INTEODUCTION. XXxiii 



the leaves of the maguey plant, such as that in common use in Mexico. In 

 Maya the maguey is called ci, the varieties being distinguished by various 

 prefixes. It grows luxuriantly in most parts of Yucatan, and although the 

 favorite tipple of the ancient inhabitants was mead, they were not unac- 

 quainted with the intoxicating ^M^^we, the liquor from the maguey, if we can 

 judge from their word for a drunkard, ci-vinic (vinic = man). The old writers 

 were probably in error when they spoke of the books being made of the 

 barks of trees; or, at least, they were not all of that kind. 



The above-mentioned three Manuscripts are the only ones which have 

 been published. I shall not enumerate those which exist in private hands. 

 So long as they are withheld from the examination of scientific men they 

 can add nothing to the general stock of knowledge, and as statements about 

 them are not verifiable it is useless to make any. I may merely say that 

 there are two in Europe and two or three in Mexico, which, from the 

 descriptions I have heard or read of them, I think are probably of Maya 

 origin. 



In addition to the Manuscripts, we have the mural paintings and 

 inscriptions found at Palenque, Copan, Chichen Itza, and various ruined 

 cities within the boundaries of tlie Maya-speaking races. There is no mis- 

 taking these inscriptions. They are unquestionably of the same character 

 as the Manuscripts, although it is also easy to perceive variations, which are 

 partly owing to the necessary differences in technique between painting and 

 sculpture ; partly, no doubt, to the separation of age and time. 



Photographs and "squeezes" have reproduced many of these inscrip- 

 tions with entire fidelity. We can also depend upon the accurate pencil of 

 Catherwood, whose delineations have never been equalled. But the pictures 

 of Waldeck and some other travelers do not deserve any confidence, and 

 should not be quoted in a discussion of the subject. 



Both in the inscriptions, manuscripts, and paintings the forms of the 

 letters are rounded, and a row of them presents the outlines of a number of 

 pebbles cut in two. Hence the system of writing has been called " cal- 

 culiform," from calculus, a pebble. The expression has been criticised, 

 but I agree with Dr. Forstemann in thinking it a very appropriate one. It 

 was suggested, I believe, by the Abbe' Brasseur (de Bourbourg). 



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