HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



341 



merity of encountering the perils before them, and were 

 fuddenly fo checked by their apprehenfions, that they 

 would have immediately returned to Vera Cruz, had not 

 Cortes, by making ufe of his authority and the reafons 

 fuggetted by his fruitful genius, infufed into them frefh 

 ardour for the undertaking. 



In the mean while Montezuma, in confirmation at 

 the event of Cholula, retired to the palace Tlillancalme- 

 catl, deftined for occafions of grief, and continued there 

 eight days, fading and obferving the ufual aufterities, in 

 order to obtain the protection, of his gods. From this 

 place of retirement he fent four perfons of his court 

 with a prefent to Cortes, and new prayers and entrea- 

 ties to diflliade him from his journey ; offering to pay 

 an annual tribute to the king of Spain, and to give four 

 loads of gold to the Spaniflh general (/), and one to each 

 of his captains and foldiers, if they would, from that 

 place where they might be found by his ambaffadors, 

 depart for their native country. In fuch apprehenfions 

 and terror did the frnall body of Spaniards keep this ftfc 

 perftitious prince! He could not have made ufe of more 

 diligence and arts to fhun their fight, had he forefeen 

 all the misfortunes they were to bring upon him. The 

 ambatfadors joined Cortes at Ithualco ; the prefent they 

 brought him confided of feveral works of gold, which 

 were valued at fifteen hundred fequins. Cortes (hewed 

 them every poiTible refpeel: and attention, and anfwered 

 by returning thanks to the king for the prefent and his 



mag- 



(i) The ordinary load of a Mexican having been about fifty Spanifh pounds, 

 or eight hundred ounces, we may conjecture, confidering the number of the 

 Spaniards, that what Montezuma was willing to give them to diffuade them 

 from their journey to the court, was equal to more than three millions of fe- 

 quins. 



