Shortly after this, the cacique himself appeared, unarmed and with a small retinue. After friendly greetings on each side he took from a basket golden articles of various kinds set with jewels, and fabrics decorated with beautifully colored feathers, and said to Grijalva that he loved peace and had brought these gifts in confirmation of his words, but, that there might be no opportunity for misunderstanding, he begged him to leave the country as soon as possible. The Spanish leader acknowledged the politeness of the cacique by making gifts in return, and promised to conform to his wishes as soon as he could get under sail.
After cruising some distance along the coast, they reached an island with many stone houses and a temple. In the centre of this temple, which was open on all sides, they saw various hideous idols placed about an altar, elevated a few steps. Near to it were six corpses, which, according to the prevailing horrible custom, seemed to have been offered up as sacrifices on the preceding night. On account of this dreadful spectacle the Spaniards named the place Isla de los Sacrificios (“Island of Sacrifice”). Everywhere they found evidences that the inhuman practice of sacrificing men to their deities prevailed among these people. Coming to anchor at another island, which was called Kulva by the natives, they saw many more corpses of freshly slaughtered men, which caused even the barbarous Spanish soldiers to shudder at such cruelty. Grijalva gave his surname, Juan, to this island, from which eventually came the name, St. Juan de Ulloa, by which it is now known.
Wherever they went gold was found in abundance. This and the sight of many fruitful spots which they passed aroused a general desire among the men to effect a settlement, but Grijalva persisted in carrying out the orders of Velasquez, and everywhere that he landed, took possession of the country in the name of the King. He continued sailing along the coast until he reached Pánuco. At the mouth of a river there he was so furiously assailed by a swarm of Indians that a dreadful massacre became necessary before they could be driven back. After this, while attempting to sail still farther along the coast, adverse currents forced him to return to Cuba. Upon his arrival he met with bitter reproaches from the unreasonable governor, Velasquez, because he had not availed himself of the excellent opportunity to establish a colony in that rich region, although he had been expressly forbidden to do so when he sailed.