Natural and Moral History of the Indies

, by Acosta, Jose De; Mangan, Jane E.; Mignolo, Walter; Lopez-Morillas, Frances M.; De Acosta, Jose

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ISBN: 9780822328452 | 0822328453
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 10/1/2002

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TheNatural and Moral History of the Indies, the classic work of New World history originally published by Joseacute; de Acosta in 1590, is now available in the first new English translation to appear in several hundred years. A Spanish Jesuit, Acosta produced this account by drawing on his own observations as a missionary in Peru and Mexico, as well as from the writings of other missionaries, naturalists, and soldiers who explored the region during the sixteenth century. One of the first comprehensive investigations of the New World, Acostars"s study is strikingly broad in scope. He describes the regionrs"s natural resources, flora and fauna, and terrain. He also writes in detail about the Amerindians and their religious and political practices. A significant contribution to Renaissance Europe's thinking about the New World, Acosta'sNatural and Moral History of the Indiesreveals an effort to incorporate new information into a Christian, Renaissance worldview. He attempted to confirm for his European readers that a "new" continent did indeed exist and that human beings could and did live in equatorial climates. A keen observer and prescient thinker, Acosta hypothesized that Latin America's indigenous peoples migrated to the region from Asia, an idea put forth more than a century before Europeans learned of the Bering Strait. Acosta's work established a hierarchical classification of Amerindian peoples and thus contributed to what today is understood as the colonial difference in Renaissance European thinking. This rich primary text is indexed and extensively annotated. It will be an invaluable resource for historians of Latin America.

Introduction to Jose de Acosta's Historia Natural y Moral de las Indias

xvii

Printing permission granted

(2)

King Philip II

Printing permission granted

(1)

Gonzalo Davila

Content approval granted

(1)

Fray Luis de Leon

Dedication to the infanta Dona Isabel Clara Eugenia de Austria

(2)

Paper tax ordered

(1)

Christobal de Leon

Prologue to the reader

(5)

BOOK I

Of the opinion held by some authors that the heavens did not extend to the New World

(3)

How the heavens are round everywhere and rotate around themselves

(3)

How Holy Writ gives us to understand that the earth is in the midst of the universe

(4)

In which a response is given to what is alleged in Scripture against the heavens being round

(1)

Of the shape and appearance of the heavens in the New World

(2)

How the world has both land and sea in the direction of both poles

(3)

Which refutes the opinion of Lactantius, who said that there were no antipodes

(2)

Of Saint Augustine's motives in denying the antipodes

(3)

Of Aristotle's opinion of the New World and what it was that caused him to deny it

(4)

How Pliny and most of the ancients believed the same as Aristotle

(1)

How some mention of this New World is found in the ancients

(4)

What Plato believed concerning these West Indies

(1)

How some have believed that in Holy Scripture Ophir is this Peru of ours

(3)

What Tarshish and Ophir mean in Scripture

(2)

Of the prophecy of Abdias, which some say concerned these Indies

(2)

How the first men could have come to the Indies and how they did not sail purposely to these parts

(4)

Of the properties and remarkable virtue of the lodestone in navigation and how the ancients did not know of it

(3)

Which answers those who believe that in ancient times the ocean was crossed as in our day

(1)

How it may be believed that the first inhabitants of the Indies came there brought by storms and against their will

(3)

How it is more reasonable to believe that the first dwellers in the Indies came by land

(3)

How wild beasts and domestic animals crossed to the lands of the Indies

(3)

How the race of Indians did not come by way of Atlantis, as some believe

(2)

How the opinion of many, who believe that the Indians come from the race of the Jews, is false

(2)

Why there is no sure way to establish the Indians' origin

(1)

What the Indians are wont to say about their origin

(3)

BOOK II

Which will deal with the nature of the equinoctial line, or equator

(1)

What caused the ancients to have no doubt that the Torrid Zone was uninhabitable

(2)

How the Torrid Zone is very wet, and how in this the ancients were much mistaken

(1)

