246 THE INSCRIPTIONS AT COPAN. 
Step F opens with an Initial Series, the only surely decipherable parts of 
which are the cycle and katun coefficients and the month. The cycle 
coefficient Ba, is 9, and the katun coefficient, Bd, is surely above 5 and under 
10, 7. ¢., 6, 7, 8, or 9. Of these, 9 is the best reading, as there appear to be 
traces of four dots above the one bar }+*+4. The month is surely 18 
Kayab, and the day coefficient is 6, 7, or 8. Under the terms of our postulate 
that Dates 4 and 5 are the same, and that the Secondary Series recorded in 
N-Q indicates their distance from the Initial Series on Step E, 7. ¢., Date 3, 
there are only three possible values for Dates 4 and 5, as follows: 
Dated. (9.77. 50.88 8 Lamat 6 Mac) (9-7.' 5. of 8 8 Lamat 6 Mae) 
TenOoll 27. 22. 9:16,17 
Date 5. 9. 8.14.12. 5 12 Chicchan 18 Kayab 9.9.14.17. 5 6 Chicchan 18 Kayab 
Dates: 100-7 he Oacd 8 Lamat 6 Mac.) 
@. O. 1.3.12 
Date 5. 9.10.14. 4. 0 12 Ahau 18 Kayab. 
Since the uinal coefficient in the Secondary Series at 0 on Step E can 
be neither 11 (first possibility above) or 3 (third possibility above), the sec- 
ond reading, 9.9.14.17.5 6 Chicchan 18 Kayab, is the only one possible 
under the postulate. | 
Several minor points tend to confirm this reading. The uinal coefficient 
at 0, as we have already seen, is possibly either 14, 16, or 17, a fleshless lower 
jaw and large eye-socket showing clearly. Coming to Date 5, we have seen 
that the katun coefficient is probably 9. Close study shows that the tun 
coefficient is above 10 and under 15; this reading gives 14. The uinal coef- 
ficient shows that it is above 15 and must be under 18; this reading gives 
17. Finally, the best reading of the day coefficient is 6, 7, or 8; this read- 
ing gives 6. 
The chief objection to this interpretation is that the day coefficient in 
sb, Step E, apparently looks more like 1, 2, or 3 than 6, or even 7 or 8; but 
sb is partially effaced and the other agreements are so satisfactory that the 
writer is inclined to accept 9.9.14.17.5 6 Chicchan 18 Kayab as correct. 
Gordon suggests two readings for this date: 9.9.14.17.4 5 Kan 17 Kayab 
and 9.9.18.18.4, 9 Kan 17 Kayab, favoring the former.’ It will be noted that 
his first reading is only 1 day before the reading suggested above; but since the 
month coefficient is surely 18, not 17, these two may be regarded as identical. 
Gordon’s second reading may be eliminated, because the tun coefficient can 
not be above 14. 
DaTE 6. 
In N-Q on Step F there is a Secondary Series composed of katuns, tuns, 
uinals, and kins, (Date 6), of which all the coefficients except that of the 
katun are effaced, and even that is a head numeral of unknown value. As 
the corresponding terminal date is missing, no reading can be suggested here. 
‘Gordon, 1902, p. 172. His transcription of the second date as 9.9.18.18.4, instead of 9.9.19.0.4, that is 
writing 18 uinals instead of its equivalent, 1 tun, is not only un-Maya in spirit, but also is contrary to the gen- 
erally accepted method of transcribing Maya dates. 
