154 SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



destruction, and fill up the canals in every 

 street with the remains ; but the foundations 

 of the present city are visibly raised upon, 

 and stand on the ruins of the old. It was 

 the wish of the Spaniards not to leave a 

 trace of former Mexican greatness, or even a 

 recollection of the people they had destroyed; 

 and they certainly completely succeeded in 

 their object, for where are there the slightest 

 traces of their ancient magnificent city but 

 in the accounts of the early writers ? It was 

 well known that a map of it was made for 

 Cortez, by order of Montezuma. The Baron 

 de Humboldt says he sought in vain for it ; 

 it was believed to have perished above a 

 hundred years since in a fire in the Casa 

 de Estada (the house of Cortez). Chance, 

 however, brought this interesting document 

 to light. Having been fortunate enough to 

 make purchase of it, I brought it to England 

 in his Majesty's ship Phaeton, and a reduced 



