History of the Spanish Conquest of Yucatan and of the Itzas Part 10

The Decree of the General a.s.sembly. "This was the substance of the decree which was despatched to us, with many other circ.u.mstances in a line with the ends and false bases on which the whole was founded.

"We received this decree in Mopan, with many other letters of the same tenor, so that beside the ordinary troubles (common to all), I had this one in addition to lay before our Lord.... Other letters [arrived] from the said President, D. Jacintho, written from a place of the Lacandones, which we called Nuestra Senora de las Dolores, where he had joined the people who had entered the country with the Padres de la Merced. In these letters he replied to those which we had written when we entered Mopan, and he gave orders in these that the men should retire, leaving thirty men as an escort in that place, since the rainy season was beginning, and because he was doing the same thing on his part; by this we knew that the second basis of the decree did not exist, since the President found himself in Lacandon, which is so far away from the Lake of Ahiza...."

Quarrels among the Soldiers and the Officials. The entrada from Guatemala came to a close to the accompaniment of incessant and petty wrangling on the part of the soldiery and of the officials.

The Writers of the Decree Punished. It is good to know, however, that the writers of the decree were punished by a sound reprimand. Cano was reinstated in the respect of all. He tells the plans for future work in these words: "... He [President Barrios] intended going again the following year by the Province of Vera Paz.... For this purpose I proposed to the said President that it was necessary that those roads should be constructed in such a way that the supplies could be carried in mule packs and not on the shoulders of Indians; and that the tools should be provided for building canoes and boats,--also officers and seamen who should know how to manage them, since in no other way was it possible to enter the Island or _Peten_ of Ahiza. All this was ordered to be provided and carried out; but it was not carried out fully on account of the protracted and distressing illness of the said President, which grew worse and worse every day. So that G.o.d permitted that from this storm should result one calm death, and that, through antagonistic means, there should be added new delays to this conversion.

"Meanwhile there were not wanting priests of good courage who wished to take part in the conversion of these souls, and Fray Diego Palomino having died in the highlands of Chol from illness which attacked him there, G.o.d moved the Reverend Reader, Fray Christobal de Prada, with such powerful inclinations, that while he was giving a course in philosophy in this convent of Guatemala with great credit and esteem, and without being detained by the love of his scholars or the arguments of his friends, he gave up his chair and went to the wilderness, where he devoted himself with so much fervor and zeal to the education of those heathen that in a short time he perfected himself in the language of Chol, of which he had already learned the rudiments; and he went ahead of every one in the Mopan or Ahiza languages, without a master or grammar of the said language, but only with what help he was able to get from the Mopan and Chol Indians, of whom he brought together many who had fled before he went into the wilderness."

The outcome of the events described in this chapter resulted in the subjection of the Itzas, but not, however, through the agency of the people of Guatemala. We shall learn from the account of Fray Andres de Avendano y Loyola all that occurred in the year 1695-1696.

CHAPTER VIII

THE FIRST AND UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT MADE BY FRAY ANDReS DE AVENDAnO Y LOYOLA TO REACH THE ITZAS OF TAYASAL, 1695-1696

It has been pointed out in the Introduction that Avendano's Relacion is of very great value as a first-hand account of the conquest of the Itzas. But we must not lose sight of the fact that that same Relacion is also a wonderful, though unconscious, testimony to the piety, unselfishness, and bravery of him who wrote it. Undoubtedly the priests of the Roman Catholic Church did many unjust things during the period of Spanish domination in the New World, but the number of good and n.o.ble deeds done by them (deeds the bulk of which is unrecorded) completely dwarfs the evil. Avendano was a type of the best sort of priest in the New World. Impelled by no other motive than sheer faith and an ardent desire to do the duty of his office, he went through the events which we will leave him to relate.

