Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/69

Rh but simply because I find the evidence pointing in this direction, and also that it is next to impossible to advance farther without having some theory.

From what has been shown it is apparent that the interpretation I have given is a possible one, the chief objections to which are, first, the large number of dates in the Manuscript, that this plan would give us, which, according to a rough calculation I have made, would amount to something like ten thousand; second, the extent of time these dates must necessarily cover, which cannot be less than one great cycle of 312 years.

The Dresden Codex, which is evidently similar in character to the Manuscript Troano, presents, if possible, still greater difficulties to the settlement of this question, as here we find the black numeral for 19 frequently connected directly with the red ones. But so far as I have examined dates of this kind they do not appear to be necessarily associated with the day characters on the same page. In this codex the dates are also much more numerous than in the Tro. Ms., a number of pages being filled almost exclusively with numerals and day characters. Month characters are also introduced; hence it is probable the day of the month is often given.

On page II (Tro. Ms.), in the left column, middle division (see fig. 99), the days (counting from the top downwards) are Manik, Cauac, Chuen, Akbal, Men, the red numeral over-the column 1. In the space are three black numerals 6, 11, and 9, also two red ones 10 and 3. Using the red 1 and the black 6, as heretofore, we find the years to be as follows:

The period is found to be continuous, and is surrounded on the annexed table (No. IX) by a continuous dark line. In this case it commences with Cauac is represented here by an unusual character.