Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/221

Rh As heretofore stated, I have concluded that Fig. 85 signifies likin, "east," "eastward," "at or toward the east"; literally "the rising sun.". If this is correct, then, as before intimated, the lower character with the alar appendage must represent the latter syllable kin, "sun" or "day"; and the upper, the first, li, derived from likil, "to arise," "to be lifted up or elevated."

Turning to Plate XX* we see in the third division the figures of four females, each apparently engaged in sprinkling water on a child in front of her (Fig. 86). Above them are two rows of characters, apparently grouped by fours (counting each compound character as one), two of the upper and two of the lower line to each female figure. In the first group to the left is the character I have heretofore interpreted as signifying west; immediately to the right of it, in the same group, is this character (Fig. 87). In the second group is the character heretofore interpreted as signifying north, but with an arm-like appendage; immediately below it, in the same group, is the character shown in Fig. 87; the third group has the character for east and this also; and the fourth or Fig. 87. last group to the right the same character (Fig. 87), and that heretofore interpreted as denoting south.

As we find the same character in Fig. 87 as in Fig. 85, we may assume it stands for the same sound, li, and accepting Brasseur's interpretation of the lower left-hand character as signifying ha or haa, "water," and the added character to the right as Landa's i, we have li-ha-i or lila-i, "to sprinkle the child with water," lila meaning "to sprinkle with water," and i child. As lil signifies "to shake," "to toss," &c., a better rendering may be haa-lil i, "the water shake (or dash) on the child."

Commencing with the left-hand group and taking the four characters in the order heretofore adopted, the upper two from left to right and then the lower two in the same way, and taking the groups from left to right, I obtain the following result:

First group: "Toward the west; sprinkle water on the child; (?); tortillas."

Second group: "Toward the north; (?); sprinkle water on the child; (?)."