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Natural and Moral History of the Indies
edited_book
Author(s):
José de Acosta
Editor(s):
Jane E. Mangan
Other contributor(s):
Frances Lopez-Morillas
(Translator)
Publication date:
2002
Publisher:
Duke University Press
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Peter Lang Books - History
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Book
ISBN (Print):
978-0-8223-2832-2
ISBN (Electronic):
978-0-8223-8393-2
Publication date:
2002
DOI:
10.1215/9780822383932
SO-VID:
e673e537-1d1e-434e-9dd3-e94184162975
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Book chapters
pp. xvii
Introduction to José de Acosta’s Historia Natural y Moral de las Indias
pp. 1
Printing permission granted by King Philip II
pp. 3
Printing permission granted by Gonzalo Dávila, Society of Jesus
pp. 4
Content approval granted by Fray Luis de León
pp. 7
Paper tax ordered by Christóbal de León
pp. 13
Of the opinion held by some authors that the heavens did not extend to the New World
pp. 16
How the heavens are round everywhere and rotate around themselves
pp. 19
How Holy Writ gives us to understand that the earth is in the midst of the universe
pp. 23
In which a response is given to what is alleged in Scripture against the heavens being round
pp. 24
Of the shape and appearance of the heavens in the New World
pp. 26
How the world has both land and sea in the direction of both poles
pp. 29
Which refutes the opinion of Lactantius, who said that there were no antipodes
pp. 31
Of Saint Augustine’s motives in denying the antipodes
pp. 34
Of Aristotle’s opinion of the New World and what it was that caused him to deny it
pp. 38
How Pliny and most of the ancients believed the same as Aristotle
pp. 39
How some mention of this New World is found in the ancients
pp. 43
What Plato believed concerning these West Indies
pp. 44
How some have believed that in Holy Scripture Ophir is this Peru of ours
pp. 47
What Tarshish and Ophir mean in Scripture
pp. 49
Of the prophecy of Abdias, which some say concerned these Indies
pp. 51
How the first men could have come to the Indies and how they did not sail purposely to these parts
pp. 55
Of the properties and remarkable virtue of the lodestone in navigation and how the ancients did not know of it
pp. 58
How it may be believed that the first inhabitants of the Indies came there brought by storms and against their will
pp. 58
Which answers those who believe that in ancient times the ocean was crossed as in our day
pp. 61
How it is more reasonable to believe that the first dwellers in the Indies came by land
pp. 64
How wild beasts and domestic animals crossed to the lands of the Indies
pp. 67
How the race of Indians did not come by way of Atlantis, as some believe
pp. 69
How the opinion of many, who believe that the Indians come from the race of the Jews, is false
pp. 71
Why there is no sure way to establish the Indians’ origin
pp. 72
What the Indians are wont to say about their origin
pp. 75
What caused the ancients to have no doubt that the Torrid Zone was uninhabitable
pp. 75
Which will deal with the nature of the equinoctial line, or equator
pp. 77
How the Torrid Zone is very wet, and how in this the ancients were much mistaken
pp. 78
How outside the Tropics there is more rain when the sun draws farther away, which is the reverse of the Torrid Zone
pp. 80
How in the Tropics the rains come in summer, or time of heat, and the calculation of winter and summer
pp. 81
How the Torrid Zone has a great abundance of water and vegetation, though Aristotle denies it
pp. 84
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
pp. 87
How what is said of the Torrid Zone must be understood
pp. 88
How the Torrid Zone is not excessively hot but only moderately so
pp. 89
How the Torrid Zone’s heat is tempered by the abundance of rain and the brevity of the days
pp. 91
How in addition to the causes mentioned there are other reasons why the Torrid Zone is temperate, especially the proximity of the Ocean Sea
pp. 93
How the higher lands are colder and the reason for this
pp. 95
How cool winds are the chief reason why the Torrid Zone is temperate
pp. 97
How life in the equatorial region is very agreeable
pp. 99
How the natural history of the Indies is pleasant and enjoyable
pp. 100
Of winds and their differences and properties and causes in general
pp. 104
Of some properties of the winds that blow in the New World
pp. 106
How easterly winds always blow in the Torrid Zone and outside it both westerlies and easterlies
pp. 109
Of the differences between easterlies and southwesterlies and other kinds of winds
pp. 112
Why there is always an east wind for sailing in the Torrid Zone
pp. 115
Why westerly winds are more usually found when leaving the Torrid Zone, at higher latitudes
pp. 116
Of exceptions to be found in the rule just expressed and the winds and calms that exist on sea and land
pp. 117
Of some wonderful effects of winds in parts of the Indies
pp. 122
