The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-10-31
SERVICE WANDERINGS.
BY AN OFFICER OF ARTILLERY.
CEOLULA.

CEOLULA.
VINO has not heard of the Pyrami id of
Cholu lula-represented by wood-cu in
the primergeographies, as a truncated
py ramid, with a long, four-sided base,
and regular steps on every side, 10 the
famous temple Of the more famous Quet-
zaIcoatl al It's summit Or what reader Of
Prescott does not recall the thrilling me-
mories of the massacre, by Cortez and the
allied Indians, ofthousands Of the natives,
in the town at its base, in retaliation of
their treaChery?
The story is not doubt exaggerated, and
the child's wood-cul is as like actual re-
ality as "Hyperion 10 u satyr." [ say
the memories are exaggerated; for Pres.
colt draws his materials from the Spanish
historian and it has passed into pro.
verb among the Spanish, that of W hat
historians and travellers relate, we NAV
believe ''ia nlitad de la naitGd." But even
when this quar!erng process h9s passed
upon the story of Bernal Diaz, there still
remains enough of the tragic and the ro-
mantle in the recollections OF that pictur-
esque spot, TO invest it with peculiar in
terest TO the traveller.
The impression. | think, which is
forced upon the mind Of one journeying
in Mexico, is, that the numbers, The mag
nlfcence, the civilization and the virtues
of the race which Cortez met when he
marched into the tablelands OF Puebla have
been strangely exaggerated. Sulfi cient
time has not elapsed 10 destroy the vcsii-
ges Of Sach mighty cities, aud The Iabours
OF such advanced civilization, as the his
torIans of the conquest relate as existing
a: the beginning of the sixteenth century.
These glowing records were doubtless
made, partly 10 swell the importance of
the little band Of cOnquerorS, partly to
please the young ana mighty emperor
who had Just ascended the throne, and
who regarded the new discoveries as CIV
ing glorious celebrity to bis reign, and
partly. too, in accordance with the literary
fashion ofthe times, which borrowed from
the stage meretricIous ideas Of ornament
and artifce, and which considered, oft
times, the accessories more important than
the truth.
But without undertaking farther to
question Spanish authorities, or TO meas
ure old Spanish literature by the standard
Of the present age, let US speak of Cholula
as il is now, divested, by the testimony
of an eyewitness, of the romance of his
'ory, and the storytelling OF pictorial
Biographies.
1t was in July, 1871, while the army
was resting from the labOurs of Vera Curz
and Cerro Gordo," and gathering It's en-
ergles for the Sampsonian task of taking
the gates OF Mexico; wnen action had been
disturbed, and we were left in the ner-
vous, anxious. state Of suspense which
none but a soldier can realize; it was a.
this time. and under these circumstances,
that parties were formed to visit ali the
lions Of PuebIa. FIRST in order come the
cunosities within the city. We explored
the Cathedral, of which mortals had bulll
the walls, and which angels had capped
with mighty dome, of symmetry and
perfection ir stone-work unequalIed, of
by human builders. In gratitude
10 the supernatural architects, the city has
since been called "La PuebIa de los An.
gelcS''
Then we went TO the foot of the storm
Malinche, and some Of the ad
venturous climbed TO its summit. In the
afternoons we had bull-hghts, and in The
evenings wretched teatrO, to keep up
the excitement. With these aids to Hi
Ing time. (Which peaceable occupation
we were obliged TO substitute for killing
we postponed Cholula, as one
often keeps a qualification in prospect, net
10 destroy the pleasing anticipa
tion.
At last, however. the bull-fghts ceased
to excite, the theatre was a PRODUCTIONS
bore, and the time had decidly come for
enjoying Cholula.
On beautiful morning in July, with
latitude and elevation conspirIng, by their
contrary efforts, to render the weather de-
lightful and the ar balmy, twenty or
-hrthy officers, escorted by squadron of
Dragons, set out upon the level road that
stretches over an almost treeless plain, to
Cholula.
The pyramid n owe in sight as soon
is we LEFT the city, looking, at a distance
IF seven miles, like little hump backed
mound of earth, covered with luxriant
But let US advance with the
party. They presented a motley but pic
uresque appearance. The dragons IN
lose order. bnt the officers galIoping
1ither and thitber some in fEH undress, !
,thers with the soldiers jacket-straw
*Vera Cruz was taken in March and
1erro Gordo fought IN April.