Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-01-19


.ressing to the amiabe spouse Of the vic
eroy, who entertained serious apprehen
sions Tor the safety OF her beloved hus
band, and induced her to follow an,
watch over him with all the precautions
OF fear and all the vigilance Of coniuga
love. She took with her some Span
; ards, who formed part of her escort t,
the Court of Lima, and amongst tn,
number was one whom the Countess had
known from her infancy, named Bea
trice, who was only few years olde
than herself, and for whom she entertain
ed an attachment so tender and sincere
that it resembled tine affection of moth
Ter.
! Meanwhile the Indians, although de-
lighted at having got rid Of the late vice.
roy; were no better disposed towards hi.
successor. He was Spaniard, and con
sequently, they expected nothing from
him but injustice, avarlce and tyranny
1t was in vain that they heard him spo.
ken OF as just, humane and honorable
man. They repeated. He is a Span.
'ard' and this word, for them, was quite
sufficient to excite their hatred, and re-
kindle the recollection Of the wrongs in.
fiicted upon their ancestors.
The Indians were also we'll acqnaint-
ed with the power OF antdotes, and with
some OF so extraordinary character that
II seemed as if Providence bestowed them
as a remedy in the most extreme cases.
Ihey were the only race who knew of the
valuable and efficacious properties of the
DARK Of the qunquina, as certain anti.
dote against the most yrulent Of posons;
and b compact most solemnly and
faithfully observed by oath, frequently
renewed amongst them, they swore nev.
ler to reveal to their oppressors these i'm
portant secrets.
In the midst Of the rigors of slavery,
the Indians had always ayspreserved amongst
themselves kind Of interior government
they regularly chose chief, whose mys.
ferrous functions consisted in assembling
them at night, at certain times, in order
to renew their oatis, and sometimes to
PORT out fresh victims amongst their enc
mies. The Indians of the small towns
who were more free than those employed
IN the service Of the viceroy, or at tho
public works. never failed to attend those
nocturnal meetings; WHICH were held up
on tho mountains or desert places, and
which conld only be reached by means
impract,cable TO Europeans. But these
almost inaccessible spots constituted for
them happy asylum of llberty-thelr
only refuge against oppression and tyran-
ny. AT ,hls time their nocturnal chef
was named Ninero, man whose mind
wasemblltesed BY the recollection Of
soine priicuIar injuries at the hands Of
the Spaniards; and although naturally Of
a noble and generous disposition, he was
proof against any sentiment Of blindness
and feeling A vehement Indignation,
! nnrcslrained by any principle Of justice,
but rendered him barberous and cruel
Notwithstanding this. the base and cow
ardly attrocity OF secretly poisoning was
repugnan, to his natural character. he had
never employed this frightful means Of
vengeance, and even discountenaneed ii
amongst his tribe. Acts of this kind
when they occurred, were committed
without his knowledge and consent.
Xinero had an only son. named Mir
van, whom he loved tenderly, and in
whom he carefully instilled in his long
cherished hatred towards the Spanards.
Mirvan, young, handsome generous and
brave, had married, about three wears
previously to the commencement Of the
following events, beautiful Indian fe.
male, named Zuma, who was gentle,
amlable and intelligent, and the deligh,
Of her husband; she lived only for him
and her child. a lovely boy, about two
years of age.
There was another chief named Azan,
who next to Xinrero, had the greatest
ascendancy Of his tribe. Azan was VIC.
lent and cruel, and possessed no redeem.
ing quality to temper the natural ferocity
ni his character.-- These two chiefs were
supposed TO be Of ilustrious origin, and
prided themselves on having descended
from the royal race Of the Incas.
Some days before the arrival of the
new viceroy. Xinreo convoked noctur-
nal assembly for the following night up
on the hill under the Tree of Health.
(the name by which they designated the
quinquina tree and when they had all
assembled around il, he said to them
Friends, new tyrant is coming to reign
over US; let US renew the oaths Of our
Just vengeance. Alas! we can only pro-
nounce them in the midst Of darkness
and gloom. Unhappy children of the
sun that we are, we can only repeat our
vows in the shades Of night. Let US
swear again forever to conceal our secrets
from our foes.
At these words, xinreo's voice rising
with emotion, he said, with firm tone,
We swear never to discover to the chill
dren OF Europe the divine and salutary
virtues Of this sacred tree, the only in.
heritance left to u.s. Death 10 the per.
jured aud iaithless slave who, either
through fear, weakness. or other motive,
shall reveal this secret to the destroyer Of
our gods, Of our kings and of our couu-
try. Death 10 the base coward who
would give this precious treasure of