The herald., 1895-01-01

OF Bernal Diaz del Castillo, the Herodo-
tus OF the Expedition of the Conquistadores,
not much is known. Contemporary historians
say nothing of his birth or OF his death-few OF
them even mention his name When he him
Sc II welded the pen, he wrote not of what he
was but OF what he did. And the writings he
LETT are the record of the downfall of strange
old dynasty the supplanting of yet stranger
religion and the final extinction of race
which counted its members by millions
Bernal Diaz LETT CASTLE, as he says in his
memoirs in 514 for "rierra Firma,' also called
the New World, In due time he reached Cuba,
and from that place proceeded one of few
hundred cavaliers 10 the discovering of new
countries, impelled thereto by an Unsuitable
thirst for gold and still more intense deter
mination to carry to strange peoples the
lision OF God and Our Lady the Mother OF
Christ.
Bernal Diaz constituted himself the his.
torian of the expedition, even as Hernando
Cortes made himself Captain General; for
though the company, at first, had certain
authority conferred upon its officers and
tain general directions given by the governor
OF Cuba, the commissions to the officers were
withdrawn and the directions ignored He
was captain who had the inherent faculty OF
commanding men, and the rope fol owed was
that which commended itself to them from
day to- day. s.s
The story OF the progress through Mexico is
one infinitely varied yet strangely mono,on-
Gus. 1t is story of weariness and hunger, of
disappointment and suffering, of battles with
savages in hordes innumerable actuated by
bitter hate; of courage undaunted, and an un-
conquered and the conquerable faith that the
Lord fought with then, that in His own good
time H would give to His servants riches and
honor and the glory of bringing great people
within the folds OF the True Church.
AS the fame OF Semiramis was spread to the
utmost confines of Assyria, so the greatness OF
Montezuma was known even to that place
where the waves OF the sea washed the sands
OF Yucatan. To the city of Montezuma,
Mexico, the conquistadores turned their faces,
and after many days the hJst glimpse "of the
gtand city and all the lakes' was gained by
Diego de Ordas, who, from the summit of Mt.
Popocatapetl, looked out across the wide
country.
Later the city was reached. OF the city and
of what was done there let Bernard Diaz tell,
as in the history which he has written,
AS we had now been four days in the
city of Mexico and as none OF us had
gone out except through the palace and
the gardens, Cortes said 1t would be we'll
to 20 out to the great plaza and the tenn
plelof ,Huitzilopochli, and he sent Geron-
imo de Aguilsr, Dofia Marina and his lit
tie page Ortsgilla who already under.
stood come Aztec, to inform Montezuma
of our desire; he replied that he would
be pleased to have US do SO, and that he
would go with US in person; but he did
this lest we should put any dishonor ON
10 nd hn in
with many of his nobles, but when he
came near the temples he dismounted,
for among them it was considered dis
respectful to approach their idols other.
wise than on foot. When he dismounted
he aned on the arms of some of his no.
les while two Caciques walked ahead of
IN carrying wands in their hands as
| lgea OF their Office and notified the
people that the great Montezuma was
approaching. When Montezuma rode
In his litter he carried a wand or embs
lem OF justice.
He now mounted the steps OF the
temple accompanied by his mobiles and
great number of Papss.sending num-
ber Of. his Caciques to accompany us.
We all went armed as was our custom,
and for that reason caused no surprise
on the present occasion. All of those
who had horses and most of the foot-
men accompanied Cortes and when we
arrived at the grand plsza of Tlatelolco
we were astonished at the vast number
OF people and merchandise there and
tine good order and admirable regulation
OF the whole place.
The Caciques who accompanied us
pointed out to uB how each olaas of NOR
chandise had place for itself.
There were the goldsmiths and silver
emiths and lapldaries and those
who worked in feather work and
embroidery. and q slave market also
and slaves; and slaves / say, for
they brought many 60 this city for sale
in the grand plaza, as the Portuguese
bring the negroes from Guinea. They
brought them with wooden collars
around their necks to prevent them from
fleeing, although some were allowed to
go unbound. In other markets they
had clo.hes for sale and cotton fabrics
made OF twisted thread, and in another
place those who sold cocoa. And in
another part were the venders OF fabrics
made from mcqueen. such as mantles and
yopes and cataras, which are the shoes
Of the country, and many other things
made from the same plant. In another
place they had furS for sale. such as
tiger and 81 u skina and fox skins and