CONTENTS.
| THE AZTEC PRINCESS. | |
| CHAPTER I. | |
| PAGE | |
| BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE OF TECUICHPO. | [15] |
| The Horoscope—Faith in the revelations ofAstrology—Montezuma in his palace—The messagedelivered—Resignation—Fatalism—Infancy of thePrincess—The slave Karee—Obtains her freedom—TheChinampa—Genius and faith of Karee—Her devotion to thePrincess—Chivalry of the Aztecs. | |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| YOUTH OF THE PRINCESS—HER EARLY LOVE REVEALED—PROPHETICANNOUNCEMENT, AND SUDDEN ARRIVAL OF THE SPANIARDS. | [27] |
| Superstitious forebodings of Montezuma—Loveliness of his daughter—Hersuitors—The Prince of Tezcuco—Karee-o-thán—Asecret revealed—Guatimozin—The ancient legend—Theyoung Pythoness—Her vision—Warning and appeal—Thevision realized—The pictured scroll—Agitation of Montezuma—Asecond courier—The royal council—Courtesy tothe strangers—Splendid embassy—Their meeting with Cortez—Munificentpresents—Avarice of the Spaniards—Theymake interest with the Totonacs, and send proposals to Tlascala—Theirproposal rejected—They meet and conquer theTlascalans—An alliance formed—The compeers of Cortez—Xicotencatl—Thestrength and weakness of the Aztecs. | |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| SUPERSTITIOUS FEARS AND VACILLATING POLICY OF MONTEZUMA. | [45] |
| Frequent embassies and rich presents to the Spaniards—Montezuma,fearing to act openly, plots their destruction secretly—Cortezcautioned by the Tlascalans—His prudence and strictdiscipline—Cuitlahua urges Montezuma to bold decided measures—Scenein the royal garden—Mysterious chant—Warning—Itseffect—Montezuma roused to action—Energy ofCuitlahua—The army in motion to repel the enemy—Confidentof victory—The monarch changes his plan—A stratagem—Cholula—Thearmy arrested in its march—The Spaniardsin Cholula—Hospitable reception—Sudden change—Suspicionof treachery—Perilous position and bold bearing ofCortez—His demand upon the Cholulan princes—Chargesthem with conspiracy—Their alarm and apology—Terriblemassacre—Conflict on the great Teocalli—The Spaniardsvictorious—Painful position of Cuitlahua and his army—Tlascalansin Cholula. | |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| AGITATIONS IN THE CAPITAL—THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD—THESPANIARDS STEADILY ADVANCING. | [65] |
| Montezuma’s duplicity—Shuts himself up in despair—Dividedcounsels—Mistaken policy—Triumphant advance of Cortez—Hisambitious views—His military caution—Montezuma inhis family—His youngest daughter—Her loveliness—Herclouded destiny—The royal household—A family scene—Adark superstition versus a cheerful faith—Excursion on thelake—The royal cortege—The Princess—Guatimozin—Thedream and its echo—Prophecy—Signal and sudden return—Preparationto receive the Spaniards—Cacama’s embassy toCortez—Exchange of courtesies—Reception of the strangersat Iztapalapan—Lofty bearing of Cuitlahua—The Capitaland its environs. | |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| ARRIVAL OF THE SPANIARDS AT THE CAPITAL—THEIRRECEPTION BY MONTEZUMA—DETERMINED HOSTILITYOF GUATIMOZIN. | [81] |
| Singular relative position of the Spaniard and the Aztec—Thepower and timidity of the one, and the danger and boldnessof the other—Speculation—Cortez advancing—TheGrand Causeway—The Fort of Xoloc—The Emperor’s retinue—Abjectdeference of his lords—Magnificent palanquin—Hispersonal appearance and costume—The reception—Exchangeof presents—Montezuma retires—Cuitlahua escortsthe Spaniards to their quarters—Their admiration on seeingthe splendor of the city—Curiosity of the people—Theomens of that day—Their influence upon Montezuma—Guatimozin’strue devotion to his country—His interview with thePrincess—True interpretation of the omens—Filial devotionversus patriotism—The pledge—A new omen—The parrotturned prophet—Karee and her prediction—Extreme sensitivenessof the Princess. | |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| MUNIFICENCE OF MONTEZUMA—THE ROYAL BANQUET—THEREQUITAL—THE EMPEROR A PRISONER IN HIS OWNPALACE. | [97] |
