Hunting And Gathering

Copy of testimonios from juntas de guerra re: puntos de conferencia and response to puntos. Detailed background information about numbers of Indians, location, livelihood, intertribal alliances and kinship, sources and types of weapons, etc. Suggestions for best course of action in subduing Apache groups, gaining alliances with naciones del norte. Warning that any alliance with Lipanes against Indians del norte would be harmful; previous peace with Lipanes has been deceptive. Discussion of troops necessary to protect frontiers and strategy for deployment. (D. Uhlman, July 1988)

Pineda informs Croix of Indian raids. Preparation to attack Indians in Nopalera. Anza kills female Sibubapa, takes male captive, recovers 80 horses, and reports small quantity of water in Nopalera. Sibubapas attack Yecora, killing 5 including one Spaniard. A Spaniard, Leron, accompanied group of drunken Indians. Indians raid Ostimuri; Rio Chico soldiers kill 5 of them, Taraumaras kill 3 more. Apaches take 90 horses from Visani. Altar soldiers kill 1 Seri, send 7 captives to Pitic. More than 100 Indians take 202 horses from Pitic. Friendly Pimas urged to fight Apaches; 27 Apaches are killed. Oliba and 60 soldiers patrol Cerro Prieto. Enemy Indians move away from Nopalera looking for water and cactus fruits. Urrea, Cancio and Elizondo ordered to strike rebel Indians from 3 different places. Indians steal horses from Guaymas. Fronteras' soldiers attack Indian in Cara Pintada, recovering 43 horses. Apaches attack soldiers in Saracachi, killing 1 black person, and take horses. Pineda informs Croix of priest's arrival from Querataro; he will provide horses and food. pertrechos de guerra and soldiers arrive at Guaymas. Pineda informs Croix of need for food, clothes, arms, and salaries for himself and soldiers. Merchants in Mexico refuse to send things unless they receive partial payment. (J. Tapia, July, 1987).

Concerns recent Indian raids and appearance of a Spanish youth (age 16) who has escaped from Apaches; Perez describes his life during two and a half year captivity that he has suffered; he notes many details about Apache daily life; including; bison and deer hunting; use of skin clothing and lack of corn. (J. Williams, March 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)

States that the Indians receive in exchange for six fanegas of Pinon only one cow, which is worth only three pesos in that area. This is unfair due to the great distances they must travel to gather Pinones (60 leagues) and also due to the great risk involved from the enemy. (R. Perez) (1977)

Concerns negotiations for peace with Lipan Apaches (who were then hunting bison); proclamations on marriage; case of Menchaca case of Rodriguez. Rodriquez includes a petition in which he explains why he feels he has been unjustly treated by royal office in province; petition contains interesting details on daily life. (J. Williams, February 1987)

Concerns various matters involving governing of Coahuila; mostly letters declaring reception of viceroy's orders; including; expenses connected with assumption of command by Nava; a declaration of war of July 6; forwarding of documents to archivo de la commandancia general on livestock of Bexar and passing information on to Munoz; an inspection of north eastern frontier by Nava; on providing information to Nava on Indian problem; recent military actions taken by presidio of Rio Grande, subsequent peace; notes Apache bison hunting. (J. Williams, February 1987)

Commentaries and opinions of fiscal about proposals of Riperda to trade weapons with Indians of Texas. Riperda claims it is only way to keep them from dealing with French and English. Fiscal questions peacefulness and loyalty of Indian groups in question and notes that their barbarous way of life (hunting and trapping) is not conducive to christianization or peaceful relations with Spaniards. Recommends strongly that they be settled and taught agriculture. (T. Cederstrom, October 1986)