70 DAVID CERNA-PILGRIMAGE AND CIVILIZATION OF THE TOLTECS. 
buried afterwards. Again, at certain periods of the year, they would 
select the most notorious criminal, place him between two big stones, and 
thus crush him to death. This sacrifice, called Tetlimonamiquian (*tlie 
crushing of the stones), was also performed in honor of the same god. 
Here we have, it may properly be said, the foundation of the human sac¬ 
rifices so extensively practised by later tribes, especially by the Aztecs, 
or true Mexicans. 
Science .—The Toltecs had a profound knowledge of astronomy and of 
hieroglyphics. They are said to be the people to have first arranged or 
measured time according to astronomical knowledge, that is, according 
to the movements of the planets. Their magnificent calendar is a monu¬ 
ment of their science. They knew and classified the principal stars of 
the firmament, named them, studied their relations, and were almost 
thoroughly acquainted with their movements. But, like most of the 
ancient peoples, the Toltecs applied their astronomical knowledge to the 
formation, largely, of astrology to suit their religious and traditional 
ideas. 
The Toltecs were the first to introduce into Anahuac hieroglyphical 
writing, whether they invented this themselves, or whether they acquired 
it from pre-existing races. Their language was the Nahoa or Nahuatl, 
which afterwards came to be known as the Mexican. 
As a whole, the Toltecs were of a good moral character, little addicted 
to war, and great admirers of virtue; they detested lying and deceit. 
They were singers, musicians, and great dancers. In their private as 
well as their public festivities, wooden instruments and drums were 
abundantly used. They were devout, good orators, and great conversa¬ 
tionalists; polite, courteous, and of attractive manners. 
In their hieroglyphical writings they inscribed religiously their history, 
their customs, and manners; in fact, their whole system of civilization, 
a civilization of which I have endeavored to give a general idea. 
In one word, agriculture, the arts, science, and all that evidence which 
afterwards served to throw distinction and lustre upon the subsequent 
inhabitants of the beautiful valley of Mexico, were due chiefly to the in¬ 
fluence of the Toltecs. They were so noted in the different arts and in 
science that the name of Toltec, given to the distinguished of later na¬ 
tions, was held as a great honor. Their paintings and hieroglyphics are 
remarkable for the general knowledge they contain. Whosoever studies 
the history of these ancient people will find that they were a progressive 
and enlightened race, the founders of the subsequent civilizations of 
Anahuac. They were the first people to raise in that magnificent garden 
of this continent, Mexico, imposing monuments to be compared only to 
those of Egypt and India. The great ruins of Cholula and Teotihuacan 
