anxious expectation, for fresh arrivals of the mysterious stran gers; and by his orders, on their landing, rich gifts had been bestowed on them, and the most hospitable and assiduous attention paid them by a multitude of his subjects. On the receipt of the message of Cortes and the descriptions given by his subjects, he held a solemn council, and, despite the remonstrances of his sager advisers, determined to send them a magnificent present, and, at the same time, to forbid their approach to his capital. "This," says Mr. Prescott, "was to reveal, at once, both his wealth and his weakness."

From the city of Mexico to Vera Cruz the distance is seventy leagues; yet within eight days from the time the message had been dispatched by Teuhtile, an embassy from the emperor arrived at the camp of the Spaniards. It was accompanied by a hundred slaves, who bore presents of the most precious material and the most admirable workmanship. "The first was a plate of gold of the size of the wheel of a carriage, representing the sun, admirably wrought, and said to be worth upwards of twenty thousand crowns of gold ($230,000); a larger one, equally wrought, of silver, representing the moon; the helmet already mentioned, filled with gold in its native state; thirty pieces of wrought gold, representing ducks, very well executed, others in the forms of deer, dogs, lions, tygers and apes.' Besides these, there was a vast quantity of the most delicate fabrics in cotton and variegated feathers, intermingled with pearls and precious stones.

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With these treasures was delivered a courteous message from the emperor, expressing high respect for the Spanish sovereign, but regretting that the difficulty of the way would prevent the visitors from coming to his capital, and suggesting delicately the propriety of their return. The avarice and ambition of the Spaniards were, of course, only inflamed afresh by these tokens of the wealth and timidity of the emperor; and Cortes, on the return of the ambassadors, sent another urgent request, backed by an insignificant present, for permission to visit the capital.

* Bernal Diaz.

The answer came in a few days, accompanied by a fresh and splendid present of gold. The denial was positively reiterated; but Cortes, turning to his officers, said coldly, "Truly this is a great monarch, and a rich—by God's permission we must sce him." Still solicitous for the propagation of the faith, he "hinted the propriety of a sermon" to the infidel caciques. "Fray Bartholeme accordingly preached, like an excellent theologian, which he was, explaining the mysteries of the cross, at the sight of which the evil beings they worshipped as gods, fled away. These subjects and much more he dilated on, and it was perfectly explained to and understood by the Mexicans!" The Spanish camp, however, the next morning, was found entirely deserted by the multitude of natives who had heretofore ministered so sedulously to the wants of their guests. Thirty of their number had already perished from disease, and Cortes sent out an expedition to seek a more favorable locality. While alarm and despondency pervaded his ranks, he was cheered by an embassy from the Totonacs, a powerful people who had been lately subjected to the sway of the Aztec emperor. Impatient of the yoke, they invited the Spanish general to visit their city, Cempoalla; and the mind of the adventurer was elated with the prospect of native assistance in his ambitious schemes.

Meanwhile, he used every exertion of intrigue and persuasion to procure a declaration from the army, which should make him independent of Velasquez; and accordingly, by the artful solicitations of his friends, the soldiers were induced to throng around his tent, and demand the foundation of a colony. After a pretence of reluctance, he acquiesced, and forthwith appointed from his personal friends all the officers and magistrates of the new settlement of Vera Cruz. To this body he formally resigned the authority which he had received from Velasquez, and was immediately elected captain-general of the colony in the name of the sovereigns. The partisans of the Cuban governor were fierce in their invectives; but a short confinement in irons convinced them of the folly of resistance, and, singular

to state, they became thenceforward staunch and faithful supporters of his usurped authority.

Sending his vessels along the coast to Chiahuitzla, a more favorable station, he took up his march for Cempoalla. The road lay through a beautiful country, glowing with tropical vegetation, and as the soldiers approached the city, the friendly inhabitants, laden with flowers, came forth to meet them. This place contained about thirty thousand inhabitants, and his friendly reception, with the complaints of Aztec tyranny, made by the cacique, encouraged Cortes with fresh hopes. To this chieftain, (who was exceedingly corpulent, and who passes in the old histories under the title of "the fat cacique,") Cortes explained his power and that of his sovereign, and their zeal for the salvation of souls. "He then said many things to him concerning our holy faith. As soon as the fat cacique had heard them out, giving a deep sigh, he complained bitterly of Montezuma and his officers, saying that having lately been compelled to submit to the yoke of that monarch, he had seized all his gold, and now held him completely enthralled."

The Spanish commander assured him of redress, and, on the following day, moved on to Chiahuitzla, a few leagues further. While there, attended by the cacique and other persons of distinction, the news came that five messengers had arrived from Montezuma. At this intelligence, the color fled from the cheeks of the Totonacs, and they went trembling to receive them, leaving Cortes quite alone. Every deference was shown to the imperial emissaries. "As they went to their apartments," says Diaz, "they passed by us with great state, not deigning to cast a look upon Cortes. They were dressed in mantles elegantly wrought, and drawers of the same; their hair shining, and as it were tied to the top of the head, and each of them had in his hand a bunch of roses, which he occasionally smelt to." The haughty and foppish demeanor of these officials (who, doubtless, were all the while dying with curiosity) and the ter ror inspired by their coming, sufficiently evince the awe with which all Anahuac regarded its stern master, the Aztec emperor.