foe might not know that those dreaded monsters were vulnerable to their weapons. At last the river was passed, Cuitzeo was taken, and within a fortnight the neighboring places on or near the northern shore of Lake Chapala, and on both sides of the river from La Barca to Poncitlan, were reduced to allegiance by a series of minor expeditions, described with some detail in the records, but a fuller narrative of which is neither practicable nor desirable here.[1]
From Cuitzeo the Spaniards proceeded to Tonalá,[2] the aboriginal name of the region about the present Guadalajara, entering and taking possession of the chief town, also called Tonalá, on March 25th. The town and province were at the time under a female ruler, who received the Spaniards with kindness, mindful of the former visit of Francisco Cortés; but some of her people, notably those of Tetlan, well informed of Guzman's proceedings in Michoacan and the murder of Tangaxoan, were indignant that their mistress had welcomed the enemy of her race, and two
- ↑ It deem it useless to give long lists of town names, most of which can be found on the maps, but very few of which are applied to the same localities as in aboriginal times. The original towns were for the most part destroyed, and those which succeeded them under Spanish auspices have in many instances experienced several changes of locality, while retaining the same names. As a rule I shall name only such towns as are necessary to show the route followed, and such as acquired some importance in later times. Among the acts of cruelty perpetrated in this region was the setting a fierce dog on the fat cacique of Cuitzeo for alleged neglect in furnishing supplies, an act attributed by Salazar y Olarte, Cong. Mex., 426-8, to a 'delirious impulse' on the part of Guzman. A Mexican chief also was so beaten for some fancied misconduct that he lost permanently the use of his hands. Guzman, 4a Rel. Anón., 467. Navarrete, Hist. Jal., 35, speaks of the artificial formation of a ford by filling the river with sand. Guzman, Ramusio, iii. 332-4, tells us of finding cannibals and burning a sodomite; he regrets the idolatrous tendencies of the natives, and says — uncontradicted so far as I know — that he is himself the greatest sinner of all, but hopes that God in his great goodness will accept his efforts for the conversion of gentiles. Oviedo, iii. 565-6, speaks of ovens filled with human bodies frying in their fat and blood, to be used as food.
- ↑ Chirinos was detailed with one detachment to reach Tonalá by a different route and render Guzman assistance in case of need. Guzman, Carta, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xiii. 370; Tello, in Hist. N. Gal., ii. 342, and others imply that Chirinos was instructed to conquer the northern regions, joining the main army at Tepic; but probably the division of the army was not effected till later. On the march from Cuitzeo to Tonalá the 'friendly Indians' were kept in chains, or under strong guard, by order of Guzman; to prevent them from escaping or abandoning the baggage. Guzman, 4a Rel, Anón., 467,
