HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



347 



who fpeak them. We have learned the Mexican, and 

 have heard it fpoken by the Mexicans for many years ; 

 but never knew that it was deficient in numerical terms, 

 and words fignifying univerfal ideas, until M. de Paw 

 gave us that information. We know that the Mexicans 

 gave the name of Centzontli (four hundred), or rather 

 that of Centzontlatale (he who has four hundred words), 

 to that bird which is fo renowned for its fweetnefs and 

 matchlefs variety of fong. We know befides that the 

 Mexicans anciently counted by Xiquipilli, and the nuts of 

 the cacao, in their commerce, and in numbering their 

 troops of war ; that Xiquipilli was eight thoufand ; fo 

 that when they faid that an army confided of forty thou- 

 fand, they exprefled that it had five Xiquipilli. We 

 know laftly, that the Mexicans had numeral words to 

 exprefs as many thoufands, or millions, as they pleafed ; 

 but M. de Paw knows the direct contrary, and there is 

 not a doubt but he knows better than us ; becaufe we 

 had the misfortune to be born under a clime lefs favour- 

 able to the operations of the intellect. Neverthelefs, we 

 fliall fubjoin, to fatisfy the curiofity of our readers, the 

 feries of numerical terms which the Mexicans have always 

 employed (#). It will appear thence 3 that thofe who 



had 



(») Numeral Terms of the Mexican Language. 

 Ce I Nahui 4 Chicome 7 Matlachtli 10 

 Ome 2 Mocuilli 5 Chicuei 8 Chaxtolli 15 



Jei 3 Chicuace 6 Chiucnahui 9 



With thefe terms differently combined together with thefe three following, 

 Pohualli or Poalli 20, Tzontli 400, and Xiquipilli 8000, they exprefs any quan- 

 tity, thus : 



Cem poalli 20 

 Ompoalli 40 

 Epoalli 60 



Matlacpoalli ten times 20 200 

 Caxtolpoalli fifteen times 20 300 

 Thus they proceed until they come to 400. 



Nauhpoalli 80 

 Macuilpoalli 100 

 Chicuacempoalli 120, &c. 



CentzontK 



