Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/99

Rh have just arrived, it would be more fitting, before you say you wish to meet him, that you accept this present we have brought you in our monarch's name, and then tell me what you wish." Saying this he took from a chest many gold trinkets, beautifully and skilfully wrought, besides packages of white cloth made of cotton and worked with feathers, and many other things; and he also added quantities of turkeys, baked fish and fruit.

Cortes accepted all with gracious smiles and gave in return glass beads and other things we had brought from Spain. And he begged the caciques to tell their people to come and trade with us, for we had beads and other things to exchange for gold. He then had brought an arm-chair, Inlaid and carved, some twisted glass beads, a necklace of imitation pearls, a scarlet cap with a medal representing Saint George on horseback and slaying the dragon, and he told Teuhtlilli that he presented the chair to the great Montezuma so that he, Cortes, might sit in it when he visited him, and the cap was for his wear, but that all the other things were presents from our mighty king to their monarch, and that now he should tell us where and when he, Cortes, might see him. Teuhtlilli, accepting the presents, said his master was so powerful a monarch that he would be pleased to know our king, and he would carry the present to him at once and bring back answer.