C 293 ) 



learned that the enemy had formed an ambufcade fimilar to their former 

 one, of forty piraguas and the fame number of canoes. Cortes then 

 prepared fix veffels, and fent them during the night, and with muffled 

 oars, to a place of concealment within a quarter of a leagues diftanceof 

 that of the enemy. It mufh be obferved that the bufhes and tall reeds, 

 and the water cuts at the edges of the lake, favored thofe deceptions. 

 Early in the morning one of our veffels was fent as if in fearch of the 

 Mexican canoes which went with provifions to the city, the prifoners 

 being put on board it in order to point out the place where their flotilla 

 was concealed. The enemy alfo played off the deception of loaded ca- 

 noes to draw us thither, and thefe canoes pretending to endeavor to ef- 

 cape, rowed towards the ambufcade laid by their party ; our veffel pur- 

 fued them very near it, and then brought to, as if from apprehcnlion. 

 The enemy's flotilla perceiving that fhe did not advance, faliied out on 

 her, thofe on board of her rowing towards that part where our fhips 

 were concealed. When they found that the enemy were brought to that 

 point where we wiflied them to be, the crew fired two fliots as a fignal 

 to our ambufcade, immediately on which the veffels pu(hed out, and 

 falling on the enemy ran down feveral, and difperfed the reft, making 

 a number of prifoners . This gave them enough of ambufcades, nor 

 did they from that time run acrofs to Mexico fo openly as before^ 



The people of the cities in the lake growing tired of this warfare,, 

 waited on Cortes at this time in order to make fubmiffion, declaring 

 ■ , that they had been forced into hoftility by the Mexicans. Cortes re- 

 ceived them with affability, gave them affurances of protection accord- 

 ing to their behaviour, and at the fame time told them that he expecfted 

 their%fliftance in the fupply of boats and provifions, and in ereding 

 barracks for the troops. This they promifed readily, but performed 

 very badly. Cortes had huts built for his detachment, but the reft re- 

 mained expofed to the weather, a very fevere duty in itfelf in that 

 climate, where during the months of June, July, and Auguft, it rains 

 continually. 



Oui 



