145 
AN AZTECK 
HIEROGLYPHICAL MANUSCRIPT, 
' PRESERVED IN THE 
LIBRARY OF THE VATICAN. 
PLATE X*II. 
The Mexican paintings^ a very small number 
of which has reached our times^ excite a double 
Interest, both from the light they throw on the 
mythology and history of the first inhabitants of 
America, and the apparent connexion with the 
hieroglyphical writing of certain .nations of the 
Old Continent. We shall bring together in this 
work whatever can afford information with"' 
respect to the communication which at the most 
distant periods seems to have taken place be- 
tween groups of nations separated by deserts, 
by mountains, or by seas ; and shall here mark 
the result of our investigations on the hierogiy- 
phical paintings of the Americans. 
Characters are found in Ethiopia, which have 
an. astonishing resemblance with those of the 
VOL. XIII. 
L 
