By popular demand, the much-lauded “Lake Chapala Through the Ages: an anthology of travellers’ tales” has now been released as a Kindle e-book (available via amazon.com).
The following description applies to both the print version and the e-book version:
Lake Chapala is no longer a paradise without a past
Join award-winning author Tony Burton as he explores the fascinating history of the Lake Chapala region’s formative years from the arrival of conquistadors in the early 1500s to the start of the Mexican Revolution in 1910.
Insightful and entertaining commentary enhances this unique collection of extracts from more than fifty original sources.
Poets, friars, travellers, exiles and scientists overcome bandits and natural disasters to offer captivating tales of courage, greed, delight, unexpected triumphs and much, much more.
xiv+215 pages, with map, more than twenty original illustrations, glossary, bibliographic references and index.
Illustrated by Rosemary Chan. Published by Sombrero Books, 2008.
“Ambitious and encyclopaedic; well organized and engagingly presented” – Richard Perry, Author and Publisher, colonial-mexico
“A must-read, full of little-known facts; a brilliant anthology that reveals Lake Chapala in a whole new light.” – David McLaughlin, Publisher, MexConnect
- Link to review by James Tipton (MexConnect)
- Link to review by Thomas Hally (El Ojo del Lago)
Chapter titles of “Lake Chapala Through the Ages: an anthology of travellers’ tales“:
Part One: 1530-1800
1 Conquistadors describe the lake – 1530 …………………………………. 3
2 Indian chieftains and Franciscan friars – mid-16th century ………. 5
3 Floods, comets, idols and earth tremors – 16th century ………….. 15
4 Converting the barbarians – mid-16th century ……………………… 18
5 Gathering geographic knowledge – 1579-1586 ……………………… 20
6 Visits to the Lake Chapala friaries – 1585-1586 …………………….. 28
7 Lake Chapala—as large as an ocean? – c.1600 ………………………. 36
8 A geographic description – 1601-1605 ……………………………….. 38
9 Fishing and farming – 1621 ……………………………………………….. 41
10 San Francisco de Tizapán – 1690 …………………………………….. 43
11 The south-eastern marshlands – 1746 ………………………………. 46
12 Early censuses – 1768 & 1791-1793 …………………………………. 48
Part Two: 1800-1850
13 A rift in the tableland? – 1803 ………………………………………… 51
14 The first detailed map of Lake Chapala – 1816-1817 ……………54
15 A post-Independence statistical account – 1821-1822 …………56
16 Mezcala Island—scene of rebellion – 1824 ………………………..60
17 A visit to Mezcala Island – 1826 ………………………………………67
18 From Tlachichilco to La Barca; hunting water-fowl – 1827 …..72
19 Visiting the prisoners on Presidio (Mezcala) Island – 1831……76
20 Mezcala Island: picturesque place of pain – 1836 ……………….80
21 The natural history of Lake Chapala – 1837 ……………………….82
22 Villages, farms and floods – 1843 …………………………………….87
23 Earthquake! – 1847 ………………………………………………………91
Part Three: 1850-1890
24 Lake Chapala—prospects for the future – 1857 ………………….92
25 The lake’s potential value as a trading route – 1854-1863 ……94
26 Overnighting in haciendas – 1864-1865 ……………………………98
27 Request to drain part of the lake – 1867 …………………………..104
28 The opposition of local villagers – 1868 …………………………..107
29 The romantic shores of Lake Chapala – 1869 ……………………110
30 The journal of an English lady – 1872 ……………………………..112
31 A fanciful sketch of the lake – 1867-1877 ………………………..117
32 The first English-language guide book – 1886 …………………. 120
33 The marshes and wildlife of the eastern lakeshore – 1886 …. 121
34 Agriculture, trade and potential summer resort – 1888 ……. 125
35 On board a paddle-steamer – 1883-1889 ……………………….. 128
Part Four: 1890-1900
36 Chapala? Sí, señor! – 1892 …………………………………………… 131
37 Lake Chapala – a major attraction – 1893 ……………………….. 135
38 A quaint inn and romantic beauty – 1893 ……………………….. 139
39 Giant Whirlpool—a startling spectacle – 1896 …………………. 142
40 The little pottery objects of Lake Chapala – 1897 ……………. 144
41 Across the lake by steamer – 1897 ………………………………… 147
42 The new, revised complete guide – 1899 ………………………… 150
43 A dream of a throne – 1898 ………………………………………….. 153
44 The Hotel Arzapalo and a stagecoach ride – c 1898-1899 ….. 158
45 A famous ichthyologist visits the lake – 1898-9 ……………….. 162
Part Five: 1900-1910
46 Chapala the beautiful – 1900 ………………………………………… 164
47 Chapala as I saw it – 1900-1901 …………………………………….. 168
48 An anthropologist finds votive offerings – 1902 ………………. 172
49 Two bird-lovers at Lake Chapala – 1904 …………………………. 174
50 Chapala—a place for the leisure class – 1904-1907 …………… 179
51 Chapala today – 1907 …………………………………………………… 181
52 A place of contrasts – 1909 …………………………………………… 186
53 Lake Chapala, a traveller’s handbook – 1909 ……………………. 190
54 Notes on some water-fowl – 1909 ………………………………….. 195
55 Holy Week and the elite of Mexican society – 1909-1910 …… 197