house and carried back the fragments and burned them. These priests wore long black, cloaks like cassocks that hung down to their feet, and hoods of different sizes. Their hair was matted together with blood and they smelled most offensively. They were the sons of caciques and were forbidden to marry, and they fasted on certain days.
After the idols were out of the way Cortes told the caciques we could now look upon them as true brothers and give them every powerful aid against Montezuma and his Mexicans. He also spoke of our religion and set every Indian mason in town at work cleaning away the blood and plastering over the walls of the temples. This done, he had an altar erected and told the Indians to bring many of their splendid and sweet-scented roses and green leaves, and ever keep the place clean and undefiled. Four of the papas he had shorn of their hair and clothed in clean garments, and named them to look after the place. The very next morning Padre Fray Olmedo held services and incensed the holy image of Our Lady and the sacred cross with the copal of the country. The caciques and others were present. The chief ornament of the service, however, were the eight Indian damsels brought to be made Christians; for after they were instructed about our religion they were baptized.
We now returned to Vera Cruz and set at building
