Chapter I: Front Matter

A LIBRARY
FOR
MY YOUNG COUNTRYMEN.

EDITED BY
THE AUTHOR OF “UNCLE PHILIP’S CONVERSATIONS.”

VOLUME IV.

ADVENTURES OF HERNAN CORTES.

THE
ADVENTURES
OF THE
CONQUEROR OF MEXICO

By the Author of
“Uncle Philip’s Conversations”

NEW YORK
D. Appleton & Company 200 Broadway.

THE
ADVENTURES
OF
HERNAN CORTES,
THE
CONQUEROR OF MEXICO.

BY
THE AUTHOR OF “UNCLE PHILIP’S CONVERSATIONS.”

NEW YORK:
D. APPLETON & CO., 200 BROADWAY.

PHILADELPHIA:
GEORGE S. APPLETON, 148 CHESTNUT ST.

MDCCCXLIII.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1843,
BY D. APPLETON & CO.,
in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States,
for the Southern District of New York.

STEREOTYPED BY REDFIELD & SAVAGE,
_13 Chambers Street, New York_.

NOTE.

The writer of this volume has thought it best not to encumber a book written for the young, with references to authorities. He owes it to himself, however, to say, that he believes he has made no statement for which authority may not readily be produced.

To any older readers, who may possibly glance at the volume, he would remark, that he is indebted for his materials principally to Antonio de Herrera, Bernal Diaz, Antonio de Solis, Torquemada, Clavigero, Don Telesforo de Trueba y Cosio, Venegas, the letters of Hernan Cortes, the English historian Robertson, and our own lamented countryman, R. C. Sands, Esq.

TO

THOSE OF MY YOUNG COUNTRYMEN,

WHO ARE DISPOSED TO GATHER FROM THE PAGES OF

HISTORY, A STORY OF REAL LIFE, STRANGER

THAN ANY TALE OF ROMANCE,

This Volume

IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED,

BY THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Birth and parentage of Hernan Cortes--His early boyhood--At the age of fourteen he is sent to the University of Salamanca--Proves lazy, and returns home--Leaves his books, and takes to field-sports--Disappointment of his father--Passion of young Cortes for military life--Determines to join the great captain Gonzalo in the wars of Italy, but is disappointed--Resolves to accompany his kinsman Ovando to Hispaniola, but is prevented by an accident--At length reaches Hispaniola in 1504--Kindness of Ovando--Restlessness of Cortes--His third disappointment--Accompanies Diego Velasquez in his conquest of Cuba--Imprudence of Cortes--Expedition of Hernandez de Cordova and Juan de Grijalva--Discoveries of Grijalva--Excitement among the Spaniards--Cortes manages to get command of an expedition for the continent--Jealousy of Velasquez--Attempts to stop him at Trinidad and Havana--Enthusiasm among the followers of Cortes Page 13

CHAPTER II.

Cortes arrives at Cozumel--Imprudence of Alvarado--Discovery of Geronimo de Aguilar--his wretched condition--The fleet reaches Tabasco--Hostility of the natives--Cortes offers to treat with them; they refuse--Notwithstanding their opposition, he makes his landing--Defeats them on the great plain of Ceutla--Receives Doña Marina as a present--He erects a cross upon the plain--The fleet sails for St. Juan de Ulua--Reaches that harbor--Kindness of the natives--Interview with Teutchlile, their chief--Demands that he may see the Emperor Montezuma, and sends presents to him--Alarm of Montezuma--He refuses to see the strangers, but sends presents to them--Cortes again demands to see him--Anger and fear of the Emperor--Commands Cortes to leave his empire, yet sends him further presents.....31