To the experienced writer, who might otherwise regard the completion of so vast an undertaking within so apparently limited a period as indicative of work superficially done, I would say that this History was begun in 1869, six years before the publication of [The Native Races]; and although the earlier volumes of the several divisions I was obliged for the most part not only to plan and write, but to extract and arrange my own material, later I was able to utilize the labors of others. Among these as the most faithful and efficient I take pleasure in mentioning Mr Henry L. Oak, Mr William Nemos, Mr Thomas Savage, Mrs Frances Fuller Victor, and Mr Ivan Petroff, of whom, and of others, I speak at length elsewhere.
Of my methods of working I need say but little here, since I describe them more fully in another place. Their peculiarity, if they have any, consists in the employment of assistants, as before mentioned, to bring together by indices, references, and other devices, all existing testimony on each topic to be treated. I thus obtain important information, which otherwise, with but one lifetime at my disposal, would have been beyond control. Completeness of evidence by no means insures a wise decision from an incompetent judge; yet the wise judge gladly avails himself of all attainable testimony. It has been my purpose to give in every instance due credit to sources of information, and cite freely such conclusions of other writers as differ from my own. I am more and more convinced of the wisdom and necessity of such a course, by which, moreover, I aim to impart a certain bibliographic value to my work. The detail to be encompassed appeared absolutely unlimited, and more than once I despaired of ever completing my task. Preparatory investigation occupied tenfold more time than the writing.
I deem it proper to express briefly my idea of what history should be, and to indicate the general line of thought that has guided me in this task. From the mere chronicle of happenings, petty and momentous, to the historico-philosophical essay, illustrated with here and there a fact supporting the writer's theories, the range is wide. Neither extreme meets the requirements of history, however accurate the one or brilliant the other. Not to a million minute photographs do we look for practical information respecting a mountain range, nor yet to an artistic painting of some one striking feature for a correct description. From the two extremes, equally to be avoided, the true historian will, whatever his inclination, be impelled by prudence, judgment, and duty from theory toward fact, from vivid coloring toward photographic exactness. Not that there is too much brilliancy in current history, but too little fact. An accurate record of events must form the foundation, and largely the superstructure. Yet events pure and simple are by no means more important than the institutionary development which they cause or accompany. Men, institutions, industries, must be studied equally. A man's character and influence no less than his actions demand attention. Cause and effect are more essential than mere occurrence; achievements of peace should take precedence of warlike conquest; the condition of the people is a more profitable and interesting subject of investigation than the acts of governors, the valor of generals, or the doctrines of priests. The historian must classify, and digest, and teach as well as record; he should not, however, confound his conclusions with the facts on which they rest. Symmetry of plan and execution as well as rigid condensation, always desirable, become an absolute necessity in a work like that which I have undertaken. In respect to time and territory my field is immense. The matter to be presented is an intricate complication of annals, national and sectional, local and personal. That my plan is in every respect the best possible, I do not say; but it is the best that my judgment suggests after long deliberation. The extent of this work is chargeable to the magnitude of the subject and the immense mass of information gathered rather than to any tendency to verbosity. There is scarcely a page but has been twice or thrice rewritten with a view to condensation; and instead of faithfully discharging this irksome duty, it would have been far easier and cheaper to have sent a hundred volumes through the press. The plan once formed, I sought to make the treatment exhaustive and symmetrical. Not all regions nor all periods are portrayed on the same scale: but though the camera of investigation is set up before each successive topic at varying distances, the picture, large or small, is finished with equal care. I may add that I have attached more than ordinary importance to the matter of mechanical arrangement, by which through title-pages, chapter-headings, and indices the reader may expeditiously refer to any desired topic, and find all that the work contains about any event, period, place, institution, man, or book; and above all I have aimed at exactness.
