attacked Cortes, was called Cinacan, and considered
to be about 280 miles from Guatimala. In this expedition up the river
our general had spent twenty-six days; but, notwithstanding the
fertility of the soil, he did not consider it an eligible spot for a
colony, as the population of the country was too small. He therefore
wrote word to Sandoval that he would shortly march to Naco himself, but
that he was first desirous of making a short expedition to Puerto de
Caballos, for which purpose he would require ten of the veterans of
Guacasualco, without whom it was impossible to undertake anything which
required activity and perseverance.

CHAPTER CLXXXI.

_How Cortes embarks, with the soldiers who accompanied him on this
expedition, and with all the inhabitants of Buena Vista, for Puerto
de Caballos, where he founds a colony, to which he gives the name of
Natividad._

Our general, considering the spot where Avila had built the town of
Buena Vista every way unfavorable for a colony, embarked, with the whole
of the inhabitants, in two vessels and the brigantine, and set sail for
the bay of Puerto de Caballos, where he arrived in the space of eight
days. Finding that there was an excellent harbour in this bay, and
having learnt from the Indians that there were numerous townships round
about, he determined to found a colony in this place, to which he gave
the name of Natividad, and appointed Diego de Godoy commandant of the
town. He then made an excursion into the interior of the country to
visit the several townships, but which, at the present day, are all
destroyed. The inhabitants assured him that there were several other
townships in the neighbourhood, and that Naco itself was not far off. He
well stocked the new town with provisions, and wrote word to Sandoval,
whom he imagined had already reached Naco, to send him ten of the men of
Guacasualco, without whom, he particularly remarked in his letter, no
undertaking could well succeed. From this place, he added, it was his
intention to repair to the bay of Honduras, in order to visit the new
town of Truxillo; and concluded by saying he was to continue the
conquest of the country, and to leave a settlement in some advantageous
place. Sandoval received this letter in the township where we had first
halted, for we had not yet broken up our quarters for Naco. At present,
therefore, we will leave Cortes in Puerto de Caballos, where, as we
understood, the