Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/155

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was approved by me, and I sent him word to establish a town of Spaniards in the province of Tuxtepeque, and to call it Medellin,[1] I sent the appointment of alcaldes and municipal officials, all of whom I charged to look after Your Majesty's service and the good treatment of the natives. The Lieutenant of Segura de la Frontera departed with his people for the province of Guaxaca with many friendly warriors from that neighbourhood, and, although the natives of that province set themselves to resist, and fought two or three times very stoutly against him, they finally surrendered peacefully without sustaining any damage; he wrote very minutely respecting all this, informing me that the country was very good, and rich in mines, and he sent me a very remarkable sample of gold from it, which I also forward to Your Majesty; and he remained in the said province awaiting my commands.

Having taken measures for the accomplishment of these two conquests, and having heard of the good success of them, and seeing how I had Rebuilding already peopled three towns with Spaniards of and that a number of them still remained with Mexico me in this city, I debated where to establish another town within the circuit of the lakes; for it was needed for the greater security and peace of all these parts. Considering also that the city of Temixtitan, which was a thing so renowned and had made itself so important and memorable, it seemed to us that it was well to rebuild it, for it was all destroyed. I distributed the lots to those who offered themselves as householders, and I appointed the alcaldes and municipal officers in the name of Your Majesty, as is customary in your kingdoms; and, while the houses were being built, we agreed to continue living in this city of Cuyoacan, where we are at present. In the four or five months since the

  1. Named after Cortes's birthplace in Estremadura.