heir own quarters. It stood in the midst of a vast space which was
surrounded by a wall of stone and lime about eight feet high, ornamented
on the outer side by raised figures of serpents, which gave it the name
of the 'Coatepantli,' or 'wall of serpents.' This wall was pierced by
huge battlemented gateways, opening upon the four principal streets of
the city, and over each gate was a kind of arsenal filled with arms and
warlike gear. The teocalli itself was of the usual pyramidal shape, and
five stories high, coated on the outside with hewn stones. The ascent
was by flights of steps on the outside, and Cortes found two priests and
several caciques waiting to carry him up them as they had just carried
the emperor; but the general declined this compliment, preferring to
march up at the head of his men. On reaching the great paved space at
the summit, the first thing they saw was the stone on which the unhappy
victims were stretched for sacrifice; at the other end of the platform
stood two-towers, each three stories high, the lower story being of
stone, the two upper of carved wood. In these stood the images of the
gods, and before each stood an altar upon which blazed the undying
fires, the putting out of which was supposed to portend so much woe to
the nation. Here also was the huge drum, made of serpents' skins, struck
only on extraordinary occasions, when it sent forth a melancholy sound
that could be heard for miles--a sound of woe to the Spaniards in after
times. Montezuma, attended by a high priest, came forward to receive
Cortes. After conferring with the priests the emperor conducted the
Spaniards into the building, which was adorned with sculptured figures;
at one end was a recess, with a roof of timber richly carved and gilt,
and here stood a colossal image of Huitzilopochtli, the war-god. His
countenance was hideous; in his right hand he held a bow, and in his
left a bunch of golden arrows, which a mystic legend connected with the
victories of his people. A huge serpent of pearls and precious stones
was coiled about his waist, and costly jewels were profusely sprinkled
over his person. On his left foot were the delicate feathers of the
humming-bird, from which, singularly enough, he took his name, while
round his neck hung a chain of gold and silver hearts, as an emblem of
the sacrifice in which he most delighted. Indeed, even at that moment
three bleeding human hearts lay upon the altar before him. The next
san