326 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



But this is what Mr. de Paw cannot find in the copies 

 made by Purchas. He declares that having compared 

 the figures of them in different manners with the inter- 

 pretations annexed, he could never difcover any connec- 

 tion between them ; that which they interpret to be 

 eight kings of Mexico, they might equally well inter- 

 pret to be eight concubines of Montezuma. But the 

 fame thing might be faid by M. de Paw : if the book 

 Chun-yum of the philofopher Confucius, written in Chi- 

 nefe characters, was prefented to him, with the interpre- 

 tation in French befide it. He would compare in vari- 

 ous modes thofe characters with the interpretations, and 

 fuppofing that he could not find any connection between 

 them, he might fay, that as they interpret that book of 

 the nine qualifications which a good emperor ought to 

 have, they might alfo interpret it of nine concubines, 

 or nine eunuchs of fome ancient emperor, becaufe he 

 understands almoft full as much of the Chinefe charac- 

 ters as of the Mexican figures. If we had an interview 

 with M. de Paw, we could explain to him what con- 

 nection thefe figures have with their interpretation ; but, 

 as he does npt know it himfelf, he ought to take the 

 judgment of thofe who undentand them. 



He believes, or would make us believe, that thofe 

 pictures alone which Purchas copied, were faved from 

 the burning made by the firit mifiionaries ; but this is 

 molt erroneous, as we have already made appear againft 

 Robertfon in the beginning of the firft volume. The 

 paintings faved from that burning were fo many in num- 

 ber, that they fupplied the materials for the ancient hif- 

 tory of Mexico, not only to the Spanifh writers but alfo 

 to the Mexicans themfelves. All the works of don 

 Ferdinand Alba Ixtlilxochirl, of don Dominic Chimal- 



pain* 



