The Slave Sculptor — page 42: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

4a THE SLAVE SCULPTOR surrounded by myriad hosts, often threatened with entire annihils« tion, had marched on undaunted, unappalled, until now they gazed upon the capital of whose splendor they had been told. Though less than four hundred Spaniards, they marched forward. They beheld on either side, indications of wealth, power, and civilization. Al- though they had looked upon imposing scenery along their course, yet that encompassing the great capital was indescribably magnifi- cent. Entering on the southern dike (which was an immense construc- tion of huge stones laid in cement, and wide enough for ten horse- men to ride abreast), they discovered that the lake was absolutely darkened by swarms of canoes, filled with Indians, who clambered up the side of the causeway, and gazed upon the strangers with curi- ous astonishment. At the distance of half a league from the capital, was a solid wall across the causeway, called Fort Xoloc. Here the Spaniards were met by a large number of Aztec caciques, who had come out to an- pee the approach of the emperor and to welcome the white men the capital, After ae usual ceremonies were concluded, the Spaniards followed their conductors toward the city; and, as they crossed a drawbridge, over an opening in the dike, they felt how truly they had committed themselves to the mercy of Montezuma, who, by destroying the bridges, could cut off their retreat. Fears were not absent from their breasts when they beheld the glittering retinue of the emperor emerge from the great street which led through the heart of the capital. The monarch was borne in a palanquin of burnished gold, raised upon the shoulders of nobles, and shaded by a canopy of gorgeous feather-work, fringed with pen- dant drops of silver and shells. When the train neared the Spaniards, it halted, and Montezuma descended from the litter, assisted by the lords of Tezcuco and Iztaplapan, As the monarch advanced, under a canopy held over him by young nobles, the obsequious attendants spread a cotton tapestry on the ground that the Imperial feet might not come in con- tact with the rude earth. His subjects, who lined either side of the causeway, bowed with humble reverence as he passed, — showing, by their attitude, the great respect which they entertained for their sovereign. Montezuma was habited in a square filmatli, or cloak, made of the finest cotton. His feet were cased in sandals, having soles of feathers, pearls, and precious stones. On his head, held by a golden band of superb wor hip, was a panache of rary of royal green, which waved gracefully over his shoulders. was otherwise adorned with the greatest magnificence; and, as he moved along, the rays of the sun were refiected in ten thousand transparent brilli- ancies His demeanor and bearing were courteous and condescend- conmicldookks. Conn