Drought

Letters from Vidal de Lorca, and province. Some description of Indian war. Discusses huge calamity of drought and polluted waters causing illness. despacho Universal de indias. Detailed work history of Vidal de Lorca y Villena (282) with excellent year by year description of his career in Spain and new world, his salaries, positions and number of years service in each position included. (J. Acheson, November 1988)

Mendinueta relates Indians murders and animal thefts. Mentions famine which forces people to eat leather, roots and herbs; drought which has killed cattle and plants. (S. Gibbs, September 1987)

Letter from Crespo concerning flooding and drought experienced along Yaqui, Mayo and Fuerte rivers; states that Indians have lost crops, livestock, churches and houses. Response from viceroy affirming contents of Crespo's letter. (J. H. Ochs, September 1987)

(D. J. McClelland, November 1987)

Rengel sends informe to virreynato updating reports on war with Apaches from June 1785; detailed account of attacks on Apaches; cavalries in bad shape. Extraordinary drought suffered in provinces. One incident where mail was captured by Apaches; almost all recovered. Shortage of horses; horses, cattle, mules, and prisoners recovered from Apaches in campaign. (D. J. McClelland, November 1987)

Various high officials of segunda compania volante de Nuevo Santander send letters to Ugalde. Includes detailed account of battle with Indians; situation of drought causing procurement and maintenance of mounts to be almost impossible. (D. J. McClelland, March 1988)

Fayni acknowledges receipt of letter from Bucareli concerning final plan of war. Mentions necessity of horses for Oconor's campaign, and that haciendas may contribute horses. Reports ability to water horses in small groups, owing to limited water supply; but if drought does not lift, water will soon run out. Asserts that process of remounting is most difficult task. Mentions that he has helped pay for campaign to accelerate mobilization. (S. Gibbs, October 1987)

Virrey(?) Relates Oconor's account of general campaign to drought; Oconor's need to improvise under conditions. Relates unpunished Apache murders and thefts. (S. Gibbs, September 1987)

Each biennial report of Dominican missions in Baja California is followed by notes elaborating detailed additional information. Report itself lists number of priests at each mission for report period, religious wages due order sinodos, total population figures broken down by male-female, Indian-Spanish and others, and a general summary statement of significant numerical changes in these categories since the last report. Notes contain varied and interesting data on mission industries, crops, physical improvement or deterioration of facilities, attitudes toward Indian groups, social customs, geography, mission benefactors and much else. Folios 130-132 contain subjective views of missions success and impact on various Indian groups since 1698. (J. M. Johnson, December 1986)

Sagarraga explains to viceroy that high prices for corn feed, due to several years of drought, have forced reduction in heads of livestock at Ibarra. To remedy this, Sagarraga proposes installation of irrigation system to produce corn at Ibarra, along with expansion of livestock herds. Major portion of documents administrative correspondence concerning financing of this project through Fondo Piadoso. (A. Tukey, July 1988)