THOMAS] LENGTH OF TBE AHUA OK KATUN. 31 



Thii-d. Additional proof to the same eflfect I think is also to be derived 

 from a symbolical figure in the Manuscript itself The most notable figure 

 in the upper compartment of Plate XXIII (our Plate IV) is the blue one in 

 the upper left-hand corner on a black background surrounded by a white 

 border, the latter crossed by dotted rays, each ray terminating with a little 

 ring; a dagger is piercing the eye of the blue sitting figure. If we count 

 these clubbed rays we shall find there are twenty-three of them,- but exactly 

 where the dagger crosses the border there is room for one more According 

 to my interpretation the whole of this figure taken together is a symbol of 

 the Katun or Ahau, the inner blue figure probably denoting the year.^ If 

 I am correct in this interpretation, then we have here positive evidence that 

 Perez was right in holding that the Ahau consisted of twenty-four years. 

 Tlie whole figure is therefore intended to indicate the close of an Ahau; — 

 when one more year lias expired the light of another Ahau will be forever 

 extinguished and the new one will begin its course. 



We find, as I think, something .similar to this method of marking the 

 missing year on Plates Tf) and 76 of the Borgiau Codex. These two plates, 

 which are evidently parts of one picture, 76 being the upper and 75 the 

 lower part, are symbolic representations of periods of time. The figures 

 around the central circle of 76 are probably intended to represent the 

 marching years. There are only twelve of them, but in the pathway at the 

 bottom we see the footsteps of one that has passed on. At the four corners 

 outside the circle we see the four "year-bearers."^ 



On Plate 75 the chief figure is that of Kingsborough's supposed cruci- 

 fied Quetzalcoatl; on the body is a large sun or circular disk with seven 

 points, but in the lower margin, where there is the proper space for another, 

 the circle is pierced by the obsidian knife of the priest who holds the with- 

 drawn heart in his hand. Around the figure are similar but smaller disks; 

 counting these we find there are eight, the exact number of points required 

 to complete the central disk, and the number of periods (Indications) in an 

 age. Possibly other periods are intended, as I have not studied the Mexican 

 Calendar with sufficient care to express any decided opinion on this point; 



'Foitimately, the correctuess of this supposition, which I mentioned in au article in the Ameri- 

 can Naturalist for August, 1881, has since been verified by Dr. D. G. Brinton — "The Books of Chilan 

 Bahim," p. 15. 



^ Not those usually given, but those evidently used for this purpose in this .Tnd other codices. 



