Ti'o.MA6.i MEANING OF THE KAN SYMBOLS. 89 



in the upper is surrounded by a heavy black border, while in the lower a 

 black bird appears to be in the act of devouring a third, presented to it by 

 the white personage at the right. On Plate XX there are two in the similar 

 vessel in the lower division, and two connected with another character in 

 the upper. 



Turning to the Codex, we find the arrangement, so far as these charac- 

 ters are concerned, quite different. On Plate 25 we see but one, and that 

 in the middle division; on 26 one in the middle and two in the lower 

 division; on 27 two in the third or lowest division, with thfe figure of a 

 fish upon them; on 28 three in the middle, above the cross-bones. If the 

 vessels are to be considered as cinerary urns, figuratively holding the ashes 

 of the dead years, these Kan symbols must be in some way connected 

 therewith, but the numbers on the difi'erent ones cannot easily be made to 

 agi-ee with any of the periods of the calendar. Possibly they may simply 

 represent ears of maize or tortillas cast into these vessels. The fish placed 

 on those in the third division indicate, as I believe, that here they are 

 intended to represent corn or bread, for the position of the figure shows 

 that it is meant for one of the offerings made to the idol, which Landa says 

 consisted of "di'inks, dishes of food, meats, fish," &c. The vessel just above 

 this, in the same division, probably contains fruits or gourds (calabashes). 



If we suppose them to be time symbols, we may possibly find an 

 argument in favor of interpreting them years in the fact that on Plate 

 XXIII, where there are three in the vessel in the lower division, there is a 

 fourth one on the head of the personage at the riglit, who we have sup- 

 posed is the personage that represents the year. By counting this we have 

 the four years. The one withdrawn and placed upon the head of the image 

 represents (say) the Cauac year. This leaves three, as shown in the vessel. 

 In the lower division of Plate XXII there are but two, another having been 

 withdrawn to represent the Kan year. So far we meet with no obstacle to 

 our interpretation; but when we come to Plate XXI we find there are 

 three, and on Plate XX two, a fact which is difficult to explain on this 

 theory. 



Turning again to Plate XXII, we observe on the head of the individ- 

 ual at the right of the upper compartment two triangles. These remind 



