70 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



During this time the Indians were forming a great 

 league of all the caciques in the country, and gath- 

 ered in immense numbers at Champoton. As soon 

 as all the confederates were assembled, they attack- 

 ed with a horrible noise the camp of the Spaniards, 

 who could not successfully contend against such a 

 multitude. Many Indians fell, but they counted as 

 well lost a thousand of their own number for the life 

 of one Spaniard. There was no hope but in flight, 

 and the Spaniards retreated to the shore. The In- 

 dians pursued them, heaping insults upon them, en- 

 tered their camp, loaded themselves with the cloth- 

 ing and other things, which in the hurry of retreat 

 they had been obliged to leave behind, put on their 

 dresses, and from the shore mocked and scoffed at 

 them, pointing with their fingers, taunting them with 

 cowardice, and crying out, "Where is the courage 

 of the Spaniards V The latter, hearing from their 

 boats these insults, resolved that death and fame 

 were better than life and ignominy, and, wounded 

 and worn out as they were, took up their arms and 

 returned to the shore. Another fierce battle ensu- 

 ed; and the Indians, dismayed by the resolution 

 with which these vanquished men again made front 

 against them, retired slowly, leaving the Spaniards 

 masters of the field. The Spaniards cared for no 

 more, content to recover the ground they had lost. 



From this time the Indians determined not to give 

 battle again, and the great multitude, brought to- 

 gether from different places, dispersed, and returned 



