Day Symbols of the Maya Year Part 8

[240-1] I was not aware that _oc_ had the signification "dog" in any of the Mayan languages, nor do I find that Seler or Brinton appeal to this fact in their efforts to explain the day name in the Maya calendar.

However, Dr Brinton remarks that Bra.s.seur and Seler think that some forms of the symbol "portray the ears of a dog, as in some of the Mayan dialects the dog is called _oc_."

[240-2] Dr Brinton (Primer, p. 95) says that this is called "an article of food, by Thomas." While this is correct in the sense that I speak of the turkey (_kutz_ or _cuitz_) as food, it is incorrect in giving the impression that I interpret the symbol by "article of food," as I have always interpreted it "turkey."

[245-1] Dr Brinton says it is the face of an old woman with a peculiar pointed earmark.

[248-1] Brinton says the _ben_ symbol looks to him "like a wooden bridge, the two supports of which are shown and which was sometimes covered with a straw mat." If so, it must be shown in profile, and the hanging marks above (see LXVI, 16, 17, 19) would seem to be without signification; moreover, in LXVI, 18, the supports hang from above, which would, on this theory, imply a hanging bridge.

[250-1] Cong. Inter. Americanistes, 1881, tom. 2.

[250-2] Dr Brinton says the usual form suggests scattered grain husks, the word for which is _xiix_.

[257-1] Jour. Am. Eth. and Arch., II, p. 38.

APPENDIX

A LIST OF THE DEITIES OF THE DAYS OF THE MONTH IN THE MAORI CALENDAR (AFTER TAYLOR).

1. _Tane_ was the parent of the tui, of birds in general, and trees.

2. _Ru_, the father of lakes and rivers.

3. _Rupe_, of the pigeon.

4. _Tangaroa_, of fish.

5. _Irawaru_, of dogs.

6. _Nga rangi-h.o.r.e_, of stones.

7. _Mauika_, of fire.

8. _Maui_, of the land.

9. _Mumuhanga_, of the Totara; also called Tukau moana.

10. _Paruri_, of the Tui [bird].

11. _Papa_, of the Kiwi [Apterix Australis].

12. _Owa_, of the dog; he was also the father of Irawaru.

13. _Pahiko_, of the Kaka.

14. _Punga Matua_, of the shark (tuatini), lizard, and tamuri [the snapper-fish].

15. _Tute maona_, of the Kahikatoa [a plant so named].

16. _Hina-moki_, of the rat.

17. _Tuwairore_, of the Kahikatea [a certain tree] and Rimu [a species of pine].

18. _Haere-awa-awa_, of the Weka [a large bird].

19. _Rongo_, of the k.u.mara [sweet potato]; also called Rongomatane.

20. _Tiki_, of man.

21. _Tute-nga-nahu_, of evil.

22. _Tahu_, of all good.

23. _Tawiri-matea_, of the winds.

24. _Mokoikuwaru_, of lizards.

25. _Otunai-rangi_, of the palm tree (nikau) and flax (harakeke).

26. _Haumia_, of the fern root.

27. _Tomairangi_, of dew.

28. _Haupapa_, of ice.

29. _Hauhunga_, of cold.

30. _Te-apu hau_, father of storm and tempests.

It must be understood that these are not the names of the days, but of the deities which preside over them, and of the things which they created or of which they had special care.