The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1847-01-22

will object to as inelegsnt, while it will
spare US the frequent writing Of an un-
reasonable number Of syllables.
The city of Tezcuco was one of thoae
which boasted barbsric spendor at the
period Of which we write. No wonder
that rumors of a Western Ell Dorado had
reached Europe. A bird OF the air might
carryathe matter, in the shape of wings
besprent with gold dust, or collar Of
emeralds worth an emperior's ransom. Sir
John Maundevile's account of Prester
Johns riches seems scarcely fabulous, af-
ter reading the History Of theae cities.
Their sovereisns resign like ne kings'
in fairy -land-absolute masters of treas
ures inexhaustibls. Their country, limi-
ted as II was in extent, composed every
variety OF climate, from the perpetual
snow that crowned the mountains TO the
burning plains on the Atlantic coast. Be
tween these extremes were ample regions
ofunchanging veTdure, and that vast able
land, which, elevated six thousand feet
above the level OF the sea, is yet sheltered
by stupendous range of hills, aud is at
this day, in temperature, fertility and nat
ural advantages, one of the most delicious
regions on the face of the globe. The
productions Of this favored country cons
prised all that nature ever grants to man,
and the system of taxation insured to the
sovereign tribute in kind from every
thing yielded by earth, air or water. Gold !,
silver, amber, turquoise, tortoise.shell, /,
were the materials of ofdrinking-vessels and
other utensils, not only in the royal pala
ces, bu. in the dwellings of the nobility
and these are but a specimen of.he W. ealth
and luxury which prevailed. Over all this
the king had nearly absolute power, and
he was regarded by his people with almost
the reverence due to god.
But no splendur or dignity can secure
| the posseSsor against misfortune. Cana
ca, king of Tezcuco, 10 tho midst of his
prosperity perhaps because of it--be, =,
came an object OF enmily to ne ghboring
nation, the Tepaaoes; and after series
of aggresslons, the detail Of which would
be foreign to our present intention, these
~arlise people succeeded in overwb be lining
aud destroying tie more luxufionR mon
arch. His son Huaico beheld the barbar
Gus murder Of his father, and but for the
vigilance and fidelity of the tutor who had
charge of him, would nave E,st the same
fate. This faithful friend eont rived to
secrete or disguise his masters heir, 40
aueceaafnlly that the Tepan.es were bafRad
in tLsir design to eztinguish the royal
blood Of Tezcuco.
The young prince, who was surrounded
BY fsw faithfal friends, was at first ia.
consolab bic, both that his father was ba sely
murdered and that he himself still lived.
He dashed himself on the ground in all the
extravagance OF passionate youths 6ts'
grief, and decla red his determination to
rid himself of life rendered hateful by
misery aud disgrace.
"Why dist thou hinder me, Atahuilpa, >"
he said, "wben would have cast myself
before my father and received 10 my DO
som the darts which were aimed at him!
Thine own lessons have taugh, me to pre-,
fer many things before life, yet it is thy
fault that live the life of a coward and
dom is usurped by his murderers."
"Ifthy death could have saved tbs life
of the king" said the old man, 81 myself
would have urged thee, nay, forced thee
to the sacrifice. But thou wonldst only
have furnished another victim, and more
complete triumph The lives of princes
are the property of their people; and thou
vert noless cowardly to throw away thine
in despair, than thou wouldst have been
to withhold it il it could. have preserved
thy father. In this world fwar and strife,
Hualco, he is the brave man who dares to
live. II thou wouldst show thyself worthy
to avenge thy sovereign upon his enemies,
thou must begin with mastery over thy.
self"
Hualco had been taught from infancy
the most implicit obedience to his pre-
ceptor. The customs of his country gave
those TO whom was con6ded the instruc.
tion of youth of the higher classes, and
particularly those of the blood>roy al, un
limited authority. The words of Atahuilpa
aroused the prince to reflection, and he
took part IN the council which was now
held, as to the safest disposition of his per.
son, and the carrying out of those plans of
education ordained by law for the heir of
the crown The posture Of affairs allowed
no present hope of an armed resistance to
the Tepaneos; whose warlike habits and
ambition would incline and
enable them to retain the power they had
gained 10 kingdom now under the dis
of a royal minority. 1t was
L.. L. Al |