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failors, who had orders to put them on fhore beyond the territory of 

 Cempoal. 



In the morning, when the caciques found that two of their pri- 

 foners were flown, they were very determined on facrificing the reft, 

 but Gortes afluming the appearance of great difpleafure at the lofs, or- 

 dered a chain to be brought, in which he fent the remainder of the 

 Mexicans to the fhips, and this he did to get them out of the power of 

 tlie others, for as foon as they were on board he releafed them, with a 

 promife that they fliould foon be permitted to return to Mexico. The 

 caciques now reverted to Cortes for advice how they fliould adl, as 

 Montezuma muft inevitably know the manner in which his officers had 

 been treated, and would in confequence overwhdm them with his great 

 armies; to which Cortes with a cheerful countenance replied, that 

 he and his brothers there would guard them againft all attacks. 

 The caciques on their part offered to fupport us with all their powers, 

 and they at this time entered under allegiance to his Majefty before 

 Diego de Godoy the royal notary, and caufcd proclamation thereof to be 

 made through the province, the people of which rejoiced in the exemp- 

 tion from the vexatious demands of Montezuma's officers. 



The ftrong alliance which we had now made, induced us to lofc 

 no time in eftablifliing our fettlement in fo advantageous a fituation. 

 For the fcite of our town we chofe a plain, half a league from the fortrefs 

 where we now were; and tracing out the foundations of the church, 

 fquare, aifenal, and fort, we raifed all the buildings to the firft ftory, 

 and alfo the walls and parapets of the fort, with loop holes and barba- 

 cans. Cortes was the firft to carry earth, or ftones, or dig in the foun- 

 dations; and his example was followed by all the officers and foldiers, 

 fome digging, and others making the walls of clay, bringing water, 

 and at the kilns making bricks and tiles ; others feeking provifions or 

 timber, and the fmiths preparing the iron work. In this manner we 

 continued, until, with the affiftance of the natives, we had nearly com- 

 pleted the church, houfes, and fortreftes. 



At 



