PREFACE. V 



questioned. But after seriously considering this point, 1 concluded it best 

 to give to the world the result of my investigations with these explanations, 

 as I felt confident I had made some progress in deciphering this mysterious 

 Manuscript. 



I take this opportunity of acknowledging the obligations I am under 

 to Dr. D. G. Brinton, of Philadelphia, for the valuable notice of the Maya 

 Manuscripts which he has contributed as an introduction to my paper. 



RESULTS OE MY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE MANUSCRIPT TROANO. 



These may be briefly summed up as follows: 



1st. That the work was intended chiefly as a ritual or religious calen- 

 dar to guide the priests in the observance of religious festivals, and their 

 numerous ceremonies and other duties. That the very large number of 

 day columns and numerals, which form fully one-half of what may be 

 called the written portion, are simply dates which appear to run through 

 one entire grand cycle of 312 years, fixing the time when festivals should 

 be held and other religious observances take place. Also that much of the 

 text proper — the portion in hieroglyphics or written characters — is purely 

 ritualistic, consisting of very simple formulas. 



2d. That the figui-es in the spaces are in some cases symbolical, in 

 others simple pictographs, and, in quite a number, refer to religious ceremo- 

 nies, but that in many instances they relate to the habits, customs, and oc- 

 cupations of the people — as, for example, their method of capturing game, 

 which, as appears from this work, was as stated by Herrera, chiefly by "gins 

 and traps" — and the incidents of the chase; that which relates to the busi- 

 ness of the apiarists; making ropes; the manufacture of idols; agricultural 

 pursuits; occupation and duties of the females, &c. But even here we see 

 the religious element pervading everything. 



3d. That the work appertained to and was prepared for a people liv- 

 ing in the interior of the country, away from the sea-shore. This is inferred 

 fiom the fact that nothing is found in it relating to fishermen, or their vessels. 



