314 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



their ftrength for the engagement. A little after he 

 detached two thoufand brave men to enter the camp of 

 the Spaniards by aifault. This attack was fo violent 

 and fudden, that they forced the entrenchments, en- 

 tered the camp, and encountered man to man with the 

 Spaniards. The Tlafcalans might now have proved con- 

 querors, not only from the fuperiority of their numbers, 

 but afto from their bravery and the nature of their 

 arms, which were pikes, lances, fwords, and darts, with 

 double and triple points, if a difcord among themfelves 

 had not rendered the victory cafy to their enemies. 

 The fon of Chichimeca Teuctli, who commanded a bo- 

 dy of troops belonging to his father, having received 

 fome infult in words from the arrogant Xicotencatl, con- 

 ceived fo much indignation againft him, that he chal- 

 lenged him to a fmgle combat, which mould determine 

 their courage and their fortune ; but having been re- 

 fufed this fatisfaction, in order to be in fome meafure 

 revenged, he withdrew from the field with the troops 

 which were under his command, and prevailed upon 

 thofe of Tlehuexolotzin to follow him. In fpite of this 

 disjunction of the army, the battle was obflinate and 

 bloody. The Spaniards, after having bravely repulfed 

 the force which had alfaulted their camp, marched in 

 order of battle againft the body of the TIafcalan army. 

 The havock made by the artillery upon the crowded 

 multitude of the enemy, was not fufficient to put the 

 Tlafcalans to flight, nor prevent them from filling up 

 with expedition all the vacancies left by the dead; on the 

 contrary, by their fteadinefs and intrepidity, they threw 

 the Spaniards into fome confufion, notwithftanding the 

 cries and reproaches of Cortes and his captains. At 

 length, after fome hours of engagement, the Spaniards. 



returned 



