HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



265 



BOOK VIII. 



The arrival of the Spaniards upon the Coast of Anahuac. 

 The uneaftnefs, embajfies, and prefents of Montezuma. 

 Confederacy of the Spaniards with the Nation of the 

 Totonacas 9 their War and Alliance with the Tlafcalans ; 

 their Severity to the Cholulans, and their folemn Entry 

 into Mexico. Account of the celebrated Indian Donna 

 Marina. Foundation of Vera Cruz, the first Colony of 

 the Spaniards. 



THE Spaniards, who ever fmce the year 1492, had 

 difcovered the New World, under the conduct of 

 the celebrated Genoefe Chriftopher Columbus ; and, in 

 the fpace of a few years, fubjected to the crown of Caftile 

 the principal iflands of the Antilles, made frequent cruifes 

 from thence to difcover new countries, and barter Euro- 

 pean toys for American gold. In the year 1 5 1 7, amongft 

 other adventurers, Francifco Hernandez, of Cordova, 

 weighed anchor from the port of Ajaruco, now called 

 the Havanna, with one hundred and ten foldiers, and 

 proceeding to the weflward by the advice of Antonio 

 Alaminas, one of the moil famous and ikilful pilots of 

 that time, and then veering to the fouthward, difcovered, 

 in the beginning of March, the eaflern cape of the pe- 

 ninfula of Yucatan, which they called Capo Catoche. They 

 coafted along a part, of that country, admiring the beauti- 

 ful edifices and lofty towers which appeared upon the 

 coaft, and the (a) different coloured habits Which the 

 Vol. II. L 1 Indians 



(a) Dr. Robertfon fays, in book iii. that the Spaniards landed, and advancing 

 into the country ( of Yucatan ), obferved, ivith amazement, large houfes built of /lone. Thus 

 he fpeaks where he recounts the voyage of Hernandez. But a few page? after, 



fpeaking 



