The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

1/25/22, 8:50 PM The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo written by himself, containing a true an…
Cortes strove to emulate Alexander the Macedonian in all things;his thoughts were always
busied with some grand scheme, and his love of dominion knew no bounds: when,
therefore, with the assistance ofhis excellent officers and brave soldiers, he had rebuilt and
repeopled the great city of Mexico, and had founded the towns of Guaxaca, Zacatula,
Colima, Vera Cruz, Panuco, and Guacasualco, he also determined to subdue the thicklypopulated
province of Guatimala, theinhabitants of which were very warlike. Cortes knew
that there weregold mines in this country, and had several times invited the inhabitantsto
submit, but received no answer in return; he therefore resolvedto despatch Alvarado thither
to subdue the country and to found coloniesin it. For this important campaign he selected
above 300 foot, of which 120 were musketeers and crossbow-men, 153 horse, and four
field-pieces, with an abundant supply of powder. The chief artilleryman was Usagre, and
above 300 auxiliary troops, composed of Tlascallans,Cholullans, and Mexicans were joined
to these forces. Father Olmedo,who was a most intimate friend of Alvarado, also begged
Cortes that he might join him in this campaign, in order to preach the gospel to the
inhabitants; but our general, who always wished to have father Olmedo near his person,
refused his request, and appointed anotherexcellent priest to this expedition who had come
to New Spain with Garay, and who gladly undertook the office of missionary. Father
Olmedo, however, left Cortes no peace until he had obtained his consent,though this was
given with great reluctance, as the father was of valuable assistance to him, and a man
whom he consulted in all mattersof importance.
[Pg 166]
The instructions which Alvarado received were, above all, to striveby every means to gain
the inhabitants by kindness and friendship;besides which, father Olmedo was supplied with
the necessary interpreters, through whom he was to make every exertion to induce the
inhabitants to abolish their human sacrifices and other abominations,and to lead them into
the bosom of our holy Christian church. Assoon as these troops were in marching order,
Alvarado took leave ofCortes, and left Mexico on the 13th of December of the year 1523.
He took his route over some mountains in the province of Guantepec, and quelled an
insurrection there which had broken out among the inhabitants of the country. From this
place he marched to the largetownship of Tecuantepec, which is inhabited by a tribe of the
Tzapotecs, where he met with the kindest reception, and was even presented with some
gold. The province of Soconusco, which he next came to, healso found in perfect peace.
This country was at that time thickly populated, and contained about 15,000 inhabitants,
who all quietlysubmitted, and brought Alvarado a present in gold; but as soon as heleft this
province, everything began to wear a warlike appearance, and, on his next day's march,
when he arrived in the neighbourhood of theZapotitlan townships, he came up to a bridge
which lay across a smallriver, near to which there was a dangerous pass, and large bodies
of the enemy were drawn up in order of battle, to prevent Alvarado from crossing over.
Here Alvarado encountered a severe engagement, andlost one horse, and had many of his
men wounded, of whom one diedshortly after. It was not only the warriors of Zapotitlan
which opposedAlvarado, but they were joined by so vast a body of the inhabitantsfrom the
surrounding country, that, though the Spaniards continually mowed down the enemy's
ranks, they were obliged to renew the attack three several times; and it was only after a
good deal ofhard fighting that our troops at last gained a complete victory overthem, and
they then submitted as vassals to our emperor. The nexttownship Alvarado came to was
Quetzaltenanco, which had a considerable population, and likewise bid an obstinate
resistance to the Spaniards,of whom a great number were wounded. The inhabitants ofthis
place had been joined by their neighbours of Utatlan, the chief of a series of townships
round about Quetzaltenanco: nevertheless, Alvarado put them to flight, and strewed the
field of battle with dead andwounded.
[Pg 167]
From this place his route lay through a dangerous and very narrowmountain defile, about
six miles in length. The troops thereforemarched forward with every military precaution,
and began to ascendthe acclivity. When they had arrived at the most elevated point ofthe
pass, they found a fat old Indian female and a dog, which had beensacrificed to their gods;
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