Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/116

68 the midst of the flame renders almost certain the correctness of this interpretation.

This agreement in so many particulars between these plates and Landa's statements is certainly sufficient to warrant us in assuming that the two refer to the same things; that is, to the festivals held during the Uayeyab haab or closing days of the different years.

Before attempting to show the relation these plates of the Dresden Codex bear to those of the Manuscript Troano, it will be necessary for me to ask the reader to examine them carefully as I enter into more particular details.

It is apparent from Landa's language that the festival of the last days of one year was intended as a celebration of the new or incoming year; that is to say, the festival of the last days of the Kan year was intended as a celebration of the incoming Muluc year, and, in fact, did not close until the first or second day of the latter. This being the case, we presume that the plate containing the last two days of the Kan year, for example, represents the commencement of the Muluc. year, and that some, at least, of the figures and characters shown on it refer to that year. Following up this idea, I conclude that Plate 25, on which the days are Eb and Ben, the last days of the Muluc year, refers to the commencement of, and may properly be called the plate of the Ix years; that Plate '2G refers to the beginning of the Cauac years, Plate 27 to the Kan years, and Plate 28 to the Muluc years.

Taking for granted that this conclusion is correct—which I think few if any will doubt—let us see what further can be deduced from it.

Landa, Cogulludo, and Perez tell us that each of the four dominical days was referred by the Indians to one of the four cardinal points. As the statements of these three authorities appear at first sight to conflict with each other, let us see if we can bring them into harmony without resorting to a violent construction of the language used. Perez's statement is clear and distinct, and as it was made b)' one thoroughly conversant with the manners and customs of the natives, and also with all the older authorities, it is doubtless correct.

He says, "the Indians made a little wheel in which they placed the initial