C ^59 ) 



ed; but we were obliged to keep the ftrideft guard, as the Mexicans 

 fent three parties to endeavour to fet them on fire. 



The Tlafcalans were anxious to be fent on fome enterprife, and 

 Cortes indulged them by declaring his intention to march on the enfu- 

 ing day to Saltocan, a town which had negledted our fummons to a 

 fubmiffion. For this purpofe he ordered two hundred and fifty infan- 

 try and thirty cavalry, the whole of the Tlafcalans, and a body of the 

 warriors of Tezcuco. He appointed the captains Alvarado and De Oli 

 to ad under him, and having left the poft of Tezcuco, where it was 

 always neceffary *' to have the beard upon the fhoulders," under the care 

 of Sandoval, and ordered Lopez to have the vefTels ready to launch with- 

 in the fpace of fifteen days, he fet out with the above force upon his 

 expedition. When he approached Saltocan, he was met by large bodies 

 of the Mexican troops, whom the cavalry drove to the woods. The 

 troops halted for the night in fome villages, in a country thickly inha- 

 bited. They were kept very alert, for it was known that the enemy 

 had a confiderable force in Saltocan ; and a body of Mexicans had been 

 fent thither in large boats, and was at this time concealed in the deep 

 canals of the neighbourhood. 



On the enfuing day, at the commencement of the march, our 

 troops were aflailed by the enemy, and feveral were wounded, without 

 our cavalry having it in their power to retaliate, on account of the num- 

 ber of canals. The only caufeway which led to the town on the land 

 fide, they had completely inundated, and our mufquetry was of no ef- 

 fedt againft the enemy in their canoes, being fo well guarded by ftrong 

 fcreens of timber. All this contributed to give our people a difguft to 

 the expedition. Some Indians of Tezcuco who had joined our army, 

 at this time pointed out a pafs to one of our foldiers; upon which, our 

 people put themfelves into march, and under the diredion of their guide 

 croffed the canals and waters, and at length reached the road which led 

 to the town, Cortes with the cavalry remaining on the other fide. Qur 

 troops advanced againfi: the town, and made a confiderable {laughter of 



LI 2 the 



