Travels And Acquisitions ...
The Times, 1824-01-12T00:00:00

[By Mr. 9i LrLoc.R.1 WVe devoted our first notice of hlr. Bullock's researebes princi. pallyto his observations onthe existingstateofthe country, the peo- ple, and their customs, and to his botanical, zoological, and otler scientificacquisitions. The present, asliort paper, (because we have also an engraving,'a which occupies the room of much letter-press) is oiven to antiquarian and literary objects. There is more of real interest than of mere curiosity attached to the antiquities of an American nation; though, as it regards Mexi- co there is imuch of the latter, owing to its being solong, as we may caU it, a sealed country to Europe. The proouctions, works, and traditions of the natives, have been so carefully and industriously concealed from the world by the jealousy of their Spanish conquer. ors, that even slight particulars would have been acceptable. But Mlr. Bullock arrived when the flood-gates were opened for the first time during centuris; and his only difficulties seem to have been how to collect the best and carry off the most. Revolution had changed the feelings of the governors at least; and however ancient prejudices rmight rankle in the breasts of the million, our most in- novating countryman was allowed to ransack the superb capital of Nexico. Among htis a:hievements we find that he caused the resurrecdon of somne of the old Aiexican idols, which were buried bv command of the Catholic Cortez andl his successors, who slew and converted, or converted and slew, the poor idolaters These revivals of the an- cient dity' t(ttestroyed by the Spaniards) are extremely curious. tany ol them bear' the strongest resemblance to the antiquities of Egypt; and from what we nave seen, we have no donbt but the losest analogies may be traced betweenthe Old and New World. The great principal idol of the Grove Temple was known to be hidde:n dthc th o~udsaon ef the University;- it wvas now disinterred, and Mr. Bullock was permitted to make a cast of it to bring to England. le is a monstrous figure, ad rude, though not ill-pro. portioned. The evidence of human sacrifices is too clear, for seve- rid of these horrid gods are represented in the act of devouring the vietis ofiered t'tthem. Indeed, the bloodv proof is rendered still more appalling by the disinterment of the great sacrificial stone, or altar, covered with Mexican sculpture, and on wihich hundreds of thousands of human beings bave been devoted to death. This su- perstitious abomination was buried in the Cathedral: a complete cst of it is in. Mtr. Bulock's collection. -He has also a cast of the celebrated Zodiac or Kellenda s.tone, coinmoinly called Mlontezu- ma's wat.ch, which was built into one ide of the cathedral. One of theidols represents. a rattle-snake near 60 feet long, and swallowing a; hurnflars martyr. Mr. BuLlock has also 12 of the small idols, and alD the insgtrumtents of sacrifice. But, .,ssing by the details of these remarkable temains for the present, we mustsay a few words on two still more remarkable pOe- sessions ? hich have rewarded the industry and enthuliasm of our countryman, and which we have examLined with peculiar- gratifi- cation. The first isnarollof soft papor stretched on amore durable ma- ter'al, nearly a yard iu breadta, and about four yards long. This egtraordinary docamentpurportsto be a portion of the report made 4{o Montezuama, describin; the appearance, acts, habits, &c. of his European invadcers-the first white meen ever seen in tlii. highly ci. vilized lthough with respect to European information barbarously ignorant) people. It. consists of a series of rudely.executed pic- tures, but they tell the story very inteLigibly, In one part we see the shps and landing * then come the.white men, and their terrible cefltazur4ahcves the, horses. The representations of battles follow priestsinvohing the gods; and at length Spaniards slin, and, as prisoners, imutolated on hexican altars. The first horses that ap. pear to have been killed are the subjects of several pictures; they nad been supposed to be iinmortal creatures, and when it was dis- covered that they were destructible, .the report becomes specific and exulting, Two.of theix heads are displayed intriumph; and the overthrow of tl-sedreaded enemies evidently caused as much rejoic. zng as a ?on-palete victory. Akiiiu to, bupLProbably lofrg anterior t this s:ngular record, is the small'quatto iuanuscript mentioned in our last, wlsicli contains the records of the first peregrinations, settlements, divisions, and history. of the aboriginal MNlexscmn tribes. jt is not in our power to enter upon the details in our preeent number; but we hope togive a faU account of them hereafter. -:-It sets out with a certain nuamber of tribes, known by their respective emblems In square figures, arriv- ing in the country - ari4 then proceeds very clearly to representtbeir future operatiots. Hereis a dirdei with the Chief sitting in Coun- cil; the words (an emblem,- see the ptint) falling out of fleir mouths. Elsewhere, thtee is an emblem of founding a city. Then, pai.r y, the loss of- some hero, who is seen stretched en his bier, sin >the pepeweigrunad the bigdrops cours6igngost piteous- Iyawn teir cheekas. Other pieces showv the departure and separa. tion of onie or rore tribes v,hose rouxte is traced to the top of the paper, while the main bady continues its onwari course. The pa. riod of. remaining at a station is delineated by emblems of the mon-ths, snch.as.rabbits, heavenly bodies, &c. in small squares, whiul are repeated sooftas tto mzke upthe cfrmputed time. Grand. feasts asndfestivala are also commorn occrrences; and itis-but JUs- tice to the ancdint MeieanC to say, that tez seers to enjov the pleasatres,o?. tu1e table'with as grarel a guttc, as the *iiters of'nity 1tord MNayor on the 9th of Woirbr>hrr .ac~ue o Thb:, of course, we acunable to 6ive...-..io t Of taits city, iy, utoltimas theorji'oal map. aken byv ro scouezua.ir CrtetOptset t thXtn otp~nan~ought fpr RrAu&.rsag CB utiusr q _ 6c.- the shipAlranAd,- lBalfiis, going .into ihe grtving dck ,uningcthe present-wieek, it w.as discorve4g-that a large hdga.anchor, weighingbetweeu five-and iix i*tiA maig sEsspepded *ofniithe bottonsPart of the-ship. It. ap-. erVessel grobnded in the Delaware, on her lWaf .voyage -to rhiel -wshen th ainchor' usihave stuck through her tim. IScra, aina so rehaim~ed fi*nl, -ixed durinn-her. ptessae across, the Atlantic. Had> itgiJetiiway,. thc coWise4'uncts mighit have been fMate to the ship. -The anchlors from its appearassee, ia suppsosedc Lt th: 4X w4tc; aWUt yeiverooI4dvrtisr. TRAVELS AND ACQUISITIONS IN MLEXICO.