through Aguilar, our interpreter, how often he had wished to make peace; how we were vassals of a great king, Don Carlos, who had sent us to help and favor those who would enter his service, and if they were peacefully disposed, as they said, we would help them; but if they were not, we were on the point of destroying them and all their people, and some of the tepustles (they called Iron tepustle) would fly out and kill them, for the tepustles were still angry because of the attack they made on us. At this moment Cortes gave signal for firing our largest cannon. The report came like a thunder clap, and we could hear the ball whizzing over the hills, for it was midday and not a breath of air stirring. The caciques were terrified, and believed all Cortes had said—who then told Aguilar to assure them that he had ordered that no harm should befall them. Cortes and the chiefs now fell into a long and lively talk, and In the end they left, telling us they would come next day and bring a present.
They did come—the caciques of the Tabasco region—and paying reverence to us all, presented four gold diadems, some gold lizards, earrings, ducks, figures like dogs and masks with Indian faces, two sandals with soles of gold and other things of small value; also cloaks such as Indians wear. When Cortes asked them where they got their gold and trinkets, they answered from the country towards the
