THOMAS.] EXPLANATION OF THE TABLEAU DES BACAB. 15 



But I must request the reader to refer to that work for an explana- 

 tion of the method of using it. 



By using the different columns in this table, viz, the Cauac column, 

 the Kan column, the Muluc column, and the Ix column, in the same 

 way as we have that of the previous Table No. I, we shall find that the 

 plate is intended to apply in the same way to each of the four years. 6 

 A further correspondence will also be found in the fact that the thirteen 

 figure columns of our table just complete the circuit of the plate, and that 

 for the other months (or rather weeks) we commence again at the first, 

 just as the table. 



For the Kan years we commence on our scheme (Fig. 2) or the plate 

 (No. II) at Kan No. 1, at the top, and moving around to the left, as 

 shown, we end the thirteenth column of the calendar (13 Akbal) with 

 Akbal No. 40. For the Muluc years we commence with Muluc No. 11, 

 of the left side of the scheme, and end with Lainat No. 10. For the Ix 

 years we begin with Ix No. 21, at the bottom, and end with Been No. 20. 

 For the Cauac years we begin with Cauac No. 31, at the right side, ami 

 end with Ezanab No. 30. 



By following this plan we will find that the characters and numerals 

 in the plate agree in every case with the names aud numbers of the 

 days in the table, showing that I have properly interpreted this part of 

 the plate. It is impossible that there should be such exact agreement 

 if I were wrong in my interpretation. 



This, it seems to me, will show beyond controversy the respective 

 quarters to which the different years are assigned in the plate — Kan 

 to the top, where this year begins ; Muluc to the left ; Ix to the bottom, 

 aud Cauac to the right hand ; and, as a consequence, that the top is 

 the east; left, north ; bottom, west, and right hand, south. But this is 

 a point to be discussed hereafter. 



Our next step is to ascertain the object in view in placing the twenty- 

 day characters around the inner space in the order we find them. Here 

 I confess we shall encounter greater difficulty in arriving at a satisfac- 

 tory explanation ; still, I think we shall be able to show one object in 

 view in this singular arrangement, although we fall short of a complete 

 interpretation. 



If we commence with Ymix, in the upper line of the quadrilateral, 

 and move around it to the left, as heretofore, noting the days in each 

 side in the order they come on the plate, we find them to be as follows: 



In the top line: Ymix, Chicchan, Muluc, Been, Eb. 



Left column : Cimi, Ik, Oc, Ix, Ezanab. 



Bottom line : Akbal, Mauik, Chuen, Men, Cauac. 



Bight column (upward) : Kan, Lamat, Caban, Ahau, Cib. 



Now let us take the twenty days, in the order they stand in the cal- 



6 It is worthy of note that the numerals ou the plate apply only to the yeare 1 Cauac, 

 1 Kan. 1 Muluc, and 1 Ix.the first years of an Indication or week of years. 



