DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF MEXICO. (monopolizer of all the glory, and a good

From Tait's Magazine,

share of the gold, which, however, is neither unnatural nor unamiable in a veteran Con

quistador intimately conversant with the their leader to reap so rich a harvest. Two deeds of those whose prowess had enabled learned licentiates, to whom he had given a

to the honors the king had conferred on him for his services, and by the neglect which had been shown to him and his brethren in arms by the other historians of the conquest of Mexico. The old soldier

says,

The Memoirs of the Conquistador, Bernal Diaz Del Castillo, written by himself; containing a true and full Account of the Discovery and Conquest of Mexico and New Spain. Translated from the origi-sight of his memoirs, charged him with vainnal Spanish by John Ingram Lockhart, from which he vindicated himself by referring glory, in recording his own achievements; F. R. A. S., Author of "Attica and Athens." 2 vols. 8vo, pp. 840. London: J. Hatchard & Son. THIS is one of those curious old books to which, if enrolled among the great quarterly reviewers instead of the humble monthly chroniclers of literature, we should have liked to dedicate many pages. The author was a brave old soldado, the companion in arms of Cortes, in the conquest of New Spain, who, in old age and retirement, amused himself with writing the history of the 119 battles in which he had been engaged, and the memorable events he had witnessed. His translator truly says: "His account is acknowledged to be the only one in which we can place reliance, and it has been the magazine from which the most eloquent of the Spanish writers on the same subject, as well as those of other countries, have borrowed their best materials." It is somewhat remarkable that with so keen a scent among our litterateurs after whatever is best and most popular in foreign literature, the racy chronicle of Bernal Diaz should have so

Another reason why I have written this true Gomara never mention a word in our praise, but account is, because the historians Illescas and give to Cortes alone all the glory of our conquests. If they had been honestly inclined they would not have passed us, the Conquistadores, by in silence; a share of Cortes' heroic deeds is also due to me, for in all his battles present in so many other engagements in the I fought among the first; besides that, I was provinces, under his officers, as you must have seen in the course of this history. I can also claim my share of the inscription which Cortes puton the silver culverin we called the Phoenix, and which Cortes sent a present to his majesty

from Mexico.

Who," says the veteran, "could speak of these battles save those who were engaged in them, not the sparrows that flew over our heads, nor the clouds that floated above the battle field?" And if he did not suppress his own achievements, he also did ample justice to those of his companions.

late been introduced to the British public, who, we are persuaded, will give it a warm welcome. A simple chronicle it is, or History behind the scenes, in undress and The heading of the short chapters of at her ease by the fireside, instead of wear- Bernal Diaz form of themselves a pithy ing her dignified stage costume. Its tardy epitome of the history of the Conquest of appearance is the more remarkable from New Spain, proceeding in this way :the high and just character which Dr. Rob- How all the caziques and calachonis of ertson, who has made considerable use of the river Grijalva arrive with presents, and it in writing his history of America, has what happened after this.-How Dona Marina given of this racy narrative. We fully sub- herself was a caziquess, and the daughter of scribe to his judgment when he says: "Ber-distinguished personages; also a ruler over a nal Diaz's account bears all the marks of authenticity, and is accompanied with such pleasant naïveté, with such interesting details, with such amusing vanity-and yet so pardonable in an old soldier, who had been, as he boasts, in a hundred and nineteen battles-as renders his book one of the most singular that is to be found in any language."

Besides this harmless vanity, Bernal Diaz displays some little jealousy of Cortes,-the

people and several towns; and how she came to Tabasco.-How we arrive with our vessels in San Juan de Ulua, and what we did there.How Teuthlille makes his report to Motecusuma, and gives him our presents; as also what further took place in our camp.How Cortes goes in search of another harbor and a good spot to found a colony, and what count of our bartering for gold, and of other further happened.-What happened on acthings which took place in our camp.―How we elected Hernando Cortes captain-general and chief justice until we should receive the

emperor's commands on this head; and what | whom, after their death, they designed to leave further happened.

Dona Marina, referred to above, was the heroine of the conquest of Mexico. A more graphic account of this celebrated female is to be found in the pages of Bernal Diaz than in any other history; and a relation, interesting in itself, may serve as an example of his manner of writing.

