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A STUDY OF THE MANUSCRIPT TROANO.
On the title-page and on Plates XX-XXIII (see Plates I-IV) are certain red semicircular or crescent-shaped figures like this 
, which we have good reasons for believing served as characters to denote one of the Maya periods, either the Ahau, Cycle, Indication, or part of the grand cycle. This is the proper place to discuss their signification; but as this can be done more satisfactorily after we have learned what we can in reference to the figures given on these plates and the subjects to which they relate, I will now proceed to give such interpretations of the figures and characters on them as I believe are waranted by the discoveries I have made.
