Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/68

48 dishonor to kill an envoy who had come on a peaceful mission, and it certainly might prove most dangerous. The consequence was that the king appeared soon after before the Spaniards with a large retinue, all adorned with flowers, yet armed and gesticulating as if about to charge the envoy. A large quantity of game food was brought, and thereupon the monarch addressed the Spaniards. He apologized for detaining them so long, and pleaded the exigencies of the festival. Since it would be unsafe for them to advance farther into the interior, they should return to their leader with the offer of his allegiance, which he would soon present in person.

The following day twenty carriers appeared with parting gifts of curiously wrought stools, embroidered fabrics and robes, and gold and silver ware. The latter, valued at a hundred thousand castellanos, was placed in the middle of the room, and declared to be for Cortés; the other presents piled in four lots, in the different corners of the room, were for the four envoys. The king extended a farewell, and recommended to Montaño's care eight prominent nobles whom he wished to accompany him. Soon afterward he sent to demand from the Spaniards the greyhound owned by Peñalosa, for it had taken the royal fancy. None wished to lose the faithful animal, but it was thought prudent to yield, without accepting the compensation offered. Fearing that the royal fancy might seek wider indulgence, the envoys hastened to depart, attended by several hundred carriers to convey their presents and provisions. Two days later they learned that the hound had been sacrificed amid solemn festivities, as one possessed of human intelligence, thus to appease the wrath of the idols, whose appetite for Christian blood had evidently been whetted.

Cortés gave the party a demonstrative welcome,