While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
The March To Tlascala. Occupation
Of The City. Great Massacre At Cholulu. Entrance Into The City Of Mexico, And
Interview With Montezuma. Description Op The Temple, Etc.
"What divine
monsters, O ye gods, are these
That float in air, and fly upon the seas!
Came they alive or dead upon the shore?"
Dryden.
The bold and adventurous leader of the
Spaniards now began to set in earnest about
his work of conquest. He dispatched one ship
direct for Spain, to obtain a confirmation
from the sovereign of his authority in New
Spain; and, with the consent of most of his
companions, dismantled and sunk the rest of
the fleet, that all might be nerved to the
most desperate efforts by the alternative
presented them of death or complete success.
Leaving a garrison at the coast settlement,
he commenced his march into the interior,
accompanied by a body of Zempoalans. The
Indians of Jalapa, Socochima, and Texucla,
offered them no molestation, and, after
enduring great hardships in the passage of
the rugged mountains, the army reached
Zocothlan.
Near the religious temples of this town,
Diaz affirms, with repeated asseverations,
that he saw human skeletons, so orderly
arranged, that their numbers could be
computed with certainty, and that they could
not have amounted to less than one hundred
thousand. Beside these were huge piles of
skulls and bones: other remnants of
mortality were hung from beams. Three
priests had charge of these relics.
Contrary to the advice of the cacique of
this province, Cortex determined to pass
through the country of Tlascala, whose
inhabitants were inimical to Montezuma.
Four Zempoalan Indians, decked out in the
style deemed^ suitable for ambassadors, and
bearing arrows, feathered with white, and
carried point downwards, in token of a
peaceful mission, were sent to wait on the
Tlascalan authorities. They were received
with respect by the senate or chief council,
whose members were ranged in order, in a
great hall, seated upon low chairs, each
made from a single block of some remarkable
wood.
Great debate ensued as to whether the
strangers should be permitted to pass
through the country. On the one hand,
ancient prophecies were cited of an
invincible race that should come from the
East. The remarkable fulfillment in the
landing of these white men, of many attend
ant circumstances foretold, touching the
ships, arms, and valor of the invaders, was
enlarged upon, and it was pronounced madness
to cope with them. On the other hand, it was
suggested that the Spaniards might be
nothing better than " monsters flung up by
the sea upon the coasts," and, if not, that
their sacrilege and cruelties forbade the
idea that they could be other than evil and
avaricious barbarians, who should be crushed
as noxious reptiles.
It was concluded to try the strength of the
whites, and, if they could not be resisted,
the assault should be attributed to the
intractability of the Ottomies, a nation of
rude and warlike mountaineers.
The result might readily be foreseen: no
force, however overwhelming in numbers,
could resist the firearms, the discipline,
and more especially the horses of the
Spaniards. These animals ("supernatural or
monstrous in their imagination") so
terrified the Indians, that they trod one
another under foot in efforts to escape from
the rush of the little corps of cavalry. In
several engagements, although under
advantageous circumstances, as in ambuscades
and night attacks, the Tlasealans were
routed, and vast numbers of their warriors
were slaughtered. Cortez, to strike further
terror, cut off the hands or thumbs of
fourteen or fifteen captives, and sent them
to their own people to report what manner of
men he and his followers were.
Montezuma, hearing of these successes, sent
more messengers to endeavor to persuade
Cortez not to make further advance, and at
the same time to obstruct the conclusion of
a peace between him and the Tlasealans.
These efforts failed signally: Xicotencal,
the general of the opposing forces, in
behalf of the town and nation, made an
amicable settlement of difficulties with the
Spaniards.
With great pomp and ceremony, Cortez marched
his army into the town of Tlascala, on the
23d of September, (1519). The situation of
the place was rugged and mountainous, giving
the streets great irregularity; but the
buildings were substantial, and the
fortifications massive. Here the army
tarried twenty days, and then marched for
Cholula, a great city, entirely subject to
the emperor. Before they set out, Montezuma
had again sent heralds to announce his final
consent to a meeting, and that quarters for
the Spanish troops should be made ready at
Cholula.
