CHAPTER VIII. 



What Paris is to France, the City of Mexico is to the 

 Mexican Republic. The city derived its name from the 

 Aztec war-god MexitH. It is a large metropolis, containing 

 something over three hundred thousand inhabitants, em- 

 bracing a large diversity of nationalities. When Cortez first 

 saw the city, in 1519, it was said to measure nine miles in 

 circumference, and to contain half a million inhabitants. 

 This statement is probably greatly exaggerated. The an- 

 cient Aztec Capital, bearing the name of Tenochtitlan, 

 was completely destroyed by Cortez, who established on its 

 site the present city. The streets of the city are broad 

 and straight, lined with two-story houses, and there are also 

 several spacious avenues and boulevards. The houses are 

 built mostly of stone, covered with stucco; the windows 

 opening upon little balconies, shaded by awnings of differ- 

 ent colors. They are built after the usual Spanish style, 

 with a central courtyard. The open areas about which the 

 houses are built often present most pleasing displays o^ 

 fountains, flowers, and statuary. On the main street, lead- 

 ing from the plaza to the alameda, are several private resi- 

 dences, having very handsome courts, ox patios, as they are 

 called, filled with the most beautiful flowers, and rendered 

 musical by the singing of caged birds. 



Upon these areas, which are open to the sky, the inner 

 doors and windows open, the second story being furnished 

 with a walk and balustrade running round the patio. 

 Heavy doors, studded with nails, shut off this patio from 

 the street at night. 



The houses of the capital are substantially built, the 

 walls being of great thickness, and composed of stuccoed 



