APPENDIX. 



369 



nology in the fpace of twenty thoufand years, and al- 

 though in the Mexican paintings, all the circumflances 

 of eclipfes are not defcribed, yet the defe£i: of them is 

 remedied by many eclipfes which are marked there. 

 The Mexican lords therefore, who ftill preferve great 

 number of paintings, might by ftudy of them adduce 

 many lights to chronology. 



Refpeding the fymbols of the Mexican months and 

 year, they difcover ideas entirely conformable with 

 thofe of the ancient Egyptians. The latter diRinguifh- 

 ed, as appears from their monuments, each month or 

 part of the zodiac, where the fun ftood, with chara(5i:er- 

 iftical figures of that which happened in every feafon of 

 the year. Therefore we fee the figns of Aries, Taurus, 

 and the two young Goats (which now are Gemini j, ufed 

 to mark the months of the birth of thofe animals ; the 

 figns of Cancer, Leo, and Virgo, with the ear of corn, 

 for thofe months, in which the fan goes backward like a 

 crab ; in which there is greater heat, and in which the 

 harvefts are reaped. The fign of the Scorpion (which 

 in the Egyptian fphere occupied the fpace v»^hich at pre- 

 fent is occupied by the fign of LibraJ, and that of Sagit- 

 tarius, in the months of virulent^ or contagious diftem- 

 pers, and the chace ; and laftly, the figns of Capricorn, 

 Aquarius, and Pifcis, in thofe months in which the fun 

 begins to afcend towards others ; in which it rains much, 

 and in which there is abundant fiOiing. Thefe ideas at 

 lead are fimilar to thofe which the Mexicans afTociated 

 with their clime. They called their lirft month AcakiiaU 

 co^ that is, the cefllition of the waters, which began on 

 the 26th of February, and they fymbolize this month 

 by a houfe, with the figure of water above it ^ they gave 

 alfo to the fame month the name of Suahuitlehua^ that 

 Vox.. L 3 A is, 



