1. That the conquerors and settlers of the Yucatan peninsula, as well as those of the Anahuac lakes, were joint participants in a correction of their national calendar about the year 29 B. C.
2. That about the year 137 A. D., when a total eclipse of the sun took place, the ancestors of both nations set out from their common fatherland, Tula or Tulapan.
3. That about the year 231 A. D., both nations made their appearance on the coast of Central America, and succeeded in conquering a large portion of the peninsula.
It is true that we have only documentary evidence to substantiate the theory just referred to. But, if we do not possess the desirable evidence of monumental inscriptions, it behooves us to examine and to weigh carefully that which still remains. In this connection we should also remember that the sculptor, in carving his records, was not guided by his memory alone, but that he copied the symbols from the sacred books of his race; and that on the other hand, our learned Maya writer, when translating these latter into written phonetic language, drew his text, as did the sculptor from similar sources.
If therefore with the help of written records we can build up hypotheses partially satisfactory, and not altogether improbable, we have accomplished all that could be expected for the present, at least, and have perhaps excited an interest in a branch of history which has hitherto been held as dead and unproductive.
In conclusion, we would express the hope that the Maya manuscript may be submitted to a rigid critical and linguistic examination, and that the publication of the work may be appended to a heliotype copy of the original in order to exhibit to students a document of so great importance, and to ensure its preservation.
[1]. A. v. Humboldt, Essai s. 1. Nouv. Espagne, Tome III., Livre 4, Chap. ii. W. H. Prescott, History of the Conquest of Mexico, Book I., Chap. 5. Brasseur de Bourbourg, Hist. d. Nat. Civ. du Mexique, Livre III., Chap. 7, pag. 678.
[2]. Carta (2da) de relacion, por Fernando Cortes, de la villa Segura de Frontera desta Nueva España, á 30 de Octubre de 1520 años “donde hay todos los generos de mercaderias, que en todas las tierras se hallan, asi de mantenimientos como de vituallas, joyas de oro y de plata, de plomo, de laton, de cobre, de estano, de piedras, de huesos, etc.”
[3]. Bernal Diaz de Castillo, Historia verdadera de la conquista de la Nuevo España, Madrid, 1632, I. Vol., Cap. 92, “y vendian hachas de laton, y cobre y estaño.” The meaning of this passage is, beyond all misinterpretation: He saw for sale bronze axes, and besides pieces of copper and others of tin. The order, in which these three words stand, conveys a suggestion that we should not wholly ignore. The word laton (bronze) is followed by cobre (copper) and estano (tin), the two well known components of bronze. Might not the relative position of the three words teach that, to them, bronze was the most important metal and was therefore assigned the first place, mentioning the copper and tin afterwards as the elements from which the bronze was made? We might also go farther and inquire how the first metal came to be recognized by them as bronze. In framing a reply, let us consider three possible explanations. Let us suppose, first, that they knew the bronze well enough to recognize it at once. They, further, may have entertained doubts as to its identity, but finally have been led to this conclusion by seeing the copper and tin exhibited in the stalls, together with the bronze. Thirdly, we may also suppose, that they would desire to obtain more positive confirmation and therefore have inquired and learned from their native guides that this bronze was actually a composition of the two other metals before them. Therefore, considering all these cases, when engaged in composing their narration, the Spaniards would have remembered the circumstances connected with the memorable visit to the market, and have enumerated the metals in the order in which they actually are found; first, the bronze, the main object of their curiosity, and then the copper and tin as the key to the puzzle.