Notes on the Bibliography of Yucatan and Central America

Adolph Francis Bandelier

Notes on the Bibliography of Yucatan and Central America / Comprising Yucatan, Chiapas, Guatemala (the Ruins of Palenque, Ocosingo, and Copan), and Oaxaca (Ruins of Mitla)

YUCATAN

Writers of the Sixteenth Century

Juan Diaz, chaplain to Juan de Grijalva. "Itinerario de l' Armata del Re Catholico in India verso la Isola de Iuchathan del anno M. D. XVIII." – Printed first (in the Italian language) as an appendix to the "Itinerario de Ludovico Varthema," in the edition of 1520, and subsequently in the editions of 1522, 1526 and 1535 of the latter book. It was also translated into the English language by Richard Eden, in the "Historie of Travayles," London, 1577, but I am not sure whether the report of Diaz is contained in it. The most popular translation is that by H. Ternaux-Compans, in his first "Recueil de pièces relatives à la conquéte du Méxique," (Vol. X. of his "Voyages, Relations et Mémoires originaux pour servir à l' histoire de la découverte de l' Amérique,") and the latest and best reprint, together with a splendid Spanish translation, is contained in Vol. I. of "Coleccion de Documentos para la Historia de México," 1858, by Sr J. G. Icazbalceta, of México.

Petrus Martyr ab Angleria. "Enchiridion de insulis nuper repertis simulatque incolarum moribus," Basel, 1521. (Separate print of the 4th Decade, which contains the first items about Yucatan ever published in Europe after Diaz's report).

"De orbe novo decades Petri Martyris ab Angleria, Mediolaneusis, protonotarii, Cesarei senatoris. – Compluti apud Michaelem de Eguia," in December, 1530. Alcalá.

"Opus Epistolarum Petri Martyris Anglerii, Mediolanensis, &c., &c." Also printed by Miguel de Eguia. Alcalá.

Of further reprints, and of translations of Peter Martyr's works (the reports on Yucatan are contained in the 4th and 5th Decades), I merely quote: "Novus orbis regionum ac insularum veteribus incognitarum, &c." by Simon Grynæus, Basel, 1532, embodying Dec's 1, 2, 3, and 4.

(Also the edition of 1536.) – A French translation of the 4th Decade, by Simon de Colines, Paris, 1532. – A German version, by Hôniger of Kônigshofen. – Hackluyt's reprint of 1587. "De orbe novo Petri Martyris Anglerii, &c., &c.," and finally the complete English translation by Michael Lok and Richard Eden: "De novo Orbe, or the Historie of the West Indies, &c., &c.," London, 1612. I need not dwell on the great importance of Martyr's book, for Yucatan.

Hernan Cortés. (His first letter is lost: in place of it the letter of the "Municipality of Vera Cruz," dated 10th July, 1519, contains a short statement about Yucatan. This letter is printed in Vol. I. of "Coleccion de Documentos inéditos para la historia de España," and in Vol. I. of "Historiadores primitivos de Indias," by Enrique de Vedia, Madrid, 1852. – Folsom's translation of 1843. "Despatches of Hernan Cortés, the conqueror of Mexico, &c." substitutes an Introduction by the translator himself. – The earliest mention of this report is found in Robertson: "History of America," Vol. III., p. 289, Edition of 1800, and an abstract is found in Prescott: "Conquest of Mexico," Appendix II., 3d Vol.) "Fifth letter to the Emperor Charles VII.," noticed by Robertson and Prescott; contained, in full, in "Historiadores primitivos de Indias," Vol. I., by Vedia. A full English translation, by Pascual de Gayangos, was published in 1868, by the "Hackluyt Society," vol. 40.

Juan Cristóbal Calvet de Estrella. "De Rebus Gestis Ferdinandii Cortèsii," written between 1548 and 1560, and printed with a Spanish translation: "Vida de Cortés," by Sr. Icazbalceta in Vol. I. of "Col. de Documentos para la Hist. de México." – Short and meagre.

Andrés de Tapia. "Relacion hecha por el Señor Andrés de Tapia, sobre la conquista de México." (Icazbalceta's "Coleccion de Documentos, &c." Vol. II. México, 1866.)

Benedetto Bordone. "Libro di Benedetto Bordone. – Nel qual si ragione tutte l'Isole del mondo con li loro nomi antichi e moderni," 1528. – Later editions also.