We hear much of the philosophy of history, of the science and signification of history; but there is only one way to write anything, which is to tell the truth, plainly and concisely. As for the writer, I will only say that while he should lay aside for the time his own religion and patriotism, he should be always ready to recognize the influence and weigh the value of the religion and patriotism of others. The exact historian will lend himself neither to idolatry nor to detraction, and will positively decline to act either as the champion or assailant of any party or power. Friendships and enmities, loves and hates, he will throw into the crucible of evidence to be refined and cast into forms of unalloyed truth. He must be just and humble. To clear judgment he must add strict integrity and catholicity of opinion. Ever in mind should be the occult forces that move mankind, and the laws by which are formulated belief, conscience, and character. The actions of men are governed by proximate states of mind, and these are generated both from antecedent states of mind and antecedent states of body, influenced by social and natural environment. The right of every generation should be determined, not by the ethics of any society, sect, or age, but by the broad, inexorable teachings of nature; nor should he forget that standards of morality are a freak of fashion, and that from wrongs begotten of necessity in the womb of progress has been brought forth right, and likewise right has engendered wrongs. He should remember that in the worst men there is much that is good, and in the best much that is bad; that constructed upon the present skeleton of human nature a perfect man would be a monster; nor should he forget how much the world owes its bad men. But alas! who of us are wholly free from the effects of early training and later social atmospheres! Who of us has not in some degree faith, hope, and charity! Who of us does not hug some ancestral tradition, or rock some pet theory!
As to the relative importance of early history, here and elsewhere, it is premature for any now living to judge. Beside the bloody battles of antiquity, the sieges, crusades, and wild convulsions of unfolding civilization, this transplanting of ours may seem tame. Yet the great gathering of the enlightened from all nations upon these shores, the subjugation of the wilderness with its wild humanity, and the new empire-modelling that followed, may disclose as deep a significance in the world's future as any display of army movements, or dainty morsels of court scandal, or the idiosyncrasies of monarchs and ministers. It need not be recited to possessors of our latter-day liberties that the people are the state, and rulers the servants. It is historical barbarism, of which the Homeric poems and Carlovingian tales not alone are guilty, to throw the masses into the background, or wholly to ignore them. "Heureux le peuple dont l'histoire ennuie," is an oft repeated aphorism; as if deeds diabolical were the only actions worthy of record. But we of this new western development are not disposed to exalt brute battling overmuch; as for rulers and generals, we discover in them the creatures, not the creators, of civilization. We would rather see how nations originate, organize, and unfold; we would rather examine the structure and operations of religions, society refinements and tyrannies, class affinities and antagonisms, wealth economies, the evolutions of arts and industries, intellectual and moral as well as æsthetic culture, and all domestic phenomena with their homely joys and cares. For these last named, even down to dress, or the lack of it, are in part the man, and the man is the nation. With past history we may become tolerably familiar; but present developments are so strange, their anomalies are so startling to him who attempts to reduce them to form, that he is well content to leave for the moment the grosser extravagances of antiquity, howsoever much superior in interest they may be to the average mind. Yet in the old and the new we may alike from the abstract to the concrete note the genesis of history, and from the concrete to the abstract regard the analysis of history. The historian should be able to analyze and to generalize; yet his path leads not alone through the enticing fields of speculation, nor is it his only province to pluck the fruits and flowers of philosophy, or to blow brain bubbles and weave theorems. He must plod along the rough highways of time and development, and out of many entanglements bring the vital facts of history. And therein lies the richest reward. "Shakspere's capital discovery was this," says Edward Dowden, "that the facts of the world are worthy to command our highest ardour, our most resolute action, our most solemn awe; and that the more we penetrate into fact, the more will our nature be quickened, enriched, and exalted."
That the success of this work should be proportionate to the labor bestowed upon it is scarcely to be expected; but I do believe that in due time it will be generally recognized as a work worth doing, and let me dare to hope fairly well done. If I read life's lesson aright, truth alone is omnipotent and immortal. Therefore, of all I wrongfully offend I crave beforehand pardon; from those I rightfully offend I ask no mercy; their censure is dearer to me than would be their praise.
