SKr.KR] MEXICAN PICTURE WRITINGS FRAGMENTS IX-XII 211 



bottom of fragment X (plate xv) directly above the Indians hanging 

 on the gallows; furthermore, I believe that these and the four- 

 cornered objects made of yellow staves and corded round the middle, 

 shown at the top of fragment X (plate xv), are all meant to repre- 

 sent vessels, namely, Avooden butts or casks for pulque or brandy. I 

 think that I see further proof of this in two other facts: in the first 

 place, because, as we shall see, the delivery of wood and of wooden 

 utensils is noted elsewhere on our fragment; and, further, because 

 we find a snake above the objects which I have explained to be butts 

 or casks — the red ones at the top of fragment XI (plate xvi). The 

 snake w^as often introduced into ancient pictures when pulque jugs 

 Avere to be represented. The ring or base on which the pulque jug 

 stands is most frequently formed of the coils of a snake. 



The three rows of Indians on fragment XI (plate xvi) with sticks 

 in their hands carr^nng on their backs tubs which are bound to a 

 ladderlike frame (cacaxtli), would illustrate the transportation of 

 pulque, which labor the Spaniards imposed upon the Indians. In 

 the same connection I am inclined to believe that the two Indians on 

 fragment XII (plate xvii) with great pots upon their backs are 

 meant to represent the bringing or transportation of condensed agave 

 juice (see &, figure J(5), which is in the tribute list, Mendoza codex, 

 j)ages 29 and 77, and explained in the text as miel de maguey espesa 

 "thickened maguey honey"). The two Indians at the bottom of 

 fragment XI (plate xvi) with the small jugs on their backs might 

 convey the same idea, or perhaps they are bringing real honey (see the 

 similar but smaller figure in the tribute list of the Mendoza codex, 

 page 38, which is explained in the text as cantarillo de miel de abeja 

 (" small jug of bee's honey "). 



The drawing at the bottom of fragment XII (plate xvii) is also 

 perfectly intelligible. Here we see three slaughtered pigs. It is 

 obvious from the shape of the hoofs that they are meant for pigs, and 

 that they are supposed to be slaughtered is plainly indicated by the 

 red color under the snout; but if these are pigs, then it is clear 

 that the animal's head in the ten or eleven rows of baskets, which are 

 bound to a ladder-shaped carrying frame (cacaxtli), on fragments 

 XI (plate xvi) and XII (plate xvii), must likewise signify pork. 

 If this should not be perfectly plain to anyone, I would refer him to 

 the lowest row, on fragment XII (plate xvii), where the pig's foot is 

 distinctly draAvn in addition to the pig's head. 



The great majority of other representations deal with the delivery 

 of wood and wooden utensils. The long pieces with a hole at the end, 

 in fragments X (plate xv) and XII (plate xvii) represent beams (see 

 (.', figure 46, which is explained in the tribute list, Mendoza codex, 

 jiage 81:, as vigas grandes — "large beams"). The smaller and more 



