- E.
[6] This river is called Chiapa by Clavigero. - E.
[7] Clavigero calls the field of battle the plain of Ceutla, where he
says there was another Indian town not far distant from Tabasco. - E.
[8] According to Clavigero, this place was named Madona della Vittoria,
which was destroyed by the English about the middle of the seventeenth
century, the inhabitants removing to Villahermosa, at a greater
distance from the coast. - E.
[9] There are no lions or tigers in America, but Europeans have loosely
given these names to other species of the same genus, such as the
felis onca, or jaguar; F. discolor or jaguarate; and F. concolor, or
puma; which last is often called the American lion, and the jaguar is
the Mexican tiger. - E.
[10] In this account of Donna Marina, the information given by Clavigero,
II. 9. is here combined with that of Bernal Diaz, and the orthography
of the Mexican names of places has been corrected throughout from the
former writer, a native of New Spain, and intimately acquainted with
its language. As the Mexicans do not pronounce the letter r, they
used to call her Malintzin, tzin being an affix of dignity; from
which she is still remembered in Mexico by the name of Malinchi. - E.
SECTION IV.
Arrival of the Armament at St Juan de Ulua, and account of Occurrences at
that Place.
As already mentioned, we arrived at the port of St Juan de Ulua on the
evening of Holy Thursday, the 21st April 1519, where we came to anchor,
Cortes hoisting the royal standard of Spain. In about half an hour after
our arrival, two large canoes or piraguas full of Mexicans were seen
coming off from the shore towards the flag-ship[1]. On coming aboard, they
inquired for the Tlatoan, or general, who was pointed out to them by
Donna Marina, who acted as interpreter on the occasion with the aid of
Aguilar. She translated the speech of the Mexicans to Aguilar in the Maja
language of Yucatan, who again translated that to Cortes in Spanish. The
reply of Cortes was translated by Aguilar to Marina in Maja, which she
again retranslated to the Mexicans in their language. The Mexicans,
approaching Cortes with much respect, said that they were sent to wait
upon him by a servant of their sovereign Montezuma, to inquire who we
were, and what was our business; and that, if we were in want of any thing,
they had orders to supply us. Cortes thanked them for their attention,
making them a present of some cut glass and other toys, and invited them
to partake of some refreshments, stating that he had come to trade with
them, and to confer with their king on affairs of the highest importance,
assuring them that no one should receive any injury, but that all should
have reason to be satisfied with his visit to their country.