Girolamo Benzoni. "Historia del Mondo Nuovo," Venice, 1565. – Translated into German by Nicolaus Hoeniger: "Die Neue Welt und Indianischen Kônigreichs, neue und wahrhaffte geschichte, &c., &c.,' Basel, 1579. – Incorporated in Théodore De Bry "Grosse Reisen," Parts 4, 5, and 6. – Of other prints I but mention the latest English translation, published by the Hackluyt Society in 1857 (Vol. 21,) under the title of "History of the New World, by Girolamo Benzoni," edited as well as translated by Rear-Admiral W. H. Smyth. There are Italian versions of 1572, French of 1587, and Latin of 1600.

Bernal Diez del Castillo. "Historia verdadera de la Conquista de Nueva España," Madrid, 1632. (There may be two editions of the same year). Of the Spanish reprints I mention here (also contained in "Historiadores primitivos de Indias," Vedia, 1852, Vol. II.), the one of 1837, Paris, 4 Vols. 12o, and the other of 1854, México, 4 vols. also. – Two English translations are known to me at present: "The True History of the Conquest of Mexico, by Captain Bernal Diez del Castillo," translated by Maurice Keatings, London, 1800. – "The Memoirs of the Conquistador, Bernal Diez del Castillo," translated by John Ingram Lockhart, London, 1844. – There is also a German translation, by P. J. Rehfuss, Bonn, 1838. – Bernal Diez (not Diaz) is very valuable as eye-witness, having been to Yucatan with Cordoba (1517), Grijalva (1518), Cortés (1519), – and finally with the latter to Honduras, passing through Peten.

Fray Lorenzo de Bienvida. Letter to the Infanto Philip (II.), dated Yucatan, 10 February, 1548. Original in MS. French translation by H. Ternaux-Compans in "1er Recueil de Piéces concernant le Méxique," Vol. X. 1838, of his collection of "Mémoires et documents Originaux, &c., &c."

Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdés. "Historia General y natural de las Indias," composed of 50 books. – The first 19 books, and part of the 50th, were published by the author as early as 1535, – and the first 20 books as early as 1557, – but the entire work has only been printed in 1851, at Madrid, 4 Vols. folio. – It is full of details concerning Yucatan.

Francisco Lopez de Gomara. "Historia general de las Indias, y todo lo acaescido en ellas dende que se ganaron hasta agora. Y la conquista de México, y de la nueva España, &c." Zaragoza, 1552. – Of this book I quote – e. g. – the following Spanish editions: Medina del Campo, 1553, Antwerp, 2 prints, 1554 – Zaragoza, 1555, – and it is also contained in "Historiadores primitivos de Indias," by Andrés Gonzalez Barcia, Madrid, 1749, Vol. II. – and in "Historiadores primitivos de Indias," by Vedia, Madrid, 1852, Vol. I. – There is an Italian version, by Augustino de Cravaliz, Rome, 1556, ("La Histoirie generale delle Indie Occidentali. &c., &c."), and French translations published respectively in 1578, 1587, 1597, and 1605. – Finally, Juan Bautista de San Anton Muñoz Chimalpain Guauhtlehuanitzin made a translation into the Mexican, or "Nahuatl" language, which C. M. Bustamante published at Mexico, in 1826. – I know of no English translation of the work. – It actually consists of two parts, the "Historia General," and the "Conquista de México." – The former contains a short, but fair, description of Yucatan, and the latter a report on Cortés' doings there and matters relating thereto.

Bartolomé de las Casas. Of the numerous (over forty) writings of the Bishop of Chiapas, I select only "Historia de las Indias," published "at last," Madrid, 1875 and 1876, by the Marquis de la Fuensanta del Valle and Don José Sancho Rayon, in 5 vols. The 5th Vol. contains the famous "Apologética Historia." – Another publication of the "Historia de las Indias," though not as complete, has appeared in Mexico in 2 vols., as the first series of Sr. J. M. Vigel's "Biblioteca Mexicana," 1877 and 1878. – It does not contain the "Apologética." – Fragments of the latter are found in Lord Kingsborough's "Antiquities of Mexico," Vol. VIII.

