184 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



Indians toward it, followed the example of Cortez 

 at Cholula, and threw down and buried the idols. 



At a distance of 130 feet from this mound was a 

 square stone structure, six feet high and twenty feet 

 at the base, in which we made an excavation, and 

 discovered two sculptured heads, no doubt intended 

 as portraits. 



From the centre of this great platform a grand 

 staircase 130 feet broad, which once contained 35 

 steps, rises to the third terrace, on which the build- 

 ing stands ; besides this there is no staircase con- 

 nected with either of the three terraces, and the 

 only ascent to the platform of the second is by an 

 inclined plane 100 feet broad, at the south end of 

 the building, which makes it necessary for all ap- 

 proaching from the north to pass the whole length 

 of the lower terrace, and, ascending by the inclined 

 plane, go back to reach the steps. The probability 

 is, that the labour of this was not regarded by the 

 ancient inhabitants, and that all visiters or residents 

 in the building passed in and out on the shoulders 

 of Indians in coches, as the rich do now. 



There remains to be noticed one important build- 

 ing on the grand platform of the second terrace. It 

 stands at the northwest corner, and is represented 

 in the plate opposite. It is called the Casa de las 

 Tortugas, or the House of the Turtles, which name 

 was given to it by a neighbouring cura, from a bead 

 or row of turtles which goes round the cornice, in- 

 dicated in the engraving. 



