purporting to be originally Indian, which, at their very inception,
show a singular admixture of foreign elements. The first sentences
appear to be transcriptions from the book of Genesis. They are not
aboriginally American.--We are therefore led to investigate whether,
prior to 1550, European influences could have been brought to bear
upon the recollection and the imagination of the natives.--There is
very positive evidence to that effect.--The monks, at the earliest
stages of conversion, used paintings of their own, to impress upon the
natives the notions of a creation of the world, of the deluge and
salvation of a single pair therefrom, &c., &c.--The Dominican Father
Gonzalo Lucero travelled about with painted charts representing such
striking events, which he displayed in confirmation of his teachings.
Fray Jacobo Testera (he died Aug. 8, 1543) used similar means. Fray
Pedro de Angulo, who went with Las Casas to Guatemala and was made
Provincial of Chiapas in 1561, wrote three dissertations in the
Zutuhil language, one on the Creation of the World, one on Adam's
Fall, and one on the Expulsion of our first fathers from
Paradise.--Fray Luis Cancer wrote similar pages in the language of
Oajaca, previous to 1546.--Fray Domingo Vico, who was killed by the
Indians of Lacandon, in 1555, wrote his "Teologia para los Indios," in
the Quiché language, also a dissertation on the "Eternal Paradise," in
the language of Vera-Paz.--But there is also indisputable proof that
_songs were composed on the subject of the creation of the world_ and
other parts of the Hebrew Genesis, in the Quiché language, which songs
were used as the means of conversion of the natives of Vera-Paz in
1537. (Remesal. Lib. III., Cap. XI., p. 124.) They had been composed
by Las Casas, Fray Rodrigo de Ladrada, Fray Pedro de Angulo, and
probably Fray Luis Cancer. Many other similar ones were composed
afterwards.
Thus we see that, prior to 1550, ecclesiastics had commenced to write
upon cosmological subjects with our letters and in the languages of
Guatemala, and that, on the other hand, Christian cosmogony had become
a text for Indian songs. The "Popol Vuh" has therefore nothing
extraordinary in its origin; it is but a child of its time, like the
"Memorial de Tecpan-Atitlan," by the Chief of Sololá, only
anonymous,--and preceded by a cosmological introduction made up of
Christian and Indian tales confusedly intermingled, and therefore
apocryphal so far. These criticisms, however, apply merely to the
"first part,"--the rest of the "Popol Vuh" appears to be original, and
therefore of the greatest value. This however cannot be said of the
translation, only of the MS. A new translation, supervised by a
native, should be obtained at any price.
"Grammaire Quichée, et le Drame Rabinal-Aché." Paris, 1862.
Of the "Rabinal-Aché," a new translation is absolutely requisite. Mr.
Brasseur, like all translators of Indian songs, has so disfigured it
by the introduction of a foreign terminology, as to render it useless
for any one who has no access to vocabularies, &c.
JOHN L. STEPHENS. (See Yucatan), also FREDERICK CATHERWOOD.
JUAN GALINDO. (See Yucatan and Chiapas.)
What I have seen of his reports has left upon my mind the impression
that he means to be truthful, but in his zeal and eagerness saw "too
big," and again "too often."
"The Ruins of Copan in Central America." Transactions of the American
Antiquarian Society, Vol. II., pp. 545-550. 1836.
"Notions sur Palenque," &c., &c., "transmises à la Société
géographique de France," in "Antiquités méxicaines," Vol. I., pp.
73-76.--Published also in the "Bulletin" of the French Geographical
Society, and in the "Literary Gazette" of London.
E. G. SQUIER. "The Serpent-Symbol, and the Worship of the Reciprocal
Principles of Nature in America." N. York, 1851.
"The States of Central America: their Geography, Topography, &c., &c.
Aborigines," N. York, 1858.
"Notes on Central América, particularly the States of Honduras and San
Salvador." N. York, 1855.--German translation, Leipzig, 1856.--French
version, Paris, 1855.--Spanish, Paris, 1856, (two different
translations.)
"Honduras, Descriptive, Historical and Statistical." London, 1870.
"Honduras and Guatemala." "The National Intelligencer." N. York, 1854.
"The Ruins of Tenampua." Although in Honduras, they appear
traditionally connected with Copan. N. York, 1853, in "Proceedings of
the Historical Society of New York."
"Monograph of Authors who have Written on the Languages of Central
America." Albany, 1861.--A very valuable and important contribution to
bibliography.
* * * * *
CARL SCHERZER. "Wanderungen durch die mittel-amerikanischen
Freistaaten." Braunschweig, 1857.--English version, London, 1857.
"Narrative of the Circumnavigation of the Globe by the Austrian
frigate Novara." London, 1861. (The official reports on the results of
the circumnavigation, &c., are very rare.)
