tepohualli (TK212v)

This painted example of notation in Nahuatl represents a population count (tepohualli) of 27,165 people, apparently the size of the full altepetl of Tepetlaoztoc. It is like a math equation. First, starting on the left, there are three rounded sacks we can call xiquipilli (8,000 each), for a subtotal of 24,000. The sacks are tied and have folds that make them three-dimensional, a style taught by European instructors. Above each one is a man’s head in profile, looking to the right. The Spanish-language gloss supports this by referring to “the count of the residents,” which is a perfect translation for tepohualli, even though the Nahuatl term does not appear on the page. Next, the notation shows nine dots below what seems to be a triangular tip of a feather (likely a centzontli or tzontli, a count of 400), for another subtotal of 3,600. The running total is now 27,600. Added to that is a swallowtail-shaped flag (which would here possibly be called a tecpantli, standing for 20) with the multiplier of eight ones, or 160, which pushes the running total to 27,760. Finally, the five ones are shown as three short vertical lines encompassed by one overarching line that pushes three to five. The grand total is, therefore, 27,765, which is supported by the text that spells the number out fully in Spanish: “veynte y syete mill y seteçientos y sesenta y çinco v^os.”