Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History BookOpen Original Text at which time there were only six of the
Conquistadores alive, and he must then have been about seventy years of
age, but there is every reason for supposing that he reached the
advanced age of eighty-six. Endowed with singular nobleness of mind, he
had the happiness to enjoy an unblemished reputation.
The excellent Torquemada, in speaking of him in his voluminous work
entitled 'Monarchia Indiana,' says, "I saw and knew this same Bernal
Diaz in the city of Guatimala; he was then a very aged man, and one who
bore the best of reputations." Quoting him in another passage, he has,
"Thus says Bernal Diaz del Castillo, a soldier on whose authority and
honesty we can place reliance." He was a man devoted to his religion,
and it must be particularly borne in mind that the Catholic faith was
never stronger than at that time; yet we find him the least
superstitious of all the Spanish historians on the Conquest, and, in the
34th Chapter, he has shown a mind superior to the times in which he
lived.
If we contemplate the period in which the conquest of New Spain took
place, we can easily imagine that Cortes considered it imperative on
him to plant his religion among the Indians by the power of the sword,
if he could not by kind remonstrances; and we are often reminded of
Joshua in the Old Testament. The Spaniards themselves certainly
entertained that idea; for in the edition of Cortes' despatches
published at Mexico in 1770, his sword is termed, "Gladius Domini et
Gideonis:" yet the Spaniards were not the cruel monsters they have
generally been described during those times. As far as the conquest of
New Spain is concerned, they were more humane than otherwise; and if at
times they used severity, we find that it was caused by the horrible and
revolting abominations which were practised by the natives. We can
scarcely imagine kinder-hearted beings than the first priests and monks
who went out to New Spain; they were men who spent their lives under
every species of hardship to promote the happiness of the Indians. Who
can picture to his mind a more amiable and noble disposition than that
of father Olmedo? He was one of the finest characters, Dr. Robertson
says, that ever went out as priest with an invading army!
We may have become exceedingly partial to a work which has now been
constantly before our eyes for the last two years, yet we can scarcely
imagine that any one could take up a volume, whether a novel or a
history, which he would peruse with more delight than these memoirs.
With regard to the translation, which is from the old edition printed at
Madrid in 1632, we have acted up to the author's desire, and have
neither added nor taken anything away, and have attempted to follow the
original as closely as possible. To the original there is not a single
note, and particular care has been taken not to overburden the
translation with them. In the spelling of the names of the Indian
chiefs, the townships, and of the provinces, we have mostly followed
Torquemada, who is considered more correct on this point, for he lived
fifty years in New Spain, was perfect master of the Mexican language,
and made the history of that country his peculiar study.
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
I, Bernal Diaz del Castillo, regidor of the town of Santiago, in
Guatimala, author of this very true and faithful history, have now
finished it, in order that it may be published to the world. It treats
of the discovery and total conquest of New Spain; and how the great city
of Mexico and several other towns were taken, up to the time when peace
was concluded with the whole country; also of the founding of many
Spanish cities and towns, by which we, as we were in duty bound,
extended the dominion of our sovereign.
In this history will be found many curious facts worthy of notice. It
likewise points out the errors and blunders contained in a work written
by Francisco de Gomara, who not only commits many errors himself in what
he writes about New Spain, but he has also been the means of leading
those two famous historians astray who followed his account, namely, Dr.
Illescas and the bishop Paulo Jovio. What I have written in this book I
declare and affirm to be strictly true. I myself was present at every
battle and hostile encounter. Indeed, these are not old tales or
romances of the seventh century; for, if I may so say, it happened but
yesterday what is contained in my history. I relate how, where, and in
what manner these things took place; as an accredited eyewitness of this
I may mention our very spirited and valorous captain Don Hernando
Cortes, marquis del Valle Oaxaca, who wrote an account of these
occurrences from Mexico to his imperial majesty Don Carlos the Fifth,
of glorious memory; and likewise the corresponding account of the
viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza. But, besides this, you have only to read
my history and you see it is true.
I have now completed it this 26th day of February, 1568, from my
day-book and memory, in this very loyal city of Guatimala, the seat of
the royal court of audience. I also think of mentioning some other
circumstances which are for the most part unknown to the public. I must
beg of the printers not to take away from, nor add one single syllable
to, the following narrative, etc.
CONTENTS
OF
THE FIRST VOLUME.
PAGE
CHAP. I. The time of my departure from Castile, and what farther
happened to me 1
CHAP. II. Of the discovery of Yucatan, and the battle we fought there
with the natives 3
CHAP. III. Discovery of the coast of Campeachy 6
CHAP. IV. How we landed in a bay close to some maise plantations, near
the harbour of Potonchan, and of the attack that was made upon us
there 9
CHAP. V. We resolve to return to Cuba. The extreme thirst we suffered,
and all the fatigues we underwent until our arrival in the port of
Havannah 12
CHAP. VI. How twenty of us went on shore in the bay of Florida with the
pilot Alaminos in search of water; the hostilities which the natives of
this country commenced with us; and of all that further befel us on our
passage to the Havannah 13
CHAP. VII. The fatigues I had to undergo until my arrival in the town of
Trinidad 17
CHAP. VIII. How Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, sent out another
armament to the country we had discovered 19
CHAP. IX. How we landed at Champoton 23
CHAP. X. We continued our course and ran into Terminos bay, as we named
it 24
CHAP. XI. How we came into the Tabasco river, which we termed the
Grijalva, and what happened to us there 25
CHAP. XII. We come in sight of the town of Aguajaluco, and give it the
name of La Rambla 28
CHAP. XIII. How we arrive on the Bandera stream and gain 1500 pesos 29
CHAP. XIV. How we come into the harbour of San Juan de Ulua 32
CHAP. XV. Diego Velasquez sends out a small vessel in quest of us 33
CHAP. XVI. What befel us on our coasting voyage along the Tusta and
Tuspa mountains 34
CHAP. XVII. Diego Velasquez despatches one of his officials to Spain 38
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