March 4, 1519: Cortés and Co. leave Cozumel

It was on March 4, 1519 that Bernal Díaz says that Cortés left in convoy from the island of Cozumel. Heading west.

"... Cortés ordered us to embark in the order we had come before we landed at Cozumel, with the same instructions and lantern signals at night. We were navigating in good weather, but when dusk fell, so strong and opposing a wind came up that it scattered the ships and put them in very great danger of running aground. But God willed that it subside at midnight."

But that points to the future.  In the previous week, Cortés had been busy. The first thing when

"...Cortés arrived with all those ships and, after lodging, the first thing he did was order that the pilot Camacho be put in chains because he did not wait as ordered."

That is, leaving before the rest back on Cuba. As happened three weeks before. The captain of the company that Camacho was in was no other than Pedro de Alvarado, leader of the same company that Bernal  Díaz was in. Upon arriving, Cortés was not happy with what he found there at Cozumel.

"When he saw the town without people and learned that Pedro de Alvarado had gone to the other town and taken hens, hangings, and other things of little value from the idols, and the gold half copper, he expressed as much anger about it as about the pilot failing to wait. Severely reprimanding Pedro de Alvarado, he told him that they were not to pacify the lands in that way, taking property from the natives."

Remember, this is the first time Cortés sets foot on Mexico. On Cozumel, before they set out for the mainland. Cortés makes examples of some to set the example of his own power and leadership, acting as a superior teacher to Pedro's errant, rapacious activities. Where would Pedro de Alvarado get that idea? It was in the culture, we are told and success and failure very often depended on one's timing as well as things like the projection of personal power. In a classic example of 'doing the right thing', Cortés, through the interpreter Melchorejo does honor the idea of reparation for an injury afflicted. Ordering the gold and idols returned, paying for the hens stolen, giving them all new shirts. The next day the leaders came with women and children.

"They walked among us as if they had dealt with us all their lives, and Cortés ordered the men not to offend them in any way. Here on this island, Cortés began to command in earnest, and our Lord gave him grace so that whatever he set his hand to turned out well for him, especially in pacifying the towns and natives of those parts." [all quotes above, p. 26*]

Cortés also inquired about a mystery to him, why did the locals call the Spaniards 'Castilan'. How would they know where they came from? Cortés believed the locals had no idea. Some did. 

Previously, in 1511 a venture had struck out from Darién colony in Panama. It shipwrecked and the survivors were captured and were set to work and died of it or were sacrificed. [ff 1, p 34] This Jeronimo de Aguilar and another man were the only one's left surviving. But he knew the local language and while he found it hard to give up his wife and children...

Wait, what? For one thing, the other survivor would not leave the life there in that area and did not believe that leaving there would improve their lives. This was how some of the locals had known to call them Castilan. A Castilian had already spread the word locally.

There was a muster three days after Cortés arrived to determine how many were going forward with Cortés there on Cozumel.

Also some salt pork was stolen and the dispute had to be resolved. Cortés found the guilty and had them whipped.

Taking a look at some of the religious courts there, full of people burning incense, a priest climbed to the top and began speaking to the crowd gathered. Melchorejo explained that he was preaching 'evil things'. Cortés has the interpreter tell the chief there that these are evil idols and practices and that they should be destroyed and a new altar to Our Lady erected [p. 30]. The chief says that Cortés will learn 'how badly things will go for us because we would be lost at sea.' Cortés ordered the men to  destroy the altar and fetch some lime to build a new altar. Even this was done. 'A very clean altar was erected, a new cross with 'clean timber' was constructed and a mass was said. Then the locals were told to keep it clean and keep burning incense there. Then the Spaniards left.

Before going far, one of the ships began to founder so they all stopped again. An alarm from one of the ships gave word that it was Aguilar still on shore who had at length decided after all to go with them.

It was Aguilar who told the locals always to revere the altar for Our Lady as 'much good would come to them' as a result. [p. 35]. 

Lastly, 

"On the advice of Aguilar, the caciques [local chiefs] asked for a letter of protection from Cortés so that if other Spaniards came to that port, the Indians would be well treated and the Spaniards would not harm them. Cortés gave them the letter at once. After taking leave with many flatteries and promises, we set sail for the Rio Grijalva." [pp. 35-6]

Bernal Díaz explains that the crew was very glad to have such a good interpreter as the Spaniard Aguilar.
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* and all quotes taken from The Conquest of New Spain of Bernal Diaz de Castillo, translated with an introduction and notes by Janet Burke and Ted Humphrey, Indianapolis, Hackett Publishing Co, Inc. 2012