MEXICO
A HISTORY OF ITS PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT
IN ONE HUNDRED YEARS
[Illustration: _Copyright 1911 by G. Barrie & Sons_
_Porfirio Diaz_
GENERAL PORFIRIO DIAZ
PRESIDENT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO]
MEXICO
A HISTORY OF ITS PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT IN
ONE HUNDRED YEARS
BY
MARIE ROBINSON WRIGHT
MEMBER OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA, GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY
OF BRAZIL, GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF LA PAZ, GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF
MEXICO, HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTE OF SÃO PAULO
[Illustration]
PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY
GEORGE BARRIE & SONS
LONDON: C. D. CAZENOVE & SON, 26 HENRIETTA STREET,
COVENT GARDEN, W. C.
PARIS: 19 RUE SCRIBE
COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY GEORGE BARRIE & SONS
TO HIS EXCELLENCY
General Porfirio Diaz
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO
A GREAT MAN AMONG THE EMINENT MEN OF THE WORLD, WHO ON HIS
EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY IS STILL ACTIVE IN BODY AND SOUL; A
POWERFUL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SPIRITUAL AND
MATERIAL GOOD OF HIS COUNTRY
Is Dedicated
THIS STORY OF A HUNDRED YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE
MARIE ROBINSON WRIGHT
CONTENTS
PAGE
DEDICATION 5
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 9
INTRODUCTION 13
CHAPTER I
THE CONQUEST 17
CHAPTER II
VICEROYALTY 49
CHAPTER III
THE BATTLE FOR INDEPENDENCE 65
CHAPTER IV
THE BIRTH OF THE REPUBLIC 83
CHAPTER V
HISTORICAL EVENTS 105
CHAPTER VI
GENERAL PORFIRIO DIAZ 127
CHAPTER VII
THE CABINET 147
CHAPTER VIII
THE FEDERAL DISTRICT 159
CHAPTER IX
THE CENTENNIAL 179
CHAPTER X
CLUBS AND SOCIAL LIFE 203
CHAPTER XI
ART AND LITERATURE 219
CHAPTER XII
CHURCHES AND CHARITIES 235
CHAPTER XIII
EDUCATION 257
CHAPTER XIV
MEXICO 269
CHAPTER XV
PUEBLA 287
CHAPTER XVI
TLAXCALA 303
CHAPTER XVII
HIDALGO 315
CHAPTER XVIII
TRANSPORTATION 325
CHAPTER XIX
OAXACA 339
CHAPTER XX
VERA CRUZ 353
CHAPTER XXI
TAMAULIPAS 359
CHAPTER XXII
COAHUILA 369
CHAPTER XXIII
NUEVA LEÓN, SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, AGUASCALIENTES 373
CHAPTER XXIV
QUERÉTARO 383
CHAPTER XXV
ZACATECAS 387
CHAPTER XXVI
DURANGO 395
CHAPTER XXVII
CHIHUAHUA 401
CHAPTER XXVIII
JALISCO 411
CHAPTER XXIX
GUANAJUATO 421
CHAPTER XXX
COLIMA 425
CHAPTER XXXI
THE WEST COAST 433
CHAPTER XXXII
MICHOACÁN, MORELOS, GUERRERO 453
CHAPTER XXXIII
YUCATÁN 467
CHAPTER XXXIV
CAMPECHE, TABASCO, CHIAPAS 479
CHAPTER XXXV
CUSTOMS 487
CHAPTER XXXVI
RESOURCES 493
CHAPTER XXXVII
RUINS 505
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
GENERAL PORFIRIO DIAZ _Fronts._
ARMS OF MEXICO _Title page_
BAS-RELIEF ON THE STATUE OF CUAUHTEMOC 17
HERNANDO CORTÉS 18
THE VISIT OF CORTÉS TO MONTEZUMA 20
CARVING OF THE TIME OF THE VICEROYALTY 22
HOUSE OF CORTÉS AT COYOACAN 25
THE NOCHE TRISTE TREE 26
THE FOUNDING OF THE CITY OF MEXICO 28
THE WOODS OF CHAPULTEPEC 30
THE AZTEC CALENDAR STONE 32
XOCHITL PRESENTING PULQUE TO TEPANCALTZIN 35
AZTEC IDOL 39
BANNER CARRIED BY CORTÉS 43
PORT MARQUEZ WHERE CORTÉS BUILT HIS FLEET 46
CARVINGS: CHURCH OF SANTA ROSA, QUERÉTARO 48
BURNING OF THE FEET OF CUAUHTEMOC 49
DOOR OF THE HOUSE OF CONDE DE SANTIAGO 51
SACRIFICIAL STONE 53
PALACE OF ITURBIDE, NOW A FAMOUS OLD HOTEL 54
STATUE OF CHARLES IV. 55
CARVINGS ON THE CHURCH OF LA SANTISIMA 56
IDOLS IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM 57
FOUNTAIN IN MEXICO CITY 58
STATUE OF CUAUHTEMOC 60
OLD CARVING OF THE TIME OF CORTÉS 62
THE MILITARY SCHOOL AT CHAPULTEPEC 64
GATEWAY: MILITARY SCHOOL AT CHAPULTEPEC 65
HIDALGO 67
JOSÉ MARIA MORELOS 68
HIDALGO’S PRISON AT CHIHUAHUA 69
ITURBIDE 71
THE LIBERTY BELL: NATIONAL PALACE 73
CYPRESS TREE, CHAPULTEPEC 76
HIDALGO ON HORSEBACK 77
RESIDENCE OF HIDALGO, AT DOLORES HIDALGO 80
THE NATIONAL PALACE 82
THE TOMB OF JUAREZ 83
BENITO JUAREZ 85
SEÑOR GENERAL DON RAMÓN CORONA 88
SEÑOR GENERAL DON MARIANO ESCOBEDO 89
RURALES ON THE 16TH OF SEPTEMBER 91
SEÑOR GENERAL DON MANUEL GONZALES 94
GENERAL CARLOS PACHECO 95
PICTURESQUE SPOT IN THE ALAMEDA 97
A COUNTRY ROAD IN THE VALLEY OF MEXICO 100
GENERAL PORFIRIO DIAZ 102
NATIONAL MUSEUM, SHOWING AZTEC RELICS 104
NATIONAL GEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE 105
GENERAL DIAZ AND PRESIDENT TAFT 107
STATUE OF COLUMBUS 109
THE POST OFFICE 111
POST OFFICE, WEST CORRIDOR 113
NATIONAL LIBRARY 115
HISTORICAL CORNER IN MEXICO CITY 118
A PART OF THE OLD AQUEDUCT OF CHAPULTEPEC 120
ROAD IN PUEBLA, SHOWING POPOCATEPETL 122
PRIVATE LIBRARY OF A PROMINENT LAWYER 124
CASTLE OF CHAPULTEPEC 126
THE PROCESSION OF THE 16TH OF SEPTEMBER 127
SEÑORA DOÑA CARMEN ROMERO RUBIO DE DIAZ 130
ESCORTING THE PRESIDENT ON THE 5TH OF MAY 132
THE TRIBUNAL, 5TH OF MAY 133
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL PORFIRIO DIAZ 135
CORRIDOR AT CHAPULTEPEC 137
STAIRWAY TO THE CASTLE OF CHAPULTEPEC 138
RECEPTION AT THE PALACE 139
CORRIDOR AT CHAPULTEPEC 141
PORFIRIO DIAZ, THE THIRD 143
SOLDIERS IN PARADE, 16TH OF SEPTEMBER 144
THE CORBIAN PALACE 146
PATIO OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 147
SEÑOR DON RAMÓN CORRAL, VICE-PRESIDENT 148
SEÑOR DON ENRIQUE C. CREEL 149
SEÑOR LIC. JOSÉ LIMANTOUR 150
SEÑOR ING. LEANDRO FERNANDEZ 150
SEÑOR LIC. OLEGARIO MOLINA 151
GENERAL MANUEL GONZÁLEZ COSÍO 152
SEÑOR LIC. JUSTO SIERRA 153
SEÑOR LIC. JUSTINO FERNÁNDEZ 154
THE LATE IGNACIO MARISCAL 155
CORRIDOR: SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING 156
STREET SCENE IN MEXICO CITY 158
COLONIA JUAREZ 159
SEÑOR DON GUILLERMO DE LANDA Y ESCANDON 161
HOME OF GOVERNOR LANDA Y ESCANDON 163
THE NEW LEGISLATIVE PALACE 165
HOME OF VICE-PRESIDENT CORRAL 167
THE PALACE OF MINES 169
SAN FRANCISCO STREET 171
POLICE HEADQUARTERS 172
AMERICAN EMBASSY 173
POLICEMAN 174
MEXICAN LETTER CARRIER 175
FEDERAL PENITENTIARY 176
GREAT HISTORICAL PARADE, SEPTEMBER 15, 1910 178
EMPEROR MONTEZUMA IN HIS PALANQUIN 179
MONUMENT OF INDEPENDENCE 182
PRIESTS AND SERVANTS OF CORTÉS 184
A PART OF THE HISTORICAL PARADE 186
NOBLEMEN WITH ESCORTS 189
SITE OF THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT. PRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN
COLONY 192
MONTEZUMA’S ARMY IN MILITARY PARADE 194
UNVEILING OF THE HUMBOLDT STATUE 196
THE JUAREZ MONUMENT 198
THE ARMY OF CORTÉS IN PARADE 200
RECEPTION HALL OF THE SPANISH CASINO 202
PATIO OF THE SPANISH CASINO 203
HISTORICAL STAIRWAY OF JOCKEY CLUB 206
THE JOCKEY CLUB 208
SEÑOR DON SEBASTAIN CAMACHO 210
FOUNTAIN IN THE PATIO OF THE JOCKEY CLUB 212
SEÑOR JOSÉ SANCHEZ RAMOS 214
STAIRWAY IN THE SPANISH CASINO 216
“ANAHUAC.” BY SEÑOR JORGE ENCISO 218
“THE MENDICANTS.” BY SUAREZ 219
GALLERY IN THE MODERN SCHOOL OF PAINTING 221
“AN EPISODE OF A FIRE.” BY G. CARRASCO 222
“THE FORTUNATES.” BY SATURNINO HERRAN 224
“THE ETERNAL VICTIM.” BY F. ROMANO 226
“A PORTRAIT.” BY HERMAN GEDOVIUS 228
“CHILDREN OF MISERY.” BY SOSTENES ORTEGO 231
“THE ROUND UP.” BY JUAN URRUCHI 232
CATHEDRAL, CITY OF MEXICO 234
WALL AROUND THE SHRINE AT CHURUBUSCO 235
DR. JOSÉ MORA, ARCHBISHOP OF MEXICO 236
