_How we came into the Tabasco river, which we termed the Grijalva,
and what happened to us there._
As we thus by day sailed along the coast of the continent, for at night
we lay to on account of the shallows and rocks, we perceived on the
third morning a very broad mouth of some river. We approached the shore
as near as possible, thinking we should find a good harbour here. As we
came closer to the mouth we saw that the waves broke over its shallows:
we consequently lowered our boats to make soundings, and found that our
two larger vessels could not come in here. It was therefore immediately
resolved that they should anchor further out at sea, but that the two
remaining vessels which did not draw so much water, with all our boats
well manned, should proceed up the river. We could perceive in the
canoes along the shore numbers of Indians with bows and arrows, and in
other respects armed exactly like those of Champoton. We concluded from
their numbers that a village could not be far off; we also found as we
proceeded further up the river along the banks, basket kiddles put out,
from two of which we took the fish and placed them in a boat a-stern of
our principal ship.
This river was previously called after the cazique of the district, the
Tabasco; as we, however, discovered it during this expedition, we gave
it the name of the Grijalva river, in honour of our chief commander,
under which name it stands on the sea charts.
We might still have been about two miles from the village when we
distinctly heard the crackling noise of the felling of trees; for the
Indians were constructing barricades and making other preparations of
war against us, of the issue of which they entertained no doubts, as
they had been duly advertised of the occurrence at Potonchan. As soon as
we learnt this, we disembarked our men on a projecting point of land,
about two miles from the village, where some palm trees were growing. As
soon as they perceived this, about fifty canoes with Indians completely
armed after their fashion made towards us, while many other canoes,
manned in the same way, lay dispersed about the haven, at a greater
distance, not daring to approach us so near as the first.
Seeing how ready they were for action, we were just upon the point of
firing off our great guns, and giving them a volley of musket-shots,
when it entered our minds, through a merciful Providence, that we ought
first to try if we could not gain their friendship. We therefore by
means of Julianillo and Melchorejo, (who were natives of the Punta de
Cotoche, and certainly understood the language spoken here,) told the
chiefs they had nothing to fear from us: we were desirous of discoursing
with them and had things to disclose, which, as soon as they had learnt,
would make our arrival pleasing to them: they should come to us and we
would gladly give them of the things we had brought.
Upon this invitation four of the canoes approached us, containing thirty
Indians, or thereabouts. We showed them necklaces of blue glass beads,
small mirrors, and green imitation corals. At the sight of the latter
they appeared quite delighted; for they thought them to be chalchihuis
stones, which are highly esteemed in their country.
Our captain then told them, by means of our interpreters, that we came
from a distant country, and were the subjects of a great emperor, whose
name was Don Carlos, who had numerous sovereigns and caziques among his
vassals: they should likewise acknowledge this emperor as their lord and
master, for then it would go well with them;--he further desired them to
give us fowls in exchange for our glass beads.
Two of the Indians, one of whom was the chief and the other a papa--this
is a kind of priest, who performs the ceremonies in presence of their
idols--answered and said, "they would bring the provisions we required
and commence a trade of barter with us.--For the rest they had already
a master, and could not help feeling astonished that we, who had but
just arrived and knew nothing of them, should that instant wish to
impose a master on them. We had better consider a bit before we
commenced war with them, as we had with those at Potonchan. That already
all the warriors of the country had been ordered out against us, and two
armies, each composed of 8000 men were ready for action. They certainly
had learnt that a few days ago we had killed and wounded 200 men; but
they were more powerful than the inhabitants of that country, which was
the reason why they first wished to know what our intentions were. Our
declaration would be communicated to the caziques of the numerous
districts, who had united themselves for war or for peace."
Upon this they embraced our commander, in token of peace, who presented
them with necklaces of glass beads, and desired them to return as
quickly as possible with an answer; adding that if they did not return
we would enter their town by main force, though we had no evil
intentions whatever.
These delegates communicated with the caziques and papas--the latter
having also a voice in their councils,--and they declared that our offer
of peace was acceptable to them. Provisions were ordered to be sent us,
and all present agreed that they themselves with the neighbouring tribes
should each contribute their quota in order to make us a present in gold
to insure our good friendship, and obviate a recurrence of what had
taken place at Potonchan. From what I subsequently learnt and witnessed
I found that it was customary with the inhabitants of these countries to
make each other presents whenever they were in treaty about peace.
All I have been relating took place on the promontory where the palm
trees stood. About thirty Indians soon arrived, laden with broiled fish,
fowls, fruit, and maise-bread. They also brought pans filled with
red-hot embers, on which they strewed incense, and perfumed us all.
After this ceremony was ended they spread some mats on the ground, over
which they laid a piece of cotton cloth; on this they put some trifling
ornaments in gold in the shape of ducks and lizards, with three
necklaces made of gold, which had been melted into the shape of round
balls. All these things, however, were of an inferior kind of gold, not
worth 200 pesos. They next presented us with some mantles and
waistcoats, as they themselves wore, and begged of us to accept them in
good kind; saying they had no more gold to give us, but that further on
towards the setting of the sun there was a country where it was found in
great abundance; hereby often repeating the word Culba, Culba, and
Mexico, Mexico. We however did not understand what they meant. Although
the presents they had brought us were of little value, we nevertheless
rejoiced exceedingly on account of the certainty we had gained that
there was gold in this country. Having handed over the presents to us
with due formality they told us we might now continue our voyage. Our
captain thanked them; presenting each at the same time with some green
beads. We now determined to re-embark, for the vessels were in great
danger on account of the north wind, which in our present situation was
quite contrary. We had, moreover, to go in quest of the country, which,
according to the assurances of the Indians, abounded in gold.