Commerce

Because of poor harvests, soon will be unable to provide 10 fanegas grain needed as rations recently conquered Indians area. States only Ati has wheat to sell at 22 reales per Fanega. Asked Urrea for goods to barter with Indians for grain, but Urrea needs barter goods to supply own troops. Unable to obtain maize seed promised to Indians. Fears Indians will return to old way life. (letter sent by Corbalan to marques de Croix from Pitic, 8/2/1771). (T. Sheridan, 1976)

Corbalan states not enough sugar Cane in provinces to make aguardiente. Since Mescal is regional drink, requests permission to make, regulate Mescal instead. Croix refuses request. Warns drunkenness among Indians must be prevented. (T. Sheridan, 1976)

Attempts to regulate Sinaloa salt trade, levy tax one peso per load. Proceeding more slowly with salt tax in Yaqui area, however, because of nature of Indians. (T. Sheridan, 1976)

O'conor submits letter of Fayni to viceroy and notes recent letter of officials on Indian raids; worsening conditions; problems of supply; Bucareli orders O'Conor to chastize barbarians. (J. Williams, April 1987)

Concerns present condition and advisability of Bonilla's depopulation of province; failure of missionization; economic decline of missions under new Franciscan administration; decline in mission agriculture; decline of mining; decline of commerce; chaos of present spiritual and temporal governing of missions; detachment of Buenavista stationed at powder house at Guaymas; detachment of men from Altar stationed at Pitic; Lafora map; supply reforms; proposal for Colorado River settlements; arrest of Vildosola; poor condition of provincial horse herds; geographic problems created by presidial removal and creation of new line. An important document for history of Sonora. (J. Williams, April 1987)

Concerns expedition of Anza and Garces to Alta California with references to proposal for founding of Colorado missions for Yumas; proposal to reopen missions among Moquis (Hopis); expeditions to explore routes from Sonora to New Mexico; and other reports on same subjects. (J. Williams, April 1987)

(J. Tapia, April, 1988)

Correspondence between Pedro Fueros and virrey concerning mining operations at la Cieneguilla, Sonora. Includes routine documentation of quantities of gold produced and transported to Alamos, plus accounts of depredations suffered by Indians, settlers and miners at hands of Apache marauders. Also, account of discovery of silver deposits at San Marcial. (J. H. Ochs, August 1987)

Informes concerning spiritual and temporal life at missions in upper and Lower Pimerias; included is number of inhabitants, births, deaths, etc; means of livelihood of inhabitants, and religious state of affairs. Documents describe depredations due to inhospitable climate and Indians (i.e. Apaches), and also discuss feasibility of uniting outlying populations into larger groups to facilitate civil, religious administration. Informes written in response to order and carta de cordillera sent by viceroy, and president of colegio de Santa Cruz de Querataro, respectively. (J. H. Ochs, July, 1987)

Followed by copy of letter written by Anza (1/15/1771) concerning trade of Opas with people from sea coast near Monterrey. Notes presence of Conchas azules among Opas. (T. Sheridan, 1980)