with us: the latter was blind with
age; in order, therefore, to form to himself some idea of Cortes, he
drew his hand over his hair, his face, his beard, and the whole of his
body.

Cortes answered, with respect to the women, that he himself and all of
us were very grateful for them, and that we should take the first
opportunity of rendering them a kindness in return.

"What is your opinion," said Cortes, turning to father Olmedo, "would
this not be the proper moment to desire these people to abolish their
idols and the human sacrifices? From fear of the Mexicans, they will
undoubtedly do anything we require of them." "It will be time enough,"
answered the priest, "when they bring us their daughters: then we shall
have the best opportunity of telling them that we cannot accept of them
until they have promised to abstain from their human sacrifices. If they
comply, it is well; if they refuse, we know what our duty and our
religion require of us."

CHAPTER LXXVII.

_How the caziques presented their daughters to Cortes and all of us,
and what further happened._

The day following, the old caziques came and brought five young women
with them, who, for Indian females, were in every sense handsome, and
neatly dressed. Each had, in addition, a young woman as maid in waiting,
and all were daughters of caziques. On this occasion, Xicotencatl thus
spoke to Cortes: "Malinche, this is my daughter; she is still a virgin,
and has never been married: take her to yourself, and give the others to
your officers."

Cortes received the young women from his hand, and appeared very
pleased, declaring that he would now consider these females as our own,
but desired that they should, for the present, remain with their
fathers. The caziques inquired the reason of this, when Cortes replied:
"I have no other reason than that I am bound first to fulfil my duty to
the God whom we adore, and to the emperor our master, which is to
require of you to abolish your idols, the human sacrifices, and other
abominations practised among you, and exhort you to believe in him in
whom we believe, who alone is the true God." Besides this, he told them
many other things concerning our holy faith, which Dona Marina and
Aguilar explained right well to them. Similar discourses took place on
every occasion: Cortes at the same time showed them the image of the
holy Virgin, holding her inestimable Son in her arms, and he explained
to them how tha