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…
Let us in the meantime allow Oli to build his new town, for it wasnot till eight months after
that Cortes received intelligence of his revolt,when I will return to this subject. I must now
relate what took place in Guacasualco, and how I, with the captain Luis Marin, was
despatchedto subdue the province of Chiapa.
[Pg 177]
CHAPTER CLXVI.
How we who were left behind in Guacasualco were constantly occupied in
tranquillising the rebellious provinces; how Luis Marin, by command of
Cortes, marches into Chiapa, to subject that province;myself and father Juan
de las Varillas being particularly desired by Cortes to join him in this
campaign.
A considerable number of us veteran Conquistadores and persons of quality had settled
ourselves in the province of Guacasualco, and thelands which had been divided among us
were of very considerable extent, lying dispersed among the provinces of Guacasualco,
Citla, Tabasco,Cimatan, and Chontalpa, stretching across the mountains of Cachulazoque
and Guilenes as far as Cinacatan; including also Chamula, the town ofChiapa, Papanaustla,
and Pinula, in the neighbourhood of Mexico; further, the provinces of Chaltepec,
Guazcatepec, Chinanta, and Tepeaca,besides several townships. But in the beginning most
of the provinces we had subdued in New Spain each time rebelled when the different
proprietors came to demand their tribute, and they were frequently put to death by the
inhabitants; which was also the case in Guacasualco,where the whole of the townships had
from time to time rebelled againstus; so that we were constantly obliged to march in small
detachments from one district to another, in order again to bring the inhabitants to
obedience.
Among others, the inhabitants of Cimatan likewise revolted, and peremptorily refused to
obey our mandates; and our captain LuisMarin, not wishing to send any strong detachment
of his troops thither at first, despatched myself, Rodrigo de Enao, Francisco Martin,
FranciscoXimenes, with four Indians of Guacasualco, to the rebels, in order totry if we
could not induce them by kind remonstrances to return totheir duty.
In this province the generality of townships lie between marshes and deep rivers; when,
therefore, we had arrived within eight miles of theplace of our destination, we despatched a
messenger to the inhabitants to inform them of our arrival; but instead of returning any
answer,three separate bodies of their warriors, armed with bows and lances,marched out
against us, and attacked us so vigorously, that two of ourcompanions were instantly killed. I
myself was dangerously woundedby an arrow in the throat, from which the blood flowed so
fast that mylife was in the utmost danger. Next Francisco Martin was wounded,who stood
close to me; and we, in our turn, certainly wounded severalof the enemy; but at length we
were compelled to seek our safety inflight, and try if we could not take possession of some
canoes which lay near at hand, in a river called the Macapa. While my comrades were
striving to accomplish this, I was obliged, though heavily wounded, toremain alone behind;
and in order not to be killed outright, I summoned what little recollection I had, and hid
myself between the bushes.Here I was again enabled to take courage, and I swore to the
blessedVirgin that these dogs should not, at least, get me into their powerthis time! I then
collected all my strength, leaped forth from among the bushes, fell vigorously upon the
Indians, and I succeeded, by dintof heavy blows and thrusts, to cut my way through them;
so that Iwas enabled, though wounded afresh, to reach the spot where FranciscoMartin,
with four trustworthy Indians, was waiting with the canoes.Even then we must all of us
have undoubtedly been cut to pieces, ifthese faithful men had not defended our baggage to
[Pg 178]
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32475/32475-h/32475-h.htm 121/282