26 



diplomacy - — Montezuma's presents. 



and martial character, enabled it to resist the combined forces of 

 the Aztecs for upwards of two hundred years. 



Such was the state of the empire when the news of Cortez's 

 arrival became the subject of discussion in Mexico. Some were 

 for open or wily resistance. Others were oppressed with supersti- 

 tious fears. But Montezuma, adopting a medium but fatal course, 

 resolved, without delay, to send an embassy with such gifts as he 

 imagined would impress the strangers with the idea of his 

 magnificence and power, whilst, at the same time, he cour- 

 teously commanded the adventurers to refrain from approaching 

 his capital. 



Meanwhile the Spaniards restlessly endured the scorching heats 

 and manifold annoyances of the coast, and were amusing them- 

 selves by a paltry traffic with the Indians, whose offerings were 

 generally of but trifling value. After the expiration of a week, 

 however, the returned couriers and the embassy approached the 

 camp. The time is seemingly short when we consider the 

 difficulty of transportation through a mountain country, and recol- 

 lect that the Mexicans, who were without horses, had been obliged 

 to traverse the distance on foot. But it is related on ample 

 authority, — so perfectly were the posts arranged among these 

 semi-civilized people, — that tidings were borne in the short period 

 of twenty-four hours from the city to the sea, and, consequently, 

 that three or four days were ample for the journey of the envoys 

 of Montezuma, upon a matter of so much national importance. 



The two Aztec nobles, accompanied by the Governor of the 

 province, Teuhtle, did not approach with empty hands the men 

 whom they hoped to bribe if they could not intimidate. Gold and 

 native fabrics of the most delicate character ; shields, helmets, 

 cuirasses, collars, bracelets, sandals, fans, pearls, precious stones ; 

 loads of cotton cloth, extraordinary manufactures of feathers, 

 circular plates of gold and silver as large as carriage wheels, and 

 the Spanish helmet filled with golden grains ; were all spread out, 

 as a free gift from the Emperor to the Spaniards ! 



With these magnificent presents, Montezuma replied to the 

 request of Cortez, that it would give him pleasure to com- 

 municate with so mighty a monarch as the king of Spain, whom 

 he respected highly, but that he could not gratify himself by 

 according the foreign envoy a personal interview, inasmuch as the 

 distance to his capital was great, and the toilsome journey among 

 the mountains was beset with dangers from formidable enemies. 

 He could do no more, therefore, than bid the strangers farewell, 



