95 



unhappy Montezuma thought he recognized in 

 the soldiers of Cortez. " We know by our 

 books," said he, in his first interview with the 

 Spanish General, " that myself, and those who 

 " inhabit this country, are not natives, but 

 " strangers, who came from a great distance. 

 " We know also, that the chief, who led our 

 " ancestors hither, returned for a certain time to 

 % his primitive country, and thence came back 

 " to seek those, who were here established. He 

 " found them married to the women of this land, 

 " having a numerous posterity, and living in 

 " cities, which they had built. Our ancestors 

 " hearkened not to their ancient master, and he 

 " returned alone. We have always believed, that 

 " his descendants would one day come to take 

 " possession of this country. Since you arrive 

 " from that region, where the Sun rises, and, as 

 " you assure me, you have long known us, I 

 " cannot doubt, but that the king, who sends 

 " you, is our natural master*." 



Another very remarkable tradition still exists 

 among the Indians of Cholula, according to 

 which the great pyramid was not originally 

 destined to serve for the worship of Quetzalcoatl. 

 After my return to Europe, on examining at 

 Rome the Mexican manuscript in the Vatican 

 library, I found, that this same tradition was 



* First Letter of Cortez, § 21 and 29. 



