were the houses of those preferred to its distinctive advantages from the ruling qualifications reverenced, as godlike, from the fluent flow of speech. Built in an amphitheatre its walled defense could be made certain against the united tribes of the aboriginal race without, while the system of construction combined economy in space and in labor, giving evidence of emergency from doubtful crisis. The first inclosure had probably furnished ample space for the accommodation of its founders. Passing from the nucleus by the nether street of the fora, we entered the second surrounding, which corresponded in breadth with the original. The third and last, bespoke the disruptive reign of sensual gratification, heralding dissolution. Its expanded breadth from wall of circumvallation to nucleus, must have exceeded the distance of a mile, the palaces being detached from it by gardens and outhouses, the latter subserving the purpose devised from original intention. The structures retained, almost unimpaired, their original perfection; while within many of the heavier household utensils were found in place, touched lightly, from the comparative dryness of the climate, by an age of centuries’ duration. These indications proclaiming the sudden calamity of successful insurrection, and extermination, were to be seen in every direction. Leaving this city solitude, once peopled by the instinctively thoughtless and “gay,” we gained the summit of the dividing ridge separating the Betongo from the Vermejo valley. A glance sufficed in answer for the question of causes that led to the selection of the “New City’s” site as a safe place for recreative resort. Limited in extent, and remote from the larger cultivated district, it could not be made available as a permanent place of residence for the guard of growing crops; but was naturally adapted for the indulgence of luxurious ease in a revoltful country, as its walls inclosed sufficient arable land for the support of a limited number of inhabitants, while its natural and artificial aids for defense rendered it impregnable against aboriginal weapons, without taxing the energies of the citizens. Our introductory glances of admiration were arrested by tokens of recognition which greeted us from the citizens, who had assembled along the guard walk of the southern parapet in waiting expectation of our appearance. Their signals soon informed us of the enemy’s position, which was in a grove surrounding a temple, and reaching from it to the road of descent at its escarped junction with the level avenue leading to the city gate.