320 -^IDS TO THE STUDY OF THE MAYA CODICES. 



Third column on Plate 526. 

 Fourth column on Plate .536. 

 Fir.st column on Plate .536. 



Second column on Plate 536. 



At this point in the original, instead of 20 in the year series, we 

 find a diamond shaped symboh represented by in our tables, with 

 one black dot over it. From this it would seem that when this codex 

 was written the Maya method of counting years was by periods of 20 

 each, as in the case of the month days. Whether there is any refer- 

 ence here to the ahaues is uncertain. I am inclined to think with 

 Dr. Forstemann that it was rather in consequence of the use of the 

 vigesimal system in representing numbers. It would have been very 

 inconvenient and cumbersome to represent high numbers by means 

 of dots and lines; hence a more practicable method was devised. It 

 is evident, from the picture inserted at this point in the series, that 

 some important chronological event is indicated. Here also in the 

 written characters over this picture is the symbol for 20. The last 

 number given in the above addition may therefore, in order to corre- 

 spond with the method of the codex, be written as follows: 



Twenty year periods. Years. Months. Days. 

 10 3 4 



Continuing the addition in this way the result is as follows : 



Twenty year periods. Years. Months. Days. 

 10 3 4 



8 17 



1 12 1 Third column on Plate 536. 



8 17 



1 1 2 18 Fourth column on Plate 536. 



8 17 



1 1 11 15 Fifth coluijin on Plate 536. 



1 2 2 12 First column on Plate 546. 



8 17 



1 2 11 9 Second column on Plate 546. 



8 17 



13 2 6 Third column on Plate 546. 



7 8 



1 3 9 14 Fourth column on Plate 546. 



8 17 



