( 357 ) 



good qualities, being fincere, and for a long time much attached to 

 Cortes; until the ambition of governing, and diflike of being governed, 

 .perverted his mind, by the influence of bad advifers. He had been 

 .brought up in the houfe of Velafquez, but was under much greater 

 .obligations to Cortes. 



De Oli fet fail from the Havannah, and on the third of May arri- 

 ved at his ftation, which he on that account named El Triumpho de la 

 Cruz. Here he appointed his civil adminiftration, making his alcaldes 

 and regidors of thofe whom Cortes had recommended to him. He alfo 

 took poffeffion of the country for his Majefty in the name of Cortes. 

 His motive for doing this was, becaufe he wifhed to conceal from thefe 

 perfons his feceffion from his general, and wifhed to keep them his 

 friends until he could afcertain how the bufinefs was likely to turn out 

 for, if the country was as rich- as he had reafon to fuppofe, he intended: 

 to throw Cortes off and fet up an independent government if on the 

 other hand, it fhould appear not to be valuable,, he could return to his 

 pofleflions at Mexico, and glofs over to Cortes his negociations with 

 . Velafquez., by pretending it was done in order, to put him in good hu- 

 mour, and induce him to give him the neceflary fupplies. Thus was 

 -the new colony of El Triumpho de la Cruz eflablifhed, from whence 

 . no intelligence reached Cortes for upwards of eight months* 



In the town of Guacacualco were a confiderable number of veterans, 

 and . Spaniards of quality » who were entrufted with the government of 

 the province, of that name, together with thofe of Citla, Tabafco, Ci- 

 matan,, Chontalpa, Cachula,. Zoque, the Quilenes, Cinacatan, and 

 Chamuela, Chiapa of the Indians, Papanaulla, Pinula, Xaltepeque» 

 Guazpaltepeque, Chinanta, and Tepeque. In tlie whole of New Spain, 

 the demand of tribute was the fignal for an infurredtion, and thofe who 

 attempted the collecStion of it were killed, as indeed were all Spaniards 

 who fell into. the hands of the natives. In thofe provinces the refinance 

 was univerfal, and we were under the neceflity of going round from one 

 city or town to another with a company of foldiers, to prelerve the. 

 •ptacc. The 



