1893.] ^^' [Brinton. 



water in which they placed a fish called cijMctli (que es como 

 caiman). This marine monster brought the dirt and clay from 

 which they made the Earth, which therefore is represented in 

 t'leir paintings resting upon the back of a fish. 



This sign, therefore, signifies the material beginning of exist- 

 ence or life in the Earth or in the individual, the substance into 

 which it is shaped. 



The cipactU was an entirel}' mythical creature, and was not 

 intended to represent any known species.* Therefore any curi- 

 ousl}^ shaped fish was selected. The word has been variously 

 interpreted, but none of the renderings seems appropriate.f I 

 would suggest that it is a compound of ce, one the whole, and 

 patia, to liquefy, to become water, which is in full concordance 

 with the native myth of creation above referred to. 



Bcij/ 2. — Wind or Air, Breath, Spirit, Soul. 



In American symbolism air or wind constantly signifies the 

 immaterial life, that which exists apart from physical substance. 



The first two of the twentj'' symbols therefore jsoint to the 

 double origin of being conceived as matter and spirit, body and 

 soul, extension and thought. 



Day 3. — Night, Darkness, the House. 



The symbolic idea underlying these signs is that of repose. 

 Night is the time for sleep, the house is the place of rest, dark- 

 ness suspends labor and relaxes eff^ort. Old age and the harvest 

 close, the one the activities of the career, the other the toil of 

 the agricultui'ist. 



Doij ^. — The Lizard, the Iguayia. 



The flesh of the iguana was a favorite article of food, and the 

 animal was taken as the symbol of nutrition and abundance. 

 Among the Pipils the god of maize and the food supply presided 

 over this sign and its signification was plenty and fullness. | 



* This is also tlie opinion of Orozeo y Berra, Hist. Antigua de Mexico, Tom. i, p. 54. 

 t Several may be found in Boturini, Idea de una Nueva Ilistoria General, p. 46. 

 t Nunez de la Vega, Constiluciones Biocesanas, p. 10, and Codex Telleriano-Ecmcnsis, 

 Lam. xiii (inKingsborougli's Mexico). 



