274 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



From Cozumel they proceeded along the coaft of the 

 peninfula of Yucatan to the river Chiapa, in the province 

 of Tabafco, by which they advanced into the country, 

 in barges and the fmalleft velfels, until they reached a 

 grove of palm-trees, where they landed under pretence 

 of wanting water and provifions, directed their courfe to 

 a large village, which was not quite two miles diftance, 

 combating all the way with a crowd of Indians, who 

 annoyed their progrefs with arrows, darts, and other 

 offenfive weapons, and forcing through the palifadoes 

 which they had placed for their defence. The Spaniards 

 having made themfelves matters of the village, made fre- 

 quent excurfions among the neighbouring places, in which 

 they had many dangerous fkirmifhes, until at laft there 

 happened a decifive engagement on the 25th day of 

 March. The battle was fought on the plains of Ceutla, 

 a village but a little diftance from the other. The army 

 of the enemy was much fuperior in number ; but in fpite 

 of their multitude they were entirely defeated, on ac- 

 count of the fuperior difcipline of the Spaniards, the ad- 

 vantage of their arms, and the terror ftruck into the In- 

 dians by the fize and fire of their horfes. Eight hun- 

 dred of the enemy remained dead upon the field. Of 

 the Spaniards, one was killed, and more than fixty 

 wounded. This victory was the beginning of the fuc- 

 cefs of the Spaniards, in memory of which they founded 

 a fmall city there, which they named Madonna della 

 Viftoria (d), and was afterwards, for a long time the ca- 

 pital of that province. They endeavoured to juftify 



their 



(d) The city of Victoria was depopulated entirely about the middle of the 

 laft century, on account of the frequent invafions of the Englifh. Another 

 fmall city was afterwards founded at a greater diftance from the court, which 

 they called Villahermofa ; but the capital of this province, where the governor 

 refides, is Tlacotlalpan. 



