Food Supplies (Yerba)

Croix defends approach to administering missions in Sonora, arguing that missions and missionaries receive sufficient funds, are not suffering as purported. Contends missionaries should not expect Indians to cultivate land because climate does not support activity, and Indians accustomed to fishing, gathering yerbas y raizes. states that while missionaries have not received everything requested, certainly have not been ignored in manner conveyed by Prestamero (See ff 63-100). Croix cites cedulas, particularly that of 8-5-73, as precedent for present decisions. Criticizes missionaries' punishing of Indians for not attending rosario, Misa y doctrina, for getting drunk, refusing to work en los Bienes de la comunidad que Se llaman temporalidades, and for leaving village sin expresa licencia de Sus padres ministros. fiscal declares Croix has satisfied Prestamero's complaints perfectamente (Oficio summarizes issue, provides some background, folios 121-123.), that law of 8-5-73 not meant to discriminate against Franciscanos, and missionaries should not enforce abovementioned rules so that Indians no imaginen Pesado el suabe yugo de cristianismo. (L. Kerr, April 1989)