History of the Spanish Conquest of Yucatan and of the Itzas Part 20

3. From 1529 (Ribero) to 1548 (Venice "Ptolemy") geographical knowledge of Yucatan falls off badly. With only two exceptions (Mercator, 1536, and Santa Cruz, 1542) the maps of this period show Yucatan as an island more or less remote from the mainland. I think that the comparative accuracy of Alonso de Santa Cruz is accounted for by the fact that he was official cartographer to the crown of Castile and that he had official information of Montejo's explorations, 1526-1541.

4. From 1551 onward Yucatan is usually shown as a peninsula; but even so late as this there are exceptions such as Ferrando Berteli, 1560, and Gulielmus Nicolai, 1603, whose inaccuracies are many.

5. In Sanson d'Abbeville, 1656, the Itzas appear again, this time under the name of Yzues. They and the Cocomes are misplaced, being too far north. It is barely possible that the entradas of Fuensalida and Orbita and Delgado, 1618-1624, may have had some influence on this map.

6. In Blaauw, 1667, we have the first step toward a really accurate map of Yucatan. This map bears many place names, among them the Yzaes and the Cocomes.

7. About 1714 Henry Popple, the great London map maker, made an excellent map of the region. On it Lake Peten is rightly located. There can be but little doubt that Popple derived his information from the English in British Honduras. Through them he probably learned of the conquest of the Itzas. It is not impossible, of course, that he was also acquainted with the writings of Cogolludo and Villagutierre, but that does not seem very likely. From that time onward the Itzas have appeared regularly on the maps of that region.

APPENDIX IV

ITINERARY OF AVENDAnO, TOGETHER WITH GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

(See Plate VI)

First Trip June to September, 1695

June 3, 1695 Left MERIDA.

June 11 CANICH, CAUICH, BOLENCHEN, BOLONCHEN CAUICH, OR BOLONCHENTICUL, CAVICH.

This name has several variations. It may be that each one means a slightly different locality; but in one form or another it is found on Bianconi-Mexico, Costello, Malte-Brun, Lopez, and Charnay's maps.

HOBONMO, HOBON-OX.

Two towns, respectively two and three leagues from Cauich.

CHUNZALAM.

Two leagues from Hobon-ox.

VECANXAN.

One league from Chunzalam.

NOHHALAL.

Three-fourths of a league from Vecanxan.

June 12-13 SUCTE, SAN SALVADOR DE.

Six to eight leagues from Cauich. On Lopez' map.

NOKHU OR NOHCU.

Four very long leagues from Sucte. On Lopez' map.

June 14-18 NOHBECAN OR NOHVECAN.

Four (?) leagues from Nohku. On Malte-Brun, Lopez, Costello, Charnay, and Avendano's maps.

OPPOL OR TOPOL.

Four leagues from Nohbecan. On Lopez, Aven, and Bianconi-Mexico maps.

July 8-24 TZUCTHOK, SUCTOK, TZUCTHOK, ETC., OR SAN FELIPE.

On Costello, Malte-Brun, Lopez, Bellin, Brion de la Tour, and Bianconi-Mexico maps.

CHUNPICH OR PAYBONO (?) AMONG CEHACHES.

Possibly at or near the Paybono or Botab of Lopez.

Sept. 5 HOPPELCHEN.

Sept. 16 MERIDA.

Second Trip Mid-December to Mid-February, 1695-1696

Sept 16-Dec 10 MERIDA.

Dec 13 MERIDA.

Leave Merida as result of Hariza's information.

BATCAB.

Is on Lopez' map as Botab (?); is on Costello, Bailly, Malte-Brun, and Bellin's maps.

Jan. 6, 1696 CHUNTUCi OR CHUNTUQUI.

Is on Bianconi-Mexico, Costello, Lopez, and Malte-Brun's maps.

CHINCHINUc.u.m = S. MARTIN.

San Martin is on Lopez and Malte-Brun's maps.

COHUc.u.m = SANTA RITA.

Santa Rita is on Lopez and Malte-Brun's maps.

TanXulucMul = SAN MIGUEL.

San Miguel on Lopez and Malte-Brun's maps.

Jan. 13 CHAKAN ITZA.

PETEN ITZA.

Found on Bianconi-Mexico, Bianconi-Guatemala, Costello, Bailly, Lopez, Malte-Brun, Bellin, Brion de la Tour, Hendges, Charnay, Army Maps, etc.

CHANCHANHA.

Possibly the Chichanja of Lopez, Malte-Brun, and Bianconi-Mexico maps. It is, however, too far from Chuntuqui.

Feb. 17 CHUNTUCi.

TANCHE OR NOHTANCHE.

Four leagues from Oppol. On Lopez, Avendano, and Bianconi-Mexico maps.

YOHCHALEK RIVER.

Two leagues from Tanche.

TEMCHAY.

Three leagues from Yohchalek. Is on Lopez as very near San Antonio. San Antonio is on Bianconi-Mexico and Malte=Brun's maps.

NOHPEK.

Three leagues from Temchay. There is a logical s.p.a.ce for it between the San Antonio and the Concepcion of Bianconi-Mexico. It is probably the same, or nearly so, as the Ecouna of Lopez and the Exrana of Malte-Brun.

NOHTHUB.

Two leagues from Nohpek.

BACECHAC OR CONCEPCIoN.

Concepcion is on Malte-Brun and Lopez' maps.

BUETE OR CHUMERU (?).

Four and one-half leagues from Bacechac. Chumeru on Lopez' map.