143 
of the Muyscas had also particular names ; and 
we may suspect, that the cycles, which Mr. Du- 
quesne has transmitted to us, alluded to these 
same names. All this leads us to presume, that 
the numerical words, ata^ bosa, mica, 3cc., were 
substituted for the names of signs only to indi- 
cate the first sign of the zodiac, the second sign, 
the third sign, &c. ; and that this substitution 
has insensibly given rise to the extraordinary 
idea, that the numbers themselves were significa- 
tive. This subject, which is not uninteresting in 
the history of the migrations of nations, can be 
cleared up only when we shall have compared a ^ 
greater number of American monuments with 
each other. 
