that Cortes had many such, and much larger than those they had seen.  They displayed a painting of a mighty carak, having six masts, with sails and shrouds, and having armed horsemen on board[45].  In May 1523, Antonio de Britto, the Portuguese governor of the Molucca isles, sent Simon de Bru to discover the passage from thence by the island of Borneo to Malacca.  They came in sight of the islands of Manada and Panguensara, and thence through the strait of Treminao and Taquy to the islands of St Michael, in 7 deg.  S. and then to the island of Borneo, where they came in sight of Pedra Branca, or the white stone; whence, passing through the strait of Cincapura, they came to the city of Malacca[46].

In the same year 1523, Cortes went with 300 Spanish foot, 150 horse, and 20,000 Mexicans, to make a complete discovery and conquest of Panuco, and to punish the inhabitants for having killed and devoured the soldiers of Francis Garay.  The natives resisted him, but were overthrown; and to keep the country under subjection, he built a town on the river, near Chila, which he named Santo Stephano del Puerta, in which he left a garrison of 100 foot and 30 horse, under the command of Peter de Valleia.  In this expedition he lost many of his people, both Spaniards and Mexicans, and several horses[47].

In this same year 1523, Francis de Garay, having a commission from the emperor as governor of all the coast he had discovered from Florida to Panuco, fitted out nine ships and two brigantines, with 850 soldiers and 150 horses, on purpose to take possession of his government.  Some men joined him from Jamaica, where he had furnished his squadron with warlike ammunition; and sailing thence to the harbour of Xagua, in the island of Cuba, he there learnt that Cortes had taken possession of the coast of Panuco.  That he ought not meet with the fate of Narvaez, he sent the doctor Zuazo to Mexico, to endeavour to enter into treaty with Cortes.  Garay arrived in the Rio de las Palmas on St Jameses day, and sent Goncalo de Ocampo up the river to explore the country, who reported, on his return, that the country was bad and desert.  Yet Garay landed with 400 foot soldiers and some horse, and commanded John de Grijalva, to explore the coast, while he marched by land to Panuco, in which march he crossed a river to which he gave the name of Rio Montalto.  In this march he came to a large town, in which he found much poultry, to the great refreshment of his troops.  Here, likewise, he took some of the inhabitants of Chila, whom he employed as messengers to different places.  After a long and difficult march, he arrived at Panuco, but found no provisions; the country having been exhausted in the war with Cortes, and by being plundered by the soldiers.  From this place he sent Goncalo de Ocampo to St Stephano, or Istevan del Puerto, to inquire if the garrison would submit to his authority.  They sent him a favourable answer; but, by means of an ambush, they