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152 MONTEZU~lA,
Th ey were very different from th e other Indian tribes,
who dwelt on th e Atlantic coasts. They were highly
civilized, and had a written language of th eir own.
They were also powerful in war, and were acknowledged
as masters by all th e nations around. At the
beginning of the sixtee nth century, these wonderful
people were at th e height of th eir power. They were
ruled oyer by a king called Montezuma, whom th ey
loved and reverenced as a god. But in an evil hour
the story of th eir great rich es reach ed the ears of th e
cru el and greedy Spaniards, with whom th e lust for
gold was th e ruling passion .
3. In th e fourteenth year of Montezuma's reign,
th ere appear ed off th e coast of Mexico ships that
roused th e curiosity of the people. They were
Spanish ships, filled with adventurers seeking for
gold and precious stones in th e unknown countries of
th e New World. Canoes laden with meats and fruits
pushed off from th e shore. The Spaniards received
the natives kindly, and gave them some trifling presents.
They th en sailed away, promising to return th e
next year. Th e natives hastened to the capital to
tell the king about th e visitors. They dr ew pictures
of th e ships and th e men, and of all that th ey
had seen.
4. Th e next year the Spanish fleet app eared again,
and this tim e the great Spanish explorer Cortes was
on board. Montezuma was troubled when he heard
of their arrival, for there was a prophecy among the
Aztecs that a white god should one day come and
conquer the kingdom of Mexico. Th e council of the
kingdom decided that it would be best to receive the
Spaniards with all respect, and messengers were ac-