180 XOCHICALCO. 



in the centre of which we found the ruins of the remark* 

 able altar, or teocalli, which has been the principal ob- 

 ject of speculation or attention. 



Though evidently formed upon the same general prin- 

 ciples with the other ancient pyramidal structures of 

 New Spain, it differs from every other erection of the 

 class hitherto discovered in Mexico — the pyramid of 

 Papantla excepted — by being wholly constructed of 

 large regularly hewn and symmetrically laid masses of 

 hard and richly sculptured rock, instead of layers of un- 

 burnt bricks, or piles of earth and stone. 



In its perfect state, which it preserved till a compara- 

 tively recent date, it is said to have consisted of seven 

 distinct stories, diminishing of course in size, but of pre- 

 cisely similar construction. Of these we now only found 

 the lower story, and portions of the second, remaining in 

 their original position ; the hewn stones composing the 

 remainder having been wantonly moved and carried off, 

 little more than a century ago, by the proprietors of the 

 sugar plantations in the neighbourhood, for the founda- 

 tion of their haciendas. 



The base lines of the lowest square, which correspond 

 to the cardinal points, may be fifty feet in length ; and 

 the height of the first story from the present level of the 

 hollow square in which it stands, eight or nine feet. 



One remarkable fact is, that instead of the wall rising 

 at right angles from the base, it inclines inward, to the 

 height of six feet, with a variation of perhaps fifteen de- 

 grees from the perpendicular, when the completion of 

 the story is effected by perpendicular masses, sculptured 

 in like manner, being placed so as to project out several 

 inches from the line of those immediately below ; a rude 

 analogy of outline with the Egyptian architecture, that 

 must immediately strike you. It is to be supposed that 

 every story was constructed in a similar manner. 



The chief characteristics of the sculpture, are its de- 

 cision of outline and boldness of relief. The hardness 

 of the dark basaltic stone in which they are cut, has pre- 

 served its freshness without the slightest appearance of 

 decay. 



To describe the character of the isolated figures, is 



