370 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



districts used to go frequently in solemn procession. 

 One morning the courts of this temple were filled 

 with Indians, and curiosity having also drawn many 

 of us thither, we found them burning odoriferous 

 resins like our incense, and shortly after an old man 

 in a large loose mantle ascended to the top of the 

 temple, and harangued or preached to the multitude 

 for a considerable time. Cortez, who was present, 

 at length called to him Melchorejo, an Indian prisoner 

 taken on a previous voyage to Yucatan, to question 

 him concerning the evil doctrines which the old man 

 was delivering. He then summoned all the ca- 

 ciques and chief persons to come before him, and as 

 well as he could, by signs and interpretations, ex- 

 plained to them that the idols which they worship- 

 ped were not gods, but evil things, which would 

 draw their souls down to hell, and that, if they wish- 

 ed to remain in brotherly connexion with us, they 

 must pull them down, and place in their stead the 

 crucifix of our Lord, by whose assistance they would 

 obtain good harvests and the salvation of their souls, 

 with many other good and holy reasons, which he 

 expressed very well. The priests and chiefs replied 

 that they worshipped these gods as their ancestors 

 had done, because they were kind to them, and that, 

 if we attempted to molest them, the gods would con- 

 vince us of their power by destroying us in the sea. 

 Cortez then ordered the idols to be prostrated, which 

 we immediately did, rolling them down some steps. 

 He next sent for Ume, of which there was abundance 



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