Religious

Concerns Barri's response to viceroy's request for information. says his knowledge only from a few confidential letters as to Fages' conduct. Has asked Palou to submit list of converted Indian families who could be relocated. Has sent mules and horses to Fages. Discusses most opportune time for safe transportation of mail and provisions. says Indians are given rations not salaries which violates instructions of visitador general. Lack of payment as well as harsh treatment and hunger drives Indians away and makes conversions difficult. says harmony with Franciscan priests can't be achieved because they interpret viceroy's orders as they See fit. Many military men support this opinion. Relates a great resentment due to Dominican take-over. Responding to request for information on Ibarzabal, Barri sends documents from 1769 which confirm his receipt of religious licenses. Documents describe area of Ibarzabal's jurisdiction. Galvez recommended 365 pesos per year salary and asks bishop to immediately award him a canonical institution. Gives instructions for building and administration of new church. License granted to Ibarzabal to administer sacraments, to marry all ethnic groups as well to perform Altar and confessional duties. Galvez also ordered a cemetery established and gave Ibarzabal right to bless it. Description of all activities Ibarzabal authorized to perform. (M. Dannemiller, March 1988)

Concerns Antonio's reference to improvements, suggested by Barri, being made in missions in California. says after Jesuit expulsion, Franciscans received missions of southern California with more than 1,000 Indians. Contains list of each mission and numbers of Indians drastically reduced in only four years. Priests told archbishop decline due to Galvez having sent Indians from two other missions to Todos Santos where they died of disease or deserted. Said decline also due to loss of cattle and tools on expedition to Monterrey; Indians became dependent on missions who couldn't provide for all. Antonio says Indians wouldn't flee if given weekly rations of meat and seed because they suffer from starvation. Treatment is inconsistent with Christian message. Approves of Barri's idea to incorporate missions. Relates abuses of some priests who administer sacraments without any license from bishop. says this may be case with Ibarzabal. Suggests judicial clergy to monitor mission activity and that inventory be taken annually. Contains separate decrees by fiscal and viceroy summarizing and approving these suggestions. Regarding selection of Visitador General Antonio suggests a person to correct missionaries, cooperate with governors, withstand the climate and one who is not currently in a mission. Suggests Gomez for position. Areche requests Antonio to compile information on Gomez and Ibarzabal. Areche requests viceroy to declare who will pay 2,000 pesos to new visitador. Viceroy recommends matter to Mangino who replies that charging the California missions would pressure an already strained budget. Dominicans have added responsibilities from new missions acquired. says each mission should contribute funds according to amount of property owned. Concerning licenses, Areche will send 27 priests to missions to request to See licenses for religious activities. Those without proper authority will be suspended. Group will inform on weekly collections and on state of missions. (M. Dannemiller, March 1988)

Concerns Palou's inablity to accept actions and attitudes of governor. Description of various events ordered by governor which Palou considers improper. Palou claims present governor is abusing his power and requests a transfer. (M. Dannemiller, March 1988).

Concerns informes received by Araujo in Querataro. Marquis instructs that every Jesuit be replaced by catholic missionary and that there be 14 missionaries in every mission in Sonora. Regarding the need for synods in missions that are not self-sufficient. Demands that all Indians be treated fairly, be allowed to communicate and trade among themselves and be taught Castellano. Requests lists of all natives in Sonora and Sinaloa and separate lists of Spanish individuals and property. Letter from Galvez is response to inventory request. Complete lists of all items in missions and priests' homes including sacred goblets, ornaments, record books, bells, and baptismal baths. Also includes inventory of items in warehouse.

Describes mission conditions in Nueva Mexico. Concerns the elections of governor and mayor. Fermin discusses inherent nature of Indians and their agriculture. Describes their grain crops, textiles, baptisms and marriages. Complains of a lack of missionaries. Describes continuing reducciones and difficulties due to Apache invasions and increased mission abandonment. (M. Dannemiller, October 1987)

Concerns current mission practices and suggestions for more effective government. Regarding use of agricultural land for grazing. Governors request a list of all Indians and their property and that they be given land to cultivate near Spanish so to learn by example. Concerns establishment of towns with Plazas and proper missions where Indians must live to learn doctrine which will cure their faults and protect them from Apaches. Suggests that orders taking Indians away for more than month be prohibited, that missions provide agricultural teaching and that ecclesiastic and secular be kept separate to maintain Indian loyalty. Concerning commerce, should attempt to decrease distance to market, guarantee fair compensation and prohibit Spanish from controling Indian trade. Concerns methods to convince Indians of benefits of reduccion and to prohibit them from communicating with other tribes. Suggests that recently converted Indians should be given military jobs and that priests should accompany troops for moral and spiritual support. (M.dannemiller, October 1987)

