Geography

A description, in some detail of the areas of Spanish colonization on the frontier. It focuses on Spanish towns and deals with the native population only in passing. It is valuable chiefly for geographic description. (J. Grusin) (1976)

Jesuit defense against charges by presidial captains that they accumulated great Sotres grain/livestock, engaged in lucrative trade, built palaces, lived in luxury. Jesuit attack on presidial captains for abusing Indian labor, cheating own soldiers, failing to perform military duties, showing disrespect for missionaries/religion. High praise for captains Hurdaide, Borgansa Quesada. Condemnation present captain. Account civil/religious conflict Sinaloa-Sonora. Brief description agriculture, barter/exchange rates, Jesuit livestock industry, Jesuit commerce with Parral, wild food gathering (acorns, chestnuts, Quelites), Mescal making, mission architecture, settlement patterns, Indian depopulation at hands of Spaniards, Indian migration to mines/ranches outside province. Defense corporal punishment Indians. Religious/economic reasons for reduction program. Description Jesuit generosity to Indians/Spaniards during famines. Reasons why Indians should support missionaries without monetary payment. Description sad state presidial forces-untrained, cheated by captains. Abuses Sinaloa judicial system. (T. Sheridan) (1976)

Physical description of immigrants; inventory of possessions (incl. Agricultural implements); field notes of the journey; description of destination; land allocations. (R. Perez) (1977)

Two memorials by Ximenez, with a response from the fiscal. The memorials recommend procedures for the relationship between the military and mission system be adopted in Sonora similar to those used in Texas (these are listed, along with frequent legal citation). A major suggestion is the stationing of two soldiers at each mission; the fiscal's objection is the dispersion of effective military force. Ximenez lists the distances between missions, saying that they are too far apart to enlist each others aid against small enemy forays (the major need of protection) but close enough for mobilization of troops in case of major military action. (R. Perez) (1977)

Concerning the founding of missions, and the support of existing ones. Discusses the needs of various groups, and weighs this against threats of enemy attack. Some background on intertribal relations. Suggests tactful, slow contact with missionaries as opposed to the usual pomp and military escorts. (R. Perez) (1977)

General account of Garces' entrada into the lands of the Yuma via the Gila and Colorado rivers. Not much substantive information. Mentions that he was within 6 days journey of the missions of the California friars, but was unable to meet them. He was well treated throughout his journey, and subsisted totally on gifts from the Indians. (R. Perez) (1977)

History of missionary efforts. Description of missions, their holdings and list of native groups contained therein. Population estimates of many tribes. Extensive list of native groups to the north, and northeast of the Tejas. Some baptismal statistics. Numbers of deaths given for some missions. Mentions several smallpox epidemics. (R. Perez) (1977)

A comprehensive geographical description of Parral and environs. Describes water courses, outstanding geographical features, and the distance to and location of, haciendas and Ranchos within the Jurisdiccion of Parral. (P. Hayes) (1977)

Lists all miners and hacienda owners in the reales of Parral, Santa Barbara, San Francisco del oro, and Todos Santos. Describes their holdings, type of mining process, location of property. Information covers the years 1797 through 1826. (R. Perez) (1977)