Tendilli Sent Immediate
Intelligence To Mutecuma, That There Had Arrived In His Country A Bearded
People, For So They Called The Castilians.
On the reception of this news,
Mutecuma was greatly troubled, for his gods, or devils rather, had
revealed that
A people of the description of these Spaniards was to
overthrow his law and dominion, and to become lords of the country;
wherefore Mutecuma sent gifts to the value of twenty thousand ducats to
Cortes, but refused any interview.
As the ships could not ride in safety at St Juan de Vilhua, Cortes sent
Francis de Montejo, and the pilot Antonio Alaminos, in two brigantines,
to look out for a safe anchorage. They went to Panuco, in lat. 23 deg. N.
whence they came back to Culvacan as a safer harbour. But Cortes went by
land westwards to a city named Zempoallan, where he was well received.
From thence he went to Chiavitztlan, with the lord of which town, and of
all the surrounding country, he entered into a league against Mutecuma.
On the arrival of his ships at the appointed haven, he went there and
built a town, which he named _Villa rica de la Vera Cruz_. From thence he
sent a vessel to Spain with presents, and a letter to the Emperor Charles
V. giving an account of his proceedings, and of his determination to
visit Mutecuma, and soliciting a commission as governor of the
country[33].
Before proceeding on his march to Mexico, Cortes destroyed all his ships,
lest his men might mutiny, as they seemed disposed; and leaving 150
Spaniards in Vera Cruz, with as many Indians to serve them, he began his
march.
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