lie MEXICO. 
ing his opinion on Gomara and Bernal Diaz, ventures to differ from Cla- 
vigero. Diaz says there was but one, and those who read his work, in the 
original, will not fail to be struck with the air of accuracy and truth with 
which the whole story of that brave old soldier is given from beginning 
to end. 
There is no question, however, that there was at least one tower, raised 
to nearly the height of fifty-six feet. It was divided into three stories, the 
lower one of stone and mortar ; the others of wood, neatly wrought and 
painted. The inferior portion of this edifice was the Sanctuary ; wnere, 
Diaz relates, two highly adorned altars were erected to Huitzilopotchtli 
and Tezcatlipoca, over which the idol images were placed in state. 
Before these towers, or tower, on two vases or altars, " as high as a man," 
a fire was kept day and night, and its accidental extinguishment was 
dreaded, as sure to be followed by the wrath of Heaven. 
In addition to this great Teocalli, there were forty other temples dedi- 
cated to the gods, within the area of the serpent-covered wall. There 
was the Tezcacalli, or " House of Mirrors," the walls of which were cov- 
ered with brightly shining materials. There was the Teccizcalli, a house 
adorned with shells, to which the sovereign retired at times for fasting, 
solitude and prayer. There were temples to Tezcatlipoca, Tlaloc, and 
QaetzalcoatI — the shrine of the latter being circular, while those of the 
others were square. '' The entrance" says Clavigero, " to this sanctuary 
was by the mouth of an enormous serpent of stone, armed with fangs ; and 
the Spaniards who, tempted by their curiosity, ventured to enter, after- 
ward confessed their horror when they beheld the interior." It is said, 
that among these temples was one dedicated to the planet Venus ; and that 
they sacrificed a number of prisoners, at the time of her appearance, 
before a huge pillar, upon which was engraved the figure of a star. 
The Colleges of the priests, and their seminaries, were likewise various 
and perhaps numerous ; " but only five are particularly known, although 
there must have been more, from the prodigious number of persons who 
were found in that place consecrated to the worship of the gods." 
Besides these edifices of religious retirement and learning, there was a 
house of entertahiment to accommodate strangers of eminence, who piously 
came to visit the Temple, or to see the ''grandeurs of the Court." There 
were ponds, in which the priests bathed at midnight, and many beautiful 
fountains, one of which was deemed holy, and only used on the most 
solemn festivals. 
Then there were gardens where flowers and sweet-smelling herbs were 
raised for the decoration of the altars, and among which they fed the 
birds used in sacrifices to certain idols. It is said, that there was even 
a little wood or grove filled with " hills, rocks, and precipices," from 
which, upon one of their solemn festivals, the priests issued in a mimic 
chase. 
Without entering on a more extended description of the Mexican tern- 
pies, and the lives, chaiacter, and occupations of the priesthood, I will 
