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the unalterable determination of Cortes to go to Old Spain, and a fevere 

 cenfure from himfelf, upon the mifcondud: of thofe who had been the 

 caufe of his quitting Mexico. I do not know whether Cortes returned 

 to that city in order to arrange his private concerns, but he appointed 

 feveral agents for that purpofe, the principal of whom was the licenti- 

 ate Altamirano. He brought with him from Mexico many curiofities 

 of the country for his Majefty, fuch as various kinds of birds unknown 

 in Europe, two tigers, many barrels of ambergris and indurated balfam, 

 and another kind that refembled oil, four Indians expert at playing the 

 flick with their feet, other Indian dancers who had a manner of appear- 

 ing as if they flew in the air, three humpbacked dwarfs of extraordinary 

 deformity, and alfo fome male and female Indians whofe Ikins were 

 remarkable for their whitenefs, and who have a natural defedl of vifion. 

 He was alfo attended by feveral young chiefs of the Tlafcalan and Mex- 

 ican nations, whom he confented to take to Europe with him, at their 

 own requefts. 



