The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-08-15

with a brown and foeaning froth that
learned to know afterward as chocolate.
When had finished eating, having talked
awhile together in low tones, they mo-
toned me to enter one of the canoes, CIV
ing me mats to lie on. I obeyed and three
other men came with me, for the canoe
was large. One Of these, a very grave man
with gentle face and manner, whom /
took to be the chief of the party, sat down
opposite to me, the other two placing
themselves in the bow and stern OF the
boat, which they drove along by means OF
paddles Then we started, followed by
three other canoes, and before we had gone
mile utter WEAKNESS oyerpowered me,
and fell asleep.
awoke much refreshed, having slept
many hours, for now the sun was setting,
and was astonished tofnd the grave look
ing man, my companion in the canoe,
keeping watch over my sleep and warding
the gnats from me with q leafy branch.
His kindness seemed to show that was
in no danger Of III treatment, and my fears
ON that point being set at rest began to
wonderas towhat strange land had come
and who its people might be. Soon, bow
ever, gave over, having nothing to build
on, and observed the scenery instead. Now
we were padding up a smaller river than
the one on the banks Of which I had been
cast away and were no longer in the midst
Of marshes.
On either side Of Us was open land, or
rather land that would have been open
had it not been for the great trees, larger
than the largest oak, which grew upon it,
some of them Of surprising beauty. Up
these trees climbed creepers that hung like
ropes even from the topmost boughs, and
among them were many strange and gor-
geous towering plants that seemed to cling
to the bark as moss clings to wall In
their branches also sat harsh voiced birds
of brilliant colors and apes that barked
and chartered at us as we went.
Just as the sun set over all this strange
new scene the canoes came to a landing
place built of timber. and We disembark-
ed. Now it grew dark suddenly, and all
I could discover was that was being led
along good road Presently we reached
q gate, which, from the barking of dogs
and the numbers Of people who thronged
about it, judged to be the entrance to
town, and passing it we advanced down
a long street with houses on either side.
At the doorway Of the last house my COM
panion halted, and taking me by the hand
led me into long, low room lit with lamps
Of earthenware Here some women came
whom took to be servants, saluted him
by touching the floor with one hand Soon,
however, all eyes We're TUNED on me, and
many eager questions were asked of the
chief, Of which could only guess the pur-
port.
When oil had gazed their fill, supper was
served, rich meal Of many strange meats,
and Of this Twas invited to partake, which
I did, seated on mat and eating of the
dishes that were placed upon the ground
by the women. Among these I noticed
one girl who far surpassed all the others
in grace, though none were unpleasing to
the eye She was dark indeed, but her
features were regular and her eyes fine.
Her figure was ta4 and straight, and the
sweetness of her face added to the charm
of her beauty. I mention this girl here for
two reasons-frst, because she saved me
once from sacrifice and once from torture,
and, secondly, because she was none other
than that woman who afterward became
known as Marina, the mistress Of Cortes,
! without whose aid he had never conquer
ed Mexico. But at this time she did not
guess that it was her destiny to bring her
country of Anahuac beneath the cruel yoke
Of the Spaniard.
From the moment of my entry saw
that Marina, as will call her, for her In
dian name is too long to be written, took
pity on my forlorn state and did what lay
in her power to protect me from vulgar
curiosity and to minister to my wants. At
was she who brought me water to wash in,
and clean robe OF linen to replace my
foul and tattered garments. and cloak
fashioned of bright feathers for my Shout
ders.
When supper was done, amat was given
me to sleep on in little room apart, and
here lay down, thinking that, though
might be lost forever to my own world, at
least I had fallen among people who
were gentle and kindly, and, moreover, as
saw from many tokens, no savages. One
thing, however, disturbed me-I discoy-
cred that, though was well treated, also
was prisoner, for man armed with a
copper spear slept across the doorway OF
my little room Before lay down / looked
through the wooden bars which served as
protection to the window place and saw
that the house stood upon the border Of
large open space, in the midst of which
great pyramid lowered hundred feet or
more into the air. On the top Of this
pyramid was a building of stone which
took to be temple and rightly, in front
of which 8 fire burned Maryeling what
the purpose of this great work might be-
and in honor of what faith it was erected,
went to sleep.
On the morrow was to learn
Here it may be convenient for me to
state, what did not discover till after
ward, that was in the city of Tabasco,
the capital Of one Of the southern prov
inces of Anahuac, which is situated at a
distance of some hundreds of miles from
the central city Of Tenoctitlan, or Mexico.