Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/238

202 obliged to call in Montezuma's goldsmiths, who had a town of their own near Mexico.

There was indeed so much that when the articles were taken to pieces the gold alone, not counting the silver, was found to be worth more than six hundred thousand dollars, not including the gold given in tribute by the towns. All this treasure we ordered the goldsmiths to melt down, and they made bars of it about three fingers of the hand across. Of the other presents of immense value—the chalchihuite stones, the blow guns set with pearls and jewels, the plumes and feathers and other things—they were so rich and splendid that it would not be an easy task to describe them. At once Cortes ordered made an iron stamp bearing the royal arms of Spain, and all the gold I have spoken about was marked with the stamp, except that set with rich jewels, such as we were loth to take to pieces.

First of all, one fifth of the treasure was set apart for the king, and Cortes said another fifth should be set aside for him, as we had promised at the sand dunes when we chose him our captain general. After that, he said what he had spent in fitting out the expedition in Cuba should be taken from the heap; and also the sum due Diego Velasquez for the ships we had destroyed; and then again the travelling expenses of the agents we had sent to Spain. Next, we should deduct the shares of the seventy men who