THOMAS] GOODMAN'S SYSTEM 795 
That the symbols of this order forming the initial glyph of various 
series in the inscriptions differ in some of their parts and append- 
ages is evident, but that these elements and appendages are used to 
indicate numerals has not yet been established by Mr Goodman, as 
is evident to anyone who will examine his explanation of the ahaus 
on Stela J of Copan in the quotation given above, which shows his 
method of arriving at the numbers indicated by glyphs. There is 
too much guessing in the building wp of numbers by piecing together 
the parts to justify acceptance by those who are in search of positive 
results. 
I have stated again and again that I believe the so-called time 
periods to be nothing more than the orders of units used by the Maya 
tribe in its system of notation. That they are the same up to the cycle, 
or fifth order, is known from the evidence furnished by the codices 
and inscriptions; and that the same vigesimal system is continued to 
the sixth order in the Dresden codex is admitted by Mr Goodman 
and proved by the series on plate 31, which has been given above 
(page 728). As positive proof that the nineteen cycles here are to be 
counted it is only necessary to state that the series connects with 13 
Akbal, which may be that below or that to the left above. Let the 
count be either way, it begins and ends with this date. 
The great time series on Stela N of Copan heretofore mentioned, 
which Mr. Goodman brushes aside as *‘ not only wrong but absurd as 
well,” deserves more consideration than has been given it. The 
attached numerals are of the ordinary form—balls and short lines 
and are quite distinct in Maudslay’s photograph and drawing. It is 
absolutely necessary to Mr Goodman’s theory as to the Maya time 
system that this series be effectually disposed of. And yet, so far as 

any evidence bearing on the case can be found, there is no other reason 
for rejecting it than that it conflicts with a theory. 
This series as given in the inscription is as follows: 14-17-19-10-0-0, 
or, written out, 14 great cycles, 17 cycles, 19 katuns, 10 ahaus, 0 chuens, 
O days. This is an immense stretch of time, amounting to 42,908,400 
days, or 117,557 years and 95 days, counting 20 cycles to the great 
cycle, as I believe is correct, or over 75,000 years, counting 13. The 
great cycle symbol is in this case a face character, as are the cycle, 
katun, and ahau symbols. The chuen symbol, which has the days 
attached, is of the usual form. The day which follows is 1 Ahau 8 
Chen. 
If we assume that the 1 Ahau 8 Zip which terminates the initial 
series and is found in the column on the east side of the Stela is to be 
connected by the long series with the 1 Ahau 8 Chen in the column on 
the west side (the series being in the same column), it is true, as Good- 
man remarks, that the numeral series as given will not make the con- 
nection. But this fact is by no means conclusive evidence that there is 
an error in the series; for, in the first place, taking into consideratior 
