COPAN. 



41 



oop 



This explanation first suggested itself to me on noticing the position 

 this sign occupies in the initial series, occurring as it does in seven of 

 the initial series on Plate XXXI., where it would be natural to expect a 

 numeral. 



I had also noticed that the character shown in fig. b, frequently occurred 

 with a double set of numerals attached to it (as in fig. c), and a more 

 careful examination of all the inscriptions within my knowledge showed 

 that when this character is not accompanied by two sets of numerals, the 

 sign which I suppose to represent 20 is given in place of one set of 

 numerals, as in figs, d and e, or more rarely both sets of numerals are 

 replaced by the supposed sign for 20, as in fig./! 



It may be added that there are only two isolated instances of a double 

 set of numerals being attached to any other character than that shown 

 in fig. b. 



We thus find that the sign which I suppose to represent the number 

 twenty occurs both in the initial series and in other parts of many 

 inscriptions in positions where it is probable that a numeral would be 

 found. 



There is another character which sometimes occurs in what otherwise 

 might be considered as a single-charactered initial series ; and it is 

 possible that this character also, which is made up of three signs, and 

 can be seen in Plate XXXI. Stela I, 5, also represents a number ; but 

 further consideration of its import must be postponed until the inscrip- 

 tions from Quirigua are figured, where it is of more frequent occur- 

 rence. 



A study of Plate XXXI. shows other exceptions to what has been ^> ( 

 given roughly as the rule with regard to the initial series ; but it must be 

 borne in mind that the object of these remarks is merely to point out 

 the most promising lines of investigation, and that any statements now 

 made must be considered as purely tentative. 



There is, however, another point to be noticed, in regard to the sign 

 which I suppose to represent the number twenty. It is known that 

 there are twenty clays both in the Maya and Mexican months, and on Plate XXXII 

 are figured reduced copies of what Professor Cyrus Thomas has shown to be two 

 calendars. The Maya calendar occurs in the MS. known as the Codex Cortesianus 

 and the Mexican calendar is taken from plate 44 of the Fejervary Codex. Below 

 these are figured two schemes, with numbers in place of the day characters, drawn 

 up by Professor Thomas when working out the calendar systems, and without any 

 reference whatever to the matter now under consideration; but it will be seen that 

 the arrangement of the calendar is in exactly the same shape as the sio-n which I 

 suppose to be the numeral twenty. 



biol. CENTB.-AMEK., Archseol., November 1890. q 



o 



