CHAPTER LXXXI.

_How the inhabitants of Cholulla despatched four Indians to us, all

men of no distinction, to apologise for not having visited us in

Tlascalla, and what further happened._

I mentioned in the preceding chapter that our captain had sent a message

to Cholulla, inviting the inhabitants of that town to visit us in

Tlascalla. When the caziques there received this message, they merely

thought proper to send us four Indians of mean rank, and apologised for

not appearing themselves, on account of indisposition. These messengers

neither brought any provisions nor anything else with them, but in a few

dry words offered the excuse just mentioned.

The caziques of Tlascalla who were present when these messengers

arrived, were struck with their appearance, and remarked to Cortes that

this message was a real insult to him and all of us, since these

messengers were _Macehuales_,[32] and people of mean condition.

This circumstance induced Cortes to despatch four Indians of Sempoalla

to Cholulla, telling them to acquaint the inhabitants there that he

should expect an embassy from them within the space of three days,

consisting of men of rank and authority. The distance between them and

him was merely twenty miles, and if no one appeared within the stated

time, he should consider the town of Cholulla in rebellion against us.

If, however, the embassy he required did make its appearance, it was his

intention to reveal matters of importance to them, for the salvation of

their souls, and salutary to their whole existence; he would then also

look upon them as friends and brothers, in the same way as he considered

their neighbours the Tlascallans. If, however, our proposals met with

their entire disapprobation, and if they did not consider our friendship

worthy of acceptance, we should be far from troubling them with our

presence.

When the inhabitants of Cholulla were made acquainted with this friendly

declaration, they sent word that the reason why they could not come to

Tlascalla was, because they were at enmity with the inhabitants, and

were well aware how they and their ruler Motecusuma had been slandered

by them: we had merely to quit the town of Tlascalla and the boundaries

of that province, and if then they did not do their duty towards us, we

might look upon them in the light we had threatened, and treat them

accordingly.

Our captain considered this excuse perfectly reasonable, and we

therefore resolved upon marching to Cholulla. When the caziques of

Tlascalla saw that our determination was fixed, they thus addressed

Cortes: "Then you rather put your trust in what the Mexicans say, than

in us who are your friends? We have often impressed on your mind how

particularly you should be upon your guard with the people of Cholulla,

and against the power of Mexico in general; however, in order that you

may have assistance in case of need, we have armed 10,000 of our

warriors to accompany you."

Cortes expressed his thanks to these excellent men for their good

wishes, and deliberated with us as to the policy of entering with such a

large army into a country whose friendship we were desirous of gaining.

After mature consideration, we came to the conclusion that 2000 men

would be a sufficient number to join us, and Cortes accordingly begged

our friends for so many, and the rest were thus forced to remain at

home.

[32] Bernal Diaz writes, incorrectly, Macegales. By this word the

Mexicans denoted the country people, who formed the great mass of the

population, who also tilled the ground, and paid to the landowners a

third part of the produce. Landed proprietors in Greece, at the present

day, are not so generous, for they take two thirds of the produce and

allow the tenant only one. (p. 192.)