26 A STUDY OF THE MANUSCRIPT TKOANO. 



Kan. If we use the red 3 and the bLack 6 tlie result will be as shown in 

 the group surrounded on the table by the dotted line. As the reader is 

 perhaps by this time aware, it might be located below the first by extending 

 the table, but still would give us no clue to the proper position of the 

 Ahaues. 



There are two other possible suppositions, to wit : that the red numeral 

 over the column refers to the number of the Ahau, and that in the space to 

 the number of the days; and, second, just the reverse of this, that the red 

 number in the space refers to the Ahau and that over the column to the 

 number of the days, the black one in each case denoting' the number of the 

 month. 



As it will be impossible for us to decide in reference to these supposi- 

 tions until we can locate the Ahaues and determine their numbers, I will 

 postpone further discussion of the point for the present, proceeding for the 

 time being upon the only plan so far found consistent with what is known 

 of the Maya calendar. 



As heretofore stated, the greater number of the day columns contain 

 just five characters. Why this number"? If we use the numerals as shown 

 by the above examples, this will give' us for each red numeral twenty years, 

 agreeing with the number counted to the Ahau, whether we follow most 

 authorities or Perez; for, according to the latter, who holds that there are 

 twenty four years in this period, only twenty are usually "counted"; four 

 being generally omitted as unlucky, or for some other reason. That some- 

 thing of this kind, arising from the system itself, was the cause of placing 

 five days in so many columns is more than probable. If I am correct in 

 this supposition, it not only agrees with the method of using the numerals 

 above suggested, but it will also determine the 3-ears that form the different 

 Ahaues. 



Following up this suggestion, let us see if it is possible to determine 

 from the Manuscript the length of the Aliau as understood by the author. 



As the most likely method of deciding this question, I will select a 

 number of the day columns, find from them the years indicated according to 

 the plan heretofore given, and locate them in tables of years. We can then 

 see what relation they bear to each other. 



