THOMAB] EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS AND CHARACTERS. 145 



sometimes at least, che, "wood" in a general sense, or some particular kind 

 of wood. 



As the character shown in Fig. 56 is placed on spear-heads, evidently 

 for the purpose of indicating the substance of which they are composed, or 

 the character of the substance, it must signify "silex," 

 or hardness, as contrasted with the wood or material of />*«^^^H 

 I'iG. 56. which the shaft was composed. Whether Esanab was l^^^O 

 the Maya word denoted, is not certain. Fig. 57. 



Fig. 57 is found but once in the Manuscript — in the upper division of 

 Plate IX. As it is above the figure of an armadillo, I presume it is the 

 symbol used to denote that animal, and hence that it is not phonetic. 



Fig. 58 is on the neck of most of the vases figured in the work. 



C „ LQU ;> Although very common in the written portion as 



Fig. 58. a prefix or suffix to other characters — as shown f^ U©*^/ 

 in Fig. 59, where it is probably used as a pronoun or article — BL^ w'i li ^i 

 when found on these vessels I take for granted that it is the fig. .'•.9. 

 hieroglj'ph for u, the Maya word for "vase," as also for "month" and cer- 

 tain pronouns. 



Using these, together with the day and month characters as a key, I 

 will proceed to discuss the nature of the written characters, in order to 

 decide, if possible, whether they are phonetic, and, if so, to what extent. 

 That some of them are but symbols, as, for example, that shown in Fig. 

 57, cannot be doubted. It is also quite probable, as will appear in the 

 course of our discussion, that a few are simple pictographs. 



As the one shown in Fig. 50 is, in one form or another, of frequent 

 occurrence in both works, let us compai-e these on the supjiosition that they 

 are in some degree phonetic, and see what the result will be. 



Comparing witli Landa's character for the month o^ 

 Pax (Fig. GO), we observe here the two broad pei-pen- 

 FiG. 60. dicular bars, but in addition thereto three little rings, *'**• ^^• 

 or ovals, at the bottom, and a cross-hatched appendage at the left. The 

 bars, it is true, are not solid here, but, as will be presently seen, this diff'er- 

 ence does not appear to indicate a difi'erence in the signification. 

 10 M T 



