Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-11-12


49, Santa Cruz de Brave named for tht
rugged old warrior Who during the Dai
regime, administered all that part of Mexico, main
land and island, which lies to the east OF Yucatan
The foreign port nearest to Cozume is Belize. Brit
ish Honduras, distant about 165 miles southwest
OF to the northeast, some 21O miles away LEI
Cuba. From extreme points north to south tbs
island, which is rhomboidal in form. measures
little under 90 miles, and from east to west about
miles
Cozumel occupies a very prominent place in Mex
lean history. II the first land sighted by Her
nando Cortez when in 1919, he sailed WESTWARD
from Cuba on that famous voyage which had for n
object the quest of gold and for its result the
conquest of an empire. Cortez. however. Was not
the first Spaniard to set foot on Cozumels shores.
The year before he landed II visited by
Grijalva the dscoverer of Tabasco; and Ban.
croft the historian. mentions others who touched
there during the earlier cruises Of the Castilians
among the Antilles.
It is a matter Of record that from the deck
of his "nagship"-a little vessel OF less than 100
tons burthen-Cortez counted Il towers On the
north and northwest coasts Of the island. These
he found, when he landed. surmounted as many
temples, erected for dolatrous worship. When
he disembarked with half of his followers tall
told the expedition numbered only GIT menDs
leaving the others on board his small neet TO
repe possible attack Cortez' first act to dis
mantle these temples Fired with religious zeal.
he pushed his way through the crowd of In. ?
dams who had down to the beach to re-
ceive him. and, mounting the steps OF tho prn.
cipal place of worship where the high priest and
his attendants were grouped. he harangued the
natives the sinfulness of their dolatry. using
an Indian who had been captured OF the coast
| of Yucatan by Grijava and who had acquired
| working knowledge of Spanish in Cuba as an
4 interpreter After thus giving vent to bis re-
i igious fervor, and Cortez worst enemies could
never truthfully assert that he was not sincere
in his faith, he ordered his soldiers TO tear down
the affairs dedicated to the false gods and In
their place set up a cross. No arguing. ho rea
/ sonng. Prompt, aggressive action, without re-
/ gard to odds, and such action Gortez main
4 characteristic at all times when dealing with the
! natives wherever he went. Doubtless much OF
i his remarkable with them was due TO
i II Although the Indians we're obviously docile'
the invaders were taking big chances IN thus
Decorating the sacred groves. But nothing nap
i pened The audacity of the proceeding was Sud
/ lime and SO great that IL simply dazed the ma
| tives and left them incapable OF protest
When Cortez was at Cozumel the island han
apparently several thousand Inhabitants but
when Stevens. prominent American aFcheoio-
gist and traveller went there In the early toFties
of the last century he found not single soul.
/ The crowds by the Spaniards were prop
ably transients, for. as matter OF fact' Gozumel
never had large resident population u was
| sacred place to the Mayas Of Yucatan and Cen
i trel America their Mecca. and a vast number Ok
pilgrims went periodically to worship AZ ns
shrines During the intervals between PHI
| gTfmages the priests. Win lueH
i tanners were doubtless The only residents
When the Spaniards became firmly established
In Yucatan they forbade the pilgrimage 10 Cozu-
mel their reasons for this course being that thev
needed the uniI terrupte' services OF the indians
as laborers The church also took nand IN
prohibiting festivals on the island. they carried
the mind away from the doctrine which INC mlS
sion fathers were propagating. and although the
Indian had without very great difhcdlty been IN
duced to accept the cross in place OF the craven
image he would. when visiting the famihar
scenes be sure TO associate with them ire tenets
of his old belief. still strong within him
Notwithstanding that tie religious pereg1na
lions ceased Cozumei not entirely deserted
until long after the in yascn. Of course. Il -
more than likely that thoLc whose hones were
on the island continued 10 reside ere after the
main body stopped coming For the greater part
they we're spiritual councillors and medielnt men.
and it il very .rchab.e nat they were forbidden
IN leave II would be decidedly TO the interests
If the conqnerors both .ay and cieficai 10 Keep
them away IRON the masses OF the people Thar
! there was se Element, and that 7o-niaEds iyed