C 233 ) 



our arrival amongft them. That we htsd enabled them to eat fait with 

 their provifions, and that we were certainly thofe of whom their ancef- 

 tors had fpoken. He then reprobated and expofed the condii6t of the 

 younger Xicotenga. In reply to this, anci to the difcourfe of his father 

 to the fame purpofe, the young man made ufe of fuch outrageous and 

 difrefpeibful language, as induced them to feize him by the collar, and 

 throw him down the fteps of the building into the flreet, and he very 

 narrowly efcaped with his life; but Cortes did not think it prudent 

 in his prefent fituation to carry matters any farther. Such was the fide- 

 lity of our Tlafcalan allies, with whom we at this time ftaid two and 

 twenty days. 



Cortes meditated an attack upon the adjoining provinces of Tepe- 

 aca and Zacatula, on account of the murders committed by thefe people 

 upon the Spaniards, and determined to fet out upon it, at the expiration 

 of the above mentioned period ; but when he came to propofe this to his 

 troops, he found the univerfal fentiment of the foldiers of Narvaez de- 

 cidedly againft it. They thought that they neyer could get back foon 

 enough to their houfes and mines in the Ifland of Cuba, and the flaugh- 

 ter of Mexico, and battle of Obtumba, made them defire to renounce all 

 connexion with Cortes, his riches, and his conquefts. But beyond nil 

 others Andres de Duero, his friend and companion, moft heartily cur- 

 fed the day he had embarked with him in the bulinefs, and the gold 

 which he had been forced to leave in the ditches of Mexico. They all 

 totally declined any connexion with his new fchemes, and finding that 

 words did not avail them they made a requihtion in form to that effect, 

 ftating the infufficiency of our force, and demanding licences to return 

 to Cuba. Cortes having received and read the memorial, replied to it, 

 giving at leaft ten reafons for his plan, to every one they ailed ged againft 

 it ; his own foldiers alfo addrelTed him on the occafion, requeuing him 

 on no account to give permiflion to any one to depart, but that we fliould 

 all remain together, as being moft conducive to the fervice of Cod, and 

 his Majefty. At length they were obliged to acquiefce, with a very ill 

 grace, and much murmuring againft Cortes, and his expeditions, and 

 againft us who fupported him in them, and who as they faid had no- 



H h thing 



