Torturing of the Victim 92 Sacrifice of Infants 92 Cannibal Banquets 93 Number of Victims 94 Houses of Skulls 95 Cannibalism of the Aztecs 99 Criticism on Sahagun’s History 101 CHAPTER IV MEXICAN HIEROGLYPHICS--MANUSCRIPTS--ARITHMETIC--CHRONOLOGY--ASTRONOMY Dawning of Science 105 Picture-writing 106 Aztec Hieroglyphics 108 Manuscripts of the Mexicans 109 Emblematic Symbols 110 Phonetic Signs 111 Materials of the Aztec Manuscripts 114 Form of their Volumes 115 Destruction of most of them 116 Remaining Manuscripts 117 Difficulty of deciphering them 120 Minstrelsy of the Aztecs 123 Theatrical Entertainments 124 System of Notation 124 Their Chronology 126 The Aztec Era 129 Calendar of the Priests 132 Science of Astrology 135 Astrology of the Aztecs 136 Their Astronomy 137 Wonderful Attainments in this Science 138 Remarkable Festival 140 Carnival of the Aztecs 142 Lord Kingsborough’s Work 143 Criticism on Gama 144 CHAPTER V AZTEC AGRICULTURE--MECHANICAL ARTS--MERCHANTS--DOMESTIC MANNERS Mechanical Genius 146 Agriculture 147 Mexican Husbandry 148 Vegetable Products 150 Mineral Treasures 153