Of the ocean that surrounds the Indies and of the Northern and Southern Seas
pp. 125
Of the Strait of Magellan and how it was crossed on its southern side
pp. 128
Of the strait that some say exists in Florida
pp. 129
Of the properties of the Strait of Magellan
pp. 131
Of the EBB and flow of the Ocean Sea in the Indies
pp. 132
Of the different fish and methods of fishing of the Indians
pp. 136
Of the pools and lakes that are found in the Indies
pp. 139
Of various fountains and springs
pp. 141
Of rivers
pp. 143
Of the general nature of the earth in the Indies
pp. 146
Of the properties of the land of Peru
pp. 148
Of the reasons given as to why it does not rain on the plains
pp. 149
Of the properties of New Spain and the islands and the other lands
pp. 151
Of undiscovered regions and the difference of a whole day between east and west
pp. 154
Of volcanoes or vents of fire
pp. 156
Why the fire and smoke of these volcanoes persists for so long
pp. 157
Of earthquakes
pp. 160
How earth and sea clasp one another
pp. 161
Of the three kinds of mixtures that will be dealt with in this history
pp. 162
Of the abundance of metals that exist in the Indies
pp. 165
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
pp. 166
Of the gold that is produced in the Indies
pp. 170
Of the silver of the Indies
pp. 172
Of the mountain of Potosí and its discovery
pp. 175
Of the wealth that has been taken, and is still being taken daily, from the mountain of Potosí
pp. 179
How the mines of Potosí are worked
pp. 182
How silver ore is refined
pp. 183
Of the wonderful properties of quicksilver
pp. 186
Where quicksilver is found and how rich mines of it were discovered in Huancavelica
pp. 188
How quicksilver is extracted and how silver is refined with its use
pp. 192
Of the machinery for grinding ore and assaying silver
pp. 193
Of emeralds
pp. 195
Of pearls
pp. 197
Of bread in the Indies, and maize
pp. 200
Of yucca and cassava, and potatoes and chuño and rice
pp. 202
Of different roots that grow in the Indies
pp. 203
Of different kinds of greenstuffs and vegetables, and of those called cucumbers, and pineapples and Chilean strawberries, and plums
pp. 206
Of ají, or Indies pepper
pp. 207
Of the plantain
pp. 209
Of cocoa and coca
pp. 211
Of maguey, tunal, and cochineal and of indigo and cotton
pp. 214
Of mameys and guavas and alligator pears
pp. 215
Of chicozapote and anonas and capolÍes
pp. 216
Of different kinds of fruit trees, and of coconuts and Andes almonds, and Chachapoyas almonds
pp. 218
Of various flowers, and some trees that bear only flowers, and how the Indians use them
pp. 220
Of balsam
pp. 222
Of liquidambar and other oils and gums and drugs that are brought from the Indies
pp. 224
Of the great forests of the Indies and of cedars and ceibas and other large trees
pp. 226
Of the plants and fruit trees that have been brought to the Indies from Spain
pp. 228
Of grapes and vines and olives and mulberries and sugarcane
pp. 230
Of sheep and cattle
pp. 232
Of some European animals that the Spaniards found in the Indies and how they might have come
pp. 233
Of birds that exist in Europe and how they came to the Indies
pp. 235
How it can be possible that there are animals in the Indies not found in any other part of the world
pp. 236
Of birds native to the Indies
pp. 239
Of game animals
pp. 240
Of micos, or the monkeys of the Indies
pp. 242
Of the vicuñas and tarugas of Peru
pp. 244
Of alpacas and guanacos and the sheep of Peru
pp. 246
Of bezoar stones
pp. 250
Prologue to the subsequent books
pp. 253
How the devil’s pride and envy have been the cause of idolatry
pp. 255
Of the kinds of idolatries used by the Indians
pp. 256
How there is some knowledge of God among the Indians
pp. 258
Of the first sort of idolatry, that of natural and universal things
pp. 261
Of the idolatry practiced by the Indians with particular things
pp. 264
Of another kind of idolatry with the dead
pp. 266
Of the superstitions that were employed with the dead
pp. 267
Of the funeral rites that the Mexicans and other nations used
pp. 269
Of the fourth and last kind of idolatry that the Indians, especially the Mexicans, used with images and statues
pp. 274
Of a strange kind of idolatry that was practiced by the Mexicans
pp. 275
How the devil has tried to copy God in methods of sacrifices and of religion and sacraments
pp. 276
Of the temples that have been found in the Indies
pp. 278
Of the splendid temples of Mexico
pp. 281
Of the priests and the offices they performed
pp. 282
Of the monasteries of virgins that the devil invented for his service
pp. 284
Of the monasteries of religious that the devil possesses for his superstition
pp. 287
Of the penances and austerities that the Indians practiced at the devil’s behest
pp. 288
Of the sacrifices the Indians made to the devil, and of what they consisted
pp. 291
Of the sacrifices of men that they made
pp. 293
Of the horrible sacrifices of men that the Mexicans performed
pp. 296
Of another kind of Human sacrifice that the Mexicans performed
