Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/266

 satisfied and contented, as were likewise the others who remained.

After this, I spoke to the Indian who seemed to be their chief, and told him to observe how I harmed no one about me; neither was my coming there for the purpose of offending them, but rather to make known many things to them which were advantageous, not only for the security of their lives and property, but also for the salvation of their souls. For the same reason I besought him earnestly to send two or three of his people, with whom I would send as many more of the natives of Temixtitan, to call the chief and tell him not to be afraid, for by his coming he would profit greatly. He answered that he would be pleased to do this, and he immediately sent his people with whom went the Indians of Mexico, and, the next morning, the messengers returned with the chief and some forty men. The chief told me he had abandoned his town and ordered it to be burned because the lord of Çagoatan had advised him to do this, and not to meet me, as I would kill them all, and that he had learned from those who had come to call him that he had been deceived, and that he was sorry for what had happened, praying me to pardon him, for henceforth he would obey me; and he besought me that certain women who had been captured by the Spaniards when they arrived should be restored to him, so twenty were immediately collected which pleased him greatly.

It happened, however, that a Spaniard saw an Indian of Temixtitan eating a piece of flesh taken from the body  Punish- ment of Cannibalism of an Indian who had been killed when they entered Iztapan, and he told me this; so in the presence of that chief I had the culprit burned, explaining that the cause was his having killed that Indian and eaten him which was prohibited by Your Majesty, and by me in Your Royal name. I further made the chief understand that all the