Mexican and Spanish, written at different periods, more instructive, according to Humboldt, than those annexed to the collection of Mendoza, and have the Mexican names more correctly written. This volume contains, a ritual almanac, a book of astrology, and a Mexican history from the year 5 Tochtli, or 1197, to the year 4 Calli, or 1561. The last merits particular attention. It includes a space of three hundred and sixty-four years. With this history, Boturini, Clavigero, and Gama, were unacquainted; and it seems to be of the greatest authenticity. From the year 1197, to the middle of the fifteenth century, it records few facts. Scarce one or two in an interval of thirteen years. From 1454, the narrative becomes more circumstantial; and from 1472, to 1549, it relates, almost from year to year, whatever was remarkable in the physical and political state of the country. The pages comprehending the periods from 1274 to 1385, from 1496 to 1502, and from 1518 to 1529, are wanting. In this last interval, the Spaniards entered Mexico. The figures are misshapen, but often of great simplicity. Among the objects most worthy of note, are the image of the king Huitzilihuitl, who having no legitimate children, took a paintress for his mistress, and who died in the year 13 Tochtli or 1414; the falls of snow, in 1447, and 1503, which caused a great mortality among the natives, by destroying the crops; the earthquakes of 1460, 1462, 1468, 1480, 1495, 1507, 1533, and 1542; the eclipses of the sun in 1476, 1496, 1507, 1510, 1531; the first human sacrifice; the appearance of two comets in 1490, and 1529; the arrival and the death of the first bishop of Mexico, Zumaraga, in 1532, 1549; the departure of Nunez de Gusman, for the conquest of Xalisco; the death of the celebrated Pedro Alvarado, called by the natives Tonatiuh, the sun, on account of his flaxen hair; the baptism of an Indian by a monk; an epidemic malady which depopulated Mexico under the Viceroy Mendoza, in 1544 and 1545; the insurrection and punishment of the negroes of Mexico, in 1537; a tempest which devastated the forests; the ravages made by small pox among the Indians in 1538, &c. The variety and scope of these annals exemplify in the most striking manner, the capacity of conveying ideas which the Mexican system of writing possessed.* In concluding our notice of the Mexican paintings we may observe, that notwithstanding the vast number destroyed by the catholic missionaries, immediately after the conquest, and the present dearth, there yet remained enough to supply the materials for the ancient history of Mexico, both to the Spanish and Mexican historians. All the works of Don Ferdinand Alba Ixlilxochitl, of Don Dominic Chimalpain, and others named in our appendix,t were composed from Mexican manuscripts. Hereafter, when we shall treat of the origin of the inhabitants of America, we shall examine this subject more profoundly, than is compatible with the present part of our enterprise. Some years since, we saw many very well executed drawings exhibited at the Masonic Hall, in Philadelphia, said to be copies from Mexican originals, and taken in Mexico. They consisted principally of single subjects, of vases, and other vessels. We saw nothing which we think, according to present recollections, could be construed into historical narrative, or continued story. The drawings we learn have been taken to England, and have been splendidly engraved, at the expense of a nobleman friendly to the arts. * Humboldt's Researches, Appendix. + See note B. Mexican and Spanish, written at different periods, more instructive, according to Humboldt, than those annexed to the collection of Mendoza, and have the Mexican names more correctly written. This volume contains, a ritual almanac, a book of astrology, and a Mexican history from the year 5 Tochtli, or 1197, to the year 4 Calli, or 1561. The last merits particular attention. It includes a space of three hundred and sixty-four years. With this history, Boturini, Clavigero, and Gama, were unacquainted; and it seems to be of the greatest authenticity. From the year 1197, to the middle of the fifteenth century, it records few facts. Scarce one or two in an interval of thirteen years. From 1454, the narrative becomes more circumstantial; and from 1472, to 1549, it relates, almost