SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 119 



and placed in his stead a young man who was 

 in great favour with him, and who ever after 

 continued firmly attached to his interest. He 

 built a strong fortress or barrack for the 

 safety and convenience of Cortez" troops ; 

 and the town remained the head-quarters 

 of the Spaniards till the final reduction of 

 Mexico. 



Under the guidance of Don Pedro Poso 

 we commenced our rambles, and first inspected 

 the Spanish palace built soon after the Con- 

 quest. It is large, and has been handsome, 

 but is now in as ruinous a state as the Indian 

 palace which preceded it. 



We were next shown an Indian idol, nearly 

 perfect, lying neglected under a gateway, 

 a rattle-snake of considerable size ; it had 

 originally been painted of various colours, 

 some of which were rendered perfectly dis- 

 tinct by merely throwing water upon them. 

 From this we walked to the Spanish quarters 