On the following morning, it was one of the last days in March 1519, a number of caziques, with the principal personages of the Tabasco district and surrounding neighborhood, arrived. They paid us profound reverence, and brought a present, consisting in four diadems, some lizards, ear-rings, four ducks, figures like dogs, others with Indian faces, two sandals with golden soles, and various other trifling trinkets of gold, whose value I have forgotten. There were also cloaks as the Indians wear them, which are very commodious. The present altogether was of little value, (most likely the province possessed few riches,) and was certainly not to be compared to the twenty females with which they presented us, among whom one was a very fine woman, who subsequently became a convert to Christianity, and was named Dona Marina. Cortes was vastly pleased with this present, and held, by means of Aguilar, a long discourse with the eaziques, telling them, among other things, that their present was very acceptable: but he had something further to beg, namely, that they should again return to their dwellings with their wives and children. He should not consider the peace really concluded, unless within the space of two days all the inhabitants had returned to the village. The caziques upon this issued the necessary orders, and in a couple of days all the families had returned. They showed the same readiness to comply with Cortes' wishes, when he desired them to do away with their idols and human sacrifices. He likewise, as well as he could, gave them some idea of our holy Christian faith, and how we adored only one God. We also showed them a very pious figure, representing the mother of God holding her blessed Son in her arms, and explained to them how we paid reverence to this figure, and by it to the mother of God who was in heaven. Hereupon the caziques answered, that they were much pleased with this great Tecleciguata, and that they should much like to keep it in their village. In their language, Tecleciguala means a woman of distinction.

Dona Marina was born a ruler over a people and country; for her parents had the dominion of a township called Painala, to which several other townships were subject, lying about twenty-four miles from the town of Guacasualco. Her father died when she was very young, and her mother married another young cazique. By him she had a son, of whom it appears they were both very fond, and to

their territories. In order, however, that the in his way, she was conveyed secretly, during daughter of the first marriage might not stand night-time, to an Indian family in Xicalango, they spreading the rumor she had died, which gained further belief from the circumstance, that a daughter of one of her female slaves happened to die at the time. The Indians of Xicalango did not keep the young girl themselves, but gave her to the inhabitants of Tabasco, by whom she was presented to Cortes. I knew her mother and half-brother myself, the latter having already reached manhood, and governed the township jointly with his mother. When they were subsequently both converted to Christianity, the latter was named Martha, and her son Lazaro. I was well acquainted with the whole of this circumstance; for in the year 1523, when Mexico and several other provinces had been subdued, and Christobal de Oli had rebelled in the Higueras, Cortes came to Guacasualco, and on that occasion visited Marina's birth-place. Most of the inhabitants of Guacasualco accompanied Cortes on this expedition; I myself was also among the number. As Dona Marina, in all the wars of New Spain, Tlascalla, and at the siege of Mexico, had rendered the greatest services in capacity of an interpretess, Cortes carried her every where with him. During this journey it also was that he married her to a cavalier of the township of Orizava, named Juan Xaramillo. Among others, there was present as a witness a certain Aranda of Tabasco, through whom this circumstance became immediately known. These are the true particulars of the whole case, not, however, as related by Gomara. For the rest, Marina had the most extensive influence in New Spain, and did with the Indians what she pleased.

While Cortes was staying in Guacasualco, he ordered all the caziques of the province to assemble, and advised them to adopt our holy religion. On this occasion, the mother and brother of Dona Marina also made their appearance with other caziques. They recognised each other immediately; the former, however, appeared to be in the greatest anxiety, thinking that they had merely been called there to be killed. Dona Marina, however, desired them to dry away their tears, and comforted them by saying, they were unconscious of what they were doing when they had sent her away to the inhabitants of Xicalango, and that she freely forgave the past. By this means, God certainly directed every thing for the best, turned her away from the errors of heathenism, and converted her to Christianity.

