142 A STUDY OF THE MANUSCRIPT TROANO. 



contain the main elements of c; Cinii (Kimi) those of k; in Poj) or Poop 

 (Poob) we see the character for b; in Zac, both 2 and cu; in Cwnhu, cu and 

 some elements of m; in Kayeb, k; &c. 



Comparing the days and months with each other, we can occasionally 

 detect similar elements where there are similar sounds. In both Chicchan 

 and Pax we see the interlacing, or cross-hatching, and in both the sound 

 ch: in Manik and Men the three parallel strokes, possibly m or n; we also 

 observe similar strokes in Ymix. 



After we have carried this comparison to its utmost extent the number 

 of cases where we find such resemblances in form where there is a similarity 

 in sound are so few, compared with those in which we do not, that we are 

 forced to abandon, at least to a great extent, the attempt to decipher the 

 writings of the Manuscript by the use of these letter characters upon the 

 theorjr that they are phonetic. I say "to a great extent," because, as we 

 have seen, there is some evidence that phonetic elements were introduced 

 to a limited degree. 



I may be permitted to remark in this connection that in all the attempts 

 to decipher these documents which have thus far been made, one very 

 essential part of Landa's statement has been too lightly passed over, and 

 not sufficiently considered. Speaking of the Maya writing, he says: "The 

 people made use of certain characters or letters with which they wrote down 

 in their books their ancient affairs and their sciences, and l)y means 

 of these and by certain figures, and by particular signs in these figures, 

 they understood their affairs, made others understand them, and taught 

 them.'" 



It is evident, as I think, from this language that Landa does not wish 

 to convey the idea that the native writing had reached such a degree of per- 

 fection that by means of phonetic characters alone — or, in other words, 

 writing in the true sense— they could record historical facts and communi- 

 cate with each other. And his attempt to give the characters for their letter 

 sounds is, to a certain extent, a contradiction of his own statement. He has 

 undertaken to pick out of their compound or syllabic characters the letter 



' "Usavan tambiuii esta gcnte do cierlos carateres o letras coii las quales cscriviau eii sua libros 

 sns cosas antiguas, y bus sciencias, y con ellas, y lignras, y algunas penales en las fignras euteuflian sns 

 cosas, y las davan a enteuder y ensenavau. Landa, Rdacioii dc Cosas, p. 310. 



