( '6 ) 



the faces, fo that we hardly knew when to put up our fhields to guard 

 us, or whether they were arrows or locufts which flew round us, they 

 came fo mixed together. 



After four days ftay in Champoton we re-embarked, and purfuing 

 our voyage arrived at what appeared to be the entrance of a large river ; 

 but our pilot Alaminos infilled that what we faw before us was an 

 Ifland, and that he faw the termination of it. Thefe circumftances 

 caufed us fo name the bay, Boca de Terminos. Captain de Grijalva 

 with many officers and foldiers went to examine the bay and neigh- 

 bouring country ; on the fliore they found fome adoratories or temples,, 

 built of lime and ftone, and containing idols made of clay and wood, 

 fome in the figures of women, others of ferpents, and many horns of 

 deer. Thefe were the occafional ofterings of traders or hunters, who 

 frequented thofe parts, for they were entirely uninhabited, but abun- 

 dantly flocked with deer and rabbits. We killed ten of the former with 

 one greyhound, and many rabbits. The dog was left behind us on our 

 embarking, but when we returned with Cortes we found him on the 

 fhore, and he fefemed to have fared well in our abfence for he was very 

 fat and fleek. 



From the harbour of Boca de Terminos we coafled weflward, and in 

 three days arrived at another inlet, which being difcovered by founding 

 to be fhallow, was entered by the vefTels of the lighteft burthen, in which, 

 together with the boats, we embarked our whole force, as we perceived 

 numbers of armed Indians in canoes. We therefore judged that we 

 were near fome populous town or diftridl, and the more fo, as we found, 

 and took fifh out of nets, Vv^hich were laid in the track of our veflels. 

 This River was called Tabafco from a native chieftain; but it was from 

 this time named in honor of our Captain, de Grijalva, and it is fo put 

 down in the maps. When we approached the fhore we heard the noife 

 occafioned by the falling of timber, which was a preparation of defence, 

 for they were very well acquainted with the tranfadlions of Pontonchan. 

 We difembarked at a point of land which was diflant about half a 



league 



