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In pursuance of the plan of publishing translations of valuable
contributions to the study of the Maya hieroglyphs, the Museum Committee on
Central American Research has the pleasure of offering the following
translation of Dr. Ernst Förstemann's important Commentary on the Maya
Manuscript in the Royal Library of Dresden, generally known as the Dresden
Codex.
The translation by Miss Selma Wesselhoeft and Miss A. M. Parker was made
under the direction of Mr. Charles P. Bowditch of the Museum Committee.
In the original German edition, published in 1901, Dr. Förstemann used the
Arabic numerals to designate the days, but in this translation, with the
consent of the author who has kindly revised the translation, Mr. Bowditch
has substituted the corresponding Maya names of the days, in uniformity
with the general use of students in this country. It is needless to call
attention to the importance of this paper by Dr. Förstemann whose
long-continued study of the intricate system of hieroglyphic writing by the
ancient Mayas makes all he writes of great value to students engaged in
this most interesting research.