Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-04-10
THE TARASCAN EMPIRE.
A RATION WHO WERE NEVER CON-
ouERED BY THE AzTECs.

ooERtD BY THE AzTECS.
An Indomitable Nation of Warriors
which Existed ip Mexico at the
Time of the Spanish Conauest-How
They Planned Their Campaigns.
The Indians living around Lake Patzcuaro
were an independent nation when the Span
ards invaded Mexico, nearly 400 years ago
lhey had come from the north. and had
never been conquered by tine Aztecs. who
who lived in and controlled the country
south and east Of here. They lived in towns
and cities, and they had laws. Their CAPITAL
city was on the border of the lake. They
called 1t TzntzuntZan, in imitation of the
sound made by the hmnming birds, which
are very numerous. They had king. who
designated his successor. They were divided
INTO four provinces, and at the head of each
vas cacique, or chief. There was. accord
ing to Cubas, the Mexican ethnoloqist n
great variety of subordinate officials in the
farascan empire. There were tribute gath
erers who collected from the rich. and an
other set who saw that the poor contributed
to the government. There was a head game
keeper and a chief falconer who looked
after the birds. There was chief for the
fishermen who fshed with nets, and another
for tho fishermen who used hooks and lines
Every industry had its representative in the
government These Indians raised cotton
manufactured domestics, quarried and carved
stone cultivated sugar cane, fermented wine
from the maguey, made leather garments
and did great many other things, all under
the supervision of the sub-delegates. as Cubas
calls the representatives of the government.
There was chief woodsman. The princi-
pal feather worker directed the artists in that
branch. The Cnringuri had charge of the
making of drums. The CARPENTERS had their
master A treasurer general kept in his
safe untold quantities of gold and silver or
naments, while the grain collected for the
crown was housed in great granaries under
charge of store keeper.
A PATERNAL GOVERNMENT.
1t was strong paternal form of govern
ment which raised and made all that its peo-
pie had any use for, which directed and con-
trolled great variety of industries in such a
manner that there was little export or i'm
port, no overproduction and plenty of time
to go to war. The painters, potters, earthen-
ware makers, sweepers, flower makers, shop
keepers, and even the doctors, had their
masters. And all this was before Christie
pher Columbus discovered America.
4 But the Tarascans were more interesting
as warriors. They were simply indomitable.
1t does not appear that it was their policy to
! extend the boundaries of the Tarascan en-
pire by conquest. They fought battles,
| whipped surrounding nations, settled imme-
lately with the conquered on cash basis
md returned to Lake Patzcuaro to enjoy the
quits of victory. There are POO, 900 Taras-
ans now, and they were probably more nu-
! nerous before the Spanish invasion
When war was declared against another
nation the chiefs Of the provinces commenced
nobilizing the fighting material without q
! lays delay. The whole army was com
handed by a captain general called the
Gazonci. He was magnifcently accoutered
\ plume of green feathers nodded above hi.
lead. A silver shield was slung over hi.
..oulder. His culver was of tiger skin. Hi
lad ear rings and bracelets of gold doub
ct of scarlet cotton clothed his hips and
highs. Leggings of tiger skin completed hi.
lress.
The war spirit was very strong in the ma
ion. Tarascans did not wait for invasion
They marched to their frontier and Their,
ne people came to them, fed them anC
heered them on. One branch of the service
vas an organization of war spies under com
land of chief. The vazanoti had traine,
3orps of couriers and messengers.
THE PLAN OF BATTLE.
When the army reached the locality il
which a battle was to be fought the spie
lad already been over the ground, and tn
curriers' had conveyed a description of it t
Inc commander. The plan of action ha,
been determined upon, and the legions too
Up the positions assigned them without an,
lelay. This preparation of the plan of &C
Jon was very complete, and it was what en-
lbled the Tarascans to be SO uniformly victC
'ious Their commander had been informe
If the character of the ground so thorough
" that he was not only able to assign hi
forces advantageously, but he carried o
with wonderful rapidity pretended repulse.
made apparently unsuccessful advances an
:etreated until he had drawn the enemy int
Just the place he wanted. Then his legion
ell upon the opposing army from all side
md annihilated it. This was so often don
hat the Tarascans, although small natio
compared with the Aztecs, maintained thei
Independence.
In battle the Tarascan legions carried mas
lificent standards of plumes. In some
he engagements more than 800 of these stant
.rds of white heron feathers glistened in tt
un Each warrior wore a plume Of Gag
Gathers. A column of smoke upon hilltc
vas often the signal that the enemy had bee
lrawn into the desired position, and that tt
line had come to uncover the ambuscad
! md make general charge, Then the bugl
and drums sounded. The long lines of wavil
plumes seemed to spring up from the grour
md to come from front, tanks and rea
Even boosted Aztec proves could not star
before such an onset. The Tarascans repea
,dly destroyed the armies sent against the
md retired to the lake with great humble
If prisoners. OF the younger they MAJ
slaves The older they sacrificed to the
gods. Human sacrifice was the blot
rarascan civilization.
1t was honor to die in battle, and t
/ Widows and orphans of dead warriors we
| iberally pensioned by the government.
/ lobe Democrat