Region V
The Zapotecas, the term used by the Spaniards. This region is the home territory of the northern Mountain Zapotecs, the Mijes, and several smaller adjacent linguistic groups. In elevation it ranges from high mountain to relatively low foothill and coast, with considerable ecological variation. The area was distinct in the sixteenth century in terms of culture and territorial arrangements. It was penetrated and dominated relatively slowly by the Spaniards, in part because of the difficult terrain, in part because of political fragmentation. On the whole, the region is warm country descending at points to coastal elevations.
We work with the data for the region in Table 1.1, parts A–E. In part A, we are able to identify 72 places as occurring on both the 1568 and 1646 lists. In 1568 the population of these 72 places is 37,142; in 1646 it is 22,774. The ratio 1646/1568 is 0.613. According to part B, the 1646 reporting gives the names of 20 places which had to be omitted from part A. The total population of these 20 places is 4,277, making the total for places reported in the 1646 list 27,051. Part C shows 68 places which are found in the 1568 list but not in that of 1646. The total 1568 population of these 68 places is 32,427. The aggregate for 1568 would be 37,142 plus 32,427, or 69,569, of which the towns missing in the 1646 reporting would account for 46.7%.
| |
TABLE 1.1, REGION V, PART A | Towns Found in Both 1568 and 1646 Lists | Name | Loc. | Population
in 1568 | Population
in 1646 | Ratio | Alotepec | Oax. | 338 | 60 | .178 | Amaltepec | Oax. | 155 | 100 | .645 | Atepeque and Analco | Oax. | 1,020 | 554 | .543 | Ayacastepec | Oax. | 339 | 204 | .602 | Cacalotepec | Oax. | 169 | 160 | .946 | Cacalotepec | Oax. | 281 | 87 | .310 | Camotlán | Oax. | 71 | 77 | 1.085 | Chicomesuchil | Oax. | 1,742 | 631 | .362 | Chichicastepec | Oax. | 254 | 65 | .256 |
|
― 60 ―
| |
Name | Loc. | Population
in 1568 | Population
in 1646 | Ratio | Choapan | Oax. | 676 | 1,554 | 2.300 | Comaltepec | Oax. | 423 | 456 | 1.081 | Huayastepec | Oax. | 254 | 119 | .469 | Huazcomaltepec | Oax. | 509 | 269 | .529 | Huitepec | Oax. | 422 | 82 | .194 | Ixcuintepec | Oax. | 1,694 | 1,312 | .775 | Ixtepeji | Oax. | 749 | 814 | 1.087 | Ixtlán | Oax. | 1,129 | 340 | .301 | Jaltepec | Oax. | 460 | 20 | .044 | Jaltianguis | Oax. | 375 | 49 | .131 | Jilotepec | Oax. | 153 | 488 | 3.190 | Lachichivia | Oax. | 478 | 105 | .220 | La Hoya | Oax. | 225 | 43 | .191 | Lalopa | Oax. | 423 | 167 | .395 | Malinaltepec | Oax. | 283 | 226 | .799 | Maxcaltepec | Oax. | 201 | 783 | 3.890 | Metepec | Oax. | 141 | 97 | .688 | Mexitlán | Oax. | 85 | 99 | 1.165 | Nanacatepec | Oax. | 495 | 141 | .285 | Nejapa | Oax. | 1,742 | 576 | .331 | Nobaá | Oax. | 395 | 250 | .633 | Ocotepec | Oax. | 522 | 241 | .462 | Pazoltepec | Oax. | 493 | 177 | .359 | Petlalcatepec | Oax. | 1,198 | 75 | .063 | Quezalapa | Oax. | 169 | 88 | .521 | Sogocho | Oax. | 742 | 504 | .679 | Suchitepec | Oax. | 215 | 313 | 1.457 | Tagui | Oax. | 142 | 310 | 2.183 | Tagui and Lazagaya | Oax. | 266 | 168 | .632 | Tava | Oax. | 338 | 570 | 1.685 | Tecomaltepec | Oax. | 423 | 167 | .395 | Tecpanzacualco | Oax. | 2,254 | 116 | .051 | Tehuilotepec | Oax. | 254 | 1,002 | 3.944 |
