86 THE ARCHAIC MAYA INSCRIPTIONS. 



usual result — 9 X 4 = 36 X 10 = 360. The eye — whose peculiarity, it has been asserted, 

 is the distinguishing trait of deities — is nothing but an abbreviated 20 sign raised to 

 three times its value by the attachments and multiplied by 6 — 20x3 = 60x6 = 360 — 

 the 6 here being represented by either the ik or the concentric irid, it not being plain 

 which was intended. I do not know what value the mouth represents, though this 

 particular kind of mouth always suggests to me the interlocked sign for 4, which 

 might be qualified here by the chin line and peculiar teeth ; nor have I any suggestion 

 at all to make concerning the lines forming the top of the head, though I have no 

 doubt they express some number. 



As the best test of the numerative value of quite a number of characters is their 

 connection with the ear ornament and numeric eye, I subjoin two lists of those features, 

 selected from different inscriptions, which will illustrate their importance in symbolism. 

 The carelessness of the sculptor or draughtsman here, as elsewhere, is a great draw- 

 back, and the difficulty of noting nice distinctions is rendered more serious in many 

 instances by the present defaced condition of their work ; but enough can be made out 

 to serve my purpose. 



NUMERIC EYES. 



The carelessness on the part of the sculptor, which I mentioned, is that he is not 

 always particular about the number of dots that designate how many times the value 

 of the 20 sign is to be increased. This may appear like begging the question, but I 

 will by and by show that these same sculptors blundered even worse in more important 

 respects. The only one of the eyes of whose value I have any doubt is the third in 

 the list. It may be identical with the first, but there are so many instances where the 

 nice distinction between them appears to be observed that I have assigned it a separate 

 place. 



