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CHAPTER VI. 



March of the Spanijh Army for the City of Mexico, Wars in 

 Tlafcala. Submijfion of that Nation. 



Being now ready to proceed to Mexico, our allies of Cempoal 

 propofed to us to march by the province of Tlafcala, the people of 

 which were their friends, and bitter enemies to the Mexicans. In 

 compliance with our requifition, fifty of their principal warriors at- 

 tended us, and alfo two hundred men to draw our guns, and thus we 

 fet out from Cempoal, in the month of Auguft 15 19, our army in 

 good order, and patroles of cavalry, and light infantry in front. 



Our firft day*s march was to a town named Xalapa, and the fecond 

 was to Socochima, a place of difficult approach, abounding with vines. 

 The people here were harangued through our interpreters, who informed 

 them that we were vafTals of the Emperor Don Carlos, who had fent 

 us to put a ftop to human facrifices, and other abufes. They alfo ex- 

 plained to them many things concerning our religion, and as thefe 

 people were allies of Cempoal and independent of Montezuma, we 

 found them very well difpofed to us. We here ered:ed a crofs, ex- 

 plaining what it fignified, and that it fhould be held in veneration. 

 Proceeding from this place, by a pafs among lofty mountains, we ar- 

 rived at another named Texutla, the people of which we found equally 

 well difpofed to us, and they alfo paid no tribute to the Mexican 

 monarch. Continuing our march through defert mountains, we that 

 night experienced great cold and ftorms of hail. On the next day we 

 reached another pafs, where were fome houfes and large temples, with 

 great piles of wood for the fervice of the idols. Provifions were fcarce 

 with us for thefe. two days, and we now approached the territory of 



N Mexico, 