|
― 61 ―
| |
Name | Loc. | Population
in 1568 | Population
in 1646 | Ratio | Teococuilco | Oax. | 680 | 347 | .510 | Teotalcingo | Oax. | 2,268 | 745 | .329 | Teotlaxco | Oax. | 168 | 122 | .726 | Tepetolutla | Oax. | 1,409 | 908 | .645 | Tetepetongo | Oax. | 141 | 43 | .305 | Ticatepec | Oax. | 337 | 253 | .751 | Tiltepec | Oax. | 622 | 352 | .566 | Tlacoatzintepec | Oax. | 565 | 774 | 1.369 | Tlahuilotepec | Oax. | 564 | 590 | 1.046 | Tlapanala | Oax. | 706 | 473 | .670 | Tlazoltepec | Oax. | 378 | 39 | .103 | Tonagoyotepec | Oax. | 218 | 185 | .844 | Tonaguía | Oax. | 282 | 235 | .834 | Totolinga | Oax. | 155 | 88 | .568 | Totontepec | Oax. | 405 | 294 | .726 | Usila | Oax. | 1,385 | 343 | .248 | Xareta | Oax. | 254 | 54 | .212 | Yacoche | Oax. | 168 | 92 | .547 | Yagavila | Oax. | 407 | 400 | .983 | Yagayo | Oax. | 169 | 206 | 1.220 | Yalalag | Oax. | 169 | 306 | 1.812 | Yao | Oax. | 282 | 495 | 1.755 | Yatao | Oax. | 169 | 85 | .503 | Yatobe | Oax. | 163 | 163 | 1.000 | Yavago | Oax. | 282 | 136 | .482 | Yaxila | Oax. | 169 | 166 | .982 | Yolox | Oax. | 916 | 177 | .193 | Zapotequilla | Oax. | 338 | 129 | .382 | Zoochila | Oax. | 338 | 789 | 2.333 | Zoquiapan | Oax. | 338 | 126 | .373 | Total | 37,142 | 22,774 | 0.613 | Number of cases | 72 |
|
― 62 ―
| |
Towns on the 1646 list for which there is no corresponding figure for 1568, or which should be omitted from Part A, for various reasons . | Name | Loc. | Population
in 1646 | Comment | Ayacastla | Oax. | 330 | Not in 1568 list | Camotlán | Oax. | 292 | " | Coatlán | Oax. | 138 | " | Chimaltepec | Oax. | 337 | " | Huixtepec | Oax. | 75 | " | Ixcuintepec | Oax. | 184 | " | Lobani | Oax. | 117 | " | Macihuixi | Oax. | 43 | " | Malacatepec | Oax. | 253 | " | Petlapa | Oax. | 864 | " | Quiaecuza | Oax. | 541 | " | Quilacohe | Oax. | 168 | " | Tianguillo Achate | Oax. | 26 | " | Tlacotepec | Oax. | 73 | " | Totolinga | Oax. | 41 | " | Xossa | Oax. | 44 | " | Yachiuc | Oax. | 138 | " | Yagalaci | Oax. | 48 | " | Yahuitzi | Oax. | 204 | " | Yatzilam | Oax. | 361 | " | Total | 4,277 | Number of cases | 20 |
|
| |
TABLE 1.1, REGION V, PART C | Towns on the 1568 list for which a population is given but which are not found on the 1646 list. Towns on the 1568 list for which no separate population is given are omitted . | Name | Loc. | Population in
1568 | Atlatlauca | Oax. | 2,171 | Ayotepec | Oax. | 71 | Cacatepec | Oax. | 169 | Calajo | Oax. | 423 | Calpulalpan | Oax. | 564 |
|
― 63 ―
| |
Name | Loc. | Population
in 1568 | Citlaltepec | Oax. | 247 | Comaltepec | Oax. | 423 | Comatlán | Oax. | 124 | Cuezcomaltepec | Oax. | 564 | Chicome | Oax. | 279 | Chichiapa | Oax. | 160 | Chisme | Oax. | 141 | Chontales bravos | Oax. | 4,514 | Eltianguillo | Oax. | 113 | Esuchicala | Oax. | 282 | Huatenicamanes | Oax. | 4,231 | Hucitepec | Oax. | 113 | Itacatepec | Oax. | 112 | Ixcocan | Oax. | 655 | Ixtacatepec | Oax. | 141 | Jalahui | Oax. | 113 | Jaltepec | Oax. | 1,007 | Macuiltianguis | Oax. | 1,409 | Madoxoya | Oax. | 113 | Malinaltepec | Oax. | 380 | Maltepec | Oax. | 131 | Mayana | Oax. | 613 | Metepec | Oax. | 2,257 | Metlaltepec | Oax. | 169 | Miahuatlán | Oax. | 218 | Moctun | Oax. | 113 | Ocotepec | Oax. | 1,551 | Santa Cruz | Oax. | 282 | Tacatepec | Oax. | 123 | Taeta | Oax. | 169 | Talea | Oax. | 113 | Tecianzacualco | Oax. | 141 | Temascalapa | Oax. | 168 | Tepequepacagualco | Oax. | 185 | Tepuxtepec | Oax. | 170 | Tiquini | Oax. | 169 | Tlapalcatepec | Oax. | 845 |
|
― 64 ―
| |
Name | Loc. | Population
in 1568 | Tlaxuca | Oax. | 1,075 | Tochitepec | Oax. | 141 | Toltepec | Oax. | 395 | Tualilapa | Oax. | 351 | Tutlaco | Oax. | 185 | Tzaindan | Oax. | 339 | Vichinaguía | Oax. | 163 | Villa Alta | Oax. | 85 | Xacobo | Oax. | 169 | Xayatepec | Oax. | 225 | Xicaltepec | Oax. | 127 | Xilotepec | Oax. | 165 | Xocochi | Oax. | 141 | Xuquila | Oax. | 338 | Yacastla | Oax. | 593 | Yachinicingo | Oax. | 113 | Yagoni | Oax. | 141 | Yaquiza | Oax. | 141 | Yaviche | Oax. | 85 | Yolotepec | Oax. | 191 | Yotepec | Oax. | 452 | Yoveo | Oax. | 169 | Zaiutepec | Oax. | 135 | Zentecomaltepec | Oax. | 282 | Zoquío | Oax. | 149 | Zultepec | Oax. | 141 | Total | 32,427 | Number of cases | 68 |
|
We calculate the probable true population of Region V in 1620–1625 (our estimated average date) by using proportions and assuming that the ratio between the two dates was the same for all towns alike (in totals). This would mean that 69,569 × 0.613 = 42,646. The difference between this value and that of the actual list (27,051) is considerable, and may be
― 65 ―
due to the disappearance of many small places through congregación and extinction of the entire population. Further, the Huatenicamanes and the Chontales Bravos, for which the 1568 values are only a vague estimate, account for 8,750 souls. If these are deducted from the 1568 total, the values for the calculated and the actual population, according to the 1646 reporting, come quite close together.
Resort to the 1595 data for verification yields further discrepancy. Part D of Table 1.1, Region V, shows the population of 24 places in 1568 and 1595. The total of the former is 16,120 and of the latter 10,309. The ratio 1595/1568 is 0.639. By proportion, the entire population of Region V in 1595 would be 69,569 × 0.639 = 44,455. Similar data for 1595 and 1646 are given in part E, with 23 places. Here the totals are respectively 6,862 and 7,184; the ratio 1646/1595 is 1.047. The entire Indian population of Region V, calculated from the total in 1646 (27,051 ÷ 1.047), would be 25,837. These results are widely apart. In connection with this discrepancy, it should be noted that for the 23 towns the population in 1646 is actually greater than in 1595. There may have been a real increase in population, the extension of Spanish control may have come later than has been generally assumed, or there may be a factor of selection in the data whereby the more important towns are represented at the expense of those which disappeared. The Zapotecas may have constituted a special case which deserves further examination.
