372 LEAVES FROM THE 



upper surface only is exposed to view, which seems to have been 

 done designedly, to impress upon the populace an abhorrence of 

 the horrible and sanguinary rites that had once been performed on 

 this very altar. It is said by writers that 30,000 human victims 

 were sacrificed at the coronation of Montezuma. Kirwan, in the 

 preface to his Metaphysics, states the annual number of human 

 victims immolated in Mexico to be 25,000. I have seen the 

 Indians themselves throw stones at it ; and I once saw a boy jump 

 upon it, clench his fist, stamp with his foot, and use other gesticu- 

 lations of the greatest abhorrence. As I had been informed that 

 the sides were covered with historical sculpture, I apphed to the 

 clergy for the farther permission of having the earth removed from 

 around it, which they not only granted, but, moreover, had it per- 

 formed at their own expense. I took casts of the whole. It is 

 twenty-five feet in circumference, and consists of fifteen various 

 groups of figures, representing the conquests of the warriors of 

 Mexico over dilFerent cities, the names of which are written over 

 them. 



But the largest and most celebrated of the Mexican 

 deities was known to be buried under the gallery of the 

 university. It was liberally disinterred at the expense of 

 the university in a few hours; and Mr. Bullock had the 

 pleasure of seeing the resurrection of this horrible deity, 

 before whom tens of thousands of human victims had 

 been sacrificed. 



It is scarcely possible (observes our author) for the most inge- 

 nious artist to have conceived a statue better adapted to the in- 

 tended purpose ; and the united talents and imagination of Brughel 

 and Fuseli would in vain have attempted to improve it. 



The idol was hewn out of one solid block of basalt, 

 nine feet high, its outlines giving an idea of a deformed 

 human figure, uniting all that is horrible in the tiger and 

 rattle-snake. 



Instead of arms it is supplied with two large serpents, and its 

 drapery is composed of wreathed snakes, interwoven in the most 

 disgusting manner, and the sides terminating in the wings of a 

 vulture. Its feet are those of the tiger, with claws extended in 

 the act of seizing its prey, and between them hes the head of 

 another rattle-snake, which seems descending from the body of the 

 idol. Its decorations accord with its horrid form, having a large 



