3S6 
evening’. These circumstances are naturally the 
same for every part of the Earthy where we may 
suppose the Mexican calendar to have been 
formed ; and if we go back to the first sacrifices 
celebrated at Tlalixco in 1091^ or to the migra- 
tions of the Toltecks in the sixth century of our 
era, we find, that, toward the winter solstice, 
from the effect of the precession of the equinoxes, 
the culmination of the Pleiades draws nearer sun- 
set. It is probable, that the expression, at the 
moment of midnight,” and mid- sky,” ought 
not to be taken in the literal sense. Torquemada 
speaks generally in so confused a manner of the 
system of the chronology of the Mexicans, that 
it may be supposed he had misconceived all that 
the Indians told him respecting their astronomi- 
cal phenomena. After having formally stated, 
that the cycle, and consequently the year, finish- 
ed in the month of December, he admits, that 
the first day of the year is the 1st of February j 
and he adds, that at the winter solstice the Sun 
attains at Mexico the most elevated point of its 
course. Torquemada has collected with the 
most scrupulous exactness, names, traditions, and 
isolated facts ; but, utterly devoid of judgment, 
he contradicts himself whenever he endeavours 
to combine facts, or judge of their mutual rela- 
tions. As the Mexicans were not acquainted 
with the use of clepsydras, which are of very 