| Grand military display by the Spaniards—The terror of theAztecs—Fearlessness and high purpose of Guatimozin andothers—The Banquet—The company—A contrast—Thestrangers presented to the Queen—Her grace and dignity—Beautyof the Aztec women—Awkward position of the admiringCavaliers—Their ingenuity in pantomime—Readilymatched by the Aztec—Sandoval and the Princess—Cortezand Karee—Guatimozin and Cacama in argument—ThePrincess interposes—Sternness of Guatimozin—Anincident—Orteguilla—Alvarado and the Naiads—Metamorphosed intoa flower-god—Pays homage to the Princess—The feast—Thetrue character of the invaders—Bold movement of Cortez—Montezuma’sblind submission to fate—Voluntarilybecomes a vassal to the crown of Spain—A still bolder movementof Cortez—Montezuma remonstrates, but yields, andbecomes a prisoner in the Spanish quarters—Indignation ofthe nobles—Portentous omen—Distress in the palace—ThePrincess expostulates with her father—The parting, and thepromised meeting—Guatimozin departs in disgust—His interviewwith the Princess at Chapoltepec—Courageous hopes—Oracleand omens—Timidity made bold by love. | |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| TREACHERY AND RETRIBUTION—MASSACRE OF THE AZTECNOBILITY—DEATH OF MONTEZUMA. | [121] |
| Cortez visits Vera Cruz—Alvarado in command in the Capital—Hischaracter—The Aztec festival—Unprovoked attack andmassacre—The whole nation in arms for revenge—Alvaradoin imminent peril—Cortez returns—The Aztecs threaten theentire destruction of the Spaniards—Furious assault upontheir quarters—Desperate sortie—Implacable spirit of theAztecs—Their leaders—Cortez persuades Montezuma tointerpose—Cacama summoned to the royal presence—Hisnoble reply—The Princes’ rendezvous—Guatimozin warnedof danger—His escape—Cacama and Cuitlahua arrested—Thelatter released—Fresh assaults upon the Spaniards—Atthe instigation of Cortez, Montezuma appears and addressesthe people—Their loyalty and deference—Suddenly changedto uncontrollable rage—The Emperor mortally wounded byhis own people—A temporary suspension of hostilities—Deathof Montezuma—His funeral obsequies. | |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| BRIEF REIGN OF CUITLAHUA—EXPULSION OF THE SPANIARDS—GUATIMOZINCHOSEN EMPEROR—HIS MARRIAGEWITH TECUICHPO. | [137] |
| Cuitlahua elected to the vacant throne—His resolution—Cortez,realizing his danger, resolves to evacuate the city—Attemptsto steal away in the night—Assaulted on all sides by theAztecs—Perils of the retreat—Awful position on the GreatCauseway—Hemmed in on all sides—Terrible slaughter—Aremnant escape—Cortez in tears—Singular neglect of hisadversary—Activity of Cuitlahua—His sudden death—Griefand despondency of the nation—Guatimozin elected to hisplace—His activity and prudence—He claims the hand ofthe Princess—Her timidity and her devotion—Love findingthe bright side of the picture—The nuptial festival—Grandprocession to the Capital—A nation’s welcome. | |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| FESTIVITIES AT THE COURT OF GUATIMOZIN—THE NEWHYMENEAL VOW. | [151] |
| Character of Guatimozin—His practical wisdom and activity—Gaietyof the court—The young Queen—Nahuitla, thePrince of Tlacopan—Atlacan, a princess of Tezcuco—Herbrother, Maxtli—Her suitors—The Merchant of Cholula—Mercenaryviews of Maxtli—Endeavors to thwart Nahuitla—Howhe is thwarted himself—The betrothal—Sanctioned bythe Emperor—The nuptials—Polygamy abjured—A newImperial statute—Torch dance—Significant pantomime. | |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| RETURN OF CORTEZ—SIEGE OF TENOCHTITLAN—BRAVERYAND SUFFERINGS OF THE AZTECS. | [161] |
