Chapter IV. 



ORIGI^^ OF THE CALENDAR. 



I had not intended to offer at this time any suggestions in regard to 

 the origin of the singular calendar described in the foregoing pages; 

 but since the subject has recently been brought into discussion, both 

 in this country and in Europe, it would seem fitting to refer to some 

 data wliich apparently have a bearing on the question. According to 

 Dr. Brinton : * 



We know to a certainty that essentially the same calendar system was in use 

 among the Nahuas of the valley of Mexico and other tribes of the same Imgnistic 

 family resident in Tlascallan and Meztitlan, Soconusco, Guatemala, and Nicaragua; 

 that it prevailed among the Mixtecs and Zapotecs ; and that of the numerous Mayan 

 tribes, it was familiar to the Mayas proper of Yucatan, the Tzentals and Zotzils of 

 Chiapas, the Quiches and Cackchiquels of Guatemala, and to their ancestors, the 

 builders of the mined cities of Copau and Paleuque. There is no direct evidence 

 that it had extended to the Huastecas of Maya lineage, on the Rio Panuco; but it 

 was in vogue among the Totouacos, their neighbors to the south, on the Gulf of Mex- 

 ico. The Piriudas, Matlazincas, and Tarascos of Michoacau Lad also accepted it, 

 though pei'haps not in a complete form. The Chiapauecs or Mangues, part of whom 

 lived in Nicaragua and part in Chiapas, had also adopted it. The tribes above 

 named belong to seven entirely dift'erent linguistic stocks, but were not geographi- 

 cally distant. Outside of the area which they occupied no traces of the calendar 

 system, with its many and salient peculiarities, have been found, either in the 

 New or Old World. 



Two things are to be noted in any attempt to trace this singular 

 calendar to its origin : first, that wherever we have found it, the pecu- 

 liarities are substantially developed; and, second, that we find no 

 traces of it among other American tribes than those named. It would 

 be rash, however, to assume from these facts that it was not gradually 

 developed from a simpler form. Where is this bud, this germ to 

 be found? Notwithstanding the derision such propositions usually 

 encounter, I present briefly some reasons for believing that we must 

 look beyond the borders of our continent for it. 



The special features of this calendar (though not all peculiar to it) 

 are as follows: The division of the year into 18 months of 20 days, each 

 day of the month having its special name; the intercalation of 5 days 

 at the end of the last month to complete the 305; the method of count- 

 ing by thirteens; the " Lords of the night;" and the sacred period of 

 200 days. 



I think we may safely assume that the natural basis of the division 

 into months, or rather of the count bj' raontlis, was the revolution and 



* Native Calendar, op. cit,, p. 5. 



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