within their reach: their hostile and revengeful spirit only
ceased when life was extinct. Contemplating this deadly conflict,
we could not but admire the mercy of God that not one of our
number was killed, and only one slightly wounded. One Bechuana
lost his life while too eagerly seeking for plunder. The slain of
the enemy was between four and five hundred.

"The Mantatees are a tall, robust people, in features resembling
the Bechuanas; the dress, consisting of prepared ox-hides,
hanging doubly over their shoulders. The men, during the
engagement, were nearly naked, having on their heads a round
cockade of black ostrich feathers. Their ornaments were large
copper rings, sometimes eight in number, worn round their necks,
with numerous arm, leg, and ear rings of the same material. Their
weapons were war-axes of various shapes, and clubs. Into many of
their knob-sticks were inserted pieces of iron resembling a
sickle, but more curved, sometimes to a circle, and sharp on the
outside. They appeared more rude and barbarous than the tribes
around us, the natural consequences of the warlike life they had
led. They were suffering dreadfully from want; even in the heat
of battle, the poorest class seized pieces of meat and devoured
them raw."

CHAPTER XXIII.

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.

The city of Mexico, as rebuilt by Cortez, was but an humble affair. The
small amount of plunder realized from the city destroyed; the necessity
for large remittances to secure peace at the Spanish court; the general
poverty and destitution of the Indians inhabiting the surrounding
villages, and the narrow limits of the Aztec empire, were great
impediments in the way of erecting a magnificent city. On a small
scale, he resembled Santa Anna in the activity with which he could
organize an army after defeat, or resuscitate affairs when apparently
irretrievable. He knew how to improve the most slender means to the
accomplishment of ulterior purposes. Perseverance is not one of the
leading characteristics of