History of Mexico, Volume 1, 1516-1521Bancroft, Hubert Howe
History
History of Mexico, Volume 1, 1516-1521
Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Mexico -- History
the Spaniards’ arrival, and remained immovable in the air
for several days. _Hist. Ecles._, 180. Before Nezahualpilli
returned to his capital, after interpreting the fiery signs,
he was feasted by Montezuma, and the two monarchs thereupon
retired to the diviners’ chamber to search into the legends
of their forefathers for further light upon the omens. From
this circumstance grew the story that the twain had made a
journey to the ancient home of their race. Nezahualpilli,
being a conjurer, took Montezuma through the air to the
Seven Caves, where they conversed with the brethren of
their ancestors. On learning that the first named was a
descendant of the great Chichimecatl Xolotl, he was offered
the government of this region, but declined, promising,
however, to return at a later date. _Torquemada_, i. 212-13.
Duran applies to the reign of Montezuma I. a similar story,
which is more appropriate to the present subject. Eager
to acquaint his ancestors with the glorious achievements
of their progeny, and to learn something of the old home,
this monarch sent a force of sixty sorcerers on a mission
to Chicomoztoc, with numerous presents for Coatlicue, the
mother of the divine Huitzilopochtli. Transforming themselves
into animals, they reached the sacred region occupied by
some Aztecs whom the god had left behind when he set out on
his career of conquest. These venerable settlers were not a
little surprised to behold in the effeminate and ephemeral
specimens before them the descendants of that doughty leader
and of his companions. On reaching the abode of the divine
mother, the sorcerers found an old woman sorrowing over her
lost son. The news of his glorious fate roused her interest,
and she was induced to reveal several prophecies by her son,
among them one concerning the coming of a strange people
to wrest the land from the Mexicans. The messengers were
dismissed with presents of food and clothing, and returned
to their master with twenty of their number missing. _Hist.
Ind._, MS., i. 467-86. Additional facts may be found in
_Native Races_, v. 422-4, etc. Another visit to the spirit
world is attributed to Papantzin, sister of Montezuma II.,
who, shortly after his accession, had married the lord
of Tlatelulco. He soon died, and after ruling for a few
years she, in 1509, followed him to the grave. She was
buried with great pomp in her garden, in a vault closed by
a flag-stone. The next morning she was discovered sitting
on the steps of the bath adjoining the vault. Her niece,
a child of five or six years, was the first to notice her.
Too young to understand what would frighten older heads, she
fearlessly approached the resurrected woman, and was told
to call Papantzin’s mayordoma. This old dame, on receiving
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