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

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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… received intelligence of the unfortunate termination of this expedition, as far as regarded himself. When, therefore, he learnt that Oli hadmade common cause with Diego Velasquez, and had determined to act independent of him, he became very pensive. But, as he was remarkably spirited, and not accustomed to joke in matters of this kind, he at once determined either to march against Oli in person, or to send outan officer against him on whom he could place implicit reliance, as hehad previously declared to his majesty. About this time there had arrived in Mexico a cavalier, namedFrancisco de las Casas. As he was a man in whom he could confide,being also related to him, he resolved to send him against Oli. Forthis purpose he fitted out a small armament, consisting of five vessels,well provided with cannon and other ammunition. On board of this fleet he embarked one hundred men, among whom were several of the veteran Conquistadores, as for instance, Pedro Moreno Medrano, Juan Nuñez de Mercado, Juan Vello, and many others, whose names I willnot mention, as they died on their way thither. Francisco de las Casas received full powers from Cortes to seize Oliand throw him into chains. He set sail from Vera Cruz with veryfavorable weather, and arrived in a short time in the bay of Triunfode la Cruz, where Oli had founded a town of the same name, and in front of which his vessels lay at anchor. As Francisco de las Casason entering the bay had hoisted a white flag, Oli scarcely knew whatto think at first, but thought at all events it was better to be upon his guard, and ran out two of his smallest vessels, well-armed with a strong body of men, in order to prevent Las Casas from entering into the harbour and landing his troops, though he was as yet quite ignorant who the new comers were. Las Casas, who was a man of great courageand determination, immediately lowered his boats, on board of whichhe placed one of the falconets and the most active of his men, wellarmed with muskets and crossbows, being resolved, he said, to landhis troops some how or other. A severe conflict now ensued, in which Las Casas bored one of Oli's vessels into the ground, killed four of hismen and wounded several others. Christobal de Oli, seeing that matters were growing very serious,thought it advisable on his part to stay hostilities, in order to gain timeto assemble all his troops about him; for he had, a few days previously,despatched two companies to the river Pechin against a certain Gil Gonsalez de Avila, who had begun to subdue the country there. Hetherefore sent word to Las Casas that he was desirous of making termsof peace with him; to which Las Casas so far consented that he staidhostilities for the present, and lay out at sea with his vessel for thenight, in order to effect a landing in some other bay. How much morefortunate it would have been for him if he had acted according to theletter which was secretly thrust into his hand during the engagement! In this letter namely, several of Oli's men who favoured Cortes advisedLas Casas by all means to land his troops without delay; that theywould all run over to his side and deliver up Oli a prisoner to him. Fortunately for Oli, and unfortunately for Las Casas, a furious northwind, which is the most dangerous of all on this coast, arose duringthe night, and the whole of his vessels were wrecked; thirty of hismen were drowned, and all the ammunition and stores went to thebottom. Las Casas and the rest of his men, after wandering aboutthe country for two days benumbed with wet and cold, without amorsel of food to eat, were all taken prisoners by Oli's troops. [Pg 230] Christobal de Oli, it may be imagined, was excessively rejoiced that things had thus terminated so unexpectedly in his favour, and he exultedgreatly in having the person of Las Casas in his power. He immediatelytook the latter's troops into his service, and compelled them totake a solemn oath never to desert him, but to oppose Cortes if heshould come with an army against him; not until they had promised all this did he set them at liberty. Las Casas alone he kept a prisoner. Shortly upon this the detachment also returned which had been sentagainst Gil Gonsalez de Avila. This man had arrived in the country with the appointment of governor of Golfo Dulce, and he had alreadyfounded, at about four miles distance from the bay of the same https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32475/32475-h/32475-h.htm 154/282
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… name, atown which he called San Gil de Buena Vista. The country boundingon the river Chipin was at that time inhabited by a very warlike people;and as by far the greater part of Gil Gonsalez's troops were sufferingfrom ill health, the latter had only been able to throw a feeble garrisoninto the town of Buena Vista. Christobal de Oli had been duly apprizedof this, and ordered the town to be attacked; but his troops could notso easily get possession of the place as they expected. Avila's smallbody of men defended themselves most vigorously, and eight of the soldiers, with a cousin of his, were killed. Christobal de Oli was both rejoiced and proud to have taken prisoners the chief commanders of two separate armaments; and as he bore the character of being anexcellent soldier, which, indeed, no one could deny, and it was of importanceto him that the success of his arms should be made known through the islands, he immediately sent information of his good fortune to the governor of Cuba. After this victory he marched his troops towards the interior of the country to a large township named Naco, which lay in a very populousdistrict. It was upon this occasion that Naco was completely destroyed,and the whole of the surrounding country laid waste, and this I relate from eyewitness, as I subsequently visited these parts myself, when I accompanied Cortes on his expedition to the Honduras, of which a full account will be given in the proper place. [Pg 231] From Naco, Oli sent out a strong detachment to forage the country,under the command of Briones, who had been one of the first to adviseOli to declare his independence of Cortes. This Briones was of aturbulent disposition, besides being very passionate, and had only the upper half of his ears left, having had the bottom halves, as he asserted, cut off by the enemy, while he, with several other officers, was obstinatelydefending some fortification. He terminated his life in a miserablemanner, for he was subsequently hung at Guatimala for creatinga sedition among the troops. Some time after Briones had been sentout by Oli to a distant part of the country with a considerable body ofhis troops, he received intelligence that he had deserted, with the wholeof the men under his command, and was marching in the direction ofNew Spain; this news was indeed found to be perfectly correct. This circumstance, Las Casas and Avila thought, presented to them a most favorable opportunity to rid themselves of Oli, who still continuedto treat both of them as prisoners of war, though they were allowed togo at large, for Oli depended too much upon his own personal courageto fear anything from them. The whole of the adherents of Cortessecretly joined Las Casas and Avila, and they agreed upon a certainsignal to fall upon Oli and stab him to death under the cry of "In thename of the emperor and of Cortes, down with the tyrant!" Everythinghad been arranged in the best possible manner for this purpose,and Las Casas, on one occasion said to Oli: "Señor captain, do grantme my liberty and allow me to return to New Spain, in order that I may render an account to Cortes of the unfortunate termination of this expedition? I promise you to become mediator between yourself and Cortes, and to procure for you the government, with the chief military command of this country, and I will myself see the appointmentdrawn up in due form. What can you gain by detaining me aprisoner, for I am only a hindrance to you in all your undertakings?"To this Oli replied, "That he was perfectly contented with things as they were, and that he was delighted to have a man of his worthabout him." "But have at least then," continued Las Casas, "some thought foryour own personal safety, for I might get it into my head some dayor other to put you to death!" [Pg 232] As Las Casas said all this in a joking humour, he took no notice ofit, and continued as little on his guard as ever. One evening Las Casas, Avila, Juan Nuñez de Mercado, and othersoldiers of Cortes' party were invited to sup with Oli. The first two,as prisoners of war, were not allowed to carry arms, but had concealedon their persons large knives, which were ground very sharp. The https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32475/32475-h/32475-h.htm 155/282
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The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

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