Fig. 371. Specimens of ornamental loops from page 72, Dresden Codex.

Commencing in the sixth column of Plate 71a and running through 72a to the second column of 73a, is a numeral series which presents some peculiarities that baffle all attempts at explanation. Contrary to the rule which prevails in these pages it ascends from left to right and has no day symbols connected with it. In addition to this, the numbers of its lowest line are inclosed in loops of the form here shown ([Fig. 371]) and have no apparent connection with the other lines of the series, but, on the contrary, if taken from right to left, they present in the order usually given the numbers of the ahaues or katunes.[337-1] It is as follows:

1111111
2581013160369111417
II.
148216104181260147(?)2XIV
⑪⑬②④⑥⑧⑩⑫①③⑤⑦⑨

The last (thirteenth) column of this series is not in a line with the others, but is found in the lower part of the right hand column of Plate 73, and in connection with it we find the red numerals II and XIV, denoting the difference between the columns, as is apparent from the additions here given:

Years.Months.Days.
2 14 First or left hand column.
2 14
5 8 Second column.
2 14
8 2 Third column.
2 14
10 16 Fourth column.
2 14
13 10 Fifth column.
2 14
16 4 Sixth column
2 14
1 0 18 Seventh column.
2 14
1 3 12 Eighth column.
2 14
1 6 6 Ninth column.
2 14
1 9 0 Tenth column.
2 14
1 11 14 Eleventh column.
2 14
1 14 8[338-1]Twelfth column.
2 14
1 17 2 Thirteenth column.

[261-1] The work here referred to is entitled Die Mayahandschrift der Königlichen öffentlichen Bibliothek zu Dresden, herausgegeben von Prof. Dr. E. Förstemann, Hofrat und Oberbibliothekar. It contains, besides the chromolithographs of the 74 plates, an introduction published at Leipzig, 1880, 4o.

[269-1] A Study of the Manuscript Troano, by Cyrus Thomas, pp. 7-15.

[272-1] This method will be adopted throughout this paper where figures containing numerals are introduced.

[273-1] In the representations of lines and columns of the codex Roman numbers are necessarily used to distinguish the class of numerals, yet in the text, as in this case, the Arabic numbers will be used as most convenient.

[273-2] Strictly speaking, the interval between 11 Men and 13 Oc is fourteen days, but throughout this paper, by “interval between“ two days, is to be understood the number of days to be counted from one to and including the other. The one counted from is always excluded and the one reached or with which the interval terminates is always included.