MEXICAN PICTURE-WRITING. 403 



Honduras, there were bookes of the leaves of trees, folded _ 

 and squared after their manner, in the which the wise 

 Indians contained the distribution of their times, the 

 knowledge of the planets, of beasts and other naturall 

 things, with their antiquities, a thing full of great curiositie 

 and diligence. It seemed to some Pedant that all this was 

 an inchantment and magicke arte, who did obstinately, 

 maintaine that they ought to be burnt, so as they were 

 committed to the fire. Which since, not onely the Indians 

 found to be ill done, but also the curious Spaniards, who 

 desired to know the secrets of the countrey. The like hath 

 happened in other things, for our men thinking that all was 

 but superstition have lost many memorialls of ancient and 

 holy things, which might have profited much. This pro- 

 ceedeth of a foolish and ignorant zeale, who not knowing, 

 nor seeking to knowo what concerned the Indians, say 

 preiudicately that they are all but witchcrafts, and that all 

 the Indians are but drunkards, incapable to know or learno 

 anything. For such as would be curiously informed of^ 

 them have found many things worthy of consideration. 

 One of our company of lesuites, a man very witty and wel 

 experienced, did assemble in the province of Mexico the 

 Antients of Tescuco, of Talla, and of Mexico, conferring at 

 large with them, who shewed unto him their books, histories 

 and kalenders, things very woorthy the sight, bicauso they 

 had their figures and hierogliphicks, whereby they repre 

 sented things in this manner : Such as had forme or figure 

 were represented by their proper images, and such as had 

 not any were represented by characters that signified them, 

 and by this meanes they figured and writ what they would. 

 And to observe the time when anything did happen they 

 had those painted wheeles, for every one of them contained 

 an age, which was two and fifty years, as hath beene said ; 

 and of the side of those wheeles they did paint with figures 

 and characters, right against the yeare, the memorable 



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