Page:The Conquest of Mexico Volume 2.djvu/473

 Page 392 (3).—No one has done so much towards establishing this important fact, as that estimable scholar, Mr. Duponceau. And the frankness with which he has admitted the exception that disturbed his favourite hypothesis, shows that he is far more wedded to science than to system. See an interesting account of it, in his prize essay before the Institute.—Mémoire sur le Système Grammatical des Langues de quelques Nations Indiennes de I'Amèrique. (Paris, 1838.)

Page 392 (4).—The Mexican language, in particular, is most flexible; admitting of combinations so easily, that the most simple ideas are often buried under a load of accessories. The forms of expression, though picturesque, were thus made exceedingly cumbrous. A "priest," for example, was called notlazomabuizteopixcatatzin, meaning "venerable minister of God, that I love as my father." A still more comprehensive word is amatlacuilolitquitcatlaxtlahuitli, signifying " the reward given to a messenger who bears a hieroglyphical map conveying intelligence."

Page 392 (5).—See, in particular, for the latter view of the subject, the arguments of Mr. Gallatin, in his acute and masterly disquisition (on the Indian tribes; a disquisition) that throws more light on the intricate topics of which it treats, than whole volumes that have preceded it.— Transactions of the American Antiquarian Society, vol. ii., Introd., sec. 6.

Page 392 (6).—This comparative anatomy of the languages of the two hemispheres, begun by Barton (Origin of the Tribes and Nations of America [Philadelphia, 1797]), has been extended by Vater (Mithridates, theil iii. abtheil 1, p. 348 et seq.). A selection of the most striking analogies may be found, also, in Malte-Brun, book 75, table.

Page 392 (7).—Othomi from otho, "stationary," and mi, "nothing." (Najera, Dissert., ut infra.) The etymology intimates the condition of this rude nation of warriors, who, imperfectly reduced by the Aztec arms, roamed over the high lands north of the Valley of Mexico.

Page 392 (8).—See Najera's Dissertatio De Lingua Othomitotom, ap. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, vol. 5, New Series. The author, a learned Mexican, has given a most satisfactory analysis of this remarkable language, which stands alone among the idioms of the New World, as the Basque—the solitary wreck, perhaps, of a primitive age—exists among those of the Old.

Page 393 (1).—Barton, p. 92.—Heckewelder, chap, 1., ap. Transactions of the Hist. and Lit. Committee of the Am. Phil. Soc, vol i. The various traditions have been assembled by M. Warden, in the Antiquités Mexicaines, part 2, p. 185 et seq.

Page 393 (2).—The recent work of Mr. Delafield (Inquiry into the Origin of the Antiquities of America [Cincinnati, 1839]), has an engraving of one of these maps, said to have been obtained by Mr. Bullock, from Boturini's collection. Two such are specified on page 10 of that antiquary's Catalogue. This map has all the appearance of a genuine Aztec painting, of the rudest character. We may recognise, indeed, the symbols of some dates and places, with others denoting the aspect of the country, whether fertile or barren, a state of war or peace, etc. But it is altogether too vague, and we know too little of the allusions, to gather any knowledge from it of the course of the Aztec migration. Gemelli Carreri's celebrated chart contains the names of many places on the route, interpreted, perhaps, by Siguenza himself, to whom it belonged (Giro del Mondo, tom. vi. p. 56); and Clavigero has endeavoured to ascertain the various localities with some precision. (Stor. del Messico, tom. i. p. 160 et seq.) But, as they are all within the boundaries of New Spain, and, indeed, south of the Rio Gila, they throw little light, of course, on the vexed question of the primitive abodes of the Aztecs.

Page 393 (3).—This may be fairly inferred from the agreement of the traditionary interpretations of the maps of the various people of Anahuac, according to Veytia; who, however, admits that it is "next to impossible," with the lights of the present day, to determine the precise route taken by the Mexicans. (Hist. Antig., tom. i. cap. 2.) Lorenzana is not so modest. "The