The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-03

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general agreement OF the legends Of tho nations
that succeeded them. tho Toltecs were we'll in
structed in agriculture and many Of the most
useful OF the mechanic arts; they were nice work.
ers Of metal: invented the complex arrangement
of time adopted by the Astccs, and, In short,
were the true fountains Of tho species Of civil.
cation which distinguished this part Of the
continent in later times. They established
their capital at Tula, north OF the
Mexican valley, and the remains Of extensive
buildings were to be dlscerned there at tho time
OF the conquest, The impressive ruins Of relig.
ious and other edinoes still to be soon In various
pnrts of Mexico are referred to this people,
whose name. Toltco, had passed into a synonym
for architect. After n period of about four CEN
turtles the Toltecs, who had extended their
sway over the remotest borders OF Anahuac,
were greatly reduced by famine, pestilenoe and
unsuccessful wars, and eventually disappeared
from tho land as mysteriously as thoy entered
1t. Few OF them. indeed, fingered behind. but
much the greater number. probably. spread
over the region of Central America and tho
neighborinE tales, and tho traveller now specu-
latcS on the ruins of Militia and Palenquo
as, possibly. tho work Of this extraordinary
people. After tho lapse of another nun
dred years q numerous and rude tribe
called the C~hIchlmecs, entered tho deserted
SeAN AVN Nv al uuEbuWObt~ AhO1 oIO
speedily followed BY other races of higher civil.
cation. perhaps of the same family with the
ToltecS, whose language they seem TO have
spoken. Tho most noted OF these were the Az
tees, or Moxioans. and the Acolhuans. The lat
ter. better known In later times by the name
or Tezoucans from their capital, Tozcuoo. on the
eastern border Of the Mexican ridge. wero pecu-
liRrly fitted by their comparatively mild religion
and manners for receiving tho tincture of civili-
cation which could DO revived from tho fow
Toltecs that still remained in the country. This,
In their turn, they communicated to the bar
barous C~hichimeos, a large portion of whom
became a~nialgamated with the now set
tiers into ono nation. Awaiting themselves
of the strength derived not only from this In
crease In numbers, but from their own nearer
approach to civilization. the AcolhuRns gradu-
ally stretched their empire over the ruder tribes
In tho north, while their capital was filled with
a numerous population bubily employed in
many of the moro useful and even elegant arts
OF q civilized community. In this palmy
state they were suddenly assaulted by warliko
neighbors. tho Tepanecs, their own kindred, and
inhabitantso OF the same valley aB themselves.
Their provinces were overrun, their armies
beaton. their king assassinated, and the flourish
ing city Of TeEouco became the prize of the yio-
tor. From this Abject condition the abilities Of
u b1o W LhO CEOWusu hCkOu
by the aid OF his Mexican allies. at length
redeemed the State and opened 1t to q
new career OF prosperity oven more bril-.
liant than the former. The Mexicans came
also. according to tradition. from the remote
regions Of tho north. They had arrived from
the borders of Anahuao toward the beginning
Of tho thirteenth century, some time after tho
occupation of the land by their kindred races.
For n long time they did not establish them
selves in any permanent residence, but con-
tinued shifting their quarters to different parts
of the Mexican Valley, enduring all tho casual
tics and hardships OF a migratory life. On ono
occasion they were enSlaved by q moro power
tul tribe. but their ferocity soon made them
formidable to their masters. After O series of
wanderings and adventures, they at length
halted on the southwestern borders of the prin-
cipal lake in tho year 1885 and founded tho
Aztec domination.
Such is tho view taken Of the history Of Mex
leo before the establishment of tho ABteo em-
pire, as 1t is condensed BY Prescott from the
traditions embodied in the carly Spanish au.
thoritles. There are some scholars who still
look upon the Toltecs in the same light, that 10
to say. as the real founders of tho 30 called
Mexican civilization. There has been Of late.
however. a tendency to the opinion that there
was no distinct tribe or people of this name. DR..
Brinton goes 30 far as 10 deny their historical
existence, looking upon them as fabulous. The
author of tho book before us. however, owns
that, while 1t IL undoubtedly true that much
that has boon stated In regard to the Tol.
tees Is pure fable, nevertheless O people did
exist who wero Indicated by tho term
Toltecs, and did erect some Of tho worka
which have been ascribed to them. II
may be. he acknowledge. that the term was
applied originally to q community or tribe
Bomewhatm moro advanced than its neighbors In
culture. and that 1t was Rfterward used to In.
dicate tho authors Of any monuments whose
builders were unknown. 1t 10 even pronounced
probable that it included the Mayas, although ap
piled TO the builders of works in Central Mexico.
In other words, according to Prof. Thomas, the
torn stands upon the same basis as that Of
mound builders, as formerly used in reference
to the ancient works and ancient people oil
tho MisSiEaippi Valley. The lattor. when thor
ouGhly probed. have disappeared from view, and
in thor plaoe We have the ancestors Of tho In
dians found inhRbitinG tho country. So 81
Is with tho ToltecsJ whom sharply scruti
nized. they fade from Wow, and We see dimly
some primary incoming branch of the ABtet
people. or else tho Maya tribes On their way
southwark, or both. L is certain that. when tn,
Tolteca disappear suddenly. tho Aztecs ar,
brought upon the stage. As the former, though
relatively cultured. vanish without lea VIM
the remnants of q language distinct from tina
of their successorS, 1t seems rational to conside,
the two peoples as one. or else that tho Toltec,
had passed on in q body, to be known thereafte
as Maya Prof. ThomaS. for his part, 10 in
olined to Identify the Toltecs, in part 1
not altogether, with the ancestors Of th,
MGyas. This conclusion Is based larEel,
upon tho fact that the civilization of this SOC
ton of North America-we refer to tho section
stretching from tho northern border of Anahus,
to NioAragua-does not seem to have beel
limited by tribal or stock boundaries, but u
have prevailed throughout the entire region
1t 10 true that there arc minor differences in th
types of different districts inhabited by differ
emit fnmiliSsi but there Is Suoh . general slmi
lnrity as TO convince the student that 1t is on
and tho Same civilization, having one origin
developed in ono ago or era, and that tho cul
lures of the different districtS are not parable
civilizations which developed side by side. r
way OF evidence. Prof. Thomas would refer h