Several thousand Tlasealans, armed and
equipped, voluntarily offered their
services, and the whole army reached Cholula
without molestation. Here the magnates of
the town met them, objecting to the entrance
of the Indian allies, as they had been
enemies of the nation; and it was agreed
that the Spaniards and Zempoalans alone
should be quartered in the city, while the
rest should encamp in the suburbs. Here were
seen evidences of greater wealth, and higher
attainments in architectural skill, than at
any place before visited. The caciques
appeared friendly, and furnished provisions
for the troops for several days; but finally
discontinued both their visits and supplies.
This aroused the suspicions of Cortez, and
he determined to maintain the utmost
vigilance.
At this juncture an old woman of rank came
to Marina, for whom she had contracted great
friendship, and begged her to forsake the
Spaniards, and come to live with her and her
friends. Marina, ever on the watch to serve
her lord and master, pretended compliance,
and, by judicious questions, elicited from
the old woman all the particulars of a
formidable plot for the destruction of the
Spaniards. Montezuma had sent twenty
thousand men into the vicinity, part of whom
were already secretly brought within the
walls; pitfalls with sharp stakes at the
bottom had been prepared in the principal
highways for the destruction of the horses;
and stones were piled on the roofs of the
houses to hurl down upon the devoted army.
Diaz says: "The recompense which they
intended for our holy and friendly services
was to kill us and eat us, for which purpose
the pots were already boiling, and prepared
with salt, pepper, and tomatas." Seven human
victims had been sacrificed to propitiate
the favor of the gods, and it was purposed
to devote twenty of the Spaniards to the
same fate, as soon as they could be secured.
All these things were confirmed by a
searching examination of some of the
caciques, who, surprised at the super
natural penetration of the Spaniards,
confessed the whole, but attributed it
entirely to Montezuma. With his usual
duplicity, Cortez spoke of this conspiracy
in confidence to the ambassadors from the
court, pretending that he had no suspicion
of the part Montezuma had taken. He then
gave public orders for marching on the
ensuing day, in order to precipitate the
hostile movement, but, at the same time, had
all his plans arranged for battle, and
intelligence conveyed to his Tlascalan
troops to be ready to assist him at the
dawning of day.
With the first light all was in motion; the
Cholulans appointed to carry the baggage,
and those who came armed on pretence of
acting as a guard, but, in reality, to fall
upon the rear of the army, poured into the
great square. At a given signal from Cortez,
a horrible massacre was commenced, which
continued for two days. The Tlascalans of
the party, reinforced by multitudes from
their own town, who came at the first news
of the attack, ravaged and plundered the
city with unrestrained barbarity. Cortez at
last checked these outrages, and compelling
such of the plunder and prisoners as he
could discover to be delivered up,
proclaimed peace and general amnesty. He set
free the unfortunate prisoners, who were
confined in cages to be fattened for
sacrifice, and vainly endeavored to convince
the priests and people of the enormity of
their religious rites and the truth of his
own doctrines.
Cholula was one of the most noted cities of
Mexico, both for its beauty of situation and
structure, and its position as the
headquarters of the religion of the country.
The immense hill or temple of sacrifice has
ever been the subject of admiration and
astonishment to all beholders.
Montezuma dared no longer openly oppose the
advance of the Spaniards. The terror of
their arms and the gloomy prognostications
of the priests cowed and subdued his spirit,
and he sent messengers with gifts and
invitations to Cortez to visit his court.
The general impression constantly gained
ground among the Mexicans that these white
men must be "Teules," or supernatural
beings, against whom it were hopeless openly
to contend.
