thomas. I CALENDAR WHEEL OF CHILAN BALAM. 59 



where the erased characters are restored, we note the following facts, 

 and then with some general remarks conclude our paper, as we have no 

 intention of entering upon a general discussion of the Mexican Calendar, 

 which would be necessary if we undertook to explain fully even the 

 plates of the codices we have referred to. 



As before remarked, the Cortesian plate is arranged upon the same 

 plan as that of the Fejervary Codex, evidently based upon the same 

 theory and intended for the same purpose. In the latter the four year 

 symbols are placed in the outer looped line at the four corners, and so 

 distinguished as to justify us in believiug they mark their respective 

 quadrants. In the former we find the four Maya year-bearers, Cauac, 

 Kan, Muluc, Ix, in corresponding positions, each distinguished by the 

 numeral character fori (see 31, 1, 11, and 21 in our scheme, Fig. 2), the 

 first, or the right, corresponding with the green loop and the year 

 Tochtli; the second, at the top, corresponding with the red loop and 

 the year Acatl ; the third, at the left, corresponding with the yellow 

 loop and the year Tecpatl, and the fourth, at the bottom, corresponding 

 with the blue loop and the year Calli. This brings Cauac to the south, 

 Kan to the east, Muluc to the north, and Ix to the west, and the cor- 

 respondence is complete, except as to the colors, which, as we have 

 seen, cannot possibly be brought into harmony. This view is further 

 sustained by the fact that the god of death is found on the right of each 

 plate, not for the purpose of indicating the supposed abode of the dead, 

 but to mark the point at which the cycles close, which is more fully ex- 

 pressed in the Cortesian j>late by piercing or dividing the body of a 

 victim with a flint knife* 9 marked with the symbol of Ezanab (the last 

 day of the Ix years; and the symbol of Ymix, with which, in some way 

 not yet understood, the counting of the cycles began. 



In the quotation already made from Sahagun we find the following 

 statement : " Tecpatl, which is the figure of a flint, was dedicated to 

 Mictlampa, nearly towards hell, because they believed that the dead 

 went towards the north. For which reason, in the superstition which 

 represented the dead as covered with mantas (cloths) and their bodies 

 bound, they made them sit with their faces turned toward the north or 

 Mictlampa." 



Although he is referring to Mexican customs, yet it is worthy of note 

 that in tbis Cortesian plate there is a sitting mummied figure, bound 

 with cords, iu the left space, which, according to my interpretation, is 

 at the north side. 



Since the foregoing was written I have received from Dr. D. G. Brin 



49 Dr. Brinton, "The Maya Chronicles," p. 53, informs us that "the division of the 

 katuns was on the principle of the Belran system of numeration, as xel u ea katun, 

 'thirty years ; ' xelu yox katun, ' fifty years.' Literally these expressions are, 'dividing 

 the second katun,' 'dividing the third katun,' xel meaniug to cut in pieces, to divide 

 as with a knife." This appears to be the idea intended in the figure of the Cortesian 

 plate. 