Thus destined, she likewise bore a son unto her master Cortes, and then married a cavalier named Juan Xaramillo. All this I consider of much greater importance than if she had been presented with the sole dominion of the whole of New Spain. She likewise gave pre

sents to her relatives on their return home.] them with our swords. By this means we What I have related is the strict truth, and I forced them to give ground a little, but only can swear to it. Gomara's account respecting that they might shower forth their arrows at a this is wholly erroneous, and he adds many greater distance, where they thought themother circumstances which I shall leave with- selves more secure from our arms. Even out comment. This, however, is certain, that then our artillery man Mesa made terrible havthe whole affair reminds one of the history oc among them, standing as they did crowded of Joseph and his brethren in Egypt, when together and within the reach of the cannon, they came into his power. After this diversion so that he could fire among them to his heart's into matters which subsequently took place, I content. Notwithstanding the destruction we must relate how we first managed to under- made among their ranks, we could not put stand Dona Marina. She was conversant them to flight. I now remarked to our comwith the language of Guacasualco, which is mander Diego de Ordas, that we should rush the Mexican, and with that of Tabasco. forward upon the Indians and close with them. Aguilar, however, merely understood the lat- My motive for advising this was, because I ter, which is spoken throughout the whole of saw that they merely retreated from fear of Yucatan. Dona Marina, had, therefore, first our swords, but still continued to annoy us at to make herself understood to Aguilar, who a distance with arrows, lances, and large then translated what she said into Spanish. stones. De Ordas, however, considered this This woman was a valuable instrument to us not expedient, as the enemy's numbers were in the conquest of New Spain. It was through so vast that every single man of us would her only, under the protection of the Almighty, have had to encounter three hundred of the that many things were accomplished by us: enemy at once. without her we never should have understood the Mexican language, and, upon the whole, we fell so heavily upon them that they retreatMy advice was at length followed up, and have been unable to surmount many difficul-ed as far as the wells. All this time Cortes ties.

We can give but one of the many battles recorded by our veteran, but it is memorable as being the first battle fought by Cortes in New Spain.

Cortes being now certain that the Indians would renew the attack, immediately ordered all our horses to be brought on shore, and every one, our wounded not excepted, to hold himself in readiness. When our horses, which had been such a length of time at sea, now stepped on firm ground again, they appeared very awkward and full of fear; however, the day following, they had regained their usual liveliness and agility.

still remained behind with the cavalry, though we so greatly longed for that reinforcement: we began to fear that some misfortune might also have befallen him. I shall never forget the piping and yelling which the Indians set up at every shot we fired, and how they sought to hide their loss from us by tossing up earth and straw into the air, making a terrible noise with their drums and trumpets, and their war-whoop Ala lala.

In one of these moments Cortes came galloping up with the horse. Our enemies being still busily engaged with us, did not immediately observe this, so that our cavalry easily dashed in among them from behind. The nature of the ground was quite favorable for its mauœuvres; and as it consisted of strong The Indians were already moving forward active fellows, most of the horses being, morein search of us, when we came up with them: over, powerful and fiery animals, our small every one had a large bunch of feathers on his body of cavalry in every way made the best head, a cotton cuirass on, and their faces were use of their weapons. When we, who were daubed with white, black, and red colors. already hotly engaged with the enemy, espied Besides having drums and trumpets, they our cavalry, we fought with renewed energy, were armed with huge bows and arrows, while the latter, by attacking them in the rear shields, lances, and large broadswords; they at the same time, now obliged them to face had also bodies of slingers, and others armed about. The Indians, who had never seen any with poles hardened in the fire. The Indians horses before, could not think otherwise than were in such vast numbers that they complete- that horse and rider were one body. Quite ly filled the bean fields, and immediately fell astounded at this to them so novel a sight, upon us on all sides at once, like furious dogs. they quitted the plain and retreated to a rising Their attack was so impetuous, so numerous ground. Cortes now related why he had not were the arrows, stones, and lances with which come sooner. First, he had been delayed by they greeted us, that above seventy of our men the morass; then, again, he was obliged to were wounded in no time, and one named Sal-fight his way through other bodies of the enedana, was struck by an arrow in the ear, and my whom he had met, in which five men and instantly dropt down dead. With like fury eight horses were wounded. they rushed at us with their pikes, at the same time pouring forth showers of arrows, and continually wounding our men. However, we fully repaid them with our crossbows, muskets, and heavy cannon, cutting right and left among

Having somewhat rested from our fatigue under the trees which stood on the field of battle, we praised God and the holy Virgin, and thanked them with uplifted hands for the complete victory they had granted us: and, as it was

the feast of the annunciation to the holy Vir-| Nevertheless, I should feel delighted if this gin, the town which was subsequently built historian has spoken the truth, although I here in memory of this great victory, was must confess that I never heard this wonder named Santa Maria de la Vitoria. This was mentioned before reading his book, nor have I the first batile we fought under Cortes in New ever heard any of the conquistadores speak of Spain. it who were present at the battle.

