pice islands
by a shorter route. Cortes therefore determined to fit out an expedition
for this purpose, the command of which he gave to Oli, his
quartermaster-general. He was induced for various reasons to intrust
this man with so important a command; first of all, Oli was entirely
indebted to him for his successful career in life; secondly, he was a
married man; and lastly, he possessed considerable property in the
neighbourhood of Mexico; so that Cortes considered he could every way
place implicit reliance on his fidelity and obedience. As the route
overland to these provinces would have been too tedious, expensive, and
difficult, Cortes determined for an expedition thither by sea, and
fitted out five vessels and one brigantine, with three hundred and
seventy men, among whom there were one hundred musketeers and
crossbow-men, with twenty-two horse. In this corps there were also five
of the veteran Conquistadores, all men who had distinguished themselves
on every occasion. They had already settled themselves quietly down in
New Spain, and were in every respect entitled to enjoy the sweets of
repose; but Cortes was not the man to whom you could say, "I am now
tired, general, of military life, allow me therefore to spend the
remainder of my days in peace and quiet;" but he commanded you to go,
and if you would not, he forced you. Among other officers who
accompanied Oli was Briones of Salamanca, the same who commanded one of
the brigantines during the siege of Mexico, and who had formerly served
in the campaigns of Italy. This man was of a most irascible disposition,
and he hated Cortes from the bottom of his soul; but he was not the only
one, for several others took part in this expedition who were equally
ill inclined towards our general, who had made himself a great many
enemies among the troops, by neglecting to bestow upon them a fair
proportion of the Indians and of the gold.

Oli's instructions were to set sail from Vera Cruz, and shape his course
for the Havannah, where he would find Alonso de Conteras, one of Cortes'
veterans, whom the latter had despatched thither, in advance, with 6000
pesos, to purchase horses, cassave bread, and salted meat, for the
armament, all of which Oli was to take on board, and then sail straight
for the Higueras, to which place he would then have an easy voyage.
Cortes' further instructions were, that he should make every possible
effort to gain the Indians by kindness, and to build