108 A STUDY OF THE MANUSCRIPT TROANO. 



figures and vegetable sprouts upon it do not agree with this interpretation. 

 Still I believe it to be the idea intended. 



Plates XXI X-XX XIII appear to relate entirely to agricultural pur- 

 uits, especially to the cultivation of maize, cacao, some vine, and possibly, 

 cotton. 



In this connection I would call special attention to the first (top) and 

 second divisions of Plates XXX and XXXI, and the two Tlaloc figures in 

 the lower division of XXXIIl In these we undoubtedly have the planting 

 of seed, most likely corn, represented. The number of gi-ains deposited in 

 a place appears usually to be five, but occasionally six seem to be dropped. 

 The opening or hole in the soil is made with a pointed wooden stick, always 

 more or less bent or curved in the figures. According to Landathe custom 

 of the native farmers was to make holes at regular intervals, and in each 

 deposit "five or six grains" of maize. The number appears to be indicated 

 in the plates, not only by the figures of balls dropped, but also by the spread 

 fingers with knobs at the tips, showing that five was the established number. 

 As further evidence of the correctness of this interpretation, the individuals 

 represented on Plates XXX and XXXI, as engaged in this work, have their 

 heads covered with a kind of matting or straw hat, indicating that they are 

 in the sun, where the head needs protection. The character in this head- 

 gear, as Avill hereafter be shown, probably signifies j^^oc, "a hat" or "head- 

 covering." 



The similar operation repi-esented in the lower division of Plate 

 XXXIIl, where Tlaloc, or a priest attired as this deity, is the planter, 

 probably refers to the seed of some other plant, possibly the gourd or bean, 

 or the leguminous plant figured in the second division of the same plate. 



As I have expressed a belief that the figures with a two-colored face 

 are given to represent Zamna, or Itzannia, one of the chief Maya deities 

 or culture heroes, I will give here in part my reasons for this opinion. 



First. As has been heretofore intimated, and as will hereafter be more 

 fully shown, the Imix and Kan symbols are undoubtedly often used to 

 denote bread and maize, and the word, or name, Itzamna has as its primary 

 signification seed from which plants issue, the chief reference being to 

 maize. 



