The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-15
MYTHS OF OLD MEXICO.
Modern Investigators Doubt Tales
Of Wealth of the MOntexumaa
The City Of Mexico Two Republics.

The City of Mexico Two Republics
The Two Republics would be pleased to
satisfy the laudab!e curiosity of a reader
In Pueba who wants to know something
about the population Of ancient Mexico and
MonteZumas treasure
We are unable to do so. however. with
regard TO either question. AS 10 the former
question there is variety OF opinions
Foreigners who speak and read the English
language have usually t.hken Prescott's
word for IL. and Prescott has undoubtedly
painting of the situation that existed prior
10 the time of the conquest. The early
Spanish chroniclers were also given to
flights of imagination not valuable for his
torical purposes. and the conquistadores de-
lighted In mentioning the names OF emper-
ors. princes and such, which undoubtedly
magnihed the Importance of their own ac-
complishments.
Ignacio Altamirano. who gave the subject
profound study is OF the impression that
the City of Mexico at the time OF the ar
rival Of CorteZ consisted of nothing bat
rude huts and a population OF about 800
The Two Republics Is inclined to accept Mr.
Altamirano's statement. Few men In the
republic were in a better position to get at
the facts, and none have been more consci-
enttous In their investigation. While 1t may
spoil some very beautiful fiction facts
compel us TO the belief that the Aztec peo-
pie were very far from being the magnifi-
cent. semi-barharous people that they have
been represented. MonteZuma. who is spo-
ken Of as the great emperor OF the AZ
tees. is said TO have frequently appeared
at courts in undress uniform. and TO have
eaten his meals at very irregular hours
out OF a huge pot that always stood on the
fire
What the races were that preceded the
Aztecs might be another question, but as
FOR the AZtecS themselves there is little
reliable information to warrant us in say
Ing that they were much above the plane
OF hundreds OF other tribes that populated
Mexico generations ago. or for that mat
ter. still form numerically the greater part
OF our population.
Az 20 MonteZuma's treasure, that Is
something OF a myth. One good priest
who was connected with the first occupa-
ton Of Mexico. stated, upon seeing a par
Gel OF gold In an Aztec establish nent
which stood on the present site Of the
Mount Piedad, that IL appea red TO be more
gold than he had thought was 10 be found
in the whole world. THIS statement Ia
usually taken with rock salt by historians
There wac undoubtedly gold here and
considerable gold. in those poor times.
During the retreat OF the nos.he trlste the
SpaniariS lost most OF their tIl-gotten
gains, and later, when Cortes returned TO
ne city. this gold was not discovered
The assumption was Immediately jumped
at that il was hidden, ana the assumption
may have been perfectly correct. "Monte-
Zuma's treasure" has been handed down
to us a collective name for all the
vauables which the Span.ards were un-
able 10 locate. There are still some peo-
pie who devoutiy believe that 1t exists.
but here are others who waste little time
In the thought.