THOMAS] EXPLANATION OF FIGUEES ON PLATE XXVIII. 107 



Plate XXVIII appears to relate somewhat to the same general subject 

 as the preceding group just described, but is not so directly connected with 

 them as they are with each other. It seems, in fact, to belong between this 

 group and the one which follows (in the order of the paging), and appar- 

 ently precedes the former. 



The chief objects of interest on this plate are the figures in the second 

 and lower division. The larger figures either represent two deities closely 

 allied and belonging to the same class, or are symbolic. As they are 

 frequently met with throughout the Manuscript I presume they are recog- 

 nized deities. In this place I think they represent the earth or soil, 

 which, parched and dry in consequence of a severe drought, are here 

 represented as looking up toward the heavens, as if supplicating rain upon 

 the planted and sprouting maize, the emblems of which they bear in their 

 hands. As will be noticed elsewhere, there are very strong reasons for 

 believing that the lower figure, and probably both, represent gods of death, 

 or that they ai-e symbols of death. This agrees very well with the explana- 

 tion I have suggested. The lower figure has in one hand the bread symbol, 

 in the other that of sprouting corn. In the hands of that of the second 

 division are smaller figures, bearing Kan characters, here doubtless used as 

 corn symbols. 



These smaller figures with the two-colored face, which will be found 

 frequently introduced on the next five plates, certainly represent something 

 of the utmost importance in, or bearing a close relation to, Maya agriculture. 



Without stopping just here to give my reasons for the belief, I venture 

 the opinion that they are here given as figures of the deity Zamna, or 

 Itzanma, but with the — as I presume generally understood — idea, or belief, 

 that Itzamna and maize were equivalents, or so closely related, that to figure 

 this deity in connection with agricultural subjects was equivalent to figuring 

 maize, or possibly seed in a broader sense. 



The blue, serpent-like figure with pui-ple mai-gin in the third division 

 of this plate (XXVIII) is possibly intended as the symbol of a floating 

 cloud. The chac in front, Tlaloc resting quietly on one of the curves, the 

 blue color and purple lining all correspond with this idea. But the Zamna 



