The Otomies worshipped this mountain as a god, offering human sacrifice to it, which was not wonderful, for once the lava pouring from its bowels cut a path through the City of Pines.

Also they think it holy and haunted, so that none dare set foot upon its loftier snows.

Nevertheless I was destined to climb them--I and one other.
Now in the lap of this ring of mountains and watched over by the mighty Xaca, clad in its robe of snow, its cap of smoke, and its crown of fire, lies, or rather lay the City of Pines, for now it is a ruin, or so I left it.

As to the city itself, it was not so large as some others that I have seen in Anahuac, having only a population of some five and thirty thousand souls, since the Otomie, being a race of mountaineers, did not desire to dwell in cities.

But if it was not great, it was the most beautiful of Indian towns, being laid out in straight streets that met at the square in its centre.