After this pious solemnity we bandaged the wounds of our men with linen, which was all we had for that purpose. Those of our horses we dressed with melted fat, which we cut from

the dead bodies of the Indians. We likewise took this opportunity of counting the number of killed left by the enemy on the field of battle. We found above eight hundred, numbers still showing signs of life. Our swords had done the most carnage among them, though many were killed by our cannon. Wherever the cavalry made its appearance the enemy had most work to do. The fighting lasted about an hour; and our enemies maintained their ground so well, that they did not quit the field of battle until our horse broke in among them. There were two caziques among the five prisoners we made.

As we were quite fatigued and hungry we returned to our quarters, buried the two soldiers, one of whom had been shot in the neck and the other in the ear, posted strong watches, then ate our supper and retired to rest.

Cortes, who profited by every circumstance, said smilingly to us, "It appears to me, gentlemen, that the Indians stand in great awe of our horses, and imagine that these and our guns alone fight the battle. A thought has just struck me which will further confirm them in this notion. You must bring here the mare of Juan Sedeno which foaled on board a short time ago, and fasten her here where I am now standing, Then bring also the stallion of the musician Ortiz, which is a very fiery animal, and will quickly scent the n are. As soon as you find this to be the case, lead both the horses to separate places, that the caziques may neither see the horses, nor hear them neigh, until I shall be in conversation with them." All this was accordingly done. He likewise ordered our largest cannon to be heavily loaded with gunpowder and ball.

Francisco Lopez de Gomara, in his account of this battle, says, that previous to the arrival of Cortes with the cavalry, the holy apostle St. Jacob, or St. Peter in person, had galloped up on a gray-colored horse to our assistance. I can only say, that for the exertion of our arms and this victory, we stand indebted to our Lord Jesus Christ; and that in this battle every individual man among us was set upon by such numbers of the enemy, that if each of them had merely thrown a handful of earth upon us we should have been buried beneath it. Certain it is, therefore, that God A little after mid-day, forty caziques arrived showed his mercy to us here, and it may, in- in great state, and richly clothed according to deed, have been one of the two glorious apos- their fashion. They saluted Cortes and all of tles St. Jacob or St. Peter who thus came to us, perfumed us with their incense, begged forour assistance. Perhaps on account of my giveness for what had happened, and promised sins I was not considered worthy of the good to be friendly for the future. Cortes answered fortune to behold them; for I could only see by our interpreter Aguilar, reminding them, Francisco de Morla on his brown horse gal with a very serious look, how often he had loping up with Cortes; and even at this very wished them to make peace with us, and how, moment, while I am writing this, I can fancy owing to their obstinacy. we were almost upon I see all passing before my eyes just as I the point of destroying them, with the whole have related it; although I, an unworthy sin of the inhabitants of this district. We were ner, was not considered worthy of beholding vassals of the mighty king and lord, the empeone of the glorious apostles face to face. Yet ror Charles, he further added, who had sent again I never heard any of the four hundred sol- us to this country with orders to favor and diers, nor ever Cortes himself, nor any of the assist those who should submit to his imperial many cavaliers, mention this wonder or con- sway, which we would assuredly do if they firm its truth. We should certainly have built were amicably inclined towards us. If, howa church, and have called the town Santiago ever, they were not so, the tepustles (so the or San Pedro de la Vitoria, and not Santa Indians called our cannon) would be fired off, Maria de la Vitoria. If, therefore, what Go- which were already embittered against them mara relates is true, then we must indeed have in some measure on account of the attack they been bad Christians not to have paid greater re- had made upon us. Cortes at, this moment, spect to the assistance which God sent us in the gave the signal for firing our largest cannon. person of his holy apostle, and for having omit-The report was like a sudden clap of thunder, ted to thank him daily for it in his own church. the ball whizzing along the hills, which could

