Climate

Information concerning the bad harvest of that year due to frost and a local lack of water. Gives amount of harvest of grapes, corn, wheat. (R. Perez) (1976)

Tunon has suffered many grave accidents since beginning employment as tesorero and is unable to recover due to unfavorable climate; requests transfer to area more favorable to health. Includes certification of illness by Cirujano. (D. Uhlman, January 1988)

Around midnight on August 31, 1805, steady rain breaches Arroyo, floods Croix. Casas moves entire population first to Piedras, then to Forlon (between Llera, Escandon), only defensible high-ground in area. Speaks of three years of extraordinary dryness, one of excessive rain. paperwork to make move permanent, report on natural resources of Forlon. Calleja objects that settling in Forlon leaves ranches near old Croix sin auxilios espirituales, ni temporales, open to attack by Tamaulipos; requires Villa be reestablished at Piedras, but promises to allow new Villa at Forlon if more than 30 people want to stay. Much debate of relative merits, disadvantages of each site; detailed geographic description of Forlon to demonstrate superiority to Piedras, signed by many vecinos. Order given to move everyone to Piedras, but some refuse to leave Forlon. All religious effects moved back to Piedras. Yturbe gives official threat that anyone remaining in Forlon will be rigorously prosecuted (may - F.193). Inventory of all church property (f.203). Garcia de Leon describes in detail what layout of new Villa should be (f.207). Map of nueba Villa de la Purissima Concepcion de Croix; key lists residents of each lot, proportions of lots, streets, Plazas (f.210). Chart listing property, mostly different kinds of livestock, of each inhabitant (f.211). (A. Dean, July 1989)

Correspondence between viceroy, Garces and de Anza concerning Garces's explorations in upper Colorado River with attachment of letters from fray Escalante about Zunis and area in case Garces travels to New Mexico from Colorado River. Accounts by de Anza on expedition to California, his turning command over to comandante Moncada, refusal of Moncada to travel to San Francisco to explore area for establishment of presidio and missions, de Anza travels with teniente Moraga, one priest and eight soldiers to explore San Francisco bay. de Anza gives an rich description of bay with its good soil, abundance of water, pastures, and wild animals and fish, meeting with Indians who fish with nets and use of balses made with reeds to cross bay and fish. de Anza does not name Indians but describes them as gentle. He also describes area to be rich with woods from which construction of fort would be easy. de Anza establishes places where missions and presidio should be built returning to Monterrey where he requests meeting with Moncada without success. Serra meets with Anza preoccupied with moncadas' attitude with friars and families from Sinaloa, teniente Moraga in letter to Anza believes comandante Moncada has lost his mind which results in his not wanting to follow planned agenda. Documents about rebellion in San Diego are not very clear, de Anza also describes desertions of some muleskinners and two soldiers who steal some horses and moragas capture of desertors in Gila where de Anza punishes them with laboring in construction of presidio and missions in San Francisco. Anza informs viceroy about Garces return to Colorado River leaving him foodstuffs for his sustenance as Anza returns, also fray Exiarc returns with Anza to Tumacacori mission. Capitan Palma and three Yumas with accordance with his people attaches himself to Anza to travel to Mexico. Viceroy answers Anza letting him know he is displeased as Anza did not finish his comission as he left before construction of fort and missions began. (A. Dell'acqua, January 1988)

Concerns the logistics of military supplies being furnished when military finances are used to pay gifts and reimbursement of funds not timely. Mentions the sad state of affairs in Amangual's company, situation necessitates his and Loyola's appearance in Santa Rosa to justify costs incurred; mentions costs of expedition of Vial, auditing and closing of account by Cavofranco; concerns the closing of an entrance to Texas to the English and the formation of a new customs duty; an index of quadernos 1-7; letter that concerns the inability of Munoz to fulfill orders of conde de Revilla Gigedo because of climate; letters that trace the transmittal of quaderno documentation between real tribunal de Cuentas and virrey. (O. Velez, November 1989)

Letter from Herrera informing Onesimo that the fever has returned to Pilon, Linares and Salinas causing deaths and illness, fears that the disease may spread more rapidly due to hot Weather climate; presence of druggist in Cadereyta had prompt effect in terms of the illness; in Linares a junta de caridad was established to help fund the costs of treating the sick; Rio acknowledging orders to communicate the status of disease in his college of Guadalupe; Garrido responding affirmatively to virrey's plea for help from mission personnel in aiding those areas suffering from disease commits his colegio Apostolico de pachuca in this effort; letter mentioning plea to real padre custodio del tampico in regards to providing assistance in combating disease; Calleja relating to virrey that he has received correspondence from governors in areas that for the most part say that the disease has abated substantially; Yrart responding to Calleja that he has not been able to compile the list of those affected by disease that Calleja requested because the justicias have not provided him with lists he needs; letter mentioning how the disease has struck especially hard in Cadereyta, plans to have medicine available for free, Linares had the good fortune of having a French doctor in area when disease struck and he was able to assist people stricken, in fact was detained in area until his work was completed. (O. Velez, October 1989)

Concerns the outbreak of an epidemic of malignant fevers that was expected to subside once winter started, in some towns the sickness has killed off one fourth of the population; mentions report submitted by Calleja that deals with the political economic aspect of this problem, advises junta provisional be established for purpose of enacting measures which would allow funding to be made available for medicines, this letter signed by members of the real tribunal y audencia de la contaduria maior de Cuentas; letter requests information on the state of the illness in terms of the number of people currently suffering and at what stage is the sickness, public funds are made available for the fight against the epidemic; expressing concern that the cost of fighting epidemic not be borne soley by public funds; mention of junta provisional which will set out the ways the public funds will be spent on this problem; information that will be acquired by Calleja, type of illness, its origen, method of cure, aid that would be helpful; mentions the reluctance of some people to take medicines that they are familiar with; specific example of 3 people who would not take the medicine, would only take liquid forms that they were familiar with and which were narcotic, attributes this fanaticism with exotic medicines to the Europeans living in the area. (O. Velez, October 1989)

Concerns provision shortages in Californias and Loreto and supply of these through port of San Blas; contains lists of provisions needed and those allocated; included in contract for provisions are rations for seamen aboard transport ships and discussion of best times of year to sail from San Blas up western coast. (K. Hubin, April, 1990)

Arteaga ill with eye infection thus can not go on ship; diary of Arteagas eventual trip to California, describes in general terms being blown off course, unloading ballast in Monterrey, transporting Neve, drops of supplies in presidios along coast, is followed by a Spy ship, drops off and picks up passengers including missionaries at San Carlos and Santa Clara; short, detailed list of supplies received signed by Junipero Serra and Gallo; addendum of Artega's diary describes San Francisco bay; Hijosa requests return to Spain, arrangments for successor; notice of arrival of two new surgeons in San Blas with salaries; Hijosa clears his accounts in order to get permision to leave San Blas (p. Coyle, March 1990)