Happy Independence Day!
Four Ships
“[Cortez] sent four ships to Hispaniola to enrol volunteers and purchase powder and ammunition, and meanwhile he caused trees to be cut down in the mountains of Tlascala, and with the wood thus obtained twelve brigantines were constructed, which were to be carried in pieces to the Lake of Mexico, to be launched there at the moment when needed.” (“The Exploration Of The World.” Translated by N. D’anvers. Forward by Jules Verne)
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