 247 His Adventures ... ... ... ... ... ... 247 Employed as an Interpreter ... ... ... ... 248 Fleet arrives at Tabasco ... ... ... ... ... 249 Hostile Reception ... ... ... ... ... ... 250 Fierce Defiance of the Natives ... ... ... ... 251 Desperate Conflict ... ... ... ... ... 252 Effect of the Fire-arms ... ... ... ... ... 252 Cortes takes Tabasco ... ... ... ... ... 253 Ambush of the Indians ... ... ... ... ... 254 The Country in Arms ... ... ... ... ... 254 Preparations for Battle ... ... ... ... ... 255 March on the Enemy ... ... ... ... ... 256 Joins Battle with the Indians ... ... ... ... 257 Doubtful Struggle ... ... ... ... ... 258 Terror at the War-horse ... ... ... ... ... 259 Victory of the Spaniards ... ... ... ... ... 259 Number of Slain ... ... ... ... ... ... 260 Treaty with the Natives ... ... ... ... ... 261 Conversion of the Heathen ... ... ... 262 Catholic Communion ... ... ... ... 263 Spaniards embark for Mexico ... ... ... ... CONTENTS. XXIII

Chapter V. Page

Voyage along the Coast. — Donna Marina — Spaniards land in Mexico. — Interview with the Aztecs ... 265 Voyage along the Coast ... ... ... ... ... 265 Natives come on Board ... ... ... ... ... 266 Dona Marina 267 Her History 268 Her Beauty and Character ... ... ... ... 268 First Tidings of Montezuma ... ... ... ... 269 Spaniards land in Mexico ... ... ... ... ... 270 First Interview with the Aztecs ... ... ... ... 272 Their magnificent Presents ... ... ... ... 273 Cupidity of the Spaniards ... ... ... ... ... 274 Cortes displays his Cavalry ... ... ... ... 274 Aztec Paintings ... ... ... ... ... ... 275

Chapter VI

Account of Montezuma. — State Prognostics. — Embassy and of his Empire. — Strange Presents. — Spanish Encampment ... ... ... ... ... ... 277 Montezuma then upon the Throne ... ... ... 277 Inaugural Address ... ... ... ... ... ... 278 The Wars of Montezuma 279 His civil Policy 279 Oppression of his Subjects ... ... ... ... 280 Foes of his Empire ... ... ... ... ... 281 Superstition of Montezuma ... ... ... ... 282 Mysterious Prophecy ... ... ... ... ... 283 Portentous Omens ... ... ... ... ... ... 284 Dismay of the Emperor ... ... ... ... ... 286 Embassy and Presents to the Spaniards ... ... ... 287 Life in the Spanish Camp ... ... ... ... ... 28S Rich Present from Montezuma ... ... ... ... 2S8 Large gold Wheels 290 Message from Montezuma ... ... ... ■•• 291 Effects of the Treasure on the Spaniards 292 Return of the Aztec Envoys ■•• ■-• CONTENTS.