Preamble. "I, Fray Andres de Avendano y Loyola, ... accompanied by my Padres and Preachers Fray Antonio Perez de San Roman, Apostolic notary of the first trip; Fray Joseph de Jesus Maria, Apostolic notary of the second trip, and Fray Diego de Echebarria, ... made this first trip [beginning] on the 3d of June of the past year of 1695, and the second, on which we entered the nation of the Ytzaex, began on the 13th of December of the said year, and we returned to this city of Merida on the 6th of April of this year of 1696...."

Preparations for the Journey. "... Here begins the historical account, which, with the divine aid, I am attempting to tell of the casualties and events which happened in this journey for the conversion of souls, while opening a road from this Province to that of Guatemala, taking as my sure loadstar the honor and glory of G.o.d and the well-being of souls, which, at the cost of unextinguishable fervor, Senor Don Martin de Urssua y Arismendi[8.1] Provisional Governor and Captain-General of these provinces for his Majesty, is attempting to bring about; with none the less support of the Senor Oidor Don Francisco de Saraza, who at the present time resides in the city of Merida de Yucatan. Today, the 2d of June of this present year 1695 ... I, then, armed with so strong an armor of faith, say that G.o.d, our Lord, having moved the hearts of these two above-mentioned gentlemen, so that, besides their undertaking other enterprises of his Majesty (whom may G.o.d guard), the fervent zeal of the said Don Martin de Urssua y Arismendi found an opportunity, the Senor Oidor (as has been said) favoring it, for carrying out a journey,--two messengers these, both as acceptable to G.o.d as deserving in the service of the royal crown, since in fulfilling the duty of his office of Provisional Governor, [Ursua] did not waste at all the precious jewel of time, but put into execution, in addition to the difficult work of government, this most difficult and special work which his Majesty granted to him of opening the wild road from this province to that of Guatemala, without satisfying the eagerness of his zeal, in spite of the excessive cost of the undertaking; for he gave all the supplies necessary for one hundred and fifteen Spaniards and one hundred and fifty-six Indian musketeers, for which he, jointly with the Munic.i.p.ality of Campeche and other special friends, paid, joining mutually not only in the payment of wages, but also sharing the expense of provisions.... Among those who joined in this mission were the Padre Preacher, Fray Juan de San Buena Ventura, and the Padre Preacher, Fray Joseph de Jesus Maria, both living in the convent of the Santa Recoleccion of this city of Merida, and Brother Fray Tomas de Alcoser, lay friar, and Brother Lucas, lay Brother of the said convent.

All of these composed or established one mission. And the Padre Preacher, Fray Antonio Perez de San Roman, holding the office of apostolic notary, with the lay Brother, Alonso de Vargas, and I, the most unworthy of all, who went as their delegate apostolic missionary....

"The aforesaid Provisional Governor [Ursua] was not satisfied with this enterprise alone, and, without considering the greatness of the cost, as his fidelity to His Majesty developed, he disposed of his services so that at one and the same time to drive out some Englishmen (as he did with glory enough of his own) who inhabited the lands of Zacatone, adjoining this province, and who lived there on account of their large profits in logwood. He gave the a.s.sistance needed for this duty to Captain Bernardo de Lizarraga, and he executed it with double victories; and then, not sparing the ploughing of the foaming waves, he made four captures in his first victory, in order to gain his second.

As a skillful man he went with all his men into the wild woods of pathless thickets, where, though with great risk, falling upon the enemy in the rear, he made his second attack, again gaining as spoils of his second victory, other prizes, and driving out from there the said English enemies. I speak no more of this, as it does not belong in this place."

The Start. "Therefore in prosecution of the aforesaid trip, I started with the Padres as my companions on the second day of June of the year '95, with a very broad mandate which the aforesaid Provisional Governor gave me, so that I could take the singers and sacristans, who of their free will wished to follow me; exempting, as a privilege, from taxes, those who followed me, and their wives and children...."[8.2]

Indian Singers. "On my showing the above mandate to the magistrates of the towns through which I pa.s.sed, there were at once Indians provided to accompany me besides those who went with me, who were the following:--

Marcos Canul, Master of the Chapel of the town of Calkini.

Lorenzo Yah, servant of Captain Belasco.

