68 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



war, particularly with cavalry, on account of the 

 marshes and pools ; their provisions were again cut 

 off ; many of the soldiers went away disgusted, and 

 others, from the great humidity and heat, sickened 

 and died. 



While they were in this extremity, the Captain 

 Diego de Contreras, with no fixed destination, and 

 ready to embark in any of the great enterprises 

 which at that time attracted the adventurous soldier, 

 arrived at the port. He had with him a vessel of 

 his own, with provisions and other necessaries, his 

 son, and twenty Spaniards. The adelantado repre- 

 sented to him the great service he might render the 

 king, and by promises of reward induced him to re- 

 main. With this assistance he was enabled to sus- 

 tain himself in Tobasco until, having received addi- 

 tional re-enforcements, he effected the pacification 

 of the whole of that country. 



The adelantado now made preparations to return 

 to Yucatan. Champoton was selected as the place 

 of disembarcation. According to some of the his- 

 torians, he did not himself embark on this expedi- 

 tion, but sent his son. It seems more certain, how- 

 ever, that he went in person as commander-in-chief 

 of the armada, and leaving his son, Don Francisco 

 de Montejo, in command of the soldiers, returned to 

 Tobasco, as being nearer to Mexico, from which 

 country he expected to receive and send on more 

 recruits and necessaries. The Spaniards landed 

 some time in the year 1537, and again planted the 



