Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/227

Rh A free translation of the column would, then be about as follows:

"Facing the south, place the tortilla of maize on the pan of burnt clay and turn it six times (or elevate it, or march with it six times)."

The meaning of the transverse lines is similar, except as to direction, until we reach the last character, which I have reason to believe refers to the deer. But it also contains another element, represented by the circle at the lower margin inclosing little dots, probably the equivalent of the b- character of the column.

The line and column in the upper division of Plate XI appear to be of similar import, but varied in the cardinal points and in one of the characters. I am not prepared to attempt an interpretation of this group, but am inclined to believe, from the presence of the ik symbol, that it refers to exorcising the evil spirit.

The groups in the middle and lower divisions of Plate XIV (Fig. 16, p. 99), which are to be taken in columns, and read from the top downwards, are evidently of similar import.

Take, for example, the second (third, if the day column is counted) from the left of the middle division, I would suggest something like the following interpretation (reading from the top downwards):

The third compound or double character is possibly a pictograph to represent venison, or deer hams. Brasseur supposes it to be a variant of the Cimi character, but this I think very doubtful.