More to the purpose of explaining the prophecy in the text is the statement of Francisco Hernandez, who, as reported by Bishop Las Casas, relates that in the mythology of the Mayas, the god or gods Bacab, those who support the four corners of the heaven and who are identified with the "year bearers" or Dominical days of the calendar, died on the day One Imix, and after three days came to life again. (Las Casas, _Historia Apologetica de las Indias Occidentales_, cap. CXXIII.) This has reference apparently to the intercalary days Imix, Ik, and Akbal, which were counted so as to allow the next Kin Katun period to begin on I[TN-35] Kan. I have explained this theory fully in a paper, "Notes on the Codex Troano and Maya Chronology," in the _American Naturalist_, Sept. 1881. Naturally this was supposed by the Spanish missionaries to be a reference to Christian traditions. _Ca tip u chemob_, when the ships were rocking; _tipil_ represents the slipping and sliding movement of a partially submerged or hidden body; thus the beating of the heart and the pulse is _tipilac_. _Ca yumtah banderas ob_, when the banners waved; _yumtah_ is to swing to and fro as a hamack or a flag. _Piixtahob_, from _pixitah_, to unreel or reel off yarn, etc., from a spindle. I suppose it refers to letting go the anchor. The derivation of the name Yucatan here given is interesting, for several reasons. In the first place, it makes it evident that Pech did not believe it was an abbreviation of Yucalpeten (see ante, page 255). Again, although it has very often been stated that the name arose from a misunderstanding of some native words by the Spaniards, there has been no uniformity of opinion as to what these words were. Several of the phrases suggested have been such as have no meaning in the Maya tongue; (see full discussions of the question in Eligio Ancona, _Historia de Yucatan_, Vol. I, pp. 219, 220, and Crescencio Carrillo, _Historia Antigua de Yucatan_, cap. V.) As given by Pech it is perfectly intelligible and good Maya. Without syncope it would be "_Matan ca ubah a than_" shortened to "_Ma c'ubah than_,[TN-36] "We do not understand your speech." Pech is in error, however, in supposing that the name arose on the arrival of Montejo; it was in use immediately after the expedition of Cordova (1517), and if Bernal Diaz was correct in his recollection, was applied to the land by the Indians Cordova brought back to Cuba with him from the Bay of Campeachy. (See Bernal Diaz, _Historia Verdadera de la Conquista de Nueva España_, cap. VII.)