a town in some
advantageous spot, near some harbour, from whence he could by degrees
subject the whole country, and induce the inhabitants to bring in their
gold and silver; but he was, above all things, to search for the
passage to the southern ocean, and should he arrive there, to explore
the harbours on that coast, if he found any.

To this armament were also appointed two priests, one of whom understood
the Mexican language, and they were particularly desired to preach the
gospel among the Indians, and by kindly remonstrances, joined to
convincing arguments, induce them to abolish their human sacrifices,
with other abominations practised among them. Every place the troops
visited they were to look out for those diabolical cages in which the
Indians shut up those they intended as victims for their sacrifices;
these they were ordered to release, and the cages were to be destroyed.
The priests were also to erect crosses in every township, and they were
provided with a number of images of the Virgin Mary to present to the
inhabitants.

After Cortes had strongly impressed all this on Oli's mind, he bid him
and all his troops an affectionate farewell. When Oli arrived in Vera
Cruz he found everything in readiness, so that he was enabled to embark
immediately with his troops, and set sail; but I have forgotten both the
year and the day of the month when he left.[34] However, he had a very
favorable passage to the Havannah, where he found the horses, with the
provisions and other necessaries, in readiness. Here he was also joined
by five of the veteran Conquistadores, who had been banished from New
Spain by Diego de Ocampo, in the height of his wrath, during the
investigation into the affairs of Panuco, after Garay's troops had
occasioned an insurrection in that province. These men were the first
who whispered the idea into Oli's ear of revolting against Cortes, and
Briones had frequently spoken to him to the same effect; but Diego
Velasquez, governor of Cuba, and the mortal enemy of Cortes, urged him
in the strongest terms to refuse all further obedience to our general.
He even visited Oli on board the vessels, and they came to a secret
agreement between themselves jointly to subdue the Higueras and Honduras
in his majesty's name. Oli was to take upon himself the active part, and
Velasquez, on his side, was to procure him every necessary, and to
support him with his money. His majesty was to be duly apprized of all
this,