( 409' ) 



of two leagues from it, to wait the return of Cortes. Here a Negro, 

 two Indians, and three Spanifh foldiers deferted; the latter preferring the 

 taking their chance among enemies, to the repetition of the fatigues 

 they had gone through. This day I was fun ftruck and fell ill of a 

 calenture. The weather alfo at this time changed, and for three days 

 and nights it never ceafed raining ; but we were obliged to continue our 

 journey under it, from the apprehenfion that our provifions fhould fall 

 fhort. After two days march we came to a ridge of rocks, the ftones 

 whereof cut like knives ; we fent foldiers a league's diftance on each fide 

 to fearch for fome other road, but to no effed:. Our horfes fell here at 

 every ftep, and cut themfelves to pieces, and the farther we proceeded 

 on the defcent, the worfe it was. We left eight horfes dead upon the 

 fpot, and mofl of the reft were fo wounded as not to be able to keep 

 up with us. Amongft others who received hurts the general's relation 

 Palacios Rubios broke his leg by a fall. We called this place La Sierra 

 de los Pedernales, When we had gotten over it we did not fail to re- 

 turn thanks to God for his mercy in extricating us from that difficulty. 

 We then advanced chearfully towards a town named Taica, which lay 

 before us, and where we hoped to find a fufficiency of every thing ; but 

 we were fuddenly and unexpe(ftedly flopped by an enormous torrent, 

 which, being fwelled by the heavy rains, came tumbling between great 

 precipices with a noife which could be heard at the diftance of two 

 leagues. Here we were obliged to halt for three complete days, in or- 

 der to make a bridge from one precipice to the other, and when at the 

 end of the third day we began to pafs over, we found that the people 

 on the other fide had taken advantage of our delay, to remove them- 

 felves and all their provifions out of our reach. 



When we learned that after all our fatigues hunger was to be our 

 portion, we feemed as it were thunder ftruck. I own I never in my 

 life felt my heart fo deprelTed as when I found nothing to be had for 

 myfelf or my people; and this too on the eve of our Lord's refurredion ! 

 a pretty feftival we had of it truly! Cortes, after fending out his fer- 

 vants every where, procured about a buftiel of maiz. When he faw 



Ggg -the 



