_How we set out on our march to the city of Mexico, and, upon the
advice of the caziques, take our road over Tlascalla. What took
place here, and of the battles we fought._
After we had got all in readiness for our march to Mexico, we held a
consultation as to the route we should take. The chiefs of Sempoalla
preferred the road through the province of Tlascalla, as the inhabitants
were friendly with them and deadly enemies of the Mexicans. They had
likewise equipped forty of their best warriors to accompany us, who,
indeed, proved of the greatest utility to us on this journey. They also
gave us 200 porters to convey our cannon; for, at that time, we poor
soldiers had no other baggage than our weapons, with which in hand we
stood, walked, and slept: we had not even any other covering to our
feet than light shoes, but we were always ready for battle. It was about
the middle of the month of August, 1519, that we broke up our quarters
at Sempoalla. During our march we observed the strictest order, while
our sharp-shooters and a great number of our most active men were always
in advance. On the first day we arrived in the township of Xalapa, and
from there to Socochina, which is very strongly situated, the access to
it being very dangerous, and surrounded by numerous trained vine
trees.[20] Dona Marina and Aguilar told the inhabitants a good deal
about our holy religion, and how we were subjects of the emperor Don
Carlos the Fifth, who sent us out to bring them back from kidnapping and
sacrificing human beings. As they were in friendship with the
Sempoallans, and paid no tribute to Motecusuma, we found them very well
inclined towards us, and we received hospitable treatment. We erected a
cross in every township, and explained its signification to the
inhabitants, and what great veneration was due to it. From Socochina we
marched over a high mountain, through a pass, to Texutla: here,
likewise, the inhabitants were friendly to us, because they refused to
pay any further tribute to Motecusuma. It was from this township that we
first arrived into a rugged and wild mountain district; the population
ceased, and, in the very first night, we had excessive cold, with hail
showers; add to which, our provisions were totally gone, and the wind so
keen which blew across the snow mountains, that we shook again with the
frost: indeed, no one can wonder at this, for we had come so suddenly
from the hot climate of Cuba, the town of Vera Cruz, and the
neighbouring coast, into a cold country. Whatever calamity might befall
us, we had only our weapons for protection, and were, moreover, totally
unaccustomed to the cold. From this place we arrived at another mountain
pass, where we found some houses and huge temples for human sacrifices;
near these, heaps of wood were piled up for the use of the idol-worship.
Neither did we here again meet with any food, the weather continuing
bitterly cold.
Our route now lay across the territory of the township Xocotlan. We sent
before us two Indians of Sempoalla to the cazique, to acquaint him of
our approach, and beg of him to give us an hospitable reception. As the
inhabitants of this district were subject to Motecusuma, everything wore
a different aspect, and we marched forward with the utmost precaution
and in close array. For the rest, we were as much pleased with this spot
as with many a Spanish town, on account of the numerous and beautifully
whitewashed balconies, the dwellings of the caziques, and the elevated
temples wholly built of stone and lime. We, therefore, called it
Castilblanco, which name it still retains; for a Portuguese soldier, who
was among our troops, assured us, the place was very like the town of
Casteloblanco in Portugal. The cazique, on receiving information of our
arrival, came out to meet us with the principal inhabitants. His name
was Olintecle, and he led us into his habitation, where he gave us but
little to eat, and that with bad will.
After the repast, Cortes, by means of our interpreters, put all manner
of questions to the cazique respecting the affairs of his monarch.
Motecusuma, and we learnt a good deal about the great armies which were
stationed in the conquered provinces, besides those on the boundaries
themselves, and the provinces which bordered on them. He spoke of the
great and strong city of Mexico, how it lay in the midst of the waters,
and that it was only by means of bridges and canoes that a person could
go from one house to another: every house was provided with a balcony at
the top, and was so completely isolated by means of moats, that they
might separately be considered as so many castles, and, as such, capable
of defence. The town was approached by three roads, each of which was
cut through in four or five several places, to admit the water; across
these sections, wooden bridges were built: it was merely requisite to
break down these bridges, and all access to Mexico was cut off. Lastly,
the cazique also mentioned the great quantity of silver and gold, the
numerous precious stones and great riches of Motecusuma; in fact, there
was no end to the praises he bestowed upon his monarch.
Cortes and all of us were vastly astonished at everything the man
related of Motecusuma's power and greatness. However, instead of being
thereby disheartened, we only the more earnestly desired to try our
fortune against the fortresses and bridges, for such is the very spirit
of a Spanish soldier; while the impossibility of which Olintecle spoke
seemed to us a mere nothing. Mexico was, indeed, strongly fortified, and
even more so than mentioned by the cazique: a person ought to have seen
it himself to form an idea of it,--a description can convey none. For
the rest, added the cazique, Motecusuma is accustomed to obedience from
every one, and he feared Motecusuma's resentment when he should learn
that we had entered the township without his permission, and had been
provided with provisions.
