Mexico and Its Religion

CHAPTER I.. Arrival At Vera Cruz.--Its Appearance From the Steamer.--Getting

Arrival at Vera Cruz.--Its appearance from the Steamer.--Getting Ashore.--Within the City.--Throwing Stones at an Image.--Antiquity of Vera Cruz.--Its Commerce.--The great Norther of 1852.--A little Steamer rides out the Tempest.--The Vomito, or Yellow Fever.--Ravages of the Vomito.--The Vomito brought from Africa in Slave-ships.--A curious old Book.--Our Monk arrives at Vera Cruz, and what befalls him there.--Life in a Convent.--A nice young Prior.--Our Monk finds himself in another World 15

CHAPTER II.. An Historical Sketch.--Truth Seldom Spoken of Santa Anna.--Santa

An historical Sketch.--Truth seldom spoken of Santa Anna.--Santa Anna's early Life.--Causes of the Revolution.--The Virgin Mary's Approval of King Ferdinand.--The Inquisition imprisons the Vice-King.--Santa Anna enters the King's Army.--The plan of Iguala.--The War of the two Virgins.--Santa Anna pronounces for Independence 30

CHAPTER III.. Incidents of Travel.--the Great Road to the Interior.--Mexican

Incidents of Travel.--The Great Road to the Interior.--Mexican Diligences.--The Priest was the first Passenger robbed.--The National Bridge.--A Conducta of Silver.--Our Monk visits Old Vera Cruz.--They grant to the Indians forty Years of Indulgence in return for their Hospitality.--The Artist among Robbers.--Mexican Scholars in the United States.--Encerro 39

CHAPTER IV.. Jalapa.--the Extraordinary Beauty and Fertility of This

Jalapa.--The extraordinary Beauty and Fertility of this Spot.--Jalap, Sarsaparilla, Myrtle, Vanilla, Cochineal, and Wood of Tobasco.--The charming Situation of Jalapa.--Its Flowers and its Fruits.--Magnificent Views.--The tradition that Jalapa was Paradise.--A speck of War.--The Marriage of a Heretic.--A gambling Scene in a Convent 52

CHAPTER V.. The War of the Secret Political Societies of Mexico.--the Scotch

The War of the Secret Political Societies of Mexico.--The Scotch and the York Free-Masons.--Anti-Masons.--Rival Classes compose Scotch Lodges.--The Yorkinos.--Men desert from the Scotch to the York Lodges.--Law to suppress Secret Societies.--The Escoces, or Scotch Masons, take up arms.--The Battle.--Their total Defeat 68

CHAPTER VI.. Mexico Becomes an Empire.--Santa Anna Deposes the Emperor.--He

Mexico becomes an Empire.--Santa Anna deposes the Emperor.--He proclaims a Republic.--He pronounces against the Election of Pedraza, the second President.--His Situation in the Convent at Oajaca.--He captures the Spanish Armada.--And is made General of Division 73

CHAPTER VII.. In the Stage and Out of the Stage.--Still Climbing.--a Moment's

In the Stage and out of the Stage.--Still climbing.--A moment's View of all the Kingdoms of the World.--Again in Obscurity.--The Maguey, or Century Plant.--The many uses of the Maguey.--The intoxicating juice of the Maguey.--Pulque.--Immense Consumption of Pulque.--City of Perote.--Castle of San Carlos de Perote.--Starlight upon the Table-land.--Tequisquita.--"The Bad Land."--A very old Beggar.--Arrive at Puebla 79

CHAPTER VIII.. Pueblo.--the Miracle of the Angels.--a City of Priests.--Marianna

Pueblo.--The Miracle of the Angels.--A City of Priests.--Marianna in Bronze.--The Vega of Puebla.--First View of the Pyramid of Cholula.--Modern Additions to it.--The View from its Top.--Quetzalcoatl.--Cholula and Tlascala.--Cholula without the Poetry.--Indian Relics 88

