THOMAS.) INTERPEETATION OF CHAEACTERS. 147 



of maize is ^ccMff/j (according to Perez), or j^pecuali (according to Brasseur). 

 May we not, therefore, with strong probabiHty of being correct, interpret 

 this cliaracter as above given — "five tortillas of maize"— supposing it to 

 refer to an offering? If so, then we have three characters, denoting the 

 three words ppcc or jiec, Pax, and loccuah or ppecuali, in which the double 

 bars occur, wliich doubtless represent the labial element p, or pp, if they are 

 phonetic. It is worthy of notice, in this connection, that pacach, according 

 to Perez, also signifies "a tortilla of maize," and palMch, "to make tor- 

 tillas of maize." It is probable, therefore, ihai pecuah, when spoken, termi- 

 nated with the sound of ch. 



Turning to Plate XXXI, first and second divisions, where the method 

 of planting maize is indicated, we find this character (Fig. 65) forming a 

 part of the head-dress worn. As I have already suggested, ^^jt 

 'this is probably the hieroglyph for the Maya ppoc, "hat" j,!^^ 

 Fig. 65. or " head-covering." 



Assuming that I am correct in these interpretations, we have then the 

 characters for four \\ovAs,^ppec or i^ec, Par, pccuah or ppecuah, and ppwc — 

 in which the two perpendicular bars occur, which, in all probability, 

 represent the labial element p or pp, if tliey are phonetic. The typical 

 form of the whole character probably represents the syllable p^c or p'ch. 



Fig. 66 represents the interlaced or cross-hatched character. 



The character for Chicchan, as given by Landa, is represented in Fig. 67. 

 In the Manuscript it is most frequently of the form shov/n in Fig. 68. 



1^^ These, as will be seen, consist of two parts, the check- 

 %^m ered portion and the loops or blocks, and the word of 

 Fig. G7. two principiil phonetic elements, ch and n. vi 



Referring again to the symbol for Pax (or Pasli, as the Maya x has the 

 sound of sh, or ch, in machine), we see that the checkered portion is at the 

 left, while in that for Chicchan it is at the right. As ch is the only phonetic 

 element common to both words, and the cross-hatching the only portion 

 common to both figures, we may assume as probable that this character 

 represents the hissing, or ch, sound of the two words. Turning now to the 

 Maya lexicon, we find that chichan signifies "little," "slender," "thin," &c.; 

 tzi, which has a slightly harder hissing sound, signifies "anything that is 



G8. 



