( " ) 



which was commanded by Alonzo de Avila, and it feems as if their in- 

 tention was to have carried ~her off, for they cut the cable, notwith- 

 ftanding the gallant defence made by thofe on board ; bur we fent them 

 fpeedy affiftance , whereby the enemy were forced to retreat with a con- 

 fidcrable lofs. We then weighed anchor and purfued our route, until 

 we arrived at a very bold point of land, which the violence of the cur- 

 rent, according to the report of our pilot, did not allow us to double; 

 whereupon it was determined in council to return to the Ifland of Cuba, 

 contrary to the opinion of Grijalva who w^s anxious to eftablilli a fettle- 

 ment, but was oppofed for feveral reafons, fuch as the latenefs of the 

 feafon, want of provifions, and hardfhips already fuftained by the 

 troops. 



We therefore fet fail upon our return, in which, aided by the cur- 

 rent, we made way rapidly, and entering the river of Tonala, were 

 obliged to delay, in order to repair one of our fhips. This velTel flruck 

 three times in crofling the bar, on which the water is fhallow. The 

 natives came to us here very amicably, and brought provifions of bread, 

 fifli, and fruits. We prefented them with beads and cut glafs, defiring 

 gold in return, and this being made known in the neighbourhood, the 

 inhabitants of Guacacualco and other places brought to us what gold 

 was in their polTeffion. 



It was a cuftom of the Indians of this province invariably, to carry 

 fmall hatchets of copper, very bright, and the wooden handles of 

 which were highly painted, as intended both for defence and ornament. 

 Thefe were fuppofed by us to be gold, and were of courfe eagerly pur- 

 chafed, infomuch that within three days we had amongft us procured 

 above fix hundred, and were while under the miftake as well pleafed 

 with our bargain, as the Indians w^ith their green beads. One mariner 

 thought he had made his fortune, having purchafed feven of them. I 

 recoiled alfo that a foldier named Bartholome Pardo entered a temple 

 w^hich was on the fummit of a high mount, and there found in a cheft 

 feme diadems and collars of gold, and two figures of idols. The gold 



he 



