A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 4 | Page 2

Concluding observations by the Author.
CHAP. VI. History of the discovery and conquest of Peru, by Francisco
Pizarro; written by Augustino Zarate, treasurer of that kingdom, a few
years after the conquest.
Introduction.
SECT. I. Of the discovery of Peru, with some account of the country
and its inhabitants.
II. Transactions of Pizarro and the Spaniards in Peru, from the
commencement of the conquest, till the departure of Almagro for the
discovery of Chili.

III. Occurrences from the departure of Almagro for Chili, to his capture
by Pizarro, being the first part of the civil wars in Peru.
IV. Expeditions of Pedro de Valdivia into Chili, and of Gonzalo Pizarro
to Los Canelos.
V. Conspiracy of the Almagrians and Assassination of Pizarro.
CHAP. VII. Continuation of the early history of Peru, after the death of
Francisco Pizarro, to the defeat of Gonzalo Pizarro, and the
re-establishment of tranquillity in the country; written by Augustino
Zarate.
SECT. I. From the revival of the civil wars in Peru, to the close of the
administration of Vaca de Castro, the first governor appointed from
Spain.
II. Commencement of the Viceroyalty of Blasco Nunnez Vela, and
renewal of the civil war in Peru by the usurpation of Gonzalo Pizarro.
[Illustration: Viceroyalty of Mexico Published 1 Jan'y 1812 by W'm
Blackwood Edin'r.]

A GENERAL HISTORY AND COLLECTION OF VOYAGES AND
TRAVELS.

PART II.
BOOK II. CONTINUED.
* * * * *

CHAPTER V.
HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF MEXICO,

WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1568, BY CAPTAIN BERNAL DIAZ DEL
CASTILLO, ONE OF THE CONQUERORS.--Continued.

SECTION VI.
_The Spaniards commence their March to Mexico; with an account of
the War in Tlascala, and the submission of that Nation_.
Everything being in readiness for our march to Mexico, we were
advised by our allies of Chempoalla to proceed by way of Tlascala, the
inhabitants of that province being in friendship with them and
constantly at war with the Mexicans; and at our requisition, we were
joined by fifty of the principal warriors of the Totanacas[1], who
likewise gave us 200 tlamama, or men of burden, to draw our guns and
to transport our baggage and ammunition[2]. Our first day's march on
the 16th of August 1519, was to Xalapan, and our second to Socochima,
a place of difficult approach, surrounded by vines. During the whole of
this march, the main body was kept in compact order, being always
preceded by an advance of light infantry, and patroles of cavalry. Our
interpreters informed the people of this place, that we were subjects of
the great emperor Don Carlos, who had sent us to abolish human
sacrifices and various other abuses; and as these people were allies of
Chempoalla and independent of Montezuma, they treated us in a
friendly manner. We erected a cross at this place, explaining its
signification and giving them information of many things belonging to
our holy faith, and exhorting them to reverence the cross. From this
place we proceeded by a difficult pass among lofty mountains to
Texotla, the people of which place were well disposed to us, as they
also paid no tribute to Montezuma. Continuing our march through
desert lofty mountains, we experienced excessive cold, with heavy falls
of hail, and came next day to a pass, where there were some houses and
large temples, and great piles of wood intended for the service of the
idols. Provisions were scarce during the two last days, and we now
approached the confines of the Mexican empire, at a place called
_Xocotlan_; to the cacique of which place Cortes sent a message
informing him of our arrival. The appearance of this place evinced that
we were entering upon a new and richer country. The temples and other
buildings were lofty, with terraced roofs, and had a magnificent

appearance, being all plastered and white-washed, so as to resemble
some of our towns in Spain; on which account we called this place
Castel blanco.
In consequence of our message, the cacique and other principal persons
of the town came out to meet us, and conducted us to our quarters,
where they gave us a very poor entertainment. After supper, Cortes
inquired respecting the military power of Montezuma, and was told that
he was able to bring prodigious armies into the field. The city of
Mexico was represented as of uncommon strength, being built on the
water, with no communication between the houses, houses, except by
means of boats or bridges, each house being terraced, and only needing
the addition of a parapet to become a fortress. The only access to the
city was by means of three causeways or piers, each of which had four
or five apertures for the passage of the waters, having wooden bridges
which could be raised up, so