{ 66 ) 



CHAPTER V. 



The Spanijh Army advances into the Country, 



TThE wants we experienced now required {bme relief, and Alvarado 

 was accordingly fent with a hundred foldiers principally of the party 

 of Velafquez, to fearch the country, and procure maize, and other pro- 

 vifions j for it was thought moft politic, that the whole of thofe who 

 were friends to Cortes fhould remain with him. It muft be obferved 

 that this neighbourhood where the language of Culva was fpoken, was 

 dependent wpon Mexico. Alvarado proceeding on his expedition, 

 marched to fome fmall villages, dependencies of the diftricSt, named 

 Coftitlan, which the inhabitants had quitted a fhort time before his 

 arrival. In their temples he found the bodies of men and boys lately 

 facrificed, the ftones on which the horrid ceremony was performed, and 

 the knives yet fmoking ; the limbs were fevered from the bodies, and 

 taken away, as our people were informed, to be eaten. Thefe fhoeking 

 fcenes aftonifhed our foldiers, but we every where as we proceeded 

 through the country found fimilar ones. In thefe villages they obtained 

 abundance of provifions, of which they ftripped them, without doing 

 further damage, by the ftri6t orders of Cortes, and returned with two 

 prifoners to our quarters; where we rejoiced in the novelty of good fare: 

 for, as the faying is, all hardfhips and misfortunes are fupported with 

 a hearty meal. . 



The addrefs and adivity of Cortes made him daily acquire an 

 intereffc amongft the former adherents of Velafquez, fome with gold 

 which breaks the folid rocks, and more with promifes were fucceffively 

 drawn over to him. He firfi: brought his prifoners from the fhips 

 where they had been in confinement, and in a few days releafed them 



entirely, 



