Architecture

Chacon Medina informs viceroy about ending servitude of Indians in construction of church and other public works, instead is hiring paid Spaniards to do work. Various letters and autos by various officials and missionaries praising governor, requests and authorizations of architectural repair and construction of church. Supplies of religious items sent to churches in province. Naming of gunsmith and details about artisans living in area based on reports by Cuervo y Valdez. Orders to restructure postal service from el Passo, Santa Fe and Parral to Mexico City. (A. Dell'acqua, June 1987)

Autos about intrigues against Chacon by fray Pena and request by governor that priest not enter province while he is governor. Acquiescence to viceroys order for construction of church and other official buildings. explanation of treatment of Indians. (A. Dell'acqua, June 1987)

Autos pertaining to questions raised about postal service, treatment of Indians, ammunition and arms. Defense and protection of Sunis and elections of new civilian officials. Reconstruction of Castillo and Casas reales in Santa Fe. (A. Dell'acqua, June 1987)

People and missionaries of Santa Fe in cabildo meeting name Musquia procurador of New Mexico to petition from viceroy division of presidio among towns of Sandia and Sevilleta, establish between them from north to south Spanish and Indian towns to better control pacified Indians, help with agriculture and better defense from Apaches. Resettlement of Indians is objected to by presidios' Ruiz de Caceres. Map of resettlement is drawn by Musquia and attached to autos. (A. Dell'acqua, may 13, 1987)

Scarcity of grain for distribution. Contributions by inhabitants to buy grain for food and seeds. Construction of dam utilizing prisoners as labor force. Irrigation of lands. (A. Dell'acqua, 4/21/87)

Letters relating deterioration of jailhouse in Monterrey, need for reconstruction and raising funds thru special tax or contribution from haciendas and towns in area. Relations about plans to move city due to population explosion, construction of new buildings. Orders to governor not to act without consulting fiscal and viceroy. List of contributors. (A. Dell'acqua, 4/21/87)

Describes geographical range Pimeria Alta missions. Speaks of continuing Apache menace. Notes depopulation of area due to diseases, Apache attacks. Discusses temporal affairs of missions, including livestock raising, planting communal fields maize, wheat, and vegetables, which feeds widows, sick, military escorts, mission Indians during lean months of April, May, and June, thereby inducing Indians to remain in pueblos instead of wild-food gathering. Notes sale of surplus to mines/presidios to purchase church supplies, barter goods. Notes decline of mission agriculture last 8 years due to lack of seeds, decline of Cieneguilla mines, and increased number of farmers. States mission business is conducted by Indian governors under missionaries' guidance. Describes architecture of Indian houses; agriculture, including cultivation of pomegranates, quinces, cotton, and sugar cane as well as shrubs of gomilla, jojoba, both of which used medicinally. Describes herbs used, including indigo (anil), gediondilla, zimarron, contra yerba. Claims 2 harvests pithaya per year in west. Notes presence gypsum, lime, piedra bezal found in deer, especially those killed near coast. Says province is covered with grama grass, thereby providing forage for much livestock. Describes climate, mineral wealth, including real of Cieneguilla, only settlement of Spaniards in Pimeria Alta. Describes settlements. Tiburones described as Seri groups. Describes excellent salt fields along coast. Describes port of Tepoca/pearl beds nearby. Notes presence of subterranean water. Says Papagos come to missions to sell young boys captured in slave raids carried out by interior nations; these slaves called Vijoras (Nixoras). No active commerce carried on by Indians. Describes uses of cotton. Says Pimas are good farmers, growing wheat, maize, squash, cotton. During harvests, many traders arrive to barter cloth, etc. for produce. Says Pimas stay in pueblos, not like Yaquis and many Opatas who wander (probably to work in mines). Discusses reasons why missions should not be secularized. Estimates Gila Pima population at 2,000. Compares Pimas favorably to Opatas, who no longer respect missionaries. Describes temporary nature of Spanish settlement of Sonora, Pimeria Alta. Says 8 leagues from Aconchi, the San Juan mine, full of water, is abandoned now. Discusses precautions necessary for populating Sonora. Encourages development of Tepoca, Guaymas to give Sonora easy access to sea, Tiburon Island as way station for transportation of livestock. Discusses need to develop educational facilities, including primary schools at Indian settlements. Notes belief among Opatas at Aconchi in Montezuma, who they claimed was their king and had risen and appeared in mountains. Describes his school, which taught girls as well as boys to read, write. (T. Sheridan) (1976)

Erection of missions in Coahuila province, settlement of new town, request for religious items, food and monies to continue maintaining Indians living in missions. (A. Dell'acqua, March 1987)

Letters about building presidio in Sonora, location of presidio and letters suggesting person to be in charge. (A. Dell'acqua, March 1987)

Request to build a presidio in Sonora, orders to find best location to serve Sinaloa and Sonora against Indian attacks. (A. Dell'acqua, March 1987)