The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-04-04
The Indian Poet King, who built
Magniflcent Tower 60 the WoFshfp
OF the Unknown God.
IFron The san Fnneisoo Bullelia

From the San Francisco Bulie.ia
Cry or Mexico, January AL
am going TO tell you OF trip 10 tho
mountain Of TezcosinRo, famous in
Aztec days as being the pleasure gar
den and retreat of the Indian poet
king, Nezahuacoyol.. From Tecoeo
the trip is wildly picturesque and
grandly beautiful. The curioualy con-
structed bath Of Nezahuacoyolt is cut
from q solid block OF granite over
hanging the brow Of the hill. The
rock has smooth surface sevsraI
yards square, and dropping from Its
centre is . circular basin some three or
four feet deep and q dozen or more II
circumference. Out of one side 10 cut
a seat for the accommodation sf the
hRiho,, while, rinng from the
surface, a little back, is an
other having perfect chair
form, with rest on one side for the
arm. Protecting the outer side of thIa
is Q wal--a part of the same rock
into which seats have been cut, and va
rious little inches in the form of mini
ature steps, which might have been
used by the old Indian monarch as re-
ceptscles for his toilet parapherualia.
Following along the well.preserved
path We came to chamber cut into
the side of the hills, now unroofed and
floor in ruins, the being strewed with
debns. At the end OF this vaulted
chamber was a raised platform q foot
in height, and several feet square,
hewn from solid rock, and on either
corner back of tins were inches chis-
elled out with fragmsnts Of cement
still clinging to their sides. We have
since learned that between tSsse above
the platform, there still remained at
the beginning Of the present century q
large calendar stone, which was later
destroyed by the neighboring Indians
In search of treasure. This curious
work must have cost it's builders q vast
deal of labor. Separating himself from
the cares of his kingdom, NezAhuaco-
volt came to retirement to this beauti-
full 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 un-
known"
1t is said that in answer to these ear
nest petitions, vision appeared TO one
of his servants, in attendance, direct
ing him to go at once to his master.
with the comforting assurance thai the
unseen god haG been pleased to 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 supei-
natural vislen, which was, however,
fulfilled.
Nezahuacoyolt, upon hearing Of the
fulfillment of what he considered a
false prophecy, retired in humiliation
to the garden Of his palace, and kneel-
ing on the ground gave thanks TO the
unk nown God for his signal benefits,
promising to build a temple to his
house, to abstain from idolatrous wor-
ship and human sacnfces, and to alone
acknowledge the supremacy Of the ua-
known God. In compliance with his
VOW, he built tower nine stories high,
the interior of which he garnished with
gold and precious stones, and the exte.
rior he covered with black cement, enI-
bellished with stars. The workman
ship was of the most expensive order.
I--tl;-- --gSsPSsI--to-vOe-SpoF 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.