The ancient cities of the New World : being travels and explorations in Mexico and Central America from 1857-1882 . reign of nearly fifty years, during whichhe had freed his country from a foreign tyrant, breathed new liteInto the nation, renewed its ancient institutions, and seen itadvancing towards a higher standard of civilisation ; and he sawhis end approach with the same serenity that he had shown alikeIn misfortune and In prosperity. Such is the very imperfectaccount of a prince who was the glory of his nation ; whose muse,by turns. Invited men to enjoy the passing hour, or bade thembewa
The ancient cities of the New World : being travels and explorations in Mexico and Central America from 1857-1882 . reign of nearly fifty years, during whichhe had freed his country from a foreign tyrant, breathed new liteInto the nation, renewed its ancient institutions, and seen itadvancing towards a higher standard of civilisation ; and he sawhis end approach with the same serenity that he had shown alikeIn misfortune and In prosperity. Such is the very imperfectaccount of a prince who was the glory of his nation ; whose muse,by turns. Invited men to enjoy the passing hour, or bade thembeware of the vanity of all earthly pleasures, teaching them tolook beyond the grave for things that will endure. But before we go on to Chapultepec, we must call at Tacuba,and visit the famous Ahuahuete, a kind of cypress, under whoseshelter Cortez, on the night of July i, 1520, came to rest hisweary limbs and mourn over the cause which had so greatlyimperilled his safety and that of his troops, as to make Imperativethe evacuation of Mexico, in which many of his most trusty 38 The Ancient Cities of the New TREE OF THE NOCHE TRISTE, AT POPOTLAN. veterans were sacrificed. The nlofht was called on this accountNoche trisle, Melancholy ni<j^ht. But to explain. We will give a short sketch of the causes TiiK Indians. 39 which brought about this sad event, quoting largely from FatherDuran, Ramirez, and Sahagun : It was in the month of May, the Mexican toxcail, when itwas common for the Aztecs to celebrate their great annual festivalin honour of their war-god Htiitzilopochtli, which was com-memorated by sacrifice, religious songs and dances, in which allthe nobility engaged, displaying their magnificent gala costumes,with their brilliant mantles of feather-work, sprinkled with preciousstones, and their necks, arms, and legs ornamented with collarsand bracelets of gold. Alvarado, whom Cortez had left aslieutenant of his forces, during his expedition against his for-midable enemy,
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