On His Arrival At Villa Rica, Sandoval Arrested De Grado, And Sent Him Prisoner To Mexico, Under A Guard Of Indians, By Order Of Cortes, Who Would Not See Him On His Arrival, But Ordered Him To Be Confined In The Stocks, Where He Remained Two Days.

De Grado afterwards made his peace, and got the office of contador, in place of Avila, who was sent over to Hispaniola as procurador.

Sandoval made himself exceedingly popular among the natives in the neighbourhood of Villa Rica, and diligently applied to complete the fortifications. He likewise sent to Mexico by order of the general, all the ironwork necessary for the construction of two vessels which were ordered to be built for sailing on the lake.

Every day after mass Cortes went with all his officers to pay his respects to Montezuma, asking his orders, the king always affecting to be perfectly contented with his situation. On these occasions the discourse frequently turned upon the principles of our holy faith, and the power of our emperor Don Carlos. At other times Montezuma and Cortes used to play at a game called _totoloque_ by the Mexicans, in which they aim with golden balls at certain other objects made of gold. Once, when Cortes and Alvarado were playing against Montezuma and his nephew, the king said in a jocular manner, that he would not allow _Tonatiu_, for so he called Alvarado on account of his handsomeness, to mark, as if he cheated; on which we all fell a laughing, as we knew Alvarado was rather given to exaggeration.

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