REFERENCE OF THE ELEMENTS TO THE YEARS.

Tochtli—Acatl—Tecpatl—Calli
Veytia—Air—Water—Fire—Earth.
Gemelli—Earth—Water—Air—Fire.
Boturini—Air—Water—Fire—Earth.
Chavero—Earth—Water—Fire—Air.
Orozco y Berra—Air—Water—Fire—Earth.

As will be seen from this list, there is entire uniformity in the assignment of the years or year symbols to the cardinal points, with the single exception of Boturini. As this author’s views in regard to the calendar are so radically different from all other authorities as to induce the belief that it applies to some other than the Aztec or true Mexican calendar we will probably be justified in eliminating his opinion from the discussion.

Omitting this author, we have entire uniformity among the authorities named in regard to the reference of the years to the cardinal points, as follows:

Tochtli to the south; Acatl to the east; Tecpatl to the north, and Calli to the west.

The reference of the colors and the elements to the cardinal points is too varied to afford us any assistance in arriving at a conclusion in this respect. In the assignment of the elements to the years we find that, water is referred by all the authorities named to Acatl, and fire by all but one (Gemelli), to Tecpatl.

One thing more must be mentioned before we appeal directly to the codices. As the groups of five days, so often heretofore referred to, were assigned to the cardinal points, it is proper to notice here what is said on this point. So far, I have found it referred to only in the Exposition of the Vatican Codex and by Schultz-Sellack in the article before cited.

As the latter refers to them by numbers only, I give here a list of the Mexican days, with numbers corresponding with the positions they severally hold in their regular order.

First column.Second column.Third column.Fourth column.
1.Cipactli.2.Ehecatl.3.Calli.4.Cuetzpalin.
5.Coatl.6.Miquitzli.7.Mazatl.8.Tochtli.
9.Atl.10.Itzquintli.11.Ozomatli.12.Malinalli.
13.Acatl.14.Ocelotl.15.Quauhtli.16.Cozcaquauhtli.
17.Ollin.18.Tecpatl.19.Quiahuitl.20.Xochitl.

Using the numbers only, 1, 5, 9, 13, and 17 will denote the first column; 2, 6, 10, 14, and 18 the second, &c.