169 



1. Ritual, in which we find the images of 

 twelve Tolteck and Azteck divinities ; and the 

 principal festivals which have given their names 

 to the eighteen months of the year ; for instance^ 

 the festival of Tecuilhuitontl, or of all lords ; 

 of Micaylhuitl, or of all the dead ; of Quecholi, 

 &c- The hieroglyphic of the five complement- 

 ary days * terminates the series of the festivals. 

 The proprietor of the manuscript has followed 

 in his notes the erroneous system, according to 

 which the Mexican year is supposed to begin 

 eighteen days before the spring equinox. 



2. Astrological part. Here we find the indi- 

 cation of the days that are to be considered as 

 indifferent, lucky, or unlucky. Among the last 

 are eleven, which the Mexicans believed to be 

 very dangerous to domestic tranquillity. Hus- 

 bands were afraid of wives born on these days ; 

 and we may suppose, that the latter were very 

 careful in concealing either the astrological al- 

 manac, or the day of their birth. Infidelity, 

 considered as the effect of blind destiny, was not 

 the less severely punished by the laws. A rope 

 was put around the heck of the adulterous 

 woman : and she was dragged into a public 

 square, where she was stoned to death in the 

 presence of the husband. This punishment is 



* Plate 55, fig. 1. 