be distinctly heard, as it was mid-day and not to give him any considerable commendary in a breath of air stirring. The caziques, who Cuba, to take all the anchors, ropes, sails, in had never seen this before, appeared in dis-short every thing that might be of use to us may, and believed all Cortes had said; who, out of the vessels, and run the latter all on however, desired Aguilar to comfort and as-shore, with the exception of the boats. The sure them he had given orders that no harm pilots, the old ships' masters, and those seashould be done them. At this moment the men who were unable to make the campaign stallion was brought and fastened at a short with us, were to remain behind in the town, distance from the spot where Cortes and the and employ themselves in catching fish with caziques were holding the conference; as the our two drag-nets in the harbor, where the mare was likewise near at hand, the stallion former were in great abundance. immediately began to neigh, stamp the ground, and rear itself, while its eyes were continually fixed on the Indians, who stood in front of Cortes's tent, as the mare was placed behind it. The caziques, however, thought the animal was making all these movements against them, and appeared greatly agitated. When Cortes found what effect this scene had made upon the Indians, he rose from his seat, and walking to the horse, took hold of the bridle, and desired his servant to lead it away. Aguilar, however, was to make the Indians believe that he had ordered the horse not to do them any injury.

While all this was going on, above thirty Indian porters (whom they term tamemes) arrived with fowls, baked fish, and various fruits: these porters, on account of their loads, had perhaps not been able to follow the caziques fast enough. A lively discourse was now kept up between Cortes and the caziques, who in the end left us perfectly contented, with the assurance that the following day they would return with a present.

The famous resolution taken by the warlike Cortes to destroy his ships, so that he must either complete his conquest or perish in the attempt, is thus briefly adverted

to:

Juan de Escalante punctually obeyed these orders, and arrived in Sempoalla with an additional company formed of the sailors, of whom several became very excellent soldiers.

Passing many incidents of great interest, we copy out the entrance of the conquerors into the city of Mexico, and of the riches and splendor of that magnificent capital.

The following morning we left Iztapalapan, accompanied by all the principa! caziques above mentioned. The road along which we marched was eight paces in breadth, and if I still remember ran in a perfectly straight line to Mexico. Notwithstanding the breadth, it was much too narrow to hold the vast crowds of people who continually kept arriving from different parts to gaze upon us, and we could scarcely move along. Besides this, the tops of all the temples and towers were crowded, while the lake beneath was completely covered with canoes filled with Indians, for all were curious to catch a glimpse of us. And who can wonder at this, as neither men like unto ourselves, nor horses, had ever been seen here before!

When we gazed upon all this splendor at once, we scarcely knew what to think, and we doubted whether all that we beheld was real. A series of large towns stretched themselves While preparations were going on at Sem-along the banks of the lake, out of which still poalla for our march into the interior, numer- larger ones rose magnificently above the waous consultations were held with Cortes re-ters. Innumerable crowds of canoes were specting every thing connected with it. We, plying every where around us; at regular dishis trustworthy adherents, proposed that all tances we continually passed over new bridges, the vessels should be run on shore, in order and before us lay the great city of Mexico in at once to cut off all possibility of further mu-all its splendor. tiny, when we should have advanced far into And we who were gazing upon all this, the interior of the country. In which case, passing through innumerable crowds of hulikewise, the pilots and sailors would be of man beings, were a mere handful of men, in greater use to us than by idling their time all 450, our minds still full of the warnings away in the harbor. I am well aware that which the inhabitants of Huexotzinco, Tlasthe idea of destroying our vessels originated calla, and Tlalmanalco, with the caution they with Cortes himself, and that he merely shoved had given us not to expose our lives to the it on our shoulders for this reason, that if pay-treachery of the Mexicans. I may safely ask ment for the vessels should be demanded of the kind reader to ponder a moment, and say him, he could throw the blame on us, and say whether he thinks any men in this world ever that all was done at our own request; so that ventured so bold a stroke as this? we both individually and collectively should have to assist in repaying the damages. This resolution was immediately adopted, and Cortes ordered the alguacil-major, Juan de Escalante, a young man of very great courage, and who was a close adherer to him, utterly hating Diego Velasquez, because he had neglected

When we had arrived at a spot where a narrow causeway led towards Cojohuacan, we were met by a number of caziques and distinguished personages, all attired in their most splendid garments. They had been despatched by Motecusuma to meet us, and bid us welcome in his name; and in token of peace