Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/282

 pointing out to me on a drawing of cloth the road I ought to take. He also gave me some gold and women without my asking for them, and I declare that up till now I have never asked the chiefs of these parts for anything unless they first offered it. We had to cross that lagoon before which extended the large morass; the chief ordered a bridge to be made over it, and provided as many canoes as were necessary for crossing the morass, and gave me guides for the road. He also gave me canoes and guides to accompany the Spaniards who had brought the letters and messages from Santisteven del Puerto, as well as several others for the Indians who were returning to Mexico and to the provinces of Tabasco and Xicalango. I sent letters again by these Spaniards to the authorities of the different towns and the lieutenants whom I had left in this city, as well as to the ships at Tabasco, and for the Spaniards who were to bring the provisions instructing each and every one of them what they were to do. Having despatched all these, I gave the chief certain small presents which he esteemed, and leaving him entirely satisfied, and all the people reassured, I left that province on the first Sunday of Lent in the year 1525.

That day, we accomplished only the crossing of the lagoon, which was no small thing. I gave this lord a letter because he begged me to do so, as, in case any Spaniards should come there later, they would thus learn that I had passed there and considered him my friend.

An event happened in this province which it is well Your Majesty should know. An honourable citizen of  Death of Quauhtem- otzin Temixtitan, by name Mexicalcingo, but now called Cristobal, came to me one night privately, bringing certain drawings on a piece of the paper used in that country, and explained to me what it meant. He told me that Guatemucin,