THE
ADVENTURES
OF THE
CONQUEROR OF MEXICO

Birth and parentage of Hernan Cortes—His early boyhood—At the age of fourteen he is sent to the University of Salamanca—Proves lazy, and returns home—Leaves his books, and takes to field-sports—Disappointment of his father—Passion of young Cortes for military life—Determines to join the great captain Gonzalo in the wars of Italy, but is disappointed—Resolves to accompany his kinsman Ovando to Hispaniola, but is prevented by an accident—At length reaches Hispaniola in 1504—Kindness of Ovando—Restlessness of Cortes—His third disappointment—Accompanies Diego Velasquez in his conquest of Cuba—Imprudence of Cortes—Expedition of Hernandez de Cordova and Juan de Grijalva—Discoveries of Grijalva—Excitement among the Spaniards—Cortes manages to get command of an expedition for the continent—Jealousy of Velasquez—Attempts to stop him at Trinidad and Havana—Enthusiasm among the followers of Cortes

Cortes arrives at Cozumel—Imprudence of Alvarado—Discovery of Geronimo de Aguilar—his wretched condition—The fleet reaches Tabasco—Hostility of the natives—Cortes offers to treat with them; they refuse—Notwithstanding their opposition, he makes his landing—Defeats them on the great plain of Ceutla—Receives Doña Marina as a present—He erects a cross upon the plain—The fleet sails for St. Juan de Ulua—Reaches that harbor—Kindness of the natives—Interview with Teutchlile, their chief—Demands that he may see the Emperor Montezuma, and sends presents to him—Alarm of Montezuma—He refuses to see the strangers, but sends presents to them—Cortes again demands to see him—Anger and fear of the Emperor—Commands Cortes to leave his empire, yet sends him further presents

Teutchlile arrives at the Spanish camp with the commands of Montezuma—Finds Cortes in the midst of difficulties with his men—Leaves the camp angry—Murmurs of the men—Management of Cortes—Commences the settlement of Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz—Quiets the complaints of the discontented—The Cacique of Chempoalla invites him to visit him—Cortes accepts the invitation—Interview between them—The settlement is removed to Quiabislan—Friendship of the Caciques of Chempoalla and Quiabislan—The tax-gatherers of Montezuma arrive—Cortes arrests them—The Totonacas become his friends—Visits the Cincapacingas—Makes friends of them—Imprudence of Cortes in the temple of Chempoalla—Sends messengers with presents to the King of Spain—Plot of Escudero and Centeno to stop them—They are put to death—Cortes destroys his fleet, and prepares to march toward Mexico—Arrival of Alonzo de Pineda upon the coast—Stratagem of Cortes—Sets out on his march—Passes Xalapan, Socachema, and Texotla, and arrives at Xocotlan—Interview with the Cacique—Determines to pursue his journey through the province of Tlascala

Cortes enters the Tlascalan territory—Character of the people—Wars with the