K= What, from the different readings you had this week, was the key passage, and why was it key? E= Elaborate on 3 questions or comments you had while reading this week’s materials. Your 3 questions and comments can be about one of the readings, or it could include all of them. Y= Your connection–remember, this is about what you are reminded of, not about whether you can relate to it or not. http://www.socialiststories.com/liberate/Vision%20of%20the%20Vanquished,%20or%20The%20Broken%20Spears%20by%20Miguel%20Leon-Portilla.pdf PAGE 62-69CHAPTER. IV.
I SPOKE to the envoys of Muteczuma who were with me concerning
the treachery that had been practised in Cholula, and said I had been
informed by the leaders that it was done through the advice of
Muteczuma ; but that it did not appear to me it could have been the act
of so great a sovereign as he was to send his messengers and noble
persons to me, declaring that he was my friend, as he had done, and at
the same time seeking means to attack me through others, in order that
he might avoid censure in case the design did not succeed. But since it
was so, and he did not keep his word, nor adhere to the truth, I told them
I should change my own purpose ; that until then it had been my
intention to visit his country as a friend, to see and talk with him, and
hold much peaceful intercourse with him ; but that now I should enter his
dominions in the guise of war, doing all the injury that was in my power,
as an enemy; that I was sorry to adopt this course, as I preferred to have
his friendship, and to take counsel of him in whatever I had to do in this
land. The envoys replied, that they had now been with me a long time,
and that they had known nothing of any such understanding with the
Cholulans, more than had been declared in that city since its
submission, and they could not believe that it had taken place by the
advice or command of Muteczuma ; and they entreated that before I
renounced his friendship and made war upon him, I would inform myself
of the truth, and suffer one of their number to go and confer with him, as
he could return very soon, the distance from this city to where
Muteczuma resides being but twenty leagues. I told them that this would
be agreeable to me, and I allowed one of them to go, who returned from
thence in six days, accompanied by the other envoy who had gone
previously. They brought me ten pieces of gold plate, fifteen hundred
pieces of cotton cloth, a great number of fowls, and a beverage, in
common use among them, which is called panicap; and they informed
me that Muteczuma had been much troubled on account of what had
occurred at Churultecal, but that I must not believe it had been done by
his advice or command, as he would prove to me with certainty that it
was not so ; that the troops in the garrison near the city were, indeed,
his, but that they bad moved without his orders, at the instigation of the
Cholulans, since there were two of his provinces bordering upon
Cholula, that had an alliance with that state on account of their proximity
to it to aid one another; one of them was called Acancigo, and the other
Izcucan, [Acazingo and Izucar] and that in this way they had gone there,
and not by his orders; that I should see by his actions whether what he
had sent to communicate to me was true or not ; but nevertheless, that
he begged me not to trouble myself to visit his country, as it was a
barren region, and the people were in a suffering condition ; and that he
would send to me, wherever I was, to ascertain my wants, which he
would supply in the most bountiful manner. I answered that I could not
dispense with visiting his dominions, as I was obliged to transmit an
account of them, as well as of himself, to your Majesty ; that I fully
believed what he had stated, by his envoys; nevertheless, since I should
not relinquish my purpose of seeing him, that it would be better it should
be done in a friendly manner, and that no obstacles be thrown in my
way, as otherwise it would be attended with injury to himself, and I
should much regret any such occurrence. As soon as he saw that it was
my determined desire to visit him and his country, he sent to say that it
was well; that he should expect me in the great city where he was, and
that several of his people would join me, as soon as I had entered his
territory. These persons desired me to take a certain route, on which
they might contrive to have an attack made upon me, as it afterwards
appeared ; since a number of Spaniards whom I afterwards sent through
the country saw how it was ; I should have found on that route so many
bridges and difficult passes, that as I went through it they would have
been able to execute their designs with safety to themselves. But as
God has ever seen fit to guide your sacred Majesty from your infancy in
the right way, and as I and those who accompanied me, were engaged
in the royal service, another route was pointed out to us, somewhat
rough, indeed, but not so dangerous as the other, and this I took.
