240 MAYAN CALENDAR SYSTEMS [eth. ann. 22 



great cycle. In tliese instances 'J Kan 12 Kayab is tlie initial day of 

 tlie first or more remote of tlie fonr great cycles counted in the series 

 which have been noticed. The four here, however, ha.s no reference 

 to the numbers ajjplied to the high periods, if, in fact, any were 

 applied, but is merely the number of one of the oi'ders of units used 

 in counting, just as we say '' -t thousands, 5 millions," etc. However, 

 the idea intended to be set forth here will be more fully explained 

 farther on. 



In order to show that Kan, as used in the series examined, is the 

 initial daj' of the most remote of the four great cycles of these series, 

 the following proof is presented. 



If we arrange the last-mentioned series perpendicularly in ascend- 

 ing order, as in the original, except that we separate the great cycles, 

 it will stand as follows: 



4tli great cycle ( comijleted ) 

 3rd great cycle (completed) 

 2nd great cycle (completed) 

 1st great cycle (completed) 

 5 cycles 

 19 katuiis 

 13 ahaus 

 13 chuens 

 8 days 



The reader must keep in mind all the way through that, although 

 Goodman's terms are used, they are to be underst(jod as representing 

 merely orders of units. Hence, 4th great cycle, 3rd great cycle, etc., 

 are Intended to convey the same idea that is conveyed b.y "4th mil- 

 lion, 3rd million," etc. These terms are used merely as convenient 

 designations in numeration. Each and every series in the inscrip- 

 tions and codices signifies nothing more nor less than so many days, 

 the day being the unit. 



Our separation of the great cycles is therefore nothing more than 

 separating the millions and lower denominations in the expression 

 " 4,234,600," just as has been done above. The object of this separa- 

 tion is to ascertain the beginning day of each of these numbers which 

 Goodman calls time periods, as this forms a check on our calculations. 

 For example, if I assert that 4,000 days from Thursday, Januaiy 1, 

 1889, will reach Saturday, December IS, 1890, by counting 1,000 days 

 we reach a certain date, and 1,000 more a certain other date, etc. 

 If the fourth 1,000 brings ns to the same date as counting at once 

 4,000, we thereby cheek the one calculation liy the other. The sepa- 

 ration is to be understood as signifying nothing more than this, and 

 not as implying real time periods of a chronological system. 



If we can ascertain the first day of the first of these great cycles, 

 and count forward from the date so obtained, one by one, 4 great 



