Fig. 81.—Inscription on the “Tapir Tablet,” Chiapas.
The interesting group, Fig. [82], is the most complete example of the ancient writing I know of, from the region of the Zotzils. The original, formerly in the possession of Don Secundino Orantes, in the city of Chiapas, measures 26 by 17 inches. The front is badly injured, but the back well preserved. We find in this cartouche of twenty glyphs enough familiar forms to convince us of the identity of the graphic method. Pax, chuen, the iguana, etc., are soon recognized. The copy was made by the late Dr. C. H. Berendt.
Fig. 82.—Inscription on a Tablet from Toniná, Chiapas.
Toniná is about 80 miles south of Palenque and near Ococingo, whence Mr. Squier obtained the amulet bearing the neat inscription shown in Fig. [83]. The original is now in the American Museum of Natural History, New York City.
Fig. 83.—Inscription on an Amulet from Ococingo, Chiapas.
The beautiful inscription, Fig. [84], hitherto unpublished, is on a burial vase from the Quiche district of Guatemala, near Huehuetenango. It is not only the longest and most perfect example known of Quiche palæography, but it is also the most extensive inscription I have seen on pottery from any part of the Mayan territory. The original, a vase of high artistic merit, is in the Museum of the University of Pennsylvania. Again we see familiar signs, the imix, the pax, the numerals, the bean subfix, etc.
