A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 4 | Page 3

as to preclude all access. We were
likewise informed of the vast wealth possessed by Montezuma, in gold,
silver, and jewels, which filled us with astonishment; and although the
account we had already received of the military resources of the empire
and the inaccessible strength of the capital might have filled us with
dismay, yet we were eager to try our fortunes. The cacique expatiated
in praise of Montezuma, and expressed his apprehension of having
offended him by receiving us into his government without his leave. To
this Cortes replied, That we had come from a far distant country by
command of our sovereign, to exhort Montezuma and his subjects to
desist from human sacrifices and other outrages; adding: "I now require
all who hear me, to renounce your inhuman sacrifices, cannibal feasts,
and other abominable customs; for such is the command of GOD,
whom we adore." The natives listened to all this in profound silence,
and Cortes proposed to the soldiers to destroy the idols and plant the
holy cross, as had been already done at Chempoalla; but Father Olmedo
recommended that this should be postponed to a fitter opportunity, lest
the ignorance and barbarism of the people might incite them to offer
indignity against that holy symbol of our blessed religion.
We happened to have a very large dog along with us, which belonged
to Francisco de Lugo, which used to bark very loud during the night, to
the great surprise of the natives, who asked our Chempoallan allies if
that terrible animal was a lion or tiger which we had brought to devour

them. They answered that this creature attacked and devoured whoever
offended us; that our guns discharged stones which destroyed our
enemies, and that our horses were exceedingly swift and caught
whoever we pursued. On this the others observed that with such
astonishing powers we certainly were teules. Our allies also advised
them to beware of practising any thing against us, as we could read
their hidden thoughts, and recommended them to conciliate our favour
by a present. They accordingly brought us several ornaments of much
debased gold, and gave us four women to make bread, and a load of
mantles. Near some of the temples belonging to this place I saw a vast
number of human skeletons arranged in such exact order that they
might easily be counted with perfect accuracy, and I am certain there
were above an hundred thousand. In another part immense quantities of
human bones were heaped up in endless confusion. In a third, great
numbers of skulls were suspended from beams, and watched by three
priests. Similar collections were to be seen everywhere as we marched
through this district and the territories of Tlascala.
On consulting the cacique of Xocotla respecting the road to Mexico, he
advised us to go through Cholula; but our allies strongly dissuaded us
from that route, alleging that the people were very treacherous, and that
the town was always occupied by a Mexican garrison, and repeated the
former advice of going by Tlascala, assuring us of a friendly reception
there. Cortes accordingly sent messengers before us to Tlascala
announcing our approach, and bearing a crimson velvet cap as a present.
Although these people were ignorant of writing, yet Cortes sent a letter
by his messengers, as it was generally understood to carry a sanction of
the message which was to be delivered. We now set out for Tlascala, in
our accustomed order of march, attended by twenty principal
inhabitants of Xocotla. On arriving at a village in the territory of
Xalacingo[3], where we received intelligence that the whole nation of
the Tlascalans were in arms to oppose us, believing as to be in alliance
with their inveterate enemies the Mexicans, on account of the number
of Mexican subjects who attended our army. So great was their
suspicion on this account, that they imprisoned our two messengers, for
whose return we waited two days very impatiently. Cortes employed
the time in exhorting the Indians to abandon their idolatry and to
reconcile themselves to our holy church. At the end of these two days,

we resumed our march, accompanied by two of the principal people of
this place whom Cortes demanded to attend us, and we soon afterwards
met our messengers who had made their escape, either owing to the
negligence or connivance of their guards. These messengers were in
extreme terror, as the people of Tlascala threatened to destroy us and
every one who should adhere to us. As a battle was therefore to be
expected, the standard was advanced to the front, and Cortes instructed
the cavalry to charge by threes to the front, never halting to give thrusts
with their lances, but urging on at speed with couched lances levelled at
the faces of the