266 
paring the cylindric block of porpliyry found in 
the great square of Mexico, with those oblong 
stones, on which the victim was thrown when 
the topiltzin approached, arnied with a knife of 
obsidian, we easily conceive, that these two ob- 
jects offer no reseinblanc'e either in matter or in 
form. 
It is easy, on the contrary, to recognise, in 
the description which ocular witnesses have given 
of the temalacatl, the stone on which the pri- 
soner destined for sacrifice fought, that of which 
Mr. Diip6 has sketched the relief. The un- 
known author of the work published by Ramu- 
sio, under the title of Relazione d\m Gentilmmo 
di Feimando Corte%, expressly says, that the te- 
malacatl had the form of a mill-stone, was three 
feet thick, had figures sculptured round it, and 
was large enough to serve for a combat between 
two persons. This cylindrical stone was placed 
on a platform raised three metres in height. 
The prisoners most distinguished for their cou- 
rage or their rank were reserved for the sacrifice 
of the gladiators. Placed on the temalacatl, 
surrounded by an immense crowd of spectators, 
they were to fight six Mexican warriors in suc- 
cession ; if they were fortunate enough to con- 
quer them, their liberty was granted them, and 
they were permitted to return to their own coun- 
try ; if, on the contrary, the prisoner sunk under 
the strokes of one of his adversaries, a priest, 