CONTENTS OF THIS VOLUME.
| CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. SPAIN AND CIVILIZATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. | |
| PAGE. | |
| General View—Transition from the Old to the New Civilization—HistoricalSketch of Spain—Spanish Character—Spanish Society—ProminentFeatures of the Age—Domestic Matters—The NewWorld—Comparative Civilizations and Savagisms—Earliest Voyagesof Discovery | [1] |
| CHAPTER II. COLUMBUS AND HIS DISCOVERIES. 1492-1500. | |
| Early Experiences—The Compact—Embarkation at Palos—The Voyage—Discoveryof Land—Unfavorable Comparison with the Paradiseof Marco Polo—Cruise among the Islands—One Nature Everywhere—Desertionof Pinzon—Wreck of the Santa María—The Fortress ofLa Navidad Erected—Return to Spain—Rights of Civilization—ThePapal Bull of Partition—Fonseca Appointed Superintendent of theIndies—Second Voyage—Navidad in Ruins—Isabela Established—Discontentof the Colonists—Explorations of the Interior—CoastingCuba, and Discovery of Jamaica—Failure of Columbus as Governor—Intercoursewith Spain—Destruction of the Indians—Governmentof the Indies—Diego and Bartolomé Colon—Charges against theAdmiral—Commission of Inquiry Appointed—Second Return toSpain—Third Voyage—Trinidad Discovered—Santo DomingoFounded—The Roldan Rebellion—Francisco de Bobadilla Appointedto Supersede Columbus—Arbitrary and Iniquitous Conduct ofBobadilla—Columbus Sent in Chains to Spain | [155] |
| CHAPTER III. DISCOVERY OF DARIEN. 1500-1502. | |
| Rodrigo de Bastidas—Extension of New World Privileges—The RoyalShare—Juan de la Cosa—Ships of the Early Discoverers—CoastingDarien—The Terrible Teredo—Wrecked on Española—SpanishMoney—Treatment of Bastidas by Ovando—Accused, and Sent toSpain for Trial—He is Immediately Acquitted—Future Career andCharacter of Bastidas—The Archives of the Indies—The SeveralCollections of Public Documents in Spain—The Labors of Muñozand Navarrete—Bibliographical Notices of the Printed Collectionsof Navarrete, Ternaux-Compans, Salvá and Baranda, and Pachecoand Cárdenas | [183] |
| CHAPTER IV. COLUMBUS ON THE COASTS OF HONDURAS, NICARAGUA, AND COSTA RICA. 1502-1506. | |
| The Sovereigns Decline either to Restore to the Admiral his Government,or to Capture for him the Holy Sepulchre—So he Sails on a FourthVoyage of Discovery—Fernando Colon and his History—OvandoDenies the Expedition Entrance to Santo Domingo Harbor—ColumbusSails Westward—Strikes the Shore of Honduras near GuanajaIsland—Early American Cartography—Columbus Coasts Southwardto the Darien Isthmus—Then Returns and Attempts Settlement atVeragua—Driven thence, his Vessels are Wrecked at Jamaica—Theremidst Starvation and Mutiny he Remains a Year—Then heReaches Española, and finally Spain, where he shortly afterwardDies—Character of Columbus—His Biographers | [202] |
| CHAPTER V. ADMINISTRATION OF THE INDIES. 1492-1526. | |
| Columbus the Rightful Ruler—Juan Aguado—Francisco de Bobadilla—Nicolásde Ovando—Santo Domingo the Capital of the Indies—Extensionof Organized Government to Adjacent Islands and Mainland—Residencias—GoldMining at Española—Race and Caste inGovernment—Indian and Negro Slavery—Cruelty to the Natives—SpanishSentimentalism—Pacification, not Conquest—The SpanishMonarchs always the Indian's Friends—Bad Treatment due to Distanceand Evil-minded Agents—Infamous Doings of Ovando—Repartimientosand Encomiendas—The Sovereigns Intend them asProtection to the Natives—Settlers Make them the Means of IndianEnslavement—Las Casas Appears and Protests against Inhumanities—TheDefaulting Treasurer—Diego Colon Supersedes Ovando asGovernor—And Makes Matters Worse—The Jeronimite FathersSent Out—Audiencias—A Sovereign Tribunal is Established atSanto Domingo which Gradually Assumes all the Functions of anAudiencia, and as such Finally Governs the Indies—Las Casas inSpain—The Consejo de Indias, and Casa de Contratacion—Legislationfor the Indies | [247] |
