34 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



the prodigious number of perfons that were found there 

 confecrated to the worlhip of the gods. 



Among the remarkable buildings within this area, 

 befides the four arfenals over the four gates, there was 

 another near the temple Tezcacalll (houfe of mirrors), 

 fo called from its walls being covered with mirrors on 

 the inllde. There was another fmall temple called Tec- 

 cizcalli, all adorned with fliells which had a houfe an- 

 nexed to it, into which, at certain times, the king of 

 Mexico retired for the purpofes of failing and prayer. 

 The high-prieft had likewife a houfe of retirement call 

 ed Pojauhtlan, and there were feveral others for other 

 perfons. There was alfo a great houfe of entertainment 

 to accommodate ftrangers of diftinftion who came upo 

 a devout vifit to the temple, or from curiofity to fee th 

 grandeurs of the court. There were ponds in whic 

 the priefts bathed ; and fountains, the water of whic 

 they drank. In the pond called Tezcapan, many bathe 

 in obedience to a particular vow made to the gods 

 The water of one of the fountains called Toxpalatl wa 

 efteemed holy : it was drank only at the mod folem 

 feafls, and no perfon was allowed to tafte it at any other 

 time (<i). There were places allotted to the bringing 

 up of birds for the facrifices, gardens in which flowers 

 and odoriferous herbs were raifed for the decoration of 

 the altars ; and even a little wood in which were artifi- 

 cially reprefented hills, rocks, and precipices, and from 

 which they iflued to that general chace which we fhali 

 defcribe in another part of this work. 



Particular 



(d) The fountain Toxpalatl, the water of which was excellent, was flopped 

 up, at the time when the Spaniards deflroyed the temple ; it was opened again 

 in 1582, in the little fquare of the Marquis (which at prefent is called el Empe- 

 dradillo), near to the cathedral ; but for ibme reafon or other, of which we are 

 ignorant, it was a fccond time flopped up. 



