Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/295

 had been there and vanquished them in three battles, after which they had been told that they must become vassals of a great lord and many other things like what I was now telling him. He wanted to know therefore whether it was all one and the same thing. I answered him that I was the captain of whom the people of Tabasco had spoken as having fought with them in their country, of which he might assure himself from the interpreter with whom he was speaking, who is Marina whom I have always had with me since she was presented to me with twenty other women. She explained everything to him and how I had conquered Mexico, and told him of all the countries I had subjected and placed under the Empire of Your Majesty. He rejoiced greatly on learning this and said he desired to become a subject and vassal of Your Majesty, considering it a joy to be under so great a lord as I told him Your Highness was. He ordered birds, honey, and some gold, and beads made of red shells, which they highly prize, to be brought, and these he offered to me as a present, while I in return gave him some things I had brought with me, which he received with great pleasure.

After having dined with me, I explained how I came in search of those Spaniards who were on the sea coast, and who belonged to my company, and had been sent thither by me; and that many days had passed without news from them, and hence I came to seek them; and I besought him to tell me if he had any news of them. He answered that he knew a great deal about them, because, not far from the place where they were, he had certain vassals who worked the plantations of cacao, for that country was favourable to its growth; from them, and from many other traders who daily went to and fro, he constantly received news about them, and would give me a guide to take me to where they were. He told me, however, that the road was very rough, the mountains