thomab] PLATES 65 AND 66, VATICAN CODEX, B. 65 



proceeded southward, where probably colonies from the main stock had 

 already been planted, we may be able to solve the enigma. 



if this people were, as is generally supposed, the leaders in Mexican 

 and Central American civilization, it is possible that the Aztecs, a more 

 savage and barbarous people, borrowed their civilization from the for- 

 mer, and, having less tendency toward development, retained the origi- 

 nal symbols and figures of the former, adding only ornamentation and 

 details, but not advancing to any great extent toward a written lan- 

 guage. 



Some such supposition as this, I believe, is absolutely necessary to 

 explain the facts mentioned. But even this will compel us to admit 

 that the monuments of Yucatan and (Jopau are of much more recent 

 date than has generally been supposed, and such I am inclined to be- 

 lieve is the fact. At any rate, I think I may fairly claim, without ren- 

 dering myself chargeable with egotism, that my discovery in regard to 

 the two plates so frequently mentioned will throw some additional light 

 on this vexed ouestiou. 



Note. — Since the foregoing was printed, my attention has been called 

 by Dr. Brinton to the fact that the passage quoted from Sahaguu (see 

 pages 41 and 54), as given in Bustamente's edition, from which it was 

 taken, is incorrect in combining Cetochtli and Acatl into one word, when 

 in fact the first is the end of one sentence and the second the com- 

 mencement of another. I find, by reference to the passage as given in 

 Kingsborough, the evidence of this erroneous reading. The argument 

 on page 54, so far as based upon this incorrect reading, must fall. 



3 ETH 5 



