Berendt, C. Hermann (Carl Hermann), 1817-1878; Brasseur de Bourbourg, abbé, 1814-1874; Cervera, Jose T.; Gibbs, George, 1815-1873; Jimeno, Florentino; Pérez, Juan Pío, 1798-1859
Date:
1864
Description:
Scrapbook, assembled by Daniel Garrison Brinton, of notes, manuscripts, and clippings of C. Hermann Berendt, on topics in Maya linguistics and ethnography. A table of contents in Spanish (f. 3) has 29 headings, organized in sections for grammar (f. 4-53), vocabulary (f. 54-74), and ethnology (f. 75-98). Grammar includes comparative alphabets of Mayan languages (Huastec, Mixtec, Mam, Otomi, Zapotec) and languages of Guatemala (Cakchiquel, Quiché, Tzutuhil), as well as notes on Maya grammar. Maya vocabularies include sexual and body parts, kinship, plants, maiz, animals. Languages in comparative vocabularies include Maya, Nahuatl, Otomi, Cakchiquel, Natchez, Tzental (Tzeltal?), Chontal, Quiché, Huastec, and Putum of Palenque (Chol?). Under ethnology are headings for the character of the Indians of the Yucatán; customs and superstitions of the Maya; calendars and time reckoning; hieroglyphics; antiquities; and ethnological map. Manuscripts by Berendt include a version of his essay Analytical alphabet for Mexican and Central American languages (f. 4); and comparative vocabularies: Putum/Tzental/Chontal (f. 57); Mexicano/Maya/Otomi (title page inscribed to George Gibbs, 1864; f. 59); Maya-Cakchiquel (f. 60); Maya-Chontal-Kiche-Cakchiquel--Huasteca-Mam-Pokonchi (f. 64); and counting words in Mayan languages (fold-out chart; f. 69r). A draft letter from Berendt to Gibbs, dated 1865, pertains to Gibbs's notes on numeral systems (f. 67). Berendt's annotated transcriptions of material from other authors include D.G. Brinton's The Natchez of Louisiana (f. 62); and Calendario maya, by Juan Pío Pérez, dated 1868 (between f. 80 and 81). Also included are two versions of Catalogo de una colección de antiguedades ... de Yucatan, Campeche y Tabasco, by Florentino Jimeno, one dated 1869, with a clipping dated Mérida, 1871 (between f. 88 and 89), and the other dated 1872, prefaced by a copy of a letter from abbé Brasseur de Bourbourg, dated 1871 (between f. 89 and 90). An 8-leaf booklet containing Berendt's copy of a 1688 text in Apalachee with Spanish translation, as published by Buckingham Smith, with Berendt's annotations on a comparison to Maya, and copies of other manuscript notes by Smith, was originally inserted at f. 63; it is now detached and housed in a separate folder shelved with the manuscript. Clippings include: Central American hieroglyphics (Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, New York, 5 April 1873), signed by Berendt (f. 86); and Spanish-language articles about Yucatan antiquities or localities, mostly from Mérida, dated 1866 (f. 95) and 1871-1872 (f. 90-91, 96-98), with two by Jose T. Cervera (f. 91, 96).
Language:
Spanish; Castilian; English; German; Mayan languages; Nahuatl languages; Otomian languages
Provenance:
From the collection of C. Hermann Berendt, later acquired by Daniel Garrison Brinton (ex libris stamp on title page).; Brinton, Daniel G. (Daniel Garrison), 1837-1899, former owner.
Ms. codex.; Title from spine.; Item 179 is the first of three large scrapbooks (Items 179-181) compiled by Daniel Garrison Brinton from miscellaneous loose notes and materials of C. Hermann Berendt (Brinton, p. 32); the other two scrapbooks are entitled: Miscellanea centro-americana (Item 180), and Miscellanea historica et linguistica (Item 181).; Foliation: Paper, 365; 99 + xviii (blank), with a total of 248 additional leaves inserted between the scrapbook folios; 1-61, [1], 62-98; contemporary foliation in pencil, upper right recto. The manuscript proper comprises full and partial leaves tipped onto the foliated leaves, with additional leaves inserted on or between paper guards, either individually or as part of a sewn booklet. The count of 248 additional leaves includes a detached booklet of 8 leaves (f. 63) that is stored in a separate folder. In addition, six leaves are laid in: four had previously been pinned (f 9v, 36v, 75v, 93r), and two are leaves that have come loose from a manuscript tipped in between f. 57 and 58.; Script: Notes and manuscripts written in the hand of C. Hermann Berendt.; Decoration: small symbols related to the Mayan calendar (f. 79r); small sketches of sculptures at the ruins of Nohpat (f. 89r); handdrawn plans of the ruins of Kabah (f. 89r), and of the ruins in Uxmal (Casa del Adivino, Casa del gobernador; f. 89v); small sketches of passageways, arches, vessel (f. 90); map in red and blue ink of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec with linguistic groups labeled (f. 92); diagram of a circular area with place names labeled, under the title: Mapa de mani de Tutul xiu (f. 92v); small sketches of human figures (leaf laid in between f. 92 and 93; leaf tipped in preceding f. 58) and of tools (f. 72v).; Binding: 19th-century half leather (Label: Shipman's Patent Invoice & Scrap Book, patented June 13, 1871).; Condition: Scrapbook folios brown; two inserted manuscripts almost detached (f. 4, 58); some tipped in leaves have tears (fold-out chart, f. 69; leaf tipped in on paper guard preceding booklet at f. 59; two partial leaves tipped in by one corner, f. 87). One illustration (hand-drawn plan) has set creases that diminish its legibility (tipped in, f. 89v)..; Origin: Written or collected between approximately 1864 (f. 59) and 1873 (f. 86).; Predominantly in Spanish, with some English and German, and vocabulary and grammatical examples in Mayan languages, including Maya, Cakchikel, Huastec, Mam, Qhiché, and Tzeltal, as well as Nahuatl, Otomi, and Natchez; and one text in Apalachee.
Physical Location:
Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, Ms. Coll. 700 Item 179
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