The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-02-14
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF
THE NATIVE MEXICANS
The Charactea Of the People found by
Cortez When he Invaded the Country.
IMiddleburg School Herald.l

-hlliooSi tAiN VI tiiS -NatiNS
Mexicans is unknown, and even the
plilologist has failed to render a def
mite classification as to their place in
the great human family; yet the ma
tive history of Mexico, for few cen
turies before the conquest, is entitled
to more respect than the mere recol-
lection of savage tribes, inasmuch as
their memory was aided by something
like written record. The Mexican
picture writing SO far approached writ
ing proper as to record names of per
sons and places, and at least aided the
professional historians to remember
the traditions repeated orally from
generations to generation.
The Aztecs, the principal tribe of
MeXicans, after the 18th century, ap
pear to have wandered from place to
place over the country which is now
known as "The Valley of Mexico. "
About 1925, A. D., they founded, on
lake Tezcuco, the permanent settle
ment of Mexico, now marked by the
capital of Mexico. The Mexican En-
pirc extended from Zocatecos to be-
yond Guatemala, comprising a con-
siderable extent of territory and mil
lions of inhabitants who had attained
to pretty high state of civilization.
When Cortez led his small band of
invaders into the heart of the Mexican
Empire, he encountered nations high
ly cultured above the other American
Nations. Here were not rude and
simple tribes like the inhabitants found
in Cuba and Hispaniola, but nations
with organized armies, official admin
istrations, courts of justice, agricultural
and mechanical arts, and more espe-
ally stone buildings, whose archi-
lecture and soul pture were often Of
dimensions and elaborateness to as
tonish the builders and sculptors of
Europe; and the Mexicans had ad-
vanCed SO far III science as to con-
struct pretty accurate calendar.
Well might Cortez have gazed with
wonder upon the Mexican capitol,
teeming with its busy thousands. How
population of millions could inhabit
world whose very existence had been
till then unknown to historians, and
how its nations could have reached SO
high a grade of barbaric indsutry and
grandeur, was problem which natur-
ally excited the curiosity of scholars.
The city Of Mexico, at the time of
the conquest, surpassed many of the
cities of Europe. 1t contained many
fine houses and magnificent temples,
with a population of 100000 nhabi
tants. There was in the city mar
ket in which every day sixty thousand
people were engaged in buying and
selling. Here were found great va
riety of articles, both of food and
clothing, shoes, jewelry and ornaments
of various kinds, all arranged in a
manner that would have given credit
to the markets of Europe.
This opulent city was attacked, and
after gallant resistance of many days,
taken the vast library of Aztec pict-
ure writings was destroyed, and the
cruel treatment of the inhabitants by
the victors was unbecoming a nation
claiming to be the followers of Christ.
The civilization Of the MeXiCans,
/ though rude in its nature, would
doubtless have compared, in many
respects, with that of the more en-
lightened Europeans. The accounts
given by the Spaniards and native
Mexican writer's, Of the courts and pal
aces of the native kings, must be taken
with some reserve, on account OF de-
scriptive terms which convey eIrone-
Gus ideas, taken from European ar
ChiteCture but the immense embank-
ment carrying the aqueduct channel OF
hewn stone which supplied the water
to basins cut in solid rock, still re-
mains to prove that the chronicled de-
scriptions, if highly colored, were at
any rate genuine.
In the palace gardens, flowers from
the "'rierra Ca.ienta' were trans
planted, and all kinds Of birds and
beasts were kept in well appointed 20
illogical gardens which testifies, no,
merely to barbaric ostentation, but to
a cultivation of natural history which
was really beyond the European level
of the time. Though the Mexicans
were idolatrous in their religion, there
are passages referring to the belief in
a supreme deity. 1t is related tha,
the poet king of Tezcuco built a nine
stored temple, with a starry roo
above, in honor of tie Invisible Deity
who had no image, and was propItiated
not by bloody sacrifices, but by in
cense and flowers.
| Marriages were conducted much
like they are at present in the East
by comparison Of the horoscopes OF the
pair to ascertain if their blrth-sign:
were compatible.
Old women were employed as go
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