The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-07-02

A Magnificent Tower for the WORSHIP
of the Unk nOWM God.

Shh A "Vus
City OF Mexico Letter to San Francisco Bulletin.
am going to tell you of trip to the
mountain of Texcosingo, famous in
Aztec days as being the pleasure garden
and retreat of the Indian poet-king, Nez-
ahuacoyolt. From Texcoco the trip is
wildly picturesque and grandly beauti-
full. The curiously constructed bath of
Nezahuacoyolt is cut from a solid block
of granite overhanging the brow of the
hill. The block has a smooth surface
several yards square, and dropping from
it's center is circular basin some three
or four feet deep and dozen or more in
circumference. Out of one side is cut a
seat for the accommodation Of the bather,
while rising from the surface a little
back is another having a perfect chair
form, with rest on one side of the arm.
Protecting the outer side of this is a
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 receptacle
for his toilet paraphernalia.
Following along the still well-preserv-
ed path, we came to chamber cut into
the side of the hills, now unroofed and
in ruins, the floor being strewn with de-
bris. At the end of this vaulted cham.
Der was q raised platform q foot in height
and several feet square, hewn from solid
rock, and on either corner back of this
were inches chiseled out, with fragments
of cement still still clnglng to their
sides. We have since learned that be-
tween these, above the platform, there
still remained at the beginning of the
present century a large calendar stone
which was later destroyed by the neigh,
boring Indians in search of treasure
This curious work must have cost its
buildersa vast amount of labor.
Separating himself from the cares OF
his kingdom, Nezahuacoyolt came fol
retirement to his beautiful mountain
and here, four times every day for forty
days, on Bonded knees, he offered prayer
and incense to "the all-powerful God
hidden and unknown" 1t is said thai
in answer to these earnest appeals a vision
appeared to one of his servants in atten
dance, directing him to 60 at once to his
master with the comforting assurance
that the unseen God had been pleased tc
accept his prayers and offerings, and
would avenge him by the hands of his
son, Axoquatzin, boy Of only II years
The king could not accept the super,
natural vision, which was, however, full
filled. Nezahuacoyolt, upon hearing OF
the fulfillment of what he had considered
Il false prophecy, retired in humiliation
to the garden of his palace, and kneeling
on the ground. gave thanks to the un-
known God for his signal benefits, prom
Using to build temple to his house, to
abstain from idolatrous worship and
human sacrifices, and to alone acknowl,
edge the supremacy of the unknown God
In compliance with his VOW, he built a
tower nine stories high, the interior of
which he garnished with gold and
precious stones, and the exterior he COW
cred with black cement t, enbellished with
stars. The workmanship was of the
most expensive order In this suberb
tower were stationed men, whose duty
it was, at certain hours Of the day, to
strike upon plates of fine metal, at the
sound of which the monarch fell upon
his knees in prayer.