Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/191

 this city as well defended as I could, so that if any of them did come there they would meet me rather than another; for I could better prevent the mischief.

I set out therefore with one hundred and twenty horsemen, three hundred foot soldiers, some artillery, and about forty thousand Indian warriors of this city  Campaign in Panuco and its neighbourhood. At the frontier of their country quite twenty-five leagues from the port, and in the neighbourhood of a large town called Ayntuscotaclan, we encountered and fought with many warriors, but owing to our numerous Indian allies, and also to the fact that the ground was level and suitable for the cavalry, the battle did not last long; although they wounded some horses and Spaniards and some of our friendlies perished, they got the worst share, for many of them were killed. I remained in that town two or three days for the purpose of caring for the wounded and also because those who had formerly offered themselves as vassals to Your Highness came to see me there. From there they accompanied me to the port and ever afterwards rendered us the greatest possible service. I continued my march until I reached the port, and nowhere did I have any further hostile encounters, but rather, all along the road, the people came and asked pardon for their error, and offered themselves for the royal service of Your Highness. When I reached the port and river, I lodged in a town, called Chila, five leagues from the sea, which was abandoned and burned because it was there that Francisco de Garay's captain and his people were routed. From there I sent messengers to the other side of the river and along those lakes which are all peopled with great towns, telling them to have no fears for what had happened in the past for I was well aware they had revolted on account of the ill-treatment they had received from our people