Fourteen days after the arrival at Cholula,
the army was again put in motion. The
Zempoalans were dismissed at their own
request, and their places were supplied by
Tlascalans, who were ready by thousands to
share the danger and profit of the
expedition. On the march over the rough
mountainous district through which lay their
path, strong bodies of Mexicans had been
placed in ambush by the order of the king,
but their hearts failed them on the approach
of the invaders. Cortez reached Chalco, near
the imperial city; not only without serious
opposition, but with his forces increased by
as many natives of the provinces through
which he passed, as he chose to enlist under
his banners. Enchantments and conjurations,
to which Montezuma applied himself, with his
whole corps of magicians, proved as
ineffectual as his armies to arrest the
enemy. It was still his purpose and hope, as
the invaders well knew, to overwhelm and
destroy them at a disadvantage, when they
should enter his city.
The Spaniards reached Iztapalapa, on the
great lake in which the city of Mexico was
built, without further blood shed, except
the destruction of a few poor Indians who
approached "too near" the encampment at
Amemeca, probably from motives of curiosity.
The lord of Tezcuco, upon the north-eastern
border of the lake, a nephew of the emperor,
visited them on their route with solemn
ceremony.
Iztapalapa was built partly in the lake,
although the receding waters have left the
site mostly dry. The appearance of the place
was truly Venetian. Over the broad expanse
of water were seen the towers and buildings
of numerous towns, at beholding which,
together with the great causey which led to
the island city, the Europeans, in the words
of Diaz, "could compare it to nothing but
the enchanted scenes read of in Amadis of
Gaul, from the great towers and temples and
other edifices of lime and stone which
seemed to rise out of the water." "Never
yet," he adds, "did man see, hear, or dream
of any thing equal to the spectacle which
appeared to our eyes on this day."
The lords of the city assigned splendid
buildings of stone for the troops to quarter
in; and such was their astonishment -at the
perfection of the architectural skill
displayed in the palaces; the beauty of the
gardens; the alleys of fruit and aromatic
trees; the fountains, aqueducts, and
artificial pools; and the vast concourse of
curious natives, crowding the street and
causey to gaze on the novel sight, or
skimming the water in their light canoes,
that "to many it appeared doubtful whether
they were asleep or awake."
On the morning of the 8th of November 1519,
Cortez led his followers over the main
causey into the imperial city. A great
deputation of nobles and officers came out
to meet him, and escorted the army into the
city. The streets were empty, that the
ceremony of the royal audience might not be
impeded; but windows and balconies were
thronged with eager spectators.
Montezuma now appeared, borne in a
glittering palanquin, and accompanied by his
chief officers, magnificently adorned, and
displaying in their downcast looks and
silent obsequiousness the reverence in which
they held their monarch. As he dismounted
and walked to meet Cortez, leaning on his
relatives, the lords of Tezcuco and
Iztapalapa, attendants spread carpets before
him.
With unheard-of condescension and expression
of respect, the king saluted the Spanish
commander in Mexican style, stooping and
touching the ground with his hand, and then
raising it to his lips. He wore a robe of
fine cotton, adorned with gems, golden
sandals, and a light crown of gold
supporting the ornamental circle of plumes,
esteemed the most graceful headdress. He was
about forty years of age, of light
complexion, and of majestic aspect and
demeanor.
Cortez advanced, and placing a showy
necklace round the monarch s neck, would
have embraced him, but was gently restrained
by the attendant lords such familiarity
being deemed unsuitable to their sovereign s
greatness.
After mutual friendly speeches, the whole
throng proceeded to the palaces set apart
for the Spaniards use, and Montezuma,
leading Cortez by the hand, conducted him to
his apartment, and placed about his neck a
golden collar.
During the week succeeding the entry into
Mexico, ceremonious visits were interchanged
by Cortez and the emperor. The Mexican
prince conducted his guests through the
royal palaces and gardens, and, in their
company, visited the great temple of
sacrifice. The historians of that day can
find no language strong enough to express
the wonder and admiration, which the
magnificent spectacle excited in the minds
of the Spanish beholders. The pomp and state
of the monarch; his crowd of obsequious
attendants; his pleasure houses, aqueducts,
fountains, and gardens of odoriferous
shrubs; the extent of his wealth in jewels
and the precious metals; his store of arms,
and the number of his skilful artisans, are
described and enlarged upon at great length.
