345 
are sulSicient to render it extremely probable, 
that the people of the two continents drew their 
astrological ideas from a common source. Those 
features of resemblance, on which we insist, are 
not taken from uncouth or ailegoriqal paintings, 
susceptible of being interpreted agreeably to the 
nature of the hypothesis which we seek to esta- 
blish. If we consult the works composed, at the 
beginning of the conquest, by Spanish or Indian 
authors, who were ignorant even of the existence 
of a Tartar zodiac, we shall see, that at Mexico, 
from the seventh century of our era, the days 
w^ere called tiger ^ dog, ape, hare, or rabbit ; as 
throughout the whole of eastern Asia the years 
still bear the same names in the Thibetan, 
Mantchou-tartar, Mongul, Calmuck, Chinese, 
Japanese, Corean, and all the languages of Ton- 
quin and Cochin China*. 
It may be conceived, that nations, which have 
never had any intercourse with each other, may 
make equal divisions of the ecliptic into 27 or 28 
parts, and give each lunar day the name of the 
stars near which the Moon is placed in its pro- 
gressive motion from west to east.<? It appears 
very natural also, that nations either of shepherds 
or hunters should denote these constellations, 
and these lunar days, by the names of the animals 
which are , the constant objects of their affections 
* Souciet, Tom. 2, p, 138. 