"Brevissima relacion de la destruycion de las Indias," Sevilla, 1552. Of this polemic and strongly tinged memoir there are innumerable versions. – I know of Spanish publications besides the above, and those of London, 1812, – Philadelphia, 1821, – both due to Dr. De Mier, – Madrid, J. A. Llorente, 1822, and México, 1822. – Latin translations: Francfort, 1598; Oppenheim, 1614; Heidelberg, 1664. – French translations: Antwerp, 1579; Amsterdam, 1620; Rouen, 1630; Lyon, 1642; Paris, 1697; Amsterdam, 1698. (The last two contain each five papers of Las Casas), and Paris, 1822. "Oeuvres de Don Bartolomé de las Casas," by J. A. Llorente. – Of Italian Translations (with Spanish text). I allude to those of 1626. Venice. – 1630, Id.: – 1643, Id., and also of 1645. – There is a German translation of 1599. – Dutch translations: Amsterdam, 1610 and 1621, and 1663. – I know of but one English translation, which bears the title "A Relation of the first voyages and discoveries made by the Spaniards in America, &c., &c." London, 1699, – although Dr. Robertson mentions one of 1693. – Las Casas must be used with great caution.

Diego de Landa. "Relacion de las cosas de Yucatan."

Bishop Landa was born in 1524, and died in 1579; his work must therefore have been written between 1549 and the latter date. It was published by the Abbé Brasseur de Bourbourg, in 1860, with a French translation opposite to the Spanish text, and under the title of "Relation des choses de Yucatan." – Republished again in 1864, with some other matter.

The merits of Landa are certainly very great, but the real import of his so-called "A. B. C." ("De sus letras forme aqui un a. b. c." pp. 316-319), has been misunderstood and correspondingly misrepresented. The picture which Landa gives us of the customs and organization of the Mayas is completely at variance with some of his other statements. Much close attention is required.

"Cartas de Indias." Vol. I. Madrid, 1878.

These contain several letters and reports on Yucatan, from the 16th century. I only refer to one, a complaint of four Indian "gobernadores," dated 12 April, 1567, against the Bishop Diego de Landa, designating him as "principal author of all these evils and troubles…"

Joseph de Acosta. "Historia natural y moral de Indias," Sevilla, 1590. I merely mention this author, without entering into further bibliographical details about his work. It has been translated into many languages, and – in part or wholly – incorporated in many general collections of "Americana." He says but little about Yucatan, still his book is indispensable to any one studying Yucatecan antiquities. I also advert here to his former publication, which is but little known: "De promulgatione Evangelii apud Barbaros, sive de procuranda Indorum salute," Libros 6; printed in 1589.

Gerónimo de Mendieta. "Historia ecclesiástica Indiana," written about 1590, but printed for the first time, by Sr. J. G. Icazbalceta, at Mexico, in 1870 – Contains much and valuable information. – Mendieta has been extensively copied by Torquemada.

Fray Toribio de Paredes, Surnamed "Motolinia." "Historia de los Indios de Nueva-España," written about 1540, but published in full only by Sr. Icazbalceta in Vol. I. of "Coleccion de Documentos, &c." – Mentions Yucatan incidentally. – A large part of the work had been printed before in the "Documentos inéditos, &c." under the title of "Ritos Antiguos, Sacrificios é Idolatrias de las Indias de la Nueva-España," – also in Vol. IX. of Lord Kingsborough. – A Latin version, under the title of "De Moribus Indorum" may have existed once.

Yucatan is, furthermore, mentioned in many works of a more general character, embodying information gathered mostly from the sources already referred to. I do not, therefore, enter into any lengthy bibliographical sketches of them.

Simon Grynaeus. "Novus Orbis," 1532. Already noticed under Petrus Martyr.

Petrus Apianus. "Cosmographia," 1539, 1545, 1561 (Dutch version), &c.

Abraham Ortelius. "Theatrum orbis terrarum," 1571, 1588, &c.

Thomaso Porcacchi. "L'isole pio famose del Mondo," 1572, 1576, 1590, &c., &c.

G. Mercator. "Atlas, six Cosmographical Meditations." Duisburg, 1594.

Conrad Loew. "Meer oder See-Ansicht Buch." Cologne, 1598.

Sebastian Munster. "Cosmographey," 1575, &c.

André Thevet. "Les singularites de la France antarctique, autrement nommé Amérique, et de plusieurs Terres et Isles decouvertes de notre temps." – Paris, 1558; Antwerp, 1558; in Italian, at Venice, 1561.

I forbear further mention of the polemic works on the origin of the American Indians, – and now turn to some writers whose works are probably lost, or at least not accessible, although there is positive evidence of their former existence.

