114 G. F. E-uxton, Esq., on the Migration 



palseontology, leads me to believe that we are following the proper 

 direction, and if all do not yet go with us, the number of those who 

 deviate will diminish^ every day. — {From Supplement d la Biblio- 

 theque Univer. de Geneve, No. xxi., page 23.) 



The Migration of the Ancient Mexicans, and their Analogy 

 to the existing Indian Tribes of Northern Mexico. By 

 George Fuederic Ruxton, Esq., F.E.S.* Communi- 

 cated by the Ethnological Society. 



Where no other data than the vague apocryphal legends 

 and rude hieroglyphics of a semibarbarous people reward 

 the researches into a nation's history, it is almost impossible 

 to derive even a probable hypothesis as to its origin, or to 

 trace even, by such uncertain evidence, the different phases 

 which it may have exhibited, in its progress from utter bar- 

 barism to comparative civilisation. 



Perhaps in no case is this fact more truly exemplified than 

 in the history of the people which are the subject of the pre- 

 sent sketch ; and, although a more than ordinary amount of 

 talent, diligence, and assiduity have been devoted to bring 

 to light and unravel the mass of confusion which native tra- 

 ditions and hieroglyphics present to the historians of the 

 Mexicans, yet, nothing are we permitted to receive as fact, 

 or to affirm as warrantable evidence of any portion of Mexi- 

 can history, but the oral traditions handed down to us by the 

 earliest writers of the Spanish conquest ; refusing altogether 

 such uncertain data as the rude picture-writing, interpreted 

 by every one in a different manner, which serves more to 

 confuse than throw a light on the interesting subject. 



What, therefore, may be asserted with the semblance of 

 truth is simply this, that the portion of Mexico, classically 

 known as the Valley of Anahuac. has been peopled by at 

 least nine distinct tribes, who succeeded each other in that 

 comparatively circumscribed tract, the first of these being 

 the Toltecans, and the last (who held it at the time of the 

 conquest by the Spaniards) the Aztecs. 



It is probable that, although distinct tribes, they belonged 



Read before the Ethnological Society, 17th May 1848. 