pp. 298
How the Indians themselves were exhausted and could not endure the cruelties of their gods
pp. 300
How the devil has tried to mimic the sacraments of Holy Church
pp. 301
How the devil tried in Mexico to mimic the feast of Corpus Christi and the communion used by Holy Church
pp. 304
Of the confession and confessors used by the Indians
pp. 308
Of the abominable unction used by the Mexican priests and those of other nations and of their sorcerers
pp. 312
Of other ceremonies and rites of the Indians that are similar to ours
pp. 314
Of some festivals that the Indians of Cuzco had and how the devil also tried to imitate the mystery of the Holy Trinity
pp. 319
Of the festival of rejoicing celebrated by the Mexicans
pp. 324
Of the merchants’ festival performed by the Cholulans
pp. 327
The benefit that can be drawn from an account of the Indians’ superstitions
pp. 329
How the opinion of those who believe that the Indians lack understanding is false
pp. 331
Of the method of calculating time and the calendar that the Mexicans used
pp. 333
Of the method of counting years and months used by the Incas
pp. 334
How no nation of Indians has been found to have the use of letters
pp. 335
Of the kinds of letters and books that the Chinese use
pp. 338
Of universities and studies in China
pp. 339
Of the kinds of letters and writing that the Mexicans used
pp. 342
Of the memory aids and reckonings used by the Indians of Peru
pp. 344
Of the order the Indians maintain in their writings
pp. 345
How the Indians dispatched their messengers
pp. 345
Of the government and monarchs that they had
pp. 347
Of the government of the Inca kings of Peru
pp. 349
Of the distribution that the Incas made of their vassals
pp. 350
Of the buildings and construction methods of the Incas
pp. 352
Of the Inca’s revenues and the order of tributes he imposed on the Indians
pp. 355
Of the trades that the Indians learned
pp. 356
Of the posts and chasquis that the Inca used
pp. 357
Of the laws and justice and punishments that the Incas imposed and of their marriages
pp. 358
Of the origin of the Incas, lords of Peru, and their conquests and victories
pp. 361
Of the first Inca and his successors
pp. 363
Of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui and what happened up to the time of Huayna Capac
pp. 365
Of the great Inca named Huayna Capac
pp. 367
Of the last successors of the Incas
pp. 368
Of the kind of commonwealth that the Mexicans had
pp. 370
Of the different ranks and orders of the Mexicans
pp. 371
Of the Mexicans’ Way of Fighting and the Military orders that they had
pp. 372
Of the Mexicans’ great care and diligence in bringing up their youth
pp. 374
Of the Indians’ dances and festivities
pp. 379
Why it is important to know of the Indians’ deeds, especially those of the Mexicans
pp. 380
Of the ancient dwellers in New Spain and how the Nahuatlacas came there
pp. 383
How the six Nahuatlaca clans settled the land of Mexico
pp. 386
Of the departure of the Mexicans and their route and the founding of Michoacán
pp. 388
Of what befell them in Malinalco and in Tula and Chapultepec
pp. 390
Of the war they waged with those of Culhuacán
pp. 392
Of the founding of Mexico
pp. 394
Of the rebellion of Tlatelolco and the first king chosen by the Mexicans
pp. 397
Of the strange tribute paid by the Mexicans to the Azcapotzalcans
pp. 399
Of the second king and what befell him during his reign
pp. 401
Of the third king, Chimalpopoca, and of his cruel death and the cause of the war waged by the Mexicans
pp. 403
Of Izcoatl, the fourth king, and the war against the Tepanecas
pp. 407
Of the battle the Mexicans fought with the Tepanecas and the great victory they achieved
pp. 409
Of the war and victory of the Mexicans over the city of Coyoacán
pp. 410
Of the war and victory that the Mexicans won over the Xochimilcans
pp. 413
Of Moctezuma, fifth king of the Mexicans, first of this name
pp. 415
How Tlacaelel refused to be king and the election and deeds of Tizoc
pp. 417
Of the death of Tlacaelel and the exploits of Axacayatl, seventh king of Mexico
pp. 420
Of the exploits of Ahuitzotl, eighth king of Mexico
pp. 422
Of the election of the great Moctezuma, last king of Mexico
pp. 424
How Moctezuma ordered the service of his household and the war he waged for his coronation
pp. 426
Of Moctezuma’s habits and great state
pp. 427
Of the strange omens and prodigies that appeared in Mexico before its empire perished
pp. 432
Of the news that Moctezuma received of the Spaniards who had reached his country and the embassy that he sent them
pp. 436
Of the Spaniards’ entry into Mexico
pp. 438
Of the death of Moctezuma and the Spaniards’ departure from the City of Mexico
pp. 442
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
pp. 444
Of the plan ordained by Providence in the Indies for the entry of the Christian religion there
pp. 451
Commentary by Walter D. Mignolo
pp. 519
Bibliography
pp. 525
Index
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