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covered by mangroves, were filled with canoes containing armed In- 

 dians, and above twelve thoufand warriors had aflembled in the town 

 of Tabafco which was at that time poffelTed of an extenfive domination 

 over the neighbouring diftrid:s. This afforded matter of furprife to us 

 who had been at this place before, and the reafon of their prefent hof- 

 tility we afterwards found to be, that the neighbouring nations of Pon- 

 tonchanand Lazarus, (as we named the place,) had reproached them for 

 their daftardly timidity, as they confidered it, in treating amicably with 

 us, inftead of attacking us at our landing as the others had done. For 

 this reafon they were determined to take the prefent opportunity of re- 

 trieving their charadter with their neighbours. 



As foon as Cortes perceived what kind of reception he was to ex- 

 pert, he dire(5led Aguilar to addrefs himfelf to fome of the natives who 

 appeared to be chiefs, and who were in a canoe which was then pafling 

 very near us, and afk them the reafon of thefe hoflile appearances when 

 we came to them as friends and brothers, adding, that if they were fo 

 rafli as to recur to hoftilities they fliould certainly have caufe to repent it. 

 This, and more to the fame purpofe being explained to them, only 

 feemed to render them more violent againft us, and they replied by 

 threatening us all with inftant death if we ventured to approach their 

 town, which they had fortified with parapets aud palifades. Aguilar 

 then requefted permiiTion to procure wood and water, and an interview 

 with their caciques, to whom our general had matters of the greateft 

 importance and of a holy nature to communicate, but to this they only 

 replied in the fame manner as before. 



Cortes hereupon ordered three guns to be placed in each veffel, and 

 alfo divided the mulketeers and crofs-bowmen through them. It was 

 recolle(5led by us who had been there before, that a narrow road went 

 from the point of Palmares, by fome brooks and marfhes, to the town 

 of Tabafco. Cortes ordered three foldiers to watch the motions of the 

 enemy, and report to him if they retired to their town ; which they 

 fhortly did. 



G On 



