( i> ) 



partly becaufe this was the day of St. John, and partly in compliment 

 to our chief, Juan de Grijalva. The neiglibouring Indians brought us 

 fome gold, but in fo trifling a quantity as not to be worth mentioning, 

 and here we remained feven days defperately annoyed by the mofquitos. 

 Our bread now growing very bad, and our wounded men declining, 

 being alfo convinced that the land where we were was a part of the con- 

 tinent, and our number having been fo reduced as to be infufficient for 

 colonization, it was determined to fend P. de Alvarado to Cuba for a 

 reinforcement, which was accordingly done, for our chief was very 

 anxious to eftablifh a fettlement, and always fliewed himfelf a moft va- 

 liant officer, the very reverfe of what would be fuppofed, from the 

 afperfions caft upon him by Gomara. 



From the time of our failing the Governor of Cuba had always 

 been penlive and unealy as to our fate ; at length he determined to fend 

 a vefTcl in fearch of us, commanded by a valiant foldier named Chril- 

 toval de Oli : but after De Oli had failed for fome time in our track, he 

 met with a gale of wind which fo fhattered his veffel that he was obliged 

 to return to Cuba, without having gained in any degree the intelligence 

 he was fent for. This was a great difappointment to Velafquez ; how- 

 ever he was foon relieved by the arrival of Alvarado. The difplay of 

 the gold ftruck the governor and all who faw it with aftonifhment j and 

 Velafquez thought he never could fufficiently (hew his favor to one who 

 had brought fuch agreeable intelligence ; Alvarado was feafled and ho- 

 nored, and the fame of the newly difcovered and v^^ealthy country was 

 diffufed and enhanced through the Iflands, and foon reached Caftille. 



We determined now to extend our difcoveries as far as circum- 

 ftances would permit, and paffing by the mountains of Tufta and Tufpa, 

 we approached the province of Panuco, thickly fet with populous towns, 

 about three or four leagues from the coaft ; and advancing further, ar- 

 rived at the river de Canoas, fo named by us on account of what I am 

 going to relate. We were here fuddenly attacked while at anchor by 

 ten canoes filled with Indians; they fell violently on the fmalleft (hip, 



which 



