that he should be delivered
up to us, but they declared they did not know what had become of him, as
on the unfortunate termination of the battle he had immediately took to
flight. This, however, was an untruth, as we were well aware how dearly
the poor devil had paid for his advice, as shortly after the battle he
was seized and sacrificed to their gods.

On being questioned as to where they got their gold and the trinkets,
they answered from the country towards the setting of the sun, and
pronounced the words _Culhua_ and _Mexico_. As at that time we did not
comprehend the meaning of these words, we paid little attention to them.
We, however, questioned our other interpreter Francisco, who remained
with us from our former expedition under Grijalva, but he knew very
little of the Tabasco language, being only acquainted with the Culhuan,
that is to say the Mexican. He told Cortes, partly by signs, that
_Culhua_ lay at a great distance before us, at the same time continually
mentioning the word Mexico, Mexico. We were then still ignorant what he
wished to convey to us.

The day following the cross and altar were erected, and the figure of
the holy Virgin being placed thereon: we all fell down upon our knees
before it, while father Bartolome de Olmedo read mass. The caziques and
chief Indians were present. On this occasion also the village of Tabasco
was in all solemnity named Santa Maria de la Vitoria; and father Olmedo,
with the assistance of Aguilar, said many excellent things to the twenty
females who were presented to us, concerning our holy religion; that
they should abandon their belief in idols, and no longer bring them
sacrifices, for they were not gods but evil spirits; they had up to
this moment lived in gross error, and should now adore Christ, our Lord.
After this address the women were baptized, and she of whom I have
already spoken was named Dona Marina. This was a lady of distinction,
the daughter of a powerful cazique and a princess who had subjects of
her own, which, indeed, you might see from her appearance. The
circumstances which occasioned her being brought into our power I will
relate hereafter. The names of the other Indian females who were
baptized I cannot now bring to mind; but these were the first who were
converted to Christianity in New Spain, and were distributed among
Cortes's chief officers. Dona Marina, who was the prettiest, the most
active and lively of the number, was given to Puertoc