us to salute you, and begs the acceptance of this small present and these precious ornaments, once used by you as our king and god.’ They now array him in the vestments of Quetzalcoatl, adding also many ornaments pertaining to the gods Tezcatlipoca and Tlalocatecuhtli, as if to proclaim him the greatest of the gods. The most attractive pieces are a bejewelled and plume head-dress, and a necklace of precious stones. ‘Is this all the gift of welcome that you bring?’ asks Cortés. ‘Lord and king, it is all that was given us for your Majesty,’ was the reply. They are given food and accommodation for the night. In order to impress upon them the full extent of Spanish power, they are tied hands and feet while the horses are exhibited, the arms displayed, and the guns fired. They are then told that the white men have heard the fame of Mexican warriors, as able to overcome ten or even twenty times superior numbers, and desire a proof thereof by fighting them in equal force. Swords and shields are given them, but they decline, pleading their character as mere envoys. They are thereupon insulted as cowards, and told that the white men will descend upon their country, kill all who resist, take possession of the government, and secure better presents than those sent them. The messengers now hurry back to Mexico without informing any one on the way of what has occurred. _Torquemada_, i. 381-4; _Sahagun_, _Hist. Conq._, i. 7-11; _Sigüenza y Góngora_, _El Fenix_, MS., 273-8. [156] Teudilli, or Quitaluor, from Cotosta, is Gomara’s corrupt form. _Hist. Mex._, 39. Herrera calls Teuthlille the chief governor, and Pitalpitoe a chief. dec. ii. lib. v. cap. iv. Teutile, captain-general, and Pilpatoe, governor. _Solis_, _Hist. Mex._, i. 119. Teotlili arrives on Monday. _Ixtlilxochitl_, _Hist. Chich._, 286. ‘Tendile, y Pitalpitoque eran Gouernadores de vnas Prouincias que se dizen, Cotastlan, Tustepeque, Guazpaltepeque, Tlatalteteclo, y de otros pueblos que nueuamẽte teniã sojuzgados.’ _Bernal Diaz_, _Hist. Verdad._, 26. He means, however, that Tendile is the chief governor. Pinotl had evidently left. Cuetlachtlan province appears to have extended from Rio Papaloapan, or Alvarado, to Rio de la Antigua. [157] Ixtlilxochitl and Gomara place the number attending at over 4,000. [158] Here Solis takes Bernal Diaz to task for asserting that mass had been already said on Friday. _Hist. Mex._, i. 121. But the scholar is too severe upon the soldier, whose head is true enough, however may be his tongue. [159] ‘All Gomara’s fictions,’ sneers Las Casas, _Hist. Ind._, iv. 484, who ignores Marina’s ability to interpret, and thinks the interview was limited to the simplest expressions conveyed by signs.