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return home. What I have related is the strict truth, and can
swear to it. Gomara's account respecting this is wholly erroneous, and
he adds many other circumstances which I shall leave without comment.
This, however, is certain, that the whole affair reminds one of the
history of Joseph and his brethren in Egypt, when they came into his
power. After this diversion into matters which subsequently took place,
I must relate how we first managed to understand Doña Marina. She was
conversant with the language of Guacasualco, which is the Mexican, and
with that of Tabasco. Aguilar, however, merely understood the latter,
which is spoken throughout the whole of Yucatan. Doña Marina had,
therefore, first to make herself understood to Aguilar, who then
translated what she said into Spanish. This woman was a valuable
instrument to us in the conquest of New Spain. It was, through her only,
under the protection of the Almighty, that many things[15] were
accomplished by us: without her we never should have understood the
Mexican language, and, upon the whole, have been unable to surmount many
difficulties.

Let this suffice respecting Doña Marina; I will now relate how we
arrived in San Juan de Ulua.

[15] On this woman the captain Cadahalso, in his 'Cartas Marruecas,'
passes the following encomium: "Primera muger, que no ha prejudicado en
uno exercito;" i.e. "The first woman who ever accompanied an army
without being a prejudice to it." (p. 85.)

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

 _How we arrive with our vessels in San Juan de Ulua, and what we did
 there._

On Holy Thursday, in the year of our Lord 1519, we arrived with our
whole squadron in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua. As Alaminos well
remembered this spot from the expedition under Grijalva, he brought our
ships to anchor in a place where they were sheltered from the north
wind. We had scarcely lain here half an hour when we espied two large
canoes, which are called here pirogues, filled with a number of Indians,
making straight for Cortes's vessel, which, from the large flag hanging
from the mast-head, they recognized as our commander's ship. They
climbed on board without any ceremony, and inquired for the _Tlatoan_,
which, in their language, means master. Doña Marina understood their
question, and pointed to Cortes; they, therefore, turned to him, paying
him great reverence after the Indian fashion, and bid him welcome. Their
master, they said, who was a servant of the great Motecusuma, had sent
them in order to ascertain who we were and what we came to seek in his
country. We had only to inform them of what we wanted for our ships, and
they would see that it was provided.

Cortes thanked them for their kindness, through Aguilar and Doña Marina,
presented them with some blue glass beads, and ordered some meat and
drink to be placed before them. After they had taken some refreshment,
he told them we were merely come here to make their acquaintance, and
open a trade with them: we had not the remotest intention of doing them
an injury, nor need they apprehend anything from our arrival. The
ambassadors now returned, well contented, to their homes. The following
morning, Good Friday, we disembarked our horses and cannon near some
sand-hills which here run along the whole coast. Our artilleryman Mesa
placed the cannon on a very advantageous spot, and we erected an altar
where mass was immediately performed: for Cortes and the other chief
officers huts were constructed of green boughs; the rest of us likewise
constructed huts, and slept three together: the horses also were well
provided for. The whole of Good Friday was spent in this work; and on
the Saturday many Indians arrived, who had been sent by a man of
distinction, named Quitlalpitoc, governor under Motecusuma: this
personage was afterwards christened Ovandillo. They had axes with them,
and cut off an additional quantity of branches to make a better finish
to Cortes's hut, which they then overhung with large pieces of cloth,
to keep out the heat, which was already very great. They also brought
along with them fowls, maise-bread, and plums, which were then nice and
ripe; also, if I rightly recollect, they had with them some gold
trinkets. All these things they handed over to Cortes, adding, that the
governor himself would come the next day and bring with him a further
supply of provisions. Cortes joyfully accepted of these presents, and
ordered various kinds of toys we had brought for barter to be given
them, with which they were uncommonly delighted. On Easter day, the
governor indeed appeared in person, as had been assured us. His name was
_Teuthlille_, and he was one of the farmer generals of the Mexican
empire. He was accompanied by another person of distinction, called
Quitlalpitoc. We subsequently learnt that both these personages were
appointed governors over the provinces Cotastlan, Tustepec,
Guazpaltepec, and Tlatateteclo, and other townships recently subdued.
They were followed by a great number of Indians, carrying the presents,
consisting of fowls and greens. Teuthlille having ordered the others to
stand back a little, walked up to Cortes, and made him three most
reverential bows, after the Indian fashion, which he repeated on turning
to us who stood nearest. Cortes bid both welcome, then embraced them,
and desired them to wait a little, as he would afterwards give them a
more circumstantial answer. In the meantime he ordered the altar to be
fitted up as prettily as possible. Francisco Bartolome and father Juan
Diaz performed mass. Both the governors and the principal personages of
their suite were present during the ceremony, after which Cortes sat
down to dinner with them.

After the table had been cleared, Cortes, with the assistance of Aguilar
and Doña Marina, entered into conversation with the Mexican officials
and the caziques, telling them we were Christians, and subjects of the
greatest monarch of the world, whose name was emperor Charles, and that
he had many great personages among his vassals and servants. We had come
by his command to their country, of which and its powerful monarch who
now reigned over it, his majesty had heard long ago. As far as regarded
himself, he was desirous of becoming his friend, and had to disclose
many things to him, in the name of his emperor, which he would listen to
with delight. In order that a good understanding might be established
between him and his subjects, they should acquaint him with the place
where their monarch resided, that he might pay his respects to him, and
make the necessary disclosures. To which Teuthlille answered in a rather
imperious tone, "Since you are but just arrived, it would be more
fitting that you, previous to your desiring an interview with my
monarch, should accept this present, which we have brought you in his
name, and disclose your wishes to me." He then brought forth, out of a
species of box, a quantity of gold trinkets, of beautiful and skilful
workmanship, besides more than twenty packages o

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