taking formal possession by appropriate ceremonies, on February 7th, of the country on the northern bank now visited for the first time, and building a kind of walled church, or hermitage, also dedicated to Our Lady of the Purification.[1]
Encamping near the ford, Guzman proceeded to further try the king, charging him with the murder of several Spaniards, relapse into paganism, and the treacherous design of laying an ambush for the army. Observing that his prisoner was not willing to confess crimes which he never had committed, Guzman resolved to apply more forcible remedies.
Two Tarascan interpreters were the first victims. Information was demanded as to the number of Christians killed by their ruler, the time since the occurrence, and the whereabouts of Caltzontzin's wives and treasure. It was of no avail that they protested ignorance, the lash and dripping water were employed to revive their memory, and at last fire was applied to the feet, until the toes dropped off.[2]
During the following three days Don Pedro, Don Alsonso, and even Tangaxoan were subjected to the same treatment, all except the application of fire, and
- ↑ Beaumont, Crón. Mich., iii. 354-60, followed by Ramirez, Proceso, 203-6, and others, represents the army as having reached the river on December 8th at Conguripo, whence they went to Tzintzuntzan, thence to Purándiro, and after advancing a few leagues crossed a great river. No one would suppose from this version that Conguripo and the crossing near Puruándiro were identical as is the fact; clearly the authors had no such idea themselves. Other writers, as Frejes, Hist. Breve, 73, and Romero, Not. Mich., 122, make December 8th the date of the final crossing. But most of the original documents say the river was forded in February, while Guzman in Ramusio, iii. 331, and Oviedo, iii. 563-5, affirm it was on Purification day, or February 2d. The confusion in dates, and consequent blunder in the route, arises doubtless from the fact that certain writers, learning that the event took place on the day of Nuestra Señora, have supposed it was the Conception, December 8th, instead of the Purification, February 2d, of our lady. Throughout this campaign there is the greatest confusion in dates. I have spared no pains in ascertaining in each case the exact or approximate dates; but I have not deemed it best, except in a few cases for special reasons, to show in notes the methods of arriving at my conclusions. I have abundant material at hand for such notes, but they would be long and numerous, and serve no useful purpose save perhaps as a record of the author's industry.
- ↑ Only a few Spaniards who enjoyed the confidence of the general were present at this infamous proceeding, conducted in a small hut outside the camp. Pilar, Testimonio, in Ramirez, Proceso, 266.
