d were of course designated by a hieroglyphic. The names of
the Mexican months seem to have been determined by some of the feasts
happening therein. There is great diversity among the early writers both
as to the names of these months, and the order in which they occur, as
well as by the hieroglyphics by which they are represented.<68> It does
not seem worth while to give their names and meaning. We give a plate
showing the name, order in which they occur, and hieroglyphic symbol of
the Maya months. In point of fact, the months were very little used, as
we shall soon see it was not necessary to name the month to designate
the day; but of that hereafter.

Illustration of Maya Months.---------

But it would not take these people very long to discover that they had
not hit on the length of a year. Eighteen months, of twenty days each,
make only three hundred and sixty days; so the next step would be to add
on five days to their former year. As these days do not make a month,
they were called the nameless days. They were considered as being
unlucky--no important undertaking could be commenced on one of them.
The child born therein was to be pitied. But we will see that the
expression, "nameless days" was hardly the case among the Mayas, though
it was among the Mexicans.

Perhaps this will be as good a place as any to inquire whether they
had exact knowledge of the length of the year. As every one knows, the
length of the year is three hundred and sixty-five and one quarter days,
or very nearly; and for this reason we add an extra day to every fourth
year. We would not expect to find this knowledge among tribes no farther
advanced than we have found these to be. If, as our scholars suspect,
the Maya be the one from which the others were derived, they would be
apt to possess this knowledge, if known. Perez, however, could find no
trace of it among them.<69> Many authors have asserted that the Mexicans
knew all about it. Some say they added a day every four years; others,
that they waited fifty-two years, and then added thirteen days; and
some, even, give them credit for still closer knowledge, and say
they added twelve and one-half days every fifty-two years.<70> Prof.
Valentine, who has made their calendar system a special study, concludes
that they knew nothing at all about the matter.<71>

The beginning of the year is variously stated. Among the Mexicans it
seems that, while the authors differ very much, all but one