Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/138

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A STUDY OF THE MANUSCRIPT TROANO.

the plate that relates to the Muluc years; the peculiarly marked dog, bearing these symbols on its back; the little dog images on the feet, together with the agreement in other particulars, are sufficient to warrant us in concluding that these figures relate to the ceremonies he describes. Taking the figures and statement together I conclude that the little plain dog-images, three of which are represented, were those carried during the dance, while the spotted one bearing the characters on its back—of which there is but a single figure—represents that which was to be sacrificed. In the collection of pottery made by Colonel Stevenson in 1880 among the Pueblos of New Mexico, are quite a number of plain little animal images, chiefly those of birds, which he informs me were used in like manner by the Indians of these pueblos.

If I am correct in this interpretation, we will then be warranted in concluding that the double character (Fig. 10) signifies "bread," doubtless "bread of maize." Taken separately we know Fig. 10. that the upper is used as the symbol of the day Ymix or Imix, and the lower of Kan; but the primary significations of these words, or rather the words that these symbols stand for, is somewhat doubtful. Perez gives no definition of the former, neither in his lexicon nor Cronologia. Brasseur gives the following signification in his Vocabulary—"Deep pit; issue from a focus or of the breast"; but in a note to the Cronologia (§ II) he makes this remark: Ymix, written Imox in the Quiche Calendar, in that of Chiapas is represented under the image of a marine monster of a peculiar form; it is the Cipactli of the Mexican Calendar, given by Nuñez de la Vega, as the first father of the race of these countries." The latter (Kan) has several significations, such as "a cord or string of henequin," "yellow," "a certain measure," "red earth," "clay," &c. He also gives as other meanings, "increased," "elevated," "manifest," "consolidated," &c. But I judge from Perez's language that the ancient signification was somewhat uncertain.

The Maya word for "maize" is Ixim, and I am strongly inclined to believe that Imix is but a synonym, also that the symbol was originally used to signify this great food plant. I think it also probable that the symbol for Kan was used originally to represent the "grain" of corn, hence the gathered and stored corn or ears, and that the name was derived from the