61 
history^ the worship^ the astrology, and the 
cosmogonical fables of the Mexicans, forms a 
system, the parts of which are closely connected 
with each other. The paintings, the bas-reliefs, 
the ornaments of the idols and of the divine 
stones (teotetl of the Aztecks, ^6ou of the 
Greeks), all bear the same character, and the 
same physiognomy. The deluge that begins the 
history of the Aztecks, and from which Coxcox 
saved himself in a bark, is indicated with the 
same circumstances in the drawing, which re- 
presents the destructions and regenerations of 
the world The four indictions (tlalpilli), 
which relate-|- to these catastrophes, or to the 
subdivisions of the great year, are sculptured on 
a stone, discovered in 1790 in the foundations 
of the teocalli of Mexico. Robertson, who is al- 
ways severe in the examination of facts, has ad- 
mitted, in the last edition of his work, the authen- 
ticity of the paintings of the museum of Siguenza. 
We cannot doubt,” says , this great historian, 
that we are indebted for these paintings to the 
natives of Mexico, and the correctness of the 
drawing seems to prove only, that the copy has 
been made or retouched by an European artist.” 
This last observation does not appear to be en- 
tirely confirmed by the great number of hiero- 
* Plate26. 
t See page 25 3 and Jk'ol. xiif p. 372. 