| CHAPTER VI. THE GOVERNMENTS OF NUEVA ANDALUCÍA AND CASTILLA DEL ORO. 1506-1510. | |
| Tierra Firme Thrown Open to Colonization—Rival Applications—Alonsode Ojeda Appointed Governor of Nueva Andalucía, and Diego deNicuesa of Castilla del Oro—Hostile Attitudes of the Rivals at SantoDomingo—Ojeda Embarks for Cartagena—Builds the Fortress of SanSebastian—Failure and Death—Nicuesa Sails from Veragua—PartsCompany with his Fleet—His Vessel is Wrecked—Passes Veragua—Confinedwith his Starving Crew on an Island—Succor—Failure atVeragua—Attempts Settlement at Nombre de Dios—Loss of ShipSent to Española for Relief—Horrible Sufferings—BibliographicalNotices of Las Casas, Oviedo, Peter Martyr, Gomara, and Herrera—Characterof the Early Chroniclers for Veracity | [289] |
| CHAPTER VII. SETTLEMENT OF SANTA MARÍA DE LA ANTIGUA DEL DARIEN. 1510-1511. | |
| Francisco Pizarro Abandons San Sebastian—Meets Enciso at Cartagena—Heand his Crew Look like Pirates—They are Taken back to SanSebastian—Vasco Nuñez de Balboa—Boards Enciso's Ship in a Cask—Arrivesat San Sebastian—The Spaniards Cross to Darien—The Riverand the Name—Cemaco, Cacique of Darien, Defeated—Founding ofthe Metropolitan City—Presto, Change! The Hombre del Casco Up,the Bachiller Down—Vasco Nuñez, Alcalde—Nature of the Office—Regidor—Colmenares,in Search of Nicuesa, Arrives at Antigua—HeFinds Him in a Pitiable Plight—Antigua Makes Overtures toNicuesa—Then Rejects Him—And Finally Drives Him Forth toDie—Sad End of Nicuesa | [321] |
| CHAPTER VIII. FACTIONS AND FORAGINGS IN DARIEN. 1511-1513. | |
| The Garrison at Nombre de Dios—Subtle Diplomacies—Vasco NuñezAssumes Command—Enciso, his Life and Writings—The Townand the Jail—Rights of Sanctuary—Valdivia's Voyage—Zamudio'sMission—Expedition to Coiba—Careta Gives Vasco Nuñez hisDaughter—Ponca Punished—Jura, the Savage Statesman—Visit ofthe Spaniards to Comagre—Panciaco Tells Them of a SouthernSea—The Story of Valdivia, Who is Shipwrecked and Eaten byCannibals—Vasco Nuñez Undertakes an Impious Pilgrimage to theGolden Temple of Dabaiba—Conspiracy Formed by the Natives toDestroy Antigua—Fulvia Divulges the Plot—Darien Quieted—VascoNuñez Receives a Royal Commission—Serious Charges—VascoNuñez Resolves to Discover the Southern Sea before He isPrevented by Arrest | [337] |
| CHAPTER IX. DISCOVERY OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 1513. | |
| Departure of Vasco Nuñez from Antigua—Careta's Welcome—Difficultiesto be Encountered—Treacherous Character of the Country—HistoricalBloodhounds—Ponca Reconciled—Capture of Quarequá—FirstView of the Pacific from the Heights of Quarequá—TheSpaniards Descend to Chiapes—Take Formal Possession of the SouthSea—Form of Taking Possession—The Names South Sea and PacificOcean—Further Discoveries—Perilous Canoe Voyage—Gold andPearls in Profusion—Tumaco Pacified—The Pearl Islands—TheReturn—Teoca's Kindness—Ponca Murdered—Pocorosa Pacified—TubanamáVanquished—Gold, Gold, Gold—Panciaco's Congratulations—Arrivalat Antigua | [358] |
| CHAPTER X. PEDRARIAS DÁVILA ASSUMES THE GOVERNMENT OF DARIEN. 1514-1515. | |
