24 MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 
Cozumel Island and took possession. He explored the 
eastern coast of Yucatan as well as the northern and 
western ones, discovered the mouth of the large river 
that bears his name, and proceeded as far as the Island 
of Sacrifices in the harbor of Vera Cruz. 
The next year Hernando Cortez was sent out by 
Velasquez, the governor of Cuba, to conquer the new 
land. He landed at Cozumel Island and rescued Ge- 
ronimo de Aguilar. Then he followed the coast to the 
mouth of the Grijalva River where he disembarked and 
fought the important battle of Cintla, the first engage- 
ment in the New World in which cavalry was used. 
After a signal victory Cortez continued his way to Vera 
Cruz. Here delay and dissension seemed about to 
break the luck of the invaders. 
Although the Mexicans were somewhat inclined to 
regard the Spaniards as supernatural visitants and to 
associate their coming with the fabled return of Quet- 
zalcoatl, the Plumed Serpent, still Moctezuma refused 
to grant an interview to Cortez. The Totonacan city of 
Cempoalan opened its gates and became allies of the 
invaders. Finally, at the instigation of their stout- 
hearted captain, the Spaniards destroyed their ships on 
the shore in order to steel their resolution through the 
impossibility of retreat. Then the little band of 450 
white men with their retinue of natives marched towards 
the highlands. The route led past Jalapa and over the 
mountains to the fortified city of Tlascala. This city 
after a skirmish likewise enlisted in the Spanish cause, 
a course that came easy because Tlascala was a tra- 
ditional enemy of Tenochtitlan, the ancient Mexico 
City, and had withstood the attacks of the Aztecs for 
many years. From here Cortez passed to the sacred 
city of Cholula where, suspecting treachery, he caused 
many of the inhabitants to be massacred. 
