The Fair God; or, The Last of the 'Tzins: A Tale of the Conquest of Mexico

, came into the valley here, and dwelt awhile. The people were then rude and savage; but he taught them agriculture, and other arts, of which you will see signs as we get on. He ch

, he built him a canoe of serpent-skins, and departed for Tlapallan, a heaven lying somewhere toward the rising sun. But before he went, he promised to return some day, and wrest away the Empire and restore his own religion. In appearance he was not like our race; his skin was white, his hair long and wavy and black. He is said to have been wise as a god, and more beautiful than men. Such is his history;

t the conclusion said, "Thank you,

warriors there set apart for sacrifice, bring them into the tianguez, and make them do battle in

m did the

. Indeed, those were royal times! Of late, I am sorry to say, the custom of which I was speaking has been neglec

, with flushed cheeks, "I would not lose the chance for t

mbatants are always exhibited in the tianguez the evening before the day of the fight. In that way the public are notifie

or service, like myself, is anxious to know with w

tend enterin

ing; and though trading is hon

took out a box of snuff and help

ability and renown. With some of them I have personal acquaintance; others I know onl

ter, "there is Iztli

is brave as any, and perhaps as skilful, but proud, haughty, soured, and

the wise '

nded in blood, had not Montezuma interfered, and given the city to Cacama, and all the northern part of the province to Iztlil'. Since

ama?[8] Tezcuco i

a soft couch delight him more than camps, and dancing women better than fig

is the lord

His people are prosperous, and he has the most beautiful gardens in the world; unlike Cacama, he cares nothing for them, when there is a field to be fought. Considering his influen

e to Maxtla, t

was never anything like his fortune. Listen now, I will tell you a secret which may be of

caution with which the ol

re are several hundreds; his most active amusement now is to cross the lake to his forests, and kill birds and rabbits by blowing little arrows at them through a reed. Thus changed, you can very well und

the men well. Really, I had no intention of entering the suite of either of them: they are not of my ideal; but there

as he is more commonly called, the 'tzin Guatamo-never dwelt in Anahuac. He is the people's friend, and the Empire's hope. His valor

e times, and a soldier sp

'tzin Guatamo?" a

t king's nephew; but I know him. When he was only a boy, I se

will

an re

merchant resumed, "and not one but

the Tihuancan,

ce; in action he is a hero. You have probably heard of the Tlascalan wall in the eastern valley;[11] few warriors ever passed it and lived; yet he did so when almost a boy. I myself have seen him send an arrow to the heart of an eag

I have been dreaming of him while amo

at his beaming countenance, and sai

th plantations. Besides the presence of a busy, thriving population, they everywhere saw evidences of a cultivation and science, constituting the real superiority of the Aztecs over their neighbors. The country was thus preparing the stranger for the

rader. "We will be in the city

dventurer quickened his pace,