with the same result. They were firm in denying the possession of treasure, and affirmed, as was doubtless true, that the gifts already made represented the accumulations of many years, and that as their country produced but little gold they had no more to give.[1] Irritated by failure, Guzman sentenced the ruler to death, declaring him guilty of all the charges; and after having been dragged over the plain tied to the tail of a horse, Tangaxoan was burned alive at the stake.[2]
To the last Tangaxoan protested his innocence and his good faith toward the Christians, called on his people to witness how the Spaniards rewarded his devotion, and asked that his ashes be taken home[3] for burial. This request was disregarded, however, and the ashes were thrown into the river by order of Guzman.[4] These facts were brought out at the trial of the infamous president in later years, and are supported by statements of the best authorities. I believe there is no circumstance to be urged in behalf of Nuño de Guzman which can justly relieve him of
- ↑ Pilar and the author of the 4a Rel. Anón. state that the day after the torturing of Caltzontzin, several of Guzman's followers left the camp and returned some days later with a great quantity of gold and silver, found in a house indicated by the king when under torture. Pilar, Relacion, 250-1, and Guzman, 4a Rel. Anón., 461-5.
- ↑ 'El pregon decia por haber muerto muchos cristianos,' Guzman, 3a Rel. Anón., 439, 'decia el pregon á este hombre por traidor, por muchas muertes de cristianos que se le han probado.' Sámano, Rel., 262. Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 230, and Brasseur de Bourbourg, Hist. Nat. Civ., iv. 752, affirm that the king was strangled, but they are evidently mistaken. Pilar, Testimonio, in Raminez, Proceso, 269, says, 'luego pusieron fuego á la leña, y comenzó á arder, y asi quemó al dicho Cazolzi, hasta que naturalmente perdió la vida.' Don Pedro and Don Alonso were only saved from sharing the king's fate on account of the intercession of the former contador Albornoz and of Father Miguel de Boloña. Gil, in Soc. Mex. Geog., Boletin, 2da ép., i. 800.
- ↑ 'Mandaba que despues de quemado cojiese los polvos, y cenizas de el . . . y que alli hiciese juntar á todos les señores de la dicha Provincia, y que les contase . . . que viesen el galardon, que le aban los Christianos.' Pilar, Testimonio, in Ramirez, Proceso, 269. Navarrete, Hist. Jal., 29, says, 'though the king's will was complied with, the Tarascos remained quiet; their own king had accustomed them to pusillanimity.'
- ↑ Brasseur de Bourbourg, Hist. Nat. Civ., iv. 752, following an old manuscript, claims that the greater part was saved by friends and servants of the late king, and secretly buried at Patzcuaro, with all the honors and solemnities due to his rank.