Eight leagues from the city of Cholula are two very lofty and
remarkable mountains; in the latter part of August their summits are
covered with snow; and from the highest, by night as well as by day, a
volume of smoke arises, equal in bulk to a spacious house ; it ascends
above the mountain to the clouds as straight as an arrow, and with such
force, that although a very strong wind is always blowing on the
mountain, it does not turn the smoke from its course. As I have desired
to render your Highness a very minute account of every thing in this part
of the world, I wished to ascertain the cause of this phenomenon, as it
appeared to me, and I despatched ten of my companions, such as I
thought suitable for this purpose, with several natives of the country for
guides, charging them to use every endeavor to ascend the mountain
and find out the cause of that smoke, whence and how it was produced.
They went, and struggled with all their might to reach the summit, but
were unable on account of the great quantity of snow that lay on the
mountain, and the whirlwinds of ashes that swept over it, and also
because they found the cold above insupportable; but they reached very
near the summit, and while they were there, the smoke began to issue
forth with so much force and noise that it seemed as if the whole Sierra
was crumbling to the ground ; so they descended, and brought with
them a considerable quantity of snow and icicles, that we might see
them, as it was something quite new in this region on account of its
being in so warm a latitude, according to the opinion of our pilots, who
place it in 200, which is the same parallel as the Island of Espanola,
where the heat is at all times extreme. While on their way to the
mountain, the party discovered a road, and inquired of their Indian
companions where it led, who told them to Culua, [Mexico,] and that it
was a good road, while the other, which the Culuans wished us to take,
was not a good one. The Spaniards followed this road until they began
to ascend the mountain, between which and the other elevation it
passed; and from it they discovered the plains of Culua, and the great
city of Temixtitan, [Mexico,] and the lakes in that province, of which I
shall hereafter give your Highness an account; they returned overjoyed
on having discovered so good a road, and God knows how much joy I
felt on the occasion. Having obtained all the information I could from the
Spaniards who had returned from their visit to the mountain, as well as
from the natives, concerning the road they had discovered, I addressed
myself to the envoys of Muteczuma, who accompanied me as guides to
their country, and said to them, that I would take the new route instead
of that which they had recommended, as it was shorter. They answered
that I was right, that the new route was shorter and more level, and that
the reason they had not pointed it out to me was, that we should have to
pass one day through the territory of Guasucingo, [Guajozingo,] whose
inhabitants were their enemies, and would not furnish supplies, as was
done in the territory of Muteczuma ; but that since I preferred that route,
they would cause provisions to be sent in that direction. And thus we set
forth…
The city of Iztapalapa contains twelve or fifteen thousand houses ; it is
situated on the shore of a large salt lake, one-half of it being built upon
the water, and one half on terra firma. The governor or chief of the city
has several new houses, which, although they are not yet finished, are
equal to the better class of houses in Spain –being large and well
constructed, in the stone work, the carpentry, the floors, and the various
appendages necessary to render a house complete, excepting the
reliefs and other rich work usual in Spanish houses. There are also
many upper and lower rooms–cool gardens, abounding in trees and
odoriferous flowers; also pools of fresh water, well constructed, with
stairs leading to the bottom. There is also a very extensive kitchen
garden attached to the house, and over it a belvidere with beautiful
corridors and halls; and within the garden a large square pond of fresh
water, having its walls formed of handsome hewn stone ; and adjacent
to it there is a promenade, consisting of a tiled pavement so broad that
four persons can walk on it abreast, and four hundred paces square, or
sixteen hundred paces round; enclosed on one side towards the wall of
the garden by canes, intermingled with vergas, and on the other side by
shrubs and sweet-scented plants. The pond contains a great variety of
fish and water-fowl, as wild ducks, teal, and others so numerous that
they often cover the surface of the water. The next day after my arrival at
this city I departed on my route, and having proceeded half a league, I
entered upon a causeway that extends two leagues through the centre
of the salt lake, until it reaches the great city of Temixtitan, [Mexico,]
which is built in the middle of the lake. This causeway is as broad as two
spears’ length, and well constructed, so that eight horsemen can ride on
it abreast; and within two leagues, on either side of this causeway, there
are three cities, one of which, called Alesicalsingo, is built for the most
part on the lake, and the two others, called Nyciaca and Huchilohuchico,
are situated along its borders, with many houses on the water. The
former of these cities contains about three thousand families, the second
more than six thousand, and the third four or five thousand ; in all of
them are well built houses and towers, especially the residences of the
governors and principal men, and the mosques or temples, in which they
have their idols. In these cities there is a considerable trade in salt,
which is manufactured from the water of the lake, and from a deposit on
the grounds washed by the lake, which they boil in some way, and make
into loaves, selling it to the natives and persons out of the district or
province.
