Editing Spanish conquest of Yucatán (section)

====Avendaño's expedition, December 1695 – January 1696====
[[Franciscans|Franciscan]] friar Andrés de Avendaño left [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]] on 13 December 1695, and arrived in [[Nojpetén]] around 14 January 1696, accompanied by four companions.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 187, 189.</ref> From Chuntuki they followed an Indian trail that led them past the source of the [[San Pedro River (Guatemala)|San Pedro River]] and across steep karst hills to a watering hole by some ruins.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 189–190.<br>Means 1917, p. 128.</ref> From there they followed the small Acté River to a Chakʼan Itza town called Saklemakal.<ref name="Jones98p190">Jones 1998, p. 190.</ref> They arrived at the western end of [[Lake Petén Itzá]] to an enthusiastic welcome by the local [[Itza people|Itza]].<ref name="SharerTraxler06p775"/> The following day, the current [[Kan Ekʼ|Aj Kan Ekʼ]] travelled across the lake with 80 canoes to greet the visitors at the Chakʼan Itza (a subgroup of the [[Itza people|Itza]]) port town of [[Nixtun Chʼichʼ|Chʼichʼ]], on the west shore of Lake Petén Itza.<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 775.<br>Jones 1998, p. 192.</ref> The Franciscans returned to Nojpetén with Kan Ekʼ and baptised over 300 Itza children over the following four days. Avendaño tried to convince Kan Ekʼ to convert to Christianity and surrender to the Spanish Crown, without success.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p775"/> The king of the Itza, cited Itza prophecy and said the time was not yet right.<ref name="SharerTraxler06p775">Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 775.</ref>
 
On 19 January AjKowoj, the king of the [[Kowoj]], arrived at [[Nojpetén]] and spoke with Avendaño,<ref>Jones 1998, p. 205.</ref> arguing against the acceptance of Christianity and Spanish rule.<ref>Jones 1998, p. 207.</ref> The discussions between Avendaño, Kan Ekʼ and AjKowoj exposed deep divisions among the Itza.<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 209–210.</ref> Kan Ekʼ learnt of a plot by the Kowoj and their allies to ambush and kill the Franciscans, and the Itza king advised them to return to [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]] via [[Tipu, Belize|Tipuj]].<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 775.<br>Jones 1998, pp. 214–215.</ref> The Spanish friars became lost and suffered great hardships, including the death of one of Avendaño's companions,<ref>Vayhinger-Scheer 2011, p. 383.</ref> but after a month wandering in the forest found their way back to Chuntuki, and from there returned to Mérida.<ref>Sharer and Traxler 2006, pp. 775–776.<br>Jones 1998, pp. 218–219.</ref>