The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-09-26
CHAPTER XIV.
THE FALL OF TENocT1TLAN.

marched from the coast with great array
of Spaniards, for many had Joined his ban
ner from over sea and tens Of Thousands
of native allies, Cortes took up his head
quarters at Tezcuco, in the valley OF Med-
co. This town is situated near the borders
Of the lake, at distance of several leagues
from Tenoctitlan, and being on the edge
of the territory of the Tlascalans, his al
lies, it was most suitable to Cortes as
base of action. And then began one of
the most terrible wars that the world has
seen. For eight months it ragged, and when
it ceased at length Tenoctitlan, and with
it many other beautiful and populous
towns, were blackened ruins, the most OF
the Aztecs were dead by sword and fam
inc, and their nation was crushed forever.
OF all the details of this war do not pur-
pose to write, for were to do so there
would be no end to this book, and have
my own tale to tell. These, therefore,
leave to the maker of histories. Let it be
enough to say that the plan of Cortes was
to destroy all her vassal and allied cities
and people before he grappled with Me1i-
co, queen of the valley, and this he set
himself to do with a skill, valor and a
straightness of purpose such as have scarce
ly been shown by general since the days
of Caesar.
Iztapalapan was the first to fall, and
here 10, 900 men, women and children were
put to the sword or burned alive. Then
came the turn of the others. One by one
Cortes reduced the cities till the Whole
girdle of them was in his hands and Te-
noctitlan alone remained untouched.
By the month of May, strive as we
woodland never was more gallant
fight mado-all our allies were crushed or
had deserted us, and the siege Of the city
began 1t began by land and by water,
for with incredible resource Cortes caused
13 brigantines of war to be construct
ed in Tlascala and conveyed in pieces
for 90 leagues across the mountains to his
camp, whence they were foated into the
lake through canal, which was followed
out by the labor Of 10000 Indians, who
worked at it without cease for two months.
The bearers of these brigantines were es-
corted by an army of 10000 Tlascalans,
and if could have had my way that army
should have been attacked in the noun
tain passes So thought Guatemoc also,
but there were few troops to spare, for
the most Of our force had been dispatched
to threaten a city named Chalco, that,
though it's people were of the Aztec blood,
had not been ashamed to desert the Aztec
cause. Still offered to lead the 90, 600
Otomies whom I commanded against the
Tlascalans convoy, and the matter was de-
bated hotly at a council Of war. But the
most Of the council were against the risk
ing of an engagement with the Spaniards
and their allies so far from the city, and
thus the opportunity went by to return
no more. It was an evil fortune like the
rest, for in the end these brigantines
brought about the fall of Tenoctitlan by
cutting off the supply of food, which was
carried in canoes across the lake. Alas,
the bravest can do nothing against the
power of famine! Hunger is q very great
man, as the Indians say.
Now the Aztecs, fighting alone, were
face to face with their foes, and the last
struggle began. First the Spaniards cut
the aqueduct which supplied the city with
water from the springs at the royal house
of Chapoltepec whittier was taken on
being brought to Mexico. Henccforth till
the end of the siege the only water that we
found to drink was the brackish and mud
dy fluid furnished by the lake and wells
sunk in the soil. Although it might be
drunk after boiling to free it of the salt, it
was unwholesome and filthy to the taste,
breeding various painful sicknesscs and
fevers 1t was on this day of the cutting
of the aqueduct that Otomie bore me
son, our firstborn. Already the hardships
of the siege were so great and nolrishing
food so scarce that, had she been less
strong, or had I possessed less skill in
medicine, I think that she would have
died Still she recovered. to my great
thankfulness and Joy, and though am no
clerk I baptized the boy into the Christian
church with my own hand, naming him
Thomas, after me-
Now day by day and week by week the
fighting went oa with varying success,
sometimes in the suburbs of the city, some
times ON the lake and sometimes in the
very streets. Time on time the Spaniards
were driven back with loss; time on time
they advanced again from their different
camps. Once we captured 60 of them and
more than u thousand of their allies. All
these were sacrificed ON the altar Of HUT
zcl and given over to be dcvourcd by the
Aztecs according to the beastlike custom
which in Anahuac cnjoined the eating OF
the bodies of those who were offered to
the gods, not because the Indians love such