I pursued my course over the above-mentioned causeway, and having
proceeded half a league before arriving at the body of the city of
Temixtitan, I found at its intersection with another causeway, which
extends from this point to terra firma, a very strong fortress with two
towers, surrounded by a double wall, twelve feet in height, with an
embattled parapet, which commands the two causeways, and has only
two gates, one for entering, and the other for departure. There came to
meet me at this place nearly a thousand of the principal inhabitants of
the great city, all uniformly dressed according to their custom in very rich
costumes; and as soon as they had come within speaking distance,
each one, as he approached me, performed a salutation in much use
among them, by placing his hand upon the ground and kissing it ; and
thus I was kept waiting about an hour, until all had performed the
ceremony. Connected with the city is a wooden bridge ten paces wide,
where the causeway is open to allow the water free ingress and egress,
as it rises and falls ; and also for the security of the city, as they can
remove the long and wide beams of which the bridge is formed, and
replace them whenever they wish; and there are many such bridges in
different parts of the city, as your Highness will perceive hereafter from
the particular account I shall give of it.
When we had passed the bridge, the Señor Muteczuma came out to
receive us, attended by about two hundred nobles, all barefooted and
dressed in livery, or a peculiar garb of fine cotton, richer than is usually
worn ; they came in two processions in close proximity to the houses on
each side of the street, which is very wide and beautiful, and so straight
that you can see from one end of it to the other, although it is two thirds
of a league in length, having on both sides large and elegant houses
and temples. Muteczuma came through the centre of the street,
attended by two lords, one upon his right, and the other upon his left
hand, one of whom was the same nobleman who, as I have mentioned,
came to meet me in a litter ; and the other was the brother of
Muteczuma, lord of the city of Iztapalapa, which I had left the same day;
all three were dressed in the same manner, except that Muteczuma
wore shoes, while the others were without them. He was supported on
the arms of both, and as we approached, I alighted and advanced alone
to salute him; but the two attendant lords stopped me to prevent my
touching him, and they and he both performed the ceremony of kissing
the ground; after which he directed his brother who accompanied him to
remain with me; the latter accordingly took me by the arm, while
Muteczuma, with his other attendant, walked a short distance in front of
me, and after he had spoken to me, all the other nobles also came up to
address me, and then went away in two processions with great
regularity, one after the other, and in this manner returned to the city. At
the time I advanced to speak to Muteczuma, I took off from myself a
collar of pearls and glass diamonds, and put it around his neck. After
having proceeded along the street, one of his servants came bringing
two collars formed of shell fish, enclosed in a roll of cloth, which were
made from the shells of colored prawns or periwinkles, held by them in
high estimation; and from each collar depended eight golden prawns,
finished in a very perfect manner, about a foot and a half in length.
