MONTEZUMA WELCOMES THE CONQUERORS TO TENOCHTITLAN
As the white conquerors descended by easy stages into this marvellous
valley, making frequent pauses to admire the fertility of its
fields, or the beauty of its white-walled villages nestled in green
nooks, they were everywhere hailed by the people of the country as
deliverers from the harsh tyranny of Montezuma. These received the
all-powerful strangers with shouts and songs of rejoicing, at the same
time showering upon them gifts of food and flowers. Thus, the march
resembled the return of a victorious army rather than one of invasion
and conquest. They were also met by another of Montezuma's numerous
embassies bearing, as usual, gifts of gold, jewels, and rich mantles of
fur or exquisite feather-work. Threats and persuasions having proved
unavailing to check the progress of the conquerors, Montezuma was
reduced to bribery as a last resort. This embassy brought the offer of
two hundred pounds of gold to Cortes, fifty to each of his captains,
and an annual tribute to the Spanish king if the strangers would
return whence they came.
When this offer was refused, as all others had been, and it became
clear that nothing would check the victorious advance of the
Christians, the Aztec monarch shut himself up in his palace, refused
food, and devoted himself to prayer and sacrifice. He saw his mighty
kingdom slipping from him, and, with a fatal superstition that forbade
him to oppose the will of the gods, he refused to make an effort
for its defence. Cuitlahuac, his warlike brother, Guatamotzin, his
impetuous nephew, and others of the bolder spirits among his nobles,
urged him to summon his armies and make at least one heroic effort to
save his tottering throne. Tlalco, the Toltec priest, who had so worked
upon the king's weak nature as to become his chief adviser, said:
"Leave to the gods the honor of annihilating these unbelievers in their
own good time," and the king listened to the voice of the priest.
So Montezuma prepared to send forth his last embassy to the advancing
conquerors, and ordered Cacama, Prince of Tezcuco, with a noble
retinue, to meet and welcome them to Mexico. This meeting took place
amid the beautiful gardens and stately residences of the royal city of
Iztapalapan, situated between the fresh waters of Lake Chalco and the
salt flood of the broad Tezcuco. Here the Spaniards were entertained
with regal splendor, and here they passed the last night before
entering the capital.
Never did nature assume a fairer aspect than when, on the following
morning, the clear-voiced Spanish trumpets set the little army in
motion for the final march of their eventful progress through the land
of Anahuac. A mere handful of men, cut off from all communication
with their own race, they had traversed the breadth of a wealthy and
populous kingdom, overcome its hostile armies, captured one after
another of its strongholds, and were now about to make a triumphant
entry into its capital city. Their record was without a parallel in
the history of the world. Thus it was with swelling hearts and a proud
bearing that they stepped on the superb stone causeway spanning the
waters of the salt lake, at the distant end of which lay the queenly
city of Tenochtitlan.
This causeway was one of the noblest works of New World civilization.
Constructed of huge blocks of stone, it was wide enough for ten
horsemen to ride abreast, and stretched for more than a league, in a
perfectly straight line, across the lake. At several points it was
cut by canals for the passage of boats, and these were crossed by
drawbridges, which, when lifted, barred all communication by land with
the city. Midway of its length stood Xoloc, a stone fort of immense
strength, flanked by towers, and giving passage through a battlemented
gateway.
At this point, as the Spaniards advanced with silken banners streaming
bravely out in the fresh morning air, burnished mail, and glittering
weapons, proudly prancing steeds and rumbling guns, they were met by
immense throngs of spectators, who had poured from the city to witness
the strangest sight ever beheld in Anahuac. Not only did the astonished
natives line both sides of the causeway with dense walls of curious
humanity, but the waters of the lake were alive with thousands of their
canoes. With equal, but restrained, curiosity did the Spaniards gaze on
them; on the wonderful floating islands that, covered with a luxuriant
vegetation, and even with miniature forests, appeared on both sides,
gently undulating with the swell of the waves, and upon the vast extent
of the stately city they were nearing.
As they approached the end of the causeway, and crossed its last
bridge, they perceived the brilliant retinue of the king advancing
to meet them, and halted to receive it. The royal palanquin, plated
with burnished gold, was surrounded by a glittering throng of nobles,
four of whom, barefooted, with downcast eyes and walking with slowly
measured pace, supported it on their shoulders. Four others bore aloft
the royal canopy of brilliant featherwork, powdered with jewels and
fringed with gold. It was preceded by three princes bearing golden
wands, and having robes of the most exquisite plumage thrown over their
golden armor.
When the dazzling train had reached a convenient distance it halted,
and Montezuma, descending from his litter, advanced on foot, leaning
on the lords of Tezcuco and Iztapalapan. He was still shaded by the
feathered canopy, and his golden sandals touched only the rich tapestry
spread down before him by attendant nobles. His thronging subjects
prostrated themselves to the ground as he passed, and no eye dared gaze
on his countenance.
The king was simply clad in a broad embroidered maxtlatl, or waist
sash, and the voluminous tilmatli, or Aztec cloak; but above his head,
held in place by a golden fillet, nodded a panache of green plumes,
such as he alone might wear.
