riting of the names of places and persons only. The principal object,
indeed, of the Mexican hieroglyphic manuscripts was not to convey new
information, but rather to remind the reader by means of mnemonic
artifices of what he had learnt beforehand. This is acknowledged by
the best authorities, by men who knew the Indians shortly after their
first intercourse with Europeans, and whom we may safely trust in what
they tell us of the oral literature and hieroglyphic writings of the
natives. Acosta, in his 'Historia natural y moral,' vi. 7, tells us
that the Indians were still in the habit of reciting from memory the
addresses and speeches of their ancient orators, and numerous songs
composed by their national poets. As it was impossible to acquire
these by means of hieroglyphics or written characters such as were
used by the Mexicans, care was taken that those speeches and poems
should be learnt by heart. There were colleges and schools for that
purpose, where these and other things were taught to the young by the
aged in whose memory they seemed to be engraved. The young men who
were brought up to be orators themselves had to learn the ancient
compositions word by word; and when the Spaniards came and taught them
to read and write the Spanish language, the Indians soon began to
write for themselves, a fact attested by many eye-witnesses.

Las Casas, the devoted friend of the Indians, writes as follows:

'It ought to be known that in all the republics of this
country, in the kingdoms of New Spain and elsewhere, there
was amongst other professions, that of the chroniclers and
historians. They possessed a knowledge of the earliest
times, and of all things concerning religion, the gods, and
their worship. They knew the founders of cities, and the
early history of their kings and kingdoms. They knew the
modes of election and the right of succession; they could
tell the number and characters of their ancient kings, their
works, and memorable achievements whether good or bad, and
whether they had governed well or ill. They knew the men
renowned for virtue and heroism in former days, what wars
they had waged, and how they had distinguished themselves;
who had been the earliest settlers, what had been their
ancient customs, their triumphs and defeats. They knew, in
fact, whatever belonged to history; and were able to give an
account of all the e