yet defiant, though a slight skirmish, involving the capture of a few of their number was all that resulted from the demonstration. For several weeks the army remained in the camp outside of Cuinao, the town itself having been burned, doubtless by Guzman's order, although it was claimed, as also in many later instances, that such deeds were due to the Aztec and Tlascaltec allies who could not be controlled. Meanwhile expeditions were made into the neighborhood by detachments under Guzman, Chirinos, and Cristóbal de Oñate, to reduce the country and to ravage. Their task was not difficult, for the villages and farms were all abandoned, while straggling fugitives hovered in the distance. A number gradually came in to tender submission, and among them the cacique, upon whom the devout Guzman himself exerted his oratorical power in behalf of the faith for which he was thus mowing a path. It is unnecessary to say that the chieftain was convinced by the arguments of his teacher.[1]
From here a message was sent to the adjoining province of Cuitzeo,[2] which lay on both sides of the main river on and near the shores of Lake Chapala,[3] the chief town of the same name being on the southern bank and within the territory discovered by Francisco Cortés in 1524. It was, however, no part of Guzman's policy to avoid that territory or to respect the rights of preceding explorers. Chimalhuacan
- ↑ It is amusing to read Guzman's account of this effort, and to note the flow of devout sentiments from his pen. Truly, the sovereign must have congratulated himself on possessing so earnest a champion of the cross. See Carta, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xiii. 363-4. According to Mota Padilla, Conq. N. Gal., 29, Fray Martin de Jesus made here an attempt at conversion, but this is more than doubtful, for he is nowhere else mentioned as a member of the expedition. It is also said that, while in Cuinao, messengers returned from Michoacan, bringing more gold and silver than ever before. They had been sent by Don Pedro and Don Alonso, who by this means sought to obtain exemption from further torture. Pilar, Rel., 251, and Guzman, 4a Rel. Anon., 466.
- ↑ Beaumont, Crón. Mich., iii. 384, followed by Zamacois, Hist. Mej., iv. 500, tells us this was not Cuitzeo de la Laguna near Lake Chapala; but they are clearly in error.
- ↑ Chapala, lake in Jalisco; Laet, 1633, L. Chapala; Jefferys, 1776, L. Chapala; Kiepert, 1852, lake and city Chapala. Cartog. Pac. Coast, MS., ii. 496.
