SAHAGUN
325
SAHAGUN
over them. When appointed, in the spring of 1624,
to descend to Quebec for provisions, he was allowed
by the Indians to depart on the express condition that
he would return. A letter of his superior, ordering
him back to France, thwarted his most ardent desire.
He presented a memoir concerning the state of re-
ligion to the Due de Montmorency, Viceroy of New
France, inveighing against the agents of the trading
companies whose evil influence paratyzed the zeal of
the missionaries. He convinced his superiors of the
necessity of introducing a more powerful and influen-
tial religious order to cope with the difficult situation.
The Jesuits having been suggested, the choice of
them was ratified by Cardinal Richelieu in 1625. In
16S6, Sagard published a history of Canada under the
title: "Histoire du Canada ct voyages que les Freres
Mineurs Recollets ont faits pour la conversion des
infideles". It is a clear and simple account of all he
saw or heard mentioned in this new land. Charle-
voix criticises his Huron vocabulary as inaccurate
compared with later studies of the language, but
gives him credit for his good judgment and zeal for
the conversion of souls and the progress of the colony.
Charlevoix, Histoire de la Nouvelle-France (Paris, 1744) ; SixTE Le Tac, Histoire chronoloyique de la Nouvelle-France (Paris, 1888); Beadbien, Le Sault-au-Recollet (Montreal, 1898); GossELiN, La mission du Canada avant Mgr de Laval (Evreux, 1909).
Lionel Lindsay.
Sahagtin, Bernardino de, missionary and Aztec archaeologist, b. at Sahagun, Kingdom of Le6n, Spain, in or before the year 1500; d. at Mexico, 23 Oct., 1590. He studied at the convent of Salamanca, where he took the vows of the order, and in 1529 was sent out to Mexico, being one of the earliest mission- aries assigned to that country, where he laboured until his death more than sixty years later. He was as- signed to the college of Santa Cruz in Tlaltelolco, near the City of Mexico, and took up th(> work of preach- ing, conversion, and the instruction of the native youth in Spanish and Latin, science, music, and reli- gion, while by close study and years of daily practice he him.self acquired such mastery of the Aztec lan- guage as has never since been attained by any other student. Although several times filling administrative positions, he preferred to devote his attention solely to the work of instruction and investigation. His zeal and pre-eminent ability in respect to the Indian language and religion attracted the attention of his superior, who directed him to compile in the Aztec language a compendium of all things relating to the native history and custom that might be useful in the labour of Christianizing the Indians. The work thus undertaken occupied some seven years, in collabora- tion with the best native authorities, and was ex- panded into a history and description of the Aztec people and civilization in twelve manuscript books, together with a grammar (Arte) and dictionary of the language.
Various delays enabled the author to continue re- visions and additions for several years. One of these delays hinged upon the question of the hiring of cleri- cal assistance as inconsistent with the Franciscan vow of poverty, although Father Sahagun, by reason of age and the trembhng of his hand, was then unable to write himself. After five years of waiting it was decided in favour of the author, who was given the help he needed, and the complete Aztec manuscript, with the grammar and dictionary, was finished in 15G9. In the meantime a preliminary manuscript draft had been carried to Spain, where it became known to Ovando, president of the Council of the Indies, on whose request the Franciscan delegate- general directed Father Sahagun to make a complete Spanish translation, furnishing all necessary assist- ance. On account of the fear of encouraging the educated natives to dwell upon their heathen past —
a very real danger at the time — and on account also of
the author's strictures upon the methods of the Can-
quistadores, it was not pubhshed, but was consulted
in manuscript, being sent from one to another college
of the order, until finally carried to Spain and de-
posited in the convent of Tolosa, where it was found,
and a copy made, by the archivist Munoz shortly
before 1800. It was published under the title
"Historia general de las cosas de Nueva Espaiia",
in three volumes at Mexico in 1829, and in volumes
five and seven of Kingsborough's "Mexican An-
tiquities", London, 1831.
Father Sahagun thus describes the inception of the work: "I was commanded in all holy obedience by my chief prelate to write in the M(\xi('an language that which appeared to me to be useful for the doc- trine, worship, and maintenance of Christianity among these natives of New Spain, and for the aid of the ministers and workers that taught them. Having received this commandment, I made in the Spanish language a minute or memorandum of all the matters that I had to treat of, which matters are what is written in the twelve books . . . which were begun in the pueblo of Tepeopulco. ... I got together all the principal men, together with the lord of the place, who was called Don Diego de Mendoza, of great distinction and ability, well-experienced in things ecclesiastic, military, political, and even re- lating to idolatry. They being come together, I set before them what I proposed to do, and prayed them to appoint me able and experienced persons with whom I might converse and come to an understanding on such (jucstions as I might propose. They answered me that they would talk the matter over and give their answer on another day; and with this tlicy took their departure. So on another day the lonl and his prin- cijial men came and having conferri'd together, with great .solemnity, as they were accustomed at that time to do, they chose out ten or twelve of the prin- cipal old men, and told me that with these I might communicate and that these would instruct me in any matters I should inquire of. Of these there were as many as four instructed in Latin, to whom I, some few years before, had myself taught grammar in the college of Santa Cruz in Tlaltelolco. With these ap- pointed principal men, including the four instructed in grammar, I talked many days during about two years, following the order of the minute I had al- ready made out. On all the subjects on which we conferred they gave me pictures — which were the writings anciently in use among them — and th(;se the grammarians interpreted to me in their language, writing the interpretation at the foot of the picture."
Besides the "Historia", the "Arte" and the " Diccionario " (the last in Aztec, Spanish, and Latin), he was the author of a number of lesser works, mostly religious and in the Aztec language, among which may be noted a volume of sermons; an explanation of the Epistles and Gospels of the Mass; a history of the coming of the first Franciscans to Mexico, in two volumes; a Christian psalmody in Aztec, for the use of the neophytes in church (Mexico, 1.5S3-84), and a catechism in the same language. He died at the age of ninety years, sixty-one of which had been de- voted to missionary labour and research. At his funeral, which was attended by all the religious and students of the city, the Indians also attended, shed- ding tears. In Sahagun we have the ideal missionary priest and scholar. As a young man he was noted for his beauty and grace of person, and from childhood was given to prayer and self-restraint. His rehgious companions affirmed that he went into frequent ecstasies. He was most exact in the duties of his order, never missing Matins, even in his old age. Al- ways and to all persons he was gentle, humble, and courteous. In over sixty years as college professor
