NUMERATION" AND SIGNS FOE NUMBERS. 39 



be multiplied by three — as, for instance, two hatchets crossed X-wise represent 18. 

 The Egyptian cross, or ik symbol, is a sign for 6, while a square cross with a small 

 circle in the center — somewhat after the Greek or Maltese model — stands for 18. 



The double right angle, either simply joined in a U-shaped character or interlocked 

 as in the symbol for the month Pop, is indicative of four and its multiples. The latter 

 form, found chiefly upon the idols, is often raised to several times its simple power by 

 additional links, each pair denoting 4 ; so that 8, 12, 16, 20, or 24 may be expressed 

 by glyphs that at a superficial glance might appear identical. The number of sets of 

 angles is generally indicated by dots placed at their outer corners. 



The knot — probably significant of the tying up of the single hand count — runs with 

 five and its multiples. I am in doubt yet if the single, double, triple, and quadruple 

 knots represent respectively 5, 10, 15, and 20, or whether all of them alike stand for 5, 

 though I am inclined to the former surmise. The knot is a rather difficult figure to 

 draw rapidly, and I think cursive forms of it are detectable in other quite different 

 characters, especially the banded ones with lateral loops that seem to serve merely as 

 pedestals to the superimposed glyphs. 



The cimi sign, or bar between two dots (in which Dr. Brinton beholds the image of 

 a maggot), the skeleton jawbone, and the irregular mouth line and grinning teeth of a 

 skull — all alike suggestive of a death's-head — are three signs for 10 which, either 

 singly or combined, form part of a majority of the face signs for numbers higher than 

 that. The last of these more particularly belongs to the codices, but in the inscriptions 

 the grinning teeth are often recognizable when neither the jawbone nor the cimi sign 

 can be distinguished. 



Dividing a numeral into thread-like lines increases its value a hundredfold, and 

 there is reason for believing that partial striation raises it tenfold. If it were certain 

 that the purpose was to skeletonize the sign, as the effect suggests, then it would be 

 only a fair inference to assume that all symbols indicating death pertained to decimal 

 reckoning. As this is a very interesting and important point, I am disposed to 

 illustrate it at some length. The cursive form of the sign for 72 in the ahau symbol 



— where the proposition is: 5x72 = 3G0 — is this, Q^T^X*\J> as "early as the 



different shapes can be averaged. In the cycle symbol — where the proposition is : 



20 X 7,200 = 144,000 — the character representing the higher number is this,(^^|m^^^. 



As the outlines and pi'oportions of this character for 7,200 are indistinguishable from 

 those of the sign for 72, the conclusion is unavoidable that the striation or skeletonizing 

 augments the value a hundredfold. In the series whose shape suggests they were 

 intended to represent bouquets or bundles of feathers there is evidence of double 

 striation. There is a great variety of these characters, each distinct form probably 

 representing a different number, though I have been able to determine the value of 



