304 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



out to meet the Spaniards, and lodged them commodi- 

 oufly in that city; but with refpecl: to provifions, there 

 appeared at flrrl fome fcarcity, until from the informa- 

 tion of the Totonacas they received a high opinion of 

 their bravery and the power of their arms, and their 

 horfes. In the conference which he had with the Spa- 

 nifh general, each boafted to the other of the grandeur 

 and power of their refpe&ive Sovereigns. Cortes incon- 

 Cderately demanded of him to acknowledge obedience to 

 the Catholic king, and to pay homage to his Sovereignty 

 in fome quantity of gold. " I have enough of gold," 

 anfwered Olintetl, " but cannot give it without the ex- 

 " prefs order of my king." " I will foon," faid Cortes, 

 make him order you to give it, and all that you have. 

 If he (hall command me, returned Olintetl, 1 will not only 

 render up my gold, and all my eftate, but even my per- 

 fon. But that which Cortes could not obtain by threats 

 from this chief, he got through pure liberality from two 

 other refpe&able perfons of that valley, who having come 

 on purpofe to vifit him, prefented him fome necklaces of 

 gold, and feven or eight fiayes. Cortes found himfelf in 

 fome perplexity here with regard to the route he mould 

 purfue to Mexico. The lord of Xocotla and the command- 

 er of the Mexican garrifon advifed him to proceed through 

 Cholula; but he judged the advice more fincere which 

 the Totonacas gave him, to pafs through Tlafcala. And 

 in fact it will appear, that if he had gone ftraight to 

 Cholula, he and his whole force muft have been deflroy- 

 ed. In order to obtain permiiTion from the Tlafcalans 

 to pafs through their country, he fent four of the Chem- 

 poallefe, whom he carried with him as meffengers to 

 their fenate; but they, as appears hereafter, did not 

 deliver their embaffy in the name of the Spaniards, but 



of 



