20 



THE AKCHAIC MAYA INSCRIPTIONS. 



THE CALENDAR ROUND. 



Fifty-two years complete the calendar round. At the expiration of that time the 

 reckoning begins anew with the original date. Eighteen calendars mark a significant 

 point of contact with the ahau count that appears to have been regarded as an important 

 conjunction in Maya chronology. 



I am satisfied that a year and day count runs collaterally with the ahau count 

 throughout nearly all the inscriptions, but thus far I have been unable to satisfactorily 

 determine the plan or plans — for I think that more than one style is made use of — 

 upon which the reckoning is conducted. The number of possible combinations renders 

 the range for conjecture very extensive, and it is only by an exhaustive trial that we 

 can hope to discover the true method or methods employed by the Mayas. That they 

 did not proceed directly by days, months, years, and calendars is manifest at a very 

 first attempt to solve the problem. Then comes the question, How did they proceed 1 

 Was it by single days to 13, and thence by thirteens to 260 1 Was it by single days to 

 5, and thence by fives to 365 ■? Was it by single days to 6, and thence to different 

 multiples of that number'? Was it by single days to 73, and thence by seventy- 

 threes to 1460? Was it by lower stages of 1, 4, 13, 52, or 72 years'? Was it by 

 higher stages of 936, 1040, 1440, 18,720, 20,800, or 28,800 years'? This is one of the 

 excellent fields for discovery which Maya chronology offers to the student. 



Further along, when I come to a consideration of particular inscriptions, I shall call 

 attention to some facts which go far toward confirming certain theories I entertain 

 respecting this point ; but the instances are not numerous or conclusive enough in my 

 estimation to justify a claim of absolute proof for them. 



