The herald., 1895-02-17

The subject that the Fiesta committee
has selected for representation by the floats
abounds with antiquity, mystery and ro-
nance.
The History of Spanish American Civil
ization covers scope so wide and so d.
verstied in its character that it opens an
almost unlimited field for the artist and
the historian.
The origin of the different tribes,
shrouded as it is in mystery, has so many
traditions an6 legends that the results of
the researches made by students read like
fables.
1t is evident, therefore, that the sue
cession of floats to be seen during Fiesta
week will be display of great historical
value and will be of interest, not only to
the visitors, but to the residents OF this
city.
The spectators will be led through the
different periods, when civilization was
making slow progress and treading a
rough path to elevate the Indian from his
stage of bigotry and superstition to hui
man intelligence and from his alteration
OF the sun to the teachings of Christ.
Each of these floats will be history in
itself. The High Priest of the Sun will
lead a procession of Incas, while the En-
peror Of the Toltecs will lead a band OF
his slaves.
Then again Montezuma the Great will
be seen seated in chariot. and the Gus
toms and manners of the Aztec tribe will
be portrayed.
Further on the Aleutians, that north
ern race that is supposed to have massa-
cred the indians of Catalina and other
islands, will appear, and SO on, until at
last Uncle Sam, with the Stars and Stripes
floating from the liberty pole, will COM
g. krs11
and historical value has no equal any
where.
But follow the history of these tribes,
necessarily briefly related in these col
umns, and the true merit and romance
will at once suggest itself.
The Toltecs do not receive very favor
able mention from writer's. Some hsto-
rians consider them an inferior race, sim
ply tribe of sedentary Indians. 1t is
stated that the kingdom of the Toltecs
lasted from 100 A. d. to 1116 A. D., when
their destruction was accomplished and
their people dispersed. The ending of
this race was caused mainly by famines
and pests and the invasion of strange peo
pies. The last act of their resistance as
distinct tribe was sanguinary battle
with enemies, in which the chieftain,
Topiltzin, Meconitzn and his wife,
Xochitl, were slain.
The Toltec nation, however, is not with
OuU All interesting HISlOIN. lUeN Cldlll
that their ancestors founded city some
where on the shores of the Colorado River
There they lived for generations, until at
last they wandered toward the south.
They founded their great city of Tollan,
now lula, which became the seat of gov
eminent of the Toltec nation.
In form they were tall, robust and well
formed, of light, sallow complexion, and
could run at the greatest speed for hours.
They were refined in their tastes but most
cruel and brave in war.
To them belongs the credit of having
invented part of the menu that is until
this day so much beloved by the Mexicans
and enjoyed by Americans. They had
corn, chile, frijoles and other delicacies
and eatables that have become distinc-
lively Mexican.
The early faith of the Toltecs was the
alteration of the sun, moon and stars. In
fact they regulated the division of time
by the stars. Their principal god was
Tonacatecuhtli, because, according to their
belief, he warmed the earth and made it
fruitful, thus giving them their chief
blessing. They offered flowers, fruits and
sacrifices of small animals to him.
But in the matter of personal adorn-
ment they had definite styles. These
styles did not change as often as nova
days, but their garments were made of
strong or delicate fabrics in many colors
and designs, and frequently studded with
precious stones, which they worked and
cut themselves.
Near the now extinct volcano. Nevada
de Toluca, about forty miles west of the
City of Mexico, the Toltecs had palace
of stone decorated with hieroglyphics.
Among the legends of that peculiar nation
is one that the ashes of one of their chiefs
were carried to heaven by handsome birds,
that his heart followed and became the
morning star.
The 1oltecs discovered an Intoxicating
drink, that has been the delight of the
MeXicans from that time to this
Strangely, woman named Xochtl first
showed to her lord, the king, how to ex-
tract from the heart of the maguey Il
sweet honey to drink, and from that
strong distilled liquors were made. These
ancient Indians became addicted to the
Intoxicating fluid, and as the temperance
unions had not been established. the Toll