The Indigenous Civilizations of America [pp. 468-474]

1875.] THE INDIGENOUS CIVILIZATIONS OF AMERICA. 471
rounding nations, though some remained
unsubdued up to the time of the Conquest. The Maya division includes all
the civilized nations of Central America.
The prevailing form of government
among the Nahuas was monarchical and
nearly absolute, though some of the smaller and less powerful states affected an
aristocratic-republican system. In Tezcuco and Tlacopan the order of succession was lineal and hereditary; in Mexico
it was collateral and elective. During
the early days of the Mexican monarchy
the king was elected by the vote of all
the people, who were guided in their
choice by their leaders; later, however,
the electoral vote was intrusted to four
or five of the chief men of the empire.
Formerly, also, the king was expected
to confer with a council composed of
these electors and other important per sonages before taking any important
step; but by degrees the authority of all
tribunals was reduced almost to a dead
letter, when opposed to the royal wish.
The state in which these kings lived al most exceeds belief. "From the mo ment of his coronation," says Mr. Ban croft, "the Aztec sovereign lived in an
atmosphere of adulation unknown to
the mightiest potentate of the old world.
Reverenced as a god, the haughtiest
nobles, sovereigns in their own land,
humbled themselves before him; abso lute in power, the fate of thousands de pended upon a gesture of his hand."
The splendor of their palaces surpassed
anything we read in the Arabian Nights.
Listen: "The walls and floors of halls
and apartments were many of them faced
with slabs of marble, porphyry, jasper,
obsidian, and white tecali; lofty columns
of the same fine stones supported mar ble balconies and porticoes, every niche
and corner of which was filled with won drous ornamental carving, or held a
grinning grotesquely sculptured head.
The beams and casings were of cedar,
cypress, and other valuable woods, pro
fusely carved, and put together without
nails. The roofs of the palace buildings
formed a suite of immense terraces, from
which a magnificent view of the whole city
could be obtained. Superb mats of most
exquisite finish were spread upon the
marble floors; the tapestry that draped
the walls and the curtains that hung before the windows were made of a fabric
most wonderful for its delicate texture,
elegant designs, and brilliant colors;
through the halls and corridors a thousand golden censers, in which burned
precious spices and perfumes, diffused a
subtile odor." Surrounding the palace
were splendid gardens, filled with fountains and strange birds and flowers. The
royal table was graced by as many as
three thousand dishes at each meal. The
dinner-service was of the finest ware of
Cholula, a city celebrated for its pottery,
and many of the goblets were of gold or
silver, or fashioned of beautiful shells.
Montezuma is said to have possessed
a complete service of solid gold, but as
it was considered below a king's dignity to use anything at table twice, even
the Nahua Elagabalus was obliged to
keep this costly dinner-set in the temple. Four hundred pages and a number
of beautiful women waited at table, yet
the king ate alone, if we except four or
five privileged nobles who stood behind
his seat and occasionally received a mor sel from the royal plate as an especial
favor. Yet with all this, and much more,
these demi-gods were not exempt from
that unrest which clings to the "head
that wears a crown." Hear the Tezcu can Solomon, Nezahualcoyotl the king:
"The sweet things of life are but shadows;
The triumphs, the honors, what are they
But dreams that are idle and last not,
Though clothed in a semblance of being?
* * * * * * *
I would that those living in friendship,
Whom the thread of strong love doth encircle,
Could see the sharp sword of the death-god.
For, verily, pleasure is fleeting,
All sweetness must change in the future,
The good things of life are inconstant."