60 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



character of the inhabitants, to avoid as much as pos- 

 sible all conflict with them. With this resolution, 

 they set out from Ake in the direction of Chichen 

 Itza, w^here, by kindness and conciliation, they got 

 together some Indians, and built houses of wood 

 and poles covered with palm leaves. 



Here the adelantado made one unfortunate and 

 fatal movement. Disheartened by not seeing any 

 signs of gold, and learning from the Indians that the 

 glittering metal was to be found in the province of 

 Ba Khalal, the adelantado determined to send the 

 Captain Davila to found in that province a town of 

 Spaniards. Davila set out with fifty foot-soldiers 

 and sixteen horsemen, and from the time of this sep- 

 aration difficulties and dangers accumulated upon 

 both. All efforts to communicate with each other 

 proved abortive. After many battles, perils, and suf- 

 ferings, those in Chichen Itza saw themselves redu- 

 ced to the wretched alternative of dying by hunger 

 or by the hands of the Indians. An immense mul- 

 titude of the latter having assembled for their de- 

 struction, the Spaniards left their fortifications, and 

 went out on the plain to meet them. The most se- 

 vere battle ever known in wars with the Indians 

 took place. Great slaughter was made among them, 

 but a hundred and fifty Spaniards were killed ; near- 

 ly all the rest were wounded, and, worn down with 

 fatigue, the survivors retreated to the fortifications. 

 The Indians did not follow them, or, worn out as 

 they were, they would have perished miserably to a 



