[XXVI-16] Referred to as Don Pedro, one of Cortés' most trusted officers. See Hist. Mex., chap. vi., this series. He is mentioned more than once by Alvarado, and important commands were intrusted to him. Relacion, i. 163-4.
[XXVI-17] Juarros says this stay was made at Guazacapan, a town passed on the way to Nancintlan. The army would have been, thus far, about 25 days on the campaign of discovery: Four days from Patinamit to Itzcuintlan, eight days at this latter place, four days in passing through the towns of Atiquipac, Tacuylula, and Taxisco, to Nancintlan, and eight at this latter place.
[XXVI-18] Ramirez, Proceso contra Alvarado, 8, 58, 79 et seq. Brasseur de Bourbourg is of opinion that only certain of the chiefs were captured after having fled, and that they were hanged. Hist. Nat. Civ., iv. 660. I give the narrative as derived from the evidence in Alvarado's trial.
[XXVI-19] The present town of Pasaco, called Pacoco by Oviedo, iii. 483, and Pazùco by Herrera, dec. iii. lib. v. cap. x., and Gomara, Hist. Mex., 232.
[XXVI-20] These were placed slantwise, and projected two or three fingers' width above the surface. They were smeared with so noxious a poison that if but a drop of blood were drawn the wounded man died insane, on the second, third, or seventh day, suffering intense thirst. Herrera, dec. iii. lib. v. cap. x.; [Native Races, ii. 744].
[XXVI-21] Herrera, dec. iii. lib. v. cap. x. On a previous occasion they had met with this indication of hostility, but in this instance they seem to have had an opportunity of witnessing the ceremony. Alvarado, Relacion, i. 163.
[XXVI-22] 'I seguimos el alcance todo lo que se pudo seguir.' Alvarado, Relacion, i. 163. Juarros states that this victory did not decide the conquest of the district; some towns submitted, but others retained their liberty. Among those which sought for peace was the large town of Tejutla, four leagues from Guazacapan, which was taken possession of as an arsenal. After the conquest it gradually lost its ancient importance, and was abandoned about the middle of the seventeenth century.
[XXVI-23] Near Bay of Sonsonate. See maps of Colon, 1527, and Ribero, 1529, having at or near this point r. Ciego; also Kiepert's Map of Central America, 1858. R. Paza forms the boundary between Salvador and Guatemala. Paza is evidently an abbreviation of the native name Pazaco, and Paz a Spanish corruption of Paza.
[XXVI-24] Alvarado calls it Mopicalco; Herrera and Gomara, Mopicalãco. Brasseur de Bourbourg remarks that it seems to correspond with the present village of Nahuizalco, not far from Sonsonate, in Salvador. Hist. Nat. Civ., iv. 661.
[XXVI-25] Mentioned by the conqueror as Acaxual, 'donde bate la Mar del Sur en èl.' Relacion, i. 163. Gomara calls it Acaiucatl; Herrera, Cayacatl; and Oviedo Acarval, while Ixtlilxochitl gives it the name of Acayncatl. Its modern appellation is Acajutla. Juarros incorrectly states that Alvarado did not discover it before 1534. Guat., i. 254. Fernando Colon, 1527, and Diego de Ribero, 1529, write las matas. Mercator's atlas, 1574, town and bay Acaxutla; Ogilby, 1671, Pto d' Acaxutla; Laet, 1633, Po de Acaxutla; West-Indische Spieghel, 1624, Caxulta; Jefferys, 1776, Sonsonate or Trinidad City, Rio St. Jago, and the southern point Izalcos, southern cape Pt. de los Remedios, northern cape Pt. Dacaxutla, on the coast near the latter point Guacapa, and in the interior Chiquimula. A little north river and city las Esclavos; Kiepert, 1858, B. de Sonsonate, also a like named city on the R. St. Jago. On the coast, Acajutla city, and eastward, P. de los Remedios, Puerto Libertad, and Pt. de la Concordia. The coast is called Cuesta del Balsamo.