258 MEXICO. 
terior over mountain and valley, and the other by the plains of the sea- 
coast. But, in the construction of their Temples this remarkable people 
exhibited their greatest ingenuity, as well as in their edifices designed for 
the comfort and occupation of their sovereigns. " The Temple of Pacha- 
camac, together with the Palace of the Inca, and Fortress, were so con- 
nected together, as to form one great structure above half a league in 
circuit. Though they had not discovered the use of mortar, or of any 
other cement in building, the bricks and stones are joined with such nicety 
that the seams can hardly be discerned. Notwithstanding the inconve- 
nient arrangement of the apartments, and the want of windows, the archi- 
tectural works of the Peruvians, which still remain, must be considered 
as stupendous efforts of a people unacquainted with the use of iron and 
the mode of applying the mechanical powers. Among the ancient edi- 
fices of this people, we may mention the Obelisk and Statues of Tiahu- 
anuca, and Mausoleums of Chachapoyas, which are conical buildings of 
stone, supporting rude busts of huge and massive dimensions."* 
Yet all that these remains from north to south, through such a varied 
extent of latitude and climate, can effect, is to strike us with wonder, 
and stimulate, though they puzzle our most eager curiosity. The monu- 
ments, themselves disclose nothing of the origin of the races. Is there, 
then, a written record ? Are there any volumes or scattered leaves re- 
maining to tell the story ? 
The only remnant of this character that I have been able to discover 
(and it is slightly referred to by Mr. Stephens,) is, what is called an Aztec 
manuscript, which was purchased in 1739 by Goetz, at Vienna, during a 
literary tour he made to Italy, and is now preserved, under the name of 
Codex Mexicanus, in the Royal Collection of Dresden. 
It is written on metl, or paper undoubtedly made of the leaves of the 
Agave Americana, similar to others brought from Mexico and preserved 
at Veletri, Vienna, and in the Vatican. It is described as forming a 
tabella plicalis, or folding book, which may be shut up like a map; nearly 
eighty-one yards in length, and covered, on both sides, with paintings and 
written characters. Each page is about seven inches in length by three 
inches and a little more in breadth. One side of the page is occupied 
by painted figures, and the rest by signs or letters placed side by side, and 
by no means unlike the Chinese, or the hieroglyphic characters delin- 
eated by Mr. Catherwood, as partly covering the monuments at Palenque 
and Copan. 
The opposite plate is a precise copy of one page of this manuscript as 
given by Baron Humboldt, in his Atlas, except that I have been unable 
to present you with the brilliant blue, red, green and yellow colors that 
tint the figures and give to the whole the appearance and -effect of an 
illuminated missal. 
A writer in the sixteenth volume of the Edinburgh Review, at page 
222 of the American edition, casts doubts on the genuineness of this man- 
* Rees, vol. xxviii. article, Peru. 