CHAPTER IX.. A Ride to Popocatapetl.--the Village of Atlizco.--the Old Man

A Ride to Popocatapetl.--The Village of Atlizco.--The old Man of Atlizco and the Inquisition.--A novel Mode of Escape.--An avenging Ghost.--The Vice-King Ravillagigedo.--The Court of the Vice-King and the Inquisition.--Ascent of Popocatapetl.--How a Party perished by Night.--The Crater and the House in it.--Descent into the Crater.--The Interior.--The Workmen in the Volcano.--The View from Popocatapetl.--The first White that climbed Popocatapetl.--The Story of Corchado.--Corchado converts the Volcano into a Sulphur-mine 101

CHAPTER X.. Texas.--Battle of Madina.--First Introduction of Americans Into

Texas.--Battle of Madina.--First Introduction of Americans into Texas.--Usurpation of Bustamente.--Texas owed no Allegiance to the Usurper.--The good Faith of the United States in the Acquisition of Louisiana and Texas.--Santa Anna pronounces against Bustamente.--Santa Anna in Texas.--A Mexican's Denunciation of the Texan War.--His Idea of our Revolution.--He complains of our grasping Spirit.--The right of the United States to occupy unsettled Territory.--A few more Pronunciamientos of Santa Anna.--The Adventures of Santa Anna to the present Date. 113

CHAPTER XI.. From Puebla to Mexico.--the Dread of Robbers.--the

From Puebla to Mexico.--The Dread of Robbers.--The Escort.--Tlascala.--The Exaggerations of Cortez and Bernal Diaz.--The Truth about Tlascala.--The Advantages of Tlascala to Cortez.--Who was Bernal Diaz.--Who wrote his History.--First View of Mexico. 122

CHAPTER XII.. Acapulco.--the Advantages of a Western Voyage to India.--the

Acapulco.--The Advantages of a Western Voyage to India.--The great annual Fair of Acapulco.--The Village and Harbor of Acapulco.--The War of Santa Anna and Alvarez.--The Retreat.--Traveling alone and unarmed.--The Peregrino Pass.--Quiricua and Cretinism.--Chilpanzingo.--An ill-clad Judge.--Iguala.--Alpayaca.--Cuarnavaca. 132

CHAPTER XIII.. California.--Pearl Fisheries.--Missions.--Indian

California.--Pearl Fisheries.--Missions.--Indian Marriages.--Villages.--Precious Metals.--The Conquest of California compared with that of Mexico.--Upper California under the Spaniards.--Mexican Conquest of California in 1825.--The March.--The Conquest.--California under the Mexicans.--American Conquest.--Sinews of foreign Wars.--A Protestant and religious War.--Early Settlers compared.--Mexico in the Heyday of Prosperity.--Rich Costume of the Women.--Superstitious Worship.--When I first saw California.--Lawyers without Laws.--A primitive Court.--A Territorial Judge in San Francisco.--Mistaken Philanthropy.--Mexican Side of the Picture.--Great Alms.--City of Mexico overwhelmed by a Water-spout.--The Superiority of Californians. 142

CHAPTER XIV.. First Sight of the Valley of Mexico.--a Venice in a Mountain

First Sight of the Valley of Mexico.--A Venice in a mountain Valley.--An Emperor waiting his Murderers.--Cortez mowing down unarmed Indians.--A new kind of Piety.--Capture of an Emperor.--Torturing an Emperor to Death.--The Children paying the Penalty of their Fathers' Crimes.--The Aztecs and other Indians.--The Difference is in the Historians.--The Superstitions of the Indians.--The Valley of Mexico.--An American Survey of the Valley.--A topographical View.--The Ponds Chalco, Xochimulco, and Tezcuco were never Lakes. 167