Fray Gerónimo Roman. "Republica Indiana" – certainly existed as late as 1630, or "República de las Indias Occidentales."

Fray Alonzo Solana. "Noticias Sagradas y profanas de las Antigüedades y Conversion de los Indios de Yucatan." (Written before 1600).

Don Francisco Montejo. "Carta al Rey sobre la fundacion de la Villa de San Francisco de Campeche, y de la Ciudad de Mérida," 14 June, 1543. (Still at Sevilla, leg. 7. "Cartas de Indias").

In the above list I have not included any Grammar, Vocabulary, Sermonary, "Doctrina," &c., &c., for the use of the Indians of Yucatan, or written in the Maya language, of which several are known. In conclusion, I beg to add the Maya writing, entitled:

"Series of Katunes," published, with an English translation, by Mr. J. L. Stephens, in "Incidents of travels in Yucatan," and by Brasseur de Bourbourg, in "Rel. d. ch. de Y."

Writers of the Seventeenth Century

Antonio de Herrera. "Historia general de los hechos de los Castellanos en las Islas y la Tierra firme del mar Océano," Madrid, 1601, 1615, 4 vols. folio. There are two other editions in the original language: Madrid, 1726 and 1730, and Antwerp, 1728.

Of this most important book, several translations have appeared, embodying either the whole or only a part. – Thus a French translation of the "Descripcion de las Indias Occidentales," appeared at Amsterdam in 1622 twice, and a French translation of the 1st, 2d and 3d Decades, at Paris, 1671. – A Latin version of the "Descripcion" was also published in 1622, by Colin, at Amsterdam, and a very unreliable English rendering by John Stephens, in 6 vols. 8o, appeared at London in 1725. Herrera is one of the most important authorities on every subject of which he treats.

Gregorio Garcia. "Orígen de los Indios del Nuevo Mundo é Indias Occidentales." 1st Edition, 1606; Second Edition, Madrid, 1729, by Barcia. – A very important and valuable work.

Juan de Torquemada. "Los veinte y uno Libros Rituales y monarchia Indiana, con el orígen y guerras de los Indios occidentales." 1st Edition, Madrid, 1613; 2d Edition, Madrid, 1723. Barcia.

Augustin de Vetancourt. "Teatro Mexicano." México, 1698. – 2d Edition, in "Biblioteca de la Iberia," México, 1870. – Treats of Yucatan incidentally, speaking of Cortés, &c.

The work consists properly of three books: the "Teatro," the "Crónica de la provincia del Santo Evangelio de México," and the "Menologio franciscano."

Antonio de Remesal. "Historia general de las Indias Occidentales, y particular de la gobernacion de Chiapas y Guatemala." – This book has also another title: "Historia de la Provincia de San Vicente de Chyapa y Guatemala de la Orden de San Domingo." – Madrid, 1619 and 1620. – Treats of Yucatan also, following Las Casas generally. An important work.

Bernardo Lizana. (Lizama or Lizaba?) "Devocionario de Nuestra Señora de Itzmal, Historia de Yucatan é de conquista Espiritual," 1663, according to the Abbé Brasseur and Leon y Pinelo. – E. G. Squier speaks of two works: one "Historia de la Provincia de Yucatan, y su conquista Espiritual," Valladolid, 1633, and the other "Historia de Nuestra Señora de Izamal." – Whichever way may be right, there remains accessible as yet, but a fragment published in Spanish, with a French translation by the Abbé Brasseur in his "Relation des choses de Yucatan," 1864. The fragment is entitled: "Del principio y Fundacion destos cuyos omules deste Sitio y Pueblo de Ytzmal…" – Lizana is of the highest importance and value, and it is much to be regretted that the entire book is of such difficult access.

Diego Lopez de Cogolludo. "Historia de Yucatan." – 1st Edition, Madrid, 1688; 2d Edition, Mérida, 1842; 3d Edition, 1867. – Cogolludo has always been regarded as the historian of Yucatan "par excellence." He is indeed indispensable for any study of Yucatan antiquities, but, like all other authors, he must never be implicitly followed. The closest criticism possible is absolutely required.

Gil Gonzalez Dávila. "Teatro ecclesiástico de la primitiva Iglesia de los Indios Occidentales." Madrid, 1649.

Juan Diaz de la Calle. "Memorial y Resûmen breve de Noticias de las Indias Occidentales." Madrid, 1654.

