Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/219

Rh somewhat human in appearance, but which may be intended to denote the quadruped in the figure below; that the lower right-hand character of the third group, although showing teeth, may be intended as the symbol of the worm-like figure beneath.

In view of these facts, and also of the additional facts that the right-hand group contains no animal head, nor is there below the figure of any animal, I am inclined to believe that these three heads are but symbols of the animals below them. We also observe that the figures are placed on Caban characters, and that each group of the superscription contains a Caban character, all doubtless having reference here to the earth or soil. If the figures with the two-colored face denote growing maize, as the attacks of the bird and quadruped indicate, we then have strong reasons for believing that the characters refer to the figures beneath them. I may also add here, what is stated elsewhere, that as a rule animals, persons, and deities, or at least idols, appear to be generally represented among the characters by the head; hence such characters cannot be phonetic.

A study of the two groups similarly arranged on the right of the lower division of Plate III* satisfies me that they relate to the method of dealing with a swelling on the hand, caused probably by the sting of a bee or some other insect, or the bite of a serpent (observe the serpent's head on the figure below). We see here the figure of a hand in two places, and on each a protuberance or swelling distinctly marked (Fig. 80.) By the side of each is Fig. 81, which is probably the hieroglyph for the Maya words u-mo, "a swelling of the flesh," or "tumor." The next character in order is the one shown in Fig. 82, which may be interpreted u-cab-poc, "bathe or wash it with honey." The character in the hand of the figure immediately under the inscription appears to agree with this interpretation (see Fig. 83): Cabmen (min or mon). Min signifies that which diminishes or causes to grow less; mon, the same; and moncab (same as momcab), a cooling or soothing