THE CROWN OF THE VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE 237
THE SHRINE OF GUADALUPE 239
SANTA MONICA, GUADALUPE 240
ORGAN IN THE CATHEDRAL, MEXICO CITY 241
CHURCH NEAR COYOACAN 243
FAÇADE OF SAN AGUSTIN 244
THE SACRED WELL AT GUADALUPE 245
LUNATIC ASYLUM 247
THE GENERAL HOSPITAL, CITY OF MEXICO 250
THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, FEDERAL DISTRICT 252
PAVILIONS OF THE GENERAL HOSPITAL 254
STAIRWAY IN THE COLLEGE OF THE MASCARONES 256
NATIONAL SCHOOL OF MEDICINE 257
PATIO OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE 258
NATIONAL SCHOOL OF ENGINEERS 259
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND CRAFTS FOR MEN 260
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND CRAFTS FOR WOMEN 261
ENTRANCE TO SCHOOL OF ENGINEERS 262
SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS 262
STAIRCASE, SCHOOL OF ENGINEERS 263
NATIONAL PREPARATORY SCHOOL 264
COMMERCIAL SCHOOL 265
SAN CARLOS ACADEMY 266
MORELOS PARK, TOLUCA 268
STREET SCENE, TOLUCA 269
GENERAL FERNANDO GONZALEZ 271
GOVERNOR’S PALACE 272
MONUMENT TO COLUMBUS 273
MUNICIPAL PALACE 274
TEMPLE OF VERA CRUZ, TOLUCA 275
LEGISLATIVE PALACE, TOLUCA 276
PALACE OF JUSTICE 277
INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, TOLUCA 278
SCHOOL OF LAW 279
NORMAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS 280
MATERNITY HOSPITAL 281
TEMPLE OF MERCED 282
STATE BANK 283
GENERAL HOSPITAL 284
MUNICIPAL PALACE 286
RESIDENCE OF GENERAL MUCIO MARTINEZ 287
MONUMENT TO NICOLAS BRAVO 288
GENERAL MUCIO MARTINEZ 289
STATUE OF GENERAL ZARAGOZA 290
STATE COLLEGE 291
CATHEDRAL 292
LA MATERNIDAD, PUEBLA 293
MONUMENT OF INDEPENDENCE, PUEBLA 294
RIM OF THE CRATER OF POPOCATEPETL 295
AN OLD CHURCH DOOR 296
THE ARCADE, PUEBLA 298
THE PENITENTIARY, PUEBLA 300
PORTALES, FACING THE PARK, TLAXCALA 302
AVENUE LEADING TO SAN FRANCISCO CONVENT 303
OLD CHURCH TOWER, TLAXCALA 305
SEÑOR CORONEL PROSPERO CAHUANTZI 306
ARCHWAY ENTRANCE: SAN FRANCISCO CONVENT 307
SACRED WELL OF OCOTLAN 308
RUINS OF THE ROYAL CHURCH, TLAXCALA 309
LA PARROQUIA 311
OLDEST PULPIT AND ALTAR IN AMERICA 312
ZOCALO IN REAL DEL MONTE 314
PANORAMA OF MINERAL DEL CHICO 315
GOVERNOR SEÑOR DON PEDRO RODRIGUEZ 316
THE GOVERNOR’S PALACE 317
SAN JULIO MINE 318
STATUE OF HIDALGO 319
HACIENDA LORETO 320
XATAL MINE 321
REAL DEL MONTE MINE 321
SAN RAFAEL MINE 322
OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL RAILWAY OF MEXICO 324
DEVIL’S BACKBONE, TOMASOPO CAÑON 325
OLDEST RAILWAY STATION IN THE WORLD 327
NOCHISTONGO CUT, BUILT BY THE AZTECS TO DRAIN THE VALLEY
OF MEXICO 328
ROCK BELOW CHONEBRIDGE, NATIONAL RAILWAY 329
TEQUIXQUIAC TUNNEL 330
CAÑON WEST SALAZAR, NATIONAL RAILWAY 331
VIEW ON THE INTEROCEANIC RAILWAY 332
DRY DOCK, SALINA CRUZ 333
TELEGRAPH OFFICE IN THE FEDERAL DISTRICT 334
TOMASOPO CAÑON 336
THE GOVERNOR’S PALACE 338
THE CATHEDRAL 339
STATUE OF BENITO JUAREZ 341
STATUE OF GENERAL ANTONIO DE LEÓN 342
FAÇADE OF THE CASINO 343
STAIRWAY: INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE 344
STATUE OF BENITO JUAREZ, ON THE MOUNTAIN OVERLOOKING HIS
NATIVE CITY 345
SEÑOR EMILIO PIMENTEL, GOVERNOR OF OAXACA 346
NORMAL SCHOOL FOR WOMEN 347
CORRIDOR: INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE 348
THE PORFIRIO DIAZ HIGH SCHOOL 350
THE CITY OF ORIZABA 352
THE PEAK OF ORIZABA 353
POST OFFICE, VERA CRUZ 354
OLD GATEWAY, ORIZABA 355
INDIAN WOMEN IN THE TROPICS 355
NORMAL SCHOOL FOR PROFESSORS, JALAPA 356
PICTURESQUE SCENE NEAR SALAZAR 357
THE HARBOR, VERA CRUZ 357
OLD FORT OF SANTIAGO 358
TAMESI RIVER FRONT, TAMPICO 359
SEÑOR DON JUAN B. CASTILLO, GOVERNOR OF TAMAULIPAS 360
AVENIDA PRIETO, GOVERNOR’S PALACE, VICTORIA 361
PLAZA JUAREZ, VICTORIA 361
PLAZA DE ARMAS, TAMPICO 362
A FIELD OF ZAPUPE 363
A TARPON 364
PLAZA, VICTORIA 365
TAMPICO PLAZA 366
NORMAL SCHOOL FOR PROFESSORS, SALTILLO 368
JUAREZ MARKET, SALTILLO 369
SEÑOR DON JESUS DE VALLE, GOVERNOR OF COAHUILA 370
GOVERNMENT PALACE, SALTILLO 371
STATE CIVIL COLLEGE, SALTILLO 372
GOVERNOR’S PALACE, MONTEREY 373
PLAZA ZARAGOZA 374
PALACE OF GOVERNOR, SAN LUIS POTOSÍ 375
CATHEDRAL, AGUASCALIENTES 376
THE BATHS AT AGUASCALIENTES 377
STREET SCENE IN AGUASCALIENTES 378
THE BISHOP’S PALACE, MONTEREY 379
TEMPLE OF SAN MARCOS, AGUASCALIENTES 380
THE FEDERAL PALACE, QUERÉTARO 382
CONVENT OF THE CROSS WHERE MAXIMILIAN WAS IMPRISONED 383
AQUEDUCT AT QUERÉTARO 385
MEMORIAL CHAPEL TO MAXIMILIAN, MARKING THE PLACE OF
HIS EXECUTION 386
A GENERAL VIEW OF ZACATECAS 387
THE CATHEDRAL, ZACATECAS 388
FAÇADE OF CATHEDRAL 389
STREET SCENE, ZACATECAS 390
THE CHURCH OF GUADALUPE, ZACATECAS 392
THE CATHEDRAL, DURANGO 394
THEATRE, DURANGO 395
SEÑOR DON ESTEBAN FERNANDEZ, GOVERNOR OF DURANGO 396
GOVERNOR’S PALACE, DURANGO 397
SEÑOR DON ALBERTO CINCUNEGUI, SECRETARY OF STATE 398
CERRO DEL MERCADO 398
ENTRANCE TO PENITENTIARY, DURANGO 399
ALAMEDA, DURANGO 400
THE PALACE, CHIHUAHUA 401
STREET SCENE IN CHIHUAHUA 402
MONUMENT TO JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA 403
STATUE OF HIDALGO, CHIHUAHUA 404
INTERIOR OF THE PALACE, CHIHUAHUA 405
RESIDENCE OF SEÑOR DON ENRIQUE C. CREEL, CHIHUAHUA 406
THEATRE OF THE HEROES, CHIHUAHUA 407
ARCHWAY OF THE OLD AQUEDUCT, CHIHUAHUA 408
FALLS OF JUANACATLAN, JALISCO 410
STREET SCENE, GUADALAJARA 411
GOVERNMENT PALACE, GUADALAJARA 413
STREET SCENE, GUADALAJARA 414
DEGOLLADO THEATRE, GUADALAJARA 415
THE HOSPICIO, GUADALAJARA 416
PATIO: AMERICAN CONSULATE, GUADALAJARA 417
LAKE CHAPALA, JALISCO 418
THE JUAREZ THEATRE, GUANAJUATO 420
VIEW OF THE PORFIRIO DIAZ TUNNEL, GUANAJUATO 421
EL CARMEN CHURCH, CELAYA 422
STREET SCENE, GUANAJUATO 423
THE MANUEL GONZALEZ DAM, GUANAJUATO 424
PLAZA, COLIMA 425
STREET SCENE, COLIMA 426
CATHEDRAL, COLIMA 426
AT THE FOOT OF COLIMA VOLCANO 427
MAGUAY GROWING AT THE FOOT OF THE COLIMA VOLCANO 427
RESIDENCE OF COLONEL EDGAR K. SMOOT, MANZANILLO 428
COLIMA IN ERUPTION 429
SUMMIT OF COLIMA VOLCANO 429
PACK TRAIN ON THE ROAD TO COLIMA 430
IRRIGATING CANAL, CULIACAN 432
ENTRANCE TO MAZATLAN 433
GOVERNOR DIEGO REDO, SINALOA 434
NEW MOUNTAIN ROAD AT MAZATLAN 435
THE HARBOR, MAZATLAN 436
PLAZA DE LA REPUBLICA, MAZATLAN 437
STREET SCENE, CULIACAN 438
SEÑOR DON JOAQUIN REDO 439
CUTTING SUGAR CANE, EL DORADO 439
AQUEDUCT, CULIACAN 440
PORTALES, CULIACAN 441
GENERAL LUIS TORRES, GOVERNOR OF SONORA 443
GOVERNMENT PALACE, HERMOSILLO 444
CATHEDRAL AT ALAMOS, SONORA 445
SEÑOR DON ALBERTO CUBILLAS, VICE-GOVERNOR OF SONORA 446
BAY AT GUAYMAS 447
BANK OF SONORA, GUAYMAS 448
RAMÓN CORRAL PARK, HERMOSILLO 448
YAQUI INDIANS 449
MUNICIPAL PALACE, GUAYMAS 450
LAKE PATZCUARO, MICHOACÁN 452
THE PLAZA, ZAMORA 453
CHURCHYARD GATE, TZINTZUNTZAN 455
SEÑOR DON PABLO ESCANDON, GOVERNOR OF MORELOS 456
PALACE OF CORTÉS, CUERNAVACA 457
FLYING BUTTRESS, CUERNAVACA 458
LA BORDA GARDEN, CUERNAVACA 459
SEÑOR DON DAMIAN FLORES, GOVERNOR OF GUERRERO 461
THE PALACE, CHILPANCINGO 462
TAMARINDO TREES, IGUALLA 463
BALSAS RIVER, GUERRERO 464
HOME OF SEÑOR DON AUGUSTO PEON, MERIDA 466
THE GOVERNOR’S PALACE, GRAND PLAZA 467
SEÑOR DON ENRIQUE M. ARISTEGÚI, GOVERNOR OF YUCATÁN 468
SEÑOR DON AUGUSTO PEON 469
VIEW OF MERIDA 470
HIS GRACE, MONSEIGNOR MARTIN TRISHLER, FIRST ARCHBISHOP
