Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-27
ESTABLISHED 1850.

Cortez was driven by the maddened natives
The waters then surrounded the city. and on
this narrow causeway the carnage was fearful.
Under the tree he gathered the dispirited
remnants OF his army, and passed the
night in tears. The tree thus gets the
name OF Triste Noche, or Sad Night. 1t is
cedar OF considerable size, and already
feels the weight of years. Three hundred
years have passed and still the tree is famous,
all for a few salt tears from a stern warrior.
But we will leave the tree with the burden of
grief and out we go on the other causeway, the
one over which Cortez first entered the city.
and over which he again marched triumphant
after recruiting his shattered forces from
neighboring tribes
This road leads 20 the canal, over which we
glide in a Mexican gondola. and the once float
ing gardens. In the days of Montezuma
these gardens were fioated to the city, and the
produce sold while still growing. AS the waters
are now anchored at Santa Anita, some three
miles from the city, where they still supply
many of the vegetables and flowers consumed
in the city.
1t was here we saw the Indian huts thatched
with straw and palmettoes; here also we saw
the Mexican fandango. Altogether the day
was one Of the pleasantest of the trip.
Gaudaloupe, the Mecca of Mexico, was
visited. where is to be seen the tilma or apron
of the Indian. upon which is fine picture of
the Virgin. 1t is said that an Indian passing
the hill Of Guadalupe saw the Virgin, and
was instructed by her to tell the Bishop Of
vice The Rishop requiring some token from
the Virgin, Ehe gathered roses from the hill
side, and tossed them in the apron Of the In
dian, which, when carried to the Bishop.
were transformed into the picture of the
Virgin. Near the shrine Is grand
cathedral and also miraculous well. Thou
sands come every year to be healed by the
waters. The water has pungent iron taste.
The Monte Pho. or Piodad. (Mouptain Of
Pity is the rational pawn shop carried on I'M
der the protection Of the government. 1t was
founded years ago by bequest from wealthy
gentleman, the object being to loan to people
in straitened circumstances, and to
use the proceeds for charity. It now
has capital Of four millions and
There we saw three and half millions of silver
dollars and thousands of dollars worth of
jewels. One set alone was valued at twenty
thousand dollars, and we were shown six
thousand dollar pearl. The Presidents palace
came in for a share of our attention, and we
were grati6ed to see in the hall of the ambas
sadors fine picture OF George Washington.
Maximilians carriage, which cost fifty thou
sand dollars is kept in the palace.
In the School of Arts a great many fine
paintings are seen, while in the Aztec
Museum we saw the fifty thousand dollar sill
yer service Of Macmillan. In this museum are
kept all of the Aztec relics. Here we see
complete history of the race, written by them.
selves in hieroglyphics-the God of Earth, the
God of Day. the God of Night and the God Of
Death are to be seen in all their ugliness. The
caused, the legend says. from squeezing so
many people to death. The great stone that
has always been supposed to be the
sacrifcial stone is, according to recent
Investigations, merely a monument to COM
memorate great battle. The distinguished
gentleman in charge Of the musuem, Senior
Mendusa, informed us that the real sacrificial
stone forms the foundation Of one Of the pill
lars Of the great cathedral.
The cathedral, with its grand choir and
magnificent altars, forms one of the principal
attractions of Mexico. 1t Is an immense build
ing, and furnished in truly royal style. One can
spend hours in studying its beauties
and then not see it all 1t stands
on the site of the great Aztec temple
which was leveled by Cortez. The old temple
was largo enough to enclose five hundred
dwellings. Five thousand priests used to chant
the services night and day.
At San Juan, twenty-five miles from the City
or Mexico, we see the two pyramids-one
named the Sun and the other the Moon. They
are two hundred feet high and contain numer-
Gus idols. The great pyramid at Pueblo con-
talns ,440 square feet, and is said to cover 30
acres. This is larger than the famous Cheops
pyramid.
Sunday, in the morning early, everybody
goes to church. In the forenoon the German
horse race. In the afternoon the Spanish bull
hight. The amount Of enjoyment derived from
each depended upon the individual.
Leaving Vera Cruz in the steamer City of
Merida, we call at Tuxpan, Tampico and Bag
dad, taking in a norther on the way, finally
close my letter at New Orleans.
Truly yours, GEO. Il. STONE.