appears among the sacrifices.

I fail to understand why this authority applies the symbol to the
"stalk," when it is the fruit, the ear, the grain, which furnishes food,
and may therefore be very properly used as the symbol of food.

In plate LXV, 5, is presented a copy of one of these corn offerings as
found on Tro. 9*b. As the vessel containing the offering appears to be a
vase, pot, or olla, it seems improbable that the offering it contains
should consist of maize stalks. It is true, however, that instances
occur, as on plates 21-23, Troano, where the stalk rises from the _kan_
symbols contained in a vessel, but these are evidently given in a
figurative sense, as the vessel rests on a serpent. But even here there
is evidence that the symbol denotes the grain or ear, and not the stalk,
as in the lower right-hand corner of plate 21 a human figure is
represented as feeding a bird with the symbol, which can not be
construed in this instance as representing the stalk.[227-1]

Ximenes, who gives the Cakchiquel name as _cat_, says it refers to a net
used for carrying maize, but means "lizard." Dr Seler, referring to this
statement, says he strongly suspects that "the Mexican equivalent of
this character has furnished him with this interpretation." He adds
further that, in his opinion, "it has no connection with the Maya root
_kan_, _kaan_, 'rope,' 'cord,' 'mat-cord,' and _kan_--Quiche-Cakchiquel,
_k'an_ (_gan_)--'yellow.'" He believes the Maya term is derived from
_kaanan_, _kanan_, which signifies "to be superfluous," "overflow," "to
abound."

Dr Brinton thinks that the Zapotec _guache_, translated by Seler "frog
or toad," is more likely a variant of _gurache_ or _gorache_, "iguana."

It is apparent from these widely different opinions that the
signification of none of the names, save that of the Mexican
calendar--_cuetzpallin_, "lizard"--has been satisfactorily determined.

In attempting to ascertain the signification of the names of the day,
exclusive of the Mexican calendar, it is best to exclude from
consideration at first the signification of the latter, and allow it to
have no influence in arriving at a conclusion. The attempt by Dr Brinton
to force agreement with the latter appears to be unsatisfactory.

I am inclined to agree with Dr Seler that the Maya symbol for the day
_kan_ and the Mexican symbol for _tecpatl_, "flint," are based on the
same fundamental concept, if the flint-like symbols on plate 12 of