Отрывок из книги
Francis L. Hawks
Published by Good Press, 2021
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This was their second defeat, and now they were ready to submit. Fifteen men, with their faces painted black in sign of sorrow, were soon sent to the Spanish camp, bearing presents of fowls, corn, and roasted fish. Cortes received them with so much kindness, that on the next day thirty of the chief warriors came forward and begged the privilege of burying their dead. This favor Cortes readily granted. He feared, however, that these people were treacherous, and in a little time might rally again to oppose him. As soon, therefore, as the melancholy duty of burying the dead was ended, he assembled the people before him, and threatened awful vengeance if they attempted any further opposition. To frighten them the more, he caused one of the cannons to be discharged, and then his best-trained horses and riders were brought out, and various terrifying feats performed before them. The frightened natives now looked upon the Spaniards with amazement and reverence, and at once promised fidelity to the Spanish king. Not satisfied with professions of love, they brought to Cortes many strange presents, such as toys of gold, made to look like dogs, lizards, ducks, and other animals; and to prove their friendship with a crowning gift, they presented to him twenty of their women.
This last was the most valuable present, for among these women there was one who afterwards became known under the name of Doña Marina, and proved a great help to Cortes. She was a female of high rank among her countrymen—the daughter of a cacique or prince, who held his dominions subject to the Emperor of Mexico. Unhappily for her, her father died while she was an infant. Her mother afterwards married again, and having a son by her new husband, learned to despise her daughter. Her feelings were so bitter towards the child, that she determined to cheat her of her inheritance, that she might gain it for the boy. Accordingly, she secretly gave her away to some merchants of Xicallanco, and at the same time spread the story far and wide that the child was dead. The merchants to whom she was given sold her to one of the chiefs of Tabasco, and the chief now presented her to Cortes. This woman, as you will see, proved of great service in two ways. First, she acted as an interpreter: understanding the Mexican language and the Maja tongue also, which Aguilar understood, she was able to interpret between the Spaniards and Mexicans. Then, too, she understood the manners, habits, and prejudices of the natives, and was enabled to help Cortes to many advantages, and to guard him against many dangers—all which she did cheerfully, for she soon formed a strong attachment for the Spanish leader.
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