Nicolas Mas, singer of Mascanu.

Diego Mo, sacristan of Mascanu.

Diego Cen, collector of alms of San Christobal.

Diego Pol, singer of Telchao.

Francisco Ku, son of Max Chuz, my servant.

Nicolas Mai, singer of Bolonchen, and he died there.

Manuel Piste, singer of Bolonchen de Cauich.

Luis Ci, sacristan of Tepakam."

Arrival at Cauich. "With them I went to the last pueblo of this province through that part called Cauich, where I found Captain Don Juan del Castillo, placed there by the Governor, in charge, not only of the soldiers, but also of their arms, ammunition, and supplies; and he showed himself singularly kind to us. On the second day, having reached the said town, we found an Indian named Juan Ake, a native of the pueblo of Hoppelchen, who made many trips in the forests to trade with the heathen Indians. From him, with some finesse and gentle persuasions, I extracted the information of three pueblos of heathen Indians, which were found fifty leagues from there, with the names and descriptions, which we verified afterwards."

Departure from Cauich. "We started from this pueblo of Cauich well content with this good news in the afternoon of the day of Saint John the Baptist, after having celebrated his festival with all the spiritual rejoicings which the starting on such a difficult enterprise demanded, beginning from this afternoon to reap some fruits of our journey, since we took this journey in retribution of our sins. In a little while a heavy rain-storm caught us, which lasted from the evening till the dawn of the next day, with such a tempest of lightnings and thunders that the mechanism of the celestial orbs seemed to dissolve. The place where we slept this night is called Hobonmo, two long leagues distant from the said town of Cauich. Here G.o.d worked a manifest miracle with my boy, for a viper of the most poisonous kind which are found in this province, called in this idiom _Kancnah_, came to repose on the mat on which my boy slept, and stayed there resting by the side of his face, until he moved and gave an opportunity to the frightened boy to rise; and when we lighted a light, we saw it and the Indians killed it without it doing any harm."

Aguada of Hobon Ox; Chunzalam, Vecanxan. "We proceeded in the morning of the next day from the said place, a distance of one league, where we found a _haltun_, that is, a hollowed stone, which usually contains water. It is called Hobon Ox. At the distance of two leagues from this _haltun_ is found another place called Chunzalam, with an _aguada_ called Kalceh. One league from this place is found another _aguada_ on the right hand. It is called Vecanxan. A little after this we found a small plain on the left hand."

'Nohhalali Th[=a] Ayn, Sucte. "At the distance of three-fourths of a league is found another _aguada_ called Nohhalal, and after this is found another _aguada_ called Th[=a] Ayn, and a little further on, something like half a league, are found some columns of round stone, which the natives say have served as an altar for the chaplain of the Spaniards, whose Captain is called Mirones. At the side of the said columns is found a well, narrow and round and somewhat deep, although the mystery of what its purpose is, is never revealed. At a distance of half a league from this place is found another _haltun_ with very good water, and a league from this is found the place called Sucte, worthy of memory on account of the things which it contains. First, this place is a plain or meadow, the largest which I have seen up to this time, and it extends on all sides out of sight. The whole covered with trees with a small fruit called _Nanren_, and other trees called _Guazes_, so that all of them make a design, by their standing in such order that they appear to have been planted for the purpose. So that this _savana_ is very beautiful on all sides. In the middle of it is found an _aguada_, well provided, although in the dry season it is apt to be dried up. To the South of the said _savana_, at a distance of a quarter of a league, within a thicket is found another _aguada_ with better and more water, from its being spring water. It rises and falls like the sea, although the sea is distant, from it, in its nearest parts, twenty-six leagues. It breeds in it very good fish and very large _caimans_."

Ix Kata-Kal. "At a distance of a league from this place there is another, Ix Kata-Kal, though it does not always contain water. The said _aguada_ is found on the Eastern side of the road. On the remainder of this road at a distance of three leagues, there are only found some _haltuns_ or hollowed stones, which relieve the necessities of many thirsty people, but not in the dry season. As we pa.s.sed by them, all the path was rough and stony, so that from the fatigue of going over it on foot, we had great trouble from the want of water until we reached a place called Nohku, to which from the aforesaid _savana_ is four very long leagues."

