THOMAS] THE NINETEENTH DAY 259 
that the name “is an old or sacred form of the usual 2ni-nax, ‘knife.” 
The literal meaning of the Cakchiquel tihax is, according to Ximenes, 
“it bites, scraping” (muerde rasgando). Dr Seler, however, affirms 
that Ximenes (with what authority he knows not) gives “obsidian” as 
the meaning. He thinks the word is related to the root teuh, ‘¢eold”— 
tih-ih, ‘to be cold”—with which may be compared the words tic, ‘to 
stick in, prick ;” tiz, “to stitch,” and tiztic, pointed.” 
In regard to the Zapotec name, gopa, gopaa, or opa, the authors named 
differ quite widely, Dr Seler deriving it from rogopa, “ cold,” and Dr Brin- 
ton suggesting that it is more likely ‘‘a variant of guipa, a sharp point 
or edge, whence the word for stone knife, gueza-guipa, from guia, stone.” 
The Maya name, however, does not appear to be readily brought into 
harmony with the others. Dr Seler simply remarks that it may be 
related to the root e, ‘‘ firm, rigid, hard.” Pio Perez offers no explana- 
tion. Dr Brinton suggests that it is a figurative expression for the 
sacrificial knife, from nab, something anointed, or blood, and edz, to 
adjust, to point, to sharpen. 
There can be no question that the articles in the codices on which the 
trembling cross is found consists, in most instances, if not all, of stone. 
Heuce it is a reasonable conclusion that the primary signification of the 
symbol is stone. The Zotzil name for “flint” (pedernal) is zwiton. 
Tam inclined to believe that the symbol is derived from a convyen- 
tional form used for indicating stone or flint, probably from the cracks 
or fissures in it. 
Iam not prepared yet to discuss the somewhat similar figures which 
assume the form of the St Anthony cross. Various interpretations, as 
syinbol for “union,” “night sun,” etc, have been given. However, as 
this form is never used as a day symbol, it has no direct relation to the 
present discussion. 
THE NINETEENTH DAY 
Maya, cauac; Tzental, cahogh; Quiche-Cakchiquel, caok, cook; Zapotec, ape, appe, 
aape; Nahuatl, quiahuitl. 
The various forms of the symbol of this day are shown in plate LXV, 
37-48—that by Landa at 37; those of the Troano and Cortesian codices 
at 35-43, and those from the Dresden Codex at 45-47. The irregular 
form given at 44 is from Tro. 28d, and that at 48 from the Peresianus. 
This symbol is found quite frequently in combination with other char- 
acters, in some of which its phonetic value can be ascertained with 
reasonable certainty. For example, it forms the lower half of the sym- 
bol for the month Yax, as seen at LXIv, 12; also in the symbol for the 
month Zac (LXvI, 48). In both these instances its chief phonetic element 
appears to be the guttural sound k, or ks. The essential elements are 
also found frequently on objects which are undoubtedly of wood and 
where no reasonable explanation can be given except that it signifies 
“wood” in these places. For example, it is found on what appear to 
