116 



SIX MONTHS TN MEXICO. 



gates of Tezcuco. Some time before ap- 

 proaching the immediate vicinity of the city, 

 you are apprised that you are near a place of 

 great antiquity. You pass the large aque- 

 duct for the supply of the town, which is 

 still in use, and you also pass the ruins of 

 several stone buildings of great strength. A 

 bridge, over which the road passes (Puente 

 des Brigantinas), points out the place where 

 Cortez built and launched his brigantines on 

 the lakes, when he returned to conquer the 

 capital ; but such is the change in the face 

 of the country, that it is now a league and a 

 half from the water : a little farther on we 

 observed the foundations of some ancient 

 buildings of great magnitude. 



Near the gates, we perceived the modern 

 ditches dug for the defence of the city during 

 the revolution : these had brought to light 

 several ancient structures, all of great strength i 

 and many of considerable size. On entering 



