The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-03-09
THE TAR4SCAN EMPIRE.
4 RATiCv WHO WERE NEVER CON
QUEREO BY TIE EZTECS-

An IadomItabIe Nation of Warriors
Which Existed IN Mexico at the
Time Of the Spanish Conquest-How
They Planned Their Campaigns
The Indians living around Lake PaCzcusro
were al independent nation when the Span
Iz-Cfs Iuvafed Mexico neariy 80 years ago
They had come from the north and had
never been conquered By the Aztecs, who
Who lived n and controlled the country
sOQth and east Of here They lived u towns
and cities, and they had laws Their capital
city vas on the border Of the lake They
called Il Tzirrz1nczan- II imitation u the
so1nd made By the huEnEning birds, which
are very numerous They lad king Who
designated his successor. They were divided
mo four provinces, and at tie had q each
vzes = czciQue- Or chief There was accord
f1z 70 Cubas the Mexican ethnOIogLzr- Z
great variety Of subordinate officials II the
Tarzscan empire There were tribute gath
erers who collected from the rich and an
ozaer set who saw that the poor contributed
% the government There was head game
keeper. and z chief faIconer who looked
after the birds. There was Z chief for the
fishermen who fshed with nets and another
for the fishermen who used hooks and lines
Every industry had It's representative IL the
government These Indians raised cotton
manufactured dOLnestics, qqaFrIsd an carved
stone cultivated sugar cane, feTnented vine
from the uagUey, made leather garments
and did great many other things, all under
the supervision OF the sUb-dsIegates, as Cubas
calls the representatives Of the government
There vas 4 chief wOodsraan- The princi-
pal feather worker directed the artists in that
branch. The Curingur had charge Of the
making Of drums. The carpeIters had their
master. i treasurer general kept IN his
safe untold quantities Of gold ID silver or
uameuts, while the grain col 5cted for the
crown was housed in great granaries under
charge Of a store keeper.
PATERyAL GOVERNMENT
II was strong paternaI form Of govern
nent which raised and made all that its peo-
PIE had any Use for, which directed and con
troIled a great variety Of industries in such a
manner chat there was little export or i'm
T II, 10 overproduction and plenty Of time
~ go 70 war. The painters, pOtters, earthen-
ware makers, gweepers, flower makers, SHOP
keepers, and even the doctors, had their
masters. And all this was before Christie
pher Columbus discovered America.
But the Tarascans were more interesting
- warriors. They were simply indomitable.
It does not appear that it was their policy ~
extend the boundaries Of the Tarascan en-
pirs by conquest. They fought battles,
whipped surrounding nations, settled imIne-
1iately with the conquered On a cash basis
and returned 20 Lake PatzcuarO TO enjoy the
fruits II victory. There are 20, 900 Taras-
cans now, and they were probably more nu-
a1erOus before the Spanish invasion
When war was declared against another
nAtion the chiefs Of the provinces commenced
mobilizing the fighting material without
lays delay. The whole army was com
nanded by a captain general called the
Eazonci. He was nagnificently accoutered.
A plume of green feathers nodded above his
head. A silver shield was slung over his
shoulder. His CULVER was Of tiger skin. He
had ear rings and bracelets Of gold A doub-
ct OF scarlet cotton clothed his hips and
highs. Leggings Of tiger skin completed his
1ress
The war spirit was very strong in the ma
ton Tarascans did not wait for invasion.
They marched TO their frontier and there
gave battle. While they were on the road
the people came TO them, fed them and
cheered them on. One branch Of the service
was organization Of war spies under com
mand Of chief. The vazanOti had a trained
corps Of cOuriers and messengers.