We were directed first to the Aduana--custom house--in the _patio_ or court of which lay a coiled rattlesnake, tolerably well sculptured out of a block of gray porphyry--its head, however, appeared disproportionally large. It still wears the mark of paint, although it has been exposed many years to the weather. Several other figures were shown to us--one a female with a finely turned shoulder--another was the arms of Spain, made probably shortly after the conquest--the rest were imperfect. Thence we were conducted to a house, outside the door of which was planted for a seat, a part of a human figure, of large size. In the degraded position it occupied, we could form no opinion of its excellence. Thence we strolled to what is called the palace of the Tescucan kings. Its site fills the western side of the _Plaza_. Traces of its great extent are every where visible, but not clearly defined, for the ground it covered has been long cultivated, and a part of it is planted in _magueyes_. Several large stones still retain the position they must have occupied in the edifice--those which no doubt formed a corner, being squared and cut nicely, in a manner which would not be discreditable to the workmen of the present day in Mexico. At regular distances of about fifteen feet were placed others, the upper surfaces of which are rounded irregularly. In an excavation distant a few paces is a portion of a column, so covered that we could not discover its dimensions. If a conjecture can be hazarded, these stones were parts of corridors, supported by stone columns--possibly an excavation may disclose apartments below. It is, however, futile to form plans upon such insufficient data. The cutting of a ditch through the western section of the ruins, has exposed to view stones curiously scooped out, as if for the use of the founder; and near the centre of the square is another of a different figure, cut apparently for the same purpose--perhaps to mould a kettle which should rest on three corners or feet--the bottom hollowed. We continued our investigations until nearly dark, when we walked to the church of _San Francisco_, near by, in the pavement before the door of which, are several of these anciently wrought stones--some of very large dimensions--one is circular with a carved surface, but so much worn that we could not trace its figures.