The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-03-06
The Unknown God.
lSan Francisco Bulletin. I

CRY OF MEXICO, Jan. 2-I am going TO tell
You of trip TO the mountain of Tezcosingo,
famous in Aztec days as being the pleasure
garden and retreat of the Indian poet-king,
Nazahuacoyolt. From TecOco the trip is
wildly picturesque and grandly beautiful
The curiously constructed bath of Nezahu-
acOyolt is cut from solid block of granite
overhsnging the brow of the hill. The rock
has smooth surface several yards square,
and dropping from its center is a circular
basin some three or four feet deep and a
dozen or more in circumference. Out Of one
side is cut seat for the accommodation OF
the bather, while rising from the surface,
little hack, is another having perfect chair
form, with rest on one side for the ann.
Protecting the outer side of this Is u wall-a
part of the same rOck--into which seats
have been cut, and various little inches in
the form of miniature steps which might
have been used by the old Indian monarch
as receptacles for his toilet paraphernalis.
Following along the still we'll preserved
path We came to a chamber cut into the side
of the hills, now unroofed and in ruins, the
floor being strewn with debris. At the end
of this vaulted chamber was raised plat
form a foot in height and several feet square.
hewn from solid rock, and on either corner
back of this were inches chiSelled out with
| fragments of cement still ciinCing to their
sides. We have since learned that between
these, above the platform, there still re-
mained at the beginning of the present Gen.
tury large calendar stone, which was later
destroyed by the neighbOring Indians in
search of treasure. This curious work must
have cost its builders vast deal of labor.
Separating himself from the cares of his
kingdom NeZahuacoyolt came for retirement
10 this beautiful mountain, and here, four
times every day for forty days, on bended
knees, he offered prayer and incense to the
"All powerful God, hidden and unknown"
1t is said that. in answer to these earnest
petitions, a vision appeared to one OF his
servants in attendance, directing him to go
at once to his master with the comforting
assurance that the unseen God had been
pleased to accept his prayers and offerings.
and would aveDge him by the hands of his
SOD, AxOquatZin, a boy of only IL years.
The king could not accept the supernatural
vision, which was, however, fulfilled.
Nezahuacoyolt, upon hearing OF the full
illment OF what he had considered false
prophecy, retired in humiliation to the gar
den of his palace, and, kneeling on the
ground, gave thanks to the unknown God
for his signal benefits, promising to build
temple to bis worship, TO abstain from idcla-
trous worship and human sacrifices, and to
alone acknowledge the supremacy of the un-
known God. In compliance with his vow,
he built a tower nine stories high, the inte-
rlor of. which he garnished with gold and
precious stones, and the exterior he covered
with black cement embslished with stars.
The workmanship was of the most eXpen-
sve order. In this superb tower were sta
toned men, whose duty il was, at certain
hours OF the day, to strike upon plates OF
fine metal, at the sound of which the mon
arch fell upon his knees in prayer.