class="smcap">Canoe voyage up the river panuco.—rambles among the ruins of ancient cities, 113

An independent mode of travelling, 113
The river Panuco—its luxuriant banks, 114
A Yankee Brick Yard, 115
Indians—their position in society, 116
An Indian man and woman, 117
Topila Creek.—"The Lady's Room," 118
Fellow lodgers, 119
An aged Indian, 120
Ancient ruins—site of an aboriginal town, 121
Rancho de las Piedras 122
The Topila hills—mounds, 122
An ancient well, 123
A wild fig tree—mounds, 124
An incident—civil bandoleros, 125


CHAPTER VIII.

Further explorations or the ruins in the vicinity of the rancho de las piedras, 127

Situation of the ruins, 127
Discoveries—a female head 128
Description—transportation to New York, 129
Colossal head, 130
The American Sphinx, 132
Conjectures, 134
Curiously ornamented head, 136
A mythological suggestion, 137
Deserted by my Indian allies, 138
A thrilling adventure, 139
The escape, 140
A road side view, 140


CHAPTER IX.

Visit to the ancient town of panuco.—ruins, curious relics found there, 141

Route along the banks of the river, 141
Scenery—rare and curious trees, 142
Panuco and its inhabitants, 143
Language—antiquarian researches—Mr. Gallatin, 144
Extensive ruins in the vicinity of Panuco, 145
Sepulchral effigy, 145
Custom of the ancient Americans.—A conjecture, 147
An inference, and a conclusion,