the
Borgian Codex, one of which is shown in plate LXV, 6, are _tecpatl_
figures; of this, however, there is considerable doubt. Seler's opinion
is based on those of this type. There can be no doubt that here this
spindle-shape figure represents the shooting plant, the central stock or
stem, or, what is far more likely, the seed which gives birth to the
plant. Although they occupy the position of the stock or stem, yet from
the form, the fact that some of them have the eye, and that from them
the roots stretch downward, I am inclined to believe they are intended
to denote the seed. The _kan_ symbol, as above stated, is also
represented in the codices as that which gives birth to the plant, as
that from which the sprouting plant springs. It is probable, therefore,
that it was originally taken from the grain of maize, which it fairly
represents.

Now it is well known that "yellow" is one of the primary meanings of
_kan_, and that the word is closely associated with fruit, the "yellow"
referring in a large degree to the ripening fruit, especially of the
maize plant. According to Henderson one signification of _kan_ is "ripe,
as fruit, timber," and, according to Perez, _kankanil_ is "sazon en
[que] las frutas, aunque no esten maduras por estar las mas tomando el
color amarillo." In Cakchiquel _kan_ (_gan_) signifies "yellow, ripe,
rich." According to Otto Stoll, _vuich_ (or _vuach_), which is almost
identical with the Zapotec name of the day, is the word for "fruit" in
several of the Maya dialects. According to the vocabulary of Cordova, as
given by Ternaux-Compans, "yellow" in Zapotec is _nagache_, and in
Fuller's MS. Vocabulary it is _na-gutchi_, the _na_ being a prefix
signifying "thing." The anonymous author, however, writes it _brechii_.
We also notice that "gold" in this language is _yache_, probably
referring to the color. It is likely, therefore, that the Zapotec name
of this day signifies "yellow, ripe, mature," referring to fruits,
especially maize.

When maize was introduced into New Zealand it was named _kanga_,
probably after the Malay _tangkai_, the name for an "ear of corn." The
Meztitlan name of the day is _Xilotl_, "an ear of corn," or "a young
maize shoot." These facts seem to show that the symbol has some
reference to maize, and tend to confirm the view expressed above, that
the compound symbol shown in plate LXIV, 9, denotes "maize bread." The
presence of the _kan_ character in the symbol of the month