AMERICAN NATURALIST. 



Vol. xvi. — DECEMBER, 1882. — No. 12. 

 A PILGRIMAGE TO TEOTIHUACAN. 



BY R. E. HILLS. 



THE pyramids of Teotihuacan are situated in a beautiful valley 

 adjoining that of Mexico on the Northeast, and possessing 

 greater beauty and fertility than its more famous neighbor. To 

 reach these ruins, we left the city by the six o'clock morning 

 train, for the station of San Juan Teotihuacan. Our party con- 

 sisted of four Americans, one a resident of Mexico. As the sun 

 had not risen, we found the air chilly and penetrating, and over- 

 coats very comfortable. Our leader prudently carried an um- 

 brella, not to keep off the rain, for it never rains here in March, 

 but to protect himself from the fierce rays of the sun, which in the 

 clear atmosphere of this altitude are very effective at midday. 



About eight o'clock we alight from the train to be besieged by 

 numerous small boys, who offer for sale various relics from the 

 ruins. After engaging the services of four Indian boys as guides, 

 We set off afoot to visit the ruins. 



Accounts differ as to the origin of these works. We are in- 

 formed by Ixtlilxochitl that they were built by the Toltecs after 

 their migration from Hue Hue Hapalan. 



Mr. Bancroft places this event in the fifth or sixth century, Pro- 

 fessor Short thinks that the evidence in favor of the fourth cen- 

 tury is fully as good. On the other hand, Mons. Charnay's recent 

 excavations have led him to believe that the works at Tula were 

 built about A. D. 660, and as the Teotihuacan works are of very 

 much the same character, and at no great distance from Tula, the 

 presumption is that their age is about the same. 

 "In selecting their site, the builders certainly exercised better 



