Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/164

98 Fig. 15.—Pitfall and armadillo

passing over steps on these, and, tilting them, falls in. I introduce here a figure of this pitfall, an exact. copy of that on the plate. We here see the method of joining the ends of beams together.

A similar figure, but on a smaller scale, is given on Plate XXII*. The crosses on the ends of the beams are parts of the character so often found on wooden articles. This is evident from the fact that the full character is found on the ends of the crossbeams in the figure on Plate XXII*. The probable signification will be given hereafter, in the chapter relating to the written characters.

In the third space of this plate, and also in the second and third spaces of Plate XIII, there is an outline figure of a scorpion, and in each case the claw at the end of the tail grasps a cord to which a deer, rabbit, or fox is attached. I confess my inability to interpret these figures.

In the left portion of the upper division of Plate X is a broad transverse line containing characters similar to those in the line between the divisions of Plates XX-XXIII. The left-hand character (of the three) bears a strong resemblance to the symbol of the Mexican day Ollin, or "Earthquake," but here possibly represents the Maya day Ezanab, and the middle one. Been. The character to the right is the "death symbol," or symbol of the day Cimi. The red and blue scrolls which are attached to and hang below this line probably denote the supposed character of two different years or days, so far as they relate to the chase. It is a fact worthy of notice that on these six plates there are just eighteen of these captured animals, or one for each month of the year. We can readily understand why the festivals or religious observances denoted by these figures and the day and numeral characters are so numerous and occupy