Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/268

 river from this, and, as we had to cross a very deep river, he had an excellent bridge made over it on which we crossed, and he filled in some very big swamps, and gave me three canoes in which I sent three Spaniards down the river to Tabasco (because this is the principal river which empties into it) where the ships were, as I have said, awaiting my orders. I sent orders with these Spaniards that they were to follow the coast until they doubled the cape, called Yucatan, after which they should proceed to the Bay of Ascension, where they would either find me or my orders as to what they were to do next. I also ordered the three Spaniards who went in the canoes and all those they could collect in the provinces of Tabasco and Xiculango to bring me as many provisions as they could by way of the great salt lagoon which connects with the province of Aculan, some forty leagues distant from Iztapan, where I would wait for them.

These Spaniards having departed, and the road being completed, I begged the chief of Iztapan to give me three or four other canoes in which to send up the river a half dozen Spaniards and some of his people, under a chief, to tranquillise the natives, and prevent them from burning and deserting their towns; he did this with every show of good will, and my people, being accompanied by Indians from Iztapan, succeeded in quieting the inhabitants of four or five villages up the river, as I shall hereafter relate to Your Majesty.

This town of Iztapan is very large and built on the bank of a very beautiful river. Its position is advantageous for a Spanish settlement, and the pasture is excellent along the banks of the river, while there is good farming land; and the country is well populated.

After stopping eight days in Iztapan, and having provided everything as specified in the former chapter, I left,