Bernardino de Sahagun. Primeros Memoriales. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1997. xv + 334 pp. $75.00, cloth, ISBN 978-0-8061-2909-9.

Reviewed by Barry D. Sell

Published on H-LatAm (March, 1998)

This critical edition of the Primeros Memori‐ above all of the Nahuas ("Aztecs"), who by them‐ ales should fnd instant favor with the diverse selves or as irreplaceable assistants to clerics pro‐ community of scholars who study late pre-con‐ duced many secular and ecclesiastical writings in quest and early colonial Mexico. Art historians, Nahuatl. The extent of this corpus in kind and linguists, anthropologists and ethnohistorians are quantity is hardly known even to most American‐ only some of those who will make use of this frst ists. Mundane materials include testaments, prop‐ full transcription of the Nahuatl ("Aztec") text, its erty deeds, town council minutes, election docu‐ translation into English, and the accompanying ments, records of civil and criminal cases, peti‐ commentary. While not without minor faws, it is tions, and city statutes; church items include nearly indispensable for their libraries; it also books of Christian doctrine, sermonaries, confes‐ should be of some interest to other students of the sional manuals, lives of saints, baptismal and Americas. Before proceeding further a few words marriage rolls, and the membership lists and con‐ are in order concerning the documentary context. stitutions of confraternities. More difcult to pi‐ Colonial Mexico is uniquely endowed, among geonhole are Berlitz-style guides to the colloquial all the areas of early modern America, in having Nahuatl of the workplace and the marketplace, the most balanced extant sources in European and collections of traditional song and oratory. and indigenous languages. This was due as much Their sheer bulk is signifcant as well. Nahuatl to native inclination as to Spanish requirements. publications (most religious) during the colonial On analogy with their own pre-Hispanic tradi‐ period total approximately ten thousand pages. tions of recordkeeping in which scribes painted/ The sum total of church manuscripts is greater drew on native paper, many peoples of yet; one sermonary alone in Mexico City contains Mesoamerica quickly adapted to, and then ex‐ 888 pages. This large ecclesiastical output is in its celled at, writing colonial texts in alphabetical turn dwarfed by the Nahuatl notarial corpus. versions of their own languages. This was true H-Net Reviews

Even amongst this varied company, the pology), the editors and translators of the Floren‐ Primeros Memoriales stands out. Ostensibly writ‐ tine Codex, worked on the alphabetical text. There ten circa 1558-1561 for the utilitarian purpose of are very few scholars in the world as well describing non-Christian practices prohibited un‐ equipped to properly handle the often challenging der Spanish rule, the four "chapters" of the work Nahuatl of this text. Their job was further compli‐ range far afeld in their depiction of traditional cated by their decision to stay within Sullivan's Nahua life. They also served as a trial run for the style. Notwithstanding these difculties, they com‐ similar "Manuscript of Tlatelolco" (circa 1561) and pleted their task with great success. Two notable especially for the much larger and even more experts on traditional Nahua artifacts and culture, wideranging twelve "books" of the Florentine H.B. Nicholson (anthropology) and Eloise Codex (circa 1578-1580). The information was Quinones Keber (art history), provided invaluable gathered directly from native written and oral explanatory essays; Nicholson also took responsi‐ sources by Nahuas profcient in the new alphabet‐ bility for bringing the entire project to a success‐ ical writing. Initiating, guiding and shaping all ful conclusion. Wayne Ruwet has no separate con‐ three works was the Franciscan priest and philol‐ tribution to the book but his infuence is felt ogist fray Bernardino de Sahagun. The size, scope throughout. A librarian by profession, he is well and authenticity of these writings is literally un‐ known for his consummate bibliographical skill matched in Nahuatl or any other Native American and uncanny ability to ferret out even the most language. Although attention has usually focused obscure relevant sources. on the larger Florentine Codex, the Primeros The critical edition is composed mainly of ex‐ Memoriales is of great interest because much of planatory essays by Nicholson and Quinones Ke‐ its content never made it into the later work. ber, the transcription and English translation, and This version of the Primeros Memoriales de‐ a body of footnotes so extensive and illuminating serves a warm welcome from the community of that they deserve separate mention. Nicholson's scholars. The present critical edition complements "Introduction" is short (pp. 3-14) but he wastes no a companion volume by the same press which in‐ space in succinctly describing the history and sig‐ cludes a color facsimile of the original manu‐ nifcance of the manuscript and its authors. Espe‐ script. Since there is great value in its graphical el‐ cially welcome are brief summaries of the Nahu‐ ements (e.g., those of deities or deity-imperson‐ atl text from which I will now borrow. Chapter ators and their accouterments), presenting the al‐ One, "Rituals and Gods," covers in thirteen para‐ phabetical text alone would not convey all the in‐ graphs many aspects of traditional Nahua belief formation contained in the manuscript. The press, and ritual as well as "types of priests; the insignia the preparers of this critical edition, and Ferdi‐ and costumes of the principal deities and some nand Anders who prepared the facsimile, are to data concerning their supernatural jurisdiction; be commended for this dual presentation. temple structures; supplications and oaths; and In addition, the editors and translators twenty of the sacred chants sung in honor of the brought considerable expertise to their labors. gods" (p. 8). Chapter Two, "The Heavens and the The original transcriber and translator was Thel‐ Underworld," covers in seven paragraphs the "ce‐ ma D. Sullivan. She was an acknowledged authori‐ lestial bodies, meteorological phenomena, the ty on Nahuatl and Nahuas who died in 1981 leav‐ 365-day vague year, the 260-day divinatory cycle, ing her work half-fnished. Years later it was com‐ auguries, dreams, and aspects of the underworld" pleted by the following fve scholars. Arthur J. O. (p. 10). Chapter Three, "Rulership," is the longest Anderson and Charles E. Dibble (both in anthro‐ of the four chapters. Over seventeen paragraphs, it covers several key Nahua dynasties of central