OF YUCATÁN 471
CORRIDOR OF THE CURATE HOUSE, MERIDA 472
MODEL SCHOOL FOR BOYS, MERIDA 472
THE PEON CONTRERAS THEATRE 473
FAÇADE OF THE MONTEJO HOUSE, MERIDA 474
INDIAN HEMP CUTTER 474
JUAREZ PENITENTIARY, MERIDA 475
STAIRWAY IN THE PEON CONTRERAS THEATRE 476
ARCH TO CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL, MERIDA 476
PLAZA DE LA INDEPENDENCIA, CAMPECHE 478
THE CATHEDRAL, CAMPECHE 479
PALACE OF JUSTICE, CAMPECHE 480
STATUE OF HIDALGO, CAMPECHE 481
GENERAL ABRAHAM BANDALA, GOVERNOR OF TABASCO 482
STREET SCENE, SAN JUAN BAUTISTA 483
STATUE OF JUAREZ, SAN JUAN BAUTISTA 484
PARK IN SAN JUAN BAUTISTA 485
PAROCHIAL CHURCH, CHIAPA 486
YAQUI INDIAN DANCE 487
INDIAN MAIDEN WATER CARRIER 488
TYPE OF TEHUANTEPEC WOMAN 489
IN RIDING COSTUME--CHARRO SUITS 490
A TYPE OF THE MAYA WOMAN, YUCATÁN 491
MEXICAN BASKET SELLERS 492
SAN BARTOLO MINE, ZACATECAS 493
SUGAR MILL, ATEQUIZA HACIENDA 495
PULQUE VATS 496
BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN JALISCO AND TEPIC 497
AVENUE OF DATE PALMS, SONORA 498
A COFFEE AND BANANA PLANTATION 499
COFFEE PLANTATION NEAR CORDOBA 500
PACK TRAIN WITH SUGAR ON THE ROAD TO MARKET 502
“GOVERNMENT HOUSE,” UXMAL, YUCATÁN 504
CHAC-MOOL IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, CITY OF MEXICO 505
RUINS AT MITLA 506
SEPULCHRE, NEAR MITLA, OAXACA 506
ARCH OF THE “GOVERNMENT HOUSE,” UXMAL, YUCATÁN 507
CHICHEN-ITZA, YUCATÁN 508
RUINS AT MITLA, OAXACA 509
PYRAMID OF THE SUN, SAN JUAN TEOTIHUACAN 509
RUINS OF PALENQUE, CHIAPAS 510
“HOUSE OF THE DOVES,” UXMAL, YUCATÁN 511
INTRODUCTION
In 1896 I travelled throughout Mexico and made a complete study of the
country, visiting every State and Territory, gathering valuable data
for my book, _Picturesque Mexico_, which was published in 1897. With
the exception of the warm welcome extended me on my return in 1910, I
scarcely knew Mexico of fourteen years ago. Everywhere is progress and
the social development was a revelation to me. This time I travelled
over highways and byways in palace cars instead of stage coaches,
litters, and muleback.
Through intimate knowledge of Mexico and her people gained during these
extended tours, and through the enjoyment of official courtesies and
private hospitality of a most gracious nation, I have been able to get
from the best sources interesting features of the national life and
history.
I realize more than ever how meagre is the information of the general
public outside Mexico, of the beauties and resources of this marvellous
country. She holds her proud place in the world as a demonstration of
what statesmanship and good government can accomplish.
Mexico has just completed her hundredth anniversary of freedom from
Spanish rule. The Sociedade de Geographia do Rio de Janeiro, of which I
am an honorary member, sent me as a delegate to this centennial, and as
a participant in these festivities gathered much accurate information
concerning this jubilee, which not only marked a great era in the
history of Mexico, but celebrated the eightieth birthday of the Grand
Old Man of the Americas, General Porfirio Diaz, who for nearly half a
century has been the honored and beloved president.
This present MEXICO tells a story of a hundred years of the republic;
of a struggle for independence and her freedom. It is historical and
descriptive, but does not in any way deal with the political affairs of
the day. I am grateful for all the courtesies which I have received in
this hospitable land.
To the President of the Republic, to the Governors of the States, and
to the distinguished officials of the National Railways of Mexico, I
wish to extend my sincere and kind appreciation. I am indebted to Mr.
C. B. Waite for permission to use some of his copyrighted views, and to
Mr. C. F. Clarke, for many photographs.
M. R. W.
_Chislehurst, New Rochelle, N. Y., December 26, 1910._
MEXICO
[Illustration: BAS-RELIEF ON THE STATUE OF CUAUHTEMOC.]
CHAPTER I
THE CONQUEST
The history of Mexico is an inspiring one, filled with tragic eras.
The earliest inhabitants known were the Toltecs, who came from Central
America in the seventh century. They were proficient in many crafts and
erected gigantic temples, traces of which have been found in all parts
of the Republic. This race was followed by the Aztecs, or Mexicans,
in the fourteenth century. These were scattered throughout the Valley
of Mexico and their warlike deeds of bravery have formed many a theme
for beautiful stories. After two centuries they became a semi-barbaric
nation, living in the glory of the natural wealth of their country. A
great chieftain, Montezuma, was their monarch, and at the head of their
vast army.
When the resources of this great land became suspected by European
powers, four hundred years ago, each nation greedily sought to grasp
her opportunity of adding to her riches this new field. Spain was more
determined and appointed willing subjects to make voyages of discovery
to the great unknown country. The first explorer to visit Mexico was
Hernandez de Cordova, in 1517, but his discoveries lay about the coast
of Yucatan and his brilliant reports caused a thirst for the conquest
of the new land.
The siren voices of gold and glory perpetually sounded in the ears of
Spanish adventurers, stirred their ambitions and nerved them to deeds
of unforgotten bravery.
Columbus had found gold in the strange lands he had discovered in the
West Indies, he had tracked it westward in 1498, as he found the Island
of Trinidad, threaded the waters of the Gulf of Paria, sighted the
great continent southward and later discovered the Isthmus of Panama,
then called Veragua. But Mexico, the land of surpassing beauty and
wealth that was to be the rarest jewel of the Spanish possessions, the
land that was to give forth inexhaustible riches to fill the dwindling
treasury of Spain, and to sustain her waning power, was yet unknown.
Spanish rule had been planted in the Islands of San Domingo, Cuba and
Porto Rico. The thirst for gold and glory grew with the enjoyment of
their possession. Settlement established, the representatives of the
Spanish Crown made seats of government new centres for extension of
Spanish dominion.
[Illustration: HERNANDO CORTÉS.]
When the news reached Spain, in 1499, of the discovery of Paria by
Columbus a year previously, Alonso de Hojeda, who had been one of the
companions of Columbus, set out with Juan de Cosa, as chief pilot, and
Americo Vespucci. They followed the route and took a course south of
his, sighting the coast of Surinam, thence to the Gulf of Paria to the
Island of Curaçao, and afterward to the Gulf of Venezuela. As a result
of this marvellous accomplishment vast and undreamed of wealth soon
poured into Spain.
The governors of the settlements established were men whose
imaginations were soon fired with the prospect of vast powers and
unlimited wealth to be seized. Even yet it was not known what continent
had been found. The barrier, narrow as it was, that stood between
the Pacific and Columbus had not been penetrated. The mystery of the
continent was still unsolved, the vast and prolific countries that
stretched north and south of the Gulf of Mexico were unknown lands.
