CHAPTER VI. 



South of the State of Vera Cruz, adjoining the State of Chiapas, and on the 

 western slopes of the Cordillera, bounded by the Pacific, lies the State of Oajaca. 

 This region, from the great quantity of architectural and image-remains found 

 throughout it, seems to have been the seat of an advanced civilization, though its 

 history is much less known than that of the central portions of Mexico. The State 

 has been by no means thoroughly explored, either for its resources or antiquities ; 

 but most interesting remains are known to exist at Tachila, where there are tumuli ; 

 at Monte Alban,two leagues S. W. from the town of Oajaca, where there are tumuli 

 and pyramids; atCoyula; at San Juan de los Cues ; atGuengola; at Quiotepec, and 

 at Mitla. Most of the relics present pyramidal shapes, in combination with the 

 vertical; a specimen of which is here copied from Lord Kingsborough's plates of 

 Dupaix's expedition. 



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Remains near Tehuantepec, Oajaca. 



In 1844, an examination was made, by order of the Governor of Oajaca, of the 

 remains near Quiotepec, a village about thirty-two leagues northwardly from the 

 capital of the State. These ruins, originally constructed of cut stone, are found on 

 the Cerro de las Juntas, or Union Hill, so called from its neighborhood to the 

 junction of the Rivers Salado and Quiotepec. 



The eminence is said to be covered, in every direction, with remains of works 

 of a defensive character, designed, as it appears, to protect the dwellings erected on 

 the hill, and the large temple and palace, whose massive ruins still crown the sum- 

 mit. These fragments of the past are represented to be somewhat similar to those 

 of Chicocomoc or Quemada, in the northern part of Mexico, which I have already 

 described in the notice of architectural antiquities in Zacatecas. The resemblance 



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