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tepeque came to wait on Cortes and make their fubmiffion. On the 

 next day we arrived at the large town of Cuernabaca, or Coadlavaca, in 

 a very ftrong fituation, on account of a deep ravine caufed by a rivulet 

 which runs at the depth of at leaft forty feet, although there is not 

 much water, and which precluded all accefs to the town except by two 

 bridges, which the inhabitants had broken upon our approach. Cortes 

 however being informed that about half a league higher up was a 

 palTage practicable for the cavalry, went thither with them, and 

 we all fearched for pafles, and at length difcovered a very dangerous 

 one, over fome trees which hung acrofs from the two oppofite fides of 

 the ravine. About thirty of us, and many TIafcalans, made our way 

 over, by the help of thofe trees, with great difficulty, three fell into the 

 water, and one broke his leg. It was indeed a truly frightful attempt; 

 I for a time entirely loft my fight, from the depth and danger. We 

 who got over, falling on the flank and rear of the enemy unexpc(ftedly, 

 and being juft then joined by part of our cavalry who had crolTed a 

 bridge which was not entirely deftroyed, now drove the enemy from 

 this poft, to the neighbouring woods and rocks. In the town we found 

 confiderable property, and here we were again lodged in a large garden, 

 belonging to the lord of the diftrid:. A deputation of twenty of the 

 principal Indians waited on Cortes, apologizing for the hoftilities com- 

 mitted, the blame of which they threw on the Mexicans, offering to 

 fubmit themfelves and obferving, as I recollect, that their gods had 

 been permitted by ours to punifli them. 



Suchimileco, the object of our march, is a large city on the frefh 

 water lake, in which moft of the houfes are built. As it was late when 

 we fet out from Coadlavaca, and the weather exceflively fultry, our troops 

 fuffered dreadfully from the want of water, not a drop whereof was to 

 be met with on our route. Our allies fainted on the road in numbers j 

 one of them died, and alfo one of our foldiers. Cortes feeing the dif- 

 treffes of the army, halted under fome pine trees, and fent a party for- 

 ward to feek for relief. When I faw them about to fet off, my friend 

 Chriiloval de Oli being one of them, I brought three of my Indian fer- 



vants 



