Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-20

pass for much Of the p~ageantry
~nich will be one of the most color
III features Of the Valley Mid Winter
rair at HarlinRen. Aztec art n cos
tunes will be featured in the parade,
a the floats will carry out the le-
gends OF Qeutzal, the "Fair God" the
s.piendor Of whose reign is still evi-
cent In the ruins Of Guatemala, Yu-
catan and central Mexico.
From whence came the Aztecs and
MayanH, those mysterious people, the
ruins Of whose gigantic cities are
amid the dense jungles Of Hu-
eatan and Quintana Roo, extending
down through Guatemala and other
central American countries, and who
were unquestionsbly related to the
incas OK Peru and Bolivia
Montezuma, the last Of the Aztec
emperors, reigned amid regal splen-
dor in the beautiful city Of Mexico
when Cortez, welcomed 20 Mexico
shores as the Fair God" the rein
carnation Of Quetzal, be trayed the
trust OF the Aztecs and conquered
the land over which the descendent
Of QEetzal had rcigned for centuries
and built up a civilization which was
probably without peer in the world Of
that day.
Origin a Mystery
The origin Of the Aztecs, their
civilization and art, il today as much
a mystery az it was when Cortez
landed on the shores OF Mexico 70
transform q peaceful country and a
wonderful civilization into a sham
bles and plunge its people into slav-
cry.
What is believed to have been the
written history Of the Mayans and
Aztecs, both branches Of the same
race, was publicly burned at Hue
hueta in 1881 Upon the order Of the
ignorant and bigoted Spanish con-
querors. There persisted the history
Of a wonderful race, a race whose
civilization is believed TO have ante
dated that Of Egypt, q race whose
knowledge of the arts n sciences
placed them on the plane Of many
Of the European countries Of the sew
enteenth century.
But the Spaniards could not totally
destroy the beautiful cities, the won
derful art and architecture Of the
Mayans and Aztecs. They could and
did e~nslave the people, and Of those
teeminr millions which once %peopled
hnU AGLL4E A4AtEE Va @ANAtt'f &-N
trail America and the northern shores
OF South America, there now remain
only a few isolated, ignorant tribes,
to whom the ruins of gigantic cities.
palaces, ~acqueducts and monuments
He as much Of a mystery as they are
TO the civilized world.
Through their centuries OF abiect
slavery but one legend Of their for
mer glory remains-that of Quetzal,
"fhe Fair God" To the Quiche In
dian of Guatemala, a few of the scat
tered tribes in Yucatan and Quintana
Roo, faith in the reincarnation Of
Quetzal Is still supreme, and within
the coming Of Quetzal, 90 runs the le-
gend. the glories and splendors Of the
original Mayans, fro mwhom is be-
Iieved to have sprung the Aztecs,
Toltecs and Incas, will return.
Believe Migrated
From whence came Quctzal, the
leader or those Mayans who built
their first cities in Guatemala al
most a thousand years before the
birth of Christ. Quetzal, the fair,
a leader who won ten respect and
confidence of his horde of warriors,
either led his people from Asia, or
they may have been survivors Of that
labelled land-Atlantis.
III they migrated from Asia there
is nc evidence that they crossed Ben
ring Straits and then down the main
land of North America to find the
land Of their ideal in what is now
Guatemala. All legends indicate that
Quotzal came from the east. Toward
the east the Aztecs Of a later day
looked for his return. II was with
Joy they described the sails Of the
Spaniards off the Mexican coast. con-
fident they were waiting back TO
Mexico the "Fair God" whose return
would bring to the Aztec millions the
happiness Of perfect peace and whose
mere presence would make the land
fruitful.
According 10 the legends. Quetzal.
the fair god, wa light Of hue with
Golden hair, q man OF more than
ordinary stature and great strength.
Under his guidance the Mayans in
creased and thrived; their cities as
Tumed great proportions, and peace
reicned over the land Of the Mayans.
Nativ sorcerers. Jealous Of his power,
prevailed upon him TO drink a
arauCht which proved Intoxicating
and then induced him 20 return 20
NnE MOMt&0NA anu ANhAAA Has tNEAAH
Still under the influence Il Of the
draught which proved intoxicating
east. after assuring his subjects he
would some day return in she bloom
OF youth and lead his people 20 great
err heights Of happiness and prosper
fly.
Tribe Divided
After the departure Of Quctzal
came the division 81 the tribe, accord
ing 20 legends. and from the Mayans
branchcd out the Toltccs and Aztccs
the latter settling in the Valley Of
Mexico where he beautiful capital Of
the Aztecs. the later settling in the
Valley of Mexico where the beautiful
capital Of the Aztec empire was erect
"a. 10 be almost destroyed a thousand
wears later by the ruthless hands NJ
ire Spaniards. Some authorities
maintain that the Mayans and Toitecs
arc on and the same, and that there
was never more than one division Of
the original Mayan group. However.