Among the numerous Spaniards who sought to unveil the mystery of the
continent and to plant new colonies for Spain was Nuñez de Balboa,
who undertook to colonize Darien, and in 1513 crossed the Isthmus of
Panama and in defining the limit of the continent there discovered the
Pacific, which he named the South Sea, and claimed it and the islands
lying on it in the name of his sovereign.
The first navigator of the Gulf of Mexico was Hernandez de Cordova,
who, in 1517, sailed from Cuba, where he was stationed in the service
of Spain, on a slaving expedition among the Bahamas. Contrary winds
drew him to an unknown coast, where he landed and found the first
sign of that advanced culture which distinguished Mexico among
the discovered countries. This place he called Yucatan. Here the
natives were found to be dwelling in houses of stone and mortar and
wore garments of well-woven cloth. They worshipped in magnificently
carved temples adorned with idols and ornaments of gold. But to gain
possession of this prize the Spaniards had a long and bitter struggle.
At Champoton they narrowly escaped destruction by the natives, whose
military organization proved remarkable. Against such a force the valor
and arms of the invader had to yield. But Cordova had sailed around the
peninsula to Campeche, Champoton and the River Estero de los Lagartos;
thence he returned to Santiago de Cuba, laden with wonderful spoils.
Amongst his acquisitions were crowns and ducks of gold, fish and idols.
Much encouragement was found in the declaration of two native captives
of the expedition that there were gold mines and gold dust in abundance
in their country, the fame of which soon reached Spain.
[Illustration: THE VISIT OF CORTÉS TO MONTEZUMA.]
The governor, Velasquez, elated with the reports of Cordova fitted out
a large expedition the following year, of which his nephew Juan de
Grijalva was given chief command. Following the course of Cordova, Juan
de Grijalva found difficulty at first in securing the friendship of the
natives, but he was able later to obtain much gold in barter. Learning
that precious metals could be found in a country called Mexico, he
sailed northward and made many discoveries along the Mexican Coast,
among others the Island of San Juan de Ulua, in the harbor of Vera
Cruz, and the Tabasco River. It is recorded by Bernal Diaz, who was a
contemporary of Cortés, that on one occasion the explorers, believing
that the highly polished axes, with curiously carved handles, of the
people of Guascasualco, were made of an inferior gold, were to discover
when they exchanged trinkets for them, that they were simply finely
polished copper. Notwithstanding this fact, Velasquez was determined on
a thorough exploration of Mexico and he appointed Cortés to the command
of a new expedition, which set out from Cuba on the tenth of February,
1519, in twelve vessels carrying seven hundred men. It was not without
jealous misgivings that the governor saw this intrepid leader depart,
nor, as events proved, was he mistaken in his suspicion regarding
the great ambition of Cortés. The expedition reached Trinidad, where
Velasquez having determined to replace Cortés sent vessels to detain
him, but he had departed on February 18, 1519, and reached the shores
of the unknown land in March, 1519. His little force was awaiting him
at the Island of Cozumel, near the extreme point of the Peninsula of
Yucatan, whence it sailed with two hundred Indian slaves and sixteen
horses. This was the power with which the great Aztec land was to be
won and the proud ascendancy of Montezuma to be overthrown. The roll of
companions of the daring leader included many names that were to become
imperishably recorded in the history of Spanish America. Among them
were the brilliant Pedro de Alvarado, Alonso de Avila, Cristobal de
Olid, Francisco de Montejo, Diego de Ordaz, Velasquez de León, Alonso
Puertocarrero and Antón Alaminos.
The solemn directions to Cortés were that he should explore the country
discovered by Cordova; restore to freedom the Spanish held in captivity
by the Indians; convert the natives to the Christian faith and barter
with them; and, finally, to use the most scrupulous care to omit
nothing that might redound to the service of God or his sovereign.
Reaching the Tabasco River, which Grijalva had discovered a year
before, following the course of that explorer, Cortés landed and gained
the first glimpse of that civilization of which had been told such
wonderful stories. The people were of advanced culture, the houses were
substantially built and the natives wore rich and beautiful garments.
That first intercourse was also to give a foretaste of the struggle
before him. The Totonacs were the rulers of the land, they were subject
to the authority of the Aztecs, but made desperate because of the
tribute they were compelled to pay and the severe treatment accorded to
them, they were not unwilling to see in the new comers allies to them
in their struggles against Montezuma. With their natural instinct of
self-preservation they resisted the approach of the Spaniards and only
after a sanguinary battle, on the 25th of March, in which they were
defeated, would they enter into friendly relations with the invaders.
In testimony of their goodwill they presented many female slaves to the
conqueror, among whom was the celebrated Marina, whose affectionate
loyalty and intelligence later proved a great assistance to the
Spaniards. This woman, who in Aztec was called Malintzin, was born in
Coatzacoalcos, she was the daughter of a great cacique, on whose death
her mother sacrificed her in the interest of a brother and sold her to
the cacique of Tabasco.
Besides his victory in arms, Cortés won over a large number of converts
who were received into the bosom of the church with great ceremonial
pomp. Thus did he lay the foundation of his great work by fulfilling
the obligations imposed upon him by his sovereign. This auspicious
beginning elevated the hopes of the Spanish and they sailed northward
on April 18th and after delays by storms reached San Juan de Ulua. Here
the natives manifested a friendly spirit and barter was readily entered
into. Establishing himself in this place, the commander desired that
messengers should be sent to Montezuma to notify him of the wish of the
Spaniard to visit him.
[Illustration: CHURCH CARVING OF THE TIME OF THE VICEROYALTY.]
Montezuma sent his ambassador, Teuthile, with wonderful gifts, in pomp
and glory, and in this representative of the great monarch, Cortés
found a person of different attainments from those of any native
he had hitherto met. His dress was costly and he wore ornaments of
precious metals; his manners were dignified and with diplomatic skill
he made it known that he desired to learn the wishes of the stranger.
He was informed that Cortés desired to visit Montezuma to meet him on
behalf of his own monarch. After an interval the ambassador returned
accompanied by a distinguished cacique and attended by one hundred
men bearing beautiful gifts of exquisitely wrought feather work and
receptacles filled with grains of gold and other artistic articles,
all demonstrating the possession of rich materials and an advanced
knowledge of the handicrafts. Such gifts served only to stimulate the
Spaniard’s purpose to conquer this rich country. To the request that
Cortés should return to his own land, the reply was only a still more
earnestly expressed desire to interview the Mexican monarch. Failing
by diplomacy to gain an audience with the monarch, Cortés now realized
that force alone could give him possession of this wonderful land that
he conceived to be his by right of his discoveries.
While awaiting the outcome of negotiations with Montezuma, the
audacious leader had busily occupied himself in acquiring information
concerning the country and its wealth and in considering means by
which he should seize the possessions he coveted. He learned that the
Totonacs had occupied their territory for seven or eight centuries;
that they had lost their independence to the Aztecs two or three
generations before; and had suffered very great indignity and borne
many heavy burdens. He shrewdly used his opportunities to contract a
firm friendship with these people.
Cortés observing that some of his companions were mistrustful of him,
began to chafe under the burden of his obligation to Velasquez. He
decided now to throw off his duty to the governor, and strengthen
his own independence and power before his plans could be interfered
with and his great prospect should become known. Sagaciously, if not
loyally, therefore, he founded the City of Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz
and created it a Spanish municipality; then resigning his commission
from Velasquez, he caused his own appointment as commander-in-chief
of the expedition, and placed himself directly under the authority of
the Spanish crown. To advance his interests with his sovereign in this
course, he sent Montejo and Puertocarrero to Spain with instructions
to explain his situation and plans, and in order to demonstrate the
wonders of their new territory he dispatched some natives and a large
treasure with them.
So adroitly had Cortés acted toward the Totonacs whom he had thus far
met that he received an invitation from the chief of the tribe to
visit the capital at Cempoalla. He proceeded toward that city, the
fleet sailing along the coast, while the expedition penetrated the
strange country. As they progressed the dreary and arid lands changed
to a scene of luxuriant and verdant vegetation, a flora bewilderingly
beautiful to their eyes, with evidences everywhere of a civilization
they had not expected, and also of the barbarism of their native
religion in the remains of numerous victims who had been immolated to
propitiate their gods. Giant hills broke the distant view, and the
snow-covered peak of Orizaba, majestically stood above the valley. The
people wore rich mantles and robes of finely woven cloth, crudely
wrought golden chains hung on their necks, and rings adorned their
nostrils and ears. They welcomed the Spaniards with friendly acclaim
and bore before them in profusion tropical fruits and flowers.
The city entered was substantially and attractively built, and the
prospect was gladdening to the heart of Cortés. Their houses were of a
primitive brick and mortar, were surrounded by gardens of fruit trees
and shrubbery, while around the city stretched rich fields of grain,
giving the scene a picturesque appearance.
Cortés was soon convinced that the Totonacs and other tribes who
were subjects of Montezuma were hostile to their monarch. Ever alert
to forward his plans, he soon seized on an incident that gave him
an occasion to make lasting friends of the Totonacs. Some Aztec
tax-gatherers had arrived to demand a tribute of twenty young men and
women to be sacrificed to the gods in expiation of the reception the
tribe had given to the Spaniards. The chief, feeling the assurance of
Spanish protection, cast the tax-gatherers into prison. Thereupon,
conceiving an adroit plan to gain the favor of both Aztecs and
Totonacs, Cortés rescued two of the five captives, whom he caused to be
safely conducted to Montezuma, and preserved from sacrifice the other
three. By this diplomatic stroke he was able to establish alliances
with several chiefs against Montezuma.
At this time, the audacious genius of the commander was manifested
in a crisis that threatened not only his dominion but all that his
imagination had conjured up. The friends of Velasquez in his army
having stirred up a conspiracy against Cortés and intending to seize
one of the vessels and return to Cuba, the leader made a desperate
hazard to compel the allegiance of his companions and cut off all
chance of defection. In August, 1519, he ordered eleven of his ships to
be sunk in the harbor, alleging as the cause that they were worm-eaten.
