The herald., 1895-05-05
CHAPTER LVIII

OF How C0rtes Led an Expedition Around the
Lagoon, and of the Great Towns We
Found on Our March, and Of Our Perlous
Adventures on the Pencils, and Of the
Peace We Made
!, also, was ordered to go on this ex-
petition with Cortes. and he left .Gonzalo
de Sandoval in charge of Tezcuco. One
Friday morning, the 5th day of March.
1921, we commenced our march toward
Talmanalco. where we were well received,
and caNped the first night. The. next
day we went to Chalco, where we called
together all the Caciques of the province,
and Cortes told them that on this expedi-
tion he hoped to bring to peace all the
towns on the banks of the lake and that
he also desired to examine the surround
ings in order to besiege Mexico, and that
the next day he desired them to have
ready all the warriors of the province to
go with him. They replied that they
would do so with good will, and the
next day we marched to a town subject to
TeZcuco called Chimalucan, where we were
Joined by twenty thousand warriors, Chal-
cans, Tlascalans. Tezcucans and people
from Guaxocingo and other friendly
towns.
The chief reason why so many followed
us was that they hoped to enrich them
selves with the spoils of the Mexican
towns and to gorge themselves with hui
man flesh in case of tattles.9 And as in
Italy. when an army marches from one
| place to another it is followed by ravens
| and other birds OF rapine who feed on the
bodies OF the dead, in the same manner
| explain the multitudes of Indians who
followed us on this expedition.
W., ,nl 81 #,
large squadrons of Mexican warriors and
| their allies were awaiting us. Ccrtes or
dered that close watch should be kept,
and after hearing mass in the morning
we marched out of Chimulacan with
much precaution. our road leading be-
tween high. rocky bluffs, which were oc-
l. cupied by Mexcans, who yelled at us and
shot arrows and threw stones and balls of
burnt eartn. and IN fact three of our sol
diers were wounded. But we made no re-
ply, only pursued our march. We then
passed through town called Nustepeque,
which had been entirely deserted. and af-
forwards we passed out into plain where
there was very little water and in one
part of it there was penol very high
and difficult of ascent When we arrived
near it we saw that it was in possession
of a large force of warriors who imme-
diatey commenced to shoot at us arrows
and rocks. Here Cortes ordered halt
and said. 1t seems to me. gentlemen,
that these Meyicans are all flying to fort
resses and laughing at us. =
lie then ordered some hon semen to ride
around the penol to see if they could find
any place more easy of ascent, and they
soon returned saying that the part in
front of us was easiest of all. Cortes then
ordered that we should commence the at
tack. An alfereZ named Cristobal Corral
led. and all of us followed.
Cortes and the horse remained
on, the plain to guard our rear
menced to Climb the penol the
MeXicans rolled down such large rocks
upon us that it was frightful to see and it
was mercy that we all were not crushed
to death. Indeed, the attack was very i'll
advised. At my feet was killed one Mar
tinez, who was crushed instantly by
piece of rock, and as we still climbed up
two more soldiers were killed, and pres
emily rock killed a very brave soldier.
Alonzo Rodriguez; but still we continued
to climb, and as in those days | was very
active | was not far behind the alferez
Corral. who was in the lead, and finally
we reached place where we could 60 no
further and Corral was Sheltering himself
behind a tree which grew in cleft in
the rock. Seeing me he called out, say
ing: ."Oh, Senior Bernal Diaz. it is i'm
possible to go any further, so shelter
yourself behind this protection lest one of
the rocks strike YOU.
Just at this moment | saw under us a
Captain of crossbowmen named Pedro
Barba. with two other soldiers, ard |
shouted to him: ''Oh, Senor Captain,
come no further for at this place you
can scarcely hold on with hands and
feet. y to which he replied arrogantly that
it was our duty to go forward, and | feel
ing hurt said to him Let us see. then,
if you can come where | am.
And as he was coming up there came
upon him shower of rocks which wound
ed him and killed one soldier who was,
with him. and he then sheltered himself
and came no further.
Eha alfe rez now shouted to those below
to tell Cortes that we could go no farther
and that it was also very dangerous to re-
treat. and when Cortes heard this he un-
derstood how things were, for even on
the plain where he was the Indians had
killed three soldiers and wounded seven
with the rocks, and he feared that all of
us who had climbed up would be killed or
at the very least badly wounded.
From where he was he could not see all
the fight going Oh on the penol, and pre-
sently by means of certain shots he gave
us the order to retreat, and so in the pest
manner practicable under the circum-
stances. we commenced to retreat and
reached the plain all wounded and most
OF us bleeding. and having lost eight
men in the attack, and when Cortes saw
us ne gave tndDkS 10 OOu 1Or our escape.
All this time there were large squa ad-
rons of Mexican warriors hidden near us
awaiting to assist those on the penol, if it
became necessary. But now, seeing us
beaten back, they resolved to attack us.
When Cortes saw them coming he ordered
us to go out on the plain, whc.i we did,
and soon routed them, following them
up until they took refuge on some
other pencils. where we could not follow
them. All this day we had no water, as
the springs in this place were nothing uut
mud and because of the great thirst of
ourselves and our horses we changed our
camp. marching toward another penol.
where we thought we could find water.
We found this penol occupied by strong
er force than the former. and it was also
more difficult of ascent, and as soon as
we commenced to approach it the Mexi-
cans commenced to yell and throw
rocks and shoot arrows at ms.
And although we replied with our
crossbows and arquebuses we could do
them no harm as they were we'll protect
ed and although we made an effort to
climb the penol to dislodge them we were
unsuccessful. as in the former case, SO
that we went in camp having gained very
little reputation that day either with the
Mexicans or our allies. The next morn
ing Cortes ordered the crossbowmen and
arquebusiers to climb penol which was
within range OF the one occupied by the
MeXicans.