| |
TABLE 1.1, REGION V, PART D | Towns Found in Both 1568 and 1595 Lists | Name | Loc. | Population
in 1568 | Population
in 1595 | Ratio | Alotepec | Oax. | 338 | 254 | .751 | Atlatlauca | Oax. | 2,171 | 3,039 | 1.400 | Ayacastepec | Oax. | 339 | 443 | 1.307 | Cacalotepec | Oax. | 281 | 164 | .584 | Chicomesúchil | Oax. | 1,742 | 674 | .387 | Chichicastepec | Oax. | 254 | 127 | .500 | Ixtlán | Oax. | 1,129 | 421 | .373 | Lachichivia | Oax. | 478 | 220 | .461 |
|
― 66 ―
| |
Name | Loc. | Population
in 1568 | Population
in 1595 | Ratio | Ocotepec | Oax. | 522 | 699 | 1.340 | Ocotepec | Oax. | 1,551 | 547 | .353 | Sococho | Oax. | 742 | 206 | .278 | Suchitepec | Oax. | 215 | 180 | .837 | Tecianzacualco | Oax. | 141 | 96 | .681 | Tepetolutla | Oax. | 1,409 | 863 | .613 | Tiltepec | Oax. | 622 | 336 | .540 | Tlahuilotepec | Oax. | 564 | 268 | .475 | Tlapanala | Oax. | 706 | 392 | .556 | Tlazoltepec | Oax. | 378 | 96 | .253 | Totolinga | Oax. | 155 | 206 | 1.330 | Xareta | Oax. | 254 | 127 | .500 | Yacastla | Oax. | 593 | 282 | .476 | Yao | Oax. | 282 | 93 | .330 | Yolox | Oax. | 916 | 234 | .256 | Zochila | Oax. | 338 | 342 | 1.012 | Total | 16,120 | 10,309 | 0.639 | Number of cases | 24 |
|
| |
TABLE 1.1, REGION V, PART E | Towns Found in Both 1595 and 1646 Lists | Name | Loc. | Population
in 1595 | Population
in 1646 | Ratio | Alotepec | Oax. | 254 | 60 | .236 | Ayacastepec | Oax. | 443 | 204 | .460 | Ayacastla | Oax. | 281 | 330 | 1.174 | Cacalotepec | Oax. | 164 | 87 | .531 | Chicomesúchil | Oax. | 674 | 631 | .950 | Chichicastepec | Oax. | 127 | 65 | .512 | Ixtlán | Oax. | 421 | 340 | .807 | Lachichivia | Oax. | 220 | 105 | .478 | Ocotepec | Oax. | 699 | 241 | .345 | Sococho | Oax. | 206 | 504 | 2.438 |
|
― 67 ―
| |
Name | Loc. | Population
in 1595 | Population
in 1646 | Ratio | Suchitepec | Oax. | 180 | 313 | 1.740 | Tepetolutla | Oax. | 863 | 908 | 1.051 | Tiltepec | Oax. | 336 | 352 | 1.048 | Tlahuilotepec | Oax. | 268 | 590 | 2.202 | Tlapanala | Oax. | 392 | 473 | 1.207 | Tlazoltepec | Oax. | 96 | 39 | .407 | Totolinga | Oax. | 206 | 88 | .427 | Yachiuc | Oax. | 123 | 138 | 1.122 | Yahuitzi | Oax. | 113 | 204 | 1.805 | Yao | Oax. | 93 | 495 | 5.325 | Yolox | Oax. | 234 | 177 | .756 | Xareta | Oax. | 127 | 54 | .425 | Zochila | Oax. | 342 | 789 | 2.306 | Total | 6,862 | 7,184 | 1.047 | Number of cases | 23 |
|
