CHAPTER IX.
MEXICO.
We will now leap over about two months and, leaving the Rocky Mountains,invite the reader to accompany us to the heart of Mexico.
The Spanish Conquistadors selected with admirable tact the sites onwhich they founded the cities destined to insure their power, and becomeat a later date the centres of their immense trade, and the entrepots oftheir incalculable wealth.
Even at the present day, although owing to the negligence of theCreoles and their continual fratricidal Wars, combined with the suddenearthquakes, these cities are half ruined, and the life which thepowerful Spanish organization caused to circulate in them has died out,these cities are still a subject of surprise to the traveller accustomedto the morbid crowding of old European cities. He regards with awethese vast squares, surrounded by cloister-like arcades; these broadand regular streets through which refreshing waters continually flow;these shady gardens in which thousands of gaily-plumaged birds twitter;these bold bridges; these majestically simple buildings, whose interiorscontain incalculable wealth. And yet, we repeat, the majority of thesecities are only the shadow of themselves. They seem dead, and are onlyaroused by the furious yells of an insurrection, to lead for a fewdays a feverish existence under the excitement of political passions.But so soon as the corpses are removed, and water has washed away theblood stains, the streets revert to their solitude, the inhabitantshide themselves in their carefully-closed houses, and all becomes againgloomy, mournful, and silent, only to be galvanized afresh by the hoarsemurmurs of an approaching revolt.
If we except Lima, the splendid "Ciudad de los Reyes," Mexico isprobably the largest and handsomest of all the cities that cover thesoil of ancient Spanish America.
From whatever point we regard it, Mexico affords a magnificent view;but if you wish to enjoy a really fairy-like sight, ascend at sunset oneof the towers of the cathedral, whence you will see the strangest andmost picturesque panorama imaginable unrolled at your feet.
Mexico certainly existed before the discovery of America, and ourreaders will probably pardon a digression showing how the foundation ofthe city is narrated by old chroniclers.
In the year of the death of Huetzin, King of Tezcuco, that is to say,the "spot where people stop," because it was at this very place that themigration of the Chichimeques terminated, the Mexicans made an eruptioninto the country, and reached the place where Mexico now stands, at thebeginning of the year 1140 of our era. This place then formed part ofthe dominions of Aculhua, Lord of Azcapotzalco.
According to paintings and the old chronicles, these Indians came fromthe empires of the province of Xalisco. It appears that they were of thesame race as the Toltecs, and of the family of the noble Huetzin, whowith his children and servants escaped during the destruction of theToltecs, and was residing at that period at Chapultepec, which was alsodestroyed at a later date.
It is recorded that he traversed with them the country of Michoacan,and took refuge in the province of Atzlan, where he died, and had forhis successors Ozolopan, his son, and Aztlal, his grandson, whose heirwas Ozolopan II. The latter, remembering the country of his ancestors,resolved to return thither with his entire nation, which was alreadycalled Mezetin. After many adventures and combats, they at lengthreached the banks of a great lake covered with an infinitude of islands,and as the recollection of their country had been traditionally kept upamong them, they at once recognized it, though not one of them had evenseen it before. Too weak to resist the people that surrounded them, orto establish themselves in the open country, they founded on several ofthe islands, which they connected together, a town, which they calledafter themselves, Mexico, and which at a later date was destined to bethe capital of a powerful empire.
Although the Mexicans arrived on the banks of the lake in 1140, it wasnot till two years later that the American Venice began to emerge fromthe bosom of the waters.
We have dwelt on these details in order to correct an error made by amodern author, who attributes to the Aztecs the foundation of this city,to which he gives the name of Tenochtitlan, instead of Temixtetlan,which is the correct name.[1]
Like Venice, its European sister, Mexico was only a collection ofcabins, offering a precarious shelter to wretched fishermen, who wereincessantly kept in a state of alarm by the attacks of their neighbours.The Mexicans, at first scattered over a great number of small islands,felt the necessity of collecting together in order to offer a betterresistance. By their patience and courage they succeeded in buildinghouses, raised on piles, and employing the mud of the lagoons, heldtogether by branches of trees, they created the _chinampas_, or floatinggardens, the most curious in the world, on which they sowed vegetables,pimento, and maize, and thus, with the aquatic birds they managed tocatch on the lake, they contrived to be entirely independent of theirneighbours.
Almost destroyed during the obstinate fights between the natives and theSpaniards, Mexico, four years after the conquest, was entirely rebuiltby Fernando Cortez. But the new city in no way resembled the old one.Most of the canals were filled up, and paved over; magnificent palacesand sumptuous monasteries rose as if by enchantment, and the city becameentirely Spanish.
Mexico has been so frequently described by more practised pens thanours, and we, in previous works, have had such frequent occasionsto allude to it, that we will not attempt any description here, butcontinue our story without further delay.
