184 



XOCHICALCO* 



exhibit incontestable signs, that their jagged perpen- 

 dicular walls were once in junction. Every Mexican 

 traveller must have remarked the insidious manner in 

 which many of these gulfs commence. In riding along 

 the plains, you perhaps find yourself separated from the 

 companion with whom you are conversing, by a crack 

 or fissure of a few inches in breadth : you proceed care- 

 lessly ; the rent gapes imperceptibly wider and wider; 

 and increases in depth, till it imperatively demands your 

 attention. Perhaps a very natural dislike to retrace 

 your steps, and ignorance of the real nature and extent 

 of the obstacle, induces you to keep your direction in 

 search of its termination ; when ? before you are aware, 

 you find a hideous and impassable gulf yawning between 

 you, delving deep for many miles into the face of the 

 landscape, and no alternative left you but to return to its 

 very source. I sketch from experience. Some of the 

 largest barrancas I have described form beds for the 

 scanty streams descending from the forested slopes of the 

 neighbouring Cordillera, and at one of these, about ten in 

 the morning, we quenched for a moment the burning 

 thirst of our party, men and horses. 



An hour after, we reached the base of the hills which 

 apparently form a detached group in the table land. 

 For many miles previously we had observed and re- 

 peatedly crossed an ancient paved causeway, about eight 

 feet in breadth, composed of large stones tightly wedged 

 together, and running directly over plain and barranca, 

 towards the hill of Xochicalco. 



The strange mould of the summit of the steep hill on 

 our left, as we entered the group by a small valley, had 

 long drawn our attention, as it appeared to be surrounded 

 by a regular rampart ; but I incline to think that it may 

 be the natural formation. 



At the termination of the little valley above mentionedj 

 we arrived at length at the foot of the eminence which 

 was the principal object of our excursion. 



The circuit of the hill of Xochicalco, or the House of 

 Flowers, may perhaps measure three miles, and its per- 



