Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/51

 Third Letter 31 and the people who were to bring the brigantines. The day after he arrived they left there with the planks and cross timbers, all of which were carried  Transport of the Brigantines in the most perfect order by eight thousand men; a marvellous sight to see, and it seems to me even to hear of, the bringing of thirteen small ships overland a distance of about eighteen leagues. I assure Your Majesty that from the vanguard to the rear was a distance of two leagues. When they set out, they took eight horsemen and a hundred Spaniards with the van, and more than ten thousand warriors on the flanks, having as captains Yutecad and Teutipil, two chiefs amongst the nobles of the city of Tascaltecal. In the rear-guard, came another hundred odd Spaniards and eight horsemen, and another ten thousand warriors well armed, who had for captain, Chichimecatecle, one of the principal lords of that Province; there were also other captains the latter had brought with him. When they started out, Chichimecatecle escorted the van with the planking, and the other two captains brought up the rear with the joinings; but when they entered the country of Culua the masters of the brigantines ordered the joinings to be taken ahead and the plankings to remain behind; as the latter would cause the most hindrance should any disturbance happen, which would most likely occur in the front. Chichimecatecle, who brought the planking, and until now had led his warriors at the head of the vanguard, took this as an affront, and there was some trouble in pacifying him and making him remain in the rear-guard, because he wished to meet any danger that might present itself. When finally he did agree to this, he nevertheless did not want any Spaniards in the rear-guard, because he was a very brave man and wished to have the honours himself. These captains also brought two thousand Indians carrying provisions.