Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/275

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thomas]
THE PALENQUE TABLET.
207

Another fact which should be taken into consideration is that U 2 appears to be identical with the two similar parts of this character. It undoubtedly denotes a month or day. If a month, it is impossible for me to determine which; if a day, it is undoubtedly Cauac, or the Chiapan equivalent, Cahogh.

Turning to the middle plate between pages 158 and 159, Stephens's Central America, Vol. I, we observe that the third group from the bottom of the right column appears to be substantially the same as this (A B 3). Here the two characters at the right are placed one above the other and appear to be Imix symbols, and the head that of a monkey. There are also some small additions not found in the other, but allowance must be made for the fact that the characters on this statue are not so carefully drawn as those on the Tablet.

The next character below (A B 4), if we follow the rendering of the first, will contain the sound p' ch-c, and A B 5 that of p' x. The next (A B 6) I think is the symbol for Chuen or contains the sound chu A B 7, I am inclined to believe, is the symbol for likin or lakin, "east" or "rising sun."

A 10 refers to a vessel of some kind, as I infer from the vase symbol at the bottom. C 13 probably represents a word or words with the sounds ca-z' or s'-ca. Although F 2 has a central mark somewhat resembling that in Ik, I strongly suspect it to be the symbol for the month Muan.

In R 1 we see the bread symbol precisely as on the back of the dog, Plate XXI, and in the middle division, Plate III*, of the Tro. Manuscript.

E 6, U 4, V 14, and X 12 probably denote tortillas of maize (pppecuah).

I shall not attempt an explanation of the central scene, but will call attention to a few points in reference to it.

Crosses of some form with birds on them are found in three or four of the aboriginal manuscripts, as Plate III* of the Manuscript Troano, Plate 30 of the Dresden Codex, and in one or two of the Mexican Codices. It is true none of them are so regular or so true as this, but they are evidently intended as representations of the cross and to symbolize the same general idea. Certain characteristics belong to all of them, as follows: First, they arise out of something that has life, as an animal or person; second, a vegetable growth therefrom, as a tree; third, the knobs at the ends of the arms,