in the Upper is surrounded by a heavy black border, while in the lower a black bird appears to be in the act of devouring a third, presented to it by the white personage at the right. On Plate XX there are two in the similar vessel in the lower division, and two connected with another character in the upper.
Turning to the Codex, we find the arrangement, so far as these characters are concerned, quite different. On Plate 25 we see but one, and that in the middle division; on 26 one in the middle and two in the lower division; on 27 two in the third or lowest division, with the figure of a fish upon them; on 28 three in the middle, above the cross-bones. If the vessels are to be considered as cinerary-urns, figuratively holding the ashes of the dead years, these Kan symbols must be in some way connected therewith, but the numbers on the different ones cannot easily be made to agree with any of the periods of the calendar. Possibly they may simply represent ears of maize or tortillas cast into these vessels. The fish placed on those in the third division indicate, as I believe, that here they are intended to represent corn or bread, for the position of the figure shows that it is meant for one of the offerings made to the idol, which Landa says consisted of "drinks, dishes of food, meats, fish," &c. The vessel just above this, in the same division, probably contains fruits or gourds (calabashes).
If we suppose them to be time symbols, we may possibly find an argument in favor of interpreting them years in the fact that on Plate XXIII, where there are three in the vessel in the lower division, there is a fourth one on the head of the personage at the right, who we have supposed is the personage that represents the year. By counting this we have the four years. The one withdrawn and placed upon the head of the image represents (say) the Cauac year. This leaves three, as shown in the vessel. In the lower division of Plate XXII there are but two, another having been withdrawn to represent the Kan year. So far we meet with no obstacle to our interpretation; but when we come to Plate XXI we find there are three, and on Plate XX two, a fact which is difficult to explain on this theory.
Turning again to Plate XXII, we observe on the head of the individual at the right of the upper compartment two triangles. These remind
