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70] Alvarado, who sometimes also played a game with Motecusuma, showed
little generosity, according to other writers. If he lost, he paid with
chalchihuis stones; if he won, he was paid with bars of gold, each worth
at least fifty ducats. Motecusuma frequently lost in one evening from
forty to fifty of such gold bars to Alvarado; but the more he lost, the
more good-humoured he appeared. (p. 258.)

[71] A kind of soup or broth, of which the so termed Spanish pepper
formed the chief ingredient. (p. 260.)

CHAPTER XCVIII.

 _How Cortes orders two large brigantines to be built for the
 navigation of the lake of Mexico; Motecusuma begs permission to
 visit his temples to offer up his prayers there; and what Cortes
 said to him when he granted this permission._

After the necessary materials had arrived for constructing the two
brigantines, Cortes informed Motecusuma that he intended to build two
small pleasure yachts to navigate the lake of Mexico, and requested him
to allow his carpenters to cut wood for the purpose, and assist our ship
carpenters, Martin Lopez and Alonso Nuñez, in the building of the
vessels.

There was plenty of wood at a distance of about sixteen miles from the
town, which could easily be transported hither. The building of these
vessels went on very fast, as our men were assisted by numbers of
Indians. These brigantines, therefore, were very soon completed and
rigged; besides which, each was provided with an awning to keep out the
heat of the sun. Both vessels turned out very good, and sailed
uncommonly fast.

This Lopez was not only an excellent soldier, but also a very clever man
in his profession, and subsequently built the thirteen brigantines which
were of the most valuable assistance to us in the conquest of Mexico, as
will be seen in the proper place.

About this time, Motecusuma expressed a wish to visit his temple, in
order to make his devotions there, and sacrifice to his idols. His
motive for wishing this he declared was not merely to fulfil his
religious duties, but also to convince his generals, his courtiers, and
particularly some of his relatives, who daily begged he would allow them
to rescue him from his confinement, and commence hostilities with us,
that it was his own choice to dwell with us, to which Huitzilopochtli
had given his consent.

In answer to this request, Cortes said, he was afraid it would cost him
his life, as his generals and papas might suddenly form the idea of
taking forcible possession of his person on the occasion, and fall upon
us, and his life would become endangered in the struggle. He was,
however, no way inclined to oppose his wishes, and he might repair there
early in the morning, but was not to sacrifice any human beings, as that
was a great sin against the only true God, whom we had made known to
him. Neither could he help remarking that it would be much more
profitable to him to make his devotions before our altars and the image
of the holy Virgin.

Motecusuma then assured Cortes he would not permit any human sacrifices
to take place. The monarch then, with Cortes' permission, made a
procession to the temple, dressed in his splendid garments, and
surrounded by his most distinguished courtiers, with the usual display
of pomp, preceded by the staff of honour, to announce the monarch's
approach. Four of our principal officers, Leon, Alvarado, Avila, and
Lugo, with 150 soldiers, accompanied him as a guard, and father Olmedo
to restrain the monarch from instituting any human sacrifices.

When Motecusuma had arrived at the cursed temple of Huitzilopochtli, he
was assisted out of the sedan by his nephews and other caziques. As the
procession moved along, all the Mexican grandees kept their eyes fixed
to the ground, not daring to look up in the monarch's face. At the foot
of the temple he was met by a number of papas who assisted him in
mounting the steps. The night previous, they had sacrificed four
Indians; for, notwithstanding all Cortes and father Olmedo might say,
they were not to be deterred, and continued those abominations. At that
time, indeed, all we could do was to feign ignorance of their having
taken place; for Mexico and other great towns had already been aroused
into rebellion by Motecusuma's nephews, as will be presently seen.

The monarch having finished his devotions, which were of short duration,
again returned with us to our quarters. He appeared now in better
spirits, and presented each of us who had accompanied the procession
with trinkets of gold.

CHAPTER XCIX.

 _How our two brigantines are launched, and Motecusuma, expressing a
 wish to go a hunting, sails in one of these vessels to a river where
 he usually went for that purpose._

When both our brigantines were launched, and completely rigged and
manned with sailors, Motecusuma expressed a wish to take a trip by water
to a river where he was accustomed to go for the purpose of hunting,
situated at the foot of a mountain along the banks of the lake. No one,
not even his principal officers, durst visit this spot for the sake of
killing game, under pain of death. Cortes answered, that, as far as
regarded himself, he in no way objected, but again impressed upon his
mind what he had told him on his visit to the temple: and he would
advise him to make use of one of the brigantines on the occasion, which
were much more safe than the canoes or pirogues.

Motecusuma was vastly pleased with this offer, and went on board the
better of the two, with a great number of his principal officers: the
other brigantine conveyed a son of the monarch, attended by numbers of
caziques; and the royal huntsmen followed in the canoes of the country.
Cortes took along with him Leon, Alvarado, Oli, and Avila, besides 200
of our troops, bidding them to pay particular attention to everything
that passed, and narrowly watch the person of Motecusuma. Besides this,
four cannon were brought on board, with the necessary powder, and our
artillerymen; so that every precaution was taken. A stiffish breeze
fortunately rose just as the brigantines were leaving, so that we were
able to make the best use of the sails, and the monarch was greatly
delighted at thus, as it were, flying across the lake: nor could the
canoes, filled with the huntsmen and other Mexican chiefs,
notwithstanding the number of their rowers, any way keep up with us,
which amused the monarch uncommonly, and he said it showed great skill
thus to be able to unite the power of the sails and the oars.

The desired river, therefore, which was not very far distant, was soon
reached. Here Motecusuma created terrible destruction among the deer,
hares, and rabbits, and returned highly delighted to his metropolis.
When we had arrived near to Mexico, he begged our officers to fire the
cannon, which gave him a new pleasure; and as we found that he was open
and frank, we experienced a real pleasure in paying him the same respect
as was shown him by his own grandees. But if I were to attempt a
description of his grand

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