There was now no course open to him but to remain in the country and
conquer the people, or be destroyed.
Cortés thereupon garrisoned Vera Cruz with a hundred men, and set out
on his march to the City of Mexico, first destroying the idols in the
_teocalli_ at Cempoalla. His force now consisted of about four
hundred and fifty Spaniards, six light guns, fifteen horses, a number
of Totonacs and a numerous body of Indian carriers.
[Illustration: HOUSE OF CORTÉS AT COYOACAN.]
Continuing his progress the Spaniard approached the territory of the
Tlascalans, an independent people, who were said by the Totonac chief
to hate the Aztecs so bitterly that the Spaniards would be sure of a
friendly reception. They were doomed to a bitter disappointment. The
Tlascalan country lay on the east of the Plain of Anáhuac and was
closely encircled by high ranges and when the Spaniards reached the
boundary of the territory they found it defended by a strong stone
wall. Messengers were sent to request a free passage through the
country, but this was denied. They regarded this as a challenge and
scaled the enclosing wall, but met a most stubborn foe. Again and again
did the little Spanish force tremble for their fate as they received
the attacks of the enemy, who numbered thirty thousand brave warriors,
but their arms and skill proved too much for the Tlascalans, with their
primitive weapons, and after a great struggle they were defeated. Not
all their bravery could avail them against the desperate and determined
Spaniards. The natives had made a mistake in believing that the
Spaniards were children of the sun and that they could be defeated in
a moonlight attack. Acknowledging their defeat, they soon made peace
and Cortés and his allies entered the city on September 22, 1519. No
more faithful men could be found than these Tlascalans, whose enmity
to Montezuma the able Cortés knew well how to turn to account. Binding
firmly the bonds of friendship and alliance, the conquerors were able
to move forward, on October 13th, on their way to Cholula, the next
main city between them and Tenochtitlan.
[Illustration: THE NOCHE TRISTE TREE.]
The sight of the magnificent temple with its hundred towers, with its
rich carvings and decorations of gold, dazzled the eyes and exalted
the hopes of the small Spanish force, with its intrepid leader, and
its six thousand Totonac and Tlascalan allies, as the Sacred City of
Cholula was approached. The ruler of the beautiful city was ready to
welcome Cortés, until he learned that their enemies, the Tlascalans,
were among his forces, and became suspicious and unfriendly toward the
Spaniards and refused to permit them to enter unless the Tlascalans
were left outside of the city. With his usual promptitude of action
Cortés notified the ruler that he would leave the city the following
day and requested that the caciques furnish him with two thousand
guides. Pursuing this plan, apparently, he drew up the greater part of
his troops within the court of one of the temples, and ranged the rest
without, with a full command of the avenues; then he issued orders that
at a given signal the Tlascalans should enter. The caciques arrived
at the appointed hour with the number of men requested, who not
realizing the strategy of the Spaniard came unarmed and not prepared
for any unfriendly attack. Cortés ordered an attack upon this body
of men, and for several days a horrible slaughter of the unprepared
Cholulans lasted, until at least six thousand were massacred. Their
own peril and the right of self-preservation could not justify such an
act of treachery on the part of a Christian invader. Men who practised
the sublime teachings of Christ, and were horrified at finding in
Mexico pagans and idol worshippers, still felt they could by a lawless
disregard of what was really right, slaughter human beings in their
greed for conquest. This is one among many blots on the history of
Spain. On November 1st, the ambitious conqueror resumed his determined
march to the Aztec capital. The success he had achieved over the
Cholulans proved to Montezuma that the intrepid Spaniard could not
be turned from his purpose. In vain did he send his representatives
bearing royal gifts, with the intention of becoming friendly with
Cortés, but the richness of the gifts only served to strengthen the
ambition of the Spaniard to gain all those riches for the crown. With
unwearying steps, and with still greater determination, the conquering
force moved on to Tenochtitlan. Neither the frowning barriers of the
valley, nor the dangers before them, could turn their steps aside. Even
the huge Popocatapetl was made an instrument of their will, a minister
to their necessities, for Diego de Ordaz led a party of Spaniards to
the mouth of its vast crater to test its accessibility and find out if
sulphur could be obtained for making gunpowder. Everything gave courage
to the Spaniards.
Nature unfolded vistas of most enchanting beauty; luxuriant vegetation
clothed the land with a verdure so intense in color and dense in its
exuberance as to insure an inexhaustible source of wealth; and the
capital product gold was in evidence everywhere, furnishing a prize to
be won that was well worth every sacrifice.
As Cortés approached, the Aztec ruler’s perplexity knew no bounds. He
appealed to his council, they were divided in opinion as to the course
he should pursue. His brother, Cuitlahua, or Cuitlahuatzin, counselled
an immediate attack, while Cacamatzin, the ruler of Texcoco, urged that
the Spaniards be received with all the courtesy due to the ambassadors
of a foreign ruler. Already had Ixtlilxochtil, Cacamatzin’s brother,
entered into friendly alliance with the Spanish leader. Distracted,
Montezuma, inspired by his religious superstitions, believed that the
gods had decreed against him. He dispatched Cacamatzin, accompanied by
many of the principal caciques and an imposing retinue of attendants,
to greet Cortés at Amaquemacan and bid him welcome to the capital. Thus
invited and well attended, the invaders passed through Iztapalapan
amid great throngs of astonished natives eager to get a look at the
wonderful beings and their strange dress and accoutrements. At last the
proud, magnificent city was before them, the goal of their enterprise.
Over the causeways on the lakes, foot and horse marched, an unwonted
spectacle. What hopes and fears tormented them as, step by step, they
moved toward the entrance to Tenochtitlan and beheld the city in all
its splendor stretched along the shores of Lake Texcoco! A handful of
Spaniards, less than five hundred, supported only by native allies
who might at any time turn against them, marching to a city whose
inhabitants they had been repeatedly told were treacherous. But the die
was cast.
[Illustration: THE FOUNDING OF THE CITY OF MEXICO. FROM A
PAINTING BY JOSÉ JARA.]
On November 8th, Montezuma proceeded to the outskirts of his capital
and personally invited Cortés and his companions into the Aztec
capital. It was no barbarian, in outward guise at least, that greeted
the Spaniard. Instead, a proud and dignified ruler attired in
sumptuous princely robes, and surrounded by a pomp and ceremony as
exacting as that of any of the Old World courts, received with marked
politeness and courtesy the unwelcome guest. All pointed to the extreme
exclusiveness and dignity of Montezuma, and when Cortés, following
the Castilian custom, sought to embrace the Aztec, he was forcefully
prevented by the attendant chiefs, who deemed the act disrespectful to
so great a personage as their ruler. The reception completed, Montezuma
appointed an escort, consisting of his brother and his nephew, to
conduct Cortés within the city and to the quarters assigned to them as
a residence.
The original Aztec capital was built on an island in one of the cluster
of lakes occupying the Valley of Anáhuac. Here on the western side grew
the settlement about the temple of rushes, till the capital spread over
the islands, the dwellings being raised on piles and filled ground as
it was required. Ruler after ruler added to its extent and endeavored
to beautify it, till at the time of the Conquest, its structures
resembled fairy castles. The great avenues constructed of hard
cement crossed the city running from north to south and east to west
crossing at the centre. That running north and south extended in both
directions, by means of causeways, to the mainland, and the other to
the mainland on the west. The causeways were carried on piles and were
broad enough to allow of ten horsemen riding abreast, and at intervals
were bridged to permit of the passage of boats. The aqueduct conveying
the water to the capital was supported on a similar causeway. The
dwellings of the people were one story high and were frequently built
on terraces. Each stood by itself and was separated from the others by
narrow lanes or little gardens and enclosing an open court. High above
these rose the many temples, on mounds, and above all, soared the great
temple of the god of war.
Cortés entered the capital with all the honors of a victor, to
the strains of music and with colors flying, and was conducted to
the palace of Axayacatl, the father of Montezuma, as his place of
residence. No resistance was offered, the ruler yielded to the gloomy
predictions of the priests, he who had always been so proud and valiant
in war, that, but a few years before, he had been elected chief in
preference to his elder brother. Yet almost abjectly, at the approach
of the Spaniards, he humbled himself and his people in awe, influenced
by the superstitions of his religion.
It is possible to form a correct idea of the person and character of
Montezuma from a description given by one of Cortés’s party. He was
about forty years old, tall, slender and thin, but well-proportioned.
His complexion, like that of the other inhabitants, was not very brown.
His hair was long only over his ears, which it covered; his beard was
black and handsome. His face was somewhat long and its expression
cheerful, and his fine eyes were full of expression. He had many
concubines, all of whom were of note and rank, besides two lawful wives
of lineage equal to his.
[Illustration: THE WOODS OF CHAPULTEPEC.]
The palace occupied by the Spaniards was situated near the temples,
a locality selected in conformity with the belief that they were of
divine character and should, therefore, be domiciled near the gods.
The apartments were very large and those appropriated to Cortés were
furnished with carpets. Each of his companions was provided with a
separate bed, and given all the comforts and luxuries suitable to his
rank.
On the day after their arrival in the city, Montezuma visited Cortés
and invited him to his palace where he made acknowledgment of Spanish
supremacy. It is impossible to suppose that Montezuma could have
regarded the presence of the Spaniards as other than inimical to his
country’s interest, especially in view of the fact that their native
allies and companions were his bitter enemies. The evidences that each
succeeding day furnished of the great strength of the Aztec nation and
of the powerful organization by which the country was governed brought
clearly to the mind of Cortés the magnitude of the undertaking to which
he was committed and the stupendous difficulty that must attend his
work of conquest. Everything he saw of the riches of the Aztecs, of the
resources of the country both pricked him on and gave him pause. Wealth
and magnificence, order and discipline were apparent on all hands.
