( ,W9 ) 



for the purpofe of reducing it, and of building a town there, to keep 

 the inhabitants in check. 



The firft thing neceffary was to make a road through the woods, 

 in a very marfhy country where we were obhged to make caufeways for 

 the horfes to pafs. Proceeding thus, we arrived at a place called Tez- 

 puztlan, and continued our route to another town named Cachula, from 

 whence we proceeded, there being no palTage previous to our expedition, 

 from the fear the other natives have of thofe of Chiapa, who undoubt- 

 edly were at that time the braveft warriors in America; they alfo robbed 

 paffengers and travelling merchants, and brought off the inhabitants of' 

 thefe diftridts to colonize and till their ground, nor could the Mexicans 

 ever fubdue them. This our expedition took place in Lent, the year I; 

 cannot bring to my recolledion, but think it was one thoufand five 

 hundred and twenty four. When we came near the city of Chiapa, 

 we made a review of our force, which confifted of twenty feven horfe- 

 men, twenty three mufqueteers, and a field piece under the dired:ion of 

 a gunner who told us that he had ferved in Italy; however that was,, 

 he was of no ufe, being a very cowardly fellow.^ We had feventy foot 

 foldiers armed with fword and target, and about eighty Mexicans. The 

 cacique of Cachula with fome of his principal people attended us,, tremb- 

 ling with fear; four foldiers of the moft ad:ive of our little army, of 

 whom I was one, were always fent forward to reconnoitre ; the ground, 

 not being fit for a, horfe I- left mine behind, and we were ufually in front 

 of the army about half a, league. The people of Chiapa being much , 

 accuftomed to. hunting, fome of them who were thus employed perceiv-v 

 ing us at a diflance gave the alarm, and made fignals by fmoke. 



As we approached their firft fettlement, which is called Eftapa, and^ 

 is diftant four leagues from the principal town, we found the roads, 

 which ran through cultivated grounds, wide and convenient ; andi on 

 each fide were plentiful crops of corn, and vegetables. We entered this 

 town, but the inhabitants had quitted it, and having pofted our guards and. 

 feht out patroles, the remainder went to reflj but we were foon roufed; 



