The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-13
THE TARASCAN EMPIRE.
A NATION WHO WE'RE NEVER CON-
OUEREO BY THE AzTeCS.
An Indomitable Nation Oh "airio'S
Which Existed I'm Mexico Mt the
Time Of the Spanish Conquest-How
They Planned Their Campaigns

Which Existed in Mexico Mt the
Time of the Spanish Conquest-How
They Planned Their Campaigns.
The Indians living around Lake Patzcuaro
were an independent nation when the Span
i,rds invaded Mexico, nearly 400 years ago.
They had come from the north, and had
meyer been conquered by the Aztecs, who
who lived in and controlled the country
south aud east of here. They lived In
and cities, and they had laws. Their capital
CITY was on the border Of the lake. They
called it T~zintzuntzan, in imitation Oh the
sound made by the hunming birds, which
are very numerous. They had a king, who
DESIGNATED his successor. They were divided
into four provinces, and at the head OF each
was a ~caciaue, or chief. There was, accord
ing 10 Cubas, the Mexican ethnologist, a
GREAT variety Of subordinate officials in the
Torascau empire. There were tribute gath
ercrs who collected from the rich, and an
other set who saw that the poor contributed
Ia tho Government. There was a head game
keeper, and q chief ~falconer who looked
! after the birds. There was a chief for the
fishermen who fshcd with nets, and another
Tor TIC UaAcIllcA ~ l'~NA NNN 49,
Every industry had its representative in the
Government. These Indians raised cotton,
manufactured domestics, q%ulTried and carved
! stone, cultivated sugar cane. fcrmented wlne
from the maguey, made leather garments
| and did q great many other things, all under
| the superyision Of the s~ub-delegatcs, as CnbaS
| calls the Representatives Of the government.
There was a chief w~oodsnan. The princi-
nal feather worker directed the artists in that
branch. The CuriHguri had charge Of the
MAXIM of drums. The carpenters had their
master, A treasurer general kept in his
safe untold quantities Of gold and silver or
naments. while tho grain collected for the
crown was housed in great granaries under
charge Of a store keeper.
PATERSAL GOVERNMENT.
l. was 4 strong p~aternal form Of govern
ment which raised and made all that its peo-
plo had any use for, which directed and con-
| trolled n great variety Of industries in such a
manner that there was little export or i'm
mort. no o~yerproduction and plenty Of time
10 90 10 war. The painters. pottcrs. earthen-
ware makers, sweepers, flower makers, shop
l~oepers, and even the doctors, had their
masters. And all this was before Christie
/ uher Columbus discovered America.
But the Tarascans were more interesting
as warriors They were simply indOmitable.
It 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-
| diately with tho conquered on a cash basis
and returned to Lake PatzcuarO to enjoy the
fruits Of victory. There are 100000 Taras-
| cans now, and they were probably more nu-
merous before the Spanish invasion.
When war was declared against another
! nation the chiefs Of the provinces commenced
mobilizing the fighting material without a
DAYS delay. The whole army was com
manded by q captain general called the
Eazonci. He was magnilicently accoutercd.
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 0f gold. Adoub-
let of scarlet cotton clothed his hips and
thighs. Leggings Of tiger skin completed his
dress.
The war spirit was very strong in the ma
ton. Tarascans did not wait for invasion.
They marched TO their frontier aud there
gave battle. Wbilo they were on the road
the people came to them, fed them and
cheered them on. One branch Of the service
was an organization Of war spies under COM
mand OF a chief. The y%azanoti had a trained
corps of couriers and messengers.
THE PLAN OF BATTLE.
When the army reached the locality in
which a battle was to be fought the spies
had already been over tho ground, and the
c%ouriers had conveyed a description Of it TO
the commander. The plan OF action had
been determined upon, and the legions took
up the positions assigned them without any
delay. This preparation Of the plan Of ac-
ton was very complete, and it was what en-
abled the Tarascans to be so uniformly yicto-
rious. Their commander had been informed
OF the character Of the ground so thorough
l. that he was not only able to assign his
forces advantageously, but he carried on
with wonderful rapidity pretended repulses,
made apparently unsuccessful advances and
retreated until he had drawn the enemy into
Just the place he wanted. Then his legions
fel. upon the opposing army from all sides
ana annihilated il. This was 50 often done
that tho Tarascans, although a small nation
compared with the Aztecs, maintained their
independence.
In battle the Tarascan legions carried mag
uifcent standards Of plumes. In some Of
the engagements more than 300 oftheso stand
ards Of white heron feathers glistened in the
sun. Each warrior wore a plume Of eagle
feathers. A column Of smoke upon q hilltop
was often the signal that the enemy had been
drawn into the desired position, and that the
time had come TO uncover the ambuscadei
and make q general charge. Then the buglcs
and drums sounded. The long lineso waving
plumes seemed to spring up from the ground
and 10 come from front, TANKS and rear.
Even boasted Aztec proves could not stand
before such an onset. The TarascaGs repeat
edly destroyed the armies sent against them
and retired to the lake with great numbers
of prisoners. OF the younger they made
slaves. The older they sacrificed to their
gods. Human sacrifice was the blot OF
Tarascan civilization.
II was honor 70 die IL battle, and the
widows and orphans OF dead warriors were
literally pensioned by the government -
Globe-D Democrat.
Erecting an Egyptian MonoIith.
There has been much speculation as 10 hos
the ancient Egyptians managed 10 erect theL
enormous monollths, sometimes loo feet IL