268 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 57 



Series. Compare the day sign and month sign of this date with 

 figures 17, c' , d' , and 20, x, y, respectively. This second Initial 

 Series in plate 31 therefore reads 9.9.9.16.0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab. In 

 connection M-ith the first of these two Initial Series, 9.9.16.0.0 4 Ahau 

 8 Cumhu, there is recorded a Secondary Series. This consists of 6 

 tuns, 2 uinals, and kins (6.2.0) and is recorded just to the left of 

 the first Initial Series from which it is counted, that is, in the left- 

 hand column. 



It was explained on pages 136-137 that the almost universal direc- 

 tion of counting was forward, but that when the count was backward 

 in the codices, this fact was indicated by a special sign or symbol, 

 which gave to the number it modified the significance of ''backward " 

 or "minus." This sign is showm in figure 64, and, as explained on 

 page 137, it usually is attached only to the lowest period. Returning 

 once more to our text, in plate 31 we see this "backward" sign — a 

 red circle surmounted by a knot — surrounding the kins of this 

 Second ar3"-series number 6.2.0, and we are to conclude, therefore, 

 that this number is to be counted backward from some date. 



Counting it backward from the date which stands nearest it in our 

 text, 4 Ahau 8 Cumhu, the date reached will be 1 Ahau 18 Kayab. 

 But since the date 4 Ahau 8 Cumhu is stated in the text to have corre- 

 sponded with the Initial-series value 9.9.16.0.0, by deducting 6.2.0 

 from this number we may work out the Initial-series value for this 

 date as follows: 



9.9.16. 0.0 4 Ahau 8 Cumhu 

 6. 2.0 Backward 



9.9. 9.16.0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab 



The accuracy of this last calculation is established by the fact that 

 the Initial-series value 9.9.9.16.0 is recorded as the second Initial 

 Series on the page above described, and corresponds to the date 1 

 Ahau 18 Kayab as here. 



It is diflicult to say why the terminal dates of these two Initial 

 Series and this Secondary Series should have been recorded to the 

 left of the numbers leading to them, and not just helow the numbers 

 in each case. The only explanation the writer can ofi'er is that the 

 ancient scribe wished to have the starting point of his Secondar}'- 

 series number, 4 Ahau 8 Cumhu, recorded as near that number as 

 possible, that is, just below it, and consequently the Initial Series 

 leading to this date had to stand to the right. This caused a dis- 

 placement of the corresponding terminal date of his Secondary 

 Series, 1 Ahau 18 Kayab, which was written under the Initial Series 

 9.9.16.0.0; and since the Initial-series value of 1 Ahau 18 Kayab also 

 appears to the right of 9.9.16.0.0 as 9.9.9.16.0, this causes a displace- 

 ment in its terminal date likewise. 



