Chap. 18-1

Ancient America.

159

CHAPTER XVIII.

On tho hydraulic works of the ancient inhabitants of America: Population of Anahuac—Ferocity of theSpanish invaders—Subject of ancient hydraulic works interesting—Aqueducts of the Toltecs —AncientMexican wells—Houses suppüed with water by pipes—Palace of Motezuma—Perfection of Mexicanworks in metals—Cortez—Market in ancient Mexico—Hydraulic works—Fountains and jets d’eau—No-ria and other machines—Paleaque: its aqueducts, hieroglyphics, &c.—Wells in ancient and modernYucatan—Relics of former ages, and traditions of the Indians. Hydraulic works of the Peruvians:Customs relating to water—Humanity of the early Incas —Aqueducts and reservoirs—Resemblance ofPeruvian and Egyptian customs—Garcilasso—Civilization in Peru before the times of the Incas—Giants—Wells—Stupendous aqueducts, and other monuments—Atabalipa —Pulleys—Cisterns of gold and sil-vcr in the houses of the Incas—Temples and gardens supplied by pipes—Temple at Cusco ; its water-works and Utensils—Embroidered cloth—Manco Capac.

It has been a subject of regret, that we have been unable to obtain anyspecific information, respecting the employment of machines to raisewater on the American continents, previous to the visit of Europeans inthe 15th and 16th centuries. And yet there can, we think, be scarcely adoubt, that in those countries where civilization and the arts had madeconsiderable progress, as Peru , Chili, Guatimala, and Mexico , such ma-chines had long been in use. Unfortunately, accounts of those countriesby early European writers, contain little eise than details of the success-ful villany of those savage adventurers, who, under the cloak of religion,and by the most revolting perfidy, robbed the natives of their indepen-dence, their property, and myriads of them of their lives.

It is impossible to reflect on the great population of ancient Anahuac—the progress which the natives had made in the arts—the Separation oftrades and professions—their extensive manufactures—the splendor oftheir buildings—their laws—the rieh produce of their highly cultivatedfields—the freedom and prosperity of the republics of Tlascala, and thecomparative general happiness of the inhabitants ; with the utter desola-tion brought on them and their country by the Spaniards—without feelingemotions of unmitigated indignation. No one can read even Solls, theadvocate of Cortez and the palliator of his conduct, without being thrilledwith horror at the uniform treachery, cruelty, and blasphemy of that man.His watchword of ‘ the Holy Ghost,’ while slaughtering the natives on oneoccasion like sheep, conveys but an imperfect idea of his ferocity and in-difference to their sufferings, and of the disgusting affectation of promotingchristianity, under which he pretended to act. ‘ Religion,’ says Solis, ‘ wasalways his principal care.’ The Spaniards affected to shudder at the san-grnnary gods of the Mexicans, which required human sacrifices—whilethey immolated in cold blood, hecatombs of the natives to the demonsthey themselves worshipped—viz. avarice and domimon^-rmtii the landwas filled with slaughter, and whitened with the bones of their victims.Itissaid, that “ in seventeen years, they destroyed above six millionsof them.” No romance ever equälled in horror the tragedies per-formed by Almagro, Valdivia, Cortez and Pizarro—and yet these menbave been held up as examples of heroism, and our youth have beentaught to admire, and of course to emulate ‘ the glory of Cortez.’

It is more than probable that the people, who, in remote times, in-aabited the Southern continent and Mexico , remains of some of whose