287 



The hieroglyphic of the half century is conform- 

 able to the figurative signification of the word ; 

 it is a bundle of reeds tied by a riband. A half 

 century (xiuhmolpilli) was considered by the 

 Mexicans as a great year ; and this denomination, 

 no doubt, induced Gomara *, to call the indic- 

 tions, or the four cycles of thirteen years, great 

 weeks, las semanas del anno. 



The idea of denoting a period by a word, 

 which calls to mind a bundle of years or Moons, 

 is found among the Peruvians. In the Qquichua 

 language, lingua del Inga, a year of 365 days is. 

 called huata ; a word evidently derived from 

 huatani, to tie, or huatanan, a rope of rushes. 

 The Aztecks had no hieroglyphics for the old age, 

 or century of 104 years, the name of which in- 

 dicates, as we may say, the term of life of aged 

 persons. 



In resuming what we have just stated on the 

 division of time, we find, that the Mexicans had 

 small periods of five days (half decads), months 

 of twenty days, civil years of 18 months, indio- 

 tions of 13 years, half centuries of 52 years, and 

 centuries, or old ages, of 104 years. 



According to the curious researches of Mr. 

 Gama, it appears certain, that, at the close of a 

 cycle of 52 years, the civil year of the Toltecks 

 and the Aztecks, like that of the Chinese and the 



* Gomara, Conqiiista de Mexico, 1553, fol. 118. 



