EXEECISES IN DECIPHEEMENT. 



Ill 



easiest way in which the variations could be taught, would naturally be resorted to 

 as an educational means ; therefore, that which appears to us mere tautology or 

 redundancy was probably a skilful design for familiarizing the Maya youth with the 

 elaborate code of chronological symbols. These glyphs are to be read in lines across 

 the page. The entire nineteen occur in consecutive order, as here given : — 



We are familiar with three glyphs in each line — the first, fifth and sixth, numerating 

 them by the full line. The first is a katun symbol; the fifth, the 108-day sign multi- 

 plied by a 400 subfix — 108x400 = 43,200 — equivalent to six katuns; the sixth, a 

 symbol for the cycle. It will be observed that all the first, fourth and sixth glyphs 

 have beginning signs, while all the rest are without them. The purpose, therefore, 

 appears to be to reckon from a beginning katun, by two stages, to the beginning of a 

 cycle. Counting back six katuns from the beginning of a cycle, brings us to the 

 beginning of the 14th cycle; thence backwards thirteen katuns, to the beginning of 

 the 1st katun — not the 20th. Hence, this formula must read : — " From the beginning 

 katun ... 13 katuns ... to the beginning of the 14th katun ... 1 108x400 (or 

 6 katuns) ... to the beginning of the cycle." The second glyph in the first line, with 

 slight modifications, appears above the images on several stelae, and forms the base of 

 the cross on the celebrated tablet at Palenque. It is the symbol representing thirteen 

 katuns, in my construction of the formula. The importance of the 13-katun count in 

 the Maya chronological scheme sufficiently explains, to my mind, the prominence of 

 this sign among the sacred symbols. But I desire to point out where I think the 

 teacher got in his work. The children must have been pretty familiar with this 

 particular 13-katun symbol, for it had been conspicuously before their eyes ever since 

 they had been old enough to attend worship, and they may have said their prayers to 

 it many a time ; but probably it was the only symbol for that period they knew of. 



