The Washington bee., 1910-11-12
4 LEGEND OF MEXICO
The Mermaid MaIinche and Her
Haunted Springs.
LURE OF THE WATER SPRITE.
To See This Fabled Custodian of the
Royal Jewels of the Ancient Aztees
ls TO Die and Help the Siren Guard
the Hidden Treasures.

| the OLD Mexican writers spell It. is the
water sprite, the mermaid, who lives
In two famous springs In Mexico that
are said to be connected by natural
underground waterways.
She is invisible to all except those
who never return to tel the tale, yet
1t is easy to see her. they say.
In the daytime Malinche lives in the
little spring bed pool just within the
iron gates OF Chapultepec. Here she Is
a sweet spirit. always wOoing the
passerby with the music OF her gentle
voice.
At nighttime she is miles away,
and her voice is wicked and mournful.
1t will add interest 70 this legend Of
the MaIinche If the traveller when he
starts out to visit Chspultepec for the
first time will pause at the Cuauhte-
moe statue in the second glorieta Of
the PaseO and take a long look at ii,
not only because it is a noble work of
| art, but because this Indian hero was
the last ruler OF his race, the Aztecs,
and In the final struggle called Ma
Nnche TO his aid.
A bronze relief In the base OF the
| pedestal on which the statue stands
/ shows the chief being tortured to COM
pei him to reveal the hiding place of
the wealth Of his kingdom. Cuauhte-
noes stoical bearing Febukes the CON-
| plainings of his cOmrade, whose feet
are also roasting over the slow fire in
the braserO beneath them, and when
/ he at last cries out in anguish Cuauh-
| temoc reproves him. For shame,
/ faint heart Do you think l am taking
my pleasure in my bath that you ap-
! peal TO mef'
, The magnificent old cypress trees
that surround the rock Of Chapultepec
on a slightly lower level than the
spring were old before the conquest,
and among them Cuauhtemoc and bis
piumed and painted warriors guided
| their canoes to the enchanted spring
| when they came to quench their bat
| tie thirst Protected by these brave
| old trees. Cuauhtemoc climbed the
rocks and from the heights watched
the maneuyers of his enemies on the
+ lakes. Close by the storied sprlng
stands the monarch Of them all, Mon
| tezuma's tree. 1t is awe inspiring to
| follow with the eye it's rugged bole W
| over the growth Of centuries and try
to measure with the mind the history
| that has been enacted beneath its wav-
! ing bOughs. Perhaps the magic spring
at it's feet caused it to grow higher
and more majestic than it's fellows.
Here in its shade MOnteZuma sat and
wept when be foresaw bis downfall
/ Here CuauhtemOc vowed that if he
could not overcome the Spaniard be
would give the Aztec treasure to Ma
| linche.
She overheard him make this VOW
and whispered from the fringed brink
Of the mirroring water that she would
! receive the trust at the spring OF Atz-
capotZalco, three or four miles away.
| This town, whose name looks so un-
| pronounceable to the strangers, but
| sounds so smooth when uttered by a
| Mexican. has a little suburb. Zanco-
! pinca, that has been made famous by
| Malinches spring. II is here that Ma
| linche loses the sweet nature by which
/ she is known at Chapultepec and be-
comes a wicked spirit. The legend re-
| lates that she grew savage because
she was set to guard the treasure that
| Cuauhtemoc secretly conveyed to her
when the hour Of despaiS had arrived
for his people, though another tradi-
| tiOn says that he selected that hiding
| place because of her wild and brave
spirit
However that may be, it was there
that he carried the royal jewels Of the
Aztecs and much gold and silver when
he knew that be was about to be de-
feated by COrtes. Calling up the Ma
linche, he gave all into her keeping
and then went to his doom. Down
deep into the hidden grortoes OF her
home Malinche dragged the boarded
, treasures.
Long paSBageways connect these
! chambers and by many tortuous wind
ings reach either spring. The walls of
, rock crystal and chalcedony have been
! polished and worn into fantastic
, shapes by the running water. There
| are long, narrow shelves on which the
| treasure is strewn and glittering sta
| lactites that catch long strings of pearls
| and emeraIds and hold them swaying
! In the winds Of the caves.
GlowwOrms and electric fishes light
| the fairy scene. and the water makes
| constant music, but the MaIinche is
not happy. II you go near the pool at
( Zancopinca you will hear her voice
| lamenting, and often in the nighttime
| 1t may be heard afar off. If the un~
wary traveller pauses to listen he will
hear cries Of distress and anger and
/ sad meanings that attract him to their
relief He viii come nearer and near
er to the spring and, bending down
| that his ear may be close. be will hear
troubled waters rushing among hid
/ den rocks. When his face is above the
| pool pair OF white arms will rise up
out Of the water and clasp him about
| the neck He is never seen again. He
has gone 10 help the siren guard the
| froacuro of Cuaubtonor MAJ Wov