116 



THE AltCHAIC MAYA IXSCEIPTIONS. 



thing about this extract to me is that it practically establishes my theory of the 

 bissextile sign and one of its uses. The two reckonings from 5 Laraat-1 Mol to 

 8 Ahau-13 Top cover the same interval — fully notated, in the ordinary way, in the 

 second instance: 10 — 11 — 10 — 5x8. In the first instance only 12 — 9x8 of this 

 period is notated in the usual manner, leaving 10 — 10 — 17 — 14x0 to be accounted 

 for by the bissextile glyph and the one preceding it. This reckoning is the equivalent 

 of 1,518,400 days, or exactly 80 calendar rounds. It is not expressed here in days, 

 years, or calendar rounds, however, but by bissextile periods of four years each, of 

 which 1040 are required to make up the count. That I am unable yet to construe 

 the figures into that number does not shake my faith or induce me to ascribe an 

 unwarranted value to any of them. I have learned to be patient, and can wait; the 

 knowledge will surely come. 



I have expressed my conviction that a year and day count runs collaterally with the 

 ahau reckoning in most instances, and that frequently the computation is carried on by 

 that means alone, confessing at the same time my inability to discover the plan on which 

 it is conducted. I shall give some examples here that may possibly be reckonings of 

 that character: — 



These two glyphs are found quite frequently together. I take them to be a formula 

 denoting 64 days, as in one instance they occur where that number of days is indicated in 

 the ordinary manner likewise. They are an equivalent, I think, of this other formula : — 



This I believe to be simply : 17 days, 14 days, 16 days, 17 days — that is, 64 days. 

 Why this number of days should have any special significance, or why it should be 

 expressed in so absurd a manner as in the latter instance, I cannot say. Neither can I 

 tell why our own adopted prophet use3 such an expression as " times, times and a 

 half," nor what he means by it. When it comes to the language of prophecy and 

 divination, uninspired folks may as well throw up the sponge. The Mayas may have 

 been trying their hand at one or the other here — though I hate to think it. 