| How the Discovery of a South Sea was Regarded in Spain—The Enemiesof Vasco Nuñez at Court—Pedrarias Dávila Appointed Governor—Departurefrom Spain and Arrival at Antigua—Arbolanchain Spain—Pedrarias Persecutes Balboa—The King's Requirementof the Indians—Juan de Ayora Sent to Plant a Line of Fortressesbetween the Two Seas—Which Work He Leaves for WholesaleRobbery—Bartolomé Hurtado Sent to Bring in the Plunder—DisastrousAttempts to Violate the Sepulchres of Cenú—Expeditionof Tello de Guzman to the South Sea—The Site of Panamá Discovered—TheGolden Temple of Dabaiba Once More—Gaspar de Moralesand Francisco Pizarro Visit the South Sea | [386] |
| CHAPTER XI. DARIEN EXPEDITIONS UNDER PEDRARIAS. 1515-1517. | |
| Gonzalo de Badajoz Visits the South Sea—What He Sees at Nombre deDios—His Dealings with Totonagua—And with Tataracherubi—Arrivesat Natá—The Spaniards Gather much Gold—They Encounterthe Redoubtable Paris—A Desperate Fight—Badajoz Loses hisGold and Returns to Darien—Pedrarias on the War-path—He StrikesCenú a Blow of Revenge—Acla Founded—The Governor Returns Illto Antigua—Expedition of Gaspar de Espinosa to the South Sea—TheLicentiate's Ass—Robbery by Law—Espinosa's Relation—ABloody-handed Priest—Espinosa at Natá—He Courts the Acquaintanceof Paris—Who Kills the Ambassadors—Hurtado Surveys theSouthern Seaboard to Nicoya—Panamá Founded—An AboriginalTartarus—Return of Espinosa's Expedition | [412] |
| CHAPTER XII. THE FATE OF VASCO NUÑEZ DE BALBOA. 1516-1517. | |
| Affairs at Antigua—Different Qualities of Pacification—Complaints ofVasco Nuñez to the King—A New Expedition Planned—Vasco NuñezMade Adelantado and Captain-general of the South Sea—PedrariasKeeps Secret the Appointment—Reconciliation of Balboa and Pedrarias—Betrothalof Doña María—Vasco Nuñez Goes to Acla—Massacreof Olano—The Municipality of Acla Established—Materialsfor Ships Carried across the Mountains—Difficulties, Perils,and Mortality—Balboa at the Pearl Islands—Prediction of MicerCodro, the Astrologer—Rumored Arrival of a New Governor atAntigua—Meditated Evasion of New Authority—The Infamy ofGarabito—Vasco Nuñez Summoned by Pedrarias to Acla—HisJourney thither—Trial and Execution | [432] |
| CHAPTER XIII. DECLINE OF SPANISH SETTLEMENT ON THE NORTH COAST. 1517-1523. | |
| Dishonesty the Best Policy—Pedrarias Stigmatized—His Authority Curtailed—Quevedoin Spain—He Encounters Las Casas—The Battle ofthe Priests—Oviedo Enters the Arena—Business in Darien—TheInteroceanic Road Again—Its Termini—Pedrarias and Espinosa atPanamá—The Licentiate Makes another Raid—The Friars of StJerome have their Eye on Pedrarias—The Cabildo of Antigua Shakesits Finger at Him—Continued Attempts to Depopulate the NorthCoast—Albites Builds Nombre de Dios—Lucky Licentiate—Arrivaland Death of Lope de Sosa—Oviedo Returns and Does Battle withthe Dragon—And is Beaten from the Field | [460] |
| CHAPTER XIV. GIL GONZALEZ IN COSTA RICA AND NICARAGUA. 1519-1523. | |
| Andrés Niño and his Spice Islands—Fails to Obtain Authority to Discover—Appliesto Gil Gonzalez Dávila—Agreement with the King—RoyalOrder for the Ships of Vasco Nuñez—Pedrarias Refuses toDeliver Them—Gil Gonzalez Transports Ships across the Mountains—Embarksfrom the Pearl Islands—Gil Gonzalez Proceeds byLand and Niño by Sea—Visit to Nicoya—And to Nicaragua—TheCaptain-general Converts many Souls—And Gathers much Gold—Fightwith Diriangen—Nicaragua Apostatizes—The Spaniards Terminatethe Discovery and Hasten to their Ships—Niño's Voyage toFonseca Bay—Return to Panamá | [478] |
