Mexico | Page 2

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Landing of Cortes--Orizaba peak--The dawn of conquest--Discovery of Yucatan--Velasquez and Grijalva--Life and character of Cortes--Cortes selected to head the expedition--Departure from Cuba--Arrival at Yucatan--The coast of Vera Cruz--Marina--Vera Cruz established--Aztec surprise at guns and horses--Montezuma--Dazzling Aztec gifts--Messages to Montezuma--Hostility of the Aztecs--Key to the situation--The Cempoallas--Father Olmedo--Religion and hypocrisy of the Christians-- March to Cempoalla--Montezuma's tax-collectors--Duplicity of Cortes-- Vacillation of Montezuma--Destruction of Totonac idols--Cortes despatches presents to the King of Spain--Cortes destroys his ships-- March towards the Aztec capital--Scenery upon line of march--The fortress of Tlascala--Brusque variations of climate--The Tlascalans-- Severe fighting--Capitulation of Tlascala--Faithful allies--Messengers from Montezuma--March to Cholula--Massacre of Cholula--The snow-capped volcanoes--First sight of Tenochtitlan.
CHAPTER V
THE FALL OF THE LAKE CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
The Valley of Mexico--The City and the Causeways--The Conquistadores enter Mexico City--Meeting of Cortes and Montezuma--Greeting of the Aztec emperor to the Spaniards--Tradition of Quetzalcoatl--Splendid reception--The Teocalli--Spanish duplicity--Capture of Montezuma-- Spanish gambling--News from Vera Cruz--Forced march to the coast-- Cortes defeats Narvaez--Bad news from Mexico--Back to the capital-- Alvarado's folly--Barbarous acts of the Spaniards--The fight on the pyramid--Destruction of Aztec idols--Death of Montezuma--Spaniards flee from the city--Frightful struggle on the Causeway--Alvarado's leap--The Noche Triste--Battle of Otumba--Marvellous victory--Spanish recuperation--Cuitlahuac and Guatemoc--Fresh operations against the capital--Building of the brigantines--Aztec tenacity--Expedition to Cuernavaca--Xochimilco--Attack upon the city--Struggles and reverses-- Sacrifice of Spaniards--Desertion of the Allies--Return of the Allies-- Renewed attacks--Fortitude of the Aztecs--The famous catapult-- Sufferings of the Aztecs--Final attack--Appalling slaughter--Ferocious Tlascalans--Fall of Mexico.
CHAPTER VI
MEXICO AND THE VICEROYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
General considerations--Character of Viceroy rule--Spanish civilisation--Administration of Cortes--Torture of Guatemoc--Conquests of Guatemala and Honduras--Murder of Guatemoc--Fall of Cortes--First viceroy Mendoza--His good administration--Misrule of the Audiencias-- Slavery and abuse of the Indians--The Philippine islands--Progress under the Viceroys--Plans for draining the Valley of Mexico--British buccaneers--Priestly excesses--Raid of Agramonte--Exploration of California--Spain and England at war--Improvements and progress in the eighteenth century--Waning of Spanish power--Decrepitude of Spain-- Summary of Spanish rule--Spanish gifts to Mexico--The rising of Hidalgo--Spanish oppression of the colonists--Oppression by the colonists of the Indians--Republicanism and liberty--Operations and death of Hidalgo--The revolution of Morelos--Mier--The dawn of Independence--The birth of Spanish-American nations.
CHAPTER VII
THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN MEXICO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Monarchical regime of Iturbide--Great area of Mexican Empire--Santa Anna--The Holy Alliance--Execution of Iturbide--The Monroe Doctrine-- British friendship--The United States--Masonic institutions--Political parties--Expulsion of Spaniards--Revolution and crime--Clerical antagonism--Foreign complications--The "pie-war"--The Texan war--The slavery question--Mexican valour--American invasion of Mexico--Fall of Mexico--Treaty of Guadalupe--Cession of California--Gold in California--Benito Juarez appears--Conservatives and Liberals--Massacre of Tacubaya--The Reform laws--Disestablishment of the Church--Dishonest Mexican finance--Advent of Maximilian--The English, Spanish, and French expedition--Perfidy of the French--Capture of Mexico City by the French--Crowning of Maximilian--Porfirio Diaz--Rule of Maximilian--Fall of his empire--Death of Maximilian--The tragedy of Queretaro--Diaz takes Mexico City--Presidency of Juarez--Lerdo--Career and character of Diaz--First railways built--Successful administration of Diaz-- Political stability--Forward policy.
CHAPTER VIII
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS: MOUNTAINS, TABLELANDS, AND FLORA AND FAUNA. . 134
Geographical conditions--Tehuantepec--Yucatan--Boundaries and area-- Population--Vera Cruz--Elevations above sea-level--Latitude--General topography--The Great Plateau--The Sierra Madres--The Mexican Andes-- General structure--The coasts--Highest peaks--Snow-cap and volcanoes-- Geological formation--Geological scenery--Hydrographic systems-- Rivers--Navigation--Water-power--Lakes--Climate and temperatures--The three climatic zones--Rainfall--Snowfall--Flora and fauna--Soil-- Singular cactus forms--The desert flora--The tropical flora--Forest regions--Wild animals--Serpents, monkeys, and felidae--Sporting conditions--Birds.
CHAPTER IX
THE MEXICAN PEOPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Ethnic conditions--Spanish, Mestizos, Indians--Colour-line--Foreign element--The peones--Land tenure--The Spanish people--The native tribes--The Apaches--The Mexican constitution--Class distinctions-- Mexican upper class--Courtesy and hospitality--Quixotism of the Mexicans--Idealism and eloquence--General characteristics--Ideas of progress--American anomalies--Haciendas--Sport--Military distinctions--Comparison with Anglo-Saxons--Republicanism--Language-- Life in the cities--Warlike instincts--The women of Mexico--Mexican youths--Religious observance--Romantic Mexican damsels--The bull-fights.
CHAPTER X
THE CITIES AND INSTITUTIONS OF MEXICO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Character of Mexican cities--Value of Mexican civilisation--Types of Mexican architecture--Mexican homes and buildings--The Plaza--Social relations of classes--The City of Mexico--Valley of Mexico--Latitude, elevation, and temperature--Buildings--Bird's-eye view--The lakes-- Drainage works--Viga canal and floating gardens--General description-- The cathedral--Art treasures--Religious orders--Chapultepec--Pasco de la Reforma--The President--Description of a bull-fight--Country homes and suburbs--Colleges, clubs, literary institutions--Churches and public buildings--Army and Navy--Cost of living--Police--Lighting and tramways--Canadian enterprise--British commercial relations--The American--United States influence--A general impression of Mexico.
CHAPTER XI
MEXICAN LIFE AND TRAVEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Travel and description--Mexican cities--Guadalajara--Lake Chapala-- Falls of Juanacatlan--The Pacific slope--Colima--Puebla--Cities of the Great Plateau--Guanajuato--Chihuahua--The Apaches--The peones-- Comparison with Americans--Peon labour system--Mode of living--Houses of the peon class--Diet--Tortillas and frijoles--Chilli-- Pulque--Habits of the peon class--Their religion--The wayside crosses and their tragedies--Ruthless political executions--The fallen cross--Similarity to Bible scenes--Peon superstitions--The ignis fatuus, or relacion--Caves