Discoverers and Explorers by Edward R. Shaw 10 Hernando Cortes Free Audiobooks Educational Library.
chapter 10 of discoverers and explorers this librivox recording is in the public domain discoverers and explorers by edward r shaw chapter 10 hernando cortes the spaniards who lived on the island of hispaniola sent frequent expeditions to the mainland in the hope of finding gold hernando cortes a dashing young spaniard with a love of nature and a reckless daring seldom seeing was given command of one of these expeditions in march 1519 he landed on the coast of central america with about 600 men 10 heavy guns and 16 horses here cortes found the natives in large numbers arrayed against him a fierce battle was fought but the firearms of the spaniards frightened the barbarians and when the cavalry arrived the indians fled in terror the indians who had never seen horses before thought the men riding the horse was a part of the animal and that these strange creatures were sent by the gods fear made the indians helpless and it was easy for cortes to gain a victory over them after this victory cortes sailed northward along the coast of san juan de algoa the natives of that region had heard of the wonderful white-skinned and bearded men who bore charmed lives and they thought that these men were gods they therefore treated the spaniards in a friendly manner and brought gifts of flowers fruits and vegetables and also ornaments of gold and silver to cortez here cortez landed and founded the city of veracruz which is today an important seaport of mexico the native indians in this place were called aztecs some of their chiefs who paid a visit to cortez told him of the great emperor montezuma who was rich and powerful and who lived inland in a wonderful city built in a lake by these chiefs cortes sent to montezuma presence of collars bracelets and ornaments of glass an armchair richly carved and an embroidered crimson cap in return montezuma sent shields helmets and plates of pure gold sandals fans gold ornaments of exquisite workmanship together with robes a fine cotton interwoven with feather work so skillfully done that it resembled painting the cap which cortez had sent was returned filled with gold dust the great montezuma also sent a message to cortes saying that he would be glad to meet so brave a general but that the road to the mexican capital was too dangerous for an army to pass over he also promised to pay a yearly tribute to the spanish king if cortes and his followers would depart and leave him in peace the spaniards were jubilant when they saw the superb gifts they felt certain that this great emperor must have enormous wealth at his command and in spite of the warning message most of them wish to start immediately for the mexican capital some however thought such a course very unwise montezuma they said was so powerful a ruler that it was absurd to attack him with their small force and they advised returning to cuba for a large number of soldiers but cortes had his own ideas on the subject so he secretly ordered his ships to be sunk and then all chants of retreat being cut off the entire force proceeded toward mexico august 16 1519 after a long march the spaniards began to ascend the plateau on which the city of mexico is situated and finally reached the top of it seven thousand feet high they found the climate on this plateau temperate and balmy the fields were cultivated and beautiful flowers grew wild in profusion during the march the spaniards passed many towns containing queer houses and temples they entered many of the temples threw down the idols and took possession of ornaments of value at length they saw in the distance a city which was built in a salt lake three avenues built of stone led across the water to it these avenues which were four or five miles in length were guarded on both sides by indians in canoes the avenues continued through the city meeting in the center where the great temple was situated...