THE MYSTERY OE THE SKELETONS. 297 



was built, and the silence of historians on so singular a 

 circumstance led Humboldt to doubt the truth of the 

 tradition. It was certain, however, that in this pyramid 

 there were several cavities, which had been used as 

 sepulchres for the natives. A short time previous the old 

 road which ran from Puebla to Mexico was changed, and 

 in tracing the new one the first terrace was cut through, 

 so that an eighth part remained isolated, like a heap of 

 bricks. In making this opening a square house was dis- 

 covered in the interior of the pyramid. This house con- 

 tained two skeletons, several idols in basalt, and a great 

 number of vases curiously varnished and painted. There 

 was no outlet ! To whom did these vases and idols 

 belong ? Of whom were those skeletons the remains ? 

 Humboldt conjectured that the pyramid was built by 

 prisoners, taken by the Cholulans in their wars with the 

 neighbouring nations, and that these were the skeletons 

 of some unfortunate slaves who had been shut up in the 

 interior of the pyramid to perish. It seems to us, how- 

 ever, that they were the remains of some important state 

 personages, condemned for some reason which must ever 

 remain unknown, to die in this horrible manner. Might 

 not the King of the Toltecs, like another civilized bar- 

 barian of later times, have had his Man in the Iron Mask ? 

 A wife false to him? A daughter loving below herself? 

 Upon the platform of the pyramid the Spaniards had 

 built a little chapel, dedicated to the Virgin de los Eeme- 

 dios. Here an ecclesiastic of Indian blood celebrated 

 mass every day. Crowds came from far and near to 

 witness the festival, and among them were many of the 

 descendants of the ancient people, to whom the land had 

 once belonged. What thoughts must have crowded 



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