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…
Very early next morning we were attacked by the joint forces of the Mexicans and
Xaltocans. They kept pouring forth showers of arrowsand stones upon us from the small
islands which rose among the marshes,by which ten Spaniards and numbers of Tlascallans
were wounded.Here our cavalry was completely useless, as they could not pass throughthe
water, which lay between them and the enemy; for they had previously cut through the
causeway which led to Xaltocan, and therebyinundated the country. Our musketeers and
crossbow-men certainly kept up a brisk fire upon the Mexicans, but here again they had
foundmeans to shield their bodies, by raising up boards alongside of their canoes.
Thus all our endeavours proved fruitless, while the enemy kept continually mocking and
jeering at us; in derision calling our men oldwomen, and Malinche himself a man of no
courage, but whose wholeart lay in deceit and flattery. Cortes must certainly have returned
without accomplishing anything, if two Indians of Tepetezcuco—whichwas at great enmity
with Xaltocan, had not pointed out to one of hismen a spot which had been flooded three
days previously, but wasshallow enough for them to wade through into the town.
On receiving this information Cortes ordered the crossbow-men, musketeers,with our other
troops, and several of the Tlascallans, to step boldly into the water, which reached up to
their middles, and push forward, while he himself took up his position on the mainland,
withthe cavalry to cover their rear, should the Mexicans feel inclined toattack them from
behind.
The enemy now fell furiously on those advancing through the water,and wounded several
of them; but our men were not to be daunted bythis, and kept moving forward steadily until
they had reached the drypart of the causeway. The road to the town was now open to them,
and they made terrible havoc among the enemy's ranks, and richly repaid them for the
abusive language they had thrown out. TheMexicans, with the inhabitants, now took refuge
in their canoes, andfled to Mexico. Our men made a considerable booty, in cotton, gold,
and other matters, then set fire to some houses, and returned to themainland, where Cortes
was stationed; for they feared to take up theirnight's quarters in the town, as it was entirely
surrounded by water.
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In this engagement our troops captured several fine young females,who had not been able
to escape from the town. The Tlascallans likewisemade a rich booty, and loaded themselves
with cotton stuffs, salt,gold, and other matters.
The night following Cortes encamped in a hamlet about four milesfrom Xaltocan, where
our men dressed their wounds; but one Spaniard, who had been shot in the throat by an
arrow, died soon after. Sentinelswere posted as before, and frequent patrols made during
the night,for the country was very thickly populated.
The next day Cortes marched to another extensive township, called Colvatitlan, but was
everywhere met with yells and jeers from theMexicans and the inhabitants. Our men were
obliged to bear all this patiently, as our cavalry could not act here, and it was totally
impossibleto get at the Mexicans, who had posted themselves on the differentsmall islands.
Cortes, however, marched into Colvatitlan without opposition, and found the town quite
deserted by the inhabitants. Herehe took up his quarters for the night, and adopted every
militaryprecaution.
The day following he marched to another large township, calledTenayucan, which, on our
first march to Mexico, we had termed thetown of Serpents, because we found in a large
temple there two horrible-looking idols, shaped like serpents. This town was likewise
desertedby its inhabitants, who had all fled to Escapuzalco, which lay four milesfurther on.
This was the same Escapuzalco where the great Motecusuma had all his gold and silver
articles manufactured; we therefore calledit the town of Silversmiths. About two miles from
this place layTlacupa, the same where we passed the latter part of the night ofsorrows, and
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