"Die Indianer von Ixtlahuacan." Vienna, 1856.
"Ein Besuch bei den Ruinen von Quirigua." Vienna, 1855.
I omit here his linguistical writings, and his publication of the
"Historia del Origen de los Indios, &c.," in 1857.--See Ximenez.
MORITZ WAGNER, AND CARL SCHERZER. "Die Republik Costa-Rica in Central
Amerika." Leipzig, 1857.--Describes the ruins of Quirigua.
MANUEL GALVAN RIVERA. "Historia de México, Guatemala, Estados-Unidos
del Norte, Perú, &c." México, 1852.
"GACETA DE GUATEMALA." (From 1797.) Contains interesting notices,
historical and ethnological.
"PERIODICO DE LA SOCIEDAD ECONÓMICA DE GUATEMALA." (Only 24 numbers
published in 1815 and 1816.) 1 May, 1815, to 15 April, 1816.
THE PADRES: CHICA, ABELLA, AND ESCOTO, AND AGUILAR. "Informes, al
Ill'mo Señor Arzobispo de Guatemala, tocantes á la Vera-Paz." 1819 and
1820. MSS.
DOMINGUEZ DE MAZARIEGOS. (See Chiapas.)
DOMINGO FAJARDO. "Informe dirigido al Gobierno Supremo de México,
relativo á su Mision á Vera-Paz y Peten." Campeche, 1828.
ORLANDO N. ROBERTS. "Narrative of Voyages and Excursions on the East
Coast and in the Interior of Central America." Edinburgh, 1827.
CARL HERMANN BERENDT. "Report of Explorations in Central America."
Smithsonian Report, 1867.
"Collection of historical documents on Guatemala." Smithsonian Report,
1876.
"Die Indianer des Isthmus von Tehuantepec."--Zeitschrift für
Ethnologie. Berlin, 1873, Vol. V.
"_Analytical Alphabet_ for the Mexican and Central American
Languages." Published by the American Ethnological Society. New York,
1869.
"_Cartilla en Lengua Maya_ para la enseñanza de los niños indigenes."
Mérida, 1871.
_El Ramie._ Tratado sobre el cultivo y algunas noticias de esta
planta. Mérida de Yucatan, 1871. (Ed. de la Revista de Mérida.)
_Los Escritos de D. Joaquin Garcia Icazbalceta._ Ed. de la Revista de
Mérida. Tomo II., 1870.
"_Articulo sobre El México_," se halla en el "Deútsch Amerikanisches
Conversations Lexicon, barbeitet von. Prof. Alex. I. Schem. Lieferung
64, Band VII., Seite 261, pp. 27. (N. Y. 1872.)
"_Remarks on the Centres of Ancient Civilization in Central America_,
and their Geograpical Distribution." Address read before the Am.
Geogr. Society, N. Y., July 10th, 1876, with map.
_Zur Ethnologie von Nicaragua._ Articulo publicado en
Correspondenz-Blatt der deutschen Gesellschaft für Anthropologie,
Ethnologie und Urgeschichte. Redigirt von N. A. v. Frantzius in
Heidelberg, No. 9, September, 1874.
In "Geographische Mittheilungen" von A. Petermann, Gotha.
(The above makes no pretension to be a full list of the eminent
linguist's publications.)
ALEXANDER VON FRANTZIUS. (See Palacio.)
"San Salvador and Honduras im Iahre, 1847."--Annotated also by
Berendt.
GUSTAV BERNOULLI. "Reisen in der Republik Guatemala."--In "Petermann's
Mittheilungen," 1874-75.
BARON DER THEIL. "Le Guatemala." In "l'Explorateur," Vol. III. 1876.
J. LAFERRIER. "De Paris au Guatémala." Paris, 1877.
GEORGE WILLIAMSON. "Antiquities in Guatemala." Smithsonian Reports,
1876. (Very interesting and of great value for archæological studies.)
J. W. BODDAM-WETHAM. "Across Central America." London, 1877.
ADOLPH BASTIAN. "Die Monumenta in Santa Lucia
Cozumalguapa."--"Zeitschrift für Ethnologie," 1876.
"Die Culturlaender des alten Amerikas." (See Yucatan.)
GUSTAV BRÙHL. (See Yucatan.)
H. W. BATES. "Central America, West Indies, and South America."
London, 1878.
A. BONCARD. "Le Guatèmala."--In "L'explorateur," 1878. No. 23.
FRANCISCO PIMENTEL. (See Yucatan and Chiapas.)
MANUEL OROZCO Y BERRA. (See Yucatan, &c.)
S. HABEL. "The Sculptures of Santa Lucia Cozumalguapa."--Smithsonian
Contributions, No. 269.--Washington, 1878.
