tador with
having imposed upon him in regard to the character of the general. He now
renewed his endeavours to deprive Cortes of the command, sending orders by
one Garnica to Pedro Barba, to prevent the fleet from sailing, and to
arrest Cortes. Garnica likewise brought letters from the governor for
Ordas and Velasquez de Leon, ordering and entreating them to concur with
Barba in these measures; but Ordas had been judiciously sent out of the
way, and de Leon was now gained over by Cortes. All the rest of us, even
Barba the lieutenant-governor of the Havanna, were entirely devoted to the
interest of our general, who was fully aware of all that was intended
against him, as Garnica brought letters from a friar who resided with the
governor, to our chaplain de Olmedo, by which Duero and Lares sent
intelligence of all the schemes of Velasquez. Barba wrote back to the
governor, that Cortes was so beloved by the troops, that he durst not
execute the orders he had received; being assured that any such attempt
would occasion the destruction of the town, and that all the inhabitants
would go along with Cortes. The general wrote likewise to Velasquez,
repeating his assurance of perfect devotion to his service, and intimated
that he meant to sail the next day.

The fleet sailed from the Havanna on the 10th February 1519, for the
island of Cozumel[2]. The ship in which I was, commanded by Alvarado, was
directed to proceed by the north, with orders to wait for the fleet at
Cape St Antonio, and Diego de Ordas had similar directions; but our pilot
neglected these instructions, and proceeded directly for Cozumel, where we
accordingly arrived two days before the rest. As soon as we came to anchor,
our whole party landed and went to the town of Cozumel, which was deserted
by all its inhabitants. We then went to another place, whence likewise the
inhabitants fled on our approach, but we found a quantity of fowls, and
some idols, with toys and ornaments of much alloyed gold in a temple near
the town, with which booty we returned to the town of Cozumel. By this
time Cortes and his whole fleet were arrived, and he immediately put our
pilot, Comacho, in irons for disobeying his orders. He likewise
reprimanded Alvarado for taking the property of the natives, which he said
was a bad way of proceeding, as the people ought on no account to be ill
used, and immediately ordered two men and a woman whom we had made
prisoners to be brought before him. B