THOMAS. 1 METHOD OF COTNTING DAYS. 273 



In order further to assist those unacquainted with tlie symbols the 

 same line is here given in another form, in which the names of the 

 days are substituted for the symbols, Roman numerals for the red 

 numbers, and Arabic for the black: 10, XI Men; 1.5. XIII Oc; 9, IX 

 Cauac; 11, VII Oc; S, I Oc; 10, XI Ahau. 



The S is introduced to represent a numeral symbol different from 

 the lines and dots and will be ex^jlained when reached in the course 

 of the illustration. 



Starting from 11 Men, found in the twelfth figure column of Table I, 

 and counting forward fifteen days, we come to 13 Oc of the thirteenth 

 figure cohimn, the second day of the above quoted line. Counting 

 nine days from 13 Oc' brings us to 9 Cauac, the third day of the line; 

 eleven days more, to 7 Oc, the fourth day of the line. Following this 

 day in the line, instead of a black numeral of the usual form, is this 

 symbol: K^^^^\ represented by S in the second form, where the 

 names roxT^f and numbers are substituted for the symbols. 

 Taking *" "^ for granted, from the position it <jccupies in the 

 line, that it is a numeral character, it must represent 20. as the day 

 which follows is 1 Oc, and counting twenty days from 7 Oc brings us 

 to 1 Oc. Counting ten days more we reach 11 Ahau, the last day of 

 the line given above. 



In this example the black nujuerals appear to have been used sim- 

 jjly as counters, or as numbers indicating intervals: for examjale, 15 

 is the interval between 11 Men and 13 Oc' 



This furnishes a clew which, if followed up, may lead iu important 

 resiilts. That it explains the signification of one symbol undeter- 

 mined until this relation of the numerals to one another was discov- 

 ered, is now admitted. In the work of Dr. Forstemann before alluded 

 to the discovery of the symbol for 20 is annoiinced. Although I 

 was not aware of the signification of this symbol until after my sec- 

 ond paper, "Notes on certain Maya and Mexican manuscripts," was 

 written, I had made this discovery as early as 1884." 



As there will be occasion to refer to the days of the four different 

 series of years (the Cauac, Kan, Muluc, and Ix years), a combined 

 calendar, similar to an ordinary counting house calendar, is intro- 

 duced here. For the Cauac years the left or Cauac column is to be 

 used; for the Kan years, the Kan column, and so on. 



' In the representations of lines and columns of the codex Roman numbers are 

 necessarily used to distinguish the class of numerals, yet in the text, as in this case, 

 the Arabic numbers will be used as most convenient. 



* Strictly speaking, the interval betvpeen 11 Men and 13 Oc is fourteen days, but 

 througliout this paper, by "interval between" two days, is to be understood the 

 number of days to be counted from one to and uichirling the other. The one counted 

 from is always excluded and the one reached or with which the interval terminates 

 is always included. 



=1 Science, p. 459, April 11, 1884. 

 6 ETH 18 