| Guatimozin prepares for a new invasion—Cortez approaches witha new army—Orders vessels built at Tlascala—Takes possessionof Tezcuco—Makes liberal overtures to Guatimozin—Rejectedwith scorn—Determined spirit of Guatimozin—Successof Cortez in reducing some of the smaller towns—Narrowescape at Iztalapatan—General defection of the tributarycities—How accounted for—The Spanish fleet on theLake—Genius of Cortez—Tenochtitlan invested—Preparationsfor the siege—Spirit of the Aztecs—Their supplies cutoff—The Queen in her reverses—Famine—Distress in thecity—Love stronger than hunger—The famishing fed—Desperation—anassault—an ambush—The tide of battle suddenlyturned—Perilous position and severe loss of the Spaniards—Corteznarrowly escapes—Disastrous retreat. | |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| STRAITNESS OF THE FAMINE—THE FINAL CONFLICT—FLIGHTAND CAPTURE OF GUATIMOZIN—DESTINY FULFILLED. | [179] |
| The Mexicans encouraged—Oracular declaration of the priests—Itfails to be fulfilled—Cortez resolves to lay waste the city—Awide spread ruin—Terrible sufferings of the besieged—Loveand loyalty outliving hope—Death preferred to submission—Nahuitlaproposes a plan of escape—Guatimozin rejectsit, but is overruled by the unanimous voice of hispeople—Prepares for flight—The battle of the ghosts—Theretreat—Guatimozin on the lake—Pursued by the enemy—Acaptive—Brought before Cortez—His noble spirit andbearing—The Queen and the conqueror—Her destiny fulfilled. | |
| THE FLIGHT OF THE KATAHBA CHIEF. | [193] |
| The dream of Minaree, the young bride of Ash-te-o-láh—Its effectupon the Chief—He goes to the chase—Power and prosperityof the Katahbas—Beauty of their villages—The wigwamof Ash-te-o-láh—The Chief in his canoe—The deer—Thefoe—The chase—He turns upon his pursuers—Slaysseven of their number successively—Is taken—Marched offas a captive—His boldness and dignity—Arrives in the territoriesof his enemies—Insulted and beaten by the women—Condemnedto the fiery torture—Led out to execution—Breaksaway and escapes—Pauses to defy his pursuers—Distancesthem all—Stops to rest—Finds a place of concealment—Plansthe destruction of the pursuing party—Succeeds—Returnshome in triumph, laden with trophies and spoils. | |
| MONICA—THE ITEAN CAPTIVE. | [209] |
| Reverence for the dead—Indian burial—The journey to the Spiritland—The favorite dog killed—Food for journey—Mementoesof the departed—The grave of an infant boy—The Iteanencampment—A sister’s grief—Her dream—She visits thegrave by moonlight—Her song—Enters a canoe and floatsdown the stream—A captive, devoted to the “Great Star”—Paganrite among the Pawnees—Preparing for the sacrifice—Ignorantof her fate—Gathering of the Pawnees to the festival—Thevictim led to the stake—The terrible orgies commence—Aresuddenly interrupted—The captive unbound—Theflight—Parting with her deliverer—Meets her friends—Reachesher home in safety—Petalesharro, her deliverer—Hisperson and character—Bloody rite abolished. | |
| THE HERMITESS OF ATHABASCA. | [227] |
| The wigwam of Kaf-ne-wah-go—His family—Tula, his onlydaughter—O-ken-áh-ga, her husband—The Athapuscowssteal in at night—The chiefs murdered—Tula a captive—Herinfant boy murdered before her eyes—The Chippeways inpursuit of the murderers—Following the trail—The enemyovertaken—Retribution wreaked upon the innocent—Thedeep grief of Tula—Her weary marches—Her captorsencamp—The tempest—She escapes in the darkness—Vainattempts to discover her retreat—Seeks to find her way backto her people—The forest—A midnight intruder—She climbsa tree—Is besieged—Assaulted—Repels and destroys theenemy—Intricacies and dangers of the forest—An opening,but no light—Bewildered—Resolves to go no farther—Findsa convenient spot—builds a cabin—her house-keeping—Heringenuity, industry and taste—The Hermitess discovered—Hersolitude reluctantly abandoned—Indian mode of obtaininga wife—Journeyings—A new party—An unexpected meeting. | |
THE AZTEC PRINCESS,
OR
DESTINY FORESHADOWED.
|
Rapacious Spain Followed her bold discoverer o’er the main; A rabid race, fanatically bold, And steeled to cruelty by lust of gold, Traversed the waves, the unknown world explored, The cross their standard, but their path the sword; Their steps were graves; o’er prostrate realms they trod, They worshipped Mammon, while they vowed to God. |