XOCHICALCO. 187 



out of my power. The majority of the hieroglyphic 

 signs — for such they doubtless are — resembled nothing 

 in heaven or earth ; but in many parts I detected the 

 clothed human figures, seemingly reposing in the Asiatic 

 manner. 



Whether each face of the structure bore throughout 

 similar devices, placed in exactly similar positions, 1 do 

 not recollect positively : I think not ; at the same time 

 it was certainly the case at the angles, where some of the 

 richest and most singular figures were to be found. The 

 ornament which has been described as "a crocodile 

 spouting water," is of very large size, and must have 

 been repeated eight times in each story, by being sym- 

 metrically placed at either extremity of the inclined base- 

 ment of the structure. 



As to its bearing resemblance to " a crocodile spout- 

 ing water," that is a mere fancy ; it may as well por- 

 tray the head of a griffin, or of any other fanciful mon- 

 ster ; and what the ancient observer interpreted as a jet 

 of water, was, in my eyes, intended to represent a double 

 tongue. 



We were now nearly blinded by the heat and glare ; 

 and after half an hour's survey, and reiterated but abor- 

 tive attempts at a detailed sketch, I was glad to join my 

 companions in beating a retreat ; for the vertical sun's 

 rays left no side of the building in shade, and the trees 

 and shrubs which grew on the borders of the enclosure, 

 and upon the ruins, were leafless and desolate. 



Masses of hewn stone were strewed about the base, 

 and lay in disorder on the building itself. In the centre 

 of the teocalli was an excavation, but evidently made in 

 modern times, probably in a search after hidden treas- 

 ure ; and yet, that the second story of the pyramid, at 

 least, had contained a chamber, I satisfied myself, by dis- 

 covering on one of the western faces, among the base 

 stones of that story, which had not been moved from 

 their original position, one mass, which, both by its situa- 

 tion and the fact of its being sculptured on two of its ad- 

 joining faces, plainly indicated its having served as a 

 doorpost. Its fellow was not in its place, but I have not 

 the slightest doubt of the fact. 



