xxxi 



introduction at the beginning of this work 

 contains the analysis of the materials, 

 which have been used in the construction 

 of the Mexican Atlas. 



VII. Views of the Cordilleras, and monu- 

 ments of the indigenous nations of the new 

 continent *. This work is meant to display 

 a few of the great scenes of nature in the 

 lofty chain of the Andes, and at the same 

 time throw some light on the ancient civi- 

 lization of the Americans, from the study 

 of their monuments of architecture, their 

 hieroglyphics, their religious rites, and their 

 astrological reveries. I have given in this 

 work a description of the teocalli, or Mex- 

 ican pyramids, compared with that of the 

 temple of Belus ; the arabesques which 

 cover the ruins of Mitla, idols in basalt, 

 ornamented with the calantica of the 

 heads of Isis ; and a considerable number 

 of symbolical paintings, representing the 

 serpent woman, who is the Mexican Eve : 



* Monum. Amer. one vol. in folio, with 60 plates, 

 part of which are colored, accompanied by explana- 

 tory treatises. This work may be considered as the 

 picturesque Atlas to the historical narrative of the 

 voyage. 



