suggestions for Indigenismo to nonindigenous audience
R. Joe Campbell
campbel at indiana.edu
Tue Jul 20 18:31:22 UTC 1999
Henry,
Well put. Speculation has its place, but "inquiring minds want to
know": ***did they eat onions?***
Just to continue the availability issue one more step, we could check:
Hernandez, Francisco. _Historia de las plantas de Nueva Espan~a_ [3 v.].
Mexico (1942-46).=20
Hernandez, Francisco. _Obras Completas_ [5 v.].
Mexico, UNAM (1959-1976).
Martin de la Cruz. _Libellus de medicinalibus indorum herbis_.
Mexico, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (1964).
A *jewel* of a book:
Emily Walcott Emmart. _The Badianus Manuscript: An Aztec Herbal of
1552_.
Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Press (1940) =20
Back to Henry's point, the nearest thing to contemporary commentary that
we have is that of Fray Bernardino de Sahagun -- aided by years of
monumental work by Charles E. Dibble and Arthur J.O. Anderson. I checked
all occurrences of "xonacatl" (and 'onion', of course) and the results are
below. If you consult the text of the Florentine Codex itself, the
context gives more interesting information, but to save you the labor, I
extracted the relevant passages and included them immediately after the
primary index.
Best regards,
Joe
=20
moxonacanenequi**
=20
1. *moxonacanenequi*,.
it resembles the onion. (b.11 f.14 p.139).=20
=20
tepexonacatl**
=20
2. *tepexonacatl*,.
tepexonacatl (b.11 f.14 p.139).=20
=20
xonacatl**
=20
3. *xonacatl*..
the onion. (b.6 f.19 p.238).=20
=20
4. zan ye no yehuatl in *xonacatl*..
this is likewise the onion. (b.6 f.19 p.238).=20
=20
5. *xonacatl*,.
onions; (b.8 f.2 p.38).=20
=20
6. ihuan in ixquich tlamantli quilitl cualoni, *xonacatl*, tzayanalquilitl,
huitzquilitl, huauhquilitl, huauhtzontli, itzmiquilitl,
quillanenel, iztac xoxocoyoli, xoxocoyolhuihuilan,.
and all manner of edible herbs---onions, water plant leaves,
thistles, amaranth greens and heads, purslane, mixed greens,
varieties of sorrel; (b.8 f.4 p.68).=20
=20
7. *xonacatl*..
xonacatl (b.11 f.14 p.139).=20
=20
8. quil itlatla in *xonacatl*,.
they say it is some kind of onion. (b.11 f.14 p.139).=20
=20
xonacatontli**
=20
9. iuhquin *xonacatontli*..
it is like a little onion. (b.11 f.14 p.147).=20
Florentine Codex, Book 6, page 238
=20
4199. zazan tleino iztactetzintli quetzalli conmantica.
what is a small white stone holding a quetzal feather?
=20
4200. xonacatl.
the onion.
=20
4201. zazan tleino, cuaztalcomoctzin, quetzalli conmantica:
that is that which is white-headed, holding a quetzal feather?
=20
4202. zan ye no yehuatl in xonacatl.
this is likewise the onion.
=20
Florentine Codex, Book 8, pp. 37-40
=20
5158. ic matlactli omei capitulo: oncan mitoa, in intlacual
in quicuaya, in tlatoque.
thirteenth chapter. here are told the foods which the lords ate.