From the top of the great temple, Cortés had viewed the surrounding
country. The great causeways; the system of defensive drawbridges;
the busy canoes laden with the produce brought regularly to the great
markets, thronged with active traders; the vision of temples towering
one above the other glistening white in the clear atmosphere; all spoke
of strength and organization; of a political system that was directed
with care and ability. Cortés had succeeded thus far through audacity
and a bravery even to madness. The conditions were such that the same
qualities must be largely relied on for further gains.
The Totonacs had by the terms of their contract with Cortés cast off
their allegiance to Montezuma and refused to continue the payment
of tribute, so when an Aztec chief sought to compel the people of
Cempoalla to do so, they refused and took up arms and Escalante, the
Spanish commander at Vera Cruz, came to their support. Though the Aztec
Cuauhpopoca was defeated in the encounter, Escalante was killed. There
had also been a real or imaginary plot against the life of Cortés. Here
was his occasion. He saw in it a means of promoting his purpose, no
matter what the rights involved might be. Promptly deciding, he called
five of his most trusted and audacious companions, Pedro de Alvarado,
Gonzalo de Sandoval, Francisco de Lujo, Velasquez de Leon and Alonso de
Avila and to them imparted his plan to seize and hold Montezuma, and
with them called on the ruler, at the same time ordering a small body
of soldiers to assemble in Montezuma’s palace while the major part was
stationed in the courtyard and the avenues leading thereto.
[Illustration: THE AZTEC CALENDAR STONE.]
Montezuma, unsuspicious of the plot, received Cortés with accustomed
courtesy, and offered him one of his daughters in marriage; but as
such an alliance was not likely to further the conqueror’s designs it
was declined. Throwing off the mask, Cortés charged Montezuma with
treachery, as being the instigator of Cuauhpopoca’s demand on the
people of Cempoalla and of the subsequent conflict, and called upon him
to summon the chief. To this Montezuma assented, but it availed him
naught, for Cortés further required that he should reside in the palace
of the Spaniards in order to establish his innocence in the matter. He
was finally seized and held to prevent any treachery on the part of his
subjects. Captivity was not to be Montezuma’s only fate; his relentless
foe humiliated him for awhile by riveting fetters on his ankles. To
strike terror into the hearts of the Mexicans, Cortés ordered the
chief, Cuauhpopoca, his son and fifteen men of rank to be burned at
the stake in view of a great multitude of Aztecs, as a punishment for
having fought against Escalante.
If Montezuma was broken, other members of his court were not.
Cacamatzin, the nephew of Montezuma, realized that the Spaniards had
come to dispossess his nation and had striven to arouse his people to
an effort to drive out the Spaniards. He, too, had been made prisoner.
But besides the military supremacy that Cortés was fastening upon the
Aztecs, there was on his part a constant activity in other directions.
Montezuma was still a captive, but Cortés used his victim to legalize
his actions. Five vessels were built, to be used on the lakes. The
coast was surveyed for about one hundred and eighty miles south of
Vera Cruz and the site chosen for a fortified post at the mouth of
the Coatzacoalco River. He obtained land in Oaxaca and established a
plantation for the crown. He brought his puppet ruler to take the oath
of allegiance to the Spanish crown and to become a feudatory prince,
his oath and those of his principal chiefs being duly attested and a
record made by the royal notary. In pursuance of this scheme, tribute
was ordered to be paid to the Spaniards and the vast treasure of
Axayacatl was bestowed upon them by Montezuma.
All the indignities heaped upon their ruler and all the spoliation
suffered by the people were unavailing to rouse them to open revolt
against their despoilers. The yoke of the Spaniards seemed to be
riveted upon them and Cortés may have been satisfied that the prize of
Mexico was safely in his grasp. His thoughts now turned to the task of
overthrowing the superstitious idolatry of the Mexicans and erecting in
its stead the worship of Christ. With this purpose in view, he entered
the temples and threw out the idols, and converted one of the buildings
into a Christian church. This act infuriated the Aztecs and Montezuma
urged Cortés to seize the opportunity to leave the country, while it
was possible to get safely away. Such advice fell on unappreciative
ears, but unwilling to disclose his real intention and desiring to keep
his captive tractable, Cortés pointed out that he lacked ships, but
would endeavor to build some.
After a brief interval, news arrived of the coming of some Spanish
ships to Vera Cruz, of which Montezuma learned and he again urged
Cortés to take his departure. On his part, the conqueror supposed
that reinforcements had arrived for him as the result of the reports
of Puertocarrero and Montejo to their sovereign. The fleet, however,
was not so friendly to Cortés; it had been dispatched from Cuba, by
Velasquez, in order to wrest from him the fruits of his enterprise.
The reports of the great progress and treasure that Cortés had made
and gained aroused anew the cupidity and ill-will of the governor
and he had determined to overthrow his former commander. The new
expedition was under the command of Pedro de Narvaez and comprised
eighteen ships with a force of nine hundred men. Arrived at Vera Cruz,
Narvaez demanded the submission of Sandoval, the commander, to himself
as the representative of Velasquez. The fearless Sandoval answered
the insolently-addressed demand by seizing Narvaez’s emissaries, and
sending them to Cortés lashed to the backs of Indian carriers, but
on their approach to the capital they were released and mounted on
horses and courteously treated, by order of Cortés. The new situation
thus presented was most grave and called for extraordinary measures.
Leaving Alvarado in command at Mexico, Cortés marched against Narvaez
with about three hundred Spanish troops and a large force of Indians
and joined by Sandoval and de Leon he surprised and overcame Narvaez at
night, capturing him and his force. The result increased the troops of
Cortés, for most of Narvaez’s men joined the conqueror and the ships
were dismantled. This fortuitous event was overshadowed, however, by
the news from the interior.
In the absence of Cortés, Alvarado, whom the Mexicans called Tonatiuh,
because of his fair complexion, had cruelly massacred hundreds of
Mexicans of the highest rank in their temple during a war festival,
on May 20th. The pretext urged by Alvarado for his cruel act was
that an attack on the Spaniards was planned to follow the feast and
that he had merely outwitted them in anticipation, as his leader had
done at Cholula. As Cortés returned to the capital from his campaign
against Narvaez, signs multiplied of the growing unpopularity of his
occupation. Among the tribes, few were friendly, except the loyal
Tlascalans. His ships on the lake had been destroyed and thus a great
difficulty, if not an insurmountable one, was opposed to his escape, in
case of the need of leaving the capital. The people of that place were
in full revolt and constantly attacking the Spaniards.
In this crisis, Cortés endeavored to pacify the natives; he released
Cuitlahuatzin, the brother of Montezuma, whom he had captured earlier
with Cacamatzin. But for once his course was faulty. Cuitlahuatzin
was welcomed by the people as the representative of Montezuma. His
character was unlike that of Montezuma, and instead of giving aid to
the Spaniards, he applied all his activity and zeal in attempting to
overthrow them. Shut within their stone palace, the great commander and
his companions were attacked by an immense host of Aztec warriors who,
scorning the destruction of thousands of their number by the artillery
of the Spaniards, pressed their siege unceasingly until night. The next
day Cortés sallied out against his assailants, driving them back with
great slaughter, but in no way breaking their force or weakening the
courage of the foe. In his extremity, he made use of his captive and,
decking him with his robes of state, he caused him to mount the central
turret of the palace and order the people to lay down their arms in
accordance with his will. His authority evoked no sympathy; his plea
that the Spaniards should be allowed to depart and his promise of a
restoration of the old state of affairs were disregarded. The people,
for an instant manifesting reverence for their ruler, soon became
enraged and insulted him. The day, June 27, 1520, was a fateful one. An
arrow pointed by his nephew, Cuauhtemoc, was the signal for a general
attack with stones and Montezuma was severely wounded. He died three
days later, it is claimed, at the hands of the Spaniards, who are also
said to have murdered his nephew, Cacamatzin, and other rulers, besides
priests and men of rank whom they took prisoners.
[Illustration: XOCHITL PRESENTING THE FIRST PULQUE TO
TEPANCALTZIN.]
Meantime, the position of the Spaniards was nearly hopeless. The enemy
had taken a stand on the pyramid of their great temple, whence they
could rain a tempest of missiles on the quarters of the Spaniards,
which must become untenable unless the pyramid was cleared. Inch by
inch, Cortés and his men fought the Mexicans up the lofty steps to the
topmost platform of the pyramid, where the most desperate struggle was
continued for three hours till all the natives, except two priests,
were either killed or had been hurled to the pavement below. Then,
casting the great idol of Huitzilopochtli to the square below, the
Spaniards set fire to the temple. The victory was vain, however, for
the fate of Cortés’s enterprise was sealed. Two courses only he saw,
escape from the city as best he could; or death for himself and his
companions. He had failed to beat off his assailants by his sorties;
they were but more infuriated.
In the palace of his father, the corpse of Montezuma lay, at midnight,
while the Spanish priest, Olmeda said the mass for the dead. All
preparations for flight had been made and hardly had the solemn service
been ended before the Spaniards filed out of their quarters to take up
their march out of the city which they had dreamed was their own, and
which with most of its treasures and the great empire they had hoped
to establish they were now relinquishing as terrified fugitives; not
however, entirely oblivious of gain, for by permission the men were to
take all the gold they could carry.
The night march was favored because the Aztecs rarely fought at night,
and because darkness would serve, in part, to cover the retreat. The
once proud and victorious soldiers moved forward, still orderly and
with discipline. Sandoval, Ordaz, and Lujo led with a part of the
infantry; Cortés, with the artillery, the treasure, the women and the
prisoners formed the centre; and with him were Olid, Morla and Avila;
in the rear were Alvarado and Leon, with the main body of the infantry
and the heavier guns. Scattered throughout the three divisions marched
the loyal Tlascalans, who in the darkest hour had never failed in
loyalty and valor.
The organization and discipline of the Aztecs find no better
illustration than in the measures they had taken and in their action
on this memorable _noche triste_. The bridges on the canals had been
destroyed, and sentinels had been carefully posted to give immediate
alarm, and the great drum of _huehuetl_ was served so as to bring the
native soldiers in arms instantly on its being sounded.
