SELEIil 



ZAPOTEC PRIESTHOOD AND . CEREMONIALS 



283 



Although it is therefore plain that the symbol of the grass rope 

 was not unknown to the Mexicans, still it is frequent only in the 

 picture writings of the Borgian codex group, and in this group is 

 represented onl}^ particularly in connection with expiation of sin. 

 Its occurrence, like that of the representation of the four rain gods 

 (figure 58) and the deer figures bearing the day signs (figure 59), 

 seem therefore to point to the conclusion that the picture writings of 

 the Borgian codex group are either actually Zapotec or belong to a 

 territoiT whose people resembled the latter in their religious and 

 calendric notions. This is a fact whicli Ave have every reason to keep 

 well in mind. 



d e 



Fig. G1. Self-piinislinient and symliolr; of two kings from Mexican codices. 



The special signification attached to the twisted grass roj^e, tola, 

 among the Zapotecs also explains the singularly baneful part which 

 the " grass " malinalli, " the twist ", plays as a day sign. For there 

 is probably no doubt that this Mexican malinalli and the Zapotec 

 tola are the same thing, although tola was not used" in the Zapotec 

 calendar for malinalli, but pija, chija, corresponding to the literal 

 sense of malinalli. This fact seems in its turn to indicate that in the 

 land of the Zapotecs we are not very far from the spot where the day 

 signs originated and Avhere the whole remarkable system of the 

 Central American calendar Avas elaborated. 



