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…
a certain sign of war. This indeed was soonverified; for they had not marched far before
they came up with immensebodies of the enemy, who were lying in wait for them, so that
Alvarado stood in great danger of being hemmed in on all sides. Atthis spot the pass was so
narrow, and the ground so thickly strewedwith stones, that the horse were scarcely able to
render any assistance; but the crossbow-men, musketeers, and the rest of the foot, armed
withbucklers and swords, closed the more bravely with the enemy, who retreatedfighting,
down the narrow pass to some deep hollows, whereother bodies stood drawn up in order of
battle. From this place theenemy, by a preconcerted plan, fell back, as Alvarado advanced,
to another position, where they had posted above 6000 of their men. These were the
warriors of Utatlan and their subjects, who had madesure they would easily be able to cut
off Alvarado, with the whole ofhis men; but our troops fought with such determination and
courage,that they put the enemy to flight, having only three of their men andtwo horses
wounded. The enemy, however, rallied again, were joined by other large bodies, and
renewed the attack with great intrepidity.The most desperate part of the action took place
near a fountain, wherea strong body of the enemy rushed forth from an ambush; so that the
Spaniards were compelled to fight foot to foot with the Indians, who had in particular
singled out the cavalry, and each horse was attackedby three of the enemy, while several
others at the same time strove topull them to the ground, by hanging to their tails. Here the
Spaniardswere placed in the utmost danger, for the enemy's numbers were overwhelming;
but father Olmedo encouraged the men, reminding them that they were fighting with the
intention of serving the Almighty, andto promote His holy religion; that the Lord would
assist them, andthat they must either conquer or die in this battle!
Notwithstanding this, and the utmost endeavours of the Spaniards, the victory remained
dubious for a length of time, until at last theenemy began to give way. Now the cavalry
were able to gain the open field, and they dispersed the Indians on every side with
considerableslaughter, so that they were unable to show themselves for the nextthree days.
During this time Alvarado encamped on the field of battle,and sent out small detachments
to forage. He then marched, with the whole of his troops, to the township of
Quetzaltenanco, where he learnt that two caziques of Utatlan were killed in the recent
battles. In thisplace he allowed his men to halt for some time, to dress their wounds,but
soon received intelligence that the surrounding tribes again contemplated an attack upon
him, for which purpose they had assembledan army of two Xiquipiles, there being 8000
warriors to one Xiquipil. With this formidable body of 16,000 men the enemy were
determinedto conquer or die. On receiving this information Alvarado drew outhis troops
on the open plain in order of battle; nor was it long beforethe enemy came pouring forth
with great force, and strove to surround him on all sides; but as the cavalry were
unrestricted in their movementson this level plain, they made heavy charges on the enemy's
line,who were soon put to a disorderly flight. Several of Alvarado's menwere wounded,
but some of the most distinguished chiefs had fallen inthe battle; so that from this moment
the Indians really began to fear the Spaniards, and the whole province came to the
determination of suing for peace, and they sent ambassadors to Alvarado with a small
present ingold. But all this was mere stratagem on the enemy's part, whoseobject was to
entice the Spaniards, under the assumed cloak of peace, to the strongly situated town of
Utatlan, which was surrounded by deephollows, and there to put them to death, when they
least suspected anytreachery.
[Pg 168]
As I have just stated, a great number of distinguished personages arrived in Alvarado's
camp to sue for peace; they handed over theirmiserable present, were remarkably courteous
in their behaviour, and begged of Alvarado to pardon their late hostilities, and to
acknowledge them as vassals of our great emperor. This humble language they
accompanied by an invitation for him and his troops to return with them to the town of
Utatlan, which they said was very large, and they wouldprovide them excellent quarters,
with every possible comfort.
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