72 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



advance toward the conquest of the country ; all 

 who could, endeavoured to get away, some going in 

 canoes, others by land, as occasion offered. In or- 

 der to confer upon some means of bettering the con- 

 dition of things, it was necessary for the son of the 

 adelantado to visit his father at Tobasco, and he set 

 out, leaving the soldiers at Champoton under the 

 command of his cousin, a third Don Francisco. 



During his absence matters became worse. The 

 people continued going away, and Don Francisco 

 knew that if they lost Champoton, which had cost 

 them so much, all was lost. Consulting with a few 

 who were most desirous of persevering in the enter- 

 prise, he brought together those who were suspected 

 of meditating desertion, and told them to go at once, 

 and leave the rest to their fate. The poor soldiers, 

 embarrassed, and ashamed at being confronted with 

 companions whom they intended to desert, deter- 

 mined to remain. 



But the succour so earnestly hoped for was de- 

 layed. All the expedition which the son of the ad- 

 elantado could make was not sufficient for those 

 who remained in Champoton. They had been 

 nearly three years without making any advances or 

 any impression upon the country. Despairing of its 

 conquest, and unable to exist in the straits in which 

 they found themselves, they talked openly of dis- 

 banding, and going where fortune might lead them. 

 The captain did all that he could to encourage 

 them, but in vain. All had their luggage and ship- 



