But the problem which troubled them most was the goodness or badness of their own divinities. The first thing which impressed itself upon them was the necessity of getting rid of their deceitful sorcerers and doing away with human sacrifice. Their next step was to send an imposing delegation to pray for peace. It was composed of their most distinguished people, who went to the Spanish camp in their ceremonial dresses, adorned with white feathers, the symbol of peace, and at a distance made signs of their extreme reverence. From time to time they stopped and touched first the earth and then their lips. This ceremony was repeated several times until they reached the intrenchments, before which they burned incense and repeated the signs of reverence already described. Cortes received them with a haughty dignity, in order to impress them with dread, and ordered them to speak. They obeyed, and their first remarkable utterance was this: “Be you cruel and vengeful divinities, we deliver to you these five slaves that you may drink their blood and eat of their flesh. Be you gentle gods, we give you an offering of incense and white feathers. Be you men, we offer you meat and bread and fruits for your nourishment.” They further declared that they had come to ask forgiveness for the past hostility of their people and at the same time to supplicate for peace. Cortes, still retaining his haughty demeanor, bitterly reproached them for their contemptuous rejection of his friendly advances, but added that he was ready to forget the past if they, from that time forward, would remain quiet and make compensation for the offences they had committed. With these words he dismissed them. As soon as his answer was taken to Tlaxcala, the Council issued a general order to all the people thereabout that they should supply the camp of these wonderful strangers with subsistence and refrain from taking pay for it. The order was obeyed with a willingness and promptness which surprised the Spaniards. Two days later a great and imposing procession was seen approaching the camp from Tlaxcala. The attire of the natives showed it was peaceful of intention and Cortes ordered it to be received without the slightest hint of distrust.