of an inundation became imminent, and was almost suspended in the dry years, 2,310 Mexican varas of the northern part of the Gallery remained untouched, after the expiration of one hundred and thirty years, when the Consulado was entrusted with the completion of the arduous task. As the old line of the gallery was to be preserved, it became necessary to give the cut, which was to be sunk perpendicularly upon it, an enormous width at the top, in order to prevent the sides from falling in; and in the more elevated parts, between the mountain of Sȳncōqŭe and the hill of Nŏchistōngŏ, for the space of 2,624 feet, the width across varies from 278 to 360 feet, while the perpendicular depth is from 147 to 196 feet. The whole length of the cut, from the sluice called the Vertideros to the Salto of the river Tula, is 67,537 feet, or 24,530 Mexican varas. The highest point of the hill of Nŏchistōngŏ, is that called Boveda Real, and it would be difficult when looking down from it upon the stream below, and following with the eye the vast opening through which it seeks an issue, to conceive that the whole is indeed the work of man, did not the mounds on either side, as yet but imperfectly covered with vegetation, and the regular outline of the terraces, denote both the recency of its completion, and the impossibility of attributing it to any natural convulsion.
The Obra del Consulado, as the open cutting is called, was concluded in the year 1789. It cost nearly a million of dollars; and the whole expence