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Mexico and the lives of its rulers and nobles in‐ ity who do not know Nahuatl and hence will often cluding "their duties, adornments, amusements, not recognize the standard conventions, idioms food and drink, residences, their admonishments and cliches of the original text. to their subjects, and reasons for their anger and The opening footnote of paragraph seven of compassion; names and techniques of sorcerers the frst chapter covers fully three pages and is a and evil men and women; the education of youths mini-essay in itself (pp. 117-119). It addresses the of both sexes" and their mythohistorical origins question of whether the temple compound associ‐ from Chicomoztoc (Place of the Seven Caves) (p. ated with this section and depicted graphically in 10). Chapter Four, "Things Relative to Man," con‐ the manuscript was that of Tepepolco (where sists of eleven chapters that range over the most thePrimeros Memoriales was composed) or of disparate set of topics: "kinship terms, male and Mexico Tenochtitlan. Some of the discussion cen‐ female personal names, human physiological ter‐ ters around issues of interpretation more proper minology, nomenclature of the nobility, warrior to art historical studies, an area in which I am ad‐ costumes and insignia, diseases and cures, and mittedly not well versed. Here I found myself in terms of address among both nobles and com‐ somewhat the same predicament as many others moners" (p. 11). readers would elsewhere in the text. Yet the cau‐ Quinones Keber's "An Introduction to the Im‐ tious and skeptical handling of the issues in‐ ages, Artists, and Physical Features of the volved, as well as the presentation of various in‐ Primeros Memoriales" (pp. 15-37 with related ta‐ terpretations and possibilities, reassured me that bles on pp. 38-51) is rich in information and in‐ the editors were maintaining the same standards sight. The extent of indigenous and European in‐ of scholarly fairness and objectivity found else‐ fuences on the entire manuscript, the constantly where in this critical edition. varying relationships and roles of alphabetical Special mention must be given to the "twenty text and graphical elements in conveying infor‐ sacred hymns" found in paragraph fourteen of mation, and a convincing reconstruction of the Chapter One (pp. 128-152). This is the third largest diferent stages of preparation and who was in‐ collection of traditional Nahuatl song; less than volved, are some of the main points covered in two hundred are known to exist. These kinds of her fne contribution. texts are among the most difcult to satisfactorily The footnotes live up to the preparers' reputa‐ transcribe, translate and interpret. Among the tions. I give here only a few representative exam‐ problems: the spacing of alphabetical characters, ples, the frst two occurring at the opening of notions of spelling, and the use of relatively Chapter Three (p. 185). One reads: "3. Amo tle sparse punctuation often depart from European ipan mochiuh: This phrase for 'nothing happened' norms; vocables (nonsense syllables inserted into was obviously not intended to be taken literally the middle of "words," apparently for rhythmic but only to indicate that, for the annalist, no con‐ purposes) are not specifcally identifed; and the quests or major political or natural events oc‐ language itself is often used in ways not adequate‐ curred during the reigns of these rulers." Immedi‐ ly explained by contemporaries. All these difcul‐ ately following is "4. Yn totzala yn acatzala: ties make securely identifying lexical items ex‐ 'among the rushes, among the reeds,' a poetic tremely difcult and problematical. There are metaphoric couplet sometimes applied to the site very few modern scholars who possess sufcient of MexicoTenochtitlan" [i.e., the site of future experience, understanding and sensitivity to ade‐ Mexico City]. How utterly unnecessary for special‐ quately work on Nahuatl song. Dibble and Ander‐ ists yet how immensely helpful for the vast major‐ son belong to this select group, and the latter is to

