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APPENDIX. 



The Mexicans, and the other poliflied nations of Ana- 

 huac, ufed the fame method to compute centuries, years, 

 and months, as the ancient Toltecas. Their century 

 confided of fifty-two years, which were fubdivided into 

 four periods of thirteen years each, and two centuries 

 formed an age, which was called by them HuehuetUiztli^ 

 that is, old age, of a hundred and four years (j). They 

 gave to the end of the century the name of Toxiuhmol- 

 pia^ v/hich fignifies, the tying of our years ; becaufe by 

 it the two centuries were joined together to form an 

 age. Their years had four names, which were TochtU^ 

 rabbit ; Acatl^ cane or reed ; Tecpail^ flint ; and Calli^ 

 houfe ; and of thefe with diiTerent numbers their century 

 w^as compofed. The firfl year of the century was i. 

 Tochtli^ the fecond, 2. Acatl^ the third, 3. Tecpail^ the 

 fourth, 4. CalU^ the fifth, 5. TochtU^ and fo on to the 

 thirteenth year, which was 13. Tochtli^ and terminated 

 the firfl period. They began the fecond period with 

 I. Acatl^ which was fucceeded by 2. Tecpatl^ 3. Calliy 

 4. Tochtli^ until it was completed by 13. JcatL In like 

 manner the third period began with i. Tecpatl^ and 

 fin idled with 13. Tecpatl\ and the fourth commenced 

 v/ith I. CalU^ and terminated together with the century 

 in 13. CalH } fo that there being four names and thir- 

 teen numbers, no one year could be confounded with 

 another (z/). All this will be more clearly underftood 



in 



if) Though fome authors have given the name of century to their age, and 

 that of half century to their century, it is of little coiifequence, as their manner 

 of computing years and diftributing time is not in the leaft altered by it. 



(m> Boturini affirms, in contradidlion to the general opinion of authors, that 

 they did not begin all their centuries with i. Tochtll, but fometimes v/ith i. 

 Acatl I I. Tecpatl, or I. Callt, He is miflaken, however, for it appears both 

 from the beft informed ancient authors, and the paintings examined by ourfelves, 



that 



