( 399 ) 



getTi'ng rid of us. and wc out, provided only with roafled maiz 

 and roots fufBcient for three days. We were obhged to conftrudl: bridg- 

 es of timber, at which all laboured from the general downwards, which 

 detained us three days, daring which time we had nothing to eat but 

 a certain wild plant named Quexquexque, wdiich inflames the mouth 

 and tongue. When we had croffed this inlet we found no road what- 

 ever, and we were obliged to open our way through the woods, as it 

 were, fword in hand. After labouring thus for two days in hopes of 

 reaching the place which we were in fearch of, we became totally in 

 defpair. The trees were fo thick that we could not fee the fun, and 

 when we afcended to the top of one we could not difcover to any dif- 

 tance. Of our three guides alfo two had fled, and the third was inca- 

 pable of Tendering any fervice. Cortes, whofe refources were inexhauft- 

 ible, guided himfelf by a mariners compafs, and by his Indian map, 

 according to v/hich, the town we were in queft of, lay to the eaft. 

 Cortes himfelf was however forced to acknowledge, that if we were 

 one day more without difcovering it, he did not know what we 

 (hould do. 



Fortunately we at this time perceived the remains of trees which 

 had been formerly cut, and alfo a fmall lane or path, and Lopez the 

 pilot and I returned to report our difcovery to the general. Our news 

 revived the fpirits of the army, and we pufhed forward to a village on 

 the oppofite fide of a river, where, though the inhabitants had aban- 

 doned it, we found fufficiency of provifions for ourfelves and our horfes. 

 Parties were immediately fent out in queft of the natives, and they foon 

 returned, bringing with them many chiefs and priefts, who being well 

 treated, procured us a plentiful fupply of provifions, and pointed out 

 our way to Izguantepeque, which was three days journey, or fixteen 

 leagues diftant from this town of Tamaztepeque. During our journey 

 hither we loft our ftage dancer by fatigue, as alfo three of the newly 

 arrived Spaniards, and many of the Mexicans were left to die upon the 

 road. It came alfo to be difcovered that fome of their chiefs had feized 

 two or three of the natives of the places through which we pafled, and 



concealed 