How outside the Tropics there is more rain when the sun draws farther away, which is the reverse of the Torrid Zone

(2)

How in the Tropics the rains come in summer, or time of heat, and the calculation of winter and summer

(1)

How the Torrid Zone has a great abundance of water and vegetation, though Aristotle denies it

(3)

Which deals with the reason why the sun, outside the Tropics, causes rain when it is most distant, and in the Tropics the reverse, when it is nearest

(3)

How what is said of the Torrid Zone must be understood

(1)

How the Torrid Zone is not excessively hot but only moderately so

(1)

How the Torrid Zone's heat is tempered by the abundance of rain and the brevity of the days

(2)

How in addition to the causes mentioned there are other reasons why the Torrid Zone is temperate, especially the proximity of the Ocean Sea

(2)

How the higher lands are colder and the reason for this

(2)

How cool winds are the chief reason why the Torrid Zone is temperate

(2)

How life in the equatorial region is very agreeable

(2)

BOOK III

How the natural history of the Indies is pleasant and enjoyable

(1)

Of winds and their differences and properties and causes in general

100

(4)

Of some properties of the winds that blow in the New World

104

(2)

How easterly winds always blow in the Torrid Zone and outside it both westerlies and easterlies

106

(3)

Of the differences between easterlies and southwesterlies and other kinds of winds

109

(3)

Why there is always an east wind for sailing in the Torrid Zone

112

(3)

Why westerly winds are more usually found when leaving the Torrid Zone, at higher latitudes

115

(1)

Of exceptions to be found in the rule just expressed and the winds and calms that exist on sea and land

116

(1)

Of some wonderful effects of winds in parts of the Indies

117

(5)

Of the ocean that surrounds the Indies and of the Northern and Southern Seas

122

(3)

Of the Strait of Magellan and how it was crossed on its southern side

125

(3)

Of the Strait that some say exists in Florida

128

(1)

Of the properties of the Strait of Magellan

129

(2)

Of the ebb and flow of the Ocean Sea in the Indies

131

(1)

Of the different fish and methods of fishing of the Indians

132

(4)

Of the pools and lakes that are found in the Indies

136

(3)

Of various fountains and springs

139

(2)

Of rivers

141

(2)

Of the general nature of the earth in the Indies

143

(3)

Of the properties of the land of Peru

146

(2)

Of the reasons given as to why it does not rain on the plains

148

(1)

Of the properties of New Spain and the islands and the other lands

149

(2)

Of undiscovered regions and the difference of a whole day between east and west

151

(3)

Of volcanoes or vents of fire

154

(2)

Why the fire and smoke of these volcanoes persists for so long

156

(1)

Of earthquakes

157

(3)

How earth and sea clasp one another

160

(1)

BOOK IV

Of the three kinds of mixtures that will be dealt with in this history

161

(1)

Of the abundance of metals that exist in the Indies

162

(3)

Of the kind of land where metals are found, and how in the Indies all the metals are not worked, and how the Indians used metals

165

(1)

Of the gold that is produced in the Indies

166

(4)

Of the silver of the Indies

170

(2)

Of the mountain of Potosi and its discovery

172

(3)

Of the wealth that has been taken, and is still being taken daily, from the mountain of Potosi

175

(4)

How the mines of Potosi are worked

179

(3)

How silver ore is refined

182

(1)

Of the wonderful properties of quicksilver

183

(3)

Where quicksilver is found and how rich mines of it were discovered in Huancavelica

186

(2)

How quicksilver is extracted and how silver is refined with its use

188

(4)

Of the machinery for grinding ore and assaying silver

192

(1)

Of emeralds

193

(2)

Of pearls

195

(2)

Of bread in the Indies, and maize

197

(3)

Of yucca and cassava, and potatoes and chuno and rice

200

(2)

Of different roots that grow in the Indies

202

(1)

Of different kinds of greenstuffs and vegetables, and of those called cucumbers, and pineapples and Chilean strawberries, and plums

