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The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Vol 2 (of 2)

Bernal Díaz del Castillo · c. 1568–1570 (composition of the memoirs) primary

passage 258 of 356 · CHAPTER CXXXVII. > CHAPTER CXC. (1/3)

in brief
From the Havannah Cortés sails in favorable weather to Vera Cruz near Sacrificios island, takes possession of horses, and proceeds inland without delay while sending notice of his arrival.

Cortes sets sail from the Havannah, and has a favorable passage to Vera Cruz, where he is received with the greatest rejoicings.

After Cortes had been five days at the Havannah, he began to grow very impatient for the hour of his departure, so greatly did he long to be once more in Mexico. He therefore gave orders for embarking without any further delay, and arrived, after a very favorable passage of twelve days, in the harbour of Medellin, opposite the island of Sacrificios, where he dropped anchor for the night. He himself disembarked, with twenty of his most trustworthy soldiers, intending to march to San Juan de Ulua, which was only a couple of miles distant; but it fortunately happened he should come up with a party of travellers who had a number of horses with them, and were on their way to the harbour he had just left to embark for Spain. Cortes took possession of the horses, and then proceeded direct to Vera Cruz, which was distant about twenty miles.

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topics: geography and the description of places · supply, logistics, and encampment · voyages and seafaring

The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Vol 2 (of 2) · Bernal Díaz del Castillo · 1568–1570