642 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 28 



wears a monkey mask, like the priest in the Dresden codex, pages 25 to 

 28, who appears with an animal mask at the ceremony of the new year. 



To the left of the kneeling figure stands the figure cZ, painted black, 

 holding in its right hand a two-lashed scourge, wdiile the left is 

 raised appeasingly. The orbit of the eye, the ear, and the lower part 

 of the face are painted yelloAv. A checkered, pointed cap, such as 

 the chief priests usually wore, is bound on the back of his head. 

 An ex of elaborate design hangs down before and behind. The black 

 painting of figures / and d may possibly have some connection with 

 the thirteen days' fast which is observed at the end of the year, 

 during which it was the custom of the Mayas to paint their bodies 

 with lampblack (see lianda, pages 278 and 280), or the persons repre- 

 sented may be the priests of black gods. 



The short but corpulent figure c that follows holds a soplador in his 

 right hand. The face is distinguished by an aquiline nose and droop- 

 ■ ing lower lip and the black ring about the eye already noted in figure 

 e, Avhich I had also noticed in a statue at Copan. The head is bound 

 with a strip of jaguar skin, from which the hair protrudes in rays. 

 Below the ear and on the necklace hangs a round, black ball, which 

 also ai^j^ears on the shoulder of figure c/, and looks almost like a blot, 

 but undoubtedly has a meaning. 



Figure h has the same sort of staff in his hand as the kneeling 

 figure. The face is dark-colored, and the headdress similar to that 

 just described, save that the hair is worn in tufts. On the breast, 

 attached to a neck chain, rests a shield bearing the pop character, 

 with an edge of sharp points. One end of the chain seems to be 

 held by the man behind, as if he were holding him fast by it, an 

 idea which is probably not conveyed intentionally. 



Figure <t is marked by a huge headdress resembling a beehive, from 

 which two feather fans project sidewise. Tlie long, straight hair 

 hangs down from the back of the head. The left hand grasps a bone 

 partly painted red, and the right hand carries a soplador. The wrists 

 and ankles are swathed. A white shield lies on the breast. Figure </, 

 standing in the right-hand corner, in mau}^ points resembles the one 

 just described. He also holds a bone in his left hand, which is vari- 

 ously applied as head ornament and ear peg. In his right hand, 

 which is thrown over the shoulder, he grasps a three-lashed scourge, 

 and vmder his arm is a soplador. Bright-colored fabrics are bound 

 around his ankles and above the knee. The headband is narrow and 

 yellow, and the eye is surrounded by a black ring with rays. 



There is a monstrous wart on the nose, which was probably con- 

 sidered beautiful, for we note the same excresences in figures h and ^, 

 and a has even bristles on his nose and forehead. 



The pop sign, alread}' observed twice, occurs on the sculptures of 

 Copan and Yucatan and on the wooden tablets of Tikal. I have also 



