Two or three times, at intervals of a week or ten days, Bathalda went down to Tlatlanquitepec, with a load of turkeys and other game slung on a pole over his shoulder, and returned with maize, flour, chocolate, and pulque, and other articles of food; and--which was of much greater importance to Roger--news of the white strangers.
The first time he learned that they had arrived in several floating castles, and had landed at once.

The natives had received them with kindness, and the chief of that district, Teuhtlile, had on the following day had an interview with their chief.

Presents had been exchanged.

Five days later an embassy, with many very rich gifts from the emperor, arrived at the camp.

They were the bearers of friendly messages from Montezuma; who, however, had declined to allow them to proceed into the country, and had requested them to leave the coast at once.