246 
MEXICO. 
ing to the tradition of the Zacatecanos, the ancient inhabitants of that 
country, was the work of the Aztecs on their migration ; and it certainly 
cannot be ascribed to any other people, the Zacatecanos themselves being 
so barbarous as neither to live in houses nor to know how to build them.' ' 
MAPILCA. ■ 
Following the course of the river Tecolutla from its mouth near 
Nautla, and directing himself across the Virgin mountains and plains, Mr. 
Nebel found, at the distance of a few leagues from Papantla, the ruins 
of a city, near an Indian rancho called Mapilca. 
it is impossible, he states, to define precisely the limits of this ancient 
work, because it is now entirely covered with thick vegetation, and a 
forest, the silence of which has, perhaps, never been disturbed by an axe. 
He nevertheless discovered some pyramids, many large sculptured stones, 
lud some other indications of an extensive city and civilized people. 
SCTTLPTUKED STONE AT MAPILCA. 
• Clavigero, vol. :. book ii. p. ISS.-Torquemada says, that the capital city of the Chechemecas was cafled 
Amaquemacan. He says this place was 600 miles distant from where the city of Guadalaxara now stands. 
Clavi-ero who quotes this passage and comments upon it in a note, remarlcs that " in more than one thousand two 
hundrwl miles of inhabited country beyond that city, there is nol the least trace or memory of Amaquemacan. 
May not tlie <:ity I have described be the capital in question 1 
