Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/158

94 the first part of the compound character to be simply a prefix or a particle, the chief character may indicate the Maya word Le, signifying "a cord," "a lasso," or cord with a slip knot. I find the same character over the middle figure of the second division of this plate (II), also, slightly varied, over the left figure of the first division of Plate III. In each case we see the cord and also the indications of sacrifice. The same character is also found immediately above the open breast of the sacrificed individual on Plate 3 of the Dresden Codex, but in this case we also see cords around the hands and feet.

In the right-hand compartment of the upper division is a squatting human figure in black on a blue-ground, doubtless representing some deity. He has a fiery red mouth and a very prominent nose, and is holding by the hand a cord, which passes round a character at his feet, probably representing a peddler's pack. On his head he bears an interlaced or cross-hatched figure as a head-dress. This figure I think represents the ancient divinity Chicchac-Chab or Chichac-Chob. The cross-hatched character on the head appears to be used to indicate the sound tzi, zi, or chi, and is probably placed here to denote this deity. Similar figures are found in various parts of of the Manuscript, as, for example, on Plates IV, V, VI, VII, XIX, XVII*, XVIIP, XXII*, XXIII*, XXV*, XXIX*, XXX*, XXXI*, and XXXII*.

There appear, in fact, to be two different personages represented by these figures, as may be seen by reference to the upper division of Plate VI, where the two are brought face to face. The only difference observable is in the form of the eye. According to Landa, the Indians, during the festival of the Cauac years, made four idols named Chicchac-chob, Ekbalam-chac, Ahcan-Volcab, and Ahbuluc-Balam ; the first of which is doubtless one of those referred to. It, is also possible-that some of the 'figures on this group of plates refer to others of these four deities.

In the middle division of this plate (II) is a stooping human figure, with his arms bound behind his back with a cord, and a kind of yoke on the back of his head The edge of a machete is descending upon his neck as if to sever his head from his body. That this figure is intended to show that the individual is about to be slain can scarcely be doubted, as we see,