SELETi] MEXICAN PICTURE WRITINGS FRAGMENT XIV 219 



)3er 400 (tzontli). Then follow small oblong objects, each with a 

 small flag (20), and in the roAv above there are ten vessels, each of 

 which probably stands for a fanega of corn (see p and q, figure 46). 



AVe have in the right lower section of the red upper portion of our 

 fragment first, immediately over the men's heads, two turkeys' heads, 

 similar to the lower division. Then follow two figures which are 

 probably meant for chili, " red-pepper pods ", each provided with the 

 bush, which denotes the number centzontli, or 400. Turkey and red- 

 l^epper sauce belong together. Molle con guajolote is still the holi- 

 day dish throughout the country. Then follow three round objects, 

 each intersected by a cross and with the number 400 attached; then, 

 two peculiar figures, which we have not hitherto encountered, and of 

 which I shall speak directly. Over them are five small circles, each 

 Avitli the number 400, and in the row above eight vessels (fanegas 

 of corn) and round objects like those in the lower row, each with a 

 little flag indicating 20. 



The question now arises, Avhat are the little oval objects, fifteen of 

 which in the lower compartment are marked with a little flag, a total 

 of 3,000, and five in the upper j^ortion with the little flag, a total 

 of 1,000? Since these articles are counted and the amounts reach so 

 high a figure, I think they must be meant for cacao Ijeans (see d 

 to ^, figure 48). This mode of counting also occurs 'in other manu- 

 scripts (see r/, taken from the tribute list in the Mendoza codex, page 

 19, described in the text as " 1,000 almendras de cacao "; and /, taken 

 from the Pintura del Gobemador, Alcaldes y Regidores de Mexico, 

 where the little flag or 20 is omitted from the single beans on the 

 right). The text says, chiquacen tzontli ypan chicom]:)ohualli, 

 which means six times four hundred, and seven times tw^enty (cacao 

 l»eans). But this very omission of the little flag in this painting 

 proves that the unit in counting chocolate nuts was the number 20, 

 which is always applied on our page to these doubtful objects. It 

 is well known that chocolate nuts were used in ancient Mexico for 

 small change and were therefore counted. 



The decussated and plain circles in the upper division, all pro- 

 vided with the bush (for 400), are probal)ly only simple numerals, 

 and refer either to what Avent before (the red-pej^per pods) or to what 

 folloAvs above (the chocolate nuts). 



As for the two peculiar figures at the left end of the lower row in 

 the upper division, they are an expression for a load, derived from 

 the scale pan of a balance. This is obvious from a manuscript in the 

 Aubin-Goupil collection, formerly pwned by Don Antonio Leon y 

 Gama, that is interesting on account of the peculiarities of its system 

 of notation, which will be noticed here and were first noted bv 



