of different towns for a conference of good will. They went off with great good feeling, and when they had told the chiefs of our wish to be friends, they at once sent us fifteen Indian slaves with fowls, baked fish and maize bread. Cortes received the slaves graciously, but Aguilar, on the contrary, asked angrily why they had come with blackened faces and ragged cloaks; if they wished peace, he told them, chieftains, not slaves, must come and treat. We, however, presented the black faces with beads in token of our good will and to soothe their feelings.
And sure enough, the very next day, above thirty of the chief Indians, well clad, brought offerings of food, and begged leave to burn and bury their brethren who had fallen in the battle, so that their bodies might not befoul the air or be eaten by lions and tigers. When Cortes granted their wish, they hastened to bring many Indians to care for the bodies according to their custom. They said, moreover, they durst not begin treaty with us, for the next day caciques of all the towns would gather to consider our offer of peace.
In due time forty chiefs arrived, each bearing himself well and wearing a cloak richly wrought after their fashion. They saluted Cortes and all of us, incensed us with a resin they brought, and begging us to pardon their errors promised their friendship for the future. In return Cortes gravely reminded them,