In closing this list, I must again distinctly state, that it is very
imperfect,--and that no one acquainted with the literature of Central
America can fail to notice many omissions.--But I had neither time,
nor opportunity to do better, owing to the state of my health. In
conclusion, I wish to advert to a few books of an exclusively
bibliographical tenor, which every student of American history must at
least attempt to consult.--Some of them are, unfortunately, extremely
rare:
NICOLÁS ANTONIO. "Bibliotheca Hispana Nova, &c." 1st edition, Rome,
1672. 2d edition, Madrid, 1733-38.
JUAN JOSÉ DE EGUIARA Y EGUREN. "Biblioteca Mexicana." México, 1755.
Incomplete: only the first volume published.
ANTONIO DE ALCEDO. "Biblioteca americana." MS. Original belonged to
Mr. Jared Sparks. México, 1807.
J. MARIANO BÈRISTAIN DE SOUZA. "Biblioteca Hispana Americana.
Septentrional." México, 1816 and 1819, 3 volumes. (Exceedingly rare.)
BRASSEUR DE BOURBOURG. "Bibliothéque méxico-guatemalienne." Paris,
1871.
* * * * *
I forbear quoting here at length the bibliographical works of
Harrisse, Rich, Ludewig, Ternaux-Compans, Sabin, and others.--They are
deservedly well known, and of easy access to any student.
OAJACA. ("Huaxyacac.")
_Writers of the Sixteenth Century._
HERNAN CORTÉS. (2d letter.)
BERNAL DIEZ DEL CASTILLO. (Casual notice.)
FRANCISCO LOPEZ DE GOMARA. ("Conquista de México.")
FRAY TORIBIO DE PARADES, SURNAMED MOTOLINIA. ("Historia de los Indios
de la Nueva-España." See bibliography of Yucatan.)--This is probably
the earliest mention of the ruins of Mitla, which were, however,
inhabited at that time. Motolinia has been entirely overlooked by
Bancroft, although his description of Mitla is truly excellent.
GONZALO FERNANDEZ DE OVIEDO Y VALDÉS. (Casual notice.)
CODEX CHIMALPOPOCA. Now in process of publication, in the "Anales del
Museo Nacional de México." Vol. II., by Mendoza, Sanchez Solís, and
Chavero.
JUAN DE TOBAR. "Códice Ramirez,"--published by S^r J. M. Vigil, as an
anonymous chronicle, in 1878. Also "Historia de los Indios Mexicanos."
Original in possession of the Estate of Sir Thomas Phillips, at
Cheltenham, England. Copy of a fragment, privately printed, at the
Lenox Library, New York. (Written between 1579 and 1589.)
DIEGO DURÁN. "Historia de las Indias de Nueva-España, é Yslas de
Tierra firme."--(Written between 1579 and 1581, but only the first
part of it printed, at Mexico, 1867, by S^r José F^r Ramirez.)--Very
important; mentions again Mitla as a settlement inhabited about 1450.
"Apéndice" por Alfredo Chavaro, México, 1880.
FERNANDO DE ALVARADO TEZOZOMOC. "Crónica mexicana."--Written 1598.
Printed for the first time in Vol. IX. of Kingsborough, and again
(though not complete) in the "Biblioteca mexicana" of S^r Vigil, with
notes by S^r Orozco y Berra.--A French translation has been made by
Ternaux-Compans, under the title of "Histoire du Méxique, par Alvarado
Tezozomoc," Paris, 1853, 2 vols. It is utterly unreliable.
FRAY GERÓNIMO DE MENDIETA. (Copies textually from Motolinia.)
FRAY BERNARDINO SAHAGUN. "Historia universal de las Cosas de
Nueva-España," in Vols. 6 and 8 of Kingsborough.--The same book, under
the title of "Historia general, &c., &c." appeared at Mexico, in 3
vols., 1829, edited by C. M. de Bustamante. Only very slight and
casual mention of Oajaca.
_Writers of the Seventeenth Century._
AUGUSTIN DÁVILA-PADILLA.
JUAN DE TORQUEMADA. (Important.)
ANTONIO DE HERRERA. (Important.)
GREGORIO GARCIA. (Important.)
FRANCISCO DE BURGOA. "Palestra Historiale de Virtudes y Exemplares
Apostólicos." México, 1670.
"Geográfica Descripcion de la Parte Septentrional del Polo Artico de
la América." México, 1674. This work is regarded (especially by such
as have not seen it), as the leading work on Oajaca.--I have never
even seen it--it is exceedingly rare.
_Writers of the Eighteenth Century._
MARIANO VEYTIA.
F. X. CLAVIGERO.
ANTONIO DE ALCEDO.
LORENZO BOTURINI BERNADUCCI.
