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goldfmiths melted down the metal which was in the heaps, and ran it 

 into bars of the breadth of three fingers. When this was done, another 

 prefent was received from Montezuma, fo rich that it was worthy of 

 admiration, exclufive of the jewels called calchihuis, the ornamented 

 tubes covered with jewels and pearls, the beautiful embroideries of 

 pearls and feathers, and the penaches, and plumage, a recital whereof 

 would be endlefs. The bars of gold were flamped with the imperial 

 arms by the approbation of us all, and as to the rich ornaments, it was 

 judged beft that they fhould not be taken to pieces. We alfo Caufed 

 weights to be made of iron for the purpofe of afcertaining the quantity 

 of gold in the bars. They were not perfedlly ex^, but perhaps an 

 ounce more or lefs, being arrobas, half arrobas, and down to four 

 ounces. The officers of his Majefty valued the gold, altogether, and 

 exclufive of filver and ornaments, at fix hundred thoufand crowns j but 

 fome faid that it amounted to more. Nothing farther was then 

 thought ncceffary, than to dedudt his Majefly's fifth, and diflribute 

 the fliares to the officers and foldiers ; Cortes however propofed that the 

 divifion fhould be poflponed until more treafure was brought in, and 

 tnore exadl weights made, but the foldiers were clamorous for an im- 

 mediate divifion, for they perceived that fince the various articles had 

 been taken to pieces, above a third part was already gone; for Cortes, 

 the captains, and others, were conveying it off and concealing it. At 

 length it was determined to weigh it, and to poftpone the divifion until 

 the enfuing day. It was accordingly fo done, and exclufive of the 

 ornaments and plates of gold, it was found to amount to upwards of 

 fix hundred thoufand crowns. I will now relate how it was divided, 

 and how the mofl of it remained with Cortes and certain others. 



In the partition of the treafure Cortes firfl laid afide his Majefty*s 

 fifth; fecondly, for himfelf, another fifth; thirdly, a portion of the 

 gold to reimburfe the expences in the Ifland of Cuba, and alfo for the 

 naval expenditure incurred by Velafquez, and the deflrudtion of the 

 fhips; fourthly, for the expences of our agents in Spain; fifthly, for 

 our foldiers in Villa Rica; fixthly, for the lofs of killed horfes; 



venthly. 



