Briutoii.] ifi.^ [Oct. 6, 



motion is the shaking, tottering movement of the paralyzed or 

 the aged, or that of the earth in its convulsions.* 



Da;/ 18.— The Flint Knife. 



"What is intended is the sacrificial knife or the spear point, 

 stained with blood as an instrument of death. The suggestion is 

 death in war, or as a victim. 



OO" 



Daij 19. —The Lightninrj. 



In this sign the thunder-storm was considered as the begetter 

 of sickness, and, like water, as portrayed under the ninth day 

 sign, the maleficent effects of the thunderbolt, the pouring rain 

 and the floods were those intimated. The interpreters consid- 

 ered it, therefoi'e, a day of evil omen. 



Day 20. — The Chieftain.^ the Flower. 



As previouslj' stated, the real symbol of this day was the 

 sun. This is to be understood in its mythical sense as the 

 haven of life, the place of repose of souls, the resting place of 

 the dead ; as I have stated in general terms in a previous work, 

 " The home of the Sun is the heaven of the Red Man."f This 

 is true all over the continent, and there is a peculiar significance 

 in finding it borne out by the symbolism of this remarkable 

 Calendar. 



§ 14. General Symbolic Significance of the Calendar. 



Restoring the figurative terms to their literal meaning, we 

 ma}' conclude that the general and original symbolism of the 

 day names in all the tongues in which we have them were as 

 follows : 



Day. Symbol. Hieratic Significance. 



1. Swordfish. Birth, the beginning. 



2. Wind. Breath, life, the soul. 



3. Darkness, the house. Sleep, rest, repose. 



4. Iguana. Food, nourishment. 



5. Snake. Sexual life, reproduction. 



*The present (the fifth) age of the world, according to Mexican mythology, was ex- 

 pected to end in this sign. Codex THlcriano-Remcnsis, Lam. x. 

 t See my Myths of the New World, Chap, i.v, for abundant testimony on this point. 