CHAPTER XV.. The Two Valleys.--the Lake with a Leaky Bottom.--the Water Could

The Two Valleys.--The lake with a leaky Bottom.--The Water could not have been higher.--Nor could the Lagunas or Ponds have been much deeper.--The Brigantines only flat-bottomed Boats.--The Causeway Canals fix the size of the Brigantines.--The Street Canals.--Stagnant Water unfit for Canals.--The probable Dimensions of the City Canals.--Difficulties of disproving a Fiction.--A Dike or Levee.--The Canal of Huehuetoca.--The Map of Cortez.--Wise Provision of Providence.--The Fiction about the numerous Cities in and about the Lake 176

CHAPTER XVI.. The Chinampas or Water Gardens.--Laws of Nature Not Set

The Chinampas or Water Gardens.--Laws of Nature not set aside.--Mud will not float.--The present Chinampas.--They never could have been floating Gardens.--Relations of the Chinampas to the ancient State of the Lake in the Valley 186

CHAPTER XVII.. The Gambling Festival of San Augustine.--Suppressed by

The gambling Festival of San Augustine.--Suppressed by Government.--The Losses of the Saint by the Suppression of Gambling.--How Travelers live in the Interior.--A Visit to the Palace 192

CHAPTER XVIII.. Visit to Contreras and San Angel.--the End of a Brave Soldier.--a

Visit to Contreras and San Angel.--The End of a brave Soldier.--A Place of Skulls.--A New England Dinner.--An Adventure with Robbers--doubtful.--Reasons for revisiting Mexico.--The Battle at the Mountain of Crosses.--A peculiar Variety of the Cactus.--Three Men gibbeted for robbing a Bishop.--A Court upon Horseback.--The retreat of Cortez to Otumba.--A venerable Cypress Grove.--Unexpectedly comfortable Quarters.--An English Dinner at Tezcuco.--Pleasures unknown to the Kings of Tezcuco.--Relics of Tezcuco.--The Appearance of the Virgin Mary at Tezcuco.--The Causeways of Mexico 196

CHAPTER XIX.. The Streets of Tacuba.--the Spaniards and the Indian Women.--the

The Streets of Tacuba.--The Spaniards and the Indian Women.--The Retreat of Cortez.--The Aqueducts of Mexico.--The English and American Burying-grounds.--The Protestant President.--The rival Virgins.--An Image out of Favor.--The Aztecs and the Spaniards 208

CHAPTER XX.. The Paseo At Evening.--Ride to Chapultepec.--the Old Cypresses

The Paseo at Evening.--Ride to Chapultepec.--The old Cypresses of Chapultepec.--The Capture of Chapultepec.--Molina del Rey.--Tacubaya.--Don Manuel Escandon.--The Tobacco Monopoly.--The Palace of Escandon.--The "Desierto."--Hermits.--Monks in the Conflict with Satan.--Our Lady of Carmel 219

CHAPTER XXI.. Walk to Guadalupe.--Our Embassador Kneeling to the Host.--an

Walk to Guadalupe.--Our Embassador kneeling to the Host.--An Embassador with, and one without Lace.--First sight of Santa Anna.--Indian Dance in Church.--Juan Diego not Saint Thomas.--The Miracle proved at Rome.--The Story of Juan Diego.--The holy Well of Guadalupe.--The Temple of the Virgin.--Public Worship interdicted by the Archbishop.--Refuses to revoke his Interdict.--He fled to Guadalupe and took Sanctuary.--Refused to leave the Altar.--The Arrest at the Altar 229

CHAPTER XXII.. The Old Indian City of Mexico.--the Mosques.--Probable Extent of

The old Indian City of Mexico.--The Mosques.--Probable Extent of Civilization.--Aztecs acquired Arts of the Toltecs.--Toltec Civilization, ancient and original.--The Pyramid of Papantla.--The Plunder of Civilization.--Mexico as described by Cortez.--Montezuma's Court.--The eight Months that Cortez held Montezuma.--What happened for the next ten Months.--The Siege of Mexico by Cortez.--Aztecs conquered by Famine and Thirst.--Heroes on Paper and Victories without Bloodshed.--Cortez and Morgan 242

