The people who, in remote times, inhabited the region of Mexico, were advanced in civilization and in the arts ; they had regularly organized states and established forms of government, and their immense cities, their roads, Aqueducts and other public works, give evidence of the advanced state of the arts among them and their knowledge of the sciences.

The location and great population of some of their cities required a familiar knowledge of hydraulic operations to supply them with water ; and hence it would seem as if they had cultivated this department of the arts equally with others, for some of their Aqueducts were of a character that would

have done honor to Greece or Rome. Nearly all the ancient cities of Mexico were supplied by them.

" The city of Mexico, which was built on several islands near the shore of the lake, was connected to the main land by four great causeways or dikes, the remains of which still exist. One of these to the south, the same by which Cortez entered, was nearly two leagues long --another to the north

about one league, and the third at the west somewhat less.

The fourth supported the celebrated Aqueduct of Chapoltepec, by which water was conducted from springs, upon an insulated hill of that name, at the distance of from two to three miles."

The Aqueduct of Chapoltepec was the work of Montezuma, and also the vast stone reservoir connected with it.

This Aqueduct consisted of two conduits formed of solid mason work --each five feet high and two paces broad --by which the water was introduced into the city for the supply of various fountains.