CHAPTER LXXV.

_How we marched into the city of Tlascalla, and were received by the

old caziques; of the present they made us, and how they brought us

their daughters and nieces; and what further happened._

When the caziques found that our baggage was moving forward, they

hastened before us to make the necessary preparations for our reception,

and to adorn our quarters with green boughs. We had arrived within a

mile of their city when they again came out to meet us, accompanied by

their daughters, nieces, and other distinguished personages, in which

those of the same kin or same family or tribe kept together. Without

that of Topoyanco, which held the fifth degree, there were four tribes.

The inhabitants of the other townships also kept flocking up, all

distinguished by the national colours of their respective dresses,

which, for want of cotton, were very prettily and neatly manufactured of

coloured nequen. Next came the whole body of papas, of whom there were

great numbers in the temple service. They carried the pans with glowing

embers, and perfumed us. Some of them had on long white cloaks, after

the fashion of surplices with capes, as worn by our canons. The hair of

their heads was long and matted together, so that it would have been an

impossibility to have put it in any shape or order without cutting it

off: besides this, it was completely besmeared with blood, which

trickled down over their ears, for they had been sacrificing that very

day. The nails of their fingers were uncommonly long, and they held down

their heads on approaching us, in token of humility. It was told us that

these men were greatly revered for their religion. The principal

personages now gathered themselves around Cortes' person, and formed a

guard of honour. When we entered the town, the streets and balconies

could scarcely contain the numbers of men and women who had come out to

see us: delight was depicted on every countenance, and twenty baskets

full of roses were brought us, of various colours and sweetly scented,

which were presented to Cortes and the other soldiers whom they

considered officers, and particularly to those who sat on horseback. In

this way we gradually arrived to some spacious courtyards, where

quarters had been prepared for us. Here Xicotencatl the elder and

Maxixcatzin took Cortes by the hand and conducted him into his

apartments. For each of us there was a separate bed, filled with a

species of dried grass, and covered with cloaks of nequen. Our friends

of Sempoalla and Xocotlan were quartered in our vicinity in a similar

manner. Cortes then requested that the ambassadors of Motecusuma might

lodge with him. We soon discovered that good-will and friendly feeling

were universal towards us here, and we therefore somewhat relaxed in our

ordinary precautions. The officer whose duty it was to post our

sentinels and order the patrols, remarked to Cortes, that, as everything

wore such a friendly aspect there, our usual watchfulness would not be

required. "This may be very true," answered our general, "yet we will

not relinquish that excellent custom. Though the people here may be very

good, we must not trust too much to this peace, but always be upon our

guard as if we expected each moment to be attacked. Many a general has

been ruined by carelessness and over-confidence. We, who are a mere

handful of men, and have been precautioned by Motecusuma himself, though

he may not exactly have been in earnest, must be ready for action at a

moment's notice."

The two chief caziques, the elder Xicotencatl and Maxixcatzin, were very

much hurt at the military precautions we took, nor did they strive to

hide their feelings from Cortes, but spoke to him as follows: "Malinche,

if we are to draw a conclusion from the steps you are taking, you either

look upon us as your enemies, or at least you place no confidence in us

and the treaty of peace which has been concluded between us. You post

sentinels and order your men to patrol the streets as formerly, when

both armies stood in hostile array against each other. This you have not

done of your own accord, Malinche, but because the Mexicans have

secretly whispered to you fears of treachery, wishing thereby to

estrange you from us. Believe us, you cannot put any faith in what they

say. You are now in the midst of us; everything we have is at your

service--our own persons and our children; and we are ready to suffer

death for you. Ask for as many hostages as you like, and you shall have

them."

Cortes and all of us admired and were moved at the kind and graceful

manner in which the old men expressed themselves. Our captain said he

required no hostages; he had merely to make use of his eyes to convince

himself that all was perfectly safe. These military precautions were

ever customary with us, and they were not to take umbrage on that

account. He thanked them for their kind intentions, and promised to

render them great services in return.

After this explanation, other persons of distinction arrived with a

quantity of provisions, consisting of fowls, maise-bread, figs, and

vegetables. We had, indeed, everything in the greatest abundance during

the whole of the twenty days we lay in this town.