, 1875-02-13
TEZCUCO.
An Ancient Mexican City.

Ftorn ths tersheentna Hela1,s 4: s1 u.re r, 10
nochtitlan was Tezcnco, which Torqacmsds
af1r1nB contained lao. 900 houscs within crcun.
fercnca Of frou to leagues It wAB divided
into Blk divisions. and crossed by serles Of fls
old palace stood on the border Of the lake upoas
triple terrace, guarding tile town. ~ it we're tht
newer structure, In the construction Of which
20o, 900 men had heen omployed, stood It tht
northern end II IVES magnificent building
of refinement and elegance, and occupied ri
atfvelv the same position In Mex1co ~ Pad
does in Europe.
The nty1o of architecture for houses did, nd
exhibit much variety, the difference hotaete
md mstori.l. ~ Tha % dwengs ef % the aooiss 1sa; ss
situated upon terraces Of various heights, Thta
In bHampy places like Mexico, rested upon ts1
Of heavy piles Thoy were usually a Groupot
buildings In the form Of rarallelogsam, bull
Bne oeuaont. nnd Ano1y polished and whit,
washed. Every houaa stood BY itself, sepatattd
from ita neEhbor By narrow laaes, aud inolotsd
ono or mora courts which extended oVaf
largo space of ground. One story vs. y.
accounts Of Anv palaces or private house,
exceeding two atorles. Broad stops led up thi
terrace to two gates which gnye eltrancs to the
conrta ,-one opening upon tho main street; ~
OLNBl upon Lu1 pAEh AAues GT CAuAls GuAk 1tttuIN
beneath it. The terraces platform Of the housed
OF chiofs often hAl wide walk round It, sna
WAS especially spnci0uB in 'front.' where there ~
occasionally small oratorio facing ths entroes::
This atyie Hhs t'a1t'enlasiy noticed 90 1hs ~
coast. The court was surrounded by uumetou,,
alAbsster ornaments, which, eRain, led to VaIoas
chambers aud hals, Lighted ly largo wludoxk
Two great haila and Beverai fsception'toona
wore situated III front. the slesping- -chameetnt y
' rt,n t,st1t kkn
rear, forming 1t timss quite = complsaseda
labyrinth. Tbs con.t HaY paved with aagse1
STONE. tesselated marble, or bard cement, poisa
cd With oehse or gypsum, as,a usually CONTAINED
sparkling fountain oocas!ona!ly there w.: ~.
MI air Of Bancdty to tho place, The statfsH
which led to tho second story or 70 the roef NJ
often on the outside Of tho house. and b' "
grand proportions and graceful form cont1!ba1as
not littlo to tho good appearances Of tha housa
Tue loot Was n tat torr4oe OF boano1 VITA
slight slope towards the back covered Win
! coat OF cement or clHy, ard surrounded BY oaE
tlouoated llsrapak, sdrnaounsed 1t ttmea hy s@n'
turrota* There WeEo generally hoWoTe III PosA
| tho members Of tho household assembled !. y
| tho cool Of tho evening to cu|oy tho fresh y
| and Charming proHpect. Bono honbes had eal'
| lessea, which, ike mont work bdabd to the ssaA
structure, were OF wood, though supported IT, apea
| columns Of mhrblo, porphyry, Or aiahAatei. laess
| piilass were either round oF square, aud Hsn
| generally ,nouolltla, theY Wore without bsae s
| capital, though ornnmdnted With tgnros GU - =
| low relief Buildings wete further adorned ~
| elegant corniceA and Ftucco dcal9ns Of n9*e1e
aud aillmAss which mers ofteu painted with bf'lr
| liant colorg. pron!neAt AmunB these hgufe NJ NJ
| tho coiIiuK serpent before mentioned !t0'es
sud door-I'os warn sluo tlabosately carved.
| Tho interior displayed tho aan1o rude mstnnI' ny
smooth ccment like the courtyard ND stfeSsa yss
rubbed with ochra or gypsum aud polished ,.a. ~,
glossy walls wera pautea aud hung win ~ sSss Il
Or featter tapestry, 70 which Las Casas sdaa ri
YER plating and ieuels. Tha furniture .a6 ~
Bcantv. 1t consisted Chiefly Of soft mats ~ ~
cushions Of palm-leavds or fur, loH ta1los' ~
snlau STOOLS With palal-ieaf backs. fhe ,sst 9es.
wore mata piled oae upon another, with o9sa ~
OF \ pRim-leaf or cotton cushloa ~. ~
. pillow; occasionally they we're ~ ~
| ulsAod with coyerlats aud canoplea o. y ~
ton or feather-work. Vases fued With smo1a.es. X.
| Ing inceuxe a1u4cd their perfume throafa H.
| chambGrA. The rooms which Here Used 10 ~ ~
ter Hors provided with hesrths and fre-ecfee1So -
| and Warc lighted by torches. There He.S hnt T
doors, properly called such, to the houses ~
where privacy WAS required, bamboo d 49, 49,
| work screen wss stlspsuded xcroas tho eot!~s -
aud secured as night with : bar. To snas ~ ~.
attached strlng OF SHELLS, which the VteitoF - ~
tied to calf the host or hl2 stteudantB to ~ h.
4 franco. lha interior rooms we're separate y
hanglngs, which probably also served 10 sv NJ
tho windows Of ordinary dwellings, alsho19a ~ =,
&sAnspArsnt t4sAn stVes, ~ tesetN rfss+I ~
| swef1d tAA puxpos4 pf W1htoTs&l1ea ~ e
pATta e1 toeee d ~ t1lle3k