ngs, among which were
two saddles; all of which the Indians had brought as offerings to their
idols.

In this place Sandoval stayed three days, during which time the caziques
of the country came to beg pardon of him, and to take the oath of
allegiance to his majesty; but he informed them they must return the
stolen gold before he could think of granting their request. To which
the caziques answered, that the Mexicans had taken away all the gold,
and presented it to their new king. Upon this Sandoval referred them to
Cortes himself, and he marched back to our head-quarters, with a great
number of women and young men, whom he had taken prisoners, and marked
with the iron.

Cortes was highly delighted at beholding these troops return in so good
a condition, though they had three horses killed and eight men heavily
wounded, among whom was Sandoval himself, who had been struck by an
arrow. For myself, I was not present in this expedition, for I was
suffering severely at the time from fever and spitting of blood; but
thank God I recovered, after frequent bleeding.

The caziques of Xalatzinco and Zacatemi, besides several other chiefs of
the neighbouring districts, now came to Cortes; they begged for peace,
took the oath of allegiance to our emperor, and furnished us with
provisions.

This expedition was attended by many beneficial results; for the whole
country was thereby tranquillized, while it spread a vast idea of
Cortes' justice and bravery throughout the whole of New Spain; so that
every one feared him, and particularly Quauhtemoctzin, the new king of
Mexico. Indeed Cortes' authority rose at once to so great a height, that
the inhabitants came from the most distant parts to lay their disputes
before him, particularly respecting the election of caziques, right of
tenure, and division of property and subjects. About this time thousands
of people were carried off by the smallpox, and among them numbers of
caziques; and Cortes, as though he had been lord of the whole country,
appointed the new caziques, but made a point of nominating those who had
the best claim.

Such a case happened with a near relative of Motecusuma, who was married
to the sovereign of Itztucan, by whom she had a son, who was
acknowledged as nephew to Motecusuma; the point in dispute being who the
heir was to that principality, this nephew, or some other grandee of the
country. Cortes decided in favour of Motecusuma's nephew, and they
adhered to h