The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-04-29
MEXICAN MINES AND PYRAMIDS
n Trip to TeOtihuscan, The Mines ~
Pachuca aud Real del NOrte.


connections that there is really but one
course for the tourist to take. Steamer
from New Orleanst to Vera Cruz, Mexican
railroad and branches to Mexico, Mex.
lean National from Mexico to Celaya
and Mexican Central from Celayo to FL
PasO.
OF course il person has plenty Of
time there arc various interesting detOurs
that may be made to Morelia and other
p .ints. but from two to three months
may be spent profitably on the route
mentioned without leaving the railroad
more than few miles.
As my objects were purely economic
and scientific. have not time to describe
the lovely waterfalls Of Orizaba or the
beauties Os the Mexican railroad, which,
in ascending to the tablelands, winds
around thirteen miles in order to gain
one, until, ut last the traveller looks down
in wonder upon the little paradise Of
Maltrata. and buys oranges Of the same
women that he saw nearly an hour be.
fore.
Certainly here at our own doors Is u
country far more strange and interesting
than any in Europe.
VISIT TO THE PYRAMIDS.
The pyramids OF Teotihuacan, though
near the city Of Mexico, are but little
visited because two.mile walk must he
taken from the railroad over dusty roads
End through fields, and there are no hO
tel accommodations. They are the Il.
nest pyramids in Mexico and probably
the Oldest in the world.
At the station we secured guide, who
left US within half an hour as We passed
the old church Of San Sebastian. The
merry groups that were gathering ut the
three days Fiesta" were too much for
his resolution, and in spite Of our remon.
strances he handed us over to the tender
mercies OF small boy. We soon had
only half boy, for this ono engaged an.
other to accompany him. A tiresomc
walk through the fields brought us to the
Pyramid OF the Sun. This is the larger,
being 1870 feet high and 90? feet square
at the base. Three terraces are plainly
visible. 1t is built of blocks Of tufa and
and trachyte rock.
A hard climb to the summit was well
repaid by magnificent view. Here was
once temple in which was gigantic
statue of the Sun, of one block of stone,
having breastplate of gold and silver:
Our presence on the top was the signal
for the men, women and children of the
neighboring haciendas, or farms. to
come, bringing prehistoric relics Of stone,
pottery and obsidan. The latter occurs
in interesting forms, such as cores, scra.
p0rs. knives and flakes. The heads and
faces are of stone. About one.half mile
from tho Pyrard Of the Sun il that OF
the Moon, much smaller. Around this
are many smaller pyramids. One OF
these has been opened and huge statue
which the guides called Montezuma
found. It is very well carved and must
weigh many tons. Charley made an
excavation nearly through the Pyramid
of the Moon, finding an idol in the int.
rior. These pyramids, though smaller.
are far mere interesting than the one at
Cholula. The latter has been 20 much
dug into by roads and paths and the top
SO leveled off for church that its form
has lost all its symmetry. -.
Returning, we passed through field
where man with donkey was collect
ing pulque from the hearts Of the so.
called century plants. A long earthen-
ware jar, tipped below with COWS
horn, the lower end Of which was closed
by the mans finger, and above with d
nozzle, to which he applied his mouth,
is inserted in the cavity, from which the
flower stalk has been removed, and the
sweet Juices are sucked up by means Of
this enormous plpette. Il is then trans.
ferred to the cowhide bags that flank the
donkey like panniers. The fresh juice
tastes like maple sap, but Is somewhat
slick. Such immense quantities are
used that the country is covered with
the plants, and daily pulque trains are
run over the railroads into the city like
milk trains here. Wherever the streams,
roads or paths had cut through the sur
face the cement floors OF ancient houses
were seen. and not a handful OF sol
could be taken without getting frag
ments of pottery. This was true OF
space Of sixteen square miles that We
traversed during our three days stay
There can be no question but that thu
plain was once the site OF the
LARGEST cI1Y IN MEXICO.
Human sacrifices were performed or
these pyramids with the obsidian knlye'
in the following manner: The victim
was made to lie down, his feet and hand
were held by four priests, while a niti
pierced his breast with razor OF oosd
ian or volcanic glass. The latter tier
inserted his hand in the wound and tear
ing out the heart threw 1t at the feet O
an dioiniuo idol TprcscOttl, The prln