[199] Alvarado chased a deer, and succeeded in wounding it, but the next moment the dense underbrush saved it from pursuit. The _Carta del Ayunt._, loc. cit., gives a list of birds and quadrupeds; and a descriptive account, founded greatly on fancy, however, is to be found in the curious _Erasmi Francisci Guineischer und Americanischer Blumen-Pusch_, Nürnberg, 1669, wherein the compiler presents under the title of a nosegay the ‘perfume of the wonders of strange animals, of peculiar customs, and of the doings of the kings of Peru and Mexico.’ The first of its two parts is devoted to the animal kingdom, with particular attention to the marvellous, wherein credulity finds free play, as may be seen also in the flying dragon of one of the crude engravings. In the second part, the aborigines, their history, condition, and customs, are treated of, chiefly under Peru and Mexico, chapter v. relating specially to the latter country. The narrative is quite superficial and fragmentary; the ‘nosegay’ being not only common but faded, even the style and type appearing antiquated for the date. Appended is _Hemmersam_, _Guineische und West-Indianische Reissbeschreibung_, with addition by Dietherr, relating to Africa and Brazil. [200] ‘A tres leguas andadas llego al rio que parte termino con tierras de Montecçuma.’ _Gomara_, _Hist. Mex._, 49; _Torquemada_, i. 395. [201] Gomara, who ignores the previous night’s camp, states that the detour up the river was made to avoid marshes. They saw only isolated huts, and fields, and also about twenty natives, who were chased and caught. By them they were guided to the hamlet. _Hist. Mex._, 49. They met one hundred men bringing them food. _Ixtlilxochitl_, _Hist. Chich._, 289. Prescott allows the Spaniards to cross only a tributary of la Antigua, and yet gain Cempoala. _Mex._, i. 339-40. [202] Las Casas says 20,000 to 30,000. _Hist. Ind._, iv. 492. Torquemada varies in different places from 25,000 to 150,000. The inhabitants were moved by Conde de Monterey to a village in Jalapa district, and in Torquemada’s time less than half a dozen remained. i. 397. ‘Dista de Vera-Cruz quatro leguas, y las ruínas dan á entender la grandeza de la Ciudad; pero es distinto de otro Zempoal ... que dista de este doze leguas.’ _Lorenzana_, in _Cortés_, _Hist. N. España_, 39. ‘Assentada en vn llano entre dos rios.’ A league and a half from the sea. _Herrera_, dec. ii. lib. v. cap. viii. [203] ‘Cempoal, que yo intitulé Sevilla.’ _Cortés_, _Cartas_, 52. See _Native Races_, ii. 553-90; iv. 425-63, on Nahua architecture.