| CHAPTER XV. SPANISH DEPREDATIONS ROUND PANAMÁ BAY. 1521-1526. | |
| European Settlement on the West Coast of America—Progress of Panamá—LawsRespecting Spanish Settlements in America—FinalAbandonment of Antigua—Administration of the South Sea Government—Piracyupon Principle—Pascual de Andagoya Explores Southward—ConquersBirú—Return to Panamá—Colonies of Veragua andChiriquí—The Chieftain Urracá Takes up his Abode in the Mountainsand Defies the Spaniards—Pizarro, Espinosa, Pedrarias, andCompañon in vain Attempt his Overthrow—Building of Natá—Compañonas Governor—Hurtado Colonizes Chiriquí—Conspiracy—Captureand Escape of Urracá—Several Years more of War | [495] |
| CHAPTER XVI. THE WARS OF THE SPANIARDS. 1523-1524. | |
| Oviedo in Spain—He Secures the Appointment of Pedro de los Rios asGovernor of Castilla del Oro—Pedrarias Determines to PossessNicaragua—He Sends thither Córdoba, who Founds Brusélas, Granada,and Leon—And Carries a Ship across the Land from thePacific to Lake Nicaragua—He Makes a Survey of the Lake—Informedof Spaniards Lurking thereabout—Development of theSpanish Colonial System—Gil Gonzalez Escapes with his Treasureto Española—Despatches Cereceda to Spain with Intelligence of hisDiscovery—Sails from Santo Domingo to the Coast of Honduras—Arrivesat Puerto Caballos—Founds San Gil de Buenavista—EncountersHernando de Soto—Battle—Cristóbal de Olid Appears—FoundsTriunfo de la Cruz | [511] |
| CHAPTER XVII. COLONIZATION IN HONDURAS. 1524-1525. | |
| Cortés in Mexico—Extension of his Conquests—Fears of Encroachmentson the Part of Spaniards in Central America—Cristóbal de Olid Sentto Honduras—Touching at Habana, He is Won from Allegiance toCortés—Triunfo de la Cruz Founded—Olid as Traitor—Meeting withGil Gonzalez—The Wrath of Cortés—Casas Sent after Olid—NavalEngagement in Triunfo Harbor—Casas Falls into the Hands of Olid,Who is soon Captured by the Captive—Death of Olid—Return ofCasas to Mexico—Trujillo Founded—Interference of the Audienciaof Santo Domingo | [522] |
| CHAPTER XVIII. MARCH OF CORTÉS TO HONDURAS. 1524-1525. | |
| Doubts concerning Casas—Cortés Tired of Inaction—Determines to Goin Person to Honduras—Sets out with a Large Party—Arrives atGoazacoalco—The Gay Army soon Comes to Grief—The Way Barredby Large Rivers and Deep Morasses—Scarcity of Provisions—Sufferingsof the Soldiers—The Trick of the Merchant-cacique—Killingof the Captive Kings—Apotheosis of a Charger—Fears of RebelliousSpaniards Dissipated on Nearing Nito | [537] |
| CHAPTER XIX. CORTÉS IN HONDURAS. 1525-1526. | |
| He is Master of all the Miseries there—Miasma and Deep Distress—Exertionsof Cortés in Behalf of the Colonists—A Vessel Appearswith Provisions—Cortés Sends out Foragers—He Seeks a BetterLocality—Sandoval at Naco—Others Settle at Caballos—Cortés atTrujillo—Vessels Sent to Mexico, Cuba, and Jamaica—Troubles inMexico—Cortés Irresolute—Starts for Mexico—Is Driven back by aStorm—Pacification of Adjacent Pueblos—Cortés Sends Presents toCórdoba—Shall Cortés Make himself Master of Nicaragua?—Arrivalof Altamirano—Return of Cortés to Mexico | [566] |
| CHAPTER XX. PEDRARIAS REMOVES TO NICARAGUA. 1525-1527. | |
| Córdoba Meditates Revolt—Soto and Compañon Object—Their Flight—PedrariasNurses his Wrath—Secret Motives for his Departure forNicaragua—Córdoba Loses his Head—The Governor Covets Honduras,and Comes to Blows—The Indians Follow the Example—BloodyScenes—Pedrarias Interrupted in his Reverie—Pedro de losRios Succeeds as Governor at Panamá—His Instructions andPolicy—Residencia of Pedrarias—Triumphant Result | [584] |