=20
5159. iztac totonqui tlaxcalli, tlacuelpacholli, huei tlaxcalli
cuauhtlacualli, tlaxcalpacholli iztac, nexiopapayo,
hot, white, doubled tortillas; large tortillas; large, thick,
coarse tortillas; folded tortillas of maize treated with
lime, pleasing [to the taste];
=20
5160. tlaxcalmimilli, tlacepoalli tlaxcalli,
tortillas formed in rolls; leaf-shaped tortillas;
=20
5161. cuatecuicuilli tamalli, iztac tlatzincuitl, iztac tetamalli
tlatzincuitl,
white tamales with beans forming a sea shell on top; white
tamales with maize grains thrown in; hard, white tamales
with grains of maize thrown in;
=20
5162. chichiltic cuatecuicuilli tamalli, nexiotamalli cuatecuicuilli,
tamalatl cuauhnextli,
red tamales with beans forming a sea shell on top; tamales
made of a dough of maize softened in lime, with beans forming
a sea shell on top; tamales of maize softened in wood ashes;
=20
5163. totolnacaquimilli xocco tlapahuaxtli, anozo tlatentli,
nacatlaoyo tamalli chilcozio: cihuatotoli tlatlehuatzalli,
zolin tlatlehuatzalli,
turkey pasty cooked in a pot, or sprinkled with seeds; tamales
of meat cooked with maize and yellow chili; roast turkey
hen; roast quail.
=20
5164. tianquiztlacualli, iztac tlaxcalli etica tlaoyo, totolin
patzcalmolli, chiltecpiyo, totolin, chilcozio totolin,
market food: white tortillas with a flour of uncooked beans;
turkey with a sauce of small chilis, tomatoes, and ground
squash seeds; turkey with red chilis; turkey with yellow
chilis;
=20
5165. chilchoyo totolin, mazanacatl tlatentli,
turkey with green chilis; venison sprinkled with seeds;
=20
5166. citli molli, tochtli molli,
hare with sauce; rabbit with sauce;
=20
5167. nacatlaolli patzcallo,
meat stewed with maize, red chili, tomatoes, and ground squash
seeds;
=20
5168. mazanacatl patzcallo, totoizquitl
venison with red chili, tomatoes, and ground squash seeds;
birds with toasted maize;
=20
5169. tepitoton totome,
small birds;
=20
5170. canauhtlahuatzalli, canauhtlapahuaxtli,
dried duck; duck stewed in a pot;
=20
5171. atzitzicuilotlapahuaxtli, nacatlacectli, tlatetzoyonilli
nacamolli patzcallo,
the atzitzicuilotl bird stewed in a pot; roast of meat; fried
meat in a sauce of red chili, tomatoes, and ground squash
seeds;
=20
5172. chilcoztlatonilli, chiltecpinmolli xitomayo, chilcozmolli
xitomayo, chilchomolli xitomayo, tlamamollalli xitomayo,
pottage of yellow chili; sauces of ordinary tomatoes and small
tomatoes and yellow chili, or of tomatoes and green chili;
diluted [sauces] with tomatoes;
=20
5173. iztac amilotl chilcozio, tomahuac xohuili, patzcallo,
white fish with yellow chili; grey fish with red chili, tomatoes,
and ground squash seeds;
=20
5174. cuiatl chilchoyo,
frog with green chilis;
=20
5175. axolotl chilcozio,
newt with yellow chili;
=20
5176. atepocatl chiltecpiyo,
tadpoles with small chilis;
=20
5177. michpili chiltecpiyo,
small fish with small chilis;
=20
5178. tzicatanatli inamic papaloquilitl,
winged ants with savory herbs;
=20
5179. chapolin chichiahua,
locusts with chia;
=20
5180. meocuili chiltecpinmollo,
maguey grubs with a sauce of small chilis;
=20
5181. chacali patzcallo,
lobster with red chili, tomatoes, and ground squash seeds;
=20
5182. topotli michi patzcallo, tlacamichin patzcallo,
sardines with red chili, tomatoes, and ground squash seeds;
large fish with the same;
=20
5183. mazaxocomolli iztac michyo=20
a sauce of unripened plums with white fish;
=20
5184. tlatlauhqui tezontzapotl
red, rough sapotas;
=20
5185. ixochicual mazaxocotl chilchiltic, coztic, tlaztalehualtic,
eheyotzapotl, xicotzapotl,=20
