28 MEXICO. 
In continuation, Humboldt observes, that "the inhabitants of Analiuac 
apparently designed giving the Pyramid of Cholula the same height, and 
double the base of the Pyramid at Teotihuacan, and that the Pyramid of 
Asychis, the largest known of the Egyptians, has a base of 800 feet; and 
is like that of Cholula, built of brick. The cathedral of Strasburg is 8 
feet, and the cross of St. Peters, at Rome, 41 feet, lower than the top of 
the Pyramid of Cheops. Pyramids exist throughout Mexico ; In the for- 
ests of Papantla at a short distance above the level of the sea ; on the 
plains of Cholula and of Teotihuacan, at the elevations Avhich exceed 
those of the passes of the Alps. In the most widely distant nations, in 
climates the most ditferent, man seems to have adopted the same style of 
construction ; the same ornaments, the same customs ; and to have placed 
himself under the government of the same political institutions !" 
Is this an argument that all men have sprung only from one stock ? or 
that the human mind is the same everywhere, and, affected by similar 
interests or necessities invariably comes to the same result, whether in 
pomting a pyramid, or an arrow ; in making a law, or a ladle ? 
Much as I distrust all the dark and groping efforts of antiquarians, I 
will nevertheless offer you some sketches and legends, which may serve, 
at least, to base a conjecture upon as to the divinity to whom this pyra- 
mid was erected ; and to prove, perhaps, that it was intended as the 
foundation of a temple, and not the covering of a tomb. 
A tradition which has been recorded by a Dominican monk who visited 
Cholula in 1566, is thus related from his work, by the traveller to whom 
I have already referred : 
" Before the great inundation, which took place 4800 years after the 
creation of the world, the country of Auahuac was inhabited by giants, 
all of whom either perished m the inundation, or were transformed into 
fishes, save seven who fled into caverns. 
" When the waters subsided, one of the giants, called Xelhua, surnamed 
"the Architect," went to Cholula, where, as a memorial of the Tlaloc* 
which had served for an asylum to himself and his six brethren, he built 
an artificial hill in the form of a pyramid. He ordered bricks to be made 
in the province of Tlalmanalco, at the foot of the Sierra of Cocotl, and in 
order to convey them to Cholula, he placed a file of men who passed them 
from hand to hand. The gods beheld, with wrath, an edifice the top 
of which was to reach the clouds. Irritated at the daring attempt of 
Xelhua, they hurled fire on the pyramid ! Numbers of the workmen 
perished. The work was discontinued, and the monument was after- 
ward dedicated to Qtjetzalcoatl." 
* Tlie mountain of Tlaloc lies in a westerly direction from the Pyramid of Cholula, about thirty miles. It was 
visited last year, and ascended with much diificulty by Mr. Ward and Mr. Jamieson, who found, upon the 
very summit, the remains of extensive walls, the sides of which were due north and south. The day was ex- 
ceedingly cold, and. suffering from the keen mountain air, they were unable to extend their explorations, espe- 
cially as they were not prepared either with the necessary tooU, or to tpend some Ume on tlie summit. They 
dug, however, with the blades of their swords among the ruins, and found a number of small images and headj 
of clay, similar to those which will be hereafter described. 
