THE ANNUAL CALENDAE. 17 



In initial dates the favorite sign for a day or days is the head with projecting teeth, 

 sqiiare irid in the upper left-hand angle of the eye and accompanying wing — usually 

 underneath. The kin or sun sign, with a wing at the side or bottom, is used for the 

 same purpose both in initial dates and in, the body of the inscriptions. But the day is 

 most frequently indicated, without any separate sign at all, by a numeral to the left of 

 the chuen symbol. This will be more readily understood when that feature of the 

 calendar is explained. 



The order of the days is the same as that given by Landa, but a different set serve 

 as dominicals — Ik, Manik, Eb and Caban being the year bearers. I have constructed 

 the annual calendar with Ik as the initial day, but I have grave doubts if Caban should 

 not occupy that position. 



To each day in the calendar a numeral is attached that gives it an identity which 

 with the number of the day of the month it falls upon distinguishes it from every 

 other day of the same name, not only in the year but in fifty-two years, or a round of 

 the calendar. These numerals, however, count only to 13, so that it takes one full 

 count and seven on the nest to enumerate the clays in their calendar capacity. 



In the annual scheme the days are arranged in months. There are four different 

 orders of days and thirteen of day numerals. 



THE MONTH. 



There are eighteen months and what may be regarded as an irregular or fractional 

 month ; for, the eighteen regular months comprising but 360 days, there are five 

 surplus days in the year. These five days are said to have belonged to no month, to 

 have been called ozma kdba kin, nameless days, or uayeb-yab, the couch of the year, 

 and to have been regarded with superstitious awe because they were believed to be 

 unfortunate. As quite two-thirds of the other days of the year were believed by the 

 Mayas to be similarly unfortunate, and as these five days have names and numbers the 

 same as the rest and are reckoned in the same manner in all computations of time, it 

 appears to me that the mystery with which it has been endeavored to surround them 

 is purely the offspring of ignorance. That they are the couch or end of the year and 

 belong to none of the regular months, is true enough. But this division of the year 

 has a sign to represent it, the same as each of the months, and takes its place with 

 them in the annual and chronological calendars ; therefore I do not see why it should 

 not be regarded as of the same character notwithstanding its irregularity. I so consider 

 it, and shall speak of it as Uayeb whenever I have occasion to mention it, as I would 

 refer to Pop or any other month. 



BIOL. CENTB.-AMEB.j Arcfucol. 3 