When these were brought, Muteczuma turned towards me and put them
round my neck; he then returned along the street in the order already
described, until he reached a very large and splendid palace, in which
we were to be quartered, which had been fully prepared for our
reception. He there took me by the hand and led me into a spacious
saloon, in front of which was a court, through which we entered. Having
caused me to sit down on a piece of rich carpeting, which he had
ordered to be made for his own use, he told me to wait his return there,
and then went away. After a short space of time, when my people were
all bestowed in their quarters, he returned with many and various jewels
of gold and silver, featherwork, and five or six thousand pieces of cotton
cloth, very rich and of varied texture and finish. After having presented
these to me, he sat down on another piece of carpet they had placed for
him near me, and being seated he discoursed as follows:–
“It is now a long time since, by means of written records, we learned
from our ancestors that neither myself nor any of those who inhabit this
region were descended from its original inhabitants, but from strangers
who emigrated hither from a very distant land; and we have also learned
that a prince, whose vassals they all were, conducted our people into
these parts, and then returned to his native land. He afterwards came
again to this country, after the lapse of much time, and found that his
people had intermarried with the native inhabitants, by whom they had
many children, and had built towns in which they resided; and when he
desired them to return with him, they were unwilling to go, nor were they
disposed to acknowledge him as their sovereign ; so he departed from
the country, and we have always heard that his descendants would
come to conquer this land, and reduce us to subjection as his vassals ;
and according to the direction from which you say you have come,
namely, the quarter where the sun rises, and from what you say of the
great lord or king who sent you hither, we believe and are assured that
he is our natural sovereign, especially as you say that it is a long time
since you first had knowledge of us. Therefore be assured that we will
obey you, and acknowledge you for our sovereign in place of the great
lord whom you mention, and that there shall be no default or deception
on our part. And you have the power in all this land, I mean wherever my
power extends, to command what is your pleasure, and it shall be done
in obedience thereto, and all that we have is at your disposal. And since
you are in your own proper land and your own house, rest and refresh
yourselves after the toils of your journey, and the conflicts in which you
have been engaged, which have been brought upon you, as I well know,
by all the people from Puntunchan to this place; and I am aware that the
Cempoallans and Tlascalans have told you much evil of me, but believe
no more than you see with your own eyes, especially from those who
are my enemies, some of whom were once my subjects, and having
rebelled upon your arrival, make these statements to ingratiate
themselves in your favor. These people, I know, have informed you that I
possessed houses with walls of gold, and that my carpets and other
things in common use were of the texture of gold ; and that I was a god,
or made myself one, and many other such things. The houses you see
are of stone and lime and earth.” And then he opened his robes and
showed his person to me, saying, “You see that I am composed of flesh
and bone like yourselves, and that I am mortal, and palpable to the
touch,” at the same time pinching his arms and body with his hands ; “I
see,” he continued, how they have deceived you. It is true I have some
things of gold, which my ancestors have left me ; all that I have is at your
service whenever you wish it. I am now going to my other houses where
I reside; you will be here provided with every thing necessary for yourself
and your people, and will suffer no embarrassment, as you are in your
own house and country.” I answered him in respect to all that he had
said, expressing my acknowledgments, and adding whatever the
occasion seemed to demand, especially endeavoring to confirm him in
the belief that your Majesty was the sovereign they had looked for; and
after this he took his leave, and having gone, we were liberally supplied
with fowls, bread, fruits, and other things required for the use of our
quarters. In this way I was for six days amply provided with all that was
necessary, and visited by many of the nobility.
I mentioned, most Catholic Sire, at the commencement of this letter,
that at the time I departed from the city of Vera Cruz in quest of this
Señor Muteczuma, I left there one hundred and fifty men to erect a fort,
which had been already begun ; and I also stated that I had left many
towns and fortified places in the neighborhood of that city in subjection to
the royal dominion of your Highness, and the inhabitants secure and
decided in their allegiance to your Majesty. While I was in the city of
Churultecal, [Cholula,) I received letters from the commander, whom I
had stationed in my place at Vera Cruz, informing me that Qualpopoca,
lord of the city of Almeria, had sent messengers to announce that he
desired to become a subject of your Highness, and if he had not
appeared before, and still did not appear, to render that homage which it
was his duty to yield, and to offer himself with all his territories as a
vassal to your Majesty, the reason was, that he would be compelled to
pass through his enemies’ country, which he had not done in
consequence of his apprehension of an attack from them; but that if I
would despatch to him four Spaniards, they might accompany him, and
the people through whose lands they would have to pass, knowing for
what purpose they came, would not molest them ; and thus he would be
able to come to us at once. The captain, believing that Qualpopoca was
sincere in what he said, as many others had done th…
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