Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-21

considerable knowledge OF what has been writ
ten on Mexico; but he shows an extravaganza
of theory and assumption which seems akin TO
monomauia. While he admits fully that the
old ruins show that great civilization formerly
existed in that part of the continent, which he
attributes to the Phenicians, he denies that any
thing like civilization existed there when Cortez
entered the country. His aim is to show that
the ancient Mexicans had no such civilization
as the Spanards reported, that the empire of
Montezuma was a creation of Spanish romance,
and that the Mexicans were merely confederated
tribes of Indians, like the Iroquois, very little
more like semi-civlized people, it may be, but
otherwise very similar in character and condi-
ton to the wild Indians.
OF course, views so preposterous do not find
much favor. If the Mexicans had been nothing
more than this, the experience of Cortez among
them would have been like that Of De Soto, in
his long and disastrous march through Florida.
the gulf regions, and the country on the lower
Mississippi. Cortez and his men had different
fortune, because their march was among people
who had towns, cities, settled communities, and
the appliances and accumulations of civilized
life. Doubtless, some of the Spaniards ex-
| aS-NlbASN ohu AOilluutNIf lOl tuCtl III
| Spain but they did not invent either
the city of Mexico or the kingdom of
Montezuma. We can see clearly, that the Mex
leans were a civilized people, that Montezuma's
city of Mexico was larger than the present city,
and that an important empire was substantially
conquered, when that city was finally subjugated
and destroyed. That this capital was a great
city, well built, partly of timber and partly of
cut stone laid in a mortar Of lime appears in all
that is said Of the siege. Montezuma said to
Cortez, at their first interview, "the Tlascalans,
| know, have told you that am like god, and
that all about me is gold, silver, and precious
stones; but you now see that | am mere flesh
and blood, and that my houses are butt Of lime,
| stone, and timber.
| 1t is not easy to see how this denial of the
Mexican civilization is possible to any person
! familiar with the history of the conquest. The
| first inhabitants of that part of the continent,
seen by Spamards, were Mayas from Yucatan.
| Columbus met them, in 1902, at an island near
| Ruatan, off the coast of Honduras. While he
was stopping at this island, these Mayas came
there in "a vessel of considerable size" from a
port in Yucatan, thirty leagues distant. 1t was
trading vessel freighted with a variety of mer-
chandize; and it used sails. Columbus, who
treated them very kindly, described these
strangers as well clothed, intelligent, and alto
gether superior to any other people he had seen
in America. Adventures hunting for prey,
soon began to make voyages in that direction
and report what they saw. Sailing along the
coast of Yucatan, they discovered cities, and
"the grandeur of the buildings filled them with
establishment" On the main land and on one
or two islands, they saw great edifces built of
stone. The attractions and seeming riches of
the country, led the Spaniards to invade Yucca
tan; but they were defeated and driven off. At
this time they gained considerable knowledge of
Mexico, and believed immense wealth could be
found there.
Finally, in March, 1919, Cortez landed near
the place where Vera Cruz was afterwards
built, and moved on through the country to the
city of Mexico. Studying, in all the histories of
the conquest, only the incidental references to
the civilized condition of the people, we can see
clearly what it was, AS the invaders approached
| Tlascala, they found "beautiful white-washed
houses" scattered over the country. The Tlas-
calans had towns, cities, agriculture, and mar
kets. Cortez found among them all that was
needed to supply his army. He went next to
| Cholula, where, near the great mound Or pyr.
amid, there was an important city in which a
| great square" is incidentally mentioned. Ber-
nal Diaz said of it, 81 well remember, when we
first entered this town and looked up to the ele-
waited white temples, how the whole place put us
completely in mind of Vallcdod" The "white
faIo al
built on high pyramidal foundations, just as
they are found in the old ruins This city ap.
pears TO have been much older than the Aztec
invasion. A Spanish officer named Ordaz as
cended Mount Popocatapetl; and one thing he
saw was "the valley of Mexico. with its city, its
lagunas and islands, and scattered hamlets, a
busy throng of life being everywhere visible"
The city of Mexico could be entered only by
means of causeways. Within it, Cortez occu-
pied vast edifice with enclosed courts, which
| had ample accommodations for all his men.
All the struggles that took place for possession
| of the capital, had a cha acter which would
have been impossible anywhere save in a large
city. In every account of the attacks on the
great temple, we can see that it was great
temple. 1t was built as q vast pyramid with
level summit where the religious ceremonies
were performed. The summit was reached by
means of winding stairway; and the whole
was surrounded by great enclosure. We may
see what the old city of Mexico was, by reading
any account of the desperate battle in which
the Spaniards were driven from the city with
great slaughter Nearly a year passed before
| COrtez made another attack on the Mexican cap
nuripor firna ba
the Tlascaans to build a fotilIa of thirteen YES
sells, which were transported in pieces to Lake
Tezcuca and there put together. This would
have been impossible, if he had not found, in
the country, suitable tools and mechanics. BY
means of these vessels armed with cannon, and
assisted by great army of native allies, con-
sisting of Tiascalans, Choulans, and many
others, he took control of the lagunas, secured
| possession of the causeways, and attacked the
city in vain for forty-hve days, although his
men several times penetrated to the great square
He now resolved to enter the city by gradual
advances and destroy everything as he went
This he did, burning what was combustible,
and tearing down the edifices built of stone;
nevertheless, thirty or forty days more passed,
before this work of destruction was complete.
The inhabitants OF the city were given over to
determination.
The conquerors rebuilt the city, chiefly of ma
terials taken from the ruins. native architects
being employed TO do the work. The most re-
markable structure in the Aztec capital was the
great temple which stood in the center of the
city, surrounded by park or open space of
great extent, around which was built wall of
stone eight feet high. A portion of this area,
consisting of twelve acres, constitutes the great
plaza of the present city, and cathedral occu-
pies the site of the old temple. The plaza is
| paved with marble. 1t was paved when first
seen by the Spaniards Some relics recovered
from the ruins of the old temple have been pre-
served; among them is the Aztec calendar, made
OF porphyry cut in a circular form, on which are
carved hieroglyphics representing the months of
the year. The "stone of sacrifice" also of por-
phyry, nine feet in diameter and covered with
sculptures, can still be seen i'll the city Of Mex