3 H-Net Reviews be particularly commended for making this rare "Greetings, O unique man.'" I difer in style and material available in a readily intelligible form meaning: "O peerless warrior, do remain seated." (see the prefatory remarks, pp. 128-130). Contextual and grammatical cues govern my This critical edition is not without its faws choice of words. An elaborate protocol governed but they are minor. The biggest criticism that how two people, one remaining in place and the might be leveled against it is the very narrow fo‐ other arriving, greeted each other. In this case, cus on the material at hand. A growing trend is to these few words by the arriving party attempt to relate specialized local studies to broader cur‐ minimize his supposedly worthless intrusion on a rents in world history. While I consider this ap‐ social superior. In addition, the second part of the proach legitimate, I feel the preparers had no greeting (whose verbal root is ehuatica "to be/re‐ compelling reason to stray from their central fo‐ main seated") is so common as to be not just a sta‐ cus. The subfeld of studies focusing on Sahagun‐ ple of conventional polite speech but practically a tine writings is quite well developed. For the in‐ cliche. Even the usually stellar footnotes sufer terested reader who wants to get a feel for the en‐ from an occasional relapse. For example, the dis‐ tire corpus, there is nothing better than the collec‐ cussion of "cihuapan" on p. 59, footnote 19, goes tion of essays in The Work of Bernardino de Saha‐ through almost the whole range of possible mean‐ gun--Pioneer Ethnographer of Sixteenth-Century ings: "on the woman" and "on behalf of the wom‐ Aztec Mexico (Albany: Institute for Mesoamerican en" and "about the women" and "in the time of the Studies, 1988). The fve contributors to the women." However it fails to mention the obvious Primeros Memoriales also left their mark on this "place of the women." The last may in fact be work. The colonial context of Nahua Mexico is more appropriate in several instances although best appreciated in James Lockhart's The Nahuas the translations made by Anderson and Dibble After the Conquest: A Social and Cultural History are entirely plausible too. I repeat, however, that of the Indians of Central Mexico, Sixteenth all these faws are minor and the non-specialist Through Eighteenth Centuries (Stanford: Stanford should use this critical edition with great conf‐ University Press, 1992). Some notion of the place dence. of Nahuas on the world stage can be gleaned from This version of the Primeros Memoriales sets the essays in Stuart Schwartz's Implicit Under‐ the scholarly bar high. Its major accomplishments standings. Observing, Reporting and Refecting on far outweigh its minor faws. It deserves a spot in the Encounters Between Europeans and Other many personal as well as institutional libraries. Peoples in the Early Modern Era (USA: Cambridge Copyright (c)1998 by H-Net, all rights re‐ University Press, 1994). served. This work may be copied for nonproft ed‐ The high standards followed throughout the ucational use if proper credit is given to the au‐ critical edition make even small imperfections an‐ thor and the list. For other permissions, please noying. Occasional carelessness in the Nahuatl contact H-Net at [email protected]. transcription is rare but noticeable (e.g., see pp. 57, 64 and 194). This is undoubtedly due in part to the unfortunate death of Anderson on 3 June 1996; he ordinarily took great care in such mat‐ ters. His passing also probably accounts for many of the remaining irregularities (however few and occasional) in the translation. For one such exam‐ ple, see p. 182: "moceloquichtle, maximeviltitie." /

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Citation: Barry D. Sell. Review of de Sahagun, Bernardino. Primeros Memoriales. H-LatAm, H-Net Reviews. March, 1998.

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