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nouncing the worfhip of their gods in any refpedt : but as to the other 

 evil practice a flop fliould be put to it. This anfwer however did not 

 by any means fatisfy us, and Cortes llrongly reprefented the neceflity of 

 fupprefiing by force their idolatrous worfhip, and his determination, 

 though it coft the hves of all, on that very day to proflrate their falfe 

 gods. For this purpofe we therefore immediately got under arms, and 

 then Cortes declared his intention to the chiefs. As foon as the fat ca- 

 cique heard it, he ordered the people to arm and aflemble in defence of 

 their temple, and they all appeared greatly agitated ; but when they 

 faw that we were preparing to afcend the great flight of fleps, the chief 

 abovementioned came up to Cortes and expoflulated with him, afking 

 him why he proceeded upon a meafure whereby he would bring de- 

 ftrucSlion upon them and us alfo. Cortes anfwered that he was deter^ 

 mined fince they paid no regard to what he faid, to hurl their pretended 

 gods down the fleps. The chiefs replied, that they were unworthy to 

 approach them, but if we were refolved on doing what we faid, they 

 could not help themfelves. Accordingly, they had hardly faid this j 

 when fifty of us going up for the purpofe, threw down and broke to 

 pieces the enormous idols which wc found within the temple, fome in 

 the form of dragons, others of half human fhape, and others like dogs. 

 At this fight the chiefs and priefls wept and prayed for pardon, but the 

 warriors prepared to attack us with their arrows. Perceiving their in- 

 tention, we immediately feized the fat cacique and fix more chiefs and 

 priefls, Cortes exclaiming, that if any outrage was attempted, they 

 fhould every man die that moment. The fat cacique then called to his 

 warriors to defifl, and matters being foon brought to a flate of quiet, 

 Cortes took an opportunity of haranguing the people upon the fubjedt 

 of religion. 



He next ordered that the fragments of the idols fhould be burned, 

 and immediately eight priefls who ufed to have the care of them came, 

 zmd collecting ihem together, brought them into the temple, where 

 ;hey were confumed, 



Thefe 



