ship, commanding the
inhabitants to hold themselves ready for action; and in order that he
might make sure of their obedience to his commands, he sent one cazique
a present, and another he freed from paying tribute. His most able
generals were despatched with troops to protect the boundaries, and he
admonished them to behave better than they had done at Tepeaca.

That the reader may not confound the two names, I must take the
opportunity to acquaint him that there was a Cachula and Guacachula. I
must, however, defer for the present what I have to say about the
last-mentioned place, to relate the news we received from Vera
Cruz.[99]

[99] According to Torquemada, these two townships were called
Quauhquechulla and Quauhquechola. (p. 368.)

CHAPTER CXXXI.

_How a vessel, which had been sent by Diego Velasquez from Cuba,
arrived at Vera Cruz, commanded by the captain Pedro Barba, and the
manner in which Caballero captured her._

We had scarcely punished these Tepeacans for the murder of our eighteen
companions, and restored peace to the country, when letters arrived from
Vera Cruz with the information that a vessel had run in there, commanded
by a good friend of Cortes named Pedro Barba, who had been sub-governor
of the Havannah under Velasquez. He had brought along with him thirteen
soldiers and two horses, besides letters for Pamfilo Narvaez, whom
Velasquez thought had by this time taken possession of New Spain in his
name. In these letters, Velasquez desired Narvaez, if Cortes were yet
alive, to transport him, with the whole of his principal officers, to
Cuba, whence he would send them to Spain, for such were the commands of
Don Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, bishop of Burgos, and archbishop of
Rosano, and president of the council of India.

As soon as Barba had entered the harbour and cast anchor, Caballero went
on board to pay his respects to him. The boat he went in was well manned
with sailors, and the arms they carried were carefully hidden from view.

After both parties had welcomed each other, Caballero inquired after the
health of the governor of Cuba, and Barba, on his side, asked after
Narvaez, and what had become of Cortes. Caballero gave him the most
favorable account of Narvaez, spoke about his power, wealth, and his
vast authority in these countries; as for Cortes, he had escaped with
twenty men, and was wandering about from place to place.

Upon this, Caballero proposed to Barba