They Immediately
Sent, Therefore, A Number Of Indians To The Ships, Loaded With Roasted
Fish, Hens, Several Sorts Of Fruit,
And the bread of the country, all of
which they placed on mats on the ground in a very orderly
Manner, laying
beside them a handsome mask of wood, and several pieces of very beautiful
feather-work; and one of the Indians said that the lord of the town would
come next day to visit the Spaniards.
Next day, accordingly, the cacique went on board Grijalvas ship without
jealousy, attended by many people all unarmed. On perceiving their
approach, Grijalva dressed himself in a loose coat of crimson velvet and a
cap of the same, with suitable ornaments; and being a handsome man of
twenty-eight years of age, made a fine appearance. The cacique was
received on board with much respect, and sitting down with Grijalva, some
discourse took place between them, of which both understood very little,
as it was mostly carried on by signs, and by means of a few words which
Melchior and Julian were able to interpret. After some time, the cacique
ordered one of his attendants to take from a petaca, or a kind of trunk,
the presents which he had brought for the Spaniards. The Indian
accordingly took out certain plates of gold, and thin boards covered with
gold, in the nature of armour, which fitted Grijalva as perfectly as if
they had been made on purpose; and the cacique put them on him himself,
changing any that did not fit for others, till at length Grijalva was
fitted with a complete suit of golden armour.
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