( 403 ) 



but on the next they had received further intelhgence concerning it, and 

 treated us with more deference. They promifed that they would provide 

 every accomodation for our people on their arrival, and while we were 

 engaged in difcourfe with them on thefe fubjedts, two Spaniards fent 

 by Cortes brought me letters, wherein he ordered, that I fliould within 

 three days meet him with all the provifions that I could collecft, for 

 that he had been deferted by the natives, and was on his way to Guey- 

 acala without any neceffaries whatever. Thefe Spaniards alfo informed 

 me, that four of our foldiers who had been detached by Cortes higher 

 up the river had not returned, and were fuppofed to be murdered, as 

 afterwards appeared to be the cafe. 



Cortes purfued his march, and was for four days employed in con- 

 fl:ru<5ling his bridge acrofs the great river, during which time the army 

 fuffered dreadfully from hunger, having left their laft quarters without 

 any provifions whatever. Some old foldiers cut down trees refembling 

 the palm, and procured nuts which they roafted anfd eat. A very poor 

 refource for fo many. On the night that the bridge was finifhed I arri- 

 ved with one hundred and thirty loads of corn, honey, fruit, and fait, 

 and eighty fowls. It was dark, and Cortes had made mention of his 

 expe(51:ation of my arrival. The confequence was, that the foldiers 

 waited for me, and immediately laid violent hands on every atom of 

 provifions which I had brought, not leaving any thing for Cortes or 

 the other officers. The general's fteward and major domo cried out, 

 this is for the general," and ** do not touch that," but it was to no 

 avail, the foldiers faid that the general and the others had been eating 

 their hogs, while the poor foldiers were familhing, and neither entrea- 

 ties nor arguments could induce them to leave him fo much as a fingle 

 load of corn. Cortes loft all patience when he heard of it, and fwore 

 that he would make enquiry and punifli thofe who had committed the 

 outrage, and who had talked about the hogs. But he foon found that 

 this was merely crying in the defert. He then blamed me, but I told 

 him that a guard fhould have been appointed to receive the provifions 

 when they were brought in, for that hunger knows no law. As he 



faw 



