The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-04-28

procure, and that whenever the Tlasca-
lans went with the Teules they were hon
ored, and that now when so many of them
had been slain in Mexico to remem Der
what their ancestors had said, that
from where the sun rose there would come
men who would rule over them and he
asked why Xicotenga ell Mozo should be
allowed co go about concerting treasons
against us and preparing to kill us. And
he declared that this was wrong and that
Xicotenga ell Mozo could offer no excuse
for the treacheries and evils which were
ever i'll his heart and now that he saw us
coming defeated from Mexico, instead of
aiding us that we might again make
head against the Mexicans, he was con-
certing treason against us.
70 these words and others uttered by his
father XicoteLga ell Mozo replied that II e
was still of the opinion that they should
make peace with the MeXlcans, and he said
many other things which angered the
Chiefs, and presently Massi-Escassi and
Chinchimecatcle and even Xicotenga ell
Viejo arose and seized Xicotenga ell Mozo
and tore his garments and threw him
down from his seat with in furious worus
and had it not been for respect for his
father they would have slain him. And
all who were in his counsels they threw
into prison. But as we were not i'll a
position to punish the traitors Cortes
spoke no more about it. | have called
this to mind to show what loyal friends
we had in the Tascalans.
But we will leave TINS ma tier and tell
how after We had remained twenty-five
days in this town, curing our wounds and
convalescing, Cortes determined to go
against a province called Tepeyaca, which
was close by, because the people OF that
province had killed many of our soldiers
and those of Narvaez, as had also the
people of town called Cachula, near Te-
peyaca.
When the sol1iers of Narvaez were Or
dered to make ready for the expedition,
because they were not accustomed to war
fare, and with the route of Mexico still
fresh i'll their minds and also the bridges
and the battle of Otumba, and because
they did not sec approaching the hour of
their return 10 Cuba, to their encomienaas
Of Indians and their gold mines, they de
nounced Cortes and his ConQuests.
Especially bitter was Andres de Duero,
the old partner of Cortes. He cursed the
gold that had been given to him and to
the other Captains, all of which had been
lost at the broken bridges and they hav
ing already seen the fierce warfare the
Indians made on us and feeling glad that
they had escaped with their lives hey
determined to say to Cortes that they
did not want to go to Tepeyaca, but
wanted to return to their homes in Cuba
and that they had already lost and suffer-
ed enough. To this Cortes replied gently
and with loving words, hoping to change
their resolution so that they would go
with us to Tepeyaca. But nothing that
he said affected their determination
and they seeing that Cortes was not in
clined to grant their request, then form
ally in the presence of Kings secretary
demanded PERMISSION to Immediately
return to Villa Ricl, declaring that we
had neither horses, nor crossbows, nor
bolts for the cross bows, "a that we were
all wounded. and that of ii ,he soldiers,
of Cortes and NarvaeZ only 10 remained,
and that if we waited longer the Mexicans
would take possession OF all the passes
and that as for the ships they would des-
troy them us jest These and many
other things were set forth in their de-
mand, and when it had been given to Cor
ties and he had read it he replied to all
their arguments. More than this all of
us who had come with him originally
declared that he should not give permits
sion to any one to return to Cuba, but
that all should remain to serve God and
the King, and that it was not serving
either God or the King to desert his Cap
tains in the midst of a war.
After much discussion they finally
agreed to accompany us on the expedi-
ton against Tepeyaca. and Cortes prom
ised them that whNl the proper time
came he would allow them to return to
Cuba. But even this did not satisfy
them, and they continued to murmur
against him and his conquests saying
that already he had cost them dearly,
keeping them away from their homes in
a country where their lives were never
one moment safe, and they also de-
clared that if he again opposed himself to
the power of Mexico in another war, they
would absolutely take no part in it, but
would return forthwith to Cuba. for they
were certain, they said, from their expe-
rience in the City of Mexico and at OF
umba that with our present force it would
b impossible to sustain war against
the Mexcans, and that Cortes persevered
IN this madness solely because Of his am