stone, with buttresses of solid masonry on both sides, and three sluices, by which, in any emergency, a communication between the lakes can be effected, and regulated at the same time. The whole was concluded, like the gallery of Nŏchistōngŏ, in eleven months, although as many years would now be required for such an undertaking. But in those days the sacrifice of life, (and particularly of Indian life,) in public works, was not regarded. Many thousands of the natives perished before the Dĕsāgŭe was completed; and to their loss, as well as to the hardships endured by the survivors, may be ascribed the horror with which the name of Huĕhuĕtōcă is still pronounced by their descendants.
It is not my intention to follow the progress of the canal of Huĕhuĕtōcă through all the various changes which occurred in the plans pursued with respect to it from 1637, when the direction of the works was again taken from Martinez, and confided to the Monks of the Order of San Francisco, until 1767, when, under the Viceroyalty of the Marquis de Croix, the Consulado, or corporate body of merchants of Mexico, engaged to complete this great national undertaking. The necessity of converting the Socabon of Martinez into an open cut, (Tajo abierto) had long been felt, it having been found impossible to prevent the Socabon from being continually choked up by the sand and rubbish deposited by the water on its passage; but as the work was only prosecuted with vigour, when the danger