red plums; yellow or vermillion plums; ashen sapotas;
=20
5186. cuauhcamotli, camotli,
manioc; sweet potato;
=20
5187. ahuacatl,
avocado;
=20
5188. atztzapotl,
yellow sapotas;
=20
5189. nochtli, tlatlatlapalpoalli, iztac, coztic, chichiltic,
xoxoctic, camopaltic,
tuna cactus fruit of many hues---white, yellow, bright red,
green, orange;
=20
5190. matzatli, cuammochil,
anonas; guam=A3chiles;
=20
5191. capoli, xilotl, elotl, exotl,
american cherries; tender maize; green maize; string beans;
=20
5192. miyahuatamalli tlaixnamictilli huauhtli ihuan capoli,
tamales made of maize flowers with ground amaranth seed and
cherries added;
=20
5193. elotlaxcalli, anozo xantlaxcalli, xilotlaxcalli,
tortillas of green maize or of tender maize;
=20
5194. huauhquiltamalli,
tamales stuffed with amaranth greens;
=20
5195. neuctlaxcalli, nochtlaxcalli,
tortillas made with honey, or with tuna cactus fruit;
=20
5196. neuctamalli,
tamales made with honey;
=20
5197. quecehuatlaxcalli, tzoallaxcalli, tzoalli,
tortillas shaped like hip guards; tamales made of amaranth
seed dough; [cakes made of] amaranth seed dough;
=20
5198. tochizquitl, ayotlatlapanalli, olchicalli, elotl tlapahuaxtli
tlahuatzalli,
rabbit with toasted maize; squash cut in pieces; olchicalli;
green maize cooked in a pot and dried;
=20
5199. huauhquilmolli tonalchillo,
amaranth greens cooked with dry land chili;
=20
5200. itzmiquilmolli, tonalchillo,
sauce of purslain with dry land chili;
=20
5201. huauhtzontli tonalchillo,
green amaranth seeds with dry land chili;
=20
5202. tzayanalquilitl,
water greens;
=20
5203. xonacatl,
onions;
=20
5204. hiyacaquilitl,
the evil-smelling herb;
=20
5205. eloquilitl,
the eloquilite herb;
=20
5206. mozoquilitl,
the mozote herb;
=20
5207. nacaztochquilitl,
rabbit-ear greens;
=20
5208. achochoquilitl,
achochoquilitl;
=20
5209. huitzquilitl, chichicaquilitl,
thistle; sow thistle;
=20
5210. iztac xoxocoyoli, xoxocoyolhuihuilan,
sorrel of various kinds;
=20
5211. axoxoco acuitlacpalli,
a water-edge plant called acuitlacpalli;
=20
5212. ayoxochquilitl,
squash flowers;
=20
5213. ayonanacatl,
tender, young squash;
=20
5214. ayoyacaquilitl, ayotepitoton, mexixquilitl, popoyauhquilitl,
small squash; garden cress; raphanus;
=20
5215. nopaltepitoton michteuhyo,=20
small tuna cactus fruit with fish eggs;
=20
5216. tozanmolli,
gophers with sauce;
=20
5217. totonqui atolli, miyec tlamantli,
hot maize gruel of many kinds;
=20
5218. necuatolli, chilnecuatolli, chilcozio,
maize gruel with honey, with chili and honey, with yellow chili;
=20
5219. cuauhnexatolli tlatzincuitl, iztac xocoatolli, chichiltic,
chilxocoatolli, miltomatl inamic eheihuatolli,
white, thick gruel with a scattering of maize grains; sour,
white maize gruel; sour, red maize gruel with fruit and
chili; small, green tomatoes with a maize gruel made with
anonas;
=20
5220. huauhatolli izquio,
maize gruel made with amaranth and toasted maize;
=20
5221. michihuahuatolli neucyo,
maize gruel with fish-amaranth seeds and honey;
=20
5222. itztic atolli,
cold maize gruel;
=20
5223. chiantzotzolatolli, chilchopani, anozo chiltecpinpani,
maize gruel with wrinkled chia, covered with green chilis or
small, hot chilis;
=20
5224. iztac chianatolli chilcozpani,
white maize gruel with chia, covered with yellow chilis;
=20
5225. chianpitzahuac atolli, ayohuachpani chillo,
maize gruel with chia, covered with squash seeds and with chili;
=20
5226. tlaciocuepalatolli chiantzotzollo, ihuan chianio chiltecpinpani
maize gruel made of tortilla crumbs, and with ordinary and
wrinkled chia, covered with small chilis.
