CHAPTER I.
The Narrator’s personal history.—The Legend.
IN common life a community of interests is sufficient to establish a friendliness of feeling between the most selfish minds. But when men join in hazardous enterprises, risking life to gain, what to the rest of the world it seems positive insanity to attempt, there is mostly a stronger feeling existent. If they are two, and, as it generally happens, one only is really a dominant spirit, the attachment of his companion to himself is based principally upon reverence; while his affection springs from the pleasure that almost all men feel in having some one to confide in, and from vanity gratified by the deference (real but not servile) and devotion of his companion.
Such friends had Columbus and Cortes, and such, to a certain extent, is the relation between the writer and his companion. Thus it is most proper that I, who neither conceived, nor was essentially connected with the conception of the plans of the enterprise, yet was accessory to their being carried out, should pen the following narrative, and at the same time do justice to the great scientific ability and daring genius of my fellow-adventurer, to whom alone the success of the enterprise is due. Without further preface, then, I shall commence the narration, of our history, touching upon the subject of my parentage and early life, because necessary, but with all possible brevity.
My father was an English merchant of the name of Howard, formerly resident at Barcelona, in Spain, where he married a Spanish lady of fortune, of which union I am the sole offspring, my mother dying when I was but two years old. My father desiring to give me a good English education, and not being on terms of intimacy with his relations in England, in consequence of having changed his religion on his marriage with my mother, a Roman Catholic, sent me as soon as I had attained my eighth year to a private seminary in London, where I passed the next seven years of my life. At the end of that time, finding me a thorough master of the English language, and well read in the literature of the country, he transferred me and my studies to another Roman Catholic school at Madrid, where I remained till I had attained the age of twenty-four.
My father, who had long since given up trading, had been for some time residing at the old cathedral town of Alicante, his wife’s native place, whose relations were rather proud of the connexion. The family name was Guatala, and when I quitted Alicante, they were then residing at the south end of the Strada Nevada.
The half monastic routine of my studies was abruptly broken by the sudden death of my father, and I was forced to quit Madrid for some months to arrange my affairs. On my arrival at Alicante, I found myself the possessor of a fortune of some fifty thousand pounds, the care of which I consigned to a respectable notary, till I should have determined on my future course of life.
During my stay at Alicante, finding time hanging somewhat heavily on my hands, I naturally followed the bent of my inclination, in visiting the principal churches and convents of the town; not but that, had I been so disposed, I could have obtained an entrée into the fashionable society of the place. But circumstanced as I was, and with a mind devotedly attached to scientific and literary pursuits, even the attentions of relations grew wearisome to me, and at Alicante I relapsed into the secluded student life I had quitted for a time when I left Madrid.
There was an old monastery (El Monasterio de San Agustin) which possessed an antique library, comprising records and manuscripts alike ancient and curious. Many of these manuscripts were connected with the conquests of Cortes and Pizarro, the Augustine brotherhood having sent-out members of their Order with the expeditions, or soon after the establishment of each conquest.
One of the manuscripts struck me as being so peculiar in its character, that I copied it, by permission of the prior of the monastery, and added it to my own collection. As ultimately this became of the first importance, I will give the narrative portion of it entire. It is written in the form of a letter, the original being numbered cm. in the collection of curious MSS. of the seventeenth century, deposited in the library of this Augustine monastery. Of course the following is a free translation.
The Monk’s Legend
Al señor Padre Eustacio del Monasterio
de San Miguel de Alicante.
15 de Febrero de 1691.
Santisimo Padre,—Herewith I despatch several quantities of gold and curiosities, among which are some of the idols now worshipped by los infieles. But the special mission for which I was sent to Vera Cruz has not yet been perfected. General Salviro, untouched by the entreaties or commands of the Church, refuses permission to any Order to erect a religious building without the walls of Vera Cruz, alleging as a reason that he would be forced to maintain a sufficient guard of soldiers wherever such building was established.
Likewise, and in defiance of the law for the protection of the servants of the Holy Church, he has caused to be imprisoned myself as a liar and a rogue; his real object being to confiscate property righteously acquired, in a journey undertaken on my part solely to advance the interests of our holy Order—a part of which property, moreover, belongs to the Church. The moneys and other valuables sent with this are but a tithe of the bulk of my acquisitions and the Order’s rights; and these, but for the zealous secret aid of El Padre Juan, of the Franciscan Convent of St. Ursula, would have been confiscated with the rest.
