204 



REMAINS NEAR PUENTE NACIONAL. 



stated to be one hundred and six feet. The edifice is surrounded by 

 six stairways, one foot broad, and the distance between each step 

 or stage of the body of the teocalli, is about, seven feet high nearest 

 the base, their height diminishing, however, as you ascend to those 

 nearest the platform. The whole structure is built of lime, sand 

 and large stones taken from the bed of the river, and although 

 shrubs have grown both on the platform and on the stairways, this 

 interesting relic of antiquity has been so completely protected, that 

 its form is still perfectly preserved. At first sight the edifice would 

 seem to be perfectly solid, yet upon examination it has been found 

 to be hollow, and that its ancient entrance was from the west. 

 This entrance, however, is so small that notwithstanding the 

 efforts of laborers who were employed by the explorer to clear 

 the fallen rubbish and open a path, they were unable to penetrate 

 the whole of the interior chambers. The short time they were 

 enabled to devote to this work, and the fear of the Indians to en- 

 counter wild beasts and serpents in the interior of the temple, 

 deterred Senor Esteva from further efforts, and thus, perhaps, one of 

 the most perfect remains of antiquity on the east coast of Mexico 

 is still very inadequately described. 1 



1 See Museo Mejicano, vol. 2, p. 465, for a plate of this temple. 



PUENTE NACIONAL. 



