n Codex 355
380. The god Ekchuah, after the Troano and Cortesian Codices 358
381. The long nosed god (Kukulcan) or god with the snake-like
tongue 359
382. Copy of head from the Borgian Codex (Quetzalcoatl?) 360
383. The supposed god of death from the Dresden Codex 361
384. The supposed god of death from the Troano Codex 361
385. The god with the banded face from the Troano Codex 362
386. The god with the old man's face 363
387. The god with face crossed by lines 364
388. Wooden idol in vessel with basket cover 371

AIDS TO THE STUDY OF THE MAYA CODICES.

BY CYRUS THOMAS.

INTRODUCTION.

The object of this paper is to present to students of American
paleography a brief explanation of some discoveries, made in regard to
certain Maya codices, which are not mentioned in my previous papers
relating to these aboriginal manuscripts.

It is apparent to every one who has carefully studied these manuscripts
that any attempt to decipher them on the supposition that they contain
true alphabetic characters must end in failure. Although enough has been
ascertained to render it more than probable that some of the characters
are phonetic symbols, yet repeated trials have shown beyond any
reasonable doubt that Landa's alphabet furnishes little or no aid in
deciphering them, as it is evidently based on a misconception of the Maya
graphic system. If the manuscripts are ever deciphered it must be by long
and laborious comparisons and happy guesses, thus gaining point by point
and proceeding slowly and cautiously step by step. Accepting this as
true, it will be admitted that every real discovery in regard to the
general signification or tenor of any of these codices, or of any of
their symbols, characters, or figures, or even in reference to their
proper order or relation to one another, will be one step gained toward
the final interpretation. It is with this idea in view that the following
pages have been written and are now presented to the students of American
paleography.

It is impracticable to present fac simile copies of all the plates and
figures referred to, but it is taken for granted that those sufficiently
interested in this study to examine this paper have access to the
published