The herald., 1895-01-01
FROM THE CHRONICLE OF BERNAL DIAZ,

Montezuma in the proper mood. Cortea
then said to Montozuma, "Your Excel.
lency 10 indeed great lord and worthy
of being greater; we are pleased to see
your grand city, bat now that we are
here we beg of you to show as your gods
and teules." Montezuma replied that
he would have to speak with the Papas,
and after he had spoken with them he
invited us to enter sort OF orRtory in
which there were two altara and on each
altar figure OF giant, vary tall and
very stout. The trst one on the right
hand side wac Huichlipotzli, the god OF
war; he had very large face with ter.
rible, deformed eyes. The idol was en-
crusted with gold and precious stones
and pearls, and around the body were
figures OF large serpents OF gold covered
also with precious stones; and IN one OF
the IDOLS hands there wos bow, and
arrows in the other. Near Huitchli-
potzli there was small idol represent
ing q sort of messenger or page OF the
god and who was armed with lance and
buckler. Around the neck OF HuIchli-
potzli were hung faces and hearts of In
dians, the former wrought OF alive.
adorned with blue stones, and the latter
were made OF gold.
In front of the idol were braziers con j.
tanning incense of copsl and the hearts
of three Indians sacrificed that day,
which were being burned.
The walls and floors of the tampls
were covered with gouts of blood and
smslled like slaughter house.
On the other side OF the temple ws
saw the other idol, Tezcatepuca which
had the head OF bear with very brilliant
ewes and the whole body was adorned
as richly as that of Huichlipotzli, dor
they said that they wore brothara and
Tezcstepuca was king of the Internal
regions. The body OF this idol was COW
cred with figures of little devils with
eerpents for tails, and all around the
walls and floors we're covered with gouts
of blood, and the stencil was worse than
that OF any slaughter houee in CASTLE.
In front OF Tszcatepucs ihere were five
fresh hearts which had been taken from
Indians sacrificed that day.
In the highest part of the GU there
was another cham Der richly wrought of
carved wood, and In it another idol, the
body of which was half man and half
alligator, and like the cthers, covered
with gold, silver and precious stones.
In the body of this idol were plncf d
seeds OF all the useful plants in Mexico.
This was the god TO whom they looked
for abundant harvests.
The altar in front OF this idol was also
smearsd with blood like the others.
In this place there was also great
drum made of the ekins OF ssrpents, the
sound of which could be heard for two
leagues. and the eound OF it was 60
melancholy and horrible that it struck
chill to the heart.
Everything in and around the temple
was covered with blood and smelled
horribly, 80 that we we're right glad to
get outside.
smiling meanwhile, Lord Monte
yuma, cannot understand how 30 great
lord ss yourself and one 80 bold
and wise as is your excellency, can
believe that these idols are gods in
stead Of devils. And in order to prove
1t to your excellency, and to make it
clear to these Papas, grant me the favor
to allow me to place on top OF this tenn
pie Cross, and inside the temple.
where your gods Huichlipotzli aud Tez-
cstepuca are, give me place to put an
image OF Our Lady. the Holy Virgin, and
you will see the terror it will inspire in
the idols which are decsiving yoo." To
which Montezuma responded in an
angry manner: "Lord Malinche, had
thought yoa would have done such dis
honor to my gods as to speak thus l
would not have shown them to you.
"We hold them as good gods, for they
give us health, and raina, and good
crope, and victories, and everything we
need, and in return we adore them and
offer them sacrifices; and beg OF you
not to offer them any further dishonor." /"
When Cortes heard this and saw how
altered was the tone of Montezuma, he
said, half emiling:
ut is now time that your excellency
and ourselves should return"
Montezuma replied that it was we'll,
but that he would have to remain to
offer sacrifices and TO pray to his gods to
appeass their wrath ior the dishonor
done them in allowing us to ascend to
the temple and see them, and also for
for the insult offered them by the LAM.
guage OF Cortez.
We then descended from the Gu and as
the steps we're ia some of our soldiers
who were ill suffered much
But will leave the temple and tell OF
ite size and manner OF construction, and
ii it ia not exactly correct do not be sur
prised, for at this time had somot ing
else to think of, that is, military mat.
ters, and to do what my Captain Cortee
commanded me to do. and not Of writing
histories.
II appears to me that the great Gu wss
"a large as six great lots. such as they
have In this country.
And from the bottom to the top i,
grew narrower, and in the middle OF ths
Gu there were five holes. running from
the top to the bottom. and all withou
covers.
AT the time Of the conquest thare wa.