254 



CORTES. 



Cortes, a hostile country, leaving themselves no alternative of 

 ~""~Y~™*' safety but their own valour. 



Several circumstances contributed to the success of 

 Cortes, besides the superiority of European weapons, 

 valour, and discipline; The emperor of Mexico was 

 indeed powerful, but he was cruel and despotic, and the 

 yoke which he had imposed on the neighbouring nations 

 was a yoke of iron; and nothing but fear prevented them 

 from attempting to shake it off. Cortes soon had an oppor- 

 tunity of discovering this ; and he saw all the advan- 

 tages to be derived from it. The cazique of Zempoalla 

 sent messengers to him, imploring his assistance against 

 the tyrant of Mexico ; and Cortes removed to his capi- 

 tal, where he was received with every demonstration of 

 friendship ; which, however, he nearly forfeited by the 

 imprudence of his zeal, in ordering his soldiers to de- 

 stroy the idols in the chief temple of Zempoalla ; and 

 to erect an image of the Virgin Mary in their stead. 

 This unlucky affair being adjusted, Cortes proceeded 

 on his march towards Mexico ; and was furnished by 

 the cazique of Zempoalla with provisions, and with 200 

 Indians to carry burdens and perform other servile of- 

 fices. This was of great consequence in a country 

 where beasts of burden were unknown. 



Nothing memorable happened till he reached the 

 confines of Tlascala. The inhabitants of this province 

 were a warlike people, and implacable enemies of the 

 Mexicans. It might therefore have been expected that 

 they would have joined Cortes : but they distrusted his 

 professions ; and as they saw him determined to visit 

 the emperor of Mexico in his capital, they naturally 

 concluded that it was to seek his friendship. They 

 therefore attacked Cortes with all their forces, and with 

 the most determined spirit of animosity. They sent a 

 supply of provisions to the Spaniards, desiring them to 

 eat freely, as they could have no pleasure in eating fa- 

 mished victims, and as such sacrifices would not be ac- 

 ceptable to their gods. After great efforts and incre- 

 dible slaughter on the part of the Tlascalans, they were 

 at last disposed to peace. The language of their am- 

 bassador is descriptive of the mixed feelings of terror 

 and respect with which the Spaniards were viewed by 

 the native Americans. " If," said they, " 3'ou are di- 

 vinities of a cruel and savage nature, we present to you 

 five slaves, that you may drink their blood and eat their 

 flesh. If you are mild deities, accept an offering of in- 

 cense and variegated plumes. If you are men, here is 

 meat and bread, and fruit to nourish you." A peace 

 was concluded to the satisfaction of both parties, and 

 particularly advantageous to Cortes, as the Tlascalans 

 remained ever after firmly attached to him, and he had 

 reason to ascribe the conquest of Mexico chiefly to their 

 assistance. 



Having remained in Tlascala twenty days to refresh 

 his troops, and conciliate his new allies, he proceeded 

 on his march to Mexico, accompanied by six thousand 

 Tlascalans. Montezuma, after much hesitation, had at 

 last promised Cortes a personal interview, and informed 

 him that he had given orders for his friendly reception 

 in Cholula. It appears, however, that a deep plot had 

 here been laid for his destruction. The Cholulans re- 

 fused to admit into their town their ancient enemies the 

 Tlascalans. They received Cortes, however, and his 

 soldiers, with much appearance of cordiality. The 

 Tlascalans had warned him to be on his guard ; and 

 two of them having entered the town in disguise, had 

 an opportunity of seeing what was going on : they ac- 

 quainted Cortes that the women and children of the 

 principal inhabitants were retiring in great numbers 



every night, and that six children had been sacrificed 

 in the principal temple, a certain indication that some 

 great warlike enterprize was in contemplation. Mari- 

 na, the interpreter, also had learned from a Cholulan 

 woman, that the destruction of the Spaniards was re- 

 solved on. On this information, Cortes resolved to an- 

 ticipate his enemies, and fell upon them so unexpected- 

 ly, that though preparing for his destruction, they could 

 make no resistance, and 6000 of them were slain with- 

 out the loss of a single Spaniard. 



He now advanced directly towards Mexico, from 

 which he was only twenty leagues distant, and had the 

 satisfaction to observe, in every step of his progress, 

 evident marks of disaffection to the Mexican govern- 

 ment ; and his own ardour and that of his men was 

 farther kindled, when they beheld from the mountains 

 of Chalco the vast plain of Mexico covered with culti- 

 vated fields ; when they saw a lake resembling a sea in 

 extent, encompassed with large towns, and discovered 

 the capital itself rising on an island in the middle, 

 adorned with turrets and temples. The whole pros- 

 pect was so different from any thing they had ever seen, 

 that they were almost disposed to think it a scene of 

 enchantment. As Cortes approached the city, Monte- 

 zuma shewed his irresolution, by sending various mes- 

 sengers, sometimes permitting him to advance, at other 

 times requiring him to retire, according to the fluctua- 

 tion of his feelings. Cortes paid no attention to these 

 opposite requests, but continued his march along the 

 causeway which led to the city, observing the greatest 

 circumspection, but without betraying any symptoms 

 of suspicion. 



As he approached, Montezuma came out to meet 

 him, attended by a splendid retinue, and with all the 

 insignia of regal magnificence. He was carried in a 

 chair or litter, richly ornamented with gold and fea- 

 thers of various colours, on the shoulders of four of his 

 principal favourites. Cortes dismounted to receive him, 

 at the same time Montezuma alighted from his litter, 

 and approached with a stately pace, his attendants co- 

 vering the street with cotton cloths, that he might not 

 touch the ground. Cortes accosted him in the Euro- 

 pean manner, and he returned the salutation by touch- 

 ing the earth with his hand, and then kissing it. This 

 was the way in which inferiors saluted their superiors, 

 and his subjects were astonished to see such condescen- 

 sion in their haughty monarch. They concluded that 

 the persons to whom he paid such extraordinary marks 

 of respect must be something more than human. Mon- 

 tezuma conducted Cortes to a lodging surrounded by a 

 stone wall, with towers at proper distances, and its 

 apartments and courts were sufficiently large to accom- 

 modate both the Spaniards and their Indian alHes. The 

 first care of Cortes was to provide for his security, by 

 planting his artillery in such situations as to command 

 the different avenues leading to the place appointed for 

 his residence; and though Montezuma told him in the 

 evening that he and all his dominions were subject to 

 him, as he was convinced that the Spaniards were the 

 powerful strangers foretold in some of their prophecies, 

 who were to reform and new-model the Mexican state, 

 yet Cortes observed the same vigilant discipline as if he 

 had been in sight of the enemy's camp. 



The city of Mexico was built on some small islands 

 in an extensive lake, and was connected with the land 

 by causeways. The situation of the Spaniards, there- 

 fore, was extremely critical, should Montezuma con- 

 ceive any hostile intentions against them. It was easy 

 to cut off their retreat, by breaking down the bridges 



Cortei. 



