chicontecpantli ipan matlactetl (Osu4v)

This painted simplex Nahuatl hieroglyph plus a notation represents 150 (7 twenties plus 10 more) loads of tenextli (lime, in English, or cal, in Spanish) for use in construction. The twenties are represented by upright flags (tecpantli, one of the ways of saying 20, especially for things in a line or a row) with paper or textile banners in white (paper or fabric, unclear) and tan, probably wooden posts. These are all connected by a horizontal line. Above the flags are two groups of five dots, making ten. Each group of five dots (ones) are also connected by a horizontal line. The counting of ones by five is a layover from the system of counting fingers and toes to make twenty, the vigesimal base number. The loads of lime are wrapped, perhaps in cloth, and tied with cord or rope in two places. The loads were prepared for a Spanish overlord, a judge of the high court (Audiencia) named Doctor [Diego López de] Montealegre. Nothing is said on this page about being frustrated with a lack of payment for the lime. It is only noted that the Doctor had passed away.