5. There was supposed to be a kingdom, called El Dorado, or The Gilded, which was thus described. The king was covered with powdered gold; his palace was built of brilliant marble; the pillars were porphyry and alabaster, and its entrance was guarded by two lions, fastened to a column by chains of massive gold.

6. After passing the lions, a fountain was seen, from which gushed a continual shower of liquid silver, through large pipes of gold. In the interior of the palace was an altar of solid silver, on which was an immense golden sun; lamps were continually burning, and their dazzling radiance was reflected from innumerable objects of silver and gold. Such was the splendid fiction, invented by somebody, and long believed in Europe. Numbers of adventurers went in search of El Dorado, and some pretended that they had really visited this golden kingdom; but it is hardly necessary to say that no such kingdom ever existed.

7. Another thing which the Spaniards expected to find in America, was the fountain of youth. Far away beneath the shadows of the forest, they believed that there was a fountain, the bright waters of which would wash away wrinkles, and turn gray hair dark again.

QUESTIONS. 1. What of the pope of Rome ?- -2. What did Pope Alexander do? What of the kings of Spain and Portugal ? -3. Who first took possession of the West Indies ?- -4. What was the great object of all who went to America? What of gold and silver? -5, 6, 7. Describe the supposed El Dorado.

CHAPTER CLXI. AMERICA continued.-History of Mexico.

1. THOUGH there was no El Dorado in America, there was gold enough to satisfy even the Spaniards, if such rapacious people ever could be satisfied. The empire of Mexico contained immense riches.

Montezuma and Attendants, copied from an ancient Mexican Painting.

2. This country is in the southern part of North America. It extends across the continent, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. The capital, likewise called Mexico, is one of the most magnificent cities in the world.

3. When America was first discovered, the city of Mexico was even more splendid than it is now. It had stately temples and houses, which were profusely ornamented with gold, and its inhabitants were more civilized than any other natives of America.

4. In the year 1519, Fernando Cortez, a Spaniard, invaded Mexico, with only about six hundred men. But as his followers wore iron armour, and had muskets and cannon, and horses, they were able to fight whole armies of the Mexicans, although they were the most warlike of all the nations of the New World.

5. The emperor of Mexico was named Montezuma. He received Cortez and his men with great civility, for he was afraid to quarrel with them; but, after a short time, Cortez threw Montezuma into prison, loaded with chains.

6. Finding himself in so unhappy a situation, Montezuma consented to become a vassal of the king of Spain. But the Mexicans raised an insurrection, and when Montezuma endeavoured to quiet them, they uttered shouts of scorn and anger, and discharged arrows and stones at him. One arrow struck poor Montezuma in the breast, and stretched him on the ground. He would not suffer the wound to be dressed, and, in a few days, this ill-fated emperor died.

7. The Mexicans elected Guatimozin, son-in-law of Montezuma, to succeed him. He made a vigorous attack on the Spaniards, and drove them from the city of Mexico; but Cortez soon returned, and conquered the whole country.

8. The emperor Guatimozin was taken prisoner. He refused to confess where his treasures were concealed: and some of the Spaniards then laid him at full length on a

bed of burning coals, where Guatimozin writhed in agony, till he was delivered by Cortez, who had borne no part in this horrible cruelty; but, about three years afterwards, Guatimozin was suspected of being engaged in a conspiracy, and Cortez sentenced him to be hanged.

9. It has been affirmed that Cortez and his soldiers killed four millions of the Mexicans, in completing the conquest of the country; he declared that his only object was to destroy idolatry, and convert the people to the Christian religion, but he and his soldiers acted like fiends, rather than Christians.

the year 1810, when a revolution took place; in 1813 the Mexican provinces declared themselves independent; but their independence was not established till several years afterwards. They are now called the United Mexican

States.

QUESTIONS.

1. What of gold in Mexico?- -2. What of Mex-3. Describe the city of Mexico.

ico? Capital?4. When did Cortez invade Mexico?- -5. What of Montezuma ? Cortez ?6. What did Montezuma do? What of the Mexicans? Fate of Montezuma ?-7. What did Guatimozin do? Cortez ?-8. What was done to Guatimozin? His fate? -9. What is said of Cortez ? What excuse did he give for his cruelty? -10. How long was the Mexican empire under the government of Spain? What took place in 1810? What in 1813? What are they now called?

CHAPTER CLXII. AMERICA continued.

Peru.

-Account of

1. A FEW years after the conquest of Mexico by Cortez, the Spaniards invaded the vast empire of Peru, in South America. At the present day, Peru is bounded north by the republic of Equator, east by Brazil, south by Bolivia and the Pacific Ocean, and west by the Pacific; but when the Spaniards first invaded it, the Peruvian empire included a much larger space.

2. The sovereigns of this empire were called Incas, and the Peruvians believed that their first inca was a child of the sun. The inhabitants were worshippers of the sun. Peru contained many magnificent cities, and gold was more abundant than even in Mexico. Of course, no sooner did the Spaniards hear of it, than they determined to make themselves masters of the country.

3. The first invader was Francis Pizarro, who in 1531 marched into Peru, and took the inca prisoner in his own palace. The inca's name was Atabalipa. To regain his freedom, he offered Pizarro as much gold as would fill