Upon which Cortes, by means of our interpreters, spoke to him as
follows: "I give you to understand that we have come here from very
distant countries, by command of our emperor and master Don Carlos, who
has among his numerous vassals many powerful princes, to acquaint your
great Motecusuma that he shall no longer permit kidnapping and human
sacrifices, nor conquer any more territories, and that he must obey the
commands of the emperor our master. In the same way I also declare to
you Olintecle, and the other caziques now present that you must
relinquish those human sacrifices, no longer eat human flesh, and
abstain from committing unnatural offences and other abominations
customary with you; for such are the commandments of the God in whom we
believe, and whom we adore, from whom come life and death, and who will
once receive us into his heaven."
As the Indians made no answer to all this and many other things he said
of our holy religion, Cortes turned to us, and said, "I think,
gentlemen, we can do nothing further here than erect a cross:" to which
father Olmedo answered, "I think, sir, that even this would be doing too
much at present, for these people, as subjects of Motecusuma, are
neither afraid nor shy of us, and would undoubtedly destroy the cross.
What we have disclosed to them concerning our religion is sufficient
until the time they shall be susceptible of understanding more of it."
In compliance with this advice, no cross was erected here.
On this expedition we had a large dog with us, the property of Francisco
de Lugo. As the animal did nothing but bark the whole night, the
caziques asked our friends of Sempoalla whether it was a lion or a tiger
which we employed for the purpose of tearing the Indians to pieces? The
Sempoallans answered that we indeed let it loose upon those who attacked
us. They gave similar answers to questions concerning our cannon,
telling them we loaded these with stones, and killed every one therewith
at whom we shot: that our horses were as nimble as deer; that they
galloped against whomsoever we desired. "Certainly these must be
teules!" said Olintecle and the other chiefs. "That they are indeed as
you see them now before you, (continued the Sempoallans,) therefore take
great care not to arouse their displeasure. Whatever you may do, they
are sure to know: they penetrate your very thoughts, and have even
imprisoned the tax-gatherers of your great Motecusuma, and commanded the
inhabitants of the mountains and us of Sempoalla not to pay any more
tribute. They have likewise torn down our teules from the temples, and
placed theirs there instead. The tribes of the Tabasco and Tzinpantzinco
were conquered by them; and, however powerful Motecusuma may be, he
nevertheless sent them presents. Now they have visited you, and you have
given them nothing; therefore you cannot too speedily correct the
mistake you have made."
From this it may be seen that our confederates perfectly understood how
to boast of us: nor was it long before the caziques brought us four
chains, three neck ornaments, and a few lizards, all of gold, though of
an inferior quality; besides this there was a package of cotton cloths,
and four women to bake our bread. Cortes thanked them very kindly for
these presents, and offered to render them services in return.
One certain spot in this township I never shall forget, situated near
the temple. Here a vast number of human skulls were piled up in the best
order imaginable,--there must have been more than 100,000; I repeat,
more than 100,000. In like manner you saw the remaining human bones
piled up in order in another corner of the square; these it would have
been impossible to count. Besides these, there were human heads hanging
suspended from beams on both sides. Three papas stood sentinel on this
place of skulls, for which purpose, it was told us, they were
particularly appointed.[21]
Similar horrible sights we saw towards the interior of the country in
every township, and even in Tlascalla.
Cortes inquired of the cazique Olintecle, which was the best and most
easy road to Mexico. "That one," answered the cazique, "over Cholulla,
which is a very large town." Our friends of Sempoalla, however, advised
us not to take that road, as the inhabitants of Cholulla were a
treacherous people, and Motecusuma had always a strong garrison in that
town. We had better choose the road over Tlascalla was their opinion;
for there the inhabitants were their friends, and sworn enemies to the
Mexicans. This advice was followed by Cortes, and the Almighty blessed
his choice. Before our departure we required an additional twenty of
their best warriors to join our ranks, which were accordingly granted us
by the cazique.
The next morning we commenced our march to Tlascalla, and first arrived
in the small township of Xacatcinco. From this place we sent before us
to the Tlascallans two of the principal men of Sempoalla, who well knew
how to blazon forth our praise, and were upon intimate terms of
friendship with the latter. We gave them a letter to these, although we
knew they could not read it, and a Flanders hat surmounted by a coloured
feather, as they were worn at that time. I will relate in the following
chapter what further took place.
[20] It may appear astonishing to some that grape trees should have been
found here, as it is well known that this tree was introduced from
Europe into the West Indies; yet it is certainly true that the Spaniards
found the wild vine growing in the New World. Oviedo, in his valuable
work entitled 'Historia general y natural de las Indias,' says, "These
wild vines bear good black grapes, and I have often eaten them myself. I
say good, for considering the wild state in which they grow, they are
really good. These grapes are found throughout the whole of the West
Indies, and I do believe that all other vines have originated from these
wild trees." (p. 133.)
[21] Of the township of Xocotlan, Torquemada gives some further account,
from which we learn more of the condition of the country at the time of
the conquest. Olintecl, he says, was lord of 20,000 subjects, and he had
thirty wives, who were attended upon by one hundred female servants. The
township contained thirteen temples, full of various shaped idols made
of stone, to whom were sacrificed men, women, children, pigeons, and
quails. Here the Mexican monarch had a garrison of 5000 men, and couriers
were stationed at particular distances from each other all the way from
the town to the city of Mexico. These nimble pedestrians were always in
pairs, that all news might be conveyed to the metropolis with the utmost
speed. (p. 142.)