58 A STUDY OF THE MANUSCRIPT TEOANO. 



On the title-page and on Plates XX-XXIII (see Plates I-IV) are cer- 



• *» * 



tain red semicircular or crescent-shaped figures like this \^^^S, which we 



have good reasons for believing served as characters to denote one of the 

 Maya periods, either the Ahau, Cycle, Indication, or part of the grand cycle. 

 This isthe proper place to discuss their signification; but as this can be done 

 more satisfactorily after we have learned what we can in reference to the 

 figures given on these plates and the subjects to which they relate, I will 

 now proceed to give such interpretations of the figures and characters on 

 them as I believe are waranted by the discoveries I have made. 