| CHAPTER XXI. RIVAL GOVERNORS IN HONDURAS AND NICARAGUA. 1526-1530. | |
| Colonial Policy—Salcedo Displaces Saavedra in the Government of Honduras—Saavedra'sEscape—Pedrarias' Envoys Trapped—SalcedoInvades Nicaragua—His Cruelty and Extortion—Distress among theColonists—Rios also Presents Claims, but is Discomfited—PedrariasFollows Triumphant—Salcedo's Ignominious Fate—Estete's Expedition—Slave-huntingProfits and Horrors—Gladiatorial Punishment ofRevolted Natives—Pedrarias' Schemes for Aggrandizement—HeGrasps at Salvador and Longs for Peru—Both Elude Him—FurtherMortification, and Death—Character of the Conquerors | [597] |
| CHAPTER XXII. MARCH OF ALVARADO TO GUATEMALA. 1522-1524. | |
| Rumors in Mexico concerning the Country to the South-eastward—Pacificationin that Quarter—The Chiefs of Tehuantepec and Tututepec—Atthe Gate of Guatemala—Summary of Aboriginal History—Allegianceand Revolt—Preparing of an Expedition—Delayed by theTroubles at Pánuco—A Second Army Organized—The March—Subjugationof Soconusco—The Taking of Zapotitlan | [617] |
| CHAPTER XXIII. CONQUEST OF GUATEMALA BEGUN. February-March, 1524. | |
| Overtures of Kicab Tanub to the Lords of the Zutugils and Cakchiquels—Deathof the Quiché King—Tecum Umam his Successor—Gathers aGreat Army—Intrenches Himself at Zacaha—Passage of Palahunohby the Spaniards—A Skirmish—A Bloody Engagement—QuezaltenangoEstablished—The Army Advances on Xelahuh—The CityDeserted—Battle of Xelahuh—Tecum Umam Slain—ForcibleProselyting | [632] |
| CHAPTER XXIV. DOWNFALL OF THE QUICHÉ NATION. April, 1524. | |
| Utatlan, Capital of the Quichés—Its Magnificence—The Royal Palaceand Pyramidal Fortifications—Private Apartments and Gardens—Planto Entrap the Spaniards—A Feast Prepared—The EnemyInvited—The Treachery Discovered—Masterly Retreat of Alvarado—TheQuiché King and Nobles Entrapped—They are Made toGather Gold—And are then Destroyed—Utatlan Burned and theCountry Devastated—Subjugation of the Quichés Complete | [643] |
| CHAPTER XXV. THE CAKCHIQUELS AND ZUTUGILS MADE SUBJECTS OF SPAIN. April-May, 1524. | |
| March to the Cakchiquel Capital—With a Brilliant Retinue King SinacamComes forth to Meet the Spaniards—Description of Patinamit—Occupationof the Cakchiquel Capital—Expedition against Tepepul,King of the Zutugils—The Cliff City of Atitlan—A Warm Battle—Entryinto the Stronghold—Reconciliation and Return to Patinamit—LoveEpisode of Alvarado | [652] |
| CHAPTER XXVI. EXPEDITION TO SALVADOR. 1524. | |
| Campaign against Itzcuintlan—A Rough March—The Town Surprised—DesperateDefence—Alvarado Determines to Explore still fartherSouth—Crossing the River Michatoyat—The Spaniards Come toAtiquipac, Tacuylula, Taxisco, Nancintlan, and Pazaco—The TownsDeserted—Poisoned Stakes and Canine Sacrifice—Enter Salvador—Moquizalcoand Acatepec—Battles of Acajutla and Tacuxcalco—Blood-thirstinessof this Conqueror—Entry into Cuzcatlan—Flightof the Inhabitants—Return to Patinamit | [663] |
| CHAPTER XXVII. REVOLT OF THE CAKCHIQUELS. 1524-1525. | |
| Return of the Allies to Mexico—Founding of the City of Santiago—TheCakchiquels Oppressed beyond Endurance—They Flee from theCity—Difficulty in again Reducing Them to Subjection—Reinforcementsfrom Mexico—Campaign against Mixco—Capture of thatStronghold—Fight with the Chignautecs—Superhuman Valor of aCavalryman—Conquest of the Zacatepec Valley—Expedition againstthe Mames—Defeat of Can Ilocab—Entry into Huehuetenango—Siegeof Zakuléu—Surrender of Caibil Balam | [678] |