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266 great numbers of Indian women and boys who were branded with the iron as slaves.

Perfect tranquillity now reigned. Both during our expeditions, and while we were lying at Tepeaca, several ships came to port. One, fitted out in Cuba, brought letters In which Diego Velasquez, believing that Narvaez had now conquered New Spain, sent word that if Narvaez had not already killed Cortes, he should at once send him alive, with all his chief officers, to Cuba, that he, Velasquez, might ship them to Spain;—indeed, such were the orders of the bishop of Burgos, who was also archbishop of Rosano and president of the council of the Indies. When our admiral, Cavallero, had received the new comers with careful courtesy, and had got them ashore, he then said, "Surrender! in the name of our captain general, Cortes!" They were dumbfounded. But they submitted and removed sails, rudder and compass from the ship, and afterwards the captain of the ship, Barba, with thirteen soldiers and two horses, marched on to our quarters. Great was our joy at their coming, for they brought us aid at the very minute we needed it. Only eight days after Cavallero captured another ship, and in the same manner, that is, by welcoming the new arrivals and not letting them know that Narvaez had failed till they were landed and in his power; and all the forces