I now commence the narrative for which I have been so persecuted, confidently believing that the Superior and Brethren of the Convent of San Miguel will give it entire credence, and take instant measures to reverse the unjust decision of General Salviro.
At the mandate of the Governor of Vera Cruz, I travelled on a mission across the mountains to the small town of Acaponeta, situated by the great sea that washes the western shore of this vast continent. The mission was to inquire into the truth of some complaints made by the people of the country against the soldiers established in garrison there. On my arrival, I found that my presence was scarcely necessary—the offenders having been secured, the charges proved, and the punishment inflicted. Still, spiritual control was much needed, and for this purpose I tarried awhile at Acaponeta.
Though not a large town, it is the resort of many European traders, who exchange their goods with the natives for gold. This trading is very profitable; but those who have courage sufficient to penetrate into the interior of the country, either to barter with the friendly Indians, or to seek for gold on the banks of the mountain streams, frequently return to Acaponeta with snch an amount of treasure, as to fill the bosoms of the least courageous with the desire to follow their example. The narrative of these men’s adventures much interested me, for many of them being of good education, occasionally returned with botanical and other specimens of the character of the several tracts of country through which they had passed.
I had not dwelt in Acaponeta many weeks, before one of these inland expeditions was fitted out to go northward for some hundred miles, under the guidance of two Indians, who had been liberated from captivity to another tribe a short time previous by this same band of gold-seekers, who had penetrated further than any others into the interior. These indians, judging from their features and the hideous devices wrought upon their proper flesh, belonged to a tribe wholly distinct from all that had hitherto been seen by Europeans.
Your servant Joaquin, wearied of soliciting unthinking and irreligious men, and stimulated by a holy zeal for the prosperity of the Order, determined to join this expedition, which was composed chiefly of hidalgos de sangre puro, who agreed to devote a tenth part of the treasure obtained to the monastery whose special welfare I sought, in consideration of the blessing of Holy Mary, which, through my intercession, should preserve them throughout their perilous journey.
Santisimo Padre,—On the 16th day of April, 1689, we left Acapoueta, a hand of thirty well armed men. I cannot give in this epistle even a hurried narrative of our adventures on the way, but I shall hereafter prepare a full account of the entire journey, and will forward it, with the collection of botanical specimens and native curiosities which the avarice of Salviro has left untouched, by the first ship for Spain.
For weeks we met with no greater dangers than those of the route, which embraced grand mountain scenery and weary miles of thick tangled forest, difficult to penetrate, and fatiguing alike to horses and men.
Nearly two months had we toiled on thus, and the patience of all had long departed, and was replaced by doubts of the fidelity of our guides and of the ultimate success of the expedition, when the Indians joyfully descried certain landmarks denoting that we were not far from our destination. This gave fresh impetus to our exertions, and a few days’ hard riding soon completed the distance.
It was night when we arrived at the place of anticipated treasure, and we therefore at once pitched our tents on the nearer bank of a river—the Xemoatcl, as our guides called it—the scene of our future operations.
At break of day every man was in readiness to commence the hopeful labour; but our guides, with vehement gestures, advised us first to camp on the other side of the river, as to remain where we were, being the edge of a level plain, would lay us open to attack from the roaming warlike tribes of aborigines.
On the west side of the river to which we crossed was one of a chain of mountains, running north and south further than we knew, but perhaps for many hundred miles. At the foot of this mountain—which had two peaks, the one some hundred feet higher than the other—we again pitched our tents, and in a few hours were ready to commence the search for gold.
Our most sanguine hopes were realised! for so impregnated was the sand of the river-bed with the precious metal, that on the washing of the first bucketful, even the most experienced of the gold-seekers rapturously named the place el arena de oro; indeed, at the end of the third week, the united gatherings of the band were sufficient to build and endow as costly an edifice as was ever erected to the honour of St. Miguel. Gracias á Dios! That they should do this upon their return to the Spanish Main, it was alike my duty and my pleasure to endeavour to persuade them. But, alas! when religion claims men’s attention, they are more ready to count their beads than their ducats.
The fourth day being Sunday, we ceased our labours: there was not one, how great soever his avarice, who was so presumptuous and sacreligious as to search for gold on that day. For my own part, I was wholly engaged in the performance of religious duties.
Towards evening, some of the most adventurous of the party, having determined to make themselves acquainted with the locality, struggled laboriously up the side of the mountain at the foot of which we were encamped, where there was neither a plant nor a beetle to reward such exertion.
