( 3}i ) 



CHAPTER II. 



Expeditions of G. de Sandoval and P. de Alvarado. 



"V^VhEN our party (for I went with Sandoval) arrived at Tuftepe- 

 que, I took up my lodgings in the fummit of a tower in a very high 

 temple, partly for the frefh air and to avoid the mufquitos which were 

 very troublefome below, and partly to be near Sandoval's quarters. It 

 was here that feventy two foldiers of thofe who came with Narvaez, 

 and fix Caftillian women had been put to death. The whole province 

 on our arrival came in and fubmitted, except the Mexican chief, wha 

 had been the caufe of the deaths of our foldiers. Him Sandoval got ar- 

 refted, and he was (hortly after executed, being burned alive. There 

 were many more as guilty but this example was judged fufficient. After 

 this was done a mellage was fent to the Zapotecan mountaineers to come 

 in and fubmit. Their country is about ten leagues diftant from Tufte- 

 peque. On their refufal an expedition was ordered againft them, under 

 the command of a Captain Briones, who according to his own account 

 had been a great officer in Italy. He marched with one hundred infan-. 

 try and about the fame number of Indian allies j the enemy were pre- 

 pared for him, and laid a plan for a furprife, which they effe<5led fo 

 completely that they drove our party over the rocks, rolling down to the 

 bottom, and above a third of them were wounded, one of whom after- 

 wards died. The diftrid: is fo very difficult of accefs, that troops cart- 

 only pafs in fingle file, and the climate is very mifly and humid.. The- 

 natives are armed with large lances with an ell of blade,, with two edges, 

 of ftone as fharp as a razor, and pliable fhields which cover the whole 

 body. They are very nimble, and give their fignals by whifilings 

 which echo among the rocks with inconceivable Oirillnefs. This diftrid: 



is 



