Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Nahuatl map on maguey paper documenting agricultural holdings in the Valley of Mexico, probably fields of bulrush or maize under the colonial jurisdiction of Tenochtitlan-Mexico City, ca. 1565.

Figures along the left border portray a succession of Indian governors of Mexico City, ca. 1536-1565, consisting of Don Diego de Alvarado Huanitzin (Panitzin), Don Diego de San Francisco Tehuetzquititzin, Don Esteban de Guzmán, Don Cristóbal de Cecepátic (Cecetzin), and Don Luis de Santa María Cipac (Nanacacipactzin), in addition to a Spanish governor, identified as probably Don Luis de Velasco, Viceroy of New Spain. Each figure includes a name glyph and number of years that they held their colonial office.

Footprints depicted along the left edge of the map probably represent a road or footpath. Figures along the upper edge of the map symbolize forty-one solar years. A strip of water depicted along the lower edge of the map may signify a lake, canal, or other body of water, which irrigates the rows of plants and traverses the map, and becomes paralleled in the upper margin by a representation of a Catholic church and a row of seven native houses.