Page:Mexico of the Mexicans.djvu/22

8 a friendly invitation to visit him in Mexico. Cortés set out from Tlascala accompanied by 5,000 Tlascalans. Halting at Cholula, the sacred city of Mexico, he was informed by his native allies that treachery was intended by its people, whom he attacked and slaughtered in thousands ere their conspiracy to destroy him had reached fruition.

It was October ere the Spaniards arrived at the capital, where they were met by the Emperor in person, surrounded by all the exotic grandeur of an Aztec monarch. The streets were thronged with spectators as the Teules, or "gods" as the natives styled them, entered the city. The fated ruler conducted Cortés to a spacious palace, where he seated him on a gilded daïs decked with gems, and feasted him royally, saying, "All that we possess is at your disposal." The Spaniards feared treachery and, at a later stage, seized upon the person of the unhappy emperor as a hostage for their safety.

Velasquez, the governor of Cuba, not content with Cortés's conduct of affairs, which he believed to be governed by selfish motives, fitted out an expedition to Mexico, the purpose of which was to wrest the power he had achieved from the adventurous leader. This armada of 18 vessels and 900 soldiers was commanded by one Panfilo de Narvaez; but on Narvaez's arrival at Vera Cruz, Cortés, who had made a forced march to the coast with but 280 men, attacked him by night and signally defeated him. Cortés had left Pedro de Alvarado in command at Mexico, and this captain committed the barbarous indiscretion of attacking and slaying the Mexican chiefs whilst celebrating a religious festival within the bounds of the great temple. He was at once closely besieged by the Aztecs, and on the return of Cortés with Narvaez's men, the whole party was beleaguered; Motecuhzoma, in attempting to conciliate his own subjects, was wounded, and survived but a few days.

The desperate expedient of evacuating the city in the face