Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-08-08
CHAPTER XII.

ley OF Tenoctltlan. Next morning we
took the road again before dawn, for the
cold was SO sharp at this great height that
we, who had Travelled from the hot land,
could sleep very little, and also Guatemoc
desired if it were possible to reach the city
that night.
When we had gone few hundred PAGES,
the path came to the crest Of the noun
tain range, and I halted suddenly in Won
der and admiration. Below me lay vast
bowl Of land and water, Of which, howev-
er, T could see nothing, for the shadows
of the night still filled it. But before me,
piercing the very clouds, lowered the crests
of two snow clad mountains and on these
the light of the unrisen sun played, already
changing their whiteness to the stain OF
blood. Popo, or the Hill that Smokes, is
tho name of the one, and Ixtac, or the
Sleeping Woman, that Of the other, and
no grander sight was ever offered to tho
eyes Of man than they furnished in that
hour before the dawn. From tho lofty
summit Of Popo went up great columns
of smoke. which, what with the fire IN
their heart and the crimson of the sunrise,
looked like rolling pillars of flame. And
for the glory of the glittering slopes below,
that changed continually from the myste-
~ of white to dull red, from red to GRIM
son and from crimson to every dazzling
hue that the rainbow holds, who can tell
it, who can even imagine it? None indeed
except those that have seen the sun riso
over tho volcano of Tenoctitlah.
When I had feastcd my eyes on Popo
turned to Ixtac. She is not SO lofty as her
husband, +" for so the Aztccs name the
volcano Popo, and when first looked
could sec nothing but the gigantic shape
of q woman fashioned In snow and lying
like corpse upon her lofty bier, whose
hair streumed down tho mountain side
But now the sunbcams caught her also
and she seemed to start out in majesty
from veil of rosy mist, wonderful and
thrilling sight. But, beautiful Us she was
then, still I love the Sleeping Woman best
ut eve. Then she lies shape Of glory on
the blackness beneath and is slowly swal-
lowed up into the solemn night rs the dark
draws its veil across her.
Now, as gazed the light began to creep
down the sides Of the VOLCANOES, revealing
the forests Oh their flanks. But still the
vast valley was filled with mist that 10y
in dense pillows resembling those Of tho
sea, through which hills and temples tops
started up like islands BY slow degrees
as we passed upon our downward road tho
yapors cleared away and the lakes Of Tcz-
cuco, Chalco and Xochicalco shonc In tho
sunlight like giant mirrors. On their
banks stood many cities. Indeed the
greatest of these, Mexico seemed to font
upon the waters. Beyond them and about
them were green fields of corn and aloe
and groves Of forest trees while far away
lowered the black wall of rock that hedges
in the valley.
All day we journcycd swiftly through
this fairyland. We passed through the
cities of Amaquem and Ajotzinco, which
will not stay to describe, and manya love.
" village that nestled upon the borders of
Lake Chalco. Then wo entered on tho
great causcway of stone built like road
resting on the waters, and with the after
noon we came to the town of Cuitlahuac
Thence we passed on to 1ztapalapan, and
here Guatcmoc would have rested for the
night in the royal house Of his uncle Cult
lahua But when we reached the town we
found that MonteZuma, who had been ad-
yised of our approach by runners, had sent
orders that we were to push on to Tenoc-
titlan, and that palanquins had been made
ready to bear Us.
So we entered the palanquins, and leav-
ing that lovely city of gardens were borne
swiftly along the southern causeway. On
we went past towns built upon piles fixed
in the bottom of tho lake. past gardens
that were laid out on reeds and foated
over the waters like q boat, past teocallis
and glistening temples without number,
through fleets Of light canoes and thou
sands of Indians going to and fro about
their business, till at length toward sun
set we reached the battlemented fort
that is called Xoloc, which stands upon
the dixie. say stands, but, alas, it stands
no more! Cortes has destroyed 1t, and
with it all those glorious cities which my
eyes beheld that day.
At Xoloc we began to enter the city of
Tenoctitlan, or Mexico, the mightiest city
that ever had seen. The houses on the
| outskirts indeed were built Of mud or
| adobe, but those In tho richer parts were
constructed of redstone. Each house sur
rounded courtyard and was, in turn,
| surrounded by garden, while between
them ran canals, having footpaths on ei-
ther side. Then there were squares, and
in the squares pyramids, palaces and tom.
pies without end. gazed on them till
was bewildered but all seemed as moth
| ing when at length saw the great tenn
pie, with its stone gateways opening to
the north and tho south, the east and the
| west, its walls carvcn everywhere with
| serpents, its polished pavemcnts, its teoc-
allis decked with human skulls, thousands
upon thousands Of them, and Its vast sur
| rounding tianqueZ, or market place. /
caught but glimpse of 1t then, for the
darkness was falling, and afterward We
were borne on through the darkness, did
not know whittier.
Awhile went by, and saw that we had
left the city and were passing up steep
hill beneath the shadow Of mighty cedar
trees. Presently VIC halted in courtyard,
and here was hidden to alight Then
| the Prince Guatemoc led me into a Won
drous house, of which all ths rooms were
rooted with cedar wood and It's walls hung
| with richly colorcd cloths, and in that
house gold seemed as plentiful as bricks
and oak arc with us in England Led by
domestics who bore cedar wands In their
hands, we went through many passages
and rooms till at length we came to q
chamber where other domestics were
awaiting us, who washed US with scented
waters and clothed us in gorgeous ap-
parel. Thence they conducted us to door,
where we were hidden to remove our shoes,
| and coarse colored robe was given to
each of US to hide our splendid dress. The
robes having been put on, we were suffered
IN, fl,nf In, n
vast chamber in which were many noble
men and some women, all standing and
clad in coarse robes. At the fur end Of
this chamber was o gilded screen, and
from behind it 1oatcd sounds of sweet
music.
Now, as we stood in the great chamber,
that was lighted with sweet smelling
torches, many men advanced and greeted