APPENDIX. 



353 



EXPLANATION of the Obfcure FIGURES. 

 I. Of the figures of the Mexican Century. 



IN-the wheel of the Mexican century are four figures, 

 thirteen times repeated, to fignify as we have already 

 mentioned, the four periods (by fome authors called /«- 

 didions\ of thirteen years, of which their century con- 

 fifted. The four figures are, fir ft, the head of a rabbit, 

 cxpreflive of that quadruped ; fecondly, a reed j third- 

 ly, a knife or the point of a lance, reprefenting a flint 

 ftone ; fourthly a part of a building, fignifying a houfe. 

 The years of the century are counted by beginning at 

 the upper twift of the ferpent, and defcending towards 

 the left. The I. figure, with a fmall point, denotes 1. 

 rabbit ; the fecond, with two points, fignifies II. reed ; 

 the third, with three points, fignifies III. flint; the 

 fourth, with four points, IV. houfe ; the fifth with five 

 points, V. rabbit ; and fo it continues until the twift 

 upon the left, where the fecond period begins with the 

 figure of the reed, and terminates in the lower twift ; 

 and then the third period commences. 



11. Of the figures of the year. 



The firft figure is that of water, fpread upon a build- 

 ing to denote the firft month, whofe name Acahualco^ 

 or Atlacahualco^ fignifies, the ceafing of water ; becaufe, 

 in the month of March the winter rains ceafe in north- 

 ern countries, where the Mexican or Toltecan calendar 

 took its origin. They called it alfo ^ahuitlehua^ which 

 fignifies the budding of trees, which happens at this 

 Vol. I. Y y time 



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