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he kept for himfelf, and prefented the idols to our commandant. The 

 jftory however came to the ears of the latter, who infiftcd on having the 

 gold, but was induced to leave it with the poor man on his paying his 

 Majefty's fifth, and the whole was not worth eighty crowns. 



As this country is infefted by mofquitos, in order to avoid them 

 I went to fleep in a large temple, near which I at this time fowed feven 

 or eight feeds of oranges, which I had brought from Cuba. They 

 grew very well, for the priefts of the temple took care of them when they 

 faw that they were uncommon plants. This I mention, becaufe they 

 were the firft trees of the kind that ever grew in New Spain, After the 

 conqueft of Mexico, this province being confidered as offering the 

 greateft advantages, was chofen by moft of the principal perfons amongfb 

 the conquerors, of which number I was one; and on my arrival there 

 I went in fearch of, and found my young trees flourifhing, and having 

 tranfplanted them, they all did v^ry well. 



We now embarked, leaving the natives very well fatisfied with us, 

 and failed fdr Cuba, where we arrived after a voyage of forty-five days» 

 The governor was well pleafed with the gold, which amounted in value 

 to twenty thoufand crov/ns: but there was much laughter when the fix 

 hundred hatchets were produced, and affayedj the governor however 

 was on the whole contented, though he appeared for a time difpleafed 

 with Grijalva, which was owing to the unjuft afperfions of the two 

 captains, Avila and Montejo. 



Velafquez now wifhing to convey to his Majefty the firft account 

 of his voyages of difcovery, and the refult of them, fent his chaplain 

 Benito Martinez to Caftille with letters to his patron the Bifhop of 

 Burgos, and to the licentiate Juan Zapata, and fecretary Lope Con- 

 chillos, both of whom were employed in the affairs of the Spanifh fet- 

 tlements in the Weft Indies. With all thefe, who were perfons in 

 power, Velafquez had created a ftrong intereft for himfelf, by giving 

 them, rich diftridts in the iflands, preferring thereby his own intereft 



to 



