CORTEZ SETTLES THE TLASCALAN SUCCESSION. 55 



military supplies, he freighted them with specimens of gold and 

 Indian fabrics to inflame the cupidity of new adventurers. 



In Tlascala, he settled the question of succession in the govern- 

 ment ; constructed new arms and caused old ones to be repaired ; 

 made powder with sulphur obtained from the volcano of Popoca- 

 tepetl ; and, under the direction of his builder, Lopez, prepared 

 the timber for brigantines, which he designed to carry, in pieces, 

 and launch on the lake at the town of Tezcoco. At that port, he 

 resolved to prepare himself fully for the final attack, and, this time, 

 he determined to assault the enemy's capital by water, as well as 

 by land. 



