.
(60) Proceedings American Antiquarian Society, April, 1877,
p. 101.
(61) M. Le Plongon interprets the curved figures issuing from
the throat of the wise-man. In the original, different parts of
this figure were of different colors. The doctor frankly tells
us, that "imagination does the greater part of the work" in his
interpretation.
(62) "Guided, as I have said, by my interpretations of the mural
paintings, bas-reliefs, and other signs,... I directed my
steps, perhaps inspired by the instincts of the archaeologist,
to a dense part of the thicket." Proceedings Am. Antiq. Society,
April, 1877, p. 85.
(63) _North American Review,_ October, 1880. And yet there
are indications that this is a statue. See Bandelier's
"Archaeological Tour in Mexico," p. 74.
(64) Stephens's "Yucatan," Vol. II, p. 318.

Chapter XV.

THE CULTURE OF THE CIVILIZED TRIBES.<1>

Different views on this question--Reason for the same--Their
architecture--Different styles of houses--The communal house--The
tecpan--The teocalli--State of society indicated by this
architecture--The gens among the Mexicans--The phratry among the
Mexicans--The tribe--The powers and duties of the council--The head
chiefs of the tribe--The duties of the "Chief-of-men"--The mistake
of the Spaniards--The Confederacy--The idea of property among the
Mexicans--The ownership of land--Their laws--Enforcement of the
laws--Outline of the growth of the Mexicans in power--Their tribute
system--How collected--Their system of trade--Slight knowledge of
metallurgy--Religion--Quietzalcohuatl--Huitzilopochtli--Mexican
priesthood--Human sacrifices--The system of Numeration--The calendar
system--The calendar stone--Picture writing--Landa alphabet--Historical
outline.

A landscape presents varied aspects according to the standpoint from
which it is viewed. Here we have a glimpse of hill and dale; there
a stretch of running water. But two persons, standing in the same
position, owing to their different mental temperaments, will view things
in a different light. Where one, an artist born, is carried away with
the beautiful scenery, another, with a more practical turn of mind,
perceives only its adaptability for investments. Education and habits
of life are also very potent factors in determining our views on various
questions. Scholars of wide and extended learning differ very greatly in
their views of