206 A STUDY OF THE MANUSCRIPT TEOANO. 



the "more important towns, having joined together, they passed into the tem- 

 ple of Citchaccoh," &c} If we interpret this character Paeumchac, we at once 

 find a satisfactory explanation of the repeated occurrence of the symbol tor 

 Pax in the inscription. From Landa's description, which is somewhat con- 

 fused, I judge this was one of their chief festivals, but nothing appears in 

 his statement that accords with the scene on the middle slab. This, how- 

 ever, cannot be properly urged as an objection to ray rendering; first, 

 because there were doubtless many formalities which he does not mention; 

 second, because the ceremonies of this festival as practiced at Palenque may 

 have been quite different from those observed by Landa; third, there are 

 some reasons for believing, even from Landa's words, that during this festival 

 petitions for rain and abundant crops were offered. I presume also that 

 during this festival took place the rejoicing over the first fruits of the maize 

 harvest. I may as well state here as elsewhere that I do not think the 

 offering made by the priest on the right is an infant; the probabilitj^ is that 

 it is a dough image. Although we see what appear to be the body and 

 limbs, we have to assume that the head wears a mask to believe it to be the 

 body of a child. If it is the figure of a child, then the scene repi-esents a 

 special occasion when the sacrifice was made to avert some impending 

 danger. The difi'erence in the height of the two priests favor the idea that 

 the artist referred by his figures to particular persons, if not to a special 

 occasion. Finally, it is possible that although the inscription relates chiefly 

 to this festival others are also alluded to. But be this as it may, I have 

 reached my conclusion as to the rendering by legitimate steps. 



The second compound character in the column is composed of three 

 parts, the two to the right, which are alike, resembling, in some respects, 

 the symbol of Imix, and in others, if the marks can be trusted, the hiero- 

 glyph of Cauac and cu. We find almost precisely the same combination in 

 the right-hand (second) column, Plate XX of the Manuscript, except that 

 the two similar parts are above the face. The face in this case is almost 

 exactly like that I have interpreted Xamin, "north." What is also a little 

 significant, we find immediately below it the Pax or stone symbol just as 

 we do here. 



' Appendix No. 3, O. 