Nohku. "In this place we experienced comfort enough, since G.o.d had provided us with food and drink enough to aid us in pa.s.sing the day of the glorious Apostles, Saint Peter and Saint Paul, so that in that place we said ma.s.s. And in it we found a house of idols, so that, although the Spaniards who pa.s.sed first had broken many, we broke more than fifty others, putting in their place a cross, in order to give to G.o.d the reverence and wors.h.i.+p which the idolaters of the place usurped for themselves. From this report which we heard there grew in us all a Christian curiosity to see the said place in order to exorcise the devil on account of his frauds and to glorify and praise him who is powerful everywhere. We came back from seeing the said place about the hour of vespers, which were celebrated with as much outward and inward rejoicing as was possible in that place. We arranged the altar as decently as we could, through the influence of which and our own Christian character, the Indians, without being forced to, also resolved to confess and to receive the sacraments (for the example of the chiefs is a great thing), so that, without forcing them by words, their subjects silently followed them...."

Nohvecan. "We left this place well contented, although with our feet wearied and wounded by the roughness of the road and we walked a distance of four leagues to another place called Nohvecan, which place, for a league before and a league after, consists of great overflowed stretches which in this language are called _Akalchees_. It can be well understood what pain we endured with our sore legs and feet pa.s.sing through this two leagues of water and mud, which at the least came up over our knees, leaving us almost crippled; another great hards.h.i.+p being added, as soon as we came to an end of this trip, which is the abundance of mosquitoes, which did not allow us rest by day or night.

There is in this place an _aguada_ which is very large and deep and which in the rainy season becomes a river full of water. There are found in the said place some trees, the bark of which is in smell and taste the same as the cinnamon. It is called in this idiom, _Ppelizkuch_; also on the paths is found a vine, which, on touching it, smells of garlic. The odor reaches a distance of a quarter of a league."

Hards.h.i.+ps Suffered by the Padres. "This torment was followed by another very heavy storm of wind which seemed to tear up the trees by the roots, with a great fall of rain, thunder and lightning, which afflicted our hearts. So that imitating in our weakness the Apostle Saint Peter in another similar storm, which befell him on the sea, we had recourse to G.o.d with 'Lord, save us, we perish'; though by imitating him in every thing, we deserved the reproval of our weakness, by the answer which Christ gave to his Apostles, when he calmed the storm by his power; for there he reproved them with these words, 'Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Wherefore do you doubt?', his most holy Majesty showing his pity at once."

Oppol; a Bridge Built across a River. "On the next day early, warned by what had happened in that place, at the first steps which we took in the prosecution of our trip, we pa.s.sed another league of swamp with the same misery as we had the preceding one, as far as a place called Oppol, which is three leagues from this place. In it to the Northwest, at a distance of a quarter of a league, is found a deep _aguada_, from which our company provided itself with water needed for consumption.

Two leagues from this place, beyond a deserted old town, there is found a running stream (although accidental) so that, to pa.s.s over it, we made a bridge. The water is very good, though in the rainy season it will be difficult to pa.s.s, like many others which we have found dry, through our not having come in the rainy season; for when the force of the river comes through the said places, the roads would be impa.s.sable."

Tanche. "Two leagues beyond this river is found a place called Tanche, which is found on the brow of a lofty hill-top and in sight of another very high ridge in a westerly direction from this rancho. At more than half a league off is found the _aguada_ from which the thirsty satisfy their need. A league and a half from this _rancho_ towards the South (we follow this direction) is found another permanent river with an artificial bridge, which cannot be pa.s.sed in any other way. All the roads are very much overflowed on account of the many ridges which surround them. They call this river Yochalek."

