Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

disquieting apprehensions, ever since the Spaniards had first appeared on their coasts. Before they offered to dissuade Cortes from his demand, they endeavoured to conciliate his good will, by entreating him to accept of certain presents, which, as humble slaves to Montezuma, they laid at his feet. These they introduced with great parade, and consisted of fine cotton cloth, of plumes of various colours, and of ornaments of gold and silver, to a considerable value; the workmanship was curious, and the materials rich.

The effect of these was very different to what they intended. Instead of satisfying the Spaniards, it encreased their avidity, and rendered them so impatient of becom ing masters of a country which abounded with such precious commodities, that Cortes could hardly listen with patience to the arguments of Pilpatoe and Teutile, to dissuade him from visiting the capital: and in a haughty and determined tone, insisted on being admitted to a personal audience of their sovereign.

During this interview, some painters in the train of the Mexican chiefs, had been diligently employed in delineating upon white cotton-cloth, figures of the ships and horses, the artillery, the soldiers, and whatever clse appeared to them new and singular. When Cortes was informed that these pictures were to be sent to Montezuma; to render the representation still more animating and interesting, and make the impression more awful, he ordered the trumpets to sound an alarm, the troops in a moment formed in order of battle, the infantry performed such martial exercises, as were best suited to display the effect of their different weapons; the horse, in various evolutions, shewed their agility and strength; the artillery pointed towards the thick woods, which was in front of the camp, made dreadful havock among the trees. The Mexicans looked on with silent amazement, at objects so awful, and above their comprehension. At the explosion of the cannon, many of them fled, some fell on the ground, and all were so much confounded at the sight of men, whose power, in their opinion, so nearly resembled the gods, that Cortes, with difficulty, composed them. The ingenuity of the painters was put to the test, to invent figures and characters to represent things so new and extraordinary. Messengers were immediately dispatched to Montezuma, with those pictures, and a full account of

every thing that had passed since the arrival of the Spaniards; and by them Cortes sent a present of some European curiosities to Montezuma.

The Mexican monarchs, in order to obtain early information of every occurrence in all the corners of their vast empire, had posted couriers, or runners at different stations, along the principal roads, who relieved one another, at proper distances; by which method they conveyed intelligence with surprizing rapidity.

Though the capital of Montezuma was one hundred and eighty miles from St. Julian de Ulua, the presents to Cortes were carried thither, and an answer received of his demands in a few days. The same officers who had hitherto treated with the Spaniards, were employed to deliver this answer; but as they knew how repugnant the determination of their master was to the wishes of the Spanish commander, they would not venture to make it known, until they had first endeavoured to soothe and mollify him. They therefore renewed the negociation by introducing a train of a hundred Indians loaded with presents, sent him by Montezuma.

The magnificence of these presents exceeded any they had yet received, and raised their ideas of the wealth of the country, and the grandeur of the monarch. They were placed upon mats on the ground, in such order as shewed them to the greatest advantage. Cortes and his followers viewed with admiration, the various manufactures of the country; the cotton stuffs were of so fine a texture, as to resemble silk; pictures of animals, trees, and other natural objects, formed with feathers of different colours, disposed and mingled with such skill and elegance, as to rival the works of the pencil in beauty of imitation. But what principally attracted their attention, was two large plates of a circular form, one of massive gold, representing the sun, the other of silver, an emblem of the moon; these were accompanied with bracelets, collars, rings, and other trinkets of gold, with boxes of pearls, precious stones, and grains of unwrought gold. Cortes received these with an appearance of profound veneration for the monarch, by whom they were bestowed.

But when the Mexicans, presuming upon this, informed him, that their master, though he desired him to accept of what he had sent, as expressive of that regard for the prince who had sent him; yet, at the same time informed

him, that he would not give his consent that foreign troops should approach nearer his capital; or even allow them to continue longer in his dominions. Cortes declared in a manner more resolute and peremptory than formerly, that he must insist on his first demand, as he could not, without dishonour, return to his own sovereign, until he had been permitted to visit the prince, agreeably to his instructions.

The Mexicans were astonished, that any man should dare to oppose that will which they were accustomed to consider as supreme and irresistible yet afraid of coming to an open rupture with such formidable enemies, prevail. ed with Cortes to continue in his present camp until further instructions from Montezuma.

The Mexican monarch had now no other choice, but either to receive Cortes as a friend, or oppose him openly as an enemy. The latter was what might have been expected from a haughty prince in possession of such extensive powers; his authority unbounded, and his revenues considerable.

