296 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



to their affiftance from Spain, or the Antilles, and a 

 magazine for the ilores which might be fent to them by 

 their countrymen, or which they might defire to fend 

 to Europe. This colony was founded therefore in the 

 country of the Totonacas, in a plain which lies at the 

 foot of the mountain of Chiahuitztla, twelve miles from 

 Chempoalla towards the north, and adjoining to the 

 new harbour (j). They called it Villarica (or rich city) 

 of Vera Cruz, on account of the great appearance of 

 riches they had feen there, and becaufe they had dis- 

 embarked them on Holy Friday; and this was the firft 

 colony of the Spaniards on the continent of North Ame- 

 rica. Cortes was the firft who put a hand to the fet- 

 tlement, to encourage his people by his own example; 

 and, in a fhort time, with the affiftance of the Totona- 

 cas, they built a fufficient number of houfes, and a fmall 

 fortrefs capable of refifting the arms of the Mexicans. 



In the mean time the two receivers, whom Cortes fet 

 firft at liberty, had arrived at Mexico, and had informed 

 the king of all that had happened, beftowing high praifes 

 on the Spanifh general. Montezuma, who was prepar- 

 ing to fend an army to chaftife the infolence and temerity 

 of thofe ftrangers, and drive them out of his dominions, 



became 



(j) Almoft all hiftorians have committed a miftake concerning the founding 

 of Vera Cruz ; as they fay the firft colony of the Spaniards was Antigua, or the 

 ancient fettlement on the river of that name; and believe that there were only- 

 two places of that name, that is, ancient Vera Cruz and the new Vera Cruz, 

 fettled on the fame fands where Cortes difembarked: but without doubt there 

 have been three places of the name of Vera Cruz. The firft fettled in 15 19, 

 clofe to the port of Chiahuitztla, which retained afterwards only the name of 

 Villarka\ the fecond, the ancient Vera Cruz, fettled in 1523 or 4; and the 

 third, the New Vera Cruz, which ftill preferves the name of Vera Cruz, and 

 was fettled by order of the Count of Monterus, Viceroy of Mexico, towards 

 the end of the 1 6th, or the beginning of the 1 7th century, and had from Philip 

 III. the title of city given it in 1615. 



