242 MEXICO. 
whicli from its figure has materially favored their construction. There 
is evei'y reason to believe that this eastern face must have been of great 
importance. A slightly raised and paved causeway of about twenty-five 
feet descends across the valley, in the direction of the rising sun ; and 
being continued on the opposite side of a stream which flows through it, 
can be traced up the mountains at two miles distance, until it terminates 
at the base of an immense stone edifice, which probably may also have 
been a pyramid. Although a stream (Rio del Partido) runs meandering 
through the plain from the northward, about midway between the two 
elevated buildings ; I can scarcely imagine that the causeway should 
have been formed for the purpose of bringing water to the city, Which 
is far more easy of access in many other directions much nearer to the 
river, but must have been constructed for important purposes between the 
two places in question ; and it is not improbable, that it once formed the 
street between the frail huts of the poorer inhabitants. The base of the 
large pyramid measured fifty feet, and I ascertained, by ascending with a 
line, that its height was precisely the same. Its flat top was covered with 
earth and a little vegetation ; and our guide asserted, although he knew 
not whence he received the information, that it was once surmounted by 
a statue. Off" the southeast corner of this building and at about fifteen 
yards distant, is to be see-n the edge of a circle of stones about eight feet 
in diameter, inclosing, as far as we could judge on scraping away the 
soil, a bowl-shaped pit, in which the action of fire was plainly observable ; 
and the earth, from which we picked some pieces of pottery, was evi- 
dently darkened by an admixture of soot or ashes. At the distance of 
one hundred yards southwest of the large pyramid, is a small one, twelve 
feet square, and much injured. This is situated on somewhat higher 
ground, in the steep part of the ascent to the mountain's brow. On its 
eastern face, which is toward the declivity, the height is eighteen feet ; 
and apparently there have been steps by which to descend to a quadran- 
gular space, having a broad terrace round it, and extending east one hun- 
dred feet by a width of fifty. In the centre of this inclosure is another 
bowl-shaped pit, somewhat wider than the first. Hence we began our 
ascent to the upper works, over a well-buttressed yet ruined wall, built 
to a certain extent, so as to derive advantage from the natural abruptness 
of the rock. Its height on the steepest side is twenty-one feet, and tha 
width on the summit, which is level, with an extensive platform, is the 
same. This is a double wall, one of ten feet having been first constructed 
and then covered with a very smooth kind of cement, after which the 
second has been built against it. The platform (which faces to the south, 
and may to a certain extent be considered as a ledge from the cliffl) is 
eighty-nine feet by seventy-two ; and on its northern centre stand the 
ruins of a square building, having within it an open space of ten feet by 
eight, and of the same depth. In the middle of the quadrangle is to be 
seen a mound of stones eight feet high. A little farther on, we en- 
tered by a broad opening between two perfect and massive walls, to a 
