parties.--
Release of the captives.--Rebuilding the city.--Power of Cortez.
--Progress of affairs in Spain.--Warrant against Cortez.--The
commissioner.--His reception.--Tapia's weak points.--His return.--
Cortez's dispatch.--Cortez's account of the arrival of Tapia.--Cortez
unable to visit Tapia.--Father Urrea dispatched to Vera Cruz.--Cortez
prepares to go to Vera Cruz, but is dissuaded.--Embassadors to Tapia.
--Delay asked.--Departure of Tapia.--Advice respecting Tapia.--Reasons
for not sending letters by him.--Insurrection.--Punishment.--Severe
chastisement.--Nuno de Guzman.--Influence at court.--Charges against
Cortez.--Cortez's defense to the charges against him.--Defense
triumphant.--Cortez appointed governor.--His powers.--Letter from the
emperor.--Depression of his enemies.--Unfair dealings.--Escape from
remonstrants.--Expedition to Zapoteca.--Great peril.--They abandon the
scheme.--Progress of the new city.--Cortez's palace.--Religious
zeal.--Catholic priests.--Approach to the metropolis.--Reception by
Cortez.--Success of the missionaries.--Colonies.--Arrival of Donna
Catalina.--Death of Catalina.--Suspicions of murder.

With zeal and energy which never slept, Cortez fitted out several
expeditions to explore the country, to study its geography, and to
ascertain its resources. One party, ascending the heights of the
Cordilleras, gazed with delight upon the placid expanse of the Pacific
Ocean, and, descending the western declivity, planted the cross upon
the sandy shores of that hitherto unknown sea. Cortez was exceedingly
elated with this discovery, for he considered it another bribe with
which to purchase the favor of his sovereign. He immediately made
arrangements for establishing a colony on the Pacific shores, and
ordered four vessels to be built to prosecute farther discoveries. He
lost no time in transmitting to the emperor the tidings of this great
achievement.

"I have received, most powerful sire," he wrote, "some
account of another sea to the south, and learned that at two
or three points it was twelve, thirteen, and fourteen days'
journey from this city. The information gave me much
pleasure, for it appeared to me that the discovery would
prove a great and signal service to your majesty, especially
as all who possess any knowledge or experience in navigation
to the Indies have considered it certain that the discovery
of the South Sea in these parts wo