Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-09-19
CHAPTER XIII.

Our business with the people OF the Oto-
mie being ended for awhile, we returned
to the city Of Tenoctitlan, which we reach
ed safely, having been absent month and
day. It was but O little time, and YET
long enough for fresh SORROWS to have fall
en- on that most unhappy town, for now
the Almighty had added to the burdens
which were laid upon her. She had tasted
of death by the sword CT the white man.
now death was with her in another shape,
for the Spaniard had brought the foul sick
ness of Europe with him, and smallpox
ragged throughout the land. Day by day
thousands perished Of 1t, for theseignorant
people treated the plague by pouring cold
water upon the bodies Of those smitten,
driving tho fever inward to the vitals, so
that within two days the most OF them
died This treatment Is followed among
the Indians of Mexico to this day, but II
the writer may believe what he heard in
that country the patient Is frequently
cured by it..
It was pitifuf to see them maddened
with suffering as they wandered to and
fro about the streets, spreading the dis
temper far and wide. They were dying IN
the houses; they lay dead by companies In
the market places awaiting burial, for the
sickness took its toll Of every family the
very priests were smittcn by it at the altar
as they sacrificed children to appcasc the
anger Of the gods. But the worst IS stlll
to tell Cuitlahua, the emperor, was struck
down by the illness, and when we reached
the city he lay dying. Still he desired to
see US and sent commands that we should
be brought to his bedside. In vain did
pray Otomie not to obey. She, who was
without fear, laughed at me, saying:
"What, my husband, shall shrink from
that which you must face? Come, let us
20 and make report Of our mission II the
sickness takes me and die, it will be be-
cause my hour has come. "
So we went and were ushered into o
chamber where CuitlaLua lay covered by q
sheet as though he were already dead and
with incense burning round him In golden
censors When we entered, he was in
stupor but presently he awoke, and 1t
was announced to him that we waited.
Welcome, niece" he said, speaking
through the sheet and in thick voice.
'sYou find me in an evil case, for my days
are numbered; the pestilence OF the Teules
slays those whom their swords spared.
Soon another monarch must take my
throne, as took your fathers, and do
not altogether grieve, for on him will rest
the glory and the burden Of the last fight
of the Aztecs. Your report niece, let me
hear it swiftly. What say the clans OF the
Otomie, your vassals?"
my lord" Otomie answered. speaking
humbly and with bowed head, may this
distemper leave you, and may you live to
reign over US for many years. Ny lord,
my husband Teule and I have won back
the most part of the people of tho Otomie
to our cause and standard. An army of
90, 600 mountain men waits upon your
word, and when those are spent there are
more to follow"
well done, daughter of Montezuma,
and you, white man." gasped the dying
king 1.-THE gods wero wise when they
refused you both upon the stone of sacri-
flee, and was foolish when would have
slain you, Teule. To you and all I say be
Of a steadfast heart and If you must die
then die with honor. Tho fray draws on,
but shall not share it, and who knows
its endS" -
Now he lay silent for awhile; then Of
sudden, as though an inspiration had seiz-
ed him, he cast the sheet from his face and
sat up upon his couch, no pleasant sight to
see, for the pestilencc had done its worst
with him.
Alas he walled, land alas see the
streets of Tenoctitlan red with blood and
fire. I sec her dead piled up in heaps, and
the horses Of the Teules trample them. 1
see the spirit of my people, and her voice
Is signing, and her neck Is heavy with
chains. The children are visited because
Of the evil Of the fathers. Ye are doomed,
people Of Anahuac, whom would have
nurtured as all eagle nurtures her young.
He'll yawns for you, and earth refuses you
because Of your sins, and the remnant that
remains shall be slaves from generation to
generation till the vengeance Is accom-
plished."
Having cried thus with a great voice,
Cuitlahua fell back upon the cushions, and