132 MEXICO. 



religious cycle terminated and began with the civil cycle 

 described above. A larger cycle of 2340 days was fur- 

 ther produced by the introduction of a series of hiero- 

 glyphics, nine in number, and called the Lords of the 

 Night; eight of which, with the addition of one of the 

 smaller cycles of two hundred and sixty, would amount 

 to the civil cycle of fifty-two years. 



From whatever source the ancient people of these 

 countries derived their correct knowledge of the revolu- 

 tions of the sun and moon, and their peculiar astronomi- 

 cal system, the analogies which have been detected be- 

 tween them and with those of Asia are most conclusive 

 as to the fact of their having had one common origin. 



The week of five days, the subdivision of the larger 

 cycles, the nomenclature of the years, the regulation of 

 festivals according to half lunations, the method of inter- 

 calation, the proportion between the number of years of 

 the cycle and the intercalary period — all lead one to 

 believe that the Mexican astronomical system, as well 

 as those of the Chaldeans, Persians, and Hindoos, was 

 based upon the principles of antediluvian science, the 

 knowledge of which was common to the descendants of 

 Noah, in the centuries preceding the confusion of tongues 

 and general dispersion of the human race. 



But to return for an instant to De Gama. We learn 

 from him that the monstrous goddess was discovered in 

 consequence of an excavation made in the Plaza Mayor, 

 on the 13th of August, 1790, exactly, to a day, two hun- 

 dred and sixty-nine years after the capture of the city 

 by Cortez. The head lay at the depth of only one vara 

 and a third below the surface, and the foot but one single 

 vara or less. It was the 25th of September before it 

 was finally extricated. On the 17th of December fol- 

 lowing, the Sacrificial Stone was found, at the depth of 

 but a foot and a half below the pavement. Other relics 

 were discovered subsequently. Some of the largest 

 were instantly buried again, and among the number, 

 those named. Others were destroyed ; and no doubt 

 seems to exist, but that at this very hour, at a very small 