=20
5227. in ixquich tlamantli, i, tlacualli icalitic, hualquiza
tlatoani.
all these foods came forth from within the house of the ruler.
=20
5228. auh in momoztlae, ice tlacatl calpixqui quitequilia in
tlatoani, in itlacual macuiltzontli in nepapan tlacualli,
in totonqui tlaxcalli
and daily a man, the majordomo, set out for the ruler his food---two
thousand kinds of various foods; hot tortillas,
=20
5229. in iztac cuatecuicuilli
white tamales with beans forming a sea shell on top;
=20
5230. in chichiltic tamalli,
red tamales;
=20
5231. in huei tlacualli, tlaxcalmimilli: ihuan cenca miyec tlamantli
the main meal of rollshaped tortillas and many [foods]:
=20
5232. in imollo in ihuical in totoli,
sauces with turkeys,
=20
5233. zolli, mazanacatl, tochi, citli,
quail, venison, rabbit, hare,
=20
5234. tozan, chacali, topotli, tlacamichin, niman yee in ixquich
neuctic xochicualli.
rat, lobster, small fish, large fish; then all [manner of]
sweet fruits.
=20
5235. auh in ihcuac in otlacua tlatoani, niman ic moxexeloa,
in ixquich tlacualli:
and when the ruler had eaten, then all the food was divided.
=20
5236. nononcua tlacua in altepetl ipan tlatoque, ihuan in ixquich
cemanahuacatl in tlatocatitlanti, in moyaotitlanque, in
tlazopipilti, in teuctlatoque, achcacauhti, tequihuaque,
tiacahuan, tiachcahuan, telpochtlatoque teopixque, tlamacazque,
cuicanime, in quezquitlamantli, ixolhua, iyahachhuan, tetlahuehue=
tzquitique:
ihuan nepapan toltecatl, teocuitlapitzque, amanteca, tlatecque,
chalchiuhtlacuiloque, caczoque, teoxinque.
apart, in the city, the lords ate, and all the people from
surrounding lands---the ambassadors, the war messengers,
the princes, the judges, the high priests, the seasoned
warriors, the valiant men of war, the masters of the youths,
the rulers of the youths, the keepers of the gods, the priests,
the singers, [the ruler's] pages, his servants, his jugglers,
and the various artisans, goldsmiths, feather workers, cutters
of precious stones, setters of mosaic, sandal makers, and
turquoise cutters.
=20
5237. niman moteca in icalitic: yecahui in icacahuauh, xoxouhqui
cacahuacintli, cuauhneucyo cacahuatl, xochiocacahuatl, xoxouhqui
tlilxochio, chichiltic cacahuatl, huitztecolcacahuatl, xochipalca=
cahuatl,
tiltic cacahuatl, itztac cacahuatl=20
then, in his house, the ruler was served his chocolate, with
which he finished [his repast]---green, made of tender cacao;
honeyed chocolate made with ground-up dried flowers---with
green vanilla pods; bright red chocolate; orange-colored
chocolate; rosecolored chocolate; black chocolate; white
chocolate.
=20
5238. inic motecaya cacahuatl, tecontlacuilolli, atzaccayotl
tlacuilolli, acuahuitl ayotectli tlacuilolli, poctecomatl
anahuacayotl, atzaccayotl ayotectli, ayahualli oceloehuatl,
cuetlaxayahualli,
the chocolate was served in a painted gourd vessel, with a
stopper also painted with a design, and [having] a beater;
or in a painted gourd, smoky [in color], from neighboring
lands, with a gourd stopper, and a jar rest of ocelot skin
or of cured leather.
