EXCURSION TO THE MINES. 275 



steps. These steps were covered with fragments of ob- 

 sidian, which were probably the edges of the instruments 

 with which the Toltec and Aztec priests in their barba- 

 rous sacrifices, opened the chests of their human victims. 

 The upper terrace was formerly crowned with colossal 

 statues of the Sun and Moon. These statues were made 

 of stone, and covered with plates of gold. Had they 

 been stone merely, they might have remained there to 

 this day, but being plated with gold they were sure to 

 be spoiled by the first foreign invader. The soldiers of 

 Cortez stripped off the gold at once, and Bishop Zuma- 

 raga, a Franciscan monk, who undertook to destroy 

 whatever related to the worship, the history, and the an- 

 tiquities of Mexico, completed the work of his militant 

 followers, by demolishing the idols. The pyramids 

 alone remained. 



When Humboldt arrived in Mexico his astronomical 

 instruments were sadly out of order, and thinking it 

 would be impossible to replace them, he intended to re- 

 main only a few months, and then depart for Europe. 

 But as Don Manuel del Kio, the director of the School 

 of Mines, was able to lend him a new set, he remained 

 a year, travelling in various parts of the country, and 

 .making observations. 



Towards the end of April, or the beginning of May. 

 he proceeded to the mines of Moran, and Real del Monte, 

 which lay to the north-east of the capital. The road was 

 covered with oaks, cypresses, and rose trees. He made 

 several astronomical observations on his way, stopping 

 for that purpose at the haciendas of Zumpango, Huchue- 

 toca, and Tisayuca. 



Long before the arrival of the Spaniards, the natives 



