The Red Cloud chief., 1878-02-21
The Indian Poet King.

| am going To tell YOU Of Il trip To the
mountain of TeZcosingo. famous in Az
tee days rs being the pleasure garden
and retreat of the Indian poet-king.
NeZahuacoyolt. From Texcoco the trip
is wildly picturesque and grandly beau
tiful. The curiousiy constructed bath
block of granite ~uvcrhanging the brow
of the hill. The rock ha, Il smooth
surface several yard, square, and drop
ping from its center i a circular basin
some three or four feet deep and u doz-
en- or more in circumference. Out of
one side is cut u seat for the accommo-
dation of the bather. while. rising from
the surface a little back is another hav-
ing a perfect chair form, with a rest on
one side for the arm. Protecting the
outer side of this Is 4 wall-a part Of
the same rock into which seats have
been cut. and various little inches i'm
the form of miniature steps. which might
have beer used by the old Indian mon
arch As receptacles for his toilet para
phernalia.
Following along the still well pre-
served 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 n raised platform a 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 clinging
to their sides. We have since learned
hot hnfx-nnn fhnsn ahDyn tho niaffnr"
there still remained at the beginning of
the present century a large calendar
stone, which was later destroyed by the
n%eighboring Indians in search of treas
ure. This curious work must have
cost its builders a vast deal Of labor.
Separating himself from the cares of
his kingdom, NeZahuacoyolt came for
retirement to this beautiful mountain,
and here, four times a day for forty
days. on Bonded knees. he offered pray
er and incense 10 1.-The all-powerful God.
hidden and unknown
1t is said that in answer to these earn
est petitions a vision appeared to enc of
his servants in attendance, directing
him to 60 at once TO his master with
the comforting assurance that the I'M
seen God had been pleased to accept his
prayers and offerings. and would avenge
him by the hands of his son, Axoquat-
Yin. a boy of only seventeen years. The
king could not accept the supernatural
vision. which was. however. fulfilled.
Nezahuacoyolt, upon hearing of the
fulfllment of what he had considered a
false prophecy. retired in humiliation To
the garden of his palace. and. kneeling
on the ground. gave thanks TO the I'M
known God for his signal benefits. prom
Using TO build a temple TO his house. to
abstain from idolafrous 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 in
terror of which he garnished with gold
and precious stones, and the exterior Of
which he covered with black cement,
embellished with stars. The workman
ship vas of the most expensive order.
In this superb tower were stationed
men, whose duty it a 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.
San francisco Bulletin.