The night was very dark, a drizzling rain was falling as the heartsick
Spaniards cautiously proceeded through the silent streets of the city
and neared the causeway of Tlacopan. No foe had opposed them thus
far, but, as they were about to retreat along the causeway, sentinels
gave the alarm, the dreaded sound of the great drum was heard and
innumerable warriors attacked the Spaniards; they assailed them
from canoes, in the streets, from the flat house-roofs,--from every
direction came the assailants. Plan, purpose and bravery combined to
make the task of the retreating force almost impossible of execution.
With the foresight characteristic of Cortés his equipment included a
portable bridge, but its sufficiency fell short of the present urgency.
Fighting with the stubbornness of valor and desperation, the first
canal was crossed, but its capacity gave passage so slowly that before
it could be moved forward to the second canal the vanguard was attacked
savagely. Meantime, the weight of the artillery and the troops had
forced the bridge into the earth so that it could not be removed. The
situation was indescribable. Thronging the narrow causeway, surrounded
by a daring and capable enemy bent on exterminating the Spaniards,
trapped in fact, escape seemed impossible.
Desperate men dashed on horseback across the openings in the causeway,
swam, or passed across on a sinister bridge formed of corpses; but
far the greater number perished in that fateful hour. No one could
tell of the horrors of that passage, nor of the heroic bravery of the
Spaniards. The great leader, in defeat, was the equal of himself in
victory. He led the way and had crossed the last canal by a ford, but
wounded as he was, he returned with a few of his horsemen to aid those
in the rear. Alvarado, also, was severely wounded, and the story of
his escape is a favorite one. History has enshrined the legend: he
fixed his long lance in the bottom of the lake and then vaulted across
the breach in the causeway. The rear guard of the army returned to
their quarters in the city, where after a siege of three days they
surrendered and were sacrificed on the altars of the Aztec gods. The
motto that had inspired the conqueror when he added it to his standard,
bravely adorned with the arms of Charles V. and signed with the crimson
cross: _Amice sequam crucem et nos fidem habemus vere in hoc signa
vincemus_ (Friends, let us follow the cross and if we have faith,
we shall conquer), must have seemed a reproach or a mockery to the
Spaniards as they fled from the city over the Tlacopan causeway only to
meet, most of them, a horrible death.
On legend also must we rely for the statement that on bringing his
thinned ranks, depleted by five hundred of his brave compatriots and
four thousand equally brave and loyal Indians, to a native temple on
the mainland, Cortés rested under a large tree, since called the Tree
of La Noche Triste, and shed tears as he contemplated the forlorn
and desperate state of his soldiers. His was not a nature to succumb
to defeat. Bereft though he was of some of his bravest comrades, of
troops, of most of his horses, of all his artillery, almost without
firearms, and his treasure lost, his plan was ready; he would seek a
place of safety in Tlascala and there define his plans for recovery of
his position.
The retreat continued and Otompan, or Otumba, was reached on July 7th.
The way was there barred by an immense army led by Cihuacoatl. The
main reliance of the Spaniards was now on the pike and the sabre, with
which they defended themselves, but so valiant was the defense, and
often the attack, that after seventy-five days of consecutive fighting,
during which terrible carnage took place, against inconceivable odds,
the Aztecs were put to rout. It is believed that final success was due
to the bravery and strategy of Cortés, who had learned that with the
lowering of the banner of their chief, the Mexican soldiers would flee.
He therefore, supported by Sandoval, Alvarado, Olid, and Dominguez,
attacked the chief and hurled him to the ground and killed him.
Thereupon, the army fled, having lost one hundred thousand men, while
of the Spaniards one hundred and of the allies twenty thousand fell.
Taking up the march again toward Tlascala, not without grave misgiving
as to the possibility of a reversal of the friendly spirit and fidelity
of his allies, they reached the capital and were greeted with most
friendly welcome. Here, Cortés fell a prey to a fever that resulted
from the wound he had received on the Dismal Night; here, too, he was
to learn that the treasure of gold he had left behind him when he
went on to conquer Tenochtitlan had been taken by the Mexicans, who
destroyed the messengers bearing it to him. He had also to put down
the opposition of some of his soldiers who desired to go back to Cuba,
but having received reinforcements and made gunpowder from the sulphur
taken from the crater of the great Popocatepetl, he determined to
reopen his campaign by operations against Tepeaca and took and sacked
the capital and established the settlement of Segura de la Frontera.
It was evident to Cortés that his military task was more difficult than
at first. The new Aztec ruler, Cuitlahuatzin, was of different mould
from Montezuma. The leaders were very able and extremely courageous.
Every effort had been made by them to displace the loyalty of the
native allies, but in this they had failed, for their number was
increased. Cortés determined that every place that lay on the road to
Tenochtitlan must be friendly or conquered. Betrayed by their cacique,
Cuauhquechollan was subdued; Iztocan was taken and sacked and a hundred
temples given to the flames. Adding further to his native forces, and
releasing some of the companions of Narvaez, the conqueror completed
his plans for the recapture of the Aztec capital, including the
building of thirteen flat-bottomed boats to be used on Lake Tezcoco.
Before siege was laid to the capital, the successor of Montezuma
died, on November 26th, of smallpox, to which thousands of Aztecs had
succumbed. This scourge was of great service to the Spaniards. The new
ruler was Cuauhtemoctzin, or Guatemotzin, the nephew and son-in-law
of Montezuma. Preparatory to his final march on Tenochtitlan,
Cortés formulated a drastic code for the regulation of his army and
significantly declared that the pending war and its acquisitions would
be robbery unless its principal aim was the conversion of the heathens.
Thus, with an apparently more serious purpose than before, the army,
with its eight thousand carriers, bearing the thirteen brigantines,
moved on Tezcoco, on December 28th, and following the most difficult
route, took it without contest. Establishing a friendly ruler here,
Cortés then took Tlacopan and entered the southern border of the
Valley of Mexico. At this time he was captured in the course of a
reconnaissance, but was liberated by his soldiers before the time of
his sacrifice had arrived. He was also obliged to quell an insurrection
in Tezcoco, which aimed at his assassination.
[Illustration: AZTEC IDOL.]
Cortés was now ready for his attempt on Tenochtitlan. His brigantines
were launched on the lake on April 28th and with his army divided into
three bodies under Alvarado, Olid, and Sandoval, consisting of nine
hundred Spaniards, one hundred and twenty-five thousand native allies,
eighty-seven horses, and with three large and fifteen small guns,
chiefly disposed throughout the fleet, the march on the capital began
on May 20th. Cortés took command of the fleet of thirteen brigantines
and a great number of native canoes. The three commanders occupied,
respectively, Tlacopan, Coyoacan, and Iztapalapan, which they made
their bases of operations. In a few days, Cortés had taken several
lake positions; the capital was completely blockaded; the water supply
was also cut off and the way was opened for an attack on the city
itself. This he succeeded in entering and reached the principal square
and seized the great temple of the war god, withdrawing, however, at
nightfall.
Three days later, being largely reinforced from Tezcoco, he again
attacked the capital and entered it, setting fire to the palace in
which he had formerly resided and to Montezuma’s aviary. The resistance
of the Aztecs was so formidable and their bravery and steadfastness so
terrible that the retreat at night to camp could be accomplished by
Cortés only with great difficulty. But little real progress was being
made by this method as the enemy destroyed the military works of the
invaders as soon as the latter had retired. Such operations promised
little and yielding to the counsel of his lieutenants, Cortés decided
on making a general attack.
On June 28th, all plans being communicated to his leaders, an advance
on the market place of Tlatelolco was ordered. Through a misadventure,
the forces were separated. Alderete, who had already almost reached the
objective point, was greeted with the din of the great sacred drum and
he was immediately attacked by the Aztec hosts. He had omitted to close
the breaches in the causeway, and the other divisions could not follow.
The advance body was routed and fled back on the causeway. There with
Cortés on the other side of the opening, a terrible battle raged.
Cortés was wounded and narrowly escaped capture, but he rallied the
soldiers and led a retreat. Pedro de Alvarado and Sandoval, having also
nearly reached the market-place, retreated. The exultant Aztecs taunted
their enemies on their defeat and flung among them three dripping heads
of Spaniards, shouting as they did so “Malinche” (the name they applied
to Cortés), “Tonatiuh” (Alvarado), and “Sandoval.” To this they added
the abominable torture attending their barbarous sacrifices as they
offered the bodies of their captives on the altars of their demon-gods
and feasted at a banquet on their corpses at evening.
This defeat seemed to threaten the destruction of the Spaniards. It is
to the eternal credit of the native allies that not all the efforts
of Guatemotzin and his emissaries the priests, nor his threats could
undermine their loyalty to Cortés.
Realizing the disadvantages under which he labored by reason of
the difficulty of keeping open the approaches by the causeways, of
operating his forces and of defending them under these conditions,
Cortés developed a new plan of attack; he would fill the canals.
Accordingly, he led his fighting men and utilized the Indian
auxiliaries to destroy with hoes every building they reached. The great
_teocalli_ had been put to the torch; the objective point was at
hand. Slowly, but steadily, the invaders advanced and the enemy crowded
closer and closer within narrowing limits, pressed by a determined and
relentless foe, and ever falling under the combined blows of growing
famine, want of water, and pestilence. Guatemotzin at first scorned to
surrender when called upon to do so; then, as the sufferings of the
Aztecs grew past endurance, he promised to arrange terms, but failed
to appear, preferring death. The last shortening of the living chain
about them had been made; the eager soldiers leaped at the command
for a general attack, and pouring into the city after his fighting
men, the Indians fell upon the Aztecs sparing none on that day of
fearful revenge and continuing the carnage on August 13, 1521. The
Aztec chief was captured as he sought to escape on a _piragua_,
and was led before the conqueror, from whom he begged the boon of
death by his dagger, now that he was a prisoner after having done
all that he could in defence of his country and people. Their leader
captive, the surviving Aztec warriors submitted and were permitted to
leave the capital. Tenochtitlan and the Aztec dominion were destroyed.
