Daily globe., 1881-05-15
A DEAD EMPIRE.
Something About Old Mexico and the
r. Aztec Nobility.
III. s. Jacobs, in the Chicago Times.]

r. Aztec Mobility.
III. 8. Jacobs, in the Chicago Times --.--.
The more powerful chiefs lived like
Kings almost in their own domains, but
the jealous Emperor of Mexico required,
in lieu of their own residence at the
capital, valuable hostages, such as sons
or nephews, similarly to the recent Gus
tom in Japan, where the Damios Or
feudal Princes were the source of SO
much disquiet to the central authority.
It must be inferred that the power of
these Princes was formidable, when such
safeguard for their loyalty was re-
quired. The legislative body rested
entirely with the Emperor. This des-
potic feature was modified by the consti-
tuition of the more important judicial
tribunals. Over each city, with it's de-
pendant territory, was placed Supreme
Judge, appointed by the Grown, with
original and final jurisdiction in both
civil and criminal cases. There was no
appeal to any other tribunal, nor even
to the Emperor. He held his author
ity during life, and every one who
usurped his insignia was punished with
death.
The royal revenues were derived from
various sources. In the first place the
crown lands, which appear to have been
extensive, yielded large returns. Towns
near the capital were obliged to furnish
material and labor for building the royal
palaces and to keep them in repair.
They also contributed fuel, provisions
and whatever was necessary for ordinary
domestic uses, which certainly were on
no limited scale. Taxes were levied on
all agricultural produce, also upon man
ufactures, such as cotton dresses, man
ties of featherwork, ornamental armor,
vases and plates of gold, gold dust,
bands and bracelets, crystals, gilt and
vanished jars and goblets, bells, arms,
utensils OF copper, reams of paper,
grain, fruits, copal, amber, cochineal,
cocoa, wild animals and birds, timber,
lime, etc.
A map Of the empire existed, with
minute specifications of the imposts as
sessed on every part Of it. These i'm
posts, moderate under the reigns of the
earlier rulers, became very burdensome
at last and, under the closing reign of
the Montezuma dynasty, the oppressive
ness of the burden became so great,
owing to the tyrannical harshness of
the methods of collection, that the dis
content rife everywhere throughout the
Aztec empire prepared the way for the
Spaniards, who, as is well known, were
shrewd in reinforcing the power of their
arms by fomenting internal jealousy and
dissension. Communications were main
tanned with every part Of the realm, even
the remotest, by means OF couriers.
Post houses were established about
two leagues apart, the courier bearing
his dispatch in the form Of a hieroglyphic
painting. He ran with his message at
full speed to the first station, where he
delivered it to the second courier, who
transmitted it to the third, and SO Oh to
the end of the journey. These couriers,
trained from childhood, ran with incred-
ible swiftness, not merely four or five
leagues an hour, as the old chroniclers
assert, but with such rapidity that dis
patches were sometimes transmitted 200
miles a day. Fresh fish were frequently
served at the Emperor's table twenty
four hours from the time they were taken
out of the Gulf of Mexico, 200 miles from
the capital.
Bythis system intelligence Of the move
ments of the Aztec armies in the field
were rapidly brought to court, and the
dress of the messenger, denoting by its
color the nature Of his tidings, spread JOY
or CONSERVATION in the towns through
which he passed. Aztec civilization may
be compared with that of our English
ancestors under Alfred, or perhaps
better illustration would be that Of the
Egyptians, more especially as regards
social relations and culture, in which the
resemblance to the inhabitants of the an
cient Nile valley is yet more palpable.