the governor, came at the time specified, accompanied
by a chief named Quitlatpitoc[2], who was afterwards
named Ovandillo, with a great retinue bearing various
articles of provisions with much ceremony and respect.
These men advanced, making three profound reverences
to Cortes and the soldiers who were with him; and,
after exchanging civilities, Cortes ordered mass to
be performed in their presence, after which he and
the two Mexican lords with several Spanish officers,
sat down to dinner. When this was over, he informed
the Mexican chiefs, that he was the servant of the
greatest king in the world, who had sent him to visit
their sovereign, whose fame had reached him, and who
had ordered him to communicate some affairs of the
greatest importance. To this Teuchtlile answered
somewhat haughtily: “You are only just arrived
in this land, and yet speak already of seeing our king:
receive in the meantime this present which he has
sent you, and we shall speak of other things hereafter.”
He then took from a petlacalli, or basket of
reeds, many admirably wrought toys of gold, with various
artificial works in coloured feathers, which he presented
to Cortes, together with ten loads of fine garments
of white cotton, and an abundant supply of provisions,
such as fowls, fruit, and roasted fish. There
were many other articles in the present made on this
occasion which I do not now remember the particulars
of, as it is long ago. Cortes presented them in
return with artificial diamonds, and requested they
would encourage the natives to barter with us, which
they engaged to do. We afterwards learnt that
these Mexican chiefs were the governors Cuetlachtlan,
Tustepeque, Cuetzpaltepec, Tlacatlalpan,
and other districts, which had been lately reduced
under the Mexican empire. Cortes then produced
a richly carved and painted arm-chair, some artificial
jewels called margajitas[3] enveloped in perfumed
cotton, a string of artificial diamonds, and a crimson
velvet montero cap ornamented with a gold medal of
St George killing the dragon; which he requested Teuchtlile
to convey to Montezuma as a present from the king
of Spain, and to signify his request to be permitted
to wait upon him. The chief made answer, that
his sovereign would assuredly be happy to hold intercourse
with ours, and that he should convey a true report
of this request to Montezuma, who would instruct him
what answer he should make.
Some able Mexican painters accompanied the two chiefs on this occasion, who drew accurate representations of Cortes and the other Spanish officers and soldiers, of Donna Marina, Aguilar, and every circumstance that seemed worthy of remark, even our dogs, guns, and balls, in order to convey exact information to Montezuma. On perceiving this, Cortes ordered the cannon to be loaded, and ordered the cavalry to be exercised in their presence under Alvarado. He drew off the attention of the chiefs as if by accident, and had