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Efcalante, the two Monjarazes, and all the reft of us, the Lieut. Go- 

 vernor not excepted, we would with pleafure have laid down our lives 

 for him ; fo that if the orders of Velafquez were concealed in La Tri- 

 nidad, they were completely fuppreffed in the Havannah, for Pedro 

 Barba wrote an anfwer telling him that he dare not put them in execu- 

 tion, fuch was the popularity of Cortes ; and that he was fure if he 

 were to attempt it, the town would be facked, and Cortes would carry 

 away all the inhabitants with him. Cortes alfo wrote to Velafquez pro- 

 feffmg his eternal devotion to his intereft, and informing him that it 

 was his intention to fail on the enfuing day. 



The whole fleet failed for the Ifland of Cozumel on the tenth, 

 of February 15 19. Our fhip, which was commanded by Alva- 

 rado, was fent round by the north, under orders to wait for the fleet at 

 the point of St. Anton; and Cortes alfo fent directions to Diego de Ordas 

 to do the fame; but our pilot neglected his inftru6lions, and proceeded 

 for Cozumel, where we on this account arrived two days before the 

 reft. As foon as we had caft anchor our whole party went to the town 

 of Cozumel, which we found abandoned by the inhabitants. We then 

 proceeded to another place from which the natives fled at our approach, 

 but not in fufficient time to move their effedts, for we found a quantity 

 of fowls, and fome idols, toys, and ornaments of debafed gold in the 

 temple of the place, wherewith we returned to the town near which 

 our fhip was at anchor. At this time Cortes and his fteet arrived, aiid 

 the firft thing that he did was to put our pilot Camacho in irons, for 

 not having obeyed his orders. He then fent for Alvarado, and gravely 

 reprehended him for his imprudence in feizing the property of the na- 

 tives, telling him that was by no means the way to effed: any good in 

 the country, and he immediately ordered two men and a woman whom 

 they had made prifoners to be brought before him, and through our 

 interpreter Melchorejo, deflred them to call back their countrymen to 

 their habitations, and afl^lired them that they need be under no appre- 

 / henfions. He ordered all the articles that had been taken to be returned, 

 for the fowls which had been eaten he paid in beads and trinkets, and 



F to 



