Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/70

26 Kan. If we use the red 3 and the black 6 the result will be as shown in the group surrounded on the table by the dotted line. As the reader is perhaps by this time aware, it might be located below the first by extending the table, but still would give us no clue to the proper position of the Ahaues.

There are two other possible suppositions, to wit: that the red numeral over the column refers to the number of the Ahau, and that in the space to the number of the days; and, second, just the reverse of this, that the red number in the space refers to the Ahau and that over the column to the number of the days, the black one in each case denoting the number of the month.

As it will be impossible for us to decide in reference to these suppositions until we can locate the Ahaues and determine their numbers, I will postpone further discussion of the point for the present, proceeding for the time being upon the only plan so far found consistent with what is known of the Maya calendar.

As heretofore stated, the greater number of the day columns contain just five characters. Why this number? If we use the numerals as shown by the above examples, this will give us for each red numeral twenty years, agreeing with the number counted to the Ahau, whether we follow most authorities or Perez; for, according to the latter, who holds that there are twenty-four years in this period, only twenty are usually "counted"; four being generally omitted as unlucky, or for some other reason. That something of this kind, arising from the system itself, was the cause of placing five days in so many columns is more than probable. If I am correct in this supposition, it not only agrees with the method of using the numerals above suggested, but it will also determine the years that form the different Ahaues.

Following up this suggestion, let us see if it is possible to determine from the Manuscript the length of the Ahau as understood by the author. As the most likely method of deciding this question, I will select a number of the day columns, find from them the years indicated according to the plan heretofore given, and locate them in tables of years. We can then see what relation they bear to each other.