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penalties imposed for the violation of this ordinance, which Garay was ordered to make public in all the settlements or towns he might found. 49 Cortes -prepares to meet Garay. Armed with the desired royal grant, Garay began active preparations for the occupation of his lands some time in 1522. It seems that while making his arrangements he thought it advisable to inform Cortes of his purpose. The conqueror of Mexico reported to the king that he had received information that the Governor of Jamaica had obtained a grant made by His Majesty which included the region of the Panuco River. He added that Garay was making preparations to occupy this land with the approval and support of Diego Columbus. 50 He explained that a ship that had recently come from Cuba had brought news telling how Diego Velazquez, Diego Columbus, and Francisco de Garay had held a meeting in the said island at which they had agreed to use their influence and resources to hinder the conquest of Mexico. Cortes declared that one of their chief designs was to penetrate the country through the Panuco River, which he had just conquered. In view of this information and what he had learned of the repeated efforts of Garay to establish himself in the region to the north of Veracruz, Cortes decided to go to Panuco in person and bring the country under his formal subjection. He claimed that he was moved to adopt this measure by the reports of the wealth of the Province of Panuco and the fear that the projected occupation by Garay, who was his admitted rival, might cause an uprising similar to that which the coming of Narvaez had precipitated. Furthermore, since the visit to the coast by some of Garay's lieutenants a year or two before, the natives had killed many of the Spaniards who had strayed or wandered through the country. Encouraged by their prowess, the Indians had become insolent. It was one of his purposes, he said, to avenge the ill fate of Garay's men. 51 Fully aware of the danger which the plans of Garay represented to his interest, Cortes, early in 1522, left Mexico for the Province of Chila and the Panuco, with a force of three hundred soldiers, one hundred and fifty horsemen, and about forty thousand Indian allies, to forestall the planting of a settlement by Garay. After a brief and sanguinary campaign, typical of the ruthless conqueror of Mexico, the entire Province 49 /bid., 147-153. s 0 cortes, Carla de Relacion, October 15, 1524, in Barcia, Historiadores Primi- livos, I, 134. SI/ bid., I, 134; Gomara, Cronico in Barcia, II, 156-1 57; Herrera, Hisloria, Dec. iii , Lib. iii, Cap. xviii.
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