Maryland free press., 1866-11-15
name, we can give them many more COM
pounds of the words teo or teos.


pounds of the words teo or teos.
1t is we'll known that Cortez never could
have succeeded in conqueriug Montez una
the Mexieon King, had he not formed al
liances with the other tribes, who had becn
oppressed by, or were jealous of, the Mex
leans. He first made league offensive
aud defensive with the T5tonocs, and next
with the warlike Tlascalans. But the lat
ter. like some other people, were not con-
verted to Union principles, until after a
desperate and bloody struggle. The arro-
CANT youth, Xicocentatl their leader, hav
ing failed to conquer the speniards by day
was told by oracles to attack them at night
when their God would be unable to pro-
tect them. Cortez discovered his plan,
ane so signally frustrated it that the Tlas-
calans were glad to make peace.
Ever afterwards, they made faithful and true al
lies to their conquero 3, and when the Spaniards
were driven out of the City Of Mexico on the
night of disaster which is still called in their his
tory, noche trist, (sad night,) the Tascalans re-
ceived them into their city. Before they reach
ed their place Of refuge, however, they were COM
PEELED to give battle to the Mexicans at 0tompon
and there the Tlascalans 'tfought like lions -
says Berpel Diaz, FOR their new allies and late en-
eIn;es. But for the timely assistance thus given,
Cortez and all his followers must have perished.
The government of Tlascala was pure ars-
tocracy-all power resting iu Senate composed
of hereditary mobiles. This Senate had been hos
tile to slontezuma and fearful of his growing
power.
Cortez hadjwishcd 10 conciliate them, and wi
den the breach between themE Ennd Montezuma.--
lie ha accordingly sent four am bassadors, with
words of cunning, as we'll as Of kindness in their
mouths. ope of the most graphic and eloquent
chapters of De Soils is devoted to this interview.
The Spanish ambassadors failed, as we have seen
to propitiate the TascalAns. The brave Indians
rejected all overures Of alliance aga inst those o!
their own color, until they were beaten in the
field But like all true soldiers, they were faith
full to the new obligations forced upon them by
the fortunes of war.
But it is not our design to follow the anthori-
tie. which Mr.. Prcsscot has 50 SIX fully used
We propose TO make al extract from an author,
whom we imagine he never read, viz : Don Ber-
nal Disz dc Fubuloso.
The fragment relates to a former war betw con
the Mexcans and Tlascalaus. .'
HThe arms of the Senate had been successful
for the first two years of the war. The Mexics ms
had been driven back everywhere, and it was
thought that the capitol itself would have beeu
captured, but for some boats of war, which Mon
tezuma had placed on Lake Tezcuco and Lake
Cha.co. But the great wealth of the King ena-
hlcd him to hire many auXiliareF, the Cholute-
cans, the Tezcocans, the Nauthecans, the lzta-
pa,apans, and the Otomies, a nation says de So
lis, "barbarous even among barbarans." The
tide of war now turned. The armies of Monte
yuma swept almost without resistance over the
country. The 0tomies, sometimes called the
Bummercats, were let loose to ravagc, burn and
sesolatc the fair country of Tlascala. 1t was as
the'garden of the Lord before them. The Sen
ate removed for safety, the vast numbers of pris-
oners they held, to the TERRA callante (hot coun-
try) whercssthesclose confinement, vile water ind
unhealthy climate killed many of them. Strict
orders were given to feed them Just as the Tlas-
calan soldiers were fed. Butn the country
ravaged by the Burnmcroatls, afforded but little
nourishing food, and tkis added to the suffering
and death of the Mexican prisoners. The Senate
of Tlascala, plying their suiferings, offered to
give them all up TO Mont yuma, without ex-
change but he refused to receive them.'
Finally, the brave Tlascalans were overPower-
ed and sued for peace. Montezuml recovered
the meu who had been in prison, and with them
he took their head jrilor Wirzcoau. In great
wrath the King summoned the jaiior before him
Montezuma "Wretch you carried my SOL
diers to an unhealthy place, where thousands of
them died"
Jailor ':Dread Sovereign! it was the only
place in Tlascaly judged to be safe"
Montezumn. ''Why did you take them to a
safe place? Twas the very thing die not wish
You to do. Villain, you are the murderer ol
my soldiers"
Jailor "Grcat King my Government but
followed your example. You placed Tlascaar
soldiers on an island in Tczcrco, ana among the
bleak sierras, where they frozc to death every
night Your own Officers state that %, 500 Mex
lean prisoners died out Of the 2Gl 900 whom we
we held, that is, out out of every eleven; whilt
&C. 900 TlascNlans pcrshed out of the 100000
you held, that is one out of every seven and @
half Great King! The Tlascalan prisoners were
worse treated than the Mexican prisoners"
Montezuma. Monster, you half starved my
men,"
Jailor. ''Mighty Monarch fed them rs oui
own soldiers were fed. Your Bummcrcatls had
so desolatcd Tlascala that little food was left il
it. Our Senate offered 10 give you up all youl
men, even without exchange; but you would
not take them"
Montezuma. Ella, Villain I have caught
you at at last So you wanted to get rid of my
men, that you might have food enough left fol
your own gaunt and hungry soldiers, in order
to strengthen and encourage them to fight me, as
they did three and four years ago, when they
were sleek and fat. By this know that you de-
serve to die. 10, guards away with Ii im.-
Take him TO the top of the Teocalli in the great
square and beat his brains out on the sacrifcia
stone in the sight of all the people.
..aL