196 OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING 



Geographical Dcfcription of Strahlenberg, I have difco- 

 vered that fimilar hieroglyphicks are found, both en- 

 graven and painted, upon rocks, in the northern parts 

 of Afia. It vi^as, partly at lead, from a comparative 

 view of theie hieroglyphicks, that I was early led to be- 

 lieve that America has derived its inhabitants from Afia ; 

 an opinion M^hich, I am perfuaded, will acquire addi- 

 tional probability and ftrength, in proportion as we fhall 

 compare the phyfical appearances, the religions and my- 

 thology, and, above all, the languages of the Americans 

 and northern Afiatics with each other. 



That fuch hieroglyphicks were in ufe among the an- 

 ceftors of our Indians, is rendered probable by another 

 circumftance. Notwithftanding the authority of Kircher, 

 and of Brianus Walton,* and the affertions of De Pauw,-!" 

 it is certain, that the Mexicans, the Acolhuas, the Tlaf- 

 calans, and other more improved nations of the Mexican 

 empire, among other fpecies of writing, were acquaint- 

 ed with that of hieroglyphicks.;}: This fadt is attefted by 

 the learned Acofta, by Torquemada, by Gomara, by 

 Solis, by Boturini, and by feveral other writers, § who 



* In his Biblia Sacra Polyglotta, &c. Londini : 1657. 



t Recherches Philofophiques fur les Ameiicains, Tome II. 



X See Clavigero's Hiftory of Mexico, Vol. II. 



§ I have not had an opportunity of examining the works of Torquemada, 

 Gomara, and Boturini ; but what Acofta and Solis afTert is decifive. 

 " One of our company of Jefuites, a man very witty and wel experienced, 

 did aflemble in the province of Mexico, the Antients of Tefcuco, of Talla, 

 and of Mexico, conferring at large with them, who (hewed unto him their 

 books, hiftories and kalenders, things very woorthy the fight, bicaufe they 

 had their figures and hierogliphicks, wherby they reprefented things in this 

 manner : Such as had forme or figure, were reprefented by their proper ima- 

 ges, and fuch as had not any, were reprefented by charafters that (ignified 

 them, and by this meanes they figured and writ what they would." The 

 Naturalt and Morall Hijlorie of the Eaji and Wejl Indies, l^c. lib. 6. chap. 7. 

 p. 446. Englilh Tranflation. London: 1604. Don Antonio De Solis, 

 fpeaking of the Mexican paintings, fays the fame thing. To make their 

 piflures " the more intelligible, they placed feme Charaflers here and there, 

 with which they feemed to explain, and give tlie Signification of the Pi<fture. 



This 



