Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/183

Rh upper part bears a different mark from the lower. The lower part is marked with the chief characteristics of the symbol for Cauac, which, as heretofore stated, when given in this way appear to signify that the thing upon which they are 'placed is made of wood. The characters on the upper portion resemble Caban, and here probably signify Cab, "honey," or Cabnal, "a hive of honey"; but it is proper to warn the reader that in other places, as will hereafter appear, it is used to denote the material of which a seat is made. I think it more than likely that here it refers to the vessel in which the honey is contained. I presume this to be the case, because the individuals in the lower division of Plate IX* appear to have lifted the honey out of the vessel which lies at their feet; and we also see on the arm of the individual at the left of the lower division of Plate V* a figure marked with this same character. As he has a staff in his right hand he is probably returning from a successful bee-hunt, bearing his prize. According to Landa the apiarists held two festivals during the year, one in the fifth month (Tzec), and the other in the eighth month (Mol); that is, in October and December. But according to the red and black numerals in these plates the one referred to appears to have been held annually, on the days Gib, Caban and Ezanab, in the 17th month—Kayab—corresponding to the first part of June. The female in the lower division of Plate V* is probably Colebil-Xbolon-choch, a goddess supposed to be the patron of the apiarists.

I would also call attention to the following additional items on these plates which are worthy of notice.

On Plate III*, upper division, next to the left-hand figure, we notice a kind of cross arising out of the body of a bee. On this cross are parts of a partially obliterated figure, which, upon close inspection, I decide without hesitation was that of a bird, reminding us of the bird on the Tablet of the Cross at Palanque and on crosses in several of the Mexican Codices. A foot, the tail, and parts of the wings are yet plainly visible. The right-hand figure of the same division also shows a plant in the form of a cross arising out of the body of a bee. I presume these relate to the requests to the gods for rain to make the plants produce flowers for the bees.

The figure at the right of the middle division of the same plate, which