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…
While we were still lying in Truxillo, a cavalier, named RodrigoMannueca, wished by some
means or other to enliven Cortes, who was exceedingly downcast, and certainly required
something to rouse hisspirits; for which purpose he, with several other cavaliers, clambered
suddenly, in full armour, to the top of a house, which the Indianshad recently built; but this
bit of fun terminated fatally for Mannueca. The house stood upon a hill of considerable
height, and poor Mannuecafell through the roof, broke his ribs, and died shortly after of the
consequences.
Another circumstance likewise caused our general much grief, whichwas, that several of
the cavaliers of the town, being dissatisfied with the appointments he had given them,
boldly refused to obey him, and hecould only succeed in quieting them by promising that
they shouldaccompany him to Mexico, when he would bestow honorable appointmentson
them all.
[Pg 289]
He then desired Diego de Godoy, whom he had appointed commandant of Puerto de
Caballos, to repair to Naco with those of theinhabitants, who were suffering from ill health,
and unable to live anylonger in the former place, on account of the innumerable swarms of
moschitoes and flies. The rest of us, under command of Luis Marin,were to take our route
overland to Mexico, and, if possible, to march through the province of Nicaragua, the
government of which our generalmeant to petition his majesty to join to that of New Spain.
We then took leave of Cortes, just as he was about embarking forMexico, and we marched
in a direct line for Naco, in the best spirits, because we were now on our return to New
Spain. After suffering agreat deal of fatigue and hunger, we arrived safely in Naco, to the
great joy of Sandoval. Pedro de Garro had already left, with the whole of his men for
Nicaragua, to inform his captain, Francisco Hernandez, ofthe arrangements he had made
with Sandoval; neither did we lose amoment's time, but broke up our quarters for Mexico
the morning afterwe arrived in Naco.
I will not tire the reader by relating to him what happened to us onthis long march, but
rather acquaint him with the unfortunate end ofFrancisco Hernandez.
CHAPTER CLXXXVI.
How Pedro Arias de Avila is apprized by two of his confidants thatFrancisco
Hernandez was in close correspondence with Cortes, andabout to declare his
independence of him; the steps which Ariastook upon this.
Among the troops under Francisco Hernandez there were two soldiers,named Garavita and
Zamorano, who were close adherents to Pedro Arias,the governor of Terra Firma. When
these men saw the presents which Cortes had sent to Hernandez, and observed how the
latter held secret conferences with Garro and other of his officers, they suspected that
Hernandez designed giving Cortes possession of the province of Nicaragua. They
consequently hastened off to communicate theirsuspicions to Arias. Garavita, in particular,
evinced a considerable degree of zeal in this matter, for he had an old spite against our
general;namely, when they were both young men, and living at St. Domingo,they came to
blows about some woman, and Garavita came off worst,with a thorough good drubbing.
[Pg 290]
On receiving this information, Arias marched out in person, at thehead of a large body of
troops, and soon arrived in Nicaragua, wherehe instantly seized Hernandez. Pedro de Garro
had been wise enoughnot to await his arrival, and sought refuge in our camp. The former
had had sufficient time to have done the same, but, unfortunatelyfor him, he put his trust in
the previous friendship which existed between himself and Pedro Arias, and felt quite
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32475/32475-h/32475-h.htm 192/282