Juan Zapata, and the secretary Lope Conchillos, both of
whom were employed in conducting the affairs of the West Indies. Velasquez
had secured a powerful interest with all these three, by assigning them
rich districts in the island of Cuba, thus forwarding his own advantage at
the expence of the crown. Martinez was instructed to solicit a commission,
authorizing Velasquez to procure gold from the new discovered country, or
to make conquests and settlements, as he might see fit; and in this he so
effectually succeeded, that he brought back a commission for Velasquez as
adelantado of the island of Cuba, so well pleased was the court with his
conduct in regard to the discoveries, and the proofs which he had
transmitted of the wealth of those countries which he had discovered.
[1] This seems the place named Pontonchan in the former voyage. - E.
[2] These were probably swivel guns mounted on the bows of their boats. - E.
[3] According to Clavigero, I. 240, the proper name of this Mexican
sovereign was Moteuczoma. - E.
[4] Named Tezcatlipoca by Clavigero, and said to be the god of providence,
the soul of the world, and the creator of all things. - E.
[5] By Clavigero called Acolhua, the name given by all the distant
inhabitants of the empire to the people of the Vale of Mexico, or
Anahuac.
