SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 117 



the gates, to the right are seen those artificial 

 tumuli, the teocalli of unburnt brick so 

 common in most Indian towns, supposed to 

 be temples, tombs, or places of defence, or 

 perhaps serving for all these purposes. 



The town was crowded with country 

 people; and our English dresses and small 

 saddles excited their surprise and merriment. 

 We were conducted to the house of Don 

 Pedro Poso y the chief magistrate, an old 

 Spaniard, and a most hospitable and worthy 

 man, into whose family we were received and 

 treated with the greatest politeness. His 

 brother, with whom I had formed some ac- 

 quaintance in Mexico, and who was well 

 acquainted with the antiquities of the place, 

 fortunately happened to be travelling through 

 the town at the time, and very kindly under- 

 took, whilst dinner was preparing, to conduct 

 us to some of the many interesting objects 

 with which Tezcuco abounds. 



The foundations and ruins of temples, for- 