These constitute the most important sources on Yucatan written during the 17th century. Nearly all of them are of special value, and we would call particular attention to Cogolludo, Lizana, Torquemada, Herrera, and Remesal. Among such authors, who wrote upon the subject and whose writings are not now accessible, I name here:

Pedro Sanchez Aguilar. "Relacion de las Cosas de Yucatan, y Informe contra los Idólatras del Obispado de Yucatan, &c." 1639.

Francisco Cárdenas. "Relacion de la Conquista y Succesos de Yucatan," 1639. (If existing, probably in Spain).

Nicolás Lizarraga. "Representacion al Rey pidiéndole la Conquista de Itzá y Lacandon, con unas Noticias y Mapa de dichas Tierras."

Nicolás de Valenzuela. An account of the expedition against the Lacandones, written 1695, and comprising 402 pages.

I would further call attention to the land titles, such as Deeds, Grants, donations, &c., &c., in Yucatan, some of which go back to the 17th century. These contain occasional references to the Indian settlements, some of which are certainly of great value and importance.

Finally, I refer to some general works, treating of Yucatan:

Samuel Purchas. "His Pilgrimage, &c., &c." London, 1613, 1614 and 1617. (This forms the 5th volume of Purchas' great works). – The great work of Purchas, also known as "Hackluytus Posthumous," appeared in 1625, and treats also of Yucatan.

O. Dapper. "Die unbekannte neue Welt, oder Beschreibung des Welt-theils Amerikas, &c." Amsterdam, 1673. This is in fact but a translation of the following:

Arias Montanus. "De Nieuvre en Onbekende Weereld: of Beschryving van America en t' Zuid Lande." Amsterdam, 1671.

Mathias Quad. "Enchiridion Cosmographicum: Dass ist, Ein Handbüchlein, der gantzen Welt gelegenheit, &c." Cologne, 1604 and 1608.

Joannes Petrus Maffei. "… historiarum Indicarum libri XVI., &c." Antwerp, 1605 – frequently reprinted and translated.

Jacobus Viverus. (Van de Vijvere). "Handbook: of Cort begrijp der Caerten Ende Beschryvinghen van allen Landen des Werelds." Amsterdam, 1609. (This is the 2d edition of an anonymous atlas).

Cornelius Wytflict et Anthoine Magin. "Histoire universelle des Indes occidentales et orientales," Douay, 1611.

Gaspard Ens. "West und Ost-Indischer Lustgart.:…" Cologne, 1618.

Aubertus Miraeus. "De statu religionés christianae…" Cologne, 1619.

Athanasius Inga. "West-Indische Spiegel, &c." Amsterdam, 1624.

Johann Philipp Abelin. (Gottfriedt). "Neue Welt und Americanische Historien." Francfort, a. m. 1655.

A. O. Exquemelin. "De Amerikaensche Zee-Roovers." Amsterdam, 1678. (Innumerable translations, &c. &c).

Eberhard Werner Happel. "Thesaurus Exoticorum." Hamburg, 1688. (Indifferent compilation).

I do not include in this hasty bibliographical list any linguistical works whatever, – or writings on the plants and medicinal herbs of Spanish-America. Purposely I omit also Antonio de Solis, whose history of the conquest of Mexico has a great literary, but hardly any scientific, value.

Writers of the Eighteenth Century

Juan de Villagutierre Y Sotomayor. "Historia de la Conquista y Reducciones de los Itzaes y Lacandones en la América Septentrional." Madrid, 1701. The first part only, composed of 10 books, – the second part may not have been completed, – at least it has remained unknown till now. The work is of the highest importance, especially for that part of Yucatan which has since hardly been explored.

Abbate Francesco Saverio Clavigero. S. J. "Storia antica del Messico." Cesena, 1780, 1781. Spanish translations: London, 1826; México, 1844, id. 1853. English translation: London, 1787. German version: Leipzig, 1789. (The English copy by Sir Charles Cullen), – all these works mention Yucatan also.

Antonio de Alcedo. "Diccionario geográfico-histórico de las Indias Occidentales ó América…" Madrid, 1786-1789. 5 vols. 4o. – English translation by G. A. Thompson. London, 1812-15.

Joseph Antonio de Villa-señor y Sanchez. "Teatro Americano." México, 1746. – Of indirect value for Yucatan. (2 vols. folio).

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