Brinton.] 512 [Oct. 1, 



referred to the position in which the village was situated. But 

 the prefix " tlama " usually signifies, " to do something with the 

 arms or hands," derived from maitl, hand or arm. Hence, the 

 figure of the extended arm gives this dissyllable, tlama, which 

 was sufficient to recall the name of the town. 



The Aztecs by no means confined the ikonomatic system to 

 proper names. They composed in it words, sentences, and trea- 

 tises on various subjects. In proportion as it is applied to these 

 connected and lengthy compositions, its processes become more 

 recondite, curious and difficult of interpretation. Without a 

 knowledge of the spoken language considerably more than rudi- 

 mentary, it would be hopeless for the student to attempt to solve 

 the enigmas which he meets at every step. Yet every well- 

 directed effort will convince him that he is on the right track, 

 and he will constantly be cheered and stimulated to further en- 

 deavor by the victories he will win day by day. 



Few indeed have the requisite preliminary knowledge and the 

 gift of insight into verbal puzzles to attain brilliant success. 

 Among those who have pursued with marked and gratifying re- 

 sults this intricate study, it gives me pleasure to name Mrs. Zelia 

 Nuttall Pinart. This lady has unraveled a number of the pages 

 of the Yienna Codex and several of the monolithic inscriptions 

 which have been handed down from ancient Mexico. With com- 

 mendable caution she has refrained from publishing her results 

 until they could be presented, supported by such proofs that they 

 cannot be questioned ; but, from a personal examination of them, 

 I do not hesitate to say that they will be found to come up to 

 the highest standard of scientific requirements.* 



The analogy which is presented in so many particulars be- 

 tween Mexican and Maya civilization would lead us to infer that 

 the Maya writing, of which we have a number of examples well 

 preserved, should be unlocked by the same key which has been 

 successfully applied to the Aztec Codices. The latest writers on 

 the Maya manuscripts, while agreeing that they are in part, at 

 least, in phonetic characters, consider them mostly ideographic. 

 But it is to be noted that not one of these writers has any prac- 

 tical acquaintance with the sounds of the Maya language, and 



♦Several of Mrs. Pinirt's interpretations were exhibited to the Anthropologi- 

 cal Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science at its 

 tout meeting (Bullalo, I860), and wore favorably received by the members. 



