Nature in the New World: From Christopher Columbus to Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo

Contents

Contents Translator's Preface xv PART I. FROM COLUMBUS TO VERRAZZANO I. Introduction 3 I. The inferiority of America according to Buffon 3 2. Precursors of zoological geography 4 3. "Similar" and "different" animals 5 4. Meaning of "differentness" 7 5. The New World and the Old 8 6. The Indian and the salvation of the heathen 9 7. The physical nature of the Americas 10 II. Christopher Columbus 12 I. First reactions to American nature 12 2. The Journal of the First Voyage 13 3. Meager fauna, exuberant flora 15 4. Cuba: Differences from and affinities with Europe 17 5. Haiti: The "Spanish" Island 18 6. The return: Hallucinations and mysticism 21 III. Doctor Alvarez Chanca 23 I. Enthusiasm for the flora 23 2. Lesser interest in the fauna 25 3. Curiosity about the natives 25 4. Fernandez de Santaella 26 IV. Nicolo Scillacio 27 I. Secondhand information and gross blunders 27 2. Amazement and admiration 28 3. Natives and cannibals 29 V. Michele de Cuneo 31 I. First systemization of nature in the Indies 31 2. Plants, fruits, and other products 32 3. Animals: Scarce or numerous 32 4. Realistic portrait of the natives 33 5. Curiosity about the natives' sexual customs 34 VI. Amerigo Vespucci 35 I. Columbus and Vespucci 35 viii Contents 2. The three authentic letters 36 3. The newness of the Americas 37 4. The Earthly Paradise 38 5. Other echoes 39 6. The animals and the natives 40 7. Life among the cannibals 41 8. War and languages 42 9. The episode of the giants 43 10. Vespucci's humanity and shrewdness 44 VII. The Pseudo-Vespucci 45 I. Flaws and crudities 45 2. Enthusiasm for America 46 3. Giants male and female 47 4. The sodden tropics 48 5. The natives' Epicureanism 49 VIII. Peter Martyr 50 1. Life and character 50 2. Enthusiasm and privileged information 51 3. Pride in the richness of his material 52 4. Rediscovery of the golden age 53 5. The natives' communism, eloquence, and bravery 54 6. No "journalist" but an inquisitive humanist 58 7. Self-censure and religiosity 59 8. The Indies and classical antiquity 60 9. Critical skepticism: The Amazons 61 10. America as living proof of the Graeco-Roman fables 62 11. The limitations of Martyr's approach 63 12. Experimental empiricism 65 13. Geographical problems tackled 66 14. The origin of the great rivers 66 15. Marvels of the flora and fauna 68 16. Nature varied and benign 70 17. The animals abundant and vigorous 72 18. Invitation to the pope 73 19. Spain exalted 73 IX. Martin Fernandez de Enciso's "Suma de Geographia" 76 1. Nature of the work 76 2. Enciso and Balboa 77 3. Dynastic aims and theses 78 4. The riches of the Indies 80 5. The requerimiento 81 6. Sympathy for the natives 83 7. Nature and experience 85 8. The fauna of Darien 86 9. The edible flora 87 10. Enciso and Oviedo 88 X. Hernan Cortes 92 1. Apologetic and utilitarian intentions 92 Contents ix 2. Exclusively strategic concerns 93 3. Substantial contribution to the knowledge of America 95 4. Mexico matched with Europe. .. 95 5.... in the three natural kingdoms 96 6. The natives and Spain 97 XI. Antonio Pigafetta 1. The report unknown to Peter Martyr 100 2. Magellan's discovery 102 3. The Moluccas and America 103 4. Credulity and skepticism 104 5. Little information on plants and animals 105 6. Human interest in the natives 106 7. The Patagonian giants 108 8. The native languages 111 XII. Giovanni da Verrazzano I. North America and the redskins 113 2. Animal, vegetable, and mineral riches 114 3. Old World and New 115 4. Place-names borrowed from Europe 115 100 113 XIII. The Spanish Government and the Geographical Knowledge of the Indies 117 1. Limited initial interest I 17 2. Curiosity and zeal of local officials 119 3. The cedula of 1533 and Oviedo 119 4. Reports varyingly received 121 5. Belated awakening of Spanish interest 122 Interlude 124 PART 2. GONZALO FERNANDEZ DE OVIEDO XIV. Life and Literary Reputation 1. Publication of the Historia 129 2. Its circulation and reputation 131 3. The Academia de la Historia edition 132 4. Oviedo's glory in decline 133 5. Life: Oviedo and Columbus 136 6. Wanderings in Italy 137 7. Oviedo in the Indies 140 8. The man in the work...