( 38a ) 



go upon an expedition againfl: the Indians of Cimaton and Tatupatan, 

 who were rebelKous, for they thought themfelves fecure amongft their 

 great rivers and trembhng marfhes. They were alfo formidable warri- 

 ors, ufing very large and ftrong bows. Range! however produced his 

 commifTion from Cortes, and we dare not but to obey and march with 

 him, to the number of one hundred horfe and foot. We accordingly 

 fet out, and arrived at a pafs between the marfhes and lakes, where the 

 whole force of the Indians was drawn up to receive us, having made 

 circular barricades of very grofs timber, with fpike holes to fhoot through, 

 and pallifadoes. Here they gave us a hearty welcome with a flight of 

 arrows and darts, killing feven horfes and wounding Rangel and eight 

 foldiers. We had often told him what flout warriors thefe Indians were, 

 and as he was a prating fellow he now exclaimed, by heaven, if he had 

 believed us, he would not have been in that jeopardy now, and that in 

 future we the old conquerors of the country fhould be his captains and 

 not he ours. As foon as our wounded men and horfes were drefled, he 

 begged I would go forward to reconoitre. I took with me a very fierce 

 greyhound which belonged to him, and feledting two other foldiers for 

 my comrades, defired the infantry to follow us clofe, and for Rangel 

 and the cavalry, that they fhould keep a good diflance in the rear. Pur- 

 fuing our route towards Cimaton, we fell in with another pofl fortified 

 like the preceding one, and defended as flrongly, from whence we re* 

 ceived a volley, which killed the dog, dud wounded me and each of 

 my comrades. I received an arrow in my leg, and feven more reniain- 

 ed in my cotton armour. 1 called immediately to fome of our Indian 

 allies who were a little in rear of us, to go and bring up all the infantry, 

 but to order the cavalry not to advance, as all their horfes would furely 

 be killed. When the infantry came up we attacked the barricades, and 

 forced the Indians from them, driving them to their marfhes where it 

 was impofTible to follow them a ftep, without danger of finking and 

 being fmothered. We then advanced, and halted at a village. On the 

 next day we proceeded, and were encountered by a large body of Indians^ 

 pofted in a marfh. This was an inflance of the addrefs of the natives, 

 in chufing to meet us in the plain, hoping that they could draw our 



cavalry 



