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fouls with many other good and holy reafons, which he cxpreflcd 

 very well. The priefts and chiefs replied, that they worfhipped thefe 

 gods as their anceftors had done, becaufe they were kind to them ; and 

 that if we attempted to mpleftthem, the gods would convince us of their 

 power, by deftroying us in the fea. Cortes then ordered them to be 

 proftrated, which we immediately did, rolling them down fome fteps. 

 He next fent for lime of which there was abundance in the place, and 

 Indian mafons, by whom, under our dirediion, a very handfome altar 

 was conftrud:ed, whereon we placed an image of the Holy Virgin, and 

 the carpenters having made a crucifix which was erected in a fmall cha- 

 pel clofe to the altar, mafs was faid by the Rev. Father Juan Diaz, and 

 liftened to by the priefts, chiefs, and the reft of the natives, with great 

 attention. 



The regulation of our fleet was now made by Cortes, and the cap- 

 tains appointed. The firft or admiral's fliip was commanded by Cortes 

 in perfon, and the reft as follows: The St. Sebaftion by P. de Alvarado, 

 the third (hip in fize by Alonzo H. Puertocarrero, the fourth by F. dc 

 Montejo, the fifth by Chriftoval dc Oli. the fixth by Diego de Ordas, 

 the feventh by J. Velafquez de Leon, the eighth by J. de Efcalante, the 

 ninth by F. de Morla, the tenth by Efcobar, and the eleventh by Gines 

 Noftes. Pilots were appointed, the night fignals given, and each cap- 

 tain received his inftrud:ions. 



In the beginning of the month of March, we fct fail, after having 

 taken a friendly leave of the natives, who promifed to take care of the 

 holy altar and crucifix; and they prefented Cortes on his departure with 

 fome fowls and honey. We had failed but a few hours when a fignal 

 gun and cry of alarm informed us that the veflel of Juan de Efcalante 

 which contained the bread for the fleet was in danger, having fprung a 

 leak. This forced us to put back to the place from whence w^e had 

 failed. On our return there, we were vifitcd by the friendly Indians, 

 and the caufe of it being made known to them, they immediately 

 brought their canoes to alTift us in taking the lading out of the veflel, 



and 