On their return, they reported that they had found that the mountain, which from the plain had the appearance of being double-peaked, was really an extinct volcano, the crater of which was about a quarter of a mile across, with lava-like stones plentifully scattered about the mouth. There was also, about halfway up the mountain, a plateau, in the centre of which was a small lake, whose waters were brackish and undrinkable.
The next morning, work was resumed with increased ardour, and for several weeks, with the exception of four of our number who hunted for the rest, all laboured diligently from the rising to the setting of the sun.
Thus the time passed quickly and quietly, and though the amount of gold found was latterly less than at first, yet our gains were very considerable, and we were beginning to rejoice exceedingly, when two indians, of the same tribe as our guides, made their appearance, and disturbed our hopeful prospects with the intelligence that our presence in the land was known to several tribes hostile to Europeans, and that most probably we should be attacked whilst homeward bound, perhaps even before we bad completed our labours. On hearing this, every man smote his forehead.. The return of those who were gone in quest of game, confirmed this unwelcome intelligence, with reports of having seen—fortunately from the cover of some trees—a band of Indians in their war paint and plumes. For know, Santisimo Padre, the natives of this bewildered land bedeck themselves in hideous fashion when bound on warlike or predatory expeditions. These Indians, our guides further informed us, were notorious for their reckless bravery and insatiable greediness of plunder—they were savage as demons, and unrelenting as the gates of hell.
When convinced that what we had heard was true, dismay was depicted on every countenance—more at the possibility of having to sacrifice a portion, if not the whole, of our gains, than through personal fear. However, we rewarded the stranger Indians liberally for their friendliness, and they and our guides . went out from the camp in order to spy, if possible, the movements of the enemy, leaving us to deliberate on what measures we were to take to avert the coming evil.
The mountain at the foot of which we were camped was a sheer precipice on the side presented to the river, and of concave form. At the base, and nearly in the middle of this precipice, a natural cave existed, which by further enlargement we had rendered capable of affording shelter to both ourselves and our animals. We resolved to dig a moat, and throw up an earthen well, enclosing a part of the concavity of the precipice, with the cave, into which we could remove all our gold and other property; so that los barbaros could not despoil us but by first crossing the moat and then storming the wall, which we would do our best to prevent.
Bach one, therefore, set to work with a vigour known only to the desperate, and in a short time a high mound of earth was brought round in a semicircular form to the rocks on each side of the cave; the earth being dug partly from the walls of the cave and partly from the moat. Indeed, had wa not in this manner enlarged the cave, it would scarcely have contained us, our animals, and the whole of our property.
Night overtook us before we had finished our task; but we ceased not our labour till we had completed the rampart and the excavation of the moat.
In the morning we connected the moat with the river by a trench, when—the level of the ground at the base of the mountain being lower than, not only the bank of the river, but roe river itself—the water, entering, soon more than filled the moat, extending some way up the earthwork, and rendering the edge of the moat invisible, which latter would, we hoped, increase the difficulty of assault. At the same time, the wall, coming close up to the sides of the precipice, prevented the cave being inundated.
The firearms and ammunition having been examined, I gave absolution to all our company, and implored the intercession of Holy Mary in our perilous extremity. We then calmly awaited the coming of our unknown and barbarous foes.
The friendly indians had not deceived us. About noonday they returned, announcing the approach of the enemy. From this moment we maintained an intense watchfulness. Two hours passed, and. overcome by the rays of a fierce sun, we felt more inclined for slumber than a death struggle, when the savages appeared, bursting suddenly upon our view as they turned a bend in the river which until then had hid them from sight. There were fourteen canoes, of various sizes, the smallest of which did not contain less than sixteen warriors. They ceased paddling the canoes at about twenty yards from the point of the river opposite the cave, apparently astonished at seeing a rampart of earth, when they had expected to find men engaged in washing and examining the sand and mud of the river. For a few moments they hesitated—then, with a wild yell, dashed their paddles into the water, and made towards the shore. On reaching the river bank they rushed pell-mell to the attack; but, as had been anticipated, the overflowing moat effectually checked their progress, giving us a chance of firing upon them, which we did, doing great execution.
Though probably it was the first time they had heard the sound of firearms, they were yet not daunted. but kept up such a storm of arrows and stones, that my companions scarcely dared expose themselves to fire at them. The instant one of our band showed his head, it became the mark of a score of arrows, by which we lost several of our number.
