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TACUBAYA* 



they sought repose and solace from the heats of their 

 shadeless city. And though, at the present day, neglect 

 and ruin are evident on every hand ; and their pleasant 

 palaces are all destroyed, their fish ponds and baths 

 broken down, and scarcely discernible — though their 

 aviaries, and thickets of sweet-smelling flowers and me- 

 dicinal herbs, have disappeared, and their shady groves 

 are despoiled of many a noble tree ; yet there is still a 

 majesty in these shades, all tangled and neglected, and 

 overgrown as they are, which is exciting to the fancy f 

 and dear to the imagination; and no one will enter these 

 thickets, shaded by the graceful pepper tree, and linger 

 at the foot of those giant cypresses, without recollecting 

 the strange and sad fate of him who was here accus- 

 tomed to pass his hours of retirement. 



Of all the royal gardens in the immediate vicinity, 

 which were maintained by Montezuma, this at Chapul- 

 tepec is the only one which retains its original form and 

 destination. It girdles the rock, which may be about a 

 mile in circuit, and is truly a delicious locality for one 

 who, like myself, is fond of shade and quiet. The rock 

 above is now crowned by a large and palacious building 

 of noble design, erected by the Viceroy Galvez ; half 

 country seat, half castle ; and made to suit either the 

 purposes of war or peace, as might happen. It is now 

 rapidly falling to decay. The view from its platform is 

 undoubtedly one of the most delicious and complete 

 among the numberless beautiful points of view in the ba- 

 sin of Mexico, partly from the isolated position of the 

 hill, and the near vicinity of the numberless domes and 

 towers of the city, with the aqueducts and causeways, 

 and the blue lake beyond — and partly from the extreme 

 fertility and loveliness of the region stretching from hence 

 along the base of the mountains towards the Pedrigal. In 

 this direction, the town of Tacubaya, with its churches, 

 villas, and the former archiepiscopal palace, is the most 

 conspicuous object. The great church there is a large 

 and splendid edifice ; and the palace, even in the state of 

 utter decay and neglect which has overtaken its courts, 

 galleries, and lovely gardens, is well worth visiting. Th® 



