Year: 1878




We find this in letter from the city
of Mexico am going to tell you of a
trip to the mountain of Tezcosingo,
famous in Aztec days as being the pleas
ure garden and retreat of the Indian
poet-king, Nezahuacoyolt. From Tex
COCO the trip is wildly picturesque and
grandly beautiful. The curiously con-
structed bath of Nezahuacoyolt is cut
from solid block of granite overhang-
ing the brow of the hill. The rock has
a smooth surface several yards square,
and dropping from its center is circular
basin some three or four feet deep and a
dozen or more in circumference. Out
of one side is cut a seat for the accom-
mediation of the bather, while rising
from the surface little back is another
having perfect chair form, with rest
on one side for the arm. Protecting the
outer side of this is wall-a part of the
same rock-into which seats have been
cut, and various little inches in the
form of miniature steps, which might
have been used by the old Indian mon
arch as receptacles for his toilet para
phernalia.


Following along the still well-pre-
served path, we came to a chamber cut
into the side of the hills, now unroofed
and in ruins, the floor being strewn with
debris. At the end of this vaulted
chamber was a raised platform foot in
height and several feet square, hewn
from solid rock, and on either corner,
back of this, were inches chiseled out,
with fragments of cement still clinging
to their sides. We have since learned
that between these, above the platform,
there still remained at the beginning of
the present century large calendar
stone, which was later destroyed by the
neighboring Indians in search of treas
ure. This curious work must have cost
it's builders q vast deal of labor.


Separating himself from the cares of
his kingdom, Nezahuacoyolt came for
retirement to this beautiful mountain,
and here, four times every day for forty
days, on bended knees, he offered prayer
and incense to the all-powerful god,
hidden and unknown. 1t is said that in
answer to these earnest petitions a vision
appeared. ito one of his servants in at
tendance, directing him to go at once TO
his master with the comforting assurance
that the unseen god had been pleased
to accept his prayers and offerings, and
would avenge him by the hands of his
son, Axoquatzin, a boy of only seventeen
years. The king could not accept the
supernatural vision which was, however,
fulfilled. Nezahuacoyolt, upon hearing
of the fulfllment of what he had consid-
cred false prophecy, retired in humili-
alton to the garden of his palace, and
kneeling on the ground gave thanks to
the unknown god for his signal benefits,
promising to build a temple to his
honor, to abstain from idolatrous wor-
ship and human sacrifices and to alone
acknowledge the supremacy of the un-
known god. In compliance with his
vow, he built tower nine stories high,
the interior of which he garnished with
gold and precious stones, and the ex-
terror he covered with black cement,
embellished with stars. The workman
ship was of the most expensive order.
In this superb tower were stationed
men, whose duty it was, at certain hours
of the day, to strike upon plates of fine
metal, at the sound of which the mon
arch fell upon his knees in prayer.