EsQUIPtTLAS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Whilst so much has been done of late years to throw light on the history of the 

 ancient races of the east, our knowledge of the civilized nations of the western continent 

 has remained almost at a standstill. Comparatively little was accurately recorded of the 

 habits, customs and religion, or of the political and social life of the more civilized 

 American races when the conquering Spaniards first came in contact with them, and 

 next to nothing is known of their past history or the origin of their civilization. 



So far is this the case that it is still a matter of dispute whether Montezuma was a 

 biol. cente.-amer., Archeeol., December 1888. 



