during which time I was visited by many chiefs and other notable natives of these parts who showed great joy at my arrival. From there, I set out for this city, and was fifteen days on the road, constantly receiving the visits of many natives, some of whom had come eighty leagues to see me; for they had placed their post messengers on the roads so as to be informed of my coming which they were expecting. Thus, in a short time, numbers came from many and distant parts to see me, shedding tears with me, and speaking such affectionate and kind words while they recounted all the troubles they had endured during my absence, in consequence of the bad treatment shown them, that it broke the hearts of all who listened to them. And, although it would be difficult to give a full account to Your Majesty of all the things they related to me, some are worthy enough to be told; nevertheless I reserve them to be told by word of mouth.
Upon reaching this city, both Spaniards and natives congregated here and received me with as much joy and
Cortes Ar-
rives in
Mexico
gladness as though I were their own father. The treasurer and accountant of Your Majesty came out to receive me at the head of a large
and many could hardly persuade themselves that the emaciated man they saw was the gallant Malinche. He was received with the wildest rejoicing, the Indians outdoing the Spaniards in their enthusiasm; for, despite the sufferings he had brought upon them, he understood how to be kind to them, and, compared with the cold brutality and insatiable rapacity of the mean-spirited officials who had oppressed the natives during his absence, Cortes's treatment of them seemed to these poor people that of a paternal benefactor. Padre Cavo in recounting the events of this period says that "these were surely among:the happiest days of Cortes's life, for he could hardly proceed on his march on account of the constant demonstrations of the crowds of Indians who came, some of them even from sixty leagues distant, to see him, and bring him presents, so that, had he been their own king Montezuma, they could not have behaved differently. Cortes more than once was moved to tears by such unexpected demonstration of joy from this simple people."
