 Eventually Montejo's forces stabilised sufficiently for him to mount explorations from his temporary encampment, heading out with some 125 men north towards Ecab near Cape Catoche.The sortie returned several months later after losing half of his men in a battle against the Maya near Ake, and to disease.The 65 "conquistadores" who had been left behind at Salamanca de Xelha fared no better with many being massacred in Maya raids, leaving Montejo with only about a third of his original complement.