Fig. 78.—The Inscription of Kabah.
In this interesting inscription from Central Yucatan, we recognize familiar signs, as the medicine-drum and the cloud-signs at the bottom, and cauac, chikin, yax, etc., within the square area. It is sufficient to prove that at Kabah the same writing was in use.[[149]]
There is some reason to suppose, however, that in this part of the Mayan territory there had been a development of this writing until it had become conventionalized into a series of lines and small circles enclosed in the usual square or oval of the katun. I have seen several examples of this remarkable script, and give one, Fig. [79], part of an inscription on a vase from Labna, Yucatan, now in the Peabody Museum.[[150]]
Fig. 79.—Linear Inscription from Yucatan.
The tablets at Palenque are too extensive a study for me to enter upon in the present work. The engraving, Fig. [80], is merely to show the character of the writing and to present the “initial glyphs,” upon which, in Copan and elsewhere, Mr. Maudslay lays so much stress (see above, p. 23).
Incidentally, they seem to me to prove that the proper reading of the tablet is to begin at the top of the two right-hand columns, read them together downward (as Thomas suggested), then the next two to the left in a similar manner; but the last two on the left, those headed by the great pax, should be read from below upward. This differs from any scheme yet proposed, but alone corresponds with the natural sequences of the groups of glyphs. The terminal (upper left) glyph shows the pax surmounted by the xihuitl and this by the “trinal” signs. The student of the preceding pages will not be at a loss to explain their purport.
Fig. 80.—The “Initial Series” of the Tablet of the Cross, Palenque.
I have already referred (above, p. 54) to the singular “bas-reliefs of Chiapas.” They are covered with elaborate designs carved in low relief on the argillaceous slate of which they consist. Nearly all have hieroglyphics of a decorative Mayan character. For the sake of comparison I add Fig. [81], a tracing of the four glyphs which are placed in front of the tapir on the “tapir tablet.”