American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-06-05
HE HALLS OF THE MoNTEZUMAs.


lHE HALLS OF THE MoNTEZUMAS.
i not improbable that among the they
of our readers, there are some who have
[re-possibly a design-to "revel in the
|Eof the Montezumas. To such at least,
blowing article, which we cut from an ez-
Re, will prove interesting at this time;
Eontezuma II. assembled the Mexican
|e A. D. 1902, at the age of %, before
|co had been discovered by Europeans.
led 30th June, 1920, in the 42d year of his
bf wounds inflicted by the Spanish Disco
S whom he had invited to his royal pa
Historians agree in admirng his chaIac-
ascending the throne, not content with the
|pus residence of his father, he erected
Der, much more magnificent, fronting on
|dra mayor of the present city of Mexico.
lst was this great structure, that, as one
historians informs US, the space covered
terraced roof might have afforded room
thirty nights to run their courses in re-
tournay. His fathers palace, although
b high, was 50 extensive that the visitors
too much fatigued In wandering through
|partments, ever to see the whole of it.
he palaces were built of red stone, orna-
led with marble, the arms Of the Montezu-
|mily Gan eagle bearing tiger in his talons)
sculptured over the main entrance. CIys-
|puntains, fed by great reservoirs on the
Lboring hills, played in the vast halls and
bns, and supplied water to hundreds of
lie baths in the interior of the palaces
IDS Of mobiles and tributary chieftains were
nually sauntering through the halls, or
ring away their hours in attendance on the
!. Rich carvings in wood adorned the
ngs, beautiful mats of palm leaf covered
loors. The walls were hung with cotton
" stained, the skins of wild animals, or
sous draperies of feather work wrought in
stion of birds, insects and flowers, in glow
radiance of colors. Clouds of incense from
en censors diffused intoxicating odors
Igh splendid apartments occupied by the
hundred and eighty wives and five thousand
bs of Montezuma.
3 encouraged science and learning, and
tic schools were established throughout the
ter part of his empire. The city of Mexico
Is day, numbered twice as many inhabitants
present, and one thousand men were daily
toyed in watering and sweeping its streets,
ling them so clean that u man could ira
B the whole city with as little danger of
hg his feet as his hands. A careful police
'ded the city. Extensive arsenals, grana-
warehouses, an aviary for the most beauti-
birds, menageries, houses for reptiles and
ents, collection ofhuman monsters, fish
ls built of marble, and museums and pub
braries, all on the most extensive scale,
ID their attractions TO the great city of the
ecs. Gorgeous temples-in which human
ms were sacrificed, and their blood baked
Iead, or their bodies dressed for feod to be
pured by the people at religious festivals
ed their pyramidial affairs far above the
lest ediaces. Thousands of their brother
were thus sacrificed annually. The tenn
of Maxtili, their war god, was so construct
hat its great alarm gong, sounding to bat
reused the valley for three leagues around,
called three hundred thousand armed
ecs to the immediate relief Of their monarch.
10 vast was the collection of birds of prey, in
riding devoted to them, that 500 turkeys, the
apest meat in Mexico, were allowed for
If daily consumption. Such were the "Halls
-he Montezumas!" The summer residence
Ihe monarch, on the hill of Chapoltepec, ov-
'oking the. city, was surrounded by gardens
several miles in extent, and here were pre-
7ed until the middle of the last century, two
tues of the Emperor and his father. The
at cypress trees, under which the Aztec SOW
ign and his associates once held their moon
At revels, still shade the royal gardens
me of them, fifty feet in circumference, are
eral thousand years old, but are yet as green
in the days of Montezuma, whose ashes OF
,se ofhis ancestors, render sacred, in the eyes
the native Mexicans, the hill of Chapoltpec
tural decay and waning population now
rk the seat of power of the great Montezu
IS, ......
Tue MORMON TEMPLE. The Quincy Whis
.bo Nanunn Top,plo L.. -. -, =