Geography

Teran's diario of his entrada from Coahuila presidio into Provincia de Texas, noting geography, Flora, fauna, Indian groups he encountered. Mentions Indian gobernador named Bernardino, apparently Texas Indian in rebellion against Spaniards. Notes trouble, delay caused by storms, rain, snow. Discusses visit to Cadodacha Indians, led by official called a cadi. Return trip by fragata down Gulf of Mexico coast to Veracruz. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Declaracion of officers concerning Asinay, Cadodacho Indians. Note Asinay rebellion, repeating information found in other declaraciones. State buffalo range infructuoso, range plants unsuitable to livestock. Describe various military endeavors to reconnoiter area, especially rivers. Note fatigue of soldiers, poor state of horseherd, lack of arms, clothing, other supplies. Briefly discuss Cododacho political organization, settlement pattens. Note abandonment of missions among Asinay, inability of Franciscans to convert them. Describe scattered settlement patterns of Asinay, making it hard for missionization, reduccion to take place. Mention custom of Asinay to call each other texa, meaning friend. Describe expedition under command of capitan Martinez, composed of 20 soldiers, 10 muleteers, 300 well-armed Jumano auxiliaries, although Jumanos act more or less independently. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Franciscans request more soldiers to guard missions in Texas, noting widespread theft of livestock perpetrated by guatsa Indians living around Bahia del Espiritu Santo. Guatsas, in rebellion against Spaniards, apparently influencing Texas Indians to do same. 8 soldiers who form mission guard lack weapons and 4 are sick. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Franciscans request at least 10 soldiers be sent to Bahia del Espiritu Santo, noting that Indians in area enemies of Europeans, and had killed French, English, Spanish and Dutch without ever being punished (7/19/1691). Military officials discuss whether expedition should press on to territory of Texas Indians or remain at Bahia (7/21/1691). Franciscan diario of trip from San Salvador mission in Coahuila to mission San Francisco de los Texas (5/16-8/20, 1691), noting- encounter with Indian groups- Mescales, Yoricas, Chomes, Machomes, Parachacas, Pamanes- living between Rio Grande, Rio Sabinos, all of who rely on buffalo, wild food gathering, none of whom hunt; difficulties traveling with livestock- cattle, goats, sheep- because of rivers in flood, poor pasturage, etc; Flora, fauna, geography, often giving Indian names for places; resources of Rio Nueces area, including many walnuts, buffalo, fish; arrival Indians, many different naciones to trade for tobacco, knives, rosaries, etc. (See 201); visit to Rancheria of payay Indians, nacion Muy grande, choma, Cibola, caynaaya Indians live along Rio Grande and are enemies of Apaches, who fight everyone except Salineros, Apaches described mui-Guerreros who fight with armed horses; chomas described as yndios que en el parraly y Nueva Mexico llaman jumanes, who hunt buffalo from source of Rio Guadalupe to land of Texas during warm time of year, returning to riverine homes during winter; arrival of ships from Veracruz at Espiritu Santo; friendly greeting by Texas Indians, who mourned death of one missionary, many others from unnamed enfermedad. Excellent information on Indians of southern, central, eastern Texas. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Diary of Leon's expedition to Bahia del Espiritu Santo from Coahuila. Accompanied by French prisoner with many contacts among Indians, Spaniards- encounter gathering of Indians of 5 naciones - Hapes, Jumenes, xiabu, Mescales, y otra- living in casilla cuvierta de Cueros de cibola- who hang heads of enemies from poles in front of their dwellings; note petroglyphs; journey thru great stretches of Mesquite, Nopales so thick at times they have to dismount; describe Flora, fauna, especially trees, commenting on great numbers, good quality of native walnuts, and buffalo; hear of 4 French traders operating among Indians, trading knives, tobacco for buffalo hides which they transported on dogs; lose over 100 horses in stampede, of which all but 36 recovered; reach French settlement and find it destroyed by Indians- books, bones, broken arcabuces scattered thru wreckage, explore Rio San Marcos; told by Indians that French community at Espiritu Santo suffered epidemic of smallpox (viruelas) which killed more than 100, then were tricked by Indians who came from far away under pretext of desire to trade and killed French in their homes; encounter Texas Indians, some of whom accompany Spaniards back to Coahuila presidio. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Elizondo entrada into province of Coahuila to Rio de las Sabinas 60 leagues north of Saltillo. Encounters various Indian groups, including some suffering from viruelas (small pox), called by names of their capitanes (See 022). Indians apparently sick, hungry, petitioning for reduccion. Describes poverty of country, noting that Indians don't know how to farm, and subsist only on raises y frutas de su tierra. Grants Indians lands along Rio de los Sabinas, advises that no Spaniards be allowed into area because of horror gran Indians have of them, nor should Spaniards be allowed to pass thru to hunt buffalo. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Fray Mariano Francisco de los Dolores notes requests of several Apache groups for permission to settle in Rio Guadalupe area and mentions that Apaches suffering from smallpox epidemic. Apaches describe whereabouts of other Apache bands Allied with Julimes. Severe drought noted for Texas provincia. Fray Benito Fernandez de Santa Ana requests presidial soldiers at San Xavier rejoin San Antonio presidio, as well as detachment from Bahia, and that soldiers, other Spaniards establish fort, settlement at Pedernales, near Apache camp. Much discussion of mission frontier. Documents include peticiones from Franciscans, responses from officials in Mexico City. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

An informe to the viceroy on what needs to be done to send troops to Alta California. The authors recommend reinforcing only San Francisco, Monterrey, and San Diego. The major obstacle will be the lack of ships available in San Blas. (G. Miller) (1977)

This informe outlines the reasons for and steps that should be initiated to fortify the Alta California coast in response to expected encroachments from the russians and British. Three general proposals are at the heart of the letter, beef up defenses at San Diego, Monterrey and San Francisco; encourage, immigration; and have Monterrey the initial stop for the Manila trade rather than Acapulco. (G. Miller) (1977)

An informe summarizing the distances and routes between Mexico, Chihuahua, Santa Fe, and Monterrey (California). (G. Miller) (1977)