If he had assembled his numerous forces and fallen upon the Spaniards, while encamped on a barren, unhealthy coast, without a single ally. to support them, no place of retreat, and destitute of provisions, notwithstanding their superior discipline and arms, they must have all been cut off in such an unequal contest, or have abandoned the enterprize.

As the power of Montezuma enabled him to take this spirited part, his own disposition naturally prompted him to it. Of all the princes who had swayed the Mexican sceptre he was the most haughty, the most violent, and the most impatient of control. His subjects looked up to him with awe, and his enemies with terror. The former he governed with unexampled rigour, but they were impressed with an opinion of his capacity, that commanded their respect: over the latter he had spread such fear by the success of his arms, that they dreaded his power, and groaned under his tyranny. Though his talents were sufficient for the government of a state, so imperfectly polished as the Mexican empire, they were altogether inadequate to the present conjuncture: he was neither quali fied to judge with discernment, nor to act with that deci sion necessary in such a trying emergency.

From the first account of the Spaniards appearing on the coast, he discovered symptoms of timidity and embar rassment: he deliberated with anxiety and hesitation, which did not escape the notice of his meanest courtiers. The perplexity and discomposure upon this occasion, and the general dismay that prevailed, was not altogether owing to the impression the Spaniards had made by the novelty of their appearance, and the terror of their arms. There was an opinion, if the account of the most authentic Spanish historians deserves credit, and almost universal among the Americans, that some dreadful calamity was impending over their heads, from a race of formidable invaders, who should come from regions towards the rising sun, to overrun and desolate their country.

As the Mexicans were more prone to superstition than any people in the New World, they were more deeply affected with the appearance of the Spaniards, whom they considered as the instruments destined to bring about the revolution which they so much dreaded. Under these circumstances it ceases to be incredible that a handful of adventurers should alarm the monarch of a great empire, and all his subjects.

Notwithstanding when Montezuma was informed that Cortes adhered to his original demand, and refused to obey his enjoining him to leave the country; in a transport of rage, natural to a fierce prince, unaccustomed to opposition, he threatened to sacrifice those intruding strangers to his gods. But instead of issuing orders to put his threats into execution, he summoned his ministers to confer, and and offer their advice.

The Mexican council were satisfied with issuing a more positive injunction, requiring them to leave the country; but betrayed such timidity, and infatuation, that they accompanied this order with a present of such value, as proved a fresh inducement to remain there. A variety of sentiments prevailed among the Spaniards; from what they had already seen, many of them formed such extravagant ideas, concerning the opulence of the country, that despising every danger and hardship, they were eager to attempt the conquest. Others estimating the power of the Mexican empire by its wealth, contended it would be an act of the wildest frenzy to attack such a state, with a small body of men, in want of provisions, unconnected

with any ally, and already debilitated by the diseases of the climate.

Cortes secretly encouraged, and applauded the advocates for bold measures, and cherished their romantic hopes; as such ideas accorded with his own, and favoured the execution of the bold schemes he had already formed.

As Velasquez had openly attempted to deprive him of his authority, he saw the necessity of dissolving a connexion which would obstruct and embarras all his operations; and watched for a proper opportunity of coming to a final rupture with him. Having this in view, he assiduously laboured to gain and secure the esteem and affection of his soldiers.

Cortes availed himself of all opportunities to insinuate himself into their favour, by his affable manners, by well timed acts of liberality to some, by inspiring all with vast hopes, and by allowing them to trade privately with the natives, he attached the greater part of the soldiers so firmly to himself, that they almost forgot that the armament had been fitted out by the authority, and at the expense of another.

During these intrigues, Teutile arrived with the present from Montezuma, and, together with it delivered the ultimate order of that monarch to depart instantly out of his dominions; and when Cortes, instead of complying, renewed his request of an audience, the Mexican turned from him abruptly, and quitted the camp, with looks and gestures which strongly expressed his surprize and resentment. Next morning the natives who used to frequent the camp, to barter with the soldiers, and bring provisions, absented; all friendly correspondence seemed now to be at an end, and it was expected every moment that hostilities would commence.

Although this might have been foreseen, yet it occasioned a sudden consternation among the Spaniards, which emboldened the adherents of Velasquez not only to murmur and cabal against their general; but to appoint one of their number to remonstrate openly against his impru dence in attempting the conquest of a mighty empire, with such inadequate force; and to urge the necessity of returning to Cuba, in order to refit the fleet, and augment their army.

. Diego de Ordaz, one of his principal officers, who was charged with this commission, delivered it with a soldierly

« ForrigeFortsett »