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that Montezuma had enemies in the country ; he difmilTed thefe men 

 with prefents, and defired them to afllxre their chief, that he would 

 fhortly pay him an amicable vifit. Thefe people were ever after named 

 the Lopelucios. 



The fands we had remained on during this time, were infefted by 

 the fmall mofquito, which is much the moft troublefome of all, and 

 under whofe attacks it is impoffibe to deep; our bread was rotten, and 

 we had hardly any thing elfe to eat. The faction of Velafquez, and 

 thofe who had good plantations in Cuba therefore began to be very tired 

 of our prefent fituation, which indeed required fome change, and Cortes 

 prepared to proceed to the fortified town named Quiabuiftlan. Upon 

 this the perfons I have alluded to grew more querulous than before; they 

 complained that they fhould be worn down by the attacks of the natives 

 of this vaft country, having already loft above thirty-five of our num- 

 ber, and that it was preferable to return and report to Velafquez what 

 we had done. To thefe remonftrances Cortes replied, that hitherto we 

 had no caufe to complain of fortune j that death w as the fate of war, 

 and it was our faults if we wanted while wc lived in a plentiful land; 

 that it was impolTible to quit this country without feeing more of it, 

 and he trufted in God's afTiftance. This in fome degree calmed, but by 

 no means extinguiflied the fpirit of the party which had formed itfelf. 



Cortes had now obtained from Puertocarrero, Alvarado and his 

 four brothers, De Oli, De Avila, Efcalante, De Lugo, and myfelf, to- 

 gether with other officers and cavaliers, promifes of our fupport in ap- 

 pointing him to an independent command, and this was fufpedled by 

 Montejo who clofely watched all our motions. One night very late, 

 Puertocarrero, Efcalante, and De Lugo who was a diftant relation of 

 mine came to my hut, and faid to me, *' Senior del Caftillo get your arms 

 and join us to attend Cortes who is going his rounds." I accordingly 

 did fo, and as foon as we had quitted the hut, they told that they 

 wanted fome converfation with me, which it was not proper for my 

 4;omrades, who were of the fad:ion of Velafquez, to hear. One of 



them 



