ood be correct, it is possible that the
symbol is also sometimes used to indicate "maize," _ixim_ or _xim_, on
account of its phonetic value. As will be shown farther on, the _kan_
symbol is not only used to denote the grain of maize and maize in the
general sense, but it appears to denote in some cases bread or the
tortilla.

THE SECOND DAY

Maya, _ik_; Tzental, _igh_; Quiche-Cakchiquel, _ik'_; Zapotec, _gui_,
_ni_, _laa_, _laala_ or _liaa_; Nahuatl, _ehecatl_.

The form of the symbol of this day presents a number of minor
variations, the more important of which are shown in plate LXIV, 18-26.
Symbol 18 is the form given by Landa; 19-24, those found in the codices;
25 is from the left slab of the Palenque tablet or altar plate, and 26
is from the Tikal inscription.

So far as this character can satisfactorily be interpreted, where used
otherwise than as a day symbol, the signification appears to be wind,
spirit, or life, whether considered phonetic or not. As illustrations of
its use, the following examples are presented:

At the right side of Dres. 72c are the three characters shown in plate
LXIV, 27, 28, and 29, which follow one another downward, as shown in the
figure, the three forming one of the short columns of the series to
which they belong. From the lowest, which is the _ik_ symbol, waving
blue lines, indicating water, extend downward to the bottom of the
division. If these glyphs are considered ideographic and not phonetic,
it is still possible to give them a reasonable interpretation. The
falling water shows that they relate to the rain storm or tempest. The
uppermost character, which appears to be falling over on its side, we
may assume to be the symbol of a house or building of some kind;[215-1]
the dotted lines extending from its surface may well be supposed to
represent rain driven from the roof. There is, however, another possible
interpretation of this character which appears to be consistent with
Mexican and Central American mythology. It is that it indicates a house,
vessel, or region of the heavens which holds the waters of the upper
world. The turning on the side would, in this case, denote the act of
pouring out the water in the form of rain. This supposition (although I
am inclined to adopt the former) appears to be supported by the fact
that this character is used in the Dresden Codex as one of the cloud or
heaven symbols, as, for example, on plates 66 and 68. According to
Ramirez, the M