( ^38 ) 



provinces that were neareft to the Spanifh army, tliey became very dil- 

 orderly, robbing and outraging the people. Thefe provocations indu- 

 ced the natives to fend four chiefs fecretly to negotiate with Cortes, of- 

 fering to furrender themfelves to him, provided he would give them 

 his aihftance to expell the Mexicans. Cortes immediately acceded to 

 the propofal, and ordered for this fervice the whole of the cavalry and 

 crofsbow-men, under the command of Chriftoval de Oli. A confide* 

 rable number alfo of Tlafcalans were joined in the expedition. Several 

 of the captains who had come with Narvaez were appointed to com- 

 mand in this detachment, which amounted in the whole to above three 

 hundred foldiers. As our people were on their march, converling with 

 the Indians, they received fuch accounts from them of the force of the 

 enemy, as entirely deprived the foldiers of Narvaez of what little incli- 

 nation they ever had for military expeditions, and made them doubly 

 anxious to return to their liland of Cuba, being utterly averfe from a 

 repetition of the days of Mexico, and Obtumba. They began to grow 

 very mutinous, and told their chief in plain terms, that if he was de- 

 termined to periiffc in his attempt, he might do it by himfelf, for that 

 they were all refolved to quit him. De Oli remonftrated with them 

 upon the impropriety of fuch conduct, in which he was fupported by 

 all the foldiers of Cortes, but in vain; he was compelled to yield to their 

 perverfenefs, and halt at Cholula, from whence he wrote to Cortes, 

 informing him of his fituation. When Cortes received his letter, he 

 immediately returned an angry melTage, ordering him pofitively to ad- 

 vance with his whole force, at all events. When De Oli received this, 

 he fell in a violent rage with thofe who had brought that reprimand on 

 him, and ordering the whole to march immediately, declared he would 

 lend back any one who hefitated to Cortes, to be treated by him as a 

 coward defer ved. 



When he arrived within a league of Guacacualco, he was met by 

 fome chiefs, who informed him in what manner he might beft come 

 upon the enemy. Having in confequence fettled his plan of attack, he 

 marched againfl, and after a {harp acftipn defeated the Mexican troops, 



and 



