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Cortes with reverence, ^ind the people, when we entered the town, 

 crowded lipon us in fuch numbers as to make the ftreets hardly palTable, 

 preFenting to Cortes and the cavalry, garlands of beautiful and odori- 

 ferous flowers. When we arrived at fomc large courts, in the apart- 

 ments about which we were to be lodged, the two chiefs taking Cortes 

 by the hand, brought him to that which was intended for him, and 

 every Spaniili foldier was accommodated with a bed, compofedofa 

 mat, and clothes made of nequen. Our allies were lodged near us, 

 and the ambafladors of Montezuma, by the defire of Cortes, in the 

 apartment next to his own. Akhough we had every confidence in the 

 fincerity of the Tlafcalans, yet Cortes never permitted the leaft relaxation 

 in military duty ; when the chiefs obferved this, it gave them a jealoufy, 

 as they thought it to indicate that we harboured fufpicions of them, 

 and they fpoke to Cortes on the fubjedt in fuch terms as convinced us 

 all of their fincerity. Cortes replied by alTuranCes of his perfed: reliance 

 upon their truth, and alfo informed them, that it was merely a com- 

 pHance with the cuftom of our country. 



As foon as an altar could be erecfled, Cortes ordered mafs to be 

 faid by Fra. Juan Diaz, the Rev. Father Olmedo being ill of a fever. 

 At this many of the native chiefs were prefent, and after it was ended 

 Cortes took them with him to his apartment, attended by thofe foldiers 

 who ufually accompanied him. Xicotenga the elder then told him, 

 tTiat they had prepared a prefent of which they requefled his acceptance. 

 Accordingly, fome pieces of gold, and of cloth were produced, not 

 altogether worth twenty crowns. The chief then addrefied him, ex- 

 preffing his fear that he would defpife fuch a paltry offer, but that their 

 poverty, and the extortions of Montezuma, of whom they were obliged 

 to puj.ehafe peace at the expence of all they poffcfi!ed, were the caufes 

 of it. Cortes received their prefent with thanks, faying, that little as 

 it was, he valued it more from them, as a teilimony of friendfhip, 

 than if others had given him a houfe full of gold. Xicotenga then 

 propofed to him an alliance between our two nations, and that we 

 ihould accept their daughters in marriage, making the offer of his own 



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