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From the prifoners whom we had taken we learned, that it was 

 neceffary to defcend the river for two days journey, to a place of above 

 two hundred houfes named Oculiztli; which we accordingly did, paf- 

 fing on our road fome large buildings where the travelling merchants of 

 the Indians are ufed to ftop. At the clofe of the fecond day we arrived 

 at the place to which we had been directed, where we found plenty of 

 provifions. We alfo found in one of the temples an old red cap, and a 

 fandal, as offerings to their idols. Some of our foldiers brought to 

 Cortes two old men and four women, whom they took in the maiz 

 fields; Cortes alked them what diftance the Spanifh fettlement was from 

 this place; to which they replied that it was two days journey, being 

 clofe by the fea fide, and that no town intervened. Upon this Cortes 

 ordered Sandoval immediately to fet out on foot, with fix foldiers, and 

 get down to the coaft, in order to afcertain what number of men De Oli 

 had with him, for as yet we were entirely ignorant of all that had hap- 

 pened there, and Cortes required this information in order to effedl what 

 he had determined, which was, to fall upon, and furprife De Oli and 

 his troops during the night. 



Sandoval taking three guides reached the fea fide, and going north- 

 wards, foon perceived a canoe, and concealing himfelf where he expect- 

 ed it to anchor for the night, he was fortunate enough to get poffefiion 

 of it, and upon examination, found it to belong to Indian merchants 

 who were bringing fait to Golfo Dolce. Sandoval embarked on board 

 this canoe with a part of his foldiers, and fending the refi: by land, he 

 purfued his route for the great river. As fortune would have it,. on his 

 voyage he fell in with a canoe in which had come four Spanifh fettlers, 

 y who were fearching for fruit near the mouth of the river, being in great 

 difi:refs from the hofiilities of the Indians, and the ravages made by dif- 

 eafe. Two of thefe being up in a tree, were afi:onifhed at the fight of 

 Sandoval and the reft, and reported to their companions what they had 

 feen. When they met, Sandoval was informed by them of their pre- 

 fent diftrefs, and how they had hanged the officer left there by Avila. 

 Upon this he determined to bring them to Cortes, which having decla- 

 red 



