( 34^ ) 



fiime perfon gave a very unfavorable account of the country of Panuco, 

 enliancing that of Mexico, and this making a ftrong impreflion on the 

 minds of Garay's foldiers, they began to dilband, and v^^ent towards 

 Mexico, robbing the natives in their way. 



All thefc things combined reduced Garay to a bad fituation, and he 

 fent one of his officers named Diego de Ocampo, to found the difpofi- 

 tion of the governor under Cortes in the colony of Santiftevan, to whom 

 he notified the appointment he had obtained from his Majefty. This 

 officer anfwcred Garay'5 meffage politely, and returned a favorable an- 

 fwer as to their reception, requeuing that the foldiers might not out- 

 rage the inhabitants j Pedro de Vallejo, for that was his name, at the 

 fame time fent an exprefs to Cortes with Garay*S letter, and follicited a 

 flrong reinforcement, or the prefcnce of Cortes himfelf. 



On the receipt of the intelligence from Vallejo, Cortes difpatched 

 Fra Bartholome, Alvarado, Sandoval, and Gonzalo de Ocampo, bro- 

 ther to the perfon of that name who was with Garay, and entrufted to 

 them the inftrud:ions he had received, whereby his Majefty's pleafure 

 was fignified, that all his conquefts fliould be left under his command, 

 until the matters in difpute between him and Velafquez fhould be 

 brought judicially to an iffiie. 



I will now return to my relation of the ftcps taken by Garay, who 

 advanced with his force into the neighbourhood of St. Eftevan del Pu- 

 erto. On receiving intelligence thereof, Vallejo concerted a plan with 

 the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, and being guided by five defer- 

 ters who told him that Garay 's troops were fcattered negligently in a 

 large town called Nacoplan, he came upon them by furprife, and made 

 forty of them prifoners, affigning as a reafon, their coming without pro- 

 ducing any commiffion, and the outrages which they committed on the 

 inhabitants. This being reported to Garay, he demanded the prifoners, 

 threatening Vallejo with the vengeance of government. Vallejo replied, 

 that when he faw his Majefty's orders he would obey them with all 



humility, 



