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knowing which way to turn. In addition to this, it rained moft hea- 

 vily. Cortes was out of humour and faid, Pedro de Ircio and many 

 more being by, that he wifhed others belides the fettlers of GuacacuaU 

 CO would beftir themfelves, and do fome good, in fearching for guides. 

 De Ircio, Marmolejo a perfon of quality, and Burgalcs afterwards regi- 

 dor of Mexico, each offered their fervices, and taking fix foldiers a 

 piece, were out three days in fearch of Indians, and all returned with- 

 out any fuccefs, having met with nothing but rivers, and waters, and 

 obftrud:ions. Cortes was in defpair at this, and defired Sandoval to 

 apply to me, alking as a favour that I would take the bulinefs on me. 

 When addreffed in this manner I could not refufe, though very ill ; and 

 taking with me two friends, men capable of enduring hunger and thirft, 

 we fet out together, and following a ftream, the marks of boughs be- 

 ing cut from the trees pointed out a way to fome houfes, from whence 

 we faw corn fields and houfes with people about them. We remained 

 concealed until we fuppofed the people to be afleep, and then, taking 

 the inhabitants by furprife, made prifoners three men, two Indian girls 

 who were very handfome, and an old woman. They had a few fowls 

 and a little corn. The whole of our capture we brought to our quarters. 

 Sandoval was overjoyed at our arrival ; "now," faid he to Pedro de Ircio, 

 in the prefence of Cortes, *' was Del Caftillo right when he infifted on 

 having none but ad:ive men with him, and not to take people who 

 * • hobble along, telling their old ftories of the adventures that happened to 

 ,* the count De Urena, and his fon Don Pedro Giron." Thefe fl-ories De 

 Ircio ufed to pefter us with, over and over again, for which reafon all 

 who were prefent laughed heartily at what was faid by Sandoval who 

 knew that De Ircio and I were not friends. Cortes returned me thanks, 

 a«d paid me many compliments upon my condud:, but I will drop this 

 fubjed:, for what is praife but emptinefs and unprofitablenefs, and 

 what advantage is it to me that people in Mexico fhould tell what we 

 endured, or that Cortes fhould fay when he wanted to perfuade me to 

 go on this lafl expedition, that next to God it was me on whom he 

 placed his reliance to procure guides. 



Ggg 2 



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