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Some Mining Operations of Cortes in Tehuantepec, 1538–1547

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2015

Ivie E. Cadenhead Jr.
Ivie E. Cadenhead Jr.*
Affiliation:
University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma
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Type
Documents
Information
The Americas , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , January 1960 , pp. 283 - 287
Copyright
Copyright © Academy of American Franciscan History 1960

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References

1 Berthe, Jean-Pierre, “Las minas de oro del Marqués del Valle en Tehuantepec, 1540–1547,” Historia Mexicana, 8 (July-September, 1958), pp. 122–131.Google Scholar

2 These manuscripts are in a folder designated C-104. See Cadenhead, Ivie E. Jr., “The G. R. G. Conway Collection in the Gilcrease Institute: A Checklist,” HAHR, 38, (1958), pp. 373–382.Google Scholar There are included in this folder three separate groups of manuscripts, only a portion of which are applicable in this study. For purposes of identification they have been designated as follows:

  • I-A.

    I-A. Inventory of goods given to Pedro de Alcala, alcalde mayor, by Juan de Toledo. Dated November 27, 1543.

  • I-B.

    I-B. Report of increase in cattle.

  • I-C.

    I-C. Report of slaves on ranches.

  • II-A.

    II-A. Cargo general given by Pedro de Alcala; to Cristobal de Molina, mayordomo, of slaves and other goods for use in the mines. Dated February 5, 1545.

  • III-A.

    III-A. Report of gold taken from mines of Tehuantepec and tributes paid since His Lordship went to Spain.

  • III-B.

    III-B. Report of silver taken from mines of Tasco, Sultepec and Zumpango since His Lordship went to Spain.

  • III-C.

    III-C. Report of silver derived from the mamas by Andrés Díaz.

  • III-D.

    III-D. Report of negroes delivered by Juan Bautista de Marín, in the name of Leonardo Lomelin.

  • III-E.

    III-E. Report of cattle on Marquis’ estates in New Spain.

  • III-F.

    III-F. Report of gold taken from mines of Tehuantepec. Dated December 25, 1538.

3 Berthe, loc. cit., p. 124. Gilcrease documents III-Α and III-F supply the figures used.

4 The peso in this instance does not refer to monetary value but to a certain quantity of metal equal to a castellano, which weighed 1/50 of a mark. It was subdivided into 8 tomines each equal to 12 grains. This is the peso de oro de minas. After refining this gold declined in value approximately 1/3. For example the 47,826 pesos collected from mining and tributes during the period covered in III-A was reduced to 33,289 pesos, two tomines and four grains. Since the value of the collected gold dust would vary no very accurate estimate can be made that would always hold true.

5 III-F.

6 Berthe, loc. cit., pp. 123 and 129, notes 7 and 8.

7 Berthe, loc. cit., p. 123.

8 These figures all appear in III-A.

9 This estimate is obtained by dividing 6,075 pesos by nine quarters.

10 This estimate is obtained by dividing 2,875 pesos by five quarters and as indicated a reduction had been made.

11 Berthe states that this includes both Tehuantepec and Cuilapa. This probably refers only to Tehuantepec as the next table shows.

12 This figure is obtained by dividing 12,796 pesos by fifteen quarters and is supported by the recorded figure for the third quarter of 1543 in III-A.

13 The report states a total of 1,480 pesos or 740 per quarter. There is a further reference to this being 113 pesos different from the usual amount. Adding the two together gives the expected 853 pesos.

14 III-C.

15 The peso de oro de Tepuzque was later equal to 272 maravedís.

16 Berthe, loc. cit., p. 125.

17 II-A.