" The water," says our author, " was conveyed with many superstitious ceremonies, some of the priests offering incense, others sacrificing quails, and anointing the lip or border of the aqueduct with blood ; others sounding musical instruments, and otherwise solemnising the arrival of the water. The high priest wore the same habit with which they represented Chalclichuitlical, goddess of the water."

A very rainy season succeeded which caused the lake to rise and overflow doing much damage. In consequence the new aqueduct was destroyed.

Iztacpalapa, a town of 10,000 houses, on one of the causeways leading to the city of Mexico, was, says de Solis, noted for " many fountains of sweet and wholesome waters,

conveyed by several aqueducts from neighboring mountains." $ Our adventurous and intelligent traveller, Stephens, in describing his visit to Palenque in ruins, thus commemorates its aqueduct :

" The exploration of the aqueduct, Pawling and I attempted together. It is supplied by a stream which runs at the base of the terrace on which the palace stands. At the time of our arrival, the whole stream passed through this aqueduct. It was now swollen and ran over the top, and alongside. At the mouth we had great difficulty in stemming the torrent. Within it was perfectly dark, and we could not move without candles. The sides were of smooth stones about four feet high, and the roof was made by stones lapping over like the corridors of the buildings. At a short distance from tha entrance, the passage turned to the left, and at a distance of 160 feet it was completely blocked up by the ruins of the roof which had fallen in. What was its direction beyond, it was impossible to determine, but it certainly did not pass under the palace, as has been supposed."