'320 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



" mifdeeds." What are all thofe, and other infignia of 

 the Mexican idols, of which we have made mention in 

 the fixth book of this hiftory, hut fymbols and hierogly- 

 phics, very fimilar to thofe of the Egyptians ? 



M. de Paw fays, that the Mexicans did nothing elfe to 

 reprefent a tree but paint a tree : but what did they to 

 reprefent day and night, the month, the year, the cen- 

 tury, the names of perfons ? How could they reprefent 

 time and other things w T hich have no figure, without 

 making ufe of fymbols or characters ? (t The Mexicans," 

 fays Acofta, " had their figures and hieroglyphics, by 

 " which they reprefented things in this manner ; that is, 

 ** thofe things which had a figure were reprefented by 

 " their proper figures ; and for thofe which had no pro- 

 " per image they made ufe of other characters to fignify 

 " them ; thus they reprefented whatever they would ; 

 " and to mention the time in which any event happen- 

 " ed, they employed painted wheels, each of which com- 

 " prehended a century of fifty-two years, &c. (/)." 



But here we have another piece of infult from the ig- 

 norance of M. de Paw. He ridicules the fecular wheels 

 of the Mexicans, the explanation of which he fays Car- 

 reri ventured to give, in imitation of a Caftilian profefTor 

 called Congara, who did not dare to publifh the work 

 which he had promifed on this fubjeel: ; becaufe his rela- 

 tions and friends allured him that it contained many 

 errors. It would appear that M. dePaw cannot write 

 without committing errors. That profefTor whom Car* 

 reri or Gemelli imitates, was not a Caflilian but a Cre- 

 ole, born in the city of Mexico ; nor was he called Con- 

 gara, but Siguenza and Gongora : he did not print his 



Mexican 



(/) Stor. Nat. e Mor. lib. vi. cap. 7. 



