after which, as an example to deter our allies from this practice in future, the general caused one against whom this crime had been most clearly proved, to be burnt.  All had been equally guilty, but one example was deemed sufficient on the present occasion.  Our poor musicians felt severely the want of the feasts they had been used to in Spain, and their harmony was now stopt, except one fellow; but the soldiers used to curse him, saying they wanted maize not music.  It may be asked, how we did not lay our hands on the herd of swine belonging to Cortes in our present state of starvation?  But these were out of sight, and the steward alleged they had been devoured by the alligators on passing one of the rivers:  In reality, they were artfully kept four days march behind the army.  During our route, we used to carve crosses on the bark of trees, with inscriptions bearing, that Cortes and his army had passed this way at such and such a time.

The Indians of Tamaztepec sent a message to Izguantepec, our next station, to inform the inhabitants, and that they might not be alarmed at our approach:  They also deputed twenty of their number to attend us to that place as guides.  After our arrival at Izguantepec, Cortes was curious to know the course of a large river which flowed past that place, and was informed that it discharged itself into the sea near two towns named Guegatasta and Xicolanga; from which he judged that this might be a convenient way in which to send for information concerning his ships under Cuenca whom he had ordered to wait his orders on that part of the coast.  He accordingly sent off two Spaniards on that errand, to one of whom, Francisco de Medina, he gave an order to act as joint commander along with Simon Cuenca.  Medina was a man of dilligence and abilities, and well acquainted with the country; but the commission he carried proved most unfortunate in its consequences.  He found the ships waiting at Xicolanga, and on presenting his authority as joint captain, a dispute arose between him and Cuenca as to which of them should have the chief command.  Each was supported by a party, and had recourse to arms, in which all the Spaniards were slain except eight.  The neighbouring Indians fell upon the survivors, and put them all to death; after which they plundered the ships and then destroyed them.  It was two years and a half after this, before we knew what had become of the ships.

We now learnt that the town of Huy-acala was three days march distant from our present quarters, and that the way lay across some deep rivers and trembling marshes.  Two soldiers were sent on by Cortes to examine the route, who reported on their return that the rivers were passable by means of timber bridges, but as for the marshes, which were more material to know, they were beyond the rivers and had not been examined.  Cortes sent me in the next place, along with one Gonzalo de Mexia and some Indian guides, with orders to go forward to Huy-acala to procure provisions,