e is to be taken into consideration. On
such a date, at such a time, the cacao is to be gathered, is to be
harvested and stored away. Students of these codices, in their attempts
at interpretation, appear, as a general thing, to overlook the fact that
almost every paragraph or group of glyphs in the script is accompanied
by a date which must be taken into consideration in the interpretation.
The symbol which follows immediately to the right, shown in plate
LXVIII, 36, may be rendered _cacau_, the "cacao," as the duplicated
comb-like character is Landa's _ca_.

As the Quiche-Cakchiquel, Zapotec, and Nahuatl names all signify "deer,"
the difficulty in bringing all into harmony lies in the Maya and Tzental
names. Dr Seler's explanation is substantially as follows: That the word
_manik_ is from the root _man_ or _mal_, which signifies "to pass
quickly;" _manik_ may therefore mean "that which passes by," "that which
is fleeting." Dr Brinton gives the same explanation, and concludes that
the deer is referred to metaphorically. In regard to the Tzental name
_moxic_, Dr Seler suggests that it may be founded on the root _max_,
from which is derived _maxan_, "swift." Dr Brinton objects to this
derivation, as _maxan_ with the signification "swift" is from _ma_,
"not," and _xan_, "slow, tardy," and suggests that the name is probably
a corruption of the Nahuatl _mazatl_. However, it may be stated in favor
of Seler's explanation, that Henderson gives _moxan_, "quickly, shortly,
without hindrance," which is apparently another form of _maxan_. Dr
Seler, however, concludes, from a study of the relations in which the
character is found in the codices, that it is the symbol of offering, of
sacrifice, the deer being esteemed the animal most appropriate for this
purpose. Henderson says _manik_ signifies "calm," evidently considering
it to be formed of _ma_, negative, and _ik_, "wind."

It is evident, therefore, that the authorities are at sea in regard to
the signification of the Maya and Tzental names. If the symbol is used,
as Seler claims, to indicate offerings or sacrifices, this may be
readily explained on the supposition that it is used ikonomatically
because of the phonetic value I have assigned it; but otherwise it is
difficult, if not impossible, to see any relation between the symbol and
the name given it. So far I have found it used in no place, in
combination, where the value _manik_ will give a satisfactory
interpretation.