Title: Great Book of Maya Medicine

Date: 1917

Language(s): Yucatec with some Spanish

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Manuscript copy of 285 numbered prescriptions/recipes for the use of plants in medical remedies and treatments. Written in two ruled notebooks labeled "Libreta I and Libreta II." There are two different numbering systems, one written in pencil and the other in pen.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Material and Layout: Paper; 2 vols. (40, 40 leaves); 23 x 17 cm.

Binding: Paper wrappers; in cloth box

PROVENANCE

"Guillermo Gates Casa de James 63-490 Mérida Yuc."--Written in pen on cover. "Ticul Diciembre 10 de 1917 Esta Copia Maya La hizo el Señor Francisco Mená," written in pen on p. 155; later owned by William Gates; sold to Robert Garrett (purchased from William Gates in 1930); deposited by Garrett at the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton in 1942; removed from the Institute in 1949, at Garrett's request, and donated to the Princeton University Library.

Title: Maya Medical and Botanical Texts

Date: 1875-1900

Language(s): Yucatec with some Spanish

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Medical-Botanical manuscript containing 324 prescriptions/recipes for the use of plants in medical remedies and treatments. Each recipe/prescription is numbered (in a modern hand) in black ink preceding the heading (name of the disease), for example "46. Bobote kaak." Diseases are grouped by type, for example f. 9-10 are devoted to different types of "kaak" "Viruela (smallpox)."

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Material and Layout: Paper; 55 leaves; 22 x 16 cm.

Binding: In cloth box

PROVENANCE

Early provenance unknown; previously owned by William Gates; sold to Robert Garrett (purchased from William Gates in 1930); deposited by Garrett at the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton in 1942; removed from the Institute in 1949, at Garrett's request, and donated to the Princeton University Library.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Roys,Ralph Loveland. The Ethno-Botany of the Maya. (New Orleans, Dept. of Middle American Research: Tulane University of Louisiana, 1931).

Title: Appellidos en Lengua Maya, Sacados de Documentos Publìcos del Departamento de Mérida, certificados por los Párrocos

Date: 1800-50

Language(s): Spanish and Yucatec

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Manuscript list of 157 Yucatecan surnames from the parish records of Merida, Yucatan, from "Aban" to "Zulú." Gates indicates that this manuscript is written in the hand of Juan Pio Perez. Probably dates to the early 19th century.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Material and Layout: Blue lined paper; 1 leaf; 32 x 20 cm.

Binding: Unbound sheets, in folder labeled "The American Art Association, Madison Square South, New York ... AAA"

PROVENANCE

Early provenance unknown; the paper is paper, embossed with an oval design at upper left corner, which depicts a building with three domes; a white paper oval is glued to the upper left corner and bears an ink inscription that reads "14," underneath this label is the number "5" in a circle, now obliterated by the label; previously owned by William Gates; sold to Robert Garrett (purchased from William Gates in 1930); deposited by Garrett at the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton in 1942; removed from the Institute in 1949, at Garrett's request, and donated to the Princeton University Library.

Author: Chi, Joseph

Title: Deed of Sale for Land by Joseph and Juan Chi

Date: March 13, 1712

Language(s): Yucatec and Spanish

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Deed of sale transferring land from Joseph and Juan Chi in Ticul, Mexico.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Material and Layout: Paper; 1 leaf (1 p.); 30 x 21 cm.

Binding: In cloth box; housed with cardboard covers, removed

PROVENANCE

Early provenance unknown; previously owned by William Gates; sold to Robert Garrett (purchased from William Gates in 1930); deposited by Garrett at the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton in 1942; removed from the Institute in 1949, at Garrett's request, and donated to the Princeton University Library.

Author: Ton, Diego

Title: Deed of Sale for Land by Diego Ton

Date: 1750

Language(s): Yucatec and Spanish
 

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Deed of sale transferring land from Diego Ton in Mexico, town name unknown.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Material and Layout: Paper; 1 leaf; 31 x 21 cm.
 

Binding: In cloth box; housed with cardboard covers, removed
 

PROVENANCE

Early provenance unknown; previously owned by William Gates; sold to Robert Garrett (purchased from William Gates in 1930); deposited by Garrett at the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton in 1942; removed from the Institute in 1949, at Garrett's request, and donated to the Princeton University Library.

Author: Guerrero, Ignacio

Title: Deed from Ignacio Guerrero of Valladolid for a Paraje called Xluch Sold to Joseph Gomez

Date: Dec. 5, 1766

Language: Yucatec with some Spanish

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Land deed in Spanish. This is one of four documents in this collection that concern the Ceme family and their property X-Luch near Tahcavo and Kuaua. See also entry Garrett-Gates Mesoamerican Manuscripts, no. 15.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Material and Layout: Paper; 1 leaf; 31 x 21 cm.

Binding: In cloth box; housed with cardboard covers, removed

PROVENANCE

Early provenance unknown; previously owned by William Gates; sold to Robert Garrett (purchased from William Gates in 1930); deposited by Garrett at the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton in 1942; removed from the Institute in 1949, at Garrett's request, and donated to the Princeton University Library.

Title: Deed of Sale for Land

Date: May 16, 1768

Language(s): Yucatec with some Spanish

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Deed of sale transferring land, possibly for a Ceme family property called X-Luch near Tahcavo and Kuaua. No names identified.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Material and Layout: Paper; 2 leaves; 31 x 21 cm.

Binding: In cloth box; housed with cardboard covers, removed.

PROVENANCE

Early provenance unknown; previously owned by William Gates; sold to Robert Garrett (purchased from William Gates in 1930); deposited by Garrett at the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton in 1942; removed from the Institute in 1949, at Garrett's request, and donated to the Princeton University Library.

Title: Deed of Sale for Land

Date: January 23, 1789

Language(s): Yucatec

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Ms. copy of a deed of sale for land in Ticul (Mexico), dated 23 January 1789, labeled "Carta de Dentail hun xothe(?) lamil selar."

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Material and Layout: Paper; 1 leaf; 31 x 21 cm.

Binding: In cloth box; housed with cardboard covers, removed.

PROVENANCE

Previously owned by William Gates; sold to Robert Garrett (purchased from William Gates in 1930); deposited by Garrett at the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton in 1942; removed from the Institute in 1949, at Garrett's request, and donated to the Princeton University Library.

Author: Uicab, Juan

Title: Will of Juan Uicab

Date: October 11, 1804

Language(s): Yucatec with some Spanish

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Last will and testament of Juan Uicab. Uicab wants his children to buy him a "misa rezada" and he leaves his forest land to his son and daughter.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Material and Layout: Paper; 1 leaf; 31 x 22 cm.

Binding: In cloth box; housed with cardboard covers, removed

PROVENANCE

Early provenance unknown; previously owned by William Gates; sold to Robert Garrett (purchased from William Gates in 1930); deposited by Garrett at the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton in 1942; removed from the Institute in 1949, at Garrett's request, and donated to the Princeton University Library.

Title: Deed of Sale for Land

Date: October 16, 1811

Language(s): Yucatec with some Spanish

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

Deed of sale transferring land in Kanxoc, Yucatán. No names identified.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Material and Layout: Paper; 1 leaf; 31 x 21 cm.

Binding: In cloth box; housed with cardboard covers, removed.

PROVENANCE

Early provenance unknown; previously owned by William Gates; sold to Robert Garrett (purchased from William Gates in 1930); deposited by Garrett at the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton in 1942; removed from the Institute in 1949, at Garrett's request, and donated to the Princeton University Library.