The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-08-15
CHAPTER Xl.
THE SAVING OF GUATEMOC.

NOW, dICcr lis uIe<tu1u1 udS was AAAo-
~ dealt with by the people Of Tabasco,
who gave me the name Of Teule, or Span
lard, and no longer sought to put me to
sacrifice. Far from it indeed, was well
clothed and fed and suffered to wander
where would, though always under care
of guards who, had escaped, would have
paid for it with their lives.
learned that on the morrow Of my res
cue from the priests messengers were dis
patched to Montezuma, the great king, ac-
quainting him with the history of my cap
ture and seeking to know his pleasure con-
cerning me- But the way to Tenoctitlan
was far, and many weeks passed before the
messengers returned again. Meanwhile l
filled the days learning the Maya language
and also something of that of the Aztecs,
which practiced with Marina and others,
for Marina was not Tabascan, having
been born at Painalla, on the southeastern
borders of the empire. But her mother
sold her to merchants in order that Ma
rina's inheritance might come to another
child of hers by second marriage and
thus in the end the girl fell into the hands
of the cazique of Tabasco.
Also learned something Of the history
and customs and of the picture writing Of
the land and how to read it, and, moreover,
I obtained great repute among the Tabas-
cans by my skill in medicine, SO that in
time they grew to believe that was in
deed child of Quetzal, the good god
And the more studied this people the less
I could understand Of them. In most
ways they were equal to any nation of our
own world of which I had knowledge.
None are more skilled in the arts; few are
better architects or boast Of purer laws.
Moreover, they we're brave and had pa
thence. But their faith was the canker at
the root of the tree. In precept it was no
BILE and had much in common with our
own, such as the rite of baptism, but I
have told what it was in practice.
When I had lived month in Tabasco,
I had learned enough Of the language to
talk with Marina, with whom I grew
friendly, though no more, and itwas from
her that I gathered the most Of my nowl.
edge, and also many hints as to the con-
duct necessary to my safety. In return I
taught her something Of my own faith and
Of the customs of the Europeans, and it
was the knowledge which she gained from
me which afterward made her so useful to
the Spaniards and prepared her to accept
their religion, giving her insight into the
ways of white people.
So abode for four months and more ID
the house of the cazique Of Tabasco, who
carried his kindness toward me to the
length of Offering me his sister in mar
rage To this proposal I said no as gen
tly as I might, and he marveled at it, fol
the girl was fair. Indeed so well was
treated that had it not been that my heart
was far away, and because Of the horrible
rites of their religion, which was forced
to witness almost daily, I could have
learned to love this gentle, skilled and In
dustrious people.
At length, when full four months hae
passed away, the messengers returned from
the court of Montezuma, having been much
delayed by swollen rivers and other acci
dents Of travel So great was the impor