[IV‑14] 'E era de tal gordor, q̃ del se hizo vna canoa, que en estas partes otra mayor no la auia visto.' Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 220. The ceiba is the wild cotton-tree and grows to an enormous size.
[IV‑15] Bernal Diaz' memory has here failed him. He states that after crossing the Lempa they entered the Chaparristic—called by him Chapanastiques—province, and that here the Indians killed a Spaniard named Nicuesa, and wounded three others of his party who were foraging for provisions. The Spaniards had passed through the Chaparristic province when they had reached the Lempa, and therefore it was either in Cuzcatlan that Nicuesa was killed, or the river which Alvarado's men crossed must have been the Goascoran.
[IV‑16] Fuentes y Guzman, Recordacion Florida, MS., 22; Juarros, Guat., ii. 96-7, Id. i. 23, 253. The official gazette of Salvador erroneously gives Aug. 6, 1525, as the date of submission, and states that the conquest is yearly commemorated. Salvador, Gac. Offic., 4 Dic. 1877, p. 1123. It will be remembered that Alvarado in his first campaign in Salvador did not succeed in reducing the province of Cuzcatlan to allegiance. He, however, formed the determination of returning to complete its subjugation. There is evidence that this was accomplished previously to May 1525. Consult Arévalo, Actas Ayunt. Guat., 12, 13, and Ramirez, Proceso contra Alvarado, 105-6.
[IV‑17] About ten miles from the river Paz in Guatemala territory.
[IV‑18] Fuentes y Guzman, Recordacion Florida, MS., 22. 'Los Españoles, que estaban en Olintepeque de Quetzaltenango no havîan tenîdo modo de dar aviso á los de Honduras.' Vazquez, Chronica de Gvat., 71.
[IV‑19] Fuentes states that it was either Pedro de Alvarado or the ordinary alcaldes to whom the disturbance was to be attributed. Recordacion Florida, MS., 20. Escamilla is of opinion that the lieutenant, Jorge de Alvarado, was the one to blame, Sucesion Chronologica., 12, while the former author remarks that Jorge was in Mexico at the time, and was confounded with Gonzalo. He also states that the latter was ordinary alcalde, but this was not the case, for as may be seen in Arévalo, Actas Ayunt. Guat., 16, 17, the alcaldes were Diego Becerra and Baltasar de Mendoza.
[IV‑20] Vazquez says 400 girls and as many boys. Chronica de Gvat., 69. Fuentes y Guzman, 200 boys. Recordacion Florida, MS., 21. The gold-washings were those of Chahbal and Punakil, the former word meaning, according to Vazquez, 'the washing-place,' and the latter, 'plateado ô dorado.'
[IV‑21] One castellano of tequio according to Fuentes. 'Vn cañutillo de oro lavado del tamaño del dedo menîque,' according to Vazquez, Id.
[IV‑22] In the native dialect 'Caxtok.'
[IV‑23] Juarros, Guat., ii. 289. The whole land from Cuzcatlan to Olintepec—a distance of over 90 leagues—revolted. Fuentes y Guzman, Recordacion Florida, MS., 21. Brasseur de Bourbourg states that the confederated Indians comprised the Pokomams, Pocomchis, Quichés, Cakchiquels, Pipiles, and Xincas, but entertains some doubt as to the Quichés taking part in the league, as such action is at variance with the Cakchiquel manuscript and with Vazquez. Hist. Nat. Civ., iv. 690. At a council summoned by the chiefs of the revolting tribes there were present among others the caciques of Tecpan Atitlan (the modern Solola), of Ruyaalxot, Sinacam, and the Appoxahil, of Xilotepec, Zacatepec, Chimaltenango, and Zumpango. Fuentes supposes that Sinacam was at this time at Patinamit, whereas he had escaped to the mountains of Comalapa, occupying there the stronghold of Ruyaalxot. This author evidently knew nothing of the Cakchiquel insurrection in 1524, for he states that after concealing for two years his intention to revolt the cacique now took advantage of Alvarado's absence.