when Kan was the first day of every
month. We would naturally think they would describe a day by giving the
name of the day and the month--as, the day Kan, of the month Xul, or the
first day of the month Xul--but instead of so doing, they made use of
the period of thirteen days.

For instance, we see, by looking at the table, that the day ten Kan can
not be any other day during the year than the day above mentioned; so
that, for all purposes, it is sufficient to give the day and its number
in the week. We notice, however, that the last five columns of figures
for week days of thirteen are just the same as the first five. But this
did not confuse any, for the last five columns of days belong to the
"sun-reckoning," the others to the moon-reckoning. And though the number
of the day in the week was the same, yet a different deity ruled over
them than in the corresponding days of the first five columns. We can
not affirm that we know this to be true of the Mayas. Such, however, we
know to be the case among the Mexicans.<76>

Illustration of Almanac for Maya Year "Kan"----------------

Now we notice in this almanac that the last day of the year Kan, is
number one of the week. As the count goes right along, the first day of
the next year, Muluc, must be number two. If we would make an almanac
for that year, we would find the first day of the third year would be
number three of the week. If we were to continue this, we would find
that the first days of the years, would range from one to thirteen.
This table shows the number in the week of the first day of the first
fourteen years. The first day of the fourteenth year would be number
one of the week again, but this time one Muluc, and not Kan. If we would
continue our researches, we would quickly discover that fifty-two years
would go by before we would have a year Kan in which the first day of
the year would be number one again.

No. in the week
of the first day Years.
of the year.
---------------------------------
1 Kan.
2 Muluc.
3 Gix.
4 Cavac.
5 Kan.
6 Muluc.
7 Gix.
8 Cavac.
9 Kan.
10 Muluc.
11 Gix.