The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-18
VIII.

WI
Here our author deems il expedient TO
pause for a moment and try to form a rea-
sonabIe estimate OF the population OF the
valley, and OF the central pueblo or Is
nochtitlan. He points out that as no means
exist for ascertsining the number OF people
in the five Nahuatlac tribes who
the valley, any computation must he rom
j%ectural. II is merely, then, a conjecture,
based upon what is known Of their horticul-
ture, their means Of subsistence, their insti-
tutions and their limited area the tribute
received not being overlooked, that the
aggregate number Of $50 900 persons is sug-
gested as probably an excessive estimate.
That aggregate number would give about
100 persons to the square mile, a density
nearly twice that of the State OF New York
to-day and about equal to the present aver
age population of Rhode Island. Our au-
thor, indeed, finds il hard TO perceive what
sufficient reason can be assigned for the
existence Of 30 large a number OF inhab-
itants in all the villages within the val
ley, although OF these there are said TO
have been from thirty TO forty. He sub
mits that those who claim an even higher
number are bound to show how a barbarous
people. without focke or herds and without
field agriculture, could have sustained in
equal areas a larger lumber OF inhabitants
than can now be maintained by a civilized
people possessed of those means Of subsist-
ence. He pronounces u a demonstra-
ton out OF the question.
OF the $50. 900 inhabitants Professionally
accepted as an outside estimate for the
whole valley DIR. Nor gan thinks that pos
sibly 70 1000 may be assigned to the central
pueblo OF Mexico. As we are reminded in
n footnote, there are wide differences in the
estimates Of that city's population which
are found in the Spanish chronicles. Sew
eral OF them concur in placing the number
of houses at 90, 600, and this absurd estimate
has been adopted by Clavigero, by Herrera
and by Prescott. Soils says 90 900 families.
Even the last named computation would
make the number Of inhabitants 800 ,OOO,
whereas London at the same date contained
but 1 5000. Torquemada, cited by Clavi-
zero. does not hesitate to make the number
Of houses ieO 900. The ~egregious extrava-
gance of the estimate will be recognized by
those who call 20 mind that the houses in the
pueblo OF Mexico we're in general large
communal or joint tenement houses, like
lHDbt VI lbC Suihit IDtioo III AS&NODf De
enough to accommodate from ten to fifty or
even a hundred families in each. Among
the Spanish chroniclers Zuazo and the
Anonymous Conqueror" came the nearest
TO a reasonable estimate, because, as COM
puted by them, the number OF inhabitants
go 900, did not much more than double the
probable number
BE that as it may. the pueblo Of Mexico is
believed by DR.. Morgan to have been the
largest in America. Economically situated
in the midst Of an artificial lake, its large
joint tenement houses plastered owe with
gypsum, which made them a brilliant white.
and approached by causeways. it presented
TO the Spaniards from a distance a striking
and enchanting spectacle. II was a reveal
ton Of an ancient social status lying two
cultural periods back OF the contemporary
European society and eminently calculated
from its orderly plan Of life to awaken curl
osity and inspire enthusiasm. Under the
circumstances our author admits a certain
amount of extravaganza OF opinion was
unavoidable.
In addition TO the few particulars that
nave been named above as Indicative Of
the extent OF Aztec advancement SOM
others are adduced in the present volume.
There were found, for example. orna-
mental gardens, magazines Of weapons
and OF military costumes, improved wearing
apparel, manufactured fabrics OF cotton
of superior workmanship, improved imple-
ments and utensils and an increased vari-
ETY. Of food. There had beer evolved
also a picture writing, used chiefly to
signify the tribute in kind which each
~subiugated village was to pay: a calendar
for measuring time had beer constructed
and there were open markets for the
barter OF commodities. Administrative
Offices had been created to meet the de-
mands of a growing municipal life: a priest
hood with a temple worship and a ritual
including human sacrifices had been estab-
lished. The Office OF head war chief OF
the ~oonfederacy had likewise risen into
augmented importance. These and other
circumstance imply a corresponding de-
velopment OF social institutions.