98 



A STUDY OF THE MANUSCRIPT TROANO. 



passing over steps on these, and, tilting them, falls in. I introduce here a 

 figure of this pitfall, an exact copy of that on the plate. We here see the 

 method of joining the ends of beams together. 



A similar figure, but on a smaller scale, is given on Plate XXII*. The 



crosses on the ends of the 

 beams ai-e parts of the char- 

 acter so often found on 

 wooden articles. This is 

 evident from the fact that 

 the full character is found 

 on the ends of the cross- 

 beams in the figure on Plate 

 XXII*. The probable sig- 

 FiG. 15.— Pitfall and armadillo. nification will be gi veu here- 



after, in the chapter relating to the written characters. 



In the third space of this plate, and also in the second and third spaces 

 of Plate XIII, there is an outline figure of a scoi'pion, and in each case the 

 claw at the end of the tail grasps a cord to which a deer, rabbit, or fox is 

 attached. I confess my inability to interpret these figures.^ 



In the left portion of the upper division of Plate X" is a broad trans- 

 verse line containing characters similar to those in the line between the 

 divisions of Plates XX-XXIII. The left-hand character (of the three) 

 bears a strong resemblance to the symbol of the Mexican day OUin, or 

 "Earthquake," but here possibly represents the Maya day Ezanab, and 

 the middle one, Been. The character to the right is the "death symbol," 

 or symbol of the day Cimi. The red and blue scrolls which are attached to 

 and hang below this .line probably denote the supposed character of two 

 diff'erent 3'ears or days, so far as they relate to the chase. It is a fact 

 worthy of notice that on these six plates there are just eujliteen of these 

 captured animals, or one for each month of the year. We can readily 

 understand why the festivals or religious observances denoted by these 

 figures and the day and numeral characters are so numerous and occupy 



' Sr. Melgar ( C'om^j. View, ijc) suggests that it denotes the zodiacal s\^n Scorpio, aud hence autumn. 

 But such a supposition woukl imply a knowledge of Oriental astronomy not warranted. 

 2 See Fig. 97. 