The conqueror left a garrison in the city and his victorious forces
withdrew to their respective bases of operation. The cost of life to
the invaders during the almost three months’ siege was about one-tenth
of their strength.
The victors’ joy was tempered with disappointment. The treasure they
had hoped to find was not forthcoming. Guatemotzin was believed by the
Spaniards to possess a knowledge of its whereabouts and Cortés ordered
him to be tortured to extort a revelation which he had declared he
could not make. He averred that some treasure had been cast into the
lake, but like many another reputed vast hoard, it was not discovered,
in spite of a careful search of the waters of Lake Tezcoco.
Master of the prize that had been won at the cost of many thousands
of lives, vast treasure and heroic deeds, Cortés decided to reclothe
the fallen city with the dignity of chief place in the conquered
dominions. The aqueduct he soon restored and canals were filled and
additional causeways built. He was as able an administrator as he was
a commander. The Indians he had dispossessed were allowed to settle
in prescribed districts in the new city. With an immense number of
Mexicans whose labor he could utilize, the City of Mexico soon became a
solid and imposing place.
Not long after the conquest was completed, new troubles arose that
threatened the power that Cortés had acquired. Velasquez, the governor
of Cuba had so contrived that the royal government authorized both an
investigation of the conqueror’s conduct and the taking over of the
government of New Spain, but the official sent proved no match for
the conqueror and he returned to Cuba. Soon thereafter, Charles V.
conferred on Cortés the titles and powers of governor, captain-general,
and chief justice of New Spain. His acts confirmed, his companions
rewarded, and his dignities established, Cortés began to explore and
settle the new dominion. On the Pacific he threw out the settlement
of Zacatula, on the Atlantic, San Estevan, Medellin, and Antigua,
which latter he projected as the principal port. Regulations were made
to encourage the settling of the country and great inducements were
offered to those who married. In the appropriation of lands, Spaniards
only were recognized, the natives being held in a condition of slavery,
save only the Tlascalans, whose loyalty was rewarded by immunity from
tribute and the entire control of their lands, besides the enjoyment
of other privileges and the bestowal of titles of distinction on their
leaders. Later, their capital became the seat of the first bishopric,
they elected their alcalde and he became their governor. But no honors
bestowed on them could repay their services, for without their aid, no
Spaniard would have survived, no nation would have been possible.
One of the consequences of the capture of the City of Mexico was the
effort on the part of the southern provinces of Mexico bordering on
Guatemala to conciliate the great conqueror and secure his goodwill.
These sent ambassadors laden with gifts of such value that Cortés was
fired with the ambition to acquire lands on the southern sea, for
which purpose he fitted out an expedition that soon accomplished its
object. This was supplemented by an expedition sent in aid of the
people of Tehuantepec against the adjoining province of Tututepec.
This resulted in the invasion of the latter province by Alvarado, its
defeat and the settlement of Spaniards in the territory; while he
proceeded to Guatemala and discovering its wealth determined on its
conquest when the opportunity occurred. Fitting out a strong force,
chiefly of natives, Alvarado marched south and was loyally treated by
the people of Tehuantepec but resisted by those of Soconusco, whom he
defeated and thus conquered their provinces. He continued his march
through Guatemala, with which we need not here deal, except to say that
Alvarado remained loyal to Cortés, by whom he was recommended for the
governorship of Guatemala.
[Illustration: BANNER CARRIED BY CORTÉS.]
During one of his expeditions, Cortés disposed of his faithful friend
Marina, by gift to a Spanish knight, whom she married. Though she was
endowed with large grants of land from the government of Spain, her
abandonment was but a mean requital of her affection and inestimable
services to Cortés and the Spanish cause, and the romantic interest
associated with “Malinche,” and the popularity accorded to her, better
measure the appreciation of her services.
On his return from Honduras, Cortés was received in Mexico with
great rejoicing by the people, his enemies had been active in Spain
and he had been accused of aiming at an independent sovereignty. An
investigation was committed to Juan Ponce de Leon, with the power
of governor meantime. His death in a few weeks and also that of the
successor he named brought the duty to the task of Alonso de Estrada,
a bitter enemy of Cortés, who was still captain general. Under these
circumstances, Cortés determined to appeal in person to his sovereign
and accordingly sailed from Villa Rica with rich presents and specimens
characteristic of the flora and fauna of the country. With him were
Sandoval and Tapia, and two sons of the late Montezuma and Maxixca, and
several native chiefs.
Arrived in Spain, he went to the convent of La Rabida, where Sandoval,
one of his ablest companions, died. The arrival of Cortés created
intense interest and he was accorded the greatest distinction by the
sovereign, who conferred on him the title of Marquis of the Valley of
Oaxaca and bestowed on him large estates in Oaxaca, in Mexico City, and
elsewhere. His governorship of New Spain was not restored, however,
but he was appointed captain general of that dominion and empowered to
make discoveries and settlements in the southern ocean. The conqueror
now married a lady of royal blood, Doña Juana de Zuñiga and in 1530
embarked for Mexico.
In the closing days of 1527, Charles V. had appointed an _audiencia_ to
govern New Spain, at the head of which was Nuñez de Guzman, governor of
the Province of Panuco, aided by four _oidores_. This administration
was vicious in the extreme; barbaric cruelty was exercised toward the
natives, who were capriciously murdered and enslaved; charges against
Cortés were encouraged and considered with foregone determination;
the clergy was tyrannized over and abused for their efforts to obtain
justice and humane treatment of the natives; till in 1529, Zumarraga,
the first bishop of Mexico, related in a letter to Spain the tale of
the misdoings of the _audiencia_. Guzman, dreading the exposure of
his evil deeds and hoping to avert disaster to himself, set out on
December 20, 1529, on an expedition to conquer the province of Jalisco,
or Amazonas, which had been discovered by Cortés. Guzman, during his
rule of Panuco, harassed and plundered the native inhabitants with
utter disregard of even the semblance of justice and descended to acts
of the most petty despotism. He even caused the Indians to be put to
death because they had omitted to clean the streets in his path. At the
least manifestation of discontent on the part of the Huastecas, during
his absence from his province as governor of Mexico, he caused whole
towns to be subdued by force of arms as rebels, and the inhabitants to
be sold as slaves, so that this monster’s cruelty resulted in almost
the depopulation of entire districts. Now that he was entering on the
conquest of Jalisco he raised funds by seizing and exporting as slaves
the natives of his own province, those who fled in terror to the deep
forests and mountain fastnesses being pursued by slave-hunting parties
to take them.
This inhuman conqueror left a trail of desolation behind him as he
marched through Michoacan and Nueva Galicia. He tortured and burnt
those chiefs who could or would not furnish him with gold, or even
a token of his displeasure; the chief of the Tarascans of Michoacan,
who had manifested the extreme of friendliness toward him, stripping
himself and his people of all their gold and possessions, giving him
free passage through his country and furnishing him with hosts of
burden bearers, was in spite of all, put to daily torture and, when
this ceased to afford diversion, was then burned. The tyrant was
fiercely fought in the territory he invaded, but the natives were
defeated and he founded the cities of Guadalajara and Compostella.
During this campaign, Chirinos, one of Guzman’s officers, invaded the
Zacatecas, a so-called Chichimec tribe.
The depredations and maladministration of the _audiencia_ did not cease
even during the absence of Guzman, so that the Crown, forced by the
representations of the ecclesiastical authorities, resolved to govern
Mexico by a viceroy and appointed Antonio de Mendoza, but displaced the
old _audiencia_ and appointed another to govern until the arrival of
Mendoza in Mexico.
The royal commission to Cortés to make discoveries was henceforth
the sole motive of the conqueror’s activity in Mexico. He landed at
Villa Rica in July, 1530, and, being forbidden to come within ten
miles of the capital until the new _audiencia_ was installed, he
took up his abode at Tezcoco. He was never again, however, to reside
permanently in the capital, for he found himself in conflict with the
new _audiencia_ and withdrew to Cuernavaca, there to manage and
cultivate his estates.
In 1532, he dispatched an expedition to explore the Pacific coast
northward, but the fleet was lost. The next year he sent two vessels in
the same direction one of which in 1534 touched the Peninsula of Lower
California, which was supposed to be an island. Even such a succession
of disasters could not crush the spirit of Cortés, who, in 1535, led
an expedition which established a colony on the eastern shore near the
southern extremity of the Peninsula of California, but owing to the
barrenness of the land it was a failure, the few survivors making their
way back to Mexico in 1536. In 1539, he sent out another expedition
under Francisco de Ulloa who, with three ships explored the western
coast of the same peninsula to about the twentieth parallel of north
latitude, or certainly as far as Cedros Island. But his adventures were
interrupted by the viceroy, Mendoza, who had arrived in October, 1535,
and who claimed that the right of discoveries in the southern ocean was
vested in him.
Again Cortés left Mexico, in January, 1540, to seek redress at the
Court of Spain, but his efforts were without success. He enlisted to
fight against the Moors at Algiers; then returned to Spain, where,
after much discouragement and even, it is said, contempt, he finally
obtained permission from Charles V. to return to Mexico. He died,
however, near Seville, on December 2, 1547, on his return journey to
the magnificent land that he had conquered and added to the dominions
of Spain, with all its limitless resources, rich in all that country
needed to support its tottering power and for a time to restore and
even to increase its former greatness.
[Illustration: PORT MARQUEZ WHERE CORTÉS BUILT HIS FLEET FOR
A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY ON THE PACIFIC.]
[Illustration: CARVINGS OF THE TIME OF THE VICEROYS. THE
CHURCH OF SANTA ROSA, QUERÉTARO.]
[Illustration: BURNING OF THE FEET OF CUAUHTEMOC AND HIS
GENERAL TO FIND THEIR HIDDEN TREASURE.]