I have no interpretation to
offer.[248-1]

THE FOURTEENTH DAY

Maya, _ix_ or _hix_; Tzental, _hix_; Quiche-Cakchiquel, _balam_, _yiz_,
or _hix_; Zapotec, _eche_; Nahuatl, _ocelotl_.

The symbol of this day is found in quite a number of different forms,
some of which are wide variations from the prevailing type.

Landa's figure is shown in plate LXVI, 31. The usual forms found in the
Tro. Codex are LXVI, 32 to 37; 36 is somewhat rare. That shown at 38 is
found only on plate 30*c, and that showing the animal head (39) on plate
12c. No essential variations from these are found in either the Codex
Peresianus or Cortesianus. Those shown in LXVI, 40-42, are from the
Dresden Codex.

The Nahuatl name and the Quiche-Cakchiquel, _balam_, denote the "tiger,"
possibly the jaguar, though the Mexican name certainly refers to the
_ocelot_. Dr Brinton says that the Zapotec _eche_, or in the full form
_be-eche-guia_, has the same signification. Dr Seler, however, derives
it from the term _peche-tao_, "the great animal"--the tiger, or
ferocious animal. But the other names, _ix_, _hix_, _hiix_ or _gix_, as
they are variously written (though really one word), present a more
serious difficulty to the attempt to bring them into harmony with the
others.

Dr Seler says:

The Cakchiquel term _yiz_, i. e., the Maya _h-ez_, "the sorcerer,"
may well be considered as giving an explanation of the Maya name of
this day character (_ix_). My conception, after one more link in
the chain of evidence pointing toward it, is that the day-character
system has become known to the Mayas through the medium of the
cognate branches of Chiapas, for we frequently find the
Tzental-Zotzil _x_ corresponding to the Maya _z_.

Dr Brinton says that the Maya, Tzental, and Cakchiquel word _hix_ or
_ix_ means "sorcerer," though he does not furnish the evidence.
Moreover, he adds immediately after that "it is probable _ix_ is a
variant of _ik_ or _igh_ 'wind, breath, life,'" and makes the connection
by referring to the fact that blowing was practiced in medicine rites.
It would have been more satisfactory, however, had he given the evidence
on which he based his assertion that the Maya and Tzental name means
"sorcerer." According to Ximenes the Cakchiquel name _yiz_ denotes the
"sorcerer;" and it is probable that the signification of _ix_ or _hix_
is the same, as the codices appear to give support to this conclusion.

On Dres.