JOSEPH JOAQUIN GRANADOS Y GALVEZ. "Tardes americanas." México, 1778--A
work considerably over-estimated,--containing casual mention of
Oajaca,--fluently written.
_Writers of the Nineteenth Century._
I forbear mentioning here _all_ the writers on Oajaca,--more
particularly avoiding all the general works,--those excepted which
contain plates of special value. The first who called attention to
Mitla was certainly
ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. "Vues des Cordilléres et monuments des peuples
indigénes de l'Amérique." Paris, 1810. Royal folio.--Same, 2 vols. 8^o
Paris, 1816. English version, by Helen M. Williams, London, 1814.
"Essai politique sur la Nouvelle-Espagne." (See "Yucatan.")
MATHIEU DE FOSSEY. "Le Méxique." Paris, 1857.--Very fair.
EDUARD MÛHLENPFORDT. "Versuch einer getreuen Schilderung der Republik
Mejico." Hannover, 1844. 2 vols.
ARTHUR VON TEMPSKY. "Mitla, a Narrative of Incidents and Personal
Adventures." London, 1858.--Of small scientific value.
GUILLERMO DUPAIX, AND CASTAÑEDA. (In "Antiquités Méxicaines," also in
Lord Kingsborough's "Antiquities of Mexico.")
DÉSIRÉ CHARNAY. (Saw the ruins in 1859. His photographs are very
important.)
JOSÉ MARIA GARCIA. (Visited Mitla in 1855, according to "Boletin de la
Sociedad Mexicana de Geografia y Estadistica." Vol. VII., pp. 271 and
272.)
BRANTZ-MAYER. "Mexico as it Was and as it Is." New York, 1844. Very
fair.
"Mexico, Aztec, Spanish and Republican." Hartford, 1853. Very good.
"Observations on Mexican History and Archæology." (Smithsonian
Contributions. No. 86, Washington, 1856.) Contains Sawkins' drawings
of Mitla.
J. W. VON MÜLLER. "Beitrage zur Geschichte und Ethnographie von
Mexico." Leipzig, 1865.
"Reisen in den Vereinigten-Staaten, Canada, and Mexico." Leipzig,
1864.
CARLOS MARIA DE BUSTAMANTE. "Memoria estadística de Oajaca, y
descripcion del Valle del mismo nombre." Vera-Cruz, 1821.
MURGUIA. "Estadistica antigua y moderna de la Provincia de Guajaca."
"Boletin, &c." Vol. II.
JUAN B. CARRIEDO. The writings of this author are, unfortunately, but
little known.--In the "Ilustracion Mexicana," Vol. II., he has given
an essay on "Los Palacios Antiguos de Mitla."--But he has published
other papers and even books on the same subject.
"Estudios históricos, y estadísticos del estado Oaxaqueño." Oajaca,
1850.
The Astor Library of New York has an incomplete copy of a work of
Carriedo on Oajaca, with colored drawings by him,--unfinished. Copious
notes by the author's own hand accompany the text. In historical
questions Carriedo mostly follows and cites Burgoa.
FRANCISCO PIMENTEL. "Cuadro descriptivó de las Lenguas Indígenas de
México." (See Yucatan and Chiapas.)
MANUEL OROZCO Y BERRA. In "Geografia de las Lenguas."--Reference is
made to a number of very important papers on Oajaca, the title of one,
among others, "Estado que comprende el número de Parroquias de la
Diócesis de Oajaca, con expresion de sus nombres, Estado ó Territorio
en que están situadas, número de pueblos, &c., &c."
Further, certain official reports are quoted,--the originals of which
are in the hands of my friend S^r J. G. Icazbalceta,--S^r Orozco
mentions the following:
PEDRO DE LEDESMA. "Relacion de Oajaca, por el alcalde...." 1579.
HERNANDO DE CERVANTES. "Relacion de Teotzacualco y Amoltepec...."
1580.
AUGUSTIN DE SALAZAR. "Relacion del vicario de Chilapa."
JUAN LOPEZ. "Relacion del Corregidor...." 1579.
Finally, I must call attention to a linguistical work, known to me
only through S^r Orozco y Berra's citation, and through references
given by S^r Pimentel--to wit:
ANTONIO DE LOS REYES. "Arte en lengua mixteca." México, 1593.
Numerous grammars, vocabularies, "doctrinas," sermonaries, &c., &c.,
were written in the course of the 16th century, of and in the language
of Oajaca.
EMILIO HÉRBRÜGER. "Album de vistas fotográficas de las antiguas Ruinas
de los Palacios de Mitla." Oaxaca, 1875. Text and valuable
photographs.
* * * * *
In conclusion, I would merely beg to add,--that there can hardly be
any doubt as to the fact that Mitla was _inhabited_ when the Spaniards
first visited the place. It therefore becomes a point of special
interest.