APPENDIX 



THE Mexicans, the Acolhuans, and all the other 

 nations of Anahuac, diftinguifhed four ages of time 

 by as many funs. The firft named Atonatiuh^ that is the 

 fun, or the age of water, commenced with the creation of 

 the world, and continued until the time at which all man- 

 kind almoft periflied in a general inundation, along with 

 the lirfl: fun. The fecond Tlaltonatiuh^ the age of earth, 

 lafted from the time of the general inundation until the 

 ruin of the giants, and the great earthquakes, which 

 concluded in like manner the fecond fun. The third, 

 Ehecaionatiuh^ the age of air, laded from the deftruc- 

 tion of the giants until the great whirlwinds, in which 

 all mankind periflied along with the third fun. The 

 fourth Tletonatiuh ^ the age of fire, began at the lafl: 

 reftoration of the human race, and was to continue, 

 according to their mythology, until the fourth fun, 

 and the earth were deftroyed by fire. This age it was 

 fuppofed would end at the conclufion of one of their 

 centuries ; and thus we may account for thefe noify fef- 

 tivals in honour of the god of fire, v*^hich were cele- 

 brated at the beginning of every century, as a thankf- 

 giving for his reflraining his voracity, and deferring the 

 termination of the world. 



Vol. 1. T t The 



