274 



IMAGES VASES TEZCOCO. 



empire of the Aztec sovereigns, as well as from Mechoacan. Some 

 of the finest of these, both large and small, are exhibited in the 

 plates annexed to this section ; and we do not describe them mi- 

 nutely or singly, because they depend for their interest upon their 

 forms, which are better depicted in drawings than language. Most 

 of these were carefully delineated and measured by the author of 

 this work himself, and their accuracy may be confidently relied on. 



Two of the most beautiful and rare objects comprised in this col- 

 lection, are the terra-catta funeral vases, one of which is represented 

 in the accompanying engraving. It was exhumed some years ago 

 in the northern suburb of the capital, known as St. Juan Tlaltelolco, 

 the neighborhood of the ancient site of one of the Aztec teocallis. 

 It is one foot ten inches high, and one foot three and a half inches 

 in diameter. Its upper portion was filled with human skulls, and 

 the lower with bones of the rest of the frame, while the top was 

 carefully covered with the circular lid, which is given in the plate. 

 The Indian head, winged and crowned with a circlet of twisted 

 bands and feathers, the graceful handles, and the semicircle of sun- 

 flowers and ears of corn, which curves beneath the central orna- 

 ment, will give the reader an accurate idea of the reliefs with which 

 this vase is adorned. Besides these symbols of eternity, fruition 

 and fullness, the vessel still exhibits the brilliant colors of blue, Ver- 

 million, lake, yellow and brown, with which it was originally tinted. 



Some beautiful specimens of the ancient musical instruments of 

 the Aztecs, are also preserved in this museum, and correct draw- 

 ings of their flageolets, whistles, drums and rattles, will be found 

 in the engravings. 



TEZCOCO — TESCOC1NGO. 



We turn naturally from the ancient capital of the Aztec empire to 

 the remains of art and architecture which are yet found on the site 

 of Tezcoco, the second city in the realm, and in its vicinity. It 

 was in this place that Cortez prepared for his second assault upon 

 the city of Tenochtitlan or Mexico, and here he put together and 

 launched on the lake the vessels which he had caused to be fashioned 

 in Tlascala on the other side of the mountains that bound the eastern 

 edge of the valley of Mexico. The spot where these vehicles of his 

 troops across the waters of Tezcoco were first deposited in their pro- 

 per element is still pointed out by the inhabitants, and is known as 

 El Puente de las Brigantinas, though it is now more than a mile 

 from the shore of the lake. 1 



1 The waters of the lake, it will be recollected, have fallen greatly since the conquest. 



