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fought with us foot to foot, while we with our cannon, mufketry, 

 crof^-bows, and fwords, maintained our ground firmly. When they 

 had pretty well experienced the fharpnefs of our fwords, they drew off 

 a little, but it was only to fhoot at us with more advantage j our artil- 

 lery now however made great havoc amongft them from the manner in 

 which they were crowded together, and they were at that diftance which 

 enabled us to fire at them with the grcateft advantage j but all could not 

 make them give way. 



I advifed Captain de Ordas to clofe with them, becaufe they feemed 

 to be fhy of our fwords, and had the advantage of their mifhle weapons 

 when at a little diftancc j but he objedted to this, obferving that they 

 were three hundred for every one of us. However we did advance upon 

 them, and as they were unwilling to come within the reach of our 

 fwords they yielded ground, and inclined towards a marfh. During 

 all this time we were anxioufly looking out for Cortes, and very ap- 

 prehcnfive that he had met with fomc difaller. 



I recoiled: that in this battle, every time that the cannon were 

 fired, the Indians fhouted, whiftled, and founded their inftruments, 

 throwing up ftraw and duft in the air, and crying, ** Ala, lala 

 this they did to prevent our perceiving the mifchief done by our artillery 

 in their crowded bodies. While we were engaged as I have now de- 

 fcribed, we were rejoiced at the fight of Cortes approaching to our fup- 

 port. As the cavalry came round by the rear of the Indians, who were 

 entirely occupied in their attacks upon us, the latter did not perceive 

 them until they made their charge. The ground being very level, moft 

 of the horfes adlive, and the men expert, they now rode through the 

 bodies of the enemy as they chofe, and we, encouraged by this fupport, 

 reiterated our efforts on our fide. The Indians ftruck with furprife 

 thought that the horfe and his rider were one j they were terrified at the 

 fight, and in an inflant fled to the adjacent woods and marfhes, leaving 

 the field and vi(5tory to us. 



Being 