Dismounting from his horse, and tossing his reins to a page, Cortes,
attended by Sandoval and Alvarado, stepped forward to meet the monarch.
As they came face to face these two gazed for a moment, in silence and
with a curious interest, at each other. Then Montezuma welcomed his
guests with a kingly courtesy, and announced that his brother, the
Prince Cuitlahua, would conduct them to the quarters prepared for their
reception.
His words being translated by Marina, Cortes responded with a few
courtly expressions of profound respect, hung about the king's neck a
glistening chain of colored crystals, and the momentous interview came
to an end.
Montezuma, returning through the prostrate ranks of his people,
re-entered his litter and was borne back into the city with the same
state in which he had left it. The Spaniards followed with colors
flying, drums and trumpets arousing the echoes with strains of martial
music, and with the trampling of horses and the rumble of heavy guns
sounding for the first time over the cemented pavements of Tenochtitlan.
As they marched, with heavy tread, up the principal avenue of the city,
the troops gazed with undisguised amazement at the evidences of wealth
and civilization surrounding them. For miles the way was lined with
the residences of nobles. They were built of a handsome red sandstone,
and though generally of but one story in height, each covered a large
area. Although the flat, battlemented roofs of these buildings showed
that they were capable of being converted into so many fortresses, this
military character was softened by the beds of flowers and perfumed
shrubbery with which most of them were covered. Often broad, terraced
gardens appeared between the dwellings, and the straight lines of their
monotonous architecture were broken, here and there, by the pyramidal
bulk of some teocal, lifting its fire-crowned summit high above all
other structures, the fountains and porticos of a square, or the
crossing of a canal.
The profoundest impression was, however, created by the dense
population, who swarmed on the house-tops, in the streets and squares,
and on the canals, in such numbers as the Spaniards had not believed
existed in all Anahuac. These everywhere greeted the white strangers
with cheerful smiles and acclamations, mingled with expressions of
wonder at their horses, weapons, costumes, and beards. But when
the cavalry, infantry, and artillery had passed, the dark ranks
of Tlascalan warriors, who followed, were met with the scowls and
mutterings of an undying hatred. These were not lost upon Huetzin, who,
proudly marching at the head of his mountaineers, returned them with
interest. Whenever he passed a temple he sincerely hoped that some day
he might lead his fierce warriors to its destruction. When he finally
came in sight of the great teocal, where his noble father had died, and
where he had so nearly lost his own life, his eyes glistened with a
light that boded ill to this dwelling of the gods if ever he should be
allowed to have his way with it.
Opposite the western side of the temple stood a vast and commodious
range of buildings surrounded by a stone wall. These had formed the
palace of Montezuma's father, and were now given over to the strangers,
to be their place of abode so long as they should remain in the city.
As they entered these quarters the king himself, surrounded by his
nobles, stood in the courtyard waiting to receive them.
After his departure, Cortes made a careful inspection of the buildings,
which were found to be ample for the accommodation of the entire army,
and assigned to whites and Tlascalans their respective quarters. He
then stationed the artillery so as to command the gateways, posted
sentinels, ordered that no soldier should leave the enclosure without
permission, and in every manner that his prudence dictated, guarded
against attack or surprise. When this had been accomplished, the army
was allowed to partake of the bountiful meal provided for it. Later
in the day Cortes, accompanied by Marina and his captains, visited
the palace of the king, by whom they were granted a long audience,
and presented with costly gifts. At sunset the Spaniards celebrated
their entrance into Tenochtitlan with a simultaneous discharge of
all their artillery. This awe-inspiring sound, and its thunderous
reverberations, combined with the sulphurous fumes of powder, filled
the superstitious Aztecs with dismay, and convinced them that they were
indeed entertaining beings of more than mortal powers.
After this two days were passed quietly, or in the interchange of
ceremonious visits; but on the night of the third Huetzin, tired of
inactivity, and disguising himself in a peasant's robe of nequen,
sallied forth into the city. He had a vague hope of thus learning
something of Tiata, which thus far he had been unable to do. Ever since
sighting the Mexican valley her image had been constantly before him,
and he was strongly impressed with the belief that she was still alive.
The streets were as well filled with people as they had been on the
eve of the festival of the great calendar stone. In the brilliantly
lighted porticos of the squares, in which pulque, chocolatl, or cooling
sherbets were sold, at the corners, before the open doorways, on the
bridges, and at the landing-places of the many canals, were gathered
animated groups discussing the arrival of the white strangers, which
still formed the all-absorbing topic of public interest. There was
little laughter or singing, but much earnest conversation, of which
Huetzin caught such scraps as he could while passing, for he dared not
join himself to any group, for fear of disclosing his identity. For an
hour he wandered aimlessly to and fro, shunning lighted places as much
as possible, and seeking friendly shadows. At the end of this time he
suddenly became filled with the uneasy sense of one who is secretly
observed, and looking about him, he strove to discover if this were the
case.