103 



EXERCISES IN DECIPHERMENT. 



It is but just that I should give the reader an insight into the processes by which my 

 conclusions have been reached, thereby enabling him to judge of their correctness for 

 himself. I have already gone pretty thoroughly into the considerations for constructing 

 the calendars in the way I have, and incidentally have explained the reason for 

 attaching to many characters and combinations the value I do. The range is too 

 extensive for me to attempt to cover the entire ground, so I shall limit myself here to 

 what will probably be to the general reader the most interesting part of the whole 

 study — an exposition of the means by which the significance of particular glyphs is 

 determined. 



As everything is necessarily experimental at the start, we have to begin with mere 

 assumption, or else there could be no beginning at all. Of course, these assumptions 

 are not made at random. They are founded upon at least a reasonable degree of 

 probability. But, no matter how certain the foundation may appear, we are not 

 justified at first in regarding our ascriptions as anything but tentative. If the result 

 meet expectation in a single trial of our surmise, it is fortunate ; if in a second, there 

 is cause to be hopeful ; if in a third, the promise of confirmation becomes bright ; but 

 not until the value we have ascribed to any certain character is exactly and completely 

 fulfilled in every situation in which the character occurs, can it be considered to have 

 been removed from the realm of assumption to that of fact. Unfortunately there is 

 not enough material to render the trial thoroughly satisfactory in all cases, so that the 

 meaning of many glyphs must remain in the tentative stage until such time as we have 

 ampler material for comparison. But that should not deter us from advancing to the 

 utmost limit we may and holding the outposts boldly. It is likely that some of our 

 conscripted recruits will scatter before the onset of inscriptions yet to come ; but the 

 calendars, the period symbols, and the great bulk of the rank and file, will stand like 

 the Old Guard. 1 have no fear of the final outcome. With courage, patience, and 

 perseverance we shall conquer every difficulty and subdue these defiant glyphs into a 

 submissiveness to our understanding as complete as that of our own alphabet. 



The struggle I had to obtain the meaning of the first few glyphs was a hard one, 

 and the story of it would be more tedious than profitable or entertaining. But the 

 knowledge of every additional character increased my vantage ground and rendered 

 the next step easier, so that gradually I gained insight into things which seemed 



