_How Cortes assembles all the caziques of this province, and what
further happened._
I have above related that in this battle we took five prisoners, among
whom were two chiefs. Aguilar, who understood their language, often
discoursed with them, and from some remarks which they made, concluded
that we might employ them as delegates to their countrymen. Having
communicated his thoughts to Cortes, he proposed they should be set at
liberty, and despatched with a message to the caziques and other
inhabitants of the district. To this Cortes assented, ordering both the
prisoners to be presented with blue glass beads, while Aguilar told them
many things which he knew would please the inhabitants and prove
advantageous to us. He assured them, that after this battle, which had
been entirely of their own seeking, they had nothing further to fear
from us, and commissioned them now to assemble all the caziques of the
district, for we were very desirous of communicating with them.
Everything Aguilar said was done with the view of inclining the Indians
to make peace with us. The prisoners most willingly complied with our
wishes, which they communicated to the caziques and principal personages
among the inhabitants, telling them how we longed to become their
friends. This message was in so far successful, that they resolved to
send us fifteen of their Indian slaves with fowls, baked fish, and
maise-bread. These slaves had their faces blackened, and were completely
covered with ragged cloaks. When these personages appeared in the
presence of Cortes he received them very friendly: Aguilar, on the
contrary, asked them in an angry tone, why they had come with such
painted faces--appearing rather to seek war than peace? If they were
desirous of making peace, continued he, persons of rank should be
deputed to us, not slaves. This they were to communicate to those who
had sent them. We, however, treated these black faces very kindly,
presenting them moreover with blue beads in token of peace, and in order
to gain the good wishes of the inhabitants. And sure enough the very
next day above thirty of the principal Indians, well dressed, appeared
in our quarters, bringing with them, fowls, fruits, and maise-bread, and
begged permission of Cortes to burn and bury the bodies of their fallen
countrymen, in order that they might not create a pestilence in the air,
or become a prey to the lions and tigers. This being granted, they
brought along with them a great number of Indians to burn the bodies,
and bury them according to their custom. Cortes himself went to watch
their proceedings, when they assured him they had lost above 800 killed,
without counting the wounded; adding, that at present they durst not
enter into any treaty with us, as the day following all the chiefs and
principal personages of the district would assemble to take our offers
of peace into consideration.
Cortes, who profited by every circumstance, said smilingly to us: "It
appears to me, gentlemen, that the Indians stand in great awe of our
horses, and imagine that these and our guns alone fight the battle. A
thought has just struck me which will further confirm them in this
notion. You must bring here the mare of Juan Sedeno which foaled on
board a short time ago, and fasten her here where I am now standing.
Then bring also the stallion of the musician Ortiz, which is a very
fiery animal, and will quickly scent the mare. As soon as you find this
to be the case, lead both the horses to separate places, that the
caziques may neither see the horses, nor hear them neigh, until I shall
be in conversation with them." All this was accordingly done. He
likewise ordered our largest cannon to be heavily loaded with gunpowder
and ball.
A little after midday, forty caziques arrived in great state and richly
clothed according to their fashion. They saluted Cortes and all of us,
perfumed us with their incense, begged forgiveness for what had
happened, and promised to be friendly for the future. Cortes answered by
our interpreter Aguilar, reminding them, with a very serious look, how
often he had wished them to make peace with us, and how, owing to their
obstinacy, we were almost upon the point of destroying them with the
whole of the inhabitants of this district. We were vassals of the mighty
king and lord the emperor Charles, he further added, who had sent us to
this country with orders to favour and assist those who should submit to
his imperial sway, which we would assuredly do if they were amicably
inclined towards us. If, however, they were not so, the _tepustles_ (so
the Indians called our cannon) would be fired off, which were already
embittered against them in some measure on account of the attack they
had made upon us. Cortes, at this moment, gave the signal for firing our
largest cannon. The report was like a sudden clap of thunder, the ball
whizzing along the hills, which could be distinctly heard as it was
midday and not a breath of air stirring. The caziques who had never seen
this before appeared in dismay, and believed all Cortes had said; who,
however, desired Aguilar to comfort and assure them he had given orders
that no harm should be done them. At this moment the stallion was
brought and fastened at a short distance from the spot where Cortes and
the caziques were holding the conference: as the mare was likewise near
at hand, the stallion immediately began to neigh, stamp the ground and
rear itself, while its eyes were continually fixed on the Indians who
stood in front of Cortes's tent, as the mare was placed behind it. The
caziques, however, thought the animal was making all these movements
against them and appeared greatly agitated. When Cortes found what
effect this scene had made upon the Indians, he rose from his seat, and
walking to the horse, took hold of the bridle, and desired his servant
to lead it away. Aguilar, however, was to make the Indians believe that
he had ordered the horse not to do them any injury.
While all this was going on above thirty Indian porters (whom they term
tamemes) arrived with fowls, baked fish, and various fruits: these
porters, on account of their loads, had perhaps not been able to follow
the caziques fast enough. A lively discourse was now kept up between
Cortes and the caziques, who in the end left us perfectly contented,
with the assurance that the following day they would return with a
present.