It was October 12th, 1854, two months, day for day, had elapsed sincethe unfortunate Count de Prebois Crance, victim of an iniquitoussentence, had honourably fallen at Guaymas beneath the Mexicanbullets.[2] A thick fog had hung over the city for the whole day,changing at times into a fine drizzle, which after sunset becamesharper, although a heavy fog still prevailed. However, at about eightin the evening the rain ceased to fall, and the stagnant waters of thelake began to reflect a few particles of brighter sky. The snow-cladsummit of Iztaczihuatl, or the White Woman, feebly glistened in the palewatery moonbeams, while Popocatepetl remained buried in the clouds.[3]
The streets and squares were deserted, although the night was not yetfar advanced; for the loungers and promenaders, driven away by theweather, had returned to their homes. A deep silence brooded over thecity, whose lights expired one after the other, and only at lengthenedintervals could be heard on the greasy pavement the footsteps of theserenos, or watchmen, who performed their melancholy walk, with theindifferent air peculiar to that estimable corporation. At times a fewdiscordant sounds, escaping from the velorios were borne along on thebreeze; but that was all--the city seemed asleep.
Half past nine was striking by the cathedral clock at the moment whena dull sound resembling the rustling of reeds shaken by the wind wasaudible on the gigantic highway joining the city to the main land. Thissound soon became more distinct, and changed into the trampling ofhorses, which was deadened by the damp air and the ground softened bya lengthened rain. A black mass emerged from the fog, and two horsemenwrapped in thick cloaks stood out distinctly in the moonlight.
These horsemen seemed to have made a long journey; their steeds,covered with mud, limped at each step, and only advanced with extremedifficulty. They at length reached a low house, through whose dirtypanes a doubtful light issued, which showed that the inhabitants werestill awake.
The horsemen stopped before this house, which was an inn, and withoutdismounting, one of them gave the door two or three kicks, and calledthe host in a loud sharp voice. The latter, doubtless disturbed by thisunusual summons at so improper an hour, was in no hurry to answer, andwould have probably left the strangers for some time in the cold, if theman who had kicked, probably tired of waiting, had not thought of anexpeditious means of obtaining an answer.
"_Voto a Brios!_" he shouted, as he drew a pistol from his holster, andcocked it, "since this dog is resolved not to open, I will send a bulletthrough his window."
This menace had been scarce uttered ere the door opened as if byenchantment, and the landlord appeared on the threshold. This manr
esembled landlords in all countries; he had, like them, a sleek andcrafty look, but at this moment his obsequiousness badly concealed aprofound terror, evidenced by the earthy pallor of his face.
"Hola, caballero," he said, with a respectful bow, "have a littlepatience, if you please. Caramba! how quick you are; it is plain tosee that you are forasteros, and not acquainted with the custom of ourcountry."
"No matter who I am," the stranger answered sharply; "are you alandlord--yes or no?"
"I have that honour, caballero," the host remarked, with a deeper bowthan the first.
"If you are so, scoundrel," the stranger exclaimed angrily, "by whatright do you, whose duty it is to be at the orders of the public, dareto keep me waiting thus at your door?"
The landlord had a strong inclination to get into a passion, but theresolute tone of the man who addressed him, and, above all, the pistolhe still held in his hand, urged him to prudence and moderation; hencehe answered with profound humility--
"Believe me, senor, that if I had known what a distinguished caballerodid me the honour of stopping before my humble dwelling, I should havehastened to open."
"A truce to such impertinent remarks, and open the door."
The landlord bowed without replying this time, and whistled a lad,who came to help him in holding the travellers' horses; the latterdismounted, and entered the inn, while their tired steeds were led tothe corral by the boy.
The room into which the travellers were introduced was low, black, andfurnished with tables and benches in a filthy state, and mostly broken,while the floor of stamped earth was greasy and uneven. Above the barwas a statuette of the Virgin de la Soledad, before which burned agreasy candle. In short, this inn had nothing attractive or comfortableabout it, and seemed to be a velorio of the lowest class, apparentlyused by the most wretched and least honourable ranks of Mexican society.
A glance was sufficient for the travellers to understand the place towhich accident had led them, still they did not display any of thedisgust which the sight of this cut-throat den inspired them with. Theyseated themselves as comfortably as they could at a table, and the onewho had hitherto addressed mine host went on, while his silent companionleaned against the wall, and drew the folds of his cloak still higher uphis face.
"Look here," he said, "we are literally dying of hunger, patron; couldyou not serve us up a morsel of something? I don't care what it is inthe shape of food."
"Hum!" said the host with an embarrassed air, "it is very late,caballero, and I don't believe I have even a maize tortilla left in thewhole house."
"Nonsense," the traveller replied, "I know all about it, so let us dealfrankly with each other; give me some supper, for I am hungry, and wewill not squabble about the price."
"Even if you paid me a piastre for every tortilla, excellency, I reallycould not supply you with two," the landlord replied, with increasedconstraint.
The traveller looked at him fixedly for a moment or two, and then laidhis hand firmly on his arm, and pulled him toward the table.
"Now, look here, No Lusacho," he said to him curtly, "I intend to passtwo hours in your hovel, at all risks; I know that between this andeleven o'clock you expect a large party, and that all is prepared toreceive them."
The landlord attempted to give a denial, but the traveller cut him short.
