Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/256

 ninety-three horsemen, besides crossbowmen and arquebusiers, and thirty odd foot soldiers; altogether a  Number of his Force total of two hundred and thirty men. I took a large caravel which had been sent to me from the town of Medellin, loaded with provisions, and was then at anchor in the port of Espiritu Santo. I again loaded this vessel with the stores I had brought; and, putting four pieces of artillery on board, as well as crossbows, muskets, and other ammunition, I ordered the crew to sail to the island of Tabasco, and wait there for my commands.

I likewise wrote to a servant of mine who lives at Medellin to provision two other caravels and a large boat then in the port, and to send them to me: I gave instructions to Rodrigo de Paz whom I left in care of my house and property in Temixtitan to send five or six thousand ounces of gold to Medellin to pay for the said provisions, and I likewise wrote to the treasurer asking him to advance me that money as I had no more in the hands of the aforesaid agent. All this being done according to my wishes, the caravel came as far as the River Tabasco, laden with provisions which proved, however, to be of little use, as, my road being far inland, the heavily laden caravel could neither go up the river, nor could I send for them on account of the extensive swamps that lay between. Having arranged for what was to go by sea, I set out and marched along the coast until I reached a province, called Çupilco, some thirty-five leagues distant from Espiritu Santo; besides several large swamps and streams, over all of which temporary bridges were built, I had to cross, on this journey, three very large rivers, one near a village, called Tumalo, some nine leagues from the town of Espiritu Santo, the other at Agualulco, nine leagues further on; these were