110 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



but on an application from M. Del Rio, 

 professor of mineralogy, the earth was re- 

 moved from around it, to enable me to take 

 an impression in plaster, a process occupying 

 several days, during which, as I have else- 

 where related more in detail, the court-yard 

 was generally crowded with persons drawn by 

 curiosity to see this monstrous idol of their 

 ancient countrymen. 



I next procured an order from the minister 

 of state, Don L. Alaman, for the pavement 

 of the great square to be removed, so as to 

 enable me to make casts of the sculptured 

 sides of the great Sacrificial stone or altar. 

 The operation of moulding this huge block of 

 stone was attended with much trouble, as, at 

 the depth of two feet, the water flowed into 

 the excavation, and greatly impeded our 

 work ; to which interruption the continual 

 influx of the curious contributed not a 

 little. 