CHAPTER XXIII.. The New City of Mexico.--the Discoveries of Gold.--Ruins At

The new City of Mexico.--The Discoveries of Gold.--Ruins at Mexico.--The Monks, and what Cortez gained by his Piety.--The City of Mexico again rebuilt.--The City under Ravillagigedo.--The National Palace.--The Cathedral.--A whole Museum turned Saints.--All kneel together.--The San Carlos Academy of Arts.--Reign of Carlos III.--The Mineria 259

CHAPTER XXIV.. The National Museum.--Marianna and Cortez.--the Small Value of

The National Museum.--Marianna and Cortez.--The small Value of this Collection.--The Botanic Garden.--The Market of Santa Anna.--The Acordada Prison.--The unfortunate Prisoner.--The Causes of that Night of Terror.--The Sacking of the City.--The Parian.--The Causes of the Ruin of the Parian.--Change in the Standard of Color.--The Ashes of Cortez 271

CHAPTER XXV.. The Priests Gainers by the Independence.--Improved Condition of

The Priests gainers by the Independence.--Improved Condition of the Peons.--Mexican Mechanics.--The Oppression they suffer.--Low state of the Mechanic Arts.--The Story of the Portress.--Charity of the Poor.--The Whites not superior to Meztizos.--License and Woman's Rights at Mexico.--The probable Future of Mexico.--Mormonism impending over Mexico.--Mormonism and Mohammedanism 280

CHAPTER XXVI.. The Plaza of the Inquisition.--the Two Modes of Human

The Plaza of the Inquisition.--The two Modes of human Sacrifice, the Aztec and the Spanish.--Threefold Power of the Inquisition.--Visit to the House of the Inquisition.--The Prison and Place of Torture.--The Story of William Lamport.--The little and the big Auto da Fe.--The Inquisition the real Government.--Ruin of Spanish Nationality.--The political Uses of theInquisition.--Political Causes of the Bigotry of Philip II.--His eldest Son dies mysteriously.--The Dominion of Priests continues tillthe French Invasion 292

CHAPTER XXVII.. Miracles and Earthquakes.--the Saints in Times of Ignorance.--the

Miracles and Earthquakes.--The Saints in Times of Ignorance.--The Eruption of Jorullo.--The Curse of the Capuchins.--The Consequences of the Curse.--The unfulfilled Curse.--The Population of the Republic.--Depopulation from 1810 to 1840.--The Mixture of Whites and Indians not prolific.--The pure Indians.--The Meztizos.--The White Population.--Negroes and Zambos.--The Jew and the Law of Generation.--The same Law applies to Cattle.--It governs the Generation of Plants.--Intemperance and Generation.--Meztizo Plants short-lived.--Mexico can not be resuscitated.--She can not recover her Northern Provinces 304

CHAPTER XXVIII.

The Church of Mexico.--Its present Condition and Power.--The Number of the "Religios."--The Wealth of the Church.--The Money-power of the Church.--The Power of Assassination.--Educating the People robs the Priest.--Making and adoring Images.--The Progress downward 319

CHAPTER XXIX.. Causes That Have Diminished the Religios--the Provincials and

Causes that have diminished the Religios--The Provincials and Superiors of Convents.--The perfect Organization.--The Monks.--San Franciscans.--Dominicans.--Carmelites.--The well-reputed Orders.--The Jesuits.--The Nuns.--How Novices are procured.--Contrasted with a Quaker Prison.--The poor deluded Nun.--A good old Quaker Woman not a Saint.--Protestantism felt in Mexico 330

CHAPTER XXX.. The Necessity of Large Capitals in Mexico.--the Finances and

The Necessity of large Capitals in Mexico.--The Finances and Revenue.--The impoverished Creditors of the State.--Princely Wealth of Individuals 348

Continue reading Mexico and Its Religion free in the Wunder reader →