but on a rectangular plan,
received the constantly flowing waters, and in its turn discharged
them into the sea. The city extended over part of the plain, up to
the edge of this great outermost moat, which surrounded and defended
it with a line of waterways extending about twelve miles by ten miles
square.

It will thus be seen that the city was divided into three great belts,
each hemmed in by its canals. The characteristic feature of the upper
belt that lay just below the palace grounds, was a circular
race-course and large public gardens. Most of the houses of the court
officials also lay on this belt, and here also was an institution of
which we have no parallel in modern times. The term "Strangers' Home"
amongst us suggests a mean appearance and sordid surroundings, but
this was a palace where all strangers who might come to the city were
entertained as long as they might choose to stay--being treated all
the time as guests of the Government. The detached houses of the
inhabitants and the various temples scattered throughout the city
occupied the other two belts. In the days of the Toltec greatness
there seems to have been no real poverty--even the retinue of slaves
attached to most houses being well fed and clothed--but there were a
number of comparatively poor houses in the lowest belt to the north,
as well as outside the outermost canal towards the sea. The
inhabitants of this part were mostly connected with the shipping, and
their houses though detached were built closer together than in other
districts.

It will be seen from the above that the inhabitants had thus a
never-failing supply of pure clear water constantly coursing through
the city, while the upper belts and the emperor's palace were
protected by lines of moats, each one at a higher level as the centre
was approached.

Now it does not require much mechanical knowledge in order to realize
how stupendous must have been the works needed to provide this supply,
for in the days of its greatness the "City of the Golden Gates"
embraced within its four circles of moats over two million
inhabitants. No such system of water supply has ever been attempted in
Greek, Roman or modern times--indeed it is very doubtful whether our
ablest engineers, even at the expenditure of untold wealth, could
produce such a result.

A description of some of its leading features will be of interest. It
was from a lake which lay among the mountains to the west of the city,