HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



353 



at leaft cfcapc alteration. To fhew the alterations which 

 they have fufFered in the hands of count de Buffon, it 

 will be fufficient to compare the Mexican names in the 

 hiftory of that philofopher, with thofe of the Roman 

 edition of Hernandez. It is certain, that the difficulty 

 which we find to pronounce a language to which we 

 are not accuftomed, and particularly if the articulation 

 of it is different from that of our own, is no proof that 

 it is barbarous. The fame difficulty which count de 

 Buffon finds to pronounce the Mexican names, would 

 be felt by a Mexican who would pronounce the French 

 names. Thofe who are accuftomed to the Spanifh lan- 

 guage find great difficulty to pronounce the German 

 and Polifh, and efteem them the mofl tough and harfh 

 of all languages. The Mexican language has not been 

 our mother tongue, nor did we learn it in infancy; yet 

 the Mexican names produced by count de Buffon as an 

 argument of the barbarity of that tongue, appear to us 

 beyond comparifon more eafy to be pronounced than 

 many others taken from other European languages, 

 which he adopts in his Natural Hiftory ; and, per- 

 haps, will appear fo to many Europeans who are not 

 ufed to either of the languages ; and there will not be 

 wanting perfons who will wonder that count de Buffon 

 has taken the trouble to write thofe names which are 

 capable of terrifying the mod courageous readers. In 

 Vol. III. Z z Abort, 



(y) The reader will pleafe to read and compare the following names which 

 the count de Buffon has adopted with thofe which he has taken and altered 

 from the Mexican language : 



Baurd manet-jes j Mifzorzechovva J Niedzvviedz 



Brand hirts | Stachel-fchvvein | Przavviafka 



Chemik-fkarzccfek I Scebeufchlafer J Meer-fchvvein 



Iidgiers diur | Sterzeczleck j Sczurcz, &c. 



