Note 3 — MEXICAN COPPER TOOLS.

Bernal Diaz de Castillo, Historia verdadera de la conquista de la Nuevo España, Madrid, 1632, I. Vol., Cap. 92, “y vendian hachas de laton, y cobre y estaño.” The meaning of this passage is, beyond all misinterpretation: He saw for sale bronze axes, and besides pieces of copper and others of tin. The order, in which these three words stand, conveys a suggestion that we should not wholly ignore. The word laton (bronze) is followed by cobre (copper) and estano (tin), the two well known components of bronze. Might not the relative position of the three words teach that, to them, bronze was the most important metal and was therefore assigned the first place, mentioning the copper and tin afterwards as the elements from which the bronze was made? We might also go farther and inquire how the first metal came to be recognized by them as bronze. In framing a reply, let us consider three possible explanations. Let us suppose, first, that they knew the bronze well enough to recognize it at once. They, further, may have entertained doubts as to its identity, but finally have been led to this conclusion by seeing the copper and tin exhibited in the stalls, together with the bronze. Thirdly, we may also suppose, that they would desire to obtain more positive confirmation and therefore have inquired and learned from their native guides that this bronze was actually a composition of the two other metals before them. Therefore, considering all these cases, when engaged in composing their narration, the Spaniards would have remembered the circumstances connected with the memorable visit to the market, and have enumerated the metals in the order in which they actually are found; first, the bronze, the main object of their curiosity, and then the copper and tin as the key to the puzzle.

We, however, make no defence of this forced and artificial interpretation of the language, and still less would in this manner build a premise from which to deduce the final conclusion, that the natives make bronze from copper and tin. On the contrary, the facts elicited from our material, as will be seen later, conduct us to very different conclusions. Still, having been struck by the occurrence of the three words and their relative positions, we could not dismiss them altogether, especially as Cortes and Bernal Diaz were eye-witnesses and were, therefore, of highest authority. Besides, it is by no means impossible that in the future, instruments of bronze may actually be discovered and found to be composed of tin and copper. In such an event our judgment would favor the opinion that Cortes and his followers were keener observers and investigators than those who during three and one-half centuries have attempted to ventilate the question.

For the same position of words, compare also Gomara (Francisco Lopez de), Historia General de las Indias, Ed. Barcia, Cap. 79: “There is also much featherwork in the market, and gold, silver, copper, lead, bronze (laton) and tin, though these three latter metals are scarce.” Gomara, it will be noticed, changed somewhat the position of the words, as compilers often do. He was a secretary to Cortes, and his work appeared in Zaragoza, 1552–1553, five years after Cortes’ death.