Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/97

Rh means chief. When Donna Marina understood their question and pointed to Cortes, the Indians turned and paid him respect after the Indian fashion and bade him welcome. Their master, they said, served the great Montezuma and had sent them to learn what sort of men we were and what we came to their country to seek, and if we would tell them what need our ships had, they would provide for it.

Through our two interpreters, Donna Marina and Aguilar, Cortes thanked them for their kindness and offered them food and blue glass beads, and after they had eaten he told them we had come to get acquainted and open up trade with them, and our coming should cause them no anxiety for we had no intention of doing them injury. Upon this the Indians returned well content to shore. The next day we disembarked horses and guns, and our artilleryman. Mesa, placed our guns in most favorable position on the sand dunes. We set up an altar also, and built huts for Cortes and the officers and three hundred of the soldiers, many Indians helping, for the next day they came and with their axes dressed the wood used for the huts, adding large cloths to spread over the roofs to keep out the heat, which was already great. They also brought plums, nice and ripe, fowls and maize bread, and gold trinkets, which Cortes joyfully received and gave in turn toys, with which they were uncommonly pleased. They said