128 



sign cuhupqua, seven ; and the rest in like man- 

 ner. This predilection for periodical series, and 

 the existence of a cycle of sixty years;, which is 

 equal to the seven hundred and forty sunas con- 

 tained in the cycle of twenty years of the priests, 

 appear to reveal the Tartarian origin of the na- 

 tions of the new continent. 



As the rural year was reckoned to be com- 

 posed of twelve sunas, the xeques added, un- 

 known to the people, at the end of the third 

 year, a thirteenth month, analogous to the fun 

 of the Chinese *. The table of the Muysca 

 moons we are about to lay down, proves, that, by 

 the employment of the periodical series, this 

 intercalary suna was governed, in the first in- 

 diction, by cuhupqua. It is this sign, which was 

 called the deaf moon, because it did not count 

 in the fourth series, which, without the use of a 

 complementary term, should have commenced, 

 not by suhuza, but by cuhupqua. This mode 

 of intercalation, which is found in the north of 

 India, and according to which a lunar embolis- 

 mic year of three hundred and eighty-three days 

 twenty-one hours follows two common lunar years 

 of three hundred fifty-four days eight hours, is 

 that which the Athenians followed before Meton ; 

 it is the dieteride, in which was intercalated, 

 after the month Posideon, a Uoaeihav fcvrepoq. 



* Souciet and Gaubil, Observ. Mathem. torn. 1, p. 183. 



