tbomab.1 ASSIGNMENT OF COLORS TO THE CARDINAL POINTS. 4t 



of the fourth black, it has been assumed, and, I think, correctly, that 

 these colors were usually referred to these days, or rather to the cardi- 

 nal points indicated, respectively, by these day symbols. If there is 

 any other authority for this conclusion in the works of the earlier writers, 

 I have so far been unable to find it. 



If the figures in our plate are properly and distinctly colored in the 

 original Codex Cortesianus, this might form one aid in settling this 

 point, but, as we shall hereafter see, the colors really afford very little 

 assistance, as they are varied for different purposes. 



Eosny gives us no information on this point, hence our discussion 

 must proceed without this knowledge, as we have no opportunity of re- 

 ferring to the original. I may remark that it is the opinion of the artist, 

 Mr. Holmes, from an inspection of the photograph, that the plate was 

 at least partially colored. 



M. de Charencey, who has studied with much care the custom of identi- 

 fying colors with the cardinal poiuts in both the New aud Old World, be- 

 lieves that in Mexico and Central America the original system was to 

 refer yellow to the east, black to the north, white to the west, and red 

 to the south. 25 



When we turn to the Mexican system we find the data greatly in- 

 creased, but, unfortunately, the difficulties and confusion are increased 

 in like proportion. Here we have not only the four dominical days and 

 the four colors, but also the four ages, four elements, and four seasons, 

 all bearing some relation in this system to the four cardinal points. 

 It will be necessary, therefore, for us to carry along with us these sev- 

 eral ideas in our attempt to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion on this 

 complicated and mystified subject. 



Before referring to the codices I will present the conclusions of the 

 principal authorities who have devoted any attention to this question. 

 Sahagun says, " The names that they gave to the four parts of the 

 earth are these: Vitzlampa, the south; Tlapcopcopa, the east; Mict- 

 lampa, the north; Coatlampa, the west. The names of the figures 

 dedicated to these parts are these : Tochtli, the rabbit, was dedicated 

 to Vitzlampi, the south ; Acatl, the cane, to the east ; Tecpatl, the flint, to 

 the north ; Calli, the house, to the west ; * * * * and at the end of 

 fifty-two years the count came back to Ceiochtliacatl, which is the figure 

 of the reed, dedicated to the east, which they called Tlapcopcopa and 27a- 

 vilcopa, nearly towards the fire or the sun. Tecpatl, which is the figure 

 of a flint, was dedicated to Mictlampa, nearly towards hell, because 



16 Des couUurs consideres comme Symboles des Points de VHorizon chez des Peuples da Xo- 

 veau Monde, in Actes de la Societe Philologique, tome VI. See also his Rechercltes sto- 

 les Xoms des Points de VEspace, in Mem. Acad. Nat. Sci. et Arts et Belles Lettres de Caen, 

 1882. 



Since the above was written I have received a copy of his Ages ou Soleils, in which 

 he gives the Mexican custom of assigning the colors as follows: blue to the south, 

 red to the east, yellow to the north, and green to the west. — P. 40. 



