New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-24
OLD AND NEW MEXICO.

sIEKERs-THE MORTLOS RAILROAD SLAUGHTER.
(rRON An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIM Md
CITY OF MEXICO, July LIN portion of the I'M
mclsc building know az the Palace is the Me Nican
Museum, II haseo N0cioaoI into which are gathered
all the finds" in archicol ecal fields. Entering
the court one sees. through drapery OF vines the
famous sacriicial stone, occupying the centre Oh
a lovely Clrlcn of flowers; beyond and above IL
tower, the oncc-drca lie iuiziloporhli. the great
war-god of the Aztccs while each side Is Hanked ny
q statue the one on the left obtained in IlaScala
and that on the right in Yucatan. nondcScrpt
monument rises in the eastern part of the Garde II
with frogs and snakes OF stone squated and coilcd
about it's base idols lie scattered over the pavement
Of the courts and in the shruhbery; images of stone
and marble, possessing great value for their an
tiquity and the skill shown in their workmanship,
are srcwn as carclessly about though but common
pebbles A portion OF the museum building is being
taken down and large archcd entrance made i'll the
southern wall of the court, that all the ant Gui
ties may be taken in out of the wet. And sadly they
need it,
NEGLECTED DEITITS.
The immense sacIlicial stone upon which, accord
ing to historians many thousand victims have
been offered mp, is and polished by the weather.
while the statue on the rght-0f Chaac-inol, the
tigcr-kipr discovered by DR.. lie P!ougeon in the
wldS of Yucatan-is becoming covered with per-
ncious discooration. Poor Chaac-,nol, to remain
prising archToogist to be destined for the United
States, but finally to rest ANONYMOUSLY in this
court, half hidden by surrounding plants, and grow
ing green with exposure TO clements he had SO long
been protected from!
And Huitzilopochtli-a sweet name to roll under
ones tongue-for how many years has this veneer
able war-eod blinkcd in the MONDAY sun and had
his massive head washed by the afternoon rains.
1t is possible that he with the rest will be afforded
shelter when the museum is ready to receive him.
| regard him the most interesting relic of that
past age of idolatrY, for there is mention of him
among the first objects shown Cortez by Monteznna
when he aScendcd with him to the temple. Let me
what that companion of CoItez. 3crnal Diazsays
about it: Here two affairs highly adorned,
with richly wrought tmbers the roof, and over
the affairs gigantic figures representing very fat men,
The the RICH; HUitzilOpochtli. their war
gol with great face and terrible eyes. This figure
entirely covered with gold and Jewels and his
body bound with golden Serpents; III his right hand
he held bow and in his left a bundle of arrows.
The great idol had round his neck the figures of
human heads and hearts made of pure gold and sl-
Yer, ornamented with precious stones of blue
color. Before the idol was a pan of incense with
three hearts of human victims, which were then
burning. mixed with copal. The whole of that
apartment both walls and floor, was stained with
human blood Cast down from his high situation
on the top of the temple, IluitzilOpochth became
lost for a long time, but finally reSurrccted
and Is destined soon to have roof over his head
once more.
A miscellaneous lot of gods, poddeSses and objects
of worship fare Yet than the greater deitics
for, piled up against the side of building, they are
exposed to the rude assaults of man and beast The
horse of the director of the museum is stabbed
among these valuable antiquities and, Judging by
the appearance of some of them, he has given eX-
preston to his contempt for them, by kicking oil
their noses and ears.
Leaving this court where two palms give tropic
cast to the complexion of the garden, seek access
to the museum The director to whom | have
letter, is half Indian and probably spends large
part of his time in sleeping and eating and the re-
mander away from the museum. 1t is his horse
that has the Of the idols in the yard and his
hand that produces such admirable confusion in
the arrangement of the specimens in the museum
Entrance once gained through gallery lined with
portraits of the famous viccroys of Mexico with a
tul-length OF MaXimIian horseback Ia the back
ground, one soon sees what valuable collection
this is to be left in the hands of ignorant men,
There is an authentic portrait of COrtez opposite i,
his bannerhat silken hammer often in peril from
the savage hordes il borne amongst. One room
Is filled with the silver service of Maximilian some
antique arnOr and relics of the conquerors while
valuable portraits of the yiccroys and bishops Of
Mexico adorn the walls above. Entering the largest
room one fine specimens of that fainous
plcturewrting of the Aztccs, such rs they used tor
conveying to Montczeuma the intelligence of the
arrival Of tue white strangers his coast in those
hateful years of the Conquest. There are images
here and gods of every known shape and kind for
the ancient MeXcans rejOiced in Il greater variety
OF gods than any other nation existing at that time
IL IS related, remember, that when Cortez proposed
to the Iascalans to aburc their gods and set up the
virgin Mary instead, they made reply that they
couldn't do that but they would give her a fair
show with the rest" Whole or none was the uoucv
of Cortcz and he later compelled them to cast down
their idols and set up his God
PROCRAsriNATION AND-"A FIzZIE"
There Is no catalogue to this collection which in
ciudes some of the rarest objects on the American
continent, and the whole is in a state Of confusion
very deplorable If one asks when the catalogue
will appear he told that it is in course of prepara
ton; and if he inquire about it five wears hence ne
VIII be told the thing. In fact the director of
this museum suffers from a COMPLAINT affecting
many other mixed people of Mexico the Manana
lever. II you ask them anything, the answer is
MISUNDERSTANDING. They eat, drink and sleep to-
uay' nut 90 their work and grant their favors-
maHGad. This director has it badly
And speaking of this manana" sickness. reminds
me that it is contagious. The most notable instance
Is that of well-known archeologist who lately ca
'orted over Mexico Read his communications and
they are found breathing the very spirit of .,noua
naISin." Ill" came to Mexico, stopped at the hest
hotel entertaining strangers with descriptions of
ms excavaiions-that he was going to make Now
ami again he skipped ont of town for a few DAYS.
dng hole somewh here and brought back fragments
OF pottery that indicated valuable deposits to be
louhd-mdRd"o lie is always going to find buried
oS-to-IhoiroW; a palace-to-norrow; he will draw
you plan OF ms work and make all clear o morrow;