The Spanish conquest in America, and its relation to the history of slavery and to the government of colonies Volume 2

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856 Excerpt: ...treated them well. This other Spaniard, who had also received the message of Cortez, was not inclined to leave his wife and children, and, moreover, he was ashamed to show himself with his nostrils and his ears bored after the manner of the people with whom he lived. Geronimo de Aguilar served afterward as interpreter to Cortez, and an interpreter was so useful that it was looked upon as a miraculous interposition that the fleet had been obliged to return to Cozumel, and had thus secured, at the outset of their undertaking, the services of so valuable a comrade. It is worthy of notice that the inhabitants of Cozumel were found to worship an idol in the shape of a cross.' This statement is amply confirmed by the discoveries recently made in Central Americas! Leaving Cozumel, and passing round the coast of Yucatan, Cortez made his entry at the river of Grijalva into New Spain. After some resistance from the natives, he disembarked, and took possession of the country in the name of the Spanish monarch. Proceeding "En medi0 del qual havia una cruz de Cal, tan alta como diez palmos, á la qual tenian, i adoraban por Dios de la Lluvia/'--GoMAR., Crimica, cap. 15. " Era Cozumél el mayor Santuario para los Indios que habia en este reino de Yucatan, y 1'1 donde recurrian en romeria de todo él por unas calzadas que le atravesaban todo, y hoy permanecen en muchas partes vestigios dellas."--Dn:oo Lo11:z Cooo1muno, Historia de Yucatan, lib. i., cap. 6. Campeche, 1842. 1" See STsPm:Ns's Central America, vol. ii., p. 345, where there is an engraving of a tablet at Palenque, in which two priests are making oflerings to a highly ornamented cross. inland, he found that he was in a territory called Tabasco; and there occ...