The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-08-11
TIE AZTECS AND TOULTECS.

It1E AZIECS AND TOULTECS.
What are called the 'sAztcc ruins" in
Mexico, have excited very considerable in
terest In the Endinburgh Christian In
structor for 1911, there is Review of
Humbolt's New Spain, from which we
make the following extract respecting these
races -
:'Ihc Indian chronoIogers have fixed the
;era oftwo distinct eruptions into their pro-
vinces, or those adjacent; that Of the IL ul-
tees, previous to the year CIT, and that Of
the Aztecs in 1915. The progress of both
was from the north southwards; and they
both adhered invariably to the ridge of the
Cordilleries. With regard to these nations
many interesting questions have been pro-
posed. The Able Clavigcro has shewn,
that the Toultecs and Aztecs spoke the
same language; Il fact which determines
the identity of their origin. The language
itself, too, appears to have been of particu-
lar character. 1t was rich, diversified, and
fluent, and widely different, therefore, from
that of any people in the infancy of i'm
provement. 1t was, in truth, more like the
speech of the Incas, than the rude and
scanty dialects of the Otomtcs, and other
Indian hordcs But whether this account
refers to it in Its early or in its advanced
state, that is, when the Toultecs and Aztecs
had respectively established themselves,and
had long been settled in the country which
they are known 10 have occupied, we have
not the means of ascertaining.
Were the Toultecs Asiatics? Does the
fact, that in some of their monuments men
are represented sitting with their legs eros
scd after the Eastern manner, imply that
they came from Asia? What account can
be given Of the harp, an emblem found in
the hieroglyphical paintings ofthe 1'oul'ecs
or Azecs, yet remaining ON the northwest
justly be drawn from it? Whence did the
Mexlcans derive their knowledge of fastrono-
my? Whence the resemblance between
their temples, and the ancient monument Of
Babylon, called the mausoleum Of Belhs
resemblance particularly alluded TO by NJ
dc Humboldt. Were the Toultecs ..and
Aztecs, Tartars? Mangols? Orwere they
Of the same people with the Hiongnoux,
(Huns) who by the account of the Chinese
historians, emigrated in tile 9Th century, Iii
der Punon their leader, and disappeared in
the wilds of Siberia? In attempting to an
swer these questions. men Of genius and re-
search have lost themselves in probabilities
There appears to be little doubt, however,
that the Toultecs and Aztecs were of Asi-
attic origin but when we attempt to 90
farther than this general assertion, there
are, perhaps, no very precise data on which
an opinion may be founded. After all,
though it We're demonstrated, that these
Ioultecs and AZtecs were Asiatlcs and
were Huns, it would still remain a subject
ofinquiry, whether these Toultecs or Aztecs
were the first inhabitants of central Amerl
ca, or whether they only dispossessed the
natives, and occupied their territory.
In the year 1245, the Aztecs, afterwards
called the Mexicans, had arrived at Cha
poltepec.* 1t was not, however, till the
year 1925 that they founded their city. An
ancient tradition had been preserved among
them, that wherever, in the course Of their
migrat lions, they should observe an eagle
fPerched up6a a nopal, cactus, the. roots Of
(which. entered the creyices off rock, they
should sfxi d that place the seat Of their do
tminioD, and Of their worship. Accordingly
I'M the year siast mentioned, on small isl
ta1d an thesI Eescuco, the. .nopaI, re.
fzsTedSto by ystne oracle, was seen. On this
taaand, thereto eSand on;those which were
tigdousstp the Aztecs laid the funda-
EAon5of their And ont the spot; where
lthe snopal was found, they built etheir Tes-
Epan, Tescalh, Or House Of. God; an; erec-
|tion, TO which the Spaniards, in the 10Th
century, gave the fnarne Of the Great Tenn
|sple OF exith s:s y.
6is appears to have undergone
8 - -. ~ .