calpulli

The ground thus occupied by the 'calpulli' was NOT, as Torquemada admits, assigned to it by a higher power; the tribal government itself held NO DOMAIN which it might apportion among subdivisions or to individuals, either gratuitously or on condition of certain prestations, or barter against a consideration.

Houses and House-Life of the American Aborigines Lewis H. Morgan 1849

The tribe claimed its territory, 'altephetlalli,' an undefined expanse over which it might extend -- the 'calpules,' however, held and possessed within that territory such portions of it as were productive; each 'calpulli' being sovereign within its limits, and assigning to its individual members for their use the minor tracts into which the soil was parcelled in consequence of their mode of cultivation.

Houses and House-Life of the American Aborigines Lewis H. Morgan 1849

Now calpulalli (from "calpulli," quarter or kinship, and "tlalli," soil), means soil of the kin, and altepetalli ( "altepetl," tribe), soil of the tribe.

Houses and House-Life of the American Aborigines Lewis H. Morgan 1849

But these, as soon as they had disaggregated, ceased to be any longer units of territorial possession, their original areas being held thereafter by the 'minor quarters' (as Herrera, for instance, calls them), who exercised, each one within its limits, the same sovereignty which the original 'calpulli' formerly held over the whole.

Houses and House-Life of the American Aborigines Lewis H. Morgan 1849

Communal living, as the idea of the 'calpulli' implies, seems, therefore, to have prevailed among the Mexicans as late as the period of their greatest power.

Houses and House-Life of the American Aborigines Lewis H. Morgan 1849

The custom always remained, that the "calpulli" was sovereign within its limits.

Houses and House-Life of the American Aborigines Lewis H. Morgan 1849

Besides, it is said of the traders who, from the nature of their occupation, were mostly absent, that they were also members and participants of a 'calpulli'"(Zurita, p. 223.

Houses and House-Life of the American Aborigines Lewis H. Morgan 1849

Dialogue of Cervantes-Salazar ( "Mexico in 1554") by my excellent friend Sr. Icazbalceta (pp. 73 and 74).] [Relocated Footnote 4: This successive formation of new "calpulli" is nowhere explicitly stated, but it is implied by the passage of Duran which we have already quoted (Cap. V, p. 42).

Houses and House-Life of the American Aborigines Lewis H. Morgan 1849

(This is evidently incorrect, since the words 'calpulli' and 'chinancalli' can easily be distinguished from each other.) "'Chinancalli', however after

Houses and House-Life of the American Aborigines Lewis H. Morgan 1849

[Transcriber's Note: Lengthy footnote 3 relocated to chapter end.] "The soil built over by each 'calpulli' probably remained for some time the only solid expanse held by the Mexicans.

Houses and House-Life of the American Aborigines Lewis H. Morgan 1849