292 AIDS TO THE STUDY OF THE MAYA CODICES. 



In reference to this series, Dr. Forstemann' remarks: 



The column of the days has the difference 5; the fifth sign (in this case really- 

 superfluous), that of tlie thirteenth day, appears in a remarkable form, apparently 

 as an inscription on a vessel. Tlie black figures ought to give the sum 65, but we 

 get only 4 X 16, or 64. But this appears to be merely an oversight by the copyist, 

 for altliough in the Codex Troano, also, we find 64 several tnnes instead of 65,stiU 

 this has always appeared to me merely as a sign of the great negligence of the 

 copyist of that manuscript. 



Tiirning to the Manuscript Troano. Plate XXVIII*6. we find a 

 column consisting of the four terminal days of the year, Been, 

 Ezanab, Akbal, and Lamat, which of course have the same relation 

 to one another as the first days. It is evident from the space that only 

 four were intended to be given. The numerals in Brasseur's fac 

 simile are XI ; 30, 12, IV; 9, XIII ; 10, X ; 13, XI. 



The red numeral over the column is XI, as is also the last of the 

 series, but the sum of the black numbers is only 64, which would give 

 X as the final nxtmber, as is evident from the following operation ; 

 XI+33-1.3-1.3-1.3=IV; IV + 9=XIII ; XIII+10-13=X ; X+13- 

 13 =X. The interval between the days is 65. We have, therefore, 

 precisely the same difficulty in this instance as in the case from the 

 Dresden Codex under consideration. Moreover, the only method of 

 correcting the mistake, if there is one, is by adding one to the last 

 black number. It would be hazardous to assume that two mistakes, 

 precisely the same in every respect, should have been made in regard to 

 these exactly similar series. The probability that a mistake has been 

 made is lessened by the fact that on Plate XXIX*6 of the mami- 

 script is another four day column, the last days of the years, as the 

 preceding. The numeral over the column is XIII and the series is 

 as follows : 13, XIII ; 20, 18, XII ; 13, XIII. Adding these and cast- 

 ing out the thirteens, we have this result : XIII+13-13=XIII ; 

 XIII+20-t-18-13-13-13=XII; XII+13- 13=XII. This gives XII 

 as the last number when it should be XIII. If a mistake has been 

 made the only method of correcting it is by increasing the last black 

 ninnber by one, as in the other two cases alluded to. 



It is proper to state that on the other hand there is another four 

 day column on Plate XXXII*a of the last mentioned codex, the 

 days of which are precisely the same as those on Plate 29c of the 

 Dresden Codex, to wit, Ix, Cauac, Kan, Muluc. The numeral over it 

 is XII and the series is as follows: 13, XII; 13, XII; 13, XII; 13, XII; 

 13, XII. This presents no difficulty, as it conforms in every respect 

 to the rules given, but only serves to deepen the mystery in the other 

 cases. 



Going back to the series on Plate 29c of the Dresden Codex, we 

 observe not only that the days of the column are the four year bear- 

 ers, but also that one of the four cardinal symbols is found — in the 

 superscription — in each of the four compartments through which 



' Erlauterungen zur Mayaliandschrift, p. 60. 



