d chiefly
offered us their daughters in order to bring about a relationship
between us and themselves, and to obtain assistance against the
Mexicans; this they had communicated to their idols.

We were all greatly astonished at this account, and inquired of each
other in amazement, whether all they told us could be true. Cortes said
to them, "That we came, indeed, from the rising of the sun. The emperor,
our master, had purposely sent us, that we might become their brothers,
as he had had some previous knowledge respecting their country. May God
in his mercy grant," continued Cortes, "that we may be the means of
saving you from eternal perdition!" To which we all added, "Amen!"

The good reader will now, no doubt, have heard sufficient of our
discourses with the people of Tlascalla. And I myself shall be glad to
cut them short here, as I have many other things to relate besides
these.

Among others, in particular, the burning mountain of Huexotzinco, which,
at the time we were in Tlascalla, happened to be emitting more flames
than usual, and Cortes and all of us, to whom a volcano was something
new, regarded it in astonishment. Diego de Ordas, one of our chief
officers, entertained the bold idea to inspect this wonder more
minutely, and begged leave of our general to ascend the mountain, who
granted this request.

Ordas took two of our men with him, and desired some of the chief
personages of Huexotzinco to accompany him. They certainly did not
refuse, but tried to deter him by assuring him, that when he should have
ascended the Popocatepetl, for so they termed this volcano, half way, he
would not be able to advance further on account of the trembling of the
earth, and the flames, stones and ashes which were emitted from the
crater. They themselves never durst venture higher than to where some
temples were built to the teules of Popocatepetl. And indeed they left
Ordas when he arrived at that spot. The latter, however, boldly
continued to ascend with our two soldiers until he had reached the
summit.

While they were still ascending, the volcano began to emit huge flames
of fire, half burnt and perforated stones, with a quantity of ashes; and
the whole mountain shook under their feet to the very foundation. They
then halted for an hour, until they found that the smoke and fire
gradually began to diminish and less ashes to fall; they then continued
to ascend until they reached the crater, which was perfectly round a