228 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bdll. 57 



cede the opening of Cycle 9, the first Iiistoric epoch of the Maya civ- 

 ihzation, by periods ranging from 2,700 to 3,500 years. As explained 

 elsewhere, they probably referred to mythological events. There is 

 a date, however, on a tablet in the Temple of the Cross at Palenque 

 which falls m Cycle 8, being fixed therein by an adjoinuig Period- 

 ending date that may have been historical. This case is figured m 

 plate 22, G} In glyphs 4 and 5 appears the date 8 Ahau 13 Ceh 

 (compare the month form in glyph 5 with fig. 16, u, v). Tliis is fol- 

 lowed in glyph 6 by a sign which shows the same ending element as 

 the forms m figure 37, i, r, u, v, and this in turn is followed by Cycle 



9 in glyph 7. The date recorded in this case is Cycle 9 ending on the 

 date 8 Ahau 13 Ceh, which corresponds to the Initial Series 9.0.0.0.0 

 8 Ahau 13 Ceh. 



Now, m glyphs 1 and 2 is recorded the date 2 Caban 10 Xul (com- 

 pare the day sign A\ith fig. 16, a', h', and the month sign with fig. 

 19, i, j), and following this date in glyph 3 is the number 3 kins, 6 

 uinals, or 6.3. This looks so much like a Secondary Series that we 

 are justified in treating it as such until it proves to be otherwise. As 

 the record stands, it seems probable that if we count tliis number 

 6.3 in glyph 3 forward from the date 2 Caban 10 Xul in glyphs 1 and 

 2, the terminal date reached will be the date recorded m glyplis 4 

 and 5; that is, the next date following the nimaber. Reducing 6,3 

 to units of the first order, we have: 



Glyph 6 = 6X20 = 120 

 Glyph 6 = 3 X 1= 3 



123 



Counting this number forward from 2 Caban 10 Xul accordmg to the 

 ndes which apply in such cases, the terminal day reached will be 

 8 Ahau 13 Ceh, exactly the date which is recorded in glyphs 4 and 5. 

 But tliis latter date, we have just seen, is declared by the text to have 

 closed Cycle 9, and therefore corresponded with the Initial Series 

 9.0.0.0.0 8 Ahau 13 Ceh. Hence, from this knowni Initial Series we 

 may calculate the Initial Series of the date 2 Caban 10 Xul by sub- 

 tracting from 9.0.0.0.0 the number 6.3, by which the date 2 Caban 



10 Xul precedes the date 9.0.0.0.0 8 Ahau 13 Ceh: 



9. 0. 0. 0. 8 Ahau 13 Ceh 



6. 3 

 8.19.19.11.17 2 Caban 10 Xul 



This latter date fell m Cycle 8, as its Initial Series indicates. It is 

 quite possible, as stated above, that this date may have referred to 

 some actual historic event in the amials of Palenque, or at least of 



' See Maudslay, 1889-1902: iv, pi. 77, glyphs P14-R2. Glyphs Q1.5-P17 are omitted from pi. 22, G, as 

 they appear to be uncalendrical. 