"Silence," he continued, "I wish to be present at the meeting of thesepersons; of course I do not mean them to see me; but I must not onlysee them, but hear all they say. Put me where you please, that is yourconcern; but as any trouble deserves payment, here are ten ounces foryou, and I will give you as many more when your visitors have gone, andI assure you that what I ask of you will not in any way compromiseyou, and that no one will ever know the bargain made between us--youunderstand me, I suppose? Now, I will add, that if you obstinatelyrefuse the arrangement I offer----"
"Well, suppose I do?"
"I will blow out your brains," the traveller said distinctly; "my friendhere will put you on his shoulder, throw you into the water, and allwill be over. What do you think of my proposal?"
"Hang it, excellency," the poor fellow answered, with a grimace whichattempted to resemble a smile, and trembling in all his limbs, "I thinkthat I have no choice, and am compelled to accept."
"Good! now you are learning reason; but take these ounces as aconsolation."
The landlord pocketed the money, as he raised his eyes to heaven andgave a deep sigh.
"Fear nothing, _viva Dios_!" the traveller continued; "all will pass offbetter than you suppose. At what hour do you expect your visitors?"
"At half past ten, excellency."
"Good! it is half past nine, we have time before us. Where do youpropose to hide us?"
"In this room, excellency."
"Here, diablo; whereabouts?"
"Behind the bar; no one will dream of looking for you there, and,besides, I shall serve as a rampart to you."
"Then you will be present at the meeting?"
"Oh!" he said with a smile, "I am nobody; the more so, that if I spoke,my house would be ruined."
"That is true. Well, then, all is settled; when the hour arrives, youwill place us behind the bar; but can my companion and I sit there withany degree of comfort?"
"Oh, you will have plenty of room."
"I fancy this is not the first time such a thing has occurred, eh?"
The landlord smiled, but made no answer: the traveller reflected for amoment.
"Give us something to eat," he at length said; "here are two piastres inaddition for what you are going to place before us."
The landlord took the money, and forgetting that he had declared afew moments previously that he had nothing in the house, he instantlycovered the table with provisions, which, if not particularly delicate,were, however, sufficiently appetizing, especially for men whoseappetite appeared to be powerfully excited.
The two travellers vigorously attacked this improvised supper, and forabout twenty minutes no other sound was heard but that of their jaws.When their hunger was at length appeased, the traveller who seemed tospeak for both, thrust away his plate, and addressed the landlord, whowas modestly standing behind him hat in hand.
"And now for another matter," he said; "how many lads have you to helpyou?"
"Two, excellency--the one who took your horses to the corral, andanother."
"Very good. I presume you will not require both those lads to wait onyour friends tonight?"
"Certainly not, excellency; indeed, for greater security, I shall waiton them alone."
"Better still; then, you see no inconvenience in sending of them intothe Cuidad; of course on the understanding that he is well paid for thetrip?"
"No inconvenience at all, excellency; what is the business?"
"Simply," he said, taking a letter from his bosom, "to convey thisletter to Senor Don Antonio Rallier, in the Calle Secunda Monterilla,and bring me back the answer in the shortest possible period to thishouse."
"That is easy, excellency; if you will have the kindness to intrust theletter to me."
"Here it is, and four piastres for the journey."
The host bowed respectfully, and immediately left the room.
"I fancy, Curumilla," the traveller then said to his companion, "thatour affairs are going well."
The other replied by a silent nod of assent, and a moment the landlordreturned.
"Well?" the traveller asked.
"Your messenger has set off, excellency, but he will probably be sometime ere he returns."
"Why so?"
"Because people are not allowed to ride about the city at night withouta special authority, and he will be obliged to go and return on foot."
"No consequence, so long as he returns before sunrise."
"Oh, long before then, excellency."
"In that case all is for the best; but I think the moment is at handwhen your friends will arrive."
"It is, excellency, so have the kindness to follow me."
&nb
sp; "All right."
The travellers rose; in a twinkling the landlord removed all signs ofsupper, and then hid his guests behind the bar. This bar, which wasvery tall and deep, offered them a perfectly secure, if not convenient,hiding place, in which they crouched down with a pistol in each hand, inorder to be ready for any event. They had scarce installed themselvesere several knocks, dealt in a peculiar fashion, were heard on the outerdoor.
[1] In order to protect themselves from the misfortunes which had beforecrushed them, the Mexicans placed themselves under the safeguard of theKing of Azcapotzalco, on whose lands they had established themselves.This prince gave them two of his sons as governors, of whom the firstwas Acamapuhtli, chief of the Tenochcas. On their arrival in Ahanuec,these Indians had found on the summit of a rock a nopal, in which was aneagle devouring a serpent, and they took their name from it. Acamapuhtliselected this emblem as the _totem_ of the race he was called upon togovern. During the War of Independence, the insurgents adopted thishieroglyphic as the arms of the Mexican Republic, in memory of theancient and glorious origin of which it reminded them.
[2] See the "Indian Chief." Same publishers.
[3] This second volcano, whose name indicates "The Smoking Mountain," isnear the former.
The Red Track: A Story of Social Life in Mexico Page 11
