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the Mexicans, driving the remainder, and the natives of the place, to 

 their boats. They then returned to Cortes, with a confiderable booty 

 of flaves, mantles, fait, and gold. We loft one foldier by this expe- 

 dition. 



On the enfuing day Cortes marched againfl a large town called 

 Culvatitlan, through a very populous country. We found the place to 

 which we marched totally deferted, and here we halted for the night. 

 On the enfuing day we proceeded to another large town called Tenayuco, 

 but which we named the town of the ferpents, on account of the enor- 

 mous figures of thefe animals which we found in their temples, and 

 which they worfhipped as gods. This place we alfo found deferted, 

 and we proceeded a league farther to that which we called the town of 

 the gold-fmiths. This place was alfo deferted, and our troops march- 

 ed half a league farther, to Tacuba, our foldicrs being obliged to cut 

 their way through confiderable numbers of the natives. In this town 

 our troops halted for the night, and on the next day they were affailed 

 by bodies of the enemy, who had fettled a plan to retreat by their caufe- 

 ways, inu order to draw us into an ambufcade. This in part fucceeded ; 

 Cortes and our troops purfued them acrofs a bridge, and were immedi- 

 ately furrounded by vaft numbers on land and in the water. The en- 

 fign was thrown over the bridge, and the Mexicans were dragging him 

 to their canoes, yet he efcaped from them with his colours in his hand. 

 In this attack they killed five of our foldiers, and wounded many. Cor- 

 tes perceived his imprudence, and ordered a retreat, which was efR<5ted 

 with regularity, our people fronting the enemy, and only giving ground 

 inch by inch. Juan Volante, the enfign who fell into the lake, had a 

 jealoufy with one of our foldiers, Pedro de Ircio, about a certain woman. 

 The latter in order to affront him ufed fome abufive language, which 

 Volante did not deferve, being a very valiant gentleman, as he had 

 fhown on that and many other occafions. Cortes halted here for five 

 days, and then returned to Tezcuco, the Mexicans harrafling his march ; 

 but having been once defeated in an ambufcade which Cortes laid fox 

 them^ they defifled. When our troops arrived at head quarters, the 



Tlafcalans, 



