The hieroglyphic of the half century is conform- 
able to the figurative signification of the word ; 
it is a bundle of reeds tied by a riband. A half 
century (xiuhmolpilli) was considered by the 
Mexicans as a. great year' ; and this denomination, 
no doubt, induced Gomara to call the indic- 
tions, or the four cycles of thirteen years, great 
weeks, las semanas del anno. 
The idea of denoting a period by a word, 
which calls to mind a bundle of years or Moons, 
is found among the Peruvians. In the Qqulchua 
language, lingua del Inga^ a year of 365 days is 
called huata ; a word evidently derived from 
huatani, to tie, or huatanan, a rope of rushes. 
The Aztecks had no hieroglyphics for the old age^ 
or century of 104 years, the name of which in- 
dicates, as we may say, the term of life of aged 
persons. 
In resuming what we have just stated on the 
division of time, we find, that the Mexicans had 
small periods of five days (half decads), months 
of twenty days, civil years of 18 months, indio- 
tions of 15 years, half centuries of 52 years, and 
centuries, or old agesy of 104 years. 
According to the curious researches of Mr. 
Gama, it appears certain, that, at the close of a 
cycle of 52 years, the civil year of the Toltecks 
and the Aztecks, like that of the Chinese and the 
* Gomara, Conqiiista de Mexico, 1553, fol. 118. 
