139 



water. In b, c, and d, are sculptured three small 

 pieces of wood, each of which is marked by three 

 transverse lines. That of the middle is not 

 found in the same rank as the others, to denote, 

 that it concerns only six Muysca years, after 

 which the intercalation falls on quihichata, e, 

 tadpole with a long tail, and without feet, frog in 

 repose. This emblem announces, that the month 

 over which the animal presides is useless, and 

 does not reckon in the twelve sunas, which take 

 place from one harvest to another. The two 

 figures of a frog, a and e, are placed in a sort 

 of quadrangular plate. We may have some 

 doubt respecting the interpretation of the 

 hieroglyphic e ; but Mr. Duquesne asserts, that 

 he has observed on several idols of jade the same 

 astrological symbol of an intercalary moon. 

 On these idols, the animal without feet was 

 covered with the Indian tunic ( capisayo ), which 

 is still worn among the lower class of people. 

 It should be recollected, that, among the Aztecks, 

 the signs of the days had also their altars*. 

 The figures/ and h indicate by eight transverse 

 lines, divided into five and three, that at the 

 eighth Muysca year the moon governed by 

 suhuza is intercalated. This sign is represented 

 at i by a circle, traced, by means of a cord, 

 around a column. The Indians assert, that f 



* See page 50. 



