Voyage along the Coast 359 Natives come on Board 360 Doña Marina 361 Her History 361 Her Beauty and Character 362 First Tidings of Montezuma 364 Spaniards land in Mexico 365 First Interview with the Aztecs 366 Their magnificent Presents 368 Cupidity of the Spaniards 369 Cortés displays his Cavalry 370 Aztec Paintings 370 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE THE LANDING OF CORTÉS AT VERA CRUZ _Frontispiece_ From a painting especially made for this edition by L. Kowalsky. MAP OF THE COUNTRY TRAVERSED BY THE SPANIARDS ON THEIR MARCH TO MEXICO 1 FRA BARTOLOMÉ DE LAS CASAS 94 After an engraving in “Ritratos de los Espagnoles illustres, 1791.” OUR LADY OF GUADALOUPE 172 From a photograph by Waite, of Mexico. PORTRAIT OF CHARLES V. 276 After the painting by Titian at Munich. PORTRAIT OF HERNANDO CORTÉS 296 From an engraving by Masson, after the painting by Ant. Moro. BOOK I INTRODUCTION VIEW OF THE AZTEC CIVILIZATION [Illustration: MAP OF THE COUNTRY TRAVERSED BY THE FOR PRESCOTT’S HISTORY] [Illustration: SPANIARDS ON THEIR MARCH TO MEXICO. ON THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO.] CONQUEST OF MEXICO CHAPTER I ANCIENT MEXICO--CLIMATE AND PRODUCTS--PRIMITIVE RACES--AZTEC EMPIRE Of all that extensive empire which once acknowledged the authority of Spain in the New World, no portion, for interest and importance, can be compared with Mexico;--and this equally, whether we consider the variety of its soil and climate; the inexhaustible stores of its mineral wealth; its scenery, grand and picturesque beyond example; the character of its ancient inhabitants, not only far surpassing in intelligence that of the other North American races, but reminding us, by their monuments, of the primitive civilization of Egypt and Hindostan; or, lastly, the peculiar circumstances of its Conquest, adventurous and romantic as any legend devised by Norman or Italian bard of chivalry. It is the purpose of the present narrative to exhibit the history of this Conquest, and that of the remarkable man by whom it was achieved.