On the following morning Tabasco presented himself in person, attended by a large retinue, and bringing presents, among which were some gold ornaments of little value and twenty female slaves. The terms dictated by Cortés were that they should return their women and children to the village within two days, in token of their good faith, and that the treacherous Melchor should be delivered up. But the unfortunate interpreter had already suffered death in return for his bad advice. It was useless to demand gold, for there was little or none here. So they proceeded at once to expound the doctrines of their faith; to lay before them the truths of the gospel which they had come so far to bring. An altar was erected in the chief temple on which was placed a large cross. From this altar Father Olmedo preached to the natives, and here were baptized the first converts to the church in New Spain, consisting of the twenty female slaves, who were afterward distributed among the leaders. Then followed the ceremonial tender of allegiance by the chiefs of Tabasco's province to the Spanish king, and the formal naming of the large town, which was called Santa María de la Victoria, in commemoration of the victory.[1]
Palm Sunday being at hand, it was resolved to celebrate it in such a manner as to further impress the natives. Attired in their most brightly colored garments, with palms in their hands and banners aloft,
- ↑ Y pusose nombre a aquel pueblo, Santa Maria de la Vitoria, è assi se llama agora la villa de Tabasco.' Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 24. 'Potanchanum dicitur ab accolis oppidum . . . . Victoriam nostri appellarunt.' Peter Martyr, De Insvlis, 14; copied in Gomara, Hist. Mex., 36. Referring to the hattle of Centla, Clavigero writes: 'e per memoria vi fondarono poi una piccola città col nome della Malonna della Vittoria, la quale su per lungo tempo la capitale di quella Provincia . . . . Si spopolò del tutto verso la metà del secolo passato.' A later foundation received the name of Villahermosa. Storia, Mess., iii. 11. This is based on a statement by Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 22, and to reconcile this with the note above, it must be supposed that the Nonohualca capital was removed to the site of the battle-field when the Spaniards settled. Other authors either confound the points or avoid them by a vague reference. Victoria was founded by Cortés in 1519. Alcedo, Dic., v. 305. It is strange that the chief town is not referred to under its native name, for Potonchan is evidently a mistake by Peter Martyr.