=20
5239. chitatli in oncan mopia tecomatl, atzetzeloaztli, inic
moyectia cacahuatl, huehuei tecomatl achihualoni, huehuei
tlacuilolxicalli, inic nematequilo, tzohuacalli tlaihualoni,
tlacualchiquihuitl, molcaxitl, petzcaxitl, cuauhcaxitl.
in a small net were kept the earthen jars, the strainer with
which was purified the chocolate, a large, earthen jar for
making the chocolate, a large painted gourd vessel in which
the hands were washed, richly designed drinking vessels;
[there were] large food baskets, sauce dishes, polished
dishes, and wooden dishes.
=20
Florentine Codex, Book 11, page 139
=20
10138. xonacatl.
xonacatl
=20
10139. tolpatlactic,
it is slender like reeds.
=20
10140. cuecueyahuac,
it glistens.
=20
10141. tzitziniztac,
the bottoms are white.
=20
10142. tentzone.
it has a beard.
=20
10143. ihyac, cococ,
it stinks; it burns.
=20
10144. tetlatemohuili, quitopehua, quicuania in tlatlaciztli.
it aids the digestion; it throws off, rids one, of a cough.
=20
10145. tepexonacatl,
tepexonacatl
=20
10146. in zan canin mochichihua, in amo tlacenmachtli
wherever it grows is not very well known.
=20
10147. in zazan xihuitl pohui:
it probably belongs among the herbs.
=20
10148. quil itlatla in xonacatl,
they say it is some kind of onion.
=20
10149. huel cococ.
it burns much.
=20
10150. maxten:
maxten
=20
10151. moxonacanenequi,
it resembles the onion.
=20
10152. quiyoyo, cuecueponqui
it is stalky, blooming.
=20
10153. achi quecinami, achi chipayac:
it is a little like the onion, a little acrid smelling.
=20
10154. in itzinteyo, pahuaxoni.
its roots are cookable in an olla.
=20
10155. inin itzinteyo huel cuecueyochauhtica, huel miec:
the roots of this are well diffused; there are many.
=20
10156. ic ipan mitoa in aquin cenca mopilhuatiani, in miequintin
onnemi ipilhuan. maxtenpilhua.
thus it is said of him who engenders many, whose many children
live, "he has offspring like the maxten."
Florentine Codex, Book 11, pp. 147-8
10464. zozoyatic
=87o=87oyatic
=20
10465. iuhquin xonacatontli.
it is like a little onion.
=20
10466. achtopa yehuatl teyacacpa onhuetzi:
at first this is dropped in the nose.
=20
10467. in itzinteyo, in iamatlapal in ixinachyo, mochi mocenteci,
its roots, leaves, seeds are all ground together.
=20
10468. zan teuhtic, anozo paltic: cencan zan aquiton in teyacac
onhuetzi:
only as a powder, or in solution, a very little is dropped
in the nose.
=20
10469. intla miec minecui, intla miec teyacac onhuetzi: eztli
quiquixtia,
if much of it is inhaled, if much is dropped in the nose, it
causes bleeding.
=20
10470. ompa mochihua: motlauhxauhcan, cuauhtenco, cuauhnahuac,
itlan,
it grows there at motlauhxauhcan, at the edge of the forest
near quauhnauac.
=20
10471. amo ihuani,
it is not potable.
=20
On Tue, 20 Jul 1999, Henry Kammler wrote:
>=20
> The relevant question is not: were there onions in any part of America
> but were they part of the Aztec cuisine (consider differnt climate and
> a disdain of the civilized against food of the "savages"). Maybe
> somebody can solve this riddle by looking at source texts (to get back
> to Nahuatl after all)?
>=20
> Henry
>=20
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