DESPERATE CONDITION OF SPANIARDS. 73 



stores ready to embark, and nothing was talked of 

 but leaving the country. 



The exertions of the captain induced them to take 

 better counsel, and they agreed not to execute their 

 resolution hastily, but, to save themselves from inju- 

 rious imputations, first to send notice of their inten- 

 tion to the adelantado. Juan de Contreras was sent 

 with the despatches, who gave the adelantado, be- 

 sides, a full account of the desperate condition in 

 which they remained at Champoton. 



His intelligence gave the adelantado much anx- 

 iety. All his resources were exhausted ; he had 

 been unable to procure the succour necessary, and 

 he knew that if the Spaniards abandoned Champo- 

 ton, it would be impossible to prosecute the conquest 

 of Yucatan. Aware of their necessities, when the 

 news arrived, he had some Spaniards collected to go 

 to their assistance, and now, by gifts and promises, 

 he made some additions ; and while waiting until 

 these could be got ready, despatched Alonzo Rosa- 

 do, one of the new recruits, to give notice of the 

 succour at hand. 



It does not appear whether the adelantado went 

 to Champoton in person, but vessels arrived carry- 

 ing soldiers, provisions, clothing, and arms, and to- 

 ward the end of the year 1539 his son returned, 

 with twenty horsemen, from New Spain. The 

 drooping spirits of the Spaniards were revived, and 

 again they conceived hopes of achieving the con- 

 quest of the country. 



Vol. L— K 7 



