ABSTRACT
The admiral, Don Diego Columbus, wrote to Cortez to claim his; rights, but Cortez refused to admit them. Francisco de Garay also wrote to him, to say, that the King had granted him the government of Panuco, and that he was preparing an armament at Jamaica, with the admiral's permission, to come and take possession of the country. Cortez was determined he should not, and went in person to the River Panuco to prevent it — first of all sending Alonzo Davila and Antonio de Quinones to Spain with an account of his successes. They carried with them 27,000 " pesos de oro," as the royal fifth of the gold that had been taken: and as a present, Cortez sent the King an emerald as large as the fourth part of the palm of the hand, that ended in a pyramidal form, and a grand service of gold and silver plate, in cups, pitchers, and dishes; small shields and pots, and a variety of curiosities; masks of mosaic work in precious stones, with golden ears; ornaments made with feathers and cotton; some giants' bones, which were found in " Cuioacanand two tigers, one of whom, after killing two men, and wounding eight more, jumped overboard, and the other was killed, to prevent his doing the same.
