Chapter IV: Part III: Graphic Systems and Literature

INTRODUCTORY 193–194

THE PHONETIC ELEMENTS IN THE GRAPHIC SYSTEMS OF THE MAYAS AND
MEXICANS 195–212

Material for the study; were the native hieroglyphs
phonetic? Character and arrangement of phonetic symbols;
the failure of Landa’s alphabet; phonetic signs in Maya
MSS.; hieroglyph of the firmament; phonetic terminals;
signs of cardinal points; Mexican phonetic elements;
principle of the rebus; examples; the ikonomatic system.

THE IKONOMATIC METHOD OF PHONETIC WRITING 213–229

Thought-Writing and Sound-Writing; the ikonomatic method
explained; illustrations from Egyptian inscriptions; from
the canting arms in heraldry; from the Mexican
picture-writing; values of position and colors;
determinatives and ideograms in Aztec MSS.; further
illustrations from Maya hieroglyphs; Chipeway pictography.

THE WRITING AND RECORDS OF THE ANCIENT MAYAS 230–254

1. Introductory—Phoneticism in Maya and Aztec writing. 2.
Descriptions by Spanish writers; by Peter Martyr; by Las
Casas; by Alonso Ponce; by Lizana; by Aguilar; by Buena
Ventura; by Cogolludo; by Soto-Mayor; by Landa; facsimile
of Landa’s alphabet; critiques on it; conclusions. 3.
References from native sources; Maya words for “writing,”
“book,” “calendar,” etc.; a prophecy of Ahkul Chel
translated. 4. The existing Codices; the Dresden Codex; the
Codex Peresianus; the Codex Troano; the Codex Cortesianus;
the mural paintings and inscriptions.

THE BOOKS OF CHILAN BALAM 255–273

High civilization of ancient Mayas; destruction of their
literature; modern Books of Chilan Balam; signification of
this name; contents of the Books; specimen of the
prophecies; linguistic value; opinion of Pio Perez; length
of the Maya year-cycles; hieroglyphs of the months and
days; the 13 _ahau katuns_; medical contents of the books.

ON THE “STONE OF THE GIANTS.” 274–283

Location of the Stone near Orizaba; its figures; refer to a
date in February, 1502; translation of the hieroglyphs, and
identification of the date as that of the death of the
Emperor Ahuitzotzin; the stone a sepulchral tablet.

NATIVE AMERICAN POETRY 284–304

Nature of poetry; principle of repetition; Eskimo nith
songs; other Eskimo songs; a Pawnee song; Kioway love
songs; a Chipeway serenade; Aztec love songs; war-songs of
the Otomis; of the Aztecs; of the Qquichuas; prophetic
chants of the Mayas. Faculty of poetry universal.