thomas.j ROSNY ON TABLEAU DES BACAB. 9 



cripy, besides, the place which is necessary to themiii the arrangement (orientation), 



V> wit: 



West. 



~ z 



- z. 



z — 



East. 



I have said, moreover, in my Essay, that certain characteristic symbols of tl e gods 

 of the four cardinal points (the Bacab) are found placed beside the katounic groups, 

 which occcpy me at this moment, in a manner which gives a new confirmation of my 

 interpretation. 



On Plates 23, 24, 25, and 26 of the Coda Coriesianus, where the same groups and symbols 

 are seen reproduced of which I have just spoken, the hierogrammat has drawn four 

 figures identical in shape and dress. These four figures represent the " godof the long 

 nose.' Beside the first, who holds in his hand a flaming torch, appears a series of katon- 

 nes, at the head of which is the sign Kan (symbol of the south), and above, a defaced 

 group. Beside the second, who holds a flaming torch inverted, is the sign Muluc 

 (symbol of the east), and above, the group which I have interpreted as east. At the 

 side of the third, who carries in the left hand the burning torch inverted and a scep- 

 ter (symbol of Bacabs), is the sigu Ix (symbol of the north), and above, the group 

 which I have translated as north. Finally, beside the fourth, who carries in his left 

 hand the flaming torch inverted and a hatchet iu the right hand, is the sign Cauac 

 (symbol of the west), and above, not the entire group, which I have translated as 

 west, but the first sigu of this group, and also an animal characteristic of the Occi- 

 dent, which has been identified with the armadillo. I have some doubts upon the 

 subject of this animal, but its affinity with the qualification of the west appears to 

 me at least very probable. 



We see from this quotation that Bosny was uuable to give am ex- 

 planation of the day characters, dots, and L-shaped symbols in the 

 outer space ; also that he was uuable to suggest any reason for the pe- 

 culiar arrangement of the day symbols in the intermediate circle or quad- 

 rilateral. His suggestions are limited to the four- characters placed 

 opposite the four sides, and which, he believes, and I think correctly, to 

 be the symbols of the four cardinal points. Whether his conclusion as 

 to the points they respectively refer to be correct or not, is one of the 

 questions I propose to discuss in this paper. But before entering upon 

 this, the most important question regarding the plate, I desire first to 

 offer what I believe will be admitted to be a correct explanation of the 

 object and uses of the day symbols, dots, &c, in the outer space, and the 

 intermediate circle of day characters. 



If we examine carefully the day characters and large black dots iu 

 the outer space we shall find that all taken together really form but one 

 continuous line, making one outward and two inward bends or loops at 

 each corner. 



For example, commeuciug with Cauac (No. 31) (see scheme of the 

 plate, Fig. 2), on the right side, and running upward toward the top 

 along the row of dots next the right-hand margin, we reach the charac- 

 ter Chuen (No, 32\ ; just above is Eb (No. 33) ; then running inward to- 

 ward the center, along the row of dots to Kan (No. 34) ; then upward 

 to Ckicchan (No. 35) ; then outward along the row of dots toward the 



