seen, but it has many other acceptations — all conveying the
idea of might and power. It is a variation of can,
"serpent." The serpent, with inflated breast, 
suggested by the contour of the Maya Empire, was adopted as
a symbol of the same. Its name became that of the dynasty
of the Maya rulers, and their totem. We see it sculptured
on the walls of the temples and palaces raised by them. In
Mayach, in Egypt, in China, in India, in Peru, and many
other places the image of the serpent was the badge of royalty.
It formed part of the headdress of the kings; it was embroid-
ered on their royal garments.[1] Khan is still the title of the
kings of Tartary, Burmah, etc. , that of the governors of prov-
inces in Afghanistan, Persia, and other countries in central
Asia.
That the tree 
was also meant by the author of
the Troano MS. as symbol of the Maya Empire,
there can be no doubt. He himself
takes pains to inform us of the fact, 
Beb uaacal (the beb has sprung up) between 
uuc luuniilob, the seven countries 
of Can.
The sign 
is painted red in the original, to indicate the
arable land, kancab. 
was the symbol of land, coun-
try, among the Mayas, as with the Egyptians; but the former
used it also as numerical for five, to which, in this case, must
be added the two units 
. So we have seven fertile lands.
The four black dots are the numerical four, and
another ideographic sign for the name of the country — Can,
"serpent." This is why it is placed at the foot of the
tree, like the sign 
at the top to signify that it is the
kingdom. They are juxtaposed to the character 
