The captured Mexicans were divided among the conquerors; and Cortez informs the emperor that he had preserved his share of the gold and silver, and his fifth of the slaves, and other things, which by right belonged to his Majesty—and as slaves they continued to be treated for centuries, notwithstanding the humane laws passed in Spain for their relief.
It would be tedious and unprofitable to trace the colonial history of Mexico from the conquest to the revolution. From great natural advantages, this country has become rich and powerful, in spite of a most impolitic colonial system. In justice to the government of Spain, it must be acknowledged that the laws of the Indies were wise and just, and the regulations relating to the poor Indians framed in the very spirit of humanity; but their administration was bad, and the Creoles were oppressed by their European masters—and, in their turn, harassed and oppressed the unfortunate natives. Almost the only bright spot in the page of this history, is the period of the administration of the viceroy Revillagigedo. Good roads, leading from the capital to different parts of the kingdom, were laid out and constructed by his orders; and the streets of the principal cities were paved and lighted, and a good police established. The only authentic statistical account of this country was made out at this period; and almost every salutary law or regulation now in existence may be traced to the administration of Revillagigedo.
The immediate causes of the revolution of the Spanish colonies are too generally known to require any further explanation. The invasion of Spain by Napoleon only accelerated a revolution, toward which the Americans were slowly but irresistibly impelled by the conduct of the mother country, and by the political events of the age.—[Poinsett.]
FOOTNOTES.
[1]. For the use of a French copy of “Waldeck’s Yucatan,” I am indebted to my distinguished countryman, Mr. Stephens, for which, and for many other civilities, I embrace this opportunity to make my sincere acknowledgments.
[2]. A specimen of the Lord’s Prayer in the Maya language is here transcribed:—
Cayum yannech ti canoob, cilich cunabac a kaba, tac cokol a kahaulil utzcinabac, a nolah ti luum baix, te ti caane sa ca zamalkin, uah toon helelach, zatex ix czipil bay czazic, u zipil uh ziplob toone maix, a uilic e lubul, ti tuntabale, hanuca lukezon, ichil lobil. Amen.
[3]. It is my purpose to give a more extended discussion of the Maya language in a subsequent chapter. I was so fortunate as to procure from an Indian in the interior of Yucatan the only copy I have ever seen of R. P. L. Beltran’s Grammar of this language, which is mentioned in the text. It is entitled, “Arte de el Idioma Maya, Reducido á Succinctas Reglas y Semi Lexicon Yucateco, por el R. P. F. Pedro Beltran, de Santa Rosa Maria, ex-Custodio, Lector que sue de Philosophia y Theologia, Revisor del Sto. Oficio, é hijo de esta Sta. Recoleccion Franciscana de Merida. Formólo y Dictólo sienda Maestro de Lengua Maya en el Convento Capitular de N. S. P. S. Francisco, de dicha Ciudad. Año de 1742, Yolo Dedica á la Gloriosa Indiana Santa Rosa Maria de Lima, con licencia: en Mexico, por la Venda de D. Joseph Bernardo de Hogal. Año de 1746.”