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268 Cruz. There he at once disembarked his soldiers, who numbered more than fifty, with seven horses, and started for the place where we were stationed.

Again a few days after another ship arrived at our port, likewise despatched by Garay to protect and succor his Panuco forces, which he thought safe and well. This ship brought over forty men, ten horses, crossbows and other arms. Thus it was that Francisco de Garay sent off one ship after another to the aid of his colony and each served him in no way and only went to increase the advantages of Cortes and ourselves, for they finally arrived at Vera Cruz and brought us most welcome help. The men from the last of these two ships were so hearty and fat when they came in that we called them "strong-backs," and those from the third, "pack-saddles," because they wore heavy cotton cuirasses, so thick that no arrow could penetrate them.