ADVERTISEMENT. 



The specimen which constitutes the subject of this memoir is a sculptured 

 slab forming part of the celebrated tablet in the so-called Temple of the Cross 

 at Palenque, in the State of Chiapas, Mexico, and was, many years ago, sent 

 to the National Institute in Washington, and transferred thence to the custody 

 of the Smithsonian Institution. The earlier figures and descriptions of this 

 tablet gave it entire ; those of later date represent only two-thirds of it ; and 

 the discovery of the missing portion in the National Museum at Washington 

 has been a subject of great interest to archaeologists, and among others to 

 Professor Rau, who, as chief of the archaeological division of the National 

 Museum, has had his attention drawn for some time to this remarkable relic. 

 Fully appreciating its interest, that gentleman has bestowed great pains 

 on an investigation of its history and an attempt to analyze the glyphs with 

 which it is covered. The results of his labors are now j^resented in a full 

 description of the whole tablet, accompanied by a number of illustrations 

 specially prepared for the work, and others kindly lent by Mr. H. H. Ban- 

 croft, of San Francisco. The author also 'gives a history of the explorations of 

 the ancient city of Palenque, an account of works describing the ruins, and a 

 chapter on aboriginal writing in Mexico, Yucatan, and Central America, in 

 which he presents his views concerning the manuscripts and glyphs of Maya 



origin. 



In accordance with the usage of the Institution, this memoir has been 

 submitted to Messrs. S. F. Haven, of Massachusetts, and H. H. Bancroft, of 

 California, who have recommended its publication as a Smithsonian Contribution 

 to Knowledge. 



It will undoubtedly be welcomed as a valuable addition to the literature of 

 a subject attracting so much attention at the present day. 



Smithsonian Institution, SPENCER F. BAIRD, 



Washington, d. c, November, 1879. Seci-eiary Smithsonian Institution. 



