( '63 ) 



liundred and fifty foldiers. Our reverend father of the order of mercy" 

 alfo attended for the purpofe of preventing human facrifice. Mon- 

 tezuma on his arrival near the temple came out of his litter, and was 

 fupported up to it aa^ ufual, being met by a number of priefts. They 

 had on the preceding night facrificed four Indians, nor could all our 

 endeavours prevent that inhuman practice, which we were for the pre- 

 fent obliged to connive at, fearing to do any thing which would caufe 

 an infurredtion. After Montezuma had ftaid a fhort time at his devo- 

 tions he came down from the temple, and returned to our quarters in 

 great good humour, making prefents to all of us who attended him 

 upon the occafion. 



The veflels were now afloat upon the lake, fully equipped, and 

 manned with expert failors, and they obeyed both fail and oar, fo as to 

 anfwer our utmoft expedition. When Montezuma was informed of it, 

 he requeued Cortes to permit him to go hunting in a certain diftrid:, 

 which was prohibited to all others on pain of death. Cortes affented, 

 warning him that his life paid the forfeit of any attempt at a refcue, 

 and he offered him the ufe of his fhips to go there, which Mon- 

 tezuma was greatly pleafed with, and accepted. 



The fwifteft failing vefTel conveyed the king and his fuite, the 

 other was occupied by his fon and a number of the nobility. They 

 were attended alfo by a vaft number of boats, great and fmall. Cortes 

 ordered out a party compofed of Velafquez de Leon, Alvarado, De Oli, 

 and Avila, all men who had blood in their eyes, and two hundred 

 foldiers, giving them orders to be very watchful over Montezuma: 

 four brafs guns with their ammunition and artillery-men, were alfo 

 embarked. 



The wind blew very frefh, our failors^ took delight in exhibiting 

 their (kill, and the fhips fecmed to fly acrofs the lake, leaving the vcflTels 

 of the natives far behind. Montezuma being arrived where he was to 

 hunt, landed for that purpofe, and as the place abounded with game, 



Y2 he 



