tribute, a measure which the people, already recovered from their first surprise, were quick to resent. Luis Marin, lieutenant in Goazacoalco sought aid from Cortes for enforcing respect, and in Lent of 1524 he marched against the rebellious people with somewhat over a hundred men, one fourth cavalry, all inflated with the confidence born of numerous successes. Equally confident were the Chiapanecs in the sheltering strength of hills which so far had guarded their liberties. Protected by good cotton armor, and armed with formidable pikes, they managed so well to sustain even in open field the first onslaught of the bearded ones, that the latter were quite dismayed. So severe proved the campaign, that when Marin at last thought himself master in the main district, his force was so reduced in number and efficiency that the formation of a settlement could not be undertaken, and the result was an inglorious retreat.For details of these and later expeditions, see vol. ii., Hist. Cent. Am., this series. They are based on the rare and curious accounts of Godoy, Relacion, written by a participant; Remesal, Hist. Chyapa; Ixtlilxochitl, Hor. Crueldades; Mazariegos, Mem. Chiapa; also Bernal Diaz, Juarros, and other standard historians.
An equally severe campaign was undertaken about the same time in the mountainous regions of Zapotecapan and Miztecapan, hitherto avoided as too difficult to penetrate. Following the path of Alvarado, Rodrigo Rangel had in 1523 entered them to demand allegiance and tribute, only to meet with fierce resistance. Rainy weather and ruggedness of country favored the natives, and he was obliged to retreat.[1] This success emboldened them, and, incited partly by escaped negro slaves, they made inroads on the adjoining districts. It would never answer to encourage a defiant robber in the midst of the country, and with the allurement of gilded river-beds, a new expedition was formed under the same captain, consisting of one hundred and fifty soldiers, chiefly arquebusiers an
- ↑ 'Faute de chevaux, il ne réussit pas,' says Brasseur de Bourbourg, Hist. Nat. Civ., iv. 572; but horses were found useless in so rugged a region, and were not taken on the subsequent campaign, as Gomara observes. Hist. Mex., 234
