ANCIENT WORKS NEAK UOCK RIA^ER. 49 



Bat this Ibrt is entirely commanded from the summit of a ridge extending along 

 the west side, nearly parallel with (see Plate XXXIV), and much higher than the 

 west walls themselves, and within a fair arrow-shot; so that an enemy posted on 

 it would have a decided advantage over those within the defences. This ridge 

 would also constitute an excellent breastwork to protect an enemy from the arrows 

 or other weapons shot from the supposed fort. As if purposely to assist an 

 approaching enemy, a number of mounds have been erected along the ridge, 

 affording secure hiding-places and look-out stations, very convenient to the attack- 

 ing party. These may, however, have been erected at a more recent date. 



Again, the large mounds of the remarkable row northwest of the inclosure are 

 not in connection with it, but are excellent points from which to reconnoitre and 

 annoy the occupants of the supposed fortress. 



From the summit of the ridge before alluded to, as will be seen by the sections 

 on Plate XXXV, the ground descends towards the river; so that the inclosure is 

 on a declivity, and is thus commanded from the opposite side of the river. Here, 

 again, as if purposely to render aid and comfort to an enemy, a breastwoi-k is 

 erected, extending along the margin of the stream, from behind which arrows or 

 other weapons could be thrown directly into the fort by persons lying in perfect 

 security. 



From the skill exhibited by the mound-builders iu their works of defence in other 

 portions of the West, we cannot imagine that they Avould construct such a fort as 

 this ; we might at least expect that the walls would be extended so as to include 

 the ridge parallel to it. There is no guarded opening, or gateway, into the inclo- 

 sure. It can only be entered by water, or by climbing over the walls. 



The only ancient work resembling this in its general features heretofore described, 

 is that of Tuloom, in Yucatan, of which an account is given by Mr. Stephens, and 

 quoted by Mr. Squier.^ This is an inclosure of about the same dimensions, and 

 bounded on the east by the sea; it consists of a loose stone wall, with watch-towers 

 at the two west corners, corresponding with the two large pyramidal mounds at 

 Aztalan, except that they are placed on the walls. 



Mr. Stephens represents this as a walled city; but it must be admitted that only 

 a very small city can be included in a space fifteen hundred by six hundred and 

 fifty feet, or twenty-two and a half acres. Mr. Squier thinks that this structure 

 was erected for some sacred object, though used, probably, as a place of defence in a 

 last resort; and, in view of all the facts before stated, it may be inferred that the 

 inclosure at Aztalan was intended for similar j^urposes, and not primarily occuj^ied 

 as a place of defeiice. 



We may suppose it to have been a place of worship; the pyramidal mounds 

 being the places of sacrifice, like the teocalli of Mexico. From its isolated situation 

 — there being no other similar structure for a great distance in any direction — we 

 may conjecture that this was a kind of Mecca, to which a periodical pilgrimage was 



' Yucatan, II, 396; Aboriginal Monuments of New York, p. 98, in Smithsonian Contributions, 

 Vol. II. In the accompanying figure the arrow, indicating the cardinal points, is reversed. 



7 



