ppeared
in our quarters, bringing with them, fowls, fruits, and maise-bread, and
begged permission of Cortes to burn and bury the bodies of their fallen
countrymen, in order that they might not create a pestilence in the air,
or become a prey to the lions and tigers. This being granted, they
brought along with them a great number of Indians to burn the bodies,
and bury them according to their custom. Cortes himself went to watch
their proceedings, when they assured him they had lost above 800 killed,
without counting the wounded; adding, that at present they durst not
enter into any treaty with us, as the day following all the chiefs and
principal personages of the district would assemble to take our offers
of peace into consideration.

Cortes, who profited by every circumstance, said smilingly to us: "It
appears to me, gentlemen, that the Indians stand in great awe of our
horses, and imagine that these and our guns alone fight the battle. A
thought has just struck me which will further confirm them in this
notion. You must bring here the mare of Juan Sedeno which foaled on
board a short time ago, and fasten her here where I am now standing.
Then bring also the stallion of the musician Ortiz, which is a very
fiery animal, and will quickly scent the mare. As soon as you find this
to be the case, lead both the horses to separate places, that the
caziques may neither see the horses, nor hear them neigh, until I shall
be in conversation with them." All this was accordingly done. He
likewise ordered our largest cannon to be heavily loaded with gunpowder
and ball.

A little after midday, forty caziques arrived in great state and richly
clothed according to their fashion. They saluted Cortes and all of us,
perfumed us with their incense, begged forgiveness for what had
happened, and promised to be friendly for the future. Cortes answered by
our interpreter Aguilar, reminding them, with a very serious look, how
often he had wished them to make peace with us, and how, owing to their
obstinacy, we were almost upon the point of destroying them with the
whole of the inhabitants of this district. We were vassals of the mighty
king and lord the emperor Charles, he further added, who had sent us to
this country with orders to favour and assist those who should submit to
his imperial sway, which we would assuredly do if they were amicably
inclined towards us. If, however, they were not so, the _tepustles_ (so
the Indians called our c