203

(3)

Of aji, or Indies pepper

206

(1)

Of the plantain

207

(2)

Of cocoa and coca

209

(2)

Of maguey, tunal, and cochineal and of indigo and cotton

211

(3)

Of mameys and guavas and alligator pears

214

(1)

Of chicozapote and anonas and capolies

215

(1)

Of different kinds of fruit trees, and of coconuts and Andes almonds, and Chachapoyas almonds

216

(2)

Of various flowers, and some trees that bear only flowers, and how the Indians use them

218

(2)

Of balsam

220

(2)

Of liquidambar and other oils and gums and drugs that are brought from the Indies

222

(2)

Of the great forests of the Indies and of cedars and ceibas and other large trees

224

(2)

Of the plants and fruit trees that have been brought to the Indies from Spain

226

(2)

Of grapes and vines and olives and mulberries and sugarcane

228

(2)

Of sheep and cattle

230

(2)

Of some European animals that the Spaniards found in the Indies and how they might have come

232

(1)

Of birds that exist in Europe and how they came to the Indies

233

(2)

How it can be possible that there are animals in the Indies not found in any other part of the world

235

(1)

Of birds native to the Indies

236

(3)

Of game animals

239

(1)

Of micos, or the monkeys of the Indies

240

(2)

Of the vicunas and tarugas of Peru

242

(2)

Of alpacas and guanacos and the sheep of Peru

244

(2)

Of bezoar stones

246

(7)

Prologue to the subsequent books

250

(3)

BOOK V

How the devil's pride and envy have been the cause of idolatry

253

(2)

Of the kinds of idolatries used by the Indians

255

(1)

How there is some knowledge of God among the Indians

256

(2)

Of the first sort of idolatry, that of natural and universal things

258

(3)

Of the idolatry practiced by the Indians with particular things

261

(3)

Of another kind of idolatry with the dead

264

(2)

Of the superstitions that were employed with the dead

266

(1)

Of the funeral rites that the Mexicans and other nations used

267

(2)

Of the fourth and last kind of idolatry that the Indians, especially the Mexicans, used with images and statues

269

(5)

Of a strange kind of idolatry that was practiced by the Mexicans

274

(1)

How the devil has tried to copy God in methods of sacrifices and of religion and sacraments

275

(1)

Of the temples that have been found in the Indies

276

(2)

Of the splendid temples of Mexico

278

(3)

Of the priests and the offices they performed

281

(1)

Of the monasteries of virgins that the devil invented for his service

282

(2)

Of the monasteries of religious that the devil possesses for his superstition

284

(3)

Of the penances and austerities that the Indians practiced at the devil's behest

287

(1)

Of the sacrifices the Indians made to the devil, and of what they consisted

288

(3)

Of the sacrifices of men that they made

291

(2)

Of the horrible sacrifices of men that the Mexicans performed

293

(3)

Of another kind of human sacrifice that the Mexicans performed

296

(2)

How the Indians themselves were exhausted and could not endure the cruelties of their gods

298

(2)

How the devil has tried to mimic the sacraments of Holy Church

300

(1)

How the devil tried in Mexico to mimic the feast of Corpus Christi and the communion used by Holy Church

301

(3)

Of the confession and confessors used by the Indians

304

(4)

Of the abominable unction used by the Mexican priests and those of other nations and of their sorcerers

308

(4)

Of other ceremonies and rites of the Indians that are similar to ours

312

(2)

Of some festivals that the Indians of Cuzco had and how the devil also tried to imitate the mystery of the Holy Trinity

314

(5)

Of the festival of rejoicing celebrated by the Mexicans

319

(5)

Of the merchants' festival performed by the Cholulans

324

(3)

The benefit that can be drawn from an account of the Indians' superstitions

327

(2)

BOOK VI

How the opinion of those who believe that the Indians lack understanding is false

329

(2)

Of the method of calculating time and the calendar that the Mexicans used

331

(2)

Of the method of counting years and months used by the Incas

333

(1)

