CHAPTER IX.-Triumph of the Dominicans in Guatemala— CHAPTER II.-Pizarro goes to the Spanish Court-Returns CHAPTER III.—The history, laws, religion, and customs of CHAPTER IV.-Pizarro marches from San Miguel to Cassa- CHAPTER V.-Agreement for Atahuallpa's ransom — Fer- nando Pizarro's journey to the Temple of Pachacamác― STATE OF MEXICO AFTER THE CONQUEST-THANKS- GIVING FOR THE VICTORY-MEXICO REBUILT AND REPEOPLED-CHRISTOVAL DE TAPIA SENT TO SUPERSEDE CORTES-REVOLT OF PANUCO- CORTES INHABITS MEXICO-MEMORIAL OF CON- FOR CHAPTER I. 夔 STATE OF MEXICO AFTER THE CONQUEST-THANKS- not habi NOTHING can well convey a surer intimation B. XII. of the sad state of Mexico, on the day of Ch. 1. its conquest, than the fact that both the victors Mexico and the vanquished began to leave the city. table. Cortes and his soldiers returned to their camp, while, for three days and nights, the causeways were crowded by the departing Mexicans-yellow, flaccid, filthy, miserable beings, "whom it was grief to behold."* When the city was deserted, Cortes sent persons in to view it. They found the houses full of dead bodies. The few wretched creatures who still here and there appeared, were those who, from extreme poverty, sickness, or indifference to life, were unwilling or unable to crawl out. In a great town there are "Digo que en tres dias con sus noches iban todas tres calçadas llenas de Indios é Indias, y muchachos llenos de bote en bote, que nunca dexavan de salir, y tan flacos, y suzios, é amarillos, State of the city. B. XII. always some abject persons to whom long despair Ch. 1. and utter hardness of life make any lair seem welcome. The surface of the ground had been ploughed up, in order to get at the roots of the Aug. 1521. herbage. The bark of the trees had been eaten off; and not a drop of fresh water was to be found. Mexico was taken on the 13th of August, 1521. For three days afterwards Cortes remained in his camp, and he then proceeded to the neighbouring city of Cuyoacan. His first care for the The aque city of Mexico was to give orders that the aquerepaired. duct should be repaired. His first act on behalf of his own troops was to offer a thanksgiving for Thanks- the victory. After the thanksgiving, Cortes held the victory. a great banquet in Cuyoacan. At this feast, duct to be giving for sion and a sermon. which was followed by a dance, the soldiers, naturally excited by their long abstinence from anything like amusement, indulged in such freaks and excesses that Father Olmedo was greatly scandalized. Cortes being informed of this by Sandoval, suggested to the good monk that he should A proces- appoint a solemn procession, after which mass should be celebrated, and the Father might give the army a sermon, telling them "that they should not despoil the Indians of their goods or their daughters, nor quarrel amongst themselves, but conduct themselves like Catholic Christians, that so God might continue to favour them.' This was accordingly done with all fitting solemnity. The allies are dismissed. The next thing was to dismiss the Indian allies, who were favoured with many gracious |