from year to year, whatever was remarkable in the physical and political state of the country. The pages comprehending the periods from 1274 to 1385, from 1496 to 1502, and from 1518 to 1529, are wanting. In this last interval, the Spaniards entered Mexico. The figures are misshapen, but often of great simplicity. Among the objects most worthy of note, are the image of the king Huitzilihuitl, who having no legitimate children, took a paintress for his mistress, and who died in the year 13 Tochtli or 1414; the falls of snow, in 1447, and 1503, which caused a great mortality among the natives, by destroying the crops; the earthquakes of 1460, 1462, 1468, 1480, 1495, 1507, 1533, and 1542; the eclipses of the sun in 1476, 1496, 1507, 1510, 1531; the first human sacrifice; the appearance of two comets in 1490, and 1529; the arrival and the death of the first bishop of Mexico, Zumaraga, in 1532, 1549; the departure of Nunez de Gusman, for the conquest of Xalisco; the death of the celebrated Pedro Alvarado, called by the natives Tonatiuh, the sun, on account of his flaxen hair; the baptism of an Indian by a monk; an epidemic malady which depopulated Mexico under the Viceroy Mendoza, in 1544 and 1545; the insurrection and punishment of the negroes of Mexico, in 1537; a tempest which devastated the forests; the ravages made by small pox among the Indians in 1538, &c. The variety and scope of these annals exemplify in the most striking manner, the capacity of conveying ideas which the Mexican system of writing possessed.* In concluding our notice of the Mexican paintings we may observe, that notwithstanding the vast number destroyed by the catholic missionaries, immediately after the conquest, and the present dearth, there yet remained enough to supply the materials for the ancient history of Mexico, both to the Spanish and Mexican historians. All the works of Don Ferdinand Alba Ixlilxochitl, of Don Dominic Chimalpain, and others named in our appendix,t were composed from Mexican manuscripts. Hereafter, when we shall treat of the origin of the inhabitants of America, we shall examine this subject more profoundly, than is compatible with the present part of our enterprise. Some years since, we saw many very well executed drawings exhibited at the Masonic Hall, in Philadelphia, said to be copies from Mexican originals, and taken in Mexico. They consisted principally of single subjects, of vases, and other vessels. We saw nothing which we think, according to present recollections, could be construed into historical narrative, or continued story. The drawings we learn have been taken to England, and have been splendidly engraved, at the expense of a nobleman friendly to the arts. • Humboldt's Researches, Appendix. + See note B. CHAPTER II. I. Comparison between the Indian races of the islands, &c. and the Mexicans....II. Valasques proposes the conquest of Mexico-His difficulty in the choice of a commander....III. Biographical notice of Hernando Cortes....IV. Cortes assumes the honors of his office of General-Liberally urges forward the expedition-Efforts of his competitors to injure him with Velasques-Departs from St. Jago de Cuba....V. Chief offi cers who accompanied Cortes....VI. Notice of Alvarado-Olid - Sandoval....VII. Velasques repents the appointment of Cortes, and commands Verdugo to divest him of his command....VIII. Cortes proceeds from Trinidad to Havanna-His vessel runs aground-Alarm and discord among the troops, occasioned by his absence-Second attempt of Velasques to remove Cortes from the command....IX. Cortes resolves to put to sea, against the orders of the Governor....X. His departure from Havanna-Forces of the expedition....XI. Alvarado arrives at Cozumel before the fleet-His imprudent conduct there-Is censured by Cortes....XII. Wise policy of CortesTreaty with the inhabitants of Cozumel-Hears of Aquilar, a Spaniard long among the Indians -Casts down the idols of the natives and erects the cross....XIII. Departure of the expedition from Cozumel-Returns on account of one of the vessels springing a leak-Receives Aquilar.... XIV. Fleet arrives at Tobasco-Hostility of the natives-They are conquered, and submit to the Spanish crown....XV. Cortes leaves Tobasco, and arrives at Ulua-Difficulty in communicating with the inhabitants-Is removed by a fe |