How no nation of Indians has been found to have the use of letters

334

(1)

Of the kinds of letters and books that the Chinese use

335

(3)

Of universities and studies in China

338

(1)

Of the kinds of letters and writing that the Mexicans used

339

(3)

Of the memory aids and reckonings used by the Indians of Peru

342

(2)

Of the order the Indians maintain in their writings

344

(1)

How the Indians dispatched their messengers

345

(1)

Of the government and monarchs that they had

345

(2)

Of the government of the Inca kings of Peru

347

(2)

Of the distribution that the Incas made of their vassals

349

(1)

Of the buildings and construction methods of the Incas

350

(2)

Of the Inca's revenues and the order of tributes he imposed on the Indians

352

(3)

Of the trades that the Indians learned

355

(1)

Of the posts and chasquis that the Inca used

356

(1)

Of the laws and justice and punishments that the Incas imposed and of their marriages

357

(1)

Of the origin of the Incas, lords of Peru, and their conquests and victories

358

(3)

Of the first Inca and his successors

361

(2)

Of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui and what happened up to the time of Huayana Capac

363

(2)

Of the great Inca named Huayna Capac

365

(2)

Of the last successors of the Incas

367

(1)

Of the kind of commonwealth that the Mexicans had

368

(2)

Of the different ranks and orders of the Mexicans

370

(1)

Of the Mexicans' way of fighting and the military orders that they had

371

(1)

Of the Mexicans' great care and diligence in bringing up their youth

372

(2)

Of the Indians' dances and festivities

374

(5)

BOOK VII

Why it is important to know of the Indians' deeds, especially those of the Mexicans

379

(1)

Of the ancient dwellers in New Spain and how the Nahuatlacas came there

380

(3)

How the six Nahuatlaca clans settled the land of Mexico

383

(3)

Of the departure of the Mexicans and their route and the founding of Michoacan

386

(2)

Of what befell them in Malinalco and in Tula and Chapultepec

388

(2)

Of the war they waged with those of Culhuacan

390

(2)

Of the founding of Mexico

392

(2)

Of the rebellion of Tlatelolco and the first king chosen by the Mexicans

394

(3)

Of the strange tribute paid by the Mexicans to the Azcapotzalcans

397

(2)

Of the second king and what befell him during his reign

399

(2)

Of the third king, Chimalpopoca, and of his cruel death and the cause of the war waged by the Mexicans

401

(2)

Of Izcoatl, the fourth king, and the war against the Tepanecas

403

(4)

Of the battle the Mexicans fought with the Tepanecas and the great victory they achieved

407

(2)

Of the war and victory of the Mexicans over the city of Coyoacan

409

(1)

Of the war and victory that the Mexicans won over the Xochimilcans

410

(3)

Of Moctezuma, fifth king of the Mexicans, first of this name

413

(2)

How Tlacaelel refused to be king and the election and deeds of Tizoc

415

(2)

Of the death of Tlacaelel and the exploits of Axacayatl, seventh king of Mexico

417

(3)

Of the exploits of Ahuitzotl, eighth king of Mexico

420

(2)

Of the election of the great Moctezuma, last king of Mexico

422

(2)

How Moctezuma ordered the service of his household and the war he waged for his coronation

424

(2)

Of Moctezuma's habits and great state

426

(1)

Of the strange omens and prodigies that appeared in Mexico before its empire perished

427

(5)

Of the news that Moctezuma received of the Spaniards who had reached his country and the embassy that he sent them

432

(4)

Of the Spaniards' entry into Mexico

436

(2)

Of the death of Moctezuma and the Spaniards' departue from the City of Mexico

438

(4)

Of some miracles that God has performed in the Indies in favor of the Faith, beyond the merits of those who brought them to pass

442

(2)

Of the plan ordained by Providence in the Indies for the entry of the Christian religion there

444

(7)

Commentary

451

(68)

Bibliography

519

(6)

Index

525

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Natural and Moral History of the Indies

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