HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



287 



of a vifit to his court. The prefent for the Catholic 

 king confifted of various works of gold, which were efti- 

 mated to be worth fifteen hundred fequins, ten bales of 

 mod curious robes of feathers, and of four gems, fo 

 highly valued by the Mexicans, that, according to what 

 Teuhtlile himfelf affirmed, each was worth a load of 

 gold. That undifcerning king flattered himfelf that he 

 fhould induce the Spaniards by his liberality to abandon 

 that country, and did not reflect that the love of gold is 

 a paffion which grows by what it feeds on. Cortes was 

 mortified with the refufal of the king ; but he did not 

 give up his intention, the native conftancy of his temper 

 being ftrengthened by the alluring profpect of riches. 



Teuhtlile, before he departed, obferved, that the 

 Spaniards on hearing the ftroke of the bell for Ave 

 Mary, kneeled down before a holy crofs, and in wonder 

 at it, alked why they adored that piece of wood. Upon 

 this Olmedo took occafion to explain to him the firft ar- 

 ticles of the Chriftian religion, and reprefented to him 

 the abomination of worfliipping idols, and the inhuman- 

 ity of their facrifices. But his difcourfe was not com- 

 prehended, and the attempt proved fruitlefs. 



The following day the Spaniards found themfelves fo 

 deferted by the Mexicans, that there was not one to be 

 feen on all the coaft ; this was unqueftionably the effect 

 of the order given by their king to recall all the people 

 with the provifions deftined for thofe ftrangers, if they 

 perfifted in their daring refolution. A novelty of this 

 kind caufed a fudden conflernation among the Spaniards, 

 as they dreaded every moment the whole power of that 

 vaft empire might pour down upon their miferable camp. 

 Upon which, Cortes made their provifions be fecured in 

 the fliips, and ordered his troops to be armed for their 



de- 



