Discovery to the north of Mexico.-Death of Alvarado.-Earthquake at Guatemala.—Guatemala governed by an Audiencia... Page 342 Triumph of the Dominicans in Guatemala.-"The Land of War” is called "the Land of Peace."-The final Labors and Death of Do- Pizarro goes to the Spanish Court.-Returns to Panamá.-Starts for the Conquest of Peru.-Founds the Town of San Miguel..... 418 Pizarro marches from San Miguel to Cassamarca.-Projected Inter- view between Pizarro and Atahuallpa.-Rout of the Peruvians and Agreement for Atahuallpa's Ransom.-Fernando Pizarro's Journey to the Temple of Pachacamác.-Messengers sent to Cusco.-Arrival of CHAPTER I. STATE OF MEXICO AFTER THE CONQUEST.-THANKSGIVING FOR THE VICTORY.-MEXICO REBUILT AND REPEOPLED.-CRISTOVAL DE TAPIA SENT TO SUPERSEDE CORTEZ.-REVOLT OF PANUCO. -CORTEZ INHABITS MEXICO.-MEMORIAL OF CONQUISTADORES TO THE EMPEROR. ARRIVAL OF FRANCISCANS. CHAPTER II. CRISTOVAL DE OLID SENT BY CORTEZ TO HONDURAS.-HIS COMES TO THE SPANISH CONQUEST IN AMERICA. CHAPTER I. STATE OF MEXICO AFTER THE CONQUEST. THANKSGIVING FOR THE VICTORY.-MEXICO REBUILT AND REPEOPLED.CRISTOVAL DE TAPIA SENT TO SUPERSEDE CORTEZ.-REVOLT OF PANUCO. CORTEZ INHABITS MEXICO. -MEMORIAL OF CONQUISTADORES TO THE EMPEROR. ARRIVAL OF FRANCISCANS. N OTHING can well convey a surer intimation of the sad state of Mexico, on the day of its conquest, than the fact that both the victors and the vanquished began to leave the city. Cortez 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, Cortez 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 indif * "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, é hediondos, que era lástima de los ver."-BERNAL Diaz, cap. 156. ference to life, were unwilling or unable to crawl out. In a great town there are always some abject persons to whom long despair and utter hardness of life make any lair seem welcome. The surface of the ground had been plowed up in order to get at the roots of the 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 afterward Cortez remained in his camp, and he then proceeded to the neighboring city of Cuyoacan. His first care for the city of Mexico was to give orders that the aqueduct should be repaired. His first act on behalf of his own troops was to offer a thanksgiving for the victory. After the thanksgiving, Cortez held a great banquet in Cuyoacan. At this feast, which was followed by a dance, the soldiers, naturally excited by their long abstinence from any thing like amusement, indulged in such freaks and excesses that Father Olmedo was greatly scandalized. Cortez, being informed of this by Sandoval, suggested to the good monk that he should 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 among themselves, but conduct themselves like Catholic Christians, that so God might continue to favor them." This was accordingly done, with all fitting solemnity. The next thing was to dismiss the Indian allies, who were favored with many gracious words and promises, and were enriched with cotton, gold, and various spoil, among which were portions of the bod |