Geography

Concerns testimony given at Mapimi by Thomas Funidad, who escaped after being a prisoner of Indians. Includes notes on various aspects of daily life and movement of his renegade captors including; their raid on San Salvador; number of their warriors; leadership; settlement pattern; ethnic composition of band; age of members of renegade groups; plants grown; taking of horse and other hides; bison hunting; horse and Mule herds kept; use of saddles and armas Blancas y de fuego; worship of an image of our lady of sorrows; clothing; houses (Jacales of horse hide); trade with plains Indians; treatment of captives; timing of attacks; drinking of pulque; document which provides exceptional details on these topics. (J. Williams, March 1987)

Documents between Queipo de Llano, Peramas, and virrey(?) Concern violence of Apaches and Taraumares in 1773; resulting instability of frontier; and concern of officials to stop violence through arrest and extraction of confession. Queipo de Llano reports large number of thieves in prisons. Noting poor security, he stations military men at prison to improve security. Emphasizes importance of exacting confessions by giving counts of confessors at various points in document. Recounts Apache hostilities including murders, abductions, livestock thefts, wasteful animal killings, and corpse mutilation by stripping and overshooting with arrows. Reports Taraumara hatred of Spanish--supports statement by citing Taraumara holdups, thefts, threats of massacre. Substantial information on Apache/Taraumara relations including intertribal trading, joint anti-Spanish plotting, settlement patterns. Latter part of document is testimonial recounting details of arrest and confession of Taraumara Luna and itemizes Luna's various crimes. Decision made to pacify Indians; make as many arrests and exact as many confessions as possible; solicit and follow Oconor's opinion on handling of Indian criminals. (S. Gibbs, January 1988)

Periodic reports from leaders of destacamentos relating new events; most reports say nothing was happening. Copy of itinerary of one Destacamento listing pueblos and haciendas they were to visit from Fresnillo to Durango, and distances in Leguas. Complaints that regimiento spent more money because of high cost of maiz and maintenance of horses. Lasso de Vega is unable to make March to Chihuahua because he has too few horses and money. Posada reports illness of Montante in one report, and later says he is inutil para el real cervicio. (D. Marksz, February 1987)

Lengthy expediente of letters from commandant of Chihuahua, to viceroy describing Indian depredations and Spanish efforts to control them. Most takes place in central Chihuahua and there is good information on routes of various military patrols. Generally indicated the Apaches have things pretty much their own way. Considerable mention of O'Conor and Munoz. (T. Naylor) (1977) includes captains report from Santa Gertrudis de Altar describing menace and growing strength of Apaches in his area. (D. Marksz, February 1987)

Documents relating to complaints by founder of Villa Presas del Rey to governor about Indian uprisings and lack of military detachment to stop incursions, accusing teniente Serna of incompetence for taking military force away. Also accuses governor of not being strong enough to rule. Fiscal and viceroy question lack of communication from Villa. Viceroy orders governor to imprison teniente Serna but due to Indian uprisings, governor sends Serna to fight instead, explaining to viceroy why teniente was absent from Presas del Rey. Teniente Serna in a letter to viceroy explains his conduct accusing capitan de la Serna of cruelty toward Indians. Neighbors write viceroy requesting change of justicia mayor accusing capitan de la Serna of depredations. Documents of census of families living in Presas del Rey. Capitan de la Serna gives possession of land grants to people from Presas del Rey. (A.dell'acqua, September 1987)

Documents concern appointment of Blanco as interim governor of Nuevo Santander for ailing conde de Sierragordo, then as permanent governor upon Sierragordo's death. Includes documents referring to precedent and procedure of temporary appointment of military officials to political positions and their posting of Media anata. Discussion of Blanco's duties include option to pursue either a policy of reduccion or extermination of the tamanlipas Indians and his need for auxiliary military forces to carry out that decision. (G. Lavalley, June 1987)

Documents outline concern for French trading arms to Indians, fear French discovered precious ores, presence of Frenchman at Taos fair. Good description of French settlements and forts, numbers of troops.

Autos and petitions to viceroy and king to enter province of moquito pacify it. Soldiers desire salary to be paid in time. Indian governors want Cuerbo y Valdes to remain as governor for a long period of time. Informes from governor comparing state of province before and while in office stressing changes including foundation of Villa de Alburquerque and repopulation of Galisteo without monetary expense to the crown. Certification by military and civilian officers about excellent work carried out by governor. (A. Dell'acqua, July 1987)

Lists number in expedition (180, with 100 Indian auxiliaries). Extensive description of terrain, plant resources and water sources. Extensive ethnographic data on Apache groups weapons, tools, crops, food, both gathered and cultivated; linguistic, intertribal alliances and hostilities. (R. Perez) (1977)

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)