It remains to this day a matter of
astonishment that such huge buildings of
hewn stone, as every where met the eye in
the ancient city, could have been erected
with out the use of iron. Copper, hardened
by an alloy of tin, was the only metal of
which the tools were made by which the hard
rock was laboriously shaped.
The indignation and horror excited by the
bloody religious rites of the country, led
Cortez to strive continually to impress upon
the mind of his host the folly and absurdity
of his religion. The only good effect that
is said to have resulted from these
arguments was the abandonment, on the part
of the king, of the custom of having human
flesh set upon his own table.
The principal temple is minutely described,
and must, indeed, have presented a singular
scene of horror and magnificence. It was
surrounded by a wall, faced with wreathed
serpents, carved in stone, the gateways to
which were surmounted with statues. The roof
of the main building was flat, and paved
with beautifully polished stones; and
thereon appeared two hideous idols, seated
upon thrones of state, in all the splendor
of barbaric ornament; while before them
stood the terrible stone of sacrifice. This
was a green mass of rock, five spans high,
presenting a sharp angle at the top, over
which the miser able victims were stretched,
while the priest gashed open the living body
with a rude knife of flint, and tore out the
palpitating heart. " I devoted them and all
their wickedness," says Diaz, "to God s
vengeance, and thought that the time would
never arrive that I should escape from this
scene of human butchery, horrible smells,
and more detestable sights." He tells of an
apartment filled with wild animals and
venomous reptiles, who were fed with the
sacrificial flesh. Of these, the most
dangerous serpents had "in their tails
somewhat that sounds like castanets." "These
beasts and horrid reptiles were retained to
keep company with their infernal gods, and
when these animals yelled and hissed, the
palace seemed like hell itself." From this
elevation, a beautiful view was obtained of
the whole of the great salt lake in which
the city stood, the towns of the vicinity,
the long and well-built causeys connecting
them, and the magnificent mountains beyond.
It would be tedious to relate the ceremonies
of the royal court, although many of them
are singular, and well worth the examination
of those who would obtain a complete
knowledge of a time and people varying so
widely from any thing now known on earth.
Among Montezuma s means of luxury or
relaxation, were the habits of smoking
tobacco, drinking a fermented liquor of no
little potency, and listening to the remarks
of a set of buffoons whom he kept about him,
in the same capacity as that of the
court-fools of a past age in Europe.
An analogy to rites and customs of the Old
World, no less striking, was noticed in many
of the popular religious observances. "It
should seem that the Devil," as De Solis has
it, "the inventor of these rites, was
ambitious to imitate baptism and
circumcision, with the same pride with which
he endeavored to counterfeit the other
ceremonies, and even the sacraments of the
Catholic church; since he introduced among
these barbarians the confession of sins,
giving them to understand that thereby they
obtained the favor of their gods. He
instituted likewise a ridiculous sort of
communion, which the priests administered
upon certain days in the year, dividing into
small bits an idol made of flour, mixed up
into a paste with honey, which they called
the God of Penitence" "Nay, they even gave
their chief priests the title of Papas in
their language; by which we find that this
imitation cost Satan a very particular study
and application."
Marriages were performed by the priest s
tying the veil of the woman to a portion of
the man's dress, after certain prescribed
preliminaries. In this guise the pair walked
home together, and concluded the ceremony by
pacing seven times round the domestic
hearth. Divorces were at the discretion of
the parties, and when they took place, the
sons belonged to the man, the daughters to
the woman. Hasty separations were guarded
against by a provision that, should they
again cohabit after having once broken the
bond of union, both should be put to death.
In some in stances, on the death of the
husband, his wife would immolate herself,
according to the custom until recently so
prevalent in India.
This site
includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. These
items are presented as part of the historical record and should not be
interpreted to mean that the WebMasters in any way endorse the stereotypes
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Indian Races of North and South America, By Charles De Wolf Brownell, 1865
