SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 71 



From the first moment I beheld it, I de- 

 termined, if possible, to convey to Europe a 

 fac-simile of so fine a specimen of Aztec skill. 

 Through the influence of Don Lucas Alaman, 

 the prime minister, I obtained permission of 

 the clergy to erect a scaffold against the ca- 

 thedral, and took an impression of it in plaster, 

 which was afterwards carefully packed up, 

 and with some difficulty conveyed to Vera 

 Cruz. It has fortunately arrived safely in 

 England, and now forms one of the subjects 

 of the Exhibition of Ancient Mexico to be 

 seen in the Egyptian Hall. 



The Sacrificial stone, or altar, is buried 

 in the square of the cathedral, within a 

 hundred yards of the Calendar stone. The 

 upper surface only is exposed to view, 

 which seems to have been done designedly, 

 to impress upon the populace an abhorrence 

 of the horrible and sanguinary rites once per- 

 formed on this very altar. It is said by 



