CHAPTER VI. 



1520. 



RETREAT TO OTUMBA. CORTEZ IS ENCOUNTERED BY A NEW 



ARMY OF AZTECS AND AUXILIARIES. VICTORY OF THE SPAN- 

 IARDS AT OTUMBA. PROPOSED RE-ALLIANCE OF AZTECS AND 



TLASCALANS. FORAYS OF CORTEZ REDUCTION OF THE EAST- 

 ERN REGIONS. CORTEZ PROPOSES THE RE -CONQUEST SENDS 



OFF THE DISAFFECTED. CORTEZ SETTLES THE TLASCALAN 



SUCCESSION. 



After the disasters and fatigues of the noche triste, the melan- 

 choly and broken band of Cortez rested for a day at Tacuba, 

 whilst the Mexicans returned to their capital, probably to bury the 

 dead and purify theij city. It is singular, yet it is certain, that 

 they did not follow up their successes by a death blow at the 

 disarmed Spaniards. But this momentary paralysis of their efforts 

 was not to be trusted, and accordingly Cortez began to retreat 

 eastwardly, under the guidance of the Tlascalans, by a circuitous 

 route around the northern limits of lake Zumpango. The flying 

 forces and their auxiliaries were soon in a famishing condition, 

 subsisting alone on corn or on wild cherries gathered in the forest, 

 with occasional refreshment and support from the carcase of a 

 horse that perished by the way. For six days these wretched 

 fragments of the Spanish army continued their weary pilgrimage, 

 and, on the seventh, reached Otumba on the way from Mexico to 

 Tlascala. Along the whole of this march the fainting and dis- 

 pirited band was, ever and anon, assailed by detached squadrons 

 of the enemy, who threw stones and rolled rocks on the men as 

 they passed beneath precipices, or assaulted them with arrows and 

 spears. As Cortez advanced, the enemy gathered in his rear and 

 bade him "Go on whither he should meet the vengeance due to 

 his robbery and his crimes," for the main body of the Aztecs had 

 meanwhile passed by an eastern route across the country, and 

 placed itself in a position to intercept the Spaniards on the plains 

 of Otumba. As the army of the conqueror crossed the last divid- 

 ing ridge that overlooked the vale of Otompan, it beheld the levels 



