Page:Queen Moo and the Egyptian Sphinx.djvu/77

 seen, but it has many other acceptations — all conveying the idea of might and power. It is a variation of can, "serpent." The serpent, with inflated breast, suggested by the contour of the Maya Empire, was adopted as a symbol of the same. Its name became that of the dynasty of the Maya rulers, and their totem. We see it sculptured on the walls of the temples and palaces raised by them. In Mayach, in Egypt, in China, in India, in Peru, and many other places the image of the serpent was the badge of royalty. It formed part of the headdress of the kings; it was embroid- ered on their royal garments. Khan is still the title of the kings of Tartary, Burmah, etc., that of the governors of prov- inces in Afghanistan, Persia, and other countries in central Asia.

That the tree was also meant by the author of the Troano MS. as symbol of the Maya Empire, there can be no doubt. He himself takes pains to inform us of the fact, Beb uaacal (the beb has sprung up) between uuc luuniilob, the seven countries  of Can. The sign is painted red in the original, to indicate the arable land, kancab. was the symbol of land, coun- try, among the Mayas, as with the Egyptians; but the former used it also as numerical for five, to which, in this case, must be added the two units. So we have seven fertile lands. The four black dots are the numerical four, and another ideographic sign for the name of the country — Can, "serpent." This is why it is placed at the foot of the tree, like the sign at the top to signify that it is the kingdom. They are juxtaposed to the character