( 3^8 ) 



fabmifTion. He employed for this purpofe fome of the prifoners, and 

 fent with them Fra Bartholome, by whofe exhortations they were in- 

 duced to fubmit. 



Cortes then went with one half of his troops to the river Chila, 

 to reduce the Indians on the oppofite fide. He fummoned them, but 

 they murdered his meffengers. He then palTed over one hundred and 

 fifty infantry, and fifty cavalry, during the night. The enemy on their 

 landing fell on them in great numbers, but they were foon driven from 

 the field, and our troops advancing took their quarters in a town where 

 they found plenty of provifions. In the morning fome of them enter- 

 ing the temple found remains of the bodies and clothes of our country- 

 men; fome, of our foldiers thought they recognifed the features of their 

 friends, and it was a melancholy fight to all; their remains we care- 

 fully collected and buried. 



From this place our detachment marched to another, where an 

 cut party reported, that great bodies of the enemy were polled in con- 

 cealment in the houfes to fall upon our people when the cavalry had 

 difmounted; their plan being difcovered failed of fuccefs, but they 

 fought valiantly for half an hour, and three of our foldiers died after- 

 wards of their wounds. Thefe people contrary to the general prad:ice 

 of Indians, rallied no lefs than three times. On the enfuing day our 

 foldiers fcoured the neighbourhood, and entering fome towns which 

 had been abandoned, found a quantity of earthen vefiTels, full of the 

 wine of the country, in cellars under ground. After a ftay of five days 

 they returned to the river of Chila. Gortes now again fummoned them, 

 to which they returned for anfwer that they would come within four 

 days; which Cortes waited out, but to no effedt. He therefore deter- 

 mined to punifh them, and during a dark and rainy night, embarking a 

 large body of Mexicans, he fent them acrofs a lake to one of the enemy's 

 largeft towns, which they totally deftroyed. This brought in moft of 

 that country to fubmit, Cortes founded a town of one hundred and 

 thirty houfes, fixty three of the inhabitants whereof were foldiers . He 



named 



