202 A STUDY OF THE MANUSCRIPT TROANO. 



rect in this opinion we will thereby be enabled to determine some doubtful 

 characters, as, for example, that F 7, E 8 are the same as S 1, T 1, &c. 



According to this theory, the lines and columns in the middle portion 

 of the Tablet should be read from the left to the right along the lines until 

 a column is reached, and then down the column thus: G, H, I, K, to L, and 

 then down the L column; down the column then P and Q. Now, let us 

 test this: In o we see the hand of our character m, altliough the loop is to 

 the right. If it is the same as m, then P 1 should be our n; but the char- 

 acter as given by Catherwood is too imperfect to see any resemblance. But 

 if we turn to Waldeck's plate or Dr. Rau's copy (Palenque Tablet, p. 33, Fig. 

 7), we see the head and protruding tongue characteristic of character n. 



These facts, I tliink, are sufficient to establish the correctness of my 

 theory. 



The lines and dots at the left and on the top of the characters I am 

 satisfied are numerals having the same signification as those in the Manu- 

 script — that is, a single dot 1; two dots, 2, and so on; a single line, 5; two 

 lines, 10, and so on. Those on the top of the characters I think correspond 

 with the red numerals in the Manuscript, for if we examine them we find 

 none of them exceed thirteen. Those on the side I think refer in some 

 cases to the number of the month, in others to the day of the month or the 

 number of the day. Where the character is the symbol of a day, and has 

 numerals also on top, those on the side I think refer to the number of the 

 month, as they never exceed 1 8. When the character is the symbol of a 

 month, then, they denote the day of the month, as we see that in some cases 

 they exceed 18, but never exceed 20. Where the character is the symbol 

 of a day and has numerals at the side only, these I think denote the number 

 of the day, as they never exceed 13. The little balls and loops at the 

 ■bottom, ^nd also the loops so frequent at the left' side, and occasionally 

 found on the top of the characters, have been, and to a certain extent are 

 yet, a profound mystery; but a careful study of the little loops at the left 

 side, and also of part of those at the top, will show that they have no sig- 

 nification whatever, but are left to fill out the squares and to form suj^ports 

 or guards to the little ball (or balls) — or numeral character for 1 (or 2) — in 

 connection with which they are chiefly used. If we examine the inscrip- 



