necessary to have them repaired, which cost me a delay of ten days, and even obliged me to buy another vessel, which was in port being careened, so that I could leave mine which was leaking badly there.
The day after my arrival at Havana, a vessel from New Spain entered that harbour, and, on the second day there came another, and, on the third day, still another. I learned from them that all the country was at peace, and quite tranquil since the death of the factor and the inspector, though they told me there had been some rioting and that the instigators had been punished. I greatly rejoiced at this news, as I feared my sudden return from my expedition had caused some new uneasiness. Having written, though briefly, to Your Majesty from there, I sailed from Havana on the sixteenth day of May, bringing with me some thirty persons who had come secretly from this place; and within eight days I reached the port of Chalchicuela. I was unable to enter the port, owing to a change of weather, but remained outside some two leagues off. At nightfall, having manned my ship's boat, as well as a brigantine which we had found abandoned at sea, I landed and proceeded on foot to the town of Medellin, about four leagues distant from my landing place; and without having been seen or heard by anyone in the town I went to the church to give thanks to Our Lord. My arrival having become known almost immediately, the inhabitants rejoiced with me, and I with them; and that very night I despatched messengers to this city, as well as to the towns of the country, announcing my arrival to them, and making certain provisions which seemed to me important and to the advantage of Your Sacred Majesty's service, and the good of the country. I remained there eleven days, to obtain some rest, and recover from the fatigues of my long journey,[1]
- ↑ Cortes was so broken by the fatigues of these expeditions, and so reduced by fever and his wounds, that he was scarcely recognisable,
