26 



wMch is a winged termination of the feathers of the vulture. Be- 

 tween the feet, descending from the body, another wreathed serpent 

 rests its head on the ground; and the whole composition of this deity 

 is strictly appropriate to the infernal purpose for which it was used, 

 and with which its personal ornaments but too well accord. From the 

 neck spreading over its deformed breast, is a necklace composed of 

 human hands, hearts, and skulls, fit emblems of the sanguinary rites 

 that were daily performed in its honour. 



The Death's head and mutilated hands, four of which surround the 

 bosom of the goddess, remind us of the horrible sacrifices of Teoqua- 

 whquet, celebrated in the fifteenth period of thirteen days after the 

 summer solstice, in honour of the God of War and his female compa- 

 nion Teoyamiqui. The mutilated hands alternate with the figure of 

 certain vases, in which incense was burnt. These vases were called 

 Top-xicalli, bags in the form of calibashes. This Idol was sculptured 

 on every side, even beneath, where was represented Mictlanteuchtli, 

 the Lord of the place ©f the dead ; it cannot be doubted, but that it 

 was supported in the air by means of two columns, on which rested 

 the arms. According to this whimsical arrangement, the head of the 

 Idol was probably elevated five or six meters above the pavement of 

 the temple, so that the priests dragging their unfortunate victims to 

 the altar, made them pass under the figure of Mictlanteuchtli. The 

 Viceroy of Mexico transported this monument to the University, 

 which he thought the properest place to preserve one of the most cu- 

 rious remains of American antiquity. The Professors of the Univer- 

 sity, Monks of the Order of St. Dominic, being unwilling to expose 

 this Idol to the sight of the Mexican youth, occasioned it to be re- 

 buried in one of the passages of the College ; but M. Humboldt 

 caused it to be disinterred at the request of the Bishop of Monterey. 

 The stone of which it is formed is a bluish grey basalt, full of feltspar. 



No. 66. — The Great Sacrificial Stone, or Altar, ornamented on the 

 surface with the representation of the Sun ; and, on the sides, with 

 numerous groups of figures, exhibiting the Mexican warriors dragging 

 their prisoners to sacrifice. Every captive has the name of the 

 place to which he belongs placed behind him, in hieroglyphical cha- 

 racters, and they are supposed to represent the different cities sub- 

 jected by the Kings of Mexico. The costume of the warriors is 

 superb, and well answers the description Cortez has given of the fields 

 of battle in which he was engaged, with the helmet and plume of 

 feathers, being a third the height of a man. On the top of this altar 

 a deep groove, made to receive the blood, marks the place where the 