Deserted Village of Temchay. "From this place to an old deserted town called Temchay is three leagues. It has its _aguada_, but it does not contain water except in the rainy season. We suffered great thirst, because we had come with the hope that we should satisfy our needs there, and we did not find anything but hard work enough, in repeating our day's march, and in the fact that the hills were rough with many ups and downs, and with more footprints of mountain Indians, who pa.s.sed by there, although these footprints were not recent."

Nohpek. "Suffering from the scarcity of water, we continued our way for the s.p.a.ce of three leagues farther, to a great _haltun_, or hollowed stone, which held a great deal of water and which G.o.d willed that we should find full. This place is called Nohpek. At the side of this _haltun_ we found a _milpa_ well sown and provided with _chiles_, which in the midst of our work served our hunger, so that, with a little maize which we cooked, we had that day a cheerful meal; although to the cheer there did not fail to be added a little bitterness; since in one of the _ranchos_ where we lodged we found a tree which in that language is called _Pomolche_. This produced a fruit of the same form as the hazel nuts of Spain, as well in the sh.e.l.l as in the kernel, color, smell, and taste. Curiosity led us to see if they were really hazel nuts. We ate some of the kernels for some time, without finding any difference. Therefore as quite a time pa.s.sed in which there was no effect other than what we expected, the Indians ate also, so as to imitate us in everything. Eating the said kernels caused us some thirst, giving us occasion to drink water, and we had scarcely drunk it, when we all burst out with vomitings and violent diarrhoeas. Two leagues on from this place, a part of the army of Spaniards was found, and knowing that I was on the way, there came to receive me two priests who were of those who had preceded me, with two soldiers; and one of them, having had the same thing happen to him with the said fruit, said that their remedy was a draught of wine. We took the remedy and after we had purged ourselves thoroughly, we were, of a sudden, well."

Nohthub. "From this place it is two long leagues to an old deserted place called Nohthub; all the way is overflowed or _akalchex_. In the rainy season the road is very heavy. In this place we found the camp of the Captain Don Joseph de Estenos, with all his people. It is a pleasant place and has many orange and lemon trees. In it we saw a large enclosure which the Indians made to keep off the Spaniards, when the latter went to despoil them fifteen years before. It has two large _aguadas_, one at the entrance of the said place, which in the dry season is exhausted; with another large and round basin which G.o.d made in a living rock. Another _aguada_ lies in an easterly direction, a distance of half a league, and the water here is permanent and deep. It breeds very good fish of large size and tame, so that, although the soldiers went in swimming, the fish did not flee away, so that they gave an opportunity to any one who had a _machete_ in his hand to kill them. They call these fish crocodiles, because they are of the same shape and with the same scales as crocodiles, and they are very good eating, according to the statement of all who eat them."

Bacechac. "From this Nohthub we went five good leagues to a place which they call Bacechac. In its center are three _aguadas_, but all were dry. There is much overflowed land or _akalchex_. There are very large forests with many copal and balsam trees, and many hills, on account of which the paths are impa.s.sable in the rainy season. This place has its _aguada_ in a westerly direction, and although it too held no water, necessity made us experts, making deep holes in some parts of it, in order that the land should distil its moisture. So it happened, G.o.d giving us sufficient water from night to morning in the said wells which we opened to relieve our need.

"We left this place the next day and traveled about two leagues by some places which are very much submerged and not the less dangerous, as much on account of the hills which surround them as from the chance streams which are met there, until at last we reached a summit which forms on the top a great plain, in which is found an _aguada_ called Celmet."

Buete. "In this place the same thing happened to us (as far as water is concerned) as in the preceding _aguada_. We left this place and traveled some two leagues and a half to a place called Buete. In this place we found twelve or thirteen houses of the heathen Indians, who had just surrendered to the Indian soldiers of Sahcabchen, without any violence, as I shall explain hereafter. This place has a very large _aguada_ with much eel-gra.s.s and very many _caimans_. In this town and two others near by we found ample supplies of maize, beans and the rest of the fruits on which all live in this land; and it came very opportunely, since already the army had no other recourse, after the hunger which they had endured for three days past...."