Page:The Conquest of Mexico Volume 1.djvu/469



Mexico. It would have much facilitated reference to his plates, if they had been numbered— a strange omission!

Page 29 (1).— The caciques, who submitted to the allied arms, were usually confirmed in their authority, and the conquered places allowed to retain their laws and usages. (Zurita, Rapport, p. 67.) The conquests were not always partitioned, but sometimes, singularly enough, were held in common by the three powers.—Ibid., p. 1 1.

Page 29 (2).— The Hon. C. A. Murray, whose imperturbable good humour under real troubles forms a contrast, rather striking, to the sensitiveness of some of his predecessors to imaginary ones, tells us, among other marvels, that an Indian of his party travelled a hundred miles in four-and-twenty hours. (Travels in N. America [New York, 1839), vol. i. p. 193.) The Greek, who, according to Plutarch, brought the news of victory at Platea, a hundred and twenty-five miles, in a day, was a better traveller still. Some interesting facts on the pedestrian capabilities of a man in the savage state are collected by Buffon, who concludes, truly enough, "L'homme civilisé ne connait pas ses forces."—(Histoire Naturelle; De la Jeunesse.)

Page 29 (3).— Torquemada, Monarch. Ind., lib. 14, cap. 1. The same wants led to the same expedients in ancient Rome, and still more ancient Persia. "Nothing in the world is borne so swiftly," says Herodotus, "as messages by the Persian couriers;" which his commentator, Valckenaer, prudently qualifies by the exception of the carrier pigeon. (Herodotus, Hist., Urania, sec. 98, nec non Adnot. ed. Schweighäuser.) Couriers are noticed, in the thirteenth century, in China, by-Marco Polo. Their stations were only three miles apart, and they accomplished five days' journey in one. (Viaggi di Marco Polo, lib. 2, cap. 20, ap. Ramusio, tom. ii.) A similar arrangement for posts subsists there at the present day, and excited the admiration of a modern traveller. (Anderson, British Embassy to China [London, 1796], p. 282.) In all these cases, the posts were for the use of government only.

Page 30 (1).— Sahagun, Mist, de Nueva España, lib. 3. Apend., cap. 3.

Page 30 (2).— Zurita, Rapport, pp. 68, 120.—Col. of Mendoza, ap. Antiq. of Mexico, vol. i. Pl. 67; vol. vi. p. 74.—Torquemada, Monarch. Ind., lib. 14, cap. i. The reader will find a remarkable resemblance to these military usages in those of the early Romans.—Comp. Liv. Hist., lib. I, cap. 32; lib. 4, cap. 30, et abili.

Page 31 (1).— Their mail, if mail it may be called, was woven Of vegetable down, like finest flax. Bleached to the whiteness of new-fallen snow."

Others, of higher office, were arrayed In feathery breastplates, of more gorgeous hue Than the gay plumage of the mountain cock. Than the pheasant's glittering pride. But what were these, Or what the thin gold hauberk, when opposed To arms like ours in battle?" Madoc, P. I, canto 7.

Beautiful painting! One may doubt, however, the propriety of the Welshman's vaunt, before the use of firearms.

Page 32 (1).— Col. of Mendoza, ap. Antiq. of Mexico, vol. i. Plates 65, 66; vol. vi. p. 73.—Sahagun, Hist, de Nueva España, lib. 8, cap. 12.—Toribio, Hist, de los Indios, MS., Parte i, cap. v—Torquemada, Monarch. Ind., lib. 14, cap. 3.—Relatione d'un gentil' huomo, ap. Ramusio,