Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-02-13
From Preseon's Conquest Of Meaico.
THE ANCIENT MEXICANS.
FIRST INTERVIEW OF CoRTEZ WITH MONTE
YUMA.

In the midst of these unpleasant refec-
tons they beheld the glttering retinue of
the Emperor emerging from the great street
which led then as it still does through the
heart of the city. Amidst a crowd of Indian
mobiles, preceded by three officers of state.
bearing golden wands, they saw the royal pa
lanquin blazing with Furnished gold 1t was
borne on the shoulders of mobiles, and over
it a canopy of gaudy FURTHERMORE, powdered
with jewels, and fringed with silver, was sup
portca by four attendants of the same rank.
They were bareiooted, aud walked with a
SLOW, measured pace, and with eyes bent on
the ground. When the train bad come with
in convenient distance, it halted, and Mon
tezuma, descending from his litter, came for
ward leaning on the arms of the lords of Te-
zuco and lztapalapan, his nephew and bro
Their, both of whom as we have seen, had al
ready been made known TO the Spaniards.
As the monarch advanced under the canopy
the obscquious attendants strey ed the ground
with cotton tapestry, that his imperial feet
might not be contaminated by the rude soil.
His subjects of high and low degree, which
lined the sides of the causcway, bent forward
with their eyes fastened on the ground, as he
passed. and some of the lumbar class pros
trated themselves before him. Such was the
homage paid to the Indian despot, showing
that the slavish forms of Oriental adulaton
were to be found among the rude inhabi-
tanis Of the western world.
Montezuma wore the girdle and ample
square cloak, tiimatli. of his nation. 1t was
made of the finest cotton, with the embroid-
cred ends gathered in a knot round his neck
lis feet were defended by sandLls having
soles of gold, and the leatharn thongs which
bound them TO his ANGLES were embroidered
with the same metal. Both the cloak aud
sandals were sprinkled with pearls and pre-
cious stones, among which the emerald and
the ciGichiril--a green stone of niger esti-
nation than any other among the AZtecs-
were conspicuous. On his head he wore no
other ornament than a pdRacae of plumes of
the royal green which fiolted down his back.
the badge of military rather than of regal
rank.
He was at that time about forty years of
age. His person was tall and thin, but not
i'll made. His hair. which was black and
straight, was not very long; TO wear it short
was considered unbecoming persons of rank.
His beard was thin; his complexion some
what palcr than is often found in his dusky.
or rather copper coloured race. His fea-
lures, though serious in their expression, did
not wear the look of melancholy. indeed of
detection, which characteristics his portrait,
and which may well have settled on them at
a later period. He moved with dignity, and
his whole demeanor, tempered by an express
ion of benignity, not to have been anticipa-
ted from the reports circulated of his charac-
ter, was worthy of great prince. Such IS
the portrait left TO US ofthe celebrated Ind
an Emperor, in his first interview with the
white men.
The army halted as he drew near. Cor
ties, dismounting. threw his reins 10 a page,
and, supported BY few OF the principle ca
va..ers, advanced TO meet him. The inter