Cortés, Hernán, 1485-1547 -- Juvenile literature; Mexico -- History -- Conquest, 1519-1540 -- Juvenile literature
Shortly after this, the cacique himself appeared, unarmed and with a
small retinue. After friendly greetings on each side he took from a
basket golden articles of various kinds set with jewels, and fabrics
decorated with beautifully colored feathers, and said to Grijalva that
he loved peace and had brought these gifts in confirmation of his words,
but, that there might be no opportunity for misunderstanding, he begged
him to leave the country as soon as possible. The Spanish leader
acknowledged the politeness of the cacique by making gifts in return,
and promised to conform to his wishes as soon as he could get under
sail.
After cruising some distance along the coast, they reached an island
with many stone houses and a temple. In the centre of this temple, which
was open on all sides, they saw various hideous idols placed about an
altar, elevated a few steps. Near to it were six corpses, which,
according to the prevailing horrible custom, seemed to have been offered
up as sacrifices on the preceding night. On account of this dreadful
spectacle the Spaniards named the place Isla de los Sacrificios (“Island
of Sacrifice”). Everywhere they found evidences that the inhuman
practice of sacrificing men to their deities prevailed among these
people. Coming to anchor at another island, which was called Kulva by
the natives, they saw many more corpses of freshly slaughtered men,
which caused even the barbarous Spanish soldiers to shudder at such
cruelty. Grijalva gave his surname, Juan, to this island, from which
eventually came the name, St. Juan de Ulloa, by which it is now known.
Wherever they went gold was found in abundance. This and the sight of
many fruitful spots which they passed aroused a general desire among the
men to effect a settlement, but Grijalva persisted in carrying out the
orders of Velasquez, and everywhere that he landed, took possession of
the country in the name of the King. He continued sailing along the
coast until he reached Pánuco. At the mouth of a river there he was so
furiously assailed by a swarm of Indians that a dreadful massacre became
necessary before they could be driven back. After this, while attempting
to sail still farther along the coast, adverse currents forced him to
return to Cuba. Upon his arrival he met with bitter reproaches from the
unreasonable governor, Velasquez, because he had not availed himself of
the excellent opportunity to establish a colony in that rich region,
although he had been expressly forbidden to do so when he sailed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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