...the white city with its numerous teocallis was embowered in trees and surrounded by the blue waters of the lake sparkling under a tropical sun, a lake that was alive with a multitude of canoes passing and repassing to the other white cities on its shores, and in every direction the horizon was closed with a splended panorama of forest-covered hills, while to the south-east, the eye always rested with delight on the beautiful slopes and snow-covered peaks of the two great volcanoes."

Bernal Díaz Castillo, Conquistador,The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico

The Indians who used to come bringing gold and fowls for barter, did not come in such numbers as on our first arrival, and those who did come were very shy and cautious and we began to count the hours that must elapse before the return of the messengers who had gone to Mexico.

We were thus waiting when Tendile returned accompanied by many Indians, and after having paid their respects in the usual manner by fumigating Cortés and the rest of us with incense, he presented ten loads of fine rich feather cloth, and four chalchihuites, which are green stones of very great value, and held in the greatest esteem among the Indians, more than emeralds are by us, and certain other gold articles.

Not counting the chalchihuites, the gold alone was said to be worth three thousand dollars. Then Tendile and Pitalpitoque went aside with Cortés and Doña Marina and Aguilar, and reported that their prince Montezuma had accepted the present and was greatly pleased with it; but as to an interview, that no more should be said about it; that these rich stones of chalchihuite should be sent to the great Emperor as they were of the highest value, each one being worth more and being esteemed more highly than a great load of gold, and that it was not worth while to send any more messengers to Mexico.

Cortés thanked the messengers and gave them presents, but it was certainly a disappointment to him to be told so distinctly that we could not see Montezuma, and he said to some soldiers who happened to be standing near: "Surely this must be a great and rich prince, and some day, please God, we must go and see him" and the soldiers answered: "We wish that we were already living with him!"

Bernal Díaz Castillo, Conquistador, The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico

Apparently by now the crowd saw Moctezuma as a traitor, and they threw stones, Moctezuma soon dying of his wounds. To escape from the angry Aztecs, Cortez and his 1300 men fought their way out of the city at night. About half of his force died, some of the Spaniards losing their life because they had overloaded themselves with precious metal."

Bernal Díaz Castillo, Conquistador, Spain into the Americas, Macro History

So great was our thirst that our mouths and tongues were cracked with the dryness, and there was nothing to give us relief. Oh! what hardships one endures, when discovering new lands in the way we set out to do it; no one can appreciate the excessive hardships who has not passed through them as we did."

Bernal Díaz Castillo, Conquistador,The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico

The Spanish destroy the precious artefacts of these cultures with an unprecedented thoroughness - mainly in their lust for gold and silver.... The result is that there is relatively little to show now for these rich cultures and their highly skilled crafts. Only the great pyramid mounds of their temples stand today as gaunt witnesses of a vivid past."

HISTORY OF THE AZTECS

Perhaps, in our somber reflection over a horrible August 13 almost 500 years ago, we might ponder how grateful we are that today's powerful nations no longer practice the invasion and exploitation and deception and mass murder of beautiful, darker-skinned Peoples who happen to possess riches, land, or fuel that they desire.