Beans

Dionis went to Diego Ramon's presidio to present the map of the summary of autos written in 1688 and 1689 on the Asinay and Tejas Indians, their lifestyle, descriptions of the presidio called Espiritu Santo or San Luis or San Bernardo, its need to be populated by Spanish settlers rather than French and the measures taken to convert the Indians, establish security and trade. Leon sets off from Coahuila in 1684 to investigate a French settlement near the Rio Grande del Norte. Its location in degrees and minutes is given. Boat wreckage from French settlers is found. Leon suggests that presidios into the Tejas provinces be established for at least 1 million Indians could be converted and land is very fertile for farming. Very little progress made until after 1693 (reasons listed on ff. 440-445). Details of the Indians lifestyle and the settling of the Tejas provinces continues through ff. 451. Continuance of hearing of French spies trespassing into Tejas provinces (See Vol. 181.iii) in front of tribunal from ff. 452 - 471. Equiping of presidios and missions is covered in detail. List of those living at the San Antonio Paraje is on ff. 508. (E. Wilson, March 1990)

French trespassing into the Tejas provinces by San Dionis under pretext of buying livestock for Luisiana. They are believed to be looking for more land to occupy and trade with the Indians. Translation of San Dionis observations and map from San Juan presidio to Diego Ramon's at the Rio Grande cause Audiencia general to approve the establishing of missions in the Tejas provinces in order to maintain control over the Indians there. Descriptions of fertile lands and friendly Indians. Trade is to be stopped with the French. Supply lists and salary expenses for military escort for missionaries. Ramon and Espinosa travel from Saltillo to the Tejas or Asinai provinces with 75 people comprising of soldiers, missionaries and civilian men, women and children. They travel from February to April and establish 4 missions. Heads of 4 missions declare supplies needed to equip Indian nations absorbed by missions listed. (E. Wilson, March 1990)

Apache Indian attack during the night raids and steals horses from San Antonio corrals. 80 horses are stolen. Flores follows them all night only to return in the morning to gather men and Indians for a search group. After 2 months horses and Indians are found. In the ensuing capture, enemy Indians are killed and taken hostage with their women, children and supplies. One Indian captive claims they stole horses for other Spaniards with whom they have 'cambalache' or trade. Peace is offered to them if all chiefs involved will return to the camp within 20-days. Beginning at ff. 352 three French deserters are seeking passports to Veracruz via Bahia del Espiritu Santo, they are Rosel, Barroi and Martin. Garza Falcon disbelieves their claim and considers them spies for the French. They are given an escort to be brought to justice. The French are known for having strong influence over the Indians and consider the Cumanches, Canzeres, Pananas and Apaches as theirs. Flores endorses Ramon for position of captain of San Antonio presidio due to his campaigns in the Tejas provinces. Trade could be increased with improved relations with the Indians. (E. Wilson, March 1990)

Correspondence between Concha, Tristan, Ugarte y Loyola, virrey and others concerning various issues relating to New Mexico of writing to serve growing population, proposal considered to to support missionaries, resulting in practices of charging Indians too much for religious services, and making Indians work off debts to padres for services that should cost far less; establishment of temporary aranceles discussed in depth; proposed, establishment of mission at Belen, also; of particular interest are tables (ff. 80-83, 104, 142) and letters (ff. 84-99 108-114, 117-126, 143-160); very informative documents, mostly concerned with Diezmos, economics and ethics. (D. J. McClelland, January 1989)

Letters from Ramon to Ugalde covering Dufay's arrest, transfer, and imprisonment in San Fernando; Fixerina is assigned to command Compania Volante del Nuevo Santander; reward for missing horses Talamantes lent to Aguirre; stepped-up discipline enforced on the frontier guard; Indian camps accused of hurting Gonzalez; Ramon begins preparation for campaign from Longoria Pass near Sabinas River involving the Rio Grande and Aguaverde presidios by requesting food supplies and mules from Echegaray, who fails to fulfill order; Ramon directs request directly to Ugalde; Vittorino Gonzalez dies; Juan Domingo Echegaray is transferred to Monclova to continue service until debt is paid. (E. Wilson, September 1989)

Copy of reserved instructions that Neve governor of Californias government should be to conserve peace in peninsula --treating of areas of Indians not yet made docile, including punishment of Gentiles for killing livestock in San Francisco to communicate all mission orders to Junipero or Hidalgo; other encouragement to avoid strife. Document also includes letter from Galvez regarding governor's salary. (J. Hiller, January 1989)

Letters to and from viceroy sent by capitan Tueros about supplies of foodstuffs sent to Californias and parts of Sonora, Sinaloa. Specific quantities and cost of same are described. (A. Dell'acqua, October 1987)

Concerns supply crisis at Chihuahua city caused by ferocious drought; includes notes on steps taken by governor to bring in emergency food; other areas of province hit by drought; various shipments of grain and beans to settlement; possible use of mission stores; current supply as of various dates in municipal alhondiga. F. 128 presents a table of food shipped from San Buenaventura. Documents emphasize weakness of frontier commerce in face of such a crisis (J. Williams, may 1987)

Very detailed report on current condition of missions of Nueva Vizcaya, and new political regime being implemented for their governing; includes notes on doctrinas and missions; religious services rendered to Indians; conduct of missionaries; crops grown; application of civil laws; various community rights; economic conditions; record keeping related to livestock, people etc.; apostates; immorality of Indians; idolatry and its relation to crimes; places apostates inhabit; settlement dispersal in province; congregation of Indians in select reducciones; passport for Indian travel; work of Indians outside missions; care required to prevent desertion of mission Indians; learning of trades; continued hunting and gathering; work of women; various kinds of contamination by outsiders; housing descriptions of mission and non-mission Indians; irrigation; household furnishings; Indian Christian customs; failure to fully acculturate; Indian custom of eating horses; diseases; work at mines; cessation of custom of having yndios de mita in forced repartamiento labor; vagabondage; Spanish language instruction; cesarean medical operation; desertion; pulque consumption; disease resulting in depopulation. (J. Williams, March 1987)

Documents relate to charging diesmos by padre doctrinero of Presas del Rey, viceroy requests investigation as town charter exempt diesmos when town founded. Citizens and officials relate historical, ethnographical details of towns. Visitador Palacios imposes diesmos, copy of document issued by Santianer setting and directing payment of diesmos by all in Santander province under penalty of jail and excommunication if not obeyed. List with stated amounts to be paid by each citizen. Also, a list of Arancel de Curato issued by bishop. Capitan Blanco documents differences of diesmos in province complaining of excesses by some priests, Blanco called to northern frontier to stop Indian incursions and investigation comes to a halt. Fiscal mayor requests reimbursement of expenses incurred by Blanco which are approved by viceroy. (A. Dell'acqua, September 1987)