16 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



purpofe, charging him to go firft to Zoltepec, and take 

 ample revenge on thofe citizens for the flaughter of the 

 forty-five Spaniards and three hundred Tlafcalans, of 

 whom we have already made mention. The Zoltepe- 

 chefe, when they perceived this ftorm coming upon 

 them, deferted their houfes to fave their lives by flight, 

 but they were purfued by the Spaniards, and many of 

 them killed, and others made flaves. From thence San- 

 doval marched to Tlafcala, where he found every thing 

 ready for the tranfport of the finiflied materials of the 

 brigantines. The firfb brigantine was built by Martino 

 Lopez, a Spanifh foldier, who was an engineer in the 

 army of Cortes, and was put to proof in the river Za- 

 huapan. After that model the other twelve were built 

 by the Tlafcalans. The tranfport of them was executed 

 with great rejoicing and expedition by the Tlafcalans, 

 the load appearing to them of little weight, which was 

 to contribute to the ruin of their enemies. Eight thou- 

 fand Tlafcalans carried on their backs the beams, fails, 

 and other materials, neceffary for the conflru&ion of 

 the brigantines ; two thoufand were loaded with pro- 

 vifions, and thirty thoufand were armed for defence, un- 

 der the command of the three chiefs Chichimecatl or 

 Chichimecateuclli, Ajotecatl, and Teotepil or Teotiipil. 

 This convoy occupied, according to Bernal Diaz, up- 

 ward of fix miles of fpace, from van to rear. When 

 they fet out from Tlafcala, Chichimecatl commanded 

 the vanguard, but whenever they got without the do- 

 minions of the republic, Sandoval gave him the rear- 

 guard, fearing fome attack from the enemy. This oc- 

 cafioned great difgull to the Tiafcalan, who boafted of 

 his bravery, alleging, that in ail the battles in which he 

 had ever been concerned, he had always, in example of 



his 



