"When it has happened to me," says Father Duran, "to ask an Indian who cut this pass through the mountains, or who opened that spring of water, or who built that old ruin, the answer was, 'The Toltecs, the disciples of Papa.'"[2] [Footnote 1: "Discipulos," Duran, _Historia_, in Kingsborough, vol.vii, p.

260.] [Footnote 2: Ibid.] They were tall in stature, beyond the common race of men, and it was nothing uncommon for them to live hundreds of years.

Such was their energy that they allowed no lazy person to live among them, and like their master they were skilled in every art of life and virtuous beyond the power of mortals.

In complexion they are described as light in hue, as was their leader, and as are usually the personifications of light, and not the less so among the dark races of men.[1] [Footnote 1: For the character of the Toltecs as here portrayed, see Ixtlilxochitl, _Relaciones Historicas_, and Veitia, _Historia, passion_.] When Quetzalcoatl left Tollan most of the Toltecs had already perished by the stratagems of Tezcatlipoca, and those that survived were said to have disappeared on his departure.

The city was left desolate, and what became of its remaining inhabitants no one knew.