THOMAS.] EXPLANATION OF SERIES ON PLATES 33 TO 39. 275 



(lay columns may be used, it is apparent that we have all the possible 

 combinations (4x13=53). 



I say above that " it is necessary in counting to refer always to 

 the year (year column) with which the count begins." This I admit 

 does not agree with the generally received idea of the Maya calen- 

 dar, upon which Table II is constructed, as, according to this the- 

 ory (which I have accepted in my previous papers), after passing- 

 through a year of one series (corresponding with one of the day col- 

 umns of the table), we sh uld enter upon a year of the next series; 

 for example, when the year 1 Kan is completed we should enter upon 

 the year 2 Muluc. 



Although this calendar system seems to have been in vogue at the 

 time of the conquest and is indicated in one or two of the codices, 

 and possibly in the one now under consideration, the chronological 

 series of the latter, as will hereafter appear, do not seem to be based 

 i;i)on it or to agree with it. 



Tliese explanations, with the further statement that the lines in 

 the codex are to be read from left to right and the columns from the 

 top downward, except where variations from this rule are noted, will 

 enable the reader to follow the discussion. Another reason for iising 

 a table with only thirteen columns (though it would be difficult to 

 devise a combined calendar of any other form) is that the 2(30 days 

 they contain form one complete cycle, which, as will apjjear in the 

 course of this discussion, was one of the chief periods in Maya time 

 computations. 



Examining Plates 33 to 3'J of the codex the reader will observe 

 that the line already alluded to extends continuously through divis- 

 ion c, commencing with the two characters over the figure (picture) 

 in the lower right hand corner of Plate 33. 



The first of these characters as given in Kingsborough's work is 

 the symbol of the day Ezanab, with the red niimeral 13 to the left of 

 it and the black numeral 9 over it; but referring to Forstemann's 

 photolithographic copy of the codex it is found to be the symbol of 

 Aliau. 



The entire line, with this correction (that is to say, as given by 

 Forstemann), is represented in Fig. 3f)0. In order to assist the reader, 

 the names of the days and numbers of the symbols have been added 

 immediately below the characters. 



As the year to which the line relates is unknown, we select the 

 Muhic series, designated " Muluc column " in Table II, and commence 

 with 13 Ahau, the twelfth number of the third figure column. Count- 

 ing 9 days from this brings us to 9 Muluc, the top number of the 

 fourth figure column and also the second day of the line above given 

 (the symbol is a face in Kingsborougli's copy, but is plainly the 

 Muluc sign in F("ii'stenu\nn's photogTai)h). Eleven days more bring 

 us to 7 Ahau. the thirfl day of the above line: 20 more to 1 Ahau, 

 the fourtli (lay of the line (the 20 here is the symbol represented 



