Search

This is a bound, hand-written notebook containing a translation of the "Narrative of the Expedition of Cibola undertaken in 1540 which treats of all the tribes that inhabit that country, their names and customs by Pedro de Castaneda de Nagera." Published for the first time in French by H. Ternaux Compans, Paris, 1838. Translated from the French by O. L. Shepherd, 1857 February. Title page names the author as H. Ternaux Compaus, but the noted author is Henri Ternaux-Compans, 1807-1864. Note on first page: George Parker Winship translated the Casteneda narrative from the Saville manuscript, which was also used by Ternaux-Compans.

Signed notes on Waldeck's Indian pictorial mss. in the hand of Henri Ternaux-Compans, probably from France around 1840, following Waldeck's return from Mexico in 1837, describing the historical and genealogical themes of the mss., and confirming their authenticity and value. The notes, possibly addressed to a curator or conservator, Monsieur Longperrier, appraise the authenticity of the mss. by comparing the action of the scenes with the descriptions of events offered by Alva Ixtlilxochitl in his history of the Chichimecas. Ternaux-Compans goes so far as to suppose that the ms. once belonged to Ixtlilxochitl, as it was described by Boturini. The pictorial mss. numbered 118 and 119 by Waldeck, depict Xolotl, first king of the Chichimecas, on his throne. The chiefs of three tribes--Acolhuatzin of the Tepaneques, Chiconquauktli of the Otomitas, and Tzontecomatl of the Aculhuas--approach Xolotl, asking for land. He grants them their wish, and in addition, gives his two daughters in marriage to Acolhuatzin and Ciconquaktli. Mss. 120-122 are both genealogical and testamentary, documenting the division of property--important more for what they tell us about the well-regulated laws of the Mexicans. No. 123 depicts the capture of Azcapotzalco, and the death of Maztlaton, and nos. 124 and 125 are a property map and calendar, respectively. Finally, no. 126 relates the history of the Mexicans from 1323 to 1590. Ternaux-Compans notes that in addition to these originals, Waldeck's collection includes many facsimiles, all of which contribute to a greater understanding of the ancient civilizations of the New World.

Typed transcripts of letters from the 1500s regarding Spanish explorers. Note on the first page states the letters were translated by Mrs. Helen Waldo Burnside from the French of Henri Ternaux-Compans in October, 1907. Letters include Instruction given by Don Antonio de Mendoza, Viceroy of New Spain to Father Marcos de Nizza, with de Nizza's acknowledgement of receipt, dated November 25, 1538; Attestation of father Antonio de Cibdadrodrigo, provincial of the Franciscans in Mexico, dated August 27, 1539; Narrative of Brother Marcos de Nizza; and a note dated September 2, 1539 from Temixititan Mexico from Juan de Baeza de Herrera and Antonio de Turcios, compared with the original September 3, 1781 by Juan Bautista Muñoz. Letters discuss exploration and contact with the Indians.