About this time, we observed a vapour-like steam rising from our earthen defence, more particularly from the other side. Also, despite the noises made by the indians, we heard a hissing sound, proceeding from the same source, while a feeling, which we at first took to be a current of air, but increasing in strength, came against us. This, however, excited no comment at the time, for our lives were in danger. Thus I continued devoutly reciting aves to the Blessed Virgin, whilst my companions consulted together as to what should be done. While they were debating, the savages in some way effected a passage across the moat—the head of one appearing momentarily abore the rampart. Directly after, a yell rent the air, and, crowding up, the front rank prepared to leap down upon us, when—to our unbounded astonishment—The Earthen Wall Rose Bodily From The Ground to the height of some feet, and then collapsing or breaking up, parts of it slowly continued ascending, while the rest, with our terrified assailants, fell to the ground, causing them to take to their canoes, and retreat from the scene with great precipitation. This sight, had it not been for our almost equal astonishment and affright, might have much amused us; but we were too much absorbed in the astounding spectacle of the uprising masses of earth to take any further heed of our enemies. The bulk of the wall continued to ascend, in large detached portions, till it was lost to sight, leaving us gazing wonderingly at each other without comprehending the full sense of our situation, till the water surmounting the débris of the rampart, came in upon us, causing us in all haste to effect a passage across the moat to the dry land.
Not all the learning we could muster amongst us was sufficient to penetrate the mystery. However, the general voice of the company being for an immediate retreat homewards, I cannot say that the subject ever received the amount of attention it deserved. Had I been able to have carried some of the earth from the spot, doubtless a satisfactory solution might have been obtained; but, as the whole of the company ascribed the miracle to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, and appeared astonished to find me of a different opinion, I was compelled to go against my own convictions, and return without a relic of the scene.
We packed our animals speedily with the gold and other trophies of the expedition, and left El Monte del Milagro—as, by universal assent, it was named—in less than twenty-four hours from the strange termination of our desperate conflict.
The return journey was accomplished without danger; and, on arriving at territory under Spanish domination, we all separated, as but myself and another intended revisiting Vera Cruz.
In short, with but one companion and an indian guide, I took the mountain road, crossed the great range. and, by a route going in a south-easterly direction, reached Vera Cruz, after an absence of nearly eighteen months.
We told our tale to unbelieving ears . men of business laughed at it; men of learning jealously sneered at it, as an impossible and extravagant fiction—all but the brothers of the Church discredited it. The amount of gold obtained excited the cupidity of General Salviro, and, after claiming and receiving the fifth part of our gains, he scrupled not to imprison me and my companion, on the charge of blasphemously inventing a lying narrative, to the detriment of the holy Catholic Church; at the same time, confiscating the whole of our gains, with the exception of a portion that—dreading the possibility of such a consummation—I had placed in the keeping of El Padre Juan, and which now accompanies this letter.
In such present extremity am I,—sick in body, and wearied with contending vainly for justice. The Order of St. Agustin in Alicante will not, however, permit one of its most zealous members to languish in tyrannous and unmerited imprisonment.
Adios, Santisimo Padre,
Cuyas manos beso,
Joaquin.
That this Legend was not a mere fabrication, was proved by the remaining part of the letter, which referred to private matters appertaining to the Augustine brotherhood. I could not determine in my own mind the motive that could have induced the monk Joaquin to put forth so improbable a story, without its even being represented as a miracle; for, he says that he himself was wondered at by his companions for not at once accrediting the uprising of the fortress to the power of the Virgin Mary. It is probable that he speedily obtained his release; for, though his statement was supported by such slight proof as the testimony of one witness, yet the priesthood of Spain at that day were too powerful to allow even one of their meanest members to be treated so ignominiously, without a well-substantiated cause being assigned; and, certainly, if Joaquin’s account was unsatisfactory and incredible, he still merited no greater punishment than its disbelief.
There was no other manuscript upon the subject in the library of this monastery, nor, indeed, in the libraries of several other religious houses and old churches in and near Alicante, which I visited for this special purpose, hoping to meet with something corroborative of the monk’s narrative—the great, particular marvel of which had a strange piquancy that much interested me. But, for the information of the curious—the bookworms of antique lore— let me say, that it is even now my impression, that in some part of Spain, in some certain convent, museum, or other like edifice or depository; or, if not in Spain, then, surely, in Mexico; or, anyhow, in some library, somewhere, such corroborative testimony might yet be found!