THOMAS.] 



THE PALENQUE TABLET. 



201 



As another example we select the two characters, S 1 and T 1, Avhich 

 are often found associated; as at U G, V 6; U 16, V 16; W 3, X 3; and 

 at W 17 and X 17, we find them in the same line, but always in the two 

 columns they should be, if the theory above advanced as to the order 

 in which the inscription is to be read be correct. If the first of these 

 two characters (which we may designate by m and n) should fall in the 

 riffht of the two associate columns, then the other should be one line lower 



in the left of the two columns, thus: 



Such we find to be the case 



by referring to T 7, S 8, to T 15, S 16, and V 1 1, U 12. But the evidence 

 does not stop here. By examining Dr. Rau's photograph of the right tablet, 

 we may extend this combination. We observe that S 6, our a, and T 6, 

 our b and c combined, are followed in S 7 by a character not heretofore 

 alluded to. This we will designate by d. Following these, at 

 T 7 is our m, at S 8 our n, and at T 8 Kan, as shown in the 

 annexed diagram 1. 



Commencing with V 13 we find the same combination, 

 except that one additional character is introduced thus: V 13 a, 

 U 14 &, V 14 c, U 15 d, V 15 X, (the introduced character is x,) \J IG m, 

 V 16 w, U 17 Kan, as shown in diagram 2. 



Referring now to the figure of the Tablet on the back 

 wall of Altar Casa No 3, forming the frontispiece of Stephen's 

 "Central America," Vol. II, we see that there are four columns 

 of characters on each side. At the bottom of the second col- 

 umn of the right side we find our character a, and at the toj) 

 of columns three and four our characters h and c precisely as 

 they should follow according to our theory. 



Turning again to our Plate IX and going over the entire inscription in 

 this way, taking two columns together, thus, AB, CD, EF, ST, UV, and 

 WX, we shall find frequent repetitions of such combinations, not to be 

 found in any other way. The full force of this statement cannot be under- 

 stood except by a thorough and careful study of the plate. If I am cor- 



