In the Zuñi country, still existed a few years ago, if it does not to-day, a primitive astronomical station. It is a rude little structure containing an erect slab of sandstone adorned with the circular face of the sun, and it is used, as it was long ago, for determining the Zuñi chronology. The Aztec year had eighteen months of twenty days each and that of the Mayas was the same. The Maya week had thirteen days, and the days were counted from one to thirteen continuously throughout the year—that is, each month did not begin with 1 but with whatever number happened to fall on that day; it might be 2 or 5 or 8 or 13 or in fact any number up to 13. The eighteen months gave them only 360 days, but they intercalated at the end of each year the five days necessary to round it out. At least so the early Spanish writers state, though Thomas, who has given close attention to this subject, has said that he felt doubtful on that point.[276] Prescott states without question, concerning the Aztecs: “Five complementary days, as in Egypt, were added, to make up the full number of three hundred and sixty-five. They belonged to no month and were regarded as peculiarly unlucky. A month was divided into four weeks of five days each.”[277] [Illustration: SMALL METAL FIGURE, CHIRIQUI Copper-gold alloy ] The six hours over the 365 days which we make up in our leap year the Aztecs allowed to run to the end of their fifty-two year cycle, when they intercalated it all at one time, the actual period being twelve and one half days. This brought them “within an almost inappreciable fraction,” says Prescott, “to the exact length of the tropical year, as established by the most accurate observations.”[278] The Aztecs had a second calendar used by the priests for keeping their own records and making their own calculations, and doubtless the Maya had the same practice. The Cakchiquel year consisted of 366 days. That of the Maya was 365. The former, therefore, says Goodman, “could have no fixed date for its beginning, relative to solar or terrestrial phenomena, but must revolve regularly through the seasons.... The year might begin at the summer or the winter solstice, at the vernal or the autumnal equinox, or any other period.”[279]