ANCIENT BELLEVUE AND RESERVOIR. 277 



time, it has been sanctified by the erection of a cross, from whose 

 feet the whole valley of Mexico, with its lakes, plains, towns and 

 majestic panorama of encircling mountains, bursts on the sight of 

 the wearied traveller. 



Returning to the recess from the summit, and winding thence by 

 a spiral path down the eastern slopes of the hill, we find the road 

 suddenly ended by a wall which plunges precipitously down the 

 mountain for about two hundred feet. At this termination of the 

 pathway, cut in the solid rock, we found another recess, surrounded 

 with seats, while, in the centre of the area, was a circular basin, a 

 yard and a half in diameter, and three feet deep, into which water 

 was formerly introduced, through the small aperture in the square 

 pipe which is delineated in the engraving. 



ANCIENT RESERVOIR. 



This basin has, of course, been also connected with the fame of 

 the emperor, and is known as "Montezuma's bath." Its true use, 

 however, is perfectly evident to those who are less fanciful or an- 

 tiquarian than the generality of visiters. The picturesque view 

 from this spot, over a small plain set in a frame of the surrounding 

 2j 



