e character _eb_ is an
abbreviation of figure 326" (the prefix to our plate LXIV, 48).[245-1]

THE THIRTEENTH DAY

Maya, _ben_ or _been_; Tzental, _ben_; Quiche-Cakchiquel, _ah_; Zapotec,
_quii_, _ii_, or _laa_; Nahuatl, _acatl_.

The symbol of this day is subject to but few and, with one or two
exceptions, but slight variations. Landa's figure is represented at
LXVI, 16, those usual in the codices in LXVI, 17, 18, 19, and an
irregular form found in Dres. 10c in symbol 20 of the same plate. When
used in combination with other glyphs and otherwise than as a day
symbol, the form, though usually typical, is subject occasionally to
wide variations, though there is considerable doubt whether the latter
are to be considered _ben_ symbols.

Dr Seler contends that the figure originated from the plaited reed or
mat, which, if correct, enables us to trace it by gradations to a wholly
different figure. But before referring further to these, it is best that
the signification of the names should be given, as determined by
linguistic evidence.

The Nahuatl name _acatl_ signifies "reed," "cane," or "stalk;" and,
according to Ximenes and Brasseur, the Quiche-Cakchiquel _ah_ also
signifies "reed," especially the "cornstalk" or "sugar cane." The
Zapotec _quii_ has also the same signification, "reed," and Dr Brinton
says _laa_ has the same meaning, but Dr Seler says he can not find it
with this signification in the lexicons, nor do I find it in any to
which I have access. The Maya and Tzental _ben_, however, presents a
more serious difficulty in the attempt to bring it into harmony with the
others. Dr Seler contents himself with reference to certain words which
have _been_ or _ben_ as their root. This root, he says, signifies
"consumed," and the words to which he refers mean "to be consumed," "to
waste away," "to fail, be lacking, go away." This is also the
signification to which Dr Brinton refers. "I find," he says, "that in
Tzental the dried cornstalk (cana de mais seco) is called _cagh-ben_,
and from this I doubt not this day-name in that dialect and the Maya was
taken and syncopated. The verb _ben_ or _been_ in Tzental means 'to
walk, to go,' but in the above compound the _ben_ is from the Maya stem
_benel_, 'to be used up, to be dead.'"

The opinion of Dr Seler, above stated, that the symbol of this day
originated from the delineation of the plaited reed or mat, is based on
the representation of the mat both in symbols and f