( ) 



far, and aJvifed him to ftop it, which he did by threats of fevere pu- 

 nifliment. 



Among the foldiers of our army very heavy debts were contra<5l:ed ; 

 a crofs-bow was fold for fifty crowns, a mufquet coft one hundred, a 

 horfe eight hundred, one thoufand, and even more; and every thing 

 elfe was in proportion. Then our furgeon Maeftre Juan 'charged high, 

 as did a Do6tor Murcia who was an apothecary and barber. There were 

 befides various other money traps, all which were to be fatisfied out of 

 our dividends. This required fome regulation: Cortes accordingly ap- 

 pointed Sandta Clara, a very honorable perfon, and one Lerena, to ap- 

 preciate each claim, which was to be paid according to their award, 

 within two years. The value of the gold was alfo altered by increafing 

 the alloy ; this was intended to ferve us in our dealing with the mer- 

 chants from Europe or Cuba, but it had a contrary effedl, as they were 

 prepared, and added twice as much to the price of their goods. The 

 alloy was copper, called here Tepuzque ; for which reafon we call any 

 one of an inferior degree to another of the fame name, Don Juan, or 

 Don Alonzo Tepuzque, or the copper Don Juan &c. The abufes re- 

 fulting from this being made known to his Majefty, he was plcafed to 

 forbid the currency of this bafe metal, ordering it to be taken in duties 

 until it was all drawn over to Caftille, and that no more of it fliould be 

 made. At this time two gold-fmiths were hanged here for running bafe 

 metal with the legal mark. ". 



I have digrefled for fome time part, and will now return to the 

 thread of my narrative. Cortes, as the beft way to get rid of trouble- 

 fome companions and demands, determined now to fend- out colonies, 

 and make fetdements at convenient fituations. For this purpofe Sando- 

 val was ordered to Tuftepeque, and Guacacualco. Juan Velafquez was 

 to go to Colima, one Villa Fuerte to Zacatula, Chriftoval de Oli to 

 Mechoacan, (he was at this time married to a Portugueze lady named 

 Donna Phillipa de Aranja,) and Francifco de Orozca to Guaxaca. 



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At 



