take in water, and that we were about to
re-embark. They further pointed with their hands to the rising of the
sun, and asked us whether we came from that quarter, at the same time
pronouncing the word _Castilan_, _Castilan_; but at that moment we did not
pay any particular attention to the word Castilan. In the course of this
interview, however, they gave us to understand that we might go with
them to their village.

We held a consultation amongst ourselves as to whether we should accept
the invitation, and at length unanimously agreed to follow them, but to
use the utmost circumspection. They took us to some large edifices,
which were strongly put together, of stone and lime, and had otherwise a
good appearance. These were temples, the walls of which were covered
with figures representing snakes and all manner of gods. Round about a
species of altar we perceived several fresh spots of blood. On some of
the idols there were figures like crosses, with other paintings
representing groups of Indians. All this astonished us greatly as we had
neither seen nor heard, of such things before. It appeared to us that
the inhabitants had just been sacrificing some Indians to their gods, to
obtain from them the power to overcome us.

There were great numbers of Indians with their wives who received us
with pleasing smiles, and otherwise made every show of friendship; but
their numbers gradually increasing we began to entertain fears that it
would end in the same hostile manner as at Cape Cotoche. While we were
thus looking on, a number of Indians approached us clad in tattered
cloaks, each carrying a bundle of dried reeds, which they arranged in
order on the ground. Among them we also perceived two troops of men
armed with bows, lances, shields, slings, and stones, having their
cotton cuirasses on. At the head of these, and at some distance from us
stood the chiefs. At this moment ten Indians came running out of another
temple, all dressed in long white robes, while the thick hair of their
heads was so entangled and clotted with blood that it would have been an
impossibility to have combed or put it in order without cutting it off.
These personages were priests, and in New Spain are commonly termed
_Papas_.[2] I repeat it, that in New Spain they are termed papas, and I
will therefore in future call them by that name. These papas brought
with them a kind of incense, which looked like resin, and is termed by
them copal. They had pa