( h8 ) 



that of a foldier , who was obliged to be more attentive to the orders of 

 his officer, than to the objedts of curiofity around him. The ground 

 whereon this temple flood, was as much as fix of the largeft buildings 

 of this country occupy. From the bafe it diminifhed to the fummit, 

 whereon was a tower, in which the idols were placed, and from the 

 middle of the afccnt, to the top, were five concavities, like barbicans, 

 but without parapets. However there are many paintings of temples in 

 the poffeflion of the conquerors, one whereof I have, and thofe who 

 have feen them will eafily form an idea of the outfide of this temple. 

 I have heard that at the time they laid the foundations of it, the natives 

 of all that country made offerings of their gold, filver, and jewels, of 

 the feeds of the earth, and of prifoners, all which were buried in the 

 foundations of the building. The inquifitive reader will naturally alk, 

 how I came to know any thing of this, which happened upwards of a 

 thoufand years ago. I will inform him. When we got pofieffion of 

 this great city, and that it vras to be built upon a new plan, it was de- 

 termined to place the church of St. Jago on the ground where this 

 temple flood ; and in finking the foundations, we found great quantities 

 of gold, filver, and other valuables, and a Mexican who obtained part 

 of the fame ground, difcovered more treafure, about which there was a 

 law-fuit in fupport of his Majeffy's right, the refult of which I am 

 ignorant of. The account was alfo confirmed by Guatimotzin who 

 was then alive, and who faid that the tranfadlion was recorded in their 

 ancient hifforical paintings. The church which now ffands here is 

 called St. Jago el Taltelulco. This temple I have before obferved, was 

 furrounded by courts as large as the fquare of Salamanca, infide of a 

 double inclofure of lime and ftone. At a little diftance from it ftood a 

 tower, a true hell or habitation for demons, with a mouth refembling 

 that of an enormous monfter, wide open, and ready as it were to de- 

 vour thofe who entered. At the door flood frightful idols ; by it was 

 a place for facrifice, and within, boilers, and pots full of water, to 

 drefs the flefh of the vidims, which was eaten by the priefls. The 

 idols were like ferpents and devils, and before them were tables and 

 knives for facrifice, the place being covered with the blood which was 



fpilt 



