244 MAYAN CALENDAR SYSTEMS [eth. ann. 22 



theory, it is proper that these difficulties should l)e explained to the 

 reader that he may judfje wliether they have any bearing on the ques- 

 tion under diseussiou. 



riie iirst of these series to which reference will be made are the 

 bhick and red in the left serpent on plate LXI of the codex (our ]>late 

 LXXXi). These, as they stand on tlie plate, are as follows: 



Black 4-6-14-13-15-1,3 Chicchan 13 Pax 



Red 4-6- 0-11- 3-?. 3 Chicchan IS Xnl 



In this instance, as on plate LXii, the dates under the series are 

 hei-e seemingly reversed by the zigzag arrangement of the series — a 

 fact which is to be borne in mind; therefore, that which is apparentlj^ 

 under the black belongs to the red. The last (lowest) number of the 

 red series denoting days is obliterated, but calculation soon makes it 

 apparent that it was 1. The initial date here is the same as that of 

 the other series of this codex hei'etofore referred to, to wit, 9 Kan 



12 Kaj^ab, which stands in the text above the serpent. 

 Calculating the series as they stand in the original, counting from 



the initial date (9 Kan 12 Kayab), we find, whether we a-ssume 20 or 



13 cycles to the great cycle, that neither of the' dates standing below 

 will be reached. The proper day, and even the day of the month, may 

 be reached, but not the full date as given. Counting 20 cycles to the 

 great cycle, we are brought by the black series to 1 Chicchan IS Chen, 

 year G Lamat; the red series (adding one day) brings us to 5 Cluc- 

 chan lo Mac, year lo Ben. The result in botli cases is wrong. Count- 

 ing 13 cycles to the great cycle in the black, we reach 3 Chicchan 13 

 Kayab, year 9 Ben; and tlie red series brings us to 7 Chicchan 3 Zip, 

 j'ear i Akbal. Both results are wrong, though the first is apparently 

 within one month of being correct — the day, day number, and day of 

 tlu' month being riglit. However, the two dates are in reality 32 j'ears 

 apart. We might assume the number of months (chuens) to be 14, 

 instead of 15 as given in the original, if this would bring both series 

 in liarmony ; or we might change the month from Pax to Kaj'ab, if this 

 would meet the difficulty throughout. The two series, black and red, 

 are evidently related, and tlie difference Ijetween theni must connect 

 the dates reached by counting each series from the initial date (9 Kan 

 12 Kayab). The difference in this case, 13 cycles being counted to 

 the great cycle, brings the red series to 7 Chicchan 3 Zip, year i 

 Akl)al, which is wrong. 



AVith seeming inconsistency, I piojjose a correction more radical 

 than either of those suggested above. I believe the aborigiiuil artist 

 by inadvertency made an excliange between the blaclv and red series 

 in the ahaus and chuens, and tliat, instead of being as given above, 

 they should be as follows: 



Black 4-0-14-11- 3-1, 3 Chicchan 13 Pax 



Red 4-6- 0-13-15-1, 3 Chicchan 18 Xul 



