96 



A STUDY OF THE MANUSCEIPT TROANO. 



couches or seats found in the ruins of Yucatan^ as to induce us to believe 

 that tliey have the same signification in both phxces, or that the figure in 

 our i^hxte refers to that which was represented in the older sculptures and 



paintings. The peculiarity in the figure 

 of our plate is that the personage seated 

 on the couch is here symbolized by a 

 deer's head, and that on the cheek of the 

 right head there is one of the death sym- 

 bols. Is the deer's head here a symbol 

 of tlie personage represented as seated 

 on the couch in the sculptured tablet of 

 the Palenque palace, and the Beau Re- 

 lief in stucco? We have no means by 

 which to determine this, but it is my 

 opinion it is. 



I suggest, as a possible explanation, 

 ^'*^'- !•'• that this singular head-dress is a symbol 



used to denote the peninsula of Yucatan, or, rather, Efel-ceh, the name by 

 which it was known in ancient times. Ceh, as is well known, is the Maya 

 word for "deer." Etel signifies "companion," and Etelet, from "hand to 

 hand" or "side to side." Hence it may be intended as a symbol of dominion. 

 This, I am aware, is a somewhat visionary guess, and I give it as 

 such; still it is not impossible that it is substantially correct. 



On the jaw of the head, looking to the right, is an imperfect diaracter, 

 which, from evidence found elsewhere in the Manuscript, I am satisfied is a 

 variant of Cimi. 



We find that the same deity represented in the second division of Plate 

 VII assumes a different form. The scene appears to be an open, grassy 

 prairie, leading- us to infer that here the javelin is being hurled at game, 

 although none is figured. 



In the lower division of Plate VII, and extending into the margin of 

 VIII, is a series of five similar blue figures, each seated on a large charac- 

 ter like the one here shown. 



'Bancroft's Native Races, vol. iv, pages ;U7, 318, and 329 ; Stephens's Yucatiin, vol ii, page 182; 

 Waldeck, plate xvii; Diipaix, plate xxvi (Plate 20, Kingsbury, iv). 



