SKLKKl MEXICAN PICTITRE WRITINGS FRAGMENTS IX-XII 209 



conipositioii of tlu> hieroglyphs, which approxiniatcs sylhibic and pho- 

 netic writing. All the manuscripts of this kind seem to have origin- 

 ated within the boundaries of the ancient kingdoni of Tezcuco, and it 

 seems that this local element, rather than the time of their origin, 

 ought to be taken into account in explaining these peculiar features, 

 for the Pintura del Gobernador, Alcaldes y Regidores de Mexico 

 (Osuna codex), Avhich is later than our fragment VI (plate xi), 

 counts with dots instead of marks. We know that Tezcuco was 

 anciently regarded as the seat of refined culture and of a certain kind 

 of scholarship; but Tezcuco was also the first to adapt its native ele- 

 ments, in a certain measure, to the customs and civilization of the 

 foreign conqueror. As long, therefore, as the same peculiar features 

 occur in the manuscripts quoted (Vergara codex and others) in 

 genuine old pre-Spanish documents I shall still incline to attribute 

 this development to the Spanish period. For this reason I can not 

 consider these docu/nents of the great importance which Aubin and 

 othei's attach to them. 



FKACtMENTS IX, X, XI, AND XII 



These four fragnients are alike in character. Fragments IX (plate 

 XIV ) and X (plate xv) evidently were once a single strip, as w^ere also 

 fragments XI (plate xvi) and XII (plate xvii). Fragments X 

 (plate xv) and XII (plate xvii) have a line across the top, cut with a 

 sharp instrument; in XII (plate xvii) the cut follows a line drawn 

 across the fragment, parts of which are to be seen at the bottom of 

 fragment XI (plate xvi). The strips are all of the same width, 

 about 17 cm. Fragments X and XI (plates xv and xvi) together are 

 !)S cm. in length, which is therefore the length of the whole strip 

 originally. Fragments XI (plate xvi) and XII (plate xvii) together 

 are 14G^ cm., the original length of the second strip. The first strip 

 Avas once longer above. There are still faint traces of drawings 

 there. The second strip seems to have been cut olf sharply at the 

 bottom ; moreover, one corner has been cut out with the scissors. It 

 would seem, then, that this strip was also longer. I'he drawings are 

 done in ink with a coarse pen, and decidedl}^ resemble the illustrations 

 on fragment XV (plate xx), and also somewhat those of ecclesiastical 

 subjects on fragment XVI (plate xxi). The colors used are crimson 

 and yellow, while for the stone wall on fragment XII (plate xvii) a 

 blackish ink has been employed. The circles and squares in the low- 

 est division of fragment IX (plate xiv) are painted crimson. So, 

 too, are the tubs Avhich the three rows of Indians in the upper divi- 

 sion of fragment XI (plate xvi) carry on their backs, the transverse 

 rows over and under them, and the hat, coat, and footgear of the 



7238— No. 28—0 14 