Concerns an entire range of mission activities as described by Sonoran leaders to viceroy. Contains many suggestions for administration of missions, mostly on treatment of Indians. Quotes original purpose of conquest as stated by Alexandro VI. expresses need for schools, the teaching of Castellano, written permission for traveling Indians, static position of priests, appointment of two priests in case of illness and even distribution of Spanish population. Discusses the punishment of Indians, prohibiting them from liquor, gambling and salary advances. Describes Indian life and agriculture, their crops, cattle and weavings. Priests want them to establish in towns accessible to church in homes of stone or Adobe which resist fire. Relates difficulties and distances in reaching jobs and transporting goods. States that each Indian should have a horse to hunt Javali with their zaetas and harpoons. Hiaquis are hardworking but basically very lazy so must be given fruitful labor and compensate accordingly to men, women and children over 10. Spanish should not be permitted to buy Indian homes or land. Suggests jobs which benefit others such as in mines. Concerns Indian obligation to church in terms of tribute, priests salary and community building. Asks tithes from Durango be passed to Sonora. Describes gold and silver adornments and wine supplies of some churches and destruction of others due to Zeris and Pimas. Description of trip made by Ganzes to know and convert Indians. Finally, while Indian foreman should be chosen to give priests more freedom, governors should be appointed not elected by Indians. (M. Dannemiller, October 1987)

Concerns the response of governors and capitans of presidios to the viceroy's instructions for a new method of government. Contains a complete list of governors to receive the report. Comments on use of the method as pertains to the missions of Texas. Describes the condition of missions and the relations with Indians. Descriptions of religious routines, prayer, teaching, baptisms and weekly religious activities. Relates new year's process of election of governor, mayor and sheriff. Concerns economic conditions and mission sustenance crops of corn, beans, cotton and cana de Castilla. There was an abundance of cattle (bovine, ovine and caprine) but lacking equine due to frequent attacks. Cotton cloth, ponchos and blankets were made in missions. Contains detailed description of mission life, men and women's duties as well as wardrobe of converts and Elite. Suggestions made for improvements by example such as increasing Spanish populations to serve as examples of culture, government, industry and civil harmony. Authors offer the missions under their administration as examples and describe older methods which have served their development. Under Menchaca, necessities are kept and equally distributed in the missions and used to maintain troops. All administrators feel current system of government to be effective.

Contains letters from various priests concerning their ability or inability to apply the new method to their areas. Gonzales relates difficulties in promoting the plan due to the nature of the land and the temperament of the Indians. Concerns the location of missions and needed incentives to keep Indians in missions. Describes the roles of the missionaries as fathers, teachers and employers. Provisions for the sick and elderly. Discusses suspending the synod, expense records and an annual auditor to be sent by virrey. Relates deterioration and depopulation of missions of Chihuahua, condition of other missions and need to have Indians congregated there - not sent to Spanish haciendas. Discusses fact that Indians in Moqui are pacified due to fact that they live with christians, need for more missionaries and military to assure this type of peace and avoid violence such as with the Apaches. Includes a complete list of missions that received the virrey's instructions of July 13, 1772. (M. Dannemiller, October 1987)

Concerns frays' thoughts on the virrey's new method the ultimate goal of which is firm establishment of reducidos, establishment of new missions and development of missions perfection of spiritual culture and progression of spiritual conquest in north America. Effectiveness of method to depend on proper maintenance, election of qualified ecclesiastic as well secular workers chosen by prelados regulares and enactment of exact rules for missionaries and governors to follow. Concerns necessity for fortified presidios and expedition of Spanish forces with knowledge of nature and enemy's ways to protect missions against increasing movements of infidels on frontier. Petition for virrey's attention regarding proper wages for troops, ministers' salaries reimbursement for expenses incurred and maintenance of synods. Financial provisions to be made by instituting proxy for each province containing missions. Frays advise that to achieve goal, need to populate new areas, and establish new missions in most fertile areas. Indians should learn at the mission weaving or another laborio for commerce and must only be taken from mission for a true service of the crown. Detailed description of missionary duties and rules for the conversion of souls. Mention of Solorzano and book iure indiarum. Description of projects to be undertaken after seeds, raise birds and instruct converts in political and personal relations. Ministers must be most literate and must teach Indians Castellano. Missions must have a teacher and a school. Discusses Indian ideas on land ownership, but recommends a system of common land for Indians until their sufficient yield to divide it. Ideas expressed on Indian behavior, appropriate religious practices, mandatory daily town meetings to explain catholic concepts and use of agriculture, trade and kind treatment to attract Indians or return them to missions. Noted that Pimas are lazy and have few useful skills while Opatas are more hard-working and skilled due to more interaction with the Spanish. Concerns also need for doctors and hospitals. Discusses baptisms, Indian government and Indian obedience to their superiors. (M. Dannemiller, October 1987)