Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/378

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358
CONQUEST OF NUEVA GALICIA.

man was drawn up next day to thank the holy spirit for the victory.[1]

For two or three days the army remained encamped near the river, in a town Called Temoaque according to some documents;[2] then they marched northward, crossed a large river, and encamped at the town of Omitlan on the northern bank. The river, doubtless from the day of crossing, June 5th, was Called Trinidad, and was probably that now known as the San Pedro.[3] Here the festival of Corpus Christ! Sunday was celebrated on June 9th, and here they remained about forty days to refresh horses and men, await correspondence and reënforcements from Mexico, and receive the submission of the country. The province was fertile, supplies were plentiful, and the inhabitants well disposed at first; but very soon, despoiled of their property, most of them fled to the mountains. From Omitlan several officers returned to Mexico,[4] and by them Guzman sent his report to the emperor, dated July 8, 1530, a document which, except where it refers to the outrages committed, is one of the best authorities extant. Guzman requests the emperor to confirm his past acts and the names he had given. He announces his intention to march four or five days later to Aztatlan, three days farther on, a province reported to be rich and populous, which he desired to reach

  1. Seven or eight Spaniards, 10 or 12 horses, each worth about 400 pesos de minas, and hundreds of native allies, all of whom were probably valued less than a single horse, were killed, while a large part of all the forces and about 50 horses were wounded more or less seriously. Guzman tells us that several of the Indian allies were killed by the lance-thrusts of the Spaniards, the struggle being so close it was impossible to distinguish them from the foe. Oviedo represents the force of the enemy at 12,000, that of the killed as 5,000, and says all the Spaniards were wounded. Tello, Hist. N. Gal., 347 et seq., and Beaumont, Crón. Mich., iii. 401, state that the entry into this province was without resistance, and minutely describe the ceremonies and attentions at the reception.
  2. The author of the 3a Bel. Anón., 446, calls the place Atecomatlan.
  3. The small stream between the Tololotlan and San Pedro could hardly have been Called a large river by Guzman and others, who imply that the Trinidad was the first large stream north of the Tololotlan.
  4. Captain Bocanegra, the maestre de campo Vallaroel, and the comendador Barrios, according to Sámano, 279-80, and Lopez, 432, 436. As to the latter, both authorities are confused. He is also mentioned as having returned from Aztatlan three months later.