Page:About Mexico - Past and Present.djvu/142

134 They imagined that this new "island" was full of mines of gold, silver and precious stones. They had been disappointed in the mineral riches of Cuba; here was the opening of which they had dreamed. The governor of Cuba, Velasquez, lost no time in fitting out an expedition to go in search of these treasures. He gave the command to Juan de Grijalva, his nephew, who set sail May 1, 1518, for this new field of conquest. If the Indians received them peaceably, Grijalva had gay cloths

and trinkets for presents and barter; if they were hostile, he was provided with guns and ammunition.

Grijalva's fleet was caught in a storm. After beating about for a while he was borne on its strong wings to Cozumel, a small island south of the north-eastern corner of Yucatan. He soon crossed over the mainland and went to Potonchan, where the farmers had so roughly handled De Cordova and his men